Festive Food

If you’re looking to create “Poetry in Flour” or you want to try your hand at winter farming, head to the Portland Public Market’s Winter Harvest Festival, which takes place Saturday. There, Jim Amaral of Borealis Breads will start things off at 11 a.m. with a demonstration of the baking qualities of Maine-grown wheat in his “Poetry in Flour.” Susie O’Keefe of the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association will discuss MOFGA’s winter farming programs and Aroostook County farmer Jim Cook will share the bounty of his winter harvest, including organic carrots, beets and potatoes. Renowned chef Matthew Kenney will present a winter cooking seminar featuring Maine foods. And Tim Forsman of Johnny’s Selected Seeds will present “Dirt Made My Lunch,” a lesson for kids and adults on where your food comes from. The Al Hawkes Duo will perform live music from noon to 2 p.m. For information, call 228-2007.

Can do

National Canned Food Month ends today (who knew?) but you can still join the Canned Food Alliance’s fight against hunger by picking up a copy of “The Canned Food Alliance Five Star Celebrity Cookbook.” The cookbook is free to anyone who makes a donation to Share Our Strength, an organization that aims to fight hunger and poverty in the United States. In addition to that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you donate money to a good cause, you also will get to try celebrities’ favorite recipes. One to try is Isaac Hayes’ “Gonna Get Some” Cornish Game Hens with Wild Rice Stuffing. The recipe, written by the Academy Award-winning composer, recording artist and voice of “South Park’s” chef, may just heat things up in the kitchen.

Meaty mushrooms

Whether you’re a vegetarian or you just like a meatless meal every now and then, specialty mushrooms can add substance and texture to an otherwise dull meal. From portabellas to shiitake and crimini, the Mushroom Council has recipes to help you make a meal out of mushrooms, such as Asian Noodle Soup or Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms. For recipes and tips on preparing and storing mushrooms, visit www.mushroomcouncil.org or get a free leaflet by sending a SASE to: Specialty Mushroom Leaflet, 11875 Dublin Blvd., Suite D262, Dublin, CA 94568.