Black Rice Risotto

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups Lundberg black pearl rice

2 tbsp ghee, pasture butter or avocado oil

1/3 cup shallots/diced - sourced from The Farm Cart

3 cloves garlic/diced

1/2 cup white wine

6 1/2 cups chicken stock or veggie stock

1 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

OPTIONAL 

1 cup finely shredded Organic Pastures cheddar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Bring broth to a steady simmer in a medium sauce pan.

2. Melt ghee in a large saute pan over medium low heat, add diced shallots and cook until they begin to become translucent. 

3. Add diced garlic and black rice to the pan, stirring/toasted the rice for 3 minutes.

4. Pour the white wine into the pan slowly, stir ever minute or so until the wine has reduced. 

5. Sprinkle the paprika, salt and pepper evenly over the rice, stir to mix in. 

6. Add simmering broth a ladle at a time, stirring the rice every couple minutes until the broth reduces. Repeat this process until all broth has been added and the rice is al dente. Takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour depending on how your stove cooks.

Optional

7. Turn off heat, sprinkle cheese over rise and stir to mix in.

Notes

- If you choose not to add the cheese you may need more salt added

- My stove cooks really hot/fast so I actually had the heat on low. You're looking for enough heat to create a mild sizzle when the liquid is added but not too much that you see it sticking or burning on the bottom of the pan.

- I love using cast iron enamel cookware for risotto

Summer Must Have!

Sea & Summit Organic Sunscreen

Can you believe summer is already here? I can’t, time sure has been flying by!

I wanted to share with you guys what my #1 summer must have is. Sea & Summit’s organic sunscreen, which is also my favorite all year around daily moisturizer! If you’re wondering why I like it so much, here are a few reasons;

• A little goes along way
• It rubs in well without leaving you with a white face
• Leaves you feeling moisturized without feeling greasy
• Sea & Summit is a great local company
• It is all organic with only 7 ingredients…that you can pronounce!!!

I was able to sit down with Ryan (the founder / owner of S&S) recently to ask him three very important (in my opinion) questions about Sea & Summit.

What made you decide to start your own organic sunscreen line?

There are a host of reasons I started this company. 

One being my belief that if you wouldn't put it in your body, why would you put it on your body? Working outdoor jobs in the sun for 8 hours plus a day, I want to know the cumulative effect of what I'm using is healthy, not altering my hormones or contributing to some sort of cancer because of the chemicals in it. More so I want to feel good that I'm not contributing to killing our oceans like most chemical sunscreens do. 

A second is that all the natural sunscreens I could afford to buy on a outdoor seasonal job paycheck, didn't work. I would put so much on I looked like I had painted my face white for a day of lifeguarding or guiding at the Channel Islands and I'd still get burned. Being a ginger doesn't help. 

A third is I am really looking to be a part of something bigger than myself, environmentally and socially, and Sea & Summit has become that vehicle. 

What is your main goal in this industry?

My goal in this industry is to change Its transparency, or lack there of. People want to know where their ingredients are coming from and that they are being produced in an environmentally and socially just way. All kinds of companies use words like "sustainable" and "fair trade" and have no idea about their ingredients and more so, their supply chain. They just pick from a list. Don't get me wrong, that's a step in the right direction. But people want a more personal experience with no effort.  I want to eventually be visiting all my farms in various countries and making films about the communities who make Sea & Summit possible. I want to give the public complete transparency within the supply chain and quality skincare. Being a small fish doesn't make this easy. No one wants to give up this information to small companies.

What do you feel is the best way to help families when it comes to educating their children on sun safety / organic skincare?

I think the best way to educate families is to relate it to their own personal interests. Whether it be kids, grandparents, or friends, there are different reasons to go organic and natural for everyone. I don't push my beliefs on people who don't want to hear it, but most I feel are open to hearing how they can make a small decision with a big impact on their body, the environment, and not on their wallet. 

Ryan is absolutely right! It is extremely important to me to know where different ingredients are coming from and where/how they're being sourced. His beliefs and standards are what set Sea & Summit apart from the other companies out there in this industry! I know you will not be disappointed with the superior quality and feel of his organic sunscreen.

 MENTION THIS POST TO RECEIVE 10%    OFF ANY SEA & SUMMIT PRODUCT

Grain Free Pizookie

Just in time for the 4th of July! One of mine and Nathan's favorite summertime desserts. It is so easy to put together and always a favorite at any BBQ.

Ingredients needed:

1 Log of Cappello's chocolate chip cookie dough

1 16 oz bottle of Organic Pastures raw heavy cream 

1 pack of organic blueberries

1 pack organic raspberries

1 Tbsp Local honey or organic maple syrup

1/2 Tsp organic vanilla extract

Fresh mint (optional)

For the cookie base:

- Preheat oven to 350

- Press cookie dough into a 8" round non-stick pan

- Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown

- Take out of oven, set aside to completely cool in the pan

For Whipped Cream:

- Beat the cream until is begins to thicken

- Add honey or maple syrup and vanilla extract, continue beating until peaks   form

Assembly:

- Gently turn the cooled cookie base over to remove from pan *if it is still warm on the bottom, place on wired rack until completely cooled

- Spread desired amount of whipped cream over cookie base *we love our whipped cream so I put a decent amount on and leave a little left over for eating with a spoon 

- Place desired amount of raspberries on top of the whipped cream layer, then top with blueberries

- Garnish with mint

- Slice and enjoy *or just grab a fork and go to down, no-one is judging here

It is best served right away, if you plan on taking it to a BBQ I would say to keep it stored in the fridge or assemble right before leaving! 

Giving Back

Magda Barnes founder of Laundry Love SB with Nathan

Hi Everyone!

Nathan and I wanted to fill you in on some of the behind scenes projects we have been working on. Back in September we met up with Luke Barrett from C3H (Central Coast Collaborative On Homelessness) to discuss how we could help our local struggling community members as well as ensure our community’s safety. Luke informed us that in order to receive the proper services to get our local community members on the right track, they have to have an address to receive mail. So we decided to sponsor a P.O. Box for $250 a year. So far 6 people are signed up to receive mail and get back on their feet!

Last month through our local Rotary we were introduced to Deborah and Magda from Worth Street Reach and Laundry Love, who provide free laundry services for those living below the poverty line in the local Santa Barbara area. Their stories of local families struggling to get by inspired us to get involved and give back! So I spent a couple hours reaching out to companies such as Seventh Generation, Ecover and Dr. Bronners asking if they could donate some laundry essentials. To my surprise they all responded with very generous donations which included cases of product. It made us happy to know that not only will the local families be able to utilize the Laundry Love services, they will be able to utilize them while using products free of chemicals! All it took was a few hours and we were able to make a difference, such a great feeling.

I have gone ahead and included a link to the Laundry Love site if you would like to learn more.

                              http://worthstreetreach.org/laundry-love

If you or anyone you know may have any outreach suggestions please email me and as always, a big thank you to all of our amazing customers. You make this all possible!

Cheers,

Whitney

Magda and Deborah Barnes (founder of Worth Street Reach)

Blog Intro

Hey guys! I have been struggling with how I would go about introducing our blog. What type of voice would I have? What type of content we would bring to you? Would I fail all of our amazing customers? A little ridiculous I know but these thoughts have been holding me back. So please keep in mind I am not a professional writer but a healthy food lover who will occasionally (if not frequently) make some grammar and spelling mistakes.

Nathan and I are so thankful for all of you guys and how each and everyday our community continues to become healthier all while supporting our little health food store. It is all of you that have made our growth in the last couple of years possible. So what better way to show our appreciation than to give you a behind the scenes look at how we live our lives through food and other wellness tips!

If you have a question about any particular products we carry and want us to do some research for you? Drop us an email. Same thing for recipes, if you have a favorite dish that you need help making healthier… I love a good challenge in the kitchen :) 

Cheers,

Whitney