farewell fields and french hens

..until we meet again! it's a bittersweet weekend at the market - melanie is closing her stand, but not closing up shop (don't worry!). she's going to take some well deserved time off and i'll keep you posted as to when she is up and running again, baking amazing goodies that make our tummies and hearts happy. her stand was an amazing catalyst for me, throwing me into the direction of good people, good ideas and good community. it is my hope that the spirit of her stand lives on in all of us touched by her talent, and we carry if forward in all that we do as active, kindred-spirits in berks county.

so last week the girls (plus a new one!) made their usual thursday trip to the market to sample what succulent goodies melanie baked up. of course they were all to die for - we ooohhed and ahhhed over luella how light the cheesecake was, how deliciously dense the walnut and fig cake was, and for moments like these i can never thank melanie enough for doing her thang. she is truly a blessing. rock on sister, we're excited for what's next for you!

Ode to Dad

[me and dad at rehoboth beach circa 2008]

(first, let's take a moment for an Ode to Christin because I SCHEDULED A POST FOR SUNDAY! whoopee!)

But now to business (it's going to get personal on here, that okay people?). My Dad called me out. Laid out the past five months of my life in plain view so I could actually see what's be en going on. And you know what? He told me I'm doing a great job at pretending I'm happy most of the time, and he was so sincere about it it brought tears to eyes (just like it is right now). But he also told me he knows the truth. He knows how sad and broken and lost I am. But he also knows that I will be happy again.

 Sometimes you just need someone to state the obvious (especially when it's your father, you seem get more clarity.)

My instructions? Let go. Close the door. Move on. Since my Dad can read my mind, he did address that I'm doing a great job trying, but I'm trying not doing - my little toe is keeping that door open, just in case. Just in case you love me and realize what a terrible mistake you've made and you come galloping in...wait, wait, that's the fairytale version.

I live in reality (at least I try to). And I don't need saving.

I spend so much of my time trying to do and live the three above-mentioned items that it feels as though I should be riding off into the sunset right now of self-actualization. But the truth is it's like trying to move a 1960's metal desk up three flights of stairs in a Victorian during the summer . SLOW GOING. The panic set in when I realized I thought I was being my authentic self these past few months when really I'm pretty much a mess just muddling through one day to the next.

Well, you know what, right now that is my authentic self. And I'm going to love it anyway. Because everyday you get up and do it. Do your best for yourself. You know what that self did Thursday? She got her ass out of bed at 5:45 to take a spin class. Got home and made a delicious breakfast in her adorable apartment - showered, washed, dried AND styled her hair - put on a cute outfit - and for two hours today she felt like she really had her shit together.

And for two hours she did.

And maybe that's okay. Maybe it's okay to make that the standard. To be okay with yourself in your skin for as long of an interval as you can. Because you know what? My Dad is okay with it. He loves me anyway. He helps his 28-year-old-trying-to-figure-it-out-and-wear-cute-clothes-at-the-same-time-and-eat-organic-food-and-save-the-world-daughter buy a car because basically if she does it on her own, she'll be broke. But he helps her find a way. A way to do it, without doing it all for her. Giving her the best gift ever: independence. He helps. He always helps, no matter what, in any way he can to make my life sweeter and easier (even when I don't deserve it).

He still comes to my races, even though he thinks I'm bonkers for running that many miles. He's never missed a game, concert, recital, birthday or family vacation or any other occasion that I deem important. He has only ever asked that I do my best, always. He always reminds me to keep it simple and that life is good. He tells me to go for it when I'm not sure if I should take the trip or invest my whole heart. He still helps me sign the car papers and hand in the keys to the old jeep and wipes the tears from eyes, instead of laughing at my silly connection to this car, because it's like losing a best friend (oh, the irony). He teaches me to kind and generous and loving and open, no. matter. what. by leading by example.

So this is my ode to Dad, he simply is the best on earth and I would be lost in the woods without him (but probably not because he bought me a new headlamp for Christmas and a RoadID bracelet for my birthday). And of course I don't acknowledge this nearly as much as I should (and he will never read this post). So his father's day present this year (along with some vegan turnovers from Fields and French Hens) is my resolution to let him know how much he rocks as often as possible. I spend a lot of time doing that for other people, when at the end of the day my Dad is the one who deserves it the most, and is always there, forever and always.

Oh, and to keep trying to be more like him. That's another resolution.

So thanks Dad, for seriously, everything.

xx
christin

To Market, To Market

Some belated eye candy from Fields and French Hens last week. Yum!

To Market, To Market.

[stoudt's  french baguette]

[new! rosemary and sea salt biscut (YUM!) | blueberry turnover for dad's birthday | lavender cookie for melanie linder]

[i couldn't resist some stoudt's cheese - to go with the rosemary and sea salt]

[from the amish dairy, on sale, 90 cents, duh.]

This is how we do on Thursdays at Fields and French Hens. Melanie suggests the following tasty dipping sauce to pair with your baguette for the holiday weekend:

{pine nuts, 1/2 cup calamata olives, pitted and chopped, 2 tablespoons rosemary, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Put all ingredients in a food processor and combine. I'm going to dip mine, but feel free to bake yours. Set oven at 400, cut bread in half, sprinkle with mixture, cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes or so. Enjoy!}

Tea for Two

Mel and I were the two for tea last week at Fields and French Hens when we stopped in to celebrate their first birthday! Hip, hip, hooray! We love you Melanie Bare of F&FH and all that you do! We also love your flaky and delicious - melt-in-you-mouth vegan turnovers. VEGAN people - I swear that pastry dough is more flaky than when I use butter. She totally blew our taste buds out of the water this week with this turnover treat. As much as we attempt to always try something new..I think this one might be the exception (Well that, and the Lavendar Cookies, but that's another story...).

Lets not forget the tasty little blueberry tea cake I picked up for a snack. YUM. It was perfect with the lovely green tea Melanie made for us as we made ourselves right at home at her counter (per usual). It was so super moist and the icing was just the right amount of sweet - the best part though? No guilt! (And this can sometimes be induced when eating dessert for lunch.) But not here! No sir. Mel and I sipped our tea and savored our treats and our waistlines are all the better for it.

So, a belated happy birthday to you F&FH. You make us so happy (and hungry) and we can't wait for many more years of yumminess.

Want to get in the loop with F&FH (you obviously should)? Sign up for their newsletter at fieldsandfrenchhens@gmail.com.

What I Want Wednesday

To market, to market with Melanie Linder today! What WE want?! Yummy, delish, organic, good-for-you, indulgent TREATS! And of course, that's exactly what we had. One of my new weekly feel-good rituals is to make a trip to see the fabulous Melanie Bare, of Fields and French Hens, at the Fairgrounds Farmer's Market. I get to stock up on organic protein bars for my long weekend runs (more on them later!), try a new sweet treat and get a hug from marvelous Melanie. (She's such a fox, I have decided she gets her own post just so I can tell you exactly how genuinely foxy she truly is.) Who wouldn't want to go to the market for that? And today it was double-trouble with my two favorite Melanie's in the same place at the same time! Overload! So now we're all hooked, on treating ourselves to treats (that are good for you inside and out) and on each other.

As an added bonus, Melanie Linder and I have also taken it upon ourselves to educate you, dear reader, on one treat a week that we both devour and then give you all the details.

First up: the Organic Cup of Joe cookie or maybe it was Organic Coffee Coconut - we ate them too fast to remember!

Christin swoons: Mmmm, chewy and moist texture, with just the right amount of coffee balanced with coconut flavor. Perfect pick-me-up for a gray Thursday afternoon. Loved the burst of the two crunchy coffee beans holding court in the middle of the cookie.

What did Mel think? Head over to blog to check out her take on our first treat tasting!