tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post1857993283723311829..comments2024-03-14T05:55:13.709-05:00Comments on Farmgirl Fare: Book Review: Keeping the Feast by Paula ButturiniFarmgirl Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851855517852917202noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-60457339724825082352010-01-31T23:34:31.493-06:002010-01-31T23:34:31.493-06:00I'd like a copy of the book! I've found I...I'd like a copy of the book! I've found I have less and less time for reading books as I find myself reading more and more from various people online. <br /><br />I've always found it comforting to make "Grandma's macaroni and cheese" and "Grandma's potatoes." There's something about family recipes that makes them taste better! Though they never taste quite the same when family isn't there to enjoy them with.mlmnttlkrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13784804879536097114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-42761726746560478912010-01-31T13:32:35.382-06:002010-01-31T13:32:35.382-06:00This sounds like a lovely book so count me in! I ...This sounds like a lovely book so count me in! I will have to say that our family recipe for cut-out cookies is the best salve ever... coincidentally, I just baked a batch this morning to fulfill a customer order! Of course, there are always a few left over for me and the hubby. :)<br /><br />Now I'm off to read the earlier post with the White Bean Soup recipe. Ummmm!Girl Tornadohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07289862625817473671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-60479044470094604682010-01-31T08:34:10.486-06:002010-01-31T08:34:10.486-06:00Sounds like a very interesting book. In know what ...Sounds like a very interesting book. In know what you mean about not having much time to read and then not piling depressing books on top of a less than cheery day; I've been turning to romantic comedy flicks because of that. For me, just the act of cooking, creating something that smells good, is what brings me back. Even after a long hard week nothing makes me feel as good and the creative process of cooking something. When I'm really longing for home, my guilty pleasure is so simple its laughable but makes me feel so good. I fry some broken up capellini(fideo) noodles until as many of them are browned as possible but none burnt. Then I add tomato paste, water and salt. The noodles simmer in that till cooked through and the sauce recuced. Umm, I' think I'll make some for lunch.SwingCat123https://www.blogger.com/profile/04704554424955816499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-52242061072032062392010-01-30T09:17:49.781-06:002010-01-30T09:17:49.781-06:00Oh I would love to win an advance copy of this boo...Oh I would love to win an advance copy of this book. Looks like a great one! MMMMMMMM I can't wait to make the soup.<br /><br />Kelly Lilley<br />2102 Orange Factory Road<br />Bahama, NC 27503Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05384291442242927959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-91972426115660507992010-01-29T12:54:58.154-06:002010-01-29T12:54:58.154-06:00Books and eating! Great combination at anytime! My...Books and eating! Great combination at anytime! My Mom came to us from the hospital and was dying. She had been over-medicated with psycotropic drugs and was expected to die withing days. Two years and many nourishing meals later made with love and tenderness she is still with us! She has lost much of her vision and now listens to "books on tape". The power of love, food and the written word to nourish and sustain our souls is very evident here.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10114551355724472653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-40413364595476225962010-01-28T20:13:32.659-06:002010-01-28T20:13:32.659-06:00food has always been a way to bring my family toge...food has always been a way to bring my family together. likely, it has also brought yours together as well. for nearly the last 30 years in this country, we had been blessed with good health and happiness in our family. unfortunately, a year ago, i had an uncle succumb to cancer. it hit us all pretty hard. so we did what we knew. we came together as a family and we cooked and we ate and we hugged and we cried. we toasted and we remembered. baked goods, fresh desserts, wonderful soups and stews bring us together, through thick and thin.<br /><br />oh. and cookies.psnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03917533930731177742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-44779089243519245972010-01-28T18:53:45.818-06:002010-01-28T18:53:45.818-06:00Warning: this gets a bit graphic--no sexual conten...Warning: this gets a bit graphic--no sexual content, but medical stuff.<br /><br />Food has always been exceptionally important to my family. Almost every phone conversation begins with, "how was lunch?" We cook together, garden together, eat together as a way of showing love. Last birthday, I was sent seeds (to grow kale, my favorite veg) and country ham from Tennessee.<br /><br />A number of years ago, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 naso-pharyngeal cancer. Since the tumors were located just off of her brain stem, they were inoperable. We were warned by her docs that the chemo and radiation combo necessary to combat the disease might kill her anyway. She chose to have the treatment and moved in with me, since I lived close to the treating facilities.<br /><br />On the very first night after chemo, I made her homemade chicken and wild rice soup. About an hour later, she projectile-vomited the soup across my washer and dryer. She didn't stop vomiting for months. As chemo progressed, she became more and more ill, unable to brush her teeth, drink any water--in short, she couldn't have anything in her mouth at all. <br /><br />I started eating all of my meals outside, where she wouldn't be able to hear or see me eat. I stopped cooking, because I didn't want the smell to make her vomit. Every day I left work for two hours, took Mom to radiation, took her home, bathed her and went back to work. <br /><br />Her fever started spiking up to 102 or 104 weekly, necessitating emergency hospital visits. Since she couldn't eat, she often lost consciousness. The docs continued to give her radiation every M-F, with chemo every 3 weeks.<br /><br />One night I forged her signature so that the docs could insert a GI feeding tube. It was the only way she was going to live. Otherwise her body would have eaten itself and collapsed before they could finish treatment. After the tube was inserted, we had to "feed" her several times a day with Ensure or other products. She hated it, just loathed the smell of the product. <br /><br />Finally the Ensure gave her enough calories to get some mental clarity back, and she told the docs that enough was enough. She stopped all treatment and went home to die.<br /><br />She was on the Ensure for another three months while her body flushed the chemo's heavy metals, unable to eat or drink anything else. The docs couldn't confirm whether they'd "killed" enough of her to get the cancers or not. So we waited.<br /><br />One day she called me and asked that I drive down for the day. I took a day off work. When I walked in the door, I found that she'd made some chicken and rice soup for me--from the same recipe we've used since I was a child, full of wild rice and carrots, dill and scallions. It was the first time she'd cooked since starting treatment.<br /><br />She ate a little bit that day, and for me it was like an act of god. I'd never thought she would make it so far. She ate and was happy. That was as good as life could be for me, pretty much ever.<br /><br />I don't know how or why, but my mom's okay. She went into remission--NO ONE goes into remission at stage 4 with this particular cancer--and she's okay. She's had to have another GI tube put in, because the radiation did so much damage to her esophagus and salivary glands, that she can't eat enough to maintain weight. (She was a size 20 pre-cancer; has gone in between 0 and 4 since). She is prone to pneumonia because some food inevitably goes into her lungs. <br /><br />Every Sunday she makes a bit pot of soup, because it's one of the easiest things for her to eat. She calls me to ask for advice--what pairs well with the Portugese chorizo I sent?--or to tell me about this week's haul of Asian greens from the garden. Sometimes she even gets so hungry that she eats while we're on the phone.<br /><br />Listening to my mom slurp soup is the most beautiful sound in the world.Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348731625005200952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-87152897230314305982010-01-28T14:23:50.343-06:002010-01-28T14:23:50.343-06:00in 2008, my husband suffered a minor heart attack ...in 2008, my husband suffered a minor heart attack & had a quintuple bypass all within 2 days. when he came home from the hospital, he finally agreed to let me makeover his favorite foods so that they were healthier. he also agrred to eating the healthy low-fat meals i usually cooked without complaining. he's doing great almost 2 yrs later. i'm very proud of him for his progress to healthier eating.<br /><br />thanks for your e-ltr. hope your & your animals are surviving the snow.<br /><br />also hope you are better from the flu by now.<br /><br />take care, claudiacghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09636931836850160485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-90948217002090868822010-01-28T13:08:48.626-06:002010-01-28T13:08:48.626-06:00Dinners with my extended family at our family farm...Dinners with my extended family at our family farm were the centerpiece of shared good times together. With my grandparents and father now long deceased, I can readily call up the warmth and fun of our family by thinking of one our meals. Can still visualize each of us sat at our old farm table, though our places are now filled with fresh faces. You never wanted those meals to end, and indeed they haven't.Nancynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-12021263289292869202010-01-28T11:19:44.776-06:002010-01-28T11:19:44.776-06:00Hi, as a long-time reader of your blog, I'm as...Hi, as a long-time reader of your blog, I'm ashamed to say this is probably the first time I've left a comment. I enjoy all your stories, happy and not so happy ones, your animals and your food postings. I have chronic health issues, and I can certainly state that changing food habits have helped me maintain a stable health. Also, being unable to work, I am able to home cook all my family's meals, and also started working with yeast in my baking...a very big thing for a yeast-phobic baker.Baking has helped me deal with my everyday health stresses....when I bake I lose myself in the act of creating a tasty treat, and do not think of what I'm unable to accomplish that day. As an Italian-Canadian, I can relate to the author's sense of relationship with family and food. Where there is one, the other will make an appearnce. It is also important to keep traditions and cherish family recipes...when our loved ones are no longer physically with us,they still share a place at the table.annienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-61068623048493449112010-01-28T09:54:52.764-06:002010-01-28T09:54:52.764-06:00Cooking is how I unwind at the end of the day. I f...Cooking is how I unwind at the end of the day. I find immense satisfaction in chopping, peeling and sauteing. Even if I'm the only mouth at home to feed, I still enjoy the simplicity of putting together a good, healthy meal.kjramstackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159351218324359096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-76813391908382209552010-01-28T09:09:46.652-06:002010-01-28T09:09:46.652-06:00My job, like so many others, is really really stre...My job, like so many others, is really really stressful. About a year and a half ago, my boyfriend said, you know, I never see you happier than when you are in the kitchen. It made me realize that he was totally right. Ever since I was little, my happiest memories are of cooking and baking. So I decided to keep working (sigh the mortgage still needs to get paid) but I'm working on building my baking skills (maybe even going culinary schools at night) and hopefully opening my own bakery/cake decorating business in a few years. It's the light at the end of the tunnel.CakeGirlhttp://www.wickedlygoodcakes.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-7093158879535478402010-01-28T08:50:51.625-06:002010-01-28T08:50:51.625-06:00I knew cooking was different for me when it helped...I knew cooking was different for me when it helped heal my own stress, when I was horribly stressed out from some family issues, my dad finally said to me after hearing too much complain, go back some cookies, you'll feel better, I didn't know my love for cooking was so ingrained in me, but boy, going into the kitchen and just creating makes the world's and my own woes a lot more easy to deal with, <br />I've been lurking for sometime now, but this book looks too good to pass up, love your blog, thanks for sharing!thesunnyabysshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152617762651956642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-10446550482780860282010-01-28T08:36:56.415-06:002010-01-28T08:36:56.415-06:00Eating has always been one of my favorite things. ...Eating has always been one of my favorite things. Cooking has become one. To me, it's just another creative outlet. <br /><br />We have suffered financially over the past few years. As a result, we have not been able to go out to eat hardly at all. This has forced me to up my cooking skills to a new level to satisfy my palette. I have had a great time doing it. <br /><br />However, nothing beats the joy of cooking for a grateful, friendly crowd. I love that food brings people together.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03569192730586121863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-15979546526756573882010-01-28T08:05:08.402-06:002010-01-28T08:05:08.402-06:00When times are tough I make bread - seems mixing a...When times are tough I make bread - seems mixing and kneading and baking are stress relievers for me - and eating the first slice out of the oven slathered with butter helps also...Marcia in WYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-78040166230773726022010-01-28T01:09:24.680-06:002010-01-28T01:09:24.680-06:00Oh this sounds like a wonderful book. I'd lov...Oh this sounds like a wonderful book. I'd love to win a copy and even if I don't I just may buy one.<br /><br />When I'm upset I cook. I can't claim to be a good cook but you'll always know when I'm bashing pots in the kitchen that I'm working out a problem and to stay away.Sparklesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806553694200529082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-26184406602385764342010-01-27T22:12:04.013-06:002010-01-27T22:12:04.013-06:00after a traumatic event a couple of years ago, i f...after a traumatic event a couple of years ago, i found that automatic inhalation of breath trigged by the aroma of somethign freshly baked from the oven was the only thing that could get me really breathing deep enough again. and that is still true today and the struggle w/ the afermath continues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-77278320725271419192010-01-27T20:58:46.568-06:002010-01-27T20:58:46.568-06:00I was never much of a foodie until I married an It...I was never much of a foodie until I married an Italian boy, so cooking is a big part of our family. It's tradition to make and share good Italian food that is Americanized! Your blog is wonderful. I've really enjoyed your daily pics and stories. Makes my day when I read your blog and stories, no matter how sad, it's part of life, thank you for sharing! - JMFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-48935679870666852292010-01-27T16:05:02.855-06:002010-01-27T16:05:02.855-06:00I baked my husband back in love with me. No, serio...I baked my husband back in love with me. No, seriously. After a near-divorce at 22 years, I renewed my love of "everything homemade" - the results happy "ME" helped create a happy "US".<br /><br />:)Meadowlarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17208672418814503032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-884609236545688782010-01-27T16:02:22.702-06:002010-01-27T16:02:22.702-06:00When I first married and moved across the continen...When I first married and moved across the continent..I made grannie's cinnamon buns to feel close to the good times of being with family..Bettyannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11556103289055385895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-27224915319679185862010-01-27T15:18:08.141-06:002010-01-27T15:18:08.141-06:00I recently baked my way out of a severe depression...I recently baked my way out of a severe depression. Baking is my joy.Stacey Thomashttp://www.thisjustinblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-30306119624127786652010-01-27T14:27:39.145-06:002010-01-27T14:27:39.145-06:00I'd definitely love to join in on this! I so w...I'd definitely love to join in on this! I so want to read this!Athirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-77416953070677058022010-01-27T13:38:16.851-06:002010-01-27T13:38:16.851-06:00I have been a faithful reader of your blog for a l...I have been a faithful reader of your blog for a long time and have made many of your wonderful recipes. When I was young my mother used to make Beef Orzo soup and then when I grew up I made it with her. She's been gone for many years and I think of her every time I make this simple soup. Now my daughter makes it too and hopefully my grandchildren will carry on this tradition. The wonderful food connection!<br /><br />Carolcdeck21@sbcglobal.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-68398813564545841822010-01-27T12:54:17.177-06:002010-01-27T12:54:17.177-06:00My grandmother made "sticky buns" every ...My grandmother made "sticky buns" every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Before she died, I asked her to give me the recipe. She wouldn't give me the bread recipe (she didn't like hers and wanted me to find my own) but she gave me the recipe for the sticky topping. The Grandmother (as my sister and I referred to her) has been gone since 2001 but every year I make her sticky buns and we remember her. That's what food is all about for me...memories.Beannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12997259.post-43279434819301842132010-01-27T12:32:30.879-06:002010-01-27T12:32:30.879-06:00When my husband died, I didn't seem to know ho...When my husband died, I didn't seem to know how to cook for myself alone. So I cooked and shared what I made. Cooking got me outside myself and the ensuing trials of being a young widow. I didn't have children, but looking back on it now. I think feeding a family would have been the ultimate feeling of safty and nurturing. I did make dog treats, learend about hot bran mashes for my horses. Made treats for my neighbors kids. All and all I think the simple act of cooking kept me centerd. I still think of the kitchen as the heart of my home.Andylynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04634072460146378411noreply@blogger.com