Wednesday, October 2, 2013

THE ZUCKER GALS DID IT AGAIN... ONE FABULOUS MEAL

WE WERE IN VERMONT, THE DAYS WERE STARTING TO GET SHORTER, THE AIR WAS AROMATIC WITH HARBINGERS OF FALL SCENTS.....



SUNFLOWERS WERE RELEASING THEIR SEEDS

EGGPLANTS WERE DISPLAYED AT THE FARMERS MARKET IN ALL THERE GLORY
JORDAN AND I WERE USING THE SEASONS BEST, IN QUICK EASY AND DELICIOUS WAYS... JAPANESE EGGPLANTS SIMPLY SLICED, SAUTED IN OLIVE OIL WITH SALT AND PEPER.  SHISO PEPPERS WERE ADDED AT THE LAST MINUTE TO BLISTER THE SKINS.  JUST BEFORE SERVING CHOPPED GARLIC WAS ADDED.

ALL SMILES 


THE NEXT DAY JORDAN TOOK ASSORTED GREENS AND SAUTED THEM, ADD CREME FRESH , SALT , PEPPER AND GRATED FRESH HORSERADISH AND TOSSED ALL TOGETHER

BZ GRILLED TWO DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF THE FAIRY EGGPLANT

A SCREEN WAS ADDED TO THE GRILL SO THAT THE BABIES DIDN'T "FALL THRU THE CRACKS"


FIRST COURSE WAS TOMATO SOUP WITH BASIL CREAM

ROAST    ON A BED OF SAUTED NATIVE PEACHES GARNISHED WITH BLACK MINT


SPINACH SALAD WITH DATES AND ALMONDS  FOLLOWED  THANK YOU KATIE!

ROAST CHICKEN WITH FENNEL AND ORANGES WAS THE MAIN COURSE

MIXED ROAST FINGERLING POTATOES AND THE GRILLED FAIRY EGGPLANT WITH LEMON VERBENA


LESLIE BROUGHT HER FAMILY NOODLE KUGEL... SO YUMMY!


THE EVEN ENDED WITH FILL YOUR OWN CORN MEAL CREPES,
FILLINGS INCLUDED HOME MADE MANGO SORBET FROM ALICE ( THANKS ALICE), FRESH FIGS, ROAST PISTACHIOS, AND CHOPPED PEARS AND HOME MADE BLACK BERRY SAUCE
 NEEDLESS  TO SAY WE WERE ALL SATIATED AND HAPPY


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

A JEWEL OF A OASIS IN THE CORTELYOU AREA OF BROOKLYN

I WAS WITH MY JEWELRY MAKING FRIEND ARLEEN GELLER OF http://www.handstrung.com/

CHECKING OUT NEW PLACES IN BROOKLYN WHEN WE CAME UPON THIS DELIGHTFUL JEWEL BOX OF A SHOP CALLED
SCARED VIBES APOTHECARY 376 ARGYLE ROAD (CORTELYOU & ARGYLE)

THE WINDOW WAS SO INVITING
  


YOU JUST HAD TO STEP IN AND SPEND SOMETIME WANDERING THE WARES




THE WALLS WHERE LINED UP NEATLY WITH SPICES AND ORGANIC HERBS

OILS TO HELP SOOTH "WOMENS" PROBLEMS



EGYPTIAN ART WAS OVER THE CASH REGISTER
AFTER ALL WEREN'T THEY ONE OF THE FIRST TO KNOW HOW TO USE HERBS AND TEAS TO IMPROVE ONES LIFE ON EARTH AND IN THE AFTER LIFE?

ALL AGES WERE WELCOME WITH REMEDIES

AHH THAT WILL MAKE YOUR SITTING AREA FEEL SO MUCH BETTER

TEAS TO HELP WITH DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MENTL HEALTH.....

THEY HAVE A FRIENDLY STAFF AND A BIG MAIL ORDER BUSINESS

ENTICING VIEW OF THE SHOP

ASIAN INFLUENCES POPPED UP AMONG THE JARS

SO DID AFRICAN OR SOUTH AMERICAN ( I'M NOT THE EXPERT)

A BUDDAH IS ALWAYS HAS A VERY CALMING EFFECT ON ME....NAMASTE

A

AND NOW A CLOSE UP OF A FEW OF THEIR TREASURES

LIKE THE CHINESE THEY HAVE AN HERBAL REMEDY FOR ANYTHING THAT AILS YOU

WHO COULDN'T USE SOMETHING TO SLEEP BETTER?

OK BOYS YOUR COVERED HERE

NATURES VITAMIN C IN A JAR

I WANT TO KNOW WHO THOUGHT TO USE THIS?

DON'T LEAVE HOME WITH OUT IT?



A TREASURED MOMENT TO REFECT

THANK YOU KAREN ROSE THE WONDERFUL OWNER OF THIS  OASIS FOR PERMITTING ME TO PHOTOGRAPH AND WRITE ABOUT YOUR WONDERFUL PLACE... CAN'T GO TO BROOKLYN ... VISIT THEM ON LINEWWW.SCAREDVIBESHEALING.COM

OF COURSE WE HAD TO STOP FOR LUNCH.... the farm on adderley  AS YOU WALKED IN YOU FELT THAT YOU WERE IN THE COUNTRY &THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS
I HAD POACHED EGGS, ON CHEESE GRITS AND SWISS CHARD


THE AREA IS FULL OF OLD WORLD CHARM, VICTORIAN HOUSES WITH SECOND FLOOR PORCHES

HOW DID I GET THEIR FROM NYC?  WHY AN EASY HOP ON TO THE Q  TRAIN

THESE ARE THE CHARMING WINDOWS FROM THE CORTELYOU STATION

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  TIMES RUNNING, PUT THIS ON YOUR LIST OF TO DOS.....


Friday, September 20, 2013

A PEAK AT GUDRUN SJODEN FALL FASHIONS

PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD!  MY FEET ARE THANKING ME FOR BUYING THESE BEAUTIFULLY COMFORTABLE SHOES.  ALL MY FRIENDS KNOW THAT I'M A WALKER AND I NEED SHOES THAT CAN WALK MILES.... MY FEET FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN SLIPPERS..... THEY COME IN THREE COLORS.  I NEED THE WINE ONES.  SPEAKING OF WINE.... IT IS ONE OF THE TWO COLOR TRENDS FOR FALL THAT I'M IN LOVE WITH!  (NEXT MONTH I SHARE THE OTHER)
AND THESE TIGHTS GET MEN TAKING A SECOND LOOK AT MY LEGS ..... I ADORE THE DOTS








AS A FASHIONISTA I START TO BE SHY BEING PHOTOGRAPHED (REALLY)
 HERE I AM WEARING ONE OF MY FAVORITE DRESSES OF   THE FALL  called "KRUMELU" IT'S A JERSEY TUNIC/DRESS THAT SPELLS COMFORTABLE DOWN TO MY TOES. THE FLOWERS ARE AN ORIGINAL PRINT FROM GUDRUN HER SELF. GREY, PURPLES AND A DASH OF LIME.......   OVER THE DRESS IS  A COSY LONG LINEN/COTTON VEST.  I JUST LOVE THAT THE LINING IS BLACK AND WHITE DOTS TO SHOW OFF OF COURSE

BTW THE WONDERFUL STRIPE BACKGROUND IS THE DRESSING ROOM AT GUDRUN SJODENS'S SOHO STORE..... 50 GREENE ST, NY. NY.  AN OASIS OF GREENE LIVING .... DO VISIT IF YOUR IN TOWN OR SHOP ON LINE @ WWW.GUDRUNSJODEN.COM



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

TOMMY TOE SOUP


THE END OF THE SUMMER BEGINNING OF AUTUMN SPELLS FOUR FRESH VEGGIES/ FOODS TO ME, TOMATOES, PLUMS AND RED PEPPER AND CORN.
THIS WEEK I MADE AND FROZE CORN ICE CREAM....YES, CORN ICE CREAM    YOU HAVE TO TASTE IT TO BELIEVE HOW GOOD IT IS.   LIKE A LABOUR OF LOVE, EACH TIME I MAKE IT, I SAY NEVER AGAIN CAUSE IT'S MESSY AND TIME CONSUMING.  BUT EACH YEAR AS THE CORN IS AS HIGH AS AN ELEPHANTS EYE.... AND BOUNTIFUL IN OUR LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS I OVER DOSE ON CORN AND YEARN FOR CORN ICE CREAM.  IT'S AN ALL AFTERNOON CHORE, SHUCKING, SCRAPING THE COBBS OF ITS KERNELS, COOKING IN SWEET CREAM AND MILK, PUREEING THE CONCOCTION,MAKING A CUSTARD AND FINALLY COOLING DOWN THE DARN STUFF TO CHURN IN AN ICE CREAM MACHINE.
TOMATO SOUP ON THE OTHER HAND IS A BREEZE........


SIX POUNDS OF SUMMER BEAUTIES DANCING IN THE SUNLIGHT

READY TO BE BATHED ?




BUBBLE BATH OF 3O SECONDS TO MAKE THE  SKINS  SLIP OFF SEAMSLESS




SLICE THE TOMATO IN 1/4'S


WITH A TEASPOON SCOOP OUT THE SEEDS (THEY ARE BITTER)  MAKE SURE TO GET ALL THE SEED SACKS


STRAIN SEEDS TO GET ALL THE JUICE




PUSH DOWN WITH YOUR SPOON TO GET ALL THE JUICE
NOW YOUR READY TO MAKE THE SOUP



RECIPE:
6 LBS OF TOMATOES ( I BUY THE "NOT PRETTY ONES" AS MY MARKET MARKS THEM DOWN.....WHO CARES WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE SINCE YOU ARE GOING TO COOK THEM DOWN AND PUREE?
2 LARGE ONIONS CHOPPED
OLIVE OIL
SALT & FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER
1 PINT  PREFERABLE HOME MADE CHICHEN STOCK ( VEGANS USE VEGETABLE STOCK AND ADD TIME AND BAY LEAF)
1) PARBOIL THE TOMATOES FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS 3 AT A TIME, COOL, AND WITH A PARING KNIFE CUT AN X ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TOMATO, PEEL AND CORE.  SET ASIDE IN A LARGE BOWL
2) CUT TOMATO IN 1/2 VERTICALLY AND WITH A SPOON (OR CLEAN HANDS) SCOUP OF THE SEEDS INTO A STRAINER OVER ANOTHER BOWL. BUT SEEDED TOMATOES IN A CLEAN BOWL
3)STRAIN JUICE FROM THE SEEDS AND ADD TO TOMATOES
4) IN A LARGE SAUTE PAN ( I USE TWO AT A TIME) ADD OIL TO COAT BOTTOM OF PAN AND HEAT OIL UNTIL HOT
5) ADD CHOPPED ONIONS,SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE AND COOK UNTIL TRANSLUCENT (SWEATED) ABOUT TEN MINUTES.
6) ADD TOMATOES, SALT AND PEPPER TO COOKED ONIONS AND COOK "DOWN" AND "CHOP" WITH WOODEN SPOON ABOUT 10 MINUTES, ADDING TOMATO JUICE AS NEEDED. REDUCE HEAT TO A SIMMER AND COVER.  CONTINUE COOKING AN ADDITION 15 MINUTES ADDING REMAIN JUICE IF ANY AT THIS TIME.
7) USING A FOOD PROCESSOR,  LADDLE COOKED TOMATO AND ONION IN SMALL BATCHES AND PUREE. POUR PUREE IN A CLEAN LARGE SAUCE PAN.
8) ADD 2C HOME MADE CHICKEN SOUP TO TOMATO PUREE.  STIR UNTIL COMBINED. HEAT SOUP AND SERVE OR FREEZE
OPTIONAL GARNISH
1 C WHIPPING CREAM
SALT 
A BUNCH OF CLEAN BASIL CUT INTO CHIFONADES ( THIN STRIPS)
WHIP CREAN WITH A PINCH OF SALT UNTIL IT CAN HOLD PEAKS, FOLD IN BASIL.  LADDLE SOUP INTO BOWL AND GARNISH WITH A DOLLOP OF BASIL CREAM
TO SERVE ABOUT 10-12

GOT TO GO BUY SOME PEPPERS TO ROAST, TA TA FOR NOW!
SAUTE THE CHOPPED ONIONS


TOMATOES ARE ADDED AND COOKING WITH THE ONIONS

READY TO PUREE THE TOMATO AND ONION MIXTURE



ALL PUREED AND READY TO RETURN TO THE STOCK POT  WITH CHICKEN BROTH






GARNISH WITH BASIL CREAM, BASIL LEAF AND TINY TOMATOES




HMMM, HMMMM GOOD!  GO GET YOURSELF SOME TOMATOES AND SEE FOR YOURSELF... GOT TO GO CREATE MORE RECIPES