Best Weekend of the Year, so far... Gardening and cooking!

Oh, it was so beautiful up here in Seattle this weekend.  All of us pasty PNWers went around sporting sunglasses, sunblock, and sailboats.  Lou and I spent Saturday afternoon visiting our sick cat Howie at the vet, then did a bit of food shopping before hitting a yard sale on the way home at this cool, 1924 Mobil gas station-turned homestead on Rainier Avenue, which was being sold off by the family.  It was built with smooth rocks from Lake Washington,  It was sad that the family gave it up, but we heard some interesting stories about the history of the place (we'd been fascinated with it for years), and I got a huge wicker chest (for keeping fabric tidy), an old leather flask from Croatia, more vintage fabric for aprons, and a very swanky cheese shaver. $11 total.

On a whim, we followed signs right in our neighborhood to an estate sale.  It was wild.  It was a very nice home in a great neighborhood (six blocks from our house) that was owned by a recently-deceased 97-year-old man who was a major hoarder.  Heartbreaking.  I found his wife's wedding dress, which she made herself.  If there had been a square inch of harvestable material, I would have bought it, just to keep it alive.  She appeared to have made all of her own clothes, since nothing had tags.  Lucky for me, she left TONS of fabric, and an enormous box of vintage trim and lace.  I bought the whole box of trim, and two boxes of fabric, which I will use for making aprons, dresses, and corsets.  Lou came away with a pair of beautiful oil lamps, and we got an antique-but-sturdy cultivator that looks like it belongs in a slasher flick.  Top down, we drove home and ate the rest of the Scotch Eggs that we'd made this morning.

Later this morning...

Gardening for all, except my uncle.  I don't think he's really a digging in the dirt kind of guy.  Neither am I, truth be told, but I have a snazzy pair of gardening gloves.  Mom and I transplanted a lot of the starter pots into the ground or in larger pots.  I hit McClendon Hardware's massive garden center on Thursday and went nuts.  McClendon is the only local hardware/garden chain in Seattle (I think they have three or four stores), so I'd feel guilty shopping anywhere else.  As long as I don't run into Scott, the weird paint department manager who has a creepy crush on me (we frequent the same brew pub).  We have about two dozen tomato plants (inventory list follows).  I like the sweet, small ones.  Mushy tomatoes aren't for me, although I did get a couple of larger starters.  I also set up sweet early corn and long pole beans to germinate (30 of each, 2 seeds per pod).  I found a plastic tray with 60 wells for starting seeds inside.  Awesome.

For those who don't know, everything I grow in my garden/kitchen window is edible.  Herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables.  My goal is to be have a 75%/25% grown-to-purchase ratio by the end of the year.  There are some things that you just can't grow in a rain forest.

On Sunday, we hit the Fremont Sunday Market (not a farmers' market), and Lou got two snazzy Bruce Campbell shirts.  I came away with a new pair of gently-used black cowboy boots that actually fit my dancer's calves.

Bored in Fremont, and still in search of basil and sage plants, we headed over to the West Seattle Farmers' Market and got three types of basil, a purple sage, leeks, some ambitiously spicy salad mix, a bottle of hopped meads, and hit up Samish Bay Creamery for three different varieties.

So, now we have (I know I'll forget something):

HERBS & SPICES:

• Mammoth Dill
• Rosemary (3 types: ARP, plain, and tangy BBQ)
• Mint (7 varieties: spearmint, Moroccan, lemon, orange, chocolate, peppermint, and orange)
• Thyme (caraway and lime)
• French Tarragon
• Marjoram (Hardy and gold-tipped)
• Basil (Genovese, Amethyst (it's purple!), Thai, and Italian)
• Oregano (Italian and Hot and Spicy)
• Tri-Color (Purple) Sage
• Italian Flat-Leaf Parsley
• Cilantro/Coriander
• Chives
• Coriander
• Fennel
• Anise
• Curry

I'm still looking for a place/way to grow cardamom in my kitchen, garlic, ginger, bay leaves, and, possibly, cinnamon.  Seattle rarely gets enough warm days for anything that grows in northern Africa or the Middle East, but I'll figure something out.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES:

• Carrots (F1 Hybrids and lovely mixed colors)
• Swiss Chard Bright Lights (the stems and leaf veins come in hot pink, purple, red, and yellow - awesome in a salad. I have 4 starters, plus a big pot filled with rainbow stems that are rapidly coming up)
• Squash:
• Summer Squash
• Yellow Squash
• Squash
• Acorn Squash
• Table Queen Squash
• Crooked Neck Squash
• Butternut Squash
• Gold Rush Squash (we really love squash around here)
• Zucchini (I know, technically a squash)
• Zucchino (crispy, round zucchini for salads and snacking)
• About 2 dozen small to medium sweet tomato plants, all
• Peperone
• Crunchy, sweet variety 6-pack of colorful "Mini Belles" bell peppers
• Pumpkins
• Spinach
• Spring Onions
• Walla Walla Onions
• Green Onions (Kincho)
• Bistro Salad Mix (pretty, tasty, and spicy)
• Green Peppers
• Romaine Lettuce
• Corn, Early Sweet
• Long Pole Beans
• Chives
• Aubergine
• Celery
• Poblano Peppers
• Bell Peppers, California Wonder Sweet
• Shallots (Saffron)
• Pimento
• Broccoli
• Strawberries (3 plants, two are Ozark Beauty)
• Tomatoes (2-8 plants of each variety):
• Sweet 100s
• Romas
• Sweet Millions
• Sun Gold Cherry
• Super Sweet 100s
• Yellow Pear Tomatoes
• Taxi (Yellow)
• Sun Gold
• Oregon Spring
• Early Girl

Thanks to Mom for helping me garden, and to Lou for helping with this inventory.

Zanne Rose, 5/3/2011

Doing a Little Gardening, and a Little More Drinking

Yesterday, I opened the gigantic bag of potting soil, filled up my big yellow bowl, grabbed a bunch of plastic pots that my mom gave me, and took it all inside to watch Fame on Ovation.  No Bruno, no Doris.  That sucked - it wasn't the same.

So, I grabbed my seed packets and commenced potting.  Zucchino (round zucchini that are so cute!), eperone, carrots, aubergine (eggplant), okay, I am totally drawing a blank here.  I can't remember what else.  I had the foresight this time to write the names on each pot, so I could identify it later.  Didn't do that with the first batch, so I have no idea what the hell is in each pot yet.

Being me, I was doing this in full hair and makeup, dressed to go out, in knee-high boots with 3 inch heels.  Somehow, my clutzy ass managed to not get anything on me OR the rug.  There was a nosy cat, though, who I had to chase down to wipe the dirt off of her nose.  Olive Snook is our nosy, obnoxious cat (hence the name, for you Pushing Daisies fans).

It was Happy Hour with Lou's co-workers.  He's usually the only guy, and Tabitha and I, who don't work there, are warmly welcomed.  Right off the bat, it was just Suzanne, Lou, and I.  I have such a great time chatting with her.  No one noticed that Miriam and her fantastic daughter Elizabeth were right next to us for a half hour.  It was nice to finally meet Miriam, and I loved chatting with Elizabeth for quite a while.  When the weather gets better, we'll have a cookout on our deck with everyone, and I'll invite the Carlsen clan over, too, Scallywag, their Springer Spaniel, too.  The birds have to stay at home - I'm afraid of birds.  Seriously.  I was maimed by a rooster when I was a kid, never got over it.  Even going down the bird aisle at Petsmart freaks me out.

Oh, and how could I forget one of my favorite chicks, J'Nai, Lou's carpool buddy. She's a fabulously sassy little thing from Atlanta, whose kids can't seem to keep their clothes on.  They're young, it's okay.  Outside of my family, she is the biggest fan of my cooking, and I occasionally send leftovers with Lou for her, too.  I still owe her a dozen muffins.  My mixed berry corn muffins are like crack for her.  She is so damned cute, and always smiling.  How can you not want to squidge that?

Okay, I'll wrap up for now.  I have another post to do.

'Zanne

Coming Soon: Spice World!

Coming Soon: Spice World

I get a lot of questions (online and in person) about how I spice food, so I'm working on a spice encyclopaedia this weekend (between bath time with the husband and naps).  I'm including sources, common uses, MY favorite uses, possible substitutions, and any interesting historical trivia that I have.

And, yes, I'm having to look some of this up.  It's fun for me to compile and learn more about my own cooking.  For instance, basil is native to Latin America, and was brought to Europe for the first time by Christopher Colombus.  Today, there are two dozen varieties of basil, grown all over the world, and is considered the "Black-Thumbed Gardener's" best chance at avoiding herb-icide.

Can We Really Believe the Tarted-Up Weather Guy on KOMO? Really? Sunny Weekend? In Seattle?

I think the constantly-pregnant weather girl picks out his ties.

But aye, they have predicted no rain for the weekend, which means that Lou can get sailing time in on Sunday, and Mom, Bev, and I can do some gardening.  I have a sun-deprived herb garden trying to grow in a mostly-shaded north-facing window.  We don't actually have any windows with southern exposure.  It's how you build houses in Seattle nowadays - pick your best view and spend all of your window budget there.  So, I have a bright, sunny kitchen to cook in, even though there is an annoying buzz from the fluorescent lights.  What crackhead put those in?!

Speaking of cooking...  I spent all day dealing with fabrics and dyes and trim and patterns that the only thing I could muster up was a bottle of wine and ramen noodles.  Seriously, that was my dinner.  Lou, as usual, made use of tortillas, cheese, and his comal.  He's going to turn into a quesadilla one day.

My big yellow bowl is calling to me from atop the toaster oven, so I need to make something special.  Lentils and pecans are sounding good to me, but I've been neglecting Lebanese Night, which might turn into Moroccan Night or Persian Night.  It's Middle Eastern or Lasagne Rolls tonight.  I'll decide AFTER I get back from my errands.

I'll be posting some photos that some of you have seen - food that I've already made.  There must be a slideshow "gadget" in here somewhere...

Another Day in the Trenches - well, I think we're Supposed to Dig Our Own

Lou and I started out early this morning, hitting the big DT Goodwill in search of usable canisters in which to put our bulk food booty.  After that, we did the obligatory Target run for paper products and Ziploc bags, and laughed our asses off when we found "White Noise 2" starring Nathan Fillion, for $3.00.  Come on, I had to.  I actually really enjoyed the original, but seeing Captain Mal chase ghosties???

Our next stop was the most fun.  Sky Nursery.  I've seen smaller zoos!  I raided the herb section - quite impressive.  I walked away with Spearmint, Moroccan Mint, Italian Oregano, Marjoram, Gold-tipped Hardy Marjoram, Dill, Caraway Thyme, Taragon, Rosemary (arp?), Rosemary (plain, I guess).  All that, and some great heirloom seeds that Mom and I are going to plant tomorrow, after a trip to McLendon Hardware for some potting soil, sandpaper, and a few cans of indoor satin finish spray paint.  I'm painting the cabinet doors in the kitchen.  I'm too lazy to paint the whole place, or to use a brush or roller.  I was inspired by La Cucina again.

My mom is actually cooking breakfast - some sort of scones.  She and Lou are both too altered to understand right now.  So, after a hard day in the dirt (you KNOW I have gloves, right?), we'll all take a Trip to Beirut, my special Lebanese menu.  Shish Taouk, Lebanese potatoes, grilled asparagus, grilled squash and eggplant appetizers, with almond rice pilaf.  I love making this meal.

After Sky, we hit Central Market, first for a much-needed lunch at the gigantic store's food court, where we ran into the guy who was behind us at Sky, chatting with us, so we invited him to sit down and have lunch with us.  His name was Larry, 56, with two grown sons who live in Las Cruces, NM, and was sleeping in his car two years ago, after getting laid off in the Great Seattle Business Freakout (when both Lou and I were also laid off).  He was obviously doing well now, since he was shopping for gardening supplies and overpriced produce.  Anyway, it was nice to chat - Lou and I are both outgoing.  For me, it's forced, for him, well, he's a Leo...  I'm Gemini, BTW.  I can run hot or cold in public.  I did snap at a kid in the store today.  That happens...  I don't like those nasty little things touching me.  They don't wash their hands.

We actually didn't need that much from Central Market (it's a specialty, crunchy store), since I'd done $40 damaage at the farmers' stalls on Thursday.  Organic milk and cream, Cage-free, organic eggs (yeah, I know, we are THAT kind of crunchy), great cheese selection, the Olive Bar, where they don't charge me for checking out with 4 to-go containers of JUST olive brine, for my martinis...  Oh, and the bulk foods section is where I do my business.  Dried beans, masa, cornmeal, chickpeas, exotic rices - this section rocks.

Anyway, after Safeway, we were exhausted, but still had to put this crap away!  Lou is actually still in the kitchen, even though he's already made me a kickass martini just the way I like it: dirtier than an interracially gangbanged porn star.

So, now that you know I'm insane and have brataphobia...  We hit Safeway for "normal" stuff.  Cheap red wine, Lou's beer...

All Day It Has Rained...

Sorry, I had to steal that line from the title of my favorite poem, by Alun Lewis.

At my uncle's insistence, I used his car to go shopping today, since Lou had mine.  He's so sweet.  Or, maybe he just didn't want to hear my constant chatter.

I hit the farmers' stalls in Edmonds, and picked up a lot of our staple produce, like chayote, which we put in everything, tomato sauce, stir fry, or just slice it and eat it raw.  I picked up a variety of squashes from "the other siders," Western Washingtonians' name for people who live in the dry half of the state.  Generally, we only mix to exchange produce and black market grunge mix tapes.

They didn't have much in the way of live herb plants (I'm still growing my herb garden), but I got dill, fennel, and rosemary plants, and they had some excellent bundles of spearmint and huge basil!

I grabbed a big prickly pear cactus leaf, which I've no idea what to do with, but that's why we have the Internet.  I also got a few other vegetables that I'd never tried: rutabaga, two other root vegetables that I'd have to look at the receipt for, and parsnip.  Oh, yeah, something red and chubby that they called a garnet.  Squash of some sort?

Oh, and I FINALLY found the hard ginger candy that World Market stopped carrying last year.  Ginger is the best thing for nausea for me, and it happens far too often for me.  And, no, I'm not pregnant.

I think I'm doing individual beef & Guinness pies tomorrow, then Lou and I are hitting the Central Market on Saturday morning, so I need to come up with a menu plan.

I apologize for not posting more recipes - I've been a mad, sewing woman.  Who wants an apron?

Goodnight, all,
Zanne