The Food Game

I have always struggled with inconsistency with food.  I go through periods where I will meal prep like a wiz and not eat any processed foods and then something will happen- either a stressful day, my period, or one uneaten meal and then that's it... all my good habits are gone and I'm only interested in brownies and chocolate bars.  I have seen some great changes in myself though since my birthday and particularly since starting school a month ago... I now crave cooking- the physical and emotional act of preparing my food.  I now look at cooking as an easy and yet profound way of showing care for myself and for my partner.  Over the last week I have found myself sitting down to read cookbooks or watch videos on dicing veggies as apposed to decompressing by mindlessly binge watching Netflix.  Here's a quick glimpse of the food I have prepare over the last week.  (if you want the specifics of a recipe let me know)

It's important that I mention the signifigance of the quality of ingredients- I hope this does not sound "preachy".  Everett and I are very fortunate to be surrounded by several sustainable and organic farms.  Whenever possible buy organic ingredients with as few "food miles" as possible- i.e. grown 1 mile from your home and not grown on the other side of the planet.  Also, if possible seek out raw dairy products- the natural enzymes that are good for our body remain intact and are not pasteurized out and you will not ingest any harmful hormones!

Chocolate Zucchini bread
*Gluten Free, *No processed sugar

*Oatmeal, chia, flax pancakes

**Made with maple syrup from our own trees**

*Gluten Free, *No processed sugar

*Egg, local cheese, Avocado, Kale

*Avocado yogurt dip (made with raw yogurt), veggies and Multi seed crackers

*Apple, Almond butter, Dark Chocolate chips, Seed and Nut bar

*Roast beef, kale, carrots, potatoes

If you are someone that loves to cook, what is your favorite meal to prepare?  If you are someone like I used to be, intimidated or afraid to ruin a meal, what do you wish you could cook?

xx,
Jeni

So IT Begins

Well... Here it is. Day two of 2015. This past year flew by.  So much happened, changed, and also stayed the same. I learned so much about communication, determination and mostly myself. I went from teaching to running my own business, to feeling like the business I had was not what I wanted. I ran a half marathon in 1:54:37 (16 minutes faster than my previous best). I made new friends in my quiet little town and parted ways with others that had been in my life for a long time. I lost my temper, truly yelled, for the first time- I realized I really liked sticking up for myself and discovered being polite doesn't mean being a pushover.  I learned that being outdoors is the best remedy for all things and that being physically strong also makes me fell mentally and emotionally strong. I explored the west coast for the first time and fell in love with Seattle!!  I learned that communication really is the most important part of any relationship and can either save one or end it.  I learned what it was like to make hard decisions and that sometimes, I really suck at it... Best of all though, I'm starting to really learn who I am, what I believe, want, wish and need.  I even learned to end my worst habit of all- berating myself, about past decisions, personality traits, or self-perceived body flaws.  2014 saw a lot of tears, stress and upsets, but, it also saw a lot of growth. I don't think I've come to tears yet, with the fact that it's 2015... That a new chapter is actually starting and that in just 17 very short days I will be 30 (gasp!!!).  

I have chosen to re-start this blog, after more than a 2 year absence because I want to have a place to keep track of my thoughts, goals, mishaps and progress. I don't have a game plan or know exactly what the content will be, but I really look forward to watching it all develop.  

Happy New Year friends!  
with love,
JENI 

Field of Dreams

 tshirt- self altered American Apparel 

jeans- vintage wranglers 

belt- Forever 21

shoes- sonoma

Location- Everett's Farm 

Today was the absolute perfect example of how lovely Fall can be.  The sun was warm, the colors were vibrant and the breeze lent a slight crispness to the air- it was such a romantic combination.  I promised E that I would help him harvest the last bit of squash and pumpkins today after having helped me move all my crazy belongings this past week.  Before we got started in the veggie field we spent a bit of time relaxing and enjoying the sun together.  I don't know what these plants are called, but the seeds are white and fluffy and when the breeze would catch and carry them it was like little wishes taking flight.  We spent a considerable amount of time watching them.  Today couldn't have been more fun.  I love when E and I get to participate in each others lives in this way.  I always feel closer to him afterwards and am so thankful to have met him.  He really is my best buddy!

Enjoying the simple things with the one I love makes me so happy.
So glad to have you.

xo Jeni Leigh

Friday is Delicious- Pumpkin Pie

Recipe found HERE

I have decided that Friday's will from now on be the sharing of a delicious recipe.  Why not make weekends a little sweeter?!  It is after all the season for home-baked treats.  Last weekend Everett and I made a fantastic Pumpkin Pie together... well, three actually and they didn't last long at all.  You can either go the simple route and use canned pumpkin or you can go the more fall-harvest suzy-home-maker route and roast your own pumpkin as we did.  If you choose to roast your own, Everett suggests a Long Island Cheese pumpkin, if you have access to one.  Cut the pumpkin in to 4 sections, place on a baking tray and put in the oven at 450°, cook until you can put a fork through pumpkin with ease, but do not burn the pumpkin.  To add a bit more sweetness to the pie we decided to use gram cracker crusts, it came out great!  

Ingredients-

15 oz pumpkin or one can pumpkin

14 oz sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs 

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1- 9' pie crust

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes.
2. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted 1 inch from crust comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

Do you have a cold-weather go-to treat?! 

 DO SHARE!

xo Jeni Leigh 

FIT to be OUT- Harney and Sons Tea Party

Necklace- Miami street vendor 

Dress-  Du Ciel Designs (that's me!)

shoes- Groove

Today my mother and I went to Millerton, NY.  I have been dying to get to the Harney and Sons store for years! We went for lunch and spent hours in the "tasting room" afterwards and picked some lovely teas to bring home to E.  Today is our "3 month anniversary" and I am so happy to have spent the last three months with such a wonderful man!!  

In other news, we are gearing up for an impossibly busy weekend.  I move tomorrow!  Into a wonderful apt in the building next door... I know I know, it seems as though I move a lot, but this new apt is much larger and has a separate area that I can use as a studio!!!  My new set up will be brilliant.  

In all the preparation for the changes ahead, I have come up with some changes I would like to make to the blog as well... I will write more about that tomorrow... as Friday's will now be a "delicious" weekly post... giving you all a yummy suggestion for the weekend's menu.  Tomorrow will be Banana Oatmeal pancakes!  

SWEET DREAMS

xo Jeni Leigh

Nothing Says Fall like Apples

The last two weeks have been tough.  I have been adjusting to being my own boss, figuring out finances and the best way to go about things.  As my 'luck' would have it, I got sick.  I was pretty useless for the last week- still having bills to pay and deadlines to meet.  Isn't that the trade off for being self-employed?  It has also been raining non-stop here in Hudson.  Which is actually my favorite weather, I find it to be so inspiring, but is incredibly rough on the farmer boyfriend.  Yesterday the rain finally broke and E and I decided to have an outdoor day together.  We both realized it is actually Fall.  Out of nowhere, the leaves changed- it really seems as if it was over night!   To "celebrate" the change I met him at the farm in the morning, hopped on the back of his ATV and rode around the fields, checking on his veggies, picking sunflowers and splashing through mud galore.  Afterwards I made banana-oatmeal pancakes  (they were so delicious) while we researched local apple orchards that had "pick your own" options.  It was so nice to be able to spend a few stress free hours together, outside.  We marveled in how much food an apple orchard provides, how much one farmer can provide.  (E's farm amazes me every day.  I love when he makes dinner and I get to count how many aspects of our meal he has grown.  I feel so proud and environmentally aware.)  Oh yea, I also fell out of a tree and neither of us could stop laughing.  I leaned down to get a kiss and just toppled right out.  Luckily I hadn't gone too high.

Later this week I will post the recipes for the banana-oatmeal pancakes and the pumpkin pie that E and I made- using a pumpkin from his farm!  

Hope you are all enjoying local produce and yummy and healthy treats!  

happy fall! 

xo Jeni Leigh

Take Risks and Go for It!

Me and Lis two Septembers ago- my friends encourage me to take positive risks.  

The last few months I have said that all I wanted to do was make dresses full time, but first I have to do this, and this and this... you know... never fully believing that it would be possible.

Well friends, it's official- I am now solely self-employed!  Yesterday after a terrible day at work, I was "let go"!  I had texted E and my mother earlier in the day (and many consecutive days before that) and said that all I wanted was to quit and be a full-time dress-maker... well, at the end of the day two fantastic things happened- 1- I didn't have to quit, I was sent on my way!  and 2- I sold 4 dresses!  Can you believe that?  The luck continued... this morning a woman came to my studio for her final fitting and was so happy that she will be getting another dress next week!  I can't believe how fantastic this is.  I will now spend every day, doing what I love, on my terms!  There is a lot of work to be done, and I fully acknowledge that it won't always be easy or  100% enjoyable, but no more pouring coffee or drink-stained blouses for me!   Last night, after arriving home and alerting E, my talented friend B and my mother about it all, they were so supportive and inspiring, telling me how much they believe in me and my dream!  Not a single person has told me to rethink this or said a single doubtful phrase- they all just said, TAKE THE RISK, GO FOR IT!  I feel like I can do anything with love and support like that!  

Sometimes all you need is to take the risk and go for it- the outcome will be marvelous! 

Tell me, what would you like to be doing?!

GO FOR IT!

xo Jeni Leigh