Foodie Fridays: Almond Flour Peach Crumble

I had a few peaches in the fridge that needed to be used as soon as possible, so I decided to make a quick and simple Almond Flour Peach Crumble which, as the name suggests, uses almond flour instead of wheat flour.  I have already posted a similar recipe here, but this one is just as easy to make and includes my favorite spice, cinnamon, as the main flavoring.  Crumbles are the perfect dessert for cooler fall weather, and I intend to try the recipe with other fruits, such as blueberries or apples.  I wonder if it is possible to make a pumpkin crumble?

Almond Flour Peach Crumble

4 peaches, diced
1 T. cinnamon
3 T. coconut or brown sugar
1 C. almond flour
2 T. cold butter, cubed
2 T. coconut or brown sugar

Combine the peaches, cinnamon, and 1 T. sugar and place in a 9-inch pie plate.  Rub together the almond flour, butter, and 2 T. sugar with your fingers until crumbly.  Sprinkle evenly over the peaches.

Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes until the topping is slightly golden.  Cool slightly and serve with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.  Serves 4.

Note: Be sure to refrigerate any leftovers, as almond flour does not keep for long at room temperature.

Wish List Wednesdays: Fixin' for Foxes Sweater from Coldwater Creek

Happy first day of fall, everyone!  We have endured an especially long, hot, and surprisingly wet summer this year in New Mexico, with an unexpected heat wave for the past two weeks, but yesterday it finally cooled off and it really does feel like fall today.  This time of year just about everyone starts thinking about getting cozy for the upcoming cooler weather, and I am no exception.  I would like to add one new sweater to my wardrobe for the season, and I think this Fixin' for Foxes Sweater ($79.95-$89.95) from Coldwater Creek is the one.  I love the dark peacock blue color, and the allover fox print looks quite autumnal to me.  The sweater is a 100% cotton fine-gauge knit that makes it the perfect weight for fall weather.  What a great new addition to my fall wardrobe this pullover sweater would be!

Wish List Wednesdays: Charles Wysocki Trick or Treat Hotel 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

My life has been extremely busy this summer, as my husband and I have finally listed our Georgia house for sale and we are gearing up at long last for getting my husband and the rest of our considerable belongings moved to our New Mexico house.  He is in Georgia and in charge of getting the house sold and our possessions moved, while I am in charge of supervising improvements to our New Mexico house so that everything we decide to move will have a place to go.  We are also installing solar panels and a wood-burning stove to improve the energy efficiency of this house, enclosing a small porch so that we can store wood for the winter to use in the new stove, and getting a number of maintenance issues taken care of that were postponed from last year until the COVID vaccine became available.

Needless to say, neither one of us has much time for leisure activities right now, so I have not had a chance to work on many jigsaw puzzles.  However, I did find a new one I look forward to piecing together this fall.  The VNVNE Charles Wysocki Trick or Treat Hotel 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle ($35.99) is a bit pricey for a puzzle, but no one captures the mood of a season better than Charles Wysocki, and this Halloween edition is truly a delight!  A little bit spooky but mostly nostalgic (the latter is a trademark of Wysocki's works), the intricate detail of the images in this puzzle will make it so much fun to work on, just to see each image come into focus as it is pieced together.  Go to the Amazon link and zoom in on the image to take a closer look at this artwork.  I could spend hours just hunting for each tiny detail - if I had the time!  (BTW, you can find this puzzle for a better price here.)

Wish List Wednesdays: Land's End Women's Cotton Poplin Peasant Shirt in Ivory/Rubellite Hens

 

I have not been buying much new clothing lately because the resurgence of the Covid virus is once again limiting any outings where I would wear new apparel, but when I saw the fun Cotton Poplin Peasant Shirt in the Ivory/Rubellite Hens print from Land's End I just could not resist!  This casual and comfortable top is quite appropriate for just wearing around the house, and the fact that it is currently on sale for only $19.98 is a great reason to purchase it now.  Sometimes just wearing something fun and amusing is all I need to brighten my day, and this shirt is a perfect example!  Have you found yourself more drawn to clothing in fun colors and prints lately too?

Foodie Fridays: Kitchari

 

I recently tried a recipe for a dish called Kitchari that was so good I just had to share it on my blog! I originally found the recipe on one of my favorite YouTube vlogs by Isabel Paige (who also has an online cookbook which includes this recipe and is available for purchase here).  It takes a little time to make, but it is very easy to put together and is quite tasty in addition to being very nutritious.

Of course I made a few changes based on my own preferences and what I had on hand.  I did not have ground fenugreek but read that ground fennel is an acceptable substitute, so I used that instead (which meant I had double the fennel, both seed and powder, but I love dried fennel so I did not mind).  I also used spinach instead of kale, and added some dried fruit just because I had a bit left and wanted to use it up (it turned out to be a great addition).  Isabel Paige also includes a recipe for Spiced Cashews to add as a topping, but I just used cashews I already had on hand (if you want her recipe you will have to buy her cookbook - I promise it is worth purchasing, especially if you are interested in low-cost healthy vegan recipes).  This porridge-like dish can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and is quite a satisfying meal at any time of day.  I have a feeling I will be making it a lot as the weather cools down!

Kitchari

1 C. dried lentils
1⁄2 C. long-grain brown rice
1 T. freshly grated ginger
1 medium onion, diced
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
2 T. cumin
1 tsp. coriander
1 tsp. fennel seed
1 tsp. ground fenugreek (I used ground fennel)
1 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. sea salt
5 C. water (I used 4 C. unsalted vegetable stock plus 1 C. water)
1 vegetable bouillon cube (I used Knorr Vegetable Bouillon)
3 cups kale or spinach (I used twice as much)
1⁄4 C. finely shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 C. raisins or other dried fruit (optional)
1⁄4 cup chopped cilantro leaves (optional)
cashew pieces for topping (optional)

Soak the lentils and rice in 10 cups of water for 2 hours.  Pour them through a colander and add to a pot along with the ginger, onion, and garlic.  Stir in the spices, water, and bouillon cube.

Bring to a boil over medium heat, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low.  Simmer for 35-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender but not mushy and most of the liquid has been absorbed.  (You may need to add more water if the mixture becomes too dry or begins to stick to the bottom of the pan.)

Stir in the kale, coconut, and dried fruit if using, then remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Serve warm, scattered if desired with cilantro and cashews.  Serves 6.

Wish List Wednesdays: At Home with Books Jigsaw Puzzle from Bas Bleu

It has been quite a while since my last post (I have been extremely busy lately getting ready for the long-delayed completion of our move from Georgia to New Mexico) but I am going to try to get more posts out for the month of September.  Let's start with a fun jigsaw puzzle!  The At Home with Books Jigsaw Puzzle ($16.95) from Bas Bleu is quite reasonably priced and features an image of a secret room behind a wall of books - just the sort of room I wish I could have in my own home!  I have already purchased this puzzle and only recently started to put it together.  If you like a good challenge and enjoy jigsaw puzzles with a cozy feel, then I highly recommend this one.