News and events for foodies, cooks and enviro-lovers

--Have y'all visited J.B.Prince's website or bricks-and-mortar store? I'd never heard of it until recently but man oh man, they have everything you could need in the kitch. Based in Manhattan, J.B. Prince is a restaurant supply store but also a must for culinary students, caterers and the like. Knives galore, every pastry tin/mold/baking sheet possible, pots, pans, tools, machines... It's great fun to peruse the site, and I will make haste to spend a leisurely afternoon there the next time I'm lucky enough to visit NYC. --This Friday's One Day Deal at Whole Foods is Rao's pasta sauce; usually $9.99/jar, it will be just $4.99 per until supplies run out.

--D.C.s 20th annual Environmental Film Fest begins next Tuesday, March 13 and runs through 3/25. The offerings look fascinating, so if you're in the area or can head in, check out their calendar.

--Lastly, on Thursday, March 15, Frances Mayes of Under The Tuscan Sun fame, will be at Williams-Sonoma in DC's Mazza Gallerie signing copies of The Tuscan Sun Cookbook. The event begins at 6p. While I was totally chagrined by the bastardization of her book in the film version, Under The Tuscan Sun was one of the works that lit my culinary and writerly flame. In fact, as I might have mentioned previously, on a trip to Italy years ago, I made Tom and my sister pilgrimage with me to Cortona to find the actual house she'd so lovingly restored. It did not look anything(!) like the home on the cover of the book and after walking miles, there was some real disappointment in that, but nonetheless, I've been there, seen it, walked those same Cypress-lined roads. Delightful!

Seeds are sown

Literally. It's another gorgeous day here, so despite an annoying headache, I took myself outside and got busy planting rows of spinach, arugula, radicchio and a gorgeous butterhead lettuce variety. I can't wait to eat everything- have you ever picked lettuce and immediately made a salad? Nothing like it. Even if you've got just a small patch, really, even a large pot will suffice(!), pop some seeds in some nice soil in your sunniest spot and soon you will be glad you did. All these greens like cold/cool weather, so now's the time to sow. Likewise, if you've got a warm'ish, sunny windowsill, you can also get your herbs going inside. Get a spray bottle that shoots a fine mist (so you don't raze the seedlings when you water them), and keep the soil damp; when it's warm enough, you'll be ready to transplant these outside. Plant extra of the things you use often: parsley, mint, whatever floats your boat. Not only are they fresher when you pick right before using, I also find this to be quite cost-effective. Who wants to spend $1.99 on a bunch of organic parsley to watch some or most of it wilt and/or before you can get to it?

I'm really grooving on the idea of this mixed greens-goat cheese ravioli tonight. I might candy some lemon peel for a garnish...

Have I mentioned how nice it is to have a quiet house? Good lord, I love school days.