FROM SCRATCH CLUB

I have always loved the folk tale of “Stone Soup” because in it a delicious soup is created from meager ingredients.  I love the challenge of creating delicious food from not-so-obvious ingredients.  Over one year ago I pledged to stop buying grocery store meat and this prompted me to start purchasing whole chickens at the [...]

I used to be a creative person.  For years after completing a bachelors in art I made stuff and found ways to express myself visually.  I am no longer like that.  I have the usual excuses: child, work, household demands, tv, etc, but really none of them is adequate in explaining my lack of non-verbal [...]

Editor’s Note: This is the 11th week of a 4 1/2 month challenge, Dark Days, a pledge taken by 88 blogs spanning the country, to eat one meal a week as sustainable, organic, local and ethical possible.  This week we change it up a bit with Dianna, a FSC guest contributor, working an amazing Dark [...]

Editor’s Note: This is the 10th week of a 4 1/2 month challenge, Dark Days, a pledge taken by 88 blogs spanning the country, to eat one meal a week as sustainable, organic, local and ethical possible.  This week is yours truly and my miso obsession. – Christina Its miso madness month in my house. [...]

{Sarah’s soup was so good that I forgot to shoot it until my bowl was almost empty!! -Christina} I love soup.  I’ll be the first to admit it.  I could eat soup almost every night during the colder months along with a grilled cheese sandwich.  It’s a comfort food and so tasty and warm.  When [...]

QUICK, EASY, HEARTY and TASTY… you have to give it a try this winter.  Did I mention QUICK…isn’t that music to your ears!  It is very easy to adapt and add your families favorites into this soup;  add extra veggies, use your favorite beans, and meat lovers can add sausage or pepperoni. I have been making [...]

Editor’s Note: This is the eighth week of a 4 1/2 month challenge, Dark Days, a pledge taken by 88 blogs spanning the country, to eat one meal a week as sustainable, organic, local and ethical possible.  – Christina The more I have thought about possible meals for the Dark Days Challenge, the more I [...]

When we began this club, our monthly meetings were all about sharing a food experience, but once the blog was launched the three hour meetings quickly became more about the blog; topics, theme weeks, recipes, generating readers, giveaways, guest contributors. Not a horrible thing, but something that can be discussed via email and not something [...]

Editor’s Note: This is our fourth installment of a 4 1/2 month challenge, Dark Days, taken up by 88 blogs spanning the country, to eat one meal a week as local, sustainable, ethical and organic as possible. I’m talking gluten-free sweet potato gnocchi, my very own quart of canned tomatoes and some sautéed broccoli rabe. [...]

Meals in a hurry… Isn’t that what we all wish for? I know I do.  I’m tired when I get home from work and the last question that I want to try an answer is what are we having for dinner.  Nevermind trying to create something from nothing on the days that I forgot to [...]

When I think of getting dinner on the table on a busy night, the first thing I think of is my beloved crock pot. What could be better than having dinner ready and waiting when you walk in the door after a long day? I have several go-to crock pot meals for times when life [...]

I’d like to begin this post by saying that right now I am in love with this soup.  Really though, I may just be in love with myself for making it.  Or maybe I’m in love with Mark Bittman for giving me the ideas to create it.  It is good soup.  And so simple.  Perfect [...]

We just completed back-to-back weeks of  “theme” focused posts; apples recipes and the theme of indulgence. This was a trial-run. We had thought of the idea at a monthly meeting, put it on the back-burner until recently  and put the concept to the test for two weeks. For this month’s national giveaway, we’ll be asking [...]

As our first week of our series {1 food 1 week} comes to a close , I will tackle apples with not one, two or three apple-based recipes but four moderately simple applications. 1. Juicing. When I lived in Los Angeles, I did A LOT of juicing. Daily. Blame it on the 98% sunshine and [...]

Once the weather gets cool, all I want is to cook and eat soup. A bowl of soup with some homemade bread and butter, maybe a little salad…this is absolutely the perfect lunch. Or dinner. Or snack.  :)  Soup just may be the perfect meal. This recipe (originally passed on to me from my sister, [...]