Lemon Aid

Right now, I'm drinking soapy, watery lemonade & it's some of the best lemonade I've had in a long time.

You see, I got it down the road, at a local stand, next to a lonely, dead-end street, sold by a boy of 6 or 7 years.  Not much traffic goes on this road.  I know, because I drive it almost everyday, because it is so quiet.  Yet, this little entrepreneur was out there smiling, his hands clasped in front of him, waiting patiently for any business that may come his way.  On his cloth-covered table, were a few cups and a lone pitcher of pale yellow lemonade.  You could tell he was proud of his little business by the way he stood ready with his posture so straight, in his dress shirt and shorts.  His eyes twinkled and scanned for any customers that may drive this distant, off-beaten road.

His handwritten sign with its faded ink that read 50 cents hung taped onto his cloth-covered table.  I pulled over & scrounged through my wallet for some change along with a little extra as a tip.  Seeing that he was using hard plastic cups, I knew they were eating his profit.

Slowly and methodically, he took the change & carefully unzipped his wallet.  Then methodically, he took his scoop and dug into a thermal lunch sack of ice & dropped in two ice cubes and proceeded to pour the lemonade into the cup and handed it to me.  He was happy.  Very happy.  He was proud, too, for having served a real customer.  This was his business.

After thanking him, I jumped in my car and took a big swig of lemonade.  It was tart due to its dilution and there was an aftertaste of soap, but it was really good.  It was really good because he was making a sale.  He was working and serving, and running his own business.  I know he made that lemonade.  Not mom, but him.  I didn't just get a cup of lemonade.  I got some hope.  I got to share in a memory that he'll have for the rest of his life.  I got some hope.

It's inspiring when I see people sharing their interests and talents through their self-made businesses because it's so personal.  It's a vulnerable position when you start and run a business between knowing there's so much competition with ready-made wares.  So much of yourself goes into the process, too, that's it's intimidating to wonder if whatever you're doing will be rejected.  The beauty of the handmade is that there's a face behind the product.  As a customer, you can know who made it which adds to the story of your purchase.

I'm going to keep supporting his little lemonade stand.  I hope when you see a little one's lemonade stand, you'll consider supporting your local stand, too.  For 50 cents, I got some hope.  I got some hope indeed & it's delicious.

Mmmmonday's Meal: Fettuccine

I love cooking, especially when I can get ingredients fresh from my garden or from a farmer's market.  I also love paging through magazines & blogs & trying to figure out ways to vegetarianize (such a word??) a dish.  I thought it would be fun to start posting Mondays' supper in a catchy sort of way, by calling it mmmmMonday Meals.

I've been making this dish for years and it's a combo of things we like to eat.  It's one of my daughters favorites, too.

I like to pretend when I'm cooking that I'm on a cooking show (tho we don't get cable), so I love having bowls of pre-measured spices and fresh-cut herbs & veggies set before me ready to mix together all the colors,  textures, and flavors into a nutrition-sustaining meal for my family.  

I simplify my recipes by grouping my activities & creating "centers" where I do the different processes, so that's why you'll see the division lines in the ingredient list.

Ingredients:  (serves 6-7).  Prep time:  15 min.  Bake time:  20

8 oz of pasta.  I love using De Boles' fettuccine (high in protein, fiber & even probiotic!),

boiled 6-8 minutes & drain

8-10 slices of bread (lately we've been using potato, but you can use whole wheat, French, etc),

"buttered" with Earth Balance spread (gluten-free & vegan)

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1/2-1 grater full of  Monterey Jack or Colby cheese, shred (optional)

1 tsp dried or 1 T fresh basil, chop (fresh is great, but our growing season hasn't started yet)

4 T Earth Balance "butter" or other

2 c milk or plain soy/hemp milk

2 T. flour

3/4 c parmesan cheese or substitute, shred

black pepper, to taste

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3 small tomatoes, dice

1 slice onion, dice (I love the sweetness of a red onion, but any will do.  Vidalia would be good, too)

sprinkles of parmesan cheese and/or basil (optional)

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roasted sunflower seeds, hulled (optional)

Directions:  (all of this can be done simultaneously, which is a great time-saver)

1.  400 degree oven.  Use a med-large pot with lid on to boil water.  Lid off/stays off & put pasta in to boil for 6-8 min & drain.  Turn off heat.  Keep in same pot, but lid it to keep warm.

2.  Meanwhile, put spread on bread & cut into fourths and put on bottom of casserole dish (13" x 9") and line edges with buttery spread facing inwards.  Bake for ~10 min. 'til lightly brown & remove dish from oven.  Lower oven temp to 350 degrees.

3.  Meanwhile, In another med-size pot, make a roux by melting the butter on low with a little bit of milk and a little bit of flour & stirring with a whisk to keep lumps from forming.  Once thickened into a nice sauce-like consistency, change out to a spoon to stir & add your herb, pepper, & cheeses.  Pour over pasta & mix well.  Pour pasta into casserole dish on to top of toasted bread squares.

4.  Sprinkle with tomatoes & onions, and parmesan & basil , if desired.  Bake in oven for 20 minutes uncovered, 'til heated through.  Remove & serve.

5.  Sprinkle sunflower seeds for extra crunch & flavor, if desired.

Sides:  a fresh green lettuce salad with avocados.

If you make it, let me know how it goes.

Spring Flowers

I picked up some flowers to plant.  I found some pansies that are bright and happy.  Excitedly, the kids brought out their gloves and the watering can.  We sprinkled organic potting soil into the bottoms of our pots and scooped the flowers from their tight, root nests into their new, spacious homes.  Looking at the porch, bouquets of color now are viewable when we arrive home or look out our front window.  

Spring

Alas, a new season is before us and the time of hibernation is over.  I have a friend who loves winter.  This past winter I was trying to see the season through her eyes, but it was hard.  I love color.  I love life.  I missed seeing wildlife.  I love gardening...'nuf said.  So, I'm glad to see buds on the trees again.  I love seeing the birds hanging out in our yard.  I love seeing green reflected in the water.  

Two ducks waddled around in our yard a few days ago,  their nest amongst the yellow cream reeds out back.  The drake likes to float down the waterway, bobbing up and down with the ripples.  He's on his own sort of rafting trip, whilst the female tends to her nest.  Soon, we'll see little yellow fluff balls bobbing and floating behind their mom and dad.  Growth.  Life.  Ahhhh, Spring is here.