TRUFFLE FESTIVAL

I'm a bit behind in my posts but not in my desire to send out a great big THANK YOU to those who showed us much love at the recent Truffle Festival, in Newberg and Eugene.  What a heady experience with a group of fantastic, creative vendors using the prized fungi.  I infused our Meyer Lemon/Olive paste w White Truffle Oil from a truffle company out of Dayton, OR.  Amazing, heady flavors with the citrus, the briny olives, and the earthy truffles! Sold out of all our product and got rave reviews on our samples. Check out the pics....and drool....

THANK YOU!

You showed me great love last weekend at the Holiday Market and I send it right back!  From the setting up to the tear down, I had a BLAST chatting and noshing with old and new customers!  I was so busy the whole weekend; I had some people tell me on Sunday that they couldn't get close on Saturday so they came back! It's true---I had people 2 and 3-deep wanting to nibble and trade recipe ideas and buy up great stocking stuffers or 'thank you's' for someone on their business or personal list.  All great ways to show your gratitude and sooo much nicer (read: unusual) than the ubiquitous bottle of wine or candle.  I made it easy for them too--already gift wrapped w ribbons/bows and ready to go!  How much easier can I make it?  Hope the lucky recipients have fun experimenting and  the buyers can check out our local retail locations or on-line for a resupply.  Enjoy your holidays--from my 'Soil to your  Soul---it's all good'.

Holiday Market 2015

I love decorating! Whether it's a room in a house or a trade booth; I love visualizing a concept and then pulling all the elements together to create that vision.  Spent all afternoon putting my booth together for this weekend's Holiday Market.  Come out and visit me, Booth#8, "Aurora Blvd" and tell me what you think.  And you might as well taste while you're there and hell, pick up a last minute stocking stuffer or a thank-you for a business colleague or hostess gift.  I'll let you in on a secret: we are phasing out our red bag design and will be selling them for dirt cheap (even cheaper than on our website) so if you really want to stock up for yourself or give to others, do it at the show!  You won't be seeing these prices again--not for a looong time.  Happy Holidays!  The festivous for the rest of us.......

"When you're stressed and need a helping hand...."

Don't get wrapped around the axle with your 'to do list'; that's why Santa has elves and you do too---me and my crew (or for those who want personal attention, just me!)

I loooooove throwing a good party---big or small--I've done them all and I love to be your 'secret Santa' for these holidays!  There's still some time to book us and if not BEFORE the year is out, January or February work too (better idea frankly, after the chaos has died down). Just sayin'.

ALMA CATERING- 'from Soil2Soul, it's ALL good!'

Recipes from YOU!

When doing demos around the state, I always ask people to send me their creative ideas for using our product line so we can share with the rest of y'all.  You send, I test, I post, and you receive a complimentary sample of one of our flavors.  Thanks to Lisa for submitting her idea for the Meyer Lemon PDS---she sprinkles the DRY mix right out of the package over hot cooked pasta and prawns in a BIG bowl with some EVOO.  Toss and serve with a salad and voila, dinner! How easy is that?! She broke my record for getting dinner on the table!  Another client, Sue, uses the Lemongrass PDS as a filling for chicken breasts by mixing the dry rub with some ricotta cheese, stuffing the breasts and cooks them in a 350degree oven till done.  Serve with your favorite sides, rice and roasted veggies.  Wow! Another record dinner on the table and such 'fusion soul!' David sent me his recipe for baked beans. He added our Portuguese Smoked Pepper  right out of the packet along with his other ingredients to his beans, baked for an hour and OMG, the flavors!  Rich and smokey and yummylicious! Thanks to all of you and the rest of my 'Rockstar Cooks' out there. Holiday wishes and send me your dishes! 

HOLIDAY MARKET!

This is your personal invitation to party with me in Booth  #8 this Saturday, Dec 12/13th at the fairgrounds. You know I'll be hooking you up with good tastes and pulling your butt out of hot water with some great last-minute gifts! See you there!

Gratitude...

I never ceased to be humbled when I'm cooking for the 'truly hungry'.  I had the pleasure of prepping for our city's annual Thanksgiving dinner for the less fortunate, estimated numbers as high as 1,500-2,000.  Got a LOT of experience peeling yams, carrots, and onions! Also got a chance to meet some equally generous volunteers, one being the president of the community college who shared a workspace with me.  We are truly fortunate in this 'land of plenty'.

Border Patrol

Took some time recently to visit the 'other' Portland; East coast that is.  Actually I tooled around all over New England which is not the first time for me.  It's just been a long time since I'd been there.  I still love the accent, the diversity, and of course the food.  You can NOT go to that area and NOT have at least ONE lobster roll !! (see pic) Check that one off my list (twice).  Or not have a Modern Pastry cannoli---lines not as bad here as at their rival down the street--Mike's Pastry; lines out the door and down the block! Was it worth it? It was pretty damned good but this bakery had many equally decadent and gorgeous desserts.  I actually ordered their uber large 'white chocolate peanut butter cup'.  Yowza!! Decadent and sugar overload!  Next time I'll try Mike's, if I can get in, but there are only a few things I'll wait in that kind of line for!

Buck's Naked BBQ was a real tasty find---new since I'd been to Maine.  Good food, plenty of it, sauces of your choice and a lot of the food I grew up on---greens, okra, brussel sprouts, sweet potato pie, etc.  Somebody in that kitchen was 'puttin' their foot in that food!'  Worth a repeat trip.

Visited LOTS of historical sites and had fun playing 'tongue-in-cheek' with the ALMA FOODS products.

Great time seeing old friends and family and THAT was the best part of it all.  While I LOVE puttin' on the feedbag, reconnecting with special people is priceless!! Get out and see other areas, other cultures; life is about 'living'.

Classic New England Lobster Roll

Another Plum Dessert....

I teased you talking about plum desserts and since I was on a roll, I made a fruity, crispy Plum Crisp out of the rest of my plum bounty.  I just loooove fruit crisps---especially topped with some good quality vanilla ice cream!  Perfect for these hot summer days!

Dog days of summer.....

I cannot believe that we are coming into August already!  In spite of the heat, I must cook--albeit I try to do it uber early or uber late to outwit the heat!  Sometimes, though, you just gotta fire up the Viking and whip something up like recently when I had a batch of plums that were better for baking than eating...Never one to let food go to waste, I went the dessert route and whipped up this Plum Cornbread using some of our Camas Country Mill's 'Floriani Red Flint Cornmeal'.  Sensational !! I grew up on cornbread but my mother never took it in this direction.  She would get such a kick out of this sweet version because she always believed that dessert should be eaten first! Yummylicious!!