A Primal Anniversary (and some delicious projects)

Last Tuesday we celebrated our Primal Anniversary. It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I went "primal," it's totally a part of who I am now. Over the past year, I have found so many resources and I feel like there's still so much more for me to learn. Luckily, I'm still hungry for more! Amit and I have really enjoyed finding new recipes to add to our repertoire. I think I'm finally starting to rub off on him too - my favorite dentist is doing his Grand Rounds presentation on Ancestral Diets and the benefit on oral health!

In honor of our growth over this past year, here is a sampling of what we've been up to in the kitchen! Though it's just starting to warm up, we've been grilling for a while now. Real men (and dogs) grill when it's cold.

I'm glad I stay on this side of the glass.

Salmon and Brussels Sprouts

Smoky Mexican Tortilla-Less Soup

Venison with peppers and onions.

We've mastered the kale chip.

I found this recipe for mint chocolate chip ice cream, which was a total success! We still love walking to our Abbott's for frozen custard, but we don't feel as guilty about eating our homemade coconut milk ice cream.

So delicious and so good for you...
thanks to the added spinach (for the green color)!

Amit is more of a chocolate guy, so I adapted the recipe and created my own for chocolate chocolate chip ice cream. 

It's ridiculously easy - 1 can of coconut milk, 2 heaping tablespoons of cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and about 2-4 tablespoons of honey (sweetening to taste, I make mine less sweet). 

I put all of that in the blender, mix it up, and then add it to our ice cream maker. 

We stir in the chocolate chips (and Amit adds toffee pieces) before we let it firm up in the freezer.

This is becoming a regular treat in our house...

Too bad Amit won't let me add spinach to this one...yet.

Our Kombucha experiment continues...
It's almost time to taste this batch.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Hello, Scoby!

We really have gotten more in touch with our natural side since beginning this primal journey. I make my own lotion bars, we drink herbal teas, and now we're moving to a place where we'll really be able to get in touch with our simple, primal selves. 

I have some lofty goals for our second year of living Primally - begin composting, start a garden, and maybe even friend some farmers who raise local, pastured meat. We'll see what the year will have in store for us, but I know that Ithaca will be the perfect community to support my natural living adventure! 

Our Latest Weekend Destination

It's April already? Spring is here and I have barely blogged about anything. I'm sorry for slacking! As we get closer and closer to June, we just keep getting busier and busier. It's hard to believe that we're only three months away from the end of residency and the beginning of a new chapter in the Finger Lakes.

We've started to spend a lot more time in Ithaca, as we search for a place to live. I haven't been taking many pictures, but I do have a few snapshots to share. We've been having a great time getting to know Amit's new colleagues and sampling the fantastic eats in town.

We love our drive to Ithaca, 

it's so scenic!

Amit found this little gem.

It's a tiny place, but makes some fantastic fortified wine.

The port was very popular at dinner!

We've stopped at Buttermilk Falls, 

and can't wait to hike up along the gorge!

And of course, we must try some of the Ithaca wineries.

Especially when they are this close to Cayuga Lake!

You know I can't help but take a few pictures of our food!
This was at a Mexican restaurant downtown.
Amit got tacos and I had chicken mole enchiladas. 
It was delicious!

Last weekend we had lunch at Ithaca Beer Company.
It was great!
We will definitely be regulars here!
(Would you expect anything less from Amit?)

We had some fantastic weather last weekend!

We are so excited to explore Ithaca! Hiking, the Farmer's Market, Cayuga Lake, restaurants, and the list goes on. It is looking like it will be one fun summer!