Rain Falls

Ahh.... the deep aromatic scents of rain..earthy, seedy, rich, heady, sweet...just a few descriptives.  However, there really is a scientific term or two that actually describe the scents we smell and react to when we experience the good rain that creates those downpours actually brings to our Mother Earth.

I love rain.  I love the clap of the rolling thunder, the dance of lightening, the amazing changing colorful palette of the sky, the happiness of the birds singing, and the great rewards we receive from Mother Earth.  The way the raindrops pelt against my windowpanes reminding me that this is liquid sunshine.  Yes, I love rain.

We, in Texas, have been in a drought for so long.  We have experienced the loss of beautiful lakes, farmers crops,cattle ranchers livestock loss, loss of livestock and water reservoirs have suffered extreme loss.  I know that the torrent rains can bring serious damage with sheets of rain causing flooding, animal and people needing to be rescued, hail, tornadoes, high winds..oh yes the wrath of the storm.  Yet when the storm faces us we quickly gather as we heighten our natural direction to survive, to protect, to assist others in need and we see that through the storm we are refreshed, rejuvenated, stronger, and grateful.  Grateful...I am grateful.

This picture is taken by an awesome photographer (credits in lower right corner of pic) of my hometown, Austin.

I hope that you find the path to gratefulness of the beauty of the rainstorm.  The rainbow is always at the end of the storm.  Just look for your rainbow.

Rainy Day Recipes


French Bread Pizzas
Yield: 16 slices
Prep time:  45 minutes
Bake time: 10 -15 minutes
Oven: 350 degrees

2 Large loaves of french bread
Cut veggies to include red onion, heirloom tomatoes, spinach, basil, rosemary, eggplant, yellow squash
Saute or oven roast veggies with
1 C of cooked chicken or other meat
2 T olive oil * you may need to add 2 T of olive oil to saute
Sea Salt to taste
1 T of Italian Seasoning
Grated Parmesan, Cotija Cheese
Pesto or your choice of spread



Marinate veggies in olive oil with sea salt for around 30 minutes. Pan saute veggies to bring to a "tender state" but do not overcook.  Brush sides of bread with pesto or you choice of spread.  Spread veggies evenly over 4 split french loaves.  Add your cooked meat, let bake for 10 minutes then add cheese for the last five minutes to baking time.

You may grill these on your personal grill as well.  Just place over medium coals to grill bread first then add toppings to finish grill time of around 10 minute to 15 minutes

Cut into slices horizontally.

Grilled Dessert Delights
Prep Time:  30 minutes
Grill Time:  3 minutes
Yield:  6 or 12

2 packages  Angel Food Dessert Shells * 6 per package usually
Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, mangoes, strawberries - toss with honey or agave.  Let rest for 30 minutes
Heavy Whipping Cream - 1 pint  equals 2 C.  I am not listing whip cream amounts as you may wish to make more for personal use.
Powder Sugar

Whip heavy whipping cream with powder sugar.  Whip till peaks form.

Grill dessert shells on stove top griddle, grill, or George Foreman Grill.  Use a high heat non-gmo spray for your griddle or lightly brush personal grill with an oil over medium coals.

Remove dessert shells.  You may serve 1 dessert shell for each guest topped with fruit and whipped cream or you may stack dessert shells.

Enjoy!!

May Day Celebration

As I sit to reflect the long week there is joy in warmly remembering all my adventures with a smile on my face and a cup of joe in my hand.  Perfect morning, right?  Birds are singing, crisp morning air embracing the anticipation of a great 1st weekend for May.

I am taken back to a time where there were celebrations of brightly colored wrapped poles with the bright streamers flowing as we reached out to wrap our hands around dancing and laughing.  Ahh,  the simple joys of youth enjoying an old tradition.  May Day traditions.....

I wanted to learn more about this tradition of May Day.  Where do I go?  Google of course to learn more about this ancient celebration.  There are several sites to give a simple explanation to a long historical summary.  I simply like to think of May Day as the holiday as the time between the equinox and solstice celebrating the waxing of the sun with an age old art of tradition of a brightly wrapped pole to dance gleefully. In olden days a tree was wrapped with ribbon as trees are a symbol for vitality and abundance for Spring.

 I am not sure of this tradition is practiced very much but I think to revive this lovely ideal would be wonderful.  In the 20th century the tradition of small paper cones of beautiful flowers or sweets were anonymously taken to hang on the neighbors doors, left on porches or doorsteps.  I think this lovely gift would be perfect to give to anyone on your journey.  A co-worker, a new neighbor, a life long friend or a new friend would be surprised and pleased with this small token of a fragrant gift, don't you think?

I hope that today on your May Day celebration that you take the time to create a fun tradition with your friends and family.  The table is a place for you to reach deep inside to find the creative slumbering soul.  Just reflect on what the holiday could mean to you, friends, neighbors and family to bring a beloved old tradition refined into a new tradition to celebrate May Day.

May Day Celebrations

Paper cones made of brightly wrapped paper embellished with bright ribbon streamers. Fill the cones with sweets (homemade or bought) or bright colored flowers.  Place on your neighbors doorsteps, take one to work, give to a friend.

Create a Maypole with streamers to have a May Day dance and potluck with neighbors.  Create a crown with a wreath of flowers with bright ribbons to wear for the girls and a crown of leaves with sticks for the boys.  You might want to include music with everyone who plays a musical instrument to sing songs around the firepit as you gaze upon the magnificent stars.

Create a farm to table decor with the table decorated with fresh cut flowers, garlands of ivy, lights in mason jars to give a fairy effect and place cards written with small tokens of what spring brings to us.


May Day  Merriment

Spring Salad

Yield:  8 - 10 servings

1 package of Herbed Spring Mix Salad
Feta Cheese or crumbled goats cheese
Edible Flowers * usually found in your packaged herb section at local  market
Red, orange and yellow bell peppers
Strawberries
Blueberries
Roasted pecans
Dried Cranberries
Unsalted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
Whole Foods Lemon Tahini Dressing

Use one container or package of herbed spring mix salad.  Garnish with red, orange, and yellow bell peppers cut in thin julienne strips.  Add strawberries cut in half with blueberries and dried cranberries.  Toss roasted pecans, crumbled goats or feta cheese with lemon dressing.

Mozzarella Basil Tomato Sandwiches
Yield:  8 sandwiches

2 loaves of Sea Salted Ciabatta bread
Basil Pesto * 1/2 c or more to your taste
Spinach leaves * fresh from bin or packaged
Mozzarella sliced thick
Thick cut slices of Heirloom or local grown tomatoes
Basil leaves or Sprigs of Rosemary
Olive oil to drizzle lightly

Split the loaves of ciabatta.  Spread the basil pesto on both sides of the loaves ( I love basil pesto so I said to start with a 1/2 cup for each loaf).  Place the thick slices of mozzarella, leaves of spinach to cover the mozzarella, slices of tomatoes, drizzle lightly with olive oil.

Place the top layer of bread on top of the bottom layer filled with mozzrella, basil pesto, spinach leaf and tomato goodness.  Cut your bread half  then in quarters.  Each loaf should yield  4 sandwiches.
Wrap in parchment paper or tissue wrap with a string then place a sprig of rosemary or basil leaf tucked into the bow of the string.

For the Kids

Make My Day Pizza

Pizza dough homemade, Burrito sized tortillas wheat or white or gluten free, packaged pizza dough from Traders Joe or go by your local bakery inhouse of your favorite grocery store.  If they have a scratch bakery or make french bread ask to purchase a unbaked loaf of the dough

Roll out your pizza dough then cut into rounds.  Make the size of rounds to your liking

Toppings for kids to select from to place on pizza
Precooked chicken strips
pepperoni, hamburger meat * all precooked
grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms * all precooked
Mozzarella cheese, goats cheese or Parmesan * all grated

Be sure to use the medium heat side on your grill.  Take a thick towel to dip in olive oil to rub on grates.  Be sure to have a mitt on for safety to your hands. 
Grill the dough for 2 - 3 minutes on each side
Add toppings and cheese.  Keep on grill just to melt cheese.  You may close the lid but watch
carefully


Dessert Pizzas

Grill as above
Add fresh strawberries, blueberries, pineapple
Drizzle with chocolate over pizzas


Happy May Day!


* I hope to start taking my pictures soon as I cook.  Balance..balance and Just Breathe.  I used pictures from just generic pics found so you can see for reference