Daily Archives: July 29, 2009

Julia

Posted on July 29, 2009 | Leave a comment

Ever since I was a kid I loved Julia Child on TV, then I bought Mastering the Art of French Cooking I and II then The Way To Cook. Today I received “Julie and Julia,” “My Life in France” and another memoir.

Forgive me for craving books, especially those about cooks and cookery. I moved here on a temporary basis four months ago and left 99% of my life back home. I didn’t take one cookbook with me. We promised we wouldn’t add to the meager items we brought with us but have added a bit.

Luckily I’ve all my herbs and spices plus more. We’ve bought a few necessary books. Jim needed shirts for work so now has a non-banker wardrobe of khakis and plaid shirts (the newest is a George Strait) that runs long so is perfect for him.

My favorite recipe from Julia Child is her French Onion Soup. You can’t take any short cuts on it and it is a perfect winter dish with crouton and gruyere cheese. Add a salad, french bread and a glass of wine and if I needed to impress a suitor, that would be the dish given the appropriate season.

Most of the recipes I learned in cooking school were from Simone “Simca” Beck, one of Julia’s collaborators on both French cookbooks. Both are gone now, so is James Beard and other culinary giants.

I understand the movie Julie and Julia is coming out soon. Meryl Streep is an icon and Amy Adams is definitely worth seeing. I haven’t seen any reviews yet but given these two actors and Stanley Tucci, this is a movie I’ll be seeing. Cheers, Dee

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Hawking

Posted on July 29, 2009 | Leave a comment

Over the last few days I’ve been shopping different places to stock the larder for the weekend. At one store, the local football team asks me to buy something to fund it. I’ve demurred twice now without knowing what they’re selling, probably tickets to a raffle.

First off, I only give to selected charities; second, I never give where the middle man gets the bulk of the profit (candy bars); third; kids who get fireworks at graduation have very rich parents who can afford whatever the football team needs; and last, I don’t appreciate being accosted every time I shop for groceries.

That said, the young men were cordial, well-mannered and left me alone after I said a polite “no, not today.” When I exited the store they were on their expensive cell phones. Why would I want to give them money??? Dee

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I burned the nuts.

Posted on July 29, 2009 | Leave a comment

The spicy almonds and pecans that are in my recipe file, I ruined them. First of all, I had only almonds. I was heating up the oven to 375 to cook chicken that was dredged in milk, seasoned flour, egg then bread crumbs. The gas oven at 7.500 feet above sea level was at 275 so I put in the nuts for five minutes. Around four minutes the oven beeped and I started smelling a bad thing, burned nuts.

I rescued and cooled them immediately and some may be worth saving. Darn it. Whole Foods had a sale. These raw nuts are usually $6.99 per pound and I got them for $3.99 per pound. I bagged them and will try one tomorrow. Darn it, it’s a great thing to have on hand for guests. Chalk it up to today being a crazy day awaiting a guest for the weekend.

There are lots of logistics involved so losing a pound of nuts isn’t a big deal, it’s just one favorite snack food I like to have on hand. Life goes on. Thanks for reading and contributing! Dee

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Surprise!

Posted on July 29, 2009 | 3 Comments

My food order arrived overnight, much of it (juice, milk, eggs, bacon, bread and rolls) doubled in size because Jim’s brother is flying in tomorrow for the weekend.

I had ordered some grapes but the organic “surprise” box had a huge bag of grapes in it as well so I washed them, cut them into single-serving portions for Jim to take to work.

I’ve a huge bowl on the counter filled with organic onions, potatoes, avocados, tomatoes, nectarines, and beets. I like the fact that the beets and carrots come with the greens attached to show me how fresh they are. Of course I cut them off right away, but it’s nice to see them.

So I’m changing my menus around a bit. Later today, when I’m finished cleaning house, I’ll make big batches of cole slaw and potato salad. I’ll roast the beets and chill them for one of my favorite salads “invented” by the former LA bastion Chasens. Beets, endive, toasted walnuts. I make a dressing using sherry vinegar.

So I’ve lists upon lists and I already know I won’t have time to wash the dog today. Maybe Friday when they’re off fishing. I checked the fishing report and called to make sure their gear is ready to pick up. I’ll pick up a few steaks for Friday night in case they come back with no trout! But the most important thing is that Jim’s long johns arrived by mail yesterday… and they fit! I hear the waters are quite chilly at 10,000 feet above sea level. So we’ll pick up poles and waders and boots and perhaps a few more flies en route home from the airport tomorrow.

If we do have trout Friday, I’ll dredge them in seasoned flour and pan-fry them, save the steaks for Saturday and plan on stuffed roast chicken for Sunday supper. We bought a guide book to be used by guests, and picked up the local weekly paper and glossy magazine for ideas. It’s an arts and music weekend up here in the mountains, there’s a ton of things to do and we’ve no set plans except to tour downtown Saturday rather than Sunday.

Over the weekend we looked at the forecast and it was dismal, seven days of thunderstorms. We got the car washed on Sunday so of course we hit five minutes of drizzle but it’s been sunny ever since! Enough dawdling. It’s time to gear up for “hostess with the mostest” so, to work we go. Cheers, Dee

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