Do you hear it, shhh….listen. Closer, no…come closer, listen. YES! Nothing right? That’s right, nothing! That is the sound quietness I enjoy when I’m at our mountain home, no noise! Sure there’s some cars buzzing, buildings being constructed, sirens occasionally alerting, but for the most part it is complete bliss. You can actually hear the birds chirping, squirrels scattering, and the rain trickling down. I sleep better, work better, and have an overall calmness that one can only find when you remove all the movement, hustle, and non-stop chatter of the big city. There is definitely a time and place for both city and mountains in my life but this week in particular I needed the quiet, the stillness, and peace that comes from being in a slower paced environment.
I’ve loved every second of it and so thankful to have the opportunity to have this escape when I need it, even when somehow I’ve forgotten how badly. Despite all the tranquility though, the week has not gone without plenty of activity. Wanting to keep my new yoga practice consistent, a friends recommendation brought me to a local studio where I’ve enjoyed a great instructor and meet some new friends. I reconnected with a girlfriend at a dive bar that included the discovery of a great blues band. A visit to a new grocery store opened the door to some cooking demo opportunities. Then an email that threw me for a loop; an online vegan fashion site that wants to carry MY boots!!! This was all followed by a vegan Meetup at my house with delicious, amazing food (and my recipe below for Colcannon Puffs!)
which included me being asked to provide a cooking demo for local residents of a MD program (Whoooa!). Another get together with my cooking partner in crime was at a new vegerterine/vegan restaurant music venue where she discovered a awesome local beer and I this, a delicious blueberry cocktail.
The week is not over ya’ll. I still have a yoga class on the agenda today along with the traditional St.Patricks Day parade. Tomorrow its a hill run (cause that’s a tradition too), and eating at a few more of my most favorite places before I have to leave town on Monday. Seems like a lot and I’m not sure why I make it like I’ll never return again, cause I will sooner than later. Until then, I will act like a visitor, a tourist in my own town that I do definitely call my own now.
I shared a Valentines Day recipe, and then a Mardi Gras one, so it’s only fair that I should give you a St. Patricks Day too. I mean I am a bit Irish, a bit.
Colcannon Puffs
Makes 36 puffs
Ingredients:
2 lbs potatoes
1 head of kale (I used purple)
2 Tbls nutritional yeast
2 tsp of salt
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp of black pepper
2 Tbls of nut milk
2 Tbls corn starch
To make:
Scrub potatoes and cut into bite size pieces, place in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, approximately 20 minutes. In the meantime clean and remove stems from kale. Cut in to finely chopped pieces. Once the potatoes are done, use a slotted spoon and remove from pot, set aside. Add the kale to the potato water and cook until soften, about 6 minutes. Remove kale from the pot with a slotted spoon and let drain. Mash the potatoes in a large bowl, add the kale and 1/4 cup of the potato water. Add in all the other ingredients and combine thoroughly. Take a spoonful of mixture and roll in to a ball. Place on a parchment lined cooking sheet and continue to all of the mixture is used. Place in a 425 degree oven for 20 minutes, then turn over each ball on the other side and cook for an additional 20 minutes. They should be crisp on the outside and and soft on the inside.
Hoping you week/weekend was filled with some peace and stillness.
– Kat