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Raw Peach Crumbles

August 1, 2013 By Courtney West 1 Comment

This might be a little blasphemous but I prefer my peaches raw instead of baked into a pie or a crisp. I want to bite into the fuzzy flesh and feel the juice run down my hands. The experience isn’t quite the same when the peaches spend some time in the oven. Sure, they are still delicious, but I don’t get to appreciate the peach in its purest form. Peaches are usually what I miss the most when their season ends so I try to compensate by buying a lot (read: way too many) when they are available.

Several pounds of quickly ripening fruit had me almost in a panic this week. What to do?! Since our temperatures are now climbing into the 100s, I knew the oven was completely out of the question. And, I don’t particularly feel like standing at my stove nowadays, either. So, I figured I could whip up some raw crumbles and stash them in the fridge for a tasty snack or dessert. Not only do these crumbles let you enjoy the simple juicy sweetness of summer peaches, they take only minutes to make so you can enjoy more of your summer festivities. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to enjoy a crumble and a book in the lovely air conditioning 🙂

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Refreshing Chia Lemonade for One

May 24, 2013 By Courtney West 1 Comment

I wanted to come back with a bang after being gone for a while. I was dreaming about making a pie with some local rhubarb I found last week. But, life happened as it usually does. I made jam with the rhubarb instead of pie, a storm came and knocked out my power, and a gigantic mountain of laundry had to be tackled. So, I’m here instead to share something super refreshing and healthy as you prepare for whatever fun shenanigans you have planned for the holiday weekend.

Summer crept up on me here, as it normally does. We went from pleasant weather to 90 degrees without any transition. I guess it always happens that way ever summer, but I never seem to be ready for it. When the weather heats up, I drink a lot more liquids to stay hydrated. Since water can be a bit boring (and because I usually forget to fill up my brita pitcher), I decided to make some chia lemonade. I’ve had chia seeds in my kombucha so I thought why not add them to my lemonade. They are rich in omega-3’s as well as fiber, protein, calcium, and other nutrients your body needs. And, they are awesome to add to drinks in the summer because their ability to absorb almost 10 times their body weight in water helps to hydrate your body. Yay for chia seeds!

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