Vegetarian Foodie

Kitchen Memories...

Before I officially introduce you to my new kitchen (which is currently undergoing renovation for a skylight) here are a few bits and pieces from final days spent in the well lived kitchen at Georgia Street:

The boy, cupboard hunting...

Busy waking up in the morning light...

The cat looking handsome...

The gorgeous ones...

I could go on and on with pictures and stories about this kitchen in which so much time was spent. The kitchen that offered a venue for not only cooking but also a space to share hopes, musings, stories, to labor in and even inspired a gambling session to rock paper scissors late into the wee hours...(you really should have been there). Thank you Georgia Street kitchen and everyone that ever stepped into it for all the superb memories.

Welcome Spring

Have a Splendid and Festive Saturday.

We are dancing around to this: CSS 

Shopping Therapy...

I am in love with these salt and pepper shakers. In fact, there are plenty of lovely things to eat off at Anthropologie right now...

The View From My Kitchen

It was a stormy week end here in Southern California. While brewing some hot chocolate I happened to notice this scene from the kitchen which has resulted in my favorite photo this week:

More on food soon...

Gift Idea for a New Mom

Today I had the pleasure of meeting the offspring of two people I really like. I truly believe their contribution to the gene pool is a positive one.

That being said, it poses the famous question, "What is the best gift idea for a new Mom?"

Once upon a time I was a new Mom and I would have to say that one of my favorite gifts ever was dinner. Yes, dinner. Dinner that was hot and prepared and dropped off with a hug and a kiss and a refusal to come in for more than a peek at the baby.

So, in turn I often offer this gift to my friends that just gave birth.

This is my recommended menu for new parents:

Orzo Pasta Cassarole (It keeps well, heats easily, and siblings never complain about this glorified mac and cheese)!
Simple Green Salad (I like to add what is in season-yellow grape tomatoes, grilled asparagus or cucumber pieces)

Olives from the local Olive bar
Baguette

Wine
Beer
Sparkling Water
Juice Boxes (If there is an older sibling)

I always ask about when the relatives make an exit and things have calmed down (sometimes it is 3 weeks after the babe was born).

That is when I make my move and bring a dinner over.

Really, a good meal that is ready to be laid out is a true gift when you have been puked on, shit on and have little sleep to deal with the mentioned.

Need I say more?

A Delightful Read

I have just added to the sidebar on the left a link to the most delightful book about food and cooking. The Unprejudiced Palate Classic Thoughts on Food and the Good Life  was written by Angelo Pellegrini and first released in the late 1940's.

Pellegrini arrives to the states from Italy. He decides immediately that "America ees gude" and that he loves American breakfasts but is astonished at the looks of what sits on an average American dinner table.

The book is as the title describes it: thoughts on the good life. The good life meaning food, family, wine, gardening and of utmost importance: satisfying one's palate everyday.

My first copy of this book was obtained 10 years ago as a stapled photocopy mess. After the second printing in 1976, the book became a hard to find. Lucky for everyone, The Unprejudiced Palate was recently re-released in 2005 with an intro by Mario Batali. 

I recommend it for anyone that appreciates food and wine. No, I REALLY recommend it. My copy of the new book is so dog-eared because I have folded pages back, underlined paragraphs and already reread them again and again.

Honestly, you will not be disappointed.

Here a couple highlights:

"Forsake all else, if one must, but cling to wine until the very end."

"Eating the garden produce in the summer and throughout the year is pleasant as all hell."

"There is no more sacrilegious disrespect for Nature than plucking fruit from a tree before it is ripe. The very trees themselves resent such an affront to natural law and cling so desperately to their immature yield that it must be violently wrenched from their branches."

So, what are you waiting for? Order this delicious read today.

Dinner Music

There is a great scene in the film American Beauty in which Kevin Spacey sits down to join his family for dinner. The table is set nicely and the family members exchange a couple how-do-you-dos but overall they dine in silence aside from the dinner music. After a few plastic smiles, Annette Bening and Spacey begin to argue over the dinner music. I'll stop there because I don't want to give it away but if you have not seen this scene you simply must.

So the question is, what is your favorite dinner music?

Here are a few reliables that we and our guests never seem disappointed with:

Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles

Music By Cavelight by Blockhead

Smokers Delight by Nightmares On Wax

Anthology by Nina Simone

Caicheto by Orlando Caicheto Lopez

Road Food is Baby's First Food

As promised, a few pictures of our extended week end getaway. We had a great time with friends and family and all agreed we felt rather awestruck with the enormity and majestic beauty of the sequoias.  If you never have been I recommend a visit. 

The lovely house was in Three Rivers which is located in the foothills. Although it was great having the rental, it involved quite a bit of day trip driving. If I had to do it over I would probably camp in the park. The house offered stunning mountain views and the kitchen was a delight to cook in. I love the idea of the kitchen as part of the living space so the cook(s) do not feel isolated from the chatter and goings ons. Soon I will detail two favorite recipes from the journey: Gorgonzola cheese quesadillas with walnuts and caramelized onions as well as Lilly's two timing casserole.

Our time was spent hiking through the park, admiring the trees and chilling out at the house. We had the pleasure of seeing a deer while we picnicked in a green meadow and while mountain biking a rugged trail, our friend Brian saw a mountain lion just yards away.

Here are a few bits and pieces from the week end:

A few of us on a stroll through the giant forest.

This little one had his first taste of road food...ketchup, and while he loved it-I was not fond of the notion of my baby's first food being ketchup. If there is one thing the husband and I wrestle about it is what goes into the mouth's of the babes. I could really kick off a rant here but I won't bore you because this topic is not unique. I have chatted with many moms on this topic and everyone has their own story in regards to what absurd things the husbands have fed the babes.

General Sherman sequoia is not only the largest tree on the planet but also the the largest living thing. General Sherman is 2,200 years old. The circumference at the ground is 102.6 feet.