Links to Healthy Weekend

I’m looking out the window at a very dreary, rainy afternoon. It may have ruined plans for a walk, but I can’t help being happy to see the drizzle. Why? Well, because if you look closely you can actually see the landscape getting greener by the minute. It is amazing what a little (almost) spring rain can do.

These changes remind me of why I love living in this part of the US. – the four distinct seasons we experience. I’m always excited for what the next part of the year has to offer.

This great weekend started on Friday when we finally got our couch! I’m so happy with it. After not having a comfortable one for 3 years (Brazil just doesn’t offer the same types of couches we use here in the U.S.), and then being without one completely for the last six months, I really just want to curl up on it all day long. Although, I’m not sure who loves it more, me or the pug. I had no idea the pillows would be the perfect pug size when we ordered it.

Despite the rain today, it has been an excellent weekend around here. Yesterday I attended a Farm to Table: Diversity in Ag mini-conference in our county. I learned about worm composting and growing herbs, both of which will result in posts later this spring and summer. I also had a delicious lunch of local foods which I’ll talk more about this week.

To top off all those happenings, I ran 10 miles yesterday! And, no. I have no idea how I did it! It is by far the furthest I’ve ever run, and now I finally feel ready for the half marathon in two weeks.

How was your weekend? Is spring peaking out where you are?

I didn’t get a links post up last weekend so some of these are from the past couple of weeks. I think you will enjoy them.

The Theme Is…Peanut Butter! is the ultimate peanut butter recipe round-up from Tasty Kitchen at The Pioneer Woman. I know most of the food blogging world reads this blog, but I couldn’t pass up sharing this fabulous post. If you like peanut butter even the tiniest bit you will want to check this out. From sweet to savory to spicy, the selection is unbelievable!

Real Food Face-Off has been a weekly feature at Kitchen Stewardship the past few weeks. It features a Q & A with several real-food-advocating authors and bloggers. I’ve really enjoyed reading about all the views, practices and opinions and especially like this one I’ve linked to here.

EatingRD provided us with a very well researched post about maca. I’ve been seeing the powder mentioned on several blogs around the web. If you are interested in learning more about it check out this post.

What IS “Healthy” Food? from Food Sleuth answers this question from a real, nourishing food perspective. I have to say, I’m a big fan of the answers provided.

Abundant Mangoes from Sense and Serendipity put a big smile on my face and had me day dreaming of more tropical climates. If you want to see some of the beautiful fruit nature has to offer, and perhaps get a wee bit jealous of this mango bounty, head over and take a look.

I also recently posted Advice from an Expat Who Hadn’t Planned to Be One at The 3 Star Traveler. If you want to know a little more about me and my ex-pat experience I welcome you to take a look.

It’s a big weekend around here. Believe it or not, we are finally moving! I honestly didn’t think the time would ever get here. We’ve been hit with delays right and left, but it looks like I may finally have a fantastic (and big) kitchen to cook in and a designated office to write in! We should have the appliances in soon and I’ll be sure to share some pictures.

On top of that, tomorrow is my husband’s birthday. It won’t be a typical celebration considering we have to scrub the apartment down and hand over the keys by 4:30, not to mention no oven for baking a cake, but I’ll find some way to make it special. It seems I’m the one with all the gifts, though. He returned Wednesday from a business trip to Brazil and brought back all kinds of fun stuff.

I’ll highlight some of the coffees in a later post, but here is what was in my goodie bag: specialty coffee from my favorite coffee shop in Curitiba along with some Café do Ponto, some Café do Ponto chocolate truffle powder for coffee, goiaba (guava) jam, mascavo sugar and demerara sugar. Non-food items included some new Havaianas, and a friend from there sent me a super cute dish towel. Fortunate, I am.

Despite all that is going on, I just couldn’t leave you without any links two weeks in a row. There is so much great stuff I’ve come across recently. I hope you enjoy!

Is Local Food Better? from World Watch isn’t a post or article from this week, but I found it while searching for references for an article recently. This contains information I’ve heard bits and pieces of, but it is nice to have it all put together to more fully answer the question. If you have questions about transporting food and how that effects the environment, you should read this.

Coconut Cilantro Rice from The Dabble sounds so great. I’ve had coconut rice before, but I haven’t made my own. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe.

Curried brown rice pilaf with pistachios and cherries from Fabulous Food Finds has way too many good things in it. This is something I may consider for our Easter table.

The Benefits of Bulgur from the NYTimes.com Well Blog had me happy that bulgur was one of the ingredients in the Pantry Veggie Burgers I made this week.

From Grass to Cheese: The Nolan Family Farm was posted on Farm Stories. This video tells the story of a family, grass-based cheese operation. It is also part of a KickStart project where the public can financially support it. The video is definitely worth a watch. I find family farms so fascinating and love that we as consumers are being given more opportunities to support them.

New kitchen and plenty of natural light for photos coming soon.

What a fast weekend! I can’t believe it is already Sunday evening. What a great week though! Despite the fact that I simply can’t get warm, two years without a true winter has me jumping for joy with the snow we’ve gotten around here. Kentucky can be hit or miss when it comes to a snowy winter, but with three or four inches on the ground and relatively clear roads we are enjoying some beautiful winter scenery. We even went out for a drive yesterday and saw a few buffalo braving the cold. (I know they look like they could be just about anything, but I promise, they are buffalo.)

All day yesterday was spent house shopping. We found one we liked, but we’ll just have to see how things progress. However, I will say the kitchen was beautiful! The most important part of the house, of course. Then to top off the excitement we picked up our first order of pork, beef, chicken and eggs from a local farm. Pike Valley Farm produces grassfed/pastured/natural foods. I can’t wait to share more about it in a later post, maybe this spring.

Today I continued my journey on the half marathon training path getting in four miles on the treadmill this afternoon. I haven’t braved the cold yet, but I will have to once the race gets closer. I do have my hopes up that it will at least be in the 40s by the end of March for the actual event. I figure no reason to get acclimated to zero if I don’t have to!

Below are a few of the things I enjoyed reading this week. How was your week?

Agriculture Society shared the post Proof that Real Food Doesn’t Have to Cost a Bundle. A great read that outlines the cost of meals made with real, naturally produced foods. I love reading posts like this. Like everyone else, I get caught up in feeling that we can’t afford to eat this way, but the truth is we can. We just have to adjust our budget, our views and perhaps sacrifice a few minor things, but it’s definitely worth it.

Safety of Beef Processing Method Is Questioned was an article last week from NYtimes.com and likely something you don’t want to read while you are eating. It may turn your stomach a bit, but it is an eye opening read and it makes me incredibly happy that I just bought 4 lbs or ground beef from a local farmer!

Kiss My Spatula posted some gorgeous Homemade Goat Cheese. It made me want to run out and buy some milk or perhaps even my own dairy goat!

Is the fat acceptance movement bad for our health? was a thought provoking article on CNN.com. I would love to hear your opinion.

The Dabble had a great recap post of a recent trip to Purdue University’s campus including eats and drinks. My husband and I are both alumni and are headed back up for a basketball game in February. We are really excited to visit some old favorites. You’ll also love the Chocolate Torte Cake recipe in the post!

On Go Galavanting I posted about a cool little bed and breakfast in Colorado called the Fresh and Wyld Inn offering SOUL food cooking classes (sustainable, organic, unprocessed and local).

If you still want to learn more about Antigua, I posted more about my non-food experiences on The 3 Star Traveler.

Making one of my first attempts to stick with my New Year’s commitments, I made the Mushroom Barley Soup from Two Peas and Their Pod this week. It was delicious!