Deserving dinners

Last update: November 4, 2009 - 12:56 PM

Deserving dinners

Whole Foods Markets are holding a sweepstakes in which people can nominate families to receive free holiday dinners for four people. Deserving Dinners aims to provide families in need with a turkey dinner and all the trimmings. Two rounds of entries enable people to nominate deserving families to win either a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal. Each store will provide four families with meals. Visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com to nominate a family. Deadline for Thanksgiving is Nov. 13; Christmas nominations are accepted Dec. 1-11.

It's a Martha thing

Martha Stewart apparently hasn't embraced the locavore movement. Or maybe her new offering is for people whose nearest turkey is an inflatable balloon in the local parade. At any rate, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. and Hain Celestial Group Inc., the country's largest natural and organic food products company, have joined forces to offer the Martha Stewart Young Turkey, billed as "humanely raised." Turkeys are "antibiotic-free and vegetarian-fed" and cost $69.99 for 12 pounds or $89.99 for 18 pounds. For details, visit www.marthastewart.com/turkey. Thanksgiving orders must be placed by Nov. 18.

Authors and art

Recipes show up in the darnedest places. On Nov. 17, the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, at 12600 Nicollet Av. S., hosts the authors of "The Recipe Club: A Tale of Food and Friendship" (Polhemus Press). Recipes are larded throughout this novel of lifelong friends who start a recipe club, which has spawned real clubs nationwide. Two Burnsville actors will do skits from the book in the center's Black Box theater, then authors Nancy Garfinkel, right, and Andrea Israel will have an audience Q & A and book signing. Tickets for the 7 p.m. event are $16 for adults, $12 for students and seniors at the Burnsville PAC Box Office, 952-895-4680, or at Ticketmaster.com.

Prepare for your holiday parties

Head to the Affair this weekend at the Minneapolis Convention Center for new ideas for the upcoming holiday season. This broadened evolution of the Chocolate Extravaganza brings together Twin Cities experts on food, wines, cheeses, chocolates, table settings and much more. Members of the Taste and Home & Garden staffs will be on hand both days at the Star Tribune Taste Stage:

10:45 a.m. -- Lee Svitak Dean, recipes for easy entertaining

11:45 a.m. -- Kim Ode, holiday cookies

1:45 p.m. -- Bill Ward, food and wine pairings

4:45 p.m. -- Connie Nelson, holiday tabletops.

See www.theaffairmpls.com for the full schedule. The event is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at door.

KIM ODE