a few weeks ago i received a copy of a cookbook. it is a sweet collection of stories and recipes from the blue heron ranch zen retreat center — good food and meals that they've prepared over the years for all the family, friends and visitors that stayed at their very dreamy off the grid locale.
i immediately connected with the vibe of this cookbook (meditation + risotto + tent life? right on!)... i really liked the hand drawn illustrations throughout — images of teepees, patchwork picnic blankets, mamas wearing aprons, mamas toting babies, mamas preparing food in the lotus position, trees, flowers, oh yeah, and food too.
there's a mix of recipes and stories — tales of self-sufficiency, living amongst nature, family and their zen gatherings. i liked finding a mix of recipes — some that were familiar already to us and our cooking around here (like the simple polenta on a board or the oatmeal with warm fruit) along with some new-to-us foods that we've never thought of ever whipping up (like the apricot pudding). so far both chuck and i have created a few meals from this book (chuck made the the ojai bouillabaisse for us all over the weekend with some local clams which... was... awesome). we've also tried the chocolate marble bundt cake, the black bear apricot pudding and the blue heron beans... i loved the simplicity of the blue heron beans! and i thought they looked quite cool too.
so, did i say i received a copy of this cookbook? well, actually i received two. i have a fresh, new extra copy here ready to pass along to one of you! woohoo. if you'd like to leave a comment below - please do so and on friday i'll close the comments and draw a random winner. simple as that. good luck and thanks so much to nadia for sending out these books!
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congratulations to the winner of the cookbook giveaway:
"it all sounds good so good" posted by rachell
thank you to everyone who stopped by and left a comment. it is always so great to hear from you. and thank you also to nadia for passing along these copies of her cookbook.
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