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The Weekly Newsletter for June 2, 2014
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Adam Did It! 24.1 miles Trailblaze Challenge!!
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So PROUD of you!
Adam Thome, proud dad of Henry, proud front-line leader of Laurey's, celebrated Saturday's beautiful weather by marching 24.1 miles to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in honor of darling son Henry Thome. (Though he tried to find time to train for this massive outlay of energy, in fact he spends most of his time running the business, so this was a HUGE triumph!!)
Many many many thanks for all the loving support of our caring donors, and you all know who you are and how wonderful you have been! (And special special thanks to the girl from the West Coast who made SUCH a difference - you are a shining star!)
Adam raised over $5,000 with your help, wowee skajowee!!!
This makes it possible for many many more kids to see their dreams come true - truly a great gift!
Thank you, Adam! Thank you, Emily! Thank you, Henry!
- from Heather Masterton
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Dinners to go for the week
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Here are dinners to go for this week. This, if you do not know, is a fabulous way to have dinner. It's easy - just call us by noon and your dinner will be ready for you to pick up by 3 that very day.
You can stop by to pick yours up until we close at 8.
Add salad (3.25) or bread (1.25) if you like.
Monday, June 2
Mango Chicken Curry with Basmati Rice 8.95
Tuesday, June 3
Wild Mushroom Risotto with Dilled Asparagus 8.25
Wednesday, June 4
Seared Duck Breast with Raspberry Honey Glaze 14.95 *GF*
Thursday, June 5
Swedish Meatballs with Egg Noodles $8.95
Friday, June 6
Spice Rubbed Mahi Mahi with Strawberry Salsa & Coconut Rice 10.95
....and (in a bit) here is the entire June menu!
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Casserole and Lasagnas to go !
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Casserole of the Week
June 4: Shepherd's Pie with Local Bison Whole $55/Half $27.50
Lasagna of the Week
June 6: Roasted Vegetable & Ricotta Whole $39/Half $19.50
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Wonderful, wonderful daily delights!
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My friends, one of the great benefits of slipping into the world of Laurey's cafe is this: Calamari.
I actually have always been a fan of these crispy bites, but they are such a challenge to produce, I am so pleased when it appears on the counter at the cafe.
 To my delight a few days ago, on my semi-scheduled rounds through the kitchen at Laurey's, I spied a great saute pan a-bubble with shimmering calamari, seasoned just enough, salty, peppery, sparkling delights.
I asked Lito, our proud cook of this delicacy, for more story.
In his country, he says, it is served with a lovely spiced avocado creme (which we show you here: lemon-y, cilantro-y and a bit jalapeno-y, I admit).
ALSO! he would usually present it as a complete dinner, accompanied by sauteed spinach and plantains.
Total yum.
Come have a bite. You'll love it!
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Laurey's notes (from a lifetime of writing)
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[So much has been written about Laurey and her life projects, but of course the best spokesman is Laurey herself. In this column we present archival reprints of her messages. This is an early newsletter from her online records.]
July 10, 2004
Is it just me or do you find yourself going back to simpler times?
Last week, as you see, I turned an afternoon in jam-making time. You know I grew up at Blueberry Hill, of course. And you know that my parents inherited a bunch of blueberry bushes when they bought the place. They added more bushes when they moved in, and mid-summer in Vermont meant that all hands picked berries in any spare moment. The kitchen there, in addition to taking care of the guests' meals, became a small jam factory. Since we served three meals at the Inn, however, jam making was done late at night, after the dinner dishes were done, and after the guests had gone up to their rooms. (I might be making this up, but it seems to me that this is how it went.)
My sisters and I picked the berries, as did all the summer helpers. And then, when the berries were at their prime and all the available buckets were full, we had jam night. My mother cooked, my father cleared the counter, readied the space. Someone washed the jars, the lids, the utensils. Berries bubbled, jars were filled, turned upside down, put away. I probably did not help, because the jam would have been too hot for my young hands, though I do remember watching.
The other day Kris and I, "Jam Babes" went into action. I measured, cooked, instructed. Andy washed the jars. Kris hustled around, boiling the lids, sterilizing, organizing. We were a smooth team and, in a couple of hours, we made 64 jars of jam. I could have kept going but we'd used up all the berries and, much to my horror, almost all the jars. (I am admitting that advance planning is not my strong suit. In the midst of this flurry of activity I sent someone to the store room and realized that we only had enough jars for one more round of jam. Emily got on the phones though, and more jars are due in this next week, just in time for the next round of berries. Whew!)
I had had a hard week. I really miss my friend Dooley, more than I can say. I have felt sad, lonely, uncomfortable. I have been unsettled and just not sure where my place was in the world. Getting back on my bicycle helped. Taking my pup for a walk helped. Doing crossword puzzles and sleeping has helped too.
But really, things began to turn for me when I put myself back at the stove, immersing my body in the heat and the pace and the distraction - or, more accurately, the concentration, of simply making jam.
So it's a funny thing, to see the shelves in my shop filled with this handmade jam. I can look at it and be happy because I know it tastes really good. It's not too sweet (I found a pectin that doesn't demand the sugar ratio that most commercial products require.) And I trust the berries, knowing that there has been nothing evil sprayed on them. But the very best thing for me is the comfort in knowing how settling it can be just to stand, stir, reflect, and pour these quiet thoughts into a jar of jam. Handmade. Transforming. Nice.
[source: Laurey's Cafe and Catering newsletter, July 10, 2004]
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Sweet sweet news about Laurey's wonderful TREK 2300 bike, and the raffle we conducted for the ride. We had the drawing! We have a winner! Her name is Karen.
Once again, our heartfelt thanks to all who joined the Second Annual JOY!Ride in honor of Laurey, raising funds for the LiveSTRONG program at the YMCA. We have given even more folks an opportunity to join this wonderful program in support of cancer survivors and their families.
 HERE is our late-breaking news: the lady who won this bike travelled from Atlanta to ride with us May 17. Her husband Don Vargo, a joyful, wonderful, supremely fit 51-year old, passed away from a deadly cancer some years ago, at the young young age of 51.
In 2008, Don's wife Karen, daughter Charlotte and son organized a Memorial Day Ride, called "Trails Angels", thanking all the many folks who supported their family throughout their father's tragic trial.
Charlotte now works HERE at the YMCA, and let her mother know about the JOY!Ride.
Up she came, tickets she bought, and to her astonishment, won the raffle!! Karen now has a lovely replacement for the 20-year-old, 50-pound, metal bike she has ridden for years.
We'll be handing it off to her next weekend, and will post a photo of the family then. Thank you all, so very very much!!!!!
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Hey kids,
A note from Kentucky!
Fred and I travelled to Lexington this weekend, followed Laurey's great-nephew Jones with his Little League team (the Giants!) to a Lexington Legends game (same league as our Asheville Tourists). The kids were special guests at the Big Ball Park, and couple of doting great-auntie photos follow below. (Jones is number 4).
To my mild dismay, Jones was momentarily diffident, reluctant to accept a hug when we first discovered him, lined up with his buddies (and co-third-base player, a young lady): "Yeah, Jones plays third. He just started. I play third, too."
Thus matures the family hugger, always running to meet us: "Auntie! Auntie!"
When he was a BIT younger, Auntie came out "Ottie" - we were thrilled, Laurey and I, to be his "'otties".
So the kids were escorted out to visit the home dugout, the parents left in a clump, juggling iPhones. I stepped aside for a better shot, more or less isolated behind home plate, in the quiet minutes before game time.
Young man with a camera and papers saunters by, glances: "Would you like to be part of a marketing campaign? Just for the game. All you have to do is sit and enjoy the game." A bit of a blur, all this, but Fred and I chuckled yes.
Turns out the local Cadillac dealer will give me a Cadillac - - IF the local boys hit a long drive into center field and HIT a small target on one of the billboards. I can't quite see the target, but it sounds like fun - "Of course!" "What's your name, what section are you sitting?"..I figure my name will be in a drawing if it happens.
We take all the team photos, the kids get medals, we head for the beer and hot dogs, and here it comes over the loudspeaker: "Heather Masterton in section 211 will win a Cadillac at tonight's game if...etc etc. " "That's me! That's me!"
We get back to our seats, excited and giggling over it with our neighbors, other Little League parents and grandparents, ("That was you? You get the Cadillac?") and now it starts.
All these little boys start to get it. "You know, if they hit it into center field RIGHT THERE, I get a Cadillac!" I show them the target.
Cooper, Jones' 7 year-old mate:"Wow! A Cadillac! Really?"... dramatic pause. "What's a Cadillac?".....[you just can't make this stuff up]
An older brother, leaning in: "It's a really fancy car!"
And so it went, the entire game, our whole section holding our breath for every strong Lexington Legend hitter: "He's the clean-up hitter - he did great last inning, HE'LL get it!"
As the game drew to a close, the older brother turned his face up to me, eyes round. "Do you really believe you'll really get it?" I assured him that it was pretty unlikely, but yes, if they hit that spot, I really really would get the Cadillac.
Older sister Lucinda and I quietly calculated the tax consequences of winning a $50,000 vehicle. Not super, but so much fun, really. And in the end, of course, we did not have to worry.
I was the hero, the spotlight in the swirl of little boys and girls, so sweet not to be the out-of-it auntie just for now. Whew! Saved by the Cadillac!
After the fireworks, now late into the night, little hands slipped into ours, little arms about my waist as we filtered home through the crowd..."Good night, Ottie, good night!"
Hugs,
Heather
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