Category Archives: Food

It’s Sunday Morning and Everybody’s Dining Locally

Posted on April 15, 2012 by AnnieRie

The bunnies are.

So are the finches.

So is my red bellied, but he decided to run up the tree when he saw the glint of the camera. Can you find him up there?

He also decided a little later to sit higher and make enough noise to let me know I was interrupting his meal. Once I went inside he came back down to his nuts and seeds. The little woodpeckers won’t run when I come out, but the red bellied is still skittish enough that he hides in the trees.

As for us, a true local delight for a leisurely breakfast.

My CSA eggs, sunny side up, from Zahradka Farm, made with Trickling Springs butter, and served with buttered Atwater’s olive bread toasted. You can get Trickling Springs butter all over the place now, the organic markets as well as at Atwater’s in Catonsville. I thought I still had sourdough bread in the freezer but only olive bread left. Time for a trip to Catonsville to get a few more loaves to freeze. They work great that way. Get them sliced and put them away wrapped in foil. Pop in the toaster and enjoy.

I have perfected my sunny side up skills by using the trick of putting a lid above them to just set the yolks without them getting hard.

With yolks this orange and the eggs so fresh, it would be a crime to overcook them. Although I did break one putting it in the pan, and my husband graciously chose that one. He likes his over easy anyway.

Gradually working our way through the eggs in the fridge. Time to make some egg salad for sandwiches this week, or a frittata with that spinach from the CSA last Friday. Two more weeks of home delivery.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in Birds, CSA, Food, Local Businesses, Locavore, Nature and tagged birds, cooking, CSA, Food, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, nature. Bookmark the permalink.

An Exhausting But Fun Day at Greenfest

Posted on April 14, 2012 by AnnieRie

Every year, it seems to get bigger and better. Greenfest at HCC was the place to have fun for young and old alike, with indoor and outdoor activities, booths, classes and with live animals in one of the areas. The Conservancy was out in the main corridor this year, since we left the owl home. Crowds and other animals aren’t Ranger’s favorites.

But, we did bring some interesting things for the kids to touch, like a coyote pelt and a black snake’s discarded skin.

The children were fascinated with the snake skin and loved to touch the softness of the coyote pelt. It did seem to escape the notice of the County Executive who we saw stopping at booth after booth and conversing with the exhibitors.

Just kidding. It was nice to meet Ken Ulman, and we are glad that the county sponsors events like this one. After my volunteering time at the Conservancy booth, we spent time wandering, learning and just having fun, so I couldn’t believe how quickly the day went.

We purchased some cheese from Bowling Green Farms, and brisket from TLV Tree Farms. Thanks to both Howard County Farms for providing the mini farmer’s market. Their web sites are linked on my local resources page.

I will be stopping out at TLV since they are open on Saturdays to add some new herbs to my garden. They had a wonderful array of plants and herbs there today. They will be at the Wednesday, Friday and Sunday markets, I believe.

The list on the farmer’s market web site of vendors is slated to come out this week. Kathy Zimmerman of the HCEDA office confirmed that. The Howard County Farmer’s Markets open three weeks from Wednesday, the first market at the new Miller Library in Ellicott City. I think it is great we have so many young farmers here. Supporting them and helping them succeed makes the county a better place.

My husband did the circuit of the vendors, took a few classes and thankfully restrained himself from bringing home dozens of samples and giveaways. After all, we are retired and trying to rightsize. I do like the notepad with a cover from recycled cardboard.

We were very proud to see that HoLLIE and Ann Strozyk received Robinson Foundation awards. I worked with Ann on curriculum ideas as part of my HoLLIE internship last year.

What I love most about Robinson and the Conservancy? Anne Robinson donated to start the Foundation, and the Nature Center is a tribute to a Howard County woman who believed in giving something that our children and their children will enjoy. Just like Ruth and Frances Brown donated their land to the Conservancy to connect people with nature. The children seemed to have fun today, too.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I love living here. I think Money Magazine had it close but not quite correct. Maybe to them we were number two in the best places to live, but to me, the whole county is special and we are the best place to live. Call me Pollyanna, but being here for 38 years is a testament to how much this county means to me.

Not that I didn’t come home today and collapse for a nap, after all day out and running around. At least, being retired, I can excuse the two hour nap before dinner.

hocoblogs@@@

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So Busy I Almost Forgot About CSA

Posted on April 13, 2012 by AnnieRie

It was way too beautiful to stay home today. We took a drive to pick up the VA award winning Governor’s Cup wine, down in Front Royal, VA. Sometime when we have enough time to breathe, there will be a post about the great wines we tasted, and the lovely cheeses we bought.

Almost forgot that the CSA (Week 16) was coming today, but at the last minute threw ice packs out in the cooler and left for about six hours. Came home to find two packs of meat, still in good shape and a boatload of spinach, among other things.

The haul (a half share, remember):

1 Large root onion
2 large leeks
asparagus (happy days, my wild asparagus is not putting out much)
red potatoes (1 1/4 pounds)
radishes
the boatload of spinach

As for meat: Angus ground beef and Angus Italian sausages

It looks like tomorrow night will be grilling night, if the weather holds. Italian sausages, potatoes and asparagus on the grill. What could be better?

As for that boatload of spinach, the small leaves are going to become salads. The bigger ones maybe a spinach and cheese pie, if I can get time to do some pastry crust. I have some really nice runny cheeses around here, and lots of herbs growing. And, still lots of eggs from last week. Hmmm, quiche?

Plus, who knows what I may find if I get to Baltimore for the market on Sunday or what I may find tomorrow at Greenfest in the mini farmer’s market there. I am hoping someone has mushrooms, but may have to run off to Roots and get some.

Two more weeks of winter CSA, then a week before the Sandy Spring CSA starts up and I really drown (happily) in veggies again. I hope to be in garlic scape heaven soon.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in CSA, Day Trips, Farmer's Markets, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, Wine and tagged cooking, CSA, day trips, farmer's markets, Food, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, weather, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

Too Much To Do This Weekend

Posted on April 13, 2012 by AnnieRie

Like everyone else around here in the Howard County area, I am seeing lots of things to do every weekend now that spring has arrived.

It is funny how all the big events start clustering together in April and May and cluttering our calendars.

What to do? What to do?

Greenfest is where I will be, since I volunteered to spend three hours manning a booth for the Conservancy. The hike to the river is where I’d like to be, but can’t navigate treacherous hills until I have more mobility in my neck.

The Housing Fair is happening, but since we aren’t in that market, it didn’t make my short list.

HoCoConnect did a really good summary of what is going on at Greenfest, and I will add what I want to see. He also highlights two other events I missed.

Well & Wise has a list of upcoming events, too. They include the announcements of the Conservancy events this week and next.

At Greenfest, I will be attending at least two workshops, one on stormwater management in your yard, and one on backyard composting. We do compost some, but I can always use more tips and tricks. I wish I could do the watershed walks, but they conflict. Hubby is going to hear Cathy Hudson talk about raising chickens in the morning at 11am, while I am working at our table. And, just walking around talking to vendors is interesting. I applied last year for the lottery for a free energy audit, and won. We now know what we need to do to finish the weather proofing of our house, making it more energy efficient. As I said above, what to do, what to do?

Don’t forget, there will be a mini farmer’s market there too.

Sunday morning I may make the trek into Baltimore to check out the market for some herbs from Knopps Farm, one of my old favorite vendors when I went to visit family in Severn. If you have never taken a Sunday morning drive to this market, you are missing one of the largest and craziest markets around here. Worth the drive up I-95. There are 45 vendors registered for this year, some with crafts, some with food products, others with produce, meat and dairy, and we love the excitement.

Go early if you do want to find things. It is just an amazing array of food, people and good times. South Mountain Creamery and Zahradka Farms are there. My source of dairy most of the time, and my winter CSA. Both of these vendors will be at Glenwood in four weeks, but until then Baltimore is a good place to get their products, particularly for Elkridge and East Columbia Hoco residents. The market is set up under the Jones Falls Expressway.

And, then of course, I get to come home and file income tax. Not letting MD get those few dimes of mine until the very last minute. At least we broke even and get a few bucks back from the Feds. Hmm, I didn’t check, do we get an extra day or two? Yes, google my friend, says we have until Tuesday, so if the weather is nice, we can spend more time downtown.

I love spring!

hocoblogs@@@

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Posted in Community, Day Trips, Farmer's Markets, Food, Gardening, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, Nature, People, Volunteering, Weather and tagged community, day trips, farmer's markets, Food, gardening, hoco loco, Howard County, howard county conservancy, local businesses, Locavore, nature, spring flowers, volunteering, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

That Whole Grocery Store Avoidance Thing

Posted on April 12, 2012 by AnnieRie

Who knew you could put together a pizza this good looking without setting foot in a chain grocery store? Or by eating out.

A while back, I evaluated how much better I was doing by moving from processed to whole foods and declared an avoidance strategy when it comes to shopping the easy way at grocery stores.

I called it my GGSAC and only posted twice about it. So, how am I doing at avoiding the Giant Food and Safeway stores? For the past two weeks since I started, pretty well with an exception for Harris Teeter when I didn’t feel like running across the county to Costco or up to H Mart for fish.

I have spent more time and money in Boarman’s, Roots and David’s so far this month. I have been using up pantry items bought last fall, and have also put together a bag full of stuff to take to the Food Bank. If it makes me sneeze, it is out of here. If it has a long list of additives, same thing.

Thanks to Nicole at Hoco Loco for commenting that she saw Meyer Lemons at David’s. Yesterday we made it there to do some shopping that included locally made sausages and the aforementioned lemons. Looks like National Boh Brats on the grill this weekend maybe. Made in Baltimore.

I got a few things necessary as well to make a killer pizza tonight. The cheese, oh, the cheese. My favorite Mountain Top Bleu from Firefly Farms, bought at the Silver Spring Market.

Pancetta, bought at David’s Natural Market. The pizza crust came from Roots. The fig butter was in the fridge, and from Trader Joe’s.

The greens, from my garden, the asparagus, the first delicate spear from that wild plant under the crepe myrtles. Finished with a drizzle of Ariston olive oil bought at Casual Gourmet, this pizza is so satisfying.

Dinner was served with a 2002 Linden Cabernet Franc, still hanging in there after ten years. Full of fruit, a hint of smoke, not tired or fading. No bell pepper taste that Virginia francs sometimes exhibit. This lovely wine balanced the sweetness of the fig butter, the saltiness of the pancetta, the earthiness of the cheese, and the tang of the greens. What a great combination and a satisfying meal, NOT courtesy of boxed supermarket pizza.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in Food, GGSAC, Local Businesses, Locavore, Real Food and tagged cooking, farmer's markets, Food, foodie, GGSAC, hoco loco, Howard County, Linden Vineyards, local businesses, Locavore, real food, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

Simple Pleasures: A Local Dinner

Posted on April 9, 2012 by AnnieRie

After the holiday meals, sometimes a simple dinner is the best. We wanted a quick meal before my husband went off to his evening teaching position. Even though the Dark Days Challenge is over, I am still cooking locally when I can.

Today was a simple meal from almost 100% locally sourced items. Only the white chard, Herbs de Provence, salt and pepper were not from MD or VA. The chard was bought at Roots, though.

We had stopped at Roots so I could get free range chicken to make soup tomorrow, and some Aranciata to make Meyer Lemon Basil Fizz cocktails for a get together this weekend. Roots didn’t have Meyer lemons though. I need to find a source, maybe Harris Teeter or Trader Joe’s.

I had scallions and garlic from the CSA. Leftover VA country ham that my brother sent home with me as a care package last night. Eggs run wild, from the CSA, that need to be used. Goat cheese from Firefly Farms. I roasted beets from the CSA the other day. And, I bought some local hydroponic tomatoes at Roots, from Hummingbird Farms.

The makings of this meal.

Served with an award winning Viognier from Breaux Vineyards just south of Harper’s Ferry (but in VA not WV). Lovely restrained Viognier, which is one of those wines that just does very well in this part of the country. Crisp, acidic, but not too much, a perfect glass to accompany a rich omelet.

Later this evening we may indulge in another local treat, Rhebs Easter candy. My mom always gives us a box of Rhebs, from Baltimore. Their butter creams are to die for.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in CSA, Family, Food, Local Businesses, Locavore, Wine and tagged cooking, CSA, Food, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, tomatoes, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

Foraging Wild Asparagus, and Other Spring Pics

Posted on April 8, 2012 by AnnieRie

The first wild asparagus poked above the mulch yesterday.

There are a few volunteer plants under the crepe myrtle. Every spring we get just enough asparagus to make a frittata. Found food is a good thing. It will be a while for the rest of our fruit and berries to produce, but finding what is hidden on the property has been interesting. This past fall we found a couple of hickory nuts in the yard, probably brought in by the squirrels, but haven’t located that tree yet.

We have black raspberries, mulberries and one peach tree. Wild strawberries. Parsley, mint and of course, enough dandelions to gather greens for dinner. Thankfully, no one out here sprays.

As for what else I found yesterday, the azaleas are coming out left and right.

The mock orange is about to go into its flowering stage with the highest buds opening.

My neighbor’s crab apples are in full bloom along the driveway.

The later varieties of tulips are hanging in there, despite the frost.

Nothing says spring like flowers and Easter. Happy Easter to all who celebrate. I am off to make herb roasted onions for my brother.

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Posted in Family, Food, Foraging, Gardening, Nature and tagged family, foraging, gardening, nature, photography, spring flowers, weather, wild asparagus. Bookmark the permalink.

A Jug of Wine, A Loaf of Bread, And Thou

Posted on April 7, 2012 by AnnieRie

From Omar Khayyam, the phrase from the Rubaiyat that resonates with me.

Today was one of those lovely spring days. No, we did not want to do yard work. Or spring clean up. We went first to look at the chicks and pick up bird seed.

Then, we did what I haven’t done since fall.

Drove up to Black Ankle for lunch.

Now, it may be one of the closest wineries to us in West County, but the roads will test your car’s shock absorption ability. Unless you take the long way round. On the paved roads.

Black Ankle Road isn’t paved. We actually came home on the short cut, but went up the longer route.

They are out of whites until late May. It is a tribute to those who love good wine, that this young MD winery sells out their whites every year. Nothing left. The winery is beautiful, a green building with straw walls and a planted roof. Cows in the meadow below the patio.

Here is where the Friday night music is played. Where we usually come to picnic and listen. Today for lunch we watched the cows and the tractor while enjoying local cheese made in Easton MD, some mixed olives and a good bottle of Rolling Hills.

Picked up a few bottles and wandered on home to enjoy another lovely MD spring day. If you live in Howard County and want to spend some time relaxing in a lovely setting, this is a day trip worth taking.

hocofood@@@

Winter CSA Week Fifteen

Posted on April 6, 2012 by AnnieRie

Since we have another freeze warning tonight, I suppose we really aren’t out of winter yet. March was the warmest on record around here so we were getting used to seeing spring type veggies in the box. Today we go back to the reality of cooler weather and the veggies associated with it. I just got finished covering the garlic, lettuces, tulips and chive seedlings again.

We got an email saying the farmer who supplies us meat was MIA last night, so no meat this week. Double portion next week. That is OK, since I went to Harris Teeter yesterday and stocked up on seafood. Sustainable, of course.

Crab cakes for dinner last night.

I was using up most of the spinach from last week, with green onions and potatoes and local mushrooms bought at HT.

This week, I got:

1 1/2 pounds of carrots
4 nice spring onions
2 large leeks
1 pound new red potatoes
4 oranges from the partner farm in FL
1 beet that weighed 28 ounces

Add that to the beet from last week.

They are slow roasting on a salt bed in the oven for a few hours, until tender. They will become part of a salad with goat cheese and the last of the spring greens from a delivery a week ago, for tomorrow night’s dinner with some Alaskan wild salmon.

Since it is almost Easter, I have to show the cool eggs we got.

I particularly like the green one. I am hard boiling about 6-8 of them tomorrow, the prettiest ones. They will get taken to my brother’s for the Easter Egg Tapping contest.

I am drowning in eggs again. With this dozen today, there are 30 eggs in the fridge. I know now that two dozen a month is too much. Without a large family, or a baker in the house, I don’t know how people go through the eggs they get in local CSAs. I think in the future I will probably pass on eggs in the winter CSA.

Dinner tonight will be pan seared scallops from Harris Teeter, with baby red potatoes from the CSA, and salad to use the last of the spinach. I wonder if Harris Teeter is the store most affected by Wegmans coming in. I like the way they make sure you don’t stand in line too long for checkout. I also like the guys making sushi. We went there for things they have the best selection of, like fennel, ginger and some of the more exotic mushrooms. They do have nice produce but I am carefully reading the labels to buy items from the closest sources.

The CSA provides me with a solid basis to menu plan. The few extras needed to make interesting dinners are all I want to purchase from other than local vendors. That way, I am making what I call the 90% solution locavore dinners. Every little bit helps.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in CSA, Food, Gardening, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, Real Food and tagged cooking, CSA, easter eggs, Food, foodie, gardening, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, real food, sustainable seafood, wegman's. Bookmark the permalink.

The Wegmans’ Effect

Posted on April 4, 2012 by AnnieRie

For some reason today I started thinking about who Wegmans will affect the most and how, once they open in June. I am in the early stages of what I call Grocery Store Avoidance, i.e., buying most things locally by supporting small businesses like Roots, David’s, Boarman’s and the farmers, and by using my traditional sources like SYSCO and Costco, for my staples.

I buy spices and basic supplies at the SYSCO outlet on Rte. 1 in Elkridge. I buy my bulk items at Costco, but don’t really use their pre-made foods very much. I wonder if that is the area that Wegman’s will hurt them the most.

What will happen to BJ’s? Can this area support Costco, BJ’s, and Wegman’s, when it comes to ready-made entertainment foods? I go to Costco for things like this.

Plus, the low sodium chicken broth. These are staples in my pantry. I use Costco for creamers and for coffees.

But I found a good deal at the Frederick Wegmans for my K-cups. As for bulk items like paper towels and toilet paper, it will be interesting to see the matchup once Wegmans opens with their bulk food aisle carrying much of the same items.

I buy wild ahi at Costco. Take it home and portion it out and freeze it. Same for things like Aidell’s Natural Sausages and Meatballs. Cheese, some spices, organic olive oil and balsamic, all come from Costco. You can bet I will be looking to see what Wegmans charges in their bulk aisles for these items.

But, will the traffic and crowds push me elsewhere? How congested will Snowden River Parkway get? Being retired, I can go at off hours, but I do wonder how frustrated people will get who try and get in there.

I love Wegmans. I go to Frederick often.

It will be Frederick most of the time unless I have doctor appointments or car work being done in East Columbia. I know I will be watching the effect they have on the area stores.

Only two months to go.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in Food, GGSAC, Howard County, Local Businesses and tagged Food, GGSAC, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, wegman's. Bookmark the permalink.