Behind Every Purchase Is a Person I was that early ’90s college kid who had the Think Global, Act Local bumper sticker haphazardly stuck to my dorm room door.Back then, it was a vague concept I was only beginning to grasp. Globalism itself was still early in its wide-reaching transformation of how we eat and shopContinue reading “May 2020 Newsletter”
Author Archives: christinanifong
Teens Gotta Talk … So I’m Letting Them School Me
Chillaxin’ at the dinner table with my husband, two teens and a tween goes something like this in these Corona Times: “Dude! These meatballs, though. They hit different.” “10 outta 10. Would eat again.” “Dopest dinner we’ve had all week, bruh.” And me, the English major, former newspaper copy editor and all around grammar policeContinue reading “Teens Gotta Talk … So I’m Letting Them School Me”
Asparagus and Greens Soup
As I write this in late spring/early summer, we have spring onions growing tall in one corner of the garden, our second planting of spinach is thriving, and our stand of kale is pretty as a picture. The asparagus is long-gone, but I can find some at my farmers market. I have a few jarsContinue reading “Asparagus and Greens Soup”
Behind Every Purchase, a Person
I was that early ’90s college kid who had the Think Global, Act Local bumper sticker haphazardly stuck to my dorm room door. Back then, it was a vague concept I was only beginning to grasp. Globalism itself was still early in its wide-reaching transformation of how we eat and shop and work. By the timeContinue reading “Behind Every Purchase, a Person”
Losing the Need to Win
I can easily recall the disappointment on my sweet son’s face. We were perched, him and me, at a game table by the window at a state park in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a rainy day and our plans of wandering and fishing had been shifted to play and snacks inside the visitor’sContinue reading “Losing the Need to Win”
Savory Spring Dutch Baby
I was reminded recently of a certain airy, eggy deliciousness called a Dutch baby or German pancake. When I realized it could be the start of a dinner that featured eggs and leafy greens, I knew this was the meal for this height-of-spring moment. I’ve made it several times lately — with arugula, kale, spinachContinue reading “Savory Spring Dutch Baby”
Scalloped Potatoes
We plant our seed potatoes in March and harvest them in July. We store a big box of local potatoes through the winter and can usually find baby potatoes at the farmers market by early summer. To say potatoes are a staple on our family’s table year ’round is an understatement. But this dish ofContinue reading “Scalloped Potatoes”
April 2020 Newsletter
Losing the Need to Win I can easily recall the disappointment on my sweet son’s face. We were perched, him and me, at a game table by the window at a state park in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a rainy day and our plans of wandering and fishing had been shifted to play andContinue reading “April 2020 Newsletter”
High School Seniors, Here’s My Shoulder. Have a Big, Ugly Cry.
Dear Class of 2020: I’m writing today because sometimes when terrible things happen, it’s important to stop, and count the cost, and just cry. Of course, having the next few months of your life popped like a soap bubble is nothing compared to the tens of thousands of people who have lost their lives. ButContinue reading “High School Seniors, Here’s My Shoulder. Have a Big, Ugly Cry.”
Harvest Vegetable Soup
In times of struggle, anxiety, illness, there is no better balm than soup. It is literally a healing food. It’s also a comfort. It’s unfussy. It can be made quickly, easily, cheaply. This soup, in particular, lends itself to adaptation. Toss in a little of this. Add a little of that. Which makes it well-suitedContinue reading “Harvest Vegetable Soup”