Happy Hemp Seed Tomato Forest

I love flowers, but they are the first thing to be removed from the table setting. I am either looking for more room for food or I can’t see my guest… so bye bye pretty flowers. Seeing as I am girl who likes cake and eat it too, why not both!?! How can I create a non-dorkie foodque?

A quick trip to Hobby Lobby and let the experiment begin!

Here is what you need:

• Basket
• Oasis
• Spanish Moss
• Shears
• Skewers

Place the oasis in the basket. Cut the oasis to fill in the small spaces.

 Cover the oasis with spanish moss.

Tuck the moss into the basket between the basket and oasis.

You don’t want to see the oasis.

Food List:

• 1/4 pound Swede Farm plain goat cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 1/4 Happy Hemp raw seeds
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
• 2 dozen cherry tomatoes.

I was able to buy almost all the ingredients at the farmers’ market…Win! Win!

Cut the top of the tomato off and gently scoop out the inside.

Next mix the goat cheese, basil, Happy Hemp seeds and sea salt together.

Put the entire mixture in a ziplock bag and push to one corner.

 Cut off the corner and start filling.

Pipe the mixture carefully into each tomato.

Skewer and push into the oasis!

Happy Eats. Happy Floral. Happy Hemp.

Raw vs. Toasted….Double the Happy!

Toasted vs. Raw

I have had a lot of emails asking about raw vs toasted. So let’s break it down….

What are they?

First what is the difference between raw and toasted?

Toasted is the full actual seed, lightly toasted and dusted with sea salt.

The raw is the inside, or heart, of the seed. The best example is a sunflower seed.

The toasted is the entire seed and the raw is the part you get when you open up the seed.

Got health?

Both are packed full of protein (more than meat, fish or tofu), omegas and essential fatty acids, and provide all the minerals and vitamins the body needs on a daily basis.

The difference is going to be that the toasted is heated up and no longer is raw, but still is gluten-free, soy-free, vegan and GMO free. The Toasted Happy Hemp boasts 15 grams of fiber per serving and 12 grams of protein.

Taste?

Raw is a soft seed similar to a pine nut or a sunflower. This moist seed melts in your mouth like butter. It is perfect for baking, cooking and sprinkling into any dish!!

Toasted hemp seeds can be enjoyed more like a snack. You can just pop a handful in your mouth. Unlike the raw seeds, which are quite soft, this little seed packs a big crunch!! You get all the “potato chippy” satisfaction from salt and crunch, minus the fat.  Happy thighs!!

Why are they different prices?

This being the number one question! Why do the toasted seeds cost less?

The process to extract the raw seed out of the shell is costly and time consuming, but oh is it worth it!!

Why Happy Hemp?

Whether you chose to be raw-some or toast-tastic, Happy Hemp provides the freshest most flavorful hemp. Every bag is packed with happiness just for you!!!

Happy Raw. Happy Toast. Happy Hemp.

Happy Tomato Tidbits

When I was at the grocery store last night, I found myself overwhelmed by all the tomato options. There were so many I swear there could have been a store just of tomatoes. I was curious what is best for what? Here is a tomato break down!!

Beefsteak tomatoes are the big meaty baseball sized, these are best late in the season.

A single tomatoe can way upwards of 2 lbs!! These are best for sandwiches. A single slice is all you need.

I love eating these sliced up with a touch of salt… nothing else needed!

Roma’s are found nearly year round. They are also called a plum tomato.

These gems make for great sauce due to their thin skin and their tangy flavor.

Mama Mia!

Cherry are the cutest. They are like little gum balls. These tiny sunburst have a sweet flavor.

They are great alone, on salads or sauteed with fresh herbs.

Sweet Caroline….

Heirloom tomatoes are the widest of range… color, size, flavor and shape.

These funny looking creature are full of flavor. They are all over farmers market right now!

Great addition to any table setting. Add to salad or slice on eat on their own.

Odd Balls!

Now let’s eat!!

Take a couple Roma tomato’s and slice them evenly.

Next slice the mozzarella same size to the tomato slices.

Next layer the oval pieces on a serving plate rotating every other one time.

Tomato. Mozeralla. Tomato…and so on.

Drizzle pesto down the center.

Bon Appétit!