My first volunteering gig!!

It felt amazing to be back in a commercial kitchen.

Last night, the Astor Center hosted a fundraising event for the LES Girls Club and the theme was Cinco De Mayo! Sue Torres served an incredible four course meal that included of guac, chicken enchiladas, grouper and plantains, and churros. There was a tequila tasting and the Junior Merino team served up the cocktails (note: dehydrated cactus salt is out of this world!).

I cannot express the excitement that rushed through us all night. Everyone was super awesome and we all had a blast. Can't wait to go back!

This past weekend...

Because the weather was so beautiful, I could not help but spending a great majority of my weekend out doors.

On Saturday, Joe and I planted our garden full of string beans, strawberries, tomatoes, squash, lettuce, cucumbers, herbs, etc. While they look a little weak, I've been told to just keep them moist and sing to them. Seriously.

Sunday, we visited the Queens Farm Museum and hung out with Mister Marty who took us on a tour and taught us how to make corn husk brooms. The farm is such an incredible place I've deemed it my sanctuary. The farm animals seem so happy and the produce is lush. And I have to mention that we purchased a dozen eggs from their beautiful red hens - delicious!

Oh, happy weekends!

Vilsack: I have my reservations, but I really like this

I admit I have my reservations with Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack - him being friends with big business farming, and all. But, this I like. 

Vilsack is supporting a 1,300 square foot sustainable/rotation crop garden in D.C. The produce of the garden will go to local food pantries. If that isn't cool enough, he is also inviting the chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux to participate.

 

Not bad at all... ENCORE!!!

Chickens in NYC

I think I want to start raising chickens.  Joe laughs at me.... but I'm completely serious.

EARTH DAY!!

I'm sure I don't have to remind anyone, but today is EARTH DAY!!!

While it is my favorite holiday, I hope that everyone gets out there and does their part to help our beautiful planet. Here are some tips:

1. Plant something... anything! It can be herbs, a flower, vegetables, a tree. It doesn't matter if it is in your window at work or in a garden.
2. Say no to meat for one day a week. The stats are astonishing - if you cut out meat for one day you save about 3,300 animals lives in your lifetime! The less animals being raised for consumption, the less waste being dumped into our waterways.
3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Enough said.
4. Pick up a piece of trash. Easy to do and it will make our streets cleaner!

As always, happy harvesting!!!!

Chimps and the Modern Western Diet

Yet another interesting article from the NY Times.  

From the Science Section, Richard Wrangham, discusses years of study on how we evolved from a Chimp Diet to cooking our food.

Very interesting... especially while reading "The Face On Your Plate".

Where have all the wild horses gone?

They've been hit with birth control darts in an effort to control the population.

Perhaps, instead of jumping the (dart) gun and drugging up wild animals, why not research WHY there is a rise in wild horse population?!

I am highly disgusted.