Alex At Home

Cherry Compote

2007-08-03T13:50:00.001-07:00

While I was in the supermarket yesterday, I bought a huge bag of Washington red cherries. They only seemed to come in a pack that weighed about 2-3 pounds, so I started wondering what I could do with them to make a refreshing summer dessert, and decided on this simple Cherry Compote.

Cherries, like most other soft fruit have a very short season. To enjoy them at their best they should be served as simply as possible, so their unique flavor will not be spoilt. For a more economical version of this recipe, omit the red wine and use water instead.

Ingredients

1/4 pint red wine
Approximately 2 ounces caster sugar
1 1/2 pounds fresh cherries, stoned
1 cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons arrowroot

Method

Put the red wine and sugar in a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves.
Add the cherries to the pan with the cinnamon stick and a little water if the sugar syrup does not quite cover the cherries.
Simmer the cherries very gently for 8 to 10 minutes or until just soft, being careful not to overcook.
Take the pan off the heat, and taste for sweetness, and add more sugar, if necessary.
Dissolve the arrowroot in a little water then stir into the pan.
Return to the heat and bring slowly to he boil, stirring constantly. The juices should be thick and syrupy.
Discard the cinnamon stick and transfer the compote to a serving bowl. Serve hot or cold.

This dessert is especially good with vanilla ice cream.

Blue Salvia

2007-07-30T10:59:00.000-07:00

I have been out of town recently to the New York Fancy Food show and LA Gift Show looking for new products for my Gourmet Fusion store. That was great fun, but when I got back home, my container garden looked the worse for wear! Apart from being really dry, which is easily fixed, everything was being eaten by caterpillars, slugs and a few grasshoppers.

So I salvaged what I could, and headed to the store to buy more plants . Unfortunately, I think the hot, dry weather we have had this last week had taken its toll there as well, and everything looked wilting, dried up or was being attacked by some kind of insect. These blue salvia (sage) did look bright and healthy, so I bought a couple of boxes and headed home to plant them. I am not sure which type of Salvia I have purchased, but it looks like salvia chamaedryoides or Germander Sage. The label on my purchase just said Salvia Blue with the description: cool blue flower spikes on compact plants. use in borders, beds, pots. Plant in sun or part sun - grows 12" tall. Here's the more technical approach from the Sunset Western Garden Book for Germander Sage.

Salvia Chamaedryoides Facts

Origin: Perennial from eastern Mexico.
Size: Rounded plant 1-2 feet tall; spreading 2-3 feet by underground runners.
Leaves: Silvery, 3/4-inch long leaves.
Flowers: Brilliant, true blue 1-inch flowers on stems to 8-inch long.
Blooming Season: Heaviest bloom comes in late spring and fall, with intermittent flowering during the rest of the growing season.
Additional Care: Deadhead to encourage rebloom.
Watering: Drought tolerant, but blooms longer and better with more water.

I'm not sure how successful these will be for me, as I've had the red variety before and it seemed to need far too much water for my southern California yard, however, it says these are somewhat drought tolerant, so I might be lucky with the blue. For now they look good anyway!

Caffeine Prevents Twitching Eye

2007-06-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

I am a great coffee lover, so it is always great to hear that coffee can potentially do something good for your health, as we are always hearing the negative effects of caffeine on our system.

In a study carried out in Bari Italy, researchers found that drinking coffee could protect against eyelid spasms that in some people leads to blindness. The coffee and smoking habits were looked at for 166 people with blepharospasm which is an uncontrollable twitching of the eye, and in extreme cases, can cause blindness.

At the Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences University of Bari, Italy, a previous study had suggested that smoking had a protective effect on the condition, but in this study it was found that only those who drank coffee were less likely to develop the condition, and one more good thing - the effect was proportional to the amount of coffee drunk. The age that this spasm struck (usually between the ages of 50 and 70) was also found to be greater in patients who drank more coffee and this increased by 1.7 years for each additional cup drunk per day.

Italian research strongly suggested that coffee provided some sort of protective factor, and it was thought that caffeine could be blocking the receptors in the brain associated with the tremor. However, as there was a very low intake of decaffeinated coffee in Italy, no patients who drank decaf could be compared to those who drank caffeinated coffee. I, for one, will continue with my daily dose!

Verbenas

2007-06-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

Verbenas are one of the most popular plants for container gardens. They come in a variety of colors inherited from many different types of verbena. Verbena peruviana supplies the red hues, while verbena phlogifolia and verbena incisa contribute to the pink and purple nuances. They grow abundantly in groups of dense umbrella spikes in colors ranging from white through pink, red and purple to blue and violet. They make a spectacular show in containers, in borders or hanging baskets and are relatively easy to care for. The red "Salome" shown in this picture, grows about 12 inches high and has small white eyes.

VerbrnaFacts

Blooming Season: Outdoors from June to October.
Family: Verbenaceae (verbena family).
Origin: Original forms, South America.
Location: Sunny.
Potting Soil: All-purpose soil, enriched with slow-release fertilizer.
Planting: Set young plants 8 inches apart.
Watering, Feeding: Water abundantly, but avoid standing water. Apply a low dose of fertilizer every two weeks.
Further Care: Deadhead spent flowers regularly.
Pests, Diseases: Aphids, whiteflies, spidermites, thrips, powdery mildew.
Decorating Tip: The cool tones of verbena look stunning with silvery foliage or flowering plants such as dusty miller.

The above information and much more can be found in the very useful book, Container Plants: For Patios, Balconies, and Window Boxes.

What is a Gnudi?

2007-06-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

In case you are not in the know, a gnudi is the latest trend in Italian cooking. Gnudi is "nude" in Italian, and is the dish everyone is talking about and trying to order in San Diego restaurants - and with a sexy name like that who wouldn't want to try it?

Well, what is a gnudi? It is actually "naked ravioli", meaning you take the filling out of ravioli - whether it's mushroom and Parmesan, chicken and herb, lobster or beef, and leave off the pasta. This is great news for people like my friend who discovered she was allergic to wheat and had to abandon pasta and bread for good, and spends many tedious visits to restaurants checking on the flour content of food, and asking for burgers without the bun.

If you want to try this delicious concoction, check out the chestnut-butternut squash gnudi with Asian water buffalo ricotta at restaurant 1500 Ocean at the beautiful Hotel Del in Coronado, but if you do go, shirt and shoes are still required!

New Guinea Impatiens (Busy Lizzie)

2007-06-01T16:52:00.001-07:00

I've not had to spend too much time in the garden recently, mainly because the weather has been just perfect to keep flowers blooming. Cool and sunny, so there's no scorching sun in the afternoon, and I think we can safely say that the rain is over for this year.

I planted some New Guinea Impatiens a couple of weeks ago, and they are amazing. They are very easy to grow and look spectacular in outdoor landscapes, container gardens like mine, and hanging baskets. These flowers display intensely colored shades of orange, pink and violet. The flower pictured above is called Raspberry Cream.

Impatiens Facts

Blooming Season: Outdoors from June to October.
Origin: Original forms, tropical East Africa, Sri Lanka, India, and New Guinea.
Location: Sunny to shady.
Potting Soil: All-purpose soil, enriched with slow-release fertilizer.
Planting: Set young plants 8 - 10 inches apart.
Watering, Feeding: Keep damp during growth period and apply low doses of fertilizer weekly until August.
Further Care: Trim plants now and then to promote branching.
Pests, Diseases: Aphids, whiteflies, mites, slugs.
Decorating Tip: These plants can be mixed with other container plants, such as ivy, to create a beautiful effect.

The above information and much more can be found in the very useful book, Container Plants: For Patios, Balconies, and Window Boxes.

Cooking Outdoors In Small Yards

2007-05-31T11:14:00.000-07:00

If, like me, you live in a small apartment or condominium, there are certain foods that you avoid cooking, not because you don't like them, but because the smell of cooked food lingers for days after the meal has ended. We all know those foods - fish has to be the number one on my list of smelly foods, but Chinese and anything you saute that splashes fat in every direction, is up at the top of the list as well. I do cook these foods, but after scrubbing the kitchen from top to bottom afterwards, opening every window, turning on all the extractors and spraying air freshener, it kind of puts me off the next fish meal. So I was really excited by my recent purchase which means I can cook everything outside on my patio.

Like most people, we own a barbecue, and as I live in San Diego, you can cook outside almost all year round. The barbecue is fine for grilled food, but doesn't reach the high temperatures needed for meals such as stir-fries. Also, as my condo is small, my outside area is also small, so one of the super grills and stove-top combinations that you find in Sears and Barbecues Galore is simply too big. We did buy an outdoor wok at Lowe's but returned it because when we set it up on its tripod legs, it was enormous, resembling something out of War or the Worlds, and certainly not my idea of a garden feature! So after searching various barbecue stores with no luck, we finally thought that perhaps something used for camping would work, and went off to our local REI store. Sure enough we found this amazing 2-burner stove which is actually for tailgating and camping trips, but we could visualize how it would make cooking gourmet meals a snap on our patio.

The stove is Coleman's Fold N Go, 2 burner stove which cost $72.00 from REI, but I have seen it for less at Costco since then. All you need is a sturdy table to stand it on, and it has two burners that fold out flat and are fuelled by a small propane gas bottle, and you can cook any number of dishes in the same way that you would indoors. I am not sure about its simmering ability, but the heat is certainly there as it has two 20,000 BTUs in its two high performance burners and is very stable while you are cooking. When you have finished, you can simply wipe it down, fold it up and store it in a cupboard for next time. So look out neighbors, here come my curries!

Man Eats Dog

2007-05-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

OK, I am from England and we all know that the English are big animal lovers, but how does eating a corgi help the ban fox-hunting cause? Maybe I've been in the US too long, because I am really not seeing the logic here. I am talking about the BBC article I read this morning reporting that performance artist Mark McGowan ate a corgi (which if you did not know is the breed of dog favored by the British Royal Family) on London's Resonance FM radio, accompanied by Yoko Ono.

Apparently, McGowan, who is a vegetarian, ate the corgi (or a couple of bites of corgi) to protest about Prince Philip's ill-treatment of a fox during a fox-hunt. The Royal Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals stated that the fox did not suffer (actually I couldn't find anywhere what happened to the fox - it was being hunted by a hungry pack of dogs, so I assume that might constitute suffering?), and McGowan was pointing out the RSPCA's inability to prosecute a member of the Royal family by eating one of the Royal family's favorite type of dog. You get it?

The corgi which died of natural causes was prepared with apples, onion and seasoning and made into meatballs. I guess because McGowan is a vegetarian, he didn't know that it's not the smartest thing to eat an animal that died of natural causes - I mean, did it have a heart attack, pneumonia or some dog disease like parvo or distemper? Either way, it's creepy and I still don't see how it helps to raise awareness of the cruelty of the hunt, let alone stop it. The radio presenter was not convinced, however, that it was actually a corgi, but McGowan said it was like nothing he's seen before - it was gray and smelled funny, so yes, it must have been corgi!

Lobster Roll

2007-05-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

Lobster crackers, seafood sets and doohickeys have been flying out of my Gourmet Fusion store this week, so I guess many people are planning seafood this weekend. The Lobster Roll recipe below is taken from the book of the same name,The Lobster Roll: {and other pleasures of summer by the beach}, which features recipes from the restaurant also called the Lobster Roll. The Lobster Roll restaurant is a famed roadside clam-bar and seafood restaurant in the Hamptons . I have never been, but the food looks delicious and if this sandwich is anything to go by, it is.

This recipe is very easy, but it calls for a large amount of lobster meat. If lobster in your area is very expensive, or you cannot deal with so many lobsters, combine a mixture of lobster meat and bay shrimp instead.

Ingredients

2 pounds freshly picked lobster meat, chilled and chopped into chunks, or 10 pounds live lobsters, steamed and meat removed
1 cup chopped celery (from 3 to 4 celery stalks), drained (when celery is chopped it tends to release its natural moisture, which can water down the lobster salad and give it a soupy consistency. To avoid this, chop the celery, wrap it in a dry clean towel or several paper towels, and place in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes, allowing the towel to absorb any excess moisture.
3/4 to 1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, softened
6 hot dog buns

Recipe

In a medium bowl, combine the lobster meat, celery, and mayonnaise and gently toss until well mixed. Season with salt and pepper and chill for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight) before serving.

Preheat a large heavy skillet over a medium flame. Lightly butter both sides of each bun and cook for 2 minutes per side, until golden brown. (The buns may also be toasted under a broiler). When toasted, stuff them with the chilled lobster salad and serve immediately.

Would You Like Chemicals or Bacteria With That?

2007-05-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

My neighbor recently told me about a seminar she attended where a prominent doctor and several nutrition experts discussed the sorry state of the food industry in the US, and criticized the many additives, preservatives and chemical treatments used to preserve the life of food on the shelves in supermarkets and stores. We discussed this at some length and both agreed that the long term health of everyone was threatened by persistent use of preservatives and pesticides. Even organic food was not considered safe, as this appeared to slip through the net of the overseeing government bodies, leading to food scares like the recent one concerning E-coli in pre-packaged packs of spinach.

I must admit when I came to the US from England I was amazed at the long shelf-life of products which were labeled fresh and free from additives. In England, items such as eggs and milk only had a shelf life of a couple of days, certainly not months and they would "go off" in the refrigerator, if mistakenly kept for a longer time. So, obviously, food in England must be fresh and preservative free, or so you would be led to believe! While reading the BBC's website this morning, I saw an article about the practice of UK supermarkets selling food products, and what lengths they would go to in order to extend the shelf life of products. The reporter got a job as an under cover sales assistant in two of the major food chains in the UK, Sainsburys and Tesco, both in which I have shopped. The food in both these chains always looked fresh and appetizing and they sell a huge selection of meat, fish and dairy produce at reasonable prices.

According to this report, which will be aired on British TV's Whistleblower this evening, food was repackaged and relabeled if it reached its sell-by date, and often the food was re-labelled so many times that the staff did not actually know how old it was, and resorted to sniffing it, and cutting bits of it off, if it didn't look good! Staff were told to apply common sense to ascertaining the freshness of food, and one ex-manager told this reporter that food was often "tarted up" by mixing old batches of food with new. Another manager reassured the concerned reporter/sales assistant by saying that she often ate food from her own refrigerator which was well past its sell-by date, and it was fine. Well, if you choose to do that, it's up to you, but you don't really expect to be buying it when it's already stale.

So, I then have to ask myself, is this the real choice - the UK scenario of the illusion of fresh food which is not really fresh, is mishandled and sold dishonestly as safe to eat - or the situation we have here in the US where I believe the food is labeled and handled correctly, but chemically treated and preserved? At a recent Fancy Food show I attended for my Gourmet Fusion store, I spoke to many small vendors, both from the US and overseas, who had small operations such as wineries, bakeries, and beehives, who had spent years laboriously working through the red tape involved with selling food products to the general public. They produced some amazing results, and I know they would all like to sell more, but what chance do these small vendors have against the giants who appear to circumvent the rules and regulations because of their size? Maybe we need to start looking more carefully at what we buy, and vote with out feet. Incidentally, Sainsbury's have posted a response to the BBC's article on their website, but I couldn't see any response on Tesco's website.

Classic English Potato Salad

2007-05-21T10:28:00.001-07:00

I can tell from the recent sales at my Gourmet Fusion store that it's barbecue time again. Eating outdoors is always fun, whether it's grilling a couple of steaks for two, or an outdoor gathering with a group of friends. With Memorial Day just around the corner, instead of buying the large tubs of potato salad from the supermarket, I made my own this weekend using a recipe I have had for years from one of my very first cookbooks, the The St Michael All Colour Cookery Book (Marks and Spencer), however, I have adapted it slightly using chopped chives instead of scallions. It is a really simple recipe, however, the results are always good. The potatoes used should be small, firm and waxy, so they will not crumble when you mix them with the mayonnaise. Ideal potatoes readily available in the supermarkets are Baby Dutch Yellow, Fingerlings or Baby Red.

Ingredients
Approximately 1 1/2 lbs new potatoes
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons creme fraiche (or sour cream, if creme fraiche not available)
2-3 teaspoons chopped chives 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley (English or Italian) 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice Freshly ground black pepper Salt to taste

Recipe

Scrub the potatoes clean and cook in their skins in boiling salted water for 15 minutes or until just tender. Drain and allow to cool.
When cool, cut the potatoes into chunks and place in a mixing bowl.
Mix in the mayonnaise and creme fraiche.
Add the chives, chopped parsley, lemon juice and salt and pepper.
Carefully mix all ingredients together in the bowl adding more salt and pepper, if needed.
When all the potatoes are evenly coated with the mixture, transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with a sprig of parsley or chopped chives.

If preferred, the potatoes can be skinned prior to chopping, and a little (approx 2 ounces) of cheese such as Gruyere or Emmenthal can be added to the mixture for a slightly tangy taste.

Salt and Pepper Roasted Garlic Paste

2007-05-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

Roasted garlic is delicious and the addition of salt and pepper in this recipe makes it extra special. The flavor of roasted garlic spread is not as overwhelming as fresh garlic, and can often replace mayonnaise in many instances. The recipe below is from the excellent book Salt & Pepper.

Ingredients

4 whole heads garlic
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 575 degrees Fahrenheit. Peel away the loose, outer, papery layers from the garlic heads. Trim off the pointy end of each head to expose the tops of the cloves (cutting off about 1/2-inch will generally be enough).
Place the garlic heads, cut sides up, in a small baking dish or garlic roaster.
Drizzle them with the olive oil and sprinkle with the coarse salt and black pepper.
Roast the garlic heads until the cloves are golden brown and begin to push out of the bulb, about 45 minutes.
Remove from the oven, let cool, then squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of heads into a small bowl.
Mash with a fork, pour the oil from the baking dish into the mashed garlic, and stir together to make a paste.

Garlic spread will keep for up to one week in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. The garlic roaster shown here is available at the Gourmet Fusion store, together with other terra cotta products.

Mexican Evening Primrose (Oenothera Speciosa)

2007-05-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

This very pretty plant is native to south western US and Mexico, and has fragrant 2-inch saucer shaped flowers. The fragrant white to pink 2-inch flowers open during the day, despite the plant's common name.

Oenothera Speciosa Facts

Blooming Season: Spring or early summer to fall.
Origin: Mexico and South western US.
Location: Full sun or partial shade.
Height: 1 foot high and three feet or more wide.
Planting: Set young plants 8 - 10 inches apart.
Watering: Little to moderate water.
Tip: Good ground cover for dry slopes or parking strips, but can be aggressive and is potentially invasive.

Interesting Bud Vases

2007-05-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

If you are trying to create a different look for Spring and Summer, why not update your home decor with something like this contemporary set of three matching bud vases by Shiraleah Home?

These vases create a point of visual interest and can be grouped together on a table for a larger display, or placed separately around a room to create small focal points in different areas.

The cool thing about this type of vase is that they hold only two or three small flowers and yet still create as much impact as a large vase with a much bigger display of flowers and are, therefore, much less expensive to maintain. The neutral white ceramic also co-ordinates with many different decorating styles and colors. This particular set of vases can be found at the Gourmet Fusion store and would make a great Mother's Day gift.

Zonal Geraniums (Pelargonium)

2007-04-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

Now that spring is truly here and summer is fast approaching, these amazing flowers can be seen in abundance in gardens, borders and hanging baskets. The zonal geranium which originated in South Africa, grows to a height of 14 inches, are descended from the zoned geranium, Pelargonium zonale, Pelargonium inquinans and other species. The colors of the single, demi-double or double umbels range from all shades of red and pink. Less common are salmon-colored and pure white.

Geranium Facts

Blooming Season: April to October.
Origin: Original forms, South Africa.
Location: Sunny to partially shady.
Potting Soil: All-purpose mix or loamy, humus-rich garden soil.
Planting: Set young plants 8 - 10 inches apart.
Watering, Feeding: Water abundantly during growth period, but avoid standing water. Feed weekly until late August.
Further Care: Deadhead spent flowers regularly.
Pests, Diseases: Aphids, spider mites, whitefiles, geranuim rust, boytrytis, geranium wilt.
Propogation: By cuttings, from August to mid-March at latest, December to January at a ground temperature over 68 degrees c.
Decorating Tip: Tone-on-tone combinations of white and red hanging geraniums with white or red zonal cultivars are especially beautiful.

These plants make an amazing show and are especially easy to look after.

Petunias

2007-04-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

At this time of year, this amazing flower can be seen in hanging baskets and flower beds everywhere. Its bright colors last from early Spring (here in Southern California) right through the summer to late September. They are easy to grow and needs little special care and attention.

Petunias, the name derives from the Brazilian term for tobacco, petun, have been adapted through breeding for almost 150 years. Today, numerous large-flowered hybrids, 10 to 12 inches high are on the market. The colors range from pure white through various shades of pink and red to violet, some can even be found in yellow and blue.

Petunia Facts

Blooming Season: May to September.
Origin: Original forms, South America.
Location: Sunny.
Potting Soil: All-purpose soil, which can be enhanced with slow-release fertilizer.
Planting: Set young plants 8 - 10 inches apart.
Watering, Feeding: Water abundantly, and feed lightly each week, but protect flowers from rain.
Further Care: Deadhead spent flowers daily. Seed formation occurs very rapidly. After the first array of blooms, cut the plants back by half when their stems grow increasingly long and they start to flop untidily. Petunias will regenerate within 2 weeks, grow bushy again, and flower as beautifully as before.
Pests, Diseases: Aphids.
Decorating Tip: Small flowers such as lobelia go well with petunias.
Warning: Petunias belong to the poisonous nightshade family.

The above information and much more can be found in the very useful book, Container Plants: For Patios, Balconies, and Window Boxes.

The Bacon Butty Decoded

2007-04-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

Being from England I was once again amused to read an article in the New York Times about the latest research being done at the University of Leeds which was just about as odd as the Beer Goggles research I read about last year. This time the researchers at the University were trying to discover how to make the perfect bacon sandwich. Now the bacon sandwich (or butty) is a staple in England (and known as the cure for any type of hangover), along with chip butties, crisp butties and sausage sarnies, none of which seem to have taken off in the United States, and for obvious health reasons, that's probably a good thing!

A disgusted reader of the Yorkshire Post (where the research had first been reported) even took the time to write in about the research carried out at the University, pointing out that with a few more minutes of research they would have realized that they were talking about a bacon sarnie, not a bacon butty - the difference between the two being that the butty has bread, butter and bacon, whereas the sarnie omits the butter.

I actually used to work with someone in England who every morning went to the office cafeteria and bought breakfast of either a sausage or bacon butty, and he would, in fact, give the server specific instructions on how the bacon should be cooked, so I guess this is a very important factor. Also, without fail, by the time he got back to his desk, he had dripped several drops of grease mixed with HP Sauce on to his tie from the oozing sandwich. Not a great way to start the day, but as he was the head of the Marketing Department he, therefore, got to meet clients all day long and talk about promoting the best aspects of their company, wearing this grease-spotted tie! So, once again, I am reminded that everything in the UK is not quite the same as it is in the US.

Some people thought that the report of this research was an April Fool's day joke, but apparently not. The research was commissioned by the Danish Bacon and Food Council to determine what degree of crispiness and crunchiness made the perfect sandwich. It researched four different types of cooking, three kinds of oil and four types of bacon, paired with different condiments. Tasters got to eat between four to six sandwiches a day for three to four days (help!).

So what should the perfect sandwich be? It turns out that the best bacon butties were made with crisply grilled, not-too-fat bacon between thick slices of white bread (it doesn't mention butter, so I guess this is really a sarnie). Texture and sound were found to be perhaps even more important than the taste and smell of bacon. The results were processed by the University and from these results a scientific formula was developed which finally ascertained that 0.4 newtons should be applied to crunch the sandwich, creating 0.5 decibels of noise. Mmmm......

Who should decide what we eat?

2007-04-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

I read with interest an article in the New York Times that New York's Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, has become very influential in what New Yorkers are eating by legislating on how food should be prepared in restaurants and what should be served in schools, and even what type of food products stores should sell. This is apparently in an attempt to stem the ever increasing problem of obesity and diabetes.

Obviously food preparation and hygiene are important and should fall under the Health Department's code of practice, but is it appropriate for the Mayor to decide whether a store should sell 1% milk? His involvement has led to the changing of menus in schools, and restaurant chains having to post the calorific value of meals. I am sure that these many food related initiatives are intended to protect the well being of the citizens of New York, but surely people need to be given the opportunity to choose what they eat?

Most research agrees that there is a link between poverty and poor nutrition. However, there also seems to be a lack of understanding regarding nutrition in many socio-economic groups. Perhaps educating and informing would be a more acceptable approach than legislating?

Gastropubs

2007-04-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

As everyone knows, pubs feature strongly in the social life of most English people. Towards the end of every week, groups of workers head for a nearby pub or wine bar for lunch or an after-work drink. This is a common ritual. You don't have to walk very far from street to street without finding a pub, often several on the same street within a few yards of each other.

When I grew up in England, the usual pub food was a ploughman's lunch (cheese, pickle and bread and butter), shepherd's pie, bangers and mash with gravy, or meat pie and chips. I read recently that London has about 5,500 pubs of different types - from the regular pub where locals go, to cozy bars and the now trendy gastropubs. I started thinking about gastropubs again when I saw that San Diego now has its very own gastropub, Jayne's Gastropub. So what's different about a gastropub compared to the average pint and a pie place? They began in England in 1991 when the Eagle opened on Farringdon Road, London. They tended to be started by young chefs (I guess that is the main difference - the food they serve) who take over neglected pubs in the hope of making a name for themselves at the pub/restaurant, rather than working their way up at a pricey city restaurant. The menu, in the tradition of a pub, started out chalked up on a blackboard, and although it wasn't extensive, it used fresh, high-quality ingredients, and it is not unusual to find menu offerings such as hearty crab salad followed by seasonal apple crumble, roast beef and fresh goat cheese salad or salmon with fennel. This is usually offered together with a good wine list, as well as usual drinks offered in pubs. Sounds a bit different to pie and chips!

If you want to check out a London gastropub try the Coach & Horses on Ray Street or the Oak on Westbourne Park Road.

The Gourmet Fusion Store

2007-04-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

After several buying trips to the LA Mart and Fancy Food Show I found some really cool product lines to sell, and my Gourmet Fusion store is now open! The store is an eclectic mix of international products for cooking and entertaining, and has some great gift ideas.

Some of my favorite products are by Shiraleah who have taken traditional Asian products and added their own design flair to them, which can be seen in products like this contemporary black ceramic sake set. We also feature Shiraleah tea sets, vases and bowls and are adding more products daily.

Ranunculus (ranunculus astiaticus)

2007-03-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

The very large genus of Ranunculaceae comprises about 250 types of plants with very different growing patterns and appearances. The one shown here is most commonly grown in gardens, and when grouped together these plants make a spectacular show of color.

These plants, native to Asia Minor are tuberous-rooted with fresh green, fern like leaves. They bloom profusely in spring and each flowering stalk bears one to four 3-5 inch wide, double blossoms not unlike a small peony. The flowers of the ranunculus come in white, cream and many shades of yellow, orange, red and pink. The Tecolote Giant strain comes in single colors, mixed colors and picotees. The Bloomingdale strain offers the same variety in a dwarf plant 8-10 inches high. All types of this flowers grow equally well in pots or in the ground.

If you would like to see a truly spectacular vision of these flowers and are anywhere near San Diego, then a visit to the Flower Fields in Carlsbad is a must. Here fields of ranunculus grow in a blaze of color and look from a distance like the tulip fields in Amsterdam, they even have windmills. Every year they have specials which this year include, roses, sweet peas, poinsettias and flowers which form the "American Flag of Flowers". You can visit and learn the history of the flower fields, take classes or purchase bulbs to take away.

Ranunculus Facts:

Temperature: Tuberous roots are hardy to 10 degrees F, 12 degrees C in Zones 4-9, 12-24, plant in fall for bloom in winter and early spring. Beyond hardiness range, plant in spring as soon as ground is workable.

Light: Grow in full sun.

Water: Plant in well drained soil and water regularly.

Ongoing Care while flowering: Remove faded flowers to encourage more bloom.

Care After Flowering: When flowering tapers off and leaves start to yellow, stop watering the plants and allow the foliage to die back. Where tuberous roots are hardy in the ground, they can be left undisturbed. However, in California most gardens dig up the plants when the foliage turns yellow, cut off the tops, let roots dry out for a week or two and store them in a cool, dry place until planting time the following year.

The above information and much more can be found in the Sunset Western Garden Book, a great resource for caring for your plants.

Szechuan Peppercorns

2007-03-01T17:18:00.000-08:00

These peppercorns were a great find the other day in Williams Sonoma. They are the key ingredient in Szechuan cuisine, and have a slightly lemony flavor without the heat of chilies and black peppercorn. They are, in fact, dried berries of a tree native to Asia and are one of the key ingredients in Chinese five-spice blend. They are used mainly in Asian cuisine, however, the tangy lemony flavor would adapt to many different types of cuisine, such as Marco Polo's Lobster Fra Diavalo which is an adaptation of the Italian classic (the recipe for this can be found on my blog Gourmet Fusion). William Sonoma suggest using them sparingly in stir-fries and other Chinese style dishes such as the recipe below for Salt and Pepper Shrimp.

Ingredients
1 tsp Szechuan peppercorns, toasted and coarsely ground
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tbs. plus 2 tsp. peanut oil
1 1/2 cups snow peas
2 green onions, light green portion only, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small dried red chili
Steamed rice for serving

Recipe
In a small bowl, combine the ground peppercorns and salt; set aside

In a bowl, stir together the shrimp and the 2 tsp peanut oil. Heat a wok over medium-high heat. Add the 2 tbs. peanut oil and heat until it just starts to smoke. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Transfer to a plate.

Return the wok to medium-high heat, add the snow peas and cook, stirring constantly, until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the green onions, garlic and chili and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Return the shrimp to the wok and cook, stirring constantly, until they are opaque throughout, about 1 minute more.

Remove the wok from the heat. Sprinkle 1 tsp. of the peppercorn mixture over the shrimp and stir to combine; add more of the mixture, to taste. Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately with steamed rice. Serves 4.

winter weather

2007-02-08T16:54:00.000-08:00

Reading the news this morning and looking at the weather in both the US and the UK, I am once again reminded of how lucky I am living here in Southern California. Although we have had some exceptionally cold weather recently which caused Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency when millions of dollars worth of citrus trees were damaged, it really is nothing compared to other parts of the world. Looking at the BBC's website this morning I saw floods in Mozambique and Indonesia and a report which was actually a political article about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the first part of which focused on the weather in Chicago. A chilly eight degrees below zero Fahrenheit (which actually felt like minus 20 due to the arctic wind blowing off Lake Michigan) caused one TV station to issue a frostbite advisory, warning people not to stay outside for more than five minutes as frostbite could set in! Yikes!

Then I started wondering about how my family was in England and if the weather there was also bad. The BBC often have photographs that people send in so I browsed through a selection about weather in England and Wales, and that's when I saw the most ridiculous thing. In a country where people rarely wear shorts (even in the summer), one reader, Richard How, sent in a picture he had taken and wrote: "I live in Newport Pagnell, Bucks and I couldn't believe it when I looked out to check the snow, there was our postie in SHORTS! He must be mad." Hope it's not a new trend over there, because he might really get frostbite.

Talking of fashion trends, the British seem pretty interested in Hillary Clinton's dress sense and in an article in the German newspaper, Die Welt, have found a report where Donatella Versace advises Ms Clinton to wear knee-length skirts to bring out her feminine side. Apparently, black is a good color for her as she is a strong woman and strong women wear black, Ms. Versace says. Ms. Versace sounds as though she genuinely admires Hillary Clinton and beleives she is in a good position to advise her on her sense of style as she successfully changed the appearance of pop star, Christina Aguilera, who according to Ms. Versace had no style when they first met and now looks like a diva from the 50s. Mmmm ..... I wonder what she has in mind for Hillary?

bromeliads

2007-01-08T21:27:00.000-08:00

One of the easiest plants to care for is the bromeliad, which creates the most spectacular of all house plant displays. One of the most popular of the bromeliads is Aechmea Fasciata (A. Rhodocyanea) shown in the photograph above. The method of watering this plant is most unusual in that you water into the central rosette rather than into the compost. Then there is the unusual flowering habit - as the flower head opens, the parent rosette begins to die, although it may survive for a further year or two. So propagation after flowering is necessary if you wish to preserve your collection.

The native home of the bromeliads is the American jungle where they live among orchids in the trees or on the forest floor. These plants thrive well indoors or outdoors in balmy climates away from direct sunlight. They should be kept in small pots with drainage holes, and a peat-based compost. Remember that they do have a tiny root system, so over-potting or over-watering can be fatal, just as with any other indoor plant.

Bromeliad Facts

Temperature: High temperatures (above 75 degrees) may be required to bring plants into flower, but average warmth (minimum 50 degrees) is satisfactory for foliage types or plants in flower.

Light: Most bromeliads require a brightly-lit spot away from direct sunlight. Pineapple and the Earth Stars variety will thrive in full sun.

Water: Never overwater, and ensure that there is a good drainage. Keep the 'vase' filled with water - use rainwater in hard water areas. Empty and refill 'vase' every 1-2 months. Water the compost only when it dries out. With non-vase varieties keep the compost moist, but never wet.

Air Humidity: Mist leaves in summer. Feeding through the leaves is the natural method of nutrition, so occasionally use dilute plant food such as Miracle Gro instead of water in the sprayer.

Repotting: Rarely, if ever, necessary.

Propagation: Offsets appear at the base of the plant. When the offset is several months old remove it with some roots attached and plant shallowly in compost. Keep warm until established.

The above information and much more can be found in the book The House Plant Expert, a great resource for caring for your indoor plants.

low calorie fettucine with creamy ham sauce

2007-01-08T20:10:00.000-08:00

OK, so the new year is well and truly here, and it's time to wonder why exactly we ate all that food over the holidays. It's calorie counting time, so here is a recipe that is not only quick and easy to make, it's low in calories and can be made with fettucine, or for even fewer calories use cooked spaghetti squash. This recipe is taken from the amazing New Dieter's Cookbook (Better Homes & Gardens (Paperback)).

Preparation time: 20 mins; Cooking time: 10 mins; Low Fat; Low Cholesterol
344 calories with fettucine; 230 calories if using spaghetti squash

Ingredients
1 12-ounce can evaporated skim milk
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese (1 1/2-ounces)
1 cup sliced fully cooked lean ham, cut into thin strips (about 5 ounces)
1 cup cooked broccoli or cauliflower cut into bite-size pieces
2-1/2-ounce sliced mushrooms
6 ounces fettucine, cooked and drained (3 cups cooked)*
2 tablespoons sliced green onions (optional)

Method
1. In a medium saucepan stir together milk, cornstarch, mustard, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir over medium heat till thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes more.

2. Add cheese; stir till melted. Stir in ham, broccoli or cauliflower, and mushrooms. Cook and stir until heated through. Pour over hot pasta. If desired, garnish with sliced green onions. Makes 4 servings.

Microwave Directions
In a 1-1/2-quart casserole combine milk, cornstarch, mustard, salt and pepper. Micro-cook on 100% power (high) for 4 to 6 minutes (6 to 8 minutes in low wattage ovens) or till thickened and bubbly, stirring after every minute. Add cheese, stirring till melted. Add ham, broccoli or cauliflower, and mushrooms. Cook 2 to 3 minutes more (4 to 5 minutes in low wattage ovens) or till heated through. Serve as directed above.

* Note: If desired, omit the fettucine and serve the ham mixture over 3 cups cooked spaghetti squash. This reduced the calories per serving to 230.

Nutrition information per serving: 344 calories, 24g protein, 49g carbohydrate, 5g fat, 31mg cholesterol, 766mg sodium, 619mg potassium.

California Christmas

2006-12-26T17:10:00.000-08:00

The end of a perfect day!

Mince Pies

2006-12-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

Mince pies are a centuries-old British specialty, and appear in the shops about six weeks before Christmas. The small pies take their name from the filling, a preserve called mincemeat. In medieval times, the mixture of dried fruits, candied peels, and apples also contained beef. Suet, which later took the place of beef, can be omitted from the contemporary recipe, like the one here. This recipe taken from the book, Williams-Sonoma London: Authentic Recipes Celebrating the Foods Of the World (Williams-Sonoma Foods of the World), makes more mincemeat than you will need for the pies, and can be stored in jars for future use.

Mincemeat
To make mince pies from scratch it is necessary to make the mincemeat mixture a few weeks beforehand to allow the fruits to absorb the liquid and mature, so if you don't have time for that, simply buy a jar of mincemeat from your local supermarket, or online from stores such as the English Tea Store.

Ingredients for the Mincemeat
2lb tart green apples
3/4 cup hard apple cider
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 cups dried currants
1 1/2 cups dried raisins
1/3 cup glace cherries roughly chopped
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon and 1 orange
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Small pinch of ground cloves
1/4 cup brandy

Ingredients for the Pastry
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Pinch of fine sea salt
1/3 cup unsalted butter, diced
1 large egg yolk
3-4 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon whole milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

The basic tricks for making good pastry are:
Keep everything cool.
Use cold water.
Work quickly.
Add lemon juice to the richer versions to encourage crispness.
Use a knife to 'cut in' the ingredients.
Use as little flour as possible when rolling or the pastry will turn hard.

Method
1. To make the mincemeat, peel, core, and shred the apples. In a large nonreactive saucepan over medium heat, combine the cider and brown sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Add the applies, currants, raisins, cherries, and lemon and orange zest and juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture comes slowly to a boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, cover partially, and simmer gently until the mixture forms a thick, soft paste, about 1 hour. Uncover, raise the heat to medium, and cook briskly, stirring frequently, until all the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Stir in the brandy. If not using the mincemeat immediately, store in sterilized jars.

2. To sterilize the jars, while the mincemeat is cooking, preheat the oven to 125 deg.F. Wash four 1-cup glass jam jars in warm soapy water, rinse in clean warm water, and set in the oven to dry. Spoon the hot mincemeat into the sterilized jars to within 1/4-inch of the tops. Wipe the rims clean with a hot, damp kitchen towel, top with metal canning lids, and seal tightly with screw bands. Process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the jars to a kitchen towel and let cool. Store in a cool, dark place. The mincemeat will keep for up to 6 months.

3. To make the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the butter until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Alternatively, place the sifted dry ingredients in a food processor, add the butter, and pulse 4 or 5 times until the mixture forms coarse crumbs; return to the bowl. Using a fork, stir in the egg yolk, and enough of the cold water to form a rough dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and lightly knead until smooth, about 1 minute. Shape the dough into a disk 3/4-inch thick, wrap in a plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 12 hours.

4. Preheat oven to 350 deg.F. Lightly butter 12 tartlet pans about 2 1/2-inches in diameter. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out tow-thirds of the dough into a round 1/8-inch thick. Using a 3-inch cookie cutter, cut out 12 circles. Gather the scraps of dough and roll out with the remaining dough, dusting the dough with flour as needed to keep it from sticking to the work surface. Using a 2 1/2-inch round or star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 12 shapes. Line each prepared pie pan with a large circle of dough. Fill with about 3 teaspoons of mincemeat. Brush the edges of a small pastry circle with milk, place milk side down on top of the filling, and press the edges together lightly to seal. If using stars, brush the tips of the stars with milk, place on top of the filling, and press the tips in to the edges to seal. Prick the top of each pie with a sharp knife, then brush with milk and sprinkle with granulated sugar.

5. Bake the pies until the crusts are golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from the pans and let cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. The pies can be stored in an airtight tin for 2 days.

Serve with mulled wine or Darjeeling or Earl Grey tea.

Christmas Pudding

2006-12-18T12:11:00.000-08:00

No traditional Christmas dinner in England is complete without turkey followed by a generous helping of Christmas pudding and brandy sauce. Originally the puddings were made during the last weekend of November, giving everyone a stir on 'Stir Sunday' - to be eaten the following year (it actually keeps well for up to 2 years). Nowadays it is more usual to make the puddings 3-6 months in advance, although you can, of course, make them at the last minute if you have to. The recipe below is for a pudding which does not need time to mature, in fact, it is best made just two days before Christmas and comes from the recipe book, The St Michael All Colour Cookery Book (Marks and Spencer), which was a cookery book someone bought me when I first left home many years ago. It has some great recipes in it, all are pretty easy, and gives illustrated details about how to prepare different cuts of meat, different kinds of fish, vegetables and salads.

If you don't have time for any cooking but would still like the pudding, simply go to Williams Sonoma and buy their ready made Christmas pudding and brandy butter. Both are made in England using traditional recipes and ingredients. I have not tried them myself but most of their food is yummy, so I'm sure these are good as well.

So here's the recipe to make it yourself, there's a lot of ingredients involved, but the end result is worth it. I have omitted the foil covered coins which are traditionally hidden in the pudding, but you can of course add these if you like.

Ingredients

1/2 lb dark molassses sugar
14 ounce fresh white breadcrumbs
1/2 lb shredded beef suet
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mixed spice
3/4 lb sultanas
3/4 lb raisins
1/2 lb currants
4 ounce candid peel
2 ounce blanched almonds, finely chopped
2 large cooking apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
Finely grated rind and juice of 1/2 lemon
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 pint Guinness or milk stout
approx. 1/4 pint milk

1. Put the dry ingredients, dry fruit, candied peel and chopped almonds in a large mixing bowl and stir well to mix.
2. Add the apples with the lemon rind and juice, eggs and Guiness or milk stout. Stir well to mix.
3. Stir in enough milk to make a soft dropping consistency.
4. Pour the mixture into two greased one and a half pint pudding basins. (Here one silver coin would be buried in each pudding). Cover the tops of the puddings with circles of greased greaseproof paper, then with foil. Fold a pleat in the center and tie string around the rim. Leave overnight.
5. Place the basins in the top of a steamer or double boiler, or in a large pan of gently bubbling water, and steam for 4 to 5 hours, topping up the water level from time to time during cooking.
6. Remove the basins carefully from the pan and leve until quite cold. Discard the foil and greaseproof paper and replace with fresh greaseproof paper and foil before storing.
7. Steam again for about 2 hours before serving.

Note: before serving it is common to pour brandy over the top and light it. When the alcohol has burned off, serve the pudding immediately with brandy butter or sauce.

holiday gifts for your dog

2006-12-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

I was amused recently when I read an article in the New York Times about people (I believe it was mainly women) in New York who could not be parted from their tiny little dogs for one second of the day, and took them everywhere with them. Now these little pooches, mainly Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Yorkshire Terriers and anything with toy in front of its breed, were to be seen in all the places where the in-crowd goes, and could be seen sitting on bar stools in cocktail lounges and on seats at restaurant tables which struck me as ridiculous. Now don't get me wrong, I love dogs myself, but all the dogs I have owned have been big dogs, and the last dog I owned when I was in England (a German Shepherd/Labrador mix) would not have been welcome in any of these places - let's just say, he had "personality", and often came to his own decisions about what he would and wouldn't do, and his social skills were generally lacking.

As if this wasn't amusing enough, these tiny little canines were also dressed to kill. In fact one woman scoured the internet into the early morning hours looking at stores in Europe trying to find that to-die-for outfit for her dog, in order that he would be dressed in an up-to-the-minute fashion accessory that no other dog in the City had. Not quite sure whether this was insanity or the norm, I started looking around at the dogs here in San Diego and, of course, the dress code for dogs is much more lax here than in New York City (which is the case for humans as well), but there are a few dogs (mainly the small ones) who were wearing jackets, hats, sunglasses and for some reason one large dog I see in the village sometimes wears little black bootees on all his four paws - but not every day. We even have our very own pet store here, Muttropolis, which sells clothes, beds, blankets, toys and pretty much anything you can think of for you or your pet (check out the cute ballerina dancer dress at the top of the page). So realizing that this was more normal than I realized, I found this great list of gifts for dogs in InStyle magazine, in fact the pink leather leash and collar at the top of the page and the cute microfiber parka on this Pomeranian can both be found at the InStyle gift guide website.

So, if you are looking for something for that dog or dog lover in your life, here are a few of the things InStyle suggests:

Bone china hand-painted charm, $50, by Herend.
Pink leather leash and collar, $78, Coach.
Canine cards and stationary, at pup-prints.com.
Microfiber parka, pictured above, $59-89, Room Service Home.
Corduroy bed, $175, Canine Styles.
Painted metal bookends, $25/2, the Sarut Group.
Christmas or Hanukkah dog treats, $30 for 18 biscuits, Kool Dog Kafe.

Or, if you want your puppy to live a little, why not treat him or her to a Northwestern VIP Black Beaver, pet friendly bed for $800 from the Quintessential Pet? He's worth more than that? OK, then it has to be a visit to Bark Avenue Jewelry, where you can get custom made diamond jewelry for your pet from $110 up to $5,000, and at the recent New York Pet Fashion Week, they featured a diamond encrusted collar for $150,000!

poinsettia (euphorbia pulcherrima)

2006-12-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

These beautiful plants really have become one of the symbols of Christmas and make great gifts. The poinsettia with its large, scarlet flower heads has been cultivated over the years into bushier varieties of reds, pinks and creamy whites which are much less delicate to grow than their predecessors. In this area many of the varieties we buy are from the Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California, but they were originally native to Mexico. This evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous shrub has coarse leaves growing on stiffly upright canes. The showy part of the plant consists of petal-like bracts; the true flowers in the center are small, yellow and inconspicuous. The red single form is the most common, as shown here, the pinks, yellow-whites and marbled shades are less common (I even saw a blue dyed one the other day). The milky sap is not poisonous, however, some people may find it mildly irritating to skin or stomach. When buying a plant, look at the true flowers in the center - they should be unopened for maximum flower life. Also, the plant should not have been standing in a cold part of the store or outside in the cold. If you intend to keep the plant indoors, place it in a well-lit spot away from draughts and keep it reasonably warm. Surround the pot with most peat if you can, and avoid overwatering.

Here in Southern California, poinsettias can be grown successfully outdoors and look beautiful with colored foliage plants and brightly colored flowers. Once adapted outdoors, they need no special care, but they like well-drained soil, and full sun with some shelter. To improve the red color, you can feed them every two weeks with a high-nitrogen fertilizer, starting when the color begins to show. An interesting book to look at is Poinsettias: Myth & Legend ~ History & Botanical Fact which is full of great photographs and information, and would make a superb holiday gift for a gardener or plant lover.

Poinsettia Facts

Bloom Time: Natural bloom time is winter through spring; usually they are cultivated to bloom at Christmas time.
Exposure: Maximum light during winter; protect from hot summer sun if plant is to be kept for next Christmas (a fairly difficult task!).
Temperature: Average warmth; not less than 55 - 60 deg F during the flowering season.
Air Humidity: Mist leaves regularly during flowering season.
Care After Flowering: Plant should probably be discarded, but if you like a challenge it can be kept and will bloom again next Christmas. The lighting will have to be carefully controlled in the fall by moving it to a darkened closet for 14 hours each night, then moving it to light for a maximum of 10 hours every day. This process should be continued for 10 weeks.

Special Problems

1. Loss of flower heads: leaf margins yellow or brown. The usual reason is dry air in a warm room. Poinsettias need moist air - mist leaves frequently.

2. Insects. Red spider mite and mealy bug are the main pests. Both can be treated with insecticide.

3. Loss of Leaves following wilting. Overwatering is the likely cause. The surface of the compost must be dry before water is applied. Of course, failure to water when the compost around the roots is dry will also cause leaves to wilt and fall.

4. Loss of Leaves without Wilting. If the temperature is too low or if the plant has been subjected to hot or freezing draughts, then the leaves will suddenly fall. Another cause of leaf fall is poor light.

Dixie Chicks and Pete Yorn in Vegas

2006-12-04T10:57:00.000-08:00

After going to see Prince at Club 3121 the previous evening, Saturday's entertainment was the Dixie Chicks at the MGM Grand, a venue worth looking at, as it often has a great variety of performers such as Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, or Lewis Black. I am not a big fan of country music, but I love concerts and am often surprised how much I enjoy music I wouldn't normally listen to. The Dixie Chicks were on the final stages of their Accidents and Accusations Tour, and the Vegas tour was opened by Pete Yorn who played for about 45 minutes. Pete Yorn became more well known when his song Strange Condition was chosen for the movie Me, Myself & Irene and his music is also used on CW television's Veronica Mars. He was a great opening act whose sound was not unlike a young Bruce Springstein singing a mix of his own songs from his latest album, Nightcrawler, and other well known songs, like Elivis Presley's, Suspicious Minds.

When the Dixie Chicks finally came on stage, they were greeted with cheers and applause from the almost full arena. I wasn't sure how full this show was going to be, as the group's ticket and album sales were badly affected by their 2003 controversial statement in London where lead singer, Natalie Maines, said she was ashamed to be from the same State as the President of the United States. The things that followed are well known to most people - many country fans disowned the group, radio stations blacklisted their music, tours had to be canceled and they even received death threats from people outraged at what they had said, all of which has been chronicled in the upcoming movie, Shut Up and Sing. There is no question that the Chicks are willing to speak their mind on politics, global warming and aids in Africa, but this audience was definitely receptive to what they had to say.

Their latest album, Taking The Long Way, featuring their hit single, Not Ready to Make Nice, has already gone platinum, and after hearing them perform, I am not surprised. When you listened to their music you could tell it was very personal for them and they sang with an honesty and vulnerability which reflected their experiences. They didn't fill the show with talk about politics, instead they sang, made the odd joke, and to most people's amusement, dedicated their hit "White Trash Wedding" to Britney's ex, Kevin Federline. Then, of course, their was the ever-popular "Goodbye Earl" which set everyone in the audience stomping and singing. Apart from their singing, I did not realize that the Dixie Chicks were such multi-talented musicians. Natalie Maines sings and plays guitar, Martie Maguire plays the fiddle and mandolin, and Emily Robison plays the banjo, dobro and lap steel guitar producing an energetic mix of country, western and bluegrass music. I am certainly glad I had the opportunity to see such talented artists perform and could even become their next fan!

Club 3121 and Upscale Club Attire

2006-11-29T10:59:00.000-08:00

You have to do at least one cool thing when you go to Vegas. We decided to go to Club 3121, the new club opened by Prince in mid-November. It is named after his last CD 3121, and on some nights costs $31.21 to go in. We wanted to go on a night when Prince was performing which is Friday and Saturday evenings, which costs $125.00 for general admission (standing up) and more if you want a table and/or dinner at the restaurant Jazz, which is run by Prince's own chef, Lena Morgan, formerly of Spago it costs approximately $695 per person for table and dinner package. We decided on general admission, and as I have stood for concerts at the House of Blues, I didn't think this was much of a problem and wanted to eat at one of my favorite Vegas restaurants, Mon Ami Gabi, before the show anyway.

Upscale Club Attire
Club 3121 website and the Rio hotel states that Upscale Club Attire is required, no jeans, sports shoes, etc. and that the dress code is strictly adhered to. So, what is Upscale Club Attire? Here in San Diego at the most exclusive clubs, women can wear designer jeans, heels and a cute top and look great, and men can wear jeans or dark pants and a nice shirt. If you want to check out what some websites say, take a look at E-how club attire for women and men, and askmen.com. After reading all the reviews about the Club, it really did sound upscale so I decided on a black dress from Guess, and my husband wore a cool dark blue/black Armani suit. So what do we find when we get to the Club? Some people looked awesome and had obviously spent a lot of time on their fashionable appearance, and others looked as though they had walked straight from the slot machines to the line, and yes, there were people in jeans, sports shoes, sweaters - I think one person was wearing Birkenstocks! So what can I say? I guess if you like dressing up and want to get in with no hassle, then buy something cool, but if you don't want to spend money on new club clothes, it's certainly OK to go in something you would wear for work and not worry, I can guarantee there will be someone wearing something more casual than you!

Prince
You really don't know what to expect when you go to see a live performance. After reading about the club, and all the hype surrounding Prince himself, I started to think that he would appear for about 20 minutes and that would be it. I couldn't have been more wrong. He came on stage at about 12:30 a.m. dressed immaculately in his signature peach and black, and performed until well after two in the morning. Prince sang, danced, involved the audience, and at one point invited someone on stage to dance and was thoroughly entertaining. He performed for nearly two hours with boundless energy and showmanship, accompanied by his sexy backing group the Twinz, and gave an astounding rendition of Purple Rain where his amazing guitar playing reminded you of a theatrical Jimi Hendrix, but there is no question, Prince has definitely created his own unique sound. I can only say that after Prince's performance you walk away with the feeling that the guy loves what he does, he is a professional and talented performer who enjoys involving the audience and he has found a great venue for that at Club 3121. If you are in Vegas at the weekend, this is certainly a show not to be missed.

The Downside
The doors to the club didn't open until 10 p.m. and I read somewhere that Prince was not performing until 11:59 p.m., so we had plenty of time. When I booked the tickets online, the only option available through Ticketmaster was to collect them through Will Call at the Rio, and the tickets were only available 3 hours prior to the show, so I couldn't pick them up the day before. THEhotel, where I was staying, and the Rio are at opposite ends of the Strip, so I needed to allow time to get there, eat dinner and get the tickets. I phoned Club 3121 box office and asked whether I could pick up the tickets after 10 p.m., and was told that there would probably be a long line and I should get to Will Call at about 8 p.m. to ensure getting into the club. This didn't sound great, but we dutifully took a cab to the Rio and arrived at about 8:10 p.m. Sure enough, when we arrived at Club 3121 there was a long line of people waiting who, like us, had already purchased their tickets online. Even those who had purchased the dinner package were waiting in line (a somewhat smaller line) and we were all given a wristband while bouncers and attendants tried to distribute tickets in a very disorganized manner. They walked along the line, took a couple of ID's (driver's license, passport or whatever you had) then walked back to a central table and started looking through three boxes of tickets standing up in the fashion of an old Rolodex, I assume in alphabetical order. Then they brought your tickets and ID back to you. This whole process was very slow, annoying and in this age of technology, bizarre. Finally, we got our tickets and asked one of the attendants if we could now leave and come back later as it was about 9:00 p.m. by now and the doors didn't open until 10:00 p.m. We were told this was not advisable, as we may lose our tickets and then wouldn't be able to enter at all. We decided to take our chances and go and get dinner, but many people waited it out, and after two hours waiting in line outside, then two and a half hours waiting inside the club for Prince to appear, they needed a seat! This is when the upsell started. Once inside, you were able to purchase a booth for four for $375, and later I heard you could get a table for $70. I guess this is just the normal thing that happens when you go to shows in Vegas. If you really want to get in you have to book ahead of time, but if you are willing to chance it, you can probably get a much better deal on the night than we did.

THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

2006-11-28T14:50:00.000-08:00

I have just returned from a long weekend in Las Vegas which as usual has left me entertained and exhausted and needing to go on a diet. Since coming to the US I have been to Las Vegas many times for a quick getaway, as it is the one place which is a real escape from the routine of everyday life - it is always outrageous, funny, entertaining and expensive! I don't gamble, but love shopping, eating, and going to shows and clubs. We stayed at THEhotel and I loved this hotel. This all suite hotel gives you all the amenities of Mandalay Bay, but you have all the luxury and seclusion of a hotel which feels a world apart from the bells and clanging sounds of the casino.

At one time, staying at this end of the strip was a drag because much of the entertainment and the cool shopping centers, such as Caesar's Palace, were difficult to get to, but with the introduction of the monorail which goes right down the strip to the Wynn and Stardust, getting about in Vegas is a breeze. The tram from Mandalay Bay to the Luxor and Excalibur is free, and you cross the bridge to the MGM and pick up the monorail from there (this costs $35 for a 10 trip ticket which you can share).When you enter the hotel you pass through a walkway of modern art, photographs and glass tastefully displayed on dark imposing walls.

Passing by the entrance to Mix, the stylish lounge serving stellar cocktails in a hip environment with its breathtaking views of the strip, you continue down a hallway framed by THEcafe, THEstore and THElounge (everything is "THE" in here) to the reception area and elevators. Check-in seemed to be going slowly when we arrived, however, the staff were exceptionally pleasant and polite and no question seemed too much trouble for them.

There is, of course, too much to do in Las Vegas, and trying to decide what to do and where to eat is always difficult. THEhotel and Mandalay Bay offer a wide array restaurants, entertainment and clubs without even going down the strip. If you feel like staying around Mandalay Bay, why not try one of the many vodkas in Red Square, or one of the 800 rums in Rumjungle to start with, then move on to dinner at Mix, Restaurant RM or StripSteak. But be warned, there is a lot to drink and even more to eat - if you plan to party afterwards, it's a good idea to take it easy on both, otherwise you'll find yourself heading back to your room to sleep instead! Food and booze in Rumjungle and Red Square which sounds like a good idea when the waiter describes it, is especially lethal! On this trip I ate at the Rumjungle Restaurant and had baby back ribs to start (infused in coffee or something, I think) which were delicious, followed by Argentinean strip steak, and accompanied by a great drink, Rumjungle Juice, which contains Stroh 160 rum and is also delicious. An added bonus is that you can stay on for the club free of charge if you eat at the restaurant. We will definitely go back to the RumJungle next time we're in town!

Absolut Citron Martini

2006-11-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

After watching Casino Royale, martinis were firmly in my thoughts, then I'm going to Las Vegas at the weekend, so cocktails, bars and Frank Sinatra also seemed prominent. This martini is not quite traditional as you keep the ice in the martini glass, neither shaken nor stirred, but you get used to the ice cold lemon vodka, so now everyone wants the ice leaving in the glass.

To make the perfect Citron Martini, gather together all the ingredients:

Martini Extra Dry Vermouth
Absolut Citron Vodka (chilled in the freezer)
Pimento Stuffed Olives
Ice
Lemon Tie

Here's how to make it:

1. Chill the martini glass in the freezer.
2. Fill the martini glass half full with ice.
3. Spray the martini glass with vermouth
(a spritzer like the one shown makes this really easy).
4. Pour Absolut Citron Vodka over the ice.
5. Decorate with olives and lemon twist.

Serve immediately with cocktail biscuits and snacks.

beer goggles

2006-11-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

As I browsed through the morning's news, once again the BBC caught my eye as they explained the Beer Goggles effect. At first I thought this was some sort of joke, but apparently researchers at Manchester University, have worked out a formula to calculate how beer goggles affect a drinker's vision. The beer goggles are, in fact, merely the result of drinking and the effect it has on your vision which can, they say, transform "ugly" people into beauties - until the morning after. A poll taken showed that 68% of people wished they hadn't given their phone number to somebody when they saw them the next day and realized they weren't attracted to them. This is the result of beer goggles.

Alcohol has always featured strongly in Britain where there is a pub every few hundred yards in both cities and the smallest of villages. Directions are always given using the name of a pub, such as "turn right at the Dog and Duck, then follow the road until you reach The Victoria", and many people go to the same pub, or "local", to socialize and generally hang out. However, the concept that scientists were actually putting time into researching the effect on your ability to decide if a person was good looking or not based on how much you had drunk, again made me realize there are many differences between England and the US! They have even devised an algebraic formula to take into account the amount of alcohol consumed, smokiness of the room (and believe me, it is smoky!), luminance of person's interest, Snellen visual acuity, and distance from person of interest.

In his research commissioned by Bausch & Lomb, Nathan Efron, Professor of Clinical Optometry at the University of Manchester said that the above formula meant that someone with normal vision, who has consumed 5 pints of beer in a smoky room will score 55 when viewing a person at 1.5 meters distance, which would result in moderate beer goggle effect.

When calculated this is what the scores meant:

Less than 50: no effect
Between 1 - 50: an unattractive person appears less "visually offensive"
Between 51 - 100: non-appealing people become suddenly attractive
More than 100: someone not considered attractive looks like a super model.

casino royale - the drinks, the gadgets, the girls

2006-11-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

So after last weekend's movie, Babel (an excellent movie, but heavy), it was time for some mindless fun. We'd already seen Borat, so it had to be Casino Royale, with the new 007, Daniel Craig. The movie theatre was packed, I think because most people were curious to see how well the new 007 fared. He was, in fact, pretty good. More of an action-hero type than previous 007s, but he still had that cutting edge arrogance and wit, that seems to go with the part, and was constantly in the company of beautiful women. The hype when this movie was being made was that there were no gadgets for this 007, but there were still a few, and the drinks and women were a constant.

1. The Drinks
I actually don't remember all these drinks being ordered in Casino Royale, but according to the book which was first published in the United States as "You Asked For It" in 1953, these are the drinks 007 goes through in Casino Royale.

The Vesper (007's own invention and named by him)
3 measures of Gordon's Gin
1 measure of vodka (preferably a Russian grain vodka)
1/2 measure of Lillet Blanc (a key ingredient of the Vesper, giving it its bitterness)

In a martini shaker, shake very well until ice-cold. Pour in a deep champagne goblet, and add a large thin slice of lemon peel.

Americano (in the bar at the Hermitage Hotel)
1 oz Campari
1 oz Cinzano Rosso
Perrier (as 007 believes that expensive soda water is the cheapest way to improve a poor drink)
Ice

Put ice in an old-fashioned glass. Add the Campari and Cinzano, then pour a splash of soda water. Add a slice of lemon peel.

Apart from the above, he orders Bacardi for Vesper, plus scotch, vodka, martini and many bottles of Champagne (in the book the champagne of choice is Tattinger and Veuve Cliquot, but in the movie, 007 is drinking Bollinger) - and after dinner, Bond drinks a brandy.

2. The Gadgets
I guess these were not really gadgets in the true sense of the word, but regular products, apart from his glove compartment equipped with complete emergency room life saving equipment, just in case.

Anything Sony it seems.... Sony Vaio laptop, digital camera and flash drive.

Phones: Sony Ericsson phones k800 and k790 used by 007.
The M600 smartphone is seen used by Vesper and also 007. The Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition phone was originally planned for the movie, but I am not sure whether we actually saw this in the movie or not. It's worth looking at the website though.

Cars: Bond was seen behind the wheel of an Aston Martin, a Ford-owned brand. He was seen driving the new DBS sports car, and also the company's classic DB5 which was seen in Goldfinger and Thunderball. The villain, LeChiffre, drives a Range Rover Sport, and in total Ford supplied 125 cars worldwide to the making of this movie, including their Mondeo sedan, Explorer SUV, F150 trucks, and Jaguar XJ sedans.

The watch of choice for 007 was an Omega Seamaster which Vesper admires at dinner.

3. The Girls
Eva Green as Vesper Lynd
Judi Dench as M
Ivana Milicevic as Valenka
Caterina Murino as Solange

Thanksgiving Treats

2006-11-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

It's Thanksgiving next week, so I took a look at some of the last minute preparations that might transform a condo on a California sunny day into something more reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting in the fall. For most of my inspiration I turned to Everyday Celebrations: Savoring Food, Family, and Life at Home, the amazing book by Donata Maggipinto, a San Francisco lady who seems to have the answer for most craft or cooking projects for any season or occasion. Here are some of her suggestions:

1. Blanket Bliss
Take a cozy blanket or quilt, in the colors of autumn, to bring the colors of the season into your home. Donata spends her days browsing antique sales for great finds, but if you are like me and find yourself wandering around a shopping mall at 8 p.m., why not buy something from Pottery Barn. They have a great sale on at the moment and have marked down all their soft, plush, furry blankets. These can be thrown over the arm of a chair by the fireplace, across a guestroom bed, or on the sofa. Or for something more traditional, check out a beautiful Swans Island blanket made by the Atlantic Blanket Company.

2. Moss Candlescape

To illuminate an autumn evening, fill a wooden bowl or bucket with soil, top with damp moss, and nestle candles within. Votive candles in glass holder are especially nice. You can also accent the presentation with small branches, rocks and other natural elements. Sound like too much work? Then why not check out the great decorations and centerpieces on offer at Illuminations, Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn.

3. Walnut Salt and Pepper Cellars
Using a nutcracker, crack a walnut in half. With a nut pick or cocktail fork, hollow out the nut and any detritus that remains. Fill each half with salt and pepper. Allot one set per dinner guest. Everybody will be thrilled with these fun and seasonal holders.

4. Recipe for your own Cinnamon Applesauce

Ingredients
16 unpeeled red-skinned apples such as MacIntosh or Rome Beauty, cored and quarter.
1 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice (about 8 lemons)
1/2 cup sugar
Two 4-inch cinnamon sticks, broken in half
2 cups water

1. Put the apples in a large, heavy saucepan. Sprinkle them with the lemon juice and toss thoroughly to coat. Add the sugar, cinnamon sticks, and water.

2. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the pot and let simmer until the apples break down to applesauce, 30 to 40 minutes.

3. Remove from the heat, uncover, and let the apples cool slightly in the pot. Discard the cinnamon sticks. Using a rubber scraper, gently push the apples through a coarse-mesh sieve or food mill. Discard the peels.

4. Return the applesauce to the pot and heat until it begins to bubble. Transfer to hot, sterilized jars. Seal and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Makes 8 half pints.

Don't have the time for this, then simply buy some cranberry relish from Williams-Sonoma, it goes well with everything on the Thanksgiving table and eliminates all the work.

chocolate cuts blood clot risk

2006-11-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

So here it is. The news we've all been waiting for (after the red wine is good for you news, of course) - the chocolate we crave and love may be good for us. A study by Johns Hopkins University was recently featured at an American Heart Association meeting in Chicago and there attendees heard that a chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping. The report suggested that if we eat a small amount of chocolate or drink hot cocoa as part of a regular diet it is good for personal health, so long as you don't eat too much and not the kind with lots of sugar and butter. Research shows that the compounds called flavenoids which are present in chocolate may be the beneficial ingredient and suggested two tablespoons of dark chocolate a day could have a beneficial effect. However, it was also pointed out that although cocoa beans many be beneficial, chocolate rich in fat and sugar (especially milk chocolate) could contribute to heart problems and suggested instead eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, which as every chocolate lover knows, is not going to do it.

After some research I found that many famous people had come to this conclusion about chocolate themselves. Here are some of my favorite quotes taken from the very funny cookbook, Culinarytherapy: The Girl's Guide to Food for Every Mood:

"The divine drink, which builds up resistance and fights fatigue. A cup of this precious drink (cocoa) permits a man to walk for a whole day without food". Montezuma II

"The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain." Thomas Jefferson

"Never mind about 1066 William the Conqueror, 1087 William the Second. Such things are not going to affect one's life... but 1932 the Mars Bar and 1936 Maltesers and 1937 the Kit Kat - these dates are milestones in history and should be seared into the memory of every child in the country." Roald Dahl

"And above all ... think chocolate!" Betty Crocker

"What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate." Katherine Hepburn

And what could be better than the following recipe for Chocolate Pears taken from the fabulous New Dieter's Cookbook. It contains not only the good chocolate (ie, not milk), but also a fruit and has just 76 calories per serving.

Chocolate Pears, Serves 4
Preparation Time: 10 minutes; Cooking Time: 30 minutes; Low Fat; No Cholesterol; No Sodium; 76 calories.

Ingredients
2 medium pears
1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate pieces

Recipe
1. Arrange pear halves, cut side up, in a 9-inch pie plate. Stir together lemon juice and vanilla, and brush over pears.
2. Bake, covered, in a 375 degF oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until pears are tender. Uncover pears and sprinkle with chocolate pieces. Spoon any liquid in the pie plate over pears. Serve warm. Makes 4 servings.

Microwave instructions
1. Prepare pears as above.
2. Place in microwave-safe 9-inch pie plate. Cover with waxed paper. Micro-cook on 100% power (high) for 4 to 6 minutes (or until tender).

Nutrition information per serving: 76 calories, 1g protein, 16g carbohydrate, 2g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 0 mg sodium, 124 mg potassium.

Mozza's missing sausage

2006-11-13T17:16:00.000-08:00

I read this morning about LA's hotly anticipated pizzeria, Mozza, owned by chefs Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton and Joe Bastianich which is scheduled to open tomorrow. Apparently, a thief made away with $700 worth of hand-crafted cured meats made by Batali's father, Armandino, at his Seattle business, Salumi. Then, two days later a 13-pound imported Italian mortadella sausage also disappeared. When they viewed the footage from the security camera, they saw a cell phone carrying thief who looked like a yuppie, had a receding hairline and wore khakis. Despite stealing 40 pounds of meat, the thief left behind a giant wheel of aged provolone cheese which then led to the joke that the police were looking for a lactose-intolerant yuppie.

I buy a lot of Italian cured meats for antipasto, particularly prosciutto, which most people seem to like, but always like to add something for those who want to take it easy on the fat which abounds in cured meats, salami and mozzarella, so here's a recipe which is not Italian, but goes very well with any kind of antipasto. It is, in fact, Spanish and uses common Mediterranean ingredients and can be found in the book Small Plates (Williams-Sonoma Lifestyles).

Grilled Bread with Ripe Tomatoes and Olive Oil
Serves 6, Preparation Time 15 mins, Cooking Time 5 mins, calories 257

Ingredients
2 cloves garlic
coarse salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
12 slices coarse country bread, each about 3/4 inch thick
3 very ripe tomatoes, halved crosswise
ground pepper to taste

Optional garnishes
1/4 cup green or black brine-cured olives, pitted and slivered
6 paper-thin slices serrano ham
12 paper-thin slices manchego cheese

1. Prepared a medium hot fire in a charcoal grill (you can toast the bread under a broiler, but grilling gives it the best flavor.

2. In a mortar, combine the garlic and salt to taste. Mash together with a pestle to form a past. Mix in the olive oil.

3. Place the bread slices on the grill rack 4-5 inches from the fire and grill, turning once, until golden brown, 30-60 seconds on each side. Transfer the bread slices to a platter. Cupping a tomato half in your palm, rub it over the top sides of 2 pieces of toast, squeezing slightly to leave a smear of pulp, seeds, and juice on the surface. Repeat with the remaining tomato halves and bread. Drizzle the olive oil-garlic mixture evenly over the bread slices and sprinkle with pepper. Serve immediately with the optional garnishes arranged on top, if desired.

Nutritional information: Calories 257; Protein 6g; Carbohydrates 33g; Total fat 12g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 356 mg; Dietary fiber 3g.

fashion imelda style, aka shoes

2006-11-07T17:12:00.000-08:00

When most people are asked if they know anything about Imelda Marcos, former first lady of the Philippines, they usually know that she had thousands of pairs of shoes, in fact, it was reported that she owned over 3,000 pairs! Being somewhat of a shoe queen myself, I was interested to read that Imelda is going into the fashion business. The 77-year old former beauty queen, whose 12-year prison sentence on corruption charges was overturned, has now launched the "Imelda Collection" which will be selling moderately priced jewelry, ranging from between $20 and $100, but I'm sure shoes will follow somewhere down the line.

I'm not really sure what the fascination with shoes is, but with the holiday and party season just around the corner, now is the time to be choosing those ultra-hip shoes, so you've still got plenty of time to buy the outfit to go with them! Here are a selection of stores where you can find something great.

Sigerson-Morrison, New York

Kari Sigerson's and Miranda Morrison's line of shoes have been a hit since they opened their small store in New York over ten years ago.

If you are in the city why not check out their trendy store and take home some of their signature kitten-heeled mules and buckled pumps, or these amazing caramel velvet wedges with bronze stones which also come in silver, dark green or black. A great find for the holidays!

Another cool store for those on the west coast is San Francisco's Gimme Shoes featuring beautiful Italian designer shoes and also watches, bags and sunglasses.

If you can't get to either of these store and want to order something special online you can always check out the Manolo Blahnik's at Nieman Marcus. Nieman's stock a whole range of wonderful shoes as well from designers such as Christian Lacroix and Guiseppe Zanotti (the snake shoes pictured at the top of the page) and all can be ordered on line.

And for a whole range of shoes to take you from daytime to evening, boots to sandals, Nordstrom is the place to go. Nordstrom, now an upscale department store, actually started as a shoe retailer, and expanded from there to become the amazing store it is today. All shoes can be ordered online from their website, shop.nordstrom.com, and the great thing about Nordstrom is their fantastic returns policy and customer service.

Happy shopping.

fall celebrations

2006-11-06T20:33:00.000-08:00

This time of year in San Diego the weather is beautiful and often, like today, we get hot, sunny days and then beautiful sunsets like the one shown here. It didn't seem like November, but then as I walked through the shopping mall this evening I really knew fall was here and the holidays creeping up on us when I went into Willams-Sonoma and they were holding their Turkey 101 class.

The whole store was filled with turkey-cooking novices and that familiar turkey cooking smell. The class had only just begun, but there was a turkey there which I guess they had prepared earlier. I missed this class, but they are holding other classes right up to Thanksgiving in San Diego, Palm Desert, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Brea and Costa Mesa. There is one on November 19th and 20th on how to roast the perfect turkey and another on November 19th and 20th for perfect gravy making and sides. If you do not live in these areas check with your local Williams-Sonoma for classes near you.

Also, don't forget to check out their 50th Anniversary Thanksgiving Menu which includes:

Cream of Mushroom Soup
Herbes de Provence Roast Turkey
Sausages, Corn Bread and Chestnut Dressing
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Chestnuts
Molded Cranberry Sauce
Classic Pumpkin Pie

Another great find I had for the holidays was the book Everyday Celebrations: Savoring Food, Family, and Life at Home by Donata Maggipinto.

This is a great book for anyone who enjoys fabulous food, and it also shows you how to create seasonal decorations with flair and style for any formal or informal gathering at home with friends and family. Any occasion you can think of is covered here - all the seasons and holiday occasions, plus birthdays, anniversaries, parties and impromptu get-togethers.

british fish and chips

2006-11-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

The BBC reported today that there will be virtually no fish left to fish in fifty years' time unless a greater use is made of protected areas to safeguard fish stocks. Scientists at Stanford University predict that unless we change the way we manage all the ocean species together, as working ecosystems, then this century is the last century of wild seafood. This reading then led me on to another report entitled, "Has the fish supper had its chips?". As I am from England, and grew up with the famous fish and chips in newspaper from the "chippie", I was curious to find out how the English were reacting to the concept of not eating fish and chips. The article went on to report that about half of the world's fish stocks are at their biological limit, and another quarter are overfished or depleted. This, however, does not mean that fish has to be taken off the menu.

In this article Rupert Howes of the Marine Stewardship Council did not advise boycotting fish altogether, as this would lead to economic disaster for the fish industry, including those that are sustainably managed. Instead, he advocated that shoppers should use their power by only buying sustainably sourced fish in supermarkets and when eating in restaurants. But how do we know which fish to choose? The MSC has developed a blue eco-label which is affixed to seafood packaging and price labels in stores, so shoppers know that the fish is safe to buy. This program is about rewarding fisheries that operate in a sustainable way, and worldwide there are now 21 fisheries certified to the MSC standard. I even read that Wal-mart will be introducing this system into its stores in April 2007. The website fishonline.org provides a full list of fish that are safe to eat.

So back to the fish and chips. I guess if everyone is careful about where they buy their fish, they can stay on the menu. Anyone who visits England has the opportunity to go to the chip shop, but if you are looking for chips wrapped in newspaper, forget it. When I grew up, newspaper was used, but it was banned years ago for the sake of hygiene. The origin of fish and chips is not really known. Charles Dickens mentioned the selling of fried fish in 1837 in his novel,Oliver Twist, and by the 1850s fried fish and cooked potatoes were being sold on city streets. The first known fish and chip shop was opened in 1860 by Joseph Malin.

Many people make fish and chips at home, so if you are feeling adventurous, here's a recipe for Fish and Chips, taken from the excellent cook book, Williams-Sonoma London: Authentic Recipes Celebrating the Foods Of the World (Williams-Sonoma Foods of the World).

Fish and Chips

Ingredients for the Chips
4 large potatoes
Sunflower oil or corn oil for deep-frying
Fine sea salt

Ingredients for the Fish
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2 cups dried white breadcrumbs
1 large egg
4 cod or haddock fillets, about 5 ounces each, skin removed
Sunflower oil for panfrying

Parsley sprigs and lemon quartered to garnish

Recipe
1. To make the chips, cut the potatoes lengthwise into sticks about 1/4 thick. Place in a bowl of cold water and set aside to soak for 20 minutes to remove the excess starch.

2. While the potatoes are soaking, begin to prepare the fish: spread the flour on a plate and season with salt and pepper. Place the breadcrumbs on a separate plate. Crack the egg into a shallow bowl, beat lightly, and season with salt and pepper. Dust each fish fillet with the seasoned flour, then dip into the beaten egg, letting the excess drip back into the bowl. Finally dredge in the breadcrumbs, lightly pressing the crumbs onto all sides. Place the coated fillets in a single layer on a plate. Lightly cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to cook the fish.

3. In a large, heavy frying pan over medium-high heat, pour in enough sunflower oil to reach a depth of 4 inches. Heat to 325degF, 165degC, on a deep-frying thermometer. Drain the potato sticks and pat dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Working in batches, carefully place the potato sticks in the hot oil and fry until crisp but not browned on the outside and tender but slightly firm on the inside, about 4 minutes. Do not overcrowd the pan or the oil will not be able to maintain the proper temperature. Using a slotted spoon, lift the potatoes from the hot oil, letting it drip back into the pan, and transfer to a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain. When the oil returns to 325defF, fry the remaining potatoes. When the potatoes have cooled, they can be laid on a baking sheet lined with paper towels and refrigerated for up to 4 hours until needed. Allow to return to room temperature before the second frying.

4. Shortly before you are ready to serve the chips, reheat the oil to 350defF. Again, working in batches, carefully place the potatoes in the hot oil and cook until golden and crisp, 4-5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with salt and toss gently.

5. To cook the fish, pour in enough oil to generously cover the bottom of a large non-stick frying pan and set over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the coated fillets and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Turn and cook until golden brown on the second side, 4-6 minutes. The timing will depend on the thickness of the fillets; do not let the breadcrumbs burn. Transfer the fillets to paper towels to drain.

6. Divide the fish and chips among 4 warmed plates. Garnish with the parsley sprigs and lemon quarters and serve at once (or if you want to be really authentic, serve with salt and malt vinegar).

Serve with a pint of pale ale or full-bodied Chardonnay.

healthy red wine garlic pot roast

2006-11-02T10:35:00.000-08:00

I'm sure that all winelovers read with great interest yesterday, the article about red wine being healthy. Red wine has long been given the vote of approval by many doctors and dieticians as the alcohol of choice, not only being less in alcoholic value than many cocktails and spirits, but also because it contains less calories, and some believe it can be helpful in lowering high cholesterol. The BBC report yesterday was headed "wine allows guilt-free gluttony" and went on to explain that a chemical found in red wine, when given to mice, countered some effects of a high-calorie diet, improving the health of the mice, and increasing their life-span. It also said that the chemical could not reverse the consequences of over-eating and did not make you lose weight. Therefore, I am not ready to go all out for guilt-free gluttony just yet.

We have always drunk wine at home with a meal and if friends visit would not hesitate to offer them a glass of wine. In England I would buy wines from France, Italy and Germany, but since living in California I now include many Californian wines as well. The odd thing is that many of the European wines I bought in England are available here, and at a much cheaper price, so they are definitely still worth buying. Wine has become more and more popular in America over the years and much of the snobbery and silliness attached to drinking wine has, thank goodness, disappeared. A new approach in marketing wine is discussed in the fascinating book The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More where the author describes how the Australian wine company, Yellow Tail, have gone out of their way to simplify the choices in wine to one or two reds and one or two whites, and kept the price at a very reasonable level. They have also made the labels modern to appeal to a wider audience, including younger people who often used to think of wine as "an older person's drink". I love trying different wines, red, white and rose and use them extensively in cooking.

If you do not generally drink wine but would like to start, choosing something to begin with doesn't need to be a daunting task. There are a whole range of prices and tastes from sweet to dry, and most of the labels on the back of the bottle give a description of the flavor of the wine and suggest meals or snacks that would accompany the wine the best. Decide how much you would like to pay and start there. Paying a lot for a bottle of wine does not necessarily mean you will like it. Many of the wines I love are in the $8-$15 range, and when you think that you can pay anything from $3 to $300 for wines freely stocked in most supermarkets, then that's not really a lot. Many wine stores also have staff who can advise about the flavors of the wine and also any deals. For example, the chain store Beverages & More often has a 5 cent week. This means that if you become a member (free at the checkout) you can purchase selected bottles of wine for 5 cents. Not a bad deal!

One of my favorite wines is Ecco Domani chianti. We drank chianti, the popular Italian wine, when we lived in England and I first tried the Ecco Domani wine a few years ago. It costs between $8 and 12 a bottle depending on where you buy it, and is a fruity red wine which does not have the full body of many of the cabernets and merlots. It goes well with pasta dishes and cheese. It was also featured once on an episode of Bravo TV's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy in one of their suggested meals, so what could be a better recommendation than that?

So continuing with the healthy red wine thought, I pulled out one of my favorite winter recipes for Garlic-Wine Pot Roast from the New Dieter's Cookbook: Eat Well, Feel Great, Lose Weight (Better Homes & Gardens). This recipe is great because it is super-easy, low in calories, tastes great on a cold, winter's day and also contains that magic ingredient, red wine.

Garlic-Wine Pot Roast
Preparation time 12 mins; cooking time 2 hours; low cholesterol; low sodium; 290 calories per person

Ingredients
Non-stick spray coating
1 3-pound boneless beef round rump roast, trimmed of separable fat
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup dry wine (cabernet, chianti, bordeaux)
1 large onion
4 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons instant beef bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound carrots, cut into 2-inch long pieces
1 pound cut green beans or 1 16-ounce package frozen cut green beans
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

1. Spray a cold Dutch oven with nonstick spray coating, then preheat over medium heat. Brown roast on both sides in the Dutch oven. Drain any fat. Add the 3/4 cup water, wine, onion, garlic, bouillon granules, thyme, and pepper. Cover and simmer for 1 hour.

2. Add carrots to the Dutch oven and simmer for 40 minutes. Then, add beans and simmer for ten minutes or until beans and meat are tender. Transfer warm vegetables to a serving platter. Keep warm while making gravy.

3. For gravy, skim fat from pan juices. Stir together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water. Stir mixture into pan juices. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Then, cook and stir for 2 minutes more. To serve, spoon gravy over meat and vegetables. Makes 10 servings.

Nutrition information per serving
290 calories, 34 g protein, 12 g carbohydrate, 11 g fat, 98 mg cholesterol, 138 mg sodium, 590 mg potassium.

crab cactus or christmas cactus (schlumbergera truncata)

2006-11-01T11:21:00.000-08:00

There seems to be some confusion about the name of these cacti. The California gardener's bible, the Sunset Western Garden Book, calls Schlumbergera Truncata a Crab Cactus, and others, including the label on the plant shown in this photograph, call it a Christmas cactus. However, the rules for looking after most of the schlumbergera are the same, so do not worry. When I lived in England these plants only appeared about two weeks before Christmas, and I assume that is where they get their common name. They were exceptionally difficult to grow and didn't usually last to see the arrival of the new year, but with a little attention paid to watering, light and temperature, it can be done. Here in California, they appear in the stores much earlier and are starting to appear in supermarkets and flower stores just now. The cacti shown here were both purchased from a wonderful store called Adelaide's, the red one is a recent purchase, but the pink one is from last October. Adelaide's is here in La Jolla, but you can also purchase flowers from them online, and they will prepare for you the most beautiful bouquets and vase arrangements and send them anywhere in the world.

This type of cacti is also known as forest cacti, and in their natural home the forest cacti are attached to trees in woodlands and jungles, and so it is not surprising that they are so different in form and care requirements from the spine covered desert cacti. The only exception to this is the Rat's Tail cactus, which looks like and should be treated like a desert cactus. The typical forest cactus has leaf-like stems and a trailing growth, making it suitable for hanging baskets. A few such as Rhipsalis are grown for their stem form but their main attraction is their flowers. The most spectacular group are the Epiphyllums, with their fragrant saucer-size blooms.

Schlumbergera truncata originates from Brazil. It has short tubed 3 inch long, scarlet flowers with spreading, pointed petals from late fall through winter. Many varieties are sold in white, pink, salmon, pink and orange.

Christmas Cactus Facts

Bloom time: October through December.
Exposure: Moderately bright light (diffused sunlight) is preferred, near a sunny window indoors, but not exposed to direct sunlight.
Soil: Moderately moist yet well drained soil.
Temperature: Cool/moderate temperatures are ideal. 60-70 degF (15-21 degC) daytime, and 55-65 degF (13-18degC) nights.
Growth rate: Slow.
Water: Water thoroughly when the surface is dry to the touch, mist the leaves frequently, especially indoors with central heating.
Fertilizer: Feed with liquid fertilizer every 7-10 days during growth and bloom.
Size: S. truncata grows to 1 foot high and wide.

These plants are very pretty when they are in full flower and make wonderful gifts as indoor plants, or on a patio in a hanging basket. The main key to success is to remember that flowering is affected by temperature and light. Sudden temperature changes, too high or too low, may result in inconsistent flowering or inhibit flowering altogether.

halloween - the same, but different

2006-10-31T10:03:00.000-08:00

When I first moved to California from England I was often asked about the main differences between life here and life there. I found this a difficult question to answer because apart from the obvious difference between the weather in southern California and northern England, the differences were subtle, and now I have been here for over ten years I don't even think about it until something reminds me and I feel just like Bill Bryson in his very funny book Notes from a Small Island. Today's Halloween article in the New York Times was one of those reminders.

When I grew up in England Halloween was not a big event in the same way that it is in America. It was thought of in relationship to the old Celtic idea of the living and the dead, or the Christian tradition of Allhallows Eve, but today's New York Times reported that it is really big business and Britons now spend an estimated $228 million a year on Halloween related items. This, of course, doesn't surprise me at all because sooner or later most things American are exported around the world and I believe America's ability to export this desire to be like them is one of its biggest assets and helps maintain its position as a world leader. The thing that brought the cultural differences back to my thoughts was Britons' reaction to Halloween.

The first thing was the adults. One woman said, "all they want is sweets" (what else would they want?). She was looking for something in return - the kids were not spooky, didn't sing, or charm you, they just took the candy and ran. The next thing was the children themselves. They have figured out the part of the whole event they are interested in and abandoned the rest, plus they have added anything anti-social and exciting (to them) from another great British tradition, Guy Fawkes night. Most adults are afraid of the older kids, afraid of the tricks and mostly afraid of the vandalism. The police are putting on extra patrols to deal with attacks on fences and doors, menacing gatherings of drunken youths and yes, the theft of garden ornaments! The police have also given out no-trick-or-treating posters to homeowners to fix to their homes, and 58% of homeowners surveyed said they hide in the back of their homes with the lights off pretending they are not in on Halloween.

I often wonder how this kind of thing happens. Most of the children in America seem well behaved when they go trick or treating and many younger ones are accompanied by their parents. The pumpkin carving and general festivities seem like a lot of innocent fun. Do not fear, however, that the mothers of England will not be able to deal with this in their own inventive way. For example, one mother suggested to a popular mothers' website that she might remove the cover from her doorbell, so the trick or treaters would electrocute themselves. Nice!

The most ridiculous thing is that both British and American adults living in England are unhappy with Halloween. Britons are angry about being dragged into what they interpret as the consumerist culture of the United States and Americans in Britain are annoyed that children have failed to grasp the correct protocol for Halloween, and persist on saying Happy Halloween instead of Trick or Treat, and never raise money for anyone other than themselves. One American businessman saw children in Halloween costumes walk into a London restaurant on October 29th and wander around with a collection box asking diners for money that the diners meekly handed over. He could not visualize this scene in America.

So again I ask myself what are the differences between living here and in England, and again I can only say it's the same ... but different!

can curry cure arthritis?

2006-10-30T14:38:00.000-08:00

I read an article today on the BBC website indicating that US research suggests an extract of a spice used in curry could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. That spice is turmeric. Turmeric has long been used in Asian medicine to treat inflammatory disorders and its extract can be found in western dietary supplements. Research at the University of Arizona shows just how the spice's curcuminoid extracts have a therapeutic effect. Experts disagree, saying that new drugs may be found, but eating more spices is unlikely to work. The University agreed that more work would need to be done before recommending turmeric supplements for medicinal use, but earlier work with rats showed that turmeric was able to prevent joint inflammation. In their research they prepared extracts from the rhizome, or root of the turmeric plant, and compared them with the commercially available products that contain turmeric extracts. An extract containing curcumin, that was free of essential oils, was the most effective in blocking the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in rats. The University also believe that turmeric could be effective in treating other inflammatory disorders such as asthma and multiple sclerosis.

A professor at the University of Liverpool in England did not think it would be a surprise if a natural occurring compound could have a drug-like effect, however, he did point out that countries that ate a lot of turmeric did not have a lower incidence of arthritis, as far as he was aware. Of course, this started me thinking that England is, in fact, one of those countries that eats a lot of Indian food and, therefore, a fair amount of turmeric.

Many visitors to England are surprised to find that Indian food is so loved by the British that it is now regarded as an essential part of their everyday diet. The British first developed a taste for curried dishes in the eighteenth century, but it was not until the 1970s that Indian food began to influence how the British ate. It soon became the norm for every neighborhood to have an Indian restaurant or take-out and many major cities have Indian shops selling lentils, basmati rice, mangoes, fragrant guavas, fenugreek and chilies, not to forget the Indian and Pakistani sweets that are sold for festivals and weddings.

Chicken Tikka Masala is a very popular dish and the recipe shown here is taken from the excellent book Williams-Sonoma London: Authentic Recipes Celebrating the Foods Of the World (Williams-Sonoma Foods of the World) which has recipes and information regarding their origin.

Ingredients - Serves 4
1/4 cup Greek or other plain whole-milk yogurt
Juice of 1 1/2 limes
2 tsp. peeled and finely chopped fresh ginger
1 tsp each ground cumin and garam masala
2 tsp paprika
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Salt
5 tbsp. sunflower oil
1 small yellow onion finely diced
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
5 green cardamom pods
1 tsp each ground cumin and ground coriander
1/2 tsp each ground turmeric and ground chile
1 lb tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced or 1 14 oz tin
1 jalapeno chile, thinly sliced
1/2 cup heavy double cream
1/4 tsp garam masala
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Warm naan or pita breads

1. In a glass bowl, stir together the yoghurt, lime juice, 2 tsp. ginger, cumin, garam masala, and paprika. Trim excess fat from chicken and cut into 1 inch cubes. Add to the marinade and stir and refrigerate from 1 to 7 hours.

2. Preheat the broiler. Remove the chicken from the marinade, shake off the excess and place on a plate. Season with salt and drizzle with 2 tablespoons sunflower oil; toss to coat. Arrange the chicken in a single layer on a foil-lined broiler pan and broil, turning once until browned, approx. 3 mins. each side. Alternatively, heat a stove top grill pan over medium-high heat, add the chicken in a single layer, and cook, turning once, until browned, 3 mins. each side. Set aside.

3. To make the masala sauce, in a saucepan over a medium heat, warm the remaining 3 tablespoons sunflower oil. Add the onion, remaining 1 tsp ginger, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft, 4-5 minutes. Add the cardamom, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and ground chile and cook, stirring constantly for 2 mins. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring frequently until the oil separates from the tomato mixture, 5-8 mins. Add the chile, cream, and 1/2 cup water, bring to boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the mixture forms a creamy sauce, 8-10 mins. Stir in the cooked chicken and the garam masala, season to taste with salt, and simmer until the chicken is heated, 8-10 mins. Stir in the lemon juice. Serve at once with warm naan or pita breads.

schmap

2006-10-29T15:21:00.000-08:00

I recently got notified by Schmap that my flickr photo of the La Jolla Contemporary Art Museum had been selected for inclusion in their San Diego Travel Guide. I had not heard of the Schmap guides until that point, but when I looked into them I discovered that they offer an online travel guide for cities all over the world which is constantly being revised to give you up to date information. This is a really great idea because usually when you buy a guidebook for a city, it you don't visit it again for another five years or so, the book is out of date, apart from the main landmarks like the railway station and airport! The other great thing about Schmap guides are that they can be downloaded for free. If you would like to download a copy of a city guide, click on the Schmap box in the sidebar and choose your city or go to www.schmap.com.

food for peace

2006-10-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

I read yesterday about the food festival in Turin, Italy, The Salone del Gusto which means the Exhibition of Taste. This festival is the showcase of the Slow Food movement, which was founded to counter the spread of fast food. Over the next five days Italy will celebrate fine food, biodiversity and good farming practice. But the really cool thing about this festival is that it will see talented chefs from Palestine and Israel creating a great feast together.

Although I have always felt that making a meal for a group of people to share was fun, I've not considered food featuring as an instrument of peace. However, this festival will feature chefs creating a fine meal using the best of both communities' culinary traditions. They are part of a group called Chefs for Peace which for five years has been trying to promote peaceful dialog between Israelis and Palestinians through their shared love of good food. Other events at the Turin festival include talks on the immediate impact of war on agricultural communities and the longer term devastation caused by the destruction of crops and livestock. It also aims to promote biodiversity and environmental responsibility on the part of consumers.

I think this a great idea and it started me thinking about my own cooking and entertaining. I usually end up preparing an eclectic mix of food and recipes which I have picked up from growing up in England, traveling in Europe and living in southern California. Below is one my favorite Italian recipes for Lobster Fra Diavolo from the book The Italian Cuisine I Love by Bond. Living in California it is easy to get local lobsters at certain times of year like the one shown in the photograph, or Maine lobster which unlike the California lobster has claws, or sometimes I just use frozen Australian lobster tails. This dish is usually served with pasta, but I often serve it with saffron rice for added flavor and color.

Ingredients (this serves 3 using 1 lobster per person, but often half a lobster per person is sufficient)
3 lobsters
1/3 cup olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
3 tbsp. onion minced
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 cups tinned Italian tomatoes
1 tbsp. vinegar
1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil (or 1 tsp. dry)
1/4 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper (or to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
1 small bottle clam juice

1. Prepare the lobster: Have the lobsters split, the tails cut into two or three pieces and the carcass in half again, and the claws cracked. Remove the sack near the eyes and reserve the liver and coral if any. Often the fish store where you buy the lobster will prepare the lobster for you.

2. Heat olive oil in a saucepan, add lobster pieces, season with salt and pepper and saute, stirring frequently until all pieces are bright red.

3. Sprinkle with onion and garlic, add wine, stir and cook until most of the wine has evaporated.

4. Add all the other ingredients, stir well, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add more clam juice if lobster looks dry.

To make the saffron rice
Ingredients

A good pinch of dried saffron threads
Cup boiling water
1 tbsp. olive oil
Approx. 2 oz long grain rice per person (I prefer long grain) - do not use quick cook rice
Bay Leaf
Cup of dry white wine
Small bottle clam juice

1. Steep a good pinch of saffron in a cup boiling water for about 10 - 15 minutes. This ensures that the fullest flavor and color of the saffron is distributed in the rice.

2. Heat the olive oil in a pan and when hot add the dried rice. Allow the oil to coat the rice completely and stir for about 1 minute.

3. Add the saffron liquid to the rice, followed by the white wine and half the clam juice and bring to the boil.

4. Add the bay leaf, cover with lid and lower temperature to a simmer.

5. Cook for approx. 20 minutes until rice is tender, checking regularly to make sure liquid has not dried out. If it has, add more clam juice.

Serve lobster sauce over rice with a green side salad and glass of white wine ...mmmm.

drought tolerant plants

2006-10-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

I came across an article on eco-friendly garden designs when I was browsing the BBC News website today. The BBC is running a Planet Under Pressure series which looks at some of the world's biggest environmental problems and one of the steps stated towards solving these issues is to begin at home, and readers were asked to design a garden which was a relaxing green space, used natural resources in a sustainable way and encourages a wide range of plants and wildlife. Now you could tell this competition was organized in the UK because of the prize. If we had done this in the US the prize would have been a Prius, or something of that value, but what do the contestants in this competition win? After producing what looked like very elaborate, well considered schemes and plans, the grand prize of a Henry Doubleday Research Foundation's Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening was awarded to the winner, and the runners up all received nothing from what I could tell! Nevertheless, it did prompt many people all over the world to think about eco-friendly gardens which after some research I discovered meant gardens that were good for wildlife, sustainable and organic, and that has to be a good thing.

One of the many issues covered was a scarcity of water, and living here in southern California water is always considered a precious commodity that many gardeners take very seriously when planning their gardens and often try to seek out drought-friendly drought-friendly plants. When planting my own garden I found this really helpful list of the top ten most colorful, water-wise plants suggested by the Southern California Metropolitan Water District at the Union Tribune's website, signonsandiego.com.

This is just a short list of easy plants to grow in this area, but if you need further reference, many more can be found in the great book, California Native Plants for the Garden.

1. California Fuchsia (Zauschneria) – Grows 1 to 2 feet tall. Orange-red flowers in late summer and fall; grayish leaves. Partial shade to sun; little water.

2. Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis) – An evergreen shrub that grows to 8 feet tall with pruning, or a vine that reaches 20 feet with support. Leaflets are shiny green; fall-winter flowers are orange and tubular shaped. Tolerates sun or part shade, heat, wind and salt air. Drought tolerant and attracts hummingbirds.

3. California Lilac (Ceanothus) – Many kinds, from ground covers to small trees. 'Concha' grows 6-8 feet tall and wide. Small narrow leaves with intense dark blue flower clusters in spring. Tolerant of coastal and inland conditions.

4. Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii) – Perennial shrub that grows 4 feet tall and wide. Fragrant gray foliage and blue flowers between May and August. Needs full sun and prefers well-drained soil. Native to California and drought tolerant.

5. Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos) – Evergreen perennial with fuzzy rich red, yellow or orange flowers that look like claws. Flower stalks rise high above the iris-like foliage from spring through fall (nearly year-round along coast). Grows 4-6 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.

6. Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus) – This group of perennials has funnel-shaped flowers that some say resemble a grinning monkey's face. They grow to 4½ feet tall and 1 foot wide. Small, glossy green leaves. Hybrids come in a variety of flower colors – red, orange, white, salmon, white, cream and yellow. Blooms spring and summer.

7. Beard Tongue (Penstemon) – Shrubby perennials with spectacular bright red or blue tubular flowers on spikes. Quite attractive to hummingbirds. Best planted in the fall. Spring to summer bloomer.

8. Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans) – Mature specimens of this evergreen shrub can grow 6-8 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. In the spring, spikes of rosy violet to blue purple flowers appear. Sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established.

9. Woolly Blue Curls (Trichostema lanatum) – Evergreen California native. Grows 3 to 5 feet tall. Blue flowers on long stalks appear in spring to early fall. Little or no water.

10. Victoria Zoysia Grass – A warm season grass that makes an excellent water-efficient turf.

running with scissors - augusten burroughs

2006-10-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

I read a lot of books and go to the movies fairly frequently, and am always interested to see what a movieis like when it has first been a bestseller, such as the Da Vinci Code and Freedomland, which turned out to be long, slow-paced, yawn-inducing films. This week, on October 27th, Running with Scissors is released at the cinema and I can't wait to see it. I have been an Augusten Burroughs fan, ever since I read Magical Thinking, in which Augusten told some very funny tales of people and places he had encountered while working for an advertising agency.

I read the book Running with Scissors, and was not disappointed with the humor and wildly outrageous situations Augusten once again encountered. The thing that is bizarre about this book is that it is a memoir and these things actually happened to him. Many people claim that they are from a dysfunctional family and that their childhood was not the norm, but I think everything about Augusten's daily life was exceptional in more ways than one! He is an amazing storyteller and manages to make this journal of his life both entertaining and funny, even when it is sometimes sad and you turn the pages just willing something good to happen to him. Like the time when he and his adopted sister, Natalie, walk round the town looking for work - you get the impression they are not really employable, and can understand why people are turning them away, but hey give these kids a chance, you can't help thinking, it's not their fault their families are weird.

It is also a tale of survival, and I think that is what makes it more memorable. Augusten is amazingly resilient among this oddball set of characters he finds himself living with, and even though he just wants a normal life, you can't help admire his ability to move past his initial horror and shock at the strange situations he is confronted with, and then you just laugh as he starts to have some fun with it. It is also truly inspiring, as he manages to overcome this less than helpful upbringing, and move on to become one of the most successful, modern authors in America who was recently named one of the fifteen funniest people in America by Entertainment Weekly.

The movie opens this week and has a star-studded cast. The brilliant Annette Bening is his crazy mom, and I think this could be a role to equal her American Beauty performance. Alec Baldwin as his drunken father looks hysterical, and Gwyneth Paltrow and Evan Rachel Wood are his adopted sisters, Hope and Natalie. Brian Cox is the unprofessional, crazy Dr. Finch, and his far too old boyfriend Neil Bookman is played by Joseph Fiennes. Definitely worth checking out.

eat pasta and lose weight

2006-10-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Like most people I watch my weight, but never really have the time to buy food for special diets, and so over the years I have always tried to eat healthily without it becoming a major task. There are many myths about losing weight, but the main key to a healthy, sustainable diet is to have variety, balance and moderation. By selecting a variety of low-calorie, nutrient based foods in the appropriate amounts, you can make every calorie worthwhile, and you don't have to give up all your favorite foods and eat lettuce leaves and grapefruit for every meal! If you want to lose a large amount of weight you should always check with your doctor first, to determine what is a safe goal to set and over what period of time, but if you just want to shed some unwanted pounds before a vacation, or (like now) to look good before the party season begins, there are many recipes with foods you would eat every day that can help you to lose weight, if you follow a few very simple principles.

One of the things I learned a long time ago was that I misjudged the amount of food required for each person. Everything before cooking looks small and it is difficult to envisage how much each person is going to eat, so the best thing to do before cooking foods such a pasta and rice is to weigh them for the correct serving size per person. At one time, I think I was cooking almost a whole box of dried pasta for two people - the problem with this is that once it is cooked, it's hard to resist, so you tend to eat until you've reached the couch potato stage and then sit back with the remote control until bedtime. Not good! The scale shown here from Williams-Sonoma is relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

Also be sure to include plenty of water and fiber (from foods such as fresh fruit). Water is necessary for normal body functioning and fiber aids digestion.

Calories are what dieting is all about. Calories measure energy - both the energy the body uses and energy in food. The body needs calories for bodily processes, such as breathing and heartbeat, for physical activity and for digestion. Body weight is maintained when you eat the same number of calories that you burn on a given day. When you take in more calories than the body needs for basic body functions and activity, you gain weight. Conversely, when you eat less than your body needs you lose weight.

There are many books available to help you lose weight, but choose one that is easy to follow, includes recipes that you and your family would normally eat, or don't mind trying, and that does not mean you will be running all over town to buy special ingredients. Below is one of my favorite recipes from the New Dieter's Cookbook.

Mediterranean-Style Chicken - (312 calories per person - serves 4 people)
Preparation time 20 min; Cooking time 40 min; Low fat; Low cholesterol

Ingredients
1 1/2 to 2 pounds meaty chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, drumsticks), skinned
Nonstick spray coating
1 14.5 oz can tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup red dry wine
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 small tin tomato paste
4 oz spaghetti, cooked
1/4 cup sliced pimiento-stuffed olives (optional)

Recipe
1. Rinse chicken, pat dry.
2. Spray a 10-inch skillet with nonstick spray coating. Preheat over medium heat. Add chicken and brown for 10 to 15 minutes, turning to brown evenly.
3. Add undrained tomatoes, wine, sugar, basil, garlic, and bay leaf. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for about 35 minutes or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm.
4. In the meantime, bring water to boiled for pasta. Add pasta and cook for approx. 12 mins (follow directions on packet).
5. Add half tin of the tomato sauce to the tomato mixture and stir. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more.
6. Drain the pasta.
7. Serve the chicken and sauce over cooked spaghetti. Garnish with olives, if desired.

Serve with a mixed green salad.

what is fashion?

2006-10-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

I sometimes wonder why some things are in fashion and others are not. You can look at something and think that it's sure to be a winner, and then it isn't. It's a great design, it looks good, but only you think so. Maybe that doesn't matter. I've started to think fashion is a bit like the stock market - once a few people seem interested in it, it attracts a few more, and before you know it everyone's bought one (sound like Ipod?). So maybe instead of being slaves to fashion trends all the time, we should break out now and again and try something different, just because we like it. I love wearing flat flip flop sandals, much to one of my friend's dismay (although we do live in a beach town) and when we went out to dinner the other night she took one look at me and said "you're not wearing flats are you?". In a town where the only prerequisite in most restaurants is that you wear shirt and shoes to get in, I didn't think this was a big problem.

The New York Times had a couple of articles today that made me think that being different now and again isn't such a problem, in fact you may be able to turn it to your advantage. One report about menswear designer Thom Browne, showed photos of his suits which sell for $3,500 each. They appear to have nothing going for them. They are too expensive for most people, made of old-man fabrics, and the style looks pretty odd - they have pants which are just a bit too short, and he recommends wearing business shoes and no socks with them. Five years ago the look he created was said to be sweet but goofy - just the image every businessman is striving for! So what happened? He has just won the Council of Fashion Designers of America award as menswear designer of the year! He's also been signed up by Brooks Brothers for a special collection, DKNY, Zegna and Nom de Guerre. Now instead of being labeled Pee-wee Herman with his short, skinny suits, Thom Browne is labeled as a pioneer in men's fashion who has taken the same old suit that men put on every morning and made it into something different which is an amazing feat.

The other article, also in the New York Times was about Dan Ho
(not Tiny Bubbles Don Ho) who, despite being viewed as eccentric and odd by friends and family, decided to sell off many of his personal possessions, including houses, sofas, and ceramics and unburden himself of the trappings which are seen as essential to getting by in life. He believes that our constant preoccupation with building and rebuilding, never being happy with the houses we buy, and the idea that you should always be ready for drop-in guests, are all enslaving myths. In fact, his views are the total opposite to those of Martha Stewart, who is undeniably very successful. So could this concept work?

After several unsuccessful attempts at self-funded magazines, Mr. Ho still persevered with his belief that his views of a simpler, healthier way of life were shared by others, and his perseverance paid off when his book, "Rescue from Domestic Perfection" was published by Bullfinch, and he was signed up for a television program on the Discovery Health Channel, "The Dan Ho Show" which makes its debut this week, and will begin appearing regularly in January.

My thoughts on this led me to the conclusion that if you have an idea that you think is great, or want to wear something that makes you feel good, or you feel like dyeing your hair green, go ahead and do it. Don't listen to the opinions of the masses who need you to be like them to validate their choices. Who knows, you may just start the next great fashion.

exporting traditions

2006-10-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

This morning I read several articles on the BBC's news website. They have a slightly different perspective on the latest news compared to MSN and Yahoo, and being British, they also have some fairly obscure topics which are worth a read.

The first article I read was about China's new wealth and old failings. It talked about China's new found status as a vibrant, economic superpower and this threw a fairly positive spin on things, but the article went on to talk about some very negative aspects of life in the new China which have remainded due to the Chinese Communist Party's refusal to introduce any form of political liberalisation. I also saw a program on the Discovery Channel recently about changes in China which talked about its rapid change from an ancient culture to a modern society and the loss of old traditions, beliefs and skills, many of which were banned under the Communist regime, and there is now a movement to try to reintroduce some of these lost traditions.

The second, very different article was about the new Tongan king, and the funeral of his father, who was actually listed in the Guiness Book of Records as the world's heaviest monarch, weighing in at 31 stones (434 lbs)! His funeral was a mix of Polynesian pageantry and British imperial pomp, as Tonga was a British protectorate until 1970. His son, the new king, is apparently a staunch Anglophile, who was educated at Sandhurst and Oxford University, and his official car is actually a London taxi cab!

This started me thinking about cultures and traditions and why after a long period of time, some skills and customs which were once commonplace in a society, simply disappear, and others stand the test of time. Having lived in England most of my life and now living in California, I am constantly amazed at how much of Britain's influence remains in other parts of the world, even after the British were kicked out!

At the turn of the century, Britain was a place steeped in the class system, and at any point in time, the lower classes were striving to step up to the middle class, and the middle classes would aspire to becoming one of the gentry, and it wasn't just a case of having money. You needed to know what was appropriate behavior in different situations, and this is how your true "breeding" could be ascertained. So how did one obtain this illusive status? Well, I guess they had money, so they could be seen at the right places such as Ascot, Henley, the Opera at Covent Garden, and extravagant house parties, and then they could freely mingle with the aristocracy, the old landed families or 'country set'. These people became known as the beautiful people, who were always in style and seen in the right places with the right people. They watched, copied, listened and read until they were 99.99 percent assimilated into the group.

I guess this marketing concept has been transported from England to other parts of the world and wherever you travel you will find beautiful people aspiring to become part of another illusive set. They take on board whatever is trendy and stylish about their new-found group, and reject anything to do with their old lifestyle. Eventually what was their normal, everyday behavior becomes unfashionable and finally obsolete. Hopefully, China will be able to establish its own new identity by retaining enough of its traditions and mixing them with the new, instead of becoming a reflection of America or Britain's best and worst aspects.

old english apple pie

2006-10-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

Now that fall is here, everyone's thoughts are turning to the coming holidays, cozy days spent lazing in front of a fireplace, spending time with family and friends and trying to keep out of the cold! Even here in southern California, you can feel the difference.

Growing up in England in the sixties, as I did, meant that you generally ate whatever was in season, and right about now were the "late" fruits such as as damsons, plums, gooseberries and, of course, apples. Cooking apples were bought at the market as they were cheap and nearly always available and with them you could make apple pie, apple crumble, apple upside-down pudding or just plain old baked apples! So it's not surprising that as soon as fall arrives, my thoughts turn to baking apple pie. There are few more delicious desserts than the recipe below for Old English apple pie, with its filling of apple, dried fruit and spices. This recipe makes the pastry "from scratch" which is more usual in England, but you can substitute your favorite pie crust mix if you prefer.

Ingredients for the Pastry
8 oz (2 cups) all purpose flour
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons caster sugar
4 oz (1/2 cup) butter
2-3 tablespoons cold water

Ingredients for the Filling
1 1/2 lbs cooking apples, peeled cored and sliced (firm apples such as Pippin, Rome Beauty and Granny Smith)
4 tablespoons dried sultanas or raisins
6 oz (2/3 cup) light brown sugar
Finely grated rind and juice of half a lemon

To Finish
milk
caster sugar

Recipe
1. To prepare the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl, then stir in the sugar. Add the butter in pieces and rub into the flour with the fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs (you can use a food processor for this, if you prefer). Stir in enough cold water to hold the mixture together, then form into a smooth ball. Wrap in foil or greaseproof paper and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

2. Divide the dough in two and roll out one half on a floured board to a circle to fit the base of an 8-inch pie dish.

3. Put the apples in a mixing bowl, then stir in the remaining filling ingredients. Spoon into the dough-lined pie dish. Roll out the remaining dough to a circle for the lid. Lay over the filling, pressing down and sealing the edge with water. Flute the edge with your fingers or crimp with the prongs of a fork. Brush with a little milk and dredge with caster sugar. Make a slit in the center of the pie for the steam to escape.

4. Bake on a baking sheet in the center of a fairly hot oven (400 degF) for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to moderate (350 degF) and continue baking for 20 minutes.

5. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

In England apple pie is usually served with custard sauce, or sweetened whipped cream. I have never seen the custard sauce in America, but it is usually made with a vanilla flavored powder (Bird's Custard Powder) to which hot milk and sugar are added and it makes a thick, yellow sauce which is delicious! If you want to be really authentic and try this it can be purchased online at either www.ukgoods.com. A tangy cheddar cheese is also good with apple pie. Enjoy!

Seashells

2006-10-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about living in a beach city is that you can dress in a less formal manner than other cities most of the time, and San Diego is well known for its relaxed attitude towards business dress. The beach and the ocean have a great influence on what to wear and the mild climate makes it ideal for beach related clothing most of the year. If it is a little cooler, then we normally put on a thicker sweatshirt, and flip flops are a year round thing. Anything to do with the beach is "in" whether you are shopping, going to a restaurant or going to the beach, and you rarely have to "dress up".

One of my favorite stores in La Jolla is Blondstone, a store which sells unique handmade jewelry made of interesting materials and semi-precious stones. They introduced a series called "The Wave", shown here, which is a seashell which has been cut and polished and formed into necklaces, bracelets and earrings. I bought this necklace a year ago and I don't think I've received as many compliments about any other jewelry I've owned. People stop me in the street and ask where I bought it. I love it, but it really is an unusual idea. Check out their store at www.Blondstone.com.

Seashells are often used as a design on clothing and pictures in this area, and we did at one time have The Shell Shop in La Jolla, but that is now the Cave Store which is not quite as cute.

The seashell design shown here is in my new store, Urban Market, which sells unique gifts and clothing with a beach theme and can be found at www.cafepress.com/urbanmarket.

Why not check out some seashells today?

ornamental peppers (capsicum annum)

2006-09-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

The pepper plant originated in tropical America and is known botanically as capsicum annum. It is also sometimes known as a Christmas pepper, as large quantities are sold in December as a holiday plant because of its traditional coloring.

The cone-shaped minature peppers change color as they ripen, and yellow, red and purple fruits are sometimes found on one plant. The fruits are usually edible, but the labelling for the plant should be checked first, and they are very hot! These are relatively simple plants to grow either indoors or outdoors, depending on where you live. The main ingredients for success with this plant are light and evenly moist soil at all times. Once the fruits form they remain attractive for 2-3 months.

Capsicum Annum Facts

Bloom time: September through December.
Exposure: Brightly lit spot with morning or afternoon sun.
Soil: Well drained potting soil.
Average Size: Less than 12 inches for ornamental plants.
Temperature: Cool or average warmth, not less than 55 degrees F.
Water: Keep compost moist at all times. Water occasionally by the immersiion method.
Air humidity: Mist the leaves frequently. Hot dry air will cause the fruit to fall.
Pruning: Pick peppers when they reach full size. Plants are usually discared after flowering.

These plants make an inexpensive addition to any yard or patio, and look great indoors to brighten a gloomy day!

home decorations for fall

2006-09-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

Decorating your home for fall does not have to be a big event or very expensive. As the Crate & Barrel catalog comes in the mail and you are tempted to buy all the new furniture, remember the orange and brown of fall is going to be replaced by the reds and greens for Christmas at the end of October. Fall home decorations can be as simple as a bag of potpourri in a fragrance like cider apple, pumpkin pie, or plums and berries.
Potpourri can be bought from flower stores, supermarkets and department stores. Try to choose some with fall colors and interesting shapes and place it in hallways to greet guests as soon as they walk through your front door. You'll be surprised at the warming effect this has.

fall flowers and when to water

2006-09-21T11:16:00.000-07:00

Fall is officially here, and although the weather in southern California doesn't appear to have changed significantly, there is now a slight dampness in the mornings and the evenings are definitely cooler. Watering container plants in the summer is fairly simple, but now the days are not quite as hot it gets a bit more tricky, especially if you don't have a lot of time to examine each plant.

Many plants available now such as the ornamental peppers shown here need to be kept evenly moist otherwise the leaves and the fruit quickly fall. However, slugs and other pests love that damp atmosphere, so check regularly around the base of the plant, especially if the plant begins to wilt. Sometimes they appear to need more water, when they are actually being eaten alive! If this happens, move the plant to a drier part of the garden and remove any dead leaves. Usually, once the pests are removed, the plant will come back.

The problem is, plants often droop and turn yellow if they are overwatered, and look similar to plants that have been underwatered. One of the simplest ways to test if a plant needs watering is to buy a moisture tester. These inexpensive devices can be bought in gardening and most hardware stores and help cut the guesswork out of watering. They also come with a list of the most common plants and indicate whether the plant likes to be dry or needs more water.

These simple devices have a scale from dry to wet and are a crude way of testing the moisture in the soil. The surprising thing is that you soon learn how different the rate of water absorption is among different plants, so instead of watering all your plants with the same amount of water each day or every couple of days, it is often wise to water some and leave others. If you are still doubtful, most plants can usually survive a couple of days dry, but too much water often damages or kills the plant.

coreopsis grandiflora "early sunrise"

2006-08-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

This very easy to grow flower is a member of the sunflower family. coreopsis has a profusion of yellow, orange, maroon or reddish flowers with rich, green foliage. It likes bright sunny days and little water, so it is ideal for southern California in the summer. Early Sunrise has semidouble flowers which will bloom the first year from seed and self-sow.

Coreopsis Facts

Bloom time: Summer.
Exposure: Full sun.
Soil: Well drained all purpose potting soil.
Average Size: Stems 1-2 feet high, spreading to 3 feet wide.
Growth rate: Fast in sunny climate.
Water: Little to moderate water.
Fertilizing: Not necessary.
Pruning: Deadhead for longer bloom. Use hedge shears to remove large numbers of spent blooms.

This beautiful, resilient plant is great for use in borders, or for cut flower bouquets and requires little care to keep it looking good - it can even tolerate a moderate drought and bounce right back. Definitely a summer winner!

palm springs aerial tramway

2006-07-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend we were in Palm Springs, California. Yes, it really was 120 degrees! We had visitors from England and wanted to include a trip to the desert in their California visit. Unfortunately, it happened to be one of the hottest days on Friday since 1953, one newspaper said. We went into the pool to cool off, but that was like a warm bath without bubbles!

So on Saturday, we decided to go on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway as we had read it was 30-40 degrees cooler up the mountain, which sounded wonderful to us. The cable car which has been running since 1963, travels approximately 12,800 feet and the journey takes about 15 minutes.

You park your car at the base and take a bus to the cable car entrance where for $19 you can purchase your trip up the mountain. The views on the journey going up, and on arrival are spectacular, and the temperature at the top was between 75 and 80 degrees - heaven! There are trails marked out which take you through the forest and lead you to great vantage points over Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. They are in a circle, so you eventually end up where you started and can then go to the cafe/restaurant for lunch.

Not sure what happened when we were there, because a helicopter landed right beside us, let some people out, then hurried off again. Definitely worth doing on a hot day in Palm Springs.

african tulip tree (spathodea campanulata)

2006-06-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

If you have read my earlier blog on the African Tulip Tree you will know that I had some doubts regarding its survival, but boy was I wrong! The African Tulip Tree, Latin name spathodea campanulata, is an evergreen tree which grows in tropical Africa. It is a very showy tree with clusers of spectacular, tulip shaped, 4 inch flowers in bright orange to red with glossy deep green leaves. My tree appears to be thriving in the San Diego climate, and seems resistant to caterpillars which cover the bougainvillea growing next to and amongst it, and so far has received very little attention.

African Tulip Tree Facts

Bloom time: Depends on climate, in California spring/summer; Hawaii, all year - but flowers may appear in any season.
Exposure: Full sun.
Soil: Well drained soil in a warm site.
Average Size: 40-75 ft tall, 20-50 ft. wide. My tree is in a large pot, so should be smaller (it is about 14 ft high, and 10 ft wide).
Growth rate: Very fast growing tree, blooms young - cannot tolerate frost.
Water: Appears to tolerate both floods and droughts without damage. Keep well drained, if possible.
Fertilizing: Not necessary.
Pruning: Remove any yellowed, dried branches where they can be reached.

This is an amazing, flamboyant tree which seems resistant to pests and diseases, and once it has settled in, grows with little care and attention. A great find!

gardenia augusta (gardenia jasminoides)

2006-06-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

I bought a gardenia last year to add to my container garden, and it lasted throughout the mild San Diego winter, and has just come into flower this year with the first buds opening yesterday. The gardenia augusta is native to China, Taiwan, and Japan. This evergreen shrub has glossy bright green lance-shaped leaves and intensely fragrant single or double white flowers.

In order to grow this plant successfully, it must have summer heat and well drained soil. For flower buds to form a night temperature of 60-65 degrees is required, and the day temperature should be about 10 degrees higher. An even temperature and careful watering are needed to prevent the buds dropping off, and soft water is recommended to prevent the leaves from turning yellow (although the water in my area is very hard, and I have not had too much trouble).

Gardenia Facts

Bloom time: Late spring and summer.
Exposure: Morning sun or partial shade.
Soil: Fast draining, moisture retentive soil with plenty of organic matter, such as peat moss or ground bark.
Average Size: Compact in container 2-3 feet high; tall upright 4-6 feet high.
Growth rate: Once flowering, successive flowers form quickly.
Water: Keep uniformly moist during growing season. Do not let dry out. Mist leaves.
Fertilizing: Feed every 3-4 weeks during growing season with acid plant food.
Pruning: Prune to remove dead wood, straggling branches, faded flowers.

Gardenia makes a very beautiful container plant, and can be used in raised beds, hedges, and low screens. It also makes a beautiful indoor plant creating a beautiful fragrance in any room.

godetia amoena (onagraceae)

2006-05-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

The godetia godetia belongs to a group of plants known as Clarkia, a native of western south and north America. It grows especially well in California, and produces beautiful clusters of funnel shaped flowers on strong stems. The pale pink color shown in this picture, known as Satin, is especially pretty, but it also comes in a range of pinks, lavender and crimson shades. These plants grow during the cooler times of year and bloom in spring and early summer. I bought my plants a couple of weeks ago and they really add a mass of color to the border area of the garden. They do need watering regularly, and droop fairly quickly if they dry out. However, with a dose of water they are soon standing upright again.

Godetia Facts

Bloom time: Spring, early summer.
Exposure: Sun to part shade. Highly cold resistant.
Soil: Best in sandy soil without added fertilizer.
Average Size: 1.5 - 2.5 feet high.
Growth rate: Once flowering, successive flowers form quickly.
Water: Keep uniformly moist during growing season. Do not let dry out.
Fertilizing: Do not fertilize.
Pruning: Remove dead flowers at base.

With its slightly flaring pink or lavender flowers, it looks great in borders or planters, and also makes a good cut flower.

sun star (ornithogalum dubium)

2006-05-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

I came across this plant when I was passing by Trader Joe's recently. It is called sun star, so I bought some as I thought they would look great in my container garden. Its Latin name is ornithogalum dubium and it is a native of South Africa. In mild winter areas such as this, it can be grown in woodlands, wild gardens, rock gardens, container gardens or massed in borders. In colder climates it can be grown indoors or in a greenhouse. It has clusters of bright orange star-shaped flowers with narrow, droopy leaves.

Sun Star Facts

Bloom time: Spring.
Exposure: Very adaptable - from full sun to light shade.
Soil: Well drained all purpose potting soil.
Average Size: Stems 8 - 12 inches high.
Growth rate: Fast in good conditions (not tolerant of frost).
Water: Keep uniformly moist during growing season. Needs dry dormant period after flowering.
Fertilizing: Use balanced household fertilizer in early spring when new shoots show.
Pruning: Remove dead flower spikes at base.

With its vibrant South African colors, Sun Star will bloom abundantly for up to three months. It is very easy to care for and looks great indoors or outdoors in the garden.

fuchsia

2006-04-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

I buy a fuchsia
plant most years, either for a hanging basket or to stand in a tub on the patio. They always have such amazing colors and flowers, and the humming birds love them. The one I bought this year is no exception. This one is a hanging basket and the flowers are the double type. They are sold at this time of year in Southern California - I bought this one in the supermarket - and they do well initially because the temperature is just right, they can stay in the shade most of the time, but not get too cold. Anything in between seems to upset the balance and they are then susceptible to mites, and other problems. After April you have to be careful they don't get too much sun.

Fuchsia Facts

Bloom time: Summer to late fall.
Exposure: Bright to partially shady and sheltered from wind.
Soil: All purpose soil.
Average Size: Shrub can reach 3 - 6 ft high and wide.
Growth rate: Fast in good conditions.
Water: Water abundantly in the growth period (don't let hanging baskets dry out).
Fertilizing: Feed weekly until August during the growth period.
Pruning: Prune regularly; at the beginning of the vegetative period, trim them all round.

This type is particularly pretty. The flowers start off with white petals that have small purple centers, and as the flower opens, which takes about a week, the outer petals turn to pink and the center becomes a large purple mass of petals. We have had a couple of very warm days this week, so I hope I can save this plant through to next year.

more rain

2006-04-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

It had rained for the last couple of weeks, a few showers here and there, and a couple of heavy downpours. The yard looked a mess, with fallen leaves everywhere and plants that needed replacing. Some were even brown from the sun which had come out suddenly between showers.

So this weekend I bought a couple of new plants and spent several hours in the yard cutting off dead leaves, moving things around and generally tidying up. The main additions were some freesia which I'd never grown before, but they smell heavenly, and some petunias which I love because they look so bright and manage to keep flowering whatever happens.

So now what's going on, I'm sitting here listening to the heaviest rain I have heard all year - we are in April, this is definitely not supposed to happen! I don't know how much rain freesia can stand battering down on them (I know the petunias will be OK), but I guess I'm going to find out tomorrow, or the next day, as I think more rain is forecast for tomorrow.

sweet broom

2006-03-30T11:21:00.000-08:00

A recent addition to my container garden was a broom plant (its botanical name is cytisus x spachianus). This very pretty yellow flowering shrub has turned out to be a great find as it has withstood several torrential downpours followed by hot sun, and it still looks good. I have since read that it is a very hardy shrub and therefore would be great for the beginner. It has small sweet-pea shaped fragrant flowers and can tolerate wind, seashore conditions, and rocky infertile soil. Not bad!

Sweet Broom Facts

Bloom time: Spring, early summer.
Exposure: Full sun.
Soil: Tolerates poor soil.
Average Size: Can reach a height of up to 7 feet, and a width of 5 feet.
Growth rate: Fast.
Water: Very low once established.
Uses: Specimen, rock garden, color accent.
Pruning: Pinch out the tips as needed. Prune after flowering to maintain size and form.

I think I may have had one of these plants before, and it eventually became very dry in the summer and died, but this one is looking good and doesn't appear to have suffered from any of the coastal weather so far which has been hot, cold, sunny and then very wet. I am pretty sure we are on to the last of the rain storms, and by April we'll be heading for the long, dry season. So I guess I'll see what happens then.

pink jasmine

2006-03-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

One of the latest additions to my container garden has been a pink jasmine (Jasminum Polyanthum). This is a vast climbing vine which can grow to about 20 feet. It is the most popular and one of the easiest jasmines to grow and has dense clusters of fragrant pink flowers, white on the inside, and rose colored outside. It is an evergreen vine which originated in China. The plant I have is in a hanging basket, but this plant works equally well climbing around doorways, or as ground cover.

Pink Jasmine Facts

Bloom time: Late winter and spring, with sporadic rebloom throughout the year.
Exposure: Full sun to light shade.
Soil: Fertile, moist yet well drained soil.
Average Size: Can reach a height of up to 20 feet, or trail down from a hanging basket.
Growth rate: Fast.
Water: Moderate to regular water.
Fertilizer: Fertilize lightly during the growing season.
Pruning: Pinch out the tips as needed. Prune after flowering to control rampant growth.

Jasmines grow more rapidly in good soil and love sunny sites, but they are good all round plants that can adapt to many less than ideal conditions successfully, and are therefore a great plant for beginners.

a beautiful day

2006-03-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those beautiful days. It was sunny and warm, and everything looked perfect as I made my way down the coast. I have never noticed these poppies before, but today they shone brightly in the sun.

As I walked along I saw people on the beach, and I started wondering if it was one of those holiday days, like Martin Luther King day or something, and I'd forgotten.

When I got to the end of the road, I saw people float past in bright green kayaks, like something on a postcard.

Today really was a beautiful day.

interesting vases

2006-03-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

It has rained for two weekends in a row, which is unusual, so I've not been able to spend much time in the garden, and instead decided to make the flowers inside the house a bit more interesting by putting them in unusual vases. The vases in this picture are three interlocking vases that hold one or two flowers at the most, as the necks are so thin. The nice thing about this arrangement is that it looks impressive without spending a lot on flowers.

This vase is in fact not a vase, it is some sort of African clay pot, but it looks great holding an inexpensive bunch of flowers from the supermarket. I have placed the flowers in a small glass vase, then placed this inside the pot holder, as you can't fill the pot with water. The use of the clay pot changes the appearance of the flowers from ordinary to something that could be used as a centerpiece.

These last two vases are interesting mainly because of the great shapes, and colors. The tall blue vase is kind of Asian looking with a darker blue pattern on the front and makes even the most boring flowers look elegant. The beige and brown vase is really cool, as it has a kind of animal print on it and spreads the flowers out for a wide display. So even if it's dull and cold outside, I did manage to get some color inside the house.

begonias

2006-03-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

Bought some new plants for the yard the other day, and three small begonia plants to stand on top of a plant stand I have outside. They were not very expensive and have the most amazing, full flowers on them - one pink, one flame colored, and one peach. I am not sure how robust these plants are - I have had a large one in a pot in my yard for over a year, but these look more delicate.

I placed them outside at about three o'clock in the afternoon, and by five the temperature had dropped and the storm that has been threatening looked as though it might be coming earlier than the weekend. Next day, the sun was shining and it still felt cold, but the plants looked OK despite being repotted. Anyway, thought I'd better look up the begonia rules in the plant book.

Hmm, average temperature not less than 55 degrees, not more than 70. I think they've already survived both of those. A bright spot away from direct sunlight, a few hours of winter sun is OK. Well, they've had a few hours of winter sun. Water freely when plant is in flower, but do not keep compost constantly soggy. OK, I better move them to a spot under the shade of the patio, as the "big storm" is coming tonight and it is supposed to rain for the whole weekend. I'm not sure I believe that, but I don't want to kill them off when I've only just bought them. So, after the storm I'll monitor the weather and them, and if it's not going well, I guess I've got three new indoor plants.

one crazy guy

2006-03-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

I think I have read all of Nicci French's novels, and I love them. They are usually set in England, in and around London, and are always psychological thrillers involving a young woman who somehow gets romantically involved with a nutcase! A Secret Smile is no exception. In this story Miranda, the main character, meets this charming guy and has a couple of dates with him, then decides it's not the romance of a lifetime, and breaks off the relationship. So far, nothing unusual about that, except that this ex, Brendan, turns out to be far from normal, and continues to weave his way into every facet of Miranda's life, long after the relationship ends. He also insists on telling everyone that he ended the relationship, and that poor Miranda could not deal with the rejection, and pain of losing him. As Miranda gets more and more infuriated with Brendan and his continual lies about him, her, and their relationship in general, he manages to turn everyone against her, including her family, her best friend and her new boyfriend who all sympathize with the scheming Brendan.

At one point, the police even want to issue a restraining order against her. Eventually, you start to feel just as frustrated as Miranda, and wonder how this thing is ever going to end. I also had to laugh because being from England it reminded me of so many things I had forgotten, such as, when faced with the most dire situations what should you do? Make a cup of hot tea to help you think, of course! Anyway, if you are looking for pure entertainment with a great ending, read this book.

Rain in La Jolla

2006-02-28T16:25:00.000-08:00

All the weather reports had said that a rainstorm was heading our way, and as anyone who lives in the San Diego area knows, this is like telling people in Florida that a hurricane is coming, or a snowstorm is heading for the east coast. Now don't ask me why this sends panic throughout the region, since most people, like me, are from some other cold, rainy place - but it does. It becomes a big talking point, even before it gets here.
There are people like me, who can't stand rain under any circumstances, people (the sensible ones) who say we need the rain, and another group who seem to think it's exciting in some way. Although last year this group quickly dwindled when we had several weeks of non-stop heavy rain in January.
Well this year is just the opposite, I think it has only rained about three or four times since October, when our rainy season often starts (when I say rainy season, I mean we could get a rainstorm now and then), so it's never sensible to put away the flip-flops and sunscreen. So even I agreed, that when it started raining last night, we did need the rain.
However, if this is it, I'm sure this hasn't solved our water shortage. I put boots and a coat on this morning and took my umbrella as it was raining hard. By lunchtime I had a light jacket and the boots, plus sunglasses. An hour later, gray sky had become blue, and the seals who had been alone on the beach were being eyed again by happy tourists.
By the time I returned home, the only sign there was that there had even been any rain was a band of fluffy clouds in the distance. I think we are supposed to get more rain tomorrow, and then towards the end of the week, but we'll see. This is definitely a change from the weather I left behind in England!

A Time to Love - Stevie Wonder

2006-02-23T15:52:00.000-08:00

I am a Starbucks fan, and so it's not surprising that as well as buying coffee there every day, I also buy other bits and pieces too. That's where I saw the Stevie Wonder CD, "A Time to Love".

I've always been a Stevie Wonder fan since I was a teenager when I bought the Motown Story. Stevie Wonder was introduced in that as a 5 year old playing "Fingertips", and I continued to buy his music long after that. Although I'd heard him recording with various other artists, I'd not bought any of his CD's for a few years now, and was interested to hear what this was like. It is awesome! It has the same soulful sound of his older music, and whether he's singing about love, politics and wars, or just getting by in life, his lyrics always make you stop and think and they haunt you long after the music ends.

I loved the one called "Positivity" which says "you should always look at the negative, but always live in the positive", how cool is that? Then, of course, the title song, "A Time to Love", is amazing, questioning the things we make time for in this world - oil excavation, paying taxes, and conquering nations. It is also interesting to note that people from all corners of the world have worked together to make this recording. So, when will there be a time to love?

mexican sage

2006-02-21T11:10:00.000-08:00

When we went to the garden center the other day, as well as the California Poppies, we also bought a plant called Salvia Gesneraeflora which I later learned was commonly known as Mexican Sage. This was good news for me as I only live a short distance from the Mexican border, so I figured the climate it was used to was similar to mine. It was about three feet tall with bright flame colored flowers. The day I bought the plant was gray with a marine layer coming in, and the bright red flowers really stood out.

However, on close inspection when I got home, the plant did not look too healthy. Many of the leaves were dry and shriveled with brown tips. So it was the usual question for me, did it need watering, or did it have some kind of disease? Well, I guess I could start by watering it when I repotted it. It did feel really dry. Repotting was also not easy as the delicate flowered stems kept breaking off, so the three foot tall plant was now about two feet tall. On the tag that came with the plant it said that it had very large, bright red flowers in fall, winter and spring, so I guess this could just be the normal leaf drop at the end of the flowering season. Just to be on the safe side, I put it right at the back near the fence in a kind of quarantine, so if it did have any deadly leaf disease, nothing else would catch it.

So now after a week has gone by, I am just watching its progress and waiting to see what happens. So far, some of the flowers have fallen off, but there are new leaves coming through that look green and healthy. This was described as the "mountain form" of Mexican sage, so I am hoping if it can live wild on the mountains, it can manage to live in my container garden.

california poppy

2006-02-15T14:18:00.000-08:00

The other day I went to buy some more plants to add to the container garden. By the time I arrived at the garden center, the weather had changed to cold and damp with a marine layer coming in. The garden center I went to had recently moved location and did not have a great selection of plants to choose from, but I saw some California poppies and decided they would really brighten things up. I bought four plants and thought I could put two poppies in two containers. I've seen them growing in a yard across the road from me each year, and always love how wild and graceful they look. Unfortunately, as I loaded them into my car, a couple of the flowers snapped off - I hadn't realized they were quite this fragile. Not to worry, they had plenty of buds on them, so I figured other flowers would soon come out.

I didn't have time to plant them when I got home, so left them overnight in the plastic containers they came in. The next day when I went out a couple of the flowers had opened and looked really great. I decided to plant them in terracotta pots that afternoon, but by the time I got to them a few hours later they looked like they had suffered major heat stroke or something, and all the leaves were wilting. OK, I'm pretty good at reviving plants, so I figured they needed a shadier spot and a drop of water and they'd be fine. Next day was really sunny and warm and they did, in fact, look better. The next day, however, was colder and they only had about an hour of sun. The following day they looked positively sick, with one wilting flower. So I looked in my container plant guide book, and it said they need sun to flower, only flower between 10 am and 4 pm, and don't like lots of water. So I moved them to a sunnier spot on the patio, and snapped the only flower off in the process. They were now becoming a major challenge.

Next day there was just one flower trying to stand up. A pathetic display. I looked them up on the internet and found a site that says they like cool sunny weather, and don't do well in containers. Great - it's a container garden - I guess I'll monitor their progress and get ready for another trip to the garden center!

freedomland

2006-02-10T12:23:00.000-08:00

I have just finished reading by Richard Price. What a heartbreaking and powerful story. It is a complicated story about crime, and racial tension. The story is set around the main characters Brenda Martin, whose son is missing, detective Lorenzo, and an eager news reporter, Jesse.

The story opens with Brenda Martin walking in a daze down a street in a depressed, inner city area of New Jersey. You are not sure what exactly has happened to her, but you know it isn't good. As the story unfolds, you can't help feeling sorry for this woman, even though all the signs are that she is not being honest with anyone, including herself, and has somehow become completely isolated from everyone around her - her family, her work colleagues, and her neighbors. In fact, that seems to be the common thread which binds these three dominant characters together. The detective, who struggles to retain control of the Armstrong housing project that he polices, is torn between being friend and confidante to the often desperate people in the neighborhood, and maintaining law and order strictly by the book. His own personal relationship with his wife and children also adds to his isolation. Jesse, the reporter, also lives a kind of lonely life, chasing after that "special story" then phoning in the details to someone in her office, never quite making a real connection with anyone.

As the harrowing tale develops, the tension builds in the sultry, claustrophobic heat of a late New Jersey summer, adding to everyone's fear and frustration. One error in judgment leads to another, causing potentially catastrophic results along the way. You are not quite sure how things are going to turn out at any point, but you know that at any moment someone's pent up anger, hatred, and fear could tip the balance in a city that is waiting to explode.

I am not going to tell you how it ends, but it is a great story, challenging us to think about issues that we would probably rather avoid, and although it is a work of fiction, you could still see this tragic tale happening in one of our cities. If you don't read the book, please go and see the movie when it comes out.

Orange Tree

2006-02-08T17:08:00.000-08:00

When we first moved here we bought a dwarf orange tree and planted it in a tub on the patio. It flowers about three times a year, and has produced no edible oranges whatsoever. The blossoms smell wonderful and look great. The first year it only managed flowers. The second year it did produce some tiny oranges - when I say tiny, I mean about the size of a cherry - which all fell off.

Last year when it flowered in summer it looked really promising. There were about ten oranges which looked as though they might make it to full size. Gradually, one by one, all but one fell off. We decided that the tree didn't like its position on the patio which was in shade for part of the day, so we moved it to a sunnier spot. The odd thing is that the one remaining orange remained on the tree even through the first rain in September.

We've gone through the hot October days, a few windy days, and a couple of rain storms in December, and the same orange is still hanging on.

The tree is now covered in buds and I am pretty optimistic about getting fruit, now it's in its new position. Then again, I guess if all else fails, I'll still have this lone fruit which is decorative if nothing else. If anyone has any suggestions on how to get this tree to produce fruit, please let me know.

My Paella

2006-02-03T15:20:00.000-08:00

I love making this recipe. I used to make it in England, and now make it here in California with slightly different ingredients. If you do not know Paella, it is an everyday Spanish dish, and its ingredients vary greatly, but the nearer you are to the coast, the more seafood it will contain. As well as seafood, it also contains chicken and pork (even if in the form of sausage or ham).

Ingredients I used (serves 4)

1 lb clams (littlenecks are good)
1/2 lb shell on large shrimp
2 cooked boneless chicken breasts
2 mild italian or chorizo sausages
1 medium sized red pepper
1 can diced tomatoes
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 large onion chopped
1 crushed garlic clove
12 oz bottled clam juice
1/2 glass dry white wine
10 oz long grain rice
Saffron threads (infused)
5 oz fresh or frozen peas (thawed)
Salt & pepper to taste
Lemon & parsley garnish

You can vary the ingredients by adding mussels, langostinos, or lobster and you can use ham or pork instead of sausage.

1. Prepare the shellfish. Wash the shrimp under running water, and scrub the clams and leave to soak to remove any sand (if they are particularly sandy, leave them for 5-6 hours).

2. Pour boiling water on the saffron threadsand leave to infuse for 15-20 minutes.

3. Chop the onion into small pieces, and crush the garlic.

4. Remove the seeds from the pepper and cut into strips.

5. Part cook the sausage in a frying pan with a little cold water for about 6 minutes. Remove from pan and leave for a few minutes to cool. Blot with a paper towel to remove excess fat and remove the skin with scissors. Cut the sausage into small pieces.

6. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and lightly fry the onion and crushed garlic until the onion is transparent. Add the part cooked sausage and fry over a high heat. Add the pepper to this mixture and cook for five minutes.

7. Add the cooked chicken and tomatoes. Cook gently for 2 minutes before adding the white wine, saffron liquid, and about half the clam juice. Stir well.

8. Stir in the rice, then bring the mixture to the boil.

9. Add the shrimp and the clams and stir well. Cook with the lid on for approx. 20 minutes, until the rice is cooked. Check frequently while cooking, as the rice absorbs the liquid quickly, so add more clam juice as needed.

10. Serve with lemon wedges and parsely garnish. Enjoy!

Amazing California

2006-01-30T17:23:00.000-08:00

I am sure that like me, every person who has ever moved to a new country to live, or even a new state or city, at certain points in time has asked themselves the question, "why did I do this?" Even if you have great reasons for doing it, there are some days when everything is just difficult, and you start to doubt your own logic. This thought has crossed my mind a few times since I came to the US.

However, a January like this one definitely banishes any doubts that may come to mind. January 2005 was cold and rainy, but this year has been sunny and clear with blue skies and orange sunsets almost every day. So as crazy as the place is - I mean where else has an action hero as the state governor? - California is still one of the most beautiful places you could ever hope to live.

Outside in the yard, the orange tree has the first buds on it with the promise of spring and summer, and the tulips and daffodils are already in full bloom.

So when anyone asks me why I came to California, it's days like this when I can just look around me, and say, "Who wouldn't? California is amazing!"

Hear No Evil

2006-01-25T15:26:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading Hear No Evil by James Grippando. I hadn't read any of his other books, and this one was pretty good. It was about the murder of an American Officer at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, whose wife is accused of murdering her husband. The Miami attorney defending her is Jack Swyteck, who is half Cuban himself, so not only is there the murder plot going on, but also some mystery and intrigue about his own background, his mother, and his son. James Grippando keeps giving us clues as to who the murderer is - at one point I thought it was the wife, then I thought it was a fellow officer, and then maybe some political group. It has some interesting turns and twists, and although the plot is complex, it is not laborious to get through, and kept me guessing until fairly close to the end. It also has some parts of the story in Miami, and some in Cuba. This got me thinking about other Cuban stuff I have encountered since coming to the USA, and all of it has been pretty cool.

The first thing I found was Andre's restaurant in San Diego, where you could get great Arroz con Pollo, and with a coupon from the Reader on Two for One night, it was really a bargain. The next thing was the music. A friend lent me a copy of the Buena Vista Social Club which is one of the most fun CD's I've ever heard. The CD sounds as though the people singing and playing music are just having a great time, regardless of whatever circumstances they find themselves in. The music sounds as though it has laughter in it, and you feel really uplifted at the end of the CD.

Our friends who lent us this CD decided we should all go and see Omara Portuondo, one of the singers on the Buena Vista Social Club CD, and booked tickets for us at the El Cajon Center for Performing Arts, where she was performing. Now we didn't really have any idea what this was going to be like, but I think the main problem for us was that the whole show was conducted in Spanish and, unfortunately, I don't speak Spanish. The other thing I hadn't realized was that Omara was sixty-something years old, and although she did a great job, and sounded wonderful, there were a few hairy moments, where I think she kind of fell over on stage and one of the backing group had to catch her. All that to one side it was still a great evening, and the conclusion I came to was that Cuban people loved to sing and dance and laugh. Someone told me there is a Buena Vista Social Club DVD, and they said that this is even more fun than the CD.

A more recent thing I did while I was staying in Las Vegas was go to the Havana Night Show at the Stardust Hotel. Now there is definitely no-one falling over on stage here! This is an fantastic show which tells the story of the history of Cuban music. The dancers are extremely talented and beautiful, and the performance is full of bright colors, incredible dancing, and vibrant, sexy music. Check it out at www.las-vegas.travelnice.com.

At the beginning they show a film of the Cuban dancers' struggle to bring their show to the United States, and it is very sad that due to the political situation they have had to leave their families and friends behind in order to pursue their dreams. At this point there is no possibility of them being able to return to Cuba, but hopefully that situation will eventually change for them. I would recommend it as a show not to be missed.

Wild Animal Park

2006-01-23T17:22:00.000-08:00

We went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park yesterday. I always like going there, even though I've been many times before. When we first came to San Diego (we had only been here a few days), we decided to go to the Park for a quick visit before going shopping. Well, it's not really the kind of place you can get through in half an hour. Not only is it huge, acres and acres of parkland made into habitat for animals from all round the world, there are many gardens to walk through, not to mention different kinds of shows and talks going on throughout the park. We always like going to look at the giraffes, they are so calm and graceful, and you can even feed them if you arrive at feeding time.

The really cool thing about the wild animal park is that the animals have tons of room to wander around, they are not just sitting in a cage all day, and the zoo has made great efforts to breed endangered species and reintroduce them, with considerable success, back into the wild. There is a young lion cub at the park at the moment that can be viewed in a closed off area where it is being taken care of. It is amazing to see these animals so close. An interesting thing was that a young puppy (I think it was a bulldog) that was homeless after hurricane Katrina is being taken care of by the Wild Animal Park, and has become the playful companion of the young lion cub.

If you want an ariel view of the park, there a helium balloon that you can go up in. It doesn't actually go anywhere as it is tethered to the ground, but it looks like fun. I didn't go up in it, as I'd just eaten a plate of pasta, and wasn't sure the swaying and the height was a good idea at that point in time.

Of course, there are also the many gardens you can walk through. I really love the animals, but I also like the plants and flowers.

I know, however, that this is not everyone's idea of fun, as I once took my mother-in-law to the Park when she visited from England, and on her next visit she specifically requested NOT to visit the Wild Animal Park. She didn't really like walking, and there is quite a bit of walking involved.

If you are feeling energetic you can take a walk up to the Baja Gardens, then work your way back down to Nairobi Village and finish off with a drink or a visit to the souvenir shop.

sunset

2006-01-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

sunset
Originally uploaded by flowergirl2005.

sunset at la jolla

Napa Valley

2006-01-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

I was browsing through a book on the Napa Valley called Napa Valley, The Ultimate Winery Guide, and started thinking what a great Valentine's getaway the Napa Valley would be.

We stayed in the Napa Valley a couple of years ago at a wonderful place called the Carneros Inn. This is the only resort that I am aware of in the Napa Valley that has this level of luxury and sophistication. Nestled amongst acres of grapevines, it has been designed to blend in with the local area with barns and ranchers' cottages in subdued greens and browns, but once inside the accommodations there is absolutely nothing subdued about the Carneros Inn. The cottage-type room we stayed in featured a big, puffy, king-size bed, a wood-burning fireplace, and ultra modern entertainment area with high-speed internet connection. The bathroom was also top of the range with massaging shower heads and a spacious soaking tub. Outside there was also a shower and cute little patio area for sampling the day's wine purchases. They also provided big, fluffy robes to wander over to the spa, pool or hot tub.

The Carneros Inn has a great restaurant called the Hilltop Dining Room, which has an extensive wine list, featuring many Carneros wines and numerous others. It was here that we were first introduced to the Franciscan Winery. This winery was recommended to us by the manager as having great tasting wines, so we ordered a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon with dinner, and next day off we went to check out the winery. We bought a case of wine and continued to buy the wine when we got back to San Diego. It is really fruity and, as the bottle says, with ripe black cherry, plum and currant flavors...mmmmmm.

This Napa Valley book was a great find. It has amazing pictures in it and takes you on a guided tour through Napa, giving a description of the winery, its location and its history, so you can plan your day's wine tasting in advance.

Pity I didn't own it before I went!

Hyacinth

2006-01-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

I always fall for the same trap, and buy hyacinth plants for the house. I walk past the counter where they are selling them and the scent draws me closer and closer and I before I know it, I have a couple in my basket ready for the checkout. I have two small bathrooms and thought they would create a wondereful perfume when I am soaking in the tub, so I put one in each.

Now the thing I hate about these plants, tulips, and paperwhites, is that they tend to follow the light source, so you have to keep turning them round to keep them upright. However, I thought that as the bathrooms were mainly dark with lights overhead when you switched them on, the hyacinths would manage to stand upright most of the time. I guess I was wrong - after only a few hours they started to keel over. I put tiny wooden stakes in the pots and tied them to it - that should do it.

Wrong! The next day both plants had completely fallen over. Where was the light they were chasing? It's as if they knew that beyond the bathroom door, and through the bedrooms into the living room, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Obviously, this needed drastic action. The tiny little wooden stakes I'd used were absolutely no use and instead of holding the plant upright, had fallen over with the plant itself.

So, I've finally got them upright and watered and back into a reasonable standing position. The only problem is that they look as if they've both survived a bad car accident, and have to be held together with bandages and splints. The amazing, intoxicating fragrance was worth all the effort, but if anyone has any tips on how to keep these plants upright in a more elegant manner, please let me know.

Magical Thinking

2006-01-14T14:54:00.000-08:00

What a funny book. I have just finished reading Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs, and could not stop laughing. This is not the usual book of funny stories, like Seinfeld or something like that. This is a cynical, witty, outrageous commentary on a strange childhood and how these childhood experiences continue to influence Augusten Borroughs throughout his adult life. He starts off describing his life at school and with his parents, particularly his odd relationship with his mother, and this somehow becomes the hilarious first chapter involving him in a Tang commercial. The chapter I found most amusing was the one involving telemarketing called Telemarketing Revenge. I think anyone who has ever received a telemarketing caller who simply won't go away, who then tries to make you feel bad if you want to hang up, will identify with this chapter and start planning thier own revenge. The interesting thing is that Augusten Burroughs actually carried out his plan with 100% success rate.

Most of the stories in this book come round to Augusten's concept of Magical Thinking, which is the belief that one exerts more influence over events than one actually has, but the thing is, he really does appear to have an extraordinary control over not only his own life, but other people's as well, simply by thinking about them. I think I'll go and work on that for myself now and see what happens.

A Cool Martini

2006-01-13T23:14:00.000-08:00

The holidays are finally over, and I can't say I'm especially sorry. Christmas is not one of my favorite times of year - firstly, it seems to start so early and go on for ever that by the time it gets here, I'm kind of done with it. Also, being from England, it still seems odd to celebrate Christmas with sunny skies and palm trees, so I've never really got into it since coming to the USA. Still, there are some things I enjoyed over Christmas and one was reading a book I'd started some time ago and not had time to finish, and the other was celebrating with a cool martini.

Two Dollar Bill by Stuart Woods has a catchy plot featuring Stone Barrington, the suave Manhattan cop-turned-lawyer. This book starts in the usual way - eating at Elaine's restaurant with Dino, his ex-Partner and ex-brother-in-law. Stone meets this crazy Texan guy called Billy Bob Barnstormer, and the fun begins. It turns out that Billy Bob has many aliases and keeps on handing out two dollar bills. Naturally, this book features several beautiful women, one of whom happens to be the federal prosecutor, who has her own reasons for wanting to question the conman Billy Bob. Soon everyone is chasing around New York looking for this guy, and, of course, there is a plentiful helping of spicy dialogue, sex, and crime. If you have ever read a Stuart Woods novel you will know that dining, entertaining and being seen in the right place at the right time are of paramount importance to Stone Barrington. Whenever I read these books I start thinking about eating and drinking and that's how I ended up with the martini.

This martini is not quite traditional as you keep the ice in the martini glass, neither shaken nor stirred.

Here is how to make it. First of all gather together the ingredients:

Martini Extra Dry Vermouth
Absolut Citron Vodka (chilled in the freezer)
Pimento Stuffed Olives
Ice
Lemon Tie

1. Chill the martini glass in the freezer.
2. Fill the martini glass half full with ice.
3. Spray the martini glass with vermouth
(a spritzer like the one shown makes this really easy).

4. Pour Absolut Citron Vodka over the ice.
5. Decorate with olives and lemon twist.

Serve immediately with Williams-Sonoma Parmesan Lemon Cocktail Biscuits.

African Tulip Tree

2006-01-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

When we first started buying plants for our container garden we saw this tree in full flower in a nursery in Pacific Beach. We had never heard of it, but the nursery owner assured us it was a hardy, if somewhat unusual, tree for this area and we would have no trouble rearing it in a large container. We were looking for a "showy" tree to fill an empty corner, so for $125 it was ours. The nursery delivered it to our condo, and even planted it in the plant pot for us when they got there. It looked great.

After about a week, I noticed the leaves turning yellow, then brown, then falling off in great numbers. This was followed by the large orange tulip-like flowers, until two weeks later it looked almost bare. I decided to ask the nursery what was wrong, so I gathered a bunch of leaves together and zipped them securely in a ziploc bag, and off I went. "Well, it's obvious", they told me, "too much water". Wow, could this be the result of too much water? It was late August and everything else was drinking water at an amazing pace. Eventually, it was completely bare and looked like it had died. I decided to throw it in the dumpster when I had time to move it, but then we had some fairly heavy rains and the whole area became waterlogged, so it ended up sitting in a pool of water for the next two months.

Except, it didn't die. In about March, I noticed buds on the bare branches, which turned into leaves, and flowers followed in the summer. It has never completely lost all its leaves since then, and I now think it was in shock from the move. I remembered all this today because when I was out in the yard I saw some new buds forming (in January???) and it looks like more flowers are coming.

These trees grow in abundance in Hawaii, especially on the way to Hana, which I guess is pretty wet, so it's not always sensible to follow the advice of "the experts", and in future I'll just be more patient and see what happens.

Table Decorations for the Holiday

2005-12-22T16:48:00.000-08:00

I don't really like lots of Holiday decorations in my condo. There is only just enough room for the people and the furniture, so once you start adding trees and garlands, it starts getting pretty claustrophobic. Yet to have nothing to show the holiday season is here seems kind of miserable, so I usually have flowers and table decorations then at least everyone knows its Christmas.

So here's a few ideas, depending on the time and energy you have available:

No energy - bunch of flowers from the supermarket

Longing for a hawaiian vacation - tropical flowers and cones. This is easier than it looks, simply buy a bunch of tropical flowers from the supermarket or florist, then combine them with sprigs of fir tree and cones held in place with thin wire.

Need to make more of a Christmas splash - use a gold plate and gold baubles combined with gold and red candles. This was inexpensive to create by buying the materials from Cost Plus or Crate & Barrel and it makes a great table centerpiece.

If you need something for a sideboard or small table, use pot pourri with cones in it, or spice it up with large baubles and marbles.

First Day of Winter in San Diego

2005-12-21T16:29:00.000-08:00

Well today is officially the first day of winter - December 21st. What an amazing day. I went outside and was in awe at the ocean and the weather. It was warm and sunny and the waves were wild. Surfers were out in force, so I went back inside to get my camera to capture some of the scenes.

I guess it doesn't get any better than this.

Container Plants for the Holiday Season

2005-12-20T15:19:00.000-08:00

I guess because it's the holiday season, I thought I would introduce some holiday plants into my patio. Every year when I lived in England I would buy a Christmas Cactus and, as usual, it would last about a week and then become kind of weak and buds that had managed to sprout would fall off. I have since read that this is because of the central heating in most homes in the winter in England. So now that I'm in San Diego, and I can keep the cactus outside on the patio, I decided to buy one and try that. I read that they need a well lit spot, but no direct sunlight and an ideal temperature of between 55 and 70 degrees. Well, that is just about ideal San Diego weather, so I figured this was a no brainer.

So, as you can see from the picture above, I bought a beautiful pink cactus and hung it proudly on the patio. Every morning the hummingbirds would stop by and check it out, and it looked great. Not only was it covered in flowers, it was also covered in tiny buds. OK, problem number one - about a week after I bought the plant in early November, we had a period of Santa Ana weather. This meant that the daytime temperature, even by the beach, reached about 80 degrees with full sun shining down on my cactus, and the evenings seemed to take on that cold desert feeling. I am not sure what the night time temperature was, but I think it was too cold. I tried to remember to move the plant to a shady spot if I thought it was going to be really hot during the day, but I think I missed a few days. Problem number two - I had to go out of town for a few days, so I wasn't able to monitor progress very closely. Watering also seemed confusing in this weather - I read that the plant should be watered as a normal plant, not allowed to dry out, but not over-watered, and misted frequently. Well, that didn't happen. So when I returned most of the flowers and buds had fallen off, but the plant didn't look too unhappy. I watered it and hung it in its usual spot, but then we had a week of extremely cold weather (for San Diego) where the night time temperature dropped to below 40 degrees. So now I have the plant you see below, it seems healthy enough, but definitely has no further interest in flowering.

Fortunately, not all of my holiday plants failed. The other plants I tried - to get the red thing going - were, of course, poinsettias, which had also been difficult to grow in England. (Despite the fact that I've been in the States for over ten years, I am still mesmerized by the fact that during winter in San Diego you can wear flip flops to the mall without getting frost bite. So consequently, I still like the idea of putting what would be an indoor plant in England, outdoors in San Diego.)

I did not buy the poinsettias until the beginning of December, and we have not had any odd weather to date. No Santa Ana winds, El Nino rains, desert nights, just the usual morning fog, and everything seems OK so far.

The other plants I thought I would try were cyclamens which continue to puzzle me. I had them in the garden in the spring and they seemed fine and lasted for quite some time, but I bought two in the summer and both died within a week - I suppose it was too hot, as they didn't appear to have any diseases or pests. The two I have now are doing OK, but one seems stronger than the other, so we'll see what happens. The other plant I bought (because it matched the display I was planning) was a pink anthurium. This sounded very temperamental, needing an average warmth of 60 degrees (I am sure it's been more and less than that at times) and protection from summer sun, so I am OK on that. I'm not sure how long these plants will last, but with the way things go, I'll probably be the only one with poinsettias in July!

Delays to the Vision

2005-12-16T18:26:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned earlier, I had become totally obsessed with the idea of creating an amazing container garden in my tiny patio. The only problem was that after purchasing my container plant book and many more visits to Barnes & Noble, I could only wait to get started. The City had apparently been planning to do this major work in my street, which involved digging up my patio, for the past five years. It had been delayed yet again. It also entailed many visits by the City Engineer to the site, and meeting after meeting with the HOA Board. By the time everything was squared away, we had got to the "rainy season" for San Diego, so the work had to be put on hold until it looked as though it was safe to come out again. So I read my books and made great plans, visiting The Home Depot Garden Center and looking at the various plants for sale in Vons and Ralphs, planning how they would fit into my new scheme of things. Then, almost a year later, a date was announced for the work to begin.

Great, it was all coming together at last. Actually, I’d never really done any gardening before and the houseplants I’d had, except for the type that they suggest children start with, usually shriveled up and died or got waterlogged at the last minute. I grew up in England and my parents were avid gardeners, but as a child and teenager I’d never had any interest in gardening, plus I have a phobia about most kinds of bugs, so that’s also a drawback, as the garden seems to be full of them. Anyway, this was a minor detail, I’d read the Container Plant book and was ready to go. So when the City eventually left, we had an area with nothing in it except for the bougainvillea. The large trees had had to be cut down so the whole area was blank. We’d decided to tile part of the patio, and put river rocks down where the soil had been and stand the container plants on that. Now it was time to make our first plant purchases – but where do you begin?

Container Plant Obsession - How it Began

2005-12-15T19:57:00.000-08:00

I guess it all started when we moved into this condo. We had always had a patio at our previous address, but never really did much with it. So when we moved here and were told that the City needed to replace some underground piping and that unfortunately our patio would have to be completely dug up in the process, it started us thinking that it was a great opportunity to really change the whole layout and make something amazing of our new yard.

We always thought it had potential, but at that time it didn’t look much. Even though it was small, approx. 12 ft. x 12 ft., it had two large trees at the back that overshadowed everything and a patch of soil that was held in place by some old railway ties. Someone had planted some roses here, but they didn’t ever get enough light to grow properly. The only thing worth saving was a large bougainvillea which covered the entire back fence. I think if I consider carefully, this is when it all began. I went to the local Barnes & Noble and looked at all the books on small gardens, container gardening, patios and balconies, tiny gardens, etc., and finally purchased a book which was to become the foundation for my obsession.

The book had some great pictures of tiny little areas full of flowers and shrubs, and then detailed descriptions and pictures of how to grow them and look after them during the four seasons. I will add at this point, that I live in Southern California by the beach, so I don’t really get your typical four seasons, but felt I could adapt this information. The only other book I had on plants in pots was one I had bought when I lived in England, and this book dealt mainly with how to look after houseplants in a centrally heated living room, again making suggestions for the four seasons. When I looked through it I could see strong similarities between a centrally heated living room, and a California desert climate, so this was book was my other inspiration and now I was ready to begin.