I have worked at two food banks and can confirm that they are among the most frugal charities out there. They will take your donation--food or money--and stretch it as far as possible to feed the most people. Food banks provide food to dozens, and sometimes hundreds of soup kitchens and food pantries in the areas they serve. Both food banks I worked for were in the Feeding America network (Orlando and Atlanta) and both are run by some of the best, most selfless people I have ever met. Sadly, demand for food bank services is rising, and many times the people who need help have jobs. They just don't earn enough to make ends meet. If you have the time or money to give, food banks are a great way to help.

Mystery solved! Thanks to Michelle (AKA @eatniks), we now know that they are Gooseneck barnacles! As for how one would cook a barnacle, well, let's leave that for another day, shall we? (A day really, really, really far from now.) Thanks for the kind words Jess - coming from you "great photos" means a lot. :)

Wish I could claim credit for the veggie board idea. Mine tells me today it looks like a good time to make some soup! I ordered the stick-on chalkboards that the BittenWord guys recommended from Amazon, and so far am pleased. Nothing else (no magnets) will stick to the front of my fridge.

Thanks Erika - I thought the beetle bags seemed to just attract more beetles too, but haven't tried much else. They weren't too bad last year (maybe something with the weather?), but I think they like the heat, so they're likely to be back in droves this year. The garlic scape pesto recipe I posted on Twitter was part of the CSA newsletter I write each week for Summer Creek Farm. Here's a link that week's e-mail (feel free to subscribe - all are welcome, even if you aren't a member of our CSA). http://eepurl.com/zlBP

I planted mostly lettuces (the cut and come again type), a few kinds of tomatoes and peppers, scallions, spinach, radishes and a couple eggplants. Only some annual herbs are in there (parsley, basil, dill, lavendar) - my perennials are in pots, as are the beans and cucumbers. Having killed many a houseplant, I am a bit nervous about this, but it's fun so far.

Oooh... a truffle making food/cookbook swap tweetup?!?!?! :D

Thanks - I really like the way the flower pic turned out too. I was thinking of you when I took it! :) Truffle class was a lot of fun. Beth, Cathy and I were plotting a food tweet-up... I'm thinking cookbook swap.