Harvest Time explores chocolate

I mentioned before that the Slow Food NYC Harvest Time program had started a blog, and today they're talking about chocolate.

The most poignant part of the blog post:

They showed us real cacao beans from the Dominican Republic and Madagascar. Some of us are from the DR and didn't even know they grew chocolate there. We got to grind our own roasted cacao beans.

The most astute quote from the post:

The dried cocoa beans were really weird. We disagree about whether we like them. At first when you chew them, they taste like flowers, but after a while they start to taste like dirt. We think the chocolate probably tastes like what grows around the cacao plant.

And a tie for the funniest quote:

Did you ever see the movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? We did, and so when we went to The Mast Brothers Chocolate Shop, we were disappointed that there were no oompa loompas.

versus

When we got back to school, we met Virginie, a French chocolatier. We were disappointed because she didn't wear a berret.

Overall, it sounds like they had a wonderful time (and - shhhhh! - they may have learned a thing or two)!

Eat, drink, and support your local school programs!

Back in the saddle again...

We finally have Internet at home, but I've had an impossible time getting back into the swing of blogging there. Especially when, as was the case last night, drinking wine and watching Zoolander with Adam sounded like a lot more fun!

Luckily (or unluckily, I suppose), there are neither movies nor wine available to me during my lunch break at work. So I'm here with an eclectic mix of links, both food- and children's literature-related:

• Sarah Miller posted a series of publishing jokes involving screwing in lightbulbs. As I mentioned to some colleagues, I found the jokes hilarious, mostly because I found each of them to be based on truth.


• The New York Times Dining section has an article on corporate America' adoption of the term "local". Which is a good sign in that it means "locavore" has become a widespread philosophy. But I take it as more of a bad sign: the marketing teams of these companies will no doubt mar and twist and spin the word "local" until it's nearly unrecognizable from its original meaning. And mainstream America will have no idea which end is up. Just like the word "organic".


• Slow Food NYC is now working on its answer to Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard: Harvest Time. I'm thrilled and will be reading their blog closely.


• Yesterday was Queens Library's annual children's/YA "Literature Meeting" (here is a recap from last year's meeting ). This year we focused on audiobooks and had the folks from Listening Library talk to our librarians: Cheryl Herman, Dan Zitt, and Rebecca Waugh. They discussed audiobooks and literacy - Cheryl shared that a child can listen to a book two grade levels above where they can actually read. Rebecca discussed the acquisitions end, and I was surprised to learn that Listening Library records books that are "library exclusives," which tend to be the more literary or classic materials that don't do so well in the retail market. Dan, who is in charge of production, shared all kinds of wonderful stories about working with the actors. He talked about the celebrity (he wouldn't give names) who asked for a hot towel promptly at 2:00 p.m....and followed by a square of chocolate! He also talked about Broadway stars who love recording audiobooks because they get to play all the characters versus playing the same single character night after night. Overall, an informative and entertaining presentation!


• I'm in the midst of reading Hungry Monkey: A Food-Loving Father's Quest to Raise an Adventurous Eater by Matthew Amster-Burton (HMH, May 2009). Thus far, I'm really enjoying it - I wish that it had been available when Bug was a baby! Even so, there is still information in the book that I'm finding helpful with my now-7-year-old. There are some very interesting recipes so far, like Yeasted Waffles, that I'll be trying real soon. Also, there appears to be a Hungry Monkey website, but my computer won't load it - maybe you'll have better luck. Gluten-Free Girl, who is a good friend of the author, reviews Hungry Monkey here. And someone mentioned in the comments on G-F Girl that the first 3 chapters of Hungry Monkey are available on Amster-Burton's website in PDF...so clearly other people have been able to access the website. Whether you have older children, babies, are pregnant...or even thinking of having children in the future...this is a recommended read.

And as a final note, my Facebook account has been repeatedly hacked by "nefarious villians," in the words of Maurie Manning. So please disregard any messages from me. It's only hackers wearing Laura masks, trying to trick you with poisoned apples.

Eat, drink, and fight the forces of darkness and evil!

A New Year

Here’s something you need to know about me: I take New Year’s very seriously. As someone who really struggles to be “in the now” and “in the moment”, New Year’s is the time for me when there isn’t a present – there is only the year that came before and the year to come, only past and future. I can reflect on where I’ve been and where I’d like to go. This is the time when I indulge in major introspection and evaluate my life and its direction.

That said, I don’t care for resolutions. I mean, why set myself up to fail? Rather, I make a list of goals…because I’m just that anal-retentive. I’m *such* a list maker! I like a list that I can check off; it helps me feel like I accomplished something when I see a list of crossed-off things.

So after some reflection, here is the list of my current goals for 2009, as they pertain to children’s literature and food*:

- Host a dinner party. A proper one. None of this “hey, dudes, come on over!” sort of willy-nilly thing I do. But a real event. Something coordinated and planned. I want multiple courses. I want ironed table linens. I want candlelight. I want a coordinated playlist on my iPod. I want eight people – enough that I have to put the leaf in my table. Hell, I might even bake. I’m already formulating my invitation list…and you may just be on it (though you will have to trek to Queens)!

- Delve into some other international cuisine. I know, “delve into” is vague. But I can’t “master” anything…god knows I’m far from mastering anything. But I want to explore and become familiar with some other cuisine. This French…Italian…pseudo-Spanish thing I have going needs to be put on pause. It’s not so much a rut as it’s a…habit. I was thinking Indian initially, but more and more I’m thinking Latin America. I just love the flavors, particularly on these dreary cold NYC days. Any cookbook recommendations or chefs I need to be aware of?

- I want to be a little more serious in my reading. It was embarrassing talking to Betsy yesterday: I told her I hadn’t read The Underneath…or any other book in Newbery contention. She said, “Well, you’ve read Chains, right?” Um…negative. “Graveyard Book?” Yeah, no. Her eyes bugged out of her head. How embarrassing to admit that I’ve spent all my time reading foodie books, The Luxe, and Georgia Nicolson. Particularly when I have Newbery Committee aspirations. I’ve got no street cred among my peeps. Again, this goal is kind of vague…but I’ll work on it nonetheless.

- Master the soufflé. It will be mine. Oh, yes, it will be mine. Even if I have to go All The Way to Brooklyn and make Ellen teach me.

- Finish the article I’m working on for a children’s book review publication. It’s meant for a particular journal, but I don’t feel comfortable sharing that here. But I do want to submit it for publication. The key is that I have to…you know…actually write it if I expect to finish it.

- Re-read some classics. I spend so much time forging ahead with my books that I don’t often go back and revisit some books I have loved in the past. Some ideas: The Neverending Story by Michael Ende, Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (I actually hated this in high school…I’m hoping I’ll appreciate it with an adult perspective), Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade by Barthe DeClements (I loooooooved this as a kid – I thought it would be fun to re-read it). And for heaven's sake, I will read my first Roald Dahl book this year.

- Be more active in the blogsphere. Join Barefoot Bloggers. Or do Poetry Friday. Or go to a Slow Food NYC event. Get more involved.

- Try more foods. I will try foie gras this year; I’m ethically opposed to it, but I still want to see what the fuss is about. And I have never had a brussel sprout – must do. Haven’t had a beet either so I’m doing that this year as well.

- Continue to combine my love of food and books. In particular, plan an outing. I talked with Andrea about it…and now Molly and I have talked…and I want to get my foodie book friends together for food adventures in the city (or outside of it...road trip to wineries on Long Island, anyone?). Starting with Calexico in Brooklyn…I’ll make the trek for a mission-style burrito, especially one Andrea swears by. And I want to eat at Union Square Café since I’ve never been…and I’ll invite my foodie book friends…we’ll channel Ina Garten who says it’s her favorite restaurant in the city.

- Split a CSA box with friends this summer. Really, there is no excuse in the world why I shouldn’t.

And those are just a few of the things I want to do this year…

Eat, drink, and make the most of every year…and every moment.


* Because you don’t need to know about the other ones, like go to the dentist (you couldn’t begin to guess when my last visit occurred) or declutter my closet.

A cornucopica, if you will...

Oh, for heaven's sake, you guys!  I was having such a lovely, relaxing - albeit, cold - weekend...and when I sit down to my computer on Sunday night, I find that you all have been busy posting all kinds of awesomeness.  On one hand, it makes for fascinating reading and I'm always for that.  However, it means that I have all kinds of thoughts I want to blog so now I have to do that.  And I worry about some of you not having a life away from the computer...but I suppose that's your business...and I don't really know most of you on a personal level.

ANYWAY, here are some of my favorites:

1. The gals at Haphazard Gourmet Girls have started an off-shoot blog: Obama Foodorama.  Naturally, anyone interested in food and its policies is curious to see what impact our President-Elect will have on our future...on the food revolution.  So the Girls are now tracking it.  As I've said, I don't always agree with the Haphazard Gourmet Girls but, to their credit, they always get me thinking and mulling.  Let's hope the upcoming administation can actually enact some CHANGE on agricultural policy in the U.S.

2. Chicken Spaghetti has a post up about the movement of Slow Blogging, as reported by the New York Times.  Curiously, I get the weekend Times and somehow missed this article!  Naturally, the movement of Slow Blogging is inspired by the Slow Food movement*.  I love the idea, of course, of both slow food and slow blogging...however, especially in the U.S., I wonder how much of it is a trend and just paying lip service.  As a country, are we really committed to slowing down?  To doing less?  To turning off the world for awhile?  To being more intimate?  I'd like to think so, but the skeptic in me is doubtful.  The NY Times article quotes Todd Sieling as saying that "slow blogging is a rejection of immediacy...It is an affirmation that not all things worth reading are written quickly."  Okay, I get it.  I do.  But isn't that the point of blogs?  Immediate information?  Having your finger on the pulse?  If I want something contemplative, something poetic, something life-affirming...well, I certainly don't reach for the blogs.  That's what books are for, n'est-ce pas?  But ignore me.  I'm just posting on my blog.  Thanks, Susan, for the link - it gave me food for thought on a Sunday evening!

3.  This is for all you New York foodies out there: Sustainable Table has linked to information about a "Food Wheel" that helps you ascertain which foods are in season when in New York state.  This is going to be incredibly helpful to me because, like most Americans, I've become so accustomed to having year-round access to all foods that I have ceased to understand the seasonality of my local area.  Hint: if you're living in NYC, this is NOT the time of year for asparagus...even though my nearest grocer recently had it on sale.  Don't even get me started...  Additionally, I have a copy of the Field Guide to Produce: How to Identify, Select, and Prepare Virtually Every Fruit and Vegetable at the Market by Aliza Green (which I named on my list of Top 10 Cooking Books) and I find it enormously helpful for determining the seasonality of different produce (though it doesn't help with NY specific).  It also identifies what to look for in ripe produce and various suggestions (no recipes) for preparations.  

4. Pink Me has the Cybils' graphic novels list up.  I'm pulling for Mo and Jo: Fighting Together Forever by Jay Lynch and illustrated by Dean Haspiel.  It's a huge hit with Kiddo, and it truly nails the sibling relationship...at least, the one I had as a kid with my brother.  I love Jellaby by Kean Soo.  Really, I looooved it - the spread where Jellaby is kicking the leaves is joy personified.  But I found the ending SO abrupt.  I can't get past it.  It was a needle-scratching-across-the-record sort of ending.

5. This didn't come to me via Bloglines but, rather, through Facebook.  My new friend, Ariel from Sesame Workshop, just handed over a recipe for "hot apple butterbeer."  No measurements so apologies to you more exact baking-type people.  But here's what she said: "apple cider, lemon, rum, maple syrup, butter, allspice, cloves, cinnamon.  Just add all the other stuff to the cider and keep tasting".  She also added that you need to "serve it HOT" or the butter starts solidifying.  It's Sunday night so I'm not quite in the mood for this drink, but you can bet your arse I'll be whipping it up come this weekend when my Soul Twin and her husband come from North Carolina for the holiday!

Eat, drink, and enjoy all the warm alcoholic drinks that winter brings!

* Ironically, I'm on the mailing list for Slow Food NYC...but never have time to go to any of their events.  

Budgets, Ina Garten, Pig Slaughtering, and Young Adult Books! Oh, my!

A couple of food things to share:

- More Than Burnt Toast has become the 100th member of Barefoot Bloggers, a blogging community dedicated to the recipes of Ina Garten. I luuuurve Ina Garten – her recipes are my go-to, my fail-safe, my always-awesome. She has never failed me. So I’m considering joining the BB group. Hell, I’ll look for any excuse to make her Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart (Yes. I do bake. Sometimes. Especially, or only, when there is pumpkin involved.). Stay tuned.

- Slow Food NYC is hosting an event called “Slow Food Nose to Tail Eating: Pig Butchering Demonstration and Tasting.” Naturally, I must go. It’s on Sunday, November 16th from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the Institute of Culinary Education. Tickets are $40 for Slow Food Members, $60 for non-members. The event benefits Slow Food Harvest Time education programs in schools in East Harlem and Williamsburg.

- It’s monetary crunch time in the Lutz household. I have no problem confessing here that we’ve accrued some debt. And it’s time to break it on down. Adam suggested that we cut down on our food “budget” (there really isn’t one…). On our current plan, we only have $300 a month for food. Which isn’t doable, seeing as we normally spend in the $500-$600 range (including beer and wine). Adam said that we could pull money from other places to put into the food. But I loves me a challenge. I said, “No. Let’s try to make this $300 happen.” I thought about all the food I throw away every month. I thought about people who live on a hell of a lot less than this (poor me, right? Only spending $500 a month…). I considered the superfluous glass(es) of wine I drink each night. I thought about how we eat an entire ball of buffalo mozzarella in a meal when we could easily halve that amount and just amp up the salad. There’s lots of ways to make this happen. Again, stay tuned, as a foodie who has never had a food budget in her adult life tries to cut down dramatically while still enjoying the finer things…

- Lastly, I mentioned earlier that I was reading my way through some young adult foodie fiction books… So I read A La Carte, and I just finished High Dive by Tammar Stein. High Dive was an enjoyable read, but I wouldn’t call it a foodie book. A college freshman, Arden, travels alone to Europe to sell the family vacation home. Her mom is serving as a nurse in Iraq, and her father has recently died. This is actually more of a book about children of military families; I have a friend who grew up as a “military brat” and many of the experiences she has shared with me are similar to Arden’s: difficulty making long-term friends, rootlessness, being alone in foreign countries, growing up on base. Other than some cursory descriptions of meals in cafés, there really isn’t much about food. I would, however, recommend this to older teens longing to travel or who grew up in military families. Next on my list is Dear Julia by Amy Bronwen Zemser…

Eat, drink, and hope the new food budget helps with the pants zippering…