Adam, in addition to being our co-general manager AND chief cook, is the fellow who takes the lead in finding out about the cheeses that are being made in our area.  "Finding out" means making friends with the cheese makers, visiting their farms, understanding how they do what they do, and selecting his favorites for you.

 

Monday, April 1

Grilled Tarragon Chicken with Lemon Fettuccine 8.95

 

Tuesday, April 2

Stuffed Peppers with Butternut Squash and Kale 7.95 (GF)

 

Wednesday, April 3

Dijon and Shallot Sauced Pork Tenderloin with Red Potatoes 8.95

 

Thursday, April 4

Swedish Meatballs with Local Beef, and Mashed Potatoes 8.95

 

Friday, April 5

Pan-fried NC Trout Filet with Yams and Greens 13.75

 

 

 

Casserole to go:

Wednesday, April 3

Spanish paella with Chicken, Fish, and Peppers

Whole 60 Half: 30

 

Lasagna of the week:

Friday, April 5

Local Beef and Mushroom Lasagna

Whole 52.95 Half: 26.50

 

Since we started putting the extra casseroles in our pick up deli case, things have really taken off.  We're now designating one of the cooks as "casserole wizard of the day," giving them time to do nothing other than create these tidy dinners.

 

Our egg lady's chickens are keeping us in eggs.  Good thing for that, I'll say, since our breakfast visitors are keeping our morning cooking gang busy.  We stay wide open around here in that regard, making whatever it is that you want.  Omelets are fine, but you can also have us make you any kind of egg concoction, including French Toast.  In my opinion, not much trumps a plate of hot French Toast.  Add some applewood-smoked bacon and a bowl of fruit and you are certainly good to go for whatever adventure awaits.

 

We made it to Easter eve again.  Funny how some foods evoke times of the year.  We were not religious in my family, but we WERE food-focused, and these little sweets, made only at Easter at our local bakery in Vermont, were the perfect spring taste for us.

 

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Hello and happy Saturday, my friends.

 

Whewf! It’s been quite a week for us and for me. Good stuff. Good stuff. I’m so full I feel like all I can truly do right now is take a nap, letting everything seep in, filling in the dark corners, replacing the fear with hope.

 

I had a big important medical checkup yesterday. Starting with a nice early morning MRI (how fun!) I then met with the fellow who operated on me a few times last year and then chatted with the gal who is expressing her opinion about the assorted elixirs that have been washing me out for the past assortment of months. I finished the extra credit infusions last week and went into the day's meetings and photo session with a mix of trepidation and optimism. The bits of optimism seem to have made a difference, as all the reports had hopeful messages for me. I am good to go once again. I get to take it easy for awhile, letting my body regain its strength. No more pictures until July, they say, which is fine with me. And while I heard no “you’re cured!” words, they were all as positive as they could be. I left the flatlands and headed home to the mountains, hopeful and beginning to breathe once again.

 

On Thursday, just before driving to the doctor visit, we had a visit from the Cooking Channel. We are being considered for inclusion in a big time tv show. They will come in July and wander around with us, visiting some markets and some local food makers. We’ll play with them in our kitchen and will get to tell about how and why we do what we do. Big thrills, big fun. And yes, as soon as it is certain, I’ll tell you more.

 

Right now, though I should be able to find something else to write about, I am stuck in the “I’m better” mode. I’ve been in treatment for almost two years and so it should not surprise me that I am having trouble thinking of anything else. For two years I have had surgeries and treatments and times of recovery and times of feeling really bad. Just last week I spend a day in the hospital, getting an unexpected infusion of pep boosting, having found myself really slumping. Getting a “you’re good to go!” pronouncement feels sudden and not-quite trustable. It’s hard to explain, but living through such a drawn-out period of time makes me timid about jumping up and down with the thrill of it all being done right now. It will come, over time, I’m sure. Others remind me of when I was on a month-long break over Christmas this year. I felt a lot better after awhile, they remind me. I don’t remember, but am trying to trust them. In a while, as I really find my footing again, I’m sure it will sink in. Right now it all feels tentative and shaky.

 

I do have some big things coming up. Next week I’ll tell you about upcoming cooking classes. We’ll be starting our Farmer’s Dinners soon. And we’re going to have our very first Mother’s Day brunch. I am still working on my book and have begun to think about promoting it. And I’m fully engaged in the JOYride that is coming up in May. I have purchased a ticket for a solo trip I’ll be taking in late May and I’ve started thinking more about that, now that I truly believe I will be healthy enough to go. I’m considering a trip to the Caribbean and have started to dream about other trips, other adventures, other projects. I stumbled into a new painting medium the other day and have signed up for a class in a few weeks.

 

In short, there is a lot percolating in me. I have not really allowed myself to do much dreaming for the past while, so it feels good, tentative but good, to open the channels and let this new energy flow in. I have been scared to be open but I think I can begin to relax and trust that dreaming is good and will not necessarily be wasted. I am beginning to trust that I will hang around for a while more and so thinking and dreaming is good.

 

Happy day to you. Happy Easter, Passover, Spring.

 

Holy mazoley!  Our JOYride for the Livestrong at the YMCA is a big story!  Imagine my surprise at seeing this newsletter of the Y's the other day.  Me, bigger than big filling the front page.  Some 14,000 have been sent out.  Yikes!  So much for being anonymous (yeah - I know I'm not really...)

 

I REALLY want this to be a successful event for the Livestrong at the YMCA program, my friends.  I REALLY hope you'll join us, either out on the road on your bike or simply "InSPIRIT," as a supporter of another rider or, perhaps, just in support of this really important program. 

 

The big weekend is coming up - May 19th.  Turns out that May 17th is worldwide Livestrong Day.  I hope that it will become Livestrong Weekend here in Asheville.  Stay tuned.