Happy New Year!

Whoa! What do you mean it’s December 29th? Christmas passed 4 days ago! This is hard evidence how fast time can pass. This week is an odd week, sort of still celebrating the holiday and about to ring in a new year. Again, whoa! A new year?!

A new year can bring about many changes. We often begin it with resolutions of things we will do better or more of in the new year. What does that look like for you? For me, my hope is to take The Green Kitchen to even further heights. I have loved being in business for myself and am amazed at how far I’ve come. I can truly say I am doing what I love!

And for many, resolutions are made in relation to our health. I heard somewhere that gym memberships are sold mostly in January. And if that is you this year, I commend you. Commitments can be difficult, but at least for me, once I’ve made my mind up to do something, I usually stick with it. That’s not to say I haven’t fallen off the wagon many times. But the key is to try again. If it is truly a goal you want to attain, keep at it.

And The Green Kitchen can help you with those health and wellness goals. We offer personal chef meals delivered to your door weekly. We listen to each client’s individual needs and “cater” to those needs. No carbs? No problem! No gluten? No problem! Want lots of fresh veggies? No problem!

Give us a call at 804-687-7099 or email us cheftammy@greenkitchenrichmond.com and schedule a time to go over your healthy eating goals for 2018. We can help you meet those goals! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

Welcome back. The Green Kitchen is wrapping up its very busy catering season with a final dinner being delivered on Christmas day! Whole Beef Tenderloin, Scallops, Parsnip and Celery Root Puree, Roasted Asparagus and Crème Brulee! Yummy!

My morning will begin with my own tradition of Irish Coffee, Fried Oysters and Eggs Benedict and Cinnamon Rolls. What traditions do you have?

As I was decorating my tree this year, hanging my favorite ornaments, I thought about tradition. It’s hard to imagine the tree without the kids’ favorites – the Power Ranger and Spiderman; the glass jewels my daughter made in pre-school; the clay wreath with her picture in the middle. And then there are the ornaments I’ve made – painted balls with Joy, Faith and Peace written on them. And my favorites are the crocheted stars my mom made years ago. I reflected on these being handed down when my kids have their own families. It made me smile. I hope this holiday season has done the same for you.

So now the catering season has exhausted me and I did not have time to send out Christmas cards. Nor have I had time for baking. Though now with a couple of days off, I might make up at least for the baking on Saturday. I have a few standards like Pecan Lace with Orange Buttercream and Russian Tea Cakes, but this year I think I will try some new ones like Chai Macarons, Pecan Meringues and Pecan Whiskey Honeycomb. Hopefully you are on my nice list.

And as far as cards, why do we wait until Christmas to mail cards? Technology has ruined us. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll reach out Christmas morning on Facebook and wish all holiday greetings, but I truly enjoy receiving Christmas cards. So I think this year, I will make a resolution to reach out to my loved ones with cards throughout the year and let me know I’m thinking of them then too and not just at Christmas.

I wish you all a fabulous and Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy the time with your loved ones. And if you still need any last minute gifts, The Green Kitchen is only a phone call away for purchasing a gift certificate for meals and chef services! 804-687-7099

How’s your list coming?

Yay! It’s Thursday! Welcome back. Yes, I am a day late, but with this busy time of year, I have to fit it all in where I can. Sound familiar?

Have you finished all your shopping? Are you one of those who finishes in September? Or do you shop year round? Do you ask your loved ones for a list? Or do you wing it?

Well, either way, The Green Kitchen has some great gift ideas! One of my favorite gifts ever was a subscription to Bacon-of-the-Month club through The Pig Next Door. Yes, there is such a thing! A pound of bacon from different farms was delivered monthly and it was delicious. But maybe pork isn’t your thing. You are in luck!

This year, I’ve already given homemade beef jerky in a mason jar wrapped up with pretty holiday string and a tag. And the tag was cut from an old Christmas card with a pair of perforated scissors and hole-punched.

Holiday gifts need not be something that requires a lot of time fighting traffic and finding a parking place at the mall and searching for the right size and color. The most thoughtful gifts are ones you know your friends will love. Say it with me – “the gift of food”! And it doesn’t have to be something you cook yourself. That’s where The Green Kitchen comes in.

A Green Kitchen gift certificate for chef services can please anyone’s palate! Get it? I crack myself up!

Your loved ones can use their certificate for personal chef meals to be delivered fresh. Or towards a private chef dinner in their home. Or towards a party they are hosting. Or maybe they want to learn to cook a certain ingredient or master a certain technique, like homemade pasta making or bread making? The Green Kitchen offers all these services.

And best of all, you don’t have to fight that mall traffic!
Give us a call at 804-687-7099 or cheftammy@greenkitchenrichmond.com and we will email you a gift certificate that your loved ones will remember for years!

Less than 20 days….

Yay! It’s Wednesday again, and Christmas is less than 20 days away. Still I can’t believe it is here already. Maybe it’s these warmer days we are having, starting out in gloves, jackets and hats and peeling those layers as the day goes on. This morning, I am actually in flip-flops. It should not be warm enough for flip-flops!

2017 has been a great year for The Green Kitchen and 2018 is looking even better. I have been blessed with far more career opportunities, reaffirming my decision to totally focus on making The Green Kitchen a raging success!

We have to be careful this time of year, though. We, as in those of us who think we HAVE to do it all, the decorating, the shopping, the cooking, the greeting cards. I too, am guilty of all this. I love being efficient with my time and when I have even a few extra minutes, I think “what can I get done”?

This can lead to careless mistakes. Like climbing up on the arm of a porch chair to “quickly” hang an ornament. And down I went. But did I attend to it then? Nope. No time, not to even sit and cry. I had to leave right away for work. Now 2 days later, I am about to have my leg X-rayed. The knot on my shin bone suggests a break.

I’ve said for years, how much of a “klutz” I am, constantly doing things like this. But I read somewhere a while back, that it’s not klutzy, it’s that we have so much on our minds, that we don’t take the time to be safe. And yes, I am very guilty.

So my message this holiday season is one I will try to practice myself and that is to slow down. We don’t have to do it all. No one is going to “unfriend” us if they don’t receive a Christmas card from us. Our world won’t come to a crashing halt if the house isn’t totally decorated.

Let’s all slow down and be a little easier on ourselves. Let’s enjoy time with our families.

And The Green Kitchen can help you enjoy that family time by handling your holiday cooking, even with just a dish or two. The homemade cranberry sauce, the dressing, the gravy – whatever dish you don’t want to fool with or are daunted by. Give us a call at 804-687-7099. Or email us at cheftammy@greenkitchenrichmond.com

Happy Holidays!