December 2011 – East of Eden Cooking

2011/12/292017/12/31

Herbes de Provence

DIY Inspiration

“It was a pleasant afternoon. Fremont’s Peak was lighted pinkly by the setting sun, and Faye could see it from her window. From over on Castroville Street came the sound of jingling horse bells from an eight-horse grain team down from the ridge. The cook was fighting pots in the kitchen.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Herbes de Provence is one of our favorite herb mixes—especially for the boneless, skinless chicken breasts that we keep on hand for making a quick dinner and lunches of salads or sandwiches. I usually purchase Herbes de Provence as a mix and wanted to make my own blend. And having an herb mix already packaged as a gift would be a nice addition to my stash of jams. I decided to mix a batch with enough for my own use and for gifts. I chose to order all the individual herbs from My Spice Sage and was pleased with the quality and cost of the herbs. Shipping was free and fast. Penzey’s is another popular on line and retail outlet that is a good source. I do not recommend purchasing the herbs individually at grocery store quantities as is not cost effective for this DIY project. Working with larger than the usual amount of herbs was a fragrant adventure in my kitchen. Opening the packets of herbs and inhaling the pungent aromas transported me to warm summer afternoons of harvesting sage, thyme and lavender in our garden. The lavender alone was intoxicating! Quite a sensory treat on a winter afternoon and a much needed break from cookie and candy making. READ MORE . . .

2011/12/202017/12/31

Red Velvet Cupcakes with White Chocolate Peppermint Frosting

A Whimsical Dessert for the Holidays

“The winter night blew in with frosty wind, and the street lamps with their sputtering carbons swung restlessly and made shadows dart back and forth like a runner trying to steal second base.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Lush red velvet was whispering Christmas to me. I was seduced by bold red and white peppermint stripes and a minty sharpness in the cold nights. Creamy white chocolate curled above the red velvet like wisps of steam from my hot morning coffee. I imagined a snowy Christmas portrayed in my velvet cupcakes. READ MORE . . .

2011/12/142017/12/26

Cinnamon Rolls and Max

Simply Irresistible

“I thought I heard someone on the stoop. Probably a cat.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Warm cinnamon rolls always bring a smile at our house. Best when warm and always decadent, yet comforting. But there is no sweet that can compete with our other warm smile maker Max, our cat. When we adopted him, I hadn’t had a cat for over twenty years. Max had been a stray and was at his second post rescue home which wasn’t working out for him. He was living with five other cats and was a big bully, standing guard at the food dishes and eating the other cats’ food. At the time this boldness seemed highly unlikely. When we met Max he hid under a chair and would not come out. I found him irresistible. When his family drove him to our house; he yowled the entire drive of forty minutes. They were so worried about him they offered to take him back if he wasn’t a good fit. As soon as they left, he darted into the fireplace, brushing the screen aside and hid in the ashes with his back to us. When I tried to get him out, he dashed past me with ashes flying everywhere. Max stayed under the bed, in our bedroom, for well over two weeks before he felt safe enough to venture out. Much later, we rejoiced when he stopped slinking about and began to walk with his lovely tail pointed up in the air. When he finally hopped up in our laps we were flattered he liked us. In the beginning, Max would sit on our laps with his back to us and purr. There were signs of abuse. Turning a page in the newspaper or any loud noise startled him and sent him into hiding. Slowly, ever so slowly, he began to trust us. Max has been with us for five years and still does not like to be picked up. He will tolerate it for a very, very short time. He still is easy to startle. Max will always have food issues. He is always hungry. He has many nicknames; Colonel Momo or just Momo are used regularly. But Max has become part of our family. He greets everyone when they come home, bringing a smile at the end of a busy day. Most nights he sleeps on our bed and looks for a warm lap after his breakfast and his dinner. Max may be a bit quirky, but he is perfect just as he is. READ MORE . . .