Monday, October 3, 2011

First autumn CSA share

If you've been following my blog (and really, who hasn't?  Hi, Mom!), you know that I've been super excited about the CSA share I've been getting from Dutchtown's own Maude's Market

The autumn session has just started, and man, every time I think Maude can't top herself, she goes and does it!

This past weekend's share included bison meat, sweet potatoes, figs, Billy Goat chips (so yum), baby kale, pears, and lepina (amazing Bosnian flatbread.)



Everything=so good.  If you aren't near Maude's Market, and you haven't already looked into CSA shares in your area, I absolutely recommend you check it out

What's that you say?  You want a closer look at the goods?  They are so pretty that they love to pose, so here are some highlights of our little photo session.


Gorgeous figs from Ivan's figs

round pears from Akins Orchard and Farm



Bosnian lepina bread from Golden Grain Bakery, and baby red Russian kale from Yellow Dog Farm.  That crust on the lepina?  Unbelievable.  Go get you some, seriously. 

And one more look at those luscious figs, because they are just beautiful, aren't they?

Friday, September 9, 2011

Yay yay, CSA!

If you have talked to me at all this summer, you know that all I want to talk about is my CSA share.  I can’t believe I haven’t gotten around to photographing any of my CSA bounty until now.

What’s CSA?  That’s community supported agriculture!  The quick explanation is that it’s a subscription-type program through which I buy groceries each week from local farmers and other producers.  More on CSA in general here

I get my CSA share from the wonderful Maude’s Market in Dutchtown. Once a week Maude sends an e-mail detailing what will be in that week’s share.  It usually includes produce, meat (vegetarian shares available), a staple, and a treat.  A well-rounded meal plan if you ask me!  

I’m nuts about it.  I’ve cooked things I’ve never cooked with before, such as tatsoi and ground mutton; I’ve made dishes I never thought of before, like cantaloupe salad with basil and mint; and I’ve gotten to spend the summer with old favorites, like sweet corn, beautiful tomatoes, and fat, pretty eggplants. 

Some other highlights have included fantastic yogurt, focaccia, spices, jelly, and goat milk moisturizing cream(!)

The summer subscription for the CSA is ending soon, and it’s time to sign up for the fall period (roughly October-November.)  I asked Maude tonight and she said there’s a waiting list for fall, but there’s a chance a spot will open up, so I recommend sending her a note and seeing about getting in on the fun.  



Even if you don’t get in on the CSA, I urge you to go visit the market.  It’s a darling little space, with really interesting (all local) products.  Go!  See it!
Maude’s Market
4219 Virginia Avenue
(2 blocks east of Grand, just south of Meramec)
St. Louis, MO

 things I got in this week's share

 eggplants, arugula, smoked Gouda!

 that basil sure looks like it would like to get a little closer to those tomatoes.  don't be shy, basil!

sweet corn, leeks -- can't wait to eat you!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Craft-O-Matic this Saturday!


I haven't been able to take a ton of pictures lately, or to catch up with a backlog of photos I've taken that I haven't really looked through yet.  Nothing gets me working like a deadline of some sort, however, so I have printed a bunch of photos (example above) — heretofore only seen by me — for Craft-O-Matic, an indie craft sale this Saturday, June 4 at the Regional Arts Commission on Delmar in the East Loop. 

There will be work for sale by dozens of artists and crafters (see some previews here).  I can't wait to see what everyone has made.  It's a one-day-only event, don't miss your chance to take a peek!


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

"Will you walk into my parlor?"

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Hey, want to come see my house? Maybe some day I'll invite you over (I really should); but until then, take a look at it on the fab fab Indie Fixx blog today.  Whee!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Art + Food = True Yum Forever

A little while back I got a request from the Missouri Coalition for the Environment to use one of my photos in their upcoming cookbook.  Naturally, I said yes.

I sent over this one, which was also in the Earthworks exhibit the Coalition had a couple of years ago:


Anyway, the cookbook's out now, and it's beautiful.  I'm a big cookbook and recipe fan, thus I have seen a lot of variations on the same themes over time. I have to declare this one a super duper winner.

I am solidly omnivorous, although I have a lot of vegetarian cookbooks and aspire to more of a plant-based diet than I have got now.  Don't tell anyone, but sometimes I've found vegetarian recipes — even/especially in the big-name best-selling cookbooks — to sound a little uninteresting.  That is highly not a problem with this pretty pretty book.  There are so many recipes in there I want to try!  Most of them come with a little introduction/explanation from the person who submitted it, which is way cool, especially since at least a couple are from friends old and new.

(Promise I'm not getting paid — in fact the whole point of the cookbook is to raise money for the Coalition's good works — I just really really like this book.  Brilliantly done.)

Here's the Coalition's press release and a peek at the cover of the book.  Go get you one!


IT’S ARRIVED!!
The cookbook you and your family and your friends have been waiting for:


Eating Lightly
for our planet
for our health
for robust pleasure!


Eating Lightly is a collection of over 400 vegetarian and vegan recipes from friends of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, ranging from the family of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Pat and Peter Raven to some of Missouri’s most creative professional chefs to your next-door neighbor.  Not only have contributors shared favorite recipes but, often, the stories behind them.  This is a cookbook with personality!  Eight Missouri artists have contributed work to make Eating Lightly a visual feast as well.

In addition to offering a wide range of vegetarian and vegan appetizers, soups, salads, breads, side dishes, entrees, and desserts, this collection notes which of its recipes are gluten-free.

Copies can be purchased for only $20 apiece at the Missouri Coalition for the Environment office at 6267 Delmar, Suite 2E, in the U-City Loop (always good to call first, 314-727-0600) and by cash or check only with a visit to any of the following St. Louis metro locations:

Downtown St. Louis – Left Bank Books at 321 N.10th
South City – Local Harvest Grocery at 3108 Morganford
    Home Eco at 4611 Macklind
    Urban Eats Café & Bakery at 3301 Meramec  St.
    Sweet Art at 2203 S. 39th St.
CWE – Left Bank Books at 399 N. Euclid
University City Loop – Plowsharing Crafts at 6271 Delmar
Kirkwood – Cornucopia at 107 N. Kirkwood Rd.
Maplewood – Stone Spiral Coffee & Curios at 2500 Sutton

Eating Lightly can also be purchased for delivery by mail ($20 plus $3 postage) at the Coalition’s website:
www.moenviron.org/


All proceeds from the sale of Eating Lightly will benefit the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, a member-supported and member-directed organization that has been strengthening environmental protections, holding government and corporations accountable, defending the environment in court, and mobilizing citizens to action for over forty years.