Friday Five: Awesome Events In Columbus TOMORROW

It must be spring in Columbus because I am hearing of so many fun events that one person cannot possibly handle them all. Tomorrow alone holds dozens of enticing events.  Here are the top five on my list, in no particular order:

1) Como Yarden Plant Sale - My friends and fellow edible gardeners are selling their home-raised, organic heirloom seedlings for $3 tomorrow from 11 am - 4 pm at 268 W Como. If you've never visited their front yarden, this would be a great reason to check it out!

2) Wild Goose Creative's Pinch Flat - From 1-9 pm, 25 artists will show off their bike related posters at Wild Goose Creative. Food trucks, a raffle, and music will complete the FREE event.

3) ECSF Chocolate Fest - Alex's parent's neighbor alerted me to this chocolate feast held in Dublin. There will be a chocolate cook-off and auction to benefit Southern Ohio homeless assistance projects. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children for the event that runs from 1:30 - 4 pm.

4) Ladybug Girl at Cover to Cover bookstore - The Ladybug Girl series of books are one of Lil's favorites and I like the empowering messages the stories tell. A ladybug girl character will appear in Clintonville from 11 am - 12 pm tomorrow for pictures, stories and games.

5) Leslie's Creperie at The Hills Market - Sweet and savory crepes will be served on the weekends and select daytime hours beginning this Saturday at The Hills Market veranda. (Aside: the much anticipated Hills On The Go online store with local delivery is up and running! I can't wait to try their service soon.)

What are you planning for the weekend?

PS. My food-thieving was caught in the act and recorded for posterity in the Itinerant Foodies' Friday Five this week.

Friday Five: Anxious Feelings

I don't usually admit to being fearful. I'm the over-confident one, eager to offer advice and assistance. But truly, the month of May has me feeling a little anxious. Here's what I'm worried about:

1. Pecha Kucha - On Thursday the 12th, I will present my ideas about 'When You Know Your Food' to a crowd, possibly a very large crowd. The facebook invite has over 350 RSVPs and the last event had between 600-700 audience members. Whoa.You can watch how I perform under fire for a small donation of $2. There will be free beer, food carts, screen printing and a photo booth to entertain us.
2. Weather - The sunshine yesterday and this morning should have me in a pretty good mood. The potential happiness is overshadowed, however, by a forecast for more rain and chilly temperatures. Everything is less fun when it is raining: chickens are more squawky, children more obnoxious and gardening more difficult.
3. BlogHer Food - I'm going to Atlanta May 19-22 for the BlogHer Food conference. I'm flying by myself, staying in a hotel by myself, and volunteering as a mic wrangler during most sessions. Lil will be shuffled around a bit because Alex is also traveling for part of that time. I'm concerned about what to wear, how many business cards to bring, how the volunteer job will go, whether the conference is a good use of money, etc.
4. Garden - My garden looks like a bunch of caged soil right now. I planted out seedlings but they are mere specks of green on a dirt brown expanse. The dogs are being particularly nosy this year, so most beds are surrounded by chicken wire. Some even have bird netting over the top to protect the peas from sparrows. I worry every year around this time that my garden will not produce, though I have to remind myself that I always end up with a jungle by June.
5. Lil's Food - The eating habits of my five year old are driving me batty. She likes approximately five healthy things at any given moment, and these change regularly. She asks for treats all the time and we argue when I suggest real food alternatives. I know that Lil will very likely eat whole foods as an adult but right now she wastes an awful lot of quality ingredients. I hope this phase ends soon because it is squeezing the enjoyment out of my very favorite activities: cooking and eating.

And yet, I feel ashamed about my anxiety when I remember that thousands of people are still suffering from earthquake, tsunami, and tornado damage. My worries are not a drop in the bucket compared to those who are without homes, living in war-torn areas, and suffering from illness, joblessness, or hunger.

Listing my concerns about my wants when all my needs are generously met makes me a little ill at myself. But, blah, that's how I'm feeling. How are you doing today?

PS. I am genuinely looking forward to assisting Joseph of Swainway Urban Farm at the Clintonville Farmer's Market tomorrow morning. Come say hi!

May Events: Plant Sales, Pecha Kucha, and More

The growing season is beginning and gardening and eating events are blossoming too! Fill your calendar with local food events and your tummy will thank you later.

Farmer's Markets The Clintonville and North Market farmer's markets begin this weekend, April 30. I defer to the very thorough list of markets on Columbus Underground for details about the many (yay!) other markets around the city.

Cook and Learn with Rachel I will speak about knowing your food at Pecha Kucha Columbus Vol 17. Held on May 12 at Eartha Limited from 7-9 pm, I will join a handful of other presenters to show twenty slides and talk for twenty seconds about each. Truthfully, I'm out of my mind nervous to talk in front of the hundreds of people likely to show up. Come and support me, please? There's free beer for your $2 donation...

Two of my May cooking classes at Franklin Park are already full. Sign up soon for the preschool Eggs class and look ahead to June's Honey and Berries if you don't want to be left out.

I have had requests for more canning and charcuterie classes. Email me if you are an interested party so I can get an idea of what kind of space I should reserve to spread the love of preserved food!

Plant Sales Chadwick Spring Plant Sale - May 6 and 7 on Ohio State Campus. Trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, and garden supplies.

Biological Sciences Greenhouse Fundraiser - Preview May 2-4 (coupon required, print from link), general sale May 6. Annual flowers, veggies, and herbs.

Worthington Plant Fest - May 7. Heirlooms, annuals, and perennials including seedlings from our friends at Swainway Urban Farm.

Food and Dining Tomorrow night, Thursday April 28, is the Capital Area Humane Society Celebrity Chef event. I will be there to chat up chefs and support one of my favorite charities! Tickets are available at the door for $60.

May 1 marks the first First Sunday at Jorgensen Farm. Each month will feature a farm market and farming activity suitable for families.

Saturday May 7 is the Spring 2011 Market to Market Ride including Columbus Crave at the Hills Market.

Slow Food Columbus is hosting a potluck on Mother's Day, May 8, at Pleasantview Farm. Visit their events page for details.

On May 12, sadly opposite Pecha Kucha, Taste of Dine Originals hosts their annual chef's tasting event at Grange Audubon Society.

Columbus Food Adventures premieres their Gluten Free Dessert Tour on May 14. On May 24 they will give a tour of historic restaurants, details TBA.

The Columbus Food Forum continues on May 16 at Wild Goose. Stay tuned to their facebook page for free event tickets.

Clean out your pantries for the first Cbus Food Swap on May 21 at Wild Goose!

The North Market's annual fundraiser, the Apron Gala, is Saturday May 21.

What food related events did I miss? Comment and I'll add them!

Earth Day 2011

Earth Day, the annual 24 hour period begun in 1970 to draw attention to environmental causes, is coming soon on Friday, April 22. Columbus Area Opportunities Green Columbus has scheduled a week's worth of activities to lighten up and work towards a more sustainable city. On April 16 and 17, they are hosting work sites around the city. Volunteers who sign up by April 15 will receive sweet perks like swag and a token for free beer or Jeni's ice cream at the April 23rd celebration.

Speaking of the party, all are invited to the Earth Day Celebration at Franklin Park Conservatory's edible garden campus on Saturday April 23 from 11 am to 10 pm. Hosted by Green Columbus and ARTillary, guests will be treated to exhibits, music, children's activities, and more. Food and drink vendors using earth friendly tableware will be available.

Northstar Cafe is again hosting their free veggie burger on Earth Day at all Columbus locations. They've teamed up with the Nature Conservancy's Taste Conservation effort to inform and promote sustainable eating in Ohio.

Not in Columbus? Visit the Earth Day Network for activities across the country.

How Hounds in the Kitchen Celebrates Earth Day

Of course, many of us celebrate Earth Day every day. In 2010 I reflected on my mixed feelings about the holiday and listed simple habits to reduce my family's environmental impact.

On Earth Day this year, we will be driving home from our Massachusetts spring break vacation. In the coming week I will share some of the ways we try to stay green when we travel.

How do you celebrate Earth Day?

Pi Day 2011

It's Pi Day 2011! Get it? 3.14 aka 3/14 aka March 14? Celebrate the transcendental constant π with Hounds in the Kitchen by including your favorite post about pi or pie in the Linky below. Feel free to link to a recipe, homeschool lesson on circles, or geometry related story. It's fine if the post is an older one - we want to read what you think about 3.14159265359...

I want to share how I decorated a very special pie exactly one month ago, on Valentine's Day.

This sour cherry pie was already going to be memorable because Lil, Alex, and I picked the cherries in July from a friend's neighbor's tree. Alex and I hand-pitted the cherries, froze them on sheet trays, sealed with the vacuum sealer and tucked them away in the deep freeze.

Fruits of such provenance, those we had patiently avoided until February 14, demanded an extraordinary preparation.

The cherries were mixed with sugar, flour and nutmeg and a bottom crust rolled out. Then, Lil and I cut dozens of hearts out of the top crust, reserving the cutouts. This process tested every bit of Lil's patience and mine, as she wanted to eat the raw dough and I wanted to crust to be beautiful. There's no re-rolling a crust in this house so we had but a single chance.

The Valentine's day treat was assembled including placing the heart cutouts around the outer edge. Our heart pie cooked, bubbling sweetened juices all over the oven.

Fully baked, it was a lovely centerpiece for our family afternoon tea. It tasted tangy and sweet, with the refreshing flavor of summer in the midst of winter.

What's your Pi Day story?

PS. Pi Day is an annual tradition on our homestead. Read about Pi Day 2010.

Cooking Classes, Spring Break Camps, and Food Events

Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. -Hans Christian Anderson The little bit of sunshine I enjoyed yesterday has me dreaming of warmer days coming. I would love to spend some of the early spring with you at a cooking class or local food event.

Classes taught by Rachel at Franklin Park Conservatory

Greens (ages 3-5) Winter greens are so sweet and tasty that even veggie-averse kids will be tempted to taste the green monster smoothie, kale chips, and pesto we cook up in this vitamin rich class. Thursday, March 10, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. $15 Members; $20 Non-Members

Charcuterie Charcuterie is the act of curing meat by salt, smoke, or dehydration.  Home cooks will learn how to apply these concepts to their cooking to delicious effect.  Participants will enjoy a light meal featuring cured meat and stuff sausage to take home.  Tuesday March 15, 6:30 - 8 p.m. $30 Members; $35 Non-members

Growing Young Chefs from the Ground Up! (For children entering grades 1 - 6) Spend Spring Break cooking and eating at Franklin Park!  We will discover all the different parts of plants that we eat, from roots in the ground to fruit hanging from branches.  Young chefs will help set the menu and cook tasty snacks and lunches, visiting bees and edible gardens along the way. Register by March 4. Monday - Friday, March 21 - 25, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday, March 28 - April 1, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. $180 Members; $190 Non-members

Seeds to Grow and Eat! Seeds, the starting germ of a plant, can be eaten, sown, or sprouted.  We will explore all three options in this family workshop.  We will cook three snacks from seeds and create an indoor herb garden to take home. Sunday March 27, 2 - 3:30 p.m. $20 Members; $25 Non-members (price includes one child and one adult)

Condiments Condiments can be made at home as easily as opening a jar from the store. Participants will practice making mayonnaise, aioli, ketchup, mustard, and barbecue sauce. After creating the toppings, we will taste them on sandwiches. Sunday April 3, 4 - 5:30 p.m. $30 Members; $35 Non-members

Butterflies Did you know that all it takes to make butter is to shake up some cream? We’ll make butter from local Snowville cream and use the buttermilk to whip up whole grain pancakes with seasonal fruit. Thursday April 14, 11 a.m. -12 p.m. $15 Members; $20 Non-members (price includes one child and one adult)

Local Food Events

Maple Sugaring - 'Tis the season for making maple syrup. Instead of repeating her work, I direct you to the concise list of sugaring events at local parks on CbusMom.com.

Dine Originals Restaurant Week - March 7-13 Visit an independent Dine Originals restaurant during restaurant week for creative prix fixe meals at a steal of a price. Check out menus on the Dine Originals website.

Ohio Market Day at Hills Market - Saturday, March 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free community event showcases the wares of thirty food purveyors and organizations from around Ohio. Each of our Ohio vendors will demo their wares. We'll be hosting several workshops featuring recipes and accompanying samples. As always, Boar's Head will be giving away free hot dogs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and we will raffle off more than 100 prizes and giveaways.

Central Ohio Food Forum at Wild Goose Creative - Monday, March 21st from 6:30-8pm Join Edible Columbus, Local Matters, and Wayward Seed Farm for a series of open and honest conversations about our food system. With topics ranging from production to distribution, community gardens to backyard chickens, and everything in between, we invite you to join us. Bring your ideas, questions and thoughts, your neighbors, friends and family.

Edible Books Contest at Northwest Library - March 31 from 6 - 8:30 pm View the tomes turned to treats by professionals and amatuers or enter one of your own! Registration starts at 6 with viewing by the public from 7-8:30.

Zen Retreat and Cooking classes with Edward Espe Brown at First UU Columbus and Franklin Park Conservatory - April 1-3 Zen Columbus Sangha announces a weekend with Zen Buddhist priest, author, and chef, Edward Espe Brown. Detailed information, including schedule and registration, is available here: http://www.zencolumbus.com/EEBannouncement2011.pdf

PS. It's March 2, the birthday of my sister Sarah, uncle Mike and Dr. Seuss!

Giveaway Winners

Random.org selected Condo Blues as the winner of the pass to the Beyond Social 101 conference and Amanda from Homestead in my Heart for the Madagascar Live tickets. Congratulations! Thanks to all who entered.

Friday Five: Great Events on the Horizon

It's time for another Friday Five! Here are five handpicked events that are sure to feed your soul in chronological order: 1. Field & Screen at the Wexner Center for the Arts - From February 4 - 24, the Wexner Center is featuring films about food and the environment. On the 24th, they will host a market and CSA preview with Wayward Seed farm and friends. Check the link for showtimes and prices.

2. Pecha Kucha at Columbus Museum of Art - Twenty notable persons will share twenty slides for twenty seconds each at the 16th Columbus Pecha Kucha event on February 10. Beginning at 6 pm with a performance, presentations will start at 6:30. Pattycake Bakery and the Museum's Palete Cafe will have refreshments and drinks available. I'll finally get to attend my first Pecha Kucha!

3. OEFFA Annual Conference Inspiring Farms, Sustaining Communities - On February 19-20, the farmers and home cooks on the front lines of sustainable food growing in Ohio. Workshops, locally sourced food, and keynotes by Joan Dye Gussow and Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens will fill the weekend with inspiration and foodie fellowship. Tickets are nearly sold out so get yours right away. Alex and I are speaking about Home Charcuterie on Sunday morning.

4. Wellness Forum Cooking Class at Hills Market - On Wednesday, February 23rd, Del Sroufe and Wendy Gabriel of Wellness Forum Foods will lead a two hour cooking class featuring three vegetable-based courses at the Hills. A kitchen demonstration will be followed by a three course dinner (with three wines!) in the Hills wine department.

5. First day at Clintonville Farmer's Market!! - In a mere 92 days, on April 30, the summer farmer's markets will open. I can almost feel the warmth of the crowd and taste the fresh bites of spring.