Happy Moving

Good Morning,

What a week!! All started with my mom arriving on Sunday to save the packing day. We proceeded to pack for 72 hours straight. After living in the same house for nearly 8 years, I have accumulated a ton of shit! Each closet, drawer, nook and cranny had to be cleared, cleaned and sorted. In true LA fashion she has not made it easy with temperatures in the 90′s to 100′s…. Did I mention I don’t have AC?

During the move to Austin, I am going to take a little break from posting. As I only have 1 cup, 1 fork and 1 plate… cooking has escaped me this week. I am less Happy Hemp and a little more diners and drive-ins. Happy Hemp goes nicely on a cheeseburger in a pinch. Ha Ha!!

I look forward to seeing you soon! Here are some fun going on’s during the move…

Whenever I travel and pull out the suitcases, my four legged loves ones slip into a state of depression. Well packing boxes have taken that to a whole new level!!

Oliver (golden) is non responsive to anything but food. He has taken to sprawled out positions in the middle of what little walk ways I have in between stacked boxes. sighing as if to say, “why are you doing this to me?” His campaign to make me feel bad has been highly successful.

Oliver giving me the sad face.

Moka (ala mutt) has decided too close is not close enough. She has always been my shadow, but the moving has created a whole new since of togetherness. Where ever I am she is desperately trying to crawl up next to me. Her restlessness proceeds into the night. She is so afraid to be left behind that she is foregoing sleep. Which means I too am not sleeping, but at least we are being serenaded.

Moka standing guard over her baby.

Marley takes the cake in the agony department. She has taken up song writing. Each night from 2am to 5am, she goes into the recording studio aka my bedroom and sings out her feelings. Last night was titled… The Homeless Howl. Let’s hope she does not continue her musical inspiration on the 3 day car ride.

Marley giving me the stink eye.

So coming at you one last time via Los Feliz…

Happy Change. Happy Decade. Happy Hemp.

Happy Elote

Living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico you have to learn to distinguish between bells, calls and whistles. These daily chimes alert you to food, flowers, trash and other daily needs…. much like ice cream trucks in the US. The chime of the triangle alerts you of the trash truck,  the whistle of the recorder calls you to sharpen your knives. My personal favorite was the gentlemen yelling… EEEELLLLOOOOTTTTEEE! Let me introduce you to the best thing since slice bread! Elote aka corn is a sinfully delicious combination of flavorers. This dish will be sure to impress. As they say in Mexico… Buen Prevecho (to your health)!

Happy Flavors. Happy Viva. Happy Hemp.

Directions: 

• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise or veganaise.
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup Happy Hemp
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 4 ears shucked corn

Ingredients:

1. Prepare grill.
2. Combine mayonnaise and juice in a small bowl. Combine cheese and next 5 ingredients in another small bowl.
3. Place corn on a grill rack coated with cooking spray.
4. Grill corn 12 minutes or until tender, turning frequently. Remove corn from grill or cut from cob.
5.  Brush with mayonnaise mixture, and sprinkle with cheese mixture.
6. Enjoy!

Happy Blueberry Pancakes

When I was a little girl, we would have breakfast for dinner. That was my favorite night. Pancakes are the perfect meal day or night. I just love the idea of changing up dinner time.

Happy Breakfast-Dinner. Happy Kids. Happy Hemp.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup Happy Hemp
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 1/3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 

Directions: 

1. In a food processor or in a large bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, white flour, Happy Hemp, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar, and salt.
2. Cut the butter into small pieces with a knife, and add the butter to the flour-mixture. Mix until the mixture has a sand-like consistency.
3. Make a well in the center of the flour-butter mixture, and add the buttermilk a
   nd eggs. Stir until the liquids are fully incorporated.
4. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and grease the surface with 1 tablespoon of butter or oil.
5. Ladle the batter onto the surface to form 4 inch pancakes.
6. Once bubbles form on the top of the pancakes add the blueberries, flip them over, and cook them on the other side for about 2 minutes.
7. Plate the pancakes and add a scoop of yogurt and syrup on top with fresh blueberries.
8. Enjoy!

Happy Grilled Tomato Pasta

Family style is my favorite way to eat. I love how it brings together family and friends. At my house the wine and conversation flows, while the laughter is deafening. That is what life is about!!

Happy Pasta. Happy Family. Happy Hemp.

Ingredients: 

• 2 Tomatos sliced into thick slices
• 1 Cup of parmesan graded
• 2 Cups basil chopped
• 1 Cup of Happy Hemp
• Olive Oil for drizzling
• 1 Box pasta

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees and boil water.
2. Rub olive oil on cookie sheet. Place tomatoes on cookie sheet.
3. Sprinkle Happy Hemp and Parmesan on top of each tomato.
4. Bake for 1o to 15 min or until golden brown.
5. Cook pasta per instructions on box.
6. Toss basil in bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil.
7. Plate pasta and place two tomatoes on top. Add a sprinkle of parmesan.

Happy Caprese Salad

This is such a classic dish and easy to serve anytime of the year. We are mixing it up just a hint by adding a kick of balsamic and a dash of  Happy Hemp. The great thing is no cooking required! This is one of the dishes I served at the Happy Hemp party. Sure to be a crowd please!!

Happy Summer. Happy Fresh. Happy Hemp.

Ingredients:

• 1 small box grape tomatoes halved.
• 1 pound fresh mozzarella cubed
• 1/2 cup happy hemp
• 20 to 30 leaves (about 1 bunch) fresh basil, lightly chopped
• Olive oil
• 2 Tbsp Balsamic
• Coarse salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In large bowl toss tomatoes, mozzarella, happy hemp and basil together.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic
3. Salt and pepper to taste
4. Enjoy!

Happy Blueberry Scones

Scones are the diamonds to the bakery world. You can make them sweet or savory….blueberries to bacon. These versatile little pillows are such a great treat.

Happy Scone. Happy Belly. Happy Hemp.

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup Happy Hemp
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 5 Tablespoon sugar
• 1/3 cup chilled butter, cut into 1/2” cubes
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 teaspoon water

Directions: 

1. Preheat open to 400 degrees.
2. Lightly sprinkle a 14×16” baking sheet with flour. In a large bowl, combine flour, pecans, Happy Hemp, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of sugar.
3. Cut the butter into the flour mixture with two knives or pastry blender until it has the consistency of small crumbs.
4. In a small bowl, combine buttermilk and one egg. Add to flour mixture and stir until just moistened. The dough will be wet and sticky, work it as little as possible.
5. Divide the dough in half and shape one piece into a 9” circle on the prepared baking sheet. Spread the blueberries evenly over the dough and sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons of sugar. On a lightly floured piece of parchment paper, form a 9” circle with the remaining dough and gently slide it on top of the berries.
6. Beat the remaining egg with 1 tsp water and lightly brush the egg wash over the top of the scone. Optional: sprinkle remaining sugar on top.
7. Bake until scone in golden brown, 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. When cool, cut into wedges and serve.
8. Enjoy!

Happy Raw Break down

Oliver swallows his food and does not chew. Literally he gets an amazing morsel of yumminess and gulp…gone. No chewing. No enjoying. Just down the hatch!

Oliver just finishing a bowl of food. Licking his lips.

 

In order for dogs to get the nutrients from a raw food diet, you must break the food down for them. Think about how cows stand in the field and chew and chew and chew for hours. Oliver’s goal is to eat his food minus a single chew!

So I do the work for him. I break down the veggies in either a juicer (I drink the juice) or a food processor. Breaking down the meal makes sure they get optimal nutritional in-take. Oliver health had improved dramatically since the switch and I am drinking a glass of healthy everyday. Two birds… One stone!

Happy Blend. Happy Dog. Happy Hemp.

Cucumber broccoli pulp. Add in Happy Hemp, coconut oil and brewers yeast. Mix Serve.

Happy Dog Food

One of my new favorite things is juicing. I start each day with a healthy glass of veggies, but this is not about me this is about my pups. I have mentioned before my dogs are on a raw food diet. Well this is the greatest thing….Instead of tossing all the pulp in to the trash, that is what becomes their food each day. I decided to change their diet when Oliver started to have health and weight issues. A friend recommended a great book called “Give Your Dog a Bone.” After reading the book and hearing how a raw food diet had helped her dogs, I was up to give it a try. Would they really eat veggies?

Kale. Carrots. Ginger. Apple is the base of the juice

After making the switch from overly processed food to raw diet, Oliver has lost weight and his healthy issues have disappeared. They sit in the kitchen and eagerly wait for their food. Bowls always licked clean! I will be the first to say it takes time, however the rewards are so worth it. It also keeps me on track with eating healthy, plus I have found I am saving money!

Happy Veggie. Happy Puppy. Happy Hemp.

I place the pulp into a bowl and add Happy Hemp and cottage cheese. Mix and serve!

 

Happy Rescue

Growing up I brought every stray animal home I found. I knew I would be in trouble, but in the end with tears and pleading they would let me keep my new found gem. We were always big supports of rescuing animals in need. All different shapes… All different sizes they would be taken in and treated like royalty.

Marley was found in the middle of the street as a kitten in Mexico. She was no bigger than the palm of my hand. 9 years later she is the queen of the house and reigns over the dogs.

As I grew up that  passion for adopting animals has lived on. One of my goals with Happy Hemp is to promote and educate about the pros of adoption. There are great organization who work to keep animals out of dying useless deaths. Now if you are dead set on getting a purebred… Not a problem. They need homes too! Many take on a dog and have no idea what they are getting themselves into. From Golden Retrievers to Chihuahuas there are rescues dedicated to specific breeds. Visit our paws section on the website to learn more about adoption.

Happy Rescue. Happy Soul. Happy Hemp.

Moka I adopted on a trip to the store. A rescue was set-up outside for suckers like me. It took a year for her to warm up. Now she spends most of her days pulling stuffing out of the inside of her toys and napping in the sunshine.

Happy Egg Salad

My grandma used to make egg salad when I was a kid. On a hot summer day we would sent on the back porch sipping lemonade and enjoy our salad. She would always add just a pinch of sugar to give it a yummy sweetness. Still takes me back to those hot humid lazy summer days.

Happy Memories. Happy Eggs. Happy Hemp.

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup happy hemp
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Place egg in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat.
2.  Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool and peel.
3. Place the eggs in an ice bath before peeling.
4. In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Happy Hemp and Sugar.
5. Chop the eggs into big chunks and mix gently with the dressing.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Enjoy!