Dark Days :: A neglected green no more

This is week two of the 5th Annual Dark Days Challenge, a 4 1/2 month pledge by participants to eat one SOLE meal a week: a meal as Sustainable, Organic, Local and Ethical as possible.  Weekly participant recaps are being rounded up by the good people at Not Dabbling in Normal.

This week, we’ve been overrun with beet greens.  They’re good in a salad and as wraps — two things that my daughter has no interest in these days.

Instead, I’ve been using them in items Nina is guaranteed to sample: pesto and smoothies.

We’ve had enough cold nights that these leaves are even sweeter than usual, with a chard-like flavor and leaves as tender as micro greens.

With a head of garlic from the garden, a small glug of best-quality olive oil, Maldon sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, this pesto is ready before your pasta is finished boiling.

To give this pesto a hint of creaminess, cut back on the oil and add a tablespoon or two of your pasta water, just before draining.  All of that starch works wonders for texture.

Breakfast smoothie: this one contained a handful of berries frozen at their summer peak, green (not purple) beet leaves, alt milk and a dash of local maple syrup we picked up during our annual summer trip to the Soo.

And for the grownups of the house: beautiful beets, simply roasted.

30-Day Book Meme {Day 30}

Q: 30 – Your favourite book of all time        

Oh, boo!  I don’t have an answer for this at all!  I have well over a thousand books just of my own in our very culled-down married library, and couldn’t begin to catalogue the books I’ve read but don’t own.

I’m going to make up a few other ‘favourites’ questions instead:

Which children’s book is your favorite to read aloud?  A Bedtime for Bear.

Which book has the best illustrations?  It’s a tie between Slightly Invisible and The Lion & the Mouse (as illustrated by Jerry Pinkey)

Favourite sad children’s book (even children benefit from a good cry every now and again)?  City Dog, Country Frog

Favourite character in a children’s book?  Olivia

Favourite reference book?  BakeWise

Favourite cookbook?  Hearty Vegan Meals for Monster Appetites

Favourite knitting book?  Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Favourite book for discussion?  The 25th Hour

And that about does it for this book meme.  Thanks to those of you who played along in the comments section and/or on your own sites!

30-Day Book Meme {Day 29}

Q: 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked             

Not sure I have an answer for this, but the books I’m always surprised to hear someone didn’t like are: The Corrections, The 25th Hour, American Pastoral, American Psycho, A Simple Plan

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