We're In Today's Paper

Photo:Curtis Compton, AJC

The Atlanta Journal Constitution quoted my husband today and also had a great photo of Petunia. The article was about our Girls and the decision we've made to have pet chickens. There is quite the controversy going on about all of this right now. Some folks don't want people having chickens in their backyard (remember I live in a subdivision). It's really amazing all the ruckus about having a few birds, since no one would even know unless they came into our backyard. I can't imagine why we need to change existing laws about noise and pets just to accommodate chickens. It's not as if we are running a commercial operation out there. We won't be eating our chickens because they are our pets and they produce eggs. I'm guessing when they get old, they might stop producing, but they sure won't be worth eating then. The Girls are pets, not "livestock", and we love having them.

This photo was not in the paper, but taken by their photographer and his notes on the photo are below.

090831 Roswell - Alan and Aimee Christian look on as their children, from left to right, Anna, 3, Andrew, 18-months, and Lex, 5, feed the family's pet chickens in the backyard of their Roswell home on Monday, August 31, 2009. The Christians have 10 chickens they consider as pets which also provide a fresh supply of eggs that help cut the family grocery bill. Alan Christian is fighting Roswell's plan to impose a 25 bird limit and require special housing. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

Whole Food's Sonoma Chicken Salad

Since I volunteer at the Whole Foods cooking school nearby, I have gotten to experience many of their yummy recipes firsthand. They even post some of their in-store recipes on their website. I really love the Sonoma Chicken Salad and have made it on numerous occasions. My only problem is I like chicken salad in the summer and who wants to turn on their oven in summertime?  My solution to this problem is to microwave the chicken breasts. They are moist and fully cooked without upping your A/C bill. Don't knock it til you try it.

Cherry Pie

Is there anything more summery and delicious than cherry pie? Mom's birthday is in June so we made her a cherry pie complete with lattice top.  I really love Martha Stewart, so I adapted her recipe here...Sweet Cherry Pie.  I buy lots of cherries when they are in season (when I was a kid we had a cherry tree, so I developed my obsession early on) and then pit them and freeze them for winter cobblers too.  You MUST have a good pitter to make this task easier.  I have a great sturdy aluminum one by Westmark Kernex that I love.  You have to pit the cherries in a deep sink, because there is definitely dark red spray that goes everywhere and my fingers are red for a day afterwards, but it is sooooo worth it.  The pitter is so easy, my 5 year old can operate it and the 3 year old takes the stems off.  It's a family event!  Oh, and don't even get me started on how easy it is to dehydrate them and so much cheaper than store bought!!