STRAWBERRY APRIL FOOL | RAMBLIN' RECIPE

happy april fools! this month for the ramblin' recipes food column for Sycamore Street Press we made a strawberry april fool. a fool is a simple english dessert made with seasonal fruit and cream, this is our veggie-based version. the strawberries can be exchanged for any soft seasonal fruit. 

making cashew cream is a great technique to practice. You can use unsweetened cashew cream to make a soup, risotto or pasta creamy. you can use it plain or blend in herbs, spices or veggies, to eat as a dip or to layer in a dish. 

also you can switch out the cashews for pecans, hemp seeds, brazil nuts or macadamia nuts to make a variety of creams. cashew cream is the base for several raw desserts, like raw cheesecake or this strawberry fool. find the recipe on sycamore street press blog today.


photo by Lizzy Rinner original recipe for sycamore street press

RAINBOW CHARD POTATO CHOWDER | RAMBLIN' RECIPES

for this month's ramblin' recipes column, we made a hearty end of winter soup, that is a classic go to recipe for us. we mix it up by switching rainbow chard for kale and corn for squash depending on the season. find the recipe on the sycamore street press blog. happy spring equinox ramblers. can't wait to get campin' again.

photos by lizzy rinner original recipe for sycamore street press.

RAW PEACH CRUMBLE | RAMBLIN' ROSE CAFE

we want to share some of our most popular recipes from vending with the ramblin' rose cafe last summer. first on the list, dessert! peaches can be substituted for any soft seasonal fruit.

Raw Peach Crumble

you'll need...
8-10 seasonal peaches
2 parts nuts (almonds & walnuts)
1 part soft pitted medjool dates
pinch of real salt 
dash of cinnamon 

cashew cream
1 part cashews
1 part filtered water
1 date or honey
pinch of salt 
   
to do...

for crumb and filling
blend dates, walnuts, almonds, salt and cinnamon 
in a food processor, pulse until crumb like

chop peaches into bit sizes chunks

in the food processor pulse one pitted date  
and half a peach, add puree to chopped peaches 

for cashew cream
in a high speed blender blend cashews, water, date and salt until it creates a thick cream. add more water for the right consistency.

in a cup layer peaches and crumb, then top with cashew cream and a pinch of cinnamon. viola, instant classic.

THE NECESSARY DEATH OF CHARLIE COUNTRYMAN | RAMBLIN' FILMS

a new column about movies. we adore movies, we joke that going to the movies is our most anti-social, social pastime. in this column we will share movies we have loved and movies we can't wait to see.

this movie was at the sundance film festival this year, we didn't see this one but i can't wait to. i fell in love with evan rachel wood when she was in across the universe. this seems like a very alternative roll for both her and shia leBeouf. also rupert grint is in it and who doesn't want a little bit of ron weasley in their life. look for it this fall, september 2013.

TRAVLIN' TIPS | FOR THE STOKED AND BROKE

ONE <> make your own meals

you save loads on making your own food. invest in a backpackers pocket stove. you can buy the gas once you get there. the first thing we do when we get somewhere is find a camping store. buy a cast iron pan, gas, lighter and all the basics.

TWO <> pack light

if you only bring a backers backpack you have no room to fill it up and it makes for easy travel. no waiting for baggage claim or paying extra to check bags. packing light makes utilizing public transportation much easier & rolling luggage through dirt or cobble stone streets is hard work.

THREE <> public transportation

trains, buses, the subway anything but taxis! This is the big money saver, also if you can walk, do it. By walking you see so much more and you happen upon alleys and nooks you never would have otherwise.

FOUR <> rent a car and sleep in it/camp

we have done this in the UK, NZ & WA, works like a charm. ideas for showering if its summer, the beach has public showers, ask a campsite to pay to use their shower or jump in the lake! we did the lake thing in Scotland nearly froze in the mountain run off but now it's a fun memory.

FIVE <> WWOOF/HELPX 

our favorite way of travel, you meet the locals and learn new skills, in exchange for room and board. with WWOOF each country has their own website, you can join for around $20, then you can start the research to find the right host family for you & your interests.

sweet pea pickin' and weedin'

summer harvest at the penpont farm shop.

things we harvested while wwoofing.

pizza night while wwoofing at tracebridge sourdough

SIX <> avoid tourist traps

skip the touristy stuff and do as the locals do. this last time we went to London we purposefully didn't pay for one attraction. instead we went to all the markets, the best tea shops, and explored parks and neighborhood shopping.

exploring the outdoor markets in London. camdem lock, 

brixton market & columbia road sunday market.

SEVEN <> tour the countryside

you spend way more for everything in the city. the countryside offers authentic shops and people. plus it actually feels like a vacation. here we took the train out of London to Richmond. it's close to the city but still has the country air.

the best tip we could give is make your trip authentic to you. there are so many things you "should" see when you go to a new country. but are those things going to be the most memorable for you?

for us its not about visiting every museum or waterfall, we just like to explore and find the true character of the city or town.
happening upon a little gem of a shop or a ma & pa est. & meeting beautiful people & hearing their story are the things that keep us reminiscing. ramble on ramblers.

CAMP FIRE COOKIN' | ENGLAND

This is what our car campin' trunk looks like. Stalked with the finest thanks to the campfire chef, Kristyn. Take note of her organizational skills!

 

 

we have THE best food while we are on the road, because it really is more than just food. to us it means shopping where the locals shop and eating a good meal when you are on the road is so comforting. it's also a source of entertainment, when your camping you have a lot of down time, to relax. why not eat good food while your at it?

pantry basics

<> good salt (any salt with color grey or pink)

<> olive oil

<> bragg's apple cider vinegar 

<>   cayenne pepper

<> gallons of filtered water 

<> tea

<> honey 

<> lemon

<> hemp milk (we went through it so quickly)

what's so great about the above list is they are all non-perishable and they will give so much flavor to the simplest meal.

cooking supplies

<> camper stove (invest in an msr pocket rocket) 

<> cast iron pan (adds so much flavor)

<> picnic knife

<> tea pot

<> enamel bowls and mugs + utensils

<> cutting board

a lot of it we found at charity shops or car boot sales so it was really cheap. 

on the menu

<> oats- boils quick and we would add different local fruit every      morning

<> couscous and quinoa- boils quick and we would add fresh and preserved veggies like olives, arugula, tomatoes and white beans

<> tea & toast- it was fun to find local bakeries for bread and try the local chutney's and jams

<> beans on toast- again local bread with white beans for protein. a UK classic add lots of lemon, salt and cayenne

<> boiled potatoes- camping style, thinly sliced served with our favorite antipasta olives and sun dried tomatoes 

<> salad- we basically put a salad of arugula on top of everything

<> popcorn- put it in a pot with oil and just keep moving!

we were lucky because it was summer, everything was on and delicious. to make meals interesting stop at the local farm stands and markets and just grab some fruits and veggies and add it to the basics you have in your "pantry".

*note if you take your lunch on a hike it's a really good incentive to get to the top. lunch with a view.

the wild is calling and the open road is yours to wander.