Single Girl Fridge

Mr. Ramon is in vacation in Southern California for a week. While I am really sad to send him away in another vacation without me, I have a lot of plans this week. There are a few projects I have been wanting to get done and being home alone will give me the time to do them.

As much as I love cooking, having a break from meal planning and preparing for the two of us is nice. It allows me to be really motivated to start up again. While Mr. Ramon is gone I will have what I like to call the "single girl fridge".

Today I went to Trader Joes and picked up some easy, healthy, prepared foods. Cut up fruit, roasted chicken, salad, cottage cheese, protein bars etc. These items are super easy to put together and require little prep or thought. When I worked two jobs before Mr. Ramon moved here this was my go to solution for feeding me.

It feels really nice to not have to worry about what we are eating and preparing food for everyday. So if you get the chance, try out the "single girl fridge" in your own way and come back to food reality refreshed.

Fava Beans and fresh corn

When I watched Silence of the Lambs years ago I had no idea what Hannibal Lector was talking about when he mentioned eating fava beans. Only last year was I properly introduced to this amazing if slightly difficult bean. 

Fava beans have been around for over 5000 years and a diet staple for much of the rest of the world through the ages. It seems that they are finally catching on here in the US - slowly. 

Fava beans come in these big floppy green pods about 3-5 inches long. They are filled with what looks like cotton batting that the actual beans nestle in. But don't get to excited yet - after opening these thick, stringy pods the beans themselves still need blancehd to loosed then waxy coating on each individual bean. See what I mean by difficult? I find this process to be relaxing in a sort of "turn off your brain" kind of way. 

Once you get the beans loose you have these brilliant green beans with a buttery texture and a slightly bitter, nutty flavor. 

We are growing fava beans in our garden. But that seemed so far away I could not resist them at our local co-op. I filled up a bag and grabbed a fresh ear of corn. Thinking I could throw the two together for an easy side dish for dinner. 

After getting the beans out of their pods, blanched, cooled and peeled I turned to the corn. I shucked it, rinsed it and then sliced it off the cob.

I heated a cast iron skilled to medium heat and threw in the corn. No oil - just on the bottom. Looking to get the grilled effect in the skillet. Don't stir - you will be tempted. We are not stir frying - we want dark bits which will mean sweet pan roasted corn.

With these two amazing ingredients I only needed salt, pepper a dash of olive oil and a sprinkle of red wine vinegar. A perfect summer night side dish.

Scouring Cleansers

I think that a good scouring cleanser is a great addition to a household. I have been known to take a lemon with baking soda to clean a tub or sink but sometimes you need more power. Stainless steel skillets and grubby tubs sometimes need more power. Along with that I want to be good to our world and our family so products with safer ingredients are important to me. 

I like a dry cleanser. They usually come in paper casnisters which can be recycled. There is something therapuedic about scrubbing with a dry cleanser and seeing the shiny results of your labor. When I was a child it was Comet and I loved the smell and the process. Now I am glad to see some better options available. 

I picked these three cleansers to review based on what I know about the company that makes them as well as the reputation the product has. 

Bar Keepers Friend - Bar Keepers Friend has been around since 1882. They are chlorine free. Formulated from an active ingredient in rhubarb and formulated into a baby powder smooth powder. This cleanser can be used on some of the more delicae surfaces like acrylic, chrome and porcelin. It retails for under $3.00 for a 12oz container. 

Mrs. Meyers Surface Scrub - This non-scratching powder is made with a naturally safe ash and oxygen bleach for use on household surfaces. It's chlorine and phosphate free. It comes in several scents. I opted for lavendar. It retails for about $5.00 for 11oz. 

Bon Ami - This product has been around since the 1880's. This formula starts with vegan, plant-based cleaning agents made from coconut and corn oils, then adds feldspar and a softer abrasive, limestone. They also added a little bit of soda ash and a touch of baking soda. The result is a natural, effective cleaner for modern surfaces. Bon Ami is  biodegradable, nontoxic and hypoallergenic. All of their packaging is recyclable. Bon Ami retails for about $1.50 a can.

To challenge these cleansers I cleaned my filthy porcelain tub with them. I used a natural sponge with no abrasive surface to that their cleaning power could stand on its own. 

On first impressions I liked the smell of the Mrs. Meyers - fresh lavandar. The others had no noticable scent and I liked that as well. They all had a nice texture, more powdery than gritty. It seems that they would work well on more delicate surfaces.

Overall the three of them did a good job on my tub. I took them downstairs to use on my stainless steel sink and had equally good results. I think if I had to choose one I would go with the Mrs. Meyers. I don't have a lot of delicate items to cleanse and the scent has me hooked. Only bummer is that it is the most expensive. 

If you have not tried any of these I urge you to give up your cleanser and give one of these a whirl. You can feel good knowing you have a clean tub and have not added any chemicals to your home or the world. 

What's for lunch - Butter Bean Salad

We had a little bit of a late start to this week after a long weekend. I spent the weekend down in Portland at a Nosework trial with my little girl Mischa. Mr. Ramon was single dad for the weekend with the other two pups and a visiting pup as well. 

Needed to pull something together quick that would pass the taste test of Mr. Ramon. Another mediterranian inspired salad is what I went for. What makes this one so good is the fresh oregano and a hint of cumin. I think it tastes better the next day. After all the flavors have melded together.

Butter Bean Salad

This makes 4 large servings

• 1 13oz can butter beans drained and rinsed
• 1/4 chopped red onion
• 1 1/2 cup english cucumber chopped 
• 4 roma tomatoes chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh oregano chopped
• 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley chopped
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• salt and pepper to taste

Mix first 6 ingredients into a bowl. In a second small bowl whisk the olive oil, lime juice and seasonings. Pour over the salad and mix. 

I sent this to work with Mr. Ramon the next day. Added a little bit of feta on top and sent him with toasted pita chips on the side. Enjoy!

Banana Bread Trial Recipe #1

I am on the hunt for the perfect banana bread. I feel a bit like Goldilocks. This one it too sweet and this one is too dry and this one is too greasy. I think I know what I want in the perfect Banana Bread - nice crumb, moist without being soggy and a pronounced banana flavor. Join me on this search. You may be looking for something else in a banana bread and one of these recipes just might fit the bill.

This recipe was adapted from a recipe on Epicurious. It makes 2 standard size loaves. 

• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs at room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 cups coarsely mashed very ripe bananas (6 large)
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt (I use Greek style yogurt)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup golden raisins

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 2 (9- by 5- by 3-inch) metal loaf pans, then dust with flour, knocking out excess.

Whisk together 3 1/4 cups flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt into a bowl.

Put eggs and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat at medium-high speed until very thick and a pale ribbon is formed when the beater is lifted, about 10 minutes.

Reduce speed to low and add oil in a slow stream, mixing, then mix in bananas, yogurt, and vanilla.

Remove bowl from mixer and fold in flour mixture and raisins gently but thoroughly.

Divide batter between loaf pans, spreading evenly, and bake in middle of oven until golden brown and a wooden pick or skewer comes out clean, 60 - 75 minutes.

Cool loaves in pans on a rack 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack. Immediately turn loaves right side up and cool completely.

This is what I got - 2 dark brown loaves slightly sunken in the middle. Not the prettiest baked goods. But maybe it's what is inside that counts.

Once I cut into them I found them to be very moist and flavorful. I still am not a fan of the dark crispy exterior. The banana flavor was nice and overall a really good bread.

So onward we go to find the perfect banana bread!