Not for one moment do I begrudge water-deprived California a drop of moisture. After suffering through five years of drought, losing 102 million trees in its stricken forests, this state needed a miracle. Obviously Mother Nature heard the plea, tweeted Mt.Olympus and Zeus, the Greek god of clouds, rain, thunder and lightning answered the call. That’s my story. Sticking to it. As we know, however, sometimes Zeus, who rules the skies, goes overboard.
Salted Olive Crisps
Okay, okay, enough with the silliness. For me, 2017 will be remembered as the Winter of Rain. With apologies to the late Debbie Reynolds, may she rest in peace, I’ve gotten very weary of singing and dancing in it. To be clear, however, everyone living here is thrilled to see rain gauges rising. As am I.
The payoff is those winter showers brought April flowers, They’re spectacular. Unprecedented is the word used by wildflower experts. After 5 years of drought, the trees, however, cannot bounce back.
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” (Thanks, Dolly.)
Our feathered friends are happy – so much to eat and sing about. House Finch
Despite the inclement weather I chalked up another glorious winter. Wary of wasting a moment, that clock’s always ticking, and despite too much indoorness, I buddied up with Solitude. Christopher Knight, the now-outed hermit who lived for 27 years in the Maine wilderness, opined to his biographer, Michael Finkel, “There isn’t nearly enough nothing in the world anymore.”
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel Penguin Random House photo
Whatever he meant by that, I decided to treat nothing as a luxury, building each day on that idea. It definitely worked for me. To my mind, I thrived. Honestly, that I could pull off four months of my definition ofnothing so happily was eye-opening to me. But, twenty-seven years of it, kill me now! I am very ready to return home.
Last Saturday my food blogging colleague, Katie, and her husband, Marcel, and daughter Alaia, came for lunch, a 3-year tradition. I made a Herbed Parmesan Dutch Baby from Melissa Clark’s newest cookbook, Dinner, Changing the Game. More about Clark’s cookbook next time.
Before my signing off from Cali, last Saturday Katie Baillargeon, her husband, Marcel and almost-five Alaia, joined me for lunch. I first met Katie, a professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, in 2012 when I joined French Fridays with Dorie. She also organized and is now our Cook the Book Friday’s administrator. This is the third winter we’ve broken bread together, a record-breaking 5 hour lunch despite my setting off the smoke alarm while making it. I was mortified. Surprisingly, the meal was salvaged and the haze lessened (in about 30 minutes), There is much to admire about this young family.
Alaia played on the beach, climbed trees and ate a grilled cheese sandwich.
This is my last post from Cambria. I’m in Death Valley for Easter and then will fly from Las Vegas to Atlanta to visit the Carter Presidential Library. It’s the 12th of the 13 presidential libraries I have seen. I regard these under recognized libraries as the uncrowned jewels of our historic heritage. Then, Colorado-bound.
According to the Locals, the most delicious strawberries are grown in Santa Margarita and are now available at our Cambria Farmer’s Market.
This week’s CooktheBookFridays recipe is Salted Olive Crisps, usually served with apéritifs before dinner. I’ve shared the recipe and my personal tips below. One of my most delicious meals this winter was Iron Skillet Roasted Mussels. So simple. So easy. If you own a cast iron skillet, be open to the possibilities.
Carizzo Plain National Monument is a region of 250,000 acres and is the largest native grassland remaining in California. The San Andreas fault cuts straight through it. The unique Soda Lake, pictured here, is shallow, white, and alkaline, with no external drainage.
IRON SKILLET ROASTED MUSSELS by Sharon Kramis & Julie Kramis Hearne, The Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 leek (white part only), rinsed well and chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded (discard any that won’t close)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
PREPARATION:
1. Combine the wine, butter, leek, and red pepper in a 10- to 12-inch cast iron skillet or 5-quart Dutch oven. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the mussels, and cover either with a lid or heavy tinfoil. Cook until the shells open and the mussels are plump, about 8 minutes. Discard any that won’t open.
3. Sprinkle the parsley over the top and season with a dash of salt and pepper. Serve right from the skillet or Dutch oven with a leafy green salad and sliced baguette or rustic country bread.
Meal is Over.
SALTED OLIVE CRISPS by David Lebovitz, My Paris Kitchen
1. Rather than the 30 minutes David suggested for baking the loaf mixture, I baked it for 45 minutes.
2. Because I wanted a bit more crisp, I put the finished slices under the broiler for 1 to 11/2 minutes.
3. These Salted Olive Crisps are better eaten immediately. Although they can be stored up to one week in an airtight container at room temperature, I needed to ‘crisp them again” at 325 degree heat for 3-5 minutes.
4. Like baking mandelbrot or biscotti, this is a labor intensive recipe that requires an olive that is not too damp and a very sharp bread knife. While I enjoyed making this once, it’s probably a recipe I won’t bake again.
CooktheBookFridays is an international group virtually cooking through David Lebovitz’s, My Paris Kitchen. To see what my colleagues baked this week, go here.
Beautiful coastal Tinytips, an annual wildflower, and our dead California coastal oaks. A heartbreaking site prevalent throughout the state.
This week’s post, falling on March 17th, was shaping up so nicely. Today is St. Patrick’s Day, a time even for Irish wannabes to make merry. Take advantage of this holiday to laugh and be spontaneously rambunctious. I dare you. Erin Go Bragh.
Also worth sharing, my recent 5-day trip to Monterey, a coastal city located in the northern part of California’s Central Coast. I have a whale of a tale to tell. (FYI, the whales were Humpbacks.)
Now here’s when my post veers off-track. In homage to the mischief making-leprechauns amongst us, I made SweetPaul’sMrs. Frings’ Irish Soda Bread. Memo to self: Bake this more than once a year. My Cook-the-Book-Friday’s recipe this week is DavidLebovitz’sCaramel Pork Ribs. With those ribs I decided to try Crispy Salt-And-Vinegar Potatoes, a delicious choice.
Located in Castroville, California, the Artichoke Capital of the World, family-owned Pezzini Farms has produced Heirloom Golden Globe artichokes for over 80 years.
David Lebovitz’s Travers de Porc au Caramel flopped. (I decided I’m less embarrassed to fail in French than English.) It was painful to toss out 3 pounds of pork ribs. Plus, while making the caramelized sauce in my dutch oven, I burned my arm three times. Being a glutton for punishment, I’m posting a photo of the ribs. This recipe didn’t work for me. I hope my CTBF’s blogging buddies can save me.
The unsuccessful ribs visiting with the successful Fingerling Potato Chips.
Monterey trip. Check. Irish soda bread. Check. Crispy Salt-and-Vinegar Potatoes. Check. Caramel Pork Ribs. Fail. I’m at 75% this week. Lame.
FIELD TRIP: WHALES, MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM & STEINBECK
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway is arguably the most gorgeous scenic drive in America. If I’m headed north out of Cambria, it’s the road I travel. Not this year. In the storm-battered Big Sur area, due to the collapse of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge to the north and eroding landslides to the south, the highway has been closed indefinitely. While economically devastating to so many, I was still able to leave early one beautiful morning to drive the longer US 101 route to Monterey.
There are almost 12,650 acres of strawberries planted in Monterey County.
The acclaimed Monterey Bay Aquarium was my first stop. Although I planned to spend the day at the Aquarium, with Time and Spontaneity being my friends, I still spent the first ten minutes putting together my day’s schedule. (I really don’t do “spontaneity” well.)
A staff member at the Aquarium suggested I go to The Fish Hopper on Cannery Row for my lunch break.
By day’s end, because I had been simpatico with my wristwatch, I managed to enjoy all four auditorium films, watch five feeding sessions and visit the exhibits in a leisurely manner. Exceeded my expectations.
John Steinbeck’s beautiful boyhood Victorian home in Salinas. It was built in 1897 in the Queen Anne style. I had lunch in the dining room’s restaurant.
The next day I drove to the 90-mile long Salinas Valley, located 25 miles from Monterey, to spend the morning on a fascinating agricultural tour with Evan Oakes of Ag Venture Tours. The valley, affectionally called “America’s Salad Bowl”, produces 59% of our country’s lettuce, 53%, broccoli, and is the state’s #1 producer of many of the 43 fruits and vegetables grown there. Oakes let me personalize the tour with my choosing to visit small producers rather than big boys, like Dole, Driscoll and Earthbound Farm. Would go again.
by Oprah.com
In the afternoon I went to Salinas and walked in the footsteps of author John Steinbeck who was awarded both the Pulitzer Prize (The Grapes of Wrath) and Nobel Prize in Literature (1962). After visiting his home and having lunch in the dining room’s restaurant, I spent the afternoon at the National Steinbeck Center. Not enough time.
Our Naturalist on board the Elkhorn Slough Safari said we had encountered 78 Southern Sea Otters. Also called California Sea Otters, these otters may be cute but they aren’t cuddly!
The next two days I spent at Moss Landing, a quirky fishing village located 18 miles from Monterey. I took a nature trip into the unique Elkhorn Slough seeing, among many things, 78 Southern Sea Otters. I also took a pelagic trip and saw humpback whales, always a thrill, and a black footed albatross. The albatross, which circled our boat three different times, was a Life Bird for me. This pelagic trip was a time when I didn’t want the camera to get in front of the experience, so no photos. More whale trips planned.
Named for American marine biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson, this former supply vessel was acquired by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in 2011. Located at Moss Landing, founded by David Packard and funded by his foundation, MBARI is doing phenomenal work in understanding our oceans. The Rachel Carson is equipped with the most sophisticated exploring tools and equipment. It was exciting to learn about and to actually see this vessel. Science in Action.
A perfect trip. No glitches. Best of all, sunshine.
“May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song. May each day bring you bright, happy hours. That stay with you all the year long.” Irish Blessing
Mrs. Frings’ Irish Soda Bread from Sweet Paul by Staffer, Paul Vitale
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 stick of butter (8 TBS) at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 lb. raisins
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp.baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbs. Caraway seeds (optional)
1 and 1/2 cup buttermilk
DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Mix butter into dry mixture by hand until clumps disappear.
3. Slowly add in the buttermilk by hand until you can form one big clump of dough.
4. Place in 8 or 9 inch round, springform, or cast iron pan that’s been coated with butter and flour.
5. Bake until deep golden brown at 400 degrees for 50-60 minutes, checking at the 40 minute mark. (My soda bread took 45 minutes.)
6. Remove from oven, place on rack and drape with damp cloth until cool.
7. Slice and enjoy with Irish butter!
TIP: I love the taste of caraway, but not in my soda bread!
TIP: If you wish and to make your bread sweeter, top with sparkling white decorating sugar before popping it into the oven. (After Step 4.) It is coarse-grained and will not melt. It’s available from King Arthur’s, Michael’s, where Wilton products are sold, or Amazon.) I did not use it.
Crispy Salt-And-Vinegar Potatoes, Bon Appétit. Adapted for the Kitchn by Gina Eykemans
6 Servings
INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds baby Yukon Gold potatoes, halved, quartered if large, OR fingerling potatoes, halved
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more if necessary
2 tablespoons olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Flaky sea salt (such as Maldon)
Covered with olive oil and ready for the oven, I was not a fan of the purple fingerlings but only because they didn’t look appetizing to me.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine potatoes, 1 cup vinegar, and 1 Tbsp. kosher salt in a medium saucepan. Add water to cover by 1”.
2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until potatoes are tender, 20–25 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
3. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. Mix the potatoes in a bowl with olive oil until generously coated. Evenly spread the potatoes out onto the prepared baking sheet. Salt the potatoes.
5. Bake for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, broil the potatoes until crispy, stirring every five minutes to ensure that they don’t burn. Allow them to crisp up to your liking — this might take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Once they are crispy, remove them from the oven. Drizzle lightly with remaining 1-2 Tbsp. vinegar.
7. Season with flaky sea salt salt and sprinkle with chives.
8. Serve immediately.
TIP: Although I used variously colored fingerling potatoes, stick with the lightly-skinned variety which are better-looking eye candy. .
CELEBRATING THE 6TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MY BLOG WITH Maida Heatter’s East 62nd Street Lemon Cake
If Life tosses you lemons, put together Maida Heatter’s classic East 62nd Street Lemon Cake. This glorious cake was published to rave reviews by Craig Claiborne in the New York Times more than fifty years ago. According to many bakers, it’s the best lemon cake ever, one that’s stood the test of time and earned countless blue ribbons at county fairs.
AFTER 5 YEARS OF MAKING 300 RECIPES FROM DORIE GREENSPAN’S AROUND MY FRENCH TABLE COOKBOOK, THESE ARE SOME FAVORITES.
Heatter’s famous cake was my pick to honor the 6-year anniversary of this blog. I switched on these lights on February 22, 20l1. After setting up shop in 9 different kitchens, cooking, clicking and writing my way through 280 posts, I proudly say, “Let us eat lemon cake!”
THIS WEEK’S COOKTHEBOOKFRIDAYS RECIPE CHOICE IS A DELICIOUS FARRO SALAD with ROOT VEGETABLES & POMEGRANATE.
Be sure to try this week’s CooktheBookFridays spectacular recipe choice, Farro Salad with Root Vegetables & Pomegranate. I’ve suggested many variations to this dish and will be serving it often this year. (Donna Chase and Emma, this has your names on it.)
OUR GREAT HENDERSON NEIGHBORS IN ANTHEM COUNTRY CLUB HELPED ME GET MY BLOG UP AND ACTIVE. ADRIANA (L) IS ONE OF THE BEST COOKS I KNOW. HER FOOD IS ALWAYS FRESH AND HEALTHY. DOM AND RAY, LOYAL TASTE TESTERS, OWNED A SUCCESFUL DELI IN NEW YORK CITY BEFORE MOVING TO NEVADA. ONE OF THE BEST MEALS I EVER HAD WAS AT THEIR HOME ON A CHRISTMAS EVE. BOBBY IS A GRILL MASTER AND, WITH ADRIANA, ARE ALWAYS FEEDING SOMEONE. MICHELLE IS NOT ONLY A LAWYER & JUDGE BUT ALSO GRADUATED FROM CULINARY SCHOOL. SHE WAS MY GO-TO-GAL.
Today’s post is a tribute to the Life I’ve rebuilt and the people who led the way. After scrolling through 6 years of photos, I admit to being amazed at the support of others. When I began this blog in 2011, we had been living in Henderson for 7 years. Hospice has just begun caring for Michael. I was so tired, just done, and inquired about my checking into Hospice also. They were only slightly amused and often hustled me out the door, allowing me time to begin picking up the pieces.
MY BLOG GAVE ME A REASON TO ENTERTAIN AGAIN AND I LOVED DOING IT. HERE I AM TRYING OUT SOME RECIPES WITH ACC NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY.
The tale of LOBNB’s is oft-repeated. The short version is I needed structure to my days. Creating a blog and joining a virtual cooking group appealed to me. I committed to cook, photograph, write about and post a recipe from Dorie Greenspan’sAround my French Table cookbook every Friday. When my first post appeared, fifty-some food bloggers, calling themselves Doristas, welcomed me to French Fridays with Dorie. It was a game-changer.
WHEN DORIE WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FOOD BLOGGERS CONFERENCE IN SEATTLE, MANY OF US ATTENDED IT TO MEET EACH OTHER AND SUPPORT OUR MENTOR.
OUR FRENCH FRIDAY FAMILY HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME IN SEATTLE.
When Michael died 16 months later, Melissa came to stay with me. Among the many deeds she did for me while I sat at the kitchen table eating bags of Lay’s Fritos, was take over my French Fridays blogging chore. She never missed a deadline and my blog was in place when I returned.
WE WORK TO MAKE MEET-UPS HAPPEN. WHEN I TRAVELED TO HYDE PARK TO SEE FDR’S PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY, MANY DORISTAS FOUND TIME AND MADE THE EFFORT TO HAVE DINNER TOGETHER AT PAUL BOCUSE’S AT THE NEARBY CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA.
THIS CELEBRATION TURNED BITTERSWEET ON WEDNESDAY AFTER HEARING OUR WONDERFUL COLLEAGUE, KATHY VAN BRUINESSE (CENTER), HAD LOST HER FIERCE BATTLE WITH CANCER. BETSY POLLACK, WHO WAS AN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SITE WITH ME, SAID IT BEST, “My sadness reinforces my amazement at the strength of the connections we have made through FFWD.”
What my friends and family quickly understood was my commitment would morph into a group effort. Polishing up forgotten cooking skills was a minor inconvenience compared to dealing with technical glitches. My grocery bills at Whole Foods/Trader Joe’s skyrocketed, the pantry was no longer bare and my collection of Penzeys spices grew in numbers. Most importantly, my food production quickly outgrew my ability to consume it.
It took effort to right my world. Although I’ve heard it takes a village, for me it took three, in Henderson, Bishop and Aspen. (And, still does.) This blog is about that ongoing journey. Here are some highlights from those first six years…..
MY BLOG IS A FAMILY PROJECT. “IT’S FOR GRANDMA’S BLOG.” TRANSLATES TO “DO IT.” UNFORTUNATELY SINCE I GAVE STEPHEN FOOD POISONING BY RE-WARMING A CORNDOG THAT HAD BEEN IN THE OVEN ALL NIGHT, HE IS RELUCTANT TO EAT ANYTHING I COOK!
AT HOME IN ASPEN
WHEN I FIRST MOVED BACK TO ASPEN, DONNA GRAUER SUGGESTED WE MAKE THE FRENCH FRIDAYS RECIPE, COEUR à LA CRÈME, TOGETHER. EVER SINCE I HAVE BEEN COOKING WITH THESE GALS FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS. CHAR MCLAIN (L) DONNA, DONNA CHASE
COEUR À LA CRÈME
THE GREATEST TASTE TESTERS EVER, EVER, EVER. THE STAFF AT THE GANT.
WHEN I RETURNED TO ASPEN MY SILVER KING DRIVE FRIEND, BLANCA O’LEARY, NEVER FORGOT TO INCLUDE ME IN ACTIVITIES I HAD LEFT BEHIND . WITH BLANCA, EVERY DAY IS A CELEBRATION WHICH REVOLVES AROUND GOOD FOOD (TASTE-TESTERS) AND GOOD PEOPLE. SINCE MY FAMILY LIVES SO FAR AWAY, MY SILVER KING DRIVE FRIENDS, CAVANAUGH, CAV AND BLANCA,AND STEVE, SUSAN, RACHEL AND JOSH PHILIPS HAVE STEPPED IN TO SHARE THEIRS.
EVERY BLOGGER NEEDS AN AUDIENCE AND THESE ARE SEVEN OF MY MOST LOYAL SUBSCRIBERS WHO ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING NICE TO SAY ABOUT MY POSTS. IN FACT, I SUSPECT LUKY, (3 FROM LEFT) FORWARDS MY POSTS TO HER FORMIDABLE LIST OF E-MAIL CONTACTS EVERY WEEK INSISTING IT BE READ.
Travel + Leisure Magazine named the hot chocolate at The Little Nell “America’s Best Hot Chocolate.” So Jessica (L) and Kathryn (R) agreed to help me with the taste test. It was lunch time, too late for breakfast and too early for apres-ski but we forged ahead. It was delicious. It cost $12.
Maida Heatter’s EAST 62nd STREET LEMON CAKE from HER Book of Great Desserts
INGREDIENTS:
Cake
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
16 tablespoons (1⁄2 lb) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 cup whole milk
2 finely grated rinds of medium-sized lemons
Glaze
1⁄2 cup lemon juice
3⁄4 cup sugar
Topping
1/3 cup lemon juice
2/3 cup powdered sugar
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Generously butter or spray 12-cup bundt pan 12-cup Bundt pan and dust it all lightly with fine, dry bread crumbs. (I did not dust with fine bread crumbs although Heatter insisted it provided a crisp finish to the cake.)
3. Sift in all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt together and set aside.
4. In large bowl of electric mixer cream the butter. Add the sugar and beat for 2 to 3 minutes.
5. On lowest speed available beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping the bowl as necessary with a rubber spatula.
6. Reduce the mixer speed to low, and alternately add the dry ingredients and milk in five additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Fold the batter by hand until smooth. Stir in lemon rind. Turn the batter into prepared pan. Level top by rotating pan briskly back and forth.
7. Bake for 60-75 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.
8. Let cake stand in pan for about 3-5 minutes before inverting it to remove from bundt pan to place on cooling rack. Put a large piece of aluminum foil or waxed paper under the rack.
9. Whisk the lemon juice and sugar together and carefully brush over the hot cake until absorbed. The glaze must be used immediately after it is mixed and while the cake is hot.
10. Let cake cool completely.
11. Mix together the powdered sugar and lemon juice, if desired Pour or frost over the cake as desired. (If you wish to just sprinkle it with plain powdered sugar, that’s perfect also.
12. Do not cut for at least several hours.
WHEN I INVITE FRIENDS TO DINNER PLANNING TO DO A POST ABOUT IT, I ALWAYS SAY, “WEAR YOUR LIPSTICK.” ,
FARRO SALAD with ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES and POMEGRANATE by David Lebovitz
Six to Eight Servings
INGREDIENTS:
Salad
1 cup wheat berries or farro
one bay leaf
2 pounds assorted root vegetables : (carrots, rutabagas, turnips, parsnips or beets) and butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt or kosher salt
freshly-ground black pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leafed parsley
Seeds from 1 pomegranate
Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Dressing
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey or 2 teaspoons of pomegranate molasses
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
2. Cook the wheat berries or farro with the bay leaf, according to directions until tender, but still chewy.
3. While the wheat berries or farro are cooking, toss and then mix together the diced vegetables on a baking sheet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, seasoning well with salt and pepper.
4. Roast the vegetables in the bottom third of the oven, stirring once midway during baking, for 30-35 minutes, or until cooked through and browned on the outside.
5. To make the dressing, mix together the mustard, salt, lemon juice and honey or molasses in a large bowl. Stir in the olive oil. (I mixed the dressing together in a jar and shook it!)
6. Once the wheat berries or farro are cooked, drain them well, plucking out the bay leaf.
7. First mix the grains with the dressing in a large bowl. Stir in the root vegetables, parsley and pomegranate seeds. Do a final check for seasoning and add more salt, black pepper, and additional olive oil, if desired.
8. Serve warm or at room temperature..
Storage: Can be made up to two days in advance, and refrigerated. Bring it to room temperature before serving. If necessary, add a few drops of lemon juice to liven it up before serving.
This salad is also good served warm with roasted meat or chicken with pan juices scraped over the top.
David suggests some possible additions to add to the finished salad:
Toasted and coarsely chopped pecans, hazelnuts, or walnuts
Diced dried apricots, cranberries or cherries
Cubes of feta or bleu cheese strewn over the top
A big squeeze of fresh lemon or tangerine juice, or some zest
Sautéed mushrooms tossed in with the root vegetables
Wilted greens, cooked with garlic, coarsely chopped
A generous handful of spicy arugula coarsely chopped
COOKTHEBOOKFRIDAYS is an on-line food blogging group which is cooking its way through David Lebovitz’s My Paris Kitchen. Check us out here.
Tarte au Chocolat et Confiture de Lait – CooktheBookFridays
It poured last week. Rains were so heavy that 188,000 people were evacuated from a three-county area in northern California. A possible dam failure at Lake Oroville, a reservoir that supplies much of California’s drinking water, threatened to break, sending a 30-foot wall of water down its emergency spillway.
Oroville Dam is the largest earth-filled dam in our country. Standing at 770-feet tall, it’s the tallest dam in America beating out Hoover Dam at 726-feet in height. During our 8 years in nearby Henderson, Nevada, I was mesmerized by that structure and dragged my family and any somewhat-interested friends to see it. Remembering the expanse of HD, I cannot contemplate failure. Luckily the Oroville Dam held with more rain expected this week-end.
Blueberry Dutch Baby
The point is I’ve been house-bound for too many days. This “Big Question” post evolved from those stormy days. Lebovitz’s Chocolate-Dulce de Leche Tart is my CooktheBookFridays recipe. Don’t be hanging around the house when this tart is sitting on the counter. The tasty Dutch Baby always seem magical to me. Rise and flop. But I digress…..
FIsherman, Rock, and Pacific
Michael and I moved to Aspen in 1988. We knew no one, so imagine how delighted I was when our social calendar filled up during the next few months. That would be, I admit, because I joined, participated, accepted all invitations and never met a stranger. By the end of our first summer, Michael, who preferred small doses over gulps, was over it. One night, after a 10-evenings-out marathon, I walked into the bedroom to find him in bed with the duvet pulled over his head. “I am not going out for the next week,” he declared.
I wailed that we were lucky to be making so many friends and he was going to ‘ruin my Life if he wouldn’t do this.’
His answer was muffled but clear.“Then, I’ll just have to ruin your life.”
The end.
The tart has been pre-baked and covered with a layer of dulce de leche before this chocolate mixture is poured over it. Sprinkle with sea salt and put in the oven for final baking.
However, what I discovered he loved, as did I, was to entertain 8 guests for dinner at our Silver King Drive home. A home-cooked supper became our means of socializing. The key to those successful parties was not only good food and drink but also great conversation. In those years the banter flowed easily, no planning or forethought needed.
After pouring the batter into the cast iron pan, I sprinkled the berries on top and will put in the oven to bake.
Fast forward to my life now at The Gant. Although living on a smaller-scale, my means of socializing remains the same. In today’s world, however, planning food and drink pales to the forethought required to insure non-combative repartée.
It may seem self-serving but when I make the effort to cook a meal, I’d prefer my guests enjoy it. If someone spends an evening with me, I’d like them to leave with good memories, not indigestion. And, frankly, I want to be smiling also.
These small California Brown Pelicans don’t seem to mind that the fisherman commandeered their rock.
As the hostess, I can manage good behavior to a degree but here’s a great conversation starter I’ve used successfully at my table. It’s called The Big Question and is a monthly feature inThe Atlantic magazine. A week before the scheduled dinner, e-mail and ask all your guests to answer The Big Question. As dinner is being served, begin asking for responses. After just an answer or two, the conversation takes flight that will wander down interesting avenues and carry you through dessert. I promise. It’s refreshing and a time-time out from the day-to-day. Worth a try.
After your guests have given their answers, share The Atlantic’s responses from 5 or 6 experts, further broadening the conversation. Here are some examples:
What animal has most changed the course of history? Answers: Colo, the first gorilla born into human care; The mockingbirds collected in the Galápagos archipelago; Lucy; Martha, the last known passenger pigeon; whichever wolf was the first to slink up to a Paleolithic-era campfire; earthworms; rats.
Other questions 1) What day most changed the course of history; 2) Who was the worst leader of all time; 3) What was the best fictional meal ever; 4) What was the most influential TV Show ever;
Here’s the Link: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/category/big-question/
When the Great Blue Heron’s in full-on breeding plumage, its bill and lower legs change from yellow to orange and the area around the bill turns a bright blue. It sports long ornate plumes on its head, chest, and back.
CHOCOLATE – DULCE de LECHE TART My Paris Kitchen by David Lebovitz’s
DIRECTIONS: To make your own dulce de leche, start the process early in the morning as it does take awhile. The ingredient is a can of sweetened condensed milk. You can either boil your unopened can in a pot of water for 4-5 hours or open it up, spread it in a baking dish and bake it for 1 1/2-2 hours until dark golden and delicious.
2. This tart is a showstopper and not complicated to make. When it comes out of the oven, the tart will still be pretty jiggly. Never fear, it’s ready. After it’s cooled and, if desired, refrigerated, it will be ready.
3. Serve the tart with softly whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or just as is.
BLUEBERRY DUTCH BABY by Ben Mims, Food & Wine Daily
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup pomegranate juice
3 eggs
6 tablespoons salted butter
1 cup blueberries
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 425°.
In a bowl, whisk the flour with the milk, pomegranate juice and eggs until blended. In a 10- 12-inch cast iron skillet, melt the butter over high heat until foamy. Pour in the batter and sprinkle on the blueberries. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, until the pancake is golden brown.
Dust the pancake with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately.
CooktheBookFridays is an international group of food bloggers who are virtually cooking their way through My Paris Kitchen cookbook by David Lebovitz. To visit the group’s site, click here.
“Everyone has a story, the air is full of stories.” Isabelle Allende
COQ AU VIN (chicken in red wine sauce)
Do you realize January 2017 has packed its bag, left the house and won’t return? Already two days into February, it’s Groundhog Day. Punxutawney Phil saw his shadow. Looking ahead, (or, not,) Super Bowl Sunday, the Oscars and Presidents’ week-end are in the line-up. Oops, Valentine’s Day. Forget that at your peril.Like most of you, this Life of mine has never seen lazy days. Whatever time I have, I fill up 100%. If you’re honest, don’t we all?
I discovered a very large NAPA (Chinese) CABBAGE in my Talley Farms box this week. It was the size of a football.
SWEET and SOUR ROASTED NAPA CABBAGE WEDGES (The cabbages you’ll find in the markets are smaller, a more appropriate size).
Just as when it snows in the Rockies, the rains have lightened the hearts of Central Coast residents. California still is water-deprived but there’s been relief. And, Mother Nature, responding to the slightest of care, is blooming and going green.
This Great White Egret is a frequent visitor to Estero Bluffs. When I saw him, he was just finishing “something.” He has a neck that would have madeAudrey Hepburn envious.
I stood quietly for 15 minutes before the egret flew off.
For birds it’s all about food and safety.
LANDING IN GREENER PASTURES
Last year, during my four months in Cali, I got a sense of this remarkable state. Thankful for the opportunity with a car that was willing, I traveled its length and breadth. If I qualify as a lifetime learner, that 7,500 mile journey was a graduate seminar.
LAST WEEK I PACKED A LUNCH AND SPENT SEVERAL HOURS AT THE SAN SIMEON BAY WHARF AND SS STATE BEACH PARK, BOTH ADJACENT TO THE HEARST PROPERTY AND ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THE HEARST CASTLE.
AS I WALKED OUT ON THE WHARF, THIS CALIFORNIA GULL WAS PARKED ON THIS POST AND NOT ABOUT TO MOVE. I GOT RELATIVELY CLOSE. HE DIDN’T CARE. RIGHT BELOW THE GULL IS A SINK WHERE FISHERMEN CLEAN THEIR CATCH AND THE GULL WAS NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP HIS SPOT.
HERE’S THE REASON …..A SHORT TIME LATER,THIS FISHERMAN, A REGULAR ON THE WHARF, ARRIVED. HE HAS STORIES TO TELL AND ROCKFISH TO CATCH. THE GULL WANTS THE REMAINS.
AS I WAS LEAVING THE PARK, I SPOTTED THIS ZEBRA NEAR THE HEARST PROPERTY FENCE LINE. THERE ARE STILL ABOUT 24 ZEBRAS THAT DESCENDED FROM THE HERD HEARST HAD FOR HIS EXOTIC ANIMALS ZOO. USUALLY THEY GRAZE UP IN THE HILLS. THIS GUY WAS 10′ FROM ME AND IS QUITE A BEAUTIFUL CREATURE.
This year, because of self-imposed deadlines for writing projects, I decided to wander in my own backyard. I was reminded by those daily adventures that everyone has a story. Granted, not all are cliffhangers but each carries a whiff of charm, mystery or ya-gotta-hear-this.
I’VE NEVER SEEN A BLUE-AND-WHITE COW, I NEVER HOPE TO SEE ONE BUT I CAN TELL YOU ANYHOW I’S RATHER SEE THAN BE ONE.
The key, for me, at least, is to slow down, look and listen. Two of those traits I’ve never mastered successfully! This winter I am blessed with the luxury of Time which, for me, is a gift, something to embrace and not squander. January was squander-free, every day filled with a gem or two for the memory bank.
SO SIMPLE. SO PERFECT.
It’s Cook-the-Book Fridays and this week’s recipe is french deliciousness, Coq au Vin. One of Julia Child’s signature dishes and included in her 1961 Mastering the Art of French Cooking, she often made it on her PBS cooking show. I served this braised stew with a baguette and Sweet and Sour Roasted Napa Cabbage Wedges (recipe below.)
SWEET and SOUR ROASTED NAPA CABBAGE WEDGES adapted from Cooking Light magazine.
Yield: Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon whole-grain Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 head napa (Chinese) cabbage, cut lengthwise into quarters
Cooking spray
PREPARATION:
1. Place a large roasting pan in oven. Preheat oven and pan to 450°.
2. Combine first 7 ingredients in a small bowl.
3. Coat cut sides of cabbage with cooking spray. Place cabbage, cut sides down, on preheated pan. Bake 6 minutes. Turn cabbage onto other cut side; bake an additional 6 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Heat broiler to high. Brush cabbage liberally but evenly with honey mixture. Broil 3-5 minutes, until browned and caramelized.
COOK-the-BOOK-FRIDAYS is an international cooking group making its way virtually through David Lebovitz’s MY PARIS KITCHEN. See our group’s efforts here.
My friend, Dr. Marilyn Susman celebrated the 99th birthday of her mother, Helen Epstein, in Palm Beach. “We walked around the pond at Brookdale.” Marilyn said. “Other residents were at their windows or outside cheering us on.” Happy Birthday, Mrs. Epstein.
Democracy is messy. We Americans have inaugurated presidents since April 30, 1789, when George Washington took his oath at Federal Hall in New York City. Last week Donald Trump became our 45th president. A week-long celebration by his supporters in Washington DC was exciting. Jubilation reigned. Winning is fun.
Women’s March for Human Rights 2017, San Luis Obispo
However, on the next day American women grabbed the reins. LightsonBrightNoBrakes is not only devoted to food but, more importantly, to the lifestyle I’ve created after losing my husband. Today’s post is about my participation in that historic Women’s March 2017.
Since the early birds gets a parking space, I arrived in SLO very early before the March. These three women invited me to join them for breakfast. Thank you, Janice
Everything about this day was perfect, uplifting and peaceful. While being my own one-man band in San Luis Obispo, I spent the day surrounded by a lifetime of friends, thanks to the miraculous magic of my iPhone.
FRENCH FRIDAYS with DORIE, the DORISTA’S, my cooking colleagues from around the world, were marching. Dorie Greenspan, our mentor and friend, marched in Paris. I also got March On-messages from Emily in Khala Lumpur, Andrea in Bonn, Adriana in Puerto Rico, Trevor in Thailand and many America gals.
Betsy (C), an administrator with me on FFWD and CtBF, was in Boston with 175,000 of her best friends.
Teresa, who virtually walked through the last year with me, is from Vancouver.
Alaia rode while her dad, Marcel, and Katie, the administrator of CtBF’s and UCSB professor marched.
Another Dorista, Rose in Frankfurt, Germany
PLAN 1: After the election I read about a possible January 21st Woman’s March in Washington. Undecided but curious I booked a flight and reserved a room at Club Quarters Hotel located two blocks from the White House. In late December after reading about inauguration security concerns, I had second thoughts. Worst case scenario: my son-in-law flying across the country to settle civil disobedience charges against his mother-in-law. I bailed!
ASPEN – SKI/FLASH MOB/MARCH
Donna Grauer and many of my other friends skied down Aspen Mountain as part of the March.
My longtime Aspen neighbor, Blanca, was in San Miguel de Allende. During the March, her husband, Cav, linked me to her and friends in Vail and Aspen.
PLAN 2: In early January I noticed San Luis Obisbo, located 35 miles from Cambria, was holding a Sister March. I signed up. Since I would be alone, I began to “customize” my Women’s March, owning it, so to speak. I contacted friends, inquiring about their participation and, like the march itself, the numbers kept growing.
MANCHESTER, FRIENDS from MY HOMETOWN
My Manchester friend of 60 years, Judy Sweet (L), marched in San Diego.
Our Manhawk Student Body President, Judy Miller, couldn’t march so her sweet daughter, Sarah, joined the Iowa March in Des Moines.
One of the really good guys from the Class of ’62, Jim Goodwin, marched with his sister, Kris, in Sonoma.
On January 21st, I joined a visual friendship circle strung together on social media and physically lined up with some 8,000 to 9,000 marchers in SLO. I realized, as the day progressed, I was participating in the largest organized march of protest in American history. To date, about 3.3 million people participated in 408 marches in 500 American cities. Worldwide participation included 168 cities in 81 countries and on every continent bringing our number close to 4.8 million. Only women could pull together an event of that magnitude in just two months.
A Familiar Sign – Me, too.
Museums Worldwide including some Smithsonian Museums, Are Collecting and archiving Women’s March Posters and memorabilia.
Do I believe this March will encourage policy changes or compromises by the Republican Trump administration? When Pigs Fly. (In a Word, No.)
But, “Just as plants need sun, water, and good soil to thrive, people need love, work, and a connection to something larger.”The Happiness Hypothesis, Jonathan Haidt
The Womens March for Human Rights 2017 was my something larger.
