Holiday Stimulus Plan

I know. It's holiday time and no one wants to be the downer at the cocktail party or pot luck talking about the economy. However, let's be honest, this year you'd be living in another stratosphere if you were able to successfully disconnect the two topics.

This is not an opinion on the material state of our society and the need to buy less and instead spend more quality time with your family. Yes, that's important. But, nope, we're not going down that path here. This will be short and simple, I promise.

This holiday season, when you do choose to purchase gifts for others, think locally first.  To make life easier for you, the Susquehanna Valley retailers are offering ideas and incentives during Think Local First Week, December 3-9.  You'll feel good because you're giving a jolt to your own community as well as the economy-at-large; sixty to eighty percent of your purchasing dollar will stay in your town. Your friends and family will be thrilled with the incredibly cool things you discovered. Lastly, you may find extra time to spend on whatever by staying close to home and avoiding the crowds.

And when it comes to keeping things local and simple, Essen's always here for you. Visit our current selection of Essen Edibles. And what could be more homespun than a Gift o' Essen:  our  Menu-based and Puttin' Up Classes, Create Your Own Essen Experiences and fun for The Kinder that celebrate the tradition, skill and community of cooking - everyday or any day.

So, close this note, turn off your computer and get into town to give your region the jolt it deserves.  Happy Day!

wordstoliveby

Here with the family in southern California. Just returned from one of those dining experiences so enjoyable you feel the obligation to share with anyone you can bribe to listen to you.

Whisknladle is an unpretentious bistro in La Jolla that respects the local bounty of southern California. Chef Ryan Johnston cures his own meats, pickles vegetables, hand cuts homemade pasta, bakes the bread, churns imaginative ice cream flavors, and even creates flavored tonics and purees for their artisan cocktails. Sounds like a lot of work? Not really. Chef Ryan and partner Arturo Kassel are "letting the ingredients do the talking." Each dish we had was simply prepared and respected the flavors and nuance of each ingredient. No need to over roast, over blanch, or over sauce here.

The service was that almost impossible to find balance of friendly and attentive (not gushy). And guess what - the prices were moderate, even in over-the-top southern California. I'm including the well-edited wine list. No triple mark up here. All wines are priced at retail. Truth be told, I've spent a lot more for a less-than-mediocre meal at a chain restaurant, where the kitchen probably did one-tenth the amount of actual cooking.

If this sounds like it's too good to be true, I must admit I kept pinching myself. Needless to say, I think you can guess where you'll find me on Friday.

What Matters?

I surprised a friend the other day when filling her in that I will not be cooking at all for Thanksgiving this year. I won't be hosting. I won't be bringing a car load of food to a friend's. This year, my family decided to take advantage of the kids' school breaks and take a vacation. Just the "four family." No one to visit. No commitments. Just 6 days of free time do what we please.

Once we made the decision, I often wondered if we'd miss "it" - the homemade meal, the company, the traditions we're trying to create for our kids. Thanksgiving will probably feel like any other vacation day - having a break from our routine, actually enjoying our meals - all 3 of them, and, cliche as it sounds, having time to smell the roses, if we choose. No, we won't have the added bonus to catch up with family. We've made arrangements to see them over the next couple of months, if not already. What we will have is 6 days of undivided time together - no phones, no competing commitments, no chores. At the end of the day, isn't this what holiday is all about - making the time for each other?

Turkey or tofu, I wish you and your family a memorable Thanksgiving.

A Cranberry Grows in New Jersey.

Great news! I just confirmed we'll have local (IPM), heirloom cranberries to put up for our Tipsy Cranberry Conserve holiday gifts on Sunday, December 7th. Grown in New Jersey from a family farm dating back to the 1880's, we'll support our family and friends with homemade gifts with locally grown produce.

Everyone will go home with wrapped canned cranberry conserve and cookies for at least 12 lucky recipients. Reserve your spot NOW and get a huge head start on your gift giving.

Dear Abby

This entry is long overdue. That said, there's never the perfect time to remember someone who's no longer with us.

Abby Mandel was a respected and well-known "foodie" - chef, teacher, writer, entrepreneur - she really did seem to do it all. Based in my hometown of Chicago, Abby revolutionized home cooking as we know it today with her "Machine Cuisine" classes, magazine and newspaper articles and books. Imagine the Food Network and your own dinner parties without the unbelievable convenience afforded by food processors. The machines themselves might still be hobbling along on store shelves; without Abby, we wouldn't fully understand the depth and breadth of their application.

I never met Abby and yet feel like we're old friends. My mom was a regular in those home-based "machine" classes and I, a slightly (!) younger version of my current incarnation, was always excited to come home from school and see one of the stapled handouts splayed across the kitchen counter. Within minutes, I would know which recipes I needed to reproduce at home, having a solid command of the food processor by 10 years old.

Fast forward 33 years to this past summer. Cooking Light featured Abby in an article about the growth of farmers' markets, especially in urban locations. Chicago's Green City Market was heralded as the best of the best, primarily due to Abby - her vision, her foresight and her unending patience and tenacity. Here I am in Lancaster, cooking in a style very influenced by this woman who for the last 10 years was educating Chicagoans on the virtues and how-to's behind locavorism. This could not be a coincidence.

I was to be in Chicago to visit family for a week and was going to ask my mom to set up an opportunity for me to meet her. Before I could set down my suitcase, mom hands me a newspaper clipping announcing Abby's death from cancer. Even I, oh, sensitive one, was shocked at how quickly the tears streamed down my face. It's not like I knew her personally. I hadn't lived in Chicago as an adult, so I hadn't followed her 20 year weekly newspaper column. I just always felt a connection to this woman. And now, after finally taking the plunge and following the path I was meant to be on, I feel great sadness at her passing. Abby, from the young girl who couldn't wait to check out what was new, thank you. You have no idea how many lives you touched.

Talk About a Feel Good.

Last night was Essen's 2nd annual Thanksgiving Class. As in the past, all proceeds from the class were donated to Crispus Attucks Recreation Center in Lancaster city. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who participated. We had a full house (double from last year!) and were honored that Cheryl Holland-Jones, Executive Director of Crispus Attucks, participated in the Class.

For all who couldn't attend, just a little teaser for next year. We cooked and feasted on:

o Chestnut Mushroom Soup
o Two-hour Fennel Roasted Turkey with Sherry Gravy
o Cornbread Panzanella with Brussel Sprouts and Pancetta
o Cauliflower Souffle
o Tipsy Cranberry Fig Conserve
o Ginger and Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches with Grown Up Chocolate Sauce.

Thoughts on a Thanksgiving theme for next year? It's never too soon to plan. Email your ideas to me as they hit you at cook@breathelivegrow.

How 'bout that cheese?

I just returned from a road trip with my book group to the northern Berkshires, Ashfield, Massachusetts to be exact. Last spring we read Barbara Kingsolver's non-fictional account of her family's one-year trial as locavores, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Not only were my friends inspired by what they learned, they wanted more.

While devouring a rhubarb banana galette at my house, one of the members proudly announced we need to hit the road and learn to make cheese. Of course, as Kingsolver had done one summer, only Ricki Carroll, self-proclaimed "cheese queen" would do for our new-found aspirations.

We measured, we waited, we stirred, we waited, we strained, we waited, we tasted, we drained, we waited, we molded, we waited, we pulled, we tasted.

Well, what's not to love? Beautiful setting, interesting people, great food - a little get away may be in your future, too.