Quick Bites: What I've been up to

Who is the worst blogger in the world? Probably me. I can't even remember the last time I wrote on here! School and work have kept me busy, but the semester is almost done.

Instead of one long blog post, I thought I'd just give you a couple of quick points.

• Thanksgiving was amazing. Jim and I cooked the dinner for his entire family and we managed to share the kitchen pretty well. I think we are the only couple in the world who gets into arguments about who gets to cook what dish. Both of us think the other one hijacks every meal. I really should have taken pictures of our lovely spread but in the midst of scheduling the timing of every dish, I forgot my camera! Recipes included: roasted turkey roulade with sausage and fig stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, roasted butternut squash salad with warm cider vinaigrette and roasted pears with blue cheese. Apple pie and pecan pie for dessert--my favorites!

• I recently celebrated a friend's birthday at Les Bourgeois. It was the first time I've been there since my senior year in high school. It was still just as delicious! If you live in Columbia, I highly recommend you try it. Even though their wine may be so-so, their food most certainly isn't. I had their Brandy Herb Marinated Roasted Pork Tenderloin. The flavor of the pork was ridiculously good. Visit http://www.missouriwine.com/ to look at their full menu.

Happy Birthday Cory! It was a great evening filled with good food and awesome friends. Too bad the boys made silly faces!

Left to right: Cory, Jim, me, Nick, Becca and Rachel.

• I just found out at work that the University Club here at MU is partnering with the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) to hold a Farm to Table event in June. I work at CAFNR as the alumni communications intern, and I cannot wait to help promote and cover this amazing event. It will be a great opportunity!

• And to end my scatter-brained post, my family is having a pot luck dinner on Christmas Eve which has now turned into somewhat of a "dish-off." I must win! Right now I'm considering making Parmesan and Thyme crackers for an appetizer, but I still don't have an idea for a side dish. Any ideas?

Missouri Chestnut Roast

A view from the MU Horticulture and Agroforesty Research Center in New Franklin, Mo, at the Missouri Chestnut Roast. How lovely is Missouri in the fall?

This past Saturday was one of the best days I've had in a long time.

After what seemed like two solid weeks of raining and gloomy clouds, the sun finally came out just in time for the 7th Annual Missouri Chestnut Roast. Held at the MU Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center (HARC) in New Franklin, Mo., the event featured, of course, roasted chestnuts. It didn't stop there though. There were many different producers and vendors featuring their own products and tours of the research farm and vineyards.

After trying some chestnuts, which I thought tasted like a nutty potato, we decided to walk around the vendor's tent. Les Bourgeois Winery and Schlafly Beer had tastings of some of their products, and while I didn't really enjoy Schlafly's Pumpkin Spice Beer, I finally got to try Les Bourgeois' Norton wine after studying about it AND picking the grapes! The Norton had a buttery, supple mouthfeel that was surprisingly pleasant.

Goatsbeard Farm also had tastings of their goat cheese. Goat cheese is probably my favorite kind of cheese, so we bought two of their cheeses, Walloon and Missouri Moon. The Walloon is a hard, aged cheese with a delicious bite and the Missouri Moon is a soft cheese similar to Camembert. Considering I get gourmet cheese cravings the same way a normal person might get fast food cravings, I'm glad to be stocked up! If you live in the area, I highly recommend you try Goatsbeard Farm. You can find their products at the Columbia Farmer's Market, Hy-Vee, Root Cellar and Clover's Natural Market.

Other products included: apples, a variety of nuts, chocolate, spa and bath products made from honey and a selection of potted plants from chestnuts to wildflowers. One booth even had edible insects. I must admit, I was a bit of a pansy. Jim threw the chili-flavored mealworms back like a pro while I squirmed and made stupid faces. I regret not trying them!

To end the day, we went on a walking tour of the research vineyards at HARC lead by my Grapes and Wines professor. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, the leaves were beautiful colors, and I couldn't have been any happier to be outside!

I'm glad to have a new tradition, because that's exactly what the Missouri Chestnut Roast is perfect for: getting outside on a lovely fall day in Missouri and sampling many local products.

The Missouri Chestnut Roast is held annually to promote agroforestry practices. For more information, you can visit their site here.