Friday 5 (August 23th)

Friday 5 (August 23th)

Benji Ballmer
Friday 5

We've reached the END...of Season 1

We are somewhere around 35 consecutive "Friday 5's". I am not joking when I say that I hear more feedback on the "Friday 5" emails, than other form of communication we publish each week. I had the thought over the weekend that it might be time to let us all rest from my opinions for a spell.

Over the next couple of months I will put out some random content but for the most part we will be working on new ideas and new concepts.

In the mean time, here is what is coming up that you don't want to miss...

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup

Guest User

A few years ago, I was making a Tuna ‘noodle’ casserole but didn’t have a can of condensed soup around so I decided to make my own. It was a delightful surprise. I had never fully appreciated how bland off the shelf condensed mushroom soup was. And since those bland soups cans are also lined with BPA, it’s worth kicking them to the curb. Voting with our dollars, right? This soup is rich and creamy with a slight hunt of nutmeg. The difference in taste is substantial and makes you appreciate how much better food can taste if you can take a little more time to prepare it (total time is ~20 mins, including prep).

Box #15

Box #15

Benji Ballmer
Newsletters

Kids are back in school, the sun is hanging lower in the sky, “OUR PETS HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!” (The randomness of that Dumb and Dumber quote surprised even me) Let’s get to it. The FOOD you eat is what is giving you fuel to operate. The better the fuel, the better the performance. We’ve all eaten wrong at lunch and then paid the price for it (or sometimes our employer has paid the price for it), by having a lackluster afternoon.

Box #14

Box #14

Benji Ballmer
Newsletters

“We Cantaloupe, my dad’s got the car!”

Come on...that’s top 5 food puns all time.

Just had a great conversation with Ester Run Farm. If you were with us last year, you got a bag of heirloom “black pop” popcorn from them. This year they are doing a rainbow popcorn for us but also had planted an heirloom striped acorn squash, as well as some heirloom pie pumpkins.

DIY Almond Milk Recipe

DIY Almond Milk Recipe

Guest User
Recipes

If you’re vegan or like myself, lactose intolerant, you may be buying almond milk or some other milk alternative and noticed that most of them have ingredients that don’t sound natural and may or may not be safe to drink, the jury’s still out. Until the science is conclusive, I prefer to make my own. I went through a period a few years ago where I made my own almond milk but life happened and I fell out of the habit. Truth be told, I didn’t love the straining part of the process - it was messy and I could never think of what to do with the leftover pulp. I recently saw in a cookbook where the author suggested something super helpful:

Box #13

Box #13

Benji Ballmer
Newsletters

Anyone remember the song “Peaches”? If you DO remember that song, you now have it playing in your head...you’re welcome.

What kinds of salsas are we seeing out there in everyone’s kitchens? Peaches can be added to your fresh mixes, as well as the lemon balm, wax pepper, and cuke’s that some of you will have this week...the Hungarian's are bringing the heat though so don’t be caught unawares!

Friday 5 (August 2nd)

Friday 5 (August 2nd)

Benji Ballmer
Friday 5

The Last Time I Used The Friday 5 This Way...

I received the most responses of any Friday 5 to date.

It is no coincidence that the last time I did this it was also for the same 2 guys having a conversation.

There is SOOOO much great content in this 2 hour conversation, but I don't want to lead the audience with my thoughts on it.

Box #12

Box #12

Benji Ballmer
Newsletters

I am so proud to be a part of this community that we have built around food, but even more around life. As you can imagine, I get to tell the story of the Yellowbird about once a day and each time I tell it I continue to be amazed at the growing group we have that have intentionally decided to cast a vote FOR

Mother Earth

Humanity

Local Economy

Food

Communal Change through Intentional Living

All of these things are PRO-Active. In a time where it seems all the social media and messaging is ANTI this or that, you and I get to be a small part of social, environmental, and economic SYSTEMIC change that is FOR something.

Swainway Urban Farm

Swainway Urban Farm

Benji Ballmer
Farm Stories

In an unassuming building tucked into a strip mall just off a busy intersection in the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, a thriving urban farm is proving that American agriculture is changing.

A man flags me down in the parking lot, and waves me into an empty space between two vehicles and a box truck. I’ve already driven up and down the length of the strip mall twice, checked my GPS and sheepishly considered sending out an S.O.S. via Instagram. I trustingly follow the bearded, ball-capped man, who is talking on his cell phone through the unmarked door. There are no signs that announce that you have arrived at the doorstep of Central Ohio’s premiere mushroom and microgreen farm, however, as soon as you enter you know just by the earthy aroma of the place.

Friday 5 (July 26th)

Friday 5 (July 26th)

Benji Ballmer
Newsletters

I thought I would go back to the VERY FIRST FRIDAY 5 and see what it looked like. Remember that picture above?

I'm throwing it back to the original categories that got this whole party started.

As a side note, we are going to be posting these Friday 5's on the Yellowbird BLOG each week to give access to old ones.
You can see that here https://www.theyellowbirdtable.com/

Box #11

Box #11

Benji Ballmer
Newsletters

You can’t BEET the PEPPER’s, but aren’t the EGGPLANTS just DANDE?


“LETTUCE MIX it up a BEET” was a close runner-up for opening line this week.

Don’t look now but it’s basically August.  That means a lot of transition is happening...back to school, back to practices, BACK TO THE FUTURE marathons.  (sometimes I just type free associations to see where they go...I’m going to leave this one because I like BACK TO THE FUTURE)

Berry Clafoutis Recipe

Berry Clafoutis Recipe

Guest User
Recipes

If you missed the July 3rd box or just happen to misplace recipe cards like I do, here is the recipe for Berry Clafoutis (pronouced kluh•faw•tuhs). This recipe has been super popular in the Seat at the Table FB group and is described as not too sweet and can be altered to be dairy free as well as gluten free by a couple of our members. Without further ado, I give you

Box #10

Box #10

Benji Ballmer
Newsletters

Hello Feathery Friends!

Story Time: Zach (ZACE) Meyers is this dude that lives in the middle of Amish Country Ohio, and has been making HIGH quality American Selvage Denim jeans and overalls for 17 years.

Side Note: There are NO MORE AMERICAN SELVAGE DENIMManufacturer’s
https://www.gq.com/story/cone-mills-disappearing-selvedge-denim

Back To The Story: Last winter I had a chance to catch up with ZACE, in his workshop, and also get my hands on a pair of overalls and jeans and jacket and whatever else he had available. Folks, I was staring at a “cone” of an extinct product. This is the denim that you see being found in barns 100 years after they were made, with generations of hard work laced into the fabric.

Friday 5 (July 19th)

Friday 5 (July 19th)

Benji Ballmer
Friday 5

Let's talk Sneak's, Kick's, and Tennie's.

Over the year's, my love for shoes has grown but like all good relationships it's complicated.

I don't love ALL shoes or even like going into shoe stores.  I only really like about 3 different styles of shoes, but each of those I LOVE.  

Jan 25 - Local Food - Week 1

Jan 25 - Local Food - Week 1

Benji Ballmer
Guest Posts

Written by Christine Laymon of farmfolkways.com, Yellowbird Member

Well, here we are almost a week into my local foods challenge and let’s just say it has been d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! If the above snapshot of our lunch Tuesday is any indication the meals have been appealing to both the eyes and the palate.

Here we have meats, beef and chicken provided from our own farm, and the beans were grown by an Amish friend and then hulled and canned by me, and the salsa came from our own tomato and pepper harvest this summer. The greens, potatoes, onions, garlic, and dairy products were all compliments of Yellowbird Foodshed and their growers. The corn chips were from Shagbark (also purchased through the Yellowbird Foodshed store) and the corn used to make them was grown in Ohio as well. The only thing not produced by ourselves or another Ohio grower was the zucchini a left over from shopping before the local foods challenge - oh and the herbs. . . although I did use some of my own sage.

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