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 . . .

2011/11/292018/12/08

Apple Butter Ginger Hand Pies

A Trip to the Orchard

“Look, Samuel, I mean to make a garden of my land. Remember my name is Adam. So far I’ve no Eden, let alone been driven out.” It’s the best reason I ever heard for making a garden, “ Samuel exclaimed. He chuckled. “Where will the orchard be?” Adam said, “I won’t plant apples. That would be looking for accidents.” “What does Eve say to that? She has a say, remember. And Eves delight in apples.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Autumn arrived. We felt it ease into our days. The bright late afternoon sun gave way to crisp nights and mornings. By the first week in November, the Indian summer was gone. A longing for apples, pumpkins, pears, and all manner of things warm and comforting replaced our sandals and juicy ripe tomatoes. Hazy thoughts of apple pie came into focus. Childhood memories of trips to the orchards of Pajaro Valley mingled with the remembered scent of ripe apples and the warmth of cinnamon. As a young child a bushel of apples seemed daunting to me. I knew I would be standing on a stool and peeling, until the box was empty! READ MORE . . .

2011/11/222017/12/26

Neighborhood Trees and Pear Tarts

Ginger Pear Tarts

“At Thanksgiving he would go home, and then he would be sure. He might never come back. He remembered that Abra had once suggested that they go to live on the ranch, and that became his dream. He remembered the great oaks and the clean living air, the clean sage-laced wind from the hills and the brown oak leaves scudding. He could see Abra there, standing under a tree, waiting for him to come in from his work.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The trees in my neighborhood are magnificent Liquid Ambers. They are fully grown, standing in all their glory at sixty plus feet. They have been part of the neighborhood since it’s beginning in the late fifties, when our home was built. These trees can live for four hundred years! They are so large, the sidewalks have moved out of their way. Every fall the vibrant green leaves slowly turn golden amber and muted red. The leaves begin to drop, blanketing the neighborhood yards and streets. With the winter rains, our street gutters become clogged with leaves. The trees are so tall, leaves fall and blow into our back yard. Branches break off in the wind. One year, we arrived home from a trip to find our truck covered in a limb from cab to bumper. It was so large the city was called to cart it away. And yet, when I see the city’s Urban Forestry truck in the neighborhood I feel panic and dread. Our neighborhood would be empty without the comforting canopy of trees watching over us. Houses, cars, asphalt, cement and overhead wires would dominate our view. I listen for the trucks and pray “Please do not cut these magnificent trees down, please go away.” While making these Pear Tarts I had heard the trucks and their nasty little chipper and knew it was time to quietly say another prayer. READ MORE . . .