{"product_id":"the-blue-heron-ranch-cookbook-isbn-9781556437175","title":"The Blue Heron Ranch Cookbook","description":"\u003ci\u003eThe Blue Heron Ranch Cookbook, \u003c\/i\u003ebased on\u003ci\u003e Cooking Off the Grid, \u003c\/i\u003ealso by Nadia Natali, blends 126 tasty, healthful recipes with lively tales of the Natali family’s adventures living close to the land—in the wilds of California’s Los Padres National Forest. Nadia Natali's varied dishes, suitable for any group or family, are presented in a simple style that makes them both visually appealing and effortless, as a sequence of ingredients that correspond to numbered directions. Each chapter opens with a vivid account of the family’s trials and triumphs at Blue Heron Ranch, followed by a particular category of recipes, arranged in seven groupings. Whimsical illustrations adorn the recipes and embellish the sometimes poignant, often hilarious stories about raising a family in the wilderness, running a meditation center, and facing nature’s seemingly endless challenges—with the Blue Heron Ranch kitchen being the center around which these events unfold. Recipes include Blue Heron Ranch Potato Leek Soup, Saturday Market Quiche, Miso Pine Salmon, Ojai Bouillabaisse, Early Morning Rice Cream, Aunt Ev’s Cardamom Bundt Cake, and Honey Almond Chai. \u003ci\u003eThe Blue Heron Ranch Cookbook \u003c\/i\u003eoffers culinary and spiritual sustenance to anyone who wants to experience, or revisit, the pleasures of comforting, communal meals at Zen and other retreat centers.Acknowledgments 8\u003cbr\u003ePreface 9\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction 11\u003cbr\u003eMenus for Family Gatherings\/Retreats 13\u003cbr\u003eFood and Supply List 16\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOur Arrival \u003c\/i\u003e19\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eVegetarian Dinners 23\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy Favorite Tomato Sauce 24\u003cbr\u003eGrandma Elizabeth’s Polenta 25\u003cbr\u003eLasagna from Enrico’s Family 26\u003cbr\u003eLasagna Layering 27\u003cbr\u003eMatilija Manicotti 28\u003cbr\u003ePizza with Goat Cheese 29\u003cbr\u003eSeasoned Rice 30\u003cbr\u003eBlue Heron Beans 31\u003cbr\u003eAdzuki Beans and Rice 32\u003cbr\u003eBlack Bean Enchiladas 33\u003cbr\u003eOjai Chili 34\u003cbr\u003eSauteed Vegetables with Rice 35\u003cbr\u003eSpecial Vegetables with Almonds 36\u003cbr\u003eVincenzo’s Risotto 37\u003cbr\u003eCarrots and Tofu 39\u003cbr\u003eLentils and Mint 40\u003cbr\u003eCurried Lentils 41\u003cbr\u003eCalifornia Split Pea Dahl 42\u003cbr\u003ePucci’s Potato and Egg Curry 43\u003cbr\u003eSunday Stuffed Potatoes 44\u003cbr\u003eSpinach and Anaheim Chilies 46\u003cbr\u003eBaked Eggplant 47\u003cbr\u003eSaturday Market Quiche 48\u003cbr\u003eGarden Vegetable Quiche 49\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFish and Chicken Dinners 51\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKobun’s Rice Balls 53\u003cbr\u003eMiso Pine Salmon 54\u003cbr\u003eEscolar 55\u003cbr\u003eMillennium Paella 56\u003cbr\u003eChicken with Chard and Noodles 58\u003cbr\u003eFrancis’s Chicken and Curry 59\u003cbr\u003eWestport Pineapple Chicken 60\u003cbr\u003eApple-Baked Chicken 61\u003cbr\u003eNovember Stuffing 63\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Floods \u003c\/i\u003e65\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSoups and Stews 69\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e—Vegetarian\u003cbr\u003eSimply Miso Soup 70\u003cbr\u003eRainy Day Tofu Soup 71\u003cbr\u003eBlue Heron Ranch Potato Leek Soup 72\u003cbr\u003eCross-Country Lentil Soup 73\u003cbr\u003eGarbanzo Soup with Tomato 74\u003cbr\u003eWinter Minestrone 75\u003cbr\u003e—Chicken and Fish\u003cbr\u003eSouthwest Chicken Stew 76\u003cbr\u003eSan Francisco Chicken Stew 77\u003cbr\u003eBlue Heron Chicken Stew 78\u003cbr\u003eRainy Day Chicken Noodle Soup 79\u003cbr\u003eOjai Bouillabaisse 81\u003cbr\u003e—Chilled\u003cbr\u003eSummer Borsch 82\u003cbr\u003eAvocado and Cucumber Soup 83\u003cbr\u003eMarica’s Gazpacho 84\u003cbr\u003ePoor Man’s Gazpacho 84\u003cbr\u003eYogurt Soup 86\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOur Teepee \u003c\/i\u003e89\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSalads and Dressings 93\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrankie ’s Salad Dressing 94\u003cbr\u003eBlue Heron Salad Dressing 95\u003cbr\u003eBaby Green Salad 96\u003cbr\u003eSackets Harbor Summer Salad 97\u003cbr\u003eSanta Barbara Salad Variation 97\u003cbr\u003eCool Cucumber Salad 98\u003cbr\u003ePotato and Bell Pepper Salad 99\u003cbr\u003eMixed Bean Salad 100\u003cbr\u003eRice Salad 101\u003cbr\u003eMy Roasted Red Bell Peppers 102\u003cbr\u003eGoat Cheese Salad 103\u003cbr\u003eCloved Fruit Compote 104\u003cbr\u003eTwo Fruit Salads 105\u003cbr\u003eRaita Salad 106\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFire \u003c\/i\u003e109\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBreads and Muffins 113\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhole Wheat Bread 114\u003cbr\u003eRosemary Corn Bread 117\u003cbr\u003eGarlic Bread 118\u003cbr\u003eTortillas from South America 119\u003cbr\u003eNaan from India 119\u003cbr\u003eBanana Bread 120\u003cbr\u003eWeiner Sisters’ Popovers 122\u003cbr\u003eGolden Scones 123\u003cbr\u003eMarica’s Biscuits 124\u003cbr\u003eQuick Ginger Molasses Muffins 125\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBreakfast 127\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSunday Pancakes 128\u003cbr\u003eHearty Breakfast Crepes 129\u003cbr\u003eDelectable French Toast 130\u003cbr\u003eBirthday Waffles 131\u003cbr\u003eSesshin Oatmeal 132\u003cbr\u003eEarly Morning Rice Cream 133\u003cbr\u003eHome-Baked Granola 134\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHome Schooling \u003c\/i\u003e137\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePuddings and Custards 141\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlack Bear Apricot Pudding 142\u003cbr\u003eAndrei’s Favorite Bread Pudding 144\u003cbr\u003eBrown Rice Custard 145\u003cbr\u003eCoconut Rice Pudding 146\u003cbr\u003eMexican Rice Pudding 146\u003cbr\u003eMocha Mousse 147\u003cbr\u003eZabaglione Cassis 148\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePies 151\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo Delicious Pie Crusts 152\u003cbr\u003eBlue Heron Apple Pie 153\u003cbr\u003eBlueberry Peach Pie 154\u003cbr\u003ePersian Mulberry Peach Pie 155\u003cbr\u003eGenevieve ’s Lemon Meringue Pie 157\u003cbr\u003eMitzi’s Chocolate Pecan Pie 158\u003cbr\u003eAutumn Pumpkin Pie 159\u003cbr\u003eApple Crunch 160\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiving Off the Grid \u003c\/i\u003e163\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCookies 167\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCardamom Cookies 168\u003cbr\u003eBlue Heron Chocolate Chip Cookies 169\u003cbr\u003eGenevieve ’s Butter Walnut Cookies 170\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCakes 173\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAunt Ev’s Cardamom Bundt Cake 174\u003cbr\u003eLemon Cranberry Bundt Cake 175\u003cbr\u003eChocolate Marble Bundt Cake 176\u003cbr\u003eChocolate Apple Sauce Cake 177\u003cbr\u003eBirthday Coconut Cake 179\u003cbr\u003ePersian Mulberry Cake with Goat Cheese 180\u003cbr\u003eJune Apricot Cake 181\u003cbr\u003ePear Upside-Down Cake 182\u003cbr\u003eMeyer Lemon Half-Pound Cake 183\u003cbr\u003eCarob Coconut Brownies 184\u003cbr\u003eTiramochamisu or Tiramintmisu Cake 185\u003cbr\u003eVincenzo and Kana’s Wedding Cake 186\u003cbr\u003eWedding Cake Filling and Icing 187\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOur Zen Center \u003c\/i\u003e189\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSauces 193\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGinger Honey Sauce 194\u003cbr\u003eMatilija Tamari Sauce 194\u003cbr\u003eOjai Lemon Sauce 195\u003cbr\u003eGreen Enchilada Sauce 196\u003cbr\u003ePesto Lemon Sauce 197\u003cbr\u003eMushroom Garlic Sauce 198\u003cbr\u003eMarinated Ginger 199\u003cbr\u003eDesert Hummus Sauce 200\u003cbr\u003eFestive Cranberry Sauce 202\u003cbr\u003eFrankie ’s Hot Fudge on Ice Cream 203\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDrinks 205\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRobin’s Chai 206\u003cbr\u003eTeepee Hot Cider 207\u003cbr\u003e4th of July Lemonade 208\u003cbr\u003eChristine ’s Punch 209\u003cbr\u003eHoney Almond Chai 210\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eIn Remembrance of Andrei \u003c\/i\u003e213\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIndex 217“Not only are the recipes in this book delicious and easy to follow, the story that  accompanies the recipes is both fascinating and lyrical—a real life triumph in a  world that needs to know of these possibilities and victories. The illustrations  are inspired and stylistically magical. Kudos to this mother\/daughter team for creating  such a fabulous read for all of us looking not only for a new culinary experience,  but love at the table. I have given this book to five different people as gifts,  and I have received a glowing phone call and review from each of them, along with  their thanks.”\u003cbr\u003e—Christine Denney, chef, The Ranch House, Ojai, California\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“How fondly  I remember my days on the construction crew of Blue Heron Ranch. When we were hungry,  we ate—when thirsty, we drank. Lucky for us, Nadia usually did the cooking! Now,  lucky for you, she’s written a cookbook of hearty meals and heartfelt stories!”\u003cbr\u003e—Jim  Tolpin, author of \u003ci\u003eThe New Family Home\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe New Cottage Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Natali’s simple, wholesome, and practical dishes are the result of long hours in the kitchen and can be adapted to serve two or twenty. Recipes are complemented by charming illustrations by one of her daughters and her short reflections on the joys and challenges of living in the Californian wilderness.”\u003cbr\u003e —\u003ci\u003eShambhala Sun\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Each of the dishes,  dressings and desserts are explained in a manner that is clear and concise, and should  be easily followed by everyone, from the culinary beginner to the expert chef. While  most of the dishes are fairly simple to make, many are rare and adventurous enough  to satiate even a seasoned palate.” \u003cbr\u003e—Nao Braverman, \u003ci\u003eOjai Valley News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Nadia Natali  tells of her family and life’s work, while sharing the recipes that have sustained  both for 30 years. Colorful drawings animate the narrative and garnish tempting delicacies  like Ojai bouillabaisse and June apricot cake.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSanta Barbara Seasons\u003c\/i\u003e magazine\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“[\u003ci\u003eThe Blue Heron Ranch Cookbook\u003c\/i\u003e] is not only a cookbook but a story…The illustrations are darling… warm and whimsical. And the recipes are down to earth and delicious.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eNaptime Reviews\u003c\/i\u003eNadia Natali is a mother, a Zen practitioner, and a long-time cook for numerous Zen retreats on Blue Heron Ranch. The stories she tells of the triumphs and tragedies of her family’s life in the wilds of California’s Los Padres National Forest and her profound appreciation for the land are at the heart of her recipes. She has an M.A. in dance therapy and is working on a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She and her husband, photographer Enrico Natali, live in Ojai, CA.\u003cb\u003eFrom the Preface:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTen miles north of Ojai, at the end of a very long road in Matilija (pronounced Ma-til-i-ha) Canyon, lies Blue Heron Ranch. It nestles within the Los Padres National Forest in southern California. Here we, the Natali family, have faced fires, floods, bears, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes. We built a home, raised a family of three children, and have run a modest Zen center and fed a myriad of visitors for twenty-five years. This cookbook was inspired by the many individuals who visited our center and encouraged me to write about the meals prepared for our retreats.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInterspersed with the recipes, I’ve included stories about Blue Heron’s beginnings and how it has evolved. In addition to the recipes and stories, I’ve offered tips on cooking for a crowd and fresh ideas that you can use for weekend visits of friends or family members. Or perhaps you’re starting your own retreat center! You’ll find a good sequence of meals to serve to a small group over a weekend, along with helpful shopping lists.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy daughter Marica has drawn the piquant and charming illustrations, her vision and version of our family and life as she grew up on Blue Heron Ranch.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI cordially invite you to enter our home, by way of this book, and share in our meals and our stories.","brand":"North Atlantic Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302721900773,"sku":"NP9781556437175","price":21.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781556437175.jpg?v=1767738422","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-blue-heron-ranch-cookbook-isbn-9781556437175","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}