Homegrown in Hollywood

 I had the opportunity to spend a wonderful week in Hollywood this past February. I was excited to see that the weather was going to be much warmer than my home town of Seattle and that I might even see the sun! Thankfully I had some free time to snoop about and on Sunday found the Farmer's Market bustling with vendors and shoppers.

Sharing the day with two of my sisters, we quickly found a vendor selling fresh strawberries and bought enough to fill our tummies for breakfast. I love the "taste phenomenon" each juicy bite triggers. Transported back to a multitude of summer memories in an instant of time. A vacation within a tiny fruit!

The sites and sounds of a farmer's market always delight me. The vendors excitedly telling would-be customers about how special their products are, how they were grown or hand made, where the products were produced or located. Then there are the colors and variety of goods. From flowers to mushrooms to handmade knitwear, the whole scene being serenaded by local musicians each with a distinctive style, is exhilarating! The diversity in a Farmer's market is mind blowing! When you think of all the talent, passion, and work that has to take place before this ongoing event can be successful you have to marvel.

LA Funghi

La Funghi had the most fabulous display of mushrooms I've ever seen. Artfully displayed, each basket had several varieties at the peak of perfection.  

 

Who needs to color eggs for Easter when these beauties have already been dyed by Mother Nature herself? 

My personal favorite are the vendors selling honey and honeybee products. Sharing stories with beekeepers from other parts of the country is always informational and cathartic.

Martinez Apiaries

Honey Pacifica

Even in spring there are a large variety of fruits and vegetables in sunny California!

And lovely flowers too...

Vendor List

You can find your local area Farmer's market list with a simple Google search. For those living in the Puget Sound area visit Puget Sound Fresh. Get out there and meet your local growers and artisans! Supporting them builds a strong societal foundation and creates community camaraderie. If you haven't already, break away from your chain supermarket and venture into a fresher world filled with vibrant music and memories of summer outings.

Spring has finally sprung her in Puget Sound. The birds are singing, the rhubarb is sprouting, and the hens are laying again!

Happy Spring!

Lydia

Repurposing Used Fur

The warmest, most coziest items in my closet are down and fur. I have yet to own any man-made textile that can compare nor do I have the means nor the desire to spend a fortune on ones that might. For that matter, neither for new fur. At least down is affordable! Therefore I seek out creative ways to solve my problem. I like to call it the Creative Person Solution (CPS) offensive (as in military tactical speak. Some animal rights activist may want to refer to it as an adjective).

I find that it is helpful to understand many different aspects of a variety of subjects that intersect with the urban farm lifestyle. One of those subjects is garment construction and sewing. Knowing some basics has been a lifesaver in many instances throughout my life and career. It also has given me confidence to create items that were not readily available or too expensive. This past Autumn I new I wanted to have some fur leg warmers for winter but was not willing to buy new ones so I created my own using a thrift store purchased fox coat that was badly damaged (at $30).

By carefully taking out the lining stitches I was able to access the seam where the arm was attached to the shoulder without disturbing the batting layer. I then removed the lining stitches surrounding the armhole and cut the batting layer and fur to match.

All that was left to do was attach the lining and batting back onto the fur. By leaving the smooth lining attached to the arm (now turned leg warmer) it slides easily over a variety of footwear without catching as raw suede would plus it adds body to the overall piece. On tall boots slide the leg warmer over the boot then insert your foot into the boot. For short boots and heals slide the leg warmer over your leg first and then put on the boot/shoe. Here are some examples.

With tall wedge boots

With mid-calf cowboy boots. Shown with and without homemade "sweater arm" leg warmers used as liners. (I harvested these from a nubby-knit turtleneck sweater that I remade into a strapless dress)

With sassy heals

With vintage seal-fur short boots and "sweater arm" nubby leg warmers as liners.

Never say never. Mount your own CPS offensive and tackle your wardrobe dilemmas. Got some great ones? Share them here!

Comments Welcome!

Lydia

Two Early Spring Recipes

If you haven't set up a system for four-season harvesting yet then you are likely reaching into your pantry and freezer, like me, to garnish your farmer's market or grocery store bought meal. Did I plan to be in this predicament? Absolutely not! Life has a way of railroading the best laid plans, mine anyway. Last winter, cozy by the fire, those plans were laid, set down on paper, seed-dream by seed-dream. They grew up into a bountiful harvest and I envisioned myself ducking under snow laden row covers to fetch out some succulent carrot or tender leafy green....screeeetch....I can't take it...

...moving on. Back to sitting by the fire, this time in the present, my mind wandered to the early Spring and the lovely foraged meals that it brings. One is my all-time favorite, yet to be replaced, nettle risotto. With winter chill still in the night air this warmer-summer-days-are-coming comfort food has a bright spring-green hue that is a foreshadow of it's bright notes on the palate.

Stinging Nettle Risotto

about 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1c Carnaroli Rice

5c Chicken or Vegetable Stock

1/2 c finely chopped Onion

2T Olive Oil

1/2 c White Wine

1c Nettle Leaves - blanched & pureed (discard the water)

1/4c grated Parmesan Cheese

1T butter

Salt

Pepper

Place stock in sauce pan and keep at simmering for use later. In a large sauce pan, saute onions in olive oil until translucent (not browned). Stir in rice and wine stirring until absorbed. Add 5 cups hot broth in 1/2 cup additions stirring at a brisk simmer until rice is creamy and tender. Stir in nettles. Stir in parmesan cheese and 1tbsp butter. Salt & Pepper to taste. Garnish. Serves 2-4

Come March in the Pacific Northwest another source of pleasurable eating comes into bloom. The Big Leaf Maple. The large racemes of flowers hang in pendulum-like style similar to tiny champagne grapes. Eaten raw they have a mild broccoli taste and when battered and deep fried, well, they just become addictive! It's a tricky harvest but if you've got a ladder lower hanging branches can yield a sufficient harvest. March is known for wind storms which presents another harvest method. Be culinary spontaneous and you can harvest blossoms off the ground after one of these storms and forego the ladder. Don't wait too long because after the blooms have dropped from their water source they begin to wilt and just aren't as good!

Tempura Maple Blossoms

Ingredients:

Big Leaf Maple Blossoms - de-bugged, washed and dried thoroughly. (to de-bug lightly beat blossoms onto a paper towel)

Tempura Batter (There are several recipes for Tempura. I encourage you to try them too. Mine is simple).

1 c flour

1c cornstarch

1 1/2 c cold seltzer water

salt to taste

Approximately 1 1/2 quarts vegetable oil

Prepare blossoms and heat oil in a deep fryer (I use my deep fryer outside on a non-flamable surface) to 360- 400 degrees. Bring oil back to temp between each batch. 

Mix batter in medium bowl. It will be quite runny. Add 5-6 blossoms coating each one thoroughly. Remove blossoms one by one letting excess batter drip back into bowl. Add 5-6 blossoms to oil one at a time. Flip to opposite side when light brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately or keep warm in oven.

Bon Appetite!

I must include a few disclaimers. Stinging nettles are just that - stinging. If your skin comes in contact with the small hairs on the leaves and stem it will hurt and leave a small red burning bump that will continue to itch over several days. The plant has been used for medicinal and culinary purposes throughout time. Please read here about the plant before consumption. If you use this recipe and find that you have an adverse reaction seek emergency medical attention immediately. Nettle risotto is served as a springtime specialty menu item in many fine restaurants.