Oddball Coffee Roasters is a small-batch coffee roaster located in Morgantown, WV. Specializing in, well, odd flavors, reads their website.

Their beans come from Guatemala, Ethiopa, Tanzania and other blends. Have you tried this local roaster?

Cassandra's Cookies was established in 2020 and is a home bakery with a penchant for sugar cookies. The self-taught baker churns out tons of tasty treats.



The Morgantown home business makes delicious cookies in a variety of flavors: Strawberry Lemonade, Pumpkin Spice, Apple Butter, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Churro, Original Sugar Cookie. I got my hands on a few around the holidays and enjoyed them greatly.

Have you tried them yet?

Here's my latest column:

Bologna played a starring role in my youth.

Paired with the co-stars of white bread, Kraft American singles and Miracle Whip, bologna sandwiches kept my belly full for many of my grade school years.

And it kept my studies strong: I have the Oscar Meyer lunch meat to thank for learning how to spell b-o-l-o-g-n-a. (“Baloney,” on the other hand, is actually a slang term for nonsense.)

The deli meat is inexpensive, which is often its primary selling point, and is traditionally made with odds and ends of chicken, turkey, beef or pork. It is similar to the Italian mortadella, which originated in the Italian city of Bologna - hence the name.

While cost is often a factor in foods’ popularity throughout Appalachia, historically, preservation has also been key to ensure food is available year-round during harsh winters or difficult crop seasons.

Enter: Pickled Bologna.

Pickled bologna is that same fine processed mix of poultry and beef innards and trimmings but formed into a rope and submerged in vinegar to create a tangy, salty delicacy. Best served with saltines.

Giant jars filled with coiled bologna ropes can sometimes be found on countertops of small corner stores or gas stations. Though the practice is less common today, rural stores would sell individual hunks of the bologna from the jar and place it onto wax or butcher paper for customers to enjoy as a treat.

For many, pickled bologna is a staple at ballpark games or family reunions. It can serve as a zesty meat as part of a charcuterie board and pairs perfectly with pumpernickel bread and grainy mustard.

While many people today would eschew the idea of bologna - let alone pickled bologna - the notion behind the foodstuff helps provide a window into Appalachian cuisine. Appalachians have always been innovative and steadfast; and it often leads to some of the tastiest creations.

The Juneteenth Farm to Table dinner at Capitol Market - Charleston, WV was amazing! 💓 Chef Ke (Keke Frederick) created a delicious meal that celebrates Black farmers. Ashley Monique Wright with Dem 2 Bros & A Grill served as our illustrious host for the evening and Dural Miller with Keep Your Faith led volunteers to pull it all together. If there’s an amazing event in the community, you know DJEJ (EJ Price) and Rafael Barker Photography (Rafael Barker) are there to support. 1st course
Fried Green Tomato
Corn Salsa, Cotija Cheese, Spicy Dill Remoulade 2nd course
Nested Salad
Buttermilk Fried Oyster, Deviled Egg, Foccacia Croutons, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Mixed Greens, D2B BBQ Vinaigrette 3rd course
Tender Braised Short Ribs & Grits
Southern Style Collard Greens, Caramelized Onions and Green Onions 4th course
Watermelon Sorbet WHY THIS MEAL MATTERS
"Tonight's Juneteenth Farm-to-Table Dinner is the first of its kind in West Virginia. This event is is special and important to me because it represents an opportunity to contradict so many of the misrepresentations of African Americans - especially farmers. All the produce and inventory for this four-course meal has been sourced locally from Black farmers. I am so proud and happy to showcase the work of Black farmers and to emphasize and exemplify the beauty and freshness of African American cuisine and Soul Food." - Chef Ke

Chef Ke's food journey began in Alexandria, Virginia; while food has always been a central part of her life story, her first lessons in cuisine came from her mother - a South Carolina native doing what she does best in the kitchen. During her formative years, Chef Ke attended 4-H and YMCA camps that built upon the lessons she learned at home. She cooks with a focus on Soul Food and African American cuisine while working diligently to incorporate products from Black W farmers into her menus. Chef Ke is currently the Head Chef and Kitchen Manager of Dem 2 Brothers & A Grill. She also blesses the palates of diners throughout the region with her service as a private chef and caterer. Che Ke continues to shine a light on what it is and what it means to be an African American woman and chef in a male-dominated industry. She continues and celebrates the history and importance of all those who walked before us and broke the barriers of being Black and a chef. THE FARMERS

DONNIE HAIRSTON - MR. JOE'S
Born and raised in the heart of Appalachia, Donnie Hairston developed a deep-rooted love for his homeland and a profound respect for its natural resources. His vitality of the region's landscapes and combat food deserts. After careers in both the military and the coal mining industry, now at 7o years old Donnie's days are spent nurturing his passion for agriculture, particularly in poultry and egg production. In addition to tending to his farm, Donnie finds immense joy in sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with younger generations. As a mentor, he takes great pride in training aspiring farmers on the intricacies of farm management and the proper care of equipment, ensuring that his legacy of agricultural excellence continues to flourish. Beyond his agricultural pursuits, Donnie is an avid outdoorsman; Donnie's connection to nature is palpable and profound. He embodies the spirit of the Appalachian way of life, leaving an indelible mark on all those fortunate enough to know him.

NICOLE EDWARDS - HERITAGE MOUNTAIN BERRIES, THIRD EYE
BEE COMPANY
Mort Bont in emesse ol Edeards hal from 4 fich heritee of Born in Tennessee, Nicole Edwards hails from a rich heritage of Native American and Black Appalachian roots. She now calls McDowell County home where she proudly represents the third generation of Black farmers in her family. She believes in harnessing the wisdom of the past and the promise of the future, guided by the spirits of her ancestors. Nicole is a walking repository of agricultural knowledge and credits her father "Sky" Edwards - a Black Native American war hero known for his wisdom and foresight - as an invaluable resource. Her passions lie in specialties like beekeeping and berry production. As the owner and operator of Heritage Mountain Farms and a founding partner of the Three Eve Bee Company, Nicole embodies a commitment to Black excellence and community sustainability. With determination, Black brilliance, and unapologetic pride, Nicole is poised to leave an indelible mark on her community and beyond.

JASON TARTT - T&T ORGANICS, APPALACHIAN GOLD
Jason B. Tartt, Sr. came up in the Hartwell community of McDowell County and businesses and organizations focused on promoting the promise of the Appalachian region and her people as well as establishing synergistic connections between Appalachia and Africa.. He has developed training and experiential learning environments for budding food producers and future business owners on the 335-acre demonstration, training and research facility in Berwind, West Virginia. Jason's work has been supported in several publications and social change-focused programs, including CNN's United Shades of America, "Black in Appalachia" (S> Ep). Jason shared the rich opportunities around agriculture and entrepreneurship with host W. Kamau Bell and his audience as well as his goal for this region of Appalachia is "Black excellence." Did you attend?

The Mall of America is the largest mall in the United States, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, and the twelfth largest shopping mall in the world.



While I was traveling through the area, I made a pitstop to check it out and find some goodies.



M&M's World is a retail store that specializes in M&M's candy and merchandise - plus some cool interactive features.



One cool feature is that you can fill up your own candy bag full of whatever types of m&ms you'd like. I did a mix of caramel, peanut and regular in all sorts of colors.



And then there's the m&ms that you can personalize with text, images and symbols.



They have pre-selected color palettes, but you can customize those. I can never find my name in souvenir shops, so I was thrilled to make my own. And, yummy as always.



Have you been?