Hake Fillet With Peach Salad

Last week I took on the challenge of cooking hake fillets. The challenge was cooking fish that I have never heard of. So Google to the rescue - Hake is a white fish that is the same as cod and haddock. In some parts of the East Coast it used to be called "trash fish" because few people wanted to eat it. TRASH FISH??? I don't like the sound of that!!!! 

Anyway, I wanted a unique recipe instead of the usual olive oil, lemon, bake combo. I found a recipe that I tweaked to accommodate what I had on hand - Hake with Hazelnuts and Capers.

I followed the recipe exactly but change a few things here and there. Scroll to the bottom for the peach salad recipe.

Preserving Herbs

Hello there foodie. I don't know about you but I get really frustrated during winter when I cannot get fresh, tasty, juicy fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Grocery store produce during that time tastes watery and bland to me. At the same time, trying to to eat healthy can be quite expensive especially when I add "organic" into the mix. So over the years I have been searching for alternatives without having to burn a hole in my pocket.  

Welcome farmer's markets and farm picking!!!!

Purchasing fresh vegetables from local farmer's markets has been such a joy and pleasure. This summer I also picked fresh fruits from several farms in the area.  Let me tell you, there is nothing like eating fresh fruit directly from the tree. It gives me a sense of awareness of what is going into body and I feel great!! (See why here Natural/Organic Fever). I feel like the grocery stores have been ripping me off and keeping me away from the sweet delicacies. 

At my last farmer's market haul, I went all crazy and bought quite a bit of fresh herbs (cilantro, dill, tarragon). I soaked the cilantro and dill with the other purchases in a vinegar/water solution. 

Berry Wedding Flowers

Photo by Simplicity Photos

I had another great opportunity to make bouquets and boutonnieres for another wedding. It was my first time working with fresh flowers and I was so nervous about the outcome. Thankfully the bride, bridesmaids, and groomsmen were happy with them and so was I!! See also Berry Wedding Fabric Flowers

Ironically, the fresh flowers were cheaper than silk flowers this time. For brides on a budget I think it is important to shop around before deciding what to use in your wedding. In the teal wedding (click Bridesmaids Bouquets to see post) the silk flowers were cheaper than fresh flowers because of the sales and coupons I was able to use at Michaels. 

See the cost of these silk flowers without a coupon....

So back to the Berry Wedding...I purchased the fresh flowers from a wholesaler so that is something you brides-to-be out there should look into. A bouquet of 25 carnation stems cost the same as 1-2 silk flower stems. What a DEAL!!! 

The bridesmaids had gorgeous berry dresses so I wanted flowers that would pop against the berry. My original idea was to use green, white, and yellow flowers but the white carnations called my name when I saw them. 

Work Station

And here is the final product. You can see I was still stuck on the green and incorporated it by using green ribbon. Sorry my pics are not as clear as the professional ones. One day I will get a good camera :)

Photo by Simplicity Photos

Photo by NXTLVLIMAGERY

Berry Wedding Fabric Flowers

For the Berry Wedding the bridesmaids asked me to make fabric flowers for their dresses and hair using left over fabric from one of their dresses. Here is what I came up with.

Hair Regimen

Many of you have seen my post on Facebook on the people I stalk. As much as I love these women and children, what I have come to learn is that my hair is my own. Yes... I would like it to have defined curls, shoulder length hair, and have my hair behave all the time, but it is the hair that I was born and blessed with. So please take this into consideration as you read my regimen and those of others out there. What works for my hair may not necessarily work for yours. Take your time in learning about your hair, what works, and what doesn't work.

My regimen changes depending on what is going on in my schedule and also on the weather. 

Things I do not change:
1. Use pH balanced products (my hair loves pH of 5.0)
2. Use organic products (see why in Natural/Organic Fever post)
3. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

Summer/Spring

• Every day - moisturize by spritzing water and sealing with oil mix
• Every week or every 2 weeks - wash, deep condition, use kimmaytube's leave in conditioner recipe (see below)
• Monthly - henna (see how to below)
• Styles - bantu knots, twist/braid out, wash & go (most of the time)

Fall/Winter

• Every day - moisturize by spritzing water & aloe vera juice mix and sealing with oil mix
• Every week or every 2 weeks - wash, deep condition, use kimmaytube's leave in conditioner recipe 
• Monthly - henna
• Styles - protective styles (twists, plaits, braids, flat twists)

Kimmaytube's leave in conditioner
2 TB Aloe Vera Juice
2 TB your favorite leave-in conditioner
2 TSP Jojoba Oil
2 TSP Castor Oil

Henna

• I mix Jamila henna powder with conditioner, honey, and green tea.
• Using gloves, I place the henna into sections of hair and massage it into the section to make sure each strand is coated.
• Pile all the hair on top of my head then cover with plastic cap or bag for at least 4 hours. Most of the time I sleep with it on.
• In the shower, I rinse most of it out with water then use a cheap shampoo to wash out whatever is left. The conditioner that is already in the henna mix makes this rinsing process easy.
• Deep condition (very important) for at least an hour
• Use kimmaytube's leave in conditioner and style.