Chives Do A Body Good!

I came across this lovely article about the health benefits of chives during my morning Google searches (some people exercise or eat breakfast...I google). I especially enjoy that the article is on a site that promotes vegetarianism and vegetarian nutrition. Very nice!!!

Chives Can Color Your Plate

The spring garden takes on a colorful attractive appearance when the chives (Allium schoenoprasum) bloom in May and June. The pretty lavender-pink globular flower heads of chives not only beautify the garden, but they can also be used as a garnish for salad dishes. Chives are also beneficial to rose bushes, since they emit an odor which discourages aphids. More

Urban Cultivation

Hello chive lovers! I recently moved to a great neighborhood in Brooklyn replete with tree-lined parks, various bars and restaurants, green markets, AND an urban garden. My landlords have graciously agreed to let me put a few potted herbs out on the fire escape, and while I am excited to step into the foray of personal urban gardening, I was thrilled to see the little green oasis that is Lentol Garden a mere block away from my house. Community urban garden has always been something I've wanted to try and the opportunity has certainly arrived.

From the Lentol Garden FAQ:

Lentol Garden is foremost a memorial garden dedicated to preserving the memory of Ed Lentol, a Greenpoint community leader. The Bayard Street entrance is home to the memorial portion of the green space, while the remainder of the garden is home to an assortment of trees, woodland shrubs and assortment of annual and perrienial plants. Four raised beds exist for vegetable gardening near the Graham Street gate.

Arvo Enjoys Chives!

My godson, Arvo, delights in chives for the first time! Clearly, this child knows good eatin' when he sees it! Arvo and his parents, Chris and Caroline, live in Freiburg, Germany.

Naturally Nosey #5

This installment of Naturally Nosey comes to us from the great state of Minnesota. Meghan Lafferty, a chemistry librarian at the University of Minnesota, is quite the little home spun chef. Molecular gastronomy anyone? She was kind enough to submit this recipe from the Vegetarian Times...and it is vegan!!!

CHIVE AND WALNUT "CHEESE" BITES
Makes 28 bites - Vegan - 30 minutes or fewer

The VT staffers couldn't get enough of these bite-size appetizers—and
couldn't believe they were made with tofu cream cheese. (Fresh chives mask the soy flavor.)

1 1/2 cups walnuts, divided
16 oz. tofu cream cheese
1 cup fi nely chopped chives, (4 bunches), divided
1/2 small shallot, minced (1 Tbs.)
1/4 tsp. smoked paprika

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread walnuts on baking sheet, and bake
8 to 10 minutes, or until fragrant. Cool, and grind finely in food
processor.
2. Stir together cream cheese, 3 Tbs. chives, shallot, smoked
paprika, and 3 Tbs. walnuts until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Scoop mixture into 2 tsp.-size balls. Roll half in remaining chopped
chives and half in remaining walnuts. Serve immediately.

Much Ado 'Bout Picchu

Welcome to Much Ado 'Bout Picchu! A new reader participation segment to the rarely (if ever) updated Chive Talk, inspired by my friend Nick's sojourn to Machu Picchu a couple of years ago. Prior to Nick's trip, we settled in for a night of Brooklyn Pilsners with our friend David and Much Ado 'Bout Picchu was born. As a testament to Nick's penchant for travel, Much Ado 'Bout Picchu will highlight culinary delights experienced 'on the road.'

Please feel free to submit your tales of eating and drinking while traveling. Chives do not have to be an ingredient to be included in the blog, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. Food sustains us, food is political, food is inspiring and most of all, food is fun! Hop to it!

Naturally Nosey #4

My pal Elizabeth Zeeuw from Montreal passed on this beauty from "The Onion."

Desperate Chives Marketing Board Launches 'Big Bowl O' Chives In The Mornin' Campain

May 28, 2008Issue 44.22

NEW YORK—In response to flagging sales and plummeting prices, the American Chives Council launched a last-ditch advertising campaign Monday urging consumers to increase their daily chive intake by 12,000 percent. "There's nothing like a hearty, fragrant helping of chives to jump-start your day," celebrity spokeswoman Jessica Alba says in one of the new "Big Bowl o' Chives in the Mornin'" commercials, which feature the actress smiling broadly with chives stuck in her teeth. "But that doesn't mean eating a big bowl of chives is just for breakfast. The American Chives Council recommends three heaping servings a day. The bigger the better. Get some chives in ya!" Despite the push, analysts predict that the chive industry will continue to struggle, citing the ongoing repercussions of the ACC's ill-fated 2005 split with the American Sour Cream Association.

I Never Promised You A Chive Garden...

But, perhaps a few potted chive realities will suffice, gentle reader. There are a couple new installments of Naturally Nosey on the way! I'll post one today and another in a few days. Stay tuned and keep the submissions coming!

Time Keeps On Slipping Into The Future

Friends,

I haven't posted a damn thing since December 2007 and I feel pretty bad about that. Life has been busy--I know you are busy too-- and I am well aware that "busy" isn't an excuse. Please, rest assured that Chive Talk is alive! To quote my friend David, "Chive Talk is like a bird singing in my ribs."

My dear friend, Jodi Rhoden, has been kicking some serious ass on her blog My Life In Cake! She has inspired me to write to my heart's content about chives and the world beyond. I make no promises, chive lovers, but I hope to be a little more dedicated to this blog in the future.

All the love,
Chive Talk

Nature's Majesty

In this peaceful video, a white moth and several bees chow down on some beautiful looking garlic chives. It reminds me that I should get out to enjoy nature's majesty more often.