The actor that played you in Crazy Heart deserves the Oscar, just as he deserved the Golden Globe and SAG awards. You even made me like actor Colin Farrell, for a moment at least. I agree that the relationship between you and Tommy Sweet should have been fleshed out more because the relationship between Bad/Jean was pre-destined.
One thing you might have done is re-kindle my interest in acoustic guitar. I’ve already figured out one of your songs and will work on others. And I’m a rank beginner, not like actor Jeff Bridges, who plays “The Weary Kind” on youtube.
My husband found the movie tough and a bit sad. It is, but I knew that going in. I went for the story and the music and was not disappointed in the least by either. And with Robert Duvall and the songwriters/singers, this is a film I’ve waited for with great anticipation and every hope was realized. Thanks, Otis. Cheers from a transitory Texas gal.
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: crazy heart, Jeff Bridges, movies, Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett
One of the historic trio that propagated French cooking in America (a trio that included Julia Child and Louisette Bertholle), her recipes were taught to us in cooking school. I loved her lettuce timbale and chocolate cake. My favorite teacher, who went to Gourmet and after the magazine closed, where?, was Paul Grimes who used to spend summers in the south of France with Simca and neighbor Julia Child.
When I took on my one-month unpaid culinary apprenticeship in Mendocino, CA, I was working with chefs Margaret Fox and Chris Kump (son of the cooking school owner). I’d spent all my savings on cooking school and renting a car and luckily a waiter had a sublet for me for the month. It was very cold at night and my cabin had no heat, broken windows and a privy lock (hook and eye) for security. My funds were spent on $5 a day for wood for the stove that burned out around 2-3 a.m.
My solace was one book I bought at a used bookstore in Ft. Bragg for $8, Simone Beck’s “Simca’s Cuisine.” That’s what I read when it was light enough to read. Now it’s in storage but I looked it up for a reader who commented on Cassoulet (because that’s in the book) and new, it’s going for $817.19 on Amazon!
Let’s all try to make a version of cassoulet before Spring. How about it? I’m willing if you are. There’s a site that provides all the traditional ingredients online, or make up your own. As for me, Simca’s Cuisine is in storage a half a country away so I’ll have to punt. Happy cooking, Dee
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: cassoulet, Mendocino, Simca Beck, Simca's Cuisine
February 9, 2010 · 1 Comment
They’re so important. My dear husband put a different spin on tools, for me. They are tools. He is a physicist and software engineer. A computer is a tool to do what he needs to do. It’s not an end in itself.
I always knew that having the right cooking tools is important. That is vastly different from having every gadget on the planet. You don’t need a strawberry huller, mushroom scrubber or corn silk remover. For those three issues here are my tips: paring knife; damp paper towel; and your hands.
Your hands are the best tool in any kitchen. I spent a good deal of time researching cooking books for you, and writing the essential pantry collection. I’d spend more time writing a tool collection if anyone had read the first two posts.
Husband James spent six months establishing a woodworking toolset for our 7 year-old nephew. I’ve spent 30 years establishing my kitchen and most of it is in storage, a heartbreaking fact as it’s been nearly a year now.
Research the best things for your kitchen. Fewer is better! Good knives, a few electric devices and good pots and pans and you can do anything, even in a small apartment. OK, I’ll get to work on it but you have to read it! Cheers, Dee
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: cooking tools
Yes, I’ve been gone but have made this a daily task so took a few days off, like I will again this weekend as we’re trying to get away for the first time in a couple of years.
Preparing to get away is going to take more time than the entire weekend on vacation! Prep the house, instructions for the dog, planning and packing and my husband knows nothing of it, only that his clothes are packed and passport is in place as he walks out the door.
One time we spent a night at a 1930’s CCC cabin in a forest. It probably burned down in the 1993 fires. It was the only one with electricity (one dim yellow bulb and a coffee pot). We had mice running around then something big and he wouldn’t let me get out the flashlight because… he didn’t want me to see how big this critter was!!!
I digress. We had a small charcoal grill, bought a stove, brought an air mattress, sheets, down comforter, food, kitchen utensils, cooler full of juices, water, bacon, eggs, you name it. I spent 24 hours packing for a 12-hour vacation. Hubby was amazed I made it through the night with all the critters as he was secretly waiting for me to signal STOP and go to a hotel. All said, I was a good sport and we never did that kind of trip again.
As a foodie and somewhat thrifty person, if we need to stay somewhere for a week, especially for work, I like a place with a semi-kitchen, like a Marriott Residence Inn. For longer term, Europe offers better options than the US ever does, like SACO with full housing and w/d in a flat with room to move around in. For a quick weekend I like a newer Holiday Inn Express (they don’t tell you about the newer ones) because it has a 1/2 frig so I can stock juice and something for breakfast and eliminate one meal out, and it has a safe for the laptops and passports.
So, yes, I plan on being AWOL for the weekend so offer you kind wishes for a happy St. Valentine’s Day and have many ideas so will be corresponding as they emerge. Cheers! Dee
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: vacation, CCC cabin, Mariott, Holiday Inn Express
If you’re young and perhaps unsure of how to plan your future, talk to people. I remember when I was 16 on a beach in Florida, a dad spoke to me about how he planned his future. He asked me what I wanted to be and I didn’t know. He said he could have been a doctor or lawyer, but they only deal with problems. He chose to be an architect to realize peoples’ dreams. I’ve remembered that for a long time.
Most people don’t give a darn about their interns, I know I didn’t as they were just another weight on me. I should have been better and became better as a consultant and, on weekends, as a lead volunteer.
Today, my cooking only fulfills my husband’s dreams, and sates the appetites of our guests. We have the luxury of meeting interesting people all the time and savor the camaraderie and knowledge gained.
If you want to cook, find the finest chef and try to apprentice in his/her kitchen. If you want to do anything else, find the best and try to get an internship there. Before that, take the right courses in school. Challenge yourself. Math and science are the roads to success these days. Push yourself and after college/grad school you can choose what you want to do.
And if you’re in college or high school, surround yourself with interesting people. Don’t be in one group. And when you consider getting married……. that’s another post. Cheers! Dee
Categories: Editorial · Education
Tagged: advice, careers, food
February 1, 2010 · 1 Comment
I wrote an entire piece for you with recipe ideas, everything, and it was lost. I continued an earlier post and went to post it and my kind host made me sign in and everything was lost! I’ll try to reconstruct over the next couple of days because there was some good stuff in there for you.
Beef Carbonnade with traditional Pappardelle noodles; and a chicken liver mousse that is softened by onions, apples, brandy and cream cheese. I just looked up a recipe on epicurious for duck ragu that will go with the prepared egg pappardelle I found at the specialty grocery.
Not that there’s a competition going on, but when my neighbor brings over a plate of cookies or other treats, I return it in kind. So I got gorgeous cookies today and responded in kind with a bowl of chicken pate. It was a joy to spend much of the day exploring new territory on an eastward drive we’ve never taken, even though we were splashed by every semi going the opposite way.
Then I got to spend several hours in the kitchen making stew and pate. I love to have a fire going, look at the mountains and figure out what to cook. Lately, now that Sundance is over, it’ll be easier to find a place to live. Someone here doesn’t like the fact that we have a dog. They like our dog. Their dog likes our dog. But every time we see them there’s a complaint lodged against us because we have a well-behaved, now (I just decided this is her birthday) six years old. Happy Birthday Zoe! We got her March 12 and instead of being 8 wks she was only six. So I don’t want her to have to compete with Punxatawny Phil tomorrow.
It’s interesting that some of the places have been on the market forever, always for a reason. Two properties look promising, I’m steering clear of the places that advertise regular moose sightings because moose hate dogs and kick them to death. Yes, Ms. City Gal is talking about moose properties. What has become of me? I’ve got to tell you what my dear husband tells all the recruiters that call him: “this is the prettiest place I’ve ever lived.”
I’ve lived in a number of pretty and interesting places but this, with the mountains and wildlife, is rich. And I’m going to learn to make a proper Texas chili (taking it from Lady Bird Johnson’s White House recipe) and maybe even cassoulet before the weather warms up in May.
What did you make this weekend? Are you helping a friend out? Write in and let everyone know.
I’m sending out a dedication today to Wynk, a horse saved from the slaughterhouse by Val, our cousin and our dog Zoe’s hip surgeon, only to become a dedicated endurance-race riding horse. It appears he died of a heart attack in the stable overnight, in old age. Godspeed, Wynk, and cheers to all reading this blog today. Dee
Categories: Editorial · Utah
Tagged: lodging, lost posts, moose, Wynk
Yes, I’ve had no access last weekend and all day today. Not being able to read the news or other items was very frustrating. I took it out on the house. Packed up the remainder of minimal Christmas stuff and did tons of laundry and cleaning.
I made a hand-made pizza this evening that was well received. My dough for two pizzas was re-engineered for one that was puffier and thicker than I would like so I’ll work on that.
The inability to get online for nearly 24 hours was catastrophic for me, not necessarily for you because I need to write and you don’t need to read. But I order organic produce that is delivered in the middle of the night and 8:30 was my deadline to change my order. I caught husband Jim en route from his office, had him go back and worked him through my changed order for tomorrow. If that and the roses weren’t enough of a gift to me to celebrate our aniversary, we may have a weekend away one of these days.
It would be nice to leave Zoe behind and spend a couple of days by ourselves. Just as I make dough from scratch for Jim, he is very generous in his work, time and efforts for me and dog Zoe. We’re into our eighth year of marriage and nearly six years with Zoe. We have been a consistent family but a techno-family.
Right now we have two laptops and three cell phones, and we’re about to cancel one, as it was only to get us service in rural areas. Being off-line is a hardship as that is how I learn about news and write to you, so I apologize for not being in touch but it was not my choice. It’s fixed now, for the present. Take care now. Cheers, Dee
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: pizza, Winder Farms
On Saturday I believe I got food poisoning and was sick all afternoon and through the night. Jim went out Saturday night and got me tons of soup, saltines, matzos and bought a cd for himself. What a sweetheart! I consider that his anniversary gift to me.
When he arrived home I dragged myself downstairs to put things away and he told me something was missing, his Elvis ‘75 cd. I looked through the bag and got the receipt. Today, our 7th anniversary, I went back to the store to buy a perfect dinner for two and remembered the cd. Wouldn’t you know they had it right under the customer service counter (thanks Katy and Customer ladies!).
So I wrapped it in brown paper, got him a silly card and he has a “free” present from me. We don’t “do” birthdays, anniversaries or Christmas, but love each other and just do little things for each other. Oh, yeah, we do get stuff for the dog. Cheers! Dee
ps menu is maple-rosemary glazed beef tenderloin, boiled baby red potatoes, and radishes. I was going to make braised fennel but didn’t think he’d like it.
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: another anniversary!
January 22, 2010 · 1 Comment
As I become wiser I know to look to someone who lives their art. Sundance opened today and it is a huge extravaganza of parties, are there movies? I don’t know. We’re recent “locals” who didn’t get our tix three months ago.
When it comes to movies, books I look for a basic truth in the story (even if it’s an animated fable). The storyteller lived something or got to know someone to tell the tale. I may have to wait for the Oscars to be awarded to a film I did not see, but as an outsider I see Sundance as something its founder may not have wanted it to be. A bunch of rich Hollywood folks competing for titles. There are other indie gatherings but this is star-studded and the place to be this winter.
While us locals will not be able to go to restaurants for the next couple of weeks these folks are propping up the sad economy and should be commended.
It is a gift for a writer of non-fiction, poetry, song or prose to sound like themselves in the final product. I have the privilege to know a few who can transcend everything and write or play or sing and create a unique profile. I wish I could, instead I study or am lax in my studies, and marvel at all the wonderful people I’ve met in my life that has made that life richer for meeting and knowing them.
Categories: Editorial · Utah
Tagged: mentors, Recipes, songs, Sundance
Jim’s off to his monthly software afficionado meeting and I don’t expect him back ’til late tonight. I got sushi-to-go for lunch and will make dinner here soon. It’s one of my favorite casual meals made by my mother many years ago. For each person I take a large pita, cut it in half and separate the inside without breaking the exterior. Freshness is the key to be able to separate the inside to fill it. If you have smaller pitas make two per person.
Cook 1-2 slices of bacon per half, grate cheese of choice, add cooked bacon and cheese to pita and place in oven on sheet pan until cheese is melted and pita is crusty. Enjoy!
Yes, I miss Jim and really should have gotten fish tonight because he’s allergic to it and I love it. But we’re getting by, as all I had to get today was pita and my lunch. Cheers! Dee
Categories: Editorial · Recipe Ideas
Tagged: Mom's pita pockets
