Carmen's Cuisine

21/05/2024

Photo shoot among the ferns. 😻🌿

18/05/2024

Freddy has officially explored every rooftop, building and high perch on the ashram grounds! His athleticism is to be envied. He has also developed the important skills for getting back down…

29/04/2024

Today’s baking:
1. Marble Loaf
2. Muffin Top
3. Cinnamon Roll

25/12/2023

May your day be filled with awe and wonder. 💝🌟❄️

05/12/2023

19/11/2023

Freddy and I moved to an ashram! Around mid-October I found out about the need for an assistant lead cook at the ashram where I spent almost 4 months last winter, near Nelson BC

I have committed to one year of living in and working at this beautiful place for these wonderful people. I have been longing to come back since the day I left. I love this community and this land on the shores of Kootenay Lake, and the spirit I feel here. Of course Freddy is making fast friends and is becoming a beloved ashram kitty. I’m grateful beyond what I can express.

17/10/2023

When it’s hard to get out of bed … take it slow 😻

12/06/2023

Next Door Charlie and Frederico Felini living their best life.

10/05/2023

Settling back into home life with deck yoga, accompanied by Frederico Felini & Next Door Charlie, after being away for 15 weeks at
It was challenging and rewarding and beautiful and more than I can write about just yet. It is still swirling inside, as I learn how to merge it into my life outside the ashram. 🙏🏼 💖

02/01/2023

Mother Nature is being a bit of a show-off in 2023. 👏🏼

26/12/2022

When you’re too full from turkey dinner to have dessert, and too pooped from catering a 2nd Christmas meal for clients, it seems reasonable to have the pumpkin pie for Boxing Day breakfast. Required actually. Almond crust and whole roasted pumpkin and coconut cream filling, it’s practically a health food. Paired with dandelion and chicory root chocolate mocha, because: holidays.

21/12/2022

The morning of the darkest day begins with the promise of light. Happy Solstice!

19/12/2022

Today’s perimeter survey includes a new set of data input. ❄️🐈‍⬛

10/12/2022

I’ve shifted to more of a Yuletide feeling the last couple of years and it feels so good. Cooking, crafting, honouring centuries old traditions, ancestors, animal and nature familiars. Thank you for the inspiration! Preparations have begun!

24/08/2022

THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO ( #1):
This is not really an ‘Instagram-worthy’ photo, but I thought I’d share some behind the scenes. All too often we see photos that have us thinking: this is how this person lives. Or: are they ever having a good time.. etc. which is sometimes true. But there is always a story behind each photo, the things that happened to get us there. And here’s this one.
⛵️
This was taken as I was leaving my 3-night anchorage at Thormanby island. A friend made the 5-hour journey with me to get me there, as I hadn’t taken my boat further than 1 hour by myself and I was too nervous to travel that distance without any real safe places to tuck into in case of bad weather. After 2 tries at anchoring (with a jammed anchor roller mishap), I decided on a spot for the 3 days. He left the next morning, leaving me to my own devices for that time. I was equally thrilled and scared. Which led to largely sleepless nights watching my anchor and the shoreline to make sure I hadn’t moved in the unseasonably strong 24-hour NW winds. Yes, there was some beach time, and some satisfying boat project times. And some “I wish I weren’t doing this alone” time too.
⚓️
The day came when I had to pull up the anchor. By myself, with no windlass (electric motor to lift it), and no person at the helm ensuring we didn’t drift onto the extremely long shallow sand bank that was in the direction of the wind. Note for non-sailors: chain and anchor are HEAVY, and even though I only have 31’ of chain, and an additional 60’ of rope, I was in 35’ of water so there would be a time when I would be pulling all the chain + anchor up at once. I was awake most of the previous night worrying and fretting, running through 1/2 dozen scenarios and their contingency plans. I put everything away, got my boat ready for leaving, checked the tides and wind forecast at least every 10 minutes.
💦
(Continued in comments)

23/07/2022

Back at the marina tonight, as I fly out for work to Haida Gwaii tomorrow. What I’ve learned this summer so far:
⚓️
I’m completely in love with the feeling at anchor of sleeping on my boat deck, under a canopy, with the moon and stars above, and gentle rocking below.
⛵️
I am more capable than I think, even when I try to talk myself out of things a few times before doing them.
🐈‍⬛
Freddy is tolerant and resilient, but prefers land as evidenced by his 3-hour midnight foray into the forest next to the marina last night
🌺
It’s ok to take time to smell (and eat) the flowers, feel the sun and wind, and let things be messy.
💞
Life is unpredictable and so it’s best to make the most of things as they come.

22/07/2022

Freddy vs. the Salish aLOGators. So far he has kept me and Psalty safe from such menacing threats.

21/07/2022

Nav Cat summer vibes. Had my ritual swim around Psalty when we arrived. Then snack time. Reminding myself that boat projects can wait, and that I can give myself this gift of relaxation after all the hard work of this spring and with getting my floating home ready for another season. Letting myself off the hook for a few moments to take in this evening of beauty. Salmon dinner with sea asparagus on the menu in a bit.

20/07/2022

Boat kitty aka Nav Cat. Where are we going today Freddy?

15/07/2022

First time anchoring Psalty!! And first time Freddy gets to be away from the dock. All seem happy with the situation. ❤️⛵️🐈‍⬛

20/06/2022

Going to miss my Sweetie’s breakfasts! These are 2 of the examples of how I’ve been spoiled lately.
Heading out to Alaska with and will have to make my own wonderful breakfasts for the nest couple of weeks!.

15/06/2022

My Honey is getting fancy with my morning elixir latte. Sea Star today!

20/05/2022

Delivery of the Island Roamer to Bella Bella. Day 3 of 4 and it finally feels like spring (ish).
So far Mother Nature has provided Dall’s porpoises playing with our bow wake, a black bear lifting rocks (boulders) on the beach to feed on crustaceans, and all the weathers. Plus the most fantastic lilac bush in full bloom.
Taking it in with all my senses. Love my job.
⛵️ 🌲 🐬 🌸 🐻

11/05/2022

Day 6: Gado Gado for the yogis!! With roasted onion flower and nigella (onion) seeds.

08/05/2022

Mother's Day / Sunday Brunch for the Yoga Retreat peeps! Pink Devilled Eggs (beet + apple cider vinegar brine) w/ Fir Tips, Cornmeal Whole Wheat Strawberry Scones + Dandelion Blossoms (edible!), Fruit Salad w/ Salmonberry Flowers (also edible!). Nurturing in all the ways... even if we are not moms in the traditional sense. 🌷🍓🌱

08/05/2022

Stuffed acorn squash rings w/ quinoa, 2 mushrooms, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chèvre, herbs. Apple rose coconut custard tarts w/ honey lemon drizzle.

07/05/2022

Meal #1 of a 6-day catering gig for a yoga retreat! Folks are here all the way from Winnipeg, so they are happy for a few reasons, as spring is far ahead of the game here. Hopefully the food is another reason
😊 🌱 🌹

30/04/2022

Master of Nature Connection.

17/04/2022

Carmen’s Cuisine is now Seeds of Wellness! It’s now time for my deep love, wonder and appreciation for nature’s healing magic to come together with my thrill of making delicious nourishing food. Sowing the Seeds of Wellness has been my tagline for many many years, so it stands to reason that my business is catching up to what it has always known: that planting seeds is the best thing we can do. I’m looking forward to sharing what will be on offer in this new heart-centred combo!

30/01/2022

Hard to see the scrumptious Sunday morning waffles under the pile of goodies… but trust me when I say that these sweet potato-almond flour waffles are worth getting out of bed for, even on a blustery rainy winter day!