I'm in the final push now for my honey(bee) book.  This past week I gathered a few folks at my home, closed the door (mostly to keep myself in!) and got us all to create some of the beverages that I had titled but not yet made for the book.

 

After an initial bit of squirming, trying to figure out what we were doing, we hiked up our sleeves, sharpened the knives, dragged out the glassware and gave it a go.  I tried to stay apart, just writing what everyone was doing, but I got involved in the tasting and blending too. 

 

This was a cantaloupe spritzer in process.  The end result has sprigs of rosemary, drizzled Tupelo Honey, sparkling wine and a couple of other delights.

 

We make dinners to go Monday through Friday.

 

Call 252-1500 by noon or so and then come pick up your dinners between 3 and 7, when we close. Add a salad for 3.25 or bread for 1.25.

 

Monday, May 14

Prosciutto and spinach-stuffed chicken 8.25.(gf)

 

Tuesday, May 15

Shrimp and potato gnocchi with peas and Parmesan 8.95

 

Wednesday, May 16

Yankee-style pot roast with potatoes 8.95

 

Thursday, May 17

Chicken and dumplings 7.95

 

Friday, May 18

Call by noon and then come pick up between 3 and 7

 

Wednesday, May 16

Saffron risotto with shrimp, peas, and parmesan

Whole 60. Half 30

 

 

Friday, May 18

Artichoke, chèvre, and mushroom lasagna

I'd filled up a few bags with ingredients and inspiration for the evening.  Couldn't resist arranging them in my colored bowls, on my faded old kitchen table, under some yellow flowers.  That color class at Penland has me going - everything is chromatic now (well, it already WAS but now it's even more so.)

 

This one is a raging success.  Light Panna Cotta, made with a touch of honey, served with honeyed Kumquats, made with another touch.  Nice to have a thought, write it on a piece of paper, get someone to make it (thanks Barbara!) and see how it all works out. 

 

Um, I had the better part of TWO of these today.

 

My friend Marilyn came to record the recipe extravaganza at my house.  I really liked the way this looked so snapped it too.

 

Yes, I recommend it.  (Along with a whole bunch of other delicious things that will be in my book.)

 

Good morning to you from the chilly Pacific.  I'm here getting ready to watch my godson graduate from law school in two days.  I  SHOULD be going to sleep because it is late but I had an espresso a bit too soon to these evening hours and am now alert and perky.  (This is not such a good thing.)

 

The big story for me is the final book countdown.  I've been a writing and editing and re-writing maniac these past days.  Testing, tasting, writing.  Repeat.  Revise.  Ponder.  As I KEEP saying, I'm really almost done.  I have a handful of pieces to go and that will mark the conclusion of this stage of this project.  (There is still a year to go of work with my publisher, but this writing phase is just about done.)

 

All continues to be good.  My readers are coming back with good responses.  My bee mentors are telling me I am on base.  The recipe testers, similarly, have had positive things to say.  And, in a pleasing bit of synchronicity, I had a dessert tonight at a snazzy restaurant out here that I have in my book.  (I made mine up.  They did too, I guess, but the place that served mine tonight is a famous place out here in Pacificland.  I'm well- known in Asheville but not as much as this place is here.  Oh - did I say I liked mine better?  I did.)

 

Monday is my birthday.  To clear up any confusion, a couple of weeks ago I referred to my B-day, but that was about the day I got my new bees.  This upcoming  one is my real birthday.  Tra La.  It will be a very special day on many counts.  Surprises await.  A trip to a very unique spa is on the list for the twilight hours, a place I've been dreaming about for months. This day really marks the conclusion of this remarkable year of disruption and then healing.  I feel like I am bursting out of an extended time of extreme challenge into a time of, well I'm not sure what right now.  Something dramatically or subtly different.  Something visibly enormous or, more likely, internally significant and barely noticeable.  I'm in a dream time, a curiosity, a pondering, imaginative place.  It feels exciting, and filled with lots of not knowing.

 

Ill be back next week with a story or to and, to the best of my ability, a completed book manuscript.  La la la.

 

I'm doing this ride across Iowa as a fundraiser for cancer survivors and for cancer survivorship.  Livestrong, Lance Armstrong's Foundation, is the recipient of my main fundraising efforts.  In the following weeks I'll keep you informed about how it all is coming along.