Author Archives: rachelocal

How to Turn K-cups into Seed Starters

January 30, 2013 by rachelocal

I got an email the other day from sweet Beka, a creative 14-year-old and the lovely daughter of my friend Valerie. Valerie is a renaissance woman. She works, cooks, gardens, sculpts, paints, raises beautiful children, and even makes awesome cakes shaped like Kate Spade purses. It appears that Valerie has passed her creative DNA onto the adorable Beka, because Beka sent me a snap guide on how to turn Keurig K-cups into seed starters. This project only took Val and […]

Categories: Gardening • Tags: cake, coffee, dessert, food, k-cups, kate spade, life, local, recycling, seed

Happy CSA Day! {Week One}

January 28, 2013 by rachelocal

“It’s CSA Day!” In my excitement about picking up my very first Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative winter CSA box, I uttered that phrase all day on Tuesday of last week. Who can blame me? A box of organic, locally grown root vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes and the most beautiful stalk of brussels sprouts I’ve ever seen awaited me at my pick up spot – Home Grown Cafe. I don’t even think nerds get this excited about Star Wars. The most […]

Categories: Farmer's Markets, Local Farms, Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, Jerusalem artichokes, local, vegetarian, winter

Why Local is Better than Loco

January 25, 2013 by rachelocal

I’ve hung out with Jules from Go Jules Go before. If you missed any of our escapades, take some time to catch up: Here’s where Jules made me eat avocados at Cheesecake Factory. And here’s where she drank all the beer. Fortunately, our shenangians are on-going. We spent Monday together in New Hope, PA, and decided to meet at a Mexican restaurant called Blue Tortilla. I studied the menu beforehand, memorized the description of their guacamole (being a locavore can […]

Categories: Restaurant • Tags: art, blogging, food, friendship, humor, life, local, locavore, Mexican food

How Long? Not Long!

January 20, 2013 by rachelocal

I spent the early hours of Saturday morning with a group of 87 homeless men and women. Several times a week, Friendship House, a local non-profit, opens the doors of First & Center Presbyterian Church to offer hospitality and winter sanctuary to the city of Wilmington’s homeless population. My job was simple: sit down and have a chat with someone. As I scanned the room, I saw weary faces and hunched bodies, exhausted from a night spent in the cold. […]

Categories: Random • Tags: Christianity, civil rights, inspiration, justice, life, Martin Luther King Jr., MLK, social justice

One GOOD Thing About Winter

January 16, 2013 by rachelocal

This morning I woke up to a dark bedroom, hazy and gray with no light forcing its way between blinds and through curtains. Rationally, I thought it was 3 am and I still had hours of sleep ahead of me. A quick glance at my phone told me a different story; slumber was over and it was time to face the day. Looking outside, I saw a steely slate sky and the misty drizzle of cold rain. Seeing as “day” […]

Categories: Local Farms, Local Stores • Tags: Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, gardening, local, locavore, vegetarian, winter blues

Tomato Addict

January 14, 2013 by rachelocal

I’ve been craving tomatoes. Not just any tomato, but a sun-soaked red or yellow cherry tomato fresh from the summer garden. Alas, winter is upon us. All hopes of a summer tomato are deferred until at least July. Like an addict needing a fix, I found myself wistfully looking through photos of these summer beauties. After wiping the drool from my chin, I exclaimed, “THAT’S IT. I WANT TOMATOES AND TOMATOES I SHALL HAVE!” I even shook two fists at […]

Categories: Delaware Farms, Fall Recipes, Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: crock pot, food, gardening, local, pasta, photography, summer, vegetarian

Like New

January 9, 2013 by rachelocal

So far 2013 has been a drag. I’ve been a bit depressed. No, that’s not true. I’ve been VERY depressed. I won’t go into details as to the why or how of it all. Let’s just say I was so depressed that: My Christmas tree is still up (if you know me, you know this is a CRIME) Uncharacteristically, I haven’t made a real meal in DAYS. Instead I’ve been living off eggs and pasta (yes, at the same time […]

Categories: Recipes • Tags: Christianity, depression, faith, food, inspiration, life, local

Family Fun Day in Philly!

January 7, 2013 by rachelocal

On a recent day off, my brother and I took my mom out for a birthday lunch. Due to scheduling conflicts, work, and my mother’s class schedule (she’s a new student at University of Delaware – Go MOM!) we couldn’t coordinate a day until three months AFTER her birthday. Ashamed by this, my brother and I decided to go all out. So we made a day of it and went to Philadelphia, which is about 40 minutes from my house. […]

Categories: Local Stores, Restaurant • Tags: art, family, food, life, local, movies, philadelphia, photography

Eat Local at 1861 Restaurant

January 3, 2013 by rachelocal

I am a recent contributor to GreenDelaware magazine, a brand new resource for all things green (and local) in the First State. You can find it for FREE at any number of Delaware coffee shops and bookstores. This article is about 1861 Restaurant in Middletown, Delaware. I already featured them in a fun blog post, but this article is a bit more polished for print. (See, I can be serious when I need to be.) Seasonal Flavor at 1861 Walking down the […]

Categories: Breweries, Delaware Farms, Local Farms, Restaurant • Tags: food, green, local, Middletown, scrapple, writing

Ringin’ in the New Year with Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies

January 1, 2013 by rachelocal

I know, I know. I should be talking about low fat, low calorie, low carb food. It is the New Year, after all. Time to make changes, get healthy, exercise more, drink less, take vitamins, and eat more fiber. I have PLENTY of time to do that this year, but right now, I’m still reveling in the very last indulgence of the holiday season. Last night, I rang in the New Year at a Mexican-themed party with good friends. We […]

Categories: Fall Recipes, Recipes, Spring Recipes, Summer Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: brownies, dessert, food, gangnam style, holidays, local, New Year

I’m Dreaming of a Bacon Christmas

December 24, 2012 by rachelocal

I can just hear Bing Crosby singing THESE words to one of my favorite Christmas songs… I’m dreaming of a bacon Christmas With every shopping trip I take Where the pork is double smoked And everyone knows Thick cut is no joke I’m dreaming of a bacon Christmas With every breakfast menu I plan Where the bacon fat glistens And everyone listens To hear that sizzle in the pan I’m dreaming of a bacon Christmas Just like the ornaments Jules […]

Categories: Fall Recipes, Recipes, Spring Recipes, Summer Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: bacon, breakfast, Christmas, food, holiday, humor, life, poetry

Christmas Came Early

December 20, 2012 by rachelocal

I must have been very good this year because I already got what I wanted for Christmas – Freshly Pressed! Merry Christmas to ME! And here’s a Christmas present for YOU: a peek at my Christmas card entry for the Holy Sheet Holiday Giveaway contest hosted by Go Jules Go and The Byronic Man. (Both have amazingly creative and funny blogs–give yourself a gift and check them out.) The objective was to make a card depicting what the holidays really […]

Categories: Giveaways, Random • Tags: Christmas, freshly pressed, humor, life, photo collage

I’ve-Overindulged-One-Too-Many-Times Red Lentil Stew

December 17, 2012 by rachelocal

You know the lyrics… It’s that time of year when the world falls in love. Every song you hear seems to say…. Eat pies. And cake. Now try this ham with maple glaze. Wash it down with some fudge. This time of year is TERRIBLE for healthy eating. Cookies, pies, meat-heavy dishes, hot chocolate, copious amounts of red wine, and cheese plates are everywhere. Making good choices is difficult and overindulgence becomes a habit. I’ve overindulged one too many times […]

Categories: Fall Recipes, Local Stores, Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: Christmas, food, health, holidays, life, locavore, Whole Foods

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Catch Phrase and Sweet Potato Whoopie Pies

December 14, 2012 by rachelocal

Two Saturdays ago what was intended as a relaxing evening with friends turned into fierce battle. I spent the night yelling at the top of my lungs, rolling my eyes a lot, and throwing a black and red disc at the person to my left. Oh, and laughing until my insides hurt. Catch Phrase has to be the greatest game ever invented. The game becomes even more monumental when played while wearing comfy yoga pants and sipping on some good […]

Categories: Fall Recipes, Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: Catch Phrase, dessert, food, friendship, games, life, local

Why I’m the Best Wife Ever

December 10, 2012 by rachelocal

I could list hundreds of ways I’m the best wife ever. I do obvious “wife” things like cook and the occasional load of laundry. I also do less obvious things like buy The Husband Legos for Christmas every single year and shave the back of his neck between haircuts. But today, I reached the pinnacle of best-wife-ever-ness. It started with a day off. Completely off with NOTHING TO DO. A rarity. Let me fill you in on the details. After […]

Categories: Fall Recipes, Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: chili, family, food, gaming, humor, life, local, love, Playstation 3, video games