Garden on the Deck: Update

Mystery Pepper, 9/14/09.

Before the pepper turned.

These are the last pictures of my fading garden. I still haven't pulled up the onions, but other than that, the veggies are done. Above: a gorgeous pepper - not sure what kind.

9/6/09.Red Onions, 9/1/09.

Habaneros, 9/1/09.

Cauliflower (planted too late, but still growing), 9/6/09.

Weekend with Mom (and Dad) in Nashville

Nashville is not a place where I could ever live, but visiting is workable. A few weekends back, my mom & I spent the weekend catching up and being crafty in Nashville. It's incredible to think that I hand-crafted a bazillion holiday cards last year--this trip was a reminder me of how much I miss being crafty. The weekend escape was a joy and mom gets all the credit for shipping me and my glue dots down to Opryland. I had a great time AND dad dropped in for the last day. So good to see them both. He's such a goof. If you missed his debut on CNN, where my dad gives advice to stock club members....go here. And what is this next picture, you ask? Did you detour to a jungle? No, this is the inside of the convention center in Nashville. And yes, the hotel looked like a giant terrarium, with a splash of Disney on the side. My garden...not looking as vibrant as this great shrubbery.

Nashville, 9/13/09.

Brown Daily on Street Sights

More great press for Street Sights!

The Brown Daily Herald recognizes the awards Street Sights won in Colorado this past spring. Full article here.

Linkshare: Glitter

if you just believe.
Originally uploaded by The Saltwater Night ϟ Photographs (formerly leopa

Linkshare: Lovely glittery photo.

Oceanside Wedding

Saida & Ben, 9/19/09.

Friends of ours were married this weekend along the ocean in Jamestown (technically, Conanicut Island). The weather was perfect, the ceremony was completely unique (and in both English and Bosnian), and the entire affair...simply lovely.

To many more wonderful years for you both
Congratulations Saida & Ben!

It always comes back (my dad on CNN)

Clip of my dad on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, from this past week.

CSA Week 13 & 14

Rasberries, 9/14/09.

CSA Week 14 (below): corn, butternut squash, carrots, peppers, eggplant (so cute!), cooking greens mix (tatsoi, napa cabbage, red mustard), beets, and Rasberries.

Week 13 (below): cooking greens mix, garlic, onions, herbs, eggplant, peppers, summer squash.

Haiku for Redpepperflakes

Nashville, 9/13/09.

Poor Redpepperflakes.

Travel ,work, and twilight books
have led to neglect.

Garden Gifts

Yellow Pear (cherry) Tomato, 9/6/09.

This weekend, my friend Mike took me through his garden & a local community garden (Southside Community Land Trust), and sent me home with a few small garden gifts. I had never seen any of these fruits/veggies before. They're gorgeous and worth a share.

Very sweet, Red Currant Tomatoes, 9/6/09.

Asian long beans, 9/6/09.

Husk Cherries, 9/8/09.

Cabbage Breakthrough: Sesame Slaw

Sesame Slaw, taken 8/24/09.

I had almost given up on cabbage. Then, on a spontaneous evening out at Julian's restaurant in the West End, we ordered an appetizer that came with a side of scrumptious Sesame Slaw. It didn't have a name, exactly, and it wasn't mentioned on the menu, but I recognized the dressing as sesame oil based. That night, I looked up a Sesame Slaw recipe on Epicurious, and discovered the following breakthrough: we can make cabbage taste delicious.

Sesame Coleslaw (from Epicurious/Bon Appetit 1998): I divided the recipe in 1/2 and the final amount was perfect for dinner (for 2) and again, for a pot-luck side at a BBQ.

• 6 C very thinly sliced green cabbage (about 1-pound head) (3 C)
• 3 C shredded peeled carrots (1/2 C)
• 2 C fresh spinach leaves, trimmed, thinly sliced - or mixed salad greens (1/2 C)
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (1/4 C)
• 1/4 cup oriental sesame oil (1/8 C)
• 1/4 cup sugar (1/8 C)
• 3 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger (1/2 T)
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce (1 T)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted - forgot to toast these (shake on, at end).
  

Combine cabbage, carrots and sliced spinach (I used dark salad greens) in large bowl.

Whisk vinegar, oil, sugar, ginger and soy sauce in medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Season with salt and pepper. (Cabbage mixture and dressing can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill.)

Toss cabbage mixture with dressing. Season coleslaw with salt and pepper...Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Spicy Veggie Links & Sesame Slaw, 8/24/09.
Sesame Slaw (2nd Version), for a Labor Day BBQ, taken 9/7/09.

** For more recipes: RedPepperFlakes Recipe Archives.

Uncle Joe

My Uncle Joe passed away last week, after being diagnosed with cancer, barely a month prior. No one expects a man in his 60s to be taken so suddenly, and it's truly shocking that he's gone.

Aunt Janice, Uncle Joe, & me. (St. Louis, late 1970s.)

Every Christmas, lots of Thanksgivings, on Memorial Day weekend trips to the family cemetery in Boss, MO, and Easter/Bay Family reunions, Uncle Joe was there.

Generally speaking, Uncle Joe always seemed quiet and reserved, to me. I remember being at Grandma & Grandpa's and the phone would ring...'that must be Joe,' my Grandpa would say. He called every day, but barely said 10 words. I never heard Uncle Joe speak of anything personal, but he always asked how I was doing, and always squeezed me with a hug as my family and I head out.

More often than not, on these occasions, Uncle Joe would slip in a joke. Mom always said that for someone who didn't communicate affection well, that was 'his way.' I remember, maybe when I was 11 years old, he would ask if he needed to get me a bra for Christmas (mortifying!). About 8 or 9 years ago, in the middle of the Thanksgiving prayer, his prayer of thanks included a prayer for me...that 'God please help her...we're awfully worried...we don't know why she put that earring in her nose.' And when I brought Chris to a family reunion to meet my extended family, he asked Chris if the balloons popping made him feel at home..."since you must hear gunshots all the time, living in New York City." The man definitely left an impression.

A few hundred people came through Uncle Joe's visitation and funeral last week. His life touched many people--more than many of us had imagined. A blessing that his suffering has ended, but such a loss to those left behind. (obituary)

CSA: Week 12

8/31/09.

CSA Week 12 from Scratch Farm: tomatoes, sweet peppers, salad mix, cooking greens mix, raspberries, red cabbage, and basil.