What's Jicama?

As I continue down this raw food exploration, I am learning so much! Not just all the valuable healing and health stuff, but practical things, such as what a jicama is! Apparently it is a strange mix between an apple and a potato. And it is slightly magical, in that you can make "french" fries with them, RAW! Whoa. Neato jicamo.
Here is an excellent recipe from Raw Intentions. Sign up for their newsletter to get free recipes!

Crunchy Jicama Fries

Base coating

1 large Jicama, peeled, and sliced into quarter inch strips to resemble French fries

1 cup nutritional yeast

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

¼ teaspoon cayenne

Pinch of salt

Place all ingredients in a ziplock bag. Can be doubled if using more than one Jicama. Add herbs and spices of your choice and enjoy the great flavors. Best if eaten the same day.

Divide in half if making more than one flavor and add:

Herb Fries

1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence

1 teaspoon garlic

1 teaspoon thyme

Place all ingredients in a Ziploc bag with the base coating and mix well. Add Jicama Strips and shake in bag until well coated.

 Mexican Fries

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon coriander

Place all ingredients in a Ziploc bag with the base coating and mix well. Add Jicama Strips and shake in bag until well coated.

 Sweet Fries

½ cup shredded coconut ground in a  

spice grinder or blender

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of Stevia powder

Optional spices could include, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom

Place all ingredients in a Ziploc bag with the base coating and mix well. Add Jicama Strips and shake in bag until well coated.

© 2011, Denise Madeja

Watercolor, Inspiration for Tattoos

*Sigh*
I'm still desperate for a new tattoo. Maybe if I saved my money instead of buying pretty things, I could actually get one...

Watercolor bird, found here.

Watercolor and acrylic bird, here.

Cool watercolor lady, found here.

Peacock tattoo, belonging to this lovely blogger here.

And an Alphonse Mucha tattoo, here, just because.

Free Recipe Cards!

I couldn't sleep last night. It's a long story, but the short of it is that Hubs and I are trying to figure out if we'll ever be able to buy a house. Apparently we stand a good chance of being approved if we buy a house in the next week... after that, the changing laws will make it nearly impossible for us for the next 10 years. That's a lot to deal with, but I just don't think it makes sense to buy a house tomorrow! I mean, we did find the perfect house for us... and it's in our price range... but there's just no way we could come up with the down payment in time. *sigh* C'est la vie.

So to lighten the mood, I created some fun recipe cards! Click on the links to download the pdf, which is designed to print 4 to a page. Enjoy!

	Silverware Recipe Card
	Beater Recipe Card
	Pig Recipe Card
	Tea Recipe Card

Big thanks to the Graphics Fairy for providing awesome vintage clipart!

Home-made Sorbet

Hooray for Vitamix!

Handful of ice
Large spoonful of frozen juice concentrate- I used apple raspberry
Splash of Pom juice
Splash of apple juice
1/3 banana

Delicious!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Spring Break - Review

Wow! What a great week! Let's see how well we stuck to our agenda.


1. Bicycles! 
We bought excellent bikes! It rained for most of the week, so we didn't get to ride everyday like I had hoped. However, we did have several glorious days of sunshine at the end of the week, one of which we spent at the park riding bikes with my sister and nephew. AND! A snake tried to attack me. VERY serious situation. Luckily, I was on a bike and traveling much faster than the serpent. The incident was over within seconds. 
 
2. Antique store and garage sale shopping
We only made it to one garage sale, but it was a whopper! We got a very cool, old radio/record cabinet. Only $30! It needs a good cleaning and we will eventually put some new wiring to it to make the radio and record player functional. But for now, we will most likely use it as a TV stand.


The same yard sale had several books of fabric samples, like the kind you see at upholstery stores or something. I bought all four books and can't wait to figure out a project for them. Any ideas?

3. Casino!
Yes! I had a very fun night with my mom, her husband and my amazing Granny. Granny made off best with $350 in winnings! Casinos are dangerous, dangerous places.... which I love.

4. Picnic
Hmm. Didn't do this. But there is still plenty of sunshine coming our way.

5. & 6. Hang out with friends
I spent one excellent day crafting and drinking champagne with my sister in Tulsa.
Had time to help out at Raw Intentions and hang with Denise.
Sadly, I did not follow through on Chelsea time, or going to Fayetteville to visit Helen and Lindi. I'm sorry, friends!!! 

7. CrAFts!
I did not work on the giraffe at all. MEhr. BUT! Husband and I did get about halfway done with our summer quilt! It is looking reeeeally cool and I can't wait to show it to you.

8. Cooking!
Hmm. I can't recall cooking once this week. What did I eat??!!

9. Reading booooooks
I read a few pages of a Christopher Moore book. It reminded me of Tom Robbins. I think I will read the rest of it!

10. Maybe a little shopping?
Gap Outlet wins again! I love shopping... and credit cards aren't real money, right? ... whimper...
No, we didn't spend that much actually. I'm pretty proud of my restraint.

Obviously, it was the best week that has ever occurred in the history of the planet. How was yours?

Week of Fun - Part 1

Spring Break is off to a great start! Hubby and I found perfect bikes at a local bike store. Hooray!

Now, it has been storming all week so we haven't been able to ride.... but I have gone into the garage to look at them several times!
I couldn't be happier! It's a pink Huffy, probably about 25 years old.

Next awesome item: fun sister day! We had waffles and coffee for breakfast. Tried some watercolor painting. Sewed some cushion covers and a funny little bunny named Frank. And finished a crafting apron I started working on last year! Yay for finishing projects.

 

Watch out. That iron is deadly.

I know this post is labeled part 1. Let's hope for a part 2!

I've always loved cake

Me - Age 1
My very first birthday, thus my very first birthday cake. My mom set it on the floor to try to get my attention. I promptly sat on it. 

Me - Age 1: Hmm. This seat feels different. 
Me - Age 1: Hmm. That kind of looks tasty.
Me - Forever after: CAAAKKKKKEEEE!!!!