Me So... Miso

Where I come from, chicken soup is the end-all, be-all of wellness.  If you're sick?  Chicken soup.  If you're tired?  Chicken soup.  If your pregnant?  Yep, chicken soup.  It even seems those country customs have caught on.  There's even the book "Chicken Soup for the __ Soul".  But I've never been crazy about chicken soup.  It's great and all, but it's laborious to make, and I don't do the can thing any longer.  So, my answer for replacing chicken soup on days like today is Miso.

You get it as a starter for your sushi, but did you know that this form of fermented soy is one of the only soy products that really is great for you?  Soy comes in so many forms now.  We've got Tofurkey products, a million types of tofu, and edamame (which even your pre-schoolers will love).  But soy has been so controversial lately.  Issues of it increasing estrogen, being related to certain types of cancel, being terrible to digest, and it being yet another product that ended up being a GMO.

I found a solution.  Non-GMO, Miso is literally like an anti-aging serum that you ingest.  I put 1 tbs. in a cup of hot water and sip when my tummy is upset or just as a very light snack.  Add to any soup, rice, quinoa, or as seasoning to any vegetables.


Here are some amazing benefits of Miso:


~Reduces risks of cancer including breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer.
~Protection from radiation
~Immune strengthening
~Antiviral -- miso is very alkalizing and strengthening to the immune system helping to combat a viral infection.
~Prevents aging - high in antioxidants, miso protects from free radicals that cause signs of aging.
~Helps maintain nutritional balance - full of nutrients, beneficial bacteria and enzymes, miso provides: protein,    vitamin B12, vitamin B2, vitamin E, vitamin K, tryptophan, choline, dietary fiber, linoleic acid and lecithin.
~Helps preserve beautiful skin - miso contains linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that helps your skin stay soft and free of pigments.
~Helps reduce menopausal complaints - the isoflavones in miso have been shown to reduce hot flashes.

Saturday Cookout

Oh ya!  It's on.  It's Spring, it's Saturday and... oh ya, WE'RE IN CALIFORNIA!!!  I live in the most amazing city on Earth.  Yes, it's dirty in some parts and it's extremely expensive to live here.  But honestly, I don't think I could be any happier anywhere else.  And that's why a good 'ol Okie cookout is in order.

I've invited my cousin Pete, his gorgeous girlfriend Mary Elizabeth, who just so happens to look like Kate Middleton, and my ever-so-stylish sister, Amy to come hot tub it, grill out and then hit Nic's Martini Bar for a drink or two.

I am making my famous Corn Salad and Beet/Carrot Steam .  Here are the recipes:
**All ingredients organic**

Katie's Famous Corn Salad
2 cups fresh corn kernels, cut off the cob
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup raw asparagus
1 large heirloom tomato diced (any color)
3 cloves garlic, diced, or pressed

Saute corn, onion and asparagus together in 3 tsp olive oil for about 8-10 minutes on medium heat, add garlic for the last 2 minutes.  Toss in diced tomatoes with all ingredients in large bowl.  Give it a pinch of sea salt or truffle salt and pepper to taste.  Let chill for up to up to 2 days.  This one gets better with time like salsa, so let all those flavors marry.

Beet/Carrot Steam
6 large beets, diced (be careful, they DO stain.  Put a little on your cheeks and lips while you're at it, and rub in with fingertips... hot mama!)
6 large carrots, diced
1 tsp. red pepper flakes (we make our own from our pepper plant, but any will do
2 tsp. olive oil
Sea salt to taste
Crumbled goat cheese (optional)

Dice beets and carrots, and boil for 15 minutes.  The liquid should be very dark red.  Add in red pepper flakes to boiling water.  Drain after 15 minutes, plate, drizzle with olive oil, sea salt and crumble goat cheese on top.  This one will make your toes curl, it's so good.

Make your own and tell me how they turn out.

~Cousin Pete~

~Mary Elizabeth-also a die-hard Bama fan~

~Amy searching for a Fedora in Venice~

The Farmer's Market Sundays

Sundays are my favorite day for a few reasons.  When I was little, Sundays were reserved for morning church, lunch (and dinner) at my grandparents house, and a long car-ride home in the back of my parents station wagon.  This was 1988, and my parents had a station wagon with the wood grain paneling- Oh ya!!  On our hour-long car ride home from my grandparents house, they would lay down the back seats and fill it with blankets and for my sisters and I to lay down and turn in early, while my dad used a creative, kid-friendly version of your four-letter favorites to the other drivers.  Three sleepy Oklahoma sisters passed out in the back of a station wagon in the 80's.  Those were the days.

Now Sundays mean sleeping in, long walks with my dogs in the Cali sun, skateboarding with my husband, afternoons in our garden and, of course, the Farmer's Market.

What I love most are the seasons.  In the Fall, I fall for squash blossoms, oyster mushrooms and artichokes.  Winter brings 40 varieties of chlorophyl-laced lettuce. This time of year- Stargazer Lilies, which happen to be my favorite, simply for their ungodly ability to engulf my whole home in their sensual Springtime smell without being overpowering.  In addition, the heirloom tomatoes, sprouts and herbs galore.  Much better than the sorry excuse for vegetables that our regular grocery store provides.

Our cash here goes straight to LOCAL farmers, while we save the world of our carbon footprints and keeping our good thing going... pesticide-free.

So rethink your canned vegetables (yikes!), and ditch the overpriced produce at Whole Foods.  Hit your local Farmer's Market for the best variety of seasonal yumminess.

Here are some of my favorites:
Atwater Village Farmer's Market
Lake Balboa Farmer's Market on Victory
Calabasas Farmer's Market (recommended by my friend Laura)
And I hear that Newport Beach has a good one on Newport Blvd. very near to Lido Island

You'll come home with a few bags of organic, local produce for 1/4 of the price of Ralph's or Von's.

Cheers and Happy Marketing!