Sweet Tooth Haven

Vacation Round Up

I spent the last 2 weeks visiting family.  First I spent a few days vising my sister who recently moved to Chicago.  Although I've been through the airport many times, this was my first time actually in the city.  We went on the Riverboat Tour by the Chicago Architecture Foundation's boat tour.  This would have been fabulous if we weren't so miserable from the heat.  We walked through Millennium Park where we took pictures in the bean and cooled our feet in a fountain on our way to Taste of Chicago where we ate, and ate, and ate. 

The next day was much cooler and we breezed through the Art Institute and Field Museum then did some window shopping.  I should have taken more pictures, especially of the delicious food we ate, but here's a glimpse of what I saw.

My sister and I drove down to Kentucky to see more of our family and although she had to return the next day, I stayed another week.  One of my favorite places to eat when I'm in Kentucky is Lynn's Paradise Cafe in Louisville.  Here's my youngest sister, the tomato.

 

Take a Peek Across the Pond

Did you know there is a tunnel under the ocean from New York to London that lets you view people on the other end while they can see you as well?  Apparently the idea was begun in Victorian times and just reached completion.  It's called the Telectroscope.  The art work and background story detailing the design are completely fabulous. 

I'm not even that disappointed that it's not actually a real tunnel but a working broadband link conceived of by artist Paul St George.  I only wish it was a permanent fixture and not ending on June 15, 2008.  If you live in or plan to visit New York or London in the next month, take a peek for me.  Pick me up a souvenier box while you are at it!

Link to Telectroscope

CNN article

Be a Budget Hero

See if you can balance the budget better than the current administration.  It's not hard to do!  Shrink government, cut defense spending, repeal the tax cuts, or spend some money on education. 

Batavus Old Dutch

I've been thinking about getting a bike.  I haven't ridden a bike since I was a student at  UC Davis, in a town that is proud to have more bikes than people.  Around my current neighborhood it's relatively flat and I have access to several bike/walking paths.  This is ideal for me because:

1. I hate biking up hills and
2. I fear the crazy drivers on their cell phones. 

Even though my Prius gets great mileage I feel a fool driving him 1/2 mile to get 2 things at the store.  I thought it would be easy and perhaps fun to ride a bike around for small errands. 

The first bike that I was considering was the Electra Amsterdam.  It is styled like a classic European city bike.  You ride in an upright position, it has a rack I could attach panniers to for hauling my goodies, but I'm not sure how much weight it can really hold.

Then I started reading reviews and articles like this one:  Batavus versus the Electra Amsterdam which lead me to the Batavus Old Dutch.  This is the real thing, a Dutch bike with an upright riding position that is sturdy and made to last forever.  So I had found my bike at last.  Isn't it beautiful?  But what color to get?

While debating about colors and still looking for information on Dutch bikes I came across the Azor Oma by Henry WorkCycles.  Then I started reading Hank and Me and now I wonder if I should get an Oma instead.  Do I need 8 gears?  I like the position of the headlight better and that it is hub powered.  Hmmmm....(to be continued)

The Azor Oma

 

8/3/2008 Update:

I decided to get the Azor Oma by Henry Workcycles, and I'm glad I did.

The day after it was delivered I hurt my back, but have been riding it daily as soon as I felt better.

Flight of the Conchords

Flight of the Conchords is a TV series about a New Zealand band of the same name trying to make it in New York.  The band members, Jermain and Brett, break out in song throughout the shows.  This is one of my favorites, a serenade Brett sings to his new girlfriend.  I love the girl's expression and how Jermain just pops in from nowhere.  All of the shows were entertaining, although we found the first disc made us laugh quite a bit more than the second.

Ahh, Spring!

Here in parched Southern California we actually had some rain over the winter which makes hiking in the springtime extra fabulous.  I took my camera for a hike in Peter's Canyon this morning so I could share the blooms with you.

Wild mustard is everywhere and some of it is even taller than me!

The yellow flowers are edible and taste like broccoli.

When you're hiking you've got to be careful of the critters.  I saw no snakes today, but this walked across my path:

 

There are more photographs in my Peter's Canyon album.  Check them out, then get out and enjoy the spring!

Find a hiking trail near you.  Try one of these links, or look up your state's parks.
Top US Hiking Trails
Trails.com
Local Hikes

This American Life - Live in Movie Theaters

I'm so excited!  This American Life is my all-time favorite radio show.  Not only is the first season of the TV show out on DVD so all us non-Showtime subscribers can watch it, but now they are doing a one-night-only live show hosted by Ira Glass.  The show will be broadcast on May 1, 2008 from New York to theaters around the nation.  Tickets will go on sale April 4, 2008.

Find out where you can catch the live show - Theater List
Read more

If you haven't heard the show, each episode revolves around a central theme and the show is divided into different acts that tell true stories related to that theme.  Usually the shows are based around interviews of people who tell a story about their life or some event that happened to them.

The theme of a recent show was testosterone. Listen to the promo below.

Listen to or download the whole Testosterone show, or check out other shows at This American Life.

The Great Asparagus Experiment

Today is the day I start the Great Asparagus Experiment.  Why is it an experiment?  Because I am not an avid, or even a good, gardener.  In fact both my houseplants just died.  One even started growing bright yellow mushrooms. Anyway, while grocery shopping today I was browsing in the garden department (because I do like to pretend I have a green thumb) and I saw a bag of asparagus roots.  Of course I decided to give it a try.  After all, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle made it sound so easy.  In the book Barbara Kingsolver explains that asparagus is a permanent crop.  You can harvest it every year after letting it establish the first year.  What could be better than fresh asparagus from your own yard every spring?  Since I won't actually get to eat any asparagus from my efforts until next year, I decided to let you know how the planting and growing goes.  Maybe I'll inspire you!

Here's what one of the roots look like.  Mine already have some white shoots sprouting from them.  There were 8 in the bag.  I fit 3 in my tiny side yard and saved some for my mom.

With nothing else to go by, I followed the directions on the label.

• Dig a trench 12 inches deep. (Well, close enough)
• Place plants on bottom of trench and spread roots out flat.

• Space 20 inches apart (mine are a bit closer)
• Cover with 3 inches of soil.

• As the stalks begin to grow, gradually cover with soil until level with surrounding ground.
• Water freely during spring and summer.

I'll keep you updated as the stalks begin to grow (keep fingers crossed).

Updates:

July 13, 2008

3D Paper Snowflakes

Spent too much money on pressies and nothing left for decorating the house?  Tired of making the same paper snowflakes you've been making since grade school?  These 3D paper snowflakes are quite impressive and not that difficult.  Make them in various sizes and colors to hang around your house.  Decorate with glitter and sequins if you like the sparkle.  I made one out of plain white printer paper and it came out fabulous.  Quite impressive!  Go on, I know you can do it!

Facing My Chocolate Tempering Fear

Making chocolate scares me.  You hear all about tempering and blooming and seizing.  A couple years ago I made peppermint bark and some hazelnut chocolates, but I wasn't too happy with the results.  I've shied away ever since.   

I started looking through the schedule of classes offered at Sur la Table couple months ago and noticed they were having a Holiday Chocolate Workshop.  I signed up and went without ever being to a cooking class in my life and no idea what to expect.  The menu of recipes was too tempting not to go.   

The class started with a  short demonstration during which the chef explained that you don't need to temper the chocolate, just melt it.  She said that the chocolate you buy is already tempered and you don't have to worry about the temperature.  I have no idea if this is true, but who was I to question her.  Plus it's the tempering part that makes me nervous.  I was happy not to think about it. 

After the instruction, they had us partner up and make one of the recipes.  Then it became a free for all.  Seriously.  One kitchen for about 20 people all trying to melt chocolate for various purposes.  Luckily I ended up with a low-key, nice woman named Marcia.   We got the best recipe of the bunch.  Chocolate Peppermint Truffles.  Not truffles at all, more like peanut butter cups but filled with a white chocolate peppermint center.  There were chocolate cake and tart recipes that didn't interest  me.  I was there for chocolate candy. 

At the end of it all, we got to taste each other's creations.  The peppermint cups were my favorite along with a chocolate caramel with fleur de sel.    I made two batches of these at home to pass out at work.  Although they are not perfect looking (probably a result of my lack of practice) they taste fabulous.  My next post will include the recipe and pictures.  Don't be scared, you can do it!

Learn to make something new.  See if there's a Sur la Table offering classes near you:
Sur la Table Culinary Program
Sur la Table website