A Good Friend Will Ship You a 6 lb Box of Beans

...but a REALLY GOOD friend will surprise you with a 6 pound box of heirloom beans. And a bag of crimson popcorn!

My friend Kel surprised me today with a bangin box of heirloon beans from Rancho Gordo. Their site has some of the coolest beans I have ever seen and a bunch of mouth watering recipes that I can't wait to try.

I especially can't wait to cook the beans on the far right (also pictured at the bottom) that the girls are saying look like miniature cows. And you all know how cute a miniature cow is.

I had to try the crimson popcorn already :-) Very good; it pops up small but light and fluffy and very, very white against little hints of the crimson germ.

I know this is a very public thank you but for those of you who do not know, Kel (of Kel's Closet, check it out, it's a cool fashion blog) is not purchasing a single article of clothing for herself for an entire year and yet she just shipped me a box of heirloom beans. Kel and I have never actually met or even spoken on the phone. We met though our food journaling site NutriMirror.com and she just graciously shipped these beans to me because she knew I would love them. And I do.

So thanks Kel. I owe you one. I'll think of this as an early Birthday present--and certainly one of the most memorable packages I have ever received!

Cheers, friend!

~XO

Lynn

Posting in my Jammies

Cous Cous and Wild Rice Salad

*****
Just sitting here thinking of all of the things I need to be doing. I am about to log off of the computer for a while but as it is the first official day of a new year and new decade, I am also hopeful for changes in the year to come.

This past year I lost 50 pounds and learned more than I ever imagined about eating in balance and how to nourish my body and mind. I had the great fortune of stumbling upon a free food journaling site NutriMirror.com which allows me to still carry on my love affair with food while becoming healthy and learning the fine art of moderation.

As if the gift of good health isn't enough, in September of last year, the kind people at NutriMirror gave me a forum to post my weekly food column SERVING up a SMILE, which is delivered each Tuesday.

The icing on the cake is the formal annoucement that I, along with my good friend Kel (of Kel's Closet) have been commissioned to author books for NutriMirror. My book will be (of course!) about Loving the Foods that Love Us Back. Kel is a hell of a lifestyle expert and her book about living in balance will surely be a must read.

Both of Kel and I were giddy contributors in NutriMirror's first book Balanced Days, Balanced Lives which is due out in March 2010. Pictured above is a sneak peek at the one of the recipes that I contributed for baked apples; as seen through the eyes of their talented food stylist team m.o.m.(no, I do not really bring THAT to my husband in bed!). Also see m.o.m. on flikr.

With all of the positive changes in the air, I cannot help but be optimistic about 2010. It is amazing what can be accomplished when one has obtained good health!  I am excited about food in ways that I have never been before.  Expect some bright, colorful and new ideas to be coming out of the Country Tart's kitchen.

Today's recipe is the Cous Cous and Wild Rice Salad (click for recipe) pictured above. Nutrient-rich, colorful and what a happy way to welcome in healthful changes in the upcoming year.

So, I have a book to write. I also have laundry to put away. Since it's nearly 3:00 in the afternoon, I think I'll start by getting dressed.

Happy New Year everyone.

All the best,
Lynn, a.k.a., The Country Tart