Article for Parenting Magazine

Several months ago I wrote my first article for Parenting Magazine. I worked with an editor at the magazine to make my recipes quicker and better suited to the tastes of their readers....
Anyway, it just came out in the February issue.....

roses

Washingtonian Magazine just launched a new magazine called Bride and Groom. I initially got involved in this project because my talented friends Pum and Jake who are, Design Army, worked with the Washingtonian on the new magazine and asked me to do flowers for a photo shoot for the first issue of the Bride and Groom...
Soon after I was excited to be named as the up and coming florist in the premiere issue of Bride and Groom.
Yesterday there was a launch party/bridal showcase for the magazine at the Park Hyatt. Through the planning process for the event (as well as doing a presentation table at the event I did the flowers for a fashion show, and some other spots), I ran into lots of friends and colleagues working on the project including, Jill Hudson Neal, who I have enjoyed working with over the years and is now the editor of the new magazine. Aimee Dominick , a fantastic event planner orchestrated the Park Hyatt event. It was great to reconnect with other colleagues and meet new ones as well as brides planning for the future.
All that information gets me to rose cookies. I made the bridal bouquet in the above photo based on Design Army's vision. The roses in the bouquet are a variety called, Esperance and come from a Florida distributor that only sells roses from farms that use sustainable growing practices. Many of the farms they buy from are cooperatively owned and all have excellent labor practices....and all of that in a round about way led me to making Rose Cookies for yesterdays event.

Rose Cookies
2/3 cup non hydrogenated shortening
large pinch of salt
4 teaspoons rose water
1 cup all purpose unbleached flour
1 cup spelt flour
1/2 cup pureed silken tofu
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup sugar (organic, free trade and vegan if possible)

decoration
1/4 cup sugar (organic, free trade and vegan if possible)
1/4 teaspoon beet juice
6 buds of rose tea, leaves removed from bud and broken into small pieces

1.Combine decoration sugar and beet juice to make a pink sugar, set aside.
2.Cream the shortening and sugar. Add the other ingredients and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
3.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4.Roll the cookies out using additional flour if necessary to prevent sticking. Cut cookies out with a cutter.
5.Sprinkle cookies with pink sugar and rose leaves.
6.Bake until barely golden brown around the edges, about 8 minutes.

Inauguration 2009

My Highlights:

Catching up with old and new friends-
We live near the Capitol and had friends and friends of friends sleeping at our home and stopping by throughout the long weekend. The events opened up time in our lives to allow ourselves to relax, talk, share meals, connect and dream.

Day of service-
On Monday January 19 we found an organized event through my.barackobama and spent several hours picking up trash on the national mall. It felt great. I intend to regularly participate in other organized public service events and to organize events of my own.

Chant 4 Change-
A charity event where we chanted and danced on the eve of the inauguration.

Wandering around DC and feeling the energy and hope-

My friend Laurie’s party-
Below is the menu I prepared and served to a receptive group of eaters

passed-
delicata winter squash soup with black chantarelles
mashed potatoes with Oregon black truffles and French truffle salt
toasted local cornmeal cornbread with caramelized onion and shallot
brussel sprouts with pickled ginger
falafel with sesame sauce

table 1-
montgomery farmhouse cheddar
whole grain crackers
seeded crostini
sweet and salty pumpkin seeds
black grapes
salted spelt, black walnut, whole wheat oatmeal breads
kohlrabi, celery root, carrot and radish
white bean sage spread
spinach roasted garlic puree
quince and pear compote
sweet potato chestnut spread

table 2-
salty rosemary biscotti
earl grey drops
chocolate, chocolate and nib biscotti
cardamom stars
coconut pecan oatmeal cookies

drink-
spiked clementine and ginger agua fresca
Coston Coteaux du Languedoc, Les Terrasses 2004
Savignon de Saint-Bris, Corps de Garde 2004

Litter Free Inauguration

DC one week before Obama becomes the next president you can feel the excitement, tension and traffic. A good friend and long time collaborator sent me a public service announcement he made to help nurture our city during this time of celebration.... and hopefully incorporate into our daily practices.
Check it out Litter Free Inaguration

Photo was taken today (one week pre-inauguration) by a good friend and talented photographer Abby Greenawalt