…chew on these local news bites: 1) If you have yet to complete your charitable giving this year, may I suggest a donation to public radio station WCBE? Green B.E.A.N. Delivery will donate 4 pounds of food to local food banks per pledge through the end of 2011. 2) Speaking of my favorite station, tune in to WCBE on 90.5 for a special one-hour episode of local food program FoodCast featuring interviews with Columbus food [...]

Today Alex and I celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary. Eleven years!! It is hard to limit the list, but here are 11 things I love about being married to Alex: 1) He knows me and loves me for myself. 2) Better than just knowing, Alex indulges me with simple things, like the last bite of ice cream or serving me a nightcap. 3) Alex exudes such confidence that I am able to feel more confident [...]

Way back in August when the grass was green and the weather sticky hot, Flying J Farm opened its (barn) doors to host the Shake the Hand that Feeds You dinner benefiting Slow Food Columbus. Alex, Lil, and I attended with our Japanese exchange student Anna. Chefs from Skillet Rustic. Urban. Food expertly cooked up much of the feast including a lingua appetizer sandwich that helped inspire our sweet heart charcuterie. The family-style meal included [...]

The last five days were totally consumed by holidays: Thursday – hosted lunch and Solstice party for 7 kids and assorted adults Friday – cooked and crafted all day and drove to Lima and back for dinner with my Grandmother Saturday – cooked all day and hosted Xmas Eve dinner for 12 Sunday – visited two families for Christmas gift exchange and meals Monday – drove to New Carlisle, Ohio and back for Tayse family [...]

The homestead is bustling like an elf shop these days with gift wrapping, cooking, hosting gatherings and attending others. We like to read holiday books and watch videos during the down time to get excited for the big day coming. Here are five we like this year: 1) Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky is based on the true story of George Washington learning about the holiday from a Jewish soldier in the Revolutionary [...]

Lil and I made Mrs. Wheelbarrow’s rugelach for a cookie exchange last week. Lil loved rolling peach, blueberry peach, and sour cherry preserves with almonds in the rich butter and cream cheese dough. She even made her own creation, chocolate with no nuts. The recipe is time consuming and made me break up with my food processor but the results are outstanding. This is the perfect cookie for me – not at all sweet but [...]

I stood over the bowl of rugelach dough, pulsing and pulsing with a growing feeling of failure. Like a flash in the pan, I realized why I dislike food processors: I cannot see and touch the food. I teach kids and adults in classes that the two most important tools in their kitchen are their hands. And it’s true: preparing food is a physical activity for me. My new-fangled safety-minded food processor is equipped with [...]