Food - Organically Grown, A night on the farm

This summer we have done a CSA 1/2 share. For those of you that are not familiar with this -- it is Community Supported Agriculture. We pay for our vegetables from a farmer during the winter, giving the farmer a chance to get their seedlings started and so forth with a guaranteed amount of money. Then, each week during the summer we got a box of wonderfully fresh, organically grown vegetables. Let me tell you this was an experience! We learned to cook every green imaginable (Kale, Spinach, Swiss Chard, and more), as well as lots of japanese veggies like endamame, bok choy, and others that we love, along with the traditional carrots and potatoes and tomatoes. As much as I loved all the food, we had a problem with an old refrigerator that kept freezing my greens if I didn't use them right away (now replaced with a new one), and when we traveled we had to find someone else to use our share.

Paul Littman is an awesome farmer and marketer. He knows how to talk about his vegetables, and to put them out in extremely attractive arrangements (nicer than a lot of the tail gate farmers). This was his first really big year of doing the CSA shares, and last night we went to a pot luck dinner at the farm. It was awesome. They had music, and food, a beautiful night, and farm tours. Have you ever seen shitake mushrooms growing on oak logs? And be told that it takes over a year to get a log to produce for the first time? And then learn all sorts of organic and sustainable ways to farm? Paul is a great educator, giving us lots of information without boring us. Although I might not do a CSA share next year, he will continue to be my tailgate farmer of choice. We saw some people we knew at the farm, and met lots of new people. I definitely want to get to know the person better who brought about 10 loaves of hot out of the oven fresh baked rustic breads! And Paul's wife Anna made some awesome eggplant lasagna (no noodles) with fresh tomato's and eggplant.

I had forgotten what fun an informal gathering like this can be. We stayed until the last light leaving with just enough light to walk back through the field down to our car. And we left with big smiles on our faces.

Tomorrow I leave for Chicago. I am almost all packed, just a few last minute things to throw into the suitcase. And, another friend will get my CSA share this week.

Food and Family

Today was a family day. Various family members were in town for Rosh Hashona and we all had lunch together. This included my mom, two brothers and two sister-in-laws, a cousin, a nephew and his wife, and of course my dear husband. We were boisterous (so fortunately the restaurant wasn't too busy inside) but had a wonderful time together. Telling stories, talking about our current lives, checking up on the status of other family members and touching base. For some reason, even though the restaurant service was not up to par, I had a wonderful time. Sometimes being with a lot of family members can be stressful, but this was one of those times where I just took it for what it was.

I was still a little tired from my trip to Orlando (got in last night about 9:00 pm), so afterward I unwound a little (but did not unpack) and went for a swim in the pool to finish the unwinding process. I love to travel, but it is so exhausting. It was so nice to be in my own bed last night.

Supper tonight was another one put together from visiting a farmer's market. We had trout cakes (made by the trout people), turnips braised with carrots and biale's for our bread. I knew I wouldn't feel much like cooking but it was all delicious. Especially the fresh sliced tomatoes. I don't think I have ever cooked turnips before. Found a simple recipe on the internet and they were delicious. Will have to buy them again! Unfortunately I got to the market a little late as we had gone to an Art Show in Weaverville before I headed out to the market. So, my choices were not as great as some weeks, but still a nice selection. Now that I have discovered the Saturday Farmers Market I have expanded my horizons with different choices.

09-09-09

Yesterday was my day! Look at the numbers that my birthday fell on! I invited some friends to lunch that did not know each other, but had all known me for somewhere between 12 and 20 years. And Dana who knew them all also came. I started out by telling the story of how I met each one of them. It brought some laughs, and reminded us of good times quite a while ago. And most of all, my friends got a chance to make some new acquaintenances.

Work was fun in a different way. We are having a 09 special during September in celebration of my birthday. About a dozen or so customers remembered the e-mail and the reason for the celebration and sent faxes and e-mails, and even sang happy birthday into my voice mail. Plus, at break they had a surprise for me -- big platters of fresh fruit (because everyone knows I am eating healthier foods now!), and a helium balloon to decorate my desk.

We had a simple dinner at home. I bought tuna at the Weaverville Farmers Market, Dana made some salsa with mixed cherry tomatoes (yellow and red) and jalapeno, and onion, from the market to go with the tuna and I pan fried some Okra with an easy new recipe I've discovered. The meal was great and a good prelude to the real event of the evening. We went to an "educational" wine tasting at a local wine shop. It was a blast. You know they say you should never stop learning, so the Wine 101 class was perfect. We learned about something we have always really enjoyed -- good wines. The presenter was excellent, and we liked 2 out of six (or was it seven) of the wines enough to buy them.

Today I had lunch with a friend who couldn't come yesterday. And, she had me tell her the story of how I met each person!  One of my presents to myself, is making time to stay connected to people.

All, in all, a great way to celebrate. Friends, Food and Wine!