Your favorite personal chef has a new menu for you! For Monday, October 1!

Happy Fall!

It is officially autumn here in Crafty Land. The days are getting shorter, and the sunlight has taken on a beautiful golden tint.

Next Sunday, September 30 is the Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated in some Asian countries. It is also known as the Moon Cake Festival. Inspired by the traditional moon cakes, I'll be reprising my delectable Mochi Moons! Yum!

This menu will be ready for delivery on Monday, October 1. Please try to place orders by the end of Saturday night, (but I do my best to try to accommodate orders that come in on Sunday.)

Thank you all so much for your continued support!

Love,
Chef Mary

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SOUP:

Broccoli Potato Soup! A mostly-smooth, all-lovely green soup. Great hot or cold! $8

PLATES:

Black Bean Veggie Patties with rice "buns", roasted wedges of sweet potatoes, and homemade spicy ketchup! $12

Raw Sprouted Sunflower Seed Hummus! Plenty of protein, lots of vitamins and minerals, and the good kind of slow-release carbs to sustain you through the afternoon make this a perfectly balanced meal-to-go. $10

African-inspired Sweet Potato and Cashew Stew! Warmly spicy, but not super hot, Aleppo pepper lends an authentic and lovely note to this stew of veggies and beans, with a touch of smooth cashew butter and crunchy cashews on top to round it all out. Served with millet. $12

BAKERY:

Pear Ginger Muffins! Oh how I love pear season! $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

It's the Mid-Autumn Festival. Celebrate with some of these delicious Mochi Moons! With a sophisticated, not-too-sweet filling of cinnamon, dates, and white beans. $9

Generously sized pumpkin chocolate chip almond butter brownie. Grain-free, and decadent! $8

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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 or soy.

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 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: Contains a small amount of cooked garlic.
PATTIES: Small amount of cooked garlic.
STEW: Contains cashews, and a small amount of cooked garlic and onion.
HUMMUS: Contains sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and raw garlic.
MUFFINS: Contain almonds.
MOONS: Mochi is one of the very few instances where I use white rice flour instead of whole grain brown rice.
BROWNIE: Contains almonds and chocolate (both cocoa powder and allergy-friendly Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips.)

RAW: Choose hummus.
ACD/Sugar free/Low glycemic impact: Choose soup, patties, and stew. If you tolerate nutritional yeast and small amounts of raw apple cider vinegar, choose hummus too.
Grain Free: Choose soup, sweet potato stew omitting the millet, hummus, and brownie.

Special earth-friendly note: I do accept returns of clean containers in good condition. (I will re-wash them before using them, of course!)

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

Much love,
Chef Mary

Addendum for September 24!

Hello lovelies!

There has been a special request for chocolate chip almond butter cookie sandwiches, so I am adding them to this week's menu! Huzzah!

Please email rathercraftymary at gmail dot com to place orders for delivery Monday, September 24.

Thank you!

A Crafty New Menu for Monday, September 24!

Avast, ye hearties! Tomorrow (today by the time most of you read this) is International Talk Like a Pirate Day! So take advantage of this silliest of holidays to say "Arrrrgh!" as often as possible.

I don't think many pirates get to enjoy such delectable treats as roasted pumpkin salad with spicy maple walnuts, or my mom's famous butternut squash soup, but I bet they wish they could!

Next Monday, September 24 is Cherries Jubilee Day, so we're going to celebrate with cherry muffins!

Please email me with orders, questions, and comments. Feel free to pass the menu along to your friends and family! I accept orders as long as possible, but it helps to have them in through Saturday night. I'll visit the farmers Saturday, cook all day Sunday, finish it up Monday morning, and deliver straight to your home or workplace on Monday, September 24.

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

Much love,
Chef Mary

P.S. I will be cooking brunch at Centre St Cafe, my old haunt, this coming Saturday, September 22. Feel free to swing by and say hi (and enjoy a delicious brunch!) CSC isn't a GF or vegan restaurant, but we do offer some dishes that are vegan-friendly, and lots that are vegetarian. For the very gluten sensitive, don't worry - Rather Crafty all happens in a totally gluten free environment and I use different tools, equipment, and I even have different sets of clothes for cooking in gluten and non-gluten kitchens. No gluten gets tracked into CraftyLand!

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SOUP

Butternut Squash Soup! Based on my mother's recipe, this is one of my very favorite soups. Lovely local squash from our friends at Stillman Family Farms, roasted to perfection then pureed with homemade veggie broth, thyme, and cashews for a touch of creaminess. I can't wait! $8

PLATES

Tuscan style white bean dip with fragrant herbs. Served with crunchy fresh veggies to dip! $10

Mac and Cheezy Sauce! Certified gluten free brown rice pasta, smothered in creamy, luscious sauce that you won't believe is completely vegan! Topped with homemade GF bread crumbs, with veg du jour on the side. $12

Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Sweet and Spicy Walnuts. Maple balsamic dressing on the side. By popular request, one of our very favorite fall dishes is back! $11 

BAKERY

Apple Crisp! Local apples and plenty of delicious spices get all happy when baked under a crunchy topping of GF oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a kiss of organic brown sugar. With a dollop of vanilla maple cashew creme on the side. Yum! A generous slice for $10

Cherry chocolate chip muffins! These muffins are studded with chewy dried cherries, delicious mini chocolate chips, and crunchy sliced almonds. A symphony for your taste buds! $10 half dozen, $18 dozen.

EDIT: There was a special request for my world-famous Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches, filled with delectable chocolate frosting. A generously-sized pair of sandwiches (four cookies in all) wrapped up all pretty for just $9  YUM!

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Please inform me before ordering if you or anyone in your family has any allergies or sensitivities. I do not use any meat, dairy, or egg ingredients. I do not use any wheat or other gluten ingredients. I do not use peanuts or soy ingredients.

I do use fresh fruits, veggies, beans, nuts, seeds, and non-gluten grains; local and/or organic when possible.

Below is not a comprehensive ingredients list, but it's a helpful roundup of some of the sensitivities and other dietary concerns I am aware of out there in CraftyLand.

SOUP: The homemade broth contains some onion and garlic, but I can make a small batch without additional alliums, on request. Cashews may be omitted.
BEAN DIP: Contains garlic and beans.
MAC AND CHEEZY SAUCE: Contains cashews. A small amount of onions and garlic. Pasta is certified gluten free, made from brown rice. Bread crumbs are homemade from GF flours.
PUMPKIN SALAD: Contains walnuts. May be omitted and/or substituted with toasted or raw pumpkin seeds on request.
CRISP: Contains almonds. Oats are certified gluten free. Cashew creme may be omitted on request.
MUFFINS: Contain almonds and chocolate. May be omitted on request.

ACD/NO YEAST/LOW SUGAR: Choose soup and bean dip. If you tolerate a little maple syrup and balsamico, I recommend the salad too! Mac and cheezy sauce contains nutritional yeast and the bread crumb topping contains baker's yeast, but it does not contain any added sugar so it is safe for those for whom sugar is a concern but yeast is not.
SCD/GRAIN FREE/PALEO FRIENDLY: Choose soup, salad, and if you tolerate beans, then the dip too.
RAW: I can do a raw version of the salad, substituting soaked and dehydrated walnuts or pumpkin seeds for the maple glazed ones, and other local raw veggies for the roast pumpkin.

Thanks so much, and I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Arrrrrrrrrgh!
Mary

L'Shana Tovah! A Crafty New Year's Menu for Monday, September 17

Hello Crafty Land!

Today was a day of remembrance and reflection, and a time for all of us to strive for peace and gentleness in our lives.

Next week starts a new year in the Jewish calendar, with the holiday of Rosh Hashannah! At this time of year, it is traditional to enjoy apples dipped in honey, to symbolize a sweet new year. Apples and gorgeous local honey make a few appearances this week, so keep your eyes open throughout the menu! (If you are a person who avoids honey, don't worry - all occurrences of honey are marked!) I am also offering plenty of other wonderfully comforting plates to feed our souls.

This menu will be ready for delivery on Monday, September 17. (I know some of you are travelling on Mondays - perhaps we can make alternate arrangements. It never hurts to ask!) Please email your order any time between now and Saturday night (though I do my best to accommodate orders that come in Sunday as well.) Thanks so much to all of you, and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

L'Shana Tova! (Happy New Year!)

Much love,
Chef Mary

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SOUP

Red and Yellow Pepper Soup! Local peppers are at the peak of ripeness right now, and I was inspired to create a creamy soup from them. Delicately seasoned with thyme and paprika, and blended up with cashew creme. Yum! $9

PLATES

Sweet Potato Kugel: At once savory and sweet, and entirely delicious! Served with apple-walnut charoset. (Charoset contains a touch of honey, and a very small amount of alcohol.) $11

Mock Chopped Liver: Okay, it sounds crazy, but this is actually a traditional (and super delicious) dish! Made with walnuts and mushrooms. Served with your choice of roasted potato slices or crunchy veggies to dip. (If you don't choose, I might choose for you!) $12

Jamaican Rice and Peas! Not what we would usually call peas in the U.S., this dish is red beans and brown rice, cooked with coconut milk and warming spices. Yum! Rounded out with local veg du jour. $10

BAKERY

Apple, Date, and Honey Muffins! Such a fantastic combination, in a deliciously nut-free muffin. $10 half dozen, $18 dozen.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches: The BEST flourless almond butter cookies studded with yummy mini chocolate chips and filled with hand-whipped chocolate frosting. A pair of generously sized sandwiches, wrapped up all prettily with ribbons! $9

Gingerbread Cake! I have been waiting for the weather to turn cool enough to warrant this gorgeous, moist, dark, rich confection. Not too sweet, made from buckwheat and spices, kissed with honey and iron-rich organic molasses. I can't wait! $8

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In my kitchen, I use only the best ingredients. I do not use gluten or gluten-containing ingredients. I do not use peanuts or soy. I do not use meat, dairy, or egg ingredients. I do occasionally use honey, but all honey-containing dishes are marked as such. I DO use fresh fruits and veggies, local and/or organic when possible. I do use non-gluten whole grains and beans. I do use tree nuts and seeds. I am careful to avoid cross-contact between nuts and non-nut ingredients, but be aware that tree nuts are present in the kitchen and cross-contact is possible.

Please inform me before ordering if you have any allergies or sensitivities at all. Below is a rundown on some more common allergens, but it is not a comprehensive ingredients list. If in doubt, please just ask!

SOUP contains cashews, which may be omitted.
MOCK CHOPPED LIVER contains walnuts.
KUGEL contains flax, walnuts, and pecans. Charoset (condiment on the side) contains walnuts, honey, and port wine. Charoset may be omitted if you like.
RICE AND PEAS contains coconut milk (not a tree nut; I don't think any of you are sensitive to it.)
COOKIES contain flax, almonds and chocolate.
GINGERBREAD CAKE contains honey, flaxseed and almond milk, but I can substitute with hemp milk instead of almond on request
MUFFINS contain honey, flaxseed, and a small amount of coconut flour (not a tree nut.) No tree nuts in this week's muffins!

Additional special dietary requests:

ALLIUMS: Soup contains homemade veggie broth, but additional garlic and/or onion may be omitted. Rice and Peas contains some cooked garlic and onion. Mock chopped liver contains cooked onion.
RAW: On request, I can make raw versions of soup and mock chopped liver.
SCD/grain free: Choose soup, mock chopped liver, and kugel. Cookie sandwiches if you tolerate brown sugar. If you tolerate buckwheat and natural sweetness from honey and molasses, you might consider the gingerbread too.
ACD/sugar and yeast free: Choose soup, kugel without charoset, and rice and peas. If you tolerate fully cooked mushrooms, then you might consider the mock chopped liver too.

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Your Favorite Personal Chef Brings You a Crafty Back-to-School Menu for Delivery to Greater Boston on Monday, September 10!

Happy September!

Many of us are getting adjusted to new fall schedules this week, as we or other family members start a brand new school year. Such an exciting time - a new year is unfolding ahead of us, whether we're students, teachers, parents, or none of the above. Fall brings new uncharted paths, new concepts to explore, and new friends to make.

It's a time of so much change for so many folks, that I thought I'd bring back some old favorites for all of us to relax into. This week I'm showcasing a few of my most-requested dishes for you and your families to enjoy. I hope you love all of them, whether you've tried them before or some of these dishes are new-to-you. This menu will be ready for delivery on Monday morning, September 10.

Feel free to email me any questions, comments, and orders at rathercraftymary at gmail dot com.

Thank you, and I look forward to cooking for you soon!

Much love,
Chef Mary

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SOUP:

Corn Chowder: Corn season is in full swing, and what better way to celebrate it than with the perfect late summer soup! $9

PLATES:

Guacamole: This is my take on the quintessential raw dip, with peppers, cilantro, mild red onions, and three different freshly squeezed citrus juices. Served with plenty of crunchy local veggies to dip. My idea of heaven! $11

Raw "Mock Tuna" Salad: A delicately flavored pate of sprouted sunflower seeds with mild dulse seaweed, crunchy veggies, and herbs over fresh greens. So good you will swoon! $12

Tamale Pie: Delicious, slightly spicy red bean chili, chock full of local veggies. With corn bread baked right on top. $11

BAKERY:

Chocomole: My favorite raw, vegan chocolate pudding made from avocados and sweetened with dates! Rich tasting, but super healthy! Topped with a dollop of vanilla cashew creme. $10

Zucchini walnut muffins: Possibly the most delicious muffin ever, and it's made with local zucchini! $10 half dozen, $18 dozen

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I strive to bring you the best, freshest, most amazing food that just happens to be gluten free, soy free, peanut free, and vegan. I use local and/or organic ingredients when possible.

Below I've listed some of the more common sensitivities and special dietary paths, but this is not an exhaustive ingredients list. Please inform me before ordering if you have a food allergy or sensitivity.

SOUP contains a small amount of cashews which can be omitted on request. Small amount of cooked garlic.
TAMALE PIE topping contains flax; chili contains cooked garlic. I can reserve some of the chili without topping on request.
GUACAMOLE contains raw garlic; can be omitted on request. If you don't like a certain dipping veg (celery, for instance) let me know and I can customize your veggies.
MOCK TUNA contains almonds, sunflower seeds, and raw garlic.
CHOCOMOLE contains cacao.  Cashew creme may be omitted on request.
MUFFINS contain nuts and flax seeds.

RAW: Choose guac, chocomole, and mock tuna.
ACD/sugar free: Choose soup, guac, tamale pie, and mock tuna.
SCD/grain free: Choose guac, mock tuna, and chocomole. If you tolerate beans, choose the chili from the tamale pie, without the corn bread topping. If you tolerate fresh corn straight off the cob, you can choose the soup too.

Thank you all so much for your continued awesomeness, and I look forward to cooking for you soon!

Much love,
Chef Mary

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.)

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