Few spices can excite your taste buds as powerfully as cardamom. Have
you ever noticed how someone will take a bite of a cardamom-laced
dessert, declare instant love, yet not be able to identify the spice?
That's because cardamom is enigmatic. Think about it: Is it spicy or
sweet? Citric or floral? Does it taste like lemon? Cinnamon? Anise?
Christmas? Yes. Cardamom embodies all of these flavors in one glorious
spice, which is why baking with cardamom is so popular.
As this Banana Apple Cardamom Cake bakes, it will permeate your home
with the sweet and spicy aromas of cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, and
coconut. With mashed ripe bananas, butter, and coconut milk, this is an
especially moist cake that is punctuated with bits of chewy raisins,
crisp apples, and crunchy nuts.
Oddities and Obsessions
Oddities and Obsessions
The Zucchini Weenie and Al's Brain
My good buddy Al Yankovic invited a group of his friends to attend the premiere of his short movie entitled Al’s Brain….at the County Fair!! His invitation was sweet. It included the phrase “for those of you who feel like schlepping down there..”
The film was about the workings of the brain and had cameos from the comedy world’s elite, including Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim (Tim & Eric) Patton Oswalt (Brilliant Stand-up Member of Comedians of Comedy and the voice of the Rat in Ratatouille) and Thomas Lennon (Reno 911, I Love You Man) to name a few. This was a special event held at the Orange County Fair Pavilion where Al’s Brain will be showing for the entire run of the Fair.
During the event, which was private and the night before the Fair opened, we were treated to “A Taste of The OCF”.
A Recipe for National Tartan Day
In celebration of National Tartan Day (yep, there is such a thing), we are sharing an amazing recipe by Scottish Chef Jeff Bland to help capture the spirit and character of Scottish Americans and recognize their many contributions to our culture and our way of life. Personally we with we were in Scotland eating this at his Michelin-starred restaurant, but this should be the next best thing.
Loin of Perthshire Venison with Wild Mushrooms, Creamed Potatoes and Chestnuts.
Why I Love Cappuccino
"Everyone needs a tagline. And I guess yours is cappuccino?"
That's what my boss said to me as I pulled out my cappuccino shirt and laughed about my recent purchase.
"You really do love it, don't you?" She added.
Still laughing I told her that I had also created business cards with a cappuccino image on them.
"It really is your tagline."
And then another co-worker chimed in.
"Why do you love it so much?"
That answer is easy. But it requires a story: It starts with falling in love with coffee.
Getting to Know Your Friends...One Tomato at a Time
Years ago, before my second child was born and I traded in my paycheck as a freelance fashion stylist to change diapers, drive carpool and be the soccer snack provider, I used to joke that the only way I got to hang out with my friends was to work with them. So I hired my friends as assistants when I could. On a more serious note, I also said, back then, that the best way to find out who someone is, is to work with them. I'm now adding to that: Want to know who someone is behind the dinner party chatter, or as an English friend used to say, "What's that when it's at home?" Share a garden.
Last fall, at a lunch for my best friend Glynis, in town from her home in London with her husband Michael, the girl talk went from comfy Prada platform shoes to bumper crops. Glynis, obviously in love with the expression, which did indeed sound fabulous and a bit mysterious in her proper English accent, took delight in repeating the words bumper crop as she shared a picture on her iPhone of the largest tomatoes I have ever seen.
"Mark has had bumper crop, here look, isn't it fantastic," so taken was she about our mutual friend Laura Geller's husband, Mark's, tomato growing talent. Mark is known to us all as an entrepreneur, a rakish risk taker, a stylish man about town, a typical A type-er on the go. He has opened restaurants, managed his wife Laura's jewelry empire and invested in copper mines.
Mr. Greenjeans? Not in the profile at all. "Look, he's a bloody farmer" Glynis added with unabashed respect... and total surprise in our friend Mark and the tricks he has up his sleeve! "Hmmmm, let me look at that," said I, reaching for the iPhone with the picture of what looked to me to be a small red pumpkin.
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