Friday's Picture Rescue Turtle:)

This turtle was found laying in the parking lot! If we just left it, the turtle would of died or been crashed!
So we rescued him or her and brought it to the pond in the back,
were it swam free!!!

  The turtle is on the bottom in the middle of the picture, by the shore, the little yellow dot!!!
                                                                          Birch Life

Sweet Cherry Juicy Grape Cashew Coconut Lettuce Salad

I enjoy salads, but I need to always, to do something different,

otherwise they can get boring:

You always need to start with a good quality lettuce. I like the butter lettuce type.

I like also to use a head leaf lettuce rather than lettuce in a bag.

Like always, you choose what you like:)

The flavor in this salad is great, kind of a surprise when you are eating it.

When you add fruit to a savory salad it gives it a new layer:)

This is a perfect salad, it has a refreshing element to it, with the addition to the cashews

that give it a saltiness!  

Sweet Cherry Juicy Grape Cashew Coconut Lettuce Salad

serves 4

1 Large head of leaf lettuce

24 cherries

24 grapes

1 cup  salted cashews

1/3 cup coconut milk

1/3 cup coconut flakes

4 teaspoons of mayonnaise (vegan)

2 teaspoons of honey 

sea salt

Wash lettuce and dry, then wash and cut cherries(take out pit) and grapes in half.

Arrange lettuce over 4 plates and divide the ingredients over each plate!

Mix coconut milk, mayo, honey until well combined, then add a good pinch of sea salt!

Before adding the dressing add a pinch of sea salt over each salad!

Then drizzle dressing evenly over each salad.

The pictures are before the dressing, I didn't take one after I added the dressing:(

                                                                    Birch Life

 

 

Pukka Three Mint Tea review

I am a big tea drinker, I have tried many many tea brands:)
I have learned that the box can be very deceiving, they describe the tea, but it tastes completely different
then what you imagine.
I was given a sample at a natural food store, for the Pukka Three mint, it was like mint
tea. I have drank mint tea before! I will try it, and threw it in my bag.
When I got home I put it in my tea sachet bowl.
A few days later I decided to try it:)
I was sooooooooo surprised and delighted with the taste.
Like you I have drank my share of peppermint tea, I have stopped drinking it in the past years,
because it hasn't always agreed with my stomach.
I have found that it has been bitter or super minty for me.
When I drank this one it was so good, because it is a mix of peppermint leaf, spearmint leaf,
and field mint.
It is a wonder blend and it works wonderfully on my stomach.
I don't know why but this blend is not overly pepperminty the spearmint gives it a
smooth and very cooling undertone:)
I steeped it only 2 minutes, but you can definitively try steeping it longer if you prefer.
I highly recommend this tea for any tea drinker!
I have since purchased quite a few boxes of the tea:)
                                                                    Birch Life

Friday's picture It is 2 part!!!!!!

I like watching birds, it is very relaxing! This one was just standing tall, like a graceful
Lady! It stood there for awhile then flew away without a sound:)
A perfect exit!
                                                                 Birch Life

Thick Juicy Pear and Sweet Strawberry Smoothie

From reading my blog you all know I love pears:)
So I wanted to use it in my smoothie.I began thinking, what can I add to it to make it a really delicious smoothie?
For me pears have a mild sweetness, I don't want to loss the flavor of pears.
I needed to add a fruit that was going to have a burst of sweetness.
My first thought strawberries, they have a great sweet flavor, so you don't have to add
a sweetener.
The combo is really amazing, you can really taste the separate flavors of pears
and strawberries. That was what I wanted, to taste the juicy pears:)
The smoothie has a thick consistency!
This one is my favorite;)


Thick Pear and Sweet Strawberry Smoothie
makes 3 cups


4 pears
4 Tablespoons of yogurt (vegan)
1/2 cup milk (I used almond milk)

Wash fruit, and cut pears, strawberries into chunks, blend all ingredients until
smooth!!
                                                       Birch Life

Garden fresh Asparagus Carrot Spread topping for canapes

Making spreads are really interesting, there are so many different ingredients you can use.
This one is a great option for a party or even to eat as a meal.
I like asparagus, it has a fresh earthly flavor, so good when you get it locally fresh:)
I added carrots, for their sweetness, to balance the earthly almost rich flavor of the asparagus.
I like to serve it on a canape(toasted bread), it makes it feel special!
Individual servings are always the most popular at a party:)

Garden Fresh Asparagus Carrot Spread topping for canapes
Makes 1 cup

6 stalks of asparagus
1 small carrot
2 Tablespoon's sour cream (vegan)
1 Tablespoon milk (I used almond)
1/2 teaspoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice
sea salt
bread (I used gluten free)
butter(vegan) for spread on top of bread after toasting!

Small stock pot bring 3 cups of water to boil with a good pinch of sea salt.
Wash and chop carrots into 1/2 inch rounds, then add to boiling water.
Wash and chop asparagus into 1/2 inch pieces, when carrots have been in water
for 5 minutes add the asparagus and cook another 5 minutes then drain and let cool.
When vegetables are cool add them to blender and sour cream, milk, fresh lemon
juice and 2 good pinches of sea salt.
Puree until smooth, taste for salt add more if desired:)
Toast bread, then butter, and cut into whatever shape you like!
Tip: When I made these for a small party they were the first to go, so make a lot.
                                                            Birch Life

Friday's pictures Sweet Mother and baby bird in the nest!

This one is so sweet, it is a Mother, and her baby, in the nest on the edge of the lake:)
Take time this weekend to enjoy a leisurely stroll, where ever you are in the world!

                                                                       Birch Life

Sunny Mango Blueberry Smoothie

Mango's are like little sunshine's, the perfect smoothie ingredient! It gives the smoothie a great body:)
When I make smoothie's, I like to have a thicker consistency, so I look for
fruit or vegetables that will give me that. I don't like to add ice or protein
powder to get a thick consistency. When buying mango's, I look for healthy, and
unblemished, with a slight give. The secret is to let them ripen on the counter until very ripe!
What do I mean? I have found that leaving them to ripen, and getting very soft to the
touch, you get more flesh from the middle seed. When I let them "soften" I
don't get as much of the seed:( So watch them, and let them get very soft
without going bad!

Sunny Mango Blueberry Smoothie
makes 1 1/2 cups plus

1 mango
1/2 cup milk ( I used oat milk)
1/4 cup blueberries
2 T blueberry yogurt

Wash and peel the mango, cut into chunks, add everything to blender
and mix until very smooth.
                                                      Birch Life

Velvety Avocado Sauce over Noddles!!

I love mac and cheese, but being vegan it can be hard
to find a good vegan mac and cheese. I think I miss the smoothness of cheese on noodles.
It is not really about the cheese, it is about the texture and feel you get in your mouth.
So I came up with this recipe, to have the same smoothness, but I think I like this
better then mac and cheese:)
This recipe is so good, it is so quick to make,
when you have no time.


Avocado Sauce over Noodles
serves 4

250 grams dried pasta (gluten free)
1 avocado
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons milk (I used almond milk)
1 Tablespoons vegan butter
squeeze of fresh lemon juice (1 teaspoon)
sea salt

Make noodles as directed by package. When noodles are done, before draining
save 1/2 cup of noodle water.
Add butter to the drained noodles and a good pinch of sea salt, and let cool.
Open avocado and scoop out flesh, mash with milk and a good pinch of sea salt, until smooth.
Add squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
In large bowl put noodles in and add avocado sauce, slowly add
noodle water only until creamy and every noodle is coated.
You may not need all the noodle water, just eyeball.
Taste for salt!
I don't have a picture, but it is very delicious and has a nice presentation.
                                                                        Birch Life    

Friday's picture Who wants fresh coconut water?

Who wants fresh coconut water?
It is very very important to stay hydrated when it is hot outside!
Water is always good, but think of other ways,
watermelon, cucumbers, and juicy apple;)
So drink up or eat something with a high water context.
                                                                  Birch Life

                                                           

Creamy Cauliflower Soup with a hint of Dill (surprise addition) Served cold or hot

When I make soup, sometimes I like to puree it, but not everyone likes it pureed.
I saw someone grating their cauliflower, so I thought if I grate it I'm giving everyone
what they want;) I added dill to it because I like the distinctive flavor and it adds some color!
Very simple recipe to make, and it is great for a large crowd.
So if you see cauliflower at the farmers market buy it, you have a recipe for it.
A finishing touch is adding roasted salted cashews to the middle of the bowl before serving!
It really works with the crunch and sweetness from the cauliflower!


Creamy Cauliflower Soup and a hint of Dill
makes 3 cups

1 1/2  cups grated cauliflower
3/4 cup milk (I used oat milk)
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup of roasted salted cashew's
1 Tablespoon vegan butter
3 teaspoons potato starch (any starch you like)
a sprig of dill (finely chopped about 2 teaspoons)
sea salt to taste


With a box grater use the medium holes and simply wash the cauliflower and grate it.
In a medium soup pot on medium heat melt butter, add cauliflower and a good pinch of sea salt.
Cook 3-4 minutes don't let the cauliflower brown! Keep stirring until soft.
Mix 3/4 cup of water to the potato starch until smooth.
Then add the water starch mixture and milk to cauliflower and reduce temperate to low.
Mix until thickened, add 2 good pinches of sea salt.
Remove from heat, add finely chopped dill.
Add more sea salt to taste.
Before serving, divide the cashews and place in the middle of the individual bowls.
Tip: You can also serve cold it is delicious.

                                                                     Birch Life

Honeydew Melon Sweet Smoothie

Smoothie series: Honeydew melon is one of those fruits that I can't wait for to be in season:)
For me the honeydew has a completely different flavor then cantaloupe. The honeydew has a very sweet honey flavor, with a light green flesh and is perfect for a smoothie.
The melon has a large amount of water in it, with no need for a added sweetener.                                         It is very important not to store in the refrigerator.
Leaving it on the counter ensures that it ripens to perfection!
When buying a melon smell it! Check for cracks or bruising.
When the melon looks good and smells good, you found the right one!
If you buy one that does not smell sweet, let it sit on the counter for a few days!
Try a honeydew if you have never tried it before.:)



Honeydew Melon Sweet Smoothie
Mine made 2 cups plus depends on the size of melon

1 melon
1 1/4 cups milk ( I used almond milk)
3 Tablespoons yogurt (vegan)
1 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Wash melon well, and cut melon open and scoop out flesh.
Add all the ingredients, and mix in blender or stick blender until
well combined.

                                                               Birch Life

Friday's picture Who loves seaweed!!!!

I love seaweed, the way it is floating in the sea, the colors, even the way it feels!
Most of all I love to eat it:)
So if you have never tried seaweed, visit your local natural food
store.
My favorite is Dulse.
Great snack idea, wrap Dulse leaves around a almond, soooooooo delicious.
                                                                     Birch Life