Leap Day! Calloo Callay! Menu for delivery Tuesday, 2/28

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Next week, we have the rarest of holidays, Leap Day! We only get to experience February 29 every four years, so let's make the most of it!

I was thinking about how to celebrate leap day and it occurred to me to look to Penelope the Leaping Bunny for inspiration. Her favorite foods are parsley, cilantro, and carrots. I thought it would be fun to incorporate all her favorites in the dishes this coming week (and then she gets to feast on the trimmings!) Check the bakery section for another awesome dish inspired by my other favorite leaping animals, frogs!

Please order by midnight, Sunday night, for delivery on Tuesday, February 28.

Thanks, and I looking forward to cooking for you very soon!

Much love,
Chef Mary

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SOUP:

Italian White Bean Soup with Winter Greens $7

PLATES:

Nori Rolls filled with Raw Carrot Ginger Pate and Greens. A grain free lunch treat, seasoned with plenty of cilantro, plus nuts and seeds for protein. $10

Millet-veggie cakes. The classic returns! Warm them up and enjoy with fresh lemon-parsley-walnut pesto, served on the side. $11

Bunny Bento! No rabbits were harmed in the making of this bento! The spinach and tahini filled onigiri are shaped to resemble bunnies, surrounded by beautiful veggies! $11

Amaranth with parsley and thyme, served with veg du jour and crunchy pecans on top! Amaranth is very nourishing, and so rich in protein and iron! $11

BAKERY:

Mint Chocolate Frogs! Harry Potter fans will especially appreciate these peppermint-filled chocolate critters. $8

Maple walnut granola balls. My favorite flavor returns! $8

Morning Glory Muffins! These muffins have it all: Pineapple, Coconut, Apple, Raisins, Walnuts, Carrots, a little Spice, and lots and lots of Love! $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

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Whenever possible, ingredients are organic and/or local. If you have a question about a dish or an ingredient, please ask!

All dishes are vegan, so they are naturally free of common allergens fish, shellfish, dairy, and egg. I specify any dish that contains honey. I do not use soy, peanuts, wheat, or other gluten containing grains. I DO use tree nuts and seeds, and naturally gluten free whole grains. I am extremely careful about cross-contamination of potentially allergenic ingredients! If you have any kind of allergy or sensitivity, please let me know!

It helps me and Mother Earth if you return the containers when you are finished with them.

Thank you so much!

Much love,
Chef Mary

Laissez les bon temps rouler! Mardi Gras menu for Tuesday, 2/21

Mes chers amis,

Did you know that next Tuesday is Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras, also known as Carnival, Fat Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday, depending on where you're from, is a day for parties and feasts! The official colors of Mardi Gras are Purple, Green and Gold, representing Justice, Faith and Power respectively. This week's menu is inspired by the colors of the holiday!

Please order by Sunday night for delivery on Tuesday, February 21. You can order by emailing me at rathercraftymary@gmail.com

Thank you, and laissez les bon temps rouler!

À bientôt!

Chef Mary

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SOUP:

Velvety Green Broccoli and Potato Soup $8

PLATES:

Golden Polenta with a Duet of Cabbages: Green cabbage with mustard and caraway, and purply red cabbage with a balsamic glaze. Over a white bean puree. $13

Raw Green Sprout Hummus! A delicious departure from the original, with broccoli, herbs, and a hint of cumin all blended right in. With crunchy veggies to dip. $9

Jamaican Rice and Peas! Not what we would usually call peas in the U.S., this dish is red beans and rice, cooked with coconut milk and spices. Yum! With Veg du Jour. $10

By popular request, Golden Millet with Saucy Mushrooms! Made with homemade shiitake mushroom broth, crimini mushrooms, and plenty of love. With veg du jour, and almonds on top. $12

BAKERY:

King Cake! The traditional Mardi Gras King Cake is baked in a ring, with a nut or a small toy baby hidden inside one piece. Our variation is individual Moist Apple Cakes with Maple Glaze. One of them has a whole almond baked inside! If it's yours, you win a free half dozen muffins next week! $7

Jelly Donut Muffins! $10 half dozen $18 dozen

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Everything I make for you is vegan, healthy, and delicious! When I use honey in a recipe, I let you know. (This week's recipes don't have honey in them.) Because it is all vegan, it is naturally free of common allergens fish, shellfish, eggs, and dairy. I never use wheat or other gluten ingredients. I also never use soy, peanut, or other legumes. I DO use nuts and sesame in some recipes. If you have any kind of allergy or sensitivity, please let me know!

Love and beads,

Mary

Happy Valentine's Day! A romantic menu for delivery Tuesday, 2/14

Hello everyone!

Next Tuesday, February 14, is Valentine's Day! In honor of this celebration of the senses, I bring you dishes full of ingredients said to have aphrodisiac properties.

Many foods are said to stimulate our sensual appetites, from the sweet flavors of honey and bananas to the savory aromas of basil and ginger, to the perfection that is dark chocolate. This week's menu is sure to put anyone in a festive Valentine mood!

Please place orders by midnight Sunday, 2/12 for delivery on Tuesday, 2/14. You can order by emailing me at rathercrafty@gmail.com

Did you know that I also email the menus out to folks who choose to read them that way? Feel free to email me and ask to be added to the list!

Thank you, and enjoy!

Love,
Chef Mary

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SOUP:

Tomato Basil Soup $8

PLATES:

Roasted Beet Salad with Honey-Dijon Dressing over Buckwheat. Topped with crisp Walnuts $12

Curried Bean Dip (contains honey) with crunchy veggies to dip $9

Butternut Squash Lasagna with Cashew Ricotta, with Veg du Jour $10

Black Bean Patties with Sweet Potato Fries and Homemade Spicy Ketchup. Served on Rice "Buns." $11

BAKERY:

Chocolate Almond Butter Cups $6 for a trio

Almond Butter Brownie. Dark, rich, and decadent! $8

Banana Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Muffins $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

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Whenever possible, ingredients are organic and/or local. If you have a question about a dish or an ingredient, please ask!

All dishes are vegan, so they are naturally free of common allergens fish, shellfish, dairy, and egg. I specify any dish that contains honey. I do not use soy, peanuts, wheat, or other gluten containing grains. I DO use tree nuts and seeds, and naturally gluten free whole grains. If you have any kind of allergy or sensitivity, please let me know!

It helps me and Mother Earth if you return the containers when you are finished with them.

Thank you so much!

Much love,
Chef Mary

Your dinner. Tonight!

Check it out!

It's an amazing 10 course meal. Tonight. All local. I've been baking like a madwoman for it, and after I finish this post I'm heading back into the kitchen to prep some beautiful green kale.

(This isn't a gluten free or vegan event, it's for my other awesome job at Cuisine en Locale!

http://www.cuisineenlocale.com/home/39-general/121-once-on-a-whim

Or just call JJ, the mad genius behind the whole ONCE phenomenon.

617-285-0167

Happy birthday to the trees! Delectable new menu for Tuesday, 2/7

Happy Thursday everyone!

Now that you have all your preparations in place for the Super Bowl, it's time to think about next week!

Next Tuesday night there is a Jewish holiday called Tu B'Shevat. While I was not raised Jewish, I do love to celebrate the holidays. There are so many, and they all have their own wonderful food traditions! Tu B'Shevat is the symbolic birthday of trees, and of the Tree of Life in particular. I love that trees get their own birthday celebration!

For this holiday, It is traditional to enjoy nuts, grains, and fruits, especially dried fruits. You may have noticed that I adore fruits and nuts, so this makes me very happy! This week's menu contains a few items celebrating Tu B'Shevat, and a few other items just for fun. Enjoy!

Please place orders by Sunday night for delivery on Tuesday, February 7. Email orders to rathercraftymary@gmail.com Thank you very much!

Much love,
Chef Mary

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SOUP

Curried Carrot Almond Soup. $8

PLATES

Sunshine Millet: Warming millet with squash and dried apricots, and veg du jour. $10

Caesar Salad Wraps: Lettuce, sprouts, and carrots wrapped up in sheets of nori, with delicious cheezy cashews. A mostly-raw, all vegan, cashew-based caesar dressing is on the side. $11

Antipasto Salad: An assortment of Mediterranean meze, including stuffed dates, roasted local veggies, and other delights! $12

Tamale Pie! A very American reinterpretation of some classic Mexican flavors. It's red bean chili, with corn bread baked on top. $11

BAKERY

Fig Molasses Muffins $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

Flourless Orange Almond Cake. Moist, dense, and delicious. $8

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As always, everything is delicious, vegan, made from real ingredients, and good for you. I do not use soy, peanut, wheat, or any gluten ingredients. I do use
certified organic and/or local nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits, and veggies. If you are allergic or sensitive to anything, please let me know!

I always appreciate it when you bring back the reusable containers and jars. It helps reduce our consumption of plastic and glass (and it
helps keep prices reasonable!)

Have a beautiful day!

Love,
Mary

Rather Crafty Super Bowl Party Menu! For delivery Tuesday, 1/31

Good morning everyone!

The Superbowl is coming up, and it's going to be big! It's Pats v. Giants this year. To get us all in the mood for the big game, I've got some great Super Bowl party food on the menu this week.

I confess, we don't have one of those TV converter boxes, so we won't be watching the game at home. But maybe we'll bring some bean dip with us and catch the amazing ads (I know, I'm a geek) out and about!

Please place orders by midnight Sunday night for delivery on Tuesday, 1/31.

See you soon!

Much love,
Chef Mary

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SOUP:

Cheezy Spinach Soup! So warming, so delicious! (Made from cashews and veggies, none of that weird fake cheese stuff.) $8

PLATES:

Southwestern Black Bean Dip! Skip those fried chips, and dip roasted local purple potatoes instead! $10

Mac and Cheezy Sauce! Topped with homemade GF bread crumbs, with veg du jour on the side. $12

Local Potatoes Stuffed with Butternut Squash, with cultured cashew creme to dip. $10

Roasted Winter Veggie Medley, with brown rice and veg du jour, and pumpkin seeds on top. $11

BAKERY:

Sweet Cinnamon Maple Bean Dip. I made a test batch this morning and it is satiny smooth, and so good! I am enjoying it with steel cut oats and a sliced Macoun apple right now! Yours will come with chewy house-dried honey apple slices to dip, but dipping and topping possibilities are endless! $8

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches. The BEST flourless almond butter chocolate chip cookies embrace rich chocolate frosting. $8

Carrot Muffins! With raisins and nuts. $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

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As always, all the ingredients I use are the highest quality available. I do not use any meat, dairy, or egg ingredients. I know some vegans don't use honey, and out of respect for that choice I make a note when a dish contains it. If you would like to know why I do encourage the use of honey, email me and ask! I don't use soy, peanuts, wheat, or other gluten containing grains. I DO use fresh fruits and veggies; local and/or organic whenever possible. I also use organic seeds, nuts, beans, and non-gluten containing whole grains. If you have an allergy or sensitivity to anything at all, please let me know. If you have a question about any ingredient or method, please don't hesitate to ask!

Looking forward to feeding you and your families soon!

Love,

Chef Mary

Gung hay fat choy! Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Year of the Dragon! Gung hay fat choy! (That's how you say Best Wishes in the New Year in Chinese!)

Monday, January 23 is the first day of the Year of the Dragon. The celebrations go on all week, so you have plenty of time to enjoy delicious food inspired by the Lunar New Year. We aren't sticking to completely traditional Chinese recipes this week, but we are taking more of a pan-Asian fusion approach. As always, it's vegan, soy free, and gluten free. Wow!

My friend Alex of Alex's Ugly Sauce has made a fantastic hot sauce with Thai Dragon chiles. The Dragon Sauce has a brighter kind of flavor, a little different from the original Ugly Sauce that you all love when I make my famous burritos. I adore both sauces, and wanted to feature the Dragon Sauce because it's the Year of the Dragon, after all! If you want some Dragon or original Ugly Sauce to call your very own, you can find Alex at www.alexsuglysauce.com

I want to give a little shout-out to my brother Stephen and friend Jenny who are currently living in Szechuan province in China. Happy New Year!

And without further ado, here it is, a wonderful new menu to celebrate the Chinese New Year! Please order by Sunday night for delivery on Tuesday, 1/24. Email me at rathercraftymary@gmail.com to order!

Much love,

Chef Mary

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SOUP:

Hot and Sour Soup, featuring Alex's Dragon Sauce! (contains honey.) $8

PLATES:

Mu Shu inspired Veggies and Mushrooms, wrapped up in mini GF flour tortillas. $12

Spring Rolls - Fresh, not fried, of course. With a cooked filling of cabbage, carrots, sun sprouts, and ginger, and served with a side of Awesome Sauce! $10

Pad Thai Salad! Made with homemade raw almond butter, veggie ribbons, and rice noodles to symbolize long life! An all-raw version is available too, by request, subbing extra veggies for the noodles. Regular version (noodles!) $11 All-raw (no noodles, extra veg!) $12

Savory Seven Treasure Rice! Sometimes Seven Treasure Rice is the name of a fruity dessert, and sometimes it is a veggie-filled savory dish. In this case, it is studded with savory vegetables and filled with delicious beans! $10

BAKERY

Five Spice Apple Muffins $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

Purple Sticky Rice with Sweet Coconut Milk and Seasonal Fruit $8

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As always, everything is free of peanuts, soy, wheat, gluten, meat, dairy, and eggs.

I use fresh fruits and vegetables, organic and/or local when possible. Some dishes contain nuts or seeds. Please let me know if you are allergic or sensitive to anything at all!

It helps a lot when you return the containers. And Mother Earth thanks us too!

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Looking forward to feeding you soon!

Love,
Chef Mary