Talk of Tomatoes

Kentucky Derby 2012

Janelle — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:53:21 +0000

When Pure Leaf Tea invited me to attend the Kentucky Derby on their behalf, I was giddy mid-guffaw. I had never been to the derby, and 2 minutes… [more] after accepting their invitation I started to worry about what hat to wear. Part Southern tradition, part spectacle, the Kentucky Derby ‘hat parade’ is much of what makes “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” one of the greatest people-watching events in the

McCormick for Mom

Janelle — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:56:38 +0000

McCormick… [more] is a brand I have known since I was a little girl, I would find their little jars while rummaging through my mom’s spice drawer. Today McCormick is still a drawer-filler and dinner-maker. And thanks to modern technology, McCormick Gourmet is doubling their efforts to reach their customers in an effort to ‘help with dinner.’ I am fascinated that many iconic brands are reinventing themselves, embracing social media, videos/contests/celebrities

foraging urban weeds: dandelions

Janelle — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:26:12 +0000

Dandelions are darlings of the foraging community. They are entirely edible. Apparently, you can use the roots (dried then ground) in a coffee-like tincture. I have also read you can simply prepare/eat dandelion roots the same way you would other root vegetables. Herbalists use dandelion root to detoxify the liver and gallbladder, and dandelion leaves to support kidney function. Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C,… [more]

Kentucky Oaks: fillies, lilies and frillies.

Janelle — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:55:26 +0000

Pure Leaf… [more] invited me to attend the Kentucky Derby, where I learned all about their real, leaf-brewed iced tea (not powder!) and enjoyed it in context of the Kentucky Derby (think tea julep). It was a glorious experience, starting with a Taste of Derby event on Thursday night, the Kentucky Oaks on Friday (more info below) and the well-known Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Yes, just so you know: I wore

kentucky derby cocktails.

Janelle — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:49:08 +0000

For me ‘Kentucky’ plus ‘cocktail’ brings bourbon to the front of my brain. I even own a cookbook called The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook. Woodford Reserve… [more] is the official Kentucky Derby bourbon; the official cocktail is the mint julep. In fact, last year at the derby, attendees bought: 120,000 mint juleps, 800 LBS of bourbon balls, 7,800 liters of bourbon and 426,000 cans of beer. Granted, 164,858 were there: dressed-to-the-hilt, placing

from Seattle to Vegas—spring break with the family

Janelle — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:18:02 +0000

We are ardent fans of Seattle, loyal to the drizzle. Seattle is known for gray skies and light, frequent rain. Sogginess. But with cons there are pros: it is green. Trees, grass and plants love to be watered. We have the ocean and mountains, mild weather and a great food scene. People are into urban farming and sustainability, and fanatical sport fans. Soccer is huge—and easily our favorite sport. We… [more]

sizzling goat cheese salad

Janelle — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:51:11 +0000

I adore having a list of default dinners… [more] (aka easy entrees) but I am also a sucker for easy, impressive salads. The reason this one appears on my weekly and weekend table is not just because it tastes good. I love this salad because: you can make the goat cheese rounds and dressings ahead of time. Sometimes I make a plate of the breaded goat cheese (hey: did you just

Onion, balsamic and dandelion ravioli

Janelle — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:32:00 +0000

Now that dandelions are in bloom: harvest the leaves to fill this pasta and save the small buds for the sauce. Need a drink to go with your flowery meal? Make dandelion mojitos… [more]. Use the stem for straws. Float a yellow flower on top. I love going for a walk around the neighborhood, ogling dandelions. No longer dismissed as an invasive weed, no longer safe to sulk for years:

Las Vegas restuarants (review: ONDA restaurant)

Janelle — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:09:02 +0000

Last week my sons had Spring Break and my husband had a conference in Las Vegas. We decided to combine ‘vacation’ with ‘work’ so we could hang out as a family, with sun/pool/good food at our fingertips. … [more] While James had a conference, I set myself up to visit/review a few restaurants in Las Vegas. Onda was on my short list, as I love ‘chef’s menu’ plus ‘Italian food.’ Onda is

urban farm update: April

Janelle — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:48:06 +0000

Although we had hobby gardens when I was growing up—and even a few pigs, some chickens and beef cattle—I wasn’t taking in the planting schedule or paying attention to crop rotation. And which seeds do you start indoors versus directly sowing outdoors? I couldn’t even tell you what brand of seeds we used, the pattern of the sun on various patches of dirt or how to determine where to plant… [more]