A wonderful little blog I found https://www.foodasaverb.com Food as a Verb is Chattanooga’s only media devoted to telling the stories — agrarian, delightful, spiritual, gutsy stories – of local food in all its forms.

In the interest of continuing to keep food interesting, here's another of my favorites Toasted Almond Sauce 7 oz. sliced almonds 3 lg cloves garlic 1 TBS kosher salt ¼ tsp ground white pepper 8 oz coconut milk 8 oz chicken or vegetable stock Equipment needed: Large baking sheet, blender 1. Preheat the oven to 325° 2. place sliced almonds on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown.  Set aside to allow to cool. 3. place the garlic, salt and pepper into the blender with half the coconut milk and blend to a smooth liquid. 4. add 5 oz toasted almonds, the remaining coconut milk, and ½ cup stock.  Process in the blender until thick.  Add remaining stock by the tablespoonful if mixture is too thick.  It should move freely in the blender and be pourable.  The sauce should be smooth enough that there are no large pieces of almond. 5. pour sauce into a bowl and stir in the remaining ½ cup almonds.

Have you ever tried to follow some meal plan that was really drab and boring? And for a time you were more motivated by results than taste and food satisfaction? Well, that doesn't last long, as you know. One of the simplest things you can add to a meal to elevate it is a sauce. Just like with proper seasoning, a decent sauce can make you want to eat a meal again! Without it, the meal is boring and lifeless and unfulfilling. And we need fulfillment regularly with meals. Try this easy sauce as a salad dressing, on vegetables, or with roasted meats. It goes especially well with chicken & pork.

Thanks to Andrew Brooks, the Spirited Chef for this reminder; Did you know that it is now being discovered that your gut health is tied to your Emotional well-being? It's true. A healthier gut produces more contentment and a sense of well being. Some might call that happiness. How is this so? Well, aside from our gut manufacturing most of our immune factors, it is also a center for some hormone production. Imbalances of the gut mean less positive hormone production, and more feelings of distress. Also, if you are never sick (especially when most others are), you just feel better on a regular basis. Your body is functioning as it should.

A neat report worth sharing: https://canadasrestaurantguy.my.canva.site/the-power-of-catering-in-2026?utm_source=NO%7CBSFoodserviceHospitalityNews&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-power-of-catering-in-2026