gimme some oven

This post isn’t a recipe, but rather an invitation to join me for a November of giving thanks…actually, thanks²!

It’s very simple.

My poet-photographer-reader-creative-artist-kind-amazing-and-thoughtful friend, Beth, has organized a project amongst some friends in our community called “thanks²“.  Basically, everyone is invited to upload a photo a day during the month of November giving thanks for something in your lives.  If you’re a smart phone-er (like Yours Truly, who just bought my very first iPhone!!), would encourage you to use Instagram or Retrocamera to upload a square photo.  Hence, thanks “squared”.  But any size photos, uploaded however many days you can, will be great.  The idea is simply to be thankful — on the days when that comes easily, as well as the difficult days when you may have to intentionally seek out something to be grateful for.  You can read on below for guidelines about how to tag and post on Twitter/Facebook to share your photos and captions with others.

I love this for so many reasons.

So, I will be posting on my Facebook and Twitter accounts daily during November, and would be totally honored to have you join along!  Cheers to kicking off this year’s holiday season the best way I can imagine — with thanks!!!

see recipe for thanks {squared}

Because I love my farmers’ market so much…

And because, really, I couldn’t narrow my photos down to just one post….

Thought I would share a little more Kansas City goodness.  Thanks for indulging me.  :)

see recipe for my favorite farmers market ~ part two

I’m madly in love with my local farmer’s market.  Well, actually, Kansas City has numerous farmers’ markets to choose from.  But my longtime favorite is called the “City Market”.  Located in Downtown Kansas City in our historic River Market, it is pretty much a foodie’s heaven.  Tons of local farmers bring their goodies to share — from endless varieties of seasonal produce, to plants and herbs, to cheese, to grass-fed meats, to soaps, to pollen and honey, to fresh pastas, and on and (wonderfully) on.  And of course, it is always so inspiring and fascinating to hear each of their stories about how everything is grown and prepared.  These people work hard, and are passionate about what they share with our city.

But if the farmers aren’t incredible enough, the perimeter of the market that surrounds these booths includes some of the city’s best ethnic markets, local stores, and restaurants.  From the Italian market (incredible prosciutto and fresh mozzarella), to the various Middle Easter markets ($1 spice scoops, fresh pita and naan, and my favorite baklavah), to my favorite local places for pizza (Minsky’s) and pork fried rice (Bo Ling’s) and breakfast (The Farm House) and cupcakes (BabyCakes), and on and on….this market is incredible.

And that’s only skimming the surface.  :)

Basically, we are lucky ducks here in KC.  If you ever pass through the city, I highly recommend you come spend a Saturday morning here.  It is hands-down my favorite way to begin the weekend.  So thought I would take the opportunity this weekend to share with you some glimpses of the autumn bounty…

What do you love best about your local farmer’s market??

see recipe for my favorite farmers market ~ part one

And…to follow up the list of YOUR ten favorite 2010 recipes from Gimme Some Oven, couldn’t resist adding in an extra ten of my own.  It was so hard to choose, and many of my favorites overlapped with yours.  But to highlight ten more delicious ideas for your next year of cooking, I narrowed it down to this yummy list.

Thanks so much again for being such rockin’ readers this year!  Looking forward to another year of some more deliciousness.  :)

Enjoy!!

see recipe for MY top ten of ’10

Wow — it’s hard to believe that another year has gone by, and that Gimme Some Oven celebrated another half birthday in December!  Whoo!

(Ok, well when you’re 1-and-a-half years old, you still celebrate half-birthdays!)  ;)

Still, a million thanks to each of you for continuing to follow my little site!  I still feel like I’m a total newbie when it comes to blogging and photography.  But I’ve been so grateful for all of your wonderful support and encouragement over this past year.  :)  Hopefully you’ve found some fun recipes on here to enjoy and share with those you love!

As an end of the year (and half-birthday!) roundup, thought I would do two features this year — YOUR favorites recipes of ’10, as well as some of my own personal favorites.  Enjoy!!

see recipe for YOUR top ten of ’10

Most Wednesdays, my lunchbreak usually consists of a sack lunch and me at my cubicle editing endless pages of sheet music.  But this past Wednesday, I was able to slip away for a few hours and attend a sweet (literally!) cookie exchange with some fellow Kansas City food bloggers.  So fun!!!

see recipe for kc food bloggers cookie exchange

….for what?

Overcrowded shopping malls?  Endless holiday parties?  Wayyyy too many sugary treats calling your name?  Presents…upon presents…upon presents…to buy?  Adorning your puppy with bows and ribbons that have even him wanting to bark, “Bah Humbug???”

Or could this holiday season be different?

I happen to have a huge passion around living out a meaningful holiday season (full of “good cheer” – horrah!).  So when I was approached by Folgers and Blogher to share with you a little about my favorite ways to spend the holidays, and to hear back about all of your great traditions and memories — I jumped on the opportunity.  So tune in below to catch a glimpse into my little world and what I’ve learned, and definitely check out the opportunity below to share your stories too.  Can’t wait!

see recipe for ’tis the season!

BOO!

This year Chipotle switched up their Halloween theme.  Instead of having everyone dress up as burritos to win a free burrito (been there, done that – see below), the theme this year was “horrifying processed foods”.

So what more horrifying than the food that never molds, decomposes, and that is made from virtually nothing natural?!?

Ha…well, we tried to look scary.  :-)

see recipe for annual “boo-rito” night at chipotle