Creative Non-Fiction

As I write this, two monkeys dangle overhead, peeling bananas and trying to feed me.

Okay, full disclosure, these are not actual monkeys; they are my kids, four-year-old twins who have just discovered how to peel bananas.  Since their revelation, the monkeys (er... children) have attacked every banana in the house.  Normally, I’d join in the ecstasy of the discovery; right now, I kind of wish the jungle would disappear.  I’m on a deadline, and this kind of craziness can make concentration challenging, to say the least.

Off the record:  I don't have twins, but this image came to me this morning, and I thought it would be fun to write about.  Why am I calling it creative NON-fiction?  I am writing, and feeling so distracted, I could almost believe there are two monkeys dangling overhead.  Maybe a better genre title for this would be, "Metaphorical Non-Fiction".   hmm... 

COVER STORY: From the Ground Up

Off the Record: I get a little thrill each time I open a magazine and see one of my articles. It's even more exciting when one of my publications arrives and I see my piece highlighted on the cover.

Last week, the February issue of Growing arrived in my mailbox. My story, "From the Ground Up," is one of the cover stories. Although I didn't expect the article about seed selection tactics to be the most exciting piece I'd get to write, I actually had a great time interviewing farmers. Some of these folks are truly inspiring. Click here to check out the article and post your comments here to let me know what you think.

Rejuvenation for Writers

There's nothing like time away, with no agenda, no to-do list, no nothing, to reignite my creative juices.

This weekend, I was blessed to visit a newfound friend (also a writer, director, theater & film person) at the gorgeous Cape Cod vacation spot she scored for free. Joining us were my beau, and another couple (he's an actor/writer, she's an art therapist/writer). Of course, we did share our work, somewhat, but that wasn't nearly as important as just being around other artists.

I don't know about other creative-types, but I often forget how vital it is for us to connect, bounce ideas around, and just generally soak up the artsy vibes. Yeah, I probably sound like the stereotypical bohemian or something...

Off the record: I don't care how freakish it seems. Those 22 hours away reinvigorated me. I came home and enjoyed my creative inspiration for hours- writing, painting, brainstorming, even posting a new blog at Conscious Cow. Ain't nothing like it, friends, this swirl of creativity flowing around me. Undoubtedly, my next post will be about the farm education feature I'm writing for Farming Magazine. Until then, I'm enjoying the moment. Hope you are, too!

Issues Affecting Farmers: Late Blight

I have spent the day writing about Late Blight in Tomatoes for Growing magazine.

This may not be a "sexy," topic, but it's gratifying to know that my work can help farmers throughout the country to produce healthier plants with higher yields. This is good for everyone who eats, actually. (And, honestly, who doesn't eat???)

When farmers succeed, we all eat well! When farmers struggle, we all pay more for lower quality food.

OFF THE RECORD: Support a farmer today! Buy local or buy organic! If you can, buy local and organic!

Strawberry Ice Cream Experiment: part 2

It looks like it, it almost feels like it, and it tastes like it. My daughter had two ice cream cones full of it. I loved it, too. Still...

OFF THE RECORD: we agree, the recipe needs just a little bit of tweaking. A little vanilla powder, perhaps, and more time in the food processor. Or, possibly, I should soak the cashews in water, then blend everything in the Vitamix.

What's a writer doing spending so much time in the kitchen? Well... we do have to eat!

Why blog about it? This writer writes a lot about food, agriculture and the food industry, so it's kind of ever-present in the gray matter. Visit rebekahlfraser.com to see samples.

Why blog about it when there's a hot senate race on in my home state?

Because, honestly, with these kind of results, some folks I know will really need SOMETHING to sweeten the day.

Raw Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream

OFF THE RECORD: When my kid came home from school wanting something sweet, I took a break from my research into alternative education for farmers to experiment in the kitchen.

She requested a raw, vegan strawberry ice cream. (Full disclosure, she'd probably prefer the real deal - cow's milk, cane sugar, etc, etc... but that stuff never finds its way into my house.)

So... I whipped up frozen strawberries, cashews, agave nectar and a bit of raw honey in my food processor. The goop tasted great, but the true test is how it will taste and feel on the tongue once it's frozen.

Tune in later today, for the results of our Raw Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream experiment! (and now, back to ag research...)

New Raw Vegan Recipes + Chocolates

OFF THE RECORD: Inspired by the Master Chef audition process, I hosted a small dinner party this weekend, where I premiered two recently created raw vegan recipes.

The "cream" of tomato soup was a hit. Jenna, who eats dairy regularly, said that if I hadn't told her the soup is vegan, she would have believed there was milk in it, because of the creamy texture and taste. John described my pesto stuffed portabello mushrooms as "outrageous!" Kip said my macadmia cheez stuffed portobello mushrooms were "awesome".

The kids loved the salad and tomato soup above all, until the chocolates came out.

I spent the autumn perfecting my chocolate recipe and methods, so my friends had tasted them before (actually, they received them as Christmas presents.) Still, they're always a fave.

Here's how I make them:

The whole batch was gobbled up within minutes!

If you'd like the recipes for any of the above mentioned treats, drop me a line or leave your comment below...