Tag: Michigan
Higher Grounds: Traverse City, MI
Higher Grounds Trading Co. was envisioned through passion for both social justice and the environment. To this day the company and its owner Chris Treter continue to make strides in supporting & fundraising these very fundamental causes both locally and throughout the world. Chris is originally from Toledo, Ohio and ventured to Vermont to attend graduate school for Organizational Management of Social Change. After graduation in 2001, he travelled to Mexico with a human rights organization where he met coffee farmers struggling for basic human rights. These coffee farmers were also producing high-quality coffee but had no connection to the international market. Chris saw an opportunity to import great coffee using fair-trade practices and help the coffee farmers to earn what they deserved.
Spicy Squash and Brie Nachos with Cranberry Molasses
Let me guess..The friends, family, co-worker, neighborhood holiday parties are filling your calendar and you’re trying to decide what food to bring. We all want to bring a great dish to the party, but we don’t want to slave over the stove while our friends are laughing and drinking bottles of bubbly in the other room without us! The solution is a dish that you can prep ahead of time, just pop into the oven and serve.
Thanksgiving Dreams
Today I’m driving six hours away from Traverse City to the suburbs of Chicago (where I grew up) for a long weekend with my family. A celebration for the upcoming holiday and a chance to spend some extra quality time with people dear to me. Thanksgiving is so enjoyable for me in large part due to all the family I get to reconnect with, but lets be honest its definitely got something to do with the food as well. My family has requested a repeat of the delicious squash & feta savory muffins I made last year, but I’ll be spending my long drive finalizing plans for another side dish, just in time for the big feast.
Fresh Tomato Bruschetta
My garden is bursting with tomatoes. Romas, Juliets, Sungolds and more are exploding from the backyard with vibrant colors and juicy tomato flavor. I swear, they’re coming out of my ears, my nose and I occasionally find a few in my purse… I’m really not sure how they get there.
Basil Almond Pesto
Last Sunday was a Northern Michigan PERFECT summer day, a warm and sunny Sunday. I spent the morning in the garden harvesting a bounty of fresh produce and the afternoon by the water reading a great book and jumping in the cool, blue lake. Truly, it couldn’t have been a more perfect day.
Red Barn Yoga: Birch Point Farm
Birch Point Farm is located on the Leelanau Peninsula between West Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Leelanau. It is a truly magical place, well-tended by my friend, Michelle Farrarese. I hold a dear place in my heart for this farm as it became my sanctuary to let the sun shine on my back, quietly reflect and dig my hands in the dirt after a long day in the office.
Simple “Clean out the Fridge” Tacos
Summer is a beautiful time that I absolutely cherish, especially living in Northern Michigan. The weather is beautiful, the sun is shining and there is plenty of fresh produce to be found. My summer weekends are often packed with activity on the water and in the sun. Its the simple things that make my weekend special. A 9 Bean Rows croissant and Higher Grounds Coffee while at the Farmers Market on a Saturday morning. An early morning run with my dog when the weather is still cool and the sun is rising. The calm, fresh water on my skin… simple, yet it means everything.
In the Garden: Early August 2013
You may remember the state of my backyard merely a few months ago, but today if you visited us you’d feel as if you were in an entirely different place. The garden is thriving and the backyard is filled with green plants and maturing fruits (and loads of mulberries!)
Garden Fresh Kale and Brussel Sprout Salad
It doesn’t get much better than a Northern Michigan summer. In July and August there is no where else I’d rather be. The fresh water lakes, gorgeous beaches and plentiful barbecues keep me tied to the shoreline snacking on fresh fruit until my fingers (and inevitably my white skirt) are died a deep red or purplish hue. I cant get enough of the fresh fruit scene you’ll find at local farmers markets this time of year. From blackberries, tart cherries, peaches, blueberries, raspberries and more, I’ll stuff my belly and my freezer to the brim.
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