{recipe & tips} Incorporating Chia Seeds Into Your Diet

Incorporating Chia Seeds Into Your Diet This year the Salvia hispanica, or chia seed, is popping up everywhere. This superfood is worth all of the hype, even if it somehow possesses some people to randomly break out into song about pets. The chia seed has many nutritional benefits. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, Chia is very…

{backyard-to-kitchen poultry} Rooster Nuggets

*Reader alert: The following story involves some general information on poultry processing (no gory details or photos, though). If you’d rather not hear more about how the meat my family eats came from real live animals, some of whom grew up in our backyard, stop here. If you do eat meat, however, I would encourage…

{FSC PODCAST} episode 01: new beginnings

UPDATE/Editor’s Note: As of 4pm today (LEAP DAY), we’ve been accepted into the iTUNES universe. Subscribe here or search for us in your iTUNES program by “From Scratch Club”.  You can listen to the episode right on this very post too! Just look for the ‘listen’ link below. Thanks for listening! -Christina Happy Leap Day!…

{cooking with kids} Tips to Keep You Sane

Some say that the kitchen is the heart of the house; the warm gathering spot where good food and laughter is shared.  Unfortunately, this warm, lovely place can sometimes turn into a battle ground when attempting to cook with your kids.  Flour goes flying, tears start pouring and mom/dad feel like shouting. I know that…

{weekend reading} Back in the Saddle Again

For those of you who’ve been reading for a year or so, may remember my weekly food politics/recipe link love post, {Weekend Reading} National Edition on Sundays and {weekend reading} Local Edition on Saturdays. Well, those Nationa; posts have been absent from the blog for almost a year, the Local Editions since October, and clearly,…

{weekend project} Citrus Granola Two Ways

I’m all about citrus season! Last winter was my first winter season preserving citrus. I dipped my toe in the kiddie pool with two variations on marmalade. A simple orange and a 100% ruby grapefruit. Both delicious… but I wanted more. {My Vin De Pamplemouse is a mix between Local Kitchen & Mrs Wheelbarrow’s recipes}…

{recipe: stone soup} Making Something From “Nothing”

I have always loved the folk tale of “Stone Soup” because in it a delicious soup is created from meager ingredients.  I love the challenge of creating delicious food from not-so-obvious ingredients.  Over one year ago I pledged to stop buying grocery store meat and this prompted me to start purchasing whole chickens at the…

{drink it up} The Art of the Hot Toddy

It’s officially flu season. According to the CDC, the onset of flu season has been delay recently. If (like me) you thought that you were in the clear, think again. The nasty virus might still be lurking, waiting to take you as its next prey. And then there is all the other yuckiness that’s been…

{NOFA-NY Winter Conference} pieces of the food puzzle

*I find it interesting that in the same week as I’m writing this post, our biggest local paper, The Times Union, ran a story on a local farm, Dharma Lea farm in Sharon Springs run by the Van Amburgh family, on the cover of their Sunday edition Business Section. Granted, we do have some great farmland…

{WNIMKW} Vitamix Blender

Editors Note: Let’s take a moment and rewind. Hop into the FSC Time Machine and if you go back to 2010 – early 2011 and you will find 19 posts under the series title “What’s New In My Kitchen Wednesdays” or WNIMKW for short.  This used to be a semi-weekly series where we weaved a…

{be mine} DIY Conversation Hearts

Valentine’s Day is a holiday of love, but also of CANDY! While you might immediately imagine a red, heart-shaped box of chocolates when thinking of Valentine’s Day, there is another candy that has also been capturing hearts. A favorite amongst school-aged children, the Conversation Heart has had a steady fan base over the years.  I…

{recipe} White Bean & Tomato Spread

If you’re looking for a party dip to serve your Superbowl-watching guests tonight, have no fear, this easy dip packs a lot of flavor and will pair perfectly with a corn chip. Or a veggie straw. Or slice of a hakurei turnip, carrot or black radish (yep, their in season!). If you are not watching…

{recipe} Popovers: my latest breakfast obsession

Popovers are my latest food obsession. Since having a baby a couple months ago, we’ve had guests staying with us periodically.  Despite being preoccupied with the baby, I love to cook and have been relieved to have something special for our visitors that doesn’t require excessive amounts of my time.  I have wonderful memories of…

{4 saturdays, 4 giveaways} All About Braising

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY CLOSED AT MIDNIGHT JANUARY 27th, 2012. FIND THE WINNERS HERE. -Christina   Ohhhhhhhhhhhh….Do I love this book! I’m going to leave this book review short & sweet. I promise. Molly Steven’s All About Braising: The Art of Uncomplicated Cooking is one of my kitchen bibles, along with How to Cook Everything,…

{the new year} Be More Mindful

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it’s twice as onerous a duty. – John Selden I have always believed that once you put your intentions out in the world, you are twice as responsible for making them fruitful. And because of this, perhaps they are more likely to. Whether through cosmic intervention or personal obligation,…