Pot-Luck: Dinner and more…

With the new year well under way, we have a whole new calendar of events, workshops, and programs planned for the upcoming months. We have already begun our Sustainable Community Pot-Luck Dinners, kicking off the season last Thursday night, Feb. 18^th.

It was a modest assembly of Macoskey Center staff, friends, and family. Limited in attendance as it was, such gatherings are not to be judged quantitatively, but rather on the qualitative scale. And the quality was abundant. A sumptuous repast was laid upon the table as the guests came into the Center. Thomas presented a tasty dish of roasted local root vegetables; Liberty unveiled one of her signature quiches made with farm fresh eggs from happy chickens; Ruth set out a thick and creamy hummus with lots of pita for scooping it up; and, in addition to bringing her mom, Alicia brought a very nice pumpkin bread with chocolate chips. My lovely wife, Michelle, even made the trip up from Pittsburgh, trucking along a pot of spicy tofu chili. There was plenty to go ‘round, and a couple of rounds we all made, circling the table for seconds and even thirds.

As I mentioned, the pot-luck dinners are about more than just food. Last week, as recipes and tasty dishes were shared, so too were short stories, tall tales, jokes, anecdotes, and maybe even a little gossip. And when the conversation came to a lull, Thomas’ little girl Hannah was there ready and eager to entertain us all. If you missed this dinner, you missed out.

But fear not, there are more opportunities to join the good times. The remainder of the Sustainable Community Pot-Luck dinners will be held in conjunction with a series of Organic Cooking workshops. These workshops are in response to the survey we sent out last semester (thanks Evan!) requesting input on possible workshop topics. Organic or Green cooking was deemed the most interesting workshop among the survey respondents. Each of the four workshops will focus on a feature seasonal ingredient and they are scheduled for every other Thursday throughout March and April. They will begin at 6:00 pm followed by dinner at 7:00 pm. The dates are as follows:

March 4, 2010 Organic Cooking – Eggs = 6:00 pm

Pot-Luck Dinner = 7:00 pm

March 18, 2010 Organic Cooking – Grains = 6:00 pm

Pot-Luck Dinner = 7:00 pm

April 1, 2010 Organic Cooking – Pastured Poultry = 6:00 pm

Pot-Luck Dinner = 7:00 pm

April 15, 2010 Organic Cooking – Spring Veggies = 6:00 pm

Pot-Luck Dinner = 7:00 pm

Seating for the Organic Cooking workshops is limited, and pre-registration is required.

Pot-Luck is open to all who bring a dish to share.

I find there is no better place to build, strengthen, and foster friendship and community than around the dinner table. After all, the ritual of preparing and sharing food with each other is the second most intimate thing we humans can do together.

James J. Stitt

RAMC Community Outreach Coordinator