Pumpkin Spice Baby-Cakes with Orange Cream Icing

Inspired by today's trip to the Pumpkin Patch with the preschoolers, Pumpkin Spice Baby-Cakes made a sweet dessert on an October evening. I used organic canned pumpkin to make this batch of cookies, which are soft (almost cake like), and lightly spiced, and covered in orange-cream icing. They are nice with cider, coffee, or as a dessert to share- and are super easy to make.

Ingredients

Pumpkin Spice Baby Cakes:
1 Cup (2 sticks) butter
1/2 Cup granulated sugar
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1 cup cooked, pureed pumpkin (fresh or canned)
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 Cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Icing:
2 Cups powdered sugar
1/4 Cup (half stick) butter, melted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons orange juice

Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with waxed/parchment paper. Foil would also work.

Step 2: Make cookies. Mix butter and sugar until fluffy.

Step 3: Add egg, pumpkin, and vanilla. Mix well.

Step 4: Add (remaining) dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Drop cookies (about one Tablespoon of dough each) onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake for 11-13 minutes, until firm and light golden-brown.

Step 5: As cookies bake, make icing. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, and whisk together. If too dry, add more OJ. If to wet, add more sugar.

Step 6: Remove cookies from oven. Cool for a few minutes, then top with a small dollop of icing.

Step 7: Eat, share, enjoy!

Variations: Icing makes enough for about two batches. I doubled the cookie recipe. I also took a hazelnut-chocolate bar, broke it into tiny pieces, and mixed it in to about a dozen of the cookies. Tasty. Nuts or chocolate chips can be added as desired. I used all organic ingredients in this case, as they are easy to find and comparable in price for their non-organic substitutes.

Fashion Conscious

Conscientious Consumerism at its Best: Fashion Choices that Support a Better World

There are lots of ways that we can be catalysts for change, and work towards improving the world that we all share. One of the most effective tools we have is voting with our wallets. As mentioned previously, I believe in being a conscientious consumer, because what we choose to buy sends strong messages about our values to retailers, investors, and those and around us. Especially in today's economy, the places we shop matter.

Let's be honest, looks matter too. Being an artist, VOGUE reader, and fan of fashion- the design and aesthetics of my wardrobe are important to me. At the same time, I apply the principle conscientious consumerism when shopping for clothes. I enjoy my clothes all the more knowing that by wearing them I support local businesses, and green, ethical, companies.

Today I am sharing my favorite picks for fashion and shopping (click the links to find out more)

Best Local Retailer:
Renew Denim
222 D Street Davis, CA 95616 (530) 297-5326

This is the kind of store that is dreamt of by tree-huggers and fashionistas alike. Renew Denim is a cutting edge 'green boutique,' locally owned and operated. They carry designer denim (7 for all mankind, Citizens of Humanity, Paige, Rock & Republics, etc), at steep discounts. The owner buys current denim trends at a discount from suppliers and retailers who have overstock or imbalances in their inventory. Prices for all jeans are $99 or less. These are honestly the exact same jeans you can buy in Nordstroms, or specialty boutiques, for 2-3 times the price. Renew also sells one of a kind fashion and jewelry from local designers, and jeans embellished by local art and design students. The store gives a free reusable eco-bag with each purchase, and offers a 5% discount to every shopper who brings the bag back to use again. They also have special events for charitable causes (recently offered 50% off regularly priced merchandise to all shoppers who brought in a donation of gently used jeans for STEAC), and support the local economy by participating in special Davis Business Association events. They send sale alerts via Facebook, and report that they will be opening an online store soon!

Which brings me to my pick for....
Best Denim:
Paige Jeans, Premium Organic

I stopped by Renew Denim on my way home today, to check out their 1/30 - 30 event. They had special $30 prices on some of the samples, and were offering $30 off for purchases of $100. Paige Jeans are by far my favorites- they fit well and last forever, but they can be pretty expensive. As part of today's event, I was able to get a pair of Paige Jeans Premium Organic, which retail for $210, for only $69! The best part? Paige's organic label offers the same level of style and quality that one would expect from Paige Jeans- but with a higher level of social responsibility. The label (above) says it all- and the choice to purchase organic cotton , and biodegradable dyes has a HUGE impact. Cotton is the biggest non-food agricultural crop in the world, and its' production accounts for 16 percent of global chemical pesticide use, more than any other single crop. The pesticides and fertilizers used to grown non-organic cotton contaminate the air and soil where the cotton is grown, and contaminate water supplies with chemical infused run-off. Traces of chemicals linger in the cotton after harvest, and can make it into the clothing we wear. Organic cotton has to be grown in accordance with special USDA standards. Traditional denim dyes and dying methods rely on a synthetic, version of Indigo dye, which is created using petroleum, then treated with various environmentally harmful chemicals to ensure colorfastness. Plant based natural dyes are a renewable, safer option.

Favorite Footwear:
Rocket Dog Sheriff Boots
(pictured at right, with my new Paige organic cotton jeans)

I'd been looking for the perfect cowboy-style boots for quite some time, but was having a hard time swallowing the price tag, which generally runs between $150-$350. Part of the expense is due to the fact that this style of boot is generally made with high quality leather... beautiful and comfortable, but pricey. Imagine my delight when I came across these adorable boots, and was able to find a sweet deal for only $40 (originally $80). Why the low price? No bovines were harmed in the making of these boots. They are made out of fabric! I have been wearing them for several weeks (even out in the rain)- they are extremely comfortable and durable, and it is impossible to tell that they aren't real leather until you touch them. Rocket Dog is currently working with Soles4Souls to provide shoes and relief supplies to earthquake victims in Haiti. Added bonus- a tiny, cute, rocket-dog logo (looks like our Westie) is embroidered on one of the loops.

Happy shopping!

Serious Solutions and the Food Revolution

"You say you want a revolution / Well, you know / We all want to change the world...
You say you got a real solution / Well, you know /We'd all love to see the plan..."
The Beatles, Revolution

There is a powerful movement going on right now- the movement away from processed, artificial foods and towards sustainable, local, real foods. The most exciting thing about this is, it's truly a win-win situation- we can eat foods are healthier and taste better while using our power as consumers to make a positive difference for farmers, farm animals, the economy, and the environment! You don't need to be an extremist or have a particular political viewpoint to participate in this revolution. It's a movement for realists, who want to make positive changes and take responsibility for their impact on the world. The food we eat at home and the recipes we post on this blog are part of the solution- examples of how we enjoy a real-food diet, cooked with local and sustainable ingredients. I provide vegetarian variations, and links to products that support the movement towards sustainable and responsible foods. Here are some great resources about how you can easily shift towards making the world better while enjoying great food. (Please check these out- just a click of the mouse and a couple of seconds!)


http://www.localharvest.org/
We are so fortunate to live in Davis- our farmer's market is open twice each week, year round, and offers a staggering variety of produce, eggs, meat, and local goodies. In fact, it was just voted the America's Favorite Farmer's Market! Use this website to find farmer's markets and family farms near you!




http://www.michaelpollan.com/omnivore.php
The Omnivore's Dilemma is a great read. It is a truly ground-breaking non fiction book, in which the author, Michael Pollan, tries to answer the question "what should we have for dinner?" A very even handed and fact based account of the history of the American dinner table. Pollan debunks fad diets, points out the reality that 'organic' and 'natural' have quickly become little more than marketing jargon, explains the historical events and political forces that have shaped our diet, and examines the dynamic and disconnect between Americans and our food. Pollan has also created a version for kids (age 10-16). Check out the resources on his website for more information about how you can improve your quality of life and make a huge difference for our world by becoming a conscious eater and conscientious consumer.



http://www.eatwild.com
Where's the beef? Right here! Eatwild.com is a great resource that can direct you towards local, natural, grass-fed meat! Support small farmers and improve the quality of life for farm animals by buying locally and consuming animals that were treated well and kept in good health.



http://www.cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/index.html
Cornucopia provides a list of organic dairies, and rates them. If you want to go organic, this website will help you to use that choice to make a difference. It is easy to compare top-rated dairies, and see which brands are complete failures. Most brands are listed, so it's easy to investigate. For example, Archer Farms- the organic milk sold at Target stores nationwide only receives a rating of 1 (out of 5, with 5 being best). Target's organic milk is actually from cows living on factory farms. Their conditions are no better or healthier than cows on factory farms producing standard milk products, and they are likely exposed to all of the same stresses and pathogens, yet they do not receive antibiotics to prevent the spread of disease.



http://www.templegrandin.com/templegrandinbooks.html
Temple Grandin PhD, is an expert in animal science, and is famous for her lectures, books, and unique perspective. She is one of the most well known adults with autism in the world, and is passionate about making the world better for animals. In her book Animals Make Us Human, Grandin and uses her unique way of looking at the world and her expertise in animal science to explain realistic steps and innovative ways that we can improve the lives of millions of farm animals and pets in our country. She does not ask everyone to become vegan or vegetarian, and is a realist who eats meat herself- she simply takes an honest look at the factory farms, meat processing facilities, and lives of animals and farm workers, and she gives clear information about what each of us can do and how the industries need to change.



http://www.foodincmovie.com/
Food Inc is an eye opening documentary that takes the viewer behind the scenes of American factory farms, and examines what aspects of the food industry need to change. It features Michael Pollan, and is available for streaming/instant view on netflix. I highly recommend it. This film is not all doom and gloom- the ending will inspire and motivate, as well as give specific ideas about small changes and steps that you can take.



Think it over...

"Just because we can ship organic lettuce from the Salinas Valley or organic cut flowers from Peru doesn't mean we should do it, not if we're really serious about energy and seasonality and bioregionalism."

excerpt from The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan