Irene Video by Caribou

We just discovered Pitchfork.tv. This video by Caribou is a new household favourite.

PSE Green Power and Theo's Chocolate

Puget Sound Energy and Theo Chocolate, a Pacific Northwest green power business, have teamed up to thank you for joining PSE's Green Power Program. Sign up today and receive organic chocolate compliments of Theo Chocolate. The complimentary gift offer is available until June 15, 2008.

Chocolate anyone?

Yoga for the Gardener

I give thanks to You Grow Girl for posting a link that combines two of my passions, gardening and yoga. If you garden and need a little yoga to balance your efforts, click here.

REI's Kids' Passport to Adventure

The other day, I was at REI with M&M when a clerk asked if the kids had a REI Summer Passport. Mina was quick to sign herself and her brother up for the program. In addition to a fancy whistle at the end, you recieve a cute little book full of journaling prompts, puzzles, hiking/camping tips and stickers. I love anything that gets the kids excited about being active and outside. Our whole family is excited for summer sports and camping trips!

Friends Anna and Madeline (Deb and John) gave the kids these cool camping chairs for their birthdays. Tonight seemed to be all about the chairs. In the chairs, they read stories, 'camped' in their room and ate dinner. Miles dropped his dinner three times but it was rather fun.

Obama in Oregon

Obama Draws Huge Crowd in Oregon as Clinton Courts Kentucky .

Visitors to the Emerald City

Last night, we were happy to host traveling family friends Peter and Elizabeth Moffat, who brought with them their sweet friend, Winnie. It was a rather fun visit. Everyone got a full dose of the kids, which, in our house, means a full tour featuring the new bunk beds, 'show and tell' of an assortment of random things and many requests to read books. 'Winnie' told Mina that she was a true 'Tigger', which is rather accurate, especially last night.


To the great delight of the kids, Elizabeth played her "I know a wienie man" ukulele song. Then she and Winnie marched them, with singing and strumming, to their beds for a night of happy sleep.


I was holding on to the weather from the weekend and pulled out two favourite summer recipes,

Vegetarian Muffaletta
from International Vegetarian Union

Prior to having kids, I worked at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and a coworker shared this recipe with me.

Serves 8

1 large round Italian loaf of bread (10")
Filling: Use as many of the ingredients as you a) like and b) can fit into your sandwich!
1 eggplant, about 1 lb. cut into 1/4 inch slices & broiled
Hommus
1 sweet red pepper, roasted, peeled, cut into chunks
1 sweet yellow pepper, roasted, peeled, cut into chunks
1 bunch fresh arugula or bitter greens (cress will do)
thinly sliced onion
Thinly sliced avocado
broiled zucchini slices
chopped black olives (brined)
Thinly sliced roma tomatoes
1/3 cup pesto sauce
Cut top off of bread and scoop out some of the insides (save for croutons or bread crumbs).
Layer ingredients thinly, starting with hommus on the bottom, ending with pesto sauce on the top.
Add top of bread and wrap tightly.
Let sit 2 hours or more.
Cut into wedges & serve.

PCC Emerald City Salad
Emerald City Salad
Serves 6-8

2 cups organic wild rice
1 bunch organic kale
1 bunch organic chard
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 fennel bulb
1 bunch green onion
1/2 cup chopped parsley
3/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper


Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper to make dressing. Cook the rice in ample water. Drain, cool, and toss rice with dressing. Remove tough stems and ribs from greens and chiffonade.

Combine with diced peppers, thinly sliced fennel bulb and chopped green onion. Just before serving, toss veggies with dressed rice.

PCC Natural Markets, 2005

The summer food was rather good, but the company was even better!

I've got a new love and its name is Panini

The looming tomato crop inspired me to purchase a panini press, which is something that i've REALLY wanted for a while. We recently got one by Breville, and i'm so in love with the whole experience. Last night, it was rather awesome to be sitting on the deck, enjoying the weather, and savouring a fresh kale/cheese/olive panini. I can see panini and a salad as the summer meal. I'd welcome any favourite panini recipes!

Happy weekend to you all. Here's hoping that the sun is shining on you too.

Narrow Stairs

DCFC's new album, Narrow Stairs, came out this week. Here's a quick documentary about the album from Current TV.

BBG Cherry Walk Video

Check out this 2008 Cherry Blossom Timelapse at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

This timelapse was created by Dave Allen, BBG's Web Manager, from over 3,000 digital photos, one taken every 3 minutes from April 18 to April 26, 2008, of Brooklyn Botanic Garden's famed Cherry Walk.

Father's Day 2008

The tickets for this year's Father's Day KEXP Dance Party went on sale today! If you follow this link, you can purchase them on-line. That webpage is actually for last year's event, so you have to search ticketswest for Sunday June 15th, 2008 at Neumos.