Thursday, October 8, 2009

Dear Kind Representative of the White House

This week, my friend Shannon sent me an email to tell me that her husband, Dan, will be performing at the White House and asked me if I wanted to come along and get a tour of the White House Garden. WHAT? REALLY? I was so excited and felt so special to be invited. I felt like I got the Golden ticket. I even sent a message via Twitter boasting about my luck. Well, turns out that the tour is open to the public and that I would only get a glimpse of the Kitchen Garden. (yes...i felt a little foolish.) I'm still very excited about going on the garden tour but really, I want to see the Kitchen Garden. Tonight at a DC Food Blogger happy hour, I started to mention my idea of sending a request to the White House for a DC Food Blogger tour. Turns out that food bloggers like this idea. I checked the White House Kitchen Garden Tour website and filled out an application. (They are only giving tours to local schools but I filled out the application anyways.)

School Name: Thrifty DC Cook
School Address: www.thriftydccook.com
Principal Name: Sylvie "Real Last Name"
Phone Number: "Real Phone Number"
Principal Contact Info (Email): thriftydccook@gmail.com
Principal Contact Address: "Real Home Address"

Do you have a vegetable garden or a healthy eating program at your school? If so, please describe it in 250 words or less (Here is what I wrote)

Kind Representative of the White House, I am a local DC food blogger and just came from a DC Food Blogging event. The local food bloggers of DC would love to come and visit the White House Kitchen Garden. We are fans of food, we are fans locally produced food, and I believe that many of us would love to spread the word about the White House garden. Please contact me so that we can make arrangements for a tour. With much kindness, Sylvie (Thrifty DC Cook).

I am fully aware that this is a long shot but can you imagine how excited I would be if this works? (silently praying...please let this happen.)

Really, if anyone who knows anyone from the White House is reading this, can you help us Food Bloggers out?

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 - Sale at Safeway


Reading through food blogs and talking to my friends, I'm finding that everything is about pot roast, beef stew, and root vegetables. These are signs of autumn to me. Its time to pull out the crock pot from storage and start making some hearty soups. Safeway has Boneless Beef Chuck Pot Roast on sale for a $1.99 a lb this week. Here are some delicious recipes where this cut of beef could be of use:

Crock Pot Pot Roast
Parker's Beef Stew
Triple "B" Stew
Pot Roast
Company Pot Roast
Tyler's Texas Chili

Here are this week's Safeway specials:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast or Thighs - $1.68 per lb
Boneless Beef Chuck Roast - $1.99 per lb

(I am interrupting this list of deals because I thought it might be important to share this New York Times article about ground beef. This article (and watching Food Inc) has convinced me that its time to start grinding my own meat. Unfortunately, I don't have a Kitchen Aid with a meat grinder attachment but Adventures in Shaw sent me this article about grinding meat in a food processor. Using brisket or chuck are good cuts because they tend to have a bit of fat in them which is GREAT for tasty burgers. Ok...on with the deals)

Top Sirloin Steak - $3.99 per lb
Beef Eye Round Roast - $2.99 per lb (great to use to make Pho)
Asparagus - $1.99 per lb
Whole Boneless Pork Tenderloin - $2.99 per lb
Pears - $1.49 per lb
Broccoli - $1.49 per lb
Yams - $0.99 per lb (this is a sure sign that is it Fall)

Please note that each Safeway location is different. Please check Safeway.com to see your local specials.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Apple Recipes

This past weekend, I had several conversations with good friends who went apple picking. If I didn't already have prior plans, I most definitely would have hitched a ride with them to an orchard. In addition to hearing about all the fun they had on their apple picking adventure, I heard one common question: "What am I going to do with all these apples?" For my friends who went apple picking or for those who find themselves picking up the totes of apples at the grocery store (they are $0.88 per lb at Giant), here are some tasty looking recipes:

Whole Wheat Apple Muffins

Apple Ricotta Pancakes


Apple Bread


Cabbage, Apple, Walnut Salad


Apple Chutney


Apple Dumplings


Tarte Tatin