Our Blog has MOVED!

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See you there!

Summer Kids Chef Camp- Meet our Instructor!

We're delighted to introduce Lori Hinze, who will be our Lead Chef Instructor for our Summer Kids Chef Camp! Lori has run a cooking school in the Houston area for several years, teaching kids, teens and adults, as well as having an after-school cooking and educational program for children.

She is BURSTING with great ideas for our camp, and we're thrilled to have her on board. You can visit her website at www.txcookingschool.com for more info on Lori, her classes and more.

If you're interested in signing your child or grandchild up for our Kids Chef Camp, just visit our website and click on the Kids Camp tab. You can see the weekly schedule with themes and menus, and download registration forms. Don't forget, we're also going to be offering TEEN SESSIONS which will teach more advanced "real world" skills.

You asked for it, so we got it... Bodum, that is.

So the next time somebody comes in and asks "Do you carry Bodum products?", we'll be able to say... "Yes. Yes, we do."

I kid! We brought Bodum in because it's a fantastic product line, with coffee and tea items ranging from traditional coffee presses, to cool travel mugs that you can put photos in, to beautiful glass teapots with an almost Art Deco feel. That's the one in the photo- it's called the Assam. Pretty, isn't it?

They also have a great line of insulated glassware that won't sweat (or condense, for you more delicate-minded folks out there) and will keep your beverage hot or cold much longer than single-layered glassware. And we all know how important keeping your beverage cold in Texas is especially in the summer!

Come check them out. You'll thank yourself later, and then you can take yourself out for an appreciation lunch.

Good Friends and Bread

My friend Ruby was visiting from Maine last week. She comes down a couple of times a year, and we always make sure to save one of her days here for our "Cooking Day". I even went shopping for odd miscellaneous ingredients in advance of her arrival, just in case we wanted to make dried pineapple-macadamia-white chocolate cookies, for example. (We didn't, but those sound good, don't they? I'll have to try that.)

Anyway, our day started at 6 am with two wonderful loaves of oatmeal bread. One we did with maple syrup, and the other with molasses. When they were hot, I liked the molasses better, but after they cooled, the flavor really came out in the maple loaf and that one ended up being my favorite. Fantastic toasted, and they make great sandwiches too.

Here's the recipe so you can try it. Let me know which one you prefer!

Maple (Or Molasses) Oat Bread

1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup boiling water
1 package (1/4 oz) active dry yeast
1/3 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
1/2 cup real maple syrup OR molasses
2 tsp canola oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour, or use half bread, half all-purpose flour.

Topping:
1 egg white
2 T old-fashioned oats

Place oats in a blender or food processor, cover and process oats for 6-7 seconds or until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl; add boiling water. Let stand until mixture cools to 110 to 115 degrees.

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/3 cup warm water, add syrup or molasses, oil, salt, oat mixture, and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth.

Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.

Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down, turn onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a flattened 9" round loaf. Place in a greased 9" round baking dish. Cover and let rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes. (You can also use a regular loaf pan if you prefer a more traditionally shaped loaf.)

Brush with whisked egg white, sprinkle with oats.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.

Recipe from Taste of Home Fall Baking 2009, via Ruby.

Just THREE DAYS LEFT - Huge Storewide Sale!

Wow! If you want it, it's on sale right now! We're having a Giant Sale to clear out room for all the new merchandise that will be coming in over the next couple of weeks. That's right, Tony went a little crazy at the Housewares Show... and you can reap the benefits. Take 20% off regularly priced merchandise (10% off electrics), and our clearance is 40 to 60% off! I'm loving this...

Oh, and tell your friends, too! The more the merrier!

There are a few vendor exclusions, so if you have any questions, just give us a call at 266-5666.

Raw Foods Class, Wednesday April 14th!

You won't believe it's Raw! Join Chef Alicia Ojeda, noted Raw Foods Chef of Beets Cafe in Austin, for a surprising and delicious feast! The raw foods diet has been linked to more energy, healthier skin, a reduced risk of heart disease and better digestion. This class will be a great introduction to Raw Foods, or if you're already a Raw Foodie, you'll get some tasty new ideas. Menu includes: Baby Mix Salad with Creamy Hemp Ranch Dessing; Marinated Kale Salad; Zucchini Pasta Noodles with two sauces - Zesty Marinara and Creamy Alfredo; "Mock Parmesan Crumble; and a Chocolate Mousse Parfait. Chef Alicia will also be introducing her NEW Cookbook and will be available to autograph copies after class. (*Class is VEGETARIAN and GLUTEN FREE). The cost for this class is $45.00 per person.

Local Farmers' Markets- They're where to shop!

Get out this spring and enjoy the freshness being produced by local farms! I've compiled a list of local farmers' markets with the days, times and location- let me know if I've forgotten your favorite.

Austin Farmers Market at The Triangle 3 pm - 7 pm, October-April; 4 - 8 pm, May - Sept. Wednesdays Year ‘round at 46th and Triangle Avenue, at Triangle Park

The Truck Farm Farmers Market, Located at the Northeast Corner of Bee Caves Road and Hwy. 360, in front of Pots & Plants Nursery. Open every Thursday year round, “rain or shine” From 3-7 pm. REMEMBER: Look for the pink flamingos in front of the Market! Call Amy Ingram, Market Manager at 512-440-7196 for more information.

Austin Farmers Market—Saturdays, 9am–1pm, at 4th & Guadalupe at Republic Square Park Downtown.

Barton Creek Farmers Market, Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm. Barton Creek Mall Parking Lot near Dillards. (Formerly known as the Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market.)

Cedar Park Farms to Market—Opening Saturday, March 27, 2010, 1890 Ranch Shopping Center in Cedar Park at the corner of 183A and FM1431.

Dripping Springs Farmers Market—1st and 3rd Saturdays through October, 9am– 1pm, The Triangle at the corner of HWY 290 and RR12 in Dripping Springs. 512-858-4725

Sustainable Food Center Farmers Market at Sunset Valley 9 am to 1 pm Saturdays, 3200 Jones Street -Toney Burger Center Parking Lot (A project of Sustainable Food Center)

HOPE Farmers Market—Sundays, 11am–3pm, 414 Waller St., the corner of E. 5th & Waller St. at the Pine Street Station. A project brought to the Austin community by the HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) Campaign.