"Barbara Kingsolver" news and stories

In 2007, the WHYY program A Chef's Table, was up for a James Beard Award. An acquaintance of mine works as a producer for that show and so I followed the outcome of the awards with a fervor akin to that which my fellow Philadelphians apply to the Eagles. Sadly, Lari and her team didn't win (although they did get a nice dinner out of it).

The 2008 award events were held over this last weekend and this morning the complete list of award winners was available online. I was particularly glad to see that Barbara Kingsolver won for her book on local eating, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Congrats also to Josh Ozersky and Daniel Maurer who write New York Magazine's food blog Grub Street for grabbing the award for Multimedia Writing on Food.

Make sure to check out all the nominees and winners, as there is so much amazing writing, radio and television on that list. It could potentially keep you busy until the awards are announced next year.

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It seems that everyone who read Barbara Kingsolver's memoir Animal, Vegetable, Miracle this summer has been bitten by the cheesemaking bug. I have to admit that I had an itch in that direction when I finished her book (I've been intrigued by making cheese at home since reading the Little House on the Prairie books when I was a kid). However, I've only ever pondered the possibility, over at A Chicken in Every Granny Cart, they didn't just think about it, they took action and whipped up not one type of cheese but two. And they have plans for more. I am inspired.

I am still working my way through Barbara Kingsolver's latest book (written along with her husband and older daughter) Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It's about her family's year of eating only locally grown and produced foods, most of which they grew or raised themselves on their land in Virginia. They experienced both struggles and joys in the process and learned a great deal about their local food supply chain. Their approach isn't for everyone. They were more prepared than most folks to take on a year of local eating. They had the space, a friendly growing climate and the time to do a lot of the work themselves. But being that issues of food and the distance it travels to get to our plates are on on the minds of many right now, Kingsolver's book is helpful in exploring ways to reduce your own carbon food-print.

If you're interested in the book, but want to get a taste before committing yourself to reading it, you should check out the July 19th edition of "Speaking of Faith," a weekly radio show from American Public Media. Kingsolver spoke with host Krista Tippett about the Ethics of Eating, delving into her family's experience, the process of growing much of what she eats and how she sees this country taking many positives steps towards local eating.

• You can make a lot of different things with mangoes.
• This guy makes green beans pickled with soy sauce and wasabi, smokra (which is okra with smokey paprika), and rosemary-scented pickled beets.
• This isn't your typical veggie burger.
• An interview with Barbara Kingsolver about her new food book.
• More books: it's the silver anniversary of The Silver Palate Cookbook.
• This week's recipes: Bulgur Wheat Salad, Imperial Asparagus, Chicken Marbella, Rougaille Beef, and Brownies.