it's here.

with a huge slice of shira's chocolate chip pumpkin bread, a stack of midterms to grade, and cold, rainy weather, it officially became fall.

pretty sure i am getting myself a new, giant scarf from here.

liz + ina

everything i want in one place: 30 rock and the barefoot contessa. big smiles.

can't stop, won't stop

still breakfast tacos over here. fresh corn tortillas as well.

ready for thanksgiving, when blake provides me with tacos every day i am in austin.

the BIGGEST

i have the BIGGEST craving for luby's today. i want the luann platter of my youth: fried chicken with mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese, a butter roll, and an iced tea.

i would substitute the chicken for fried okra in my adult life.

and i'm back

i joined a CSA. today's excitement: bok choy, kale, squash, edamame, turnip.

definitely getting out of that food rut.

fat kids.

it's unfortunate that we have to do studies to prove this fact, but:

The University of Minnesota's Project Eat, under the direction of Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, continues to publish influential survey results showing, for example, that kids eat better when they have family dinners, are involved in food preparation and don't watch so much TV.

there's also this:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that 34 percent of American adults are obese, up sharply over the past decade. Another 34 percent are overweight.

read the whole article here.

this really leads into my big idea that we cut down on bureaucracy and stigma towards kids who get free and reduced lunch by providing free lunch (family style) to all elementary school kids. i am positive (though i have yet to do the research) that it would cost about the same as figuring out who gets what and how and at what price. maybe even hire cafeteria workers who can cook... i know it's sounds a bit communist but i am positive i am onto something...

muscadined.

muscadine grapes are hard to eat, but tasty as hell. the local delights have seeds, which we are not so used to anymore, as grapes have seemingly been mutated to be seedless for at least my lifetime. muscadine grapes also have a thick skin. really thick.

thick enough for many people not to eat it, which is exactly what i eventually learned to do.

they are awesome, like drinking the best grape juice or a mild wine. but you have to work.
i would love to go back to this meal, of toasted sourdough with melted white cheddar, tomatoes, and sprouts, with sauteed spinach and onions. and the grapes. i think i am going to make dinner now, but i know there are no sprouts in the fridge, which is frustrating because this photograph makes me crave them.