Sometimes when the sun is perfectly positioned the rays fill Deb's workspace.  The other day she was making the day's batch of her massaged kale salad.  I could not resist this picture.  I KNOW I've shown a number of pictures of Kale Salad but gosh, can you blame me for being drawn in by this one?

 

Come cook with me!  I'll be featuring recipes from the March chapter of my new book. 

 

The next class will be on Wednesday, March 20 starting at 6:30.  The class is the next month's version of Cooking Local - Spring things with Spring honey and such.  A fresh mushroom and dill salad.  A rhubarb soup.  Some other things.  I'll make a Fresh Fruit Shrub which was a big hit at my recent presentation at the Research Chefs Association Conference.

 

The class is a demonstration class.  I cook.  Then you eat.  Nice.  $25.00 per person gives you plentiful tastes and recipes.  Class starts at 6:30.

 

Monday, March 11

Honey-thyme Roasted Chicken with Brussels Sprouts 8.95

 

Tuesday, March 12

Vegetable and Fontina Calzone with Marinara 8.95

 

Wednesday, March 13

Apple Roast Pork and Red Cabbage (GF) 8.95

 

Thursday, March 14

Chicken and Herb Dumplings 8.95

 

Friday, March 15

Corned Beef and Irish Colcannon 9.95

 

Casserole to go:

 

Wednesday, March 13

Full: 60 Half: 30

 

Lasagna to go:

 

Friday, March 15

Full: 38 Half: 19

 

Here's our take on a Fried Green Tomato "sandwich."  Layered with roasted vegetables, fresh spinach and herbed cheese (though on a different day the filling could very possibly be different) this is a fun way to get all these delicious ingredients. 

 

Our sweet buddy John used to ride his motorcycle down from the mountains, filling his daily plate with tuna salad, crackers, and a handful of these eggs, which we then named for him.

 

 

March 9, 2013

Howdy ho. It’s the eve of daylight savings time as I write this. I am now waking up to the full blast of sunlight in my face which is a fine thing in my opinion. I know we’ll have to get up earlier, but that also means later light in the afternoons which also means it’ll be easier to get on my bike in the afternoons, my preferred time for outdoor exercise. Yippee.

 

I got to present a few of my recipes yesterday at a conference of research chefs. These folks make flavors and flavor enhancers and other odd things. I brought real food, real honey, simple and pure foods. The visitors liked my offerings, even though I didn’t add anything other than honey. My Orange Shrub, a mash of fruit and honey and apple cider vinegar and effervescence seemed to be the talk of the show, with folks telling others to come try it. That’s the highest compliment, in my opinion.

 

I came back to the shop this morning and got advance word of something very special that I’ll be able to fully share with you at the beginning of next month. Suffice it to say that the cooks and shopsters created something quite unique for a local, um, publication. All will be revealed soon. It’s a big honor and I’m very proud of the gang here. Very.

 

I’m also pleased with the buzz (so to speak) about my new book. I think it’s going to be VERY nice and I’m thrilled to have such a fine thing to share with you and people I don’t even know yet. I’ll soon be able to take pre-sale orders and that’ll be VERY fun. I’ll be at the French Broad Garden Club Spring sale on April 27th and can take orders then. The actual book won’t be in my hands until September – National Honey Month, by a convenient coincidence, but I can still be excited, right? I actually have a check in my hands marking the very first actual sale! Suh-WEET!

 

I’m cautiously optimistic about the fact that this is the last “Week 1” I hope to endure. Then one more “Week 2” and I’ll be done with chemotherapy. PLEASE cross anything you can!! This treatment will be my 28th one. That is a LOT of treatments and I am happy, if you please, to move on to a different way of spending my Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I have plans and hopes and thoughts and this is, I hope and pray, enough treatment. Okay?!

 

In the meantime I continue to try to rectify all the glitches at my home. My propane for my new oven is STILL not hooked up but that should get done on Monday. My computer IS working now. My iphone IS finally updated, as is my iPAD. My bathroom faucets are still leaking but that should get fixed on Wednesday. The water softening system is good to go for another year (an impressive 27 years of work for this system!) My car’s tires are now replaced and its "something-or-others" have been rotated and so there is no more shimmying when I stop. I think that’s all that needs to get fixed for the moment. I sure do hope so!

 

Tomorrow I hope to get out for a light hike, breathing in spring and breathing out the darkness. The birds fill the morning air more and more, each week bringing more flying visitors. My crocus buds are up and the daffodils will pop out with a day or two more of warmth. I hope to visit my bees soon – as soon as it is warm enough.

 

In short, all is good today. This will be a sort of quiet week (well, maybe not…I’ll just have to see what happens.) I do hope you can get out into the air and into the light and into the incipient spring. I know that’s what I plan to do.

 

I’ll be in touch next week.

Cheers,

Gee - some of my LiveSTRONG buddies chose this picture when they were thinking of International Women's Day (yesterday, I think.)  What an honor for me!

 

I KNOW I keep telling you that we're almost ready to "go live" with registrations for the JOYride.  It's still true.  You can join us by riding 25 or 50 miles out on the road or you can bring your littler ones and let them join the Kid's Fun Ride around the track at Carrier Park.  You'll also have the option of being an InSPIRIT rider, logging miles at home or at the gym on a stationary bike.   You'll also be able to become a Virtual rider, making a donation in honor or in support of the ride or a specific rider.