Carrot Nutmeg Pancakes it's the Perfect Fall Breakfast

Fall is the perfect season for warming spices that warm not just the body but also the soul. Right now I am loving and adoring nutmeg, it has calm warming properties along with  a strong pungent flavor that means cooler weather has arrived. The history of nutmeg as a spices is vast and interesting, it was traded along the silk trade routes and was extremely valuable. 
 
In present times it has lot some of that rich and illustrious history and it not as used as it was in the past. Fall is the right time for harvesting your root vegetables, I planted lots of root vegetables in the Spring and now they are ready for harvest.
 
Carrots are some of my favorite type of seeds to plant. When planting it is super important to make sure you water consistently until you see the green tops of the carrot peaking out from the soil, this is called germination. Why I adore planting carrots is that they are easy to grow, there many different types of carrots and you can go  on a carrot journey exploring until you find just the right carrot for you. It's like finding your perfect dress for an event at the thrift store all the same emotions, the thrill of the hunt, the exploration and then finally sweet success and a rush of endorphins. 





Carrot Nutmeg Pancakes
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup Carrots grated
3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon white sugar
¼ teaspoon salt, or more to taste
1 ¼ cups milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 large egg
Pinch of Nutmeg to your liking.

Meadowlark Hearth Carrot Photo

Meadowlark Hearth Seed company in the beautiful state of Nebraska has some of my favorite carrots seed varieties the Chantenay which is a smaller size orange storage carrot which is a great carrot seed for people who are just starting out. I find the carrot has a soft sweetness to it, and its small, compact and packed with flavor. If you are storing carrots this is a great variety to try out. 

The Dragon Carrot from Nature and Nurture are my impressive carrots that I grow to show the beauty of the carrot kingdom and also are amazing on salads, eaten raw or cooked in a clay pot until soft and sweet. The carrot has a beautiful, bold purple exterior, with and orange and yellow inside, the taste is sweet and flavorful. The are a fullsome carrot with amazing texture and a great length and they store well.  

Driftless Seed Company has the perfect multi color carrots that I love to use again and again. The Over the Rainbow Carrot which has  a varieties of colors in one pack, from pale yellow to a vivid Red and all the colors in between. This is a wonderful variety if you are looking to have a lot of different colors when you are ready to harvest your carrots. During the fall weather of grey skies and cooler weather I love to take long walks in "The Park" my neighborhood and see all the colors of the leaves changing. Today on my walk I saw the most stunning tree with leaves changing from bright red to a vivid orange and when I returned to my home I was inspired to create a breakfast that honored those vibrant colors. I came up with a carrot and nutmeg pancake recipe. This fall I hope you get a chance to explore nature, and honor and create your own fall traditions, while crafting something special in the kitchen. I plan on having a friend over to share the wonder of fall and so we both can appreciate a good cup of coffee and enjoy the Carrot Nutmeg Pancakes. 

In love, hope and joy! 
Frolicking Americana

 

Time for a Spring Seed Renewal

Seed sovereignty is on a journey of self discovery and wonder in 2025, communities across the vast regions of our localized seed economies are expanding into new heights.Spring is the perfect time for self discovery and exploration. Seeds are the path forward on this journey where you can select the types of seeds that bring you joy, hope and love. 

Discovering new varieties of seeds to be planted that will create beauty and economic vibrancy, and educating our neighbors about the benefits and power of a localized seed network. Seed growers are exploring the expansive specialization of seeds from selecting the best seeds for flavor, color, resilience, and health that communities can explore, seek out and find to grow their own hand crafted paradise. 

Seed growers are grounding and steeping themselves in Indigenous seed knowledge and growing out varieties of native seed such as the Ohio blue corn. The seed movement is focused on building partnerships, creating a legacy of seed leaders who like perennial crops can be bountiful year after year. Crafting well adapted seed varieties that like cover crops will replenish the land and create bountifulness.

Native seeds are an opportunity to showcase the beauty and history of the American landscape. As these seeds are a part of our shared storied legacy of our country, the native seeds are more pest resilient and drought resistant than other seed varieties. Native seeds have the power to connect us to the past, present and future. Small House Farm owned by Bevin Cohen showcases the sovereignty of the native seed variety using the Odawa bean, which is a half runner type bean/ pole bean that is named for the Odawa indigenous community. It has been stewarded 

by native people in Michigan’s Northwest lower peninsula for generations. It is a delicious dry bean that looks as if it has been hand painted by an artist on one side a creamy brown with spots of dark brown and white on the other side. Bevin mentions "Thinking about and using flowers not only increases the value of the flower itself, but also the products that are being enhanced through their inclusion."

The hot food trend of 2025 is using edible flowers as a garnish on a meal, soup, appetizer, or drink. These flowers add a visually appealing element, and also add subtle flavors like citrus, floral notes and spicy flavors depending on which flower is obtained. Food and Wine Magazine predicts using edible flowers is a food trend that will grow and expand in 2025 and grow year upon year. They predict that the more vibrant the color of the flower the more popular it will be. 

 

Flowers like marigold, nasturtium, pansies, hibiscus, lavender, and violets are excellent choices to add as a special garnish. Nature and Nurture seeds of Ann Arbor, Michigan is captivating this segment of seeds, with a beautiful selection of vibrant colored flowers. Showcasing the organic borage flowers, organic common chamomile, dyer chamomile, amaranth, and early sunflowers all are excellent options to explore the beauty and vibrancy of nature and to add that beauty to your food. Edible flowers in restaurants are a unique opportunity for the seed movement to expand and partner with the restaurant industry. "Edible flowers are certainly beautiful and creating and building a market for their use will only increase the amount of flowers being grown, and that's good for everybody,"mentions Bevin Cohen of Small House Farms.

Perennial seeds are an excellent option for growers who want to be more economical and have stability in their land access. These seeds allow for continued growing success year after year and are more pest and drought resistant than annual plants. MeadowLark Hearth of Scottsbluff, Nebraska has a Echinacea Purpurea that is a hardy perennial, that is also edible and medicinal. Perennial seeds meet the needs of the growers having a positive sustainable, environmental and economic impact, as it allows for more economic success of the grower. Helping the grower to protect water sources, increase carbon retention in the soil, and reduce the expenses for weed control, tillage and fertilizer costs. 

Seeds that produce fruits and flowers with vibrant colors have more antioxidants that seem to counteract harmful effects of microplastics. A recent study shows that anthocyanins in nuts, fruits and vegetables seem to lessen the harmful effects of microplastics on reproductive systems. The Purple Peacock Sprouting Broccoli from Driftless Seed company in Wisconsin is a perfect example of a vegetable with vibrant colors and more antioxidants. Antioxidants are the thing that gives fruits and flowers their vibrant colors. Seeds have the power to add joy, beauty and wonder to our plates. To assist our land to be restored, maintained and resilient by expertly selecting seeds to heal our land. And seeds are a way to holistically improve our communal health by selecting vibrantly colored flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Seeds are impactful, powerful and a great way to implement positive change in our landscape and communities.