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Meet Beth

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local milk is a journal devoted to home cookery, travel, family, and slow living—to being present & finding sustenance of every kind. It’s about nesting abroad & finding the exotic in the everyday. Most of all it’s about the perfection of imperfections and seeing the beauty of everyday, mundane life.

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A long time ago in a different life (or at least i A long time ago in a different life (or at least it feels that way) I was riding in a car at night with @whereissionnie to meet up with @ruthielindsey and @1924us for bonfires and general cabin shenanigans outside of Nashville. 

I remember the drive so well. It’s a conversation that always stuck with me. We talked about trauma and crisis. And I don’t know much, but I shared the only thing I know, a thing that has served me well through the natural undulations life is bound to bring.

And that is simply sometimes you have to cling to the mast. You aren’t doing anything but surviving but that’s the most important work of all. Because the storm WILL pass. And you‘ll be left standing.

And when it does you can mend the sails. Untangle the ropes. And get on with the business of sailing.

I’ve learned to give myself permission to do nothing but make it through. To sleep a little too late. To dance in front of the mirror and feel myself even when I look ridiculous. To load and unload the dishwasher and allow that to be a great victory. To dress like a cartoon character in nothing but white t-shirts and denim shorts.  To eat mac & cheese from a box and frozen chicken nuggets sometimes. To not respond to text messages. To flail and get back up over and over. To ask for help. A lot.

And also permission to feel it all. Rage. Grief. Joy. Hope and hopelessness. And sometimes all within the span of a few minutes. 

And most of all, whether navigating calm waters or stormy ones, what matters more than anything is the crew you’re doing it with. Surround yourself with solid people.

People that challenge you with compassion. And humor. People whose strengths buttress your weakness. People that don’t judge you. That believe in you even when you think they’re maniacs for doing so.

I know a disproportionate amount of us have had rough seas this year. Cling to the mast in the storm. Choose your crew wisely. No storm ever lasted forever. But there never was a last storm in the world. Accept that they will come and be prepared.

Farro Avocado Breakfast Bowl + Sumac Miso Vinaigrette

Cook

08.20.2015

I wanted to give you a post about Shirakawa-Go and ancient Japanese graveyards too busily sun dappled to photograph and Shinto shrines I probably didn’t deserve to see. I was probably married to the idea because wander starts with the same letter as Wednesday. And it’s Wednesday for at least another couple of hours. At least it was when I started writing this. I’m neurotic like that. Most of my inertia (of which I experience quite a bit, despite appearances) stems from hilarious, self-imposed, compulsive rules. But it has to be in chronological order. It can only have so many photographs. Too much time has elapsed, it needs to be reframed. The narrative has holes. It needs to have a title. Should I number them? Is there a theme? Maybe it will be a series? It needs to have a recipe. Or a how to. Or a guide. For someone who categorically failed at following rules her whole life, I sure do make a lot of them for myself. But I know when to tell myself enough is enough and good enough is good enough. It’s my mantra lately. And this dish is born of that mantra. And the funny thing is, when you let good enough be good enough, you frequently get great. And this wholesome bowl is great. It’s a savory, umami bowl of cravings satisfied.

Here’s the thing. My cooking is dictated largely by cravings. And those shift, tectonic plates. Lately I don’t crave cakes. I crave savory, umami bowls of vegetables and whole grains with big punches of protein from stir fried tofu or farm eggs. I make some iteration of this almost every day. My vinaigrette, if you can call it that, varies. It usually has some or all of the following in it: umeboshi paste (pickled plum, highly acidic and salty), white miso (warm, umami, salty), sambal oelek (acidic, heat, salty), ponzu (acidic, salty), toasted sesame oil (warm, nutty, a little goes a long way), sumac (acidic), tahini (unctuous, earthy, bitter, creamy), raw honey (warm, sweet), and grapeseed oil as a filler. I’m also very keen on z’atar and dukkah.

Salty, savoury, it’s a theme lately. But there’s something special about these savory ingredients. Something I can’t quite articulate. They possess a meaty warmth that makes me forgo land animals and sea creatures in favor of roots and leafy things and pearlescent grains. I’m learning to cook rice. Properly. And to use my donabi. I always leaned towards western cooking, a self taught student of the French raised beneath the Mason-Dixon line.

But more and more, the East, both middle and far, is creeping in. I do hope I can find myself exploring the flavors of Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Vietnam, and Japan in the next year if only so that I can bring what I discover back to everyday eating. The beautiful thing about cooking is it’s truly the most intense way to travel without leaving your own backyard. You can experience other cultures, other people’s memories, right at home, if only you venture to try.

 

Print
farro avocado breakfast bowl + sumac miso vinaigrette

Yield: 2 big bowls

This vegetarian farro bowl makes the perfect savory breakfast, lunch, or dinner but I love it most of all as the start of my day. The protein, good fat from the avocado, and energy from the whole grains keep me going all day long.

Ingredients

    for bowl
  • 1 cup farro
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 soft boiled eggs, sliced in half
  • fresh basil
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup microgreens (radish, arugula, whatever will do)
  • 1 ripe avocado, diced
  • 5.5 oz (160 g) extra firm tofu, shredded on the large holes of a box grater
  • for miso vinaigrette
  • 2 teaspoons white miso paste
  • juice and zest of a whole lemon
  • 2 teaspoons tamari or shoyu
  • 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sumac

Instructions

  1. Rinse the farro well. Cover it with the water, add the salt, and sesame oil, and bring it to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20-30 minutes until tender. Drain and return to the pot.
  2. While the farro cooks make the vinaigrette & boil your eggs. For a perfectly soft boiled egg, bring a small pot of water to a full boil, lower the eggs into it, cook for 6 minutes, submerge in an ice bath until cool to the touch, and then remove and peel. To make the vinaigrette, whisk all the ingredients in a small bowl.
  3. Toss a third of the vinaigrette with the diced avocado, reserve the rest for the farro & tofu.
  4. When the farro is done stir in a third of the vinaigrette, and then heat a large skillet with a splash of oil (I prefer grapeseed), and stir fry the shredded tofu until just warm, about 5 minutes. Stir in the last third of the vinaigrette. Turn off the heat.
  5. To assemble the bowl put the farro in first and then top with the tofu & avocado. Add fresh basil, microgreens, the scallions, and the egg. A few cracks of fresh pepper. A sprinkling of salt if desired. Sriracha never hurt anything.
3.1
https://localmilkblog.com/2015/08/farro-avocado-breakfast-bowl-sumac-miso-vinaigrette.html

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tags: avocado, bowl, breakfast, egg, farro, miso, sumac, tahini, vegetarian, vinaigrette, whole food, whole grain

45 thoughts on “Farro Avocado Breakfast Bowl + Sumac Miso Vinaigrette”

  1. Jade says:
    August 20, 2015 at 3:09 am

    That looks so delicious, dear Beth, loooooooove the pictures! So glad that I found you! Have a wonderful day,

    Jade

    Reply
  2. sophie says:
    August 20, 2015 at 4:03 am

    I totally agree with you on cooking being ‘the most intense way to travel without leaving your own backyard’. I personally gravitate more towards eastern cooking and I find the food to be really filling savory and hearty.

    Reply
  3. Joanna says:
    August 20, 2015 at 5:38 am

    I have strong feelings about avocado. I….dislike it. Its soapy flavour…yuk! But I know how healthy it is. And this recipes looks…delicious! My mum used to cook beetroot soup telling me it was tomato one…i fell for that! I’m going to try this avocado recipe and imagine it’s something else 😉

    http://www.allnnothing.com

    Reply
    1. beth says:
      August 20, 2015 at 9:18 am

      Tossed with this dressing…I think anyone might like it!

      Reply
  4. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says:
    August 20, 2015 at 7:24 am

    This is such a nice idea for breakfast…of brunch! It looks incredibly satisfying.

    Reply
  5. Pingback: Receta de ensalada farro y aguacate con vinagreta de miso - HomeLifeStyle Magazine
  6. Abby says:
    August 20, 2015 at 8:03 am

    These photos are stunning, Beth, I don’t know how you do it! And you writing is incredible. I can so relate to your need to create rules for yourself. xx

    Reply
    1. Abby says:
      August 20, 2015 at 8:03 am

      * your writing 🙂

      Reply
  7. Kerry says:
    August 20, 2015 at 8:19 am

    I’ve never shredded tofu so does it need to be pressed first? This recipe looks amazing!

    Reply
    1. beth says:
      August 20, 2015 at 9:16 am

      I don’t press it. And half the time I shred it directly into a hot pan.

      Reply
      1. kerry says:
        August 20, 2015 at 6:29 pm

        thank you Beth and I adore your blog!! great recipes and gorgeous photos.

        Reply
  8. Kathryn @ The Scratch Artist says:
    August 20, 2015 at 10:03 am

    Hi Beth,
    This is my first time commenting on your blog. So first off, hi. Second, this dish is so beautifully photographed and conceived. I am definitely going to try this dressing. I love your beautiful writing and what you shared about yourself and your process. I especially liked what you said about when you let good enough be good enough, you frequently get great. I am guilty of overworking and overanalyzing things at time. Sometimes I need to remind myself to let things be. So thank you for your sweet reminder this morning.

    Reply
  9. Eliza | Pen + Pan says:
    August 20, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    I love farro for any meal. Your addition of shredded firm tofu sounds divine!

    Reply
  10. Jude says:
    August 20, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    It looks delicious. I love all the ingredients. The picture and post was perfect. Better than good enough. 🙂

    Reply
  11. ellie | fit for the soul says:
    August 20, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    This dish truly IS beautiful and simple! But the funny thing is that it looks as satisfying and comforting as homemade lasagna. Maybe it’s the egg and the fact that it’s Asian inspired because lately any Asian food is amazing in my book. Must be pregnant or something, lol….(not really)

    And these days I find myself comfortably embracing the good enough lifestyle. I’m not a neat or perfectionist type person by any means, but when it comes to doing things I’m passionate about I go all in. Even then, lately I like doing what I can and letting things be, rather than stress myself with self imposed rules.

    Reply
  12. Shivani says:
    August 20, 2015 at 5:29 pm

    My sister just returned from a summer in Jordan with a bag full of Jordanian za’atar, and I can’t wait to try using it — and hopefully, to visit her there when she returns next year. Morocco, Iran, and Turkey are on my list as well. I would love any suggestions for your favorite use of za’atar, if you have some!

    Reply
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  14. Rachel Heffington says:
    August 22, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    I’ve been following Local Milk for a while, though like Kathryn, haven’t commented till now. Your photography is AMAZING and I love seeing on Instagram all the smaller pieces of your life, like kittens and a sleepy husband. Your words, also, are delightful to read. So thanks for sharing your life with us, Beth! You’re such an inspiration in addition to being a killer cook. 🙂

    Reply
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  16. audrey says:
    August 23, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    just tried the dressing recipe this morning and YUM. so good.

    Reply
  17. Janet says:
    August 23, 2015 at 2:00 pm

    I like the image of the East creeping in. I’ve found myself in a similar shift, where I seek seeds and lightly steamed greens to dress my protein instead of butter or cheese. (Though I will also dearly love cheese). But white miso! Where to?

    Reply
  18. Marianne says:
    August 24, 2015 at 1:26 am

    Well this looks like the most delicious breakfast bowl ever. I’m a huge fan of avocado and egg on fresh grain toast, but , oh, this looks so much better! I must get my hands on farro and try it out!
    Marianne 🙂

    Reply
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  20. Mitch says:
    August 25, 2015 at 11:44 am

    I’ve never had breakfast with avocado and egg but this looks good and healthy. Should probably give it a try for something different.

    Reply
  21. Shilpa says:
    August 28, 2015 at 6:43 am

    Perfect weekend breakfast! Thanks for the inspiration Beth!

    Reply
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  24. Julee says:
    September 1, 2015 at 9:06 am

    What if you don’t have sumac? Never used it before. Would it taste still good without it? I love miso and avocado. I must try it. Though I might make it with either Bhutanese red rice or Quinoa instead of farro.

    Reply
    1. beth says:
      September 1, 2015 at 12:57 pm

      It will still be good without it. : )

      Reply
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  27. Sackshi G says:
    September 8, 2015 at 11:47 am

    Nice read. Worth sharing. Inviting to guest blog.

    Reply
  28. Pingback: farro avocado breakfast bowl + sumac miso vinaigrette | My Berry Cake
  29. Mikołaj Baczyński says:
    September 11, 2015 at 8:00 am

    Your blog has incredible climat!

    Reply
  30. Jennie Leigh says:
    September 21, 2015 at 11:41 am

    HuffPost says you are the food blogger with the best photography, and they are SO right! Incredible photography and the breakfast bowl looks delicious! I’m always in search of a break from the same old eggs and bacon every morning! Thank you for sharing! 🙂

    Reply
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  32. BakaryCafe says:
    October 4, 2015 at 5:17 am

    Oh Beth… we just had this for brunch. It’s one of the most delicious dishes we’ve had in a very long time. So tasty. Thank you.

    Reply
  33. Pingback: Eating In: Farro Avocado Bowls | The Reluctant Millennial
  34. Frances says:
    November 30, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    Sounds so good. Are you the photographer also? The picture are beautiful. If you are you should start a photographers business.

    Reply
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  36. Scott Williams says:
    June 3, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    Seriously, I am mesmerized by your photos and it doesn’t hurt that your recipe includes avocados. I absolutely love them and enjoyed trying a variation of the recipe. Do you have a preference for Japanese knives?

    Reply
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  38. Bonny says:
    February 3, 2018 at 3:48 pm

    Love every single post, but this is my favorite! And mostly because of one sentance: “The beautiful thing about cooking is it’s truly the most intense way to travel without leaving your own backyard.” I want to frame that quote and hang it in my culinary classroom, with credits and your permission, of course. It is gold!

    Reply
    1. beth says:
      February 5, 2018 at 3:53 pm

      Would love for you to do that!! : ))

      Reply
  39. Pingback: 20 Healthy & Fast To Make Breakfast Bowls That Are Extremely Good - Recipes - Craftestly | DIY tutorials & Food recipes

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