Full disclosure, Annie -- I've never tasted Kale. How sad is it that my son goes to college and comes home liking greens:) Is it normally sweet, or depends on temp/weather conditions? Btw, he said everyone looked pretty "fit":) Some interesting organic methods, I was interested in deer-proofing techniques, and he took some good-natured ribbing when he shared with the group that he was a ChemE major ... yep, surrounded by agricultural science/food science majors. Mustangs, I'm laughing. I will NEVER look at my kids' facebook pages. NEVER! but I figured a graded blog would be safe. Desperate measures:) Thanks for sharing in the fun. He forgot to take pictures - these are from website/sign me up: Cathy in SWPA

I see you picked the Dijon - good choice! I had not seen it before and think its beautiful. (I did not like the Citron) Just for comments - l I think Cobalt blue is a classic sort of kitchen accessory color because over the years country kitchens, white cabs etc. come back into style and blue looks really wonderful with that. Also "yellow" sunny walls are popular in kitchens and blue looks good with that. I have the Flame and occasionally think I'd like to switch, but then change my mind. Its classic in its own right as one of the original colors of a pretty old name in French cookware - now too trendy for being copied by Rachael Ray, Mario Batali etc. but I like the sense of tradition it gives me and I believe orange is supposed to induce hunger? (not that I need any more of that:)

I became a vegetarian at age 17. My folks were OK with it, mom had been raised 7th Day Adventist but wasn't really into the vegetarian part much. But she was very familiar with the idea that being vegetarian could be a healthy choice, as her healthy, long lived friends can attest. But I did not expect my mom to cook me special foods. If I wanted something special vegetarian I made it myself. But I was already helping my mom make a significant part of the dinner meals so this was not an issue for me either. Plus mom and I had always been the vegetable enthusiasts in the family, as opposed to my "plain foods" brother and my dad whose four main food groups are carbs, fat, meat and sugar. The biggest pitfall of being vegetarian, in my experience, is going overboard on the carbs, or the dairy with a lot of saturated fat. Modern milk is a weird substance, considering you can get it in a carboard carton on the shelf these days, is a bit scary if you know anything about milk. Flours are quite a refined product and just aren't that good for blood sugar eaten by themselves, so I try to avoid them, even non-wheat versions. I'm not a fanatic about it, but I would caution someone who is embarking on a vegetarian diet to avoid loading your diet with carbs and sugars. Whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables should form the backbone of your diet. I am lucky because soy does not bother me, but some folks, (like my brother) are allergic to it. I love tofu as a sub for dairy or meat in a lot of applications. I like to buy or make baked tofu seasoned with italian or asian flavors. Things have changed so much from when I started, nowdays magazines are full of recipes that are either vegetarian or can be easily adapted. But then I've always liked dishes that are a mix of things. If you're a person who "doesn't do bits" like one of my friends said once, you're going to have a tough time finding a replacement for the slab of meat that is an integral part of how most people eat. I've always been a lover of soups, casseroles, stir frys, stews, salads, etc. and whole grain breads, so for me being vegetarian is easy as pie. It's actually eating a meat-centric diet that is hard on me. But I'm only speaking for myself here. I like nothing better than a thick bowl of split pea soup, a corn muffin and some kale salad for dinner. My dad on the other hand, can scarcely sit near me when I am eating such things, he might catch a glimpse of something green! You are lucky because there are just so many more options available all over the place now, not like when I was starting out in the 70's. I also eat soy based fake meat, sometimes. I don't do well with gluten based products. That's why I could never eat my mom's Seventh Day Adventist fake meats, they are all made with MSG, which gives me an almost instant headache and stomach ache. I've steered clear of seitan and all its cousins ever since, although I occasionally eat some seitan like products. But honestly there's enough variety for me without all the meat substitutes, as I happen to love whole foods of all types. Just occasionally I like to have a tofu dog or veggie burger. BF gives me such a hard time about my "tofu pups!" :) I am quite addicted to Morningstar Farms fake sausage patties though. I eat them several times a week. I'm really surprised that I can find fake italian sausages too, which I occasionally put in soups or stews. Two great reads for new vegetarians are "Diet for a Small Planet" by Francis Moore Lappe, and "Laurel's Kitchen" by Laurel Robertson and Carol Flinders, et. al. Very comprehensive nutrition information. Also great recipes, still "go tos" for me after all these years. Of course I am dating myself, perhaps there are better books, but these two books were very influential in shaping many modern ideas about healthy eating. Of course there is the whole glycemic index issue, "clean eating" and macrobiotic schools of thought out there too. But when it comes to discussing some of the ecological, moral and spiritual aspects of our food system, these two women broke some ground. Lately I have really gotten into thinking about how the microscopic flora and fauna in the soil and in our food and in our bodies affects health, partly because I myself have been experiencing so many immune system issues. My food struggle these days is limiting sugars in my diet, and trying to find ways to access and afford foods raised without pesticides and hormones. But that's a whole other post!! Back when I was just starting out, I subscribed to "Vegetarian Times" which you might want to get for your kids for Christmas. And nowdays there are so many FABULOUS blogs out there, Wish I had time to read them!

Beth....LOL!!! It is all about fun!!!!! Confusion makes it even more fun!!! Playing "FOTESS MOMMIES" and giving THANKS to Jeanne and Shirley this past month of May...........THANKS Jeanne and Shirley!!!! *Shirley...(brittneysgran)...SENT...Jeanne REC/Shirley REC *Nicole...(bluee19)...SENT....Shirley REC/Jeanne REC *Darrin...(cryptid)....SENT....Jeanne REC/ Shirley REC *Erica...(ericabraun)....SENT...... Jeanne REC/ Shirley REC *Peggy...(canfan)....SENT to Jeanne and Shirley...Shirley REC *Margo (smitties)...SENT....Jeanne REC/Shirley REC *Heidi (xiangirl)....SENT...Jeanne REC/Shirley REC *Katie (kchd)...SENT...Jeanne REC/Shirley REC *Faye (nottougly)....SENT....Jeanne REC/Shirley REC *Mandy (l1onnes)...SENT...Jeanne REC/Shirley REC *Beth (beth_b_kodiak)....SENT to Shirley and Shirley (LOL!) and Jeanne....Jeanne REC *Annie...(canyonwind)...SENT....Jeanne REC/Shirley REC Happy Wednesday! Annie