Category Archives: Recipes

I’m-Disgusted-with-the-Grocery-Store Sweet Corn and Bacon Pasta

August 8, 2012 by rachelocal

I wrote a guest post debuting today on Childhood Relived. I waxed nostalgic about the snack foods of my youth, most of them processed and full of high fructose corn syrup. (Make sure to check it out for nostalgic stories and embarrassing photos.) Reminiscing about these foods made me thankful for a mom that cooked healthy meals, so at least I was forced to make good food choices at home. The 1987 to 1994 versions of myself would choose a […]

Categories: Recipes, Summer Recipes • Tags: bacon, corn, food, life, local, slow food, summer

Peach Blueberry Cobbler Even Darth Vader Would Love

July 23, 2012 by rachelocal

The morning after partying with Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Yoda, Princess Leia and a variety of Ewoks, breakfast needs to be simple and involve mostly coffee. You can imagine why. So I put a pot on and decided to whip up a local-ingredient dessert for breakfast. This recipe is adapted from my favorite cobbler recipe on Saveur.com. I say adapted because I didn’t have some of the ingredients (mainly milk and cherries) and didn’t want to use corn starch or vegetable […]

Categories: Local Farms, Recipes, Summer Recipes • Tags: breakfast, darth vader, dessert, food, life, local, star wars, vegetarian

Cherry Tomato Bruschetta Pasta (Without an Italian Accent)

July 16, 2012 by rachelocal

I have a pet peeve. I get peeved when people, regular American people, speaking English, say Italian food words with an Italian accent. You know what I’m talking about if you’ve ever seen Food Network star Giada de Laurentiis in action on her show. Now I understand that Giada is very Italian. I’m sure she even speaks the language fluently (she was born in Rome after all). But let’s be real here, Giada is basically a California girl; she speaks […]

Categories: Recipes, Summer Recipes • Tags: Celebrity Chefs, food, Food Network, Giada de Laurentiis, Italian, Italy, local, recipe, vegetarian

Greg and Ann’s CSA Supper

June 24, 2012 by rachelocal

I spent last Saturday evening in the company of good friends. My CSA partners, Greg and Ann, invited the husband and I over for dinner, along with our mutual friends Mike and Linda. The menu preparation began on Wednesday when Greg and I picked up our CSA share from Toby of Bayberry Farm. What started as bags of mustard greens, kale, lettuce, garlic scapes and cucumbers ended in a feast fit for a spoiled locavore. I took the scapes and […]

Categories: Fall Recipes, Farmer's Markets, Local Farms, Recipes, Spring Recipes, Summer Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: dessert, food, life, local, wine

CSA Wrap Rap

June 17, 2012 by rachelocal

Sometimes I like to freestyle… Ready? Yo, here we go I’m about to make a snack with CSA veg and I got the knack I scored asparagus, greens and scape Listen up! Curly scapes made me hesitate But thanks to google for the info I roasted them with E.V.O.O. Local mushrooms on the grill Yogurt dressing fit to kill Wrap it up tight like this rhyme Best dinner in a long time It’s hard to transition into a recipe after […]

Categories: Local Farms, Random, Recipes • Tags: CSA, food, freestylin, humor, life, local, rap, recipes, vegetarian

Boston Lettuce Wraps are BOSS

June 10, 2012 by rachelocal

I don’t ever remember describing anything as “boss” when I was a youngster, even though I grew up in the 80s. Maybe I just wasn’t cool enough. This could be true since I just found an amazingly not cool photo of me as an 11-year-old. (If you’re reading this while standing up, I admonish you to sit down. You will fall over from laughter. Or shock.) I don’t know if I can show it to you… …I just can’t… …It’s […]

Categories: Gardening, Recipes, Spring Recipes • Tags: awkward school photos, food, humor, lettuce wraps, local, recipes, the 80s, vegetarian, wonder woman

Canning Tips & Tricks From Your Favorite Bloggers (+ Me!)

June 10, 2012 by rachelocal

Do you remember way back in May (3 whole weeks ago) when I said that the time to prepare for preserving was now, because once the season hits, you’ll be overwhelmed? I was right. The fridge is full to overflowing with the first CSA of the season (greens, greens and more greens!), I still have Grandma’s rhubarb to work through, the European Championships and World Cup qualifying have started, and somehow, people still want me to work for a living.…

Categories: Gardening, Recipes • Tags: Canning, food, gardening, kitchen, preserving, reblog

Twelves Grill and What I Did With the Leftovers

May 31, 2012 by rachelocal

There’s no better way to spend an afternoon than gallivanting around the countryside with a friend. That’s just what I did Tuesday with my friend, Natalie. We took to the road to find something good and local, and ended up in West Grove, Pennsylvania at Twelves Grill and Cafe. Twelves is an elegant restaurant housed in a renovated 1883-built bank. You can even reserve space for your own wine in the walk-in brass vault to enjoy when you inevitably make […]

Categories: Recipes, Restaurant, Winter Recipes • Tags: farmer's market, food, life, local, locavore, recipes, restaurants, seasonal, vegetarian

Until Life is Gentle Again Eat Greens

May 26, 2012 by rachelocal

A few years back I survived a particularly difficult patch of life. As I was going through it, my family and friends encouraged and supported me, endlessly and patiently. I remember one encouraging gift I received from my brother and his wife–a hummingbird candle holder (I love birds of all kinds) and a card. The card was the best part, because on the inside I read these simple words: “Until life is gentle again.” That one phrase filled me with […]

Categories: Gardening, Random, Recipes • Tags: food, gardening, life, local, locavore, spinach

50 Post Thai Coconut Turkey

May 16, 2012 by rachelocal

Monday I hit a blogging milestone. Fifty posts! In celebration, I decided to cook one of my favorite dishes. Off to the store I went to buy coconut milk and diced tomatoes. Everything else waited for me in the pantry and fridge. I know what you’re thinking. . .coconut milk and store-bought canned tomatoes are NOT LOCAL. This is true. BUT if you notice the countdown on the right, I am not going strictly local for 19 more days. Until […]

Categories: Farmer's Markets, Gardening, Recipes, Spring Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: 50 posts, blogging, coconut, food, life, local, locavore, recipes, turkey

Milestone Dinner, All Local and All Delicious

May 13, 2012 by rachelocal

Friday night my husband and I co-conspired and created a delicious dinner made with local ingredients. Every single thing on our plate was local. And most of it was grown in the backyard (or John’s backyard)! I feel like this is a milestone for me, because I grew some of the food we ate. Walked outside and picked it. This milestone seems even bigger, given the fact that it wasn’t hard to make this meal. Everything was on hand. No […]

Categories: Farmer's Markets, Gardening, Recipes • Tags: food, gardening, local, locavore, radishes

Spinach and Spring Onion Frittata with Fresh Greens (or Greens, Eggs, and No Ham)

May 3, 2012 by rachelocal

I received two very good gifts this week. Gifts are always good, but these were very good because they involved food: eggs from Valerie and greens from John. What a perfect combination for an easy weeknight frittata and green salad! After visiting John’s backyard where he cut me some spinach and romaine, I took to the kitchen. I washed the greens and broke some eggs, eight in all, including four left from Valerie’s gift. I’m meeting the chickens that produced […]

Categories: Farmer's Markets, Gardening, Recipes, Spring Recipes • Tags: food, frittata, green onions, life, local, spinach, spring onions, vegetarian

A Local Eggplant Conundrum

April 24, 2012 by rachelocal

I bought an eggplant. It was local, of course. Because it was the only local item at the farmer’s market, I snatched it up, cradled it like a baby for a few seconds, and proudly put it in my shopping cart. This was before I remembered that I’m not a fan of eggplant (that “local” sign gets me every time). I’ve had it before. Breaded and fried in the ubiquitous Eggplant Parm. Or hidden in a veggie Panini. Each time I’ve […]

Categories: Farmer's Markets, Recipes, Summer Recipes • Tags: eggplant, farmer's market, food, local, locavore, pasta, recipe, vegetarian

The Well-Inspired Three Bean Three Pepper Turkey Chili

April 11, 2012 by rachelocal

While traversing Lancaster Pike in Hockessin, I passed a friendly looking barn-like building, complete with green roof and faux silo. Intrigued, I made a very illegal u-turn. What I found was The Well Marketplace. When I entered the store I was greeted by a happy sight–an array of flower bouquets. A nice welcome. The store is not large. In fact, I would say it’s more of an upscale convenience store than a full-fledged market. In fact, The Well is so […]

Categories: Delaware Farms, Fall Recipes, Local Stores, Random, Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: chili, food, ground turkey, local, locavore, swiss chard, woodside farm ice cream

Sprouting

April 9, 2012 by rachelocal

Originally posted on Passion for Family:
Over the winter, I started sprouting seeds and beans on a weekly basis. I was looking to grow some nutrient-rich food that had not been drown in chemicals and other pesticides! Since I could not use my garden, I thought the next best thing would be to try sprouting some seeds. I had heard a bit about sprouting from a man at the Farmer’s Market this past summer but thought it was going to be messy and tedious.…

Categories: Gardening, Random, Recipes • Tags: food, gardening, local, locavore, sprouts

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