Childhood memory : grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup. Very likely this comfort meal was prepared with processed yellow cheese on white bread and canned condensed tomato soup. Now that you are a grownup, officially, you may crave a more adult version of this perfect meal for a chilly winter’s day.
Chris Mattera and Brad Hemp of Sausage Craft in Richmond, Virginia are masters of artisanal meats. Merriam Webster defines an artisan as “one that produces something in limited quantities, often using traditional methods”. Check, and check again. Sausage Craft is a small operation, not a big box warehouse, using responsibly sourced meats to turn out tasty and unique products, selling wholesale to local restaurants, shops and caterers.
My favorite comfort meal has always been meatloaf and mashed potatoes. And my favorite meatloaf is made with ground turkey ( nice and creamy), sundried tomato, spinach and feta cheese. This colorful variation of the American classic makes frequent appearances on my personal chef menus for The Good Eats Company. Just for today we will call this a winter entree, but I enjoy it all year long, making it for myself when I start to miss its distinctive aroma.
There is nothing more satisfying than eating a meal that sticks with you for hours and makes you feel just right : invigorated and not drowsy, satiated and not bloated, comforted, yet knowing you have eaten your carbs virtuously. Today’s vegan meal is brain food. High protein black lentils and red quinoa, paired with the antioxidant power of cashews and dried cranberries, plus the beta-carotene of kabocha squash, et voila! Food for the brain, and the hungry belly. Sure, it all sounds healthy, but what you really want to know is…does it taste good? The answer is a resounding yes. Chewed thoughtfully (this meal cannot be fully appreciated on the run, as both lentils and quinoa require some jaw power) with a wispy side salad and your favorite beverage, this dish satisfies and uplifts the spirit. I call this dinner, but you may offer it up as a filling side dish; it would be welcome at any dinner or brunch buffet, enjoyed by diners of any persuasion.
Daybreak Farm sits on 90 acres outside Richmond, Virginia in Chesterfield County. Fully operational since 2008, the farm is owned by the DiSavino Family and managed well by powerhouse Dawn DiSavino, who gave a recent tour with daughter Annmarie and son Howie. This family lives off the land – they eat what is grown and raised – and most of the power used to keep the farm running is solar. Large freestanding solar panels resembling sports bleachers are visible just beyond the main house. Currently there are goats for soapmaking , beehives which should produce honey by spring, a fledgling fruit orchard, a well stocked fish pond and over one hundred laying hens, guarded by three roosters.
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End of summer means that field peas are in season. Sure, you could purchase frozen field peas, but nothing compares to the earthy taste and toothsome bite of those that are freshly shelled. You will pay a little more, but these are not mechanically separated from their shells; a labor intensive act of love has delivered these beauties to the market. Field peas are technically beans, not peas. They are cousins to the Asian Mung bean, traveling to the new world in colonial times with African slaves who recognized their value as drought resistant, nutrient rich, portable foods.