Baking and Writing
Cookies for Grown-ups is a fun cookbook I wrote that offers great tasting recipes for savory and less sweet cookies that are designed for the adult palate.
As author, I had the opportunity to add a few innovative solutions such as QR Codes that link to a grocery list and a different approach to indexing a cookbook based on flavor preferences. In addition, each recipe includes a drink pairing.
The cookbook led to several opportunities to present and teach at cooking shops and on local radio and television shows. The recipes received excellent reviews from influencers.
A few things I learned and would do differently include adding weight measurements and chapter organization. A few things that I’m pleased with include baking the recipes carefully and baking them as though I was in a rush, after work, with distractions. This led to the cookies tasting great for any baker context.
Working with photographer Frank Anzalone and publishers Ilene and Richard Barth was a project highlight. As was the many attendees for cookie classes and tastings.
Open Source Ag
Eco-farm non-profit startup. Internet of Things lab and collaborative farming for feeding communities.
We purchased ten acres in San Miguel, CA, a few miles east of Paso Robles, off of Highway 46. Our mission is to provide, within two years, enough organic product to feed 200 seniors and food bank participants per year. We plan to feed 500 per year within five years.
This fall we begin with cover crops. In parallel, we are developing affordable IoT and blockchain solutions for small farms.
The culture of open source will be addressed on the tech as well as the approach to farming, distributing, and collaborating with local communities.