Raw Kale Salad

I love kale, It's a superstar antioxidant and is loaded with vitamins. My sister made this salad for us two summers ago and all I can say is -it opened the floodgates to blessed kale. Ferociously addicting.

Raw Kale salad

1 bunch curly or dinosaur kale, chopped the size of parsley.
1 cucumber diced in small chunks
3 raw carrots, peeled and shaved with a vegetable peeler
1/2 red onion(preferably soaked in rice vinegar for 30 minutes, not necessary)
1 avocado, diced
1 quarter shaved red cabbage, chopped
2 heaping tablespoons roasted sunflower seeds

Dressing:
3 tablespoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
sea salt
dash of cayenne

Assembly:

1. Wash vegetable well especially the kale.

2. Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl, and toss to combine.

3. In small bowl, combine dressing ingredients, stir well and drizzle on salad.

4. Let sit 30 mins to 1 hour before serving.

Outdoor Dining on Cape Cod

Wouldn't it be fantastic to host a secret dinner party? Yes, a secret dinner party. The Parisians do it. Have you heard of the Diner en Blanc. Three weeks ago, as part of a mystical annual event, close to 11,000 Parisians, dressed entirely in white, gathered at the cathedral of Notre Dame and the Louvre's court yard for a secret feast. Beginning in 1988, these dinner parties flourish in spontaneity and hinge upon an element of surprise. Like ghosts, attendees transform the iconic settings as they carry in their own food, chairs, tables, and silver. At midnight, after a night of dancing and dining, the guests respectively deconstruct the alfresco "dining room," leaving without a trace, as if the event was a simply a mirage.

image and inspiration courtesy of the NYT

There is something so magical about outdoor dinner parties. Between the the twinkling lights and the warm balmy air, a table setting transforms into a fairy tale feast.

Inspired by the French, we love the idea of coming into nature and leaving nothing but perhaps a footprint. Why not take your dining outdoors?

Or on a dock.

Or better yet, in the sand...

On a blanket.

Just last weekend, we had the most marvelous sunset beach picnic with the most amazing people. While we can't claim to replicate the spreads above, our setting was just as magical. With such gorgeous scenery, who really needs anything else except for friends, good food and a bottle of wine.

not as chic, but equally enjoyable

Paddle Boarding on Cape Cod

It was a choice between morning yoga and paddle boarding. Both require basic balancing abilities, and total body strength. One is safe in a walled studio, the other in waters that tout sharks in the national press. Stepping out of comfort zone, we chose the later. It was a beautiful day. The air was hot and windy.

With a bit more practice, we could actually do both!

A sisterhood of five met at Bridge Street at 9:30 am. Jess brought her own board from home. Justin from Adventure Chatham delivered the boards for the rest of us newbies. For $15 dollars, Adventure Chatham will deliver and pick up boards and kayaks from local residences or specified locations, making the whole experience rather easy.

A few minutes before arriving, we watched an online instructional video. It sure looked easy. Basically you find the sweet spot on the board. Paddle around on your knees for a while and when comfortable lift up square on the board using your core and look at the horizon. The key piece of advice? DO NOT LOOK AT YOUR FEET.

Sup instructional video

The outward journey was an effortless (well almost) sail across Mill Pond. I believe one of us even said, "wow, this is a lot easier than I had thought." Definitely spoke too soon.
The same can not be said for the paddle back. Looking like a circus act, the two of us struggled to come upstream against the wind and current. One fall and two battles to turn our boards around later, we were far far behind our clan. Wind is a paddle boarders biggest foe (lesson learned). At times we seriously paddled for five minutes without moving an inch. But regardless, we had a great time. We're not kidding, we had a total blast. We spent the rest of the afternoon paddling in calmer waters. We even strapped the boards to our roof and took them for a spin on Pleasant Bay. From floating on our backs to mastering the paddling technique, we found paddle boarding to be a great way to enjoy the gorgeous view, catch some rays, and get a great work out.

A pro in no time

In addition to rentals and lessons, Adventure Chatham offers guided excursions and tours. Tours range from gentle paddles through the beautiful waterways of Pleasant Bay to a vigorous outer beach seal tour and surf excursion. For the full shebang, Adventure Chatham offers an off road vehicle catered beach excursion. Get the full experience as the companies SUV shuttles you around to the off road section of beaches in neighboring towns. Forget lugging around your beach gear, these trips are fully equipped! Luxury beach chairs, tables, umbrellas, paddle boards, kayaks, skim boards, bbq grill, ipod stereo, boccie set, sun showers and more. They'll even pack coolers filled with delicious sandwiches and drinks from the Corner Store. Sunset trips include tiki torches and firewood, and a beach bbq or clambake! We love the idea of an activity packed beach day sans lugging around two tons of stuff.

excursion photo from Adventure Chatham, what the heck is jumping out of the water?

For less of a commitment, try out "Wednesday Night Paddles." Every Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30, Adventure Chahtam hosts relaxed group excursions. Tide depending, paddle your way through either Oyster River, Stage Harbor or Chatham Harbor/North Beach for only 20 bucks!

For a list of prices and more information, visit Adventure Chatham online or visit their facebook page !


Paddle Boarding is all the rage, check out all the SUP rentals across the Cape:

Vec Surfboards - Orleans, Cape Cod - 808-634-8776
SICKDAY Surf - Wellfleet, Cape Cod - 508-214-4158
Nauset Sports - Orleans, Cape Cod - 508-255-4742
Pump House Surf Co - Orleans, Cape Cod - 508-240-2229
MOCEAN - Mashpee, Cape Cod - 508-477-1774
Cape Cod Paddle Surf - Osterville, Cape Cod - 508-737-8572
EMS Exploration - Hyannis, Cape Cod - 800-310-4504
RideAway Kayak - Sandwich, Cape Cod - 508-247-0827
Adventure Chatham - Chatham, Cape Cod - 800-809-1750

and for more information on rentals, lessons, and paddle board retail around the Cape, check out out this great site

Viva the Farmer's Market!

My friends came over the other night for an impromptu dinner bearing a gift of smoked bluefish from the Orlean's Farmer's Market. The immediate response from most of us was a sympathetic smile(which was a lot better than blurting, "ICK") Let's face it, bluefish has a bad rap and requires occasional help, but this smoky version was worthy of huge accolades. It was flat-out unbelievable. Usually everything from a farmer's market is pretty spectacular.

Farmer's markets are a beautiful thing and they have popped up everywhere on Cape Cod this year. You can have farm fresh food every day of the week if you make a little effort and leapfrog from one to another in your area.

Special finds are all over the place. I discovered flaxseed tortillas the other day and now they are making their way into my dreams at night. Everytime I go to the farmer's market, I'm inspired.

We are lucky to have an established community of foodies here. Elspeth Hay who is our local food celebrity and airs on NPR morning addition All Things Considered knows the Cape's farmer's market better than anyone. She writes a blog about what is growing locally and how to use it. Check out Diary of a Locavore. She recently featured a raw food recipe for blueberry cheesecake by Katie Reed of Farm Fresh Maids, a Wellfleet raw food caterer. Look at this photo and you too will be a devotee.
Edible Cape Cod, our version of the quarterly magazine, is a great resource as well for what is happening on the farmer's market scene.
If you want to grow your own garden on the Cape, you might need some secret advice from the Cape's queen of gardening, C.L Fornari, bookwriter, professional speaker, expert on which of your favorite plants those pesky bunnies eat and don't eat. Her website is at the Garden Lady. Can you imagine in your wildest dreams having your carrot patch look like this? .

Let's just say some of us need farmer's market more that others.


Here's a list of Cape Farmer's Markets.

Falmouth Farmers Market
Thursday 12-6pm May 26
Peg Noonan Park, Main Street, Falmouth
http://www.falmouthfarmers/market.orf

Orleans Farmer's Market 8-12PM May 14 - Nov 19 21 Old Colony Way, http://www.orleansfarmersmarket.com/

Osterville Farmer's Market June 3 - Sept 30
Friday 9-1pm
Osterville Historical Society, 155 West Bay Road/parket Road
ostervillefarmersmarket.org

Bass River Farmers Market
Thursdays 8:30 - 1:30pm May 26, 307 Old Main Street, Yarmouth, wwwthebassfarmersmarket.com

Chatham Farmers market
Tuesday 3PM - 6:30 June 7 - December 26, 24 Main Street, South Chatham, chthamfarmersmarket@hotmail.com
Dennis Community Farmers Market

Harwich Brewster
Thursdau 3-6PM June 16 - 10/13
Brooks Academy Museum 80 Parallel Street, Harwich, www harwichhistoricalsociety.org

Green Harvest Farmers Market
Tuesdays, 12-6pm, June 7 - 11/15, Barnstable County Fairground, 1220 Nathan Ellis Highway, Rt 151

MidCape Farmers Market
Wednesdays 2-6PM June 8 - 10/16
Barnstable Youth and Community Center, 141 Bassett Lane, Hyannis, http://www.midcapefarmersmaket.com/

Ptown Farmers Market
Saturdays 11-4pm May-Dec Across from Town Hall intersection Commercial and Ryder Street

Sandwich Farmers Market
Tues 9-1PM
June 7-10/25
The Village Green, 164 Route 6A across from the fish hatchery, wwwsandwichfarmersmarket.com
and teh sandwich Farmers Marketat Oak Crest
Wed 8-1PM, April 27 - 10/26
34 Quaker Meeting House Road, sandwich
http://www.thesandwichbazaar.com/

For a full list visit, http://www.capecodextension.org/docs/horticulture/farmers_markets_2011.pdf

Green Smoothies

After a weekend of indulging, I'm ready to hit my internal re-set button. The ultimate cure to a post-weekend slump? A green smoothie.

well + good nyc

A handful of kale
Half an apple
5 slices of cucumber
A stalk of celery
½ of an avocado
½ cup water
A splash of lemon juice

To some, this tall cup of goodness, dripping in deliciousness, may scream DRINK ME. For others, this may look like sewage. But as they say, it's never good to judge something based off of outward appearances. I mean, come on, look at lobster.

There's really no need to list the health benefits, as there are many. Basically, your drinking heaps of veggies, fruit and water. Enough said. It's a sure fire way to feel rejuvenated, hydrated, and energized.

Science of Healthy Living

There's plenty of recipes to be found online. However, green smoothies beg for spontaneity. Throw in whatever may be growing in the garden or sitting in the fridge. Kale, lettuce, cucumber, collard greens, celery, you name it. The greener the better. Try to aim for 70 percent greens, 30 percent fruit. Bananas , apples and pears add a zing of sweetness. If your smoothie tastes just a teensy bit toooooo green, drizzle in a bit of agave nectar or maple syrup to balance out the taste. As for the liquid, water is best. But you can always add diluted apple or orange juice (coconut water is great too!). Head to your local farmers market for some green inspiration.

Recently, I've been blending in a whole banana, a few pieces of frozen mango and pineapple, handfuls of kale and lettuce, celery, cucumber, raw almonds, coconut water, and lots of water.

Orleans Farmer's Market: The Real Food Advocate

For an extra dose of fiber and protein, throw in some flax seeds and raw nuts. For a little bit of crunch, try a scoop of granola right on top.

Truly Organic Foods: Cocoa nibs, goji berries and bee pollen

Give the green smoothie a try. Even my three and half year old sister loves them. And this coming from a particularly picky little girl who lives off of cheese found two forms: grilled and macaroni-ed.

Check out this kid friendly "frog nog" green smoothie recipe featured on The Sisters Cafe blog.

2-4 cups spinach or other greens (I use 4 cups organic baby/ or kale)

1-2 cups of water (depending how thick you like it)

1-2 bananas (I use 2)

1 heaping cup frozen pineapple chunks

1 cup frozen mango, peaches or other light fruit (I have used strawberries)

1 Tb honey or agave (optional for sweetness)

First I fill my trusty blender (I use the Blendtec) with spinach–lots of it! Then I fill the container up to the 2 line with water filling in around the spinach. Pulse to blend into a bright green water.

Next add your bananas, frozen fruit ans sweetner, if using. I push the ‘whole juice’ button and the blender purees it all for me into a wonder smooth green drink. What ever blender you have, just be sure to blend it for a good amount of time to make sure it is as smooth as possible. Pour into glasses and serve!
- the sisters cafe blog

Lulu Lemon Month at Power Yoga of Cape Cod

We're hooked on lulu lemon. Who isn't now-a-days? The groove pant is seriously a woman's best friend. We first met these stretchy wonders 4 years ago at a lulu lemon across the way in California. Despite countless wears and as a result, many many wash and drys, these pants haven't aged a bit. I would buy these pants in every color and wear them everyday if it were socially acceptable to wear black stretchy pants to work. (All the more reason to become a yogi!)

With the nearest lulu lemon store in Hingham, we rarely have a chance to ogle over all the great goods. That's why we are SO excited for lulu lemon month at Power Yoga of Cape Cod! (Winner of Best Yoga Studio in Cape Cod Magazine's Reader's Choice Awards and 0ur go to yoga studio which we blogged about here).

On July 23rd, this coming Saturday, lulu lemon will host a trunk show at PYCC from 1:30 to 4:30! Come enjoy refreshments, music, chats with lulu lemon expert educators, and of course, boatloads of great yoga gear. After an afternoon of inspiring company and great shopping, put all that positive energy to good use! One of PYCC's fabulous teachers (and owner,) Jill, will be hosting a complimentary Vinyasa flow class from 4:30 to 5:30!

Then, every single Saturday in August, from 10:30 - 11:45, lulu lemon will sponsor a FREE one hour power yoga class at PYCC. You can sign up online or show up on Saturday ready to sweat!

bringing lulu lemon to you - here on Cape Cod!

For more information, visit PYCC's website

Blueberry Picking on Cape Cod

The super fruit is here and the mode of acquisition is to pick your own. Our favorite venue is Hockum Rock Farm in Dennis and gates open this Thursday at 8am.

There is a lot to love about blueberries. First off, these blue jewels are the numero uno powerhouse antioxidant. These powerful molecules help neutralize free radicals that may one day lead to cancer, heart disease, diabetes and maybe even brain degeneration. In addition to a slew of other health benefits, blueberries may may protect against, and even reverse, some age-related memory loss. That's a whole lotta good for such a little berry.

Luckily, it's not hard to reap the benefits of the these blue bombshells because these delights are not only delicious but downright addicting. Our family can down a carton in one sitting. You can’t eat just one, nor should you. So get pickin’.

Hockum Rock Farm is open this Thursday 8am - 10am throughout July and August on specific dates. See this website link for the summer schedule and directions. We can't tell you why, but there's something about picking your own berries that makes them taste even better. Last year, we picked to our hearts desire and came home with mountains and mountains of baby blues. We froze a good amount and enjoyed our handpicked berries in morning smoothies and oatmeal. A simple reminder of summer bliss. For more Cape Cod blueberry patches can be found at this local food guide, BFBL

Blueberries are a part of our everyday roster when the season is here. We could roll call ten thousand recipes, but we'll start here with a to die for Blueberry Tart by Terry Walter's of Clean Food, our "stand by me" food guru.

This is made with a almond meal crust which is not only delicious and healthy, it's foolproof and simple.

CRUST
2 cups almond meal
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
Pinch of sea salt
1 teaspoon almond extract

FILLING

1 cup apple juice
2 tablespoons
arrowroot powder
1⁄2 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1⁄4 teaspoon almond extract
Zest of 1 lemon
Pinch of sea salt
2 cups blueberries
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly oil 9-inch tart pan.
PREPARING CRUST
Place almond meal in large mixing bowl. In small skillet over medium-low heat, whisk together maple syrup, coconut oil and salt until oil melts. Whisk in almond extract and remove from heat. Pour this mixture over the almond meal and fold to incorporate all ingredients. Transfer dough to tart pan and press to form crust. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and, using the back of a wooden spoon, gently press down any puffed areas of crust. Set crust on wire rack to cool.

PREPARING FILLING

In small bowl, whisk together 1⁄2 cup apple juice with arrowroot and set aside. In medium Dutch oven over medium heat, combine remaining 1⁄2 cup apple juice with maple syrup, lemon juice, almond extract, lemon zest and salt and bring to simmer. Add 1 cup blueberries and stir until berries start to pop and liquid turns red/blue. Reduce heat to low and whisking continuously, pour arrowroot-juice mixture into berry mixture. When liquid is thick, remove from heat and fold in remaining blueberries. Pour into crust, spread evenly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set.

Serves 8