gathering for the miracle.

there is wisdom in this beauty

it can shed the thickest hardship

it will take you towards your center

and if you let it, it will nourish you

(this is what it does for me)

and here is a DIY, multitasking mama, spoken word

pre & post market journey on the way to & from santa monica

comment & share the LOVE beauties

XXXX

little altars everywhere.

i love altars. i love honoring the regular, run of the mill moment with a leaf from my (super rare but trying to make it a lifestyle) walk, a collection of heirloom baby spoons that have been beat up by the insinkerator, that gold butterfly i had in my hair the night i met j, an open picture book on the butcher block that reads in caps SIESTA.....

i suppose everything is ready to tell a story or maybe these moments, these altars, create the space for our stories, told & untold. they are pieces of a process, vulnerable moments, human reminders, like post it notes in the form of a painted rock given to me many years ago by a 7 year old boy "you have to forget that the pain is there and move on" he said. he had cancer & that rock is still on the altar. it's been 4 years.

i have this beautiful charm that was made for me from a friend i hurt deeply. after many attempts of apologizing, hoping she could trust me again, i had to forgive myself & let her go. the charm was always on the altar, i was unable to put it in a bag or a jewelry box. a few years ago, we mended our friendship and now, she is a dear friend. these are just a few moments in a life, like the altars, changing with the tide, chapters creating a volume or two.

i feel that the altars share a higher wisdom. they are a place to put the energy of beauty in all it's working forms, reminding me of who i am, reflecting my values, what i hold dear in a space above the sink, on a cake plate, in a wood bowl. 

they are still lifes with my textures, my colors, where i come from, where i am  & where i am headed. they are a way to track myself, find me on the map, inside the storm, to try & make sense of things. 

altars contain the natural chaos of our days. they can inspire a meal, a hug, a kiss & all the the messy beauty we acquire in a day, in a life. they are a place for things to be celebrated, looked at one more time, special.

in this whirlwind tornado watch time of motherhood, marriage, life in all it's shapes and sizes, who i am is not the first, second or tenth thing on my mind. the altars are evidence that i am here. they are my mantras. they are how i create a home. at least, for now. xxxx

artichoke.

a tight bud 

put together, almost 

perfect and so heavy 

opens with heat 

shy 

opens some more 

scared 

thistles protect

only to be carved 

open again

with a butter knife

a broken heart

delicious and ready 

to feed you

xxxx

(words inspired by above)

and there is this...

what's beautiful about this?

everything.

you can steam in stages depending on your day 

you can boil the water on medium high

for 20 minutes or so (when you are making a tea and getting in the shower works)

leave the lid on & turn it off when you need to leave the house!

it will continue to steam... 

then you will have a little more to do when you get home

fork the top of the stem to see when it's ready 

(watch the steam inside the pot: ouch! 

and water uner lid!)

*when gathering: grab the artichoke with the thickest stem*

it's not about the leaves or how huge the head is ;)

big stem = big heart

i love these on the wood board love

as a starter before dinner or as a snack

the kids get busy with this and i can get ready for the next thing

as you know.. there is always a next thing!

you can make dips!

i love veganaise! mayo works!

i think we used sour cream too

i also tried a little mayo/mustard/agave/lemon

it was a bit intense with the mustard.. 

you can also do butter and lemon

so many choices!

artichokes are best served warm

so you can keep it in the steam pot

rev it up again before serving for a minute or so

enjoy beautiesxxxx

spring salad series.

i am hungry

i am yearning

i am wanting

an ice cold &

warm in my palm

simpler way

i want to turn the corner, 

flip it over & ripen into

a cellular constellation

of trust, of knowing 

it's going to be ok

it will be over soon

the last remains of winter are 

parked in the spring lot

 it's time to shed, shave, 

shred the thick & bright rinds 

i pick the card letting go

i light a candle

i lay here & listen to the 

breath of my vulnerability

xxxx

this is the beginning of the spring salad series!

i have been LOVING salads! 

all combinations, concoctions, dressings and more!

jules go to dressing

*flax seed oil*

rice vinegar

bit of salt

squeeze of sweet citrus

i pour a cap full of flax oil in the bowl 

(before anyone gets in there)

then i pour a bit of rice vinegar

bring in the lettuces

add salt and squeeze citrus

then..

whatever you love or have around

left over roast veggies, quinoa, rices

radishes, peas, herbs, cara cara oranges,

carrots, persian cucumbers, goat cheeses,

apples, beets, kales and more...

everything but the kitchen sink

you can follow more of this daily 

love fest on instagram

as i discover quick bites on the run

in my every day busy life

love you beautiesxxxx

*flax seed oil*

super medicinal in it's omega fats

great for your skin, hair and nails

cold pressed oil not for heating

may miracle.

MIRACLE GATHERING

in jules' kitchen

FRIDAY

MAY 10

10 - 1PM

$100

reserve your wood bowl

by may 1

what is a miracle?

read all about it here

and loving this right now...

"you must ask 

for what you really want. 

don't go to sleep"

rumi

xxxx

roasted turnips & carrots.

roasted turnips & carrots

*gather*

japanese turnips 

(flora bella farms)

carrot balls

(windrose farms)

olive oil/salt/love

*fire it up*

375 - 400 bake/convection

clean up those roots

dry & cut in half

massage with oil & love

add a bit of salt

they take b/w 30 - 40 minutes

check them every 15 minutes

move them around

checking in is key 

you can use a fork towards the end

see if they are ready

*jules ideas*

just noshing on these out of the oven is amazing

you can let them cool on stove top with beauty towel on top

i have been adding these veggies to my spring salads

with french dressing or flax seed and walnut oil combo

on top of a bed of quinoa with thin slices of raw goat gouda

(that was last night!)

how are you eating these beauties? 

i want to know! leave comments!

it takes a village

your ideas inspire all of us

NEXT MIRACLE DATE

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013 

RSVP HERE

WHAT'S A MIRACLE? 

LOOK HERE. 

BIG LOVE AND HEALING 

ALL AROUND

XXXX

magical mondays.

HEY BEAUTIES.

todays post is about mondays.

mondays are magical days in my kitchen. i wake up, usually have a love fest in our bed with the babes for two seconds, walk up stairs & start the short order cook mama brekkie lunch box back pack homework folder thing, breathe (maybe), kiss babes (always) & put on my red striped apron.

clear all counters, bring the two tables in from the garage, get the camera, check battery, put wood boards, bread knife, pink salt & olive oil in place. i open the fridge, pile all the gifts from yesterdays gathering onto the table and unwrap every single one like it's my birthday.

i put on the fire making room for a new story to unravel inside sweet onions, zucchini, roasted japanese turnips...

i am cooking for women, families, people who are hungry for this kind of nourishment inside busy lives, new babies, healing bodies and more. this work is a gentle dive into an intimate terrain where i have the ability to create medicinal offerings that this kind of food gives us so unconditionally. it's also a complete honor to feed another. by complete, i mean the circle: driving to the market, gathering the food from the farmers hand, placing it in my baskets, bringing it home, prepping it, cooking it, transferring it to glass, delivering it... from my kitchen to yours. it's conception, it's birth, it's my passion church....in the same breath it's the most basic & simple piece to our survival. 

i have also had the opportunity to create this food offering for women undergoing chemo, bodies working to heal from cancer and other illnesses. the food is so healing in it's natural state grown with love, gathered with intention and cooked inside a beauty love fest in my kitchen. i am interested in working with those who are healing.

i have openings on magical mondays. if you are hungry for this kind of love, if you want to send a gift to a mama friend or someone who is healing...connect with me here.

on mondays i can inspire & feed you virtually! follow me on instagram, twitter & facebook as i share what is happening in the kitchen!

love you beautiesxxxx

gluten free zucchini chocolate chip muffins.

beauties! 

i have been trying to find the right vibe, taste, love fest inside 

a gluten free sweet that tastes a bit gluten full... 
i found this 'prada' flour called cup 4 cup at whole foods 

(doing a gig with william sonoma too) 
they market it as a replacement gluten free flour 
for real flour in any recipe: cookies, muffins, scones & more..

the price point was a bit crazy pants
thomas keller & tribe created it
i finally bought!
i want to make gf sweetie things and share it with YOU!

the cookies were more like pop overs

(anything with chocolate chips works but it was like eating a pillow)

then we tried waffles.. not so good. 

so i went into the archives to dig out my 

original zucchini muffin recipe from a century ago (ok.. 2010)
i replaced the 3 cups all-purpose flour with 3 cups (cup4cup) gf flour
and you can see the results above: 
the tasters and the test kitchen had a fun afternoon!

remember... the chips don't sink into the dough
and it's a very different feeling, texture, rhythm before the heat
but once baked...everyone seemed to love it
so i had to share it with YOU. 

GF zucchini chocolate chip muffins

*gather*
3 eggs

1 cup olive or vegetable oil
1 1/2 - 3/4 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups cup 4 cup flour
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Grease and flour two 8×4 inch loaf pans, liberally.
Alternately, line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk.
Mix in oil and sugar, then zucchini and vanilla.

Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg,
baking soda,baking powder & salt.

Stir this into the egg mixture.
Divide the batter into prepared pans.

Muffins will bake far more quickly,
approximately 20 to 25 minutes.

Bake loaves for 60 minutes, plus or minus ten.

you don't have to be gluten free to try this..
it's always good to have some gf options up your apron ;) 
hope you love this one!
leave a comment and let me know
XXXX