The Franklin Park Conservatory is expanding their Food Education program with the new PreK Zone.  Yours truly will be the teacher! Three to six year olds in the PreK Zone will prepare and eat simple whole foods dishes in my Kids Cook hands-on format.  Classes will highlight the seasonal ingredients uniquely available in the Scott’s Miracle Grow Community Garden Campus.  I am very excited to work with the horticulture staff at the Conservatory to make [...]

Can you translate this request from Lil? “Mama, can we make a backup? Like when we went to Canada at Old McDonald’s and stay in the car and they put food in a bag?” Did you figure it out?  Lil wanted to visit a fast food restaurant, probably for the toy. My heart swelled and I giggled just a little at this request.  I am proud in a way that my five year old does [...]

Today’s edition of Book Hounds is a political-video-chicken one. Why political?  Well, I would have precious few books to read or recommend if not for the Columbus Metro Library.  Starting today, Columbus area voters can go to the polls and cast a ballot for Issue 4, the levy to Keep Columbus Metro Library Strong. This levy, the first levy brought to the public in ten years and first increase in twenty four years, will restore [...]

Sweet Lil turns five today.  I have no words to summarize my complex feelings about being her mother, nor reflections on her growing maturity and beauty.  Where to turn, then, but to food? The setting: Mother and daughter are walking through an unfamiliar grocery store. Mother, reading list: spaghetti, Parmesan.  Where’s the Parmesan? Daughter: Can I have a… Mother, interrupting: Oh here it is.  We’re going to use already shredded cheese at your spaghetti birthday [...]

In the Edible Columbus Fall 2010 edition, readers will find a Young Palates column written by me.  It is all about apples and features my favorite apple farmer, Charlie Fritsch of Windy Hill Farm.  Read online here. You can find print copies of Edible Columbus around the city at their advertising locations. The Hobby Farm Home November/December 2010 issue has an article about hosting a class or workshop.  I am one of three subjects of [...]

I’m over at CbusMom.com writing about Stratford Ecological Center today.  Read about the working farm and visit soon – you’ll love it! PS.  Have you voted today?  I’m in the running to win a ticket to a conference in Asheville North Carolina and need your ten second vote for me, @racheltayse. Thanks!

It has been hot here in Ohio.  And humid.  A friend described the recent weather as “walking around inside someone’s mouth.”  Indeed. Instead of enduring the wicked weather during the afternoon heat, I searched for indoor activities to occupy Lil’s boundless energy in the relative cool of the air conditioning. A few days ago, we made homemade dog biscuits.  Making dog treats is a perfect activity for a young chef, as the recipe employs lots [...]