5 stars for food's powers of connection: cookbook links history, culture, adventure and cooking

Eat It! Food Adventures with Marco Polo

I've finally posted a short review on GoodReads. It's for a book written by Gracie Cavnar, founder of the Recipe for Success Foundation in support of its mission to help change the way our children eat. 

Having read this marvelous book, I'm already hungry for more. Eat It! artfully weaves together history, sociology, cookery and an intriguing story of adventure. Those who appreciate excellent illustration will love paging through the colorful plates.

Grown-ups and younger people can learn together over this series while reconnecting in the kitchen, and the go-to nature of these time-tested recipes will make this a treasured piece of one's personal book collection. I hope this can also become part of school curricula. 

I wouldn't be surprised if this series inspired more than a few young folks to dedicate their lives to the art of sourcing, preparing and eating real food.

Recipe for Success Foundation is changing the way children eat by changing how they understand, appreciate and eat their food, and by educating and mobilizing the community to provide healthier diets for children.

Gracie Cavnar in the White House garden

 

I encourage you to order your copy online today, gift it to your favorite young person and enjoy it together now, for holiday family cooking and well into the future. 100% of the proceeds go to RFS programming.

Pin It Now!

Awesome food, awesome company - Beth's lingerie shower

This week has been awesome. One reason is that Corey is in visiting from Trinidad! Another reason is that Beth, Corey's bestie, just got engaged and we hosted a super fun bridal lingerie party organized by Corey.

Here are some pics (mostly of food) as the others I can't publish as it would spoil the surprise for Beth's new hubby. I must say, Corey knows how to throw a great party. This very tasty food was both healthy and colorful, and provided just the right festive setting.

Miss Bethany Wesson, the lovely bride-to-be!

Part of the spread: that's spinach dip past the pretzel chips 

Chicken sausages: cilantro lime, and apple with cinnamon

Veggies on a bed of arugula with hummus

Lime shrimp with water crackers and Parmesan crisps

Tiny caprese skewers

Guacamole with peach, pineapple salsa, black bean dip

Herbed goat cheese, prosciutto, aged Gouda, pepper jack bites

On a side note, another few reasons this week has been a great one:

--> I've learned and refined more skills in the kitchen at the Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter - always a bonus! It's an amazing place to volunteer.

--> I tried a new arm balance pose at yoga for the first time called Astavakrasana (Eight Angle Pose) - and nailed it on the first try on both sides! This is a really tricky one as you can see below, so it's pretty exciting.

--> I FINALLY did King Pigeon on one side at yoga - after nearly two years of trying. Now for the other side!

--> I'm really proud of Greg who has been working so very hard and is doing great things.

This week, I'm feeling especially blessed and very grateful. I'll end with a quote from President Kennedy that I hope inspires you too:

'As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.'

-- John F. Kennedy  

Pin It Now!