Thursday, August 23, 2012

Your favorite personal chef offers a new menu! For delivery to Boston and Beyond, Monday, August 27

Ah, August! What bounty the farmers markets offer us this month!

This lovely menu will be ready to deliver the morning of Monday, August 27. It helps to have orders in Saturday night, but I'll do my best to fill orders that trickle in all day Sunday too! Order by emailing rathercraftymary at gmail dot com.

Looking forward to seeing you Monday!

Much Love,
Chef Mary

P.S. Did you know that Sunday, August 26 is Women's Equality Day? It's the anniversary of the day back in 1920 that the 19th Amendment was passed, granting women the right to vote. Hooray!

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SOUP:

Roasted Beet Soup. Serve it hot or cold, depending on how you feel - it's great either way! Fresh and vibrant, and such an amazing shade of fuchsia. $9

PLATES

South Asian inspired burrito wraps! A delicious fusion of Eastern and Western influences. I'll take my hand-rolled gluten free flour tortillas and stuff them with coconut infused long grain brown rice, chili and herb infused beans with a splash of local favorite Alex's Ugly Sauce, and farmer's market veg du jour. I'll serve them up with a thick, gingery peach chutney on the side to dip. (Contains a small amount of honey.) You will love them! $12

Baked Beans with Veg du Jour! The best picnic fare, also perfect for a mini-getaway when you're stuck having lunch at your desk. Served with a pumpkin corn muffin on the side to round it all out. $11
Baked beans and some lovely veggies. This week's rendition will come with plenty of fresh local green veggies!



Millet Tabbouli! Tabbouli, tabbouleh, delicious any way you spell it! The traditional middle eastern grain salad gets a gluten free update with lovely golden millet. Fresh parsley, lemon, cucumber, and heirloom tomatoes take it to a whole new level. High protein hemp seeds boost the nutrition even more! (Yes, I will make an all-raw, all-hemp-and-veggie version on request.) $12
Some gorgeous local veggies, ready to become your lunch!

BAKERY:

Pumpkin Corn Muffins $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread with Chocolate Chip Scones! (Chocolate free version available on request. Dip is raw; raw cacao and buckwheat crackers available instead of baked scones on request. Also available: dip or scones or crackers a la carte. A la carte prices by request.) $10
Oh my goodness do I love this stuff.

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Please inform me before ordering if you have any allergies or sensitivities. I do NOT use meat, dairy, or egg ingredients. I do not use wheat or other gluten ingredients. I do not use soy or peanut ingredients. I do not even keep them in my kitchen.

I DO use fresh veggies and fruits, local and/or organic when possible. I use nuts, seeds, beans, and non-gluten grains, also organic when possible. I use healthy oils in reasonable amounts, mostly extra virgin olive oil. I strive to accommodate individual sensitivities and preferences when I can, but please note that tree nuts and seeds are used in my kitchen so there is a possibility of cross-contact with those ingredients. I occasionally use gently and respectfully harvested honey, but I know not everyone chooses to use honey so I try to let you know so you can make an informed decision.

The following is not a comprehensive ingredients list, but is a guide to help the very sensitive make informed decisions. Please still remind me of your sensitivities when you order. Thanks!

SOUP: Contains cashews; can be omitted on request. Contains a small amount of cooked garlic.
TABBOULI: Contains a small amount of raw garlic; can be omitted on request. No nuts; contains hemp seeds.
BURRITO: Contains cooked garlic. Alex's Ugly Sauce contains a small amount of honey. Homemade peach chutney also contains a small amount of honey. No nuts.
BAKED BEANS: Small amount of cooked garlic.
HAZELNUT SPREAD: Contains nuts and chocolate. Can make it cinnamon-vanilla instead of chocolate, on request. Scones contain cashew; can be made without chocolate on request. Raw Cacao crackers (raw alternative to scones) contain sprouted buckwheat, flax, raw cacao, and truly raw cashews.
MUFFINS: Contain corn, flaxseed, and nut milk.

Special dietary paths:

RAW: Choose raw version of tabbouli, and chocolate spread with raw crackers.
ACD: Choose soup, tabbouli, and the burritos if you tolerate grains.
SCD/GRAIN FREE: Choose soup, raw version of tabbouli, baked beans if you tolerate beans (omit muffin or give it to a friend,) and chocolate hazelnut spread a la carte. (Raw cacao crackers contain buckwheat, a pseudograin, not a true grain - choose those if you tolerate buckwheat.)

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

A new menu is here! For delivery Monday morning, August 20 to Boston and beyond!




Hello all you wonderful folks out in CraftyLand!

This coming week, I have an amazing new menu for you, just packed with all our favorite local fresh fruits and veggies. It is so much fun to create recipes and menus in August, because the farmers' markets are just overflowing with absolutely gorgeous fresh fruits and veggies!

Without further ado, here it is, your new menu for next Monday, August 20!

Thank you so much and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Love,
Chef Mary

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SOUP

Gazpacho! The ultimate chilled summer soup, featuring local heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. $9

PLATES

Enchiladas! Lots of local veggies inside, fresh local tomatillo sauce on top, and cultured cashew creme on the side. $12

Herbed kinawa, cooked in homemade veg broth, topped with almonds, served with local veg du jour. Kinawa is an even-tinier cousin to quinoa; rich in iron, protein, and all sorts of good stuff! $11

Veggie Sushi! Brown rice and julienned veggies rolled up in nori seaweed with sesame seeds. Served with homemade quickled ginger and a side of a creamy wasabi-cashew dipping sauce. (Sauce and quickle contain honey. Raw all-veg version available.) $12

Southwestern Black Bean Dip with crunchy veggies. (Did you know if you don't like a certain crunchy veggie, you can always ask me to make sure you don't get it in your assortment of dippers? It's true!) $10

BAKERY

Sweet Cinnamon Maple Bean Dip, blended up with a dollop of creamy almond butter. With chewy house-dried honey apple slices to dip. $9

Morning Glory Muffins! The "Everything" of muffins, named after Morning Glory Farm on Martha's Vineyard, our hosts a couple weeks ago! Full of carrots, apples, nuts, cinnamon, even pineapple and coconut! $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

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Please inform me before ordering if you have any allergies or sensitivities. I do not use any meat, dairy, or egg ingredients. I do not use peanut, wheat, or other gluten-containing ingredients.

I do use a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, local and/or organic when possible. I also use tree nuts, seeds, beans, and non-gluten-containing grains, also organic when possible. I occasionally use ethically sourced honey, but because some people choose not to use honey I let you know when I use it. (I'm using it this week in the sushi!) The following is not a comprehensive list of ingredients, so please do remind me if I have forgotten to include your dietary sensitivity or path.

COMMON ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES, listed by dish:

*Soup contains raw garlic, but otherwise should be safe all around.
*Enchiladas contain corn and cooked garlic. Cashew sauce may be omitted easily.
*Kinawa may be nut-free easily; simply omit almonds and/or sub pepitas if you prefer. A tiny bit of garlic will be cooked into veg broth, but no extra will be added.
*Sushi contains sesame. Quickles and sauce contain honey, and sauce contains cashews. Both may be omitted easily.
*Black bean dip should be safe all around, as long as you tolerate beans. I can omit the garlic on request.
*Maple bean dip contains almonds. Apple slices will be dried with a little honey to prevent oxidation.
*Muffins contain flaxseed and coconut. Walnuts may be omitted easily.

ADDITIONAL DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS:

RAW: Choose gazpacho and raw version of sushi. I can also do a side of the dried apples without the dip, on request.
SCD/GRAIN FREE: Choose soup, raw version of sushi, and if you tolerate beans, enjoy both the sweet and savory bean dips.
ACD/SUGAR FREE: Gazpacho is a perfect choice. Sushi and coordinating sides will contain a tiny bit of raw, local honey, so use your judgement. If you tolerate grains and beans, choose all the other savories with abandon! Sweet bean dip contains maple, but not an enormous amount, so use your judgement.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Love,
Chef Mary

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Happy August, everyone!

We are well into the season for zucchini and other summer squashes, plus juicy cucumbers, and even heirloom tomatoes. I picked up the first local broccoli of the summer today, and assorted stone fruit to experiment with for future recipes. I am so excited!

This coming week, the schedule is changing! I am in the process of adjusting my schedule so that I can have your food to you on Monday mornings from now on. So this menu will be delivered not on Tuesday afternoon, but instead on Monday morning, August 13. Please let me know if you have any specific time constraints, or if your Monday location going forward will be different from what your Tuesday location has been.

Because of the new schedule change, it will help to get orders in by Saturday night, if possible. As always, orders are a la carte - order as much or as little as makes sense for you this week, and I will be happy to bring it right to your home, office, or classroom (within a sensible delivery area, of course.) If Monday is absolutely impossible for you, I may be able to stop by Tuesday or another day, by special arrangement. And of course, feel free to inquire about special orders at any time!

Thank you so much! I look forward to cooking for all of you very soon!

Much love,
Chef Mary

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SOUP:

Creamy local zucchini soup. With seasonal herbs, finished with a dollop of cashew creme. Yes, an all-raw version will be available on request. $9
Zucchini and Herb Soup! This variation with Cilantro.
PLATES:

Quinoa salad. All sorts of fresh, local veggies, with everyone's favorite pseudograin, in a Dijon balsamic vinaigrette. Topped off with crunchy pepitas. Yes, an all-raw version with just veggies and seeds will be available on request. $12
 Farm Fresh Veggies!

Slow-roasted local heirloom tomatoes and farmers market veggies, served over delicious gluten free pasta. Topped with a protein-packed crumble of selenium-rich Brazil nuts and nutritional yeast. Yes, an all-raw version with kelp noodles and raw veggies will be available on request. $12
Chioggia Beets
 Tuscan style white bean dip with herbs. Served with crunchy fresh veggies to dip! $10

BAKERY:

Banana buckwheat chocolate chip muffins. Everyone's favorite! $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

Original style granola balls: cranberries, raisins, nuts, seeds, almond butter, gluten free oats, spices, and general amazingness. Crunchy, chewy, delicious! $9

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Please inform me before ordering if you have any sensitivities or allergies. Rather Crafty does not use any meat, egg, or dairy ingredients. We do not use wheat or any other gluten-containing ingredients. We do not use peanuts, soy, or any ingredients that contain them. For our safety and yours, we never even have those ingredients in the kitchen. We use only vegan ingredients, with the addition of ethically produced honey from real farmers who take good care of their hives, and the bees who choose to live in them. Any time I plan to use honey in a specific recipe, I let you know so you can make an informed choice!

We DO use lots of fresh, nutritious fruits and veggies - local and/or organic when possible. (Stillman Family Farms is our favorite source for Conscientiously Grown produce.) We also use (organic when possible; most are unfortunately not local) beans, nuts, seeds, and non-gluten-producing grains and pseudograins.

Below is a rundown of additional sensitivities I'm aware of in our midst. It is not a comprehensive ingredients list, of course, so please let me know about your sensitivities. Ask me anything!

SOUP: Cashew may be eliminated on request. My homemade veggie broth contains a small amount of cooked garlic. Additional garlic may be eliminated on request.
DIP: Contains beans. Garlic may be eliminated on request.
PASTA: Brazil nuts and nutritional yeast may be eliminated on request. GF pasta is made from brown rice. Raw kelp noodles are made from sea vegetables.
QUINOA SALAD: Pepitas and garlic may be eliminated on request.
MUFFINS: Contain flax and bananas. Chocolate may be eliminated on request.
GRANOLA BALLS: Contain almonds and sunflower seeds. Oats are certified gluten free.
RAW: Choose raw versions of soup, salad, and pasta.
SCD/GRAIN FREE: Choose soup (raw or cooked,) raw version of pasta, raw version of salad, and also bean dip if you tolerate beans.
ACD: All the savories are great choices - I can certainly dress the quinoa salad with a vinaigrette of raw apple cider vinegar on request, if balsamic vinegar is not tolerated.
Mint filled chocolate frogs! Who couldn't use a little more silliness, really?
Mint Frogs!
Almiond butter brownies and almond filled chocolate cups!
A care package to make anyone feel better!
A birthday special order idea - a dozen cupcakes, a dozen scones, and some Chocolate Hazelnut Spread! (I can do special orders without chocolate too, I suppose...)

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Welcome August, Happy National Watermelon Day, and an upcoming schedule adjustment!

Happy August, everyone!

Do you know that tomorrow, August 3, is National Watermelon Day? As soon as I found out about that, I had to veer from my original plans and put my chilly, refreshing watermelon soup on the menu in honor of this festive day!

Please enjoy this wonderful new, fresh menu! Place orders throughout the weekend for delivery on Tuesday, August 7.

I have important scheduling news: This coming week, I will still deliver on Tuesday, as usual. But starting the week after, I am trying something new! Starting with Monday, August 13, I am going to try delivering Mondays, in the morning! Yes, starting with the menu after this one, you should actually receive your food before lunchtime on Monday! We're going to try it out and see how it works. Any and all feedback is always welcome. I am especially interested in how early I can actually deliver to your home/office/classroom, and if you have a location change coming up as the weekday and time change, and the start of the school year approaches!

Thanks so much, and I look forward to cooking for you soon!

Much love,
Chef Mary

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SOUP:

Raw Watermelon Ginger Soup! A touch of spice balances the sweetness of the melon in this chilled soup. $6


PLATES:

Carrot Ginger Nori Rolls! The original recipe, with plenty of fresh raw veggies, cilantro, and a handful of nuts and seeds. Local carrots are coming in all sorts of crazy colors right now, so don't be surprised if you see a touch of purple mixed in! Rolled up with spinach and nori. My favorite! $12







Summery Black Bean Chili with fresh local corn and tons of local veg! Served with brown rice. $11


Muhammara
! This middle-eastern style walnut dip is traditionally made with roasted red peppers, but I am offering an even-healthier, just as scrumptious, raw version! Kissed by fragrant cumin and a splash of lemon juice. Served with crunchy veggies to dip. $12

Roasted Farmers Market Medley! All kinds of fresh, local veggies. What will make an appearance this week? Only the farmers know for sure! Served with millet and crunchy pepitas. $11


BAKERY:

Chocomole! There is nothing I love more than avocados, unless it's this rich, raw, vegan chocolate pudding made from avocados! With a dollop of agave vanilla cashew creme. $10

Pumpkin Spice Muffins! Yum! $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

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Please let me know before ordering if you have any allergies or sensitivities. I do not use any meat/fish, dairy, or egg ingredients. I do not use any peanut or soy ingredients. I do not use wheat or gluten ingredients.

I DO use tree nuts, seeds, coconut, non-gluten grains, and lots and lots of fruits and veggies; local and/or organic when possible. Some sensitivities I'm aware of in our midst are listed below, but it is not an exhaustive ingredients list. I try to avoid cross contact between nuts and non-nut dishes, but please know that nuts are present in the kitchen. Please remind me of your sensitivities when you order. Thank you!

NUTS and SEEDS: Soup: No nuts or seeds. Nori rolls: do contain assorted nuts and seeds: cashew, almond, and sunflower. Chili: contains beans, but no nuts or other seeds. Muhammara: contains walnuts. Veg medley: I can leave off pepitas. Chocomole: I can leave off cashew creme. Muffin: I can leave out nut milk on request; contains flax.

GARLIC: I can leave raw garlic out of muhammara and nori rolls. There is some cooked into the chili. Not present in anything else this week.

RAW: Choose soup, nori rolls, muhammara, and chocomole.

SCD/Grain Free: Choose soup, nori rolls, muhammara, veg medley without the millet, and chocomole.

ACD: Soup is all fruit, so a good choice in stage 2 and beyond. All entrees are great choices, all stages. Chocomole is fruit sweetened, so choose in stage 2 and beyond if you tolerate dates and cacao. If you don't tolerate agave, simply omit the cashew creme.

HONEY: Not present this week.

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Upcoming opportunities to see me elsewhere: This coming weekend, I will be working at a Cuisine en Locale event on Martha's Vineyard. We'll be at Morning Glory Farm, cooking it all up locavore-style! http://cuisineenlocale.bigcartel.com/product/once-mv-field-to-table-at-morning-glory-farm

The following weekend, celebrating tomatoes in Brooklyn! http://cuisineenlocale.bigcartel.com/product/once-brooklyn-alottatomata

Someone recently asked me an important question about gluten. I often work events where gluten ingredients are used, I cook occasionally at the restaurant, and I cook every week as the Head Vegevore for ONCE a Week at Cuisine en Locale. The big question is: Do I keep separate, GF dedicated tools and space for Rather Crafty? The answer is a resounding YES! At CeL, I use CeL's kitchen and tools. Same goes for the restaurant. I always shower and change clothes after leaving those kitchens and before entering the Crafty kitchen. I even have gluten-kitchen-shoes and non-gluten-kitchen-shoes! The gluten in the CeL kitchen stays in that kitchen! I don't track it back to Crafty Land with me.

Here in Crafty Land, I keep my tools and equipment as free of gluten ingredients as is physically possible. Earnest has celiac disease, so going GF was an important step for us to take as a family. I've carried that level of care into my business! Crafty Land is also free of soy and peanuts (I'm allergic) and all animal products (except for raw honey, used with respect and care, and in only a few recipes.)

Some of you have celiac disease, or are otherwise sensitive to gluten. Some are vegetarian, vegan, or have other dietary sensitivities. Some of you are full-on omnivores with no sensitivities at all! I don't discriminate. I just want everyone to enjoy food that is amazingly awesome, fresh, beautiful, delicious, safe, and reasonably priced; all at the same time!

See you all soon!

Much love,
Chef Mary