Aubergine

Guest Post: Momiji's Annual March

I'm pleased to again have a guest from my friend Joan Bailey who writes at Japan Farmers Markets. Japan is one the places I have not yet traveled to, but when I go I hope to time my trip to either the sakura or the momiji season. This post describes why!

Fall is my favorite season. The cold winds feel like old friends as they whip up leaves in a swirl of gold,red and orange turn my cheeks pink and make me pull my hat down a bit further over my ears. The golden light, somewhere between the vision of the Dutch realists and the bright splash of Manet and Van Gogh, seems so perfect to me. I feel in autumn, more than any other time of year, that my days are lived in a painting. 

In Tokyo, I roam in a somewhat similar but more urban masterpiece, but without the need for a hat. The cold winds are coming, but temperatures still loiter in the mid to high seventies. The shortening daylight comes in at a low angle casting a similar glow over the tightly packed houses and high-rise buildings. The trees along the nearby Tamagawajousui, in the parks and at our Tokyo farm are beginning to show tell-tale signs of color. The sakura (cherry) leaves, replacements for those beloved pink blossoms of spring, are the first to fade to yellow and then drop. Other will soon follow suit, including the maple.

Momiji's (Japanese maple) five to seven-fingered leaves come in a brilliant green that dims to yellow, but the star of autumn's show is the red maple – Iroha kaede a.k.a. Iroha momiji a.k.a. Acer palmatum. Unlike it's cousin, the red maple burns varying shades of red. Just as they do in spring, citizens of these fair isles gather on party sheets (otherwise known as tarps) under brilliantly colored leaves with friends and family for kouyou (leaf viewing). There in the warm glow of the trees, as they start toward their well-deserved rest over the winter months, the Japanese drink and feast before cold winds chase them indoors. Soon weather reports will include a map of Momiji's red path southward, the reverse of sakura's slow pink sweep northward in spring.

 Early in Japanese history it was the aristocracy who first picnicked under the branches and fostered the development of more than 250 different varieties. It was, as Sumiko Enbutsu writes in A Flower Lover's Guide to Tokyo, the eighth shogun, Yoshimune (ruling from 1716 to 1745) who ordered momiji  planted around the edges of the nation's capital. As a result, everyday people found themselves stopped short in their daily routines by brilliant color. Naturally, they gathered some snacks and drinks, called out to friends to do the same, and took a moment to admire this passing phenomenon. (It is worth noting that Yoshimune did the same for sakura, beginning a tradition of public plantings of these seasonal favorites that still continues today.)

Such celebrations and attentiveness to leaves and flowers not associated with a particular holiday seemed, at first glance, almost absurd. There is no great historical event being marked nor a religious holy day being observed. Yet, with little prodding, groups of people stream into parks or gather on benches to share a snack, drink a little something, and chat the sunset away. Such things – the first blossom in spring or the first hint of red in fall – mean that even in the most urban of spaces like Tokyo nature and the turning of the seasons are never far from heart and mind.

Read more about seasonal displays and food at Joan's blog, Japan Farmers Markets.

writing about food, but not here

While my friend Joan was exploring China last month, I contributed a post for her blog with recipes for three chilled soups.  Late in the season for chilled soups you say? September is sweltering in Japan, and our Indian summer is kicking in here, too. It was 82 degrees today with not a hint of the fog that chills our *actual* summer days!

Hop on over and enjoy if is it hot where you live, too!

I also had an article on preserving food published by Eucalyptus Magazine last month.  You can read it here or scroll down to the bottom of that page to launch the full-page viewer for the full magazine experience. If you live in the San Jose area you can pick up a real (free!) copy at your local Whole Foods.

Strawberry Season - a guest posting on Japan Farmers Market blog

In case you missed it yesterday, I have a guest post up on the lovely Japan Farmers Markets blog.  

Guest Post: Where Inspiration Lurks

Today's guest post is from Joan Lambert Bailey, an American ex-pat who lives, gardens, and writes in Japan. We're trading blog space today, so be sure to go out my post on her blog, too!

 

Jack London famously said of inspiration that it couldn't be waited for, but that it had to be chased down with a club. I prefer to think I wield weapons more enticing, but when a deadline looms I give that club some serious consideration.

My inspiration, more often than not, comes while I'm working at the farm or in my garden, weeding between long rows of komatsuna (a leafy Japanese green) or edamame seedlings, marveling at the critters running to and fro as I lift purslane, sugina (horsetail), lamb's quarters, and some nasty prickly vine from the soil. Recipes take shape as I thin carrot seedlings or harvest yet another over-zealous zucchini. I fish a notebook and pen from my pocket (inspiration on a farm requires old school technology as dirt and new school tech don't mix!) to jot down what my Muse mumbled just before she dashed into the bean patch.

 There are moments, though, when there is no inspiration despite a looming deadline. An article needs to be written or a blog post generated, and rain keeps my notebook in my pocket, me at my desk, and my Muse napping. As any writer knows, it is these moments that result in sleepless nights, a bit of hair pulling, and the occasional bout of over-snacking. It is then that I turn to a handful of favorite remedies to see what I might find.

• My pictures. I often take more photographs than I use on my blog or for a given article. My computer is full to overflowing with flowers, bees, rivers, leaves, vegetables harvested and on the vine, assorted foods, and other people's clever gardening or cooking ideas. Reviewing them often jogs loose a memory of an idea, and I'm off!


• My bookshelf. I occasionally receive food and gardening books for review from publishers or writers, and, of course, I pick up one or two that strike my fancy. Feeling the heft of the book in my hand, turning the pages to review my notes, or re-reading an ear-marked page reminds me of what was so intriguing in the first place. This usually results in a trip to the garden or kitchen to start experimenting, photographing, or taking notes for the article I'd forgotten I wanted to write.


• My journal. I set aside about an hour each morning before the rest of the household wakes up to sit down with pen and paper and write whatever comes to mind. What begins as a mundane “Yesterday at the farm we...” rolls out into a stream of consciousness that lets me wander again through the day and the thoughts that crossed my mind. Often I end up connecting ideas and actions, sorting out new questions to research, or remembering a conversation to quote later. Especially when I'm traveling, my journal helps me capture every impression of a market, every feeling or taste so that I can mine it later for an article, essay or blog post.


• My run. Even if rain keeps me out of the garden, it won't stop me from putting on running shoes and splashing my way around the neighborhood for thirty minutes. Plants don't appreciate being handled when they're wet, but I'm certainly none the worse for wear. A good run (or walk if it's not a running day), hike, or quick trip to the gym helps get creative juices flowing again.


• My local haunts. Like running, a change of scenery and a bit of conversation can jar ideas loose or even plant a few, too. Chatting with Nakagawa-san at her onigiri shop over a yummy lunch set of her handmade onigiri (rice balls usually wrapped in seaweed with something delicious in the center), steaming miso soup, homemade nukazuke (traditional Japanese pickles made with rice bran) with good strong green tea results not just in new vocabulary, but often in some thought-provoking conversation, a recipe, or just plain old relaxation that lets me return to my desk with fresh eyes.

Where do you find inspiration for your writing or other creative work?

 

Joan Lambert Bailey currently lives and writes in Tokyo where she is lucky enough to get her hands dirty at a local organic farm. You can read about her adventures learning about Japanese food from seed to harvest to table at Japan Farmers Markets or join her on Twitter.

 

Guest Post: 10 Easy, On-The-Go Toddler Munchies

 I'm so pleased to share a post with you today by Danielle of Danielle's Kitchen and Velveteen Mama. Danielle and I met in an online writing class taught by Meagan Francis last fall, and I was lucky enough to meet her in person this spring at Blissdom in Nashville. Danielle launched Danielle's Kitchen last month to focus on allergen-free food and eating well with allergies.  We have toddlers about the same age so I asked if Danielle would share some recipes for on-the-go toddler snacks.  Now excuse me while I go make some of of these nut butter balls.  Enjoy!

   

As a food allergic family, we cannot rely on any packaged food to meet our needs for quick, on-the-go snacks.

This means we've had to get a little creative about our snack options and are used to toting our food with us wherever we go.  A side benefit is that packaged foods are expensive and typically filled with all kinds of stuff we really don't want in the growing bodies of our children anyway.  

Here are some ideas for healthy, on-the-go food that are friendly for toddlers, too.  As a bonus, most of these are (or can easily be made) allergen-free. 

Invest in some good quality small containers and it's easy to toss a few snacks in your bag on your way out the door.  

 

Nut Butter Balls

 Mix 3 parts nut or seed butter, 2 parts nutritional yeast, 1 part honey (or maple syrup) and a pinch or two of salt (to taste) until you have workable dough.  Roll into balls and then roll in crushed cereal or nuts.

These are a great source of protein, healthy fats, and B vitamins. Store in the fridge or freezer and they'll stay firm in a snack box for a few hours.  

For a treat for mom and dad, melt a few chocolate chips and roll the balls in chocolate before or instead of the chopped nuts. If you use peanut butter and coat them in chocolate, I'm told they taste strikingly like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

 

Hard Boiled Eggs, Cheese Cubes, Deli Meat

Simple and accessible, these are all easy and relatively tidy protein sources. Paired with fresh fruit or veggies, they make a pretty complete lunch, too.

 

Sardines and Crackers 

These might be a little messy on the go, but if you can get past the yuck factor, sardines are a great source of healthy omega fats and calcium (which is a boon for those of us who are dairy-free).  My 15-month-old loves to be fed bites of sardine (yes, bones and all!) while munching on some rice crackers.

This is also a quick and easy lunch when you're stuck for ideas.

 

Fruit and Nut Bars

If you have a food processor and 30 minutes, you can make these.  

Use a ratio of 1 part nuts/seeds to 1 part dried fruit, pick a nut and/or seed (cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds) and a moist, dried fruit (dates, prunes, raisins).

Lightly roast your nuts/seeds (if desired) and blend in food processor until pieces are small, but not granular. Remove nuts/seeds from processor and set aside in a bowl.  Put your dried fruit(s) in the food processor and pulse until they form a paste.  Go easy on your food processor so you don't send it into cardiac arrest!  You might need to give it breaks to cool the motor.

Scrape your fruit paste into the bowl with your nuts/seeds and mix well (use your hands and get in there!). Either roll them into bars or  press into a parchment lined pan and chill.  When firm, cut into snack-sized bars. Store in the fridge or freezer.

 

Pancakes  

They're not just for breakfast anymore! You can hide all sorts of nutrient dense things in pancakes.  Try adding nut butter, protein powder, cottage or ricotta cheese, and/or mashed fruit (bananas, applesauce, pureed sweet potato, carrot or beets, etc).  

Make ahead and keep them in the fridge or freezer.  We like to warm them up in a toaster.  Because we're gluten-free we omit any sweetener and use pancakes in place of bread on sandwiches, hot dogs/hamburgers and as toast.  My kids also love to grab them for a quick snack. 

 

Cheesy Chickpeas 

These are a big hit around here as a snack or full meal.  My six-year-old takes these to school for lunch in her thermos on a regular basis.  

Put your chickpeas in a bowl, drizzle with oil or water, a sprinkle of nutritional yeast and titch of garlic powder.  Tailor the amount to your tastes.  Toss well and enjoy! The grown-ups like theirs with a bit of salt, too.   

These can be eaten cold or heated up a bit.  An alternative for older children: Drizzle with oil, nutritional yeast, garlic powder and a few pinches of salt.  Toss well, then bake on parchment at 350F for 20 minutes or until crispy.  

 

Speedy Salsa

In a bowl mix some drained and rinsed black beans, chunks of avocado and/or tomato, and a squeeze of lime.  Add a titch of onion, garlic and/or chipotle if your toddler likes those things.  Adjust amounts to your liking.  

This is a great finger food to enjoy alone or with bits of soft tortilla. 

 

Hummus

My toddler eats this right off the spoon, but yours might enjoy dipping carrot sticks or crackers in it. Mine will dip carrots in his, but then he just sucks it off and goes back in for another dip.  If you're worried about choking on bits of carrot or cracker, just keep an eye on your little one to make sure they don't bite off big chunks.  

My favorite hummus recipe is 1 can of chick peas, 1/4 cup of reserved liquid from the can, 1/4 cup sesame tahini, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 large (or 2 small) cloves garlic and 1/2 tsp salt. Blend in a blender or food processor.  Add more of the reserved liquid until you get the consistency you want and adjust garlic, lemon and salt to your tastes. Easy breezy!

 

Granola

Granola is a great way to exercise that toddler pincer grasp and by making your own, you can tailor it to your individual families tastes and needs.  

My basic recipe is 3 cups oats, 3 cups seeds/nuts/dried fruit, 3/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon (optional), 3 tsp ground chia seed (optional), 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey, 1/4 cup oil, and 1/4 cup applesauce.  Mix together and bake at 350F checking every 10 minutes, tossing or flipping occasionally, until cooked to your desired crispiness.  Store in an airtight container. 

 

Other Snack Bars and Bean-Based Goodies

Chocolate Covered Katie is one of my favorite websites for healthy, tasty, vegan snacks.  I'm not vegan, but her recipes contain healthy fats and proteins that are often portable for on-the-go parents.  Here are some favorites that mimic store-bought treats:

• Quaker-Style Chewy Granola Bars.  I can't wait to try these!
• Snickerdoodle Blondies (but they're good for you!) These use white beans or chickpeas as a base and you cannot taste them!
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookie LaraBars (nut-free)  (nut-free)

Eating healthy and wholesome food doesn't have to be hard or tricky.  With some imagination and a little preparation it is relatively easy to have handy snacks your toddler will love and you will feel good about eating.

What are some of your favorite go-to toddler snacks to have while you're out and about? What do your little ones love to eat?

 

Danielle is a mom of three, writer, and veteran allergen-free whiz in the kitchen.  When she's not whipping up safe meals and treats for her family that are free from gluten, dairy, soy, corn, peanuts and (usually) eggs, she can be found reading, writing, or knitting.  She blogs about the joys and struggles of being human atwww.velveteenmama.com and her allergen-free wisdom and goodies can be found at www.danielleskitchen.com.

 

Guest Post: Making Sure Your Blog Benefits Your Family

Today I’m participating in the Ultimate Blog Swap. You’ll find me posting over at Scraps of My Geek Life about iApps That Support Your Spirit, and I’m beyond excited to welcome Mandi Ehman of  Life Your Way and Jungle Deals & Steals to Aubergine:

Image by Photon_De via Creative Commons.

Why do you blog?

Is it for the sense of community? Because you hope to contribute to your family finances? Or because you can’t not write, and a blog seems like a good platform to share your words?

We all blog for different reasons, and that’s okay, of course, but there’s been a recent trend of divorces among some pretty popular family bloggers, and it’s hard not to wonder what role their blogs have played in the demise of their marriages.

Most of us wouldn’t blog at all if we weren’t receiving some payoff; we’d stick with our private journals for putting our thoughts to paper.

But the feedback and friendships and community that develop through a blog can be powerful ties to the outside, grown up world, especially for stay-at-home parents who may feel sequestered from the real world in the midst of changing umpteen poopy diapers and preparing yet another snack.

Things like free products and trips and actual cash money can be pretty motivating payoffs as well, especially if your family budget is tight or you rely on the income from your blog to pay the bills or put food on the table.

Much has been written on the importance of work-life balance, here on Aubergine and elsewhere around the web, and that’s certainly a challenge for most bloggers, who carry their blog with them as part of their everyday life both in their thoughts and in their hearts.

But what if we looked at it through the lens of how our blog can actually benefit our family? And if it’s not benefitting the family – but rather coming between those relationships – maybe it’s time for things to change.

 

A Creative Outlet

Having a creative outlet is a good thing. When we use our creativity to express our thoughts and emotions, we’re better able to handle the things that come at us every day. That’s why art therapy and journaling are so valuable for children and adults alike.

Blogging can certainly be that creative outlet – allowing you to craft words from your heart and design beautiful things and wrestle with various pieces of code. If your blog serves as a creative outlet for you, you should walk away refreshed from writing or designing or coding, which makes you a better mother to your children and a better wife to your husband. But beware – the art is not the goal. It’s a tool to use to express yourself, but if it becomes more important to you than your family (in action, even if you’d never say that out loud), it can cause arguments and impatience and strife.

 

A Community

Similarly, community is good. Motherhood can be lonely, but it’s not supposed to be. Connecting with other moms – moms in the throes of raising toddlers, moms who can look back with fondness on those years through the lens of time, and moms who are just getting ready to welcome their first child and are looking to you for encouragement – is good for the soul. Commiserating and encouraging one another, laughing and crying together, sharing ideas and inspiration – all of it is good.

Having a community brings perspective to the journey of motherhood, and that’s beneficial. Valuing your community more than your family, however, is unhealthy and dangerous. It often results in treating your family as if they’re a bother and spending car rides with your nose stuck in your phone, and sadly even children can feel when this line is crossed.

 

A Business

For the entrepreneurs among us, building a blog and growing a business are exciting. Not only can we contribute to our family’s finances, but there’s just something invigorating about taking an idea and making it a reality. Earning money is a good thing – whether it’s for basic expenses, family vacations or future college tuition, and running a business from home is a great way to inspire a future generation of entrepreneurs. For many families, the money from blogging actually allows them to spend more time together, as opposed to other part-time jobs outside of the home.

But in any business, there is the always more that can be done – longer hours to work, another project to tackle, more ideas to stay ahead of the competition. If we get caught up in the rat race of trying to do bigger, better things, we can easily lose our connections as a family, even when we’re all in the same house all day! So,

I’ll ask again…why do you blog? What is the payoff you get from your blog? And is it truly benefitting your family?

 

Mandi Ehman lives in wild, wonderful West Virginia with her husband of ten years and four beautiful, spunky little girls. As a full-time work-at-home, homeschooling mom, she runs Life Your Way and Jungle Deals & Steals and consults for a variety of websites and brands. Mandi loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces!

Visit Life Your Way to see all of the Ultimate Blog Swap participants!

Growing Good Eaters: a guest post on Green Child Magazine's Blog

I'm very excited to have an article on the Green Child Magazine's blog today.  It is about growing a vegetable garden with your kids and I'm really proud of it.  

While you are there, check out the rest of the magazine's offerings.  It is a great publication. 

And then come on back and tell me about how you garden with your kids.  Do you grow veggies? Flowers? How old were your children when they started helping in the garden?

Making Work at Home Work: Guest post at Veronicaarmstrong.com

I'm excited to have a guest post up over on Veronica Armstrong's beautiful blog this morning.  

In it I offer some tips on how to make working at home with kids productive.  I hope you'll visit and let me know if the post is helpful.

The regularly scheduled 10 Links on Tuesday post will be up here a bit later today, as soon as I finish editiing it.  Be sure to check back, as it has a fun theme today!