Not Disney's Alice

Yesterday my 9 year old daughter brought home the book - Through The Looking Glass - from her grade school library. I took one look at it and I was in heaven. The book had all the original illustrations by John Tenniel that were published with the book in 1871. I love these pictures so much. Apparently the original engravings were done on a wooden block and then transferred to metal plates for printing. Over the years these metal plates deteriorated losing much of the fine details of the drawings and the wooden blocks were thought to be lost. In 1985 the original blocks were discovered in a London bank vault. This allowed the books to be printed exactly as the originals had been. There is just something about these drawings as well as the ones in - Alice In Wonderland - that make the story come to life in a un-Disney like way that I appreciate. Not that I'm knocking the Disney version. I grew up with that and it has its nostalgic value but it can't compare with the original text or the original illustrations - in my opinion.

So Far So Good

We've been trying our best to follow this idea -

If not LOCALLY PRODUCED, then Organic. If not ORGANIC, then Family farm. If not FAMILY FARM, then local business. If not a LOCAL BUSINESS, then Fair Trade.

http://www.sustainabletable.org/

So far so good.

Tasha Tudor

I discovered Tasha Tudor in a 1992 Victoria magazine article - which I still have. I was mesmerized by the pictures of her and her life and I was hooked. I'm sure many women out there had the same reaction as I did - I wish I had that life. She is a beloved illustrator and lives as if it were 1830 on her Vermont farm. You really have to see the pictures of how she lives to appreciate it. Her garden, her clothing, her daily life - she seems to have found some magic way to live in this modern world. She even makes her own candles to light her home. Her illustrations are wonderful and go perfectly with her lifestyle and are reminiscent of a bygone era. She turned 91 in 2006 and I've heard there is going to be an auction in November 2007 of some of the antique clothing she has collected and worn through the years. She is truly one of a kind.

WHITAKER ~ AUGUSTA AUCTION COMPANY http://www.whitakerauction.com/Tudor_auction.htm

English Lavender

I have always had a thing for Lavender. There is nothing more beautiful to me than a field filled with Lavender. My favorite variety is English Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolias). I began to study all the varieties several years ago along with lots of other herbs. I experimented with growing, and drying, and cooking with different types. Where I live all the varieties grow pretty heartily. I finally settled on English as my personal favorite. This variety is definitely great for culinary purposes as is Provence Lavender (Lavandula x intermedia) my second choice. Of course there are many others used for decoration and soaps, potpourri, etc. There are also many places on the Internet to buy organic lavender products and get information. One I have used is Mountain Valley Growers http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/lavendercareandtips.htm . I am currently designing a new herb garden for the spring but I dream of the space to plant endless rows of lavender.

Seafood Choices

I watched a show on PBS last night called - Farming the Seas - it was so well done. It examined the decline of marine fisheries worldwide and efforts being made to restore them. Here is link offered as a best and worst seafood choices. There is also a link on that page for a pocket version as well (http://www.oceansalive.org/eat.cfm?subnav=bestandworst). The show was done by Habitat Media and was the sequel to Empty Oceans, Empty Nets. Both of these films are excellent. I'm am slowing beginning to learn about the effects globalization has had on the world and the big picture.

Lost Produce

I've been very interested in the support of local farmers for some time now but I began to think about it once more after watching a documentary called Broken Limbs: Apples, Agriculture and the New American Farmer.

The plot is as follows - BROKEN LIMBS explores hopeful stirrings within agriculture, and outlines ways in which any individual can play a role in saving America’s farmers. The film presents the stories of farmers attempting to create this new model for agriculture and emerging, more sustainable solutions to the crises of recent years – solutions applicable not just to apples and not just to farming, but to nearly any sector of the American economy troubled by the effects of consolidation and globalization.

Then the other the day the subject came up again when I read an article in our local paper about one of our own historic farms -Imwalle Gardens - established in 1886 by the Imwalle brothers. They were German immigrants who came to Santa Rosa and found the fertile fields along the Santa Rosa Creek a profitable place to grow vegetables. We have shopped there many times but more as a lark than as regular customers. I now realize the need to support this farm with our regular business. It is not only important for us to know exactly where our food comes from but as the documentary suggested - we have our own Dr. and Dentist and we can also have our own Farmer. I love this idea!! Another great thing is that the Imwalles buy from other small local farmers to supplement their own supplies which makes it even better. I'm going to continue to look for ways to support these and other local businesses . While progress is important and necessary - community and continuity also have importance. I can't imagine what would it be like to drive down W 3rd st. and not come across that small oasis of land growing lots of yummy things amidst the houses and I don't want to.

reading, relaxing and planning

Sept. 4, 2007

waking, discovering, and tubbing

Sept. 3, 2007

barefoot, mixing, and eatting

Sept. 2, 2007

I Love Ina

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The only chef that ever really inspired me is Ina Garten aka The Barefoot Contessa. She has her own cooking show on The Food Network and has published many wonderful cookbooks. I love also that she is self taught and her cooking style is described as Elegant and Earthy. I try to make something from her list of recipes at least once a week. This week I made her Raisin Scones. I make them in the shape of a moon instead of the traditional triangle because the kids like them that way.
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Raisin Scones
Copyright, 1999, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, All rights reserved
Show:Barefoot Contessa
Episode:Big Breakfast

4 cups plus 1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 pound cold unsalted butter,
diced 4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup cold heavy cream
3/4 cup raisins
1 extra-large egg beaten with 2 tablespoons milk or water, for egg wash
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
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Combine 4 cups flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, the baking powder, and salt in an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Blend in the cold butter at the lowest speed and mix until the butter is in pea-sized pieces. Combine the eggs and heavy cream and quickly add to the flour/butter mixture. Combine until just blended. Combine the raisins and 1 tablespoon flour and then add to the dough and mix quickly. The dough may be a bit sticky.
_Dump the dough out onto a floured surface and be sure it is well combined. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough out to 3/4-inch to 1-inch thick. You will see lumps of butter in the dough. Cut into squares with a 4-inch cutter and then cut in half diagonally to make triangles. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
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Brush the scones with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the outsides are crisp and the insides are done.