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Mark reviews (and lives), ‘We Wanted A Farm’ by M.G. Kains

A first hand account of a couple starting a garden in the city, then renting a home in the suburbs, and finally taking the plunge to buy their own farm. Originally published in 1941, some of the prices obviously seem quite dated.

Kaines has good recommendations for seed varieties which should be heirloom quality in the present day, as well as good tips on how to prepare your soil and how not to buy manure from a local farmer! Good tips on pruning perennial fruits and vegetables for max yield, how to mail order and store plants for the coming season.

His food was so fresh and of high quality that visitors from the city became a problem which was solved by a well placed sign on his driveway.

Intro on how to use dynamite – I’m not going there even if we could buy it today!
Funny comments on his hired help which were the cause for more work than help!

After reading this I now see that farming is a year round activity with plenty of hard work, but the bounty of fresh food brings pleasure year round.

Small plates, big taste at Willi’s in Healdsburg CA

When in wine country, it should come as no surprise that the topic turns to food. With so many choices, we tend to like small plates to allow for more variety in tasting dishes and avoiding the “food baby” syndrome at every meal. Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar delivered perfectly the other night.

Voveti Prosecco, Italy N.V.
Fresh & graceful with honesuckle, apple, melon & peach with a long creamy finish.(I don’t speak ‘wine tasting’, but if I did, this is what I’d ask for!)

Charred Rare Ahi, Cucumber, Avocado, Truffled Soy

BBQ’D Bacon Wrapped Scallops, Tamarind BBQ, Clantro Pumpkinseed Pesto

“Dale Caesar” Toasted Capers, Pineuts & Aleppo Pepper

And the icing on the CHEESEcake!
For me, the “I usually skip dessert” girl,
No Bake Lemon Cheescake, Burnt Meringue (think perfect campfire marshmallows), and Mexican Spiced Cookies (with chunks of ginger!)
Absolutely delicious!

Discussing fasting with Kathleen…

You never know what other people truly find important until you find a way to ask. Kathleen M. and I found we have a common interest in the benefits that come from “doing without” because we have so much. She is a cool librarian and recommends these reads:

Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor by Jana Riess (Nov 1, 2011) (Kindle ready)

The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle (Sep 19, 2006)

The Rule of St. Benedict by St. Benedict, PlanetMonk Books and Boniface Verheyen (Apr 30, 2011) (Kindle .99)

So read, eat – (or not), and it may lead to whatever you call prayer.

Dinner at Libertad – a gift from Ann & Joe

We Pray. My Aunt Ann & her husband Joe came to Chicago in March for my mother’s Mass & Memorial Luncheon. We celebrated mom’s life with her other sister, Kay, my cousin Eileen and family and friends from near and far.

We Eat. At some point, my son Chris was asked by Ann & Joe to get a gift certificate to a restaurant that Mark & I would enjoy. As James Taylor sings in Nobody But You, “What you gonna do with folks like that?”

Well, on a recent Saturday in June, we felt like we could finally exhale for an evening and so sauntered over to Skokie’s gem of a spot for a meal that simply must be documented!

Libertad Manhattan ~ libertad house oak infused tequila, la pinta pomegranate tequila (insert Mark smiley face here!)
Libertad Real ~ garbel prosecco brut sparkling wine, la pinta pomegranate tequila liqueur, cinnamon bitters (insert Ann smiley face here!)
Albondigas ~corn fritter, wild mushrooms, turnip, tomatillo-basil sauce
Aguacate ~ frisee lettuce, avocado, croutons, manchego cheese, radish, jerez vinaigrette
Venera ~ scallops, black rice, long beans, yuzu-habanero butter sauce
Salmon ~ mezcal-range-chile de arbol glazed salmon, aspargus rice, jicama, lemongrass beurre blanc
Exotic Custard* ~ passion fruit-mango-banana custard, prickly pear anglaise, banana sorbet

*can be known to compel one to want to announce to entire restaurant that “Everyone here MUST try this dish!”

That’s it! Simple, elegant, perfection! Gracias mi familia!

Sarah’s Chilled Corn & Red Pepper Soup

Chilled Corn & Red Pepper Soup

3 Red Peppers, chopped

1 Red Onion, chopped

3 med cloves garlic, chopped

3 cups chicken stock

4 cups fresh corn kernels (4-5 cobs)

1- 1.5 cups non-fat plain yogurt

salt & pepper

1 tsp-1TBSP sriracha sauce (or another hot sauce)

Saute peppers & onion in olive oil over med high heat (don’t brown) in stock pot for 5-10 mins until soft, adding garlic after several mins.

Add corn (add corn cobbs for added flavor, removing them before pureeing) & stock and simmer for 5-10 mins. Allow to cool slightly. Use hand blender to puree soup to desired consistency. Add yogurt and seasoning after it has cooled to room temp.

It is poss that you might want to add a pinch or two of sugar if the corn is not really fresh & sweet.

Chill overnight (although it is not completely necessary, bc it is good at room temp too. Garnish with sour cream or fresh herbs (chives or cilantro) or even a few kernels of corn.

Steve and Dee – San Diego dreamin’

[slideshow]So, yes keeping current with eat,pray,read is a challenge. That’s because life involves all of that and more! Let’s go back to February for today…the past is still with us, and to be cherished.

Visiting Steve and Dee at their home in Carlsbad California was the finale to our wonderful Cali vacation.

Steve challenged me the other day by reminding me that I had neglected to post highlights of the visit – despite the fact that we talked about books and ate wonderful meals, and walked the beautiful, peaceful beaches!

Some of the books:

The Wave, In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean, by Susan Casey

The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga

Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes

Ahab’s Wife, by Sena Jeter Naslund

We went whale watching in San Diego harbor. Hence Ahab’s Wife was mentioned. Steve was reading The White Tiger on cd while in his car on the lovely drive down the coast to the San Diego Salt Mines called his office. The Wave is another recommendation from my ‘still surfin’ cousin. And Matterhorn, which is sounding like a man-book being read by a guy who likes man-books as well as great food, wine, and family time! Wonderful people. Wonderful place! Timeless!

Mise en place in JD’s kitchen

When my niece Angela married JD, I knew right away that the family was welcoming a great guy who will always bring Angela and their young family joy, security, and oh yeah, great cooking skills! Until our recent visit to their lovely home, I had only heard of JD’s passion for cooking. We were treated to a wonderful fish stew on Saturday evening (a secret recipe that does not leave JD’s “iron chef” grip), and some great appetizers including homemade guacamole and bacon wrapped, cream cheese stuffed jalapenos! I learned that even a “pepper-phobe” can enjoy a grilled jalapeno when the seeds and ribs are removed with good, precise knife skills.

What impressed me further was the orderly use of what can’t be more than an 18 inch x 36 inch workspace. The man is the master of mise en place, or”everything in place”. Good prep makes the meal, and cleaning up as you go allows the chef and guests to relax and enjoy!

So, to all who whine about needing more counterspace, take a lesson from the great chefs who learn to excel in their humble kitchens while managing to make it look easy and taste fabulous!

JD, you are welcome to cook with us and our “Best West” group anytime you visit! Bon appetit!

Always talk to a good bartender, like Corey at Hotel Yountville – a 10 year update!

The Hotel Yountville is comfortable, simple, classic. The stone, wood, and bright accents of turquoise fabric are fresh and inviting. But it was our hotel bartender Corey, who shared his tips for a perfectly lovely way to enjoy the valley that only a local would know. Here, I share an abbreviated version of his a simple afternoon plan for fun in the Napa sun. Drive North out of Yountville on the Silverado Trail to St. Helena. Head for Napa Valley Olive Oil Company for their homemade pepperoni, olive oils, dry sausage, cheese and bread. Do you see where we’re going here? **Caveat time! Orignial post was dated 2012 and the picnic spot at Rutherford Hill Winery now requires reservations and a $30 per person charge plus a bottle purchase. It is still a lovely hillside picnic spot – just not a freebie! After that, for us it was back to Yountville where we rode bicycles provided to hotel guests over to Domaine Chandon Tasting Bar . 11:00 am – 4 pm reservations required. And finally, back to the hotel for a calm, relaxing swim. Cheers!

Cheers, Corey!