Caroline Dines

I woke up this morning knowing it was going to be an absolute scorcher out. Normally on these types of days I would literally RUN to the nearest body of water and try to keep cool. Since it was Tuesday, and Tuesday is my day at the Re-Vision Urban Farm, I ran to the farm and worked the fields in the heat! For breakfast I focused on fueling myself up so that I wouldn’t get hungry during my time at the farm. Of course I incorporated a giant Green Monster smoothie into my breakfast (what better when the weather is sooo hot?) but on the side I had something a little different than normal.

Yesterday I picked up a bag of these TJ’s Ciabatta Rolls for our dinner. I had one left over and decided to toast it and spread a small amount of Organic Whipped Light Cream Cheese and Homemade Strawberry Jam! Cream Cheese and Jam is one of my all time favorite combos and brings me right back to childhood. The strawberry jam (Thanks Mom!) also made me feel so summery this morning (as if I didn’t feel it enough already with the 90 degree heat!). This breakfast was FILLING but in a good way!

I have been back at the farm for a few weeks now and I was so happy that today we actually got out of here…

And got our hands dirty out here!

I don’t think I could have handled working IN the green house today. Instead I spent the morning working with a wonderful group of volunteers from the University of Maryland.They helped out immensely and we got a really hard job done in no time! We basically created 10 beds for growing Tomatoes. These beds had to be measured, dug, weeded, fertilized, raked, irrigated, and finally covered with plastic. Here’s a bit of the process:

We all made sure to stay really hydrated and took breaks in the shade from time to time.

Again, it was so nice to have such a great “community” feel at the farm today. Even though these individuals were from far away they had the same ideas about the state of our food, issues around hunger and access to good food, and in general a positive work ethic! It was a wonderful morning. Around 12:00 I grabbed this apple from my bag. It tasted a little bit like hot apple pie to me (minus the crust) because it had literally been baking in the sun! Ooops! Still good though.

My run this morning to the farm was trying so I knew that by mid-day running home would be brutal. I started out ambitious and quickly realized that it would be smarter and safer to take the bus!

Thank goodness for Charlie cards!!! I always make sure to have mine on long runs, just in case!

When I arrived home, I took the quickest shower possible (I was covered with dirt from the farm!) and made myself a big lunch! All the components were superstars but I just had to highlight these Dr. Kracker Crackers because I can’t believe how awesome the stats are!

Besides the great ingredients and health components, the taste is incredible. Seriously, they are worth every bit of the $4.39!

With the heat I was craving lots of vegetables and cold food. I think I was also in need of salt because I was totally into this pickle! However, when I am NOT into pickles?

The plate was made up of a pickle, Ful Medammes, Grape Tomatoes, Carrots, Watermelon, Dr. Kracker Cracker, homemade broco-slaw and a few mozzarella pearls. These are by far my favorite types of lunches, all the different tastes and textures keep my mouth so happy!

While I was sitting staring at my beautiful new herbs on my window sill I felt that I just had to add a little bit of fresh mint to my watermelon. I didn’t eat it but just the smell made the whole dish that much more enjoyable.

Tomorrow I am happy to report that Meg C. and I are heading OUT of the city and will be spending the day on the South Shore at the beach!!! I can’t wait. Summer is here!

My day started off bright and early with a quick trip the doctor. I managed to shove in eat this lovely crumpet with jam before running out the door.

And a huge mug of tea was necessary to help me swallow. The doctor’s visit was worth it I guess.  I found out I DON’T have strep throat which is good but disappointing because I would have been able to take medicine to cure this awful sore throat that has plagued me for the last week! They told me that it was most likely a viral infection that should run it’s course. She told me I could take loads of Ibuprofen and use Cepacol to numb the pain. Has anyone ever used Cepacol (numbing cherry flavored spray)? I advise against it. It basically made me gag so bad my eyes watered and left my whole mouth feeling uncomfortably numb. I think I’ll stick with Ibuprofen and loads of good tasting throat lozenges, thank you.

Lunch was quick, just like breakfast. I was on my way out the door, to run errands in Cambridge, and didn’t have much time. Oh well, my little tasting platter held me over well.

The best part was definintely the pickles. These guys are from TJ’s and wicked salty! Love that. I also grabbed another Ak-Mak and string cheese for the road.

After being out and about all day I was starving by the time I got home. I ate another string cheese (light TJ’s brand) to hold me over while I prepared dinner. Tonight’s dinner has been in my mind for the past two weeks. It was actually inspired by Simply Life’s post on Spaghetti Squash. I have always been intimidated by this vegetable and figured it was time to conquer my fear. I put the entire squash in the oven at 375 degrees for a little over an hour.  I pierced the skin with a sharp knife multiple times before baking. When the squash was nearing the end of cooking, I scrambled some Grass Fed beef in a pan with a little salt and pepper. I then added one jar of TJ’s organic marinara sauce and a can of sliced black olives. After scooping out the seeds from the squash, I was left with just the “spaghetti” part. This was fun! I used a fork to pull it all away from the skin. It was a lot easier than I thought, and made real spaghetti strands! I guess I should have guessed that it would look like this but I was impressed. I served it up as I would any pasta dish.

OH MY GOD! This dinner just brought new meaning to my life. O.K. not to be overdramatic but seriously! I think I actually prefer this to real spaghetti! How cool is it to get your veggie this way? This was my kind of comfort food, perfect for a cold and rainy night.  I am thinking next time of making a Spaghetti Pie…oh the possibilities!

Now this delicious meal was hard to top but a little dish of J.P. Licks Chocolate Chip Cookie Fro Yo just about did it. It also did wonders for my sore throat. I might need just a tad more.

This morning I got the packing, cleaning and other odds and ends done. When 11:00 rolled around I was hungry and feeling like I needed a little boost. Normally I would just grab a handful of nuts or crackers or something like that but since I want to make the healthiest decisions, I went for an amazing grass shake. This was one of the smaller packets and it only has 37 calories in it and a whole lot of awesomeness.

I then walked to CVS and then to Trader Joe’s to do a big shop for my rents. While perusing I stopped for a free sample of the TJ’s Greek Yogurt with some Mango granola on top. This yogurt was the real deal. 18 grams of fat per cup! Good thing I only had about a tablespoon. I am glad I tried it because I’ve never had “real” yogurt before. Not something I will be incorporating into my diet but certainly delicious.

It was 12:30 by the time I left TJ’s and I knew that I would be starving by the time I got home so I broke out an organic Gala apple for the walk back.

I wanted to clean out the fridge of anything that was close to going bad and any produce that needed to be eaten. This tasting platter came together quite nicely with some crumbs from the pecan nut thins, the remains of a hummus tub, the last of the black bean dip (this stuff is great, TJ’s of course), half a bell pepper, some cucumber slices and the last of the lettuce head. A glass of green/white unsweetened iced tea was consumed on the side.

No dressing needed for this plate. The hummus and black bean dip worked well to keep the veggies interesting and the salty crackers added some nice texture. My favorite part was the cucumber which I always forget to eat like this. For being such a fan of the pickle you would think I would eat more raw cucumbers. This little guy kind of reminded me of a black and white cookie, no?

The cucumber black and white wasn’t quite the dessert I was looking for so I gave in and had a single square of 83% dark chocolate. Gotta get my antioxidants in .

Since we will be somewhere between Boston and Bethel around dinner time I snapped a picture of what I will be eating in the car. There’s something special about eating dinner in the car. It might have to do with the fact that I am always the passenger and I get bored and eating keeps me interested. Either way I am really psyched about digging into this pita pocket later on.

I stuffed 1 half of a whole wheat pita with left over chicken, bbq sauce, lettuce and a few thin strips of fresh mozzarella. Darin got the same minus the lettuce (he hates it in sandwiches) and way more chicken and way more cheese.

I packed a few snacks too: one salty and one sweet. We love these green beans, they’re just green beans, salt and oil so I consider them real food. The Honey Plantain Strips I have yet to try but they caught my eye today and I figured they would be a good on the go dessert. My plan is to eat a portion of each with out eating the whole bag, a portion for each is about 3/4 of a cup.

Happy Friday Everyone! Darin just called to say he’s out early and on his way so I am off to get everything totally packed so we can hit the road and hopefully miss any major traffic leaving the city.

Yoga was awesome this morning. My muscles were absolutely screaming from running twice this weekend and needed the gentle massage that yoga provides. I left feeling looser, lighter and finally hungry! I literally ran over to Starbucks to grab a Banana Chocolate Vivanno Smoothie. I knew I wasn’t going to have lunch for at least another hour so I needed to put something good in my body. These smoothies are a real treat for me because they are kind of pricey (4.00) and are a little higher calorie wise than you would normally want for just an every day treat. After sweating my brains out for an hour and a half and since my breakfast was so light, I thought I deserved this!

It was sooo frothy and creamy I couldn’t stop sipping and it was practically gone by the time I reached my destination: Trader Joe’s! I just needed a few items so I kept it short but definitely had time to stop by the sample table for a hunk of Holiday Challah bread with a squirt of honey. Yummmm Notice the pumpkin granola that is out of focus in the background? I really wanted to try this but figured I could make something healthier and better at home. Granola making is on my short list of things to do soon!

Lunch was made after I returned and put away the few groceries I had purchased. I have been thinking a lot about this lunch since it highlights two different varieties of Dutch Gouda cheese. The cheese was purchased with my brother in mind since he has just returned from a trip to the Netherlands where he was working alongside a fellow farmer who is also a cheese maker.

Here’s a little background:

My younger brother Andrew has been working on a small organic farm on Shelter Island in New York for the past 6 months. His background is actually in music (Berklee School of Music) and culinary arts (Cambridge Culinary School) but he has become quite the farmer this summer. He was lucky enough to be the representative from Sylvester Manor Farm to travel to the Netherlands as part of a job swap celebrating the 40oth anniversary of New York being founded by Dutchman Henry Hudson. He just returned last night from a week on the island of Texel. He has blogged a bit about the adventures and will be adding some more information so check it out if you have the chance.

Here he is in the red jacket with Bennett (who runs the farm on Shelter Island) and Ivo (the farmer from The Netherlands)

So on to my inspired lunch! I used two kinds of Dutch Gouda. One which was straight up and the other that had walnuts in it.

Both were rich and creamy but I think I liked the walnut one a bit better. It almost reminded me of a pecan pie. I know that sounds weird but you just have to try it.

I am sure Andrew sampled lots of cheese since his host was a cheese maker! I was bummed that I could only find Gouda since I know there has to be other Dutch varieties out there. Since I was on foot I was limited in where I could go though. I sliced the cheese up and added a honey crisp apple (these are by far the best apples I have tasted).

I then laid out 10 Mary’s Gone Crackers and topped each one off with a bit of both cheese (hence the Double Dutch reference). I popped the plate in the microwave for about 20 seconds and then drizzled a tiny bit of pumpkin butter on each one (hence why I called it a treat!).

This was by far one of the best food pairings I have tried in a while. It reminded me of baked brie with the apple slices and the walnuts. The thin seedy crisps were also perfect and did not overpower the cheese at all. The pumpkin butter just gave it an extra kick and almost made it taste dessert like (pie?).  I am so thankful that my appetite is back. This meal was awesome and I can’t wait to hear about my brother’s adventures in the land of Gouda. Maybe he brought some treats back for me? I can dream.

Good Morning/Afternoon! I have to keep this post brief because I am in the midst of packing for a big Maine Coast weekend. I have to be at the bus station by 4:30 to make my 5:15 bus which will take me to Waldoboro, ME. My family has a small island in Friendship, ME where I will be until Monday. Since it is quite remote I will be without internet access which of course means no blogging! I am a little bummed that I can’t share my eats meal by meal with you but please check back on Monday for a BIG recap. I will most likely be consuming the following: fried clams, mussels, lobster, fresh veggies from my great uncle’s garden, blueberries picked on the island and probably some good beer!

This mornings bowl was more of the same and by more I mean I put a lot of raspberries on this one!

It was a good thing I did because Darin was off from work today and snagged a few while my hands were busy with the camera!  He ate the omelet I made him so fast I didn’t get a picture but it was quite pretty.

We took a walk to Trader Joe’s after I returned from a particularly sweaty session of yoga. I needed some juicy fruit in my life so I grabbed this as we walked out the door.

Lunch was consumed immediately after we returned. I threw together a tasting platter of sorts including carrots with yogurt and cilantro dip, baby spinach, the last of the quinoa dish, a little bit of the filling of a burrito from yesterday, and two small slices of a beef empanada.

While I was making Darin’s omelet this morning one of the families staying here were busy preparing a feast which included beef empanadas. I was in the right place at the right time because she offered me two which I gladly accepted. I gathered from watching her a bit that the base is a corn meal batter and it’s just stuffed with beef and onions that had been simmered. They are then fried. I sliced myself just two thin pieces which was perfect to taste. I left the remaining ones for Darin.

As I was leaving the farm around 12:15 I took this shot. I think it basically sums up the feel of the day which was bright, sunny and beautiful.

Per usual, I was STARVING when I set out on my journey back home. I ate this cookie before I had even put my back pack on and sipped on this coconut water on the bus. This was a new brand for me (it was on sale at Whole Foods) and I have to say that I can’t tell the difference between VitaCoco, Zico, and this O.N.E. I only drink the plain because I think the flavor is perfectly subtle and I don’t find myself craving any added fruit. I wish this had been just a tad cooler but all in all it was a great way to replace the electrolytes I had lost sweating on the farm.

*please pardon my dirty hands, I get dirty on the farm

I took a bus to Forest Hills and then decided to walk the rest of the way home. It was so nice out and my ankle was feeling strong. I also knew that I wanted to stop along the way and pick up a key ingredient for what I had in mind for lunch.

Having only seen the massive sign on my runs and never venturing in, I knew it was time to try City Feed and Supply. I don’t know what I have been waiting for, this place is amazing!

The store is set up like a small grocery store with fresh produce from all local farms. They also specialize in fair trade coffee, bakery items, and a huge sandwich selection. There was a very cool vibe in here with tables to sit and eat at.

I exercised a huge amount of will power and exited with only what I came for.

I took home 4 tomatoes that were split and not worthy of the Farmer’s Market or CSA. These “seconds” became a top notch lunch!

A simple Caprese Salad:

• chopped tomato
• chopped fresh mozzarella cheese
• torn basil
• Olive Oil
• Balsamic
• Salt
• Pepper

My second tasting platter of the day:

• Dr. Praeger tex mex veggie burger
• Scoop of black bean dip (TJ’s)
• One very large carrot
• One serving of Nut Thins crackers (pecan variety)
• Caprese Salad

I can’t believe I have never had a tomato this color before, total eye candy (and mouth candy for that matter)!

I’ll probably be eating more salad for dinner and may or may not decide to post since it will probably look the same!

Today I created a breakfast tasting platter instead of my normal bowl. I was pleased with the way this turned out and it kept my mouth guessing through the whole breakfast.

Ingredients included:

• Fresh Oikos Yogurt
• Juicy peach
• Almond butter
• Strawberry jam
• Raisins
• Muesli

I will definitely be trying this again. I enjoyed trying different combinations but also loved eating the almond butter just off my spoon. There’s nothing better than nut butter by itself!

I am gearing up for a big day on the farm. I think I am suffering from a little bit of PTSD because my last trip to the farm ended in the E.R. so I am hoping that today will go a bit smoother!

Here is a quick recap of my lunch and snack today. I spent the afternoon babysitting in a nearby town. I wasn’t exactly sure what I might find for lunch so I came prepared with a peach, a bar, an ear of corn, and some coconut water. I ended up only eating the peach since I wasn’t in the mood for the other items and I wanted to enjoy some of the lovely fruit they had at the house.

The fruit really did the trick of filling me up and it was all in season so the taste combination was fabulous!

I decided to pair it with a scoop of some leftovers they had in the fridge. I believe that these were cannelini beans that had been mashed with garlic and other spices. They were sooo creamy and good I actually looked through some of their cookbooks to see if I could find the recipe but had no luck! I am sure I could recreate this though just going on instinct.

It was fun to have an outdoor setting in which to photograph my eats, but I did come back inside because it was just too hot to enjoy my meal.

A little while after lunch I had the urge to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I used Teddy chunky peanut butter and some homemade strawberry jam. There’s something about being around little kids that makes me crave this combo!