Happy Garden. Skeeter’s Beware!!

I was so excited to move to Austin and have a backyard with a real grass and a porch!! High living after being a Los Angeles resident for 10 years. My dogs are still amazed and confused by the glory of it all. I spent the past 2 weeks decorating my patio. Outdoor rug, chairs, side tables, and large potted plants. I was so excited to test out my little slice of patio heaven. I headed out last weekend at dusk with my wine in hand to enjoy the great outdoors with the pups…eeeezzzz… slap!! WTF was that creature… scratch… creatures! I was attacked by horse size mosquitos. I was sent running inside for cover, but not before the sucked my blood and left huge welts up and down my legs, arms, hands, feet…EVERYWHERE!!

I set out to find a natural way to OFF  these vampire insects. I found that several plants and herbs are great for keeping these pests away…. Wish I knew that prior to planting as I did not choose any of the following… Go Figure!

Basil is not only great for your salads and pasta, but also for warding off mosquitos.

Use basil as your center piece on your dinner table. Double reward.

Lemon grass is not only inexpensive, but easy to grow. Place in planters around your patio.

Great for making tea and flavoring summer inspired dishes.

The citronella is one of the most popular natural remedies to keep the skeeters at bay.

Instead of burning the candles, you can plant these darling flowers all over your patio.

Who has not at one time or another seasoned a dish with rosemary?

Yep great for jazzing up food and keeping sting away!! Plus rosemary is easy to grow, even if you have a black thumb.

Garlic is one of my favorite go to’s in the kitchen and for bug bites.

These plants are great for keeping away many types of insects and awesome for bites.

Take a garlic clove mash it up and rub on any insect bite. The juice help to heal and take away the itch!

Marigolds have a smell that keep most away human and insect.

Plant these gorgeous sunburst around your patio to help keep the bugs away and unwanted neighbors.

I saved my favorite for last. Geraniums are great for keeping plant eating bugs out of the garden and mosquitos at bay.

When I was little my Grandma Grayless had these all over her garden…. she obviously was a very smart lady!!

Always had the most amazing garden on the block.

Wishing you a scratch-less summer!

Happy Tuna Melt and Lightning Bugs

A couple nights ago, I spent the evening sipping wine on the back porch of a friend’s house. It is really amazing how her and I can solve all the world’s problems by the end of bottle number 2. On this particular night, we started discussing how our generation is the last to know the yester-years. In our life time the world became digital!! It is crazy to think of today’s kids vs what we grew up with…

They have never used the dewey decimal system.

They have never had to stand up to change the channel.

They have never rolled down a car window.

Life seemed simpler when we grew up. Not so many rules. My mom would leave my brother and I in the car when she went grocery shopping, we did not die. I would play outside with the neighbor kids until it was dark outside. If you fell down and scrapped your knee, your rubbed dirt on it not antibacterial soap. We had block parties on the 4th of July.

My favorite summer activity was sitting on the back porch at my grandma’s house eating tuna melts. The glow of lightening bugs in the distance. I thought life was perfect!!

1 Can sustainable tuna fish

1 Dallop of mayo

2 Shakes of dry dill

1 Squirt of dijon mustard

2 Pinches of Happy Hemp seeds

1 Toast

1 Cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Mix tuna, mayo, dill and Happy Hemp seeds in a bowl.

Scoop you tuna on to your toast and place cheese on top.

Put in over for about 10 min or until cheese is melted.

I recommend a little tomato soup on the side.

Enjoy and live life to the fullest!

xo Happy Hemp

Happy Youth

After my mom and grandma left, I was inspired to create food from my youth. Growing up my Obachan (grandma) was a huge influence on my personality and my palate. She came to the US in 1954 after meeting my grandfather during the Korean war. She was born in Yahata, Japan… I promised I would not put the year.

Taken a day before the were married 58 years ago.

In 1952 she was working at a military office and going to an English school. To get home after work she had two options a city bus or a military bus. She would always ride the city bus, due to the rumors she had heard of American soldiers. On this particular day she was standing in line to get on the city bus and my grandfather was waiting for the military bus. After seeing her…. it was love at first sight.  He followed her on to the city bus. She tells me..He started to try to talk to me… it was so rude! I get off bus and he follow me.”  She says…. every time I turn around he right there behind me (she giggles) and after 58 years he is still always there right behind me!! She says the rest is history….

This is a spin on one of my favorite meals she used to make me.

Cook 1 cup of brown rice per instructions on bag.

Take 2 leaves of kale and chop into 1 inch strips.

Saute in a skillet with olive oil. Set aside.

Next fry an egg in the same skillet. I like mine slightly runny in the middle.

Combine in a bowl from bottom to top.

Brown rice, kale, Happy Hemp seeds and the egg.

The next part is the most important part. You add the sprinkles.

When I was a kid that was the most important part.

It was my parmesan cheese!!

You can buy at most grocery stores in the Asian section.

Enjoy!!

Happy Hemp Hello…

Whew!!  What a whirlwind couple of weeks. First my mom and grandma came to visit. It was a fun filled trip of sight seeing and lots of food. Some of our highlights was enjoy the patio at Perla’s and happy hour at La Condessa. My mom and grandma were able to see me in full action at Farmers’ Market for the first time. It was truly a week of memories.

3 Generations…Priceless!

After they left, I packed my bags and headed Westward to Coachella.

Full of Life Flatbread was kind enough to invite Happy Hemp to be apart of the music.

We made a Happy Hemp Chanterelle ‘Shroom flatbread.

Happy Hemp Flatbread… OH MY!!

Our booth was darling located in the heart of VIP.

Full of Life Flatbread Booth

Here are some of the highlights and lowlights of the trip…

Highlights: 

1. Sold Happy Hemp to ton of celebrities.
2. Saw amazing music. Santigold, Snoop, Florence, Black Keys, Mike Snow, Madness, Radiohead and more!!
3. My BFF Sam who is the amazing designer at Adesso rocked out with me the whole time.
4. Made tons of great new friends.
5. Learned how to Instagram.

Sam and I day 1

Lowlights:

1. The weather was one of the hottest weekends on record. 103 to 106!!
2. I camped for 5 days. That means port-a-potties and showers in shipping containers!! For the record camping in Mother Nature is way different that camping with human festivals goers. Just Say’in…

 He and I are now Facebook friends

When I got home… home never felt so sweet!!

I took  5 hot showers with no shoes on.

I cranked up the AC and sat in my sweat pants feeling cozy.

Last but not least…I was so happy to be able to sit on the toilet!!!

Happy Home. Happy Me. Happy Hemp.