Yesterday, for the first time, I cracked open my copy of The Preservation Kitchen, the book I have been writing with Paul Virant since 2010.
It had only just arrived via Fedex, an advanced copy from Ten Speed Press. Even though I knew the book was on its way, its arrival still felt unexpected, like running into a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Flipping through the pages brought back a lot of memories–the sweltering afternoon out on Prairie Fruits Farm in Champaign, tasting honey straight from the hive at Heritage Prairie Farm outside of Geneva, the photo sessions at Vie and Perennial Virant. These are good memories.
My snapshots of the book’s pages don’t quite do justice to Jenny Wapner’s editing, Jeff Kauck’s photos or Toni Tajima’s design, but for the curious, I thought I’d share a few shots. [read on…]
Every month media types like to trot out national days or months of significance, particularly during slow news cycles. How else can we explain the ongoing existence of trade association-generated events, such as national potato day, national popcorn day or…. (drum roll please) national horseradish month?
There’s another day that also gets attention for all the wrong reasons. Blue Monday, the third Monday after the new year, is statistically supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. It’s a result, say British analysts (who are probably paid by the international board of happiness) of a confluence of weather blues, the arrival of post-Christmas credit card bills, disillusionment with New Year’s resolutions, and plain-old lack of motivation. Sounds glum.
Not to worry; the day came and went this year without much incidence. Some might have even celebrated. (It was MLK day.) A few days later, I celebrated the passing of the most depressing day of the year by making a zippy soup from a rich, homemade chicken broth. It was a very simple soup–chicken and rice with a few additions for pep–but it’s the kind of healthful food that tastes good, feels good, and is good for you. Just what one needs in January. [read on…]
