... CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!

Cocoa Jambo Hot Chocolate. I crave it and drink it almost every day. Seriously. I've tried other brands when my Cocoa Jambo runs out and NOTHING comes even close to the 100% pure Ghana cocoa goodness.

I'm a pretty thrifty shopper. I actually thrive on seeing how I can cut costs wherever possible. I love the challenge and thrill of finding a deal. But this is one area I refuse to skimp on. It's worth every bit of $10 a pound. Not only because it tastes FABULOUS.. but it also supports a great cause (963 Missions) and the farmers in Ghana are paid a fair wage for the cocoa beans used.

I recently read this quote on the 963 Coffee website that backs my decision to buy their product. "Americans consume chocolate every day not knowing that almost half of the world's cocoa supply is contaminated with slavery. Almost 70% of consumer cocoa comes from West Africa where cocoa farmers do not receive a fair wage for their beloved beans. Purchasing Cocoa Jambo is a small but significant way to make a difference." 

About two years ago, Lee was contacted to redesign some coffee labels for a non-profit called 963 Missions that seeks to connect people with mission opportunities locally and globally. They sell coffee. AND COCOA. They empower people to spread the good news of Jesus. They help communities all across the globe. AND THEY SELL COCOA JAMBO.

I love Cocoa Jambo hot chocolate. 

Order here www.963coffee.com

.. busy busy weekend!

It's been quite an eventful weekend! Lee and I built some trellises for the box gardens..

I made some delish vegan bagels from Isa Chandra Moskowitz's 'Vegan Brunch: Homestyle Recipes Worth Waking Up for - from Asparagus Omelets to Pumpkin Pancakes'. This is the third recipe that I've tried from her cookbook (all have been FABULOUS) and my second go at bagels. The first round turned out as bagel blobs.. turns out I had no idea how to knead dough. Apparently, playing with it like play-dough in the bowl just doesn't work out well.  Soon after, I found a kneading video tutorial online and TA-DA.. BAGELS!!!

THEN.. Lee fell through the ceiling while moving stuff around to find more things for the yard sale we had today.. not to worry.. not all of him fell through.. only one leg. That one leg survived with a ginormous bruise that is doing better with lots of cold packs and love :) 

Incase you'd like a better look at our new ventilation system..

There hasn't been a dull moment around here this weekend! 

... garden update!

Here are a few pictures of what's been growing around the Steffen yard. The little seedlings that were started inside this spring took quite a beating from two weeks straight of heavy rain we had last month just days after they were transplanted. Most didn't survive, so I supplemented with plants from a local organic farm & nursery. However, the cucumber, squash, zucchini and second planting of melons, onions, spinach and carrots are looking great! The mint, basil and strawberries are holding their own on the porch as well :)

Tomatoes on the porch.

Newly added yellow bell pepper plant.

This little cucumber is the size of my pinky nail and so adorable! There are about five or six others teeny tiny ones too!

...Beans Beans the Magical Fruit

This is an old favorite I drug out for lunch today.. 

Black and White Bean Salad

1/2 cup bottled roasted red pepper, wiped dry and sliced (or chopped)

1/4 cup celery, chopped

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 garlic clove, minced

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 Tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

15 ounce can butter beans or white cannellini, drained and rinsed

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, toss to coat. Refrigerate for an hour before serving.

You can eat it plain with a fork or on tortilla chips. It's good either way :)

... Square foot gardening has begun!

One of the things I've been most excited about with having a home is planting a garden. Last year, I planted tomatoes and basil on the patio of our apartment and they did pretty well! Actually.. the basil did pretty well. The tomatoes tasted like poop and had really tough skin. I chalked it up to the fact the seeds came from the dollar spot at Target and not my plant growing abilities :)

During a short trip home this past February, my sister, mom and I stocked up on organic seeds from a local greenhouse/nursery in Liberty, MO. A few weeks later, I started some seedlings indoors in hopes they would be the beginning of a new garden this year! They had a rough, slow start since we kept the house really cold and there's no window that gets consistent direct light throughout the day. After researching online, I found someone who made their own "grow-box" with Christmas lights and a plastic storage box. Christmas lights.. check. Plastic box? Nope. Every plastic box in our house is full.. or has a plan of being full soon. Shoe box to the rescue. Cost? Nada. Results? Seedlings! Yay!

Seedlings first home.

Makeshift grow box to help them out in our chilly house :)

Transplanted in bigger containers and ready to go! The basil found a home in the clay pot and the mint in the buttercuppy flower tin. The melons, peppers and tomatoes went into reused plastic strawberry containers until planting.

Fast forward about 6-8 weeks and the seedlings are ready to go. I transplanted the basil, mint and alpine strawberries into containers on the front porch and Lee built two garden boxes! Thanks to Christine (who has a FABULOUS blog.. and garden!) for the recommendation of the book 'Square Foot Gardening' by Mel Bartholemew, I now have two 4'x4' boxes in the backyard!

The boxes were built and filled by my wonderful hubby who hauled several hundred pounds of soil, vermiculite, manure and compost across the yard after we figured out the wheelbarrow the previous owners left was full of rocks and has a flat tire. Thanks for all the heavy lifting that let me have a sneak peak to the guuuuun shoooow! Woo woo! Smokin!

Oh.. and.. I got cow poop on my shirt.. and shorts.. and down my leg. There was one bag that was wet and leaky. It got me good.

Here's the roll call so far with a few empty squares to add to later:

Galia Melon

Honeydew Melon

Sweet Cherry Tomatoes

Peppers

Zucchini

Summer Squash

Spinach

Baby Carrots

Bush Cucumbers

Onion

Basil

Enjoy the pics below.. I'll update as things get growing :)

Finding the perfect spot in our yard was more difficult that I thought.. kept changing my mind over and over and over. Here.. no there.. yada yada yada.

One down, one to go!

This pile didn't quite do it.. had to go back for more! You like the Freedom Tree Farms organic planting soil labels? A Lee creation/collaboration via Vine Collective.. fabulous!

Just need to add the seeds and seedlings!

Finished for today!

.. Green Smoothie Goodness

A little over a year ago, I wrote a post about my b-day present.. a Blendtec blender. STILL my favorite piece of kitchen equipment. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to pulverize anything into bits and pieces. I've made peanut butter, soups, salsas, hummus, ice cream, our daily green smoothie and much much more.

One of the best features on the blender is that it's completely digital and when it completes whatever cycle its on, it shuts itself off. When making smoothies, I always use the fruit juice button because it's the most powerful one for getting the spinach really blended with everything else. The cycle lasts about 1 1/2 minutes.. starts slow and gradually speeds up then stops. I'm not going to lie.. it is LOUD so I normally walk out of the room or stand there covering my ears. A few mornings ago, I wanted to go check on my new plant in the front room so I just pushed the button and walked away. I must have been TIRED because what I didn't notice is that I never put the lid on. 

The blender is whizzing away and all of a sudden I hear, "BAAAAABE!!!!!!" and see Lee whiz past me from the bedroom into the kitchen. Blender shuts off. Ugh. Green mess. Everywhere.

Sweet hubby of mine moved the refrigerator and helped me sop up the mess.. off the floor, fridge, cabinets, microwave, stove, countertop, blender.. everywhere but in the cups where it was supposed to be. Oops.

Anyway.. here's what usually makes it into our cups every morning and why:

2 cups of pineapple juice: Manganese; Vitamins C, B1 & B6

3/4 cup strawberries: Vitamin C, B2, B5, B6 & K; Manganese; Fiber; Potassium; Folate; Magnesium

3/4 cup peaches: Vitamins A & C;  Fiber; Potassium; Folate; Phosphorus

1 banana: Potassium; Magnesium; Phosphorus; Calcium; Selenium; Iron; Vitamins A, C, B6 & E; Folate

1 cup spinach: (check out this powerhouse!): Vitamins K, A, C, B1, B2, B6 and E; Manganese; Magnesium; Folate; Iron; Calcium; Potassium; Tryptophan; Copper; Fiber; Protein; Phosphorus; Zinc; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Selenium

1 Tablespoon flaxseed oil: Omega-3 Fatty Acid

1 Tablespoon honey: antioxidants and tastes sooooo good

This makes about two 16-ounce servings and fills us up until lunch. Sometimes we mix up the type of fruit a bit with blueberries, melon, or whatever. Mmmm.. tastes so good and so good for you!

...VOTE FOR MOM!!!

Delta Society is an organization that is dedicated to improving human health through therapy and service animals. They work to increase awareness of the positive effects of animals and use animals and their handlers/owners to expand the therapeutic/service role of animals in health, service and education. 

I recently found out that my mom is one of five final nominees for a national volunteer award with Delta Society for the service she and her dog, Hero, provide in the Kansas City area. They routinely visit nursing homes, schools, domestic violence shelters and emergency sites to provide community members with therapy through various ways. Kids read to him, elderly pet and love on him, and all ages in between benefit from the calming presence and smiles they provide as a team.

Please go to Delta Society's site at this link, watch their video and vote for Heddie Leger and Hero to be Pet Partners Team of the Year! (They are the fourth video from the top). Voting lasts until February 8 and the winner will be posted on their website February 14.

Thanks.. I know she'll appreciate it (and I think she totally deserves it!) She and Hero work very hard and have a passion for the therapy they provide people everyday.