Happy Anniversary

October 2020

I use to read for pleasure, all the time. I would get a book at an actual bookstore on Friday and would not put it down until I finished it on Sunday. I would borrow books from friends and family and could give them back in a few days.

Once, I went to Jamaica and did not get into the ocean until after I finished the book that I started on the plane. I would get books for my birthday, for summer reading, or Christmas to read over the break.

Unintentionally, after I started Feast in a Basket, all my reading became business related. I mostly read about successful business people or add to my collection of cookbooks. It honestly took everything we've been through this year to open my eyes to what's important.

So with our Feast in a Basket anniversary approaching later this month, I'm taking a few days to get back to one of my favorite things. My book pile is ready. If it's not a murder mystery, if someone is not being arrested for a crime that they didn't commit, or some Bourne or Bond type isn't saving the world, I'm not interested.

Just the thought of sitting down with something mindless has me all giddy. I know I have a million options for how to read these days, but I went old school and found a local bookstore to buy my books. I'm trying to be conscious of where I spend my money. My small contribution to keep small businesses open and keep my community employed. I am ready, now what should I read first?

October Recipe: Barcelona Hot Chocolate

2/3 cup boiling water
2 ounces good quality dark or bittersweet chocolate (60-70% cocoa) finely chopped
1 1/3 cup of 1% low fat milk
1 cup brewed expresso or strong coffee
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 2-inch piece orange rind strip
1/4 cup whipped topping, thawed

Combine 2/3 cup boiling water and chopped chocolate in a medium saucepan, stirring until chocolate melts.
Add milk and next 4 ingredients;
Cook over medium-low heat, stirring with a whisk.
Heat 5 minutes until tiny bubles form around the edge of the pan, stirring frequently-do not boil.
Discard the rind.
Pour 1 cup mixture into 4 mugs.
Spoon 1 tablespoon whipped topping over each serving.

Introducing Feast Graze Baskets & Boxes

In honor of our upcoming anniversary this month, we will be introducing our new Feast Graze Baskets & Boxes. This fun addition to our menu is sure to be the perfect finishing touch to your next event, or gathering.

Packages available starting 10/12.

As a child, October always seemed like a place holder month for me. Columbus Day didn't leave much to celebrate, and Halloween was at the end of the month.
I now appreciate October and all of its loveliness. The leaves are changing, the days are cooler and calmer, and I can find candied apples. I had my first one yesterday from the Amish market. I ate the whole thing. There was no shame, just the joy of a fresh seasonal apple and great, melty caramel.

Fall has arrived.

Yukon Gold potatoes have only been on the market since the 1980s. The potato was developed in the 1960s by Garnet Johnson in Ontario Canada. Along with the assistance of Geoff Rowberry, the official cross was made in 1966, allowing it to be put out to market by the 80s. It is characterized by its thin, smooth yellow tinged skin. There are other gold flesh varieties, but none have received the name recognition of the Yukon Gold, named for the Yukon river and the gold rush country in northern Canada.

Not all additives are put into foods to improve their color, boost their flavor or make life easier for the manufactuer. Some ingredients are added for your health. Nutrients commonly added to foods include:

Folate - Also known as Folic Acid, Folate is added to many grain foods and cereals. It is important for women of childbearing age to get plenty of this nutrient early in the pregnancy.

Omega-3 fatty acids - These have earned a positive reputation in recent years for their link to heart health.

Vitamin D and Calcium - Vitamin D is not found naturally in many foods that people like to eat, unless you like cod liver oil. Calcium helps build and maintain bone health, while Vitamin D helps your body effectively absorb Calcium.