HolidayGift

My prediction (and recommendation) for this year's holiday gift is a sturdy Le Creuset pot, thanks to "Julie and Julia." My first one was a wedding present 34 years ago, still one of my three favorites, I use it every week.

Proof? I went to screen-grab a pic for you, and found that the model I chose was already sold out.

VegetableGarden

Chris writes about his plot in northern Illinois, "Well, not all is gone to ruin, as the picture shows. That represents perhaps the first tenth of the fruit on our vines. Whereas we did very well with cherry tomatoes last year, whatever inscrutable weather pattern variations that favor one plant over another have given us a bounty of cucumbers and heavenly big, rich, complex heirloom tomatoes. Cool and wet this year."

Notice the book. The family will be "eating local" all winter, this week they're making preserves.