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Dent de Lion on the Dinner Plate

For as long as human history has been recorded, the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has been used as food and medicine across the globe. While not native to this continent, this nutritious golden flowering plant arrived with the European colonization of the 1600’s and is now commonplace in lawns and meadows across North America. In the spring, the dandelion is one of several common wild edibles foragers look for to supplement their dinner plates. Here’s a helpful list, which includes, of course, DANDELIONS!

Looking through the lens of dandelions, interests in culinary arts, pastry arts, baking, and even home brewing can be supported. Within these interests, lessons in chemistry and math are implicit, while the art of taste and texture is an explicit driving force…

Category: Hilltown Families, Recipes Tags: Baking, Brewing, culinary arts, Dandelion, Food, foraging, May, Naturalized Species, Nutrition, Spring, Wild Food, Wildcrafting

Oak & Acorn: Everything’s Coming up Apples!

Apples, apples, everywhere! New England is rich in over 100 varieties of apples, just waiting to be pick, munched, cooked & baked! This month in “Oak & Acorn,” Leslie gives us a delicious simple recipe for apple cake. Consider making two and give one away… spread the love of apples around!

Category: Leslie Lynn Lucio, Recipes Tags: apple orchards, Apples, Autumn in New England, Autumnal Equinox, Baking

Family Apple Pie Recipe from Iconic Red Lion Inn

“…this Apple Pie has a crisp, buttery crust and delicious filling…” This is what awaits you if you follow the amazing recipe from Red Lion Inn Executive Chef, Brian Alberg for the holidays. Perfect time of year to roll this one out for the whole family, making a special occasion happen in your very own kitchen!

Category: Berkshire County, Food, Hilltown Families, Recipes Tags: american tradition, apple pie, Baking, family dessert, Family Recipe, Food, Food History, recipe, The Red Lion Inn

The Popover: Featured Holiday Recipe from The Red Lion Inn

Brian Alberg, Executive Chef at The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, shares his recipe for Rosemary Popovers, a pastry that is rich in history and delicious at any meal. Read about the history of the popover, and it’s predecessor, Yorkshire pudding, and print out Brian’s recipe to cook up for your family dinner tonight!

Category: Berkshire County, Food, Recipes Tags: Baking, Cooking, Food, Food History, popover, recipe, The Red Lion Inn, Yorkshire pudding

Community Cookie Contest at Berkshire Museum

Let’s Bake Cookies! Berkshire Museum to Host Cookie Contest During Holiday Season Saturday, December 8th in Pittsfield Does your family have a favorite and treasured holiday cookie recipe that has been passed down through the generations? Show it off by entering your family recipe in the Berkshire Museum’s cookie contest! The event, which is part of a launch celebration for local author Gina Hyams’ Christmas Cookie Contest in a Box: Everything You… Read More

Category: Berkshire County, Berkshire Museum, Food, Suggested Activity Tags: Baking, Berkshire Museum, Berkshires, book launch, Christmas Cookies, cookie contest, Cooking, family cooperation, Family Recipe, Gina Hyams, holiday cookies, How to Host a Cookie Contest

Tuesday Market in Northampton to Host Pie Contest: Kids Invited!

Youth Invited to Participate in Tuesday Market’s Annual Pie Contest in Northampton Tuesday, Sept. 11th, 2012 Are your kids precocious in the kitchen? Northampton’s Tuesday Farmers’ Market is holding their annual pie contest, and there’s a special category just for kid-made pies (ages 13yo and younger)! The event benefits the market’s Food Stamps x2 program, which provides community members with SNAP benefits the opportunity to buy delicious and healthy local food straight… Read More

Category: Food, Hampshire County, Hilltown Families, Suggested Activity Tags: Baking, Breakfast in Western Massachusetts, Local Food, Northampton, Pie Contest, Tuesday Market, western massachusetts

Baking and Architecture Meet Literature in the Berkshires

Lenox Library’s 7th Annual Gingerbread House Competition: Storybook House Think of your favorite book. Now imagine the house that you think the characters from that book might have lived. Now, imagine that house is made out of gingerbread. You just designed an entry for the Lenox Library’s gingerbread house contest! This year’s theme is “Storybook House”- entries can be anything from a traditional gingerbread house a-la Hansel and Gretel to a delicious… Read More

Category: Art, Food, Suggested Activity Tags: Architecture, Baking, Competition, Gingerbread Houses

Blueberry Bake Off with Local Blueberries

Get the Kids a Cookin’ for the Blueberry Bake Off Hosted by the CISA and Greenfield Farmers’ Market On Saturday, August 1, CISA and the Greenfield Farmers’ Market will host a contest featuring desserts made from locally grown blueberries. Participants should drop off their blueberry creations at 9am that day. No need to pre-register. A CISA staff member, a local farmer and other judges will determine the winning recipe. A $50 Greenfield… Read More

Category: CISA, Food, Recipes, Suggested Activity Tags: Baking, Blueberries, CISA, Contest, Cooking, Greenfield Farmers' Market

Discovering Gingerbread Houses

Every year I send my parents a gingerbread house for their solstice dessert party, complete with their last name iced on the front door. The door with their name is left for the host and hostess, but by the end of the evening, their guests have demolished the rest of the house, leaving behind little red hots and coconut snow.