Tag Archives: fruits and vegetables

Who Needs Flowers? Artichokes!

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Our Farmer’s Market is always introducing me to amazing new things.

This week, one of our favorite famers gave me these awesome artichokes.  Except they were arranged with all of his flowers, not his other produce the way you’d think artichokes should be.

artichoke as decoration

He said it was something new he was trying.  They weren’t quite good enough to sell as produce, but he loved arranging them at home as decoration.

DSC_0667 DSC_0660So I got home and threw those babies in a vase.  And almost a week later, they’re still choking it up. Continue reading →

Coleman Farm Lunch

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I don’t know if you remember, but in September Brad was auctioned off at Weiser Farms right in front of my very eyes.

After bidding hit about $200, I realized I could no longer afford my husband.  I was going to have to share.

For a good cause, of course.

A lunch for 8 at Coleman Family Farms was sold to the buyer who had $1400 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand.  They scheduled and planned, and then rescheduled for after the crazy holiday season – which ended up being yesterday.

With me and the Barolo Joe guys in tow, Brad put together a 5 course lunch for what turned into a group of 16.

We drove up to Carpinteria super early (for us), explored the farm a little, and then hand-picked fresh greens, flowers and herbs for lunch.

IMG_2934 IMG_2936 IMG_2937 IMG_2941 IMG_2942 IMG_2943 IMG_2961 IMG_2962Then, it was off to the races.  We set up and prepped…

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…and prepared the most amazing five courses for the lucky sixteen people around the table.

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The Menu:

Snapper Crudo with serrano, kumquat, mint and lime.

Leafy Farm Green Salad with blood oranges, fennel, balsamic vinaigrette and almonds.

Hand Cut Linguini with farm herbs, white wine and parmesan.

Manilla Clams with cherry tomatoes, garlic and lemon.

Whole Braised Oxtail with sprouting broccoli, radish and bordelaise.

Weiser Farms Potato Salad with Wooley bacon.

Strawberry Tart with honey, flowering thyme and vanilla ice cream.

 

I seriously wish I were sitting at that table.

xoxo

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Blood Orange Gin and Tonics

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Blood Orange Gin and Tonics @thekeyofkels

My March has been a little bit insane.

As of the beginning of February, I wasn’t going to be on the east coast even once this month.  We were watching what we spent.  We had family coming in town and birthdays coming up, so we were being responsible.

And now, as I’m unpacking my suitcase from my second trip east in 3 weeks, I am realizing I should really stock my body up on Vitamins before I get super, super sick from all of the traveling.

So Emergen-C it is!

Speaking of Vitamin C, it is coming up on the end of citrus season here in California, so I brought some blood oranges from the market all the way to Maryland with me this weekend.  I figured, along with the strawberries, raisins, and trail mix I smuggled from coast to coast, the blood oranges would be something fun and different to play around with.

blood orange gin and tonicsAnd the juice is just so pretty!

So on Friday night, after we had finished most of the preparations for everyone to come over to my parents’ house after the services for my grandfather on Saturday, we decided it was time to relax and catch up.

My mom’s favorite Friday night happy hour cocktail is the classic Gin & Tonic, so I decided to dress it up a little bit.

blood orange gin and tonics blood orange gin and tonicsBy just adding a little bit of that fiery blood orange juice, the classic G&T took on a whole new persona.

And also left the place looking like a bit of a crime scene when not poured just so…

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The citrus added just a little bit of bright red cheer to a somber occasion, a little bit of sweet citrus to a classic cocktail, and a little bit of Cali sunshine to a chilly, rainy (super jet lagged) day.

blood orange gin and tonics

 

I wish this counted as enough Vitamin C to keep me healthy until the weather really warms up, but for now, I’m drinking tea and stocking up on Emergen-C packets.

Cheers to another busy, busy week!

xoxo

Blood Orange Gin (or Vodka) & Tonics

1 part Gin (we used Bombay Sapphire, but it was also delicious with vodka!)

1 part fresh squeezed blood orange juice

1 part tonic water

Fill glass with ice.  Add equal parts gin(or vodka), blood orange juice and tonic water.  Stir and serve.  Cheers!

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Springtime at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market

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“She turned to the sunlight and shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor: “Winter is dead.” 
― A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

I guess yesterday was the last official market of the winter here in Santa Monica.

spring tulips

But it sure looked like spring had arrived a teeny bit early.

spring at santa monica farmers marketspring at santa monica farmers market spring at santa monica farmers marketHow many different kinds of eggs can there possibly be??spring at santa monica farmers market spring at santa monica farmers market spring at santa monica farmers market

Good thing I went to the market alone yesterday, because there wasn’t much room left in the car for Brad.

spring at santa monica farmers market

I’m flying to Maryland tonight for a memorial service for my grandfather.  I hope I can bring a little bit of this Southern California springtime with me via raisins and strawberries.

And maybe some other goodies I pick up along the way…

xoxo

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Leftover Love: Strawberry Ricotta Crostini

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Just so you know, you still have about 364 days to go until the next giant explosion of love and chocolate and roses.  So I hope you didn’t use up all of your love yesterday. (and by love I mean strawberries) This … Continue reading →

Love Is A Strawberry Tart

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Ok, maybe love is more than a Strawberry Tart, but I’m going to go ahead and say that there is a definite correlation between the amount of love you feel and the amount of this tart you eat. Just ask … Continue reading →