So Long For Now

I come to you today with an apology for not posting for so long. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a promise to try to do better. In fact, Valley Victuals is going on hiatus. I have started taking a graduate class and it is taking up a lot of my time and something had to give. I hope to be back someday, but until then, please enjoy this cake. I made it for my mother’s birthday, in an effort to replicate a cake she loves at the Dunbar Tea Room in Sandwich, MA. They call it princess cake, and I call it yummy.

Spaghetti All’Amatriciana with Spicy Smoked Mozzarella Meatballs

Jennifer cooks a new recipe for spicy stuffed meatballs.

Review – La Casita Azteca, Easthampton

Back in October, my post about El Guanaco in South Hadley generated quite a few comments, mostly quite positive. But then – something changed. The management and/or ownership at El Guanaco changed hands. Some people – they are not pleased. There has been much hand wringing and rending of garments as the old El Guanaco has been mourned. Where, o where in the Valley would we go for good, authentic Mexican food in a small building set back from the road? Well, have no fear. La Casita Azteca is here!

Tapioca Pudding

After a long and fairly crappy week, I was in the mood for some comfort food. A friend of mine had been telling me about some gluten free products she had been trying, including some made with tapioca. So, when I wandered into Ocean State Job Lot on Friday and saw that all of the Bob’s Red Mill products were 20% off, I just had to buy some tapioca pearls.

All Occasion Cookies

 It all started with the pretty Christmas cookies with the holly painted on the icing. Then they morphed into Valentine cookies, with pretty jam cut-outs, personalized birthday cookies and anniversary cookies. One Valentine’s Day, I made them into conversation hearts. This Valentine’s Day, it was a little different.

Mock Apple Bread

Don’t panic – I’m not talking about that scary stuff that might be made with, I don’t know – graham crackers, cinnamon and brown sugar maybe? – but doesn’t have any actual apples in it. But I did make apple bread from a mix, not from scratch. Mon dieu!

Anniversary Week!

Jennifer celebrates four years of Valley Victuals.

Back from Aruba

Jennifer recounts her vacation to Aruba.

Review – The Elephant Walk, Cambridge

Jennifer & friends venture to Cambridge for a great night out.

Catching up – an anniversary, a good book, and food poetry

– Happy 5th Anniversary to the Amateur Gourmet! Adam has long been one of my favorite bloggers – food or otherwise. I took his bread challenge and his cookie challenge, made his brussels sprouts even though I hate brussels sprouts, gave out my own cookbook awards and made Mario Batali’s braised ribs at his urging. Thanks for all the inspiration, AG!
– I received The Omnivore’s Dilemma as a Christmas gift and I just finished reading it. It is a fascinating read, exploring where exactly our food in this country comes from. For the most part, you would rather not know. But now, I am glad I do know and I think I may be on the road to making better choices in my own food purchases – hint: that doesn’t necessarily mean breaking the bank at Whole Foods. Read it for yourself and see if you might want to make some changes as well.
– And if you’d rather not think about where your meat comes from, but just what it tastes like, go read this ode to Kansas City barbecue by my dear friend Chicken & Waffles. She has a way with words, that C&W!