tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23873943556997913042011-11-27T16:13:18.505-08:00Locavore living in Sacramento and Placer County California. Recipes to share and photos to inspire.Rachel Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409521075398440323noreply@blogger.comBlogger51100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2387394355699791304.post-22639525190643147742008-08-14T07:31:00.001-07:002008-08-14T08:39:16.656-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2746208610_0ed5453251_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2746208610_0ed5453251_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >photograph by Rachel Valley/wwwNiftyImages.com</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sacramento's<a href="http://www.lwinelounge.com/"> L Wine Lounge and Urban Kitchen</a> has the </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Locavore Lifestyle</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> built in! Along with sustainable ingredients in their brunch and dinner menu, all lovingly prepared by Chef Ame Harrington, they also have the most creative (and award winning) bar manager Chris Tucker, who infuses the same Locavore ideals into his libations. His most recent creation being the</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Green Heirloom Bloody Mary</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">. Spicy, savory, and shocking green, this tomato twist makes the Bloody Mary exciting again!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Chris says, </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Growing up in the Sacramento Valley and being spoiled by the region’s incredible seasonal produce, creating an Heirloom Bloody Mary for the restaurant just makes perfect sense. The first test batch came from my backyard. I grow my own tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, squash, beans and assorted herbs. One taste and I knew that we had the canned stuff beat!"</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2749765631_e6c8e9e6ba_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2749765631_e6c8e9e6ba_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here is the cocktail recipe straight from the mixologist himself!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Heirloom Tomato Bloody Mary</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Yields 5 quarts</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">10 lbs heirloom tomatoes (green zebra, evergreen, green grape, etc. for a green libation!)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">1 bunch of parsley (blanched)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">1 cup fresh lime juice</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">3 cloves of garlic</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">1 habanero pepper</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">1 tablespoon sea salt + more to taste</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">1 tablespoon black pepper</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">1 tablespoon celery seed</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">In a large pot, cook tomatoes on low heat until softened. Blend tomatoes, lime juice, garlic and seasonings in blender on high or puree. Once liquefied, add parsley and habanero while the blender is on at a high setting. Filter mixture through a medium mesh chinois and chill overnight. Ready to serve the next day over ice, on its own or with vodka.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Vodka: 360 Eco Friendly or Square One Organic</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Rim: Fleur de Sel and ancho chile powder</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Garnish: Heirloom grape or cherry tomatoes and micro celery if available</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Enjoy!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2387394355699791304-2263952519064314774?l=locavorelifestyle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Rachel Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409521075398440323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2387394355699791304.post-71210207310500993782008-07-25T02:25:00.000-07:002008-07-25T12:22:55.191-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2700249507_de389fd7b1_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2700249507_de389fd7b1_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by Rachel Valley/NiftyImages.com<br /><br /></span><br /><br />Take a short trip to your local farm or nursery this weekend! In addition to supporting your local growers you will also be doing something unique and close to home, which is a lot easier on gas! Plus you can enjoy the "fruits of your adventure" when you bring home your bounty! A lot of community growers open their acres during nice weather to the masses to enjoy in their growing splendor. Pick your own flowers or fruit, meet your neighbors <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> let the family run around in the sun! With an added bonus for parents, since the experience can contribute to a young person's sense of community and gives them insight as to where their food comes from. One of my favorite spots here in the Northern California area is <a href="http://www.highhandnursery.com/">High Hand Nursery</a>. In the heart of downtown Loomis lies a garden inspired by the simple beauty of quiet trees and unusual plants. At High Hand Nursery, artistry and nature meet. You'll embark on a sensory-filled journey as you discover their lush and peaceful retreat. They even have a strawberry patch for you to meander through, and the berries are free for the picking!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2387394355699791304-7121020731050099378?l=locavorelifestyle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Rachel Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409521075398440323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2387394355699791304.post-25742323552846258632008-07-05T07:43:00.001-07:002008-07-25T12:23:07.825-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2632580553_572d67ab2b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2632580553_572d67ab2b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by Rachel Valley/NiftyImages.com<br /><br /></span><br /><br />Beautiful summer flowers!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2387394355699791304-2574232355284625863?l=locavorelifestyle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Rachel Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409521075398440323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2387394355699791304.post-40746617766949668222008-06-04T10:28:00.001-07:002008-06-04T11:22:00.840-07:00<a href="http://flickr.com/photos/smokefilled/2539554728/"><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/2539554728_8947cdb00d.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by Rachel Valley/NiftyImages.com<br /><br /><br /></span>Roadside Rainiers are so sweet but the season is far too short. <div class="flockcredit" style="text-align: right; color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: x-small;">Blogged with the <a href="http://www.flock.com/blogged-with-flock" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;" target="_new" title="Flock Browser">Flock Browser</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2387394355699791304-4074661776694966822?l=locavorelifestyle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Rachel Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409521075398440323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2387394355699791304.post-74998072318972256722008-06-03T19:00:00.001-07:002008-07-25T12:20:37.802-07:00<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/smokefilled/2549126495/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2549126495_80b2579fe9.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="500" width="341" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by Rachel Valley/NiftyImages.com<br /><br /></span>Greetings!<br /><br />This is my first post to Locavore Lifestyle!<br /><br />I started the blog because I totally dig the whole experience of meeting my neighbors and local farmers &amp; artisans. And what better place to learn about the food you eat than straight from the farmer themselves? I even get fabulous preparation tips, that is if the vendors aren't too busy selling their wares. I enjoy being in this environment with my family as we pick out the fruits and vegetables we want to eat, in an open laid back environment allowing us to <span style="font-style: italic;">see and taste</span> where we come from, and also to support the community we live in. I hope to share the sights and stories from my perspective as photographer living and eating in the Sacramento Valley, and beyond!!<br /><br />Check out<a href="http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateC&amp;navID=FarmersMarkets&amp;rightNav1=FarmersMarkets&amp;topNav=&amp;leftNav=WholesaleandFarmersMarkets&amp;page=WFMFarmersMarketsHome&amp;description=Farmers%20Markets&amp;acct=frmrdirmkt"> <span style="font-style: italic;">your</span> local U.S. farmers markets here</a>!<br /><br />More to come...<br /><br /><br />Rachel<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="flockcredit" style="text-align: right; color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: x-small;">Blogged with the <a href="http://www.flock.com/blogged-with-flock" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;" target="_new" title="Flock Browser">Flock Browser</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2387394355699791304-7499807231897225672?l=locavorelifestyle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Rachel Valleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409521075398440323noreply@blogger.com0