Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

I’m liking the Bonterra Vineyards Merlot. It’s not local to us here in Chicagoland. The grapes are from Mendocino County. But it’s an organic wine and is really smooth. I had a sip (hey, it is my day off) before adding some to my simmering pasta sauce. The taste reminded me that I hadn’t notedContinue reading “A Toast to the Melding of New & Old World Traditions”

In honor of Columbus Day, we’re celebrating with some Americas-inspired treats: Peanut butter, chocolate chip cookies and oven roasted pumpkin seeds. I don’t know enough of my food history to credit Columbus with peanut butter. As I recall, the Spaniards, after Columbus reached the Americas, are widely believed to have spread this legume throughout theContinue reading “Columbus Day Treats”

…to popcorn. I don’t have my own popcorn maker. I never really considered getting one, except for campfires. But I’ve changed my mind. And I now have my first entry on my Christmas wish list: A 6 Quart Silver Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper. I saw one in action on Saturday. When the 4H ChampContinue reading “I Confess. I'm Addicted…”

What a fantastic day. It wasn’t the day I planned, but thanks to some good company, great produce and fairly well-behaved kids, we ended up with the makings to have quite an adventure. 4H-Champ, 3 Future Farmkids and 1 VFG started the day thinking we were going to be picking apples at County Line OrchardContinue reading “Today's Agri-Tour Near Misadventure”

I got a message today from Chef Daniel Orr at FARMBloomington about reducing, re-using and recycling. He does all three. In addition to farm-fresh ingredients when he can get them, the So. Indiana chef does his share of composting of kitchen waste and coffee grounds. He also uses biodegradable containers for carry out to decreaseContinue reading “Bloomington Restaurant Cooks Up Three Rs”

Thanks to Urban Dweller for sending me this great story in the New York Times this past weekend about a small town in Vermont, just the size of Gas City, that’s trying to rebuild itself as a collective farming community after its granite businesses went bust. One of my favorite parts of the story isContinue reading “Town on the Rocks Looks to Farming for Salvation”

Today I threw out an entire bottle of apple juice. I had wondered why my kids didn’t want juice anymore. Then I went through my own fruit craving period recently and tried the juice myself. Ick! It had a horrid metalic aftertaste. No wonder my Future Farmkids — who are thankfully (and cursedly) developing tasteContinue reading “Cheap Apple Juice Goes Down Down Down…the Drain”

I’ve been enjoying finding grocers and chefs who buy direct from local farmers. But this grocer in San Fran has earned a special place in this Virtual Farmgirl’s heart. Not only is Bi-Rite Market committed to selling local produce, it’s growing its own on a 1/3 acre in Sonoma. The San Francisco Chronicle has thisContinue reading “Bay Area Grocery Farms Own Produce”

More today from the Virtual Farmgirl Test Kitchen: Garlic roasted pumpkin seeds. The iFarmer claims these are the best pumpkin seeds he’s ever had. I’m not sure about that. But I do think I finally got a good Kosher salt, garlic and butter ratio. Plus, these are crispy. I’ve learned if I don’t dry themContinue reading “Throw Out the Seeds? That's Crazy Talk”

More inspiration from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle led me to pull one of my large basil plants before the bugs took over. I pulled off all the good leaves and was left with a bucketful. Later in the day, I found a basic pesto recipe from In Italy Online. I didn’t have all the Animal, VegetableContinue reading “Presto…Pesto!”