Savvy Eats

It was a nice quiet weekend at home.

Largely because we were snowed in.

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, and a lot of time on the computer. Check out some of the changes to Savvy Eats!

And as for the kitchen, here are some previews of what’s coming on Savvy Eats this week…

Creamy Potato and Broccoli Soup 1/4 c whole wheat flour 1/4 c extra virgin olive oil 4 c vegetable stock 1 lb potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 4 small potatoes) 1 head broccoli 1 c milk Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste Your favorite vinaigrette, for topping

…Reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for 30-45 minutes, until the broccoli is fork-tender.

I’ve found another book worthy of the 5-star rating! Of the 12 books I’ve read so far this year, this is only the second book with this grade, the first being Ape House by Sara Gruen.

The second book that got 5 stars from me? These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf.

Each chapter focuses on one of four main characters: Allison, convicted of a terrible crime and recently released from prison; Brynn, Allison’s sister; Charm, a nursing student caring for her dying stepfather; and Claire, an adoptive mother and bookstore owner.

The Chops and Hops event we attended two weekends ago was basically a local food-lover’s dream.

Of course, then I forgot to review it and share the fun with you! Better late than never, right?

Date: February 13, 2011

Location: Ithaca Beer Co. Tasting Room

The Event:  Five local food companies provided samples of their products, paired with a sample of Ithaca Beer. Lots of fun!

The Companies:

The Piggery. We’ve been buying a lot of our meat from the PIggery ever since they opened a deli in November. I love that they raise heirloom breeds and feed them on pasture and GMO-free grains. Plus, the owners are just so friendly! (Side note: I currently have some of their smoked hocks cooking away in our crockpot for pulled pork. The apartment smells delectable!)

Courtney says,

We’re currently experiencing the rainy season out here in northern California. You can imagine my excitement when I woke up one morning to this beautiful rainbow. I was immediately filled with hope and gained a new appreciation for nature.

Okay, so you’ve found the space for your garden. Now, what to grow? Ask yourself these questions:

What do you like to eat? If you only have a small space, choose wisely and pick the things you are least likely to get sick of. For instance, while I like the occasional cucumber, I don’t like them enough to devote any garden space to the plants. I was drowning in cucumbers last year (my own fault, as I didn’t realize how productive a single plant could be and had 8 plants). Spinach and tomatoes, on the other hand? Though they produce a lot, I know I’m not going to get sick of them!

Last night, we lost our cockatiel Luigi. It came out of nowhere. He was molting/nesting at the bottom of the cage when Dan came home, and a few hours later, he was gone.

So this post is dedicated to Luigi.

Luigi, we will miss…

Want to grow your own vegetables, herbs and flowers in 2011? Then you’re in luck, because I have a series of garden planning posts coming your way!

First things first, you need to figure out what space you have available for your garden. From a few containers in a window to a large portion of your yard, you can grow just about anywhere.