Fab Friday Fare

OMG, new recipe for you. Green garlic-infused oil + preserved lemon + thyme + asparagus. Fab! I will post. The salmon burgers were delicious, especially with a daub of mango honey mustard, and lastly, we enjoyed my coriander sugar caramelized Asian pears. The pie is chilling, and I am soooo excited.

All-natural sweetened coconut, kitchen meditation/medi(cine?)

Despite searching with an eagle eye, I just could not find sweetened, flaked coconut today at the market. In a time crunch, I gave up, grabbed a bag of unsweetened shreds and ran, sure I could figure out a work-around later. I have, and it's so cool and so easy. Thank you Livestrong for both this awesome save and the great information on the myriad health benefits of coconut. Apparently, it is not uncommon for commercially produced sweetened coconut to contain "propylene glycol -- a chemical used in antifreeze -- as an odorless, colorless preservative (Livestrong.com)." YUK! I'm not interested in having a side of chemical with my pie, so instead sweetened my unsweet in this incredibly simple way: stir with powdered sugar, and then with a water-canola oil blend and let sit. Voila. It is so light and fluffy and perfectly sweet. If you want to make some of your own, you can find the recipe by clicking the link I provided in the previous paragraph.

My crust is partially baked, and I'm making the coconut pastry cream now. This pie is going to be awesome!

Concurrently, I'm de-leafing watercress, a laborious but rather meditative task. And quiet meditation is so definitely what I need right now. There are many reasons I love to cook: it allows a sense of control over something when much of life seems (is?) mostly uncontrollable; it offers a challenge when made-up words and toddler nonsense chip away at my brain; it provides a sense of accomplishment in a way that day-to-day (in the short term) parenting rarely does; and the parts of cooking that are repetitive (shelling beans) or practiced (my pie crust) offer the mind a rest as you work towards an end which will likely be comforting and good.

Even when I'm tired, I tend to summon the will to cook because I know that a good meal will satisfy me in a way nothing else quite can. To nourish yourself and others is such an elemental way of caring, a chance to slow down and appreciate what's inside and around you.

Coconut Cream Pie

I just can't hold off any longer. Today is the day a coconut cream pie will be made over here! Mamma mia. After the failed muffins last night, I need a sure thing in the dessert department. I really miss Oliver's naps. It drives me mad to watch him refuse something he so desperately needs and to then pack up to go somewhere with him and then watch as he immediately falls asleep in the car. Eff! After picking him up this morning, I made us lunch and then we gardened for a while. After an hour or so, unable to stand the chattering and mosquitoes, we headed inside, and I told him he'd have to play by himself for a while. Mr. Independent 3 said, "No, I just won't do that." Who is kidding me. Ignoring him commenced, and after 10 minutes of scaling my body as if it were some rock wall, he finally threw in the towel and pout-slouched over to the Legos. He has realized that Legos are fun. Um, hel-lo?!! This is why they've been a popular toy for oh, I don't know, ever.

Jack's play was a-DORable this morning. The teachers really did a fabulous job writing it, and the children were awesome performers. Imagine 24 little voices singing Madonna's "Like a Prayer" re-worded to describe looking for a friend who went missing when she wished on a magic turkey feather and turned into a raindrop. Hilarious and darling.

Ok, off to make lemon curd. Tomorrow will be a massive cooking fest over here in prep for the baby shower on Sunday. Strawberry cake, chocolate almond cake, blueberry-peach tart, tea sandwiches, quinoa salad, shaved asparagus and mint, scones, rose  jam, and the lemon curd. Beautiful and delicious, yes?