J – jam

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a couple of posts ago I mentioned house-made being a watchword for foodies… house-made jams and jellies, pickles and home cured meats. Everyone wants to do it themself and save or just do it for the idea of locally sourced and handmade eating!
I don’t really think ‘saving’ happened to me as I endeavored to make strawberry jam but I did it anyhow. $75 later and I had bought a giant black pot, a bunch of funny cannery tools, a box of jars, lids for the ones I’d ruined, strawberries (which were gross) and more strawberries(which were good). I sent Z out for sugar when I came home from the store without it… Anything else? This doesn’t include the $25 book I bought all about home cannery which is vaguely terrifying with all their talk of bacteria.
Wow. It’s messy! Mashed strawberries on my apron, my arms, my shirt, my counters, my wall, my towels and of course, my stove! Not to mention several pots and pans. I have nine 8 ounce jars to show for it. I’m filling up my own pantry.

I – internet

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not strictly food of course, but the internet and home computers have played an immense role in the lives of foodies everywhere. Particularly for me. It feeds my wandering eye with recipes and articles. It expands my view and throws excitement into the most everyday travels. A veritable library at my fingertips. I have been able to map places to go, research, plan vacations, dream for the future, express myself and make dinner. These are all why I have chosen to put the internet in the 9th place of alphabetical honor.

pork sausage with pickled fennel, ricotta & spring mix

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the latest offering from ‘wichcraft. We made it tonight when we were running out of weekend and both kind of tired and dragging. Sausage is kind of a weird element for me on a sandwich like this but the whole came together really well. The mild creamy cheese balanced against the stronger flavors of the lightly pickled fennel and balsamic dressed greens. It might not be what I would choose again but I am glad we tried it.

H – hagelslag

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‘..us Dutch people need our hag’ -what the heck is hag, you ask? In short, sprinkles. In fact if you enter hagelslag into wikipedia you actually get redirected to sprinkles and they are a Dutch wonderland.
When we first got married I was like, ‘you eat what???’ That’s right, chocolate hagelslag on butter on white bread. I might add that you must use the most trashy white bread possible.
We were in Holland, Michigan a couple of months ago and asked our server at lunch where we could find a Dutch specialty shop, explaining about our desire to pick up a box or two of hagelslag. Our server said, ‘Oh, At any grocery store, us Dutch people need our hag.‘ I don’t blame them.