Veronica In LA

[veronicainla-blog]

Power breakfast! Ran out of steel cut oats this week so I've been substituting quinoa instead, and it is so good!!! Today I mixed it with stewed spiced apples (ginger, cardamom, cloves, star anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, bourbon) and #Straus ice cream. Love having a few cups of quinoa in the fridge to just grab, mix, and go first thing in the morning before work... such a delicious way to start the day. :) #breakfast #easyeats #homemade #vegetarian #realfood

[veronicainla-blog]

This is what happens when Monday gets me down: I take a deep breath, crack open a bottle of wine, throw together a creamy mushroom soup, and stuff tiny new potatoes with butter and garlic. (The more intricate the task, the more zen I become. Neurotic? Sure. But at least my attempt at evading insanity is productive... and delicious.) #roasted #weeknightmeals #kitchenchat #details #meatlessmonday

[veronicainla-blog]

Yesterday, a little old lady at the farmer's market noticed my flowers poking out of my burlap bag, tapped my shoulder, leaned in, smiled, and whispered, "I buy myself flowers every week too. They make me so happy." Ten dollars worth of giant african marigolds and day lilies from the farmer's market = bright pops of cheerful color scattered throughout every living space in our home = me walking around smiling like an idiot every time I see them. (I think my octogenarian sister and I may be on to something.) <3 #flowers #beautiful #littlethings #lifehacking #happyplace

[veronicainla-blog]

Fall seedlings, reporting for duty! The radishes and turnips are always the first to break the soil, with snow peas following close behind. :) #urbanfarming #organicgardening #growyourown #seedlings #goodmorning

[veronicainla-blog]

A quick throw together dish for today's work potluck: quinoa with lamb stock, currant tomatoes, sweet Italian peppers, garlic chives, parsley, and lemon zest. Exposing people to real food, every chance I get!!! :D #happiermeals #gardentotable #fresh #organic #easycooking #goodeats

[veronicainla-blog]

What's the story, morning glory? This vine has finally put down some solid roots, and is climbing the arbor in the back of the garden like crazy!!! Love the bright purple swirling blooms that greet me daily. :) #flowers #growyourown #happyplace

[veronicainla-blog]

Did I mention my new roommate @ekmumy is awesome? Because she's awesome. So nice to have a helper in the garden who is ready to work and willing to learn alongside me! Can't wait to see what the fall harvest brings. :) #gardening #organic #tomatoes #helpinghands

[veronicainla-blog]

Good morning from one of the happiest corners of my kitchen! :) #organicproduce #homegrown #forgecoffee #kitchenaid #spices #caoliveranch #happyplace

[veronicainla-blog]

Caught in the act- look at that guilty face!!! #bugs #organicgardening #balance

[veronicainla-blog]

Here in sunny SoCal we may not see much color on our trees to indicate the changing of seasons, but the farmer's markets are heaven on earth for apples right now! Six varieties, three of which I've never tried. It's most definitely fall. :) #farmersmarkets #seasonalproduce #fallcolor #happiermeals #organic (at Atwater Village Farmers Market)

[veronicainla-blog]

First Saturday night home in a long time, and I can't think of a better way to spend it than making stock! Roasted lamb necks and knuckles with carrots, shallots, and onions, then deglazed the pan with leftover wine. Added celery, parsley, and thyme from the garden, a few bay leaves, some salt and pepper, topped it all off with plenty of water... and now we wait. :) #soups #ingredients #realfood #nourishingtraditions #healingmeals #grandmashouse

[veronicainla-blog]

We stock up for winter alongside the bees... looks like the lavender harvest will be ready soon! <3 #herbs #bees #organic #flowers #nofilter

[veronicainla-blog]

My little babies are getting so big! Spotted no less than 5 of these, now nearly 6" across, cleaning all of the bugs off my Mexican Marigolds before harvest. So happy to have finally created a home for good bugs to safely reside. :) #organicgardening #beneficialinsects #balance

[veronicainla-blog]

Got my copy of the new Manresa cookbook in the mail yesterday, and it is such a good read so far! The forward and introduction nearly moved me to tears, they were so beautifully written, and the photography is gorgeous! Can't wait to really sink my teeth into this one. <3 #cookbooks #localpassport #sustainable #foodforthought #followyourbliss

[veronicainla-blog]

Tonight's dinner experiment was a huge success! I'll have to write the recipe down soon with measurements. Roasted curried carrot soup topped with broiled mushroom rillette on sourdough, flat leaf parsley, and currant tomatoes. (Recommended pairing: hard apple cider and a 2014 onion catalog.) #realfood #happiermeals #fallproduce #local #organic #soups

[veronicainla-blog]

Yay I finally have a luffah that has grown to maturity this year! Between wonky weather, insect damage, and less than ideal soil in this corner of the garden, every single one has fallen off around 3", but somehow this guy managed to hang on for dear life. (There are a few more on the way, but I'm very excited to dry and harvest at least one or two!) :D #growyourown #sustainableliving #multipurposeveggies

[veronicainla-blog]

Doing a little herbcrafting tonight with the pineapple sage I trimmed earlier today. One of my gardening goals this year was to better understand some basics of herbal medicine, and I think I've found my answer in teas! They're fairly easy to prepare (I'm dehydrating, but you could just as easily dry them in a paper bag) and then you can simply mix a blend based on ailment. (Plus I get to play with new flavor combos. FTW.) #tea #savingtheseason #herbs #naturalremedies #foodasmedicine