Sale item by Thomas Tenorio of Santo Domingo Pueblo

Kitchen Angels has teamed up with Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery and 24 other local Not for Profit Organizations to celebrate the gallery's 25th Anniversary! Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery is giving Kitchen Angels 10% of all pottery sales on Sunday, April 8th. In celebration, the gallery is also discounting 250 select items up to 25%. If you were planning to add to your pottery collection, update your home décor, or purchase gifts, your purchase made on Sunday, April 8th will directly benefit us, whether made in person, by phone (505) 986-1234, or online www.andreafisherpottery.com.

Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery is located at 100 West San Francisco Street in downtown Santa Fe and is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 to 5:00 and Sunday Noon to 5:00. The gallery is dedicated to supporting our community by selling the pottery of over 600 local Native American artists.   Help Kitchen Angels maximize their donation by shopping at Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery on Sunday, April 8th.

  

	Driver Rocky enjoying some tasty treats from last year's Volunteer Week

Kitchen Angels is excited to celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week this year with our favorite thing - Delicious Food! During the entire week of April 16 - 20, we will be serving lunch to our volunteers between 12:00 - 1:00. Stay after your morning cooking shift, or come in early for your PM shift. Chef Joe will be serving up some tasty fare in appreciation of our volunteers. If you don't work in the kitchen, then just let Lauren know if you can make it sometime that week for lunch, and on which day. Delivery Drivers, you're welcome to join us for lunch as well, or we'll have snacks galore for you during delivery time. It's just a small way we'd like to give to those of you who've given so much of your time and effort to Kitchen Angels' clients. We'll send out reminder calls so our volunteers don't forget.

Comfort food comes in all shapes, sizes, and food groups. There is one, however, that brings many of us back to our childhood days. It may even be one of the first things we learn to cook when we're growing up. Wouldn't you know, there's a holiday that celebrates this humble, yet soul-satisfying food. April 12th is Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day - and thank goodness for that. Although you don't NEED a recipe to create this classic (the how-to is built right into the name), try a grown up version of this delicious treat. Here's an outstanding collection of 80 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipes that will inspire you. Know someone who could use a little extra comfort? You've got the recipe!

We always welcome new volunteers! Here are our current opportunities:

Kitchen Volunteers

• Monday PM shift (1-3)
• Thursday PM shift (1-3)
• Friday PM shift (1-3)

• Delivery Drivers (4:30 - 6:30)
• Kitchen Volunteers AM shift (10:00 - 12:00)
• Kitchen Volunteers PM shift (1:00 - 3:00)
• Delivery Room Prep (2:00-3:30)
• Delivery Coordinators (3:30-5:30)

If you've been paying attention to the trends of the past decade, then you've most certainly heard the term " biohacking." The term has been tossed around quite a bit, and it means a number of different things at this point. Wikipedia identifies these three meanings:

• Nutrigenomics, using nutrition to hack (take control of) human biology.
• Do-it-yourself biology, biotechnological social movement in which individuals and small organizations study biology using the same methods as traditional research institutions.
• Grinder (biohacking), people who try to improve their own bodies with do-it-yourself cybernetic devices.

Ellen Jorgensen: Biohacking -- you can do it, too

 
The other two types of biohacking have more to do with adjusting one's biology or nutrition in order to obtain greater health, performance, or heightened states of consciousness.

If you're at all interested in what people are doing to achieve peak performance and influence their states of consciousness, try the book Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work by Jamie Wheal and Steven Kotler. Click here for a short interview with one of the authors speaking about his book. It's a fascinating look at cutting edge of biohacking that's taking place right now.

When it comes to nutrition, we know more than ever before. People are taking that knowledge and using it to optimize their health. It's a growing trend in Silicon Valley among "techies" to do intermittent fasting as a way to improve health and productivity. Some individuals go days without eating a morsel, with impressive results. Tech culture has a long history of amphetamine use, such as the prescription drug Adderall to maximize focus and production. It's now not uncommon to see entire tech companies promoting biohack culture through diet and meditation to combat stress. 

If you're not into dietary extremes such as fasting, here's a good article on 8 Ways to Biohack Yourself for Better Health. The article suggests some common sense practices that many of you might already be doing, such as meditation and adequate sleep. Proper nutrition is one of the most significant ways we can optimize our health and well-being. Many biohackers are singing the praises of the Ketogenic diet. It's a high fat, adequate protein, low carb diet that forces the body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates. Our nutritionist Kathy says it's a good one! You can read more about it in this Comprehensive Beginners Guide if you're interested in learning more.

Many of us already take steps to improve our health and diet whether we call it biohacking or simple common sense. Either way, we're certain to see many changes in how people approach health and nutrition in the future. It's a brave new world!

We were thrilled with the outstanding turnout for our spring volunteer appreciation party. Gerry Carthy performed for the 100 or so volunteers in attendance. The dessert contest was a smashing success . . . again. This year's winner was Julee Angell with her Bailey's Irish Boston Cream Cupcake. Second Place went to Deborah Dennard who impressed the crowd with her Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake. If you didn't catch this party, be sure to be on the look out for the next one. It usually takes place in October. 

 

Lauren wants to extend her deepest gratitude to those 100+ volunteers who agreed to serve as ambassadors for Angels Night Out. Recruiting 100 volunteers is no small task, but your kindness and willingness made the task a whole lot easier. We even have some volunteers who signed up to host during breakfast, lunch AND dinner. We're just delighted to have so many outstanding individuals coming together on this special day - joined with some of the best restaurants in Santa Fe - and all for one great cause. If you're not an ambassador, you can still help make this event successful by dining out at one of the participating restaurants. Many thanks to each of you!

 

Words of Thanks from Our Clients to You...

 

"I really like the new menus. Please tell the chef he's doing a great job."

 

"I'm a meat eater but I really am enjoying the meatless Monday meals. They're really good."

 

"The fish meal on Friday was excellent. I just had to call and compliment the chef. The fish was great and the vegetable chowder was just so good."

 

"When I saw that pizza, I swear I wanted to do a dance. It was the best pizza I ever ate."

 

"Please let the chef know the food is so good. These are spectacular meals. I had a stew with yams and vegetables and it was such a nice change . . . from chicken."

 

". . . And the food looks so absolutely delicious. I can't wait to eat it. I'm going to start with the beet salad and then eat the fresh meal . . . Thank you, Jeanette. I love you and everyone at Kitchen Angels."

 

"Your food is superb. Do NOT get rid of your chef. I had the salmon with apples and spaghetti squash. I really want to thank you all for being so considerate and having such great food."