Eating & Drinking
DON'T SMASH THE PUMPKINS—TURN 'EM INTO PIE
How To Help Your Squash Go The Distance To Thanksgiving Day
On this, the holiday side of the harvest season, Montana State University's famed Garden Lady Cheryl Moore-Gough is back with tips on how to extend the life of that blank Halloween lantern and turn it weeks from now into yummy fare on Thanksgiving day. In addition to common Jack Pumpkins, what are some of the other delectable members of the squash family that make for great eating after the snow flies? Ever heard of Yugloslavian Finger Fruit? How about Lakota Winter Squash? Or Fordhook Acorn Squash? Read on and discover Moore-Gough's secrets for storing these savory fruits. [more]
Christmas Creep Just Fine, When it comes to Tea
I Want My Nutcracker Sweet Tea
I began noticing Christmas items for sale in Boulder stores last week, red and green gift wrap mingling with Halloween pumpkins and candy. The phenomenon of Christmas creep is nothing new--as this article notes, retailers have been introducing holiday items earlier and earlier in order to benefit from the added sales. While I'm generally annoyed when I see Christmas items in October, there's one holiday essential that I wish would arrive in stores even earlier: Celestial Seasonings' Nutcracker Sweet Tea. I noticed a woman buying the Boulder-based tea brand's Sugar Plum Spice holiday tea at Whole Foods last week, but when I went to the tea area, I found that all the Celestial Seasonings' holiday teas were stocked except for Nutcracker Sweet. [more]
The Food Chain
What Would Popeye Say? Grow Your Own
That spinach that sickened people in 23 states including New West states New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, might have been more benign had it been grown closer to home. I was alerted via email list to a Worldwatch Institute post that's says if you know the farmer that grew your spinach, you are less likely to get sick from e.Coli.
Indeed, FDA chief medical officer David Acheson told the New York Times today that “Clearly the risk is significantly reduced if you know the farmer and know his farm.” That's giving New Mexico urban and local ag. advocates a boost this today. Unfortunately, the FDA's consumer advice is "don't eat spinach" rather than educating the population about the current sad state of the food system, and why it seems to be going awry.
[more]
The Eater
Off the Tortilla Charts with Spic and Span
After you've lived in New Mexico for awhile, a funny thing happens. Instead of buying bread at the supermarket, you buy tortillas. It doesn't even occur to me to buy bread. I go straight to the Albuquerque Tortilla Factory stand just beyond produce, and purchase two bags of the flour version (my husband, however, prefers corn).
Somedays, when I'm home alone, I like to have butter and apricot jam (from the local feed store) on my tortilla for lunch. And maybe a snack, too. In fact, I believe I've had three such treats already today.
[more]
New Westerners
My Oh My I Ate Too Much Pie
I am in a sugar induced coma. I consumed not one, not two, not even three, but four or five (I lost count) slices of pie at the State Fair.
I just returned from the New Mexico State Fair Pie Contest, one of those small-ish events that takes place in one of the state fair's dimly lit, drab exhibition halls, far from the ferris wheel and the corn dogs and the animal pens. Small-ish, maybe, but certainly media worthy: Dan Mayfield, man-about-town from the Albuquerque Journal, a reporter from the Tribune, and assorted photographers, all showed up to the tasting and judging, set back in a corner of the Creative Arts Building.
[more]
Locally Grown
Gorge Farmers Rally To Sustainable AgricultureAs America’s conscience slowly shifts toward concepts of sustainable agriculture, farmers’ markets are reestablishing themselves in Oregon communities large and small. The Sierra Club’s recent film and lecture series “The True Cost of Food”has been a motivating force nationwide in raising awareness of the hidden costs of massed-produced food and the import/export food industry.
"True Cost of Food" played a year ago August in Hood River. Part of the diverse group that had gathered were several Columbia Gorge agriculturists who took the message to heart and then took things into their own hands. During the discussion that followed the film, attendees were inspired to create a local organization that would pool resources and, hopefully, make a difference. Gorge Grown Food Network was born on the spot. ...
[more]
Get to the Market!
When to Dig Deep for Organics When You’re StrappedSustainable foodies often tend toward a “local” or “organic” preference depending which they deem more environmentally responsible. Most are likely to say both is best, but when strapped for cash, which way is a foodie to turn? In Missoula and other New West cities with robust farmers’ markets, the “local” is taken care of. And more, organic is offered, too. But when it’s not, or when it’s price prohibitive, seeking out alternative suppliers or digging deep for the extra dollars to buy organic is, in some cases, worth it. [more]
Roadside Espresso
Coffee Creations: Moscow’s Best BrewMoscow's best coffee can't be found in a coffee shop. Though the One World Cafe, Mocha Java, and even the local Starbuck's produce a good blend, the best of the best can only be purchased at a drive-through window. Welcome to Moscow's Coffee Creations, the best little shack for the caffeine attack. [more]
WORLD CUPPA
World Cup Games Have Legs in AspenAt the Jour de Fete bakery and cafe, the specialty of the day was soccer, served up in a big World Cup.
It was France versus Spain, tied at 1, and you can imagine where the loyalties lay in a place called Jour de Fete, where the staff really does speak French.
About 10 people crammed into the cozy cafe, speaking both French and English. It was a moment that spoke to Aspen's image, or at least its self-image, that while the rest of the country may think the World Cup is some sort of protective clothing for soccer players, in Aspen, or at least in certain quarters, it draws a crowd.
[more]
Reason to toast tonight
Cheers! City Votes to Change Ban on Outdoor AlcoholGood news for Boise business and boozers: The City Council voted unanimously to change an ordinance that prohibited alcohol at sidewalk cafes after dark. The vote yesterday temporarily suspends the 1993 rule until sunset the last day of this year.
Neither businesses nor patrons were aware of the rule until several weeks ago when it was made public. Drinks had been flowing until closing time at restaurants and bars all over town despite the ordinance. Now things will continue as usual, but it will be legal. Sidewalk cafes will cut off alcohol service at 2 a.m., the magic time when bars turn into pumpkins and servers disappear into thin air.
[more]
