Christmas Cookies

I'm torn. Christmas is Friday and I am deep in it. The Christmas spirit, I mean. It started with Lucia Buns. Then, while I was leafing through one of my mom's Christmas cookbooks, I came upon a recipe for a lovely buttery Swedish Tea Ring. Filled with walnuts, dates and cinnamon, it was heaven, perfect for a holiday breakfast. Of course, I didn't bother to wait for a holiday and ate it for breakfast, had a piece with my coffee at the office and a nibble around 4:00 with tea. In the same cookbook I found a recipe for some date nut cookies that were nice with my coffee after I ran out of the Tea Ring.
     I love cookies, crispy, chewy, chocolaty or caramely. They can be carefully orchestrated bits of artistry or tossed together in a moment of brilliance. My college roommate, Robin, wowed me with her culinary confidence by baking drop cookies without a recipe. She knew if she creamed some butter and sugar, added some flour, vanilla, a bit of leaving and tossed in a generous abount of something candied or crunchy, she couldn't go wrong. Bravo Robin! I often wish she was in the kitchen on lazy nights after a long day at the office.
     In sharp contrast to Robin's "kitchen sink" cookies are the rolled, shaped and iced versions a la Martha Stewart. You've seen them, the lovely snowflake shaped morsels adorned with white icing and silver dragees or the amazing Santa cookies that look like a figure from Madame Toussaud's Wax Museum. I'm waiting for the life-sized gingerbread cookie of Martha as Mrs. Claus.
     I must admit I have never made the over the top, each-one-a-work-of-art style cookies. They both intrigue and intimidate me. I love looking at them, but I can't imagine eating one. It would be like taking a bit out of the Mona Lisa.
     Next year though I think I will be attempting to make cookies that are sooo gorgeous that I won't want to eat them. I have reached this decision because I have eaten nearly every cookie that wasn't nailed down this holiday season. Which leads me to why I'm torn.
     Should I sing the praises of the buttery sweet treats so dear to my heart (and stomach, of which they are now an integral part) that resonate tradition, comfort, even love? Should I wax on about the vast amounts of holiday cheer bound up in one tiny Christmas cookie? Shall I share with you how I feel that a cookie baked with family gathered in the kitchen and later savored with a hot cup of rich coffee can create a quiet moment of tradition and memories? Or rather, do I bemoan the five pounds that I have gained in the past month?
     I am torn between the joy of cookies and the inevitable result of eating them, continually, as breakfast, in lieu of lunch or a light snack and of course as dessert. It's Christmastime after all and we should be of good cheer, and I was till I stepped on the scale yesterday.
     I talked with Allegra (my wise teenage daughter) and we agreed that the Christmas season doesn't need to be one long food fest. In fact, we decided that we will bake no more cookies till Christmas day. Then we will bake some traditional gingerbread cookies together.
     I'm thinking it will make the cookies that much more special. Maybe that's the lesson to be learned here. Something has more meaning and is cherised when it has space around it. When it's not swimming in a sea of sameness. That's probably true of most things this time of year. A single voice singing a carol heard while shopping stands out amid the Christmas Muzac in the department store. Just as a single gift given with love and genuine thoughtful care about who the recipient is and what they love will stand out amongst an onslaught of new slippers and small appliances.
    I'm really looking forward to those spicy gingerbread cookies and sharing them with family and friends on Christmas (and perhaps a brisk walk after). May you find yourself among those dear to you this season and always.
     Merry Christmas!

Happy Santa Lucia Day | December 13

 

Any holiday that revolves around a morning with sweet saffron buns and fresh hot coffee is a holiday that deserves celebration. That's why I so cheerfully embraced Santa Lucia Day.
     When my daughter was born I really wanted to keep some family tradition. I though it would give us a wonderful sense of consistency from year to year. Trouble was that we were a bit removed from our ancestral roots and needed to search a bit to find a tradition we wanted to keep.
     I really don't even remember how I first learned of Santa Lucia Day. I think I may have been leafing through one of my Grandma's old Swedish cookbooks. What struck me was that the holiday is celebrated in both Italy (where some of my husband's family is from) and Sweden (where some of my family is from). Frankly, when I think about Italy and Sweden sharing a holiday, it just seems a bit odd. (and now I am about to digress, bear with me). One explanation I have read is that a boat load of Vikings learned the story of the sainted Lucia while in Italy. Really? Think about that. Does that not seem odd? Do you think they would go back?

     "Sven, put down that bunch of juicy grapes and grab your parka. We're headed back to the frosty north. I'm dying for some decent pickled herring."

    I don't see that happening. But, somehow the sad and slightly creepy (she was burned at the stake) story of a young girl who sold her dowry to feed the poor found its way to Sweden and struck a chord. For me, the best part of Lucia Day is Lucia Buns.

     The point of all of this, and there is a point, is that my husband's Italian ancestors and my Swedish ancestors had a common link in Lucia and now they had another in our daughter.

     Early on the morning of Lucia Day, the eldest daughter in Swedish families dresses in a white gown with a red sash and wearing a crown of greens an lighted candles (and doesn't that seem inherently dicey?), she delivers a tray of coffee and golden Lucia Buns to her parents as they lounge in bed.

     When I first heard this I thought, "sign me up." But then Allegra was about three at the time and couldn't even reach the kitchen counter, let alone make a pot of coffee. So I made the coffee and the Lucia Buns then and I still do.

     The slightly sweet saffron buns now mark the beginning of our Christmas season. Allegra helps me make the buns and she can make a great pot of coffee now. When the scent of baking Lucia Buns fills the house I know my original wish for a lasting family tradition has come true.

     If you want to make Lucia Buns here is a link to some great recipes at cooks.com. I like a bit of cardamom in mine and instead of raisins I now use dried cherries or cranberries. Tonight I am making them with candied orange peel.

     Think about starting a new tradition that embraces your family's roots; have a tamale making party or learn how to make a great English Plum Pudding. The best time to start a tradition is today.

29 Gifts | Celebrate the Joy of Giving

Don't know if you have heard about 29 Gifts yet, but I think its such a great idea that I want to share!

29 Gifts founder, Cami Walker, received advise from Mbali Creazzo, her spiritual teacher, "give something away each day for 29 days." The idea was to redirect Cami's attention from her multiple sclerosis. The gifts don't have to be big or expensive. For Cami it was things like a phone call to an old friend or a flower to a stranger on the street. It worked. After a few weeks of giving, Cami realized that she had been walking without her cane for several days.  The results of her giving benfited both her and the recipients of her gifts in many ways. She was so affected by 29 Gifts that she has started a foundation and wrote a book to reach out to others and tell them about the joy and benefits of giving.

I decided to join in and started on the 29th of November. Seemed like an auspicious date to begin and it was the day after my birthday. After the wonderful gift of a wonderful birthday with my family I thought it would be nice to give back, so to speak.

Several friends at work have also joined in and it's really fun to share our ideas for giving. One friend, Julia, left a thank you note on the door step on her neighbors who, once again, went all out with the outdoor Christmas lights and decorations. 29 Gifts changes your perspective on little things. I was at the grocery store my first of 29 days and the college student in front of me was juggling his skateboard and digging in his pockets to get the last five cents he needed to pay for his breakfast of a chocolate donut. The clerk at the register pulled out her coin purse and paid for him. The young man was genuinely appreciative and told the clerk "your the best." It occurred to me then that giving something as small as five cents can have a big impact.

If you want to learn more about 29 Gifts you can visit Cami's webiste at www.29gifts.com. Happy giving!

Setting the Table | Holiday Entertaining

Comfy Company | Holiday Entertaining

If you have guests staying with you for the holidays, nothing will be more relaxing for them and you than if you plan a few details ahead of time. You should make sure that your guests have tasty meals, fresh bath items and a comfy place to sleep.

You plan should start with a menu, but remember to be flexible. You may want to go out for a day of fun. So, as you plan your menu think about a meal that might be easy to pack up for a yummy picnic or take a break and introduce your guests to your favorite local eatery. For times when you are hanging around the house, stock your shelves with plenty of tasty snacks. Goodies for late night movie watching might include hot cocoa mix, assorted teas (be sure to have milk and sugar on hand), a couple of different kinds of cookies and some microwave popcorn.

We like to start with a big breakfast on days at home. Recently we discovered Trader Joe's Pumpkin and Waffle Mix. With holiday spices like fragrant cinnamon, these pancakes are perfect for the season and delicious, especially with a great maple syrup and a side of Canadian bacon. It's so good that we had it for dinner the other night!

If you're making dinner for your guests, you may want to prepare a something that is easy and plentiful. Check out the Silver Palate cookbook's L'inverno Pasta. Rich with walnuts, olive oil, garlic ham and a melty cheese, you leave the flavors to blend for several hours. When its time for dinner all you do is boil the pasta and toss it together. You can add a crisp green salad and buttery French bread for a wonderfully scrumptious and quick meal.

After your delicious dinner, you can have movies on hand for everyone to watch. A couple of my family-friendly favorites are the Princess Bride and Some Like it Hot. You can also leave some magazines or local newspapers on the nightstand for folks who like to read before bed.

Whether your guests are in a guest room or on the couch, make them a comfy place to sleep.  Clean sheets and a stack of extra blankets are a must. Let you guests know which bathroom to use and point out the fresh towels you've left for them, Think about putting a basket of travel size bath goods on the bathroom counter too.

When you plan ahead and let your guests know where to find what they need, you can kick back with a cup of coffee or a glass of wind and and catch up with visiting friends and family this holiday season.

Candle Power

 Years ago during a blustery dark rain storm our power went out for several hours. Our daughter, Allegra, was in elementary school at the time and after a few scary minutes of searching out a flashlight in the dark, she happily helped us gather up a bunch of candles. We filled our fireplace with many of them, added a few more on the mantle and elsewhere around the living room. After the glowing candlelight filled the room we made a snack and gathered around the coffee table to play a board game. Allegra was in seventh heaven. So when all of the lights and the TV came back on, we turned them off and went back to candle power.

A few weeks later Allegra asked if we could have another "No Electricity Night." As you may have guessed, we continue to have the occasional night without electricity. Usually turning the clocks back in the Fall and the dark evenings prompts us to have a No Electricity Night. The cozy warmth of candlelight creates a wonderful sense of togetherness.

These days we have moved on from playing Chutes and Ladders to dominoes or gin rummy. I imagine we could even have a No Electricity Night party with our friends. Think of the energy we could save if if everyone held a party by candlelight once a month. Try it!

Invite the Whole Neighborhood! | Entertaining and Family Fun

We had our annual block party a few weeks ago and as always a great time was had by all!  Once every year, after school starts and before the coastal autumn turns into chilly winter, we have a neighborhood block party in our cul-de sac. Everyone from preschoolers to our 90-something neighbor, Flo, shows up. These days its not really surprising that when I tell people about our annual party they tell me that they don’t really know their neighbors. If you want to get to know your neighbors, a block party is a great way to start and keep connections and it builds a sense of tradition and community. When we first moved into the cul-de-sac we didn’t know a soul on our street. Our now-friends and neighbors on the corner Rick and Colleen started the tradition with a potluck in their garage. The street we live on is only two blocks long so it was easy to make room for everyone! As our tradition grew so did the crowd and several years ago we moved the party into the cul-de-sac. Here’s how you can begin.

The first way we stay connected is through a list of names addresses and phone numbers that Kit, one of the neighbors, puts together. Kit contacts each household on the street and creates a list with the names and ages of everyone in the house. She then makes a copy for each house and the street and brings them to the block party. Its just one way we can look out for each other.

When school starts we sit down with our calendars and pick a date. I make the invitations and Rick and Colleen walk door-to-door and deliver them. If it is your first neighborhood party it will probably be best if you introduce yourself and let people know what you are planning. We keep it really simple and just ask that folks bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert to share. Rick and Colleen are beer connoisseurs so they bring a small keg of a small batch brewery beer. Other items that people contribute are: pop-up shade tents, card tables, patio chairs, table cloths, napkins, utensils and name tags. I suggest that people write their name in permanent marker on the back of any serving dishes they bring. I went to a kitchen outlet store and bought a couple of plastic platters for just this kind of purpose and they have come in really handy (sometimes we use them for hors d’oeuvres night at home, but that’s another story).

The day of the event people start pulling into the cul-de-sac about an hour before the party is to start. One year it was our next-door neighbor girl’s birthday and they rented a bounce house. That was a big hit. You can plan activities if you have the time. We simply set up the food under one pop-up and a table and chairs under another and the people and food just start pouring in. The adults sit and chat and the kids play. You could give out an award for the family who has lived on the block the longest or to the youngest and oldest guests.

We all eat some wonderful food. This year, our friends Kathy and Russ brought a fantastic marinated shrimp dish. Kathy marinates the shrimp overnight in brine with ginger and spices. The result is plump and flavorful and she adds a chili dip on the side to go along with it.  I’ll try and get the recipe!

I found a fun web site from the UK from an organization called Streets Alive. You may find some fun ideas here http://www.streetparty.org.uk/ . If you visit the site you will notice that they are big on “bunting.” Bunting is a stringer of flags that you hang to make the area look festive. I am going to look for some for next year.

Let me know if you have a block party and please share any ideas for fun activities. Finally, I want to send a big thank you to Rick and Colleen for beginning a neighborhood tradition that has become an event that many of us look forward to every year!

Flu Care Package | H1N1 at Home

If you have been wondering where I have been, me too. I slept most of the first part of this week. Turns out that the H1N1 virus is in town. My daughter and I both came down with it. Then my husband's back went out and the whole house kind of went to - well you can imagine. We were all moving in slow motion like zombies in an old black and white horror film.

I am finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I once again am appreciating the gift of good health, my mom's homemade chicken soup and my husband's nursing abilities. Before he threw his back out, Larry went to the store and rounded up one of his wonderful care packages. His mom was a nurse and Larry is wonderful when I don't feel well. So my gift to you is this list of ideas for a flu care package. Go to the store and stock up if you hear the flu is going around. Don't wait till you or someone in your family doesn't feel well. H1N1 hits like a ton of bricks and you will want lots of fluids and some tender loving care right away. 

First - wet a wash cloth and put it in the freezer. When you get a fever this will provide instant and welcome relief. Then get the following items at the market:

• Ginger ale or lemon lime soda
• Electrolyte Replacement drink (i.e., Gatorade or Powerade)
• Saltine crackers
• Good bread for toast. I like sourdough
• Chicken Soup (My Mom brought me some homemade chicken soup and it was perfect)
  
• Popsicles
  
• Assorted Teas
• Cough drops
  
• Hand Sanitizer
• Disinfectant Spray
• Your brand of Flu medicine and/or something for aches and pains.
  
• and maybe some movie or book DVDs because you may get tired of watching daytime TV.

Take care. I hope you and your family members won't need the Flu Care Package, but if you do, trust me you will be glad its there.

Chic Cheap Threads

A fresh white cotton shirt, cozy blue jeans and a pair of worn leather
boots – my favorite things to wear. Toss on a chunky cable knit
sweater and I’m feeling fine. I enjoy simple high quality clothes,
but I don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for them. If you learn how
to shop the discount stores you can do pretty well. Friends tell me
that they can never find anything in stores like Ross or Marshall’s.

I have a set of guidelines that I stick to that save me from a repeat
of my hot pink polyester beaded and pleated “shimmy shirt.”
(I hate to admit it but I loved that shirt for a while, now it just
makes me cringe when I look at it. Makes me wonder where my head
was when I made that purchase).

Some things I wear over and over, other things I’m done with soon
after buy them. I have learned that the difference is usually whether
or not the piece is trendy or not. A well- made classic shirt will stay 
in my closet far longer than a trendsetting one. Price is not always
an indicator of quality. There is a great deal of marketing that goes 
into those designer clothes. You pay for that. So, if you can separate 
yourself from the notion that is has to be designer or it has to be
expensive, you don’t have to pay the cost of those marketing plans.
That said, here are my shopping guidelines.

• Take a step back and scan the racks. Look for natural simple fabrics like cotton, linen, wool, silk.
• Look for colors that look good on you. If you don’t know ask a friend. Generally, I think that if it makes you look healthy, its a good color on you.
• Check out the fabric content to make sure that it is at least 80% natural. A bit of spandex or acrylic won’t kill the overall affect and, in fact, will help the item keep its shape.
• Check also the cleaning instructions – I don’t buy anything that has to be dry cleaned. Why save money on a purchase only to have to throw it out the window on cleaning costs?
• Plaid – Really popular this season. I love plaid, especially in the fall. Just make sure the fabric is really plaid – meaning that the plaid is derived from woven threads and not simply printed on the fabric.
• If pants or a skirt come with a belt, neither are likely well made.Skip those.
• On the subject of belts, go for leather. Same for purses and shoes (unless you have a philosophical issue with leather and in that case, more power to you).
• When it comes to shoes – look for those made in Italy, Spain, Brazil
• In the accessories department look for scarves – they can make an outfit. I try to find silk scarves made in Europe.
• Once you are in the dressing room, give the garment a once over to check for any flaws that you may have overlooked and check the construction of the item. Does it seem to hold together well? When you try on the garment it shouldn’t bind or gape.
• The 3 Ls. This is something my smart-cookie of a daughter made up and its actually pretty helpful. Rate each of the following on a scale of 1-10. Add up the score and determine the average. If its over 8 – Buy it!
• Look - how does it look on you? Is the color good, does it hang well?
• Learn – check the tag and decide if you are willing to pay the price.
• Love – You gotta love it. Is the item something you will continue to wear for years to come?
• While deciding if you love it ask yourself “if I don’t buy this, will I regret it in the months to come?” It may seem silly but, I still think about a French Provincial sofa that I walked away from at a parking lot sale!
• Finally, size. Don’t get hung up on it. I have a silk blouse that I bought years ago. Its two sizes too big, but I wear it as a light flowy jacket. And remember, sometimes items end up at the discount stores because their sizing is off. If you like the garment in every other way, go back to the racks and see if they have it in another size even if its two sizes too big.

Okay - now you're armed with some guidelines. Time to head out and look for some bargains!

October | Pumpkin Patches and Marching Band

 

School started, the pumpkin patch opened last week and the happy pace of autumn has begun. For us fall marks the beginning of marching band season, the band boosters Jazz at the Monday Club fundraiser and the Maritime Heritage Pavillion at the Harbor Festival. We are busy, busy, busy and I love it.

Swedish Tradition | Entertaining | Smörgåsbord

I saw some beautiful salmon fillets at Costco today (wild caught - we don't do farmed salmon). They got me thinking. When our daughter was born I decided to recreate some family traditions that had been lost on the boat to America. My grandmother was Swedish so I started collecting some favorite Swedish recipes like, Lucia Buns and Swedish Meatballs. We put our own spin on some things though. Instead of making Gravlax (or Gravad Lax a salt and sugar preseved salmon dish) we have smoked salmon. I'll tell you the best Father's Day gift I ever bought Larry was a small smoker. He has perfected a recipe for a slightly sweet, salty smoked salmon that melts like butter in your mouth. I make a simple sour cream horseradish sauce to go with it and together they are heavenly.


So in my typical give-me-an-inch-I'll-take-a-mile style, instead of making a bit of smoked salmon, I'm thinking it might be fun to do a full-on Smörgåsbord. A smörgåsbord is a Swedish buffet of ice cold, room-temperature and piping hot dishes to which everyone helps themselves. I'm pretty sure that many people don't find the idea of a heaping plate of Scandinavian as enticing. When I think Swedish food my first thought is . . . "do I have to eat pickled herring?" I admit I never have tried pickled herring and I don't think I will soon, but I have found Swedish-style foods that my whole family likes and that don't break the budget. [I have to tell you though I love the name of one pickled herring dish - its called "Glasmastarsill" or "Glassblowers Herring" - the word glassblower is just in reference to the large glass jar that the herring, carrots and onions are layered] but I digress. 


A smörgåsbord is laid out with all of the cold dishes at one end, in the middle are the room-temperature dishes and hot dishes at the other end. So for my smörgåsbord I plan to begin with a large bucket of ice with aquavit and flavored vodkas at the head of the table. The chilled foods will follow and I'm thinking simple sliced radishes, a cucumber salad with dill, walnut oil and seasoned rice vinegar, and a few pickled beets because I love them. Then the smoked salmon and the sour cream horseradish sauce (sour cream with a touch of horseradish and a bit of cream to thin it and maybe a bit of salt and pepper). The room temperature spread will start with a bread board with Limpa (a dark sweet rye bread), a compound butter made with salted butter and caraway seeds, and some Fontina cheese. A smörgåsbord has to have a selection of open-faced sandwiches so I'm going to make two; roast beef and sweet mustard topped with a slice of gherkin and for the other I'll make scrambled eggs (cooked slowly to keep them creamy) with a dollop of cream cheese and bit of minced shallots and parsley. Finally, for the end of the table with hot dishes I make Swedish Meatballs (köttbullar) and scalloped potatoes.


A smörgåsbord is usually served as a celebration dish. I have my party planned, now I just need to decide what I'm celebrating (I know, a bit bassackwards as my mother used to say). Next weekend is Danish Days in Solvang. The high school marching band is going to go and play and we are chaperoning. Denmark is right next door to Sweden. Sure, its a reach, but I think I'll celebrate the day with a smörgåsbord!

Birth Flowers

Cool and Easy Salad for a Hot Summer Day | Recipe | Wedge Salad

It was back-to-school this week and I was all ready to share a recipe for an inexpensive comfort food for college-bound kids, but the weather isn't cooperating. I've been thinking, ah, fall is in the air, time for bundling up it sweaters, anticipating the upcoming holidays, and big bowls of hot comfort foods. Or not . . . As I reveled in my thoughts of crisp fall days, the temperature soared. It has been over 100 degrees this weekend and my thoughts of ladling up some hot steaming flavorful soup have been replaced by a desire to consume massive amounts of water. I should mention that our weather is generally mild and therefore few houses in the area are equipped with air conditioners. It has been in the high 80s inside the house and I can't bring myself to discuss hot soup. Instead I offer this idea, a cool classic from the 50's and 60's - Wedge Salad.

Wedge Salad meets all my criteria for elegance on a shoestring. The main ingredients are really inexpensive and you can dress it up with a few pricier items. Traditionally, Wedge Salad has diced tomatoes. I use shredded beets on my version, but feel free to add what you like. You might try sun-dried tomatoes and percorino romano instead of bleu cheese.

I hadn't had one of these in many years when I ordered it at a fun place in L.A. It was a classic, traditional, dark-wood-paneled place, with black and white photos of the movie stars who had visited. The salad was tasty, cool, crisp and fit the atmosphere perfectly.

Do you ever get on a food kick? You find a recipe you like and can't stop making it till your family begs for mercy. That was me with the Wedge Salad. I have it only occasionally now, but I'll tell you, if the thermometer hits 100 today we will be having Wedge Salad for dinner tonight.

Too Much Fun

I have been thinking that I could have posted a "Gone Fishing" sign. Its been a while since I last sat down and wrote a message, but I'm back in the saddle again!

When we returned from our camping trip to the east side of the Sierras we turned right around and went on a sailing trip with my father-in-law. I'm thinking that I haven't written because our lovely trip to the Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara, California ended in a chilly and wet sail home with fog, blustery winds and ten foot swells. I prefer a bit of a breeze and lounging on the decks in the sunshine while watching dolphins swim along side the boat. Once I had just about recovered from the sail I jumped headlong into party planning!

We hosted a retirement part for fifty guests at our house this past Thursday evening. The great thing about having a party is that it is powerful incentive to do all the little things you have been meaning to get to around the house. So we spent several days tidying up and decorating. The party was great, everyone had a wonderful time. The best part was that we had everyone pitch in and bring something. There was a great assortment of hors d'oeuvres and at the end of the evening all the dishes, but the wine glasses, went home.

The next day Allegra headed off to band camp and we were left with a sparkling clean house full of pretty flower arrangements; a bunch of white gladiolas, white roses and babies breath made a lot of bouquets and looked lovely in some beachy vases that I found at a huge discount). So, of course we called our neighborhood cocktail bunch and asked if they could help us polish off the left over wine that was in our giant "wine bucket" (its a galvanized steel watering trough). Again, everyone brought an hors d'oeuvre and I am ready for a nap.

School starts on Thursday!

Family Camping Vacation

We just returned from a camping trip in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We camped at June Lake and Grover Hot Springs and spent some time at a funky "Scandanavian-style" hotel at Lake Tahoe. It was a great getaway. We crammed our camping gear into our car and headed out for some fun.

The weather was classic summer in the unpredictable Sierras - thunder clouds and warm rain one minute and hot and sunny the next. We fished and hiked, worked up our appetites and cooked easy outdoorsy food and of course we toasted marshmallows around the campfire. At June Lake we stayed at the Oh Ridge campground and were surrounded by spicy smelling sage and pine trees. At Grover Hot Springs and Tahoe woke up to the vanilla and pineapple scent of Jeffrey pines. The best part was that we talked and shared time together. Not always an easy task with a teenager. Camping is my highly recommended family vacation on a shoestring.

If you are looking for inexpensive camping gear check out eBay. Larry tested our camp stove before we left and nearly singed off his eyebrows. Plan B . . . We borrowed my parents old Winchester brand camp stove. It was great and got us to thinking. We checked it out and found some great deals on camping gear on eBay. Camping has been a shoestring activity for us. My sweet brother gave us our camping tent (it was too big for his backpacking trips). We also have a HUGE tent that we bought from one of my co-workers for $5o. Passersby have called it the "Harry Potter" tent. With three rooms and a 12x18 footprint, we could hold a convention in there. It has been a great hangout spot for kids when we camp with other families. So, be on the lookout for used camping gear. There is some great stuff out there.

If you are looking for a campsite ~ you can locate them and reserve them at www.reserveamerica.com. Some need to be booked six months ahead of time, so get ready and start planning for a great vacation. Send me an email and let me know how it goes!

On the Water

If you're looking for something fun to do during your oh-so-short summer ... get to some water. The beach, a lake, river, pond, whatever is closest. We usually opt for a day at or on the ocean but yesterday we did something different. Our neighbor owns a power boat that he uses to go fishing or to spend some time on the water with his kids. He invited us to go with him to a local lake. Oh my gosh! We had a great time. I should probably put in a plug for waterproof sun screen here, because we all got a bit toastier than we should have. I can't believe I spent a day in the sun when the temperature was over 100! But, on with the fun stuff.

I packed a quick picnic lunch with sandwiches, cherry tomatoes and plums from the garden, some chips and lots of drinks. We towed the kids (and my young-at-heart husband) in some inner tubes and stopped in a little cove to eat lunch. After much jumping in the water, and our neighbor's son "painting" his body with some amazingly slippery and deep mud, we launched off for more tubing. We ended the day tired and happy to have spent some time with family and neighbors. This weekend why not ask another family to join you for a simple activity, boating, fishing or just walking on the beach. Your kids will love it (especially if you remember the waterproof sunscreen).

The Cookout

This evening we are having some good friends over for a cookout. I want to spend my time visiting and not cooking so I planned a menu that is quick, easy and yummy - my favorite way to do things! I've decided to do classic barbecue fare with a twist.

So instead of plain burgers, I'm going to make Caprese Burgers (inspired by the Caprese Salads I've been making with fresh basil and tomatoes from the garden). I add a heaping tablespoon of sour cream and a tablespoon of fresh minced basil to each pound of hamburger before I form the patties. Just before removing the burgers from the grill I'll add a slice of fresh mozzarella. Vine ripe red tomatoes will top it off.

This morning I made a compound butter with paprika, salt and pepper for the grilled corn on the cob. A compound butter is just butter with seasonings added in. I mixed together all of my ingredients to taste and rolled it into a cylinder in a piece of wax paper. I put it in the fridge and when I serve the grilled corn-on-the-cob I will add pats of the flavored butter. You can make any kind of meal special with compound butters. Try adding chives or rosemary to a compound butter for steak or honey and cinnamon to top corn bread.

If you want to grill your corn on the cob, peel back the husks making sure to leave them attached. Remove all of the silk and replace the husks. Put the cobs in a large pot of water to soak for a half an hour and then wrap each cob in aluminum foil. Place on a preheated grill for a half an hour.

For the Ranch Style Beans I just use my favorite savory canned beans and add a dollop of salsa. And for the watermelon I made a minted simple syrup to drizzle over top. Simple syrup is easy to make. Simmer one cup of white sugar with one cup of water till the sugar dissolves. I added some fresh mint from the garden. Perfect for a cooling mint julep, ice tea, or Planter's Punch.

Last but not least, Allegra is baking a chocolate bundt cake. She is not a fan of frosting so she adds a sprinkle of powdered sugar on top. I just bought some of Nestle's La Lechera caramel sauce. Yummy! I think I will add pool of it to the plates before we place the cake slices on top.

So there it is. I have company coming so I gotta scoot.

Take care . . .

Fourth of July

Its Friday night and we are headed over to the home of some friends for a little Fourth of July warm up! I'm so happy that we can take a gift from our garden; herbs, summer squash, baby carrots and fresh plums from our tree. I like to make it kind of pretty so I made a basket out of a brown paper grocery bag. I schrunched the bag up and gingerly turned it inside out. Then I rolled down a wide cuff several times till the "basket" was at the right height. Tonight I rolled it down to almost the bottom of the bag so it was like a tray. Then I arranged the fruits and vegetables and topped it off with a pretty sage blossom from the garden.

Tomorrow I will be busy making Southern Fried Chicken, Sweet and Tangy Coleslaw and Corn Bread for our celebration with family and friends. Then we will be off to the fireworks show.

Wishing you a day full of picnics, friends, fun and tradition.
Happy Fourth of July!

Designing a Gift Basket

When I think of June I think of weddings (and my Grandma Delcie June's birthday). When I think of weddings I think of gift baskets. This is probably because when Larry and I were married someone gave us a picnic basket full of gourmet treats. We took it along on our honeymoon in San Francisco and Napa. It was wonderful having an impromptu picnic with us. So, June is here and I thought I would pass along some tips on putting together a pretty gift basket.

The first thing I do when putting together a gift basket is think of the recipient. What do they love? What kind of person are they. I don’t plan everything before I go shopping. I usually go to a store where I can get a basket and a few things to get me started and start looking and thinking. Be prepared to invest some thought in your gift. Begin by looking for the spark, something to light your imagination and get you going. Once you find it (for the Zen basket below it was the teak tray). Build on the theme and color scheme. This is really important to keep you focused and to keep your basket design special. Sticking with a theme and one or two prominent colors will ensure that your gift is beautiful and memorable. You may be surprised how much looking for items in this way helps your shopping too.

As you build your basket keep in mind the scale of the objects you are collecting. If you have selected a really large container (basket, canister, jar, tray) you should look for items that will fill it well. A lovely generously sized basket will look skimpy if the items inside are comparatively tiny, no matter what they cost. The Zen Basket below was the result of what was available on my shopping day. You may not be able to find the same exact items and you wouldn’t necessarily want to. Spend the time and effort to create a gift that is based on who the recipient is and they will know your gift is from the heart. Use these ideas to spark your imagination.
A few years ago, my daughter‘s teacher had told the kids she liked “Zen” things. So together my daughter and I went to the imports store and put together a Zen Tray:

ZEN TRAY

• Teak Tray - this was the foundation of our gift – I thought about using a silk sampan hat.
• Incense in a teak box with a glass top – from here we started building on the relaxation and Zen them and using the violet color of the incense boxes enclosed
• Calming tea – with an simple oriental style box and a violet
• Candle – scented, violet, simple clean “zen” style. Try to include some form of scent in your gift packages. Treat all of the senses of the lucky person who gets your gifts. This can be a sachet of potpourri, a tiny block of cedar, jasmine tea, or fresh flowers.
• Spray of dried lavender from the yard – flowers from your garden are one of the most personal, inexpensive and beautiful additions to a basket that you can make.
• Silk chrysanthemum pin – we used this instead of a bow. Try thinking of other things that you can decorate your package with that can be part of your gift. I could have used a paper fan with cherry blossoms on it, paper umbrellas or a pair of teak chopsticks.
• Bright yellow-orange paper goldfish topped toothpick – Along the lines of the chrysanthemum pin. This was just another extra decoration. I know this on sounds a bit “out there,” but the package needed a bright spot. The toothpick was meant for hors d‘ oeuvres or drinks, but I tucked it in among the goodies. The touch of yellow-orange looked great with the violet and the oriental style goldfish was in keeping with our theme.
  

All of this was wrapped up in clear cellophane (you can use tulle for a wedding gift) and topped with some purple curly ribbon. We added a home made card that looked like the picture above!

Compose a Salad

Rather than tossing your salad ingredients in a bowl try making a Composed Salad. Most of us think of composing as something you do to create music or design artwork. Composing a salad is similar. Arrange your salad ingredients in a decorative way on a platter. You can drizzle some herbs, a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the top or serve dressing on the side.

I keep a copy of Food and Wine magazine that is older than my teenage daughter because it has Julia Child's recipe for Salade Nicoise. Named after Nice in southern France, it is the perfect meal for a summer day.

Lately we have been having Caprese Salad which is named after the island of Capri in Italy. Another wonderful summertime meal, Caprese Salad generally has fresh Mozarella, basil and Roma tomatoes. We have been using yellow cherry tomatoes from the garden and my father-in-law just gave us some gorgeous avocados that I have been adding. Perfect!

Plant a Garden

We have a lovely garden in one corner of our backyard where we have planted vegetables, herbs and flowers for cutting. There’s nothing much better than spending time in the garden with my daughter picking vegetables for that night’s dinner. She even has a special basket that she uses to collect the cut veggies. At 14 she knows that adding something as simple as a pretty basket can add to the experience.

I am not a patient gardener and I don’t have lots of spare time. So our garden is planted with things that do well in our climate and aren’t overly demanding. Here is a list of vegetables and herbs that fairly easy to grow:

Green Beans: Kentucky Wonder or Blue Lake
Radishes: White Icicle or Scarlet Globe
Tomatoes: Brandywine, Cherry or Beefsteak.

Squash: Zucchini, Summer Peas:

Sugar Snap or Laxton

Cucumbers: Lemon Cucumbers

Swiss Chard: Rainbow

Basil - Dill - Mint - Oregano - Sage - Tarragon - Thyme

Shoestring Tip: For our green beans, tomatoes and peas we didn’t buy cages or a trellis. We built a tepee sort of stand. We had some old split rails leftover from when we built our fence (I tend to save things). You can use any straight rails or branches that you may have. To create rungs for the vines to grow on we drilled a tiny whole at evenly space intervals. At the top of the posts we ran the wire through and bundled the rails tightly. Then we set the posts up like a tepee and on each of the legs, threaded heavy wire through. It added some interest and height to the garden.

Summer Afternoon

Brunch in the Backyard

Summer is here and it's time to get outside and enjoy it! I'm thinking about having a few friends over for brunch in backyard for a Breakfast Parfait Bar. A parfait is a layered dessert often made with ice cream or custard and layered with sliced fruits, whipped cream and syrups. You just layer your choice of ingredients in a tall glass. In this case, since its breakfast, I'm going to use yogurt. There's actually a glass made specifically for parfaits, in sort of an hourglass shape, but you can use any clear glass. Choose your glasses and start layering. Here are some ideas for ingredients to use. You can do this as a potluck and ask friends to bring one of these.
Yogurt – Lemon, Plain, and Vanilla
Blueberries, Sliced Strawberries
Honey, orange marmalade, raspberry jam, lemon curd,
Walnuts, toasted almonds,
Lemon zest, toasted coconut
Breakfast Cereal, Pecan cookie crumbles or Almond cookie crumbles
For drinks I would make Mimosas (Champagne and Orange Juice, maybe with a Strawberry in the glass), lots of strong Coffee and cream and sugar and maybe some Irish Breakfast Tea with a little lemon slice.

Welcome to Chrysanthemum Cake

For a while now I have been thinking about posting ideas on how to create a beautiful home without spending a lot of money; so welcome to Chrysanthemum Cake: an almanac of home and design. An almanac is a pretty old fashioned concept, but I think it is perfect for the times. An almanac, for those of you new to the idea, is a source of information for farmers and homemakers based on the calendar and seasons with a few witticisms tossed in for fun. Chrysanthemum Cake will be this and more. Look for creative tips that will stretch your dollar and surround you and your family with beauty.