Slaying Dragons

Change. Seems to be such a dirty word in our society today. I  don’t mean slight change like, Monday I am going to change the way I eat. I mean soul searching, soul wrecking possible weather changing true life change. The change that strips you to the bone and then forces you to rebuild yourself blood cell by blood cell.  

Blame on the other hand seems to be a tried and trusted way of behaving and being for Americans. I heard it reflected in my children's voices when the crash comes from the other room followed by “ I didn’t’ do it.” We as American's and especially small business owners have to move in the direction of change from blame. This morning I had the true pleasure of experiencing a publication that is trafficking in true change. Rhode Island Small Business Journal along with the North Kingstown Chamber hosted a breakfast discussion at Up-Dikes Newtown in North Kingstown. Gill Lantini gave the presentation launching this publication. The publication offers its readers valuable information that targets issues small business owners are facing in Rhode Island and delivers the information in an interactive and accessible way.

Yes the economy crashed and yes we are as Americans in a recession; but as a business owner for the last 12 years I have experienced all sorts of ups and downs. Here is what I have found to be reality in business in 2012. No one is going to walk into your cave with a dead dragon and pay you to take it off their hands. The 2012 business owner has to  go out and kill their own dragon and drag it home.  Here is where the innovation comes in: share that dragon with your business friends and they share theirs with you.  In return, we all eat. Rhode Island Small Business Journal helps along small business while they hunt dragons.

Jessica Wood

Wildwood Catering

Inspire to be Wild!

Food should taste like food

How does one make a salad dressing without a lemon? This I wonder. The simple balance of citrus and a nice olive oil with a bit of sea salt and pepper is enough to really change simple greens into a wonderful salad or a bright addition to any protein. The truth is that many restaurants have forgotten the simple things about cooking and turn to finding flavor in a can or bottle. 

Last week while making a simple green salad to add to a egg frittata, I found myself with out a dressing, instead of running home to retrieve the dressing that I had prepared the day before and left sitting on my counter.  I opted for recreating a dressing. I had all the major components for the dressing with the exception of a lemon. 

Wildwood’s commercial kitchen is located in a food emporium. The names of the others restaurants in this said emporium will remain absence here to protect the innocence, but there are some major companies within sight all of which serve salad items. I made my way through all of them begging for a lemon. Not one store had a fresh lemon to offer. I was crestfallen not only for the loss of this beautiful dressing I was making but for the fact that not one store uses fresh citrus in their salad dressings! I finally found the lemon at Dunkin for they use lemon wedges for their ice tea. This experience has brought me to the strong conclusion that food should taste like food and food should taste like the earth the wind the rain and the sun! In the sprint of the lemon and the wonders of spring I offer you this Basil lemon oil dressing: 

Ingredients: 

I clove garlic 

10 leaves basil 

Juice of one lemon 

1 tsp Dijon mustard 

1 tsp sugar 

virgin olive oil to taste 

Sea salt to taste 

Fresh black pepper to taste 

Combine peeled garlic, basil leaves, lemon juice, sugar and mustard in food processor, blend until forms a paste. Gradually add the oil till it becomes the desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste 

Drizzle over a simple greens and enjoy