Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

Watching Glee tonight, I was stunned to learn that my husband had never heard the song “Afternoon Delight.” A quick search of YouTube remedied the situation. Bonus, in the VH1 clip I found, David Cassidy did the intro. That video had me tripping all over memory lane and eventually remembering how much of a crushContinue reading “Shaun Cassidy Flashback”

I love to play the part of hostess and I love to cook for friends. But when I’m busy and stressed, I can’t bring myself to add a dinner party to our already hectic schedules. That’s why it’s so great that we have friends who, on a moment’s notice, will take us up on aContinue reading “Last-Minute Dinner Party…My Favorite Way to Entertain”

Anupy Singla’s custom-designed spice box is set to debut this weekend at the Chicago Housewares Show. But for those who follow her Indian As Apple Pie page on Facebook, there was a sneak peak today. All the things I had concerns about other spice boxes I’ve seen over on Devon Ave., she seems to haveContinue reading “On My Wish List: The Indian Spice Box”

Roger’s Creek Grist Mill A few weeks ago when I was at the winter farmers market at the Unity Temple, I picked up a package of pancake mix “stone ground goodness” from the Roger’s Creek Grist Mill. We are pretty serious about pancakes in our house. It’s a weekend tradition and we enjoy dressing themContinue reading “Grist Mill Pancakes Hit the Spot”

I’ve been having fun with a Facebook meme that appears to have been around for quite some time, considering I’m seeing blog posts discussing it from 2008. The idea is to grab the closest book to you, turn to page 56, and use the 5th sentence as your Facebook status. You then post the rulesContinue reading “The Books We Have at Our Fingertips”

When I took the Devon Spice Tour a couple weeks ago, I picked up a few Thai green chilies to try in my Indian Slow Cooker dishes. I’d been using serranos in my dishes largely because I am more familiar with the heat level and I can better predict the outcome. Wow. What a differenceContinue reading “There's Hot and Then There's Hawwwt”

Jen Murtoff, or as I’ve been affectionately referring to her at the office, the chicken lady, will be training urban dwellers how to care for backyard chickens. At Angelic Organics’ Learning Center on March 12, Murtoff promises to show attendees how to keep yourself, your chickens and your neighbors happy with your decision to becomeContinue reading “Backyard Chicken Workshop Coming Up”

It’s unusual that an evening, a day or an hour of a planned activity plays out just as I’ve expected. In fact, things rarely go so smoothly as I dream they should. But I’ve adjusted. I’ve learned to manage my expectations, to focus on what’s turning out right or to go with the flow. TonightContinue reading “A Special Valentine's Evening – Just the Four of Us”

When I was a cub reporter in Florence, South Carolina, the recipe section of my paper, the Florence Morning News, was about the closest I ever got to gourmet food. I remember stocking my cabinets with all the food my parents wouldn’t let me have: white bread and Lucky Charms. Plus, there was the foodContinue reading “'White Chili Isn't Frosty'”

In our house divided, we have two Packers fans (me and my husband); a Steelers fan (our son still bitter over the Bears loss); and a Puppy Bowl fan, my daughter, who’s also still battling a high fever and laryngitis. But we can all come together over the food and the commercials. Here’s what weContinue reading “Super Bowl XLV Fan Fare”