Jam!

I was reading the Bay Area Bites blog the other day and there was a post about a company called We Love Jam (www.welovejam.com. The author of the post was writing about this amazing Blenheim Apricot jam they had gotten from this company. It is all hand made, even the jars are washed by hand, and old fashioned (which ALWAYS appeals to me). I also read that Food & Wine had written about it recently. I had to find out for myself so I went to their site and ordered a jar. The price was hefty and I was only allowed to order one jar due to very limited production. Well, it came today and yes, it is AMAZING. The texture is like velvet and it is perfectly sweet and apricoty with a hint of anise. It is like summer in a jar. It was hard not to sit down with a spoon and eat the whole jar. Now I am torn between eating it and saving it. I won't be able to get another jar until next summer! Darn! I guess I will just savor it slowly (and hide it in the back of the fridge so I don't have to share it!).

I'm Back!

I've been gone for awhile. I guess you could say I got sidetracked by life with my two little boys. I am recommited to posting at least twice a week from here on. While I was gone I have started a few new food related things. I have joined a CSA (farmfreshtoyou) that delivers local produce to my door every week. I have also joined a meat CSA which ensures that all of the meat products that my family eats have been humanely raised and slaughtered. I have also stopped buying as much prepackaged foods. I've been making crackers, yogurt, jam and cereal at home, among other things. I figure this not only reduces waste it is also a big step in the direction of a completely local diet. I kind of freaked out a bit after all of those food recalls. I'd rather take the extra effort to make things myself at home.

Here's the meal plan for the week:
Monday - Pizza made with leftover ingredients from the weekend (made by the Boogie and me!)
Tuesday - Lemon pepper pasta with tomato sauce and tuna, steamed green beans
Wednesday - Peppers stuffed with Spanish rice and ground chicken, salad
Thursday - Veggie and cheese fritatta (made with leftover veggies from the previous week's CSA delivery)
Friday - Out for dinner at my parents house to celebrate my sister's 31st!
Saturday - Out for dinner with an old friend (leftovers for the Boogie)
Sunday - TBD