L'EQUIP Love

Did you know that I dehydrate my granola?

I had always baked my granola which was delicious but as I was trying out different recipes and modifying them I found that dehydrating on a low temp for many hours created the results I wanted.

I use a L'EQUIP FilterPro Dehydrator. When I started dehydrating my granola I was borrowing my sister's most basic circular, stacked dehydrator that you just plug in and turn on. It worked out fine as I was in my experimenting stage and new to using a dehydrator. When it got to the point that I was deciding to sell my granola I started to look for a dehydrator that had some functions that would make it all easier and better.

I found that I needed:
+screens for the trays to keep my granola from falling through
+a temperature setting
+an auto shut-off timer

When my friend introduced me to the L'EQUIP FilterPro I was SO excited cause it was what I needed + MORE (easy to wash, fruit leather trays, yogurt cups, a clean air filter...)

Do you have a dehydrator? What do you dehydrate?

Try//Coconut Everything

After a few friends recommended the dried young coconut at Costco I gave it a go, and now I'm telling you to do the same. Super good.
I spotted the almond coconut milk at Whole Foods when I was picking up my weekly carton of unsweetened almond milk and I just couldn't not. Try it! You can really taste the coconut.

Listen:
I Am a Rock-Simon & Garfunkel

Try: KIND bars

I went camping in the Uintas this weekend. It was so green. It made my northwest veins pulse harder. Before I left on the trip I stopped at Whole Foods to get my sustenance and bought bread, apples, trail mix, honey roasted peanut butter, thin pretzels and a KIND bar. Have you ever eaten a KIND bar? They are super. I love that they are made with real ingredients that you can actually see in the bar: nuts, seeds, fruits. It's just the kind of snacking I like.

"KIND was founded on the principle of holistic kindness, and we pride ourselves on creating new paths that avoid false compromises. Instead of "Or" we say "And". We choose healthy and tasty, convenient and wholesome, economically sustainable and socially impactful."

Well said KIND. Well said.

Product: "A Delicious Revolution"

Levi's Edible Schoolyard $30

These are my favorite shirts out of the The Edible Schoolyard x Levi partnership. The Edible Schoolyard is a revolution for the kind of food students eat and the food education they receive. These t-shirts are limited edition and proceeds go to The Edible Schoolyard foundation. This really excites me because it is the 2 things I am post passionate about: Education and Real Foods. My day job is teaching 23 cute first graders. My other passion is real foods, especially local, that's good and good for you.

The 5 shirts are designed by the coolest as they come people. One of which is Alice Waters the restaurant owner of Chez Panisse located in Berkeley, CA. Anyone up for a San Franciso trip? I have got to go eat there.

Go support and wear a cool shirt!

via Oh Happy Day on Babble

Product: Reusable bags

Do you use a reusable bag when you go grocery shopping? I often forget and I go through phases of being really good at it. There really is not excuse because I have plenty in my closet and I go shopping on Saturdays. I guess I just haven't figured out the perfect system of bringing my groceries in the house to unload and then remembering to take my bags back out to my car. But maybe if I had cooler bags I'd be really good at the system?! What I like about the bags below are their color, the material, the neat little purse friendly size, and the prices.

flip & tumble $10 for 24/7 bag and $11 for 5 produce bags

ChicoBag $11.99 each

ChicoBag $11.99 each

Baggu $8 each

What reusable bags do you use? I feel so good when I use a bag I brought from home, it just makes so much sense for the environment. Looking at these bags makes me want to go shop for some fresh produce and cook up something wonderful.

Products: Food Storing

I get giddy about food storage organization. I feel that a well kept and organized kitchen only makes for a more enjoyable place to cook and gather. My mom is really good at keeping her kitchen cupboards neatly organized. She has used clear oxo pop containers for years and makes cooking easy and inspiring. Little by little I have been introducing food storage elements to my kitchen and cupboard and I never regret it. I keep my cereal in an easy pour container (like this one), my oats in the glass jar below (find one similar at World Market) and tea in tins from Ikea.

I've found what makes it really work is to start with storing foods that you will always have in your pantry (i.e. flour, sugar, salt, nuts, cereal, seeds, dried fruits, etc.). This way you buy the right size container and simple refill when it's empty.



Here are some I've found that all really appeal to me. Do you use food storage containers in your kitchen and pantry? What do you like?

Target: I store my real salt in one of these.


Target: perfect for leftovers in the fridge




Williams Sonoma: ideal for pantry foods. I love the button lid, makes it easy to use.




Williams Sonoma: best look for packing a neat lunch





Terrain: This is my all time favorite favorite piece of food storage ware. It comes in a couple different sizes and shapes and I decided I'm just going to start buying little by little so that my whole pantry will be so organized in them.




Ikea: this is a good look all around, and I love the use in this deep drawer. brilliant!




Ikea: I like the clear top. This is good for fridge storage.





Anthropologie's bread bin. I just want this on my counter. So prits.




Crate&Barrel: I have four of these and I like to keep gummi worms or homemade trailmix in them as frequently as possible. Love that it's clear, and love that it's glass.

butter me up

It's top 3 favorite treat.
Popcorn.
Fresh popped from the best popper.

I used to be a spray butter-er, but since December I have said no more! (and guess what? it was easy) Why was I using a product that isn't even real?

I am trying to cleanse everything in my fridge, cupboard, and therefore diet of all unnatural things. More wholesome, true, good, natural ingredients for me please.

Instead, a tiny drizzle of olive oil in the popper and then topped with real salt is the perfect popcorn. It tastes better then spray butter anyways.

For other foods that do better with a little butter I use earth balance butter. Foods like a baked sweet potato, toast, even cookies. I would like to give ghee a try but have yet to find it in a Utah grocery store. My Mom is using it and loves the way it tastes with food when she uses it in her pan instead of olive oil.

What will you say No to this week? I challenge you to pick one thing you know you could do better without. I bet it will be easier then you thought. Please share.

ms. citrus

Citrus Granola was a success! I'm going to try more today! I'm thinking of giving Meyer lemons a run this time. I'll let you know how it turns out.

You know that zester you see there in the picture? I got it for Christmas (thanks Lindsey) and it is incredible! I've heard how great it is before but I was always thinking blah, blah whatever till I decided I deserve a good zester. And you know? You do too.

What is your favorite citrus fruit? I can never decide.

p.s. last night I had a crepe with lemon squeezed over powdered sugar. HOW have I not lived yet?