A Peach of a Market

In order to take in a little local flavor and get to know the neighborhood, the family three headed to our new farmer’s market. I feel like you can always tell a lot about your town by the farmer’s market it keeps. For example, when we lived over the river from DC, there was abundant choice of organics, everything was pretty spendy and a foodie vibe was in the air. In fact, each week there was a former Food Network chef on hand sampling food from her resto – more great tips from her later. Montgomery is a different kind of sister, city that is. Choice is more abundant around the variety of peaches or peanuts and there was a nary a single, delicate squash blossom to be found. Organic, well, there was one, lonesome lady selling organic milk -- bless her heart. But, it was a collection of the most gregarious group of growers that I’ve ever met. The nice man selling peaches (5 types of peaches, mind you) gave my daughter a “cute kid discount.” What mother doesn’t like that, right? Hence, we went back to his booth this week to buy more of his delicious peaches…actually, lots of peaches. Turns out we’ve got some savvy marketers here in town, to boot.

If you find yourself looking for a snappy way to use up a few extra peaches that won’t make it into your lunch bag in time. Give this a whirl with grilled fish, chicken or atop some grainy goodness like couscous or quinoa.

Peach Relish
Courtesy of Martha Stewart Everyday Food
Serves 4
1/4 small red onion, very thinly sliced
2 ripe peaches (4 1/2 ounces each), quartered and very thinly sliced
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Coarse salt and ground pepper In a small bowl of ice water, soak onion for 10 minutes; drain, blot dry, and return to bowl. Add peaches, honey, lemon juice, and cayenne; season with salt and pepper.

Let stand 15 minutes. If storing, cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.

Cupcakes Are Not a Commitment

I find it timely to discuss cupcakes as a metaphor for life especially in light of today’s celebration of National Cupcake Day. Anyone looking to truly understand me should know that for me, this is a metaphor for life. I believe it’s important to commit to some things – family, health and Glee on Wednesday nights. But, like so many things in life, I’m also committed to dabbling – I’m a dabbler.

There’s far too much pressure these days to be an expert. Let me begin with the fact that I enjoy cooking and admittedly I’m pretty darn good at it. Really, I fancy myself a sort of a Kitchen McGyver – able to pull together a dinner party at a moment’s notice simply from what the pantry and refrigerator hold. (Ironically, I’m featured as an expert, in the upcoming February/March issue of Kiwi magazine in an article on “Pantry Meals.” Check your newsstands.) In fact, I find it an intriguing, little challenge like Felix the Cat, reaching into his little bag of tricks to prepare an impromptu dinner for six.

Now, with that said, I do not like to bake. It makes me anxious. There’s simply too much pressure having to follow recipes to the letter or risk a birthday cake that resembles a volcano that must be served in the dark. (Yes, this did happen – a big shout out to all of the folks that were at Rich’s 30th birthday party – it wasn’t just mood lighting—it was yet another baking disaster.)

However, cupcakes are a different story. They’re small enough to inspire a whimsical gasp of delight but not so serious as taking on a big, scary layer- cake. Eating and making cupcakes is kind of like dabbling in dessert.

Now, on life…it’s two-fold. On one hand, it’s clearly more manageable to look at life and its challenges in bite-sized morsels. On the other hand, indulging yourself in the freedom to dabble opens doors to all kinds of undiscovered opportunity. Unfortunately, it also fills a guest room closet with a graveyard of equipment to include everything from tarot cards to roller blades to a variety of craft supplies that will never see the light of day. But is it wrong? You may say, a jack of all trades, master of none. But, no, I say it broadens knowledge – it’s kind of like life’s tasting menu. And let me just add that with all of this knowledge, you want me as your Trivial Pursuit partner.

To that I say, have a cupcake. No guilt, all good.

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m pop culture crazy. One of my young singleton colleagues actually remarked the other day that I’m a “nineteen year old girl, trapped in the body of a wife and mother.” Well, it’s true and the shame ends now. I’m unabashedly addicted to Gossip Girl on the edge of my couch waiting to indulge in details of who Serena wearing and why is she sidling up to yet another inaccessible older man. And, it’s not just about the trends. I’ve loved a good vampy romance since the days when Buffy and Angel were stirring up trouble in Sunnydale. Twi-moms – bah, they’re just Johnny Come Latelies! Now, do I faithfully read the Sunday New York Times and listen to NPR on my morning commute? Yes, admittedly, I’m also a news junkie. I think it’s the ying to my yang, the peanut butter to my jelly or the fleur de sel to my chocolate covered caramel (yum). However, as of today, I no longer make excuses. I pity the dinner guest who haughtily claims to know nothing about Glee, never delighting in the weekly rantings of the ascerbic Sue Sylvester and head to iTunes to download the next fabulous cover with giddy abandon. I think what validates me is my plight to strike a balance. Can I go toe-to-toe with discussing the merits of the healthcare private option? You bet – well, at least for a little while. But, can I make the case that pop culture, delivered through television, movies and social media, is truly a progression of classic, literary tradition providing commentary on topics such as the blurry, and slippery line, between good and evil through the eyes of a melancholic teenaged vampire? In the words of Sarah Palin (or Tina Fey)…you betcha. And, let’s face it, who would you rather be seated with at your next dinner party? Yes, well, just send me an Evite and I’ll set the TiVo.

WWMD? What would Martha Do?

So, why Military Martha? Well, if you’ve ever tuned in to an episode of “Army Wives”, “The Unit” or even “Top Gun”, you know there’s a woman behind the man. Or, if you’re a fan of the “L Word”, it’s the woman behind the woman. Ironically, 9 years ago when R. and I got married, I was a corporate marketing maven – logging frequent flier miles faster than a speeding bullet. Then, I was then thrust into the world of the “military spouse”-- a badge of distinction that I carry with honor. However, it was unchartered terroir, filled with a group of women who knew I was not native to these lands. I needed a Sherpa, a guide.

Along with the great pride and acceptance of sacrifice that each family makes, comes a cavalcade of other challenges associated with being a military spouse. First and foremost, you learn that the best way to survive challenges from moving home every few years, to deployments, to managing ridiculous family calendars is to adopt an attitude of “if so-and-so can do it, then so can I”. That’s when it came to me, I needed a role model – aspriational, yet accessible. I thought maybe MacGyver, but I know nothing about explosives, other than an “explosive”, low point in my singleton years, baking banana bread in a dodgy gas oven. No, no, not MacGyver. Then I thought who else could simultaneously sew curtains, organize a new pantry, plant a multi-story herb garden while cooking a fabulous dinner for her family and the movers the day the boxes are unloaded – the incomparable Martha Stewart. This is truly a woman who makes limoncello out of lemons.

While there were some fine women who showed me the ropes, helping me to navigate the waters, Martha is ever-present – television, magazines, radio, Macy’s – she’s left Kmart, and she’s even en route to Costco – who doesn’t love Costco? She’s in our kitchens, designing our houses…for goodness sake, last checked, she had 11 million hits on Google. However, she’s real woman with strengths and weaknesses, confidences and vulnerabilities, like all of us – but, just a little bit different. I once read a news item in which Martha talked about when she has trouble sleeping, she’ll often get up and pull out her $2,000+ Miele Rotary Iron and start pressing. Personally, I resort to an episode of “Dirty, Sexy Money” and a box of Guittard chocolate pieces. But, I always make sure that its excellent-quality chocolate.

So, I challenge you, the next time you’re in a pinch, look to Martha for inspiration. For example, when your panicked eight-year old notifies you that she has to wear an animal costume for their Zoo Day Festival that morning, just as you’re pulling into the school parking lot that morning. Take a brief respite from ferreting through your “mommy purse”, take a deep breath and calmly ask yourself, “WWMD?”