Gardens

I have seen many vegetable gardens around the city have already been roto-tilled and some families have prepared plastic five gallon buckets filled with soil for growing lemon-grass, tomatoes and basil.

Living Dough

Lately my breads have been relying on my 11 year old sourdough starter for leavening. My recipe is 5-6 cups of medium grind whole wheat flour, 3 cups of water, a cup of sourdough starter and a tablespoon of kosher salt. Sometimes I add oats, cornmeal, or molasses. I bake the bread in a 450 degree oven for 35 minutes. When I use molasses the chemistry is altered and baking times have to change. I lower the temperature to 400 and bake the bread for ten minutes longer.

Karl Lagerfeld

I have always joked about making a perfume that smelled of bread baking or dog breath. I think Lagerfeld's book perfume idea is equally good.

Karl Lagerfeld to create fragrance that smells of books

The book-aholic has found the cure for everyone who misses the smell of paper in these digital times: a perfume that smells of books, thanks to a "fatty" olfactory mark.

According to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Lagerfeld - who is known for his love of books and says he stocks more than 300,000 of them in his famous personal library - is already working on the fragrance with his publisher of choice, Steidl, which distributes most of the designer's photography books.

FAZ reports that Paper Passion, which will be sold inside a hardcover book with the pages hollowed out to hold the flacon, will be developed with Berlin perfumer Geza Schön, who told the paper that "the fragrance will have a fatty note," probably along the lines of linoleum, and that he was taking his inspiration from the smell of printed and unprinted paper.

For those who can't wait until the perfume comes out, there are several paper-inspired fragrances already on the market, including Demeter's Paperback, Zadig & Voltaire's Tome 1, or Hammam Bouquet by Penhaligons.

-http://www.independent.co.uk/

Chinese Sesame Scallion Chutney

Years ago I stayed with my Chinese friend who made this delicious topping.

Chop a bunch of scallions greens included and add chopped freshly peeled garlic, and saute in olive and toasted sesame oil. Then, add sesame seeds, red chili flakes, soy sauce. Stir and be careful not to burn the garlic. When cooled off, add as a topping on your favorite foods.

Spicy Chinese Dinner Delight

Have ready:
toasted sesame oil
olive oil
soy sauce
Asian spicy garlic chili paste
fresh ginger peeled and minced
garlic freshly peeled and minced

2 pounds of freshly cut bite -sized chunks of meat (pork, beef, or chicken)
Sliced Chinese napa cabbage (we used the whole cabbage)
toasted whole almonds (a cup or more)
fresh white mushrooms sliced
2 cans of water chestnuts drained
two bunches of scallions chopped include both both white and green parts

organic carrots chopped for nibbling while you cook

Directions:
Pour oils into wok, add Asian chili paste, fresh ginger, garlic, and meat. When meat is cooked add cabbage and water chestnuts. Stir. Add soy sauce to taste. Enjoy!

Good Luck Voodoo Noodles

Years ago on a whim I sent this to a friend who needed good luck. He recently sent it back to me.

1 lb. spaghetti or Chinese egg noodles - cooked al dente, drain

In saucepan:
heat 2 tablespoons peanut oil

Saute briefly:
2-3 scallions, thinly sliced
1 inch piece fresh ginger, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced

Add:
1 T Asian chili paste or to taste
2 T light or dark brown sugar
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
2-3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
6-10 T hot water
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoons sesame seeds* (optional)

Mix sauce with noodles. Add extra sesame oil, chili paste, etc. to taste.

Garnish with grated cucumber (peeled & seeded), fresh cilantro

Enjoy!

Flexitarian

Flexitarian (noun) A person who eats a predominantly vegetarian diet, but who eats meat or fish occasionally.

Charles Fishman

We're very touchy about reusing waste water and I think we need to sort of think differently about that. All the water on earth has been through a dinosaur kidney. Every bottle of Evian you drink from is Tyrannosaurus Rex pee. All the water on earth has been here for 4.5 billion years. It's all toilet-to-tap at some level.
-Charles Fishman

Lazy Suppers

My local butcher makes his own sausages each week, and each week I stop in and buy another dozen to try. He has even offered to let me make my own. He makes chicken, turkey, pork, sometimes with spices, cheese, spinach, roasted red peppers, fennel.

I am a lazy cook. Many suppers are made by simmering pre-soaked beans and sausages in a crock pot all day. By suppertime I might add steamed brown rice and kale, and we have a fabulous meal awaiting us.