T. Rex & the Rabbit Foods, LLC

18/01/2025

As someone who's been allergic to artificial red food dye all my life: YAY!!!

The decision comes after years of advocacy from organizations that point to evidence showing how RD3 has caused cancer in animals.

11/11/2024

Before becoming a chef, I was the creator of a workshop series called "Who the Hell Am I...Honestly?" To support the themes of the workshop, each day, I wrote a poignant thought. I wrote and posted this letter to veterans on November 11, 2013 (see the link in my profile).

I repost it every year. Because it means something: T. Rex is a veteran and for 6 years, I was a military spouse.

But it also means something to many other people. With permission, it was gifted to veterans in two states. It's on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. And I am honored that my words mean so much.

Having said that, if you share it, give me credit. Don't crop my name out of it. Don't claim that you wrote it. And don't you dare politicize it, especially this year. Because behind these words are experiences and sacrifices made by veterans and military families, including my husband and me, that most people will never know about, never understand, and would never make.

Thank you T. Rex and veterans for your service. And thank you, too, to military families for your sacrifices.

08/11/2024

Start a new Thanksgiving tradition! Grown-ups cook with your kids (ages 6 - 14) Forest Hills Community Services next Thursday the 14th in my Cook with Your Kids: Turkey Dinner in Miniature! We're making Turkey Meatball Sliders and Mini Twice-baked Sweet Potatoes.

Let's make delicious holiday memories together!
Register online at: https://fhps.digitalsignup.com/Class/584-cook-with-your-kids-turkey-dinner-in-mini

08/11/2024

Food co-ops are not just about food justice, they are also about justice for all people.
💪 This means better wages and fair treatment for our hardworking employees. But that's not all!
Food co-ops are owned by members of the community, so profits stay local and are reinvested to benefit everyone. 🏘️
By supporting the Grand Rapids Food Co-op, you’re supporting:
➡️Fair Wages: Ensuring workers are compensated fairly.
➡️Local Economy: Keeping money within our community.
➡️Sustainable Practices: Prioritizing eco-friendly and ethically sourced products.
Co-ops take an average of 12-years to open the brick and mortar store.
We are on year 9 and JUST hit our goal of 800 owners so we can now secure a lease the MINUTE we find a site, and launch our community investment campaign to fund the buildout of the store!
JOIN US TODAY!
https://www.grfoodcoop.com/ownership/

08/11/2024

I've been meaning to share this for awhile. T. Rex & I became members of the Grand Rapids Food Co-op. Why? Because clean, healthy food should be available to everyone regardless of how much they make and where they live. Because belonging to a co-op creates a new system of food, community, nourishment, and connection. And because it puts people over profits.

There's still a long way to go before the doors open and more members are needed but my family's membership is a positive step. A much needed, powerful, and life-affirming step. And a step that those of us in Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas can take together.

For more information, please visit: https://www.grfoodcoop.com/

🎉 Exciting news, Grand Rapids! We've hit a major milestone in our journey to bring a community-owned grocery store to our city!
We're thrilled to announce that we've officially reached over 800 owner-households, marking the completion of our "Grow" phase (9-years).
This achievement propels us into the next exciting stage of our development: the "Fund" phase!💲
What's Next? The Community Investment Campaign!
As we move forward, we're launching our COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CAMPAIGN to raise the💲millions needed for our 7,000-10,000 square foot full-service grocery store. This is your chance to invest locally and be part of something transformative for Grand Rapids!
Our Ongoing Journey:
➡Ongoing need for volunteers to join action circles such as community investment campaign, site selection, finance outreach, in-reach, and marketing!
➡Site Selection: We're actively working on finding the perfect location for our store.
➡Growing Ownership: Our goal is to reach 1,000 owners by the start of store buildout and 1,500 by opening day.
💪🏾💪🏿💪🏻Be Part of the Revolution
Join us in this community-owned revolution! Every new owner brings us closer to our vision of a grocery store that puts people before profits!
JOIN TODAY!
https://www.grfoodcoop.com/ownership/

08/11/2024

Join me at City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department for cooking classes! We've got one on Wednesday the 13th called SOUPS ON! We're making Matzo Ball Soup and Deluxe French Onion Soup (which happens to be vegetarian but it's rich in flavor and a family favorite)! Call 616-656-5270 or register online at:
https://apps.daysmartrecreation.com/dash/x/ #/online/kentwood/programs/2/levels?&facility_ids=1&sport_ids=33

Ready to become a home chef? 👨‍🍳 Join our upcoming Adult Cooking Workshops and learn how to whip up delicious meals with ease! From beginners to seasoned cooks, we have something for everyone. Spaces are limited, so grab your spot today!
👉 https://bit.ly/KentwoodCooking

04/11/2024

Winter classes (cooking and otherwise!) City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department are now open for registration!

Let's get cooking!

Winter registration is now open! Sign up for all our January, February, and March programs online at https://bit.ly/KentwoodPrograms. Enroll before December 16 to save an extra 10% on a number of programs! Stay active this winter and sign up today!

21/10/2024

Tonight begins the Creepy Crawlies series for kids and on the menu are these little critters: Vegan Gummy Worms (regular AND sour) and Cockroach Candy! Happy Halloween!
🎃☠👻

Cockroach Candy inspired by Diana Jeffra

15/10/2024

Let your little chefs explore the fun of cooking with our Kids in the Kitchen classes! From simple snacks to tasty meals, they'll learn new skills and gain confidence in the kitchen. 👩‍🍳
Hands-on fun, creativity, and delicious bites included! Check out our schedule of classes and register online at https://bit.ly/KentwoodKidsInTheKitchen

13/10/2024

Vegetable Pakoras!🥔🥕

I've loved these spicy veggie fritters ever since my boss from a million years ago introduced them to me. His mom would occasionally send lunch our way and her pakoras (which she served in a curry with warm buttery chapati on the side) were my favorite!

My pakoras are paired with Cilantro & Mint Chutney...cilantro is definitely NOT my favorite but the mint rounds it out beautifully and adds a bit of sweetness.

I'm teaching this dish in my upcoming Indian Food Favorites 2 class   

We're also making another of my favorites: Palak Paneer (with the paneer made from scratch)!  What a delicious class!

 

12/10/2024

Grown-ups & kids (ages 6 - 14): Join me on October 24th for my Pizza Party class at Forest Hills Community Services! We're making 3 kinds of pizza: calzones, thin crust and dessert pizzas! Register online at: https://fhps.digitalsignup.com/Class/583-cook-with-your-kids-pizza-party Please register one time only under the adult's name.

Let's make pizza!

18/09/2024

Grown-ups & kids: We're making Toaster Pastries at Forest Hills Community Services on Thursday, September 26th. S'mores, Strawberry, and ooey-gooey frostings? Yes, please!

Register online at: https://fhps.digitalsignup.com/Class/582-cook-with-your-kids-toasty-goodness-ages

17/09/2024

We still have spots available for Cherries on Top! It's going to be a delicious class! Register online at: https://fhps.digitalsignup.com/Class/578-cherries-on-top or call: 616-493-8950

The “Cherries on Top” Cooking Class is this Thurs 9/19, 5:30pm at the Forest Hills Community Enrichment Center! Chef Syndy Sweeney of T. Rex & the Rabbit Foods, LLC will show how to make cherry scones, compote, Rugelach, and Cherries Jubilee! Register at https://fhps.digitalsignup.com or call Community Enrichment at 616-493-8950.

07/09/2024

We can't forget the adults this fall! Join me for 4 cooking classes at Forest Hills Community Services We've got TONS of Cherry Desserts, Paella, Stews out the w***o, and Tex-Mex! Let's get cooking and eating!

For more information and to register, please visit: https://fhps.digitalsignup.com/

07/09/2024

COOK WITH YOUR KIDS at Forest Hills Community Services this Fall!

We've got four fun and delicious classes coming up, including Toasty Goodness which is right around the corner (register at: https://fhps.digitalsignup.com/Class/582-cook-with-your-kids-toasty-goodness-ages

For the rest of the classes, visit: https://fhps.digitalsignup.com/

Let's get cooking!

07/09/2024

It's Chef Syndy's favorite time of the year! Join her for her kids' Halloween Cooking Class: Witches' Brew at Forest Hills Community Services

We're making Spider Web Soup (with spider croutons) and Chocolate Cauldrons that we're going to fill with all kinds of creepy deliciousness!

Register online at: https://fhps.digitalsignup.com/Class/631-halloween-cooking-class-witches39-brew-ag

05/09/2024

It's the second year in a row that I haven't had a garden 😥 but what I DO have instead is farm stands! I visited 🍎 last week and again last night before work and what a harvest! These are just a few things from my haul:

Purple cauliflower raw and then blanched (the water turned a beautiful bluish green--it didn't photograph well but it would make a great natural dye!), a snack of sweet musk melon, and the cobbler I made from a basket of plums! Plum cobbler is now my favorite cobbler so I was well chuffed to find another basket of plums last night!

Thanks and 😘