One of the nicest things (for me) about writing a book and a newspaper column is meeting readers. Readers, like people in general, come in all ages, sizes, shapes and interests. The purpose of my trip to Roanoke was to meet some of these readers of my column and sign the 7-Day Menu Planner for Dummies book. I was a guest in the Roanoke Times booth at the Junior League's annual community bazaar designed to raise money for the area. (The RT is a major sponsor of the bazaar.) And, books I did sign!
It was great fun to hear the tales of woe (and be able to offer a solution) to dinner-time stress. What to cook for dinner is the lament of so many. It was so simple to show these stressed souls a year's worth of menus with recipes and ideas so that they didn't have to think at all what to cook for dinner for that entire year. You should have seen the smiles of relief on their faces at this news. It was heart-warming.
All those hours I spent listening to my editor, who wanted my book to be the best it could be, were worth it. Thank you, Vicki.
Here's a future menu planner ready for the task. HInt: Do include kids in menu planning and cooking as soon as possible.
Roanoke has one of the oldest city markets around and I go there any chance I get. I would have filled the car with the wonderful produce we saw if we hadn't had other stops along the way back to Atlanta. It's easy to forget what really fresh food looks like unless you have a garden of your own (which we don't).
In the area of the market. Hint: Shop your own local markets for the freshest foods.
If only I could have brought it all home! One of life's disappointments. Hint: Eat a variety of colors and foods.
Woman cannot live by always cooking and eating at home. That's why restaurants were invented and I'm always happy to enjoy the cooking of others. We had an enjoyable meal at Blue 5 in downtown Roanoke. Kathy Lu, Features Editor and her husband, Tim, were our hosts.
The hosts at Blue 5. Hint: Eat out often, but not out of bags and boxes.
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