Terry Walters » Blog

Green Faire on Saturday!

Terry Walters — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:21:00 +0000

Whether you’re in the market for organic seedlings, incredible locally-grown produce, a signed copy of my CLEAN START cookbook, or just looking to celebrate spring and have a great time, Urban Oaks’ Green Faire is where you want to be! Tomorrow, Saturday May 19, 11:00am – 3:00pm. Bring the whole family to 225 Oak Street in New Britain and I’ll see you there!

Eat Clean Live Well!

Burlap is the new black!

Terry Walters — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:50:58 +0000

Yes, burlap took over the runway recently at the ReCONNstruction Center’s very first Funds Through Fashion. I’m not saying that organic cotton is “out,” but clearly recycled drapes, coffee bean sacks and even mini-blinds are “in!” These were just some of the materials used to create these fashion-forward looks and raise funds for this great cause. Deconstruction and reconstruction (over demolition) reduces waste, conserves energy, saves natural resources and creates jobs. But who knew how beautiful repurposed items could be the second time around.

(Apologies for my poor on-location photography.)

First up on the runway, I’ll call this first creation the chaise lounge, as it’s made with outdoor chair webbing that’s seamed and highlighted with electrical tape.

This next piece is 100% burlap coffee bags (and has the aroma to prove it). I hope you can make out the gold-hinge details, the plastic tape, and the “key to my heart” necklace.

Third up, this swinging and swaying colorful dress and hat are exclusively from the pages of InStyle Magazine! The designer told us she used her favorite issue, the one with Beyonce on the cover. Beyonce, if you’re reading this, this one’s clearly for you!

And finally, this Jackie O ensemble is made from repurposed drapes, with a burlap shrug, custom nail necklace, wire box hat and toolbox clutch. Best of all, the entire creation was made by our youngest designer – just 16 years old!

The winner was picked based on design, creativity, choice of materials and fit. Now it’s your turn. Leave a comment with your vote for the best design and let’s see if we pick the same winner as the esteemed panel of judges.

Eat clean, live well… and repurpose!

Jimi Hendrix Would Have Been Proud…

Terry Walters — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:37:37 +0000

…to be the face of Wesleyan University’s inaugural FOODSTOCK this past weekend. More than a conference, this great event was a community gathering – a festival of food that was relevant, thought-provoking, sustainable, delicious and fun! And most importantly, this event was free to the public making it super-accessible for all – just as food should be.

My thanks to Wesleyan University for bringing us all together, to Miya’s Sushi for the delicious sustainable sushi, and to all who participated along with me in this day and dialogue about “all things food.” I left feeling energized, inspired and hopeful that Foodstock will become an annual event, and that the intention and energy we shared will create even more nourishment moving forward. In the words of the man himself, “knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.”

Eat clean live well!

FOODSTOCK – Sold Out!

Terry Walters — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:02:49 +0000

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your incredible support and interest in this great event. While FOODSTOCK is free and open to the public, registration is now closed as the conference is sold out! Guests who did not register are welcome to attend the Food Truck Lunch from 1-2 in parking lot C!

Eat clean live well!

FOODSTOCK 2012 this Saturday!

Terry Walters — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:41:21 +0000

Can we be honest? I would attend any event with a promotional poster as cool as this one! As it happens, I’m lucky enough not only to attend FOODSTOCK this weekend at Weslyan University in Middletown, CT, but to be part of it! I hope you’ll join me for this awesome day of talks, panel discussions, workshops, book signings, a farmers market and much more.

Join me, Ariana Bain and Christopher Prosperi at 3:30 for our panel discussion, Sustainable Cuisine. And click here to check out a complete schedule of events for the day.

Other speakers and guests include:

Dorie Greenspan * Ruth Reichl * Molly O’Neill * Faith Middleton and many more!

FOODSTOCK is free to attend and open to everyone!

Donate a non-perishable food item at registration, and receive a FREE raffle ticket. All donations will go to Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Middletown, CT. Nonperishable food items are always sought after by the food pantry, in particular, tuna fish, peanut butter, soup, canned fruit and vegetables, cereal, beans, rice, and pasta sauces.

See you at FOODSTOCK!

Eat clean live well!

How Sweet It Is!

Terry Walters — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:16:11 +0000

Liquid Gold – that’s what we call it. Maple syrup is our sweetener of choice and just recently I stopped by the sugar shack of my favorite producer, Eastman Long, to replenish my supply. My timing couldn’t have been more perfect as Eastman was breaking just long enough to show me around and explain how my beloved maple syrup gets from tree to table. This is one product I know is clean – I know the producer, I know the product, it’s minimally processed and its definitely delicious.

This is the sugar shack of Eastman Long. Each winter, he and a crew of 4 others (mostly family) trek through the woods on snowshoes wearing equipment belts almost as heavy as my gallon jug of syrup. Together they tap 11,000 trees. That’s right, 11,000 trees!!! The sap runs through lines into this house where it is purified and heated just hot enough (below boiling) to separate out the water, which is about 97%.

Sugar shack

Eastman Long

The season is a short one and just the right conditions are required for the sap to flow, but the work is year-round making sure the lines are clean, the machinery tuned up and ready to go the instant the sap starts running, and that the whole system works to perfection. All it takes is one glitch – perhaps a frozen line or a broken motor – to dramatically reduce the year’s production. This is a labor of love if ever I’ve seen one.

The final touch

For me, it’s not a question of organic vs. locally grown, but rather a desire to put a face on my food – to know where it comes from, how it was grown and produced and what exactly I’m getting – so that I can make a healthy choice. I have Eastman Long to thank for adding delicious and nutritious sweetness to my clean food creations.

Eat clean live well!

GMO’s – Both Sides of the Debate

Andrew — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:16:53 +0000

This show is so compelling and interesting that I found myself pulled over in my car on the side of the road last week just to so I could listen intently. Please check out this exceptional show featuring Colin McEnroe with guest, Jeffery Smith, author of ‘Seeds of Deception’ and ‘Genetic Roulette.’

Colin McEnroe Show: Sorting Through ‘Seeds Of Doubt’
Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network | First aired Thursday, March 1, 2012

Eat clean live well!

Talking CLEAN with Dr. Steve

Terry Walters — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:37:02 +0000

With all the talk about detoxing and dieting, I was thrilled to be asked to join Dr. Steve on WPIX to set the record straight. Good health is not about unrealistic fad diets and cleanses, but rather about making healthy choices and eating clean! What does that mean? A rainbow of color, all five tastes, and foods that are minimally processed for maximum nutrition. Click here to view the segment and to get a taste of my quick, easy and delicious clean food meal plan.

I assure you, the clean food that I made for this shoot didn’t last long after we shot the segment! Thank you Dr. Steve and everyone from WPIX for a great show and a great day, and I hope to return soon.

Eat clean live well!

Team CLEAN FOOD!

Terry Walters — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:55:57 +0000

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a week since our CLEAN FOOD photo shoot. I’m constantly receiving compliments on how beautiful my books are, so it seemed appropriate to introduce you to the people who make them that way. All I do, after all, is write them!

It seems fitting to start with photographers Marty Hyers (there in the center of the photo at 12:00) and Andrea Gentl, just to Marty’s left. These two are like royalty in the world of photography, but when you’re with them, they feel like long lost best friends. Together they make photography seem like magic using nothing but natural light and a camera, turning simple recipes into works of art. You’re liable to know their work from Martha Stewart Living Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, dozens of cookbooks (including CLEAN START), and that barely covers the depth and scope of their work.

Continuing clockwise is Alpha Smoot – prop stylist extraordinaire (as you might already have noticed from last week’s blog pictures), and below her, Meredith Munn, digital goddess and one of the most patient people I know! Next to me (I’m in the blue scarf) in the natural linen apron is Hollywood food stylist Susan Spungen. You may not recognize Susan, but if you saw Julie & Julia, Eat, Pray, Love or It’s Complicated, then you definitely know her work. No doubt, it was more than a little step down for Susan to go from working with Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts to me! To the left of Susan are her two awesome assistants, Maria and Lauren. These three women work like a finely tuned machine in the kitchen, preparing more than 40 recipes for the camera over the course of just 4 days!

Finally, all the way on the left is Rob Magnotta of Edge Reps and Kacy Strand (not pictured) without whom this shoot would never have been possible. And last but certainly not least, in his signature bandana, Tony Gardner, my agent, trusty advisor and dear friend.

Jeff Batzli, Art Director from Sterling Publishing is not pictured, but was great support through the week (as always). And I wish I had held up my phone in this picture to represent Andrew Brown and Kurt MacKenzie of MacKenzie Brown Design in Chicago, who art directed the entire shoot long distance – iPhone to iPhone! Andy and Kurt are the original Team Clean Food as we’ve been working together even before the self-published edition of CLEAN FOOD came out in 2007.

I am humbled and grateful to be part of this incredible team and can’t wait for you to see the mouth-watering results of our collaboration this fall.

Eat clean, live well and be nourished by those with whom you share the journey!

Cooking Up a Photo Shoot

Terry Walters — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:58:48 +0000

What goes into the recipe for creating pictures for the revised edition of CLEAN FOOD?

Start with PURE SPACE – a beautiful studio featuring
nothing but white space and spectacular northern light…

stir in a buzzing kitchen…

a small village of sets…

a computer station… or two…

and a generous showcase of props…

… add to that a rainbow of clean food
and the results are guaranteed to be delicious!

Stop by tomorrow for a taste of the photos created by this incredibly talented and inspiring team: photographers Andrea Gentl and Marty Hyers, food stylist Susan Spungen, and art directors Kurt MacKenzie and Andrew Brown of MacKenzie Brown Design. I can’t wait to share the results with everyone!

Eat clean live well!