http://www.annalisagross.com Sharing in the Midst of Scarcity Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:13:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [caption id="attachment_479" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Cumin and other spices in a Hebron market stall"][/caption] I tasted this most delicious salsa of my mother's creation last week, and came back to Richmond with a craving. I have all of the ingredients expect the bell peppers (I could use canned tomatoes). (Un)fortunately, I can't buy ... http://www.annalisagross.com/?p=477 I and the folks I hang out with are often distressed that we don't have more/any (depends on who you ask) great local coffeeshops to hang out in, or other establishments that showcase local talent and products. Our town is ~36,000 people. The town I grew up in is ~6,000 people, and ... http://www.annalisagross.com/?p=472 [caption id="attachment_469" align="alignright" width="185" caption="tamarind date chutney"][/caption] I feel a resistance to the idea that "most things are fine in moderation." I am not a moderate person, and tend to enjoy experiencing things in extremes. For example, strawberries are my very favorite food. I have this idea that I would be ... http://www.annalisagross.com/?p=468 [caption id="attachment_463" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Donna, Anna Lisa, Al, Travis and Karen after sharing dinner."][/caption] Every once in awhile I hear a story about someone transforming a moment of violence or theft, and I am moved. It's like a peace activist's dream come true - to have an opportunity to put all ... http://www.annalisagross.com/?p=462 [caption id="attachment_460" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Bread pudding recipe"][/caption] Bread is often something I end up with too much of. Freezing it is always a simple way to avoid wasting it. This bread pudding recipe is another. As you can see, there is no specification for temperature or time. I put the oven to ... http://www.annalisagross.com/?p=459 [caption id="" align="alignright" width="361" caption="The last bits of the soap bar that are way too small to use without annoyance melt down well to make new soap. I'll take anyone's soap and candle scraps!"][/caption] "There is no waste, only creative challenges to find meaning and new opportunity," I wrote last fall, ... http://www.annalisagross.com/?p=452 [caption id="attachment_449" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Butternut squash soup"][/caption] I made this soup for company a couple months ago, hoping that the lack of discernable vegetables and sweet flavor would appeal to the kids there. It didn't really work, since I told everyone what was in it:-) But I liked it, and recommend it as ... http://www.annalisagross.com/?p=447 [caption id="attachment_442" align="alignright" width="191" caption="Fudge brownie"][/caption] I made these brownies for the Bethany Board of Trustees about a week ago. I'm ashamed to admit, I usually make brownies from a box because I like the texture so much better than brownies from scratch. But these brownies are a winner - chewy ... http://www.annalisagross.com/?p=441 [caption id="attachment_432" align="alignright" width="223" caption="Rhubarb crisp"][/caption] I made this for book club a couple weeks ago, with frozen rhubarb from last spring. I used honey from Centerville and molasses, rather than sugar, and extra rhubarb in place of sorrel. This recipe comes from Simply in Season, an excellent cookbook that is a ... http://www.annalisagross.com/?p=431 [caption id="attachment_429" align="alignright" width="199" caption="A Madhur Jaffrey classic!"][/caption] This is a great time of year to eat eggs - the chickens start laying abundantly well before veggies and fruit are ready for harvest, and pantries and freezers may be getting bare. So here's a recipe that Chris and I enjoyed recently. It ... http://www.annalisagross.com/?p=428