A case of 'Divine' inspiration - Offical Contest Rules

Fresh, local, organic and beyond
(ARA) - These days, when
it comes to produce, the catch
words are “local” and “seasonal.”
Local and seasonal, like fresh and
organic, can mean a lot of different
things, according to Jim Gallivan,
department chair of Culinary Arts
at The International Culinary
School at The Art Institute of
Atlanta and author of several cookbooks,
including “The Adventure
Cookbook” and “The New Spa
Cuisine.”
Gallivan offers defi nitions for
the terms:
Local
Local can be defi ned as having
been grown less than a day’s drive
from where it’s purchased. In
general, local is preferable, Gallivan
says, because it lasts longer, not
having spent days travelling across
the country or the world to get to
you. Less travel also means less use
of resources and less air pollution.
Seasonal
Bruce Blackwell
If you’ve ever picked your own
strawberries, you know there’s
nothing like that fresh-picked taste.
Today, you can get almost any kind
of produce at just about any time
of the year. Asparagus in December?
It’s shipped in from Peru,
where it’s in season. Apples in July?
They’re pulled from cold storage
just for you. But if it’s not in season,
it’s not local, and that means it
won’t have the great fl avor you fi nd
in local fresh-picked produce.
Fresh. We tend to think we
should always choose fresh. And
if it’s local and seasonal, fresh is
usually better. But sometimes
canned or frozen is a better choice,
especially when you’re cooking the
vegetables or fruit, as opposed to
serving them uncooked. For instance,
if you’re making something
with tomatoes, canned - especially
in the winter when tomatoes are
not in season - are probably best.
History
Blackwell Home Inspections is locally owned and
operated by Bruce Blackwell. Bruce is a proud member
of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI ® ),
PowhatanChamberofCommerce,GoochlandChamber
ofCommerce,BetterBusinessBureau,PastPresidentof
Central Virginia ASHI ® and is a Member of the Virginia
Association of Real Estate Inspectors.
MEMBER
6 A Special Supplement to Powhatan Today March 23, 2011
Gallivan says to remember that
canned and frozen produce has
typically been picked and processed
at its peak. That means it’s
going to taste much better than
out-of-season fresh produce that
has been travelling for days or in
cold storage for months.
Organic
Google the word “organic” and
you’ll fi nd hundreds of websites,
and as many variations of meaning.
By defi nition, organic produce
has been raised without chemical
fertilizers and pesticides, using
sustainable agricultural practices.
“Natural” is not the same as “or-
Profile
Address:
P.O. Box 67
Powhatan, VA 23139
Phone: (804) 921-8367
Owner/Operator:
Bruce Blackwell
see Organic > 8
Website:
www.thehousegeek.com
Email:
bruce@thehousegeek.com
Persimmon Sorbet
Courtesy of Jim Gallivan
Yield: Eight servings
Ingredients:
4 Fuyu Persimmons
Directions:
1. Let persimmons ripen at room
temperature until very soft, with their
skins almost bursting.
2. With a sharp, serrated knife, cut in half
on the vertical axis and wrap each half
tightly in plastic wrap.
3. Freeze until solid.
4. About fi ve minutes before serving,
remove from freezer and unwrap.
Note: There are two varieties of
persimmons seasonal to late fall and early
winter, the Hachiya and the Fuyu. Both
are the same color, an earthy orange.
The Hachiya is acorn-shaped with a
pointy bottom, and tends to be hard and
astringent, and best-suited for cooking. The
Fuyu is shaped like a squat tomato, and
upon ripening becomes very sweet.
Nature of the Business:
Bruce performs
inspections for new and
pre-owned homes as well
as warranties and prelistings.
He will provide
accurate information to
help you in the decisionmaking
process of buying
or selling a home. Call
Bruce for your home
inspection needs or
questions.
“Your home is my business”
State Certified Home Inspector #3380 000220