Come Home to Cooking

Taste of Petaluma Preview

The Real Deal is this Saturday!

There's a lot of good food and drink happening in Petaluma now, and the upcoming annual Taste of Petaluma event not only helps keep local theatre arts alive, but provides us all with a special opportunity to have a lot of fun while tasting our way around the town. A few days ago I was invited to join a small group of other food writers for a mini taste tour around some of this year's participants to preview samples, meet the chefs and report back to my readers. Having participated myself in previous years as one of the chefs making up those hundreds of portions to pass out, it was a real treat to be on the other side of the table. And I came home feeling once again impressed, invigorated and proud that all this delicious food, renewing energy, hard work and clarity of purpose was happening in our own historic town...

We're Back!

A month in Champagne with April in Paris. Raining only flower petals as we lounged in the gardens and strolled along the Seine. Stood in line for croissants each morning and later ice cream on the Ile Saint Louis. It sounds like a dream. And it was. As luxuriously long as we were there. Apart from trying to figure out how to operate the washer/dryer combo in our apartment. And divine where each bus line actually stopped.

Subscribe to this Blog...

…to make sure you receive the latest announcements, casual recipes and fresh insights in my bi-monthly blog posts.  

These posts are offered as a lively extension of both the classes and cookbooks we all love to learn from. They are the place for discovering what it means to:

• Define & Feed the Real Need
• Stock & Keep Your Pantry Fresh
• Have Just Enough But Not Too Much
• Be Your Own Prep Cook
• Make Something Out of Nothing
• Develop New Default Dinners
• Play with All Your Senses
• Trust Your Instincts
• Empower Your Cooking
• Share a Truly Good Life

To Subscribe to this Blog by Email or Feed Reader: 
Click on the corresponding link under KAY'S BLOG in the right column.

This is our place for discussing what it means to Come Home to Cooking. Day in and day out. We’re all in this together, so why not join the conversation? It's easy. To comment on any blog post, just click the Comments link below it.
I look forward to this ongoing exchange, Kay 

REMINDER: Our next class, HOMEMADE STOCKS & BROTHS is on Wed, Feb 9 [10am–2pm]; please see the Current Class Schedule.

Fresh Vegetables Delivered to Your Doorstep

It doesn’t get easier than this. Or more delicious. Just choose the box size and subscription option that work best for you, and County Line Harvest will take care of the rest. Their locally grown 100% certified organic vegetables are hand picked, hand packed and home delivered on Fridays. So you can start your weekend already stocked up and ready to go.

County Line Harvest calls them “PSA” boxes, which stands for Petaluma Supported Agriculture. And support us they do. Through every season. The whole year round. They are committed to providing our community with the freshest and most affordable vegetables possible. Here’s how you can make the most of it…

Give a Gift Certificate to Someone Special

Can’t think of anything for even some of the nearest and dearest on your gift list? Here’s a simple and satisfying solution for everyone involved.

Cooking classes are one of those gifts that truly keeps on giving—both to the recipient and then to the people they cook for in turn. Treat your friends and family to the joyful experience of learning how to Come Home to Cooking. They'll have a whole new schedule of classes to choose from in the New Year. You can arrange to either come by to pick up gift certificates or have them mailed to your specified addresses. Please call or email me (Contact Info).

Come Home To Cooking Website Remodel

Since the launch of our website in 2008, we've received many compliments about our online content. Now we are working to make it even more interactive and easy to use—please excuse any construction dust.

We are still at www.comehometocooking.com, but you may need to update your bookmarks for links beyond the home page.

So here's to staying current and connected!  Kay Baumhefner

Season with Sugar 'n' Spice

 

Ever notice how desserts equals stressed spelled backwards? Is that why we reach for sweets when we’re frazzled? Or perhaps it’s a subliminal reminder that we are the ones getting it backwards. That usually when we most need to take good care of ourselves is when we’re least likely to. Which is why it was so nourishing to steep ourselves in the recent winter soups and seafood stew class. And also why I plan to start off the New Year with a restorative series on Mother Stocks and Broths. 

But right now in this season of soulful treats and merrymaking, I hope we all find a way to slip into the light of our childhood night kitchens. To feel the enchantment. To make it and bake it and eat it and share it. To be dazzled instead. To come home to cooking for sugar and spice and everything nice. To stay in that place where nothing’s the matter. 

At least for a while.

Wishing you comfort and joy.

Special Thanks to My Stone Soup Crew

For Working So Joyfully to Create Good Food and Fun for All

at the ProjectHERE Artists & Farmers event last Sunday, Oct. 3, at CornerStone in Sonoma.

This Stone Soup crew of seven healthy and enthusiastic volunteers gathered together by my "sounds awesome, let's do it!" son not only showed up, but listened attentively, followed directions, worked independently while coordinating as a team, did a beautiful job in a fraction of the time it might have taken, took good care of each other and me, talked, laughed, ate, drank and helped clean up! Can you imagine? It doesn't get better than this. Thank you, thank you.

Kay at CornerStone in Sonoma

making Stone Soup for all

at the Artists and Farmers event

this SUNDAY, OCT. 3 from 11-4

Kay Baumhefner will bring to life the inspiring Stone Soup legend of cooperation by gathering together just enough contributions from the generous vegetable gardens and participating farmers to fill and light the fire under our empty pot in the CornerStone village square barn.  

By the end of the afternoon we can meet up there, where Kay and her crew of helpers will have chopped, stirred and simmered everything into a savory harvest soup ready to ladle out for all of us to share in this celebration of realized abundance.

Read all about it

See you there!

Harvest Boxes from County Line

Freshly Picked Organic Vegetables from COUNTY LINE HARVEST

What: An assorted box of about 12 bunched items, including salad & braising greens, root vegetables, herbs & seasonal crop specialties with cooking tips. 

When: Available for you to pick up every Wed afternoon from 2-4pm.

Where: Our cornerstone place here at Come Home to Cooking [Please contact me if you need directions.]

How: To reserve your box, email County Line Harvest [clharvest@gmail.com] no later than 10am each Wed. [You only need to sign up for one week at a time.]

$25 per box, cash only & payable when you pick up.

Why: To support our local community while making it both easier and more economical for all of us to be able to share the joy of living and eating well.

So Come Join the Fun!