There's Always Something New

Memorial Weekend was slow for me. I had been to see Ron on Friday, had dinner with my mom in LA on Friday night, and came home the same night. I was home for the weekend and had very little planned, so after my pool workout on Sunday morning I stopped by the Leucadia Farmers' Market. It's located on the campus of the Paul Ecke Elementary School on Vulcan, just south of Leucadia Blvd. I've written about it before, but every time I go there seems to be more to buy.

I came back with a big sack of groceries and some great ideas. I also saw and bought some new produce, never before seen by me. So here I go, I've got lots to tell you about.

New produce and products. Susie's Farm sells all kinds of sprouts, mung beans, peanuts, garbanzos, dandelions, and popcorn sprouts. I had never seen or heard of popcorn sprouts before, but after sampling them, I had to have them. When the corn stalk first sprouts, there is a grassy sprout which they harvest and sell as popcorn sprouts. It has a distinctive corn flavor, but is like a grass. I'm going to sprinkle some on salad. The gal told me not to eat too much at one time because it is a grass, and it may be difficut to digest. Anyway, I learned about something new. Red walnuts was another product I had never seen before. They look just like regular walnuts, but are a deep red color. I didn't buy them, but will when I need nuts. The third and most delicious thing I bought was a green drink from Morning Star Ranch called "Green Drink." The farm is strictly organic, and grows everything from avocados to grapefruits and lots of green veggies. They're located in Valley Center. The green drink is a delicious blend of nine different vegetables including spinach, swiss chard, kale and collards. To this they add a bit of grapefruit, apple, flax seed and sweeten it slightly with agave. It is fantastic. I bought the 32 ounce bottle for $9. Sounds like a lot, but it was really good.

Plants. The Farmers Market has several stands selling flowers, plants and garden products. For $30 you can buy a large terra cotta planter filled to the brim with every imaginable herb. This was a great deal, and for those who don't like to garden or don't have much space, this was a fantastic buy. I was tempted, even though I have so much growing in my own garden. The other wonderful booth that gave me lots of ideas was a gal selling succlent plants and arrangements. She makes the succulent wreaths, but had some new ideas I had not seen before. She took something like a narrow wire kitchen rack, filled it with moss and made a succulent hanger. Then she put a hook on it and hung it up. Beautiful and easy to do.

Prepared foods. One of the best things to do is to go to the market around 11, stroll around for an hour, then have lunch at one of the many wonderful booths to choose from. That is if you're not too full from the samples you've been eating all morning. Favorite booths of mine include the crepe stand, making fresh crepes before your very eyes and filling them with everything from strawberries and whipped cream, to chicken, cheese and veggies. Yum. Another lunch I love has chicken kabobs with fresh grilled organic veggies like artichokes and asparagus, and authentic Cuban sandwiches. The sandwich consists of grilled chicken, lettuce and tomato and avocado, on a cuban roll with a little spicy sauce. It is delicious. Other great choices include fresh made tacos, Indian fusion, Middle Eastern food with pita, falafel and hummus, and hand made sausages grilled and served on a roll. There is a picnic area (shaded) with tables to eat your meal, so it's not necessary to do a balancing act.

So next time you're looking for a great way to spend a few hours alone, with friends or even husbands (they'll love it too), check out the Leucadia Farmers' Market on Sundays from 10-3. You'll come home with some great produce, locally grown, and a full stomach.

Captain and the Crows

My mother has a little 12 pound chihuhua/daschound mix dog named Captain. She's the sweetest thing ever and just loves to cuddle. She doesn't really like to play much, but she likes to explore my mom's backyard for a few minutes every afternoon, then come right back in the house.

One afternoon not long ago, Captain was out in the backyard, my mom called her, and she wouldn't oome, so my mom went to check to see what was wrong. There was an injured crow on the grass, apparently with a broken wing because he tried to fly away and couldn't, being followed by Captain. The dog was following the crow around the backyard, not trying to kill it, just follow it!! Well the crow knew he was in trouble and was squawaking in distress. You've got to picture this, because the crow and the dog were almost the same size, and the dog didn't have any interest in killing the crow, she just wanted to follow the bird around.

Well, all that squawking was for a reason. Within a few minutes, three of the crows "friends" came to help out. They swooped down and started terrorizing Captain by trying to pull hair out of her back. They were protecting their injured crow friend. I had never seen anything like it. Captain, who is usually scared of her own shadow and was very brave with a single, injured crow, was out of there in no time flat. Two swoops to her back to peck at her was all it took. She made a beeline for the house.

That was one of the most interesting things I've seen in quite a while. I did a bit of research to see if it was typical crow behavior for them to protect each other, but I could not find the answer. I did find out that they usually mate for life, so maybe the husband was one of the three birds that came to protect the injured bird. In any event, the squawk noise of the crow was definitely a disstress call, and his friends came to help out. It was really amazing. Why Captain wanted to follow the bird and not kill him, I'll never know. Most dogs, large or small, would have tried to kill the crow.

I never liked crows. When I lived in Los Angeles there was a group of them that lived in a tree in the front of our house and they scared the hell out of me. I had a big Akita (dog) with lots of hair, and they used to torment her by swooping down and pecking hair out of her back. They have always given me the creeps, but I will think of them differently in the future. They're intelligent and protective, traits I admire, so I will think of them with more respect in the future even though I still don't like them.

Twentieth Visit to Taft

As I've said before, the highlight of my week is Friday, from around 8:15 until I leave Taft, usually around 1:30. I plan my week so that everything is completed before I leave home so I have a clear mind and am not burdened with things I have to get back for. The first month or so I was exhausted when I returned home Friday night. I needed the weekend to recuperate. That has changed. It's so interesting how the body adjusts. I'm doing the same thing I did in February, but when I get home Friday night I am no more tired than I would be from any other long day. Writing this has made me remember my teaching days. When school would reopen in September, I would come home each day for the first few weeks and wonder how I was going to get up the following morning. But I did, and in a few short weeks my body had adjusted to standing, talking and bending all day and I was fine. The body is a wonderful machine.

Speaking of machines, my car now knows it's way to Taft without me!! I feel like the car is on automatic pilot. It's a little scary sometimes when I've passed landmarks on my way to Taft and don't even remember. It reminds me that I must stay alert and sharp no matter how well I know the route.

I was feeling a little overwhelmed last week. I was feeling that I not only had my own things to attend to (which I have easily gotten used to), but I had so many things to take care of for Ron. He wants newspapers, magazines, information on such and such, could I call this person, could I find out about internet service? Yes, of course I could, but for the first time in months it overwhelmed me. I thought to myself, "Why do I have to do all this, why does Ron want all this? After thinking that I just didn't want to do all this, I realized that I was the only one who could. If he could do it himself, he would. If he wanted it done in three months he wouldn't be asking me to do it now. So I got out my paper and pen and made a list. I'm a big advocate of lists. I listed all the things Ron has asked me to do in preparation for his return (I know it sounds a bit premature) and have taken care of just about everything. I shouldn't be questioning why he wants to know about a phone for the house when he returns. I know the answer. He has lots of time to think about things and when he thinks of them he tells me and wants to get answers.

I totally get it. I was not being sensitive to the fact that he is inside, I am outside, and I am the one that can gather information and make phone calls. He can only think of what needs to be done. I have to do it. I'm fine with all this. I'm over the feeling I had that I was being asked to do too much. I'm not. I can handle ANYTHING and will, happily, so long as there's always Friday to look forward to.

It's National Doughnut Day

Friday, June 4 is National Doughnut Day. The doughnut is so good, so popular, that it gets its own day. I thought this was a creation of the snack food industry to promote themselves, but actually it started in 1938 as as fund-raiser for the Salvation Army. Women of that organization started America's love affair with the doughnut during World War 1. As part of their effort to bring a little bit of home to the American troops in France, the Salvation Army served coffee and doughnuts.

Who actually invented the doughnut? This is still being debated, but most cultures have a variety of fried bread. Dutch immigrants are often credited with creating the first American doughnuts, called "olykosks" (oily cakes). By the 1920's machines had been invented to mass produce doughnuts. The Chicago World's Fair in 1934 declared the doughnut "the food hit of the Century of Progress,"

Some of today's popular chains were around for the first National Doughnut Day. LaMar's (from the Midwest) opened in 1933, Krispy Kremed started in 1937, and Dunkin' Donuts opened their doors in 1950.

Both Krispy Kreme (free without any other purchase) and Dunkin' Donuts (free with purchase of a drink) will be handing out free doughnuts today. Recently the doughnut has been pushed aside by the bagel by thoses concerned with sugar and fat. I'd just like to point out that a glazed doughnut is LESS calories than a plain bagel.

For me, the best doughnut is still VG's in Cardiff. I haven't been eating them recently, but my mouth is watering thinking about how Ron and I used to stop in around 8pm, just before closing. The doughnuts were being prepared for the next day, the smell was intense and the taste of warm doughnuts actually melting in your mouth, well, there is just nothing better. So go pick up a free doughnut tomorrow, or better yet, stop by VG's when they're fresh and warm.

East Village Asian Diner-So Good

Most Tuesday nights you will find me at the Esplanade Bridge Club in Solana Beach, with one of regular partners, Meena or Kay. Last week I played with Kay, and asked her to join me for dinner beforehand at a new restaurant in Encinitas that I'd been dying to try. East Village Asian Diner opened about six weeks ago, and I just haven't had a chance to get there before last week. Now that I've been there, I can't wait to go back.

The restaurant is on Highway 101 right across from the construction of the new Whole Foods in Encinitas. (www.eateastvillage.com). It's definitely got a diner feel to it, but sleek and modern. Nice comfortable booths, some tables and a bar area. The waitstaff is friendly and know the menu well. They will help you order. The food itself is all over the Asian map. China, Japan, Korea and Thailand are all represented on the menu.

The first section of the menu is "Snacks". Handmade pork and shrimp potstickers, beef curry dip with flatbread, edamame, and chicken lettuce cups are just some of the offerings. The potstickers looked amazing, our waitress recommended them, and I will try them next time.

The next section of the menu is "Noodles". We ordered thai peanut noodles, which can be ordered vegetarian or with chicken, pork or shrimp. It was delicious. The flavors were subtle, the vegetables fresh and crisp, and the presentation was gorgeous. The also offer a cold soba noodle salad, beef noodles and pan tossed noodles.

Nex, East Village has a sandwich/wrap and salad section, including a pulled pork sandwich, a happy buddha vegetarian wrap, chinese chicken salad, and chicken bulgar wheat salad. Their produce is so fresh I can only imagine that the salads and wraps are delicious. Maybe next time I'll go for lunch and try some of these items.

Main courses include bowls of rice topped with various meats and vegetables. Teriyaki chicken bowl, kung pao shrimp, and sweet and sour chili shrimp are all on the menu. We ordered the latter, and again, fresh, beautifully presented, abundant, and delicious is all I can say.

How about apple wontons for dessert? Hot apple pie bites covered with cinnamon sugar, caramel, and vanilla ice cream. Next time I may start with dessert.

Prices for starters range from $3.50-$8.75, and the main courses are from $8.50-$12.00. Casual, moderately priced, friendly and delicious. I can't wait to go back.

Stick to What You Know

Every spring I plant vegetables. Last year my crop was not so good, so this year I added lots of ammendments to the soil and started early. I am growing several varieties of tomatoes and several varieties of squash. Other than that, all I have is some arugula, basil, flat leaf parsley and a few other herbs. The plants have gone crazy this year, and I should have my first tomatoes in about three weeks.

All those tomatoes gave me an idea. Since tomatoes and mozzarella is one of my favorite salads, I decided to try my hand at making, from scratch, buffalo mozzarella. Not a good idea. It sounded so easy. It was a disaster.

I had to go to three stores to get the simple ingredients, milk, rennet tablets and citric acid. Ralphs didn't have these things, but I found them at Stater Bros. The directions were so easy, but it simply did not work for me. You're supposed to heat the milk until curds form, but I only got a few curds, not enough for even a small ball of mozzarella. I ended up having the milk boil over and making a mess, then burning the pan. I threw the whole thing out and will not try again unless I'm under the guidance of someone who knows what they're doing.

Some things in life are meant to be purchased, not made by me. I guess cheese is one of those. I learned 40 years ago that wine was something else I should purchase rather than make. When Ron and I were first married, my friend Ellen and I decided to make red wine, just like they did on I Love Lucy. You all remember the scene where Lucy and Ethel are stomping grapes. Well, Susie and Ellen went to the store, bought the grapes and put them in the bathtub to stomp them. It really was great fun. Then we followed the directions, transferred the juice to a glass Sparkletts bottle and capped it with a cork. We put it in the living room to ferment.

About two weeks later I came home from work to find my living room ceiling decorated with grape juice and pieces of grape skin. The fermentation had gone crazy and exploded. That was the end of my wine making career. As I said in the beginning, some things are better off purchased. Cheese and wine are definitely two things I'll be buying, rather than making.

Are there Four or Five Tastes

My recent cruise was a food and wine cruise that featured guest chefs in the main dining room, lectures and demonstrations by various world class chefs, and a $950 tasting menu with wine. No, we did not attend the dinner, but we did have the opportunity to attend lectures and demonstrations by some wonderful and entertaining chefs.

Jon Ashton was my favorite. He has appeared on the Martha Stewart Show, the Rachael Ray Show, and the Food Network. He's a young Brit, and thoroughly charming. He started talking about the five tastes during one demonstration, and told us that the fifth taste, umani (or savory) has just recently been added to the Western list of tastes. Up until recently we only included salty, sour, bitter and sweet. Who knew? Anyway, umani is a savory taste and common in Asian cooking. There are apparently several other tastes that might be included in the future, including fatty!

Jon made a lovely Rosemary Apricot Pork Tenerloin that I will share with you.

Rosemary Apricot Pork Tenderloin by Jon Ashton

2 lbs pork tenderloin
3 T. olive oil
4 T. finely minced rosemary
6 garlic cloves, minced
coarsely ground pepper
1 tsp salt
1 c. apricot preserves
3 T. fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, pressed

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush port with 1 T. oil, sprinkle with rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper. Heat remaining 2T. oil in large ovenproof skilleter over medium heat. Add pork and cook until brown on all sides, turning often, about 5 minutes.

Transfer pan to oven, and roast pork until meat thermometer registers 150 degrees, about 15 minutes. While pork roasts, combine preserves, lemon juice and garlic.

Remove pan from oven and brush jam mixture over pork. Let rest 8 minutes. Cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices. Serve on top of polenta. Drizzle sauce on top.

I think you'll enjoy this simple recipe. It's full of lots of flavor, and great tastes. You'll get to experience several different tastes (of the five tastes we have).

Tastebuds are mainly located on the tips, sides and back of the tongue. The receptors change over time and explains why people often find their taste preferences changing over time. The strength of your tastebuds is also supposed to diminish over time and helps explain why many elderly people lose interest in food. That has no happened to me yet. My tastebuds are alive and well and continue to enjoy all five tastes. In this dish you will experience four of the five tastes (no bitter), so give it a try. I hope you enjoy.