By Amanda Rose | Conifers
It was a *very*grumpy* morning for me when I walked into our living room and belted out, “What should we do when your mama is tired and grumpy?” “Go to The Lost Road!” Alastair (5) shouted. “Wow, good idea,” I thought. “That really might do it!” But I was suddenly in a fix: Frederick had […]
Continue reading
By Amanda Rose | Kitchen , Tips
It’s an age-old question: How to clean fresh ground cloves completely out of your coffee mill. You may not want clove-flavored coffee. Or you may not want the reverse: Coffee-flavored cloves. As a partial solution, we keep a coffee mill dedicated to coffee and one dedicated to spices. It is a partial solution because what […]
Continue readingBy Amanda Rose | Bay Leaf
As part of our adventures on “The Lost Road” (here) discovering new flavors, tracking wild beasts, and simply getting fresh air and exercise, my boys challenged me to use bay leaf in a new way and we have been enjoying bay leaf dessert treats ever since. You probably know bay leaf as that leaf you […]
Continue reading
By Amanda Rose | Natural Remedies
I have kept a version of one of these teas (or a combination of them) on my stove top since mid-November. They are a ready source of hydration and they are associated with fighting flu and cold symptoms, symptoms that have simmered here along with the tea. Relying on them like I do, I even […]
Continue reading
By Amanda Rose | Chili
Here in California it seems we are always whipping up “taco meat” for salads, casseroles, and even for the occasional taco. It’s a staple flavoring and is always best made at home with fresh ingredients. There is really no better way to add flavor to your food than with a fresh spice. Mixing your own […]
Continue reading
By Amanda Rose | Adventures , Food Flicks , Tidbits
From here in central California, California’s food basket, we have seen lots of food grow and some of it is a delightful surprise and some is simply strange. Mom and I sat over wine one evening discussing the most unusual we have seen in California and in our travels and we present them to you […]
Continue reading