Monthly Archives: March 2014

Irish Soda Bread

by Katie | 4 Comments

Are you still recovering from yesterday? I must admit, it isn’t a holiday that we celebrate in any special way, except that every March I get the urge to bake a loaf of soda bread and drink a Shamrock shake*.

liveseasoned_spring2014_sodabread_baked_wmFor the longest time I baked a basic soda bread sometimes with raisins sometimes without, either way not giving it much thought. Then I tasted an out-of-this world loaf from La Farine in Oakland, and ever since I’ve been on a mission to recreate it. La Farine’s version contains caraway seeds (something I never thought to include), raisins, and, at least to my tongue, it tasted sweeter than what I was accustomed to.

I haven’t been able to find a recipe for their bread, so I’ve made do with sampling from recipes I’ve found online. Today’s recipe is a variation of one found on Whipped. And remember, we usually include some tips and tricks at the end of the recipe, so read it in its entirety before starting.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups flour
  • 1/3-1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp caraway seeds
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp orange (or lemon) zest
  • 3/4 cup raisins
  • 3/4 cup cold butter
  • 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp buttermilk
  • egg wash: 1 egg + 1 Tbsp water + pinch of salt

 

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the caraway seeds, raisins, and zest.
  • Cut your butter into 1/2 inch segments and add it to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or the paddle attachment on a stand mixer, incorporate the butter until the mixture becomes mealy.
  • Add 3/4 cup of the buttermilk, missing it in for about 30 seconds. Scrape down the bowl, making sure to incorporate the dry ingredients that remain. Add enough additional buttermilk until the dough holds together. I used the full quantity of buttermilk, but you may use more or less depending upon humidity and how arid your ingredients are.
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into two evenly-sized disks. Score the loafs into quarters and brush  with the egg wash.
  • Bake the bread for 20-25 minutes, it should be a light brown with a shiny finish when done.

Tips and Tricks

  • If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute with regular milk and 1 Tbsp white vinegar or lemon juice. Mix it together and let it stand for 5 minutes before using in the recipe.
  • The original recipe called for 1/3 cup sugar, but in trying to recreate the sweetness of La Farine’s bread, I increased it to 1/2 cup. Either will work depending upon your preference.
  • The original recipe called for orange zest. I would have loved to use it, but alas, I didn’t have any fresh citrus in the house. I did, however, have some dried lemon rind that I rehydrated and used. It was delicious, but I’m craving another loaf with the orange zest.
  • Sarah here: If you’re like me and you don’t own a pastry cutter or stand mixer, hold a butter knife in each hand and cut in the butter that way.

Soda bread is such an easy bread to make, no waiting for the dough to rise or kneading required. It’s delicious hot from the oven, and even better with a pat of butter. If you have the urge to bake, I hope you’ll give this recipe a try!

*Back to the Shamrock Shake. I’m not talking about this disgustingly sweet new version that looks to be 90% neon green syrupy goop, but the old one of my childhood that was a perfectly minted shake (and even if it wasn’t made from 100% ice cream, milk, and mint, it was a good imitation). This may be the year I finally break down and make my own. [insert tiny Sarah on your shoulder chanting dooo it, dooo it!] 

Spring Beer Sampler

by Sarah | 3 Comments

 

liveseasoned_spring2014_beer_glasses2_wmTop ‘o the mornin’ to ya! Happy St. Patricks Day.  Will you be sipping on a green beer today?  Katie and I agree that drinking beer with your friends is always in season.  Today we’re sharing our spring sampler picks and urging you to go grab yourself a sixer.

I’m more likely to order a beer than a mixed drink or a shot, but sometimes I’m at a loss for what to order.  I find myself sticking to the tried and true (Yuengling anyone?), which always taste great, but fail to surprise and excite my tastebuds like they did in the past.  If this sounds familiar, why not try sampling a six pack of new-to-you brews?  That’s what the Seasoned gang did this weekend and we were not disappointed.  We learned a lot about the various beers and our own tastes.  We also wrote down our views and opinions of each hoping to pinpoint our preferences for future bar and bottle shop visits.

If you were following our Instagram feed, you probably noticed that there was a meeting of the Seasons last week when Katie and her gang were on their roadtrip. Minutes after they settled in, we paid a visit to the  Weaver Street Market, Carrboro’s co-op, to browse for beers.  Other than ordering a flight of beer in one of our favorite PA breweries, we have never sampled a variety of beers in one go at home. That said, we are amateurs when it comes to setting up a tasting, and we went with our guts when it came to making our selection. We scanned the shelves for both spring inspired and local beers and walked away with a great selection brewed in North Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maine. Side note from Katie: In addition to the spring brews, I threw in the Sly Fox Christmas Ale as the rogue out-of-season beer because I’m in love with it and wanted to see what Sarah thought. 

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We set up a blind tasting to ensure we weren’t judging our brews by their labels.  If we were, Green Man and Sly Fox tied for the blue ribbon.  Being the Pennsylvania natives that we are, we made sure to include a bowl of pretzels to cleanse our pallet between beers. We also prepared score sheets so that we could keep track of our honest opinions of each beer.  We quickly realized we don’t posses the same vocabulary of experienced brew competition judges, but our simple notes were enough to categorize our tastes: Kate and Sarah on one end and Kevin on the other.

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Our Picks:

Carolina Blonde Cream Ale by Foothills Brewing -NC

Carolina Blonde was everything the bottle said it should be.  Clean, refreshing, rich, golden and unmistakably smooth.  We all agreed this smelled like beer.  That’s how articulate we are.  This beer was so smooth it was almost like drinking water.  It was good, but I wouldn’t say it was flavorful and on that same note it had really clean and refreshing qualities.  I commented, ‘replace your water with this,’ and I meant it.  It’s really easy to drink and it seems hydrating at the same time. Katie here: when I read Sarah’s water comment during the tasting, I laughed thinking she meant that it was equivalent to water (flavor-less, color-less, low in alcohol content, etc ), but after reading her explanation, I understood what she meant. This beer fell a bit flat for me, as Sarah said, it wasn’t as “flavorful” as the other more creative picks on the list, but it wasn’t necessarily brewed to have the fruity and hoppy notes that the others do, so perhaps this is an unfair comparison? 

Namaste by Dogfish Head Brewery -DE

Namaste is a white beer brewed with orange slices, lemongrass, coriander and peppercorns.  White beers and wheat beers are very similar, which is why Kevin loved this as much as the Weeping Willow Wit.  Namaste is a beautiful golden brew with a very fragrant aroma.  Kate thought it tasted like tea, Kevin like wheat and I like perfume.  I often taste what I smell so in this case the aroma was too overpowering for me, but for those of you that enjoy fruity, crisp, wheat beers, cheers to you!

Piercing Pils by Dogfish Head Brewery -DE

Piercing Pils is a Czech- style Pilsner brewed with pear juice, pear tea and Saaz hops.  Pilsners are hoppy, which translates to a spicy or floral aromatic flavor.  We all noticed a lemony-fresh scent along with hints of spring in this beautiful orangey golden beer.  Again Katie and I tasted the same peppery hops, while Kevin tasted the opposite: a lemony and light flavor, which was actually the pear ingredients coming through.  If you like a spicy and fragrant beer, this ones for you.

Rambler Spring Ale by Green Man Brewery -NC

Kate and I both fell in love with the beer immediately because of the label, cap, and brand, and it warmed our little tastebuds to know that it was actually one of our favorites in the blind taste test.  Kate and I both smelled orange blossom and Kevin and I also smelled lots of hops.  Rambler is a Pale Ale, which means there’s a balance of both malt and hops.  The Rambler features British malt and American hops with a floral undertone.  Kevin despises Pale Ales so it’s no wonder he didn’t dig this brew, but Kate and I on the other hand loved it.  Kate’s final assessment was ‘double love’ while mine was ‘drink this in the woods or around a campfire.’

Christmas Ale by Sly Fox -PA

We all agreed that this rich chestnut colored ale smelled exactly like Christmas.  Scents of clove, ginger, all spice, cinnamon and nutmeg translates into warm coziness for the nostrils.  Kate thought it tasted like nutmeg and Christmas cheer and while I had never tasted Christmas cheer, I thought it had a spicy, but mainly sweet, warm and maple syrup flavor.  We all agreed it made us feel warm and cozy inside, which is exactly what this ale intends.  If you missed Katie’s earlier note, we threw this one into the mix because she loved it to the moon and back and she had to pass it on and I’m oh so glad because it transported me right back to December. Katie here: I didn’t discover this Christmas Ale until after the season, but when I opened my first can of it, I was blown away by the spicy aroma, and I had one of those weird smell-induced memories that took me back to buying lebkucken in the Christmas markets in Germany. 

Weeping Willow Wit by Mother Earth Brewing Co. -NC

A Wit is a Belgium Wheat Ale that uses at least 25% of wheat malts.  The Weeping Willow Wit has a low hop bitterness paired with orange peels and coriander, which explains why Katie and I both thought it tasted peppery and spicy.  Kevin liked the light and subtle taste, which can be explained by his love of spice and distaste for bitterness (which this beer is not) making this one of his favorites.

Simco Spring Ale by Peak Organic Brewing -ME

This was another favorite of both Katie and I, while Kevin, the pale ale hater, thought it tasted bitter.  We all loved the look of this pretty orange brew and the flowery and sweet scent lulled us into a spring daydream.  Katie and I both described the flavor as fruity and light.  Katie even went so far as to describe the feel as effervescent, which is why we gave her the master judger award. Katie: a couple of days after the test, I’m still thinking about this beer! At the time I tasted it, I picked up on a distinct light and fruity taste, and scouting around online, I noticed that it was described as having “piney” and fruity notes, which is exactly right! There was a taste that I couldn’t describe when sampling, but it is definitely that hint of pine. Just as Sly Fox was so perfectly Christmas, this one is spring in a bottle. On a sadder note, maybe I was delirious from all of the road-trip driving, but throughout our taste test, I was sure that this one was called “Sycamore” Spring Ale, and I loved it all the more for having such a perfect name so I was bummed when I realized my mistake… and now I’m hoping that someone out there will brew up a batch of Sycamore Spring Ale for me. 

liveseasoned_spring2014_beer_pretzels2_wmAfter sipping our sampler pack and reviewing our comment cards we all really got a feel for what types of beer we prefer.  Katie and I steer towards pale ales while Kevin likes wheats and whites.  Usually I feel sleepy when I drink at home, but the blind taste test added a whole other element to drinking beer after beer.  We chatted about each selection, singled Kevin out for his opposite tastes and had a much livelier time than if we were drinking the usual Yuengling.

Katie (ugh, again, I know): I second Sarah’s comment that this was a lot of fun! To do this test, we bought a variety 6-pack from the grocer. And I wanted to butt-in to Sarah’s post just one more time to justify that purchase and encourage all of you to go out and do the same. It’s slightly more expensive than buying a 6-pack of a single beer, but obviously much less expensive than if we were to buy packs of each of the beers tested here. The beginning of the season is the perfect time to do a little test like this. I sampled the now notorious Christmas Sly Fox when I picked up a winter sampler in January, and immediately I wished I had tried it sooner so that I could have enjoyed it all winter. After this tasting, I’m excited for warm evenings on the deck or in the garden with the Simcoe and Rambler spring ales!

What about you, have you tried any of the beers on our list? If so, what did you think? How do you pick new beers to sample? By their label? Or is your choice more informed?

In Season: Pi Inspired Links

by Sarah | 4 Comments

PiPineapplePie

Happy Pi Day from Live Seasoned!  Today we have math and pies on the brain, well mostly pies.  Here’s a few pi (and pie) inspired links for your Friday, there’s still time to make it a Pieday!

New to this whole Pi Day business? Well it’s time to get your act together! Learn a bit about Pi here.

People compete to memorize Pi, which is a challenge since its decimal digits never end and never develop a repeating pattern. If you want to do the same and impress your friends, get this mug. Looking at it every morning is sure to help.

I must admit, it’s rare that I bake a pie, but I recently spent two months on a mountain with an amazing pie baker!  He whipped them up like it was nothing and he also told me about this sweet pie blog that his friend created.  Eating his pies was inspirational, but I still haven’t gotten around to baking one yet. Shh, don’t tell.

What is 3.14 backwards? PIE!

I’m more likely to make a pot pie or shepard’s pie.

One of my favorite Christmas presents this year was a really pretty white ruffled pie dish.  Everyone should own one.  Here’s a few other pretty pieces.

And how cute are these Easy As Pie dishtowels?

One of the best pies I’ve ever had was raw.  I remember my roommates and I all shared it until it was finished, which took about five minutes.

This split decision pie pan is a great idea, especially to accommodate for different diets;  now gluten-freebies and vegans can eat pie with the rest of the gang.

If you succeed at baking and eating a pie today, please order this t-shirt.

Need some more pie inspiration?  Check out our pinterest board for more recipes and cute pie supplies.

 

*Image via the Nerdista

Potato Stamp Tutorial

by Sarah | Leave a comment

If you’ve never transformed a vegetable into a stamp now’s your chance.  It’s a quick and disposable option for those days when you want to create something without too much preparation and effort.  Potatoes are cheap and it’s likely that you have a couple living in your kitchen right now.  Sliced in half, potatoes are a perfectly blank canvas just waiting to be customized.  Cheap, easy and customizable means a perfect craft for groups so test out this tutorial at summer camp, in the classroom or on a rainy day.  We love stamping so much here at Live Seasoned that this is just the first post in a Stamping Series.  From time to time we’ll be back to teach you how to make stamps from just about anything from Styrofoam takeout containers to pencil erasers.  For now grab your spuds and let’s get starchy.

Supplies:

  • Canvas or Cardstock
  • Potato
  • Pen
  • Pairing Knife
  • Paint
  • Exacto Knife (optional)
  • Paper (optional)
  • Stencil (optional)

Instructions:

  • Pick a potato, any potato.  Slice your potato in half and boom, we’re already on our way to making two stamps.
  • First cut the desired letters or shapes out of card stock to create a stencil.  If you’re a confident cutter, by all means skip the stencil step.
  • Stick a stencil on each half of the potato.  The moisture will adhere the paper to the potato; it’s quite convenient.
  • Carve around each stencil, basically tracing its form onto the potato.  I actually did this step with a pen.  I poked it in a little bit and then dragged it along the outside of each stencil.  (I had planned on doing it with the exacto knife, but the pen worked so well and I figured it’s more likely that you have a pen handy.)  If you aren’t using a stencil then carve your chosen shape into the potato using a pen, exacto knife or pairing knife.
  • After your shape is carved into the top of the potato, take your pairing knife and slice into the potato about a quarter to a half-inch.  Drag it all the way around the circumference of the potato making sure not to cut all the way through, which would cut off the design you just created.  Then cut down into the potato on each edge of the design removing any excess potato.
  • You should be left with a raised design, in my case an X and an O.  Clean up the edges of your design with an exacto knife, pairing knife or even your fingernail.
  • Finally make a small mark on the skin of the potato to signify where the top and sides of your design is.  This will help if you want to line up your stamp or space it evenly on your project.
  • Next dip your stamp in paint or brush some directly onto the potato and stamp your heart out.  I found that it worked best to dip my spud in a thin layer of paint rather than a puddle.  Potatoes have a high water content, that mixed with paint can make them slip around on your paper or canvas.  I used an old tin can lid as my paint palette, which worked well as far as pushing around the paint and ensuring only a thin layer was being applied.

Each stamping will look a little different and that’s really the beauty of the potato stamp.  It’s not rigid and formal; it’s unique and playful.  I played around with both repetition and white space.  I could have decorated a dozen canvases, but I only had three.  As you can see, some of the stamps are more opaque than others.  I decided to use a paintbrush on some and others I left alone.  It’s all a matter of personal preference.

I had a great time playing around with these potato stamps and it made me excited to babysit or teach again so that I could pass on the fun.  I’m always looking for cheap and easy household crafts that I can create in a pinch to entertain bored kiddos.  Potato stamps are the perfect solution for creating decorations, invites, or gift wrapping for those random occasions or specific party themes.  I know I’d rather run to my kitchen rather than a craft store whenever I need a simple stamp.  I hope you’ll try this out next time you’re entertaining some art-lovin’ little ones or maybe you’ll throw your first ever ‘Buds and Spuds’ art party.  Be sure to instagram your results and tag @liveseasoned, we’ll love you forever.

*This post contains affiliate links. 

Smoothie Round Up

by Sarah | 2 Comments

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I’m a smoothie fanatic.  Growing up I’d make milkshakes almost every night of the week, but as I got older my tastes changed and I’ve moved on from ice cream and milk to fruit and juice.  Lucky for me there’s about a million more options in the smoothie department.  A big smoothie is a great substitute from breakfast or lunch.  I especially like to drink them at the start of a big road trip that way I’m not tempted to stop for fast food or right before work as I’m running out the door.

You don’t need to follow a strict recipe for smoothies so feel free to sub in or out any of the ingredients listed.  Today we’ll make three smoothies from seven ingredients (oats are optional).  As long as you have frozen fruit and juice, you’re good to go.  I also like to add greek yogurt and any little extras I have lying around like oatmeal, chia seeds, maca powder or hemp hearts.  Plug in your blender, grab a jar and a straw and let’s blend.

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Green Goddess

  • ¼ c yogurt
  • ½ c orange juice
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 2 big handfuls of spinach
  • 6 ice cubes

I drank a Green Goddess every day for a month last summer and I felt light and airy like a little fairy (hehe).  It’s cheap, easy and healthy.   If I’m away from home and there’s a blender where I’m staying I always pick up these four ingredients.  It’s a great way to save money on the road while staying healthy and energized. If you think this sounds like a weird combination, you’re in for a tasty surprise.  You can barely taste the spinach; it’s actually a tangy and sweet smoothie.

Be sure to clean your spinach well since it’s part of the dirty dozen (one of the most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables) or buy pre-washed or organic spinach. I named it the Green Goddess because among the many benefits of spinach, it’s has a high vitamin A and C content.  Vitamin A is key for sebum production to keep hair moisturized; it’s also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair.  Vitamin C is imperative for the building and maintenance of collagen which provides structure to skin and hair, therefore this smoothie will keep you looking like a goddess.

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Berry Blend

  • ¼ c yogurt
  • ½ c cherry juice
  • ¼ c milk or water
  • ½ c frozen mangoes
  • 5 big strawberries

Strawberries and cherry juice blend together to make the perfect mix of sweet and tart in this smoothie.  I used 100% Cherry Juice from Trader Joe’s.  It’s deliciously strong, which is why I also added some milk, but feel free to sub in water (or coconut water), a non-dairy milk or another juice if you’re vegan.  If you go the water route, don’t worry the taste won’t suffer.  Cherry juice is a good source of antioxidants, it helps regulate blood sugar, and is a proven aid in exercise recovery.  It’s also a great source of melatonin, which regulates your body’s internal clock.  Strawberries also pack a punch.  They’re heart healthy, full of vitamins and good for your teeth.  Strawberries are a great source of polyphenols, a compound that inhibits the breakdown of starches in mouth, while also fighting the bacteria that contributes to gum disease and tooth decay. Pretty sweet, right?

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Sunrise Smoothie

  • ¼ c yogurt
  • 1 c orange juice
  • ½ c frozen mangoes
  • 1 frozen banana
  • big spoonful oatmeal (optional)

The Sunrise Smoothie is a mild fruity blend to start your day off on the right foot.  It will wake you up, help you get energized and give you a whole host of benefits without you even knowing it.  Orange juice is a great source of Vitamin C, which aids in collagen production and helps control free radicals that cause early aging.  OJ also lowers bad cholesterol, reduces inflammation and balances blood pressure.  Bananas are the most widely consumed fruit and for good reason.  There are too many benefits to mention here, but for starters, bananas help one overcome depression, reduce PMS symptoms and protect against muscle cramps.  Here’s an interesting study conducted by Oklahoma State University concerning new health benefits of mangoes, which include aiding in blood sugar regulation and reducing body fat.  Top it off with a scoop of oatmeal to add texture, fiber and protein and sip away.

I hope you enjoyed these simple smoothie recipes.  Smoothies are a cheap, easy and quick meal substitute if you’re constantly rushing around or just don’t have the energy to cook something up.  Stay healthy friends!

Energy flows where intention goes: Create Daily.

by Sarah | Leave a comment

Whether you decide to focus your energy on your profession, home, health or anything in between, it’s important to create a little bit of something each day.  It’s nice to feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day instead of worry.  Don’t go to bed thinking I should have, why didn’t I or what if?  Lay your head down knowing that however your day played out, you created a little something for yourself.

I tend to be hard on myself when it comes to making and creating.  I have so many ideas floating around in my brain that I get down on myself when I don’t put them into motion.  Sometimes I intend to finish a huge project, but by the end of the day I’ve only ended up collecting the materials to begin, but that’s ok.  Creation takes time.  Being inspired to do something is a process, but it will feel better if you take a tiny step towards your goal, project or creation every day.

I’m sure you’ve heard the quote by Lao Tzu, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  Think back to your last big project at work, in the kitchen or at your crafting table.  Better yet, think about awful papers you had to write in school.  How much energy was wasted resisting?  Then you put pencil to paper and the first sentence emerged and you realized you can get through this paper and who knows you might even go on to live a happy and fulfilling life.  The crazy thing is, I find myself resisting projects that I know I’m going to enjoy creating.  It must be biology trying to protect me from the unknown-I can’t fathom another reason why time after time I tip toe into projects.  Once I begin, I take off at lightening speed and enjoy every second.  Whether it comes easy or there’s problem solving to be done-it’s a nice creative challenge.  So here’s me encouraging you to take off, just do it, create daily!

It could be something simple like a daily doodle of encouragement, a step or two of a larger project or a workout.  Maybe you want to cook dinner five nights a week or edit and organize your entire photo library.  Maybe you’ve been pining awesome DIYs or filling up your basket of clothes to be mended.  Whatever projects you’ve been putting off or shuffling around, here’s your cue. Go, make, create!  Do a little something every day and I promise you, you’ll feel a whole lot better by the time the end of the week rolls around.

Remember: creation doesn’t have to be material.  Maybe you created space to think by meditating for five minutes or muscles by pumping out ten pushups. Usually my creations are meals or even cups of tea and to do lists.  As long as you set aside a moment for yourself in which you can relax and feel inspired you’re beginning to create. Now go! Think! Make! Create!

In Season: Gettin’ Crafty With It

by Sarah | 2 Comments

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This week I worked two smaller gigs that paid in cash and after each one I stopped off at Michaels, A.C. Moore and Lowes on the way home.  I realized I have a tendency to immediately spend my cash on craft supplies even though I already have a whole room full of fabrics, papers, ribbons and yarns.  Are you the same way?  What are your favorite craft supply sources and items?  We’ve rounded up a few fun ones here, but we’re always looking for those mystical bead shops or that warehouse full of fabrics so let us in on your secret supply stores too.

In a few weeks we’ll be sharing some map-tastic crafts so now would be a good time to stock up on these.

These safety pins make awesome removable stitch markers for your knitting projects, and with 300 in a box, you have plenty to lose, share, or stash!

Our mom left Katie with an extra (EXTRA) large crochet hook. What to do with it? Maybe this cowl? Or a crocheted rug?

And then there’s this yarn. wow.

Need a place to store your supplies? Katie uses a library card catalog she picked up on Ebay.

We also love metal tackle boxes for storage. One for jewelry supplies, another for the tools and bobbins we use when at the sewing machine.

Shop Goodwill is a great site for so many reasons.  Sarah is currently perusing their listings for a good sewing machine.

We don’t own fringe scissors, at least not yet! But don’t they look equally scary and exciting at the same time?

When it comes to making wearable gifts for others, the hardest part is getting the sizes right. Size charts like this one for hats are my go-to reference.

Of course, crafting doesn’t have to require buying the supplies, sometimes you have everything you need at home. Take these wine cork stamps as an example. (We all have wine waiting for an excuse to be opened, right?)

Have a great weekend everyone and hopefully it involves a little pro-craft-tination.

Ps. you can find us here now!

*Image via Library of Congress

Rosemary Vodka & Herb Bloody Marys

by Katie | 6 Comments

As you would expect, we love to eat seasonally, varying our ingredients and menus to take advantage of whatever is fresh at the moment. We thought it would be fun to place extra emphasis on one flavor or ingredient each season, highlighting the variety of ways you can use it in your food and home. To kick things off, this season’s ingredient is rosemary!

Today we wanted to share an amazingly simple way to turn your average bloody mary into something extraordinary: rosemary vodka!

Making the vodka is so easy, and when paired with our bloody mary recipe below, you’ll be the star of your next brunch (honestly, the bloody mary will be the star, you’ll be drunk).  We’ve dressed up the bloody mary with some fresh herbs and cheese stuffed olives, nothing too crazy, but just fun enough to make these bloody marys memorable.

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First the vodka  ~ I’m going to provide basic instructions, but fom my experience, the process is flexible and can be adjusted based upon how strongly flavored you want your vodka to be.

 

Vodka Ingredients

  • 4 cups vodka
  • 4-5 sprigs fresh rosemary (more or less to adjust flavor)

Place the rosemary and vodka in a clean jar to steep. After a few days, give your vodka a taste. You should be able to taste a hint (or more) of the rosemary flavor. I wanted an intense flavor (and I may have forgotten about this project for a moment), so I let my rosemary steep for over a week. After that amount of time, the rosemary flavor was perfectly present in my bloody mary, but not overwhelming.

Whenever you are happy with the rosemary flavor of your vodka, remove the rosemary sprigs. Be prepared for your vodka to turn a greenish-brown color as the rosemary’s tannins are released ~ while slightly unnerving, the color change really makes it seem like you’ve made a potion!

Now, you could take your vodka and make a basic bloody mary, but why not dress it up a bit? The recipe below simplifies things by using bloody mary mix, but then we splurge on the goat cheese-stuffed olives and the fragrance from the additional fresh herbs.

liveseasoned_spring2014_bloodymary_ingredients_wm

Bloody Mary Ingredients

(makes 1)
  • 2 oz vodka
  • 4-5 oz bloody mary mix
  • 1 tsp horseradish
  • 2 dashes worchestershire sauce
  • lime wedge
  • celery stalk
  • goat cheese
  • green olives (I purchased olives without the pimentos)
  • fresh herbs, particularly dill and cilantro

Stuff your olives with the goat cheese. I used a knife to push the goat cheese into the open end of the olive. It wasn’t pretty, but it was relatively easy.

In a glass filled with ice, add the vodka, bloody mary mix, worchestershire, and horseradish. Stir it well. Arrange the celery stalk and herb sprigs in the glass. Add the lime wedge and skewered olives to the glass’s edge.

Enjoy!

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Have you tried your hand at infused vodkas? Have any favorite flavors?

What about your bloody mary, what are your favorite garnishes?

Welcome March!

by Katie | Leave a comment

On the first Wednesday of every month, you can find us checking in with what’s coming up on the calendar, both literally and figuratively. 

It’s 50F as I type this. I’m at the kitchen table, and the ground outside is covered in a blanket of snow, but there’s a steady drip of water as the snow on the roof begins to melt.

March is truly a month of transitions as we leave winter behind and take that first confident step into spring. Of course, there were a few warm days towards the end of February that hinted at the coming spring, and Mother Nature has started to make her move.

liveseasoned_spring2014_welcomemarch_ice_wmDeciduous trees and shrubs that have stored sugars and nutrients in their roots all winter begin sending it up their trunks to their outer branches as the days warm. That stored energy will be used to open the tree’s buds, making leaves and flowers. It’s during this time of year, that we tap the sap from the maple trees and boil it down into syrup. Maple syrup festivals abound throughout the tapping region and follow the slow warming of the east coast beginning with festivals in Virginia in early March and PA and NY festivals in mid to late March. Along with the maple trees, the opening of the Cherry blossoms are a cause for celebration throughout Japan and here in the US. The month-long National Cherry Blossom Festival begins in DC on March 19th.

Even before the deciduous trees fill out, the earliest of bulbs begin to flower. Crocus may be the typical early spring bloom that pops into your mind, but they are preceded by winter aconite (Eranthis) or snowdrops (Galanthus) bloom.  Of course, all of these will soon be followed by daffodils, hyacinth and tulips.

Snowdrops
Winter Aconite

March is a month of intense activity for many of our migratory animals, including some of our favorites: the monarch butterfly, whooping crane, and ruby-throated hummingbird. Monarchs* are leaving Mexico and southern US for their multi-generation trip north. The endangered Whooping Crane, which is North America’s tallest bird at around 5 feet, take off from their Texas wintering grounds in mid-March. Ruby-throated hummingbirds that flew all the way down to Panama for the winter are now well into their migration north. Many have reached the Yucatan peninsula by now where they will gorge on insects before making the non-stop flight across the Gulf in early March. From there they will continue north following the blooming flowers they rely on for nectar.

Robins have already arrived in central PA. They differ than the other species we’ve mentioned in that they don’t have a direct north-south migration, and their movements are not well understood. They move in large flocks, avoiding areas with deep snow, looking for the availability of fruit in the fall and then returning to their summer breeding grounds as the soil warms and earthworms are available.

The vernal equinox and first official day of spring occurs on March 20th when the sun is positioned directly over the equator. While it may be the most anticipated, that’s not the only fun celestial activity this month. Coincidentally, also on March 20th an extremely rare event will take place shortly after 2 a.m.. An asteroid known as 163 Erigone will pass in front of the bright star Regulus in the constellation of Leo, causing the star to disappear.  This event is even more special because it will only be visible (invisible?) along a 45-mile-wide path that begins in the span between New York City to Oswego, NY and continues northwest into Ontario, Canada. If you’re in the center of this path, the star will remain invisible for 12 seconds.

March’s full moon occurs on the 15th. The native american tribes of the US named the full moons in order to help them keep track of the seasons, most names have to do with natural phenomena or seasonal activities. Many of the moons have a single name, but March’s moon takes the cake in naming. It’s known as the Worm Moon because earthworm casts appear (with the worms feeding the aforementioned robins). The more northern tribes referred to the moon as the Full Crow Moon or Full Crust Moon; the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter, and as many readers can probably relate to this year, the carpet of snow still present in the north thaws during the day and then forms a hard crust overnight when it freezes.  In conjunction with the tapping of the make trees, March’s moon has also been called the Full Sap Moon.

liveseasoned_spring2014_welcomemarch_beer_wm

Back in the human realm, Mardi Gras was celebrated yesterday on March 4th (maybe you’re still recovering? or still snacking on those donuts?). Daylight savings time begins at 2:00 a.m. on March 9th; spring ahead lovelies! March 14th is Pi Day. March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day, don’t worry, we’re doing the heavy lifting and planning a little beer review for you. This year the 17th also happens to be India’s famous Holi Festival, also known as the Festival of Colors, celebrating the coming of spring and the victory of good over evil. If you can’t make it to India, there’s a festival on March 8th in LA and the 29th-30th in Spanish Fork, UT.

Finally, just a little warning from Scottish folklore ~ the last three days of March have a reputation for being stormy, and the story has it that these days were borrowed from April. So if the sun is shining today, enjoy it, but be prepared for the end of March and those pesky April showers.

So, that’s a little bit of what’s going on around here, what we’re excited for, and what we’re looking for in our backyard. What’s on your agenda for March?

*Have you heard that the overwintering populations in Mexico are at record lows? This is a concern that we thought was worth acknowledging here, but we would love to discuss it in more detail in a future post.

Seasoned Bookclub : Spring Pick

by Katie | 2 Comments

wpa_bookmark

 

Reading is always in season, right? Or do you find yourself to be a beach blanket reader or maybe you’re a curled up under the comforter reader?  I used to be a star summertime reader, saving up all my book picks until the warmest months of the year and then devouring them during my college break.  I would read like it was my job.  If I wasn’t at work, my days including nothing but sipping tea, lathering on suntan lotion and reading up a storm.  Those days have passed, but only because my life no longer consists of only two seasons: college and summer.  Now that I don’t have mounds of required reading, I can read all the books I want. Yipee! I know you’re fist pumping right now or raisin’ the roof with two books in your hands, well let me give you something else to cheer about. Two words: book club.

That’s right my friends, Katie and I are taking our books to the blog.  We want to open up a little dialogue about the great books that are out there and we sincerely hope you’ll join us.  I always hear people say, “I don’t have the time” or “I don’t know what book to read.”  Let us suggest a book for you and come onnn, you don’t have the time?  When was the last time you watched a really dumb TV show or checked your email, facebook, pinterest, blah, blah, blah. You do have the time! Once you start reading I promise time will pop up out of nowhere and beg you to pick up your book. So just do it, commit to reading one (yep, only one!) book per season with us.  We promise you’ll have a good time and you might even learn something along the way. Have you seen this vocabulary test by the way? If that left you feeling a little deflated (I’m talking about me here) then check out Free Rice where you can take vocabulary quizzes among a bunch of other subjects, my favorite being geography.  It’s run by the United Nations World Food Program, which means every correct answer is a donation of 10 grains of rice! I digress, back to our Spring Book Club Pick, drum roll please! (pats hands on thighs in quick succession because I was serious about that drum roll)

Spring Book Club Pick

Spring Book Club Pick

For our first ever book club pick, we’ve decided to go with Maria Semple’s, Where’d You Go, Bernadette.  Katie and I have heard only great things about this extraordinary fiction novel so we had to see for ourselves what all the praise was about.  I knew I recognized the author’s name, but it wasn’t until I read the cover that I realized she wrote one of my favorite sitcoms, Arrested Development.  Side note: were you disappointed by the 4th season? I need to know if I’m the only one.  Semple also wrote for Mad About You (do you guys remember what a great show that was?!) and Ellen, so be prepared to laugh at the insanity that lies within these pages.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette is a novel about seemingly insane yet all too accurate accounts of growing, parenting, aging and making a life for oneself.  You’ll read about personal struggles with both identity and family relationships and while there are some serious undertones, this book will make you smile.  It will snap you out of whatever fog you’re in and somehow encourage you to get it together and start living the life you intended for yourself.

Spring Book Club Pick

Spring Book Club Pick

Taken from the back of the book: “When fifteen-year-old Bee claims a family trip to Antarctica as a reward for perfect grades, her fiercely intelligent but agoraphobic mother, Bernadette, throws herself into preparations for the trip.  Worn down by years of trying to live the Seattle life she never wanted, Bernadette is on the brink of a meltdown.  As disaster follows disaster, she disappears, leaving her family to pick up the pieces.  Which is exactly what Bee does, weaving together emails, invoices and school memos to reveal the secret past that Bernadette has been hiding for decades.  Where’d You Go, Bernadette, is an ingeniously entertaining novel about a family coming to terms with who they are, and the power of a daughter’s love for her imperfect mother.”

Here are some of the rave reviews:

  • “In a time when everything is a version of something else, how extraordinary-and exciting- to read a novel that subverts conventions to create an experience that feels so fresh.” –The L Magazine
  • “You’ll laugh your pants off, and love the takeaway- that a life gone off the rails can propel you in a bright new direction.” –Redbook
  • “A crackingly smart family dramedy.” – Time

There are soooooo many more similarly raving reviews, but I want you guys to decide for yourself and let us know how you think this novel rates.  Ok, one last word about how great this book is: Where’d You Go, Bernadette was named one of the year’s best books by the San Francisco Chronicle, Kansas City Star, Entertainment Weekly, Miami Herald, People, Denver Post and Philadelphia Inquirer.  I’ve worked in a newsroom (Philadelphia Inquirer) and I’ve seen the dozens of books piled on reviewers’ desks, so it speaks volumes when so many have deemed it one of the year’s best.  Ok, I promise I’m done praising it!

Kate and I think it would be super fun if you’d read along with us and then we can all chat about it.  Who doesn’t love a good book chitchat? It’s guilt free gossiping.  You get to flex those judgment muscles (which we hope you don’t do too often!) and talk about fictional characters with us and hey, you might even learn something about yourself along the way.  Sometimes I buy the kindle version, but because of the unorthodox formatting of this novel, I suggest buying the paperback. Oh, and don’t forget about the library option!  That was my plan, but both times I went all three copies were checked out! Probably because this book is all the rage right now, now READ ON! (Head bangs and raises book to the sky)

WPA image provided by the Library of Congress.