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Wild Wineberry Preserves

2 August 2009 by local kitchen

Rain, rain and more rain. What is it about rainy Sundays that makes me just want to curl up with a good book? Luckily, yesterday was a gorgeous day here in Westchester County; bright sunshine, cool breeze, 75 degrees. Tai & I took advantage and went to a nearby neighborhood street where wild red raspberries grow all along the sides of the road – thousands of crystal-red, delicious berries, ripe for the picking. The particular berries that line this Westchester backroad are […]

Categories: berries, canning, foraging, jams, preserving, summer • Tags: berries, canning, cooking, food, local, preserving, recipes

Wild Black Raspberries

11 July 2009 by local kitchen

We have wild black raspberries growing in our yard (yes, we are very lucky). There is one good-sized patch near the front door and another one buried in the hillside that leads down to the driveway with a few canes scattered here and there in the woods. None of these areas produce large amounts of berries, as they are not managed by us at all; they are overgrown, must compete with weeds, opportunistic vines, other brambly-type bushes (that’s the technical term), […]

Categories: 100% local, foraging, wild foods • Tags: berries, food, foraging, local, wild foods

Popped Our Cherries

26 June 2009 by local kitchen

Tai had a surprise day off from work today, so the two of us took our chances with the weather and went cherry picking at Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction, NY. Fishkill Farms is a vegetable and fruit farm, and one of the few places in the area where you can find stone fruits grown using organic methods (although the farm is not certified organic). The farm itself is quite beautiful, with rolling hills packed full of diverse crops and […]

Categories: cherries, community, farmer's markets, fruit • Tags: cooking, farms, food, local, recipes

Local Potluck: Summer ’09

22 June 2009 by local kitchen

About three or four times a year, usually about once per season, some friends and I gather together for a completely local meal. We plan a menu based upon what is available at the local farmer’s markets, divide up the dishes between us, and gather at one of our homes for an afternoon of delicious, 100% local food & drink. Last weekend I was the host and we lucked out with a rare, 4-hour window of sun in the endless rainy weather. […]

Categories: 100% local, community • Tags: cooking, food, local, recipes

Strawberries!

17 June 2009 by local kitchen

As in, 25 pounds of ’em. I went strawberry picking with my friend Alison today, up at Jones Family Farms in Shelton, CT. We both got a wee bit carried away; I picked about 25 lbs and she picked 20 lbs. But Jones Farm is so fun that it’s easy to get carried away; between the Berry Ferry (the flatbed truck that trundles you out to the berry fields), the little kids thrilled to find the perfect berry, and the […]

Categories: berries, community • Tags: berries, food, local

Spring Green Veggie Pasta

6 May 2009 by local kitchen

On my last night in San Fran I tried to cook up all the wonderful veggies we had picked up at the Ferry Building farmer’s market. I had planned on a spring veggie risotto, maybe with some Niman Ranch bacon (which makes any dish wonderful), but it was a crazy day of running around, meeting at friend for lunch at the Beach Chalet, doing laundry, hanging prints, catching up on email… essentially, I did not get out to the store, […]

Categories: beans, farmer's markets, herbs, main course, pasta, spring, tarragon, vegetarian • Tags: cooking, food, local, recipes, vegetarian

Overheard at the Farmer’s Market

4 May 2009 by local kitchen

Christina and I went to the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market on Saturday. I wish I could have taken lots of pretty pictures, but sadly, the day was rainy, wet and grey; not much like the sunny summer day shown here (from the market’s website). The rain did not dampen my spirits, however, when I was able to find Rancho Gordo beans (I bought Christmas Lima, flageolet, Midnight and Borlotti beans to bring home in my luggage), my favorite cheddar-chive scone from Noe Valley Bakery, and […]

Categories: community, farmer's markets • Tags: cooking, farms, food, local

Go West, Young Kitchen!

30 April 2009 by local kitchen

Local Kitchen is headed West! I’m off to San Francisco to visit my recently re-located girlfriend Christina in her new digs in the City by the Bay. She’s very excited for me to come out and cook for her, and I’m excited by all the fabulous local ingredients that California has on offer: olives and olive oil, avocados, almonds, walnuts and pistchios, Rancho Gordo beans, citrus of all kinds and flavors, and oh my the wine! It’s going to be […]

Categories: community • Tags: cooking, food, local

Neighborly Advice: Friday Blog Carnival

3 April 2009 by local kitchen

Ever wanted to learn how to make jam? Get over you pressure-cooker fear? Knit a hat or make your own pizza dough? Fellow blogger Neighbor Nancy has started a Friday blog carnival over at Recession Depression Therapy called Neighborly Advice. Featured are two pizza dough recipes from yours truly, but don’t hold that against it – there is lots of good advice for anyone looking to expand their cooking or crafting horizons. Surf on over and check it out!

Categories: community • Tags: cooking, food, homesteading, local, recipes