What I Loved in December

After eight months of frequent travel – a weekend away, a conference, a farm tour – we ignored the invitations of family and friends, settling in for December, and it was divine.  We usually split for the holidays, and go where there’s no internet access, no cell phone service and hide out.  But money’s on my mind, and we were simply so tired of traveling, that we stayed home this year.

I’ve been fast at work on the Nourished Kitchen Cookbook (due out in spring of 2014 – yes, it is a long process – but I want it perfect for you.)  A friend of mine has tucked into our home and is helping to prepare and test recipes.  There’s so much coming out of the kitchen right now: quince and pear pies, concord grape sorbet, ferments of fennel and green apple, pickled tongue, rabbit pie, bonny clabber, maple-cured pork belly,  roasted berry panna cotta, honey custard, peas and carrots, black bread, hot cross buns, marrow beans with swiss chard.  It keeps going.  It’s a big book with lots of recipes and lots of photos.  The deadline’s not too far off now, and I’m terribly nervous.  I worry too much, which is fruitless, really, but there it is.

So, the holidays and book caught up with me, and I’m a little late in posting but here’s a list of the links, recipes, books and beautiful things I loved in December:

• We always eat fermented foods and take a therapeutic-grade probiotic (you can find them here), but this post on why you shouldn’t take a probiotic supplement piqued my curiosity.
• We went to the dentist and found out that both my son and I have cavities (2 each!), so I’m going to be putting my family on the Cure Tooth Decay protocol and also listening steadfastly to the speakers in the HealThy Mouth Summit.
• And I appreciated this post on How to Look After Your Teeth Naturally.
• I’m no exercise enthusiast – though I do try to simply live and active life – so I was pleasantly surprised by this piece on how to get a flat stomach which focused on digestion and other things, too.
• I bought 30 pounds of local beets with the intention of making beet kvass, though I think I’ll also make some borscht, too.
• Though this kale and beet salad might put them to good use, too.
• I also loved this salmon ball – cream cheese, salmon, nuts.  Mmmm.
• Ordering a duck from our local farmer – the same place we get our raw goat’s milk. I’m going to cut it up into pieces (as you would cut up a chicken) and roast the pieces individually.
• Though I am pretty tempted to roast it whole and serve it with sour cherry sauce.
• Playing around on Google+ Communities.  Oh do add me to your circles.  It’s way better than facebook.
• Staying inside where it’s warm instead of venturing outside in sub-zero temperatures.
• Making soups and stews to keep warm like cheese and vegetable chowder, and coconut chicken curry.
• We’re going to make marshmallows this week though I’d like to flavor them the old-fashioned way with rose and marshmallow root (which I get here.)
• This article on the importance of natural yeast, old-fashioned breads and how real food may have helped the Victorians live longer than we do now.
• This post on the disappearance of traditional foods in Europe.
• This take on Dr. Oz vs. Organic Foods.