Good Show and Continued Good Luck

A modern bride for a new generation

Okay....I'll admit it.  I'm one of those Americans who finds the British Royal Family fascinating.  There's the pomp, circumstance, hats, horses, corgis, and dysfuntion.  You have to love the fact they seem to have just as much nuttiness in their family as most regular people.  They just have castles, carriages, and A LOT more money.

The happy couple

In 1981, when Diana and Charles took their ill-fated walk down the aisle with Camilla in attendance.... there's some of that royal dysfunction I mentioned earlier.....my Mom and I woke up at the crack of dawn, donned hats and gloves and sat for hours, mesmerized while occasionally practicing the "royal wave" (above the shoulder, below the crown).  So it was pretty much a given I would be doing the same thing when William and Kate wowed the world April 29, 2011.  The difference?  As I was on the West Coast, we would have to wake up at 1:00 a.m. and, instead of my Mom, I would be watching with my husband.  These are the moments Dan gets HUGE points for tolerating some of my goofiness.

The royal "bend and reach"

Over strawberry scones and English Breakfast tea, we watched every minute of the coverage.  Though decades had passed since that last royal wedding, I was once again the giddy eighteen year old when Kate first came into view in Sarah Burton's stunning dress.  Kate had it all over Diana in the dress....and groom.... department if you ask me.  Dan was a trooper and greatly appreciated Pippa with her exemplary "bend and reach" duties.  In the days after the wedding, he somehow ended up a member of the Pippa Middleton Ass Appreciaton Society on Facebook.  I think he's secretly hoping Pippa and Harry will get together.  If they do, you can be sure we'll be watching and cheering them on as well.  But for now, a simple "Good Show and Continued Good Luck" goes out to William and Kate!

Another royal wedding in the making?

To celebrate their first anniversary, I made the strawberry scones again.  The recipe is a modified version of Erin McKenna's Raspberry Scones from the fabulous BabyCakes cookbook.  If you're not familiar with BabyCakes, the gluten-free bakery (based in New York and L.A.) or the cookbooks, I highly recommend you check them out.  I thought baked goods were a thing of the past when I gave up white flour.  Have no fear..... BabyCakes is here!  

Gluten-Free Strawberry Scones

2 cups whole spelt flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup coconut oil, plus more for brushing
1/3 cup agave nectar, plus more for brushing
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup hot water
1 cup fresh strawberries, cleaned and cut into pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add the oil, agave nectar, and vanilla and stir together until a thick, slightly dry batter is formed.  Pour the hot water into the batter and mix.  Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the strawberries just until they are marbled throughout the batter.

For each scone, scoop 1/3 cup batter onto the prepared baking sheet.  Space the scoops 1 inch apart to allow them to spread.  Lightly brush the tops with the oil.  Bake the scones on the center rack for 14 minutes, rotating the sheet 180 degrees after 7 minutes.  The finished scones will be golden and slightly firm.  Remove from the oven and brush with agave nectar.

Let the scones stand on the sheet for 15 minutes, then carefully slide a spatula under each and transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.  Store the scones in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.  Makes 8 scones.

  

Monday Morning Musings Over Muesli

I hope everyone had a great and very green Earth Day.  While I wasn't out in a garden or planting a tree, I did wander into the realm of one of the....if not the.... greatest "back to the land" pioneers ever to grace the American landscape.  Henry David Thoreau.  

Walden was one of the many books I had sitting on bookshelves and penciled in on my "must read" book list.  Interestingly, it simply took my stumbling across a quote by Thoreau last week to finally transport me Walden Pond. 

Not to be too cryptic, but this year is quickly turning into one of great change and even greater uncertainty for Dan and me.  This isn't the first time and it certainly won't be the last that we are unable to see around the curve in the road or over the next hill.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, life isn't about the destination, it's about the journey. 

So what was Thoreau's quote that stopped me in my tracks?  "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined."  And so we will go....and hope the next hill will be a lucky one.  Stay tuned.

We usually have dry cereal during the week, but today just seemed like a Muesli kind of morning.  It's chilly and overcast and while Muesli is still cold, it does feel a little more cozy.  After trying many recipes, this is what I've come up with as our favorite morning treat. 

Monday Morning Muesli

1 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup slivered almonds, plus more for topping
1 cup vanilla yogurt, plus more for topping
1 navel orange, supremed       
vanilla soy milk

Mix the oats, raisins, cranberries, and slivered almonds in a bowl.  Add 1 cup of the vanilla yogurt to the bowl and stir to combine.  Spoon the moistened oat mixture into an airtight container and refrigerate overnight.  To serve, spoon mixture into bowls and add enough vanilla soy milk to thin to your desired consistency.  Top with another dollop of vanilla yogurt, the orange segments, and a sprinkle of slivered almonds.  Serves 2.

I usually double or triple the above recipe and store it in an airtight jar so I always have it on hand when the mood strikes.

Homage to the Artiste

Carolina Polo & Carriage Co.

As most of you know, Dan has been in South Carolina since last Wednesday in the name of his art.  He's sent me a very small sampling of photos of subjects and images that have caught his eye and I'm sure he's very eager to come home and get back in front of his easel.  It will be interesting to see how he captures this new region on canvas.

It's not terribly normal for Dan and me to be apart.  Throughout the course of our marriage, we've worked together or, at the very least, out of the same house more often than not.  Things don't feel quite right when we're not together and this time was no exception.  This is how the first four days went for me....

Charleston balcony

Day 1:  Yippee!  I have the apartment to myself.
Day 2:  Gosh.  I wish he would call more often.
Day 3:  Wow.  It feels like he's been gone forever.
Day 4:  Damn.  I wish he would come home.

That last sentiment ran through my head as I sat eating dry cereal out of the box for dinner.  Dan, on the other hand, probably relished the peace, quiet, and tranquility of not hearing me....or the TV....drone on and on.

Last week I was cleaning out some drawers and came across Dan's stack of recipes from his "pre-me" days. We have known each other for almost twenty years and have been married for almost twelve which makes the fact we have difficulty understanding the other's handwriting quite bizarre.  As I gazed down at the yellowed piece of paper I could make out the first word as "Tuna", but the second word eluded me.  When I handed the paper to Dan, he said, "this is my recipe for Tuna Tremendique".  Say what?

I made a mental note that I had to make this tremendous tuna recipe at some point and tucked it under a book on my dresser.  This morning, as I was tidying up, I discovered the little slip of paper and decided to give it a go for yet another solo dinner tonight.  The recipe below is exactly as it was written by the artiste....who told me he went through numerous iterations to get it just right.


Tuna Tremendique

1 can (12 oz.) light tuna in water (drained and rinsed)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
8 Kalamata olives, chopped
1 small handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine

Mix all ingredients together.  Place a nice dollop of the tuna mixture on a  piece of 9-grain bread and top with arugula or spinach and then another piece of bread.  Instead of using it in a sandwich, I simply put a few spoonfuls on a bed of baby spinach. 

And to my husband, the artiste....tres magnifique!......Now come home.

A Most Magical Day

While Dan is off in Charleston collecting images for his next painting series, I was whisked away by Ridge for an afternoon outing.  First the new IMAX movie, Born to Be Wild 3D, followed by a leisurely stroll through the Rose Garden at Exposition Park.  What could be better?

Okay, it's official....I'm a big crybaby.  My tear ducts are very close to the surface where animals are concerned and this was no exception.  No, I didn't have to resort to the two packs of travel tissues I brought, but I was discreetly wiping tears away from behind my ever so attractive 3D glasses.  Maybe it was the trailer for the polar bear movie, maybe it was the magnificent Morgan Freeman's narration, or maybe I'm just a goof.  No matter, the movie itself was a joy.

Angels truly walk among us.....or, in this case, among the orphaned elephants and orangutans.   Elephant expert, Dame Daphne Sheldrick in Kenya and primatologist, Dr. Birute Galdikas in Borneo have spent their lives rescuing, rehabilitating, and returning elephants (Sheldrick) and orangutans (Galdikas) to the wild.  Heartwarming, moving, and thought-provoking, this is a must see for anyone who loves animals and is outraged by poaching and the disappearing rain forests.

 

You now exit the IMAX theater via the upper level where you can fully appreciate the awe-inspiring dichroic skylight in the central pavilion.  After winding our way up to the top of the Science Center and observing a young man test his balance on the high wire bicycle, we made our way back down to the ground floor and out to the Exposition Rose Garden.   Ridge and I were trying to estimate the size of the garden and came to the conclusion it has to be well over 2 acres.  Brides and young women celebrating their Quinceanera posed for photos, lovers wandered past the fountain holding hands, and young children ran laughing wildly.  And to top it all off, an explosion of color and fragrance abounded thanks to the stars of the show. 

As we were leaving, I noticed a monument at the edge of the garden that read, "Flowers are the poetry of the Earth as stars are the poetry of Heaven."  How perfect is that?  As perfect as my day.  To my dear friend, Ridge, thank you for a most magical day!

Lavender Fields Forever

A couple months ago Dan and I headed over to the fabric district in downtown L.A.  I was expecting something akin to the New York fabric district....not quite.  I did, however, manage to find a couple fabrics I couldn't resist.

I have always had a weakness for striped silks.  I can't explain it, but in lovely pastel and sherbet colors they remind me of summer, the beach, and garden parties.  When I discovered the two bolts of fabric, one in pink tones the other blue and aqua, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.  They would be perfect for lavender sachets. 

My Mom loves the smell of lavender and tucks the sachets in drawers.  I love to put a few of them in my suitcase when I travel.  Recently, I saw an article ranking the best natural moth repellents.  While cedar and moth balls were high on the list, lavender was actually ranked number one due to its more appealing fragrance.  These sachets could easily be tucked into pockets of jackets that have been stored for the summer or you could simply add a ribbon to one of the corners and slip it over the hanger of anything in your closet to ward off moths.....or purely for that wonderfully romantic fragrance.

These couldn't be easier.  I wanted to make these so the stripes created a pattern.  To do that, I simply made pattern pieces in a triangular shape, added seam allowance, and placed them on the fabric so the stripes would line up accordingly.  For these sachets, I made an insert out of muslin that was filled with 3/4 cup of lavender buds and then inserted it in the striped outer covering.  A blind stitch closed up the opening through which the lavender pillow was inserted.  As a finishing touch, I added a faux pearl in a coordinating color to each side.  The "pearls" were salvaged from some old costume jewelry I had taken apart to use for crafts.

What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?

I know, I know.....very corny, but that question has been debated back and forth forever.  A few years ago it was reported British scientists determined it was the egg.  Based on the order of my blog posts last week, it was also the egg.....or rather the eggshell.  But enough of the brain teasers.

Growing up, our traditional Easter dinner was of the ham, potatoes, and green bean variety.  As a vegetarian, a lot of traditional holiday fare is off the menu.  So what's a non-meat eater to do?  In our house this year, we're going out to a Middle Eastern restaurant with our dear friend, Ridge.  Bring on the hummus, stuffed grape leaves, and felafel!

Diebenkorn's Ocean Park Series #49

Dan is a huge admirer of Richard Diebenkorn and there is an exhibit of his Ocean Park Series at the Orange County Museum of Art which he has been longing to see.  We decided it might be a nice way to spend the afternoon before we meet up with Ridge.  As we're not having a traditional Easter dinner, I decided to make a lovely Easter breakfast prior to hitting the freeway and going behind the Orange Curtain.  One of our favorite neighborhood restaurants in L.A. is BLD on Beverly Boulevard.  The first time we went there I ordered the most decadent scrambled eggs I've ever had.  They have since replaced that scrambled egg dish with another, but this is my homage to their salmon scramble that won me over on that first visit.

KCB Easter Eggs

6 free-range eggs
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon capers
3 oz. smoked salmon, torn into 1" pieces
3 oz. light cream cheese at room temperature
salt and pepper

Whisk the eggs and milk in a large bowl.  Melt the butter in a saute pan over medium low heat and add the egg mixture.  Reduce the heat to low.  Whenever the eggs start to set, loosen and stir with a rubber heat-proof spatula.  About halfway through the cooking, add the red onions, capers, and salmon.  Continue cooking and stir occasionally.  Do not let the eggs brown.  They should be light and fluffy.  When the eggs are finished cooking, add the cream cheese and stir just until incorporated.  Season with salt and pepper.

Here a Chick, There a Chick, Everywhere a Chick Chick

Silver Laced Wyandotte

I might not have all my ducks in a row, but I do have my chickens lined up....so to speak.  While there aren't any boxes of peeps arriving from a hatchery this Easter, I do have my eye on a few breeds for our future hobby farm in Maine. Through my research, I've also come across some amazing chicken coops that range from the stunningly beautiful to the uniquely whimsical, but I'll save those for a future post.

Buff Orphington

First off, you don't need a rooster to produce eggs.  Second, backyard chickens aren't going to smell like the dreadful CAFOs everyone has become well aware of in recent years.  Third, you don't need a huge farm to keep a nice group of layers.  That being said, there are chickens who are used primarily for meat....not in our house....there are chickens who excel at egg laying and there are chickens who do both and are referred to as dual purpose breeds.  There are also ornamental breeds who can produce eggs and meat, but are better known for their fancy appearance.

Barred Plymouth Rock

Why do I want chickens?  The answer you would probably get from my husband and mother is because I'm a nut.  On the contrary, backyard chickens are gaining quite a following in cities, towns, and suburbs around the country.  Everyone can't be nutty.  Right?  A highly productive chicken can lay an egg every other day.  They are excellent for fertilizing the land, especially when housed in a mobile coop.  But most important for us, we are concerned about the antibiotics, hormones, and inhumane conditions that run rampant in the poultry industry in our country.

Dominique flock

How did I come to my selected list of potential breeds?  Knowing we want to live in Maine, the birds would have to be cold tolerant.  I am very proud that Dan now knows chickens in colder climates have smaller combs to alleviate the possibility of frostbite.  As we were solely interested in egg production, I eliminated meat breeds and ornamentals.  I sought out calm, highly productive breeds that were friendly, docile, easily handled, and kept well in confinement.  Based on all those factors, I ended up with a list of six first-string potentials with a few back-up candidates.  My list....in no particular order....Silver Laced Wyandottes, Buff Orphingtons, Plymouth Rocks, New Hampshire Reds, Marans, and Dominiques.

New Hampshire Red

More than breed type, the question I am most frequently asked is what do I intend to name them.  In light of the fact we are also considering having ducks, geese, and turkeys (no names for turkeys as they would be for meat), I would like to follow a theme in naming each poultry flocks.....perhaps writers, artists, actresses, or famous chefs.  It might be great fun to name the chickens after actresses; Betty Davis, Lauren Bacall, Greta Garbo, Lucille Ball, and Grace Kelly.  The big question?  If you named one Meryl Streep would she cluck with a different accent everyday?

Just in time for Easter.....the famous chocolate-colored Marans' eggs

Eggshell Seed Starters

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.  The first time I tried this it failed....miserably.  In fact, it failed so badly I wondered if we had to survive on anything I grew from seeds if we would make it through the first season.  Truth be told, the seeds were probably old and hadn't been stored proper- ly.  The second time with new seeds, however, worked like a charm.

One Sunday morning I was making breakfast and as I was cracking eggs in the bowl I got the idea to use eggshells as seed starters.  I've never liked the little black plastic things you buy at the garden center and certainly didn't want them sitting on my kitchen windowsill.  Little egg shells cradled in their carton would look much more cheerful.

I've always had a fondness for nasturtiums and sweet peas.  They were the first seeds I planted in the backyard when I bought my first house.  Nasturtiums never fail to bring a smile to my face when I see them and sweet peas have the most intoxicating aroma and have always attracted hummingbirds to my gardens.  As I wasn't sure how this experiment would turn out, I only planted three shells of nasturtiums and three of sweet peas.  Within ten days, the nasturtiums had pushed through the surface and the sweet peas followed a few days later.

If you want to give this a try, it's incredibly easy.  With a sharp knife, gently tap around the top of the egg.  Once you break through, carefully pick off enough of the shell to empty the contents.  From there, continue to pick off a fair amount of shell so that the opening is large enough to fill easily with potting soil.  Before you fill it with soil, rinse out the shell and let it air dry.  After filling the shells 3/4 full with potting soil, place two seeds in each shell and water.  A tablespoon of water a day seemed to be just the right amount for germination.  Simply place the shells in a warm, sunny location and the seedlings should sprout in the time indicated on the seed packet.  You may need to water the seedlings more as they grow.  As soon as they are well established, transplant to a pot, window box, or flower bed.

Nasturtiums and sweet peas in my first garden

The mantra in our home is "Grow baby, grow" as opposed to "Drill baby, drill".