Over the past year, I’ve tried some tasty potent potables made from interesting ingredients. Among them: apple vodka, sweet potato liqueur, and Wheyward Spirit – a neutral spirit crafted from whey. But among the most intriguing was a beer made with corn, which I got to experience at the 2023 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival in Paso Robles, CA. “Cerveza Clara Y Mas Fina Especial”, … Continue reading Would You Try Beer Made with Corn?
My version of a queen bee.* By Katy Budge I seem to bee in a bee mood, and why not? As I mentioned in my previous post, these busy little creatures are responsible for most of the food we eat. Beekeeping has also become a bit of a fanciful hobby for some, but apiculture isn’t about just plopping hives in a field. In addition to … Continue reading To Bee or Not to Bee Royalty
By Katy Budge It was only natural that, in researching a piece about a beekeeper, I’d become interested in the company they keep. And really, everyone should “bee” intrigued with these amazing little creatures. While the most obvious product of bees is their delicious honey, it’s their industrious pollination work that keeps life on this planet buzzing. There are several thousand types of bee species, … Continue reading Be a Good Bee Guardian
Volume 3, Issue 1“Cooking Ex-Libris” is a CasaFestiva.com series exploring new recipes from my own cookbooks. Enjoy! By Katy Budge At the beginning of this century, the Sunday newspaper used to make a resounding plop when it hit the driveway. The hefty edition also had a multi-page travel section, with compelling articles and beautiful photographs that enticed you to travel the world. Also in this … Continue reading Cooking Ex-Libris: Seasons of My Heart
Yup, this cartoon pretty much sums up how I feel about kale! In other news … here’s what I’ve been following and thinking about in the world of food during February 2023! Just click on the links to explore for yourself. 1. We’ve championed the heirloom tomato, now let’s champion the humans. 2. Are high egg prices due to inflation? To avian flu? Mainly just … Continue reading Pull Up a Tray to The February 2023 Buffet
By Katy Budge Beer, Beer, Beer To say that Bend is a beer-centric town is an understatement! Most are concentrated in the downtown area (such as Bend Brewing and the original location of Deschutes), but it seems that every neighborhood has its own lineup of taps. Among our favs on the Eastside were Sunriver Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing, and the tiny Van Henion tucked off … Continue reading Forks in the Road: To Bend and Beyond!
As I plucked the third very large hornworm off my peppers (not shishitos this time), I was reminded of this post from the archives. Darn hornworms grown into lovely moths, but they can go reach maturity on someone else’s peppers this year! By Katy Budge A few years ago, I noticed that shishito peppers started showing up on a lot of Asian appetizer menus, especially … Continue reading From the Archives: Shishito vs. Mothra (well, sort of)
Volume 2, Issue 2“Cooking Ex-Libris” is a CasaFestiva.com series exploring new recipes from my own cookbooks. Enjoy! By Katy Budge I’m going to go out on a limb and say that not many people will have copies of The Congressional Club Cook Book on their shelves. I have two: the 6th edition published in 1961, and the 8th from 1970. Fourteen editions of these cookbooks … Continue reading Cooking Ex-Libris: The Congressional Club Cook Book
By Katy Budge Well, I’ll start with a disclaimer. This trip through Northern California also included a stop in Ashland, Oregon, but the point of that was to visit family, so I didn’t do due diligence with documenting my every morsel. Guess I’ll have to go back and rectify that at a later date! I’m not always in the mood for a swap meet situation, … Continue reading Forks in the Road: A Quick Spring Jaunt to Northern California
Volume 2, Issue 1“Cooking Ex-Libris” is a CasaFestiva.com series exploring new recipes from my own cookbooks. Enjoy! By Katy Budge An older tome on the bookshelf caught my eye for this post, in part because of the vintage art on the cover. A quick look through the pages revealed a lot more of the festive illustrations, but it wasn’t immediately apparent who had written it. … Continue reading Cooking Ex-Libris: The Fireside Cook Book
