December, December!

Tired of white mushrooms and looking for  another type of mushroom to replace it with? Try oyster mushrooms and make a difference for your holiday dinner. 

Sautéed oyster mushrooms with garlic, lemon, green peppers and herbs is a delicious and easy recipe. 

200 gr/ ~7 ounces oyster mushrooms (sliced)

2 green pepper (cut in pieces) 

2 tbsp olive oil, 

1 clove garlic (crushed),

2 tsp lemon juice

Rosemary, thyme,

A touch of black pepper, red pepper flakes, 

Salt.

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large skillet, add mushrooms and sauté until they begin to release their juices and soften. Add green pepper cuts and the crushed garlic, sauté for 2 more minutes. (Low temperature) Add lemon juice, salt, black pepper, red pepper, thyme, rosemary mix and cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from the stove and serve.

Happy Holidays!

            Stay Healthy and Happy 💝

Why the world goes vegan?

From my diary;

"I was thinking while having my coffee and watching the garden. I ran out of cream so I added some milk. I don't really like milk. Started to use lactose free so far. But honestly, I'm a  yogurt and cheese lover. Anyway, it has been a while, I keep thinking of a vegan diets. Searching reasons & results, our family eating habits, blood test results, earth, real love, responsibilities for the future, the environment.. animals! Oh my...I had a pain.
Walking a dog, petting a cat or sharing their funny videos, feeding, taking care of our pets and then turning around and eating a cow, a chicken, a pig, makes me think of the little lamp Mary had.. Researched,  read, compared, asked, judged myself and the verdict is 'guilty'..Cried.. and started to write this post to share my thoughts and  feelings. 
Milk was just a box on the shopping list we grab from grocery store. Drink more for healthier bones! More..more! More milk, more cows...more pregnant cows to capture their milk since a cow is a mammal, right?
Then what happens after pregnancy, what about babies? Do they have good enough milk from their own moms? And I ended up with another article and another..more questions more searches and read more..and.. faced it.
It is not just a BOX!! Looking from this aspect, from an economical standpoint keeping dairy cows pregnant for earning more money, totally makes sense.
A cow produces the milk for its babies. They deserve breastfeed naturally. If they don't be sold for veal."

I have been a vegetarian for a while and respect vegans and understand their thoughts & feelings. It's a necessity. Found this post in drafts and posting today.
Are you a vegan/vegetarian, or planning to be?
What kind of diet you have?
Turned my face to the greens in the garden. As a veggie lover, I felt lucky that I have a garden. I have flowers, herbs which I can't live without. Purslane, green onion, mint(not to use for a lamb recipe) lettuce..Arugulas got crazy right now. I have so many 😊 love it! I feel relax, feels right.. feels peace ✌️Now, a lamb can be a  square of my life picture, playing happily and safe with her ma' on the grass."

Gotta go.. I have chickpeas boiled earlier and ready to make a delicious salad 😊

We love okra and ate a lot this summer. But this is the first time I made okra pickles. 

I miss my son Aria💗 Can't even wait to visit him.

Stay healthy 💚

#vegeterian #okrapickles #vegandiet #September #purslane #silverberry #rosemarypickles

Herbs & Plants - Gardening Journey

We don’t know what is next. Monkey pox? Even if we try to stay positive and hope for a better future for the world, universe - for all of us, it looks like there is always a threat that can knock on the door anytime.

It was a tough winter. Finally, summer breeze, smells of the trees and colorful flowers surrounds us.

I was having a walk this morning and was amazed with a smell of honeysuckle which was my mom’s favorite. Oh, my sweet mom.. miss you.

Getting into water instead only watching the sea on the shore is also another first of the summer this year.

Yes, summer is here - unbelievably. It seemed like it was never gonna come...lol.

Another new thing is my son is not with us this summer.

Actually that is a huge one for me. Anyways, he is okay and on his path, happily in Chicago. So, even though the empty nest syndrome hits me a bit, I can live with that.

Aria’s favorite 😊

Guys, I’m taking you to my hidden, tiny but peaceful garden.

Let’s relax!

Pandemic period of Covid-19 made me a gardener😊

Flowers and herbs which I can’t live without.

Maybe much better if I add "herbal" to my blog’s name. Hmmm.. “yonca’s herbal kitchen” sounds good 😊It has been 15 years that I've been sharing with you guys not only recipes, but my own life stages here on this blog. Thanks for being witnesses, reading, commenting, subscribing.. thanks for your follow. If you have been reading this blog for a long time, I appreciate if you drop of a comment. Saying “hi” will put my face a big smile.

How to storage fresh herbs

After washing, leave them in a colander for a while. Place on a paper towel till dry. Put them in a zippered bag, in a jar or in a container with a lid on. They stay fresh for days and are ready to use anytime you want.

Early morning meditation and breathing techniques in this garden while listening to birds singing puts me in a good mood. Feeling excited and hopeful for another new day.

Sometimes I plant a flower for a purpose, I wish it to grow and my wish to come true.

Everyday is a new start.

#food #nature #sunset #life #photo #photography #bloggers #mommybloggers