There are some who find it difficult to celebrate Christmas in the desert. The lack of snow, constant sunshine and cactus tax their childhood visions of sugarplums and pines. So is this a Christmas post or just coincidental? I invite debate. It began months ago. In my desire to engage locally, I was exploring an opportunity called Donors Choose. Their focus is education – something our family believes can be an essential determinative in quality of life.
Christmas on a Desert Hike
Posted by Tammy on December 20, 2011
https://agrigirl.com/2011/12/20/tidings-of-joy/
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” This quote by Wayne Dyer perfectly describes my Sudoku prowess. After agonizing over one of the most difficult, I often walk away for a few minutes, come back, turn the puzzle upside down, and am able to finish it off. It also describes my latest eggplant strategy.
Coming to the End of the Season
Posted by Tammy on October 23, 2011
https://agrigirl.com/2011/10/23/eggplant-caponata-recipe/
Here in the Southwest, autumn sets in with a peculiar scent. It’s smoky but not unpleasant and if you’ve experienced it before, it’s certain to bring a smile. This is the smell of roasting chiles – stronger as you approach the New Mexican border but lingering in the parking lots of every Latino grocery and festival. The roaster stands hard at work, sweat on his brow as he throws back an iced horchata. One gallon ziploc bags are sold out everywhere.
Posted by Tammy on October 11, 2011
https://agrigirl.com/2011/10/11/roasting-chiles/
I googled “boatload of sweet potatoes”. Surprisingly, several food writers own that very phrase. Happy that others had encountered this excess before, I settled on the writings of a Seuss Chef (sorry!) for a dish of Green Eggs and Yam.
Green Eggs and Yam
Posted by Tammy on September 22, 2011
https://agrigirl.com/2011/09/22/lest-we-forget-our-food-flops/
It’s easy as pie – really. But that doesn’t explain the numerous little pink scratches criss-crossing my arms which simultaneously eroded the popular productivity principles that I’ve spent a career mastering.
Sally's Blackberry Pie
Posted by Tammy on September 7, 2011
https://agrigirl.com/2011/09/07/picking-berries-baking-pie/
“I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.” The quote from Woody Allen describes the condition that triggers the release of endorphins, our natural feel-good chemicals that promote a sense of well-being and have also been shown to relieve pain. It also triggers the release of milk from one’s nostrils but never mind.
flickr.cc.2.0/photos/chrishuggins
Posted by Tammy on August 4, 2011
https://agrigirl.com/2011/08/04/laughter/
One of the greatest benefits of eating seasonally is that foods begin to speak of the seasons themselves. I only need to hear the words rhubarb crisp or see a photo and I’m instantly cast into mid-July. Peaches, berries, and sweet corn do something similar to me. But here in the desert where it’s so brutally hot, it’s hard to contemplate a dish that will require us firing up the oven. Conversely, there’s nothing so welcome as a cool refreshment.
Paletas de Pepino - okay the sticks are a little off-center!
Posted by Tammy on July 21, 2011
https://agrigirl.com/2011/07/21/paletas-cucumber-popsicles/
As it goes, “many parts are edible.” Those were words designed to sell Post Grape Nuts cereal years ago. They also catapulted natural diet enthusiast Euell Gibbons to stardom.
Eating a Pine Tree
Posted by Tammy on July 16, 2011
https://agrigirl.com/2011/07/16/ever-eat-a-pine-tree/
I actually expected to see it happen last year. With Michelle Obama’s focus on childhood obesity, I knew it we were in for a revision. Online the USDA claimed a planned update in 2010. Then I got word from a wonderful blog, The Table of Promise, the new American eating plan had been unveiled.
Posted by Tammy on June 13, 2011
https://agrigirl.com/2011/06/13/choose-my-plate-replaces-the-pyramid/
The elaborate meaning is that if we don’t waste anything, then we won’t want anything. I’m not certain if it’s true but it’s definitely a saying that was common in my home as a child. It came from my depression era grandmother who in her farm upbringing learned to use more parts of a chicken that I wish to acknowledge. And we know this is true of other cultures such as the Chinese and the Native Americans.
Posted by Tammy on May 25, 2011
https://agrigirl.com/2011/05/25/using-greens-and-carrot-tops-in-cooking/
A wife, a mom, an executive, a certified leadership coach and a breast cancer survivor. I love learning and I love to write and I'm often fascinated with the life lessons that come from my kitchen. Focusing on community-based Placemaking is the way that I work towards creating a healthier planet.
Agrigirl's Blog 