One of the best things about cooking in the summertime (aside from the amazing evening sunlight) is bringing your garden inside to make your table look better and dishes more tasty! Not only does it make your home and heart more alive – it also saves your wallet! Here are a couple tips from my Dining for Friends lunch this past weekend.
Holy Hydrangea! Cut them for centerpieces and use their leaves to display food. Hydrangea leaves also make an amazing backdrop for food display – like deviled eggs or cheese plates! You can also use fig leaves!
Add baby vegetables to your cheese plate! I used baby squash, radishes and cucumbers to my pimento cheese tray for a color kick – and fresh bite. I also used tender baby vegetables in a pasta salad with lettuce and lemon vinaigrette!
Plant an herb garden and share your wealth with neighbors. Between the houses on my block, we have about every herb you’d need including about six varieties of mint. Everyone is open to sharing – what’s what neighbors are for, right?
What are your favorite ways to bring the garden indoors?
Another beautiful weekend in Greensboro has passed us by filled with outdoor celebrations and friends. I spent Friday night with friends in the Greensboro Children’s Museum Edible Schoolyard at their annual Green Acres Gala. It was a perfect evening to spend in the garden and walk through downtown with movie playing and fireworks shooting over the baseball stadium. A special shout out to my friend Jim King who won my cooking class in the Green Acres auction – I can’t wait to brainstorm menu ideas with you!
Saturday I woke up early to hit the Greensboro Curb Market and pick up goodies for my Dining for Friends lunch. With only $15 in cash, I picked up a huge loot of fresh vegetables, fresh breads and berries. I used my market loot to finish off a locally inspired lunch menu for some very generous friends who helped raise much-needed support for Triad Health Project. We spent Saturday afternoon squeezed in like sardines on my purple picnic table – laughing, eating and discussing everything from arts to bugs. The blueberry infused vodka lemonade helped my afternoon snooze.
After spending Sunday afternoon eating Chinese Dumplings from a food truck while shopping the Hand to Hand Market, I wondered – who thinks there is nothing to do in Greensboro? Too much, I say. I’ll post the recipes from my lunch this week!
Growing up I ate many meals at my grandmother’s dining room table. My grandmother was challenged in the kitchen and I spent many a meal politely clearing my plate of burnt toast and red fish stew. So, this post isn’t about food and I won’t overwhelm you with her recipes. But, while her skills were lacking in the kitchen, she was an expert on Southern hospitality.
To my Grandmother, Southern hospitality was more than greeting guests into our home with a smile or the amount of butter we added to our dishes – it was an act of grace that she strived to pass on to her children and grandchildren. Often times before meals she would send me from house to house and dock to dock on Canterbury Drive and the Withlachoochee River delivering dishes to her neighbors. The purpose of my deliveries was more about learning to introduce myself and give a firm handshake than the food itself. She understood the value of building relationships with people from all walks of life and spent her lifetime advocating and caring for those less fortunate than she. To her, that was Southern Hospitality – taking care of everyone with grace.
Far away from the Withlachoochee River, the meals at my grown-up dining room table are now much more elaborate than my grandmother would have ever envisioned. Without a doubt, the best part about making my home in North Carolina is the diversity of my friendships and conversations with them around my around my table. While my grandmother’s recipes are rarely shared at the table – or on this blog – her tradition of grace is an equally important component to meals shared on Mendenhall Street.
A frequent conversation around my table over the past year is the threat of Amendment One on our ballot, May 8th. North Carolina’s Amendment One is far from hospitable. If passed, it would spoil what Southern Hospitality means to our state and our traditions. It’s impacts are wide-spread and harmful.
Amendment One strips North Carolina families and children of basic health care, threatens parental rights, and throws basic protections like domestic violence laws into what many are calling “legal chaos.”
It’s poorly written and has unknown consequences that could impact our citizens unpredictably.
It endangers children of unmarried families – potentially losing healthcare and prescription drug coverage. I’m fortunate enough to know many unmarried couples who have adopted children. Particularly, my friend Jamin, in the photo above , who adopted her son Hugo several years ago. Regulating how parents can love or care for their children – biological or not – isn’t the Southern way, period.
It puts unmarried women at risk. Amendment 1 could strip domestic violence protections for all women.
It puts unmarried seniors at risk – forcing them to choose between legal protections and pensions.
It makes our state unattractive to businesses, creatives, countless industries and young people. It puts our (already threatened) economy at risk.
To me, there is nothing more hospitable than caring, protecting and securing the rights of all our citizens. So, I ask you to go to the polls proudly on May 8th (or before) to stand up for Southern Hospitality and vote AGAINST Amendment One. Perhaps if you don’t, we will be eating a lot of red fish stew on Mendenhall Street.
For more information on the negative impacts of Amendment 1, visit www.protectncfamilies.org.
I spent my time primarily indoors attempting to recover from the pollen, despite how horribly beautiful it was outside.
On Friday, I did get a chance to take a field trip with Margo (in her big ole truck) to visit the Old Mill of Guilford for some newspaper research. She also convinced me to attend my first horse show while cruising through Oak Ridge, NC! I was pleasantly amused by the Western Pleasure Wear. I need more lycra in my wardrobe. Next time I’ll plan to stay for the bull riding – next time.
Saturday morning, strawberries took center stage at the Greensboro Curb Market. They are in season a full month ahead and the market has too many to count. I bought a gallon of fresh berries to share with friends and eat for breakfast and dessert this week. I can’t get enough of them. Mark your calendars to stop by next Saturday and visit my friend at Sawyer Farms. A chat with her and a basket of strawberries will kick start a memorable weekend.
The remainder of the weekend, I cooked a spring chicken, procrastinated, snacked and snuggled with my pup. A busy few weeks are ahead (with lots of biscuits) but I’m going to try to report a few good recipes in the days ahead.
Off to enjoy the last few moments of weekend sunshine.
Two things getting me through the day light savings time adjustment:
1) All the blooms in Greensboro! Daffodils, tulips, cherry trees and linten roses are all over my house. I recommend cutting as many as you can (legally, ya’ll) and bringing them into your home! I purchased some at the farmers market and cut many straight from my backyard. It’s brought new life to my house and is such a cheerful setting to wake up to.
2) Speaking of waking up! I recently purchased a Nespresso Pixie Espresso Machine from Williams Sonoma and it has changed. my. life. I know, it’s a little indulgent, but think about how much you might spend buying a couple lattes a week out! This little machine can crank out a hot cup of espresso in less than 2 minutes and you feel like you’re your own barista! So civilized, I must say. Enough of the promotion – I’m just saying it’s made waking up such a pleasure – a homemade hot latte is only better when you have a dog in the bed with CBS Sunday morning on the tube.
Outside of all the blooms and morning jolts of caffeine, I spent my weekend at the farmer’s market picking up goodies and scouting ideas for my April column (send ideas!). I made a sort-of-Irish meal for some friends on Saturday night – hamburgers with local beef from Rothchild’s Angus Farm (no pink slim on Mendenhall), homemade baked potato chips, grilled onions and a Frozen Grasshopper Pie (no pinching either). We scarfed down our burgers and green ice cream and crashed early while the rest of Greensboro made jolly with green beer.
Here are some photos from my quiet weekend. I’ll post a few new recipes this week.
This morning my phone buzzed with an Outlook calendar reminder that said “Food Truck Rodeo – Location: Durham – of course.” It’s a common joke between many of my friends that if something hip is going on – it’s probably in Durham. I know, I’m supposed to be a cheerleader for Greensboro (it’s my full time job to do so) but I also believe that it’s our responsibility as community leaders is to call ourselves out from time to time. Food trucks aren’t only fun – they have the capability to leverage creativity, entrepreneurism and a more thriving food culture (not to mention attracting young professionals) – yet, they aren’t permitted in Greensboro’s center city. Just sayin.
Luckily, it was a beautiful day in North Carolina because lines were long at the Food Truck Rodeo in downtown Durham. Over twenty trucks came to Durham Central Park – everything from pretzels to dumplings. The trucks attracted hundreds of folks from all walks of life. We waited more than an hour to get a Korean BBQ burrito from Bulkogi Korean BBQ Truck and then lounged on the lawn in the sun. After an amazing Chocolate Stout Loco Pop, we walked to the downtown skatepark to watch kids in play.
A fun field trip and reminder that we have plenty of work to do in our hometown. I’d be happy to take any Greensboro elected official on my next field trip to see what’s happenin’ just east of here.
You know what I did this weekend? I sat in this chair by the fire for many, many hours. In between, I cooked some meals, sipped espresso and helped entertain my Mom and her friend Debbie by changing the Pandora station. I know – I lead a hard life. I did, however, make some interesting new meals that I can’t wait to share with you! Friday night I made my own Pretzel Rolls – which were the biggest surprise of the weekend. These will be a staple on Mendenhall from here out – so easy yet so uniquely delicious! I’ll post the recipe this week and you MUST try them!
My seat next to the fire was just what I needed. My life can often be chaotic (and it’s self induced!). I run from one thing to the next and I’ve become accustom to it. And while a sprint can be productive – a jog or walk always gives time to take in the scenery. The Italians have a phrase - “L’arte di non fare niente” – which means “the art of doing nothing” (for those who didn’t read Under the Tuscan Sun). I’m not sure I’ll ever master that art but I sure enjoyed trying this weekend.
An adventure near or far isn’t fit without a good picnic. I’ve been picnicking my way through the winter with field trips, road trips and quick walks to the Lake Daniel park to pick up extra vitamin D on sunny days. Picnicking is really a sport and I take pride in creating fun and fresh picnics for friends. From fried chicken on train rides to rainy day picnics in the car, I’ve had many fun picnics over the past couple years. Each are memorable because I’ve never experienced a boring or pouty picnic (although I think I once had a childhood meltdown over mayonnaise at a beach picnic).
Here are some fun ideas and tips for picnic essentials so you’ll be ready anytime the sun is out or adventure is calling!
A bottle opener and traveling cork screw. My mom gave me a small cork screw for Christmas this year. She said, “keep it in your purse, you never know when you’ll need it.” The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
A small cutting board and a good knife wrapped in a cloth napkin.
Plastic flutes for fizzy drinks! I LOVE these Govino plastic champagne flutes – which you can buy at Zeto in downtown Greensboro or on Amazon. I like to make nonalcoholic fizzy drinks for afternoon picnics since champagne can make a girl tired and loopy (even more than usual). Try pomegranate juice and San Pellegrino — or pick up Carrot & Apple Juice (with beats, celery and fresh ginger) from the Earthfare Juice Bar and mix with Blenheim Hot Ginger Ale.
An old blanket or quilt.
No-cook market pick ups – good cheeses, cured meats, fruit and olives.
Homemade hummus (Easy blend of chick peas, olive oil, salt & pepper, lemon juice, tahini, tabasco and green olives pureed in the food processor)
Yesterday, I took a field trip to Liberty, NC to visit Rising Meadow Farm for their annual Sheep Shearing Day. My friends Margaret and Ella were brave enough to join for a winter picnic. Wind and 40 degree temperatures didn’t stop us from enjoying blue skies and sunshine – which were in plenty. Rising Meadow Farm is just 20ish minutes south of Downtown Greensboro and perfect for a quick weekend excursion. In addition to watching a team of shearers at work, we also caught sight of chickens, llamas and beautifully colored yarn inside the Farm Store. Rising Meadow has a couple of public events throughout the year – so, don’t miss out on this local treasurer nestled inside the low hills just south of town. It really is picturesque!
We enjoyed a picnic of Loaf bread, olives, cheese, homemade tomato soup and pomegranate spritzers. The wind cut back on our picnic lounging but the soup helped us stay warm. Hibernation this time of year is so tempting – but don’t let it keep you from the fun things going on around the Piedmont!
I’ll post the soup recipe tomorrow! And, check out all my Rising Meadow Farm photos on the MMoM Facebook page!
