Thank you for sharing your story! It brought back memories of my own Thanksgiving adventures in rural Japan; no turkey (because we could not find one), and really befuddled looks at the mashed potatoes. Your mom is certainly right, though. In the end it is the spirit that counts!

Matcha Tea Leaf Shortbreads by kbethann on Jan 9, 2010 at 10:44 AM PST

Just took a batch of these out of the oven- delicious! Nice matcha flavor that’s not too bold but not too wimpy, either. And not too sweet. Just about perfect! Very fragile before baking, but still easy and fun for young kids, thanks in part to the green color.

Thanks for this excerpt- it sounds like a great book! I admit to being frustrated by the dogmatism of some recipes that you MUST use this or that. The freedom Davies’ shares is something that could remove the fear of failure if you don’t have exactly what a recipe calls for, if you even use one, and inspire more people to cook!

I actually do use my slow cooker while I am away at work. I have not found this to be problematic, for the most part (save a few bad ingredient choices, such as kale for a kale, sausage and potato soup- do not add kale to a slow cooker- you will not be able to re-enter your home due to the overwhelming ‘fragrance’; or too little liquid). I typically don’t follow recipes for the slow cooker, just basic guidelines for stews, soups, chilis or pot roasts, browning things before adding to the pot. Prep time generally doesn’t take any less for slow cooker foods, but it is incredibly wonderful to come home to a finished, comforting dinner.

Deborah- My husband and I are organic farmers, and I can tell you that there will always be bugs. No matter how hard you try. And I am so glad you raised this issue, as it is something I have been thinking about for years. Even digging in the soil in order to plant is disruptive to the worms, beetles and other creatures that live below our field of vision. The best we can do, I believe, is tend to our garden with love, and try our best not to waste the precious food that we cultivate, so that those disrupted and lost lives are given due respect.