The Call of the farm : an unexpected year of getting dirty, home cooking, and finding myself : a love story, with recipes

**Rochelle Bilow,** a classically trained cook and aspiring food writer, was nursing a broken heart and frustrated with her yet-to-take-off career when she set out to write a short profile of a small, sustainable CSA farm in central New York. At most, she expected to come away with a cute city-girl-in-the-country piece. But after just one day of moving hay bales, feeding pigs, and tapping maple sap, she was hooked: The air was fresh, her muscles felt useful, and the smells from the kitchen where the farmhands gathered at day’s end were intoxicating. Add in a sweet but enigmatic young farmer whose soulful gaze meets her own, and __The Call of the Farm__ is set in motion. This enticing memoir charts the unexpected year that unfolds as Rochelle immerses herself in life at the farm. She cooks her way through four seasons of fresh-from-the-earth produce (with such tantalizing results as Blistered Tomato Gratin and Crisped Potato Casserole with Shaved Chives), grapples more than once with the finer points of rendering lard, and begins to feel she has finally found her niche—all while falling hard for that handsome, blue-eyed farmer. Honest, self-aware, and wonderfully tender, __The Call of the Farm__ is for anyone who has daydreamed about a simpler life—or fallen too deeply in love. A tantalizing memoir of the author's love affair with farming, food, and a freckle-faced farmer'and her journey of self-discovery along the way. Rochelle, a classically trained cook and devoted foodie, was nursing a broken heart and frustrated with her yet-to-take-off writing career when she was assigned to write an article about a small, 'full-diet' farm in central New York. It took just one day of moving hay bales, feeding pigs, and tapping maple sap for her to become hooked on farm life. The air was fresh, her muscles felt useful, and the smells from the kitchen where the farmhands gathered at the end of the day were intoxicating. All these, plus a sweet, mysterious young farmer whose soulful gaze meets her own, set in motion The Call of the Farm. Rochelle Bilow's enticing memoir charts the unexpected year that unfolds, as she immerses herself in life on the farm'helping to care for livestock, grow vegetables, work the farm-stand, and, as the designated cook, prepare each day's meals. Bilow also sensitively portrays the arc of her passionate romance with that handsome freckled farmer. Honest, self-aware, and wonderfully tender, The Call of the Farm is for anyone who has daydreamed about farm life'or who has fallen too deeply in love. With 20 recipes for farm-inspired fare'such as Whole Wheat Pancakes with Rhubarb Sauce, Crisped Potato Casserole with Shaved Chives, Blistered Tomato Gratin, Carrot and Parsnip Shepherd's Pie Rochelle Bilow, a classically trained cook and aspiring food writer, was nursing a broken heart and frustrated with her yet-to-take-off career when she set out to write a short profile of a small, sustainable CSA farm in central New York. At most, she expected to come away with a cute city-girl-in-the-country piece. But after just one day of moving hay bales, feeding pigs, and tapping maple sap, she was hooked: The air was fresh, her muscles felt useful, and the smells from the kitchen where the farmhands gathered at day{u2019}s end were intoxicating. Add in a sweet but enigmatic young farmer whose soulful gaze meets her own, and The Call of the Farm is set in motion. This enticing memoir charts the unexpected year that unfolds as Rochelle immerses herself in life at the farm. She cooks her way through four seasons of fresh-from-the-earth produce (with such tantalizing results as Blistered Tomato Gratin and Crisped Potato Casserole with Shaved Chives), grapples more than once with the finer points of rendering lard, and begins to feel she has finally found her niche{u2014}all while falling hard for that handsome, blue-eyed farmer. Honest, self-aware, and wonderfully tender, The Call of the Farm is for anyone who has daydreamed about a simpler life{u2014}or fallen too deeply in love Honest, self-aware, and wonderfully tender, The Call of the Farm is for anyone who has daydreamed about a simpler life—or fallen too deeply in love. Rochelle Bilow, a classically trained cook and aspiring food writer, was nursing a broken heart and frustrated with her yet-to-take-off career when she set out to write a short profile of a small, sustainable CSA farm in central New York. At most, she expected to come away with a cute city-girl-in-the-country piece. But after just one day of moving hay bales, feeding pigs, and tapping maple sap, she was hooked: The air was fresh, her muscles felt useful, and the smells from the kitchen where the farmhands gathered at day's end were intoxicating. Add in a sweet but enigmatic young farmer whose soulful gaze meets her own, and The Call of the Farm is set in motion. This enticing memoir charts the unexpected year that unfolds as Rochelle immerses herself in life at the farm. She cooks her way through four seasons of fresh-from-the-earth produce (with such tantalizing results as Blistered Tomato Gratin and Crisped Potato Casserole with Shaved Chives), grapples more than once with the finer points of rendering lard, and begins to feel she has finally found her niche—all while falling hard for that handsome, blue-eyed farmer. Rochelle Bilow Was Nursing A Broken Heart And Frustrated With Her Yet-to-take-off Career When She Set Out To Write A Short Profile Of A Small, Sustainable Csa Farm In Central New York. At Most, She Expected To Come Away With A Cute City-girl-in-the-country Piece. But After Just One Day Of Moving Hay Bales, Feeding Pigs, And Tapping Maple Sap, She Was Hooked: The Air Was Fresh, Her Muscles Felt Useful, And The Smells From The Kitchen Where The Farmhands Gathered At Day's End Were Intoxicating. Add In A Sweet But Enigmatic Young Farmer Whose Soulful Gaze Meets Her Own, And The Call Of The Farm Is Set In Motion. This Memoir Charts The Unexpected Year That Unfolds As Rochelle Immerses Herself In Life At The Farm. She Cooks Her Way Through Four Seasons Of Fresh-from-the-earth Produce (with Such Tantalizing Results As Blistered Tomato Gratin And Crisped Potato Casserole With Shaved Chives), Grapples More Than Once With The Finer Points Of Rendering Lard, And Begins To Feel She Has Finally Found Her Niche All While Falling Hard For That Handsome, Blue-eyed Farmer. Spring -- Recipes For Spring -- Summer -- Recipes For Summer -- Fall -- Recipes For Fall -- Winter -- Recipes For Winter -- Spring -- Recipes For Spring. Rochelle Bilow.