Small Serving
  • Blog
  • Home
    • My List >
      • Sweet '16
      • 15 Minutes of Fame...Not Needed >
        • #7 Try 15 New Restaurants
        • #8 Tour of Brew
      • Fabulous '14
      • My Lucky 13
      • 12 in '12
  • My Work
    • Donation
    • 2015 All Saints Spring Gala >
      • Tell Me More
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Home
    • My List >
      • Sweet '16
      • 15 Minutes of Fame...Not Needed >
        • #7 Try 15 New Restaurants
        • #8 Tour of Brew
      • Fabulous '14
      • My Lucky 13
      • 12 in '12
  • My Work
    • Donation
    • 2015 All Saints Spring Gala >
      • Tell Me More
  • About
  • Contact

My Family Table -A Passionate Plea for Home Cooking

2/26/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture

My Family Table -A Passionate Plea for Home Cooking

John Besh
November 2011
Non-Fiction- Cookbook
ISBN:    9781449407872
Hardcover
Pages 272
List Price: $35


John Besh's book
My Family Table -A Passionate Plea for Home Cooking is the perfect book to bring a busy family back to the table for meals. As a home cook you can find a cookbook on almost any type of food, technique, or by almost any chef.  We buy books because we find a recipe that catches our eye, we want to try a new technique or style of cooking, or we are a fan of the celebrity chef gracing the cover.  Then life gets busy and we look for what is fast, easy and the family will eat.  I am guilty of having celebrity chefs gracing the cover of some of my cookbooks, but none of them are books I have enjoyed more than My Family Table and Besh's previous book My New Orleans. 

"
Please take my preaching with a grain of (sea) salt as I am a self-proclaimed, or rather a self-confessed, hypocrite who has in many ways prospered from the food/television relationship.  But I openly admit that this contradiction has helped me see the errors of my ways.  At one time, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina had crippled the restaurants of New Orleans, putting suppliers and farmers  and growers of all kinds out of business, I gladly took part in cooking competitions on TV because I believed my appearance could help communicate to people across this country that it was okay, even urgent, to return to New Orleans, to visit or live. ...I also realized that by doing that kind of TV, I might actually be hurting the same local food culture and family involvement I was seeking to protect."

My Family Table is not just page after page of recipes and a few pictures here and there, Besh tells a story with each chapter and eat dish.  He tells stories about his wife, Jenifer; and his boys, Brendan,  Jack, Luke and Andrew; they make you feel like you are part of their family. His passion for his heritage, his community and his family come through on every  page and in every picture.  I cannot wait to to have the actual book in my hands.  The photography, by Maura McEvoy and her daughter Oona, brings you into every moment of the story.  The team of people who brought this book together have created a book that not only will be used in my kitchen, but also placed on my coffee table because it is of its beautiful photographs.  



After reading the chapter
Sunday Supper I want to be at John Besh's house on Sundays!  John describes Sunday suppers at the Besh house; it truly is a family affair.  Having his boys involved helps them identify their heritage by what they eat.  Bringing the family back together for meals isn't just gathering around the table and eating, it is actively participating. Participating includes making the meals, having conversations and creating memories.  The recipes in My Family Table are not complicate or time consuming.  They do not include a bunch of specialized ingredients that you spend money on and only use once in a small amount; they are ingredients you might already have in your pantry and you will use in other recipes.  I have tested a variety of the recipes in Besh's new book including the Cauliflower Mac & Cheese, Beef Noodles, Slow-Cooked Beef Chuck Roast, Fried Eggplant Salad, and the Lemon Blackberry Cheesecake.  I look forward to continuing to make recipes from My Family Table for my family and friends.

In addition to recipes, Besh includes tips on staple items to have in your pantry, simple techniques for how to cook an egg, and even how to fillet a fish.  He also list resources for products he uses.

John Besh is a James Beard Award winning chef from southern Louisiana.  He is the owner of six restaurants: August, Luck, Besh Steak, La Provance, and Domenica. He has appeared on shows such as The Next Iron Chef and Top Chef Masters.

0 Comments

Think Then Smile

2/14/2015

0 Comments

 
 
Think of the people you love.

Think of the good times.

Think of the times you have struggle.

What would you do for them to make them smile?

Think of the stranger you might meet.

Do you want to know his/her story?

What would you do to make him/her smile?

PictureRecent artwork done by Sydney
I started a GoFundMe campaign for my lifelong friend, John Shirk, to help fund a trip for him and his family to Disney World. Any extra money will be put towards medical expenses. In 2009, John was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer synovial sarcoma. In the past 2 weeks, generous friends, family members, and strangers have donated over $6,000 to John's GoFundMe campaign. I want to at least double that amount. I need your help! I am reaching out to my family, friends, and strangers to help raise money. When you make a donation add #MakeASmallDifference to the comment. 


Click to Donate: http://www.gofundme.com/johnshirk 


Happy Valentine's Day!

What would make you smile today? Roses, chocolate, jewelry, dinner, or a card?

What if you could make a stranger smile? Would you? 

Thank You!


 #MakeASmallDifference #Smile #GoFundMe 



0 Comments

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” ― MotherTeresa

2/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture


John Shirk has been a friend of mine for 40 years. John is family and in my family we take care of each other.  In 2009, he was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma; a rare form of cancer which usually occurs near to the joints of arm, neck or leg; since the diagnoses the cancer has spread to include tumors on his lung.  John wants to make a trip to Disney World happen for his family. 

I have done a lot of fundraising for and supporting of various causes and non-profits and I don't usually see the impact of my donation or work. This fundraiser is personal and I get to see firsthand how a simple donation can make a difference. 

Thank you to everyone who has already donated. In the past three days we have raised over $2,500! No matter the amount, it all adds up.    ‪#‎MakeADifference‬ ‪#‎Share

http://www.gofundme.com/johnshirk


0 Comments

GoFundMe - John Shirk Family Benefit

2/3/2015

0 Comments

 
In 2009, my friend John Shirk was diaganosed with Synovial Sarcoma; a rare form of cancer which usually occurs near to the joints of arm, neck or leg. Since diaganoses the cancer has spread to include tumors on his lung.

I have done a lot of fundraising for and supporting of various causes and non-profits and I don't ususally see the impact of my donation or work. This time it is personal.  John has been a friend of mine for 40 years; he, his wife Kathy, sons Jacob and  Nathan, and daughter Sydney are family and in my family we have each others back and make life happen. John wants to make a trip to Disneyland happen for his family. 

To make this happen, we have set up a Go Fund Me account (http://www.gofundme.com/johnshirk). The focus of the fund is to send the family to Disneyworld for a much needed family vacation.

On behalf of our family and the Shirk family thank you very much for considering making a donation!
  #MakeaDifference #Share
0 Comments

1st Month to Lose My Freshman 15

2/1/2015

0 Comments

 

1st Month to Lose My Freshman 15 I am about 2 lbs down. I wish it was better; honestly I was excepting to have gained weight. I wasn't diligent on my treadmill. I had days I ate like crap.

I had to meet my new doctor and when I got on her scale mid January it said 208. WHAT?!? Wait! I had my snow boots, my phone in my pocket, and I had a bladder full of water in anticipation of having to provide a urine sample (which didn't happen) Maybe that played into the higher weight. I am only going by my scale at home to keep consistent.

Plan for February:

  • Avoid Fried Food
  • Watch Portions
  • More Veggies (I love them I should support them)
  • Cut Down on Snack
  • Exercise!

Picture
0 Comments

    Archives

    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    March 2011

    Categories

    All
    #15MOFNN
    2016 Pub Pass
    2017 Keep It Simple & Live
    Appetizer
    Beverage
    Chef John Besh
    Cooking From The Heart
    Dessert
    Entertaining
    Fabulous '14
    Fabulous '14
    Fan
    Fight For Air Climb
    Friends
    GoFundMe
    Hints & Tips
    MakeADifference
    Non-Alcoholic
    Recipe
    RoadRash
    Small Difference
    Small Plates
    #StokeSurvivor
    Sweet'16

    RSS Feed