Air plants are fun, exotic specimens with a vast range of shapes, colors, and sizes. Since they grow and flourish without soil, there are almost limitless creative possibilities for displaying them. Found naturally in deserts and forests in Central and South America, they often grow high in the crooks of trees where they absorb nutrient-rich rainwater through their leaves. Vividly colored flowers, easy care and a variety of shapes and sizes make them perfect for terrariums and wall gardens.
Adding a patch of green to a sunny windowsill, wheat grass is easy-to-grow at home for use in your spring centerpieces and tabletops. An added bonus, their clippings are high in vitamins A, C, E, and B complex for juicing or a healthy addition to smoothies and salad dressings.
To grow yours, follow these simple steps:
1. Soak seeds in water for 8-12 hours.
2. Fill a shallow tray with soil. Water the soil, and spread wheat grass seeds evenly across the top. Cover the seeds lightly in soil and mist with water from a spray bottle. Place the tray away from direct sunlight.
3. In a few days, you'll see the grass beginning to sprout. Water periodically to keep soil moist.
4. To harvest, when the grass reaches roughly 7"H, cut the grass with scissors 0.5" above the soil.
With spring gardening swiftly approaching, stretch your green thumb beyond the garden bed and get your hands dirty making your very own custom planter. Follow these simple steps and soon enough you'll have your own handmade planter to add a personal touch to your garden, or to give as a gift to your favorite gardener.
What You'll Need
Hypertufa Planter Mix
Water
Rubber gloves
Plastic tub
Spray cooking oil
Plastic mold
Pencil
Wire brush (optional)
Molding the Planter
Wearing rubber gloves, mix the Hypertufa Planter Mix with water in a plastic tub, a bit at a time until the mixture has the consistency of moist cookie dough. Your mix is moist enough when a ball of hypertufa holds its shape in your open hand.
Using the inside of your plastic mold to start building your project, first spray the inside of your mold with cooking oil. Push a handful of hypertufa mix firmly against the bottom. Repeat until you have made a bottom base that is 1-inch thick.
Push handfuls of hypertufa mix firmly against the sides of your mold 3/4-inch thick. Pack the walls tight to remove air pockets.
Continue until the rim of your mold is reached. make sure the rim is as equally thick as the sides all the way around.
Create drainage holes in the bottom by pushing a pencil through.
As we look forward to spring's approach, this simple, three-step ritual from Farmaesthetics delivers nourishing benefits to the skin as the cool, dry weather begins to retreat.
1. Add a dropper of Farmaesthetics Complexion Conserve to a teaspoon of Farmaesthetics Nourishing Herbal Cream. Mix together and apply this enhanced preparation, slathering it onto clean, damp skin on the face, neck, and décolleté as a mask.
2. Then apply Hand to Heel Softening Salve to hands and feet, nail beds, cuticles, elbows, and any other areas where skin is thin, dry, ragged or cracked. Allow the Hand to Heel Softening Salve to rest on skin while you mask. The salve will absorb into the tissue, and you will most likely not need to wipe away excess product or add additional moisture.
3. Once Hand to Heel is applied, cocoon the face with a warm, dry cotton cloth and relax for a few minutes, allowing the skin time to absorb the herbs, moisture, and nutrients needed to restore skin elasticity. When it's time to remove cloth from face, simply wipe away any remaining product. You will probably not need an additional moisture application, but if you do, just dab a bit of Nourishing Herbal Cream to areas in need of a little extra care.
No winter would be complete without a hearty helping of kale - this week we're craving this recipe for Kale Panini from Andrea Reusing's Cooking in the Moment.
Kale Panini
serves 4
Billy Cotter devised this delicious meaty sandwich for his vegetarian wife, Kelli, at their restaurant Toast, in downtown Durham.
2 big bunches of curly kale (about 1 pound total), stemmed, leaves torn into pieces
1 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for grilling
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
8 slices rustic sandwich bread
10 ounces farmer's cheese or other crumbly fresh cheese, such as queso blanco or feta, broken into chunks
Pickled Chile Peppers (*recipe follows)
Freshly ground black pepper
Rounding out our winter renewal series with tips for keeping hair healthy and shiny through the dead of winter, Mordechai Alvow, founder of Yarok, shares his home remedies for combatting flyaways and dryness.
"If your hair is lacking moisture, there are several items you'll probably find in your own kitchen that can replenish dry hair. It's no secret that your hair needs certain oils and olive and avocado oils are great for overall hair health and shine. Yarok Feed Your Roots Mousse contains both oils along with many other all-natural ingredients that give your hair the lift it needs to look voluminous.
Flyaways are another common winter hair nuisance. If you want to beat that static cling, one quick trick is to rub a fabric softening dryer sheet on your hair to remove the frizz. You can also use a product like the Yarok Feed Your Shine Hair Serum to add shine and tames those flyaways."
Chef Alexandra Jamieson's dairy-free, wheat-free contribution to the Green Market Baking Book should take you all of about 15 minutes to make - these little rolls are the perfect, healthy, on-the-go sweet little treat!
Coconut Date Rolls
makes 20 small rolls
You've probably seen something like these fabulous coconut date rolls in your local natural foods grocery store. make them yourself for a fraction of the cost! They are good for you, easy to make, and delicious. Enjoy!
2 cups fresh pitted dates, such as the Medjool variety (If you can't find fresh dates, use dried dates. They'll still be delicious!)
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
In a food processor, chop the dates by pulsing 20 times.
In a mixing bowl, combine the dates and coconut with a wooden spoon.
Spoon out 2 tablespoons at a time and roll the dough into log shapes with your hands.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Green Market Baking Book by Laura C. Martin. Illustrations by Laura C. Martin. Sterling Publishing, $17.95.
The third in our winter renewal series, Rose-Marie Swift of RMS Beauty shares her unexpected-yet-effective uses for RMS products during the harsh winter months.
"In the winter, the sensitive skin around our eyes seems to be a little more vulnerable to the dry air in our heated homes. A great way to restore the lost moisture content is to apply a little touch of RMS Beauty Lip & Skin Balm to the skin around your eyes. This will work magically to moisturize and nourish the eye area as well as chapped lips, dry elbows, or mild skin irritations.
RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream, in addition to being a make-up remover and body moisturizer, can also be used to combat dry scalp. Apply a small amount to your roots to restore the area's natural oils.
Finally, the "Un"Cover-Up has a plentitude of nourishing oils to protect the skin's moisture balance; giving ones skin a natural, winter dewy finish."
The second in our winter renewal series, our friend and founder of Farmaesthetics, Brenda Brock, recently joined us to share her advice for altering a winter skincare routine to nourish the skin throughout the harsh season.
Farmaesthetics Winter Renewal from Terrain on Vimeo.
Homemade petite pizzas topped with wild arugula and creamy Casciotta d'Urbino - it's the perfect activity-turned-snack for an afternoon hibernating from the dreary winter. Taken from Chester Hastings' The Cheesemonger's Kitchen, this recipe is just one of 90 recipes - from savory to sweet, tarts to entrees - that will reinvent your appreciation for all different types of cheese.
Pizzette with Arugula/Rocket Pesto and Casciotta d'Urbino
makes 12 pizzettes
For the dough:
1-1/2 cups lukewarm water
1/4 oz. active dry yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour/plain flour
5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
For the pesto:
3 cups (packed) wild arugula/rocket leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Rich in whole grains and nutritious greens, this recipe from Terry Walters' Clean Start yields a delicious and healthy bite-sized snack for any day of the week.
Simple Stuffed Mochi with Bitter Greens
makes 12 stuffed mochi squares
Mochi is made from pressed sweet brown rice and comes in a variety of flavors, including cinnamon raisin, plain and even chocolate (which is difficult to find but worth the effort!). Keep mochi in your refrigerator to use when you don't have time to prepare whole grains or as a nutritious alternative to bread. Mochi makes a great pocket for leftovers, chopped dried fruits and nuts and, of course, sautéed greens and vegetables, as I've done here.
12 fresh shiitake mushrooms
1 leek, sliced widthwise
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Braggs Liquid Aminos or more as needed
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup grated daikon
1 tablespoon mirin
1 large bunch lacinato kale, chopped into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
1 12.5-ounce package garlic or onion mochi, cut into squares
We're starting the first in a series of posts dedicated to winter renewal by considering what we take into our bodies. Taking a cue from our newest cookbook, Clean Start, we're looking more deeply at what we eat, with a focus on how it affects our overall well-being and the well-being of the environment. This excerpt from Clean Start author Terry Walters has been particularly inspiring for us in the new year.
"When it comes to eating clean and living well, the most powerful tools we have are intention and the ability to make the choices that serve our best interests. Together, these tools can help us navigate our way through grocery stores, restaurants, and a variety of temptations. But when I'm cooking in my kitchen, my goal is much more basic -- to bring together tastes, textures, colors and nutrients to create meals that all will enjoy. I think of my cast-iron skillet as my palette, clean food as my paint, and my finished dishes as the resulting creation that brings together and nourishes my family and friends."
Walters points out that clean eating is less about rigid rules than it is about making one healthy choice at a time. A few of her simple guidelines follow, and many more can be found in her book.
"Eat The Colors Of The Rainbow.
The more colorful your diet, the more nutrient-rich. Go easy on empty white filler foods and heavy on healing greens.
Eat Dark Leafy Greens Every Day.
For me, green is the most important color and the one most lacking in our diets. Greens are cleansing, healing, uplifting and rich in calcium and minerals. Try using a variety of greens to amp up the nutritional value of your salads, soups, sauces, stir-fries and even smoothies. Just get them in!
Eat All Five Tastes.
Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent are all found naturally and nutritionally in clean food, as opposed to manufactured "natural flavors" and the imbalance of sweet and salty tastes found in processed foods."
Clean Start, by Terry Walters. Sterling Epicure.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more in our Winter Renewal Series, including expert wellness tips for skincare, hair care, and freshening your makeup in the colder months.
Binchotan charcoal is believed to have a multitude of beneficial effects. Whether used dry or wet to absorb chemicals in tap water, enhance blood circulation in a hot bath, stimulate healthy soil in the garden, or balance negative ions in your home, Binchotan charcoals are a natural way to boost overall wellness.
Wet usage: Prior to first use, rinse Binchotan with water, scrub lightly, and boil for ten minutes. Since the charcoal has been prewashed, do not ignite it. Once cleaned, the charcoal is ready to use in a pitcher of water, your bath, or for cooking rice. After the first use, repeat this cleansing process each week or, alternatively, leave the charcoal in direct sun for several hours. With wet usage, Binchotan will last roughly three months.
Dry usage: Every two weeks, brush Binchotan lightly and leave it in direct sunlight for several hours. It can be used all over your home, and with dry usage will last for over three years.
Best Uses for Binchotan
1. To purify drinking water, add 1/4 pound of Binchotan to a pitcher of tap water. The charcoal will help release ions to increase the water's pH, release natural minerals, and absorb chemicals.
2. Add Binchotan to a pot of cooking rice to emit infrared rays that will help retain the taste of the rice, absorb any chlorine in the water, and release natural minerals.
3. For a purifying bath, add approximately one pound of Binchotan to hot bathwater. Infrared rays emitted by the charcoal will help enhance blood circulation and keep the body warm and relaxed long after the bath.
4. Keep dry Binchotan by electrical appliances like the television, microwave, computer, or mobile phone, to help block harmful electromagnetic waves.
5. Kept dry in various spots around your home, Binchotan charcoal will help balance the charged ions in your environment to freshen and purify the air around you.
6. To keep closets, drawers, and refrigerators fresh from odor, dampness, and mold, a stick of dry Binchotan can be kept inside to absorb bacteria and unpleasant scents.
7. Once your Binchotan has reached the end of its indoor use, improve soil health by recycling it in the garden. Mix broken pieces of charcoal into new soil, or apply it over a garden bed to improve the movement of air and water through the soil. This transformation will help increase microbial activity, alkalize the soil, and reinforce trace elements; creating an optimal environment for healthy plants.
The perfect Dark & Stormy is hard to find, so this week we're sharing a recipe from our friends at Morris Kitchen so that you can make your own. We love the idea of ringing in the New Year with a round of this spicy-yet-sweet cocktail, don't you?
Dark & Stormy Cocktail
serves 1
2 oz dark rum
½ oz Morris Kitchen Ginger Syrup
1 oz lime
3 oz seltzer water
Pour seltzer, syrup and lime over ice. Stir and let drink settle.
Slowly add rum on top. Serve over ice in a highball glass.
Garnish with a lime wheel.
Morris Kitchen's Ginger Syrup can be found in-store at terrain at Styer's and will be available online next week.
You picked the perfect tree just a few weeks ago, and it doesn't have to go to waste. Communities around the country offer curbside pick-up recycling options, while others engage local non-profits to collect, chip, and reuse cut firs as mulch for neighborhood parks, gardens, and hiking paths. To us, the outcome is not only sustainable, but a fitting way to complete the cycle for this truest symbol of the holidays.
Contact your local streets and sanitation department for more information on how to recycle a tree in your area.
With all the gifts wrapped neatly beneath the tree, our minds are drifting to the kitchen... Hosting Christmas dinner can be as easy and enjoyable as you want it to be. Whether you're hosting a party of four or fourteen, our kitchen specialist Susan Schu has a few tips to make it both memorable and stress-free!
• Plan your menu and make as much food ahead of time as possible. Keep in mind any special dietary needs and don't forget about the kids. Soup is always a great option to have warming on the stove, and "table ready" appetizers such as dips or finger foods are always appreciated by arriving guests.
• Create a mix of new and traditional for your menu. One simple idea: combine the Blaak Onion Jam with a plated cheeseboard for an unexpected twist.
• Be Merry. Pick out your favorite holiday album to play in the background, be flexible, and have fun!
If you're looking to spruce up this year's menu without adding too much to your plate, we love this recipe for Cauliflower in Bread Crumbs from Vegetables from an Italian Garden as an appetizer or a side.
Cauliflower in Bread Crumbs (Cavolfiore al Pangrattato)
Preparation time: 30 min
Cooking time: 10 min
serves 4Read More and Comment
