September 23: Everyone gets a yellow market bag for One Year Celebration

A year ago, a little seed was planted after a visit to SELMA Cafe in Ann Arbor. (Read cool, recent article about SELMA here.) Jane and Janice proposed the same crazy idea for Chelsea: a weekly breakfast fundraiser to (1) cook up local ingredients and share farm resources with Chelsea residents and (2) raise funds for a nonprofit organization to grow agriculturally-minded businesses from the farm up. More than $10,000 was raised in one year. The new Chelsea Community Kitchen was the recipient of the goodwill and net proceeds.

A little group of volunteers who repeatedly expressed, "We think we can, we think we can..." bonded together to keep Yellow Door truckin' for a year. A garden was planted by 7 Dirty Virgins and, along with dedicated promoters, shoppers, cooks, servers, greeters, Flos, silverware organizers and cleaner-uppers, Yellow Door presented Thursday delicious dishes for the Chelsea community.

Now, it's time to celebrate Yellow Door's one year of, "We did it!" Everyone who comes for breakfast gets a yellow market bag, big enough for leftovers, your mutt Millie and a bushel of apples. Dress code: yellow, if you have it. Casual, as always. No RSVPs required.

The BIG Breakfast REVEAL for Thursday's 1st Anniversary Celebration:

Peachs N' Cream Stuffed French toast

• Stuffed with local cream cheese
• Topped with homemade peach preserves
• Michigan maple syrup
• Calder Farms butter
• Homemade crème fraiche
• Bacon
  

Pork Shoulder and Sweet Potato Hash with Fried Egg

• Spicy roasted red pepper sauce
• Brown butter thyme cornbread
• Apple slice garnishes
  

Pumpkin Bread and Yogurt Smoothie

Beverages: Local apple cider and grape juice; coffee & tea

Ingredients from:

• Greystone Creamery
• Calder Dairy
• Ernst Farm
• Tantre Farm
• Kapnick Orchard

Come one, come all to Yellow Door's One-Year Breakfast Bash

What? Yellow Door's 1 year Anniversary
When? September 23 - Next Thursday
Where? You know... and if you don't, get in touch. All are welcome. No RSVPs needed.
Time? 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Celebrity chefs: Yellow Door Initiators-Creators-Geniuses, Jane and Janice, are cooking in the kitchen
Other scoopage: wear yellow... overhead at planning meeting: giveaways (including a Lunasa membership or two) / yellow napkins / peach bread pudding

Homegrown Festival: Saturday, September 11

Celebrate harvest time at tomorrow's Homegrown Festival in Ann Arbor. The fun, lively fest on Saturday, September 11, features farmers and producers and their delicious fare. Yellow Door, Chelsea Community Kitchen and Lunasa will be sharing a table at the festival. Look for Jane and Dawn among the posse of people.

The festival is a celebration of local food. Children activities, live music and happy people -- some of whom will be getting their "happy on" with Michigan beer and wine -- round out the day's offerings. Sample heirloom tomatoes and other fresh treats.

Go to www.homegrownfestival.org for more details.

Volunteer, eat free and earn a yellow market bag that can carry your dog around (it's that big!)

Every time you volunteer at Yellow Door, you dine free! Commit to four volunteer days at one time and earn a yellow market bag that is airy and light -- until you fill it with goodies from the farmers markets or your best canine friend. Email Janice at meetatyellowdoor@gmail.com and let her know you wish to volunteer.

Skills we're seeking? Willingness. Awesome attitude. Friendliness. A good hearty laugh is always a bonus. Oh, and we have duties, like shopping, cooking, food prepping, greeting, serving and washing/drying dishes. We need tidy-uppers after breakfast and Flo, who flows between the greeter and kitchen, welcoming guests and ensuring mugs are filled and silverware is provided.

Don't miss our One-Year Celebration on September 23!

At this point, we know there will be great food... and great people volunteering and eating. We encourage you to wear your brightest yellow when you dine with us on September 23. Details to follow soon... very, very soon...

New September Menu -- features whitefish, raspberry, watermelon and more!

• Frittata with green beans and cheese, minted watermelon and red onion salad, pumpernickel toast
• Multigrain pancakes with warm peach and raspberry compote, whipped cream, sausage patties
• Smoked whitefish mousse on pumpernickel toast (chopped tomato and dill garnish), cucumber soup, watermelon salad
• Yogurt with peaches and raspberries, chocolate zucchini bread
• YD Small Plate: Egg over easy, sausage, watermelon salad, pumpernickel toast or chocolate zucchini bread
  

Chelsea Community Kitchen News

September 9, 6:00 p.m.
Ignite Chelsea @ Chelsea Clocktower

Come out to hear super-brief (5 minutes!) presentations on topics relating to Chelsea wellness and local initiatives. CCK is selling salads and desserts as a fundraiser. Bring tons of fives and ones and savor yummy delicious foods from the CCK.

September 21, 7:00 p.m.
City of Chelsea Planning Commission Public Hearing

CCK is seeking permission to open a second (yes, second!) incubator kitchen in the Chelsea First United Methodist Church on Park Street. Come out to support the CCK!

October 19 - 7:00 p.m.
CCK Board of Directors' Annual Meeting

The first hour will be devoted to celebrating CCK's first year as an organization with supporters like the YD volunteers and contributors.