Pistachio love.

The other day my dear friend Drea came over and brought some of the most amazing peaches I've ever seen! I could have just stuffed my face with them, but I've been wanting to try these raw dessert recipes so instead I made the "peach cobbler" from Ani's raw dessert book. Pistachios and Peaches are so good together, needless to say this did not last in the refrigerator very long.

It is pretty scandalous how simple this is. Here are the ingredients:
Peach & Pistachio Cobbler

CRUST

• ½ cup shelled pistachios
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup Medjool dates

FILLING

• 4 cups sliced peaches
• 3 tablespoons agave nectar
• 1 vanilla bean
  

pistachios + peaches = food fireworks
















The rest is pretty self explanatory. Food process all the crust ingredients and chop and stir the filling. Blend together and eat! For storage it's better to leave the crust and filling separate until you want to eat it because the filing can make the "crust" less crunchy.



the final product. full of flavor minus the guilt!

I should have been a...

I could finish that phrase with so many things! Lately, I've been wishing, along with getting MUCH better at sewing, that I could be a photographer. I know it's so cliche, and everyone and their mom has a digital SLR now, but there's something about creating beautiful, artistically composed, unprocessed original photos that I am drawn to. I hope it's something that I can continue to get better at...unfortunately, that means shelling out some serious cash for some good equipment. Meanwhile, on my europe trip this fall, I promise to take good pictures and post a few good ones to this blog!

I've been randomly happening upon amazing wedding photos lately. Take a gander (at these collections and the rest of their stuff)!

http://lovemedophotography.com/blog/?p=540

http://www.ourblogoflove.com/index.cfm?postID=326

http://blog.emilyjohnstonanderson.com/2008/12/blog-post.html

Finally, some original handmade jewelry

If you're anything like me (slightly cocky, somewhat pessimistic, definitely high expectations), you go to markets or arts/crafts fairs and think "ok, that's lame" or "I've made that." Where is the original stuff that I could never make or (even better) the items that pique my curiosity and creativity? Show me something different than delicate glass beads on a head pin attached to an earwire, please!

So, thanks to google reader, I happened upon Penguina Designs tonight. Some typical stuff, but she has some insane brooch talent and pretty interesting earrings! Meg, can you do brooches like that? I'd love to learn...

Sugar Monster!!

Okay. My mom recently checked this new recipe book out of the library and just loaned it to me. It's called Ani's Raw Food Desserts and although I have not made any of the recipes yet I can tell they will be life changingly delicious! (I will post some photos as soon as I try them.) Her webite (linked above) is packed with great videos and recipes. Plus, double bonus for the the summer, none of them require using your oven! Check her stuff out if you get a chance! I always love a new raw food recipe and these are so simple and are made from things easily found around the kitchen or in any store...triple bonus!

Tis the season

for raspberries!

My good friend Katie (who I invited to the blog and who I write a food blog with) has been here all week visiting before heading off to Indiana for grad school, and we went on a little raspberry-picking adventure at Remlinger Farms yesterday in Carnation. Yay for farmer's markets and $2/lb fruit!

A sampling of our creations:
Katie^2 (I'm such a nerd) with our 6lb loot.

Raspberry Crisp (this got the dad seal of approval!)

Raspberry Almond Scones (taken from the Betty Crocker Cookbook, with slightly more flour to compensate for the juicy fresh berries)

I'm planning on trying a chocolate zucchini raspberry cake, raspberry crepes (for a French-themed bridal shower this weekend), and possibly a raspberry pie if I have enough left! We'll see...