Lin-Manuel Miranda & Vanessa Nadal Wedding.

As promised, more video.

love from the heights

Did some reporting and produced a video for the New York Times on the lavishly orchestrated and choreographed wedding of actor, lyricist and Tony-award nominated actor, Lin-Manuel Miranda and lawyer Vanessa Nadal at Belvedere Mansion in Staatsburg. Alex Lacamoire, who won a Grammy and Tony for Mr. Miranda's The Heights, handled the musical direction of the wedding; the video includes snippets of music and song from an all star cast of friends and family, from Broadway stars in chorus and solo, to Latin Grammy nominee Dave Valentin's jazz flute, to
Puerto Rico's salsa superstar, Gilberto Santa Rosa and his Orchestra and Ruben Blades performing at the dance party. lois brady, queen of VOWs, bow to you.

Here's some stills--(from the ny times video)-- the bride and groom, the groom dancing with his biggest fan, Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda, and flanked by his other biggest fan, Luis A. Miranda, Jr., aka ma & pa.

if you love trees...

check out my tree_dreams TWITTER page and find all kinds of happy tree stuff

at my tree blog!

send any and all tree stories, tree photos, tree videos, tree news and tree art to:

peaceforest@live.com,

and stay tuned for a tree art contest that will benefit our dear and noble and delightful friends!

oak tree victory in washington

One hundred year old oak comes first in this neighborhood!

Ric Orlando's Salsa Recipes!

I LOVE SALSA, hence the salsa lessons in hudson valley wow tv. would be nice to get recipes and demos from tons of area restaurants. salsa puts the soul into food, brightening and intensifying the eating experience, at least for me! Here are three new recipes from New World Home Cooking's owner/ chef, Ric Orlando (look for Ric's fun demos of all of them on Hudson Valley WOW TV this month, all taste-tested, and all over-the-top delish!

We thank Ric for being a great guest and for sharing with us!

Roasted Sweet Potato Salsa

This is a simple and vital little relish to pick up any dish--it is a colorful side for grilled or broiled fish, tofu, tempeh, turkey, chicken and pork. By adding a can of black beans to the recipe (rinsed well) it elevates a simple dish of brown rice or soba noodles form a plain starch to a textural, complete and substantive meal.

made enough for two servings

1 medium sweet potato

1/2 red onion, halved and super thinly sliced

1-2 tsp curry powder

juice of one orange

juice if one lime

1 tbls juice from chipotles in adobo or more to taste

1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme

1 sprig on cilantro, roughly chopped

olive oil as needed

Preheat toaster over to 400.

Peel the sweet potato and slice in into 1/4 inch thick round.

Put it in a bowl. Add a few drops of olive and toss to evenly coat the potatoes with a thin sheen of oil.

Add the curry powder to taste and toss to coat.

Lay the potatoes in an even layer and bake or broil for 7-10 minutes or until lightly caramelized and tender but still al dente. Let cool.

When cool enough to handle, dice into cubes that aesthetically please you.

Put the diced sweet potato on a bowl with the sliced onion.

Add the orange and lime juice, a pinch more curry, the chile juice and the herbs.

Add a bit of salt and pepper to taste and a few drops more of olive oil.

Yum!

Puebla Salsa Verde

This is soo simple! It makes a smooth, pourable salsa that is great with shrimp, salmon, tuna and steaks. it is bright enough to lighten the richness of any grilled food.

It is also a great medium for making dips. Add some diced tomato, mango, peach or papaya to make a sexy, chunky salsa for your next chip attack.

makes two cups

To make the salsa....

12 tomatillos, husked

2 jalapeno chiles seeded or not to taste

1/2 cup thinly sliced white onion

1 medium garlic clove

1 tbls salt

1 tsp white vinegar

1-2 cups chopped cilantro

Boil 2 cups of water with the salt added.

Add the chiles, tomatillos, garlic & onion. Boil for 3-4 minutes, just enough to brighten up and slightly soften the tomatillos.

Puree all ingredients using a bit of the water to make a smooth, pourable salsa.

Pear and Sundried Tomato Salsa

This salsa, salad, relish or whatever you name it, it a breeze to make, and it rocks! The secret in a adding the warm bring to the fruits to release the flavors.

Try this on a mozzarella sandwich, as a garnish to any broiled or grilled fish, white meat or tofu. I also love it with warm goat’s cheese and crostini and a snack.

made enough for two servings

2 firm medium sized pears, Bosc is perfect

1/2 red onion, halved and super thinly sliced

1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, sliced in strips

1/8 cup white wine or cider vinegar

2 tbls honey

2 tsp coriander seeds

generous amout fresh basil

salt and pepper

olive oil as needed

Slice the pear into matchsticks, about the same size as the tomatoes.

Put in a bowl with the sundried tomatoes and the onion. Coat with a wee bit of olive oil.

In a small nonreactive pot (not aluminum or copper if possible)

heat the vinegar, honey and coriander seeds.

Stir to melt the honey.

Pour over the pear mix. Gently stir and cool. When cooled ass generous amounts of shredded fresh basil, a little more olive oil and season to taste.

Yum!

Phoenicia Fire --on my street Tonight!

I left my house this a.m. to pick up my oldest daughter who was coming home for thanksgiving.

When we came back hours later, happy, car full of groceries, talking about wonderful things, including gratitude for what we had--our road was blocked--fire, they said. From the details it sounded like my neighbor's house--

and it was--and they were okay. I was moved by the amount of volunteer firefighters that came out.

The fire was contained and no one was hurt.

More food for thought.

Free Food in Hudson Valley

If you Google me, you'll see I write for the New York Times and have won awards for some of my young adult books. I've been a writer and photographer in the Hudson Valley for more than 20 years, a teacher and a mentor.

You might not guess how hard I've been hit by the economy-- unable to find regular work and facing foreclosure, afraid that I might not only lose my house but have to leave the community.

After many months of fear and panic, and searching for solutions—including applying for hundreds of jobs—BAM-- the idea for Hudson Valley WOW TV landed in my brain.

Time to do something positive—and fun!

Here's the first episode of Hudson Valley WOW TV!

I thought it would be great to get out and see what new perspectives and heroes I could find, as well as providing programming on green living, health, raltionships and the arts and nonprofits. For the first few shows, I'm focusing on health and wellness (in many forms) and will be featuring pieces on where to get help or volunteer or maybe both at once! The lines between us are blurring, and I'm glad about that!

Needing help, as well as the desire to help, is what brought me here; it's good to know there are places to go where you can both give and recieve. AKA, a community!

This is not a comprehensive guide, but if

you need a cooked meal or some fresh food to take home,

or you know someone facing tough economic times, here are a few food pantries, food distribution sites and soup kitchens in the Woodstock/ Kingston area. All great places to volunteer, and every single hour helps, particularly during the holiday season.

If you are feeling grateful for what you have, volunteering keeps the love flowing—and takes the edge off any holiday loneliness! Definitely the perfect way to connect with others.

Contributions of food and money are also fantastic!

For volunteers: you could start with the big grandaddy of the local organizations,

the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. It is a branch of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and a member of Feeding America, the national food bank network. CLICK on AGENCY LIST to see service places, soup kitchens and food pantries listed by county. There are hundreds of places!

If the Food Bank is the grandaddy, then Family of Woodstock, is the Fairy Godmother of organizations, serving Ulster Coutny and surrounding areas since 1970, helping to fight homelessness, build strong communties, end domestic violence, be there for teens and assist with emergency food and shelter. They have food pantries and can often head people toward logner term solutions. Ellenville: 647 2443; New Paltz 255-8801; Woodstock 679 2485, or Kingston 338-2370.

Queens Galley of Kingston, 254 Washington Avenue, has served thousands of wholesome meals. You do not have to prove income and families with children, as well as people from all situations are welcome; the purpose of the soup kitchen is to provide for those faced with any issue of food insecurity, due to the economy. Breakfast is served 8:00am-9:00am. Lunch is served noon - 1:00pm Dinner is served 5:00pm-6:00pm.

Helping Hands of NY, in Phoenicia has distributed more than 170,000 pounds of food this past year, providingmeals to 600 peopel a month. And now PET FOOD is available! FOOD DISTRUBUTION DATES & LOCATION

Dates - 2nd & 4th Mondays of each month.

(The pantry will be closed on Holidays falling on Mondays. Will open the next day TUESDAY)

Location - M.F. Whitney Firehouse rt. 214

Phoenicia, NY 3pm – 7pm.

More dates will be posted soon.

Anyone in need of help please

Call 845-688-9825 or email

HelpingHandsofNY@yahoo.com

Volunteers, donations of food & people experienced in fund raising Needed for all the organizations.