The first time I liked yogurt, it came in a small glass bottle, a sprinkle of coarse salt piled on the top cap of cream in a miniature milk bottle. Iran, 1975, hostel, first dairy (other than marvelous Magnolia ice cream) in 26 months. In a place that felt as far from home culture and home people as possible, the taste brought me right back to the concrete porch in beautiful Wayne County where Mother and Dad processed milk into cream, butter, and cottage cheese.

For decades I tried yogurt brands, but never found any I wanted to eat everyday. I made yogurt for some years, but mostly for others in the house.

I’m in a new yogurt phase now, courtesy of real milk from marvelous local Jerseys, Read the rest of this entry »

My passion for morels, and the crime of passion I committed for them, are plenty public. So I plan to go to Irvine, Kentucky on Saturday, April 26, 2008, for the Mountain Mushroom Festival. I do not know whether there will be actual fresh morels present at the Festival, but I do believe there will be some mushrooms of some sort, and some mushroom cooking, and a Fungus 5K (isn’t that kind of big for a fungus?) and Read the rest of this entry »

This monster asparagus grew in our bed downtown in Lexington and, emboldened by its 2007 manure, threatened to eat the neighborhood. Never fear, though! Mild-tempered, well-mannered asparagus — plus much fun — can be yours in May’s Lick, Kentucky on May 17, at the annual Asparagus Festival (always the third Saturday in May.)

I must confess that this delicious-sounding festival promises some kinds of fun I, at least, am not used to having. I will cite just one — the Asparagus Bed Race! Read the rest of this entry »

The second Saturday for the 2008 Lexington Farmers Market season brought lots of vendors, a little early rain, and a LOT of beautiful locally grown foods, flowers, and plants.

Here’s a small gallery of photos from the rainy portion of the morning.

[Show as slideshow]

Singing in the rain!

Elmwood's Bordeaux Spinach

Hazelfield Spring Beauties

Too pretty to eat!

Fresh Sunrise Bread at Blue Moon

Roland Macintosh's Red Tulips

Kenny's Cheeses at Blue Moon

Pink and lilac beauty from Hazelfield

Abigail's Honey Shop

I brought home so many good things:

• a thyme plant, green garlic, and paprika from Blue Moon Farm
• giant parsnips, Bordeaux spinach, and kale from Elmwood Stock Farm
• beeswax candles and this year’s bee pollen from Bev Nickels
• fresh goat feta from Bleugrass Chevre
• tender Bibb lettuce and dried shiitake mushrooms from Hoot Owl Holler Farm

Happy local days are here again!

Right about now, you should be worried unless you (a) have your early garden planted; (b) live next door to a farmers market; or (c) have bought shares in a local organic, sustainable, or biodynamic farm for the upcoming growing season.

If your answer is “None of the Above,” Read the rest of this entry »

We visited the Birmingham Zoo yesterday. My favorite thing: Flamingos. Their flaming coral color made me laugh - and it comes from carotene! According to a little teaching tidbit posted near these beauties, their color comes from their food supply. Did you know this?? Read the rest of this entry »