- Published on
Ever wanted to just disappear into a secret garden? Consider Chanticleer, in Wayne, Pennsylvania. "It's music, it's ballet, it's cinema, the garden as an art form," writes Washington Post garden critic Adrian Higgins.
Chanticleer is part of the old Main Line ring of estates around Philadelphia. Right across the street is the former home of Helen Hope Montgomery Scott, the heiress portrayed by Katherine Hepburn in Philadelphia Story.
Chanticleer holds a sacred magic and many people have walked these acres tapping into its healing power since it opened in 1993. Nestled on 50 acres, Chanticleer is a place of solitude, where one can reflect on the memories of loved ones lost too soon, and a place of joy, like witnessing a child noticing a flower for the first time. When we are healing, we look for experiences that will help us transform pain into something productive, something manageable. Gardens and the natural world aid in this transformation.
Wandering through Chanticleer offers the opportunity to reflect. Pausing to take in the garden from different angles. Looking up to see leaves against a blue-sky backdrop. Sitting back and tuning in with all your senses: feeling the breeze on your skin, smelling a fragrance that reminds you of your grandparent, hearing a hawk’s cry overhead. All senses are engaged in the garden. Sometimes it takes a while to clear the mind enough to experience a garden in this way, but the healing potential that comes from this practice is tangible.
Read more about Chanticleer in our current edition.
Above: The Orchard comes into bloom with glory of the snow (Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Blue Giant’) and daffodils (Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’).
Photo by Chris Fehlhaber.
Chanticleer is part of the old Main Line ring of estates around Philadelphia. Right across the street is the former home of Helen Hope Montgomery Scott, the heiress portrayed by Katherine Hepburn in Philadelphia Story.
Chanticleer holds a sacred magic and many people have walked these acres tapping into its healing power since it opened in 1993. Nestled on 50 acres, Chanticleer is a place of solitude, where one can reflect on the memories of loved ones lost too soon, and a place of joy, like witnessing a child noticing a flower for the first time. When we are healing, we look for experiences that will help us transform pain into something productive, something manageable. Gardens and the natural world aid in this transformation.
Wandering through Chanticleer offers the opportunity to reflect. Pausing to take in the garden from different angles. Looking up to see leaves against a blue-sky backdrop. Sitting back and tuning in with all your senses: feeling the breeze on your skin, smelling a fragrance that reminds you of your grandparent, hearing a hawk’s cry overhead. All senses are engaged in the garden. Sometimes it takes a while to clear the mind enough to experience a garden in this way, but the healing potential that comes from this practice is tangible.
Read more about Chanticleer in our current edition.
Above: The Orchard comes into bloom with glory of the snow (Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Blue Giant’) and daffodils (Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’).
Photo by Chris Fehlhaber.
- Published on
I wasn’t always a brownie fan but now, there’s nothing like a warm pan of rich, chewy brownies with a cup of coffee! I enjoy cutting out designs and decorating them for various occasions. I used to make this recipe with semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips. Once I tried milk chocolate, I’ve never gone back.
INGREDIENTS:
- SALTED BUTTER: I like salted butter in this recipe. I think it adds balance. If you only have unsalted butter on hand, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt when melting the butter.
- COCOA & VANILLA: I get the unsweetened cocoa powder and bourbon vanilla extract at Trader Joe’s. You can use any cocoa you like as long as it’s unsweetened and you can use regular vanilla.
- BROWN SUGAR: I love brown sugar in my recipes! It gives the brownies a nice crunchy top and edges. If you don’t have brown sugar, replace it with another cup of granulated sugar...1 cup total.
- ESPRESSO POWDER: The 1/4 teaspoon of espresso powder enhances the chocolate flavor. You will not taste any coffee in the brownies. Most stores carry it in their coffee section. You may leave it out, if you prefer.
- BAKING TIME: Baking time is 25 minutes in my oven. Be careful not to over bake. Remember, they will continue to cook a little while cooling. You want them to be gooey and chewy.
- PAN SIZE: For regular brownie thickness, use a 9 x 9 pan. If you would like a thicker brownie, use an 8 x 8 pan and adjust your baking time.
- NUTS: You may add a1/4 cup of chopped toasted pecans or walnuts. I have also used chopped peanuts.
WHERE DO I GET MY CHOCOLATE?
I’ve been asked this question quite a bit. I have tested so many brands... There can be a difference depending on what you’re making.
MY FAVORITES:
- Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips and also Milk Chocolate Chips.
- Guitard Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips and also Dark Chocolate Chips.
- Whole Foods 365 Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.
I used Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chips in this recipe and it tastes amazing!
Trader Joe's used to be my favorite but after the pandemic, something changed. The chocolate chips have a liquor taste and it distracts from the other ingredients I have tried to balance in the recipe. So, if you use your favorite chocolate and the recipe tastes different or fails, it may be a change in the supplier's recipe.
After cutting heart shaped brownies, I placed them on a pan with a rack, melted 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips, then drizzled the white chocolate on the brownies using a spoon. The drizzle lines don’t have to be perfect. Have fun with it. I made two passes over each brownie.
When done, add sprinkles.
The brownie is a canvas for different flavors of chocolate and the thousands of sprinkle options available. It’s a great gift for family and friends!
When done, add sprinkles.
The brownie is a canvas for different flavors of chocolate and the thousands of sprinkle options available. It’s a great gift for family and friends!
- Published on
How about some real comfort food? Baked ham is one of those beloved foods that works for any occasion—one bite brings you right back to childhood, when all you needed was some yummy, smoky goodness to feel that everything was right with the world.
Ham is already cooked when you purchase it, so all you need to do is decide on your favorite glaze and reheat it. The ease of making this nostalgic centerpiece dish is one of its finest attributes, especially when you smoke it in the Big Green Egg.
Low and slow-smoked meat offers a three-dimensional explosion of flavors. It could be connected to the fact that it’s elemental, and universal. As Korean-American-Southern chef Edward Lee writes in his cookbook, Smoke & Pickles, the appeal spans the continents. “Some say umami is the fifth [taste], in addition to salty, sweet, sour, and bitter,” Lee writes. “I say smoke is the sixth.” And then there are the leftovers...need we say more?
LOW AND SLOW!
The purpose of low and slow cooking and smoking is to allow meat to cook fully, but to avoid burning or drying out the meat in the process. Smoking adds flavor and depth to the meat itself during the cooking process.
Ham comes from the rear leg of the pig and is then salted and dried or smoked. In the 1940s, Harry Hoenselaar invented the spiral-slicing machine. It holds ham while an oscillating blade makes thin cuts into the meat around the bone. Now, precooked spiral ham is a heat-and-serve holiday classic.
Ham is already cooked when you purchase it, so all you need to do is decide on your favorite glaze and reheat it. The ease of making this nostalgic centerpiece dish is one of its finest attributes, especially when you smoke it in the Big Green Egg.
Low and slow-smoked meat offers a three-dimensional explosion of flavors. It could be connected to the fact that it’s elemental, and universal. As Korean-American-Southern chef Edward Lee writes in his cookbook, Smoke & Pickles, the appeal spans the continents. “Some say umami is the fifth [taste], in addition to salty, sweet, sour, and bitter,” Lee writes. “I say smoke is the sixth.” And then there are the leftovers...need we say more?
LOW AND SLOW!
The purpose of low and slow cooking and smoking is to allow meat to cook fully, but to avoid burning or drying out the meat in the process. Smoking adds flavor and depth to the meat itself during the cooking process.
Ham comes from the rear leg of the pig and is then salted and dried or smoked. In the 1940s, Harry Hoenselaar invented the spiral-slicing machine. It holds ham while an oscillating blade makes thin cuts into the meat around the bone. Now, precooked spiral ham is a heat-and-serve holiday classic.
- Published on
"This is my war against infectious disease," says Dr. Cassandra Quave, a leading medical ethnobotanist. Plants are the basis for an array of medications we all now take for granted. However, in today’s world of synthetic pharmaceuticals, scientists and laypeople alike have lost this connection to the natural world. By ignoring the potential of medicinal plants, we are losing out on the opportunity to discover new life-saving medicines needed in the fight against antibiotic-resistant microbes. In her new book, The Plant Hunter: A Scientist’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines, she shows us how important studying plants is while sharing her own incredible journey and working tirelessly to make a difference.
“People have used plants to manage infectious diseases throughout human history. Of the 374,000 or so plant species already discovered on Earth, about 33,000 are used in medicine today. However, not many of these plants have been scientifically investigated in depth. What do we actually know about the antimicrobial potential of these plants in combating bacterial pathogens?
“Plants are chemically complex, and while this can present a challenge in the lab, it shouldn’t scare us away from studying plant compounds for antibacterial potential This complexity contributed to the scientific community’s shift away from natural products in its search for new antibiotics in the 1980s. But today we have tools at our disposal that we didn’t have then—for example, analytical chemistry tools to better understand the activities of and relationships between plant compounds. “It seems logical to me that we should investigate sources that have already been used—in some cases for millennia—by humans to treat infections. Instead of being fearful of plants’ complexity, let’s take advantage of it.”
~ Dr. Cassandra Quave
Read all about Dr. Quave and her inspiring, ground-breaking work in our current edition.
“Plants are chemically complex, and while this can present a challenge in the lab, it shouldn’t scare us away from studying plant compounds for antibacterial potential This complexity contributed to the scientific community’s shift away from natural products in its search for new antibiotics in the 1980s. But today we have tools at our disposal that we didn’t have then—for example, analytical chemistry tools to better understand the activities of and relationships between plant compounds. “It seems logical to me that we should investigate sources that have already been used—in some cases for millennia—by humans to treat infections. Instead of being fearful of plants’ complexity, let’s take advantage of it.”
~ Dr. Cassandra Quave
Read all about Dr. Quave and her inspiring, ground-breaking work in our current edition.
- Published on
Your best bud is going to love this recipe!! It’s super easy to make, only four ingredients, and easy to store.
If your pup doesn’t like kale, you can switch out the vegetable. Make sure the pieces are small or finely chopped. These are just a few suggestions I have tried with Zu.
I used coconut oil to line the baking dish, just enough to keep the meatballs from sticking. It’s an oil that’s part of Zu’s regular diet. You may substitute with olive oil or flaxseed oil but avoid vegetable oils especially corn oil and anything with soybeans. Even though your dog may be fine with peanut butter, avoid peanut oil. The molecular structure changes in the heat and dogs can develop stomachaches...same with heated butter. You may use a non-stick metal baking pan instead.
If your pup doesn’t like kale, you can switch out the vegetable. Make sure the pieces are small or finely chopped. These are just a few suggestions I have tried with Zu.
- Boiled carrots
- Boiled sweet potatoes, slightly firm
- Cooked broccoli
- Cooked green beans
- Spinach
I used coconut oil to line the baking dish, just enough to keep the meatballs from sticking. It’s an oil that’s part of Zu’s regular diet. You may substitute with olive oil or flaxseed oil but avoid vegetable oils especially corn oil and anything with soybeans. Even though your dog may be fine with peanut butter, avoid peanut oil. The molecular structure changes in the heat and dogs can develop stomachaches...same with heated butter. You may use a non-stick metal baking pan instead.
I’ve read that vegetables need to be cooked and pureed before dogs can digest them. Wolves usually get their greens from the stomachs of their kill. It’s pre-digested. In this recipe, I used frozen uncooked kale. It’s easy to smash into tiny pieces within the bag. Zu has showed no signs of being unable to digest any of the vegetables I give him a few times a week.
Make sure the meatballs are cooked through, especially if you have small children in the house. If your dog eats a semi-raw treat then licks your child’s face, germs can easily be passed on. Always be careful when handling raw meat. Clean and disinfect your counter and utensils once the treats go into the oven.
Zu approved!!
- Published on
If you’re looking for a wild gift “outside the heart-shaped box” for your special someone this year, look no further than Sitka Salmon Shares. This is a unique, thoughtful and delicious gift you can share and feel good about giving the gift of responsibly harvested wild Alaska seafood that supports small-boat fishermen. Their catch is delivered to members across the nation through their seafood box subscription model or one-time boxes. We can tell you their fish is really, really goooood and we are proud to feature them in this issue of Nourish and Flourish
Sitka Salmon Shares delivers the highest quality seafood to home cooks across the lower 48. Over the last decade, they have exceeded their goals to transform community-based fisheries and create a market for responsibly harvested, high-quality fish.
They are a completely integrated boat-to-doorstep seafood company. They have a diverse group of fishermen and partners who use responsible fishing methods to catch a variety of wild Alaska seafood species.. With a small processing plant in Sitka, Alaska, they can custom-process the catch with a laser focus on quality and traceability.
Shown above; Lance McCutcheon joined Sitka Salmon Shares in 2019. “I love the freedom of fishing and the fact that I can make a living on the ocean.
Order your copy of Nourish and Flourish today to read all about them.
They are a completely integrated boat-to-doorstep seafood company. They have a diverse group of fishermen and partners who use responsible fishing methods to catch a variety of wild Alaska seafood species.. With a small processing plant in Sitka, Alaska, they can custom-process the catch with a laser focus on quality and traceability.
Shown above; Lance McCutcheon joined Sitka Salmon Shares in 2019. “I love the freedom of fishing and the fact that I can make a living on the ocean.
Order your copy of Nourish and Flourish today to read all about them.
- Published on
Dogs usually get all of the good stuff when it comes to toys and treats. Let's face it, cats are finicky and prefer to lie around dictating their needs. We love their independence!
Fig is super finicky about her food and it's hard to find treats she enjoys. It took a few tries but I finally made something she likes.
Use a small cookie cutter when baking and break up the treat when feeding. Cats like smaller bites.
I use oat flour in my pet recipes. Oats are a grain least likely to cause allergies. You can make your own oat flour by purchasing organic oats and blending them 1 cup at a time until they reach desired constancy.
I use oat flour in my pet recipes. Oats are a grain least likely to cause allergies. You can make your own oat flour by purchasing organic oats and blending them 1 cup at a time until they reach desired constancy.
I store my treats in the freezer and pull a few at a time. Cats can get bored with the same flavors, plus with tuna as an ingredient, it's good to keep them as fresh as possible. The treats will keep for up to 3 months frozen.
Make sure the treat is room temperature before feeding. Cold food is not good for a cats digestion.
Make sure the treat is room temperature before feeding. Cold food is not good for a cats digestion.
- Published on
Brrrr... with the snow, ice, cold winter weather blowing through this weekend, how about a savory beef stew? This easy one skillet meal can be made for a warm and delicious meal for your family or friends. We cooked ours on the Big Green Egg to add that extra flavor. You can make this at home in a traditional oven just as well.. Fresh herbs and butter make all the difference in this recipe. Yummy!
- Published on
Oklahoma native Woody Guthrie said it first and best. This new anthology of poems and prose, Love Can Be: A Literary Collection About Our Animals, is proof of what love can be, as thirty acclaimed authors join together to champion life in all its forms. This is their gift to the world, not just the artistry of their words, but their vision of an extended community that includes cats, birds, frogs, butterflies, bears, dogs, raccoons, horses—a full-out menagerie of being that enriches us all.
This broad-hearted vision comes with responsibility, and that responsibility speaks to the mission of the Kirkpatrick Foundation, publisher of the book. The Kirkpatrick Foundation will donate all net proceeds of sales of this volume to animal charities in Oklahoma, as well as honoraria donated to the contributors’ selected animal charities.
This is a must-have for any animal lover and makes a wonderful gift for all ages. We are proud to showcase this wonderful book in Nourish and Flourish, Volume 4.
This broad-hearted vision comes with responsibility, and that responsibility speaks to the mission of the Kirkpatrick Foundation, publisher of the book. The Kirkpatrick Foundation will donate all net proceeds of sales of this volume to animal charities in Oklahoma, as well as honoraria donated to the contributors’ selected animal charities.
This is a must-have for any animal lover and makes a wonderful gift for all ages. We are proud to showcase this wonderful book in Nourish and Flourish, Volume 4.
John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick, prominent citizens of Oklahoma City, saw a need and felt compelled to help develop the cultural and civic structures of their hometown. On May 17, 1955, Kirkpatrick Foundation was officially established with an initial contribution of $10,000 to serve as a vehicle for personal philanthropic endeavors. In the years since, Kirkpatrick Foundation has given away more than $75 million in philanthropic funding. Its approach to giving was to keep organizational structure simple, to maintain personal involvement with the charities and cultural activities of the community, and to encourage and embrace a large number of charities, rather than supporting only a few.
Kirkpatrick Foundation has long stood as a community partner and major philanthropic backer of Oklahoma City’s cultural, artistic, and educational institutions. Kirkpatrick Foundation distributes approximately $3 million annually in grants and charitable activities, and to date has given more than $67 million. Moving forward, the foundation will continue to strengthen and support the institutions that make Oklahoma City a great place to live and work.
To learn more please click the logo below.
Kirkpatrick Foundation has long stood as a community partner and major philanthropic backer of Oklahoma City’s cultural, artistic, and educational institutions. Kirkpatrick Foundation distributes approximately $3 million annually in grants and charitable activities, and to date has given more than $67 million. Moving forward, the foundation will continue to strengthen and support the institutions that make Oklahoma City a great place to live and work.
To learn more please click the logo below.
- Published on
How about some Candied Bacon and a Spicy Bloody Mary to celebrate the New Year? Check out Jamie Parrish's signature recipe in this edition! Yummy!!
PIG-A-LICIOUS FUN FACTS:
BRINGING HOME THE BACON: These days the phrase refers to making money, but its origins have nothing to do with income. In 12th century England, churches would award a flitch, or a side, of bacon to any married man who swore before God that he and his wife had not argued for a year and a day. Men who "brought home the bacon" were seen as exemplary citizens and husbands
BACON BOMBS
In addition to planting victory gardens and buying war bonds, households were encouraged to donate their leftover bacon grease to the war effort. Rendered fats created glycerin, which in turn created bombs, gunpowder, and other munitions. A promotional film starring Minnie Mouse and Pluto chided housewives for throwing out more than 2 billion pounds of bacon grease every year: "That’s enough glycerin for 10 billion rapid-fire cannon shells."
BACON LOVE
Savory, salty, and appropriately retro: The past couple of years have been a bonanza for bacon, with more than three quarters of restaurants now serving bacon dishes, and everything from candy canes to gumballs are now flavored with bacon. Recent reports linking processed meats to increased cancer risk have put a dent in consumption, and may have a prolonged effect. But for now, America’s love affair with bacon continues.
PRAISE BACON
This officially sanctioned church boasts more than 25,000 members under the commandment "Praise Bacon." It’s more a rallying point for atheists and skeptics than for bacon lovers, per se, and there’s no official location as of yet. But the church does perform wedding ceremonies and fundraisers, and has raised thousands of dollars for charity. All bacon praise is welcome, even if you're partial to vegetarian or turkey bacon over the traditional pork. Hallelujah!
Source: Mental Floss
Below: Mr. Mayo Says: "Bacon is goooooooood!"
PIG-A-LICIOUS FUN FACTS:
BRINGING HOME THE BACON: These days the phrase refers to making money, but its origins have nothing to do with income. In 12th century England, churches would award a flitch, or a side, of bacon to any married man who swore before God that he and his wife had not argued for a year and a day. Men who "brought home the bacon" were seen as exemplary citizens and husbands
BACON BOMBS
In addition to planting victory gardens and buying war bonds, households were encouraged to donate their leftover bacon grease to the war effort. Rendered fats created glycerin, which in turn created bombs, gunpowder, and other munitions. A promotional film starring Minnie Mouse and Pluto chided housewives for throwing out more than 2 billion pounds of bacon grease every year: "That’s enough glycerin for 10 billion rapid-fire cannon shells."
BACON LOVE
Savory, salty, and appropriately retro: The past couple of years have been a bonanza for bacon, with more than three quarters of restaurants now serving bacon dishes, and everything from candy canes to gumballs are now flavored with bacon. Recent reports linking processed meats to increased cancer risk have put a dent in consumption, and may have a prolonged effect. But for now, America’s love affair with bacon continues.
PRAISE BACON
This officially sanctioned church boasts more than 25,000 members under the commandment "Praise Bacon." It’s more a rallying point for atheists and skeptics than for bacon lovers, per se, and there’s no official location as of yet. But the church does perform wedding ceremonies and fundraisers, and has raised thousands of dollars for charity. All bacon praise is welcome, even if you're partial to vegetarian or turkey bacon over the traditional pork. Hallelujah!
Source: Mental Floss
Below: Mr. Mayo Says: "Bacon is goooooooood!"
