Summer days, driftin’ away
But, oh, those summer tomatoes. I have long been in love with them. But this summer was the first I really tried (and succeeded!) to grow my own. I’m now in the midst of a steady daily harvest of a half-dozen romas and at least as many sweet, yellow cherry tomatoes, which I end up snacking on while … Continue reading
Summer in Review
I’m sitting on the deck at our new house, feeling fall between my toes. They didn’t see much sand this summer — unless watching other people vacation on Instagram counts — but I’m OK with that. I did other things. There was the aforementioned purchase of our first house in good ole’ Northern Virginia, which basically … Continue reading
Oh the things you can do with local, whole wheat flour…
In the last month, I’ve visited about 10 farms for various stories and projects I’m scrambling to complete before baby arrives (less than two weeks!). Farms are among my favorite places, even if I’m rarely dressed appropriately (they don’t make pregnant farmer clothes, really), perpetually hot (yet thankful for this relatively mild August!) and always a long … Continue reading
My First Food Swap
As you may know, I was bitten by the canning bug this year. What you may not know is that the logical next step (after hosting a preservation party) is attending a Food Swap. And it’s a great step, perhaps my favorite so far (and certainly better than the peel-50-peaches step). I had the pleasure of … Continue reading
P.Y.O Pumpkins, Apples, Paw Paws & Recipes
WE WENT TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH! And it was everything I’d hoped it would be. Fall-like, family friendly, and we even found a photographer to bring along! Thanks to Jami McDowell for taking these great shots! (And, yes, that is a hair flip in the above photograph. That’s apparently what I do while walking to … Continue reading
A Preservation Party
If I haven’t convinced you yet that ANYONE can can, maybe this will do the trick. Or perhaps the giant spread in the Post’s Food section today about the glories of food preservation. Or perhaps you just like Pinterest-ready photos of canned jars? Well here are some from a little Labor Day canning party we … Continue reading
#LaborDay weekend: grilling, canning & the dinner blues
It’s the Friday before Labor Day weekend, the holiday that signals the start of the school year, the summer’s slow demise into fall and, more optimistically, the near arrival of goodies like apple cider and pumpkin-spice everything. It’s also a work holiday that means — perhaps most importantly — I get a break from teaching … Continue reading
#Canning summer’s bounty: up to my elbows in peach jam & tomato sauce
It’s 9 o’clock on a Wednesday night, and I’m elbow deep in peach juices, trying to recall the satisfying feeling I felt a week before when I sealed off the last few jars of tomato sauce. This time, it’s peaches. Millions of peaches, it seems. I’m not even halfway through my half bushel (it didn’t … Continue reading
