@Greg – here in Boston it is a rarity and treat to have fresh, local produce. i’m all for organic because of environmental concerns, but have found that many local farmers are using sustainable methods even if they aren’t certified ‘organic.’ That’s what’s important to me.

@girlichef – happy to have found you! thanks for stopping by.

@Rebecca – thanks! i think it’s going to help get my name out there and certainly it’s a learning experience for me

@Jenn – Hey Jenn An immersion blender is one that you put into the soup pot and blend, you don’t have to pour the soup into a separate blender. Like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immersion_blender

It’s an interesting point you raise about chewing vs. blending! Ha! Well, for people with sensitive stomachs blending can be very helpful in getting the necessary food and nutrients in without causing digestive trouble. And Vita-Mix blenders rock because you can make homemade nut butters and things like that…better than store bought! But I don’t have one because they are just too expensive. I mostly use my food processor for tasks that require whizzing up, or the immersion blender for soups.

@Erica – thanks! hopefully next time it will be sunny so i can get a sunny booth photo

@CulinaryWannabe – No, a year ago I was resigning myself to my job and feeling sad. Now I love my job and feel happy! Except about the weather…

@Dori – thanks for stopping by! let us know what you find out about your local farmers!

Wondering a few things…

1. What’s an immersion blender?
2. Do you have a Vitamix? Do you think they’re worth it?
They’re pricey, especially since I’m not all that keen on “yet another kitchen appliance for garbage heap one day.” Yet so many great recipes call for some form of blending. So far, not impressed with the average blenders.
3. From a nutrition standpoint, I’ve heard there’s something important that happens when food is chewed. The way our saliva reacts with it and starts breaking it down, etc. Any chance modern day blending will be something we realize down the road actually deprived us of nutrients because it did all the work for us? I wonder if the message our mouths would normally send to the rest of our bodies (“Hey guys, get ready to work, I’m chewing!”) is skipped when we blend it all up and just swallow. Maybe the food continues on through with the same ease (i.e. without optimal absorption)

That was a rant! There’s just something about dropping $450 on a blender that seems counterintuitive to good health (both individual health and greater planet health). Yet the recipes all sound so delicious and nutritious!

Would love to hear your thoughts…