Hi reader - how nice; they sound like lovely people who genuinely enjoy your company. I wouldn't feel that you have to thank them with something every time. That gets uncomfortable for you and for them. Imagine - they might think that they should stop inviting you because you get them something each time - and they know you're on a limited budget, etc. Every gesture doesn't have to be repaid. Your friendship is a nice thing for them; let them enjoy that without the burden of a reciprocal gift each time (the burden would be on you and on them). This isn't the same, but has a similar feeling. I visit a friend in another state about twice a year. Each time, I take her something as a hostess gift. Also, while I've been there, on occasion I will buy something for her that she admires (not something big at all). But the "problem" is that every time I visit, absolutely everything that I've ever given her is out and readily visible. It makes me feel like she intentionally puts things out so that I know she likes them. Now, that makes me uncomfortable and I hate to think that she feels she has to do it. So - I mentioned it to her. I just told her that she really shouldn't feel that she has to have those things out; like anything and anybody, we go through stages of having things away and then out, and I don't give her things so that she has to display them all the time (or at all!). She thanked me. My point is, don't spoil your new friends' enjoyment of being with you by making it uncomfortable by feeling you have to reciprocate with a gift. Send them a card now and then for no reason (such as not after a particular meal out) - just to say hello and have a nice day. Little random things like that are far better than a one-for-one "repayment". Congratulations on being the type of person that others want to spend time with!

Paula is married also. Her husband appears on some of her shows. To me the entire thing centers around the change in policy with the Food Channel, DIY, Home & Garden, etc. In the beginning of these channels they had people that actually cooked, folks that actually fixed stuff and people that actually gardened. Shows had more content, fewer commercials and commercials geared more toward the content of the programs. All of that is pretty much out the window. Many of the shows are contrived with, IMO, Iron Chef taking the cake. There are several shows I do like on PBS when they aren't having their endless pledge drives. I am a guy that actually cooks, fixes things, collects antiques, does woodworking and teaches high school science.

I haven't tried it, but it sounds crazy and delish and healthy: Dark chocolate on beet salad... Beets are a root vegetable that have a distinct earthy aroma and taste caused by the compounds geosim and pyrazine, Shelke says. Dark chocolate contains pyrazines, too. So when you combine it with beets, you get a robust earthiness with a hint of sweetness and bitterness that will talk to your taste buds. Try topping a beet salad with dark chocolate crumbles

So far I have received each week three produce bags full of different lettuces, two kales, a head of either lettuce or a large mustard, 6 x 14 inches long. Something that is supposed to be spring garlic in a bundle of four. Double handful of small carrots. Large bunch of radishes. All excellent quality and very clean. This is the only CSA that I have found that has a delivery site within 15 miles that supplies less than what is needed for a family of four or supplies very little. Where I purchase plants is a CSA drop off for another CSA and their plan for two fits in one of those reusable grocery bags with room to spare. Also not the cleanest produce. Keeping it nice and crisp for a long time is not something I need to be concerned about as that is what I receive each week. It is finding something to do with leaf lettuce types during the week received in cooking. By the end of the spring portion if I froze what was still there at the end of the week I estimate I would have enough in my freezer for two years. The wild things here are very different. I have tried putting veggies of various types out for them to eat with no takers. Even the deer in the winter turn up their noses at it. When I used to garden I would leave some of the hardier lettuces and kale to winter over and never had any go missing.