WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER?

I know I'm not alone in saying that I have been anxiously awaiting the publication of Fifi O'Neill's Romantic Prairie Cookbook.

Of course, I have a special reason ... my little backyard farm and several of my recipes are featured in the book.

On Sunday night, I received a message from the inimitable Elizabeth Kirkpatrick (La Contessa of Vintage Hen House.)

She said she had a copy of the book in her hands because it had shipped sooner than expected.

Why hadn't my copy arrived? Luckily, patience is one of my virtues.

"What are your numbers," I asked? (La Contessa is also featured in the book )

"What are yours?" she replied.

I didn't have an answer yet as I didn't have my copy.

Elizabeth had already found one of my recipes. I was extremely flattered to learn that she had bought the ingredients and planned to make my pot roast with root vegetables for dinner on Monday night.


All day Monday, the books arrived in folks' mailboxes and I have received calls and emails, asking "what are your numbers?" It was like a secret code!

But my book hadn't arrived.

This morning, Elizabeth emailed to say she used a beef tenderloin and her roast was "spot on perfecto."

She also mentioned that she had never tried celery root, rutabaga or parsnips (some of the root veggies that I grow) and really liked them roasted.

Happily, my copy of the book arrived this morning and it's gorgeous.

Now I can share my numbers! They are: 29, 76-77, 98-101, 126 and 150-157.

You NEED a copy. And, if you try any of my recipes, please let me know.

Samantha, one of my two Silver Spangled Hamburg chickens (aka the Miracle chicken), says she enjoyed modeling. In fact, she's starting to make a career of it!

She is going to be filmed for a cable TV show later this week!

ONLY IN LOS ANGELES- Part 1

It's been a great trip so far with only one stop at the emergency room.

On Friday night, we met our son Fred at Abbott Kinney Boulevard's First Friday event.
On the first Friday of each month all of the stores stay open late. Folks shop, stop by their favorite watering holes and feast from trucks.

Gourmet food trucks are a craze in Los Angeles.
Entrepreneurial catering trucks use Twitter to let their fans know where they are parked and what they are serving at any given hour.

There are also several web sites such as Find LA Food Trucks dedicated to these sociable and budget-friendly mobile restaurants.

Operating a food truck is how young chefs get started in this city of high-priced real estate.
An enterprising girl scout troop set up a lemonade stand!
Trucks are a way trendy restaurants introduce their fare to Angelenos who normally wouldn't visit a fancy restaurant-- a good way to develop future customers.

So with Fred pointing out several of his favorite vendors, our group of friends and family spread out to purchase delicacies.
Then, we met back at Fred's blue bungalow which is around corner from where most of the trucks congregate.

Our potluck menu included several Asian staples. There were Chinese pork buns as appetizers.

We also sampled Vietnamese sandwiches (bahn mi) and my friend Joan treated us to two orders of a unique Korean concept (a bowl filled with a mass of delicious fries and topped with kimchee and pork belly or shreds of bbq beef .)

Fred and Jessica ordered a quesadilla and green corn tamale served in a paper cone from the Border Grill truck (an outpost of the restaurant owned by TV cooking gurus Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Two Hot Tamales.)

(tamale photo from the blog F For Food)

As for the trip to the emergency room, the potpourri of tastes was too much for Everett's system.

FROZEN WATER SIDE WEDNESDAY

Yes, it snowed AGAIN, and there's more on the way. Thanks El Nino!
No snow photos this time, I'm getting bored with all that white stuff and opted instead to read a few of the press releases from plant and seed companies that arrived in my in-box this week.

Although there are lots of interesting new veggies and annuals available this year, what really caught my attention are these Old English cottage garden roses.

Aren't they positively dreamy?

This spring (which is only weeks away in my neck of the woods), David Austin (click name to see more) debuts five new repeat-flowering varieties.

Each will grow into a bushy shrub suited for garden beds, big pots, and dramatic border landscaping.

And, dear Waterside Cottages fans, please note that they are hardy enough to stand up to persnickety coastal growing conditions.

My favorite is the velvety 'Princess Alexandra of Kent' (at right) with soft pink petals enclosing richer pink inner ones. Individual blooms boast approximately 130 petals!

The fragrance is described as tea rose-scented maturing to lemony. I prefer my roses with a classic old rose 'nose' but I'm willing to compromise for this beauty.



SUPER BOWL SUPPER

I'd like to apologize to my Hoosier friends for not knowing their state dish.

According to the folks at www.delish.com, by far, the most famous food hailing from the great state of Indiana is the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich.

Pounded flat until it's about the size of two hands, the pork tenderloin slice is breaded and fried and served on a bun with tomato, onion, and pickle. This oversized sandwich was invented in 1908 in Huntington, Indiana, and most likely descended from German Wiener schnitzel.

"I understand they're hard to come by in other parts of the country," notes Jolene Ketzenberger, the food columnist for the Indianapolis Star. "The boneless cuts of pork, are sometimes pounded thin (other times they're quite thick)are generally huge--much bigger than the bun they're served on."

To learn more food specialties favored by Colt fans, take their Super Bowl Food Quiz. I scored 9 out of 10 for Touchdown.

*** BLOG DU JOUR ***

Cindy at Cute Pink Stuff (click here)has been shopping again.

This week, this savvy southern California shopper found irresistible vintage fishies and a delightful mermaid, so swim on over and take a look!

Cindy's shop is stocked with equally enticing treasures, too.

GIRLS AND GRILLS

A few days before my shopping for festive foods was complete and my guests assembled, I read an article about Thanksgiving in The New Yorker.

The story, by journalist Jane Kramer, shared the trials and tribulations of preparing Thanksgiving dinner in seven countries.

Her most-trying experience, however, was at home in New York City when her stove broke down and she served tuna sandwiches with cranberry sauce to her patient guests.

I felt a certain comradeship with Ms. Kramer last Thursday, when my Weber charcoal grill which appeared to be roasting my family's annual turkey to perfection, suddenly came off its moorings.
The kettle section came off the supports, dumping the bird. Fortunately, my son caught our main dish as we both watched the pan filled with delectable drippings hit the patio.

Dinner was only slightly delayed as the turkey finished cooking in our indoor oven. The necessity of lingering over the beet/watercress/arugula/avocado salad gave everyone time to share their favorite Thanksgiving disaster stories.(Jonathan, Karen, Chris, Ev)

Each year, our dinner features old favorites and a few new offerings on a theme-- such as France, Hawaii, Cajun country and Italy. This year Buenos Aires provided the inspiration for empanada appetizers, chorizo stuffing (we had traditional kind, too) and dulce de leche cookies.Fresh herbs --parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, par-cel, and mint -- from our garden went into several dishes and also appeared as colorful nibble-if-you-like garnishes.

(Renita's back in her seat!)

There was much to be thankful for-- good friends, good health, and good food.

(Claire, Rachel, David, Fred and grandma Ruth)

Belgium, our golden retriever, had his own party and guests.(Belgium, his brother Ike and Ike's adopted sister Belle)

Belle and Ike thank Lorna for the extra trimmings on their evening meals. Even though they missed out on the pumpkin and pecan pie...

Fruit membrillo (guava paste confection)...

Grandma Ruth's famous cookies...And dulce de leche alfajores (sandwich cookies with caramel filling).
I hope your Thanksgiving was equally sweet.
Barbara

Julie & Julia

(Fellow diner at Mediterranean in Positano)

In honor of the premier of the movie Julie & Julia, I’d like you to sample some of the utterly fresh and delicious food that I ate in Italy. And yes, there will be a recipe to try. (please excuse the varied fonts and type sizes... Blogger has gone postal on me this morning!)

(Citrus stand in Pompeii)

Just in case you’ve been vacationing in outer space and haven’t heard or read about Julie & Julia, it’s a movie adapted from two books (one based on a blog).

(Peppers for sale in Positano)

Julie Powell’s blog and book chronicle her mildly insane self-impose project to cook all of the 524 recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in 365 days.

(Pasta shop in Vietri)

Director Nora Ephron's movie alternates scenes from Julie's endeavor with those plucked from Julia's memoir.

(Bruschetta in Il Giardino, Cava de Tirreni)

Even before the movie officially opened, critics began warning that the scenes with Meryl Streep as Julia were fabulous and those with Amy Adams as Julie disappointing or worse.

(Marinated and smoked seafood antipasto at Evu, Vietri)

The Washington Post and NY Times reviews adored scenes in Paris in the 40s and 50s and described Julie’s post 9/11 existence as insignificant, boring and whiny.

(Fruit stand in Pompeii)

I actually preferred the here and now which captured a 30 something living in less than perfect housing in NYC to a tee. Could it be because I more closely identify with the angst of a blogger who wrote a book?

(Snack crackers sold in bakeries)

Julia may be a cultural icon and have her pots and pans on display at the Smithsonian, but Julie is proof that myths come true.

(Arugula with shrimp and shaved cheese, Raffaele, Vietri)

She blogged, she a scored a book contract and a got a movie deal. I rest my case.

(Gnocchi with clams, Il Giardino, Cava de Terreni)

Baked Potatoes and Artichokes

4 large potatoes, sliced thin
8 ounces frozen or fresh small artichoke hearts, quartered
Olive oil
1 onion, sliced thin
1 cup parmigiano cheese, grated
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup white wine
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pan heat 1-2 Tablespoons of olive oil. Add potatoes, artichokes, onion, then cover and on medium heat steam for 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile mix herbs together and divide in half. Oil a rectangular baking dish, make a layer of 1/3 of the veggies, sprinkle with 1/2 of the herbs, then 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat layers ending with a last layer of veggies. Pour wine over top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes, serve hot.

*** BLOG DU JOUR ***

Do you love shells? Visit The Katillac Shack for a peak at some gorgeous vintage shell art.

* WIN A COPY OF WATERSIDE COTTAGES *

Brenda at Cozy Little House is giving away an autographed copy of my book to raise awareness for Enchanted Makeovers. Check it out.