A Few Good Instuctors

We are looking for new instructors at The Kitchen Studio and thought that maybe you could help us get the word out! We're already pulling together our summer and fall schedules and would love to include a few folks that can teach the following subjects:

• Grilling & BBQing
• Fancy Cake Decorating (use of fondant, cool shapes, etc.)
• Any ethnic foods
• Anything cool that interests you, them, or us!

We've been in business almost 4 years (can you believe it??? I can't!) and we're looking to beef up our instructor roster. If you know someone great, please have them drop me a line, and soon!

To sweeten the pot a little, we'll even offer a free dozen Chippa Chippa Bloem Bloem Chocolate Chip Cookies to you if an instructor you recommend teaches a class for us. How sweet is that???

An Interesting New Trend - Fatty Fatty Two by Four

Well THAT got your attention, didn't it?

I've been roaming lately, running back and forth to PA to help sooth mom as my father's health fails and cutting myself some slack and hitting the outlets in Leesburg (oh Crate & Barrel outlet, how do I love thee, let me count the ways...). Anywho, I noticed that both in VA & PA, nutritional information is posted for restaurants (Panera, and yes, I beg your food-snobby forgiveness for eating at a chain) and the ready-made foods at Wegmans. And let me tell you something, it REALLY changes how you order when you figure out that a whole sandwich is in the mid-900 calorie range. Yowsa! I still got the darn cookie though -- my sweet tooth would not be stopped.

I have to say, I liked being able to see the damage that would be done before it occurred. I changed my mind on what I ordered in both cases and felt a little better for the decision. With a little research, I found that the MD General Assembly proposed a bill in March 2009 that will require all chain restaurants with more than 15 locations to post nutritional info (here's a link for more info: http://www.cspinet.org/new/200903031.html), but I have no clue when this would be enacted, or if it has even passed a vote yet.

I'm definitely NOT a big chain-restaurant fan, but I like knowing that if there's no alternative close-by, at least I'll have the info to make a good decision. What do you think? Yay or nay?

Farmers Market TODAY!!

Time to get your butt off the couch and haul it to the West Fred Farmer's Market on Baughman's Lane, right now! Today is the opening day and all of our favorites are back, including those flour and sugar-coated folks from Cakes for Cause. Stop by and buy buy buy lemon blossom tarts, toffee cakes, cheddar chive scones, fresh pretzels, rosemary butter biscuits, croissants, sesame semolina bread, rosemary sage crackers, braided challah, herb focaccia, lemon ginger scones, chocolate mocha cookies, hot coffee, cinnamon buns...whew!

Rumor has it that they're even donating 5% of their take today to Heartley House. Do something nice for your tummy and nice for someone else at the same time. How can you go wrong with muffins? Not gonna happen :).