Greenmarkets, Community Gardens And CSA's

Like many of you, I am more mindful about the food I buy these days. I am concerned about where it comes from, what it takes to get it to our tables and whether it's really food, or just food-like-substances.  Concepts like "farm fresh," "eating local" and "sustainability" are now considerations while I'm grocery shopping.  Although I still love a steak or sirloin burger -- grilled to perfection, occasionally -- these days I eat more of a plant based diet, including lots of leafy greens and fresh vegetables, smaller portions of meat, and even many meatless meals, substituting other proteins like dairy, eggs, soy and fish. I care about the planet and the welfare of the other people who occupy it -- and truthfully, eating healthy produce and plant proteins isn't much of a sacrifice. Variety is the spice of life, and I like grains and vegetables.

Furthermore, I like how urban areas are embracing greenmarkets, community gardens and rooftop beekeeping.  Metro-New York, recently reported that Brooklyn Grange, a farm that sits atop of two buildings in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, “produces kale, cherries, eggs and honey, all sold at restaurants and farm stands across the city.”  How cool is that?  A 43,000 square-foot, sky farm growing cucumbers and eggplants high above the concrete, people and activity of Gotham city.

Small related businesses are also springing up.  Partners Doug Muller and Ken Green created the Hudson Valley Seed Library, a company which only sells seeds that thrive in New York's climate and soil.  So a New Yorker who wants to grow salad greens in his windowsill, or broccoli in his community garden can buy the right seeds for his region.

Community Supported Agriculture, or CSAs are becoming especially popular among city dwellers in many states.  [To find one in your area go here.]  Members pay for an entire season of fresh produce, than pick up their boxes of ever changing vegetables weekly. Recipients of the harvest enjoy quality, variety and new taste sensations.  Fellow blogger, Becky's Big Bytes, keeps readers up-to-date with her discoveries and recipes here.  She asked me to post one of my recipes.  So Becky, as the inspiration of today's post, here it is:

 Mock Fried Green Tomatoes And Eggplant 

Ingredients:

2 - 3 big green tomatoes, sliced

1 large eggplant, sliced

Salt, black pepper and seasoning (garlic, onions, etc.) to taste

A little extra virgin olive oil

Uncooked oatmeal and Grapenuts cereal, or breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Brush two cast iron or aluminum skillets with a little olive oil and heat on your stovetop.

2. Season the slices of vegetables and lay each in separate pans.

3. Top with the oatmeal and Grapenuts (or breadcrumbs).  I rarely buy breadcrumbs, so I just use the cereal.  I coat both sides of the vegetable slices with olive oil right in the skillet and sprinkle on the cereal for crunch.

4. Fry until tender and golden brown. 

5. Flip and brown the other side.  

If you prefer, you can bake the vegetable slices in a cast iron skillet in an oven at 350 F for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.  Either method works.  At times you should get wild and crazy by using a few pads of butter to flavor.  Butter is the secret ingredient, which makes restaurant food so delicious according to several chefs.

Serve with a protein (such as ham) and a starch (I like potatoes, or corn) and enjoy!

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Photos Taken At Just The Right Moment

Click to enlarge

Loretta G., a reader of the blog, sent these entertaining photos my way.  I hope you enjoy them too.

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How To Make Laduree Macaroons ... A La Paris

864 Madison Avenue, New York City

French patisserie Laduree makes world famous macaroons in assorted flavors.  Travelers bring boxes of the gourmet cookies back from Paris, and here in New York City where a shop opened on Madison Avenue (at 7oth Street) last year, lines form daily, stretching all the way around the block, to buy the $3 macaroons, which are flown in from Paris each morning.  So what's all the fuss about?

If you can't make it to Paris or New York for a delectable taste, you can still find out by baking a batch in your very own kitchen.  Laduree's master patissier, Philippe Andrieu, shared his coveted recipe with a British newspaper ... and surprisingly, it consists of just a few simple ingredients.  Here is the basic recipe:

Laduree's Macaroons

Ingredients:

2 cups [480 g] confectioners sugar

1 ½  cups [280g] finely ground almonds

7 egg whites

Several drops of food coloring gel [You can use the liquid -- it's a bit weaker and runnier than the gel coloring.]

Plus ...

I always add 2 teaspoons of real vanilla.

Directions: 

1. Put the confectioners sugar [which the British call icing sugar] and ground almonds in a food processor and mix together into a fine powder, then sift to remove any lumps.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat the egg whites, adding the food coloring.

3. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, a portion at a time, thoroughly whisking until you get a smooth uniform, thickish batter.

4. Fill a container, or plastic bag possessing a nozzle with the macaroon batter.

5. Squeeze out a portion the size of an American silver dollar [about 1 inch, or 3 centimeters wide] onto a greased, or parchment lined cookie sheet.  Eyeball the amount.  They are small, rich cookies.

6. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes at 300 degrees F [180C].  Make sure the centers of the macaroons are done, and if necessary, bake a few minutes longer.  Watch and check.

7. Let the macaroons cool, then sandwich a pair with a filling of your choice: raspberry preserves, or Nutella, or butter cream, or whipped cream.

After you crack the basic recipe, you can make fancy flavors like the ones sold at Laduree by adding (1) pistachio paste [and green food coloring], (2) raspberry paste [red], (3) chocolate [use dark baking chocolate] or (4) salted caramel [a light brown].  The macaroons taste even better a day or so later.  Ooh, La La!

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My Love Letter To Queen

Bohemian Rhapsody from A Night At The Opera

I tried to think of a clever reason to feature the rock band Queen this morning, but there isn't one ... other than: I LOVE QUEEN and will never grow tired of listening to their albums.  Their songs never get old.

Nothing beats the experience of listening to LIVE music, and Queen could mesmerize an arena.  It's an understatement to say that the band could really play and sing and entertain. Several music critcs claim they were the highlight at Live Aid in 1985 (see here). And what style of rock didn't this British band write and perform?:  hard rock {Liar}, glam rock {Killer Queen}, mirror ball funk {Another One Bites the Dust}, white gospel {Somebody to Love}, rock operettas {Bohemian Rhapsody}, rockabilly {Crazy Little Thing Called Love}, Rock and Roll anthems {We Will Rock You; We Are The Champions} and sweet ballads {These Are the Days of Our Lives; Love of My Life}.  The list goes on ...

As any Queen fan knows, all four members: lead singer and pianist, Freddie Mercury, guitarist, Brian May, bassist, John Deacon and drummer, Roger Taylor wrote hit songs for the band.♥

Queen also made a memorable video before MTV came onto the scene.  Bohemian Rhapsody [above], a six minute music promo, was produced years before music videos aired.  It is probably my favorite video of all time, one I never get tired of watching.  And this being rock and roll, a genre where image matters ... allow me to give an opinion: The boys were at their cutest at this time, with their youthful faces framed by Raphaelian locks of hair.  Roger, especially, was a very pretty man.  C'mon, you know you're thinking it.

Time goes on, but it's nice to look back.  When I think of the music of Queen, it takes me back to FM radio and listening to them on the stereo system in my parents' living room.  The first time, I heard Bohemian Rhapsody on the radio, I looked up to see that everybody in the room was thinking the same thing: WHAT WAS THAT?  It turned out to be the start of some of the most original and powerful music in Rock and Roll history.  Clearly, their legacy will endure, but anything you try to say about Queen is an understatement.  Enjoy the music.  

BTW., We clowned around to Another One Bites The Dust, falling "dead" on couches and lazy boy chairs. Didn't everyone? ♬♪♪♫ Play it here.

Sheer Heart Attack years

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Ted Baker Opens A New Fifth Avenue Store

Kate and Pippa Middleton wearing Ted Baker

The gold print on a charcoal black invitation read: “Ted Baker, London ... His 5th Avenue Store is now open.” [at 48th Street.]  “Ted Baker requests your presence at his grand house on Fifth.  Enjoy ... afternoon tea ... and the chance to peruse Ted's fall collections."  Attached was a brass skull-type key with yellow ribbon to keep as a souvenir.  Clever marketing, no?

I anticipated staying home all afternoon to watch the London Olympics.  Really I did, but how many endless hours of beach volleyball can a person take?  Thanks, NBC!

So off to the store opening I went.  Upon arrival, waiters passed trays with bangers and lemon tarts.  And, I knew I was in the right place.  Tasty!

The British clothing retailer was launched in Glasgow in 1988 by managing director Ray Kelvin, before opening stores in Covent Garden and London's Soho. 

The apparel, consisting of menswear, womenswear, shoes and accessories, is tailored, elegant and has a touch of humor.  A style mix of English traditional and Modern Art Deco, the perfectly cut suits, lady-like dresses, sparkling cufflinks, plus colorful scarves and neckties are pricy, yet still affordable.  You will drop $200 - $500 for an outfit, but get interesting details and unusual finishes.

Old and new world London meets Midtown in the city that never sleeps.  Other Ted Baker stores are located in the Meatpacking district [34 Little West 12th Street] and Soho [107 Grand Street].  Now that you have the gen, there's no reason to faff around.  Check out the collection here.  Extra points if you undertand British slang.

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Curiosity Rover on Mars ... Meanwhile Back On Earth

Top side image by the BBC (Equipped with cameras and tentacles to scoop up dirt to be analyzed.)

Do you enjoy reading the news?  Many subjects attract my attention, some weighty and serious and others quite superficial and frivolous.  If you are either highbrow or lowbrow and have news, or an entertaining story to tell ... pleazzze come and sit by me.

Today I saw two very compelling images in the media.  The first one -- of the Curiosity Rover, which successfully landed on Mars this morning at 1:31 AM.  NASA launched it 8 months ago; it travelled 354.182 million miles (570 million km) and now its 2-year mission is to study the Red Planet for signs of microbial life.  Isn't landing a car/science lab on another planet exciting?  Watch here.

Beauty Riot

Then I spotted these shorts and learned that studs are once again fashionable.  (They went out?)  Adorable, right?  I WANT these shorts and will be out looking -- if not for this exact pair -- than for something similar!

So keeping up with current events pays dividends (you are a little smarter) ... and can cost you a few dollars.

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The Santa Rosa: A Plum-Basil Cocktail

Photo: Jim P.

Summer's long days and mild temperatures make it an excellent season for reading, relaxing and sipping an evening cocktail.  Today I'm featuring an icy, fruity drink, created by Jim P., who has more ripe plums than he knows what to do with.  Having an abundance of fruit is a very good thing.  It's the mother of invention.

Here is the rough and easy recipe to make one serving of Jim's refreshing, plum-basil cocktail:

1 big, or 2 small very ripe plums

1 good-sized sprig of basil in a cocktail shaker

Add 2 oz bourbon

.5 ounces sweet vermouth

A dash of bitters (Jim uses Fee's barrel-aged.)

Shake and strain over crushed ice.

Top off with seltzer.

Be sure to find yourself some comfortable seating, where you will feel a summer breeze, relax and enjoy.

Cheers!

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Are Yoga Toes A Gimmick?

I received a pair of yoga toes at work, brought them home and forgot about them.  That is ... until two weeks ago.  Now I'm obsessed with trying them out to see if they are of any benefit.  Yoga toes are sold as a natural way to stretch your toes and exercise your feet.  Enthusiasts claim they make toes and ankles more flexible, feet stronger, improve the circulation of your legs, stretch your leg muscles, realign foot structure, improve your arches, alleviate stress and correct common foot problems, such as bunions, hammer toes and varicose veins.

Well when you put a pair on, you definitely feel the lifting and spreading of your toes.  Yelp, that much is true.  The advise is, begin wearing yoga toes for 10 minutes, building up to one hour.  My tip is, slide your little toe into the stretcher-thingy first before the others.

Although I could immediately wear mine for an hour, or longer [fell asleep on my couch with them on], as well as, walk around my apartment to get stuff, I can't honestly say I feel or see a difference when I take them off.  After two weeks of daily wear, my feet feel exactly the same.

Some foot specialists do recommend them for soothing foot pain caused by squeezing feet into narrow shoes and high heels.  And according to UCLA's Dr. Carol Frey, a professor of orthopedic surgery, there's no real need to spend $39 - $49 for YogaToes.  Dr. Frey says yoga toes "are a straightforward design," so the cheap ones work the same "as long as they stretch the toes just enough without pain."  So buy the $10 knockoffs.  

I'm giving my yoga toes a month to do something spectacular for my active feet.  I'm w.a.i.t.i.n.g. ♬♪♪♫ and keeping an open mind.  What about you? 

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M. Mac: The Rock Fish Dress

It happened again.  I wore the shorter length of this classic Rock Fish dress in pubic, and a pedestrian approached to tell me how cute it looks.  In fact, I receive more attention for this all cotton dress than for any other garment in my wardrobe.  The fish dress comes in several colors, styles and lengths.  Essentially, it's a big, comfortable t-shirt with tailored armholes and side slits.  The two dresses I have fall just above the knee.  They are summer staples I wear to work, on errands, or as a beach cover up.  The dresses are so versatile, I can dress them up or down with ballet flats, Mary Janes or flip flops.  The fish dress is a basic, I always pack for vacations also.

  

The fabric is very durable.  The dresses can be machine washed and dried many times over.  I don't even iron mine, and they still manage to look polished.

Who would predict that a simple, practical dress could attract such public attention?  But the Rock Fish dress does.  People always ask me where they can get it, and now they know.  To order the only retailer who sells them now is here.

Other patterns are available, including these.

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Micro Apartments Are Coming To Manhattan

 New York City: You are looking Uptown, East side; click to enlarge.

Here in New York City you grow accustomed to seeing small apartments and weird configurations when you enter other people's homes (not to mention an occasional "only in New York" fetish, it is best to overlook.  Ooh, that's an entirely different discussion).  But now Mayor Michael Bloomberg has launched a plan for a residential building in Kips Bay [at 335 East 27th Street, near First Avenue] to develop teeny-tiny, cubical apartments, about half the size of a subway car.  According to local newspapers, he will have to suspend zoning laws in order to build the 80 proposed micro units, which are to be even smaller than what developers can now build.  Currently, apartments must be 400 square feet or larger.

The proposed micro units will measure between 275 and 300 square feet.  The flats will only be 10-by-30 feet.  Bloomberg says it's the wave of the future.  Presently, 75% of Manhattan residents live alone, or with one other person, and there is a shortage of studios and one-bedrooms.  Average studio apartments now rent for $2,000 a month.  Rent for the cubbyhole apartments is to be determined, but city officials expect it to be below market rate.  It will be interesting to find out, just how much lower.  And you know what?  Whatever the asking price, people will line up to pay it.  These units will go.

Bloomberg has launched a contest, asking architects to come up with a winning design for the units.  All must be well-lit and have kitchens, bathrooms and a sleeping-dining area.  (Hmm, I'm thinking futon.  And forget about entertaining.)

It's not a bad idea to create affordable [that's a relative term in a big city] housing, but when is a space too small?  Realistically, how far could you downsize to live in a desired area?  Can you imagine not having anywhere to go during a television commercial?  Arghhh!!! 

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Hairstyles: Pretty Braids

Genetics are fascinating.  Often times when children are born, recessive genes win out.  Both of my parents had curly hair, but my hair is straight.  (My mom is still trying to understand how and why.)  My curly-haired friend, Cara S., also has a daughter with straight hair.  Some people said Lindsay looked like me, a remark that delighted her growing up, since I got to be the fun Auntie, who came for visits.  But I'm digressing.

As a teenager, my mom thought I should have curly hair and encouraged me to roll it.  It's a good thing, I totally ignored her.  Curly ringlets are pretty, but I never once minded having straight hair.  Straight hair is an easy style to maintain, and yet, you can do a lot with it.  In the summer, it's fun to braid sections of it.  I love YouTube for its hair tutorials, showing you how to braid hair, step-by-step.  Right now, my favorites are a waterfall braid (here) and one called a same-side lace braid (here).  Click on The Cute Girl's Hairstyle channel (here) for other ideas.

How in the world did any of us learn anything before YouTube?

And a word to my parent, who continues to have an opinion about my hair:  Mom, there are two types of people on the planet: People who have straight hair (me!), and people who wish they had straight hair (you!).  

All kidding aside, my mom has lovely curls, which flatter her face.  Obviously, there is no one standard of beauty (mom!).  Embrace whatever your hair type is ... and work with it.  Curly, wavy, or straight, it's all good.

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A Fancy Vanilla Cake

Photo by Anna Spiro/Absolutely Beautiful Things

I equate summer with birthdays, holidays and fun.  Perhaps that's why despite the heat, I adore summer so!  In my family, we make a lot of cakes over the summer months, more than at other times of the year.  Is there anything better than a simple flavored, but moist vanilla cake?  You don't have to use the food coloring for the layers, but trust me, guests love it!  You will hear squeals from “kids” of all ages if you make the extra effort.  Go here for the original recipe.  Here are the ingredients I use:

Vanilla Cake in Color:

Ingredients:

3 cups flour [I use 2 cups all-purpose and 1 cup whole wheat], plus ¼ cup 
 more if needed to get a just right (not too stiff, or runny) batter.  Eyeball it.

4 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups sugar

1 ½ cups milk

5 eggs

2 sticks (16 tablespoons) butter

4 teaspoons vanilla [I like to taste the vanilla.  Get the good stuff from Mexico or Madagascar.]

gel food coloring, assorted: blue, red, purple, orange, etc. [Liquid food coloring is too weak.]

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, add one ingredient at a time (except for the food coloring), and beat with a mixer until smooth.

2. Divide the batter, evenly, into 4 or 5 (your choice) separate bowls, and add a different food coloring to each bowl.

3. Pour into separate, well-greased cake pans.  Bake each at 350 degrees F for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown.

4. Take out of the oven.  While warm (not hot, it will fall apart; not cold, it will stick to the pan), remove the cakes from their pans and let cool.

5. Stack the cakes (bottoms up, i.e. the flat sides up) and frost in between each layer.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

Indredients:

3 cups confectionary sugar

4 tablespoons butter, melted (½ stick)

½ cup milk, more or less.  Add a little at a time.

3 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:

Throw the ingrediants into a bowl and beat with a mixer until smooth.  Add as much confectionary sugar as needed to get a stiff, creamy icing.  Frost the top, sides and each layer of the cake.  Tip: Professional bakers usually frost a cake once, refrigerate it, then frost it again before they decorate it.

Serve at your next party and enjoy! 

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