Thursday, July 26, 2012

Coachella Valley Food Swap

Last night I attended a food swap hosted by a new group called the Coachella Valley Food Swap that started earlier this year.  I loved meeting new people that have a shared passion for gardening and making homemade creations from their gardens.  

So what is a food swap???  Here's a little info about a growing movement that is bringing communities closer through homemade and homegrown food...

What
A food swap is part silent auction/part village marketplace/part fun-loving open house where your homemade, homegrown, and foraged creations become your own personal currency for use in swapping with other participants. Diversify your pantry while meeting your friends and neighbors!
Who
We welcome everyone, as long as you bring something you made, grew, or foraged yourself! 
What to bring
All swap items must be homemade, homegrown, or foraged by you. Think baked goods, jam, pickles, spreads, honey, vinegar, granola, pasta, fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, homemade sausages, backyard eggs … you name it! Bring as little or as much as you like. You can bring a bunch of one thing or multiples of a few different things. The possibilities are endless!
Keep in mind that swappers will be examining and picking up your goods, so be sure to package them in a way that protects the food and makes it clear the amounts you want to swap. We encourage reusable, earth-friendly packaging whenever possible.
If possible, you should also bring samples for others to try.
Learn more
Coachella Valley Food Swap was formed out of the popularity of Food Swaps nation wide, to learn more about how it all started, and how it works, watch this video http://lafoodswap.com/
Here are a few photos from last night's food swap.  Items swapped  included peanut brittle, arugula vinaigrette, heirloom tomato seeds, chocolate-cherry sherbet, lemon curd, walnut cookies, cherry-almond focaccia bread and lemongrass tea.




Join Coachella Valley Food Swap on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachellaValleyFoodSwap
The next food swap will be on August 25 at Ironwood Park in Palm Desert.


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Homemade Empanadas

I have a 4 year old daughter and she loves to cook with me. She tends to try out new dishes if she is involved in the process, especially if it comes out of our garden.  We love to make empanadas together and it's a great recipe to use whatever leftovers you have and throw in some chopped up veggies that kids will never know they are eating.  Today I chopped up some of the rainbow chard from my daughter's playhouse garden.


Here is the recipe for my version of empanadas from the food blog of the talented Kimberly Cooper Nichols...
http://unorthodoxfoodie.blogspot.com


Monday, April 16, 2012

Palm Springs Village Fest

Interviews with local artists and all natural Pel's Italian ice at Village Fest in downtown Palm Springs.


Penelope Krebs- watercolors
http://penelopekrebs.com


E & E Pels- Italian Ice
36365 Cathedral Canyon Dr, Cathedral City, CA.


(760) 321-1330
Produced by Leslie Shockley of Tea With Iris for Coachella Valley Handmade.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Patio Gardens

Last week I took a tour of my friend Maria Zang's patio garden at her condo in Palm Springs, California. It is a great example of how to utilize a small space to grow a variety of plants including drought tolerant plants and an edible garden.



You can find Maria's potted succulents along with her handmade items and unique vintage finds in her online shop, Maria:CREATIVE.
Produced by Leslie Shockley of Tea With Iris for Coachella Valley Handmade.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Leap Day Launch!

Welcome to Coachella Valley Handmade!  I thought Leap Day would be a good day to launch our website covering sustainable products made in and around the Coachella Valley.  

I always look forward to Wednesday mornings to shop at our local certified Farmer's Market in Palm Desert, California.  A couple of weeks ago I met Tim Prezio of Bella Vado at the market and he told me all about Bella Vado, a family-owned business that makes products from avocados grown in nearby Valley Center, California. I bought the Avocado Bar body soap and my family loves it, and I love that we are supporting a nearby family-owned business!