The Living Kitchen

One of the unforeseen benefits of doing this blog is that people are constantly letting me know about events they think I might find interesting or “blog-worthy”.  This is how I came to know about the Living Kitchen.  My cousin Tina sent me the information and said she thought it sounded like something I would enjoy.  And holy moly!  She was right.

The Living Kitchen is a certified organic, 400-acre working farm located in Depew (about 45 minutes west of Tulsa).  Every summer they host a series of Farm Table Dinners.  These are themed dinners with the majority of everything on the menu being sourced from the farm.  After reading just a little bit about this amazing place, I immediately made reservations for the Found and Foraged Dinner.  This dinner would include a walk through the farm led by wildcrafter Jackie Dill.  Jackie Dill considers herself to be a “locavore”, living off the land as much as possible.  How exciting!!  I was beyond giddy and couldn’t wait for Saturday to roll around.

My date C picked me up at 5:30 and off we went.  Fortunately for me, C is also a major foodie and enjoys these culinary adventures as much as I do.  We arrived at the farm right at 6:20 (the earliest we could get there) and knew in an instant that it was going to be just as fantastic as we had hoped.  The farm is like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life and the cabin where we would have dinner?  Sweet goodness, it was beyond fantastic.  It was an old log cabin with an open living/dining/kitchen area, a downstairs bedroom, a bedroom and loft upstairs and a beautiful screened in porch.  It was breathtaking!! 

The porch

 

As soon as everyone was ready, Jackie led us on our nature walk.  Some of the things she pointed out on our walk were sorrel, prickly pear (you can sear off the “hair”, peel the fruit and sauté it up), poke, chickweed, and a host of other edible greens.  Full disclosure – I took a ton of pictures but after looking at them, they all just looked like weeds and I couldn’t discern one from the other.

By the time we returned to the cabin I was starving and the smells coming from the small kitchen literally made my mouth water.  As we entered the cabin we were handed a small drink made of Pellegrino and rose hips and something else (sorry, I was too excited to get all the ingredients).  It was so refreshing. 

Our first course of the evening was fresh chevre (goat cheese), pecan crusted and seared.  This was served with wild garlic oil, pot poke salat (I thought this was a typo but trusty Google assures me it’s not), and some crackers made with prairie sage. 

Our second course was a wild salad made with chickweed.  They added a little arugula and baby kale for variety and it was tossed with a white zinfandel vinaigrette with wild garlic and onions.  Honestly, and everyone around me agreed, it was like eating your lawn clippings – but it was really pretty good. 

The third course was a pork and chicken dumpling with henbit and seared morel mushrooms in a light chicken broth.  First of all – I was ecstatic about having the morel mushrooms.  I love them but they are difficult to find, plus you really need to know what you are doing before just going out and harvesting wild mushrooms.  Really not a good idea.  But the dumpling was delicious and I really wanted more.

Midway through our dinner we were served grapefruit ice.  It was a simple concoction of shaved ice with grapefruit juice.  It was a wonderful dish to serve right in the middle of our feast; so light and refreshing and tasty.

The fifth course was homemade goat cheese raviolis in lamb broth with braised curly dock, and smoked pork jowl.  This was amazing.  I love goat cheese and these raviolis were so smooth and creamy.  Thank goodness there was some fresh bread on the table so I could soak up all the delicious broth.

Our dessert was post de crème with fresh herbs, an almond biscotti, and buffalo berry blossom.  I’m not normally a big biscotti fan (too dry and I don’t drink coffee to dunk it in) but this biscotti was fantastic.  I seriously looked around at my dining companions to see if anyone had some left that I could have.

The whole evening was just ridiculously awesome - from the setting to the walk to the people to the food.  Everything!  After dinner, as everyone was lingering and chatting around the table, someone pulled out a guitar and started playing a little music and before you knew it, half the room was singing along to Summertime – the Ella Fitzgerald classic.  How perfect is that?!?!

If you want to experience this for yourself – go to http://www.livingkitchenfarmanddairy.com and check them out!  If you enjoy food and nature and just experiencing life – you will NOT be disappointed. 

 

 

 

Herb Festivals

Oh my goodness, do I love spring!  And now that spring has finally arrived inTulsa, it’s time to get out and get some fresh air.  This past Saturday my intention was to ridemy bike down to the Brookside Herb Festival but April showers and May flowersand all that nonsense put a kink in my plans so I chose to drive my car like aregular ole’ Joe.   Herb Day in Brookside features locally grownplants, herbs, and flowers for sale as well as other local merchandise to makeyour back yard the place to be this summer. Located at the corner of 41^st & Peoria, it’s one of thefirst of several herb festivals this year. 

Full disclosure – every year I make a vow that I’m going tohave the best container garden ever – tomatoes, strawberries, basil, oregano,etc.   And every year it’s a miserablefailure.  Every.  Single. Year.  Last year I managed to keepone tomato plant alive and even managed one beautiful, ripe, tomato.  I mean, it was a work of art it was sopretty.  I had it all planned out – I wasgoing to come home, harvest my bounty (i.e. – my one tomato) and fix the mostdelicious BLT anyone has ever tasted.  Istepped outside, ready to pluck the tomato and….. it was gone!!  Seriously!! The best I can figure is the squirrels were onto my plan and decided tostrike first.  And that has been my mostsuccessful garden to date. 

The turnout this year was not the best with it being so coldand rainy, but there were still a few hearty souls.  I’ll admit that I didn’t linger as I normallywould have.  I pretty much ran throughthe whole thing, looking for a few heirloom tomato plants and a few herbs, inthe hope that this year’s garden is a little more successful.

In case you missed out on the Brookside event – do notfret!  April 20^th is the SandSprings Herbal Affair.  This is one ofthe largest events and takes place around the town square.  Along with more than 100 vendors of herbs,perennials, heirloom plants, and gardening supplies, you can also check outsome of the delicious food trucks – everything from Amish to Indian.  Visit www.herbalaffairandfestival.comfor more information. 

And April 27^th is the Jenks Herb & PlantFestival.  Taking place on Main Street,this event continues to grow and expand. In addition to plant vendors, you’ll find inflatable jungle gyms andface painting for the kiddos, pancake breakfasts for the early birds, and theReasor’s festival stage. 

Load up the kids, grab a red wagon or basket, and get out toa neighborhood festival.  You’ll have agreat time, find something you can’t live without, and get some fresh air.  What better way to spend a Saturday morning.

 

Redbud Valley Nature Preserve

I love going for a walk in the woods.  I can think of no better way to spend a beautiful afternoon than to be outside getting lost in nature - especially this time of year.  After the dreary winter months it is so uplifting to see the trees budding out and everything turning so green.  It’s like a salve for my soul.   

As most of you know, I’m a big, big, fan of Turkey Mountain.  It’s less than 5 minutes from my front door and you can get lost for hours on the numerous trails.  But every now and again I like a new adventure.  This past Saturday I packed my passport and bottle of water and headed east, way outside of my comfort zone.  My destination was the Redbud Valley Nature Preserve.  Located about 3.5 miles north of I-44 (just past the Hard Rock Casino), the Redbud Valley Nature Preserve is tucked away just off the blacktop road.   

Redbud Valley was originally purchased by The Nature Conservancy in the late ‘60’s in an effort spearheaded by Dr. Harriet Barclay, a professor at TU.  She subsequently worked with the now-defunct Tulsa Tribune on a fund drive in order to raise the necessary money to repay The Nature Conservancy.  The property was maintained by TU until 1990, when the area was transferred to the City of Tulsa.  It is now operated as part of the Oxley Nature Center in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy.   

One of the more fascinating things about Redbud Valley is the different terrains you are exposed to – from woodlands to desert like terrain to prairie grasses – all within a one-mile loop.  And I haven’t even mentioned the caves.  The valley is ringed by towering limestone cliffs and over the years, the water cutting through the limestone has created some of the most amazing caves and overhangs you will find in the Tulsa area.  It’s really very stunning!  And to think all this natural beauty is just minutes from downtown.  Amazing!!



The boardwalk

On my recent outing I took the low trail.  This is a super easy walk along a boardwalk.  I kid you not; they have installed an actual boardwalk through the woods.  It was so incredibly peaceful.  At the end of the boardwalk, I turned and headed up the rocky cliff.  Although it was a bit steep, it was a super easy climb.  The views from the top are breathtaking.  You overlook the entire valley, including a pond.  As you continue to scale the bluff, you come out at the edge of the cliff wall and walk alongside some of the most amazing caves.  Along this path you’ll cross a natural spring, flowing out of the rocks.  The sound of the water gurgling over the pebbles and stones – I really could have just sat there for hours. 

Continuing along the same path, I made my way to the top of the bluffs and found myself on the high plains area.  I couldn’t believe how much the landscape changed in just a few steps.  From lush, green woodlands to dry prairie grasses, in just the blink of an eye.  Along this section of the trail there were tons of yucca plants and cacti, typical of the dry prairie habitat.

 

Exposed tree roots.

 

The walk is such that it could take you as little as 30 minutes or as long as the day – depending on how long you linger and enjoy the natural beauty. 

 

In addition to the trails, you will find a visitor’s center and the most helpful volunteers you can imagine who will patiently answer every one of your ridiculous questions.  FYI – also in the visitor’s center you will find the skeleton of a snake (ewww – “shudder”).  Adjacent to the visitor’s center is a pavilion with restrooms and a picnic area.  And for those of you who enjoy geo-caching, it’s an official geo-cache location – cache name Redbud Rocks. 
 

If you find yourself with some free time, especially in the next few weeks as the trees continue to bud out – pack a bottle of water and get outdoors.  Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons, especially in Oklahoma.  Not counting the whole allergy thing.  For more information, visit http://www.oxleynaturecenter.org/redbud.htm.

 

 

Tulsa Stained Glass Company

Thanks to Living Social and Groupon, I get to try all kinds of things I never thought possible.  Case in point was my adventure at Tulsa Stained Glass this past Saturday.  I enrolled for the Micro Stained Glass Class through Living Social.  This was a three hour class covering the history and techniques of stained glass and we would be doing a little hands-on crafting.  By the way – I absolutely love hands-on.  I think it’s one of the best ways to learn something new.

Glass Cutters

The class opened with a lesson in how glass is made and the difference between “float” glass and “rolled” glass.  We then had a brief demonstration on how to score and break glass.  This was really interesting and I could have spent a lot more time playing with the different glass cutters.  It was so nifty to score the glass and then “pop” it and see your piece just fall away instead of shattering.



My "feelings"

We then received a lesson on how you can turn any old doodle into a piece of stained glass and this was fairly interesting to me.  The only thing I don’t care for is when someone tells me to “paint how you feel right now”.  No!  I am way too literal minded to be “painting my feelings”.  Tell me to paint something concrete – a flower, a puppy, a teapot – and I’m good to go but to have to “paint my feelings” – it’s an anxiety attack waiting to happen.  But the instructor took a classmates simple doodle (quite honestly I thought it was a little on the not attractive side but that’s just my opinion) and showed how, with a little manipulation, it could be transformed into a glass piece.

Finally we got to the good stuff!  We were given our supplies and turned loose with the lead (surprisingly flexible), the solder, and soldering gun!  We were guided through making an owl but as you can see, Mary took a little liberty with her materials.

My owl and Mary's person

If you’re truly interested in learning about stained glass, I think it’s an informative class and gives you a good groundwork to grow from.  However, if you’re like me and you just want to try it out and get your hands dirty, the class was about two hours too long.  I wanted a brief demonstration and then I wanted to be turned loose.  I expected to cut glass for our craft project and perhaps follow a pattern – maybe creating a trivet or a small window hanging or something like that.  Well, truth be told, for a three hour class I was halfway hoping we would create a big window hanging. 

But, like I said, it was good introductory class and I always think it’s good to expose yourself to new ideas and hobbies.  You just never know when you’ll discover your wheelhouse.  And just so we’re clear – stained glass making is not in my wheelhouse.

For more information, visit http://tulsastainedglass.com or give them a call at 918-664-8604.

Bountiful Baskets

When I started this blog, my intent was to highlight events/people/places that make Tulsa such a unique place to call home.  This week I’m going to stray from that just a wee bit and highlight something that I think is just fabulous, even if it’s not Tulsa-centric.  Besides – it’s my blog and I can do what I want.  Plus, if you're a loyal reader and don't live in the Tulsa area, consider this a special post just for you!

Some time ago my very dear, sweet, friend B. turned me on to a service called Bountiful Baskets.  Personally I found the name a little on the hokie side but honestly, what else are you going to call it.  Bountiful Baskets is a food co-op that operates throughout the US.  If you’re unfamiliar with a cooperative, it’s a really great concept.  A co-op is a group of people who pool their money (or resources) and work for the betterment of the group.  In this case, everyone is contributing towards the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables, purchased in bulk, directly from the supplier.  In most cases, the produce you receive is grown locally and because of this, the quality is so much greater than what is available to you from your local grocery store.  Most produce available at the neighborhood market has been shipped in from all over the world and has been sitting in cold storage.  It’s not bad but there are other options available to you.

Bountiful Baskets Food Co-Op (BBFC) is an all-volunteer organization with no contracts, no employees, and no hidden catches.  In participating, you have the opportunity to get fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables at a significant savings.  In addition to fruits and vegetables, you also have the opportunity to purchase “add-ons”.  The most common add-ons are:

Ø  Tropical Granola ($10) – a mixture of oats, honey, sugar, coconut oil, dried pineapple, dried papaya, and nuts

Ø  Assorted bread pack ($10) – three loaves of 9 grain bread, one loaf of hot cross buns, one baguette

Ø  Hostess Pack ($13) – the week I placed my order they were hoping for red potatoes, dill, avocado, yellow onion, rosemary, asparagus, radish, sage, celery

Ø  Minneola Tangerine ($19.50) – approximately 40 pounds

The most popular item is the standard basket.  The standard basket is half fruit, half vegetables and will run you $16.50.

I picked up my first standard basket last weekend and I have to say, I was super impressed.  It’s an efficient system with minimal waiting and the quality of produce I received was phenomenal.  My basket contained the following: 

Ø  Broccoli

Ø  Cauliflower

Ø  5 huge baking potatoes

Ø  3 large grapefruit

Ø  Asparagus

Ø  7 blood oranges – I love blood oranges and these have been so good

Ø  Bananas

Ø  Living Butter Lettuce

Ø  Cucumber

Ø  3 Yellow Onions

Ø  Pineapple!! – not gonna lie, I was over the moon about getting the pineapple.

I priced the items in my local grocery store and if I had purchased everything there, it would have cost me almost $30.  So not only is the quality better (I think) but the savings is significant!!  Between BBFC and my local Farmer’s Market, I’m not sure I’ll ever buy produce at the grocery store again. 

BBFC is a great way to get fresh, quality produce at significant savings.  And let’s be honest, unless you’re a vegetarian, chances are you are not eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables.  This is the perfect opportunity to start taking better care of yourself and get back on track with that New Year’s resolution you made three months ago.

Check out http://bountifulbaskets.org/ for all the details, locations, prices, ordering instructions and everything else you need to know.  I promise you will not be disappointed.

 

 

Cain's Ballroom

courtesy of Jeff Mitchell
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BoxingBear

If you enjoy live music and you live in Tulsa for any length of time, it’s a given that you will find yourself at the Cain’s Ballroom.  I strongly believe there is nothing like the Cain’s anywhere else in the US.  It’s been recognized by CNN as one of the top 10 music venues in the US and one of the 10 great places to see a concert by Yahoo.  Not only is the building a throwback to another time, but because of the size, you can’t help but have an intimate music experience.  The furthest you can be from the stage at any given time is maybe 40 feet.  And how great is it that the place features a four-foot neon star AND a silver disco ball?!?!

The Cain’s was constructed in 1924 to actually serve as a garage for W. Tate Brady, one of Tulsa’s Founding Fathers – hence that whole Brady district thing.  It didn’t operate as a garage for long though.  As the country was in the grips of prohibition, Tate started opening the building up to the public as a speakeasy for Tulsa’s oil elite.  In 1930 the building was sold to Madison “Daddy” Cain and became Cain’s Dance Academy where, for one thin dime, you could receive a dance lesson.  



photo courtesy of CM

  
Although it seems foreign to us now, at the time a new genre of music was becoming popular in the southern states – commonly referred to as “western swing” – a combination of country music, jazz, blues, big band swing, and jitterbug.  The dance academy soon became the site of the Texas Playboys’ regular radio broadcast of this new sound.  Bob Willis and his Playboys broadcast their midday shows via KVOO from coast to coast for almost 10 years, thus the ballroom is often referred to as Home of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.  Even today his portrait, along with the portraits of other prominent musicians of the day, still graces the walls.  In 1976 the building was sold once again and received a complete refurbishment and reopened under its current name – Cain’s Ballroom Dancing. 

 

In 1978 Cain’s earned its place in the history of Rock and Roll by being one of only seven venues to host the Sex Pistols on their one and only American tour.  Now that’s something!

Today the Cain’s is host to such a variety of acts, it would be almost impossible not to find someone you enjoy.  I’ve seen an odd assortment of acts at the Cain’s – from Citizen Cope to Willie Nelson to Alice In Chains.  Some of my personal highlights though, are seeing Beck bust out a Bob Wills tune in the middle of a set, Billy Bob Thornton working the crowd like a mad man (yes, I know….Billy Bob!), and Scissor Sisters tearing it up to a packed house.

So if you’re in the mood for a concert experience like no other, check out the Cain’s.  You will not be disappointed!

Visit http://www.cainsballroom.com/ for all upcoming acts, venue information, ticket prices, etc.

 

My New Favorite Thing....Lone Wolf Food Truck

And we’re back!  The winter months found me hibernating way more than I should have but Spring is right around the corner and it’s time to get the word out about what is going on in Tulsa and why it’s one of the best places to live.

This week’s installment is all about my new, most favorite thing in the whole, wide world – the Lone Wolf Food Truck.  Lone Wolf has been around since last September but lately it seems you can’t turn around and not hear about the fabulous French-inspired Vietnamese food that is coming out of this truck.  The staple items are the banh mi sandwich, kimchi fries, and beignets.

The traditional banh mi is so simple and amazing.  Take a freshly baked, crusty baguette, pile on a protein of your choice (pork, chicken, or, for my hippie, vegetarian friends - tofu), and add vegetables like pickled carrots and daikon radish, cucumbers, jalapenos, and cilantro.  Top with a creamy aioli and you hold in your hands a culinary masterpiece.  It is so fresh and full of flavor and unlike anything you’ve tasted before.  One sandwich is more than enough for two people, especially if you get an order of the kimchi fries and believe me when I say you MUST get the kimchi fries. 

Pork Banh Mi

As good as the banh mi is, it’s the fries that I dream about.  Seriously – they are THAT fantastic.  Take an order of hot fries, top with kimchi, cilantro, cheese, some thai chili aioli, and some candied bacon and you are about to dive into the most flavorful, most stupendous, most amazing order of fries you have ever experienced.  The first time I tried them, my date and I didn’t get more than 10 steps from the food truck before we ripped into them like a couple of starving hyenas.  It was almost embarrassing.  Almost. 

Kimchi Fries

Recently Lone Wolf has added Wing Sunday to the rotation.  On Sundays you can get an order of wings (sauce flavors vary, depending on the mood of the chef, but previous flavors have been Asian buffalo, habanera hellfire, and sweet and spicy BBQ) and let me say, they are just as good as you would expect!

You can usually find Lone Wolf parked by Soundpony most weekend nights (Main Street, just down from the Cain’s) and they’ve recently started a lunch service – but being a food truck and all, locations vary.  To get all the updates and information, “like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. 

 

I say this all the time and I will continue to spread the word – quit eating at chain restaurants, step out of your comfort zone, and support your local establishments!  The food is amazing, the people are friendly, and you’re helping to support your local economy.