Under the Tulip Tree

A Birthday and a New Blog

Two weeks ago I had no intention of starting a new blog. I was more certain that I wouldn't be blogging at all than I was about starting something new. But some little light turned on and suddenly I was inspired. So last week I started a new blog.

Maybe it's because I turn 40 today. Maybe it's because I'm not the same person I was a year ago. Maybe it's because I'm not the same person I was even a few months ago. And when I came back to this space after being gone so long, I realized I couldn't rightly just pick up where I'd left off.

My life is about health and food right now, and a new way of eating. Everything has changed. Every old ritual is over. Every old comfort has had to be transformed into something new. It's been harder than I thought, but more rewarding than I ever dreamed. I suppose that's the way these things go.

My new blog is about food, specifically gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, sugar-free vegan food. It's about cooking and eating lots of plants. It's about my garden. It's about taking pictures. It's about the places I go and the things I find along the way. I hope you'll join me on this next phase. I hope you'll hang in there with me. Thanks so very much for being with me along the way.

Very truly yours,
Julie

 

My new blog:

Leaf Root Flower Fruit

 

 

Hello Again

How in the world did that happen? I turned around and the next thing I knew it was July. But I wanted to stop in and say "hi" and tell you that all is well. Things are just busy and summery, and I hope to get back to this space very soon. Until then, I hope you are enjoying the sunshine and pretty days.

 

Turns Out, I've Been Doing This All Wrong

I pay attention to what I eat. A lot of attention. I try to do the normal things like eat seasonally/locally/organically but I also do a bit more than that. I pay attention to how foods make me feel (which is a lot, good or bad) (sugar, I'm talking to you!) and I thought I kinda had it down. I thought I was staying away from the things that didn't treat me kindly but it turns out I was a little right and a lot wrong. Turns out my body is allergic (or intolerant) to almost everything I eat every day.

I've been feeling off and awful for the past four months. Feeling things I've never felt in all my life. And feeling bad enough to go get some blood work to see just what was going on. Turns out a lot. Turns out I shouldn't be eating over a dozen eggs a week because my body has been treating egg yolks and whites like poison. Turns out I shouldn't have been eating cheese or yogurt because my body hates all dairy and cow's milk. It has something against goats, too, because it won't stand for their milk either.

Turns out all those nuts I've been inhaling by the handful are bad for me. So are the sesame and pumpkin seeds. Turns out I've got a problem with chicken and turkey, so those lovely deli sandwiches I used to make for myself are over. So is that avocado I used to put on those sandwiches. I shouldn't be eating soy (which is fine because I hate soy) and I shouldn't be eating garlic either. But the biggie, the one thing that might be in charge of this whole mess is the omnipresent gluten. Turns out my body is having a very rough time with gluten, gliadin, and wheat. I had a feeling wheat wasn't good for me so I went to spelt a while ago, thinking it would be enough. It wasn't enough. Turns out there should be no gluten in my life. And if I get rid of it there might be a chance I can go back to enjoying some of the foods I can't now. Frankly, I don't care whether I do or not, I'll do whatever I have to do.

I don't know if changing my diet will solve all of my problems but it's an obvious place to start. More tests need to be done to see if I have actual Celiac's but right now fish is in order, as are vegetables and rice. For now (and maybe forever, I don't know), I have to be dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free. That sorta sucks. And it sorta doesn't.

This dish was my first attempt at this new way of eating. I've never cooked halibut before, or fennel, but I pulled it together, and I felt better than I've felt in a while.

 

Greek-Style Halibut with Arugula Salad and Rice
Recipe adapted from Sunset Magazine

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 halibut fillets (about 4 oz. each)
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided
1 fennel bulb, trimmed and cut into wedges
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 can (14.5 oz.) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

Preparation:

1. Heat a 12-in. nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat with 1 tbsp. oil. Rub halibut with 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Lightly brown fish in frying pan on one side only, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

2. Add remaining oil to frying pan along with fennel. Cook, stirring frequently, until light golden and almost tender, about 10 minutes.

3. Add tomatoes, 1/2 cup water, chickpeas, remaining salt and pepper, and the oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer. Lay halibut fillets, browned side up, in sauce and simmer until fish is cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve with rice and arugula salad.

Arugula Salad:

Mix a little olive oil with a dab of Dijon mustard and a splash of brown rice syrup together in a bowl and drizzle over arugula.

 

Beautiful Manzanita

Old shingle houses on the way to the shore.

Paned-glass windows and white trim.

Little rivers in the sand.

Beach grass and black hills.

And sky that never ends.

Conversations in the wind.

A beach house kitchen.

And handmade milkshakes.

Games by the fireplace.

And bittersweet goodbyes.

ANY

Pretty Pink Plum Blossoms

Thank you dearly for your tips for getting through the hard seasons. It seems that for some it's the heat, for some it's the sun, for some it's the stifling humidity, and for some it's the cold, dark gray. The most difficult part seems to be the unrelenting sameness of it all. The day in and the day out of waking up to the same, tiring thing. I guess I'm a Midwestern girl at heart so I need at least some semblance of four seasons, however short or minimal they may be.

But my people are here. And my people don't seem to mind the gray (though I believe Miss A is becoming less and less of a fan), and this is my home. For the long haul. And that's good in so many, many ways. Just not all.

The sun came out this weekend and we all soaked up every bit. It was wonderful. And fleeting. Today is the official start to our spring break so I plan on spending time with my kiddles, and soaking up every bit of springtime that I can.

ANY

Is Now Too Soon?

I know, it's a tired complaint. Really tired. I complain about it all the time. I can't help it. I do try to love it; I try to make it work for me. Every year I'm hopeful it will get better. But it hasn't gotten better in 18 years. In fact, after 18 years I think it's gotten worse.

What if you spent three months out of every year waiting for them to be over? What if you spent six? What about eight? What if you spent eight months out of every year wanting to skip them? That seems like an unacceptable number. That seems sad. That seems like too many months out of the year.

The rain. The darkness. The clouds.

They're simply not for me. They're simply not who I am.

ANY

Hungarian Beef Goulash

I know, tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day so why a Hungarian dish today? I don't have a good answer for that. But I happened upon Hungarian Beef Goulash at Dinner with Julie the other day and I was totally interested. And totally motivated!

When I saw the beef with the paprika I was like, yummm. When I saw the little dumplings I was like, ohhhh. When I saw the bacon I was like, Do we need bacon on top of all that? But then I told myself not to argue with the bacon and oh my heavens was it delish! Delicious, I tell you! Warm and fragrant and absolutely perfect to eat as the rain came down in sheets and dug holes in my garden. I'm going to try and put that part out of my mind, though, because right now the sun is shining and it's Friday.

ANY