Fun Easy Fourth Recipe

fourth of july silly hats

Last night I took my Mom down to my sister and brother in law's boat in Dana Point Harbor for
Independence Day Celebrations. I fussed for two days prior making a couple dishes that were
healthy and from my garden. I have a small farm with vegetables, flowers, and herbs. My
sister told me not to worry as there were being more simple with the menu this year as my
brother in law just had heart surgery. They have a small grill they put on the dock, and they
were going to just cook bratwurst because they don't require much condiments.

The day before I picked a basket of heirloom tomatoes, a bucket of baby Dutch yellow potatoes, bunches of arugula, sweet onions, four lemons, garlic, celery, thyme, basil, and more.

The recipes are below and photographs of garden in progress, always.

Fourth Of July is a fun American holiday. There aren't rules, you just set up the traditions as
your family and friends agree. I'm fortunate with two siblings who own boats. This gives me
opportunity for joy, with supplying delicious food I enjoy creating, and no deck cleaning.

My Mom is eighty seven, well eight in a few days. It's my tradition to share watching fireworks with my Mom, and any family who can attend. In years past I hosted a party at my home, where we could swim and watch the Monarch Beach, Laguna Beach and Dana shows. Sold that home and now on the ranch where fireworks are a big danger.

My brother in law who I mentioned had heart surgery on Wednesday of last week was captain. He drove or do I say sailed the dingy out to anyone who wanted to play in the afternoon Water Wars. You wonder what that is... On the main channel and under the walking bridges people take buckets, squirt guns and water blasters and engage in dousing one another. It was a blast to say the least. I didn't bring a bathing suit this year; and was cold later in the evening; but so worth the silly energy.

We played music, ate, paddle boarded and watched the show. The show not only is a spectacular fireworks at 9:00, but the people watching was great.

I got Mom and her walker home at 10:45. I made it up the mountain by almost midnight. Before I went to sleep. I said my prayers and included: God Bless America

Zucchini  flowers

zucchini

Inbetween my bunny defense fences are these mix of native and colored milkweed to feed the monarch butterflies

pumpkin starting

This one tomato plant has hundreds of fruits (green right now)  I put the 5 gallon water jug in front to show you it is four feet tall and fourteen across

Last of the yellow potatoes that I harvested

zucchini flowers

fencing to keep rabbits out

another happy zucchini flower

green tomatoes

And now the recipes

Healthy Potato Salad from the Garden

Prep time 20 minutes

Category: Salad

Cuisine: California Healthy

Cook time 15 minutes

author: Caroline Gerardo

Serving size: 1/2 cup

160 calories 

6 grams protein

vitamin A, B, C, folate, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, 

Recipe ingredients:

2 lemons

bunch of basil

large bunch fresh thyme

sprig of rosemary

2 cups good organic olive oil

tablespoon of salt

fresh ground black pepper to taste

1/4 teaspoon paprika

teaspoon of sesame seeds

tablespoon sugar

half cup walnuts

3 cloves garlic

1/2 cup white vinegar

5 cups yellow dutch or small baby potatoes

1 cup cherry tomatoes and yellow pears

9 heirloom tomatoes

1 Maui onion chopped fine (brown onions are too harsh and the price of Maui now are cheap)

5 stalks celery chopped rough

15 mint leaves sliced thin

small watermelon or 6 apricots or 6 fresh figs 

Boil ten cups yellow potatoes in salted water with springs of thyme.

The water should cover them and simmer fifteen minutes. Check if soft.

If tender to the fork and you cut the large ones to be same size as the smallest,

turn heat over cover and allow to cool.

You are going to make two similar but different vinaigrette-s. You will need three small bowls.

Grate one of the two lemons into super thin strips.

Juice both lemons

With a scissors make thin strips of basil about 4 tablespoons

Strip the remaining thyme to only tiny leaves

In a roasting pan dry or a cast iron one- heat the walnuts to release the roast flavor

put he nuts aside

In the same pan heat 2 tablespoons sesame seeds don't burn just heat to a few pop, put aside cooling

Chop 5 stalks celery very fine

Then the onion as thin as you can slices

they the garlic into tiny teeny slices and smash

the potatoes should be cool enough, drain the liquid and freeze for soup stock.

peel the skins and check for blemishes to throw away.

put the potatoes in your pretty container

slice the tomatoes thin, arrange flat with a variety of sizes and shapes over lapping on a platter

Dressing # 1 for the tomato and watermelon salad

half the garlic put in small bowl add 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup white vinegar

Add 1.2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 pepper or season to your diet

1/2 teaspoon sugar and taste

Does it need a balance or a note?

1 teaspoon thyme

maybe a dash of soy sauce or hot pepper?

add half the onion and let set a minute while you keep working

Dressing #2 for the potato salad

the other half of chopped garlic

 3/4 cup olive oil

cup lemon juice

teaspoon of salt

teaspoon of pepper

sesame seeds

1/2 teaspoon sugar or you can use same of honey

Okay it's time to go

The tomatoes and other fruit are on a flat platter.

Sprinkle the basil and mint over the top. 

Drizzle # 1 dressing on top 

scatter the walnuts

taste one and check are the tomatoes savory and sweet?

Other bowl 

add celery and chopped onion and some cherry tomatoes for color

toss in the dressing #2 

taste

Cover. put in iced cooler, and  deliver

You can serve with crusty bread or baguette

I used to do deviled eggs and mayo but this avoids problems

So if you got this far tell me what you did for the 4th?

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Sports Banquet Decorations on a Budget

Making table arrangements for banquet without spending a dime.

My son’s final season Lacrosse banquet was last night. No money in the budget for decorations. I’m not a committee meeting attendee, but I showed up at the seating area outside of the closed Starbucks three weeks ago. No coffee, as they are remodeling. I volunteered to make twelve arrangements. I was dreaming about fields, school colors of blue and white, and appearing whimsical.

Items needed: bins for compost/ grass base/ flowers from your garden or neighbors/ color print  images of the team/ strong scissors/ baby crummy scissors/ packing tape or whatever tape you have/ used cardboard boxes (USPS UPS or ones from wine boxes are all good), ruler, old lacrosse balls, an old t-shirt in the school color, fishing line.

First step I had in mind was to grow sod, or grass in a rectangle field shaped container. I visited Home Depot and they graciously gave me these long black holders for four inch pots. The sod bin had one tired brown piece of grass (cost nine dollars including tax but I didn’t purchase it). Instead I filled the eleven bins with compost from my yard and sprinkled rye grass into the bins. The seed didn’t grow as quickly as I planned, as we have had cooler weather with no rain. The bins turned green and brown. To cover up the brown I added rosemary, some small leaf geraniums and clover flowers the night before. The now lively base became a vase to hold white roses, blue statice, forget me nots and daisies. As you can see they are whimsical but they set the tone for fun. It may be difficult to see the blue lacrosse balls in the middle of the flowers but scroll down, you'll see...

 

Tools: baby crummy scissors for scoring the cardboard (just pressing through 1/3 of the material not cutting to fold, sharp scissors, maker, tape some fishing or clear wire

Materials:

print images of the players and some team images, used cardboard, bins from garden supply, old tshirt in school color, used balls splashed with poster paint.

When you measure the garden bin keep one clean to test fit as you go. I made one too small and it was easy to open the sides and expand. Each corner will need two to three slits from the edge of the rim into the corner. This allows for bending around the black garden bin and allows for errors. I  didn't use the ruler, all were cut by estimating. The material is free so if you make an error just tape an extension corner on. The cardboard isn't to hold the vase, its purpose is to hide the unattractive black plastic with your team images and mascot logo 

cut slits to make the box fit

below scoring the inside for folds. note my lines are not perfect this was late at night 

Here's some tables minutes before the start

I had this idea  that the balloons would float the ball in the tshirt net cradle, but found

three balloons can't hold up a Lacrosse ball. 

I attached the fishing line to the t-shirt net around the

ball thinking this was going to look like a ball coming in for a landing on the field.

Instead, I tied the balloon ribbons and they appeared to be flying off .

It was pretty. Accidents can be fun.

No time or money to run back to the dollar store for more balloons.

Cost of total project $15.00 for helium balloons, they gave us a few extra.

These little Lacrosse ornaments were placed on each player's table setting.

Now I think they would be nicer attached to a key chain, or

with white grosgrain ribbon to use on a Christmas tree or hang from a rear

view mirror.

The party was a success. Dana Hills High School Lacrosse 2015 banquet!

"Whatever you do, wherever you go, do  great."  That's a quote from me.

Preparation, creativity and fun  - I'll miss these gentlemen

Thanksgiving Family Fun

 Nieces, nephews and my children setting up for Risk marathon game after dinner. We enjoy the fun of our family being together. All the kids sleep over. We went to the trampoline jumping place, played baseball, and football...

Thanksgiving fireplace and table during the day. Sweet gum leaves -wash in cold water soak in 1 part water 1 part glycerin on cookie sheets with weight on top. We tried melting crayons and they were ugly. We also tried hand lotion and the result is crumbly leaves. String leaves with jute

Platter with fresh vegetables by my daughter Blair in shape of a turkey. We're big game players after Thanksgiving dinner- Monopoly - and Risk

Table setting in process earlier in the day. I used old quilts as folk art tablecloth. Sprigs of rosemary and thyme were arranged, cut from my organic garden. These are placed low so guests may talk. Candles and flowers were added last minute

View from upstairs

Thanksgiving at my house for twenty two guests. I pace myself and start three days in advance. Menue includes: roast turkey with herbs brined in salt and herbs the day before. Elle's Mashed garlic potatoes, beets with grapefruit and feta chees, salad with five vegetables, corn muffins, rosemary gravey, quiche with artichoke, Jen brought sweet potato cassarole, stuffing, roasted chestnuts and green beans, pumpkin and squash Indian spiced soup in pumpkins, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, fudge, pumpkin cheesecake, lemon and tangerine bread, and snacks before and after.

Daughter Blair made individual place cards for all family members

 

Candy Corn

photograph by Caroline Gerardo of Harvest Corn - decorative not edible

Photograph of three balls of the candy corn dough in process. This project was started and inspired Fall Fun by my daughter Blair

• 4 1/2 ounces powdered sugar, approximately 1 1/4 cups
• 1/2-ounce nonfat dry milk, approximately 6 1/2 teaspoons
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 1/2 ounces granulated sugar, approximately 1/2 cup
• 3 3/4 ounces light corn syrup, approximately 1/3 cup
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 drops yellow and orange gel paste food coloring

Making ribbons of the corn in a row. Traditionally the order of colors is orange yellow white but on the last one I mixed it up

This part takes time to cut and form each piece of candy. This is probably done by some giant machine in a candy factory, thank you Willy Wonka, we're doing it home made. This is a creative and fun project you can do with your children at home. If anything after making all these they will never forget how much time it takes to make one little piece of fun.

Directions

If it is humid or raining, turn on air conditioner or warm up kitchen. Making candy in muggy weather ends up with a greasy residue. Temperature and humidity may require you to add a few more drops of water to the mixture. Think dry desert- add.

Combine the powdered sugar, dry milk and salt in the bowl of mixer. 1 minute until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Set aside.

Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a 2-quart pot. Put over medium heat, cover and cook for 4 minutes. Add the butter, clip on a candy thermometer, and bring the mixture to 230 degrees F, about 1 to 2 minutes. When the sugar syrup reaches 230 degrees F, take the pot off the heat and remove the thermometer. Add the vanilla and the dry mixture, stirring with a silicone spatula until combined. Pour onto a half sheet pan lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Cool until the mixture is cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.

Your children can help with the rolling and cutting and this is quite fun. Keep the sink filled with cool water to be able to dunk and dry hands as they work as the “dough” gets “sweaty”. Working with messy in the kitchen is fun and although this has food coloring the dough doesn’t stain.

Dividing the dough into 3 equal pieces. Add 2 drops of yellow food coloring to 1 piece and knead the dough until the color is consistent throughout. Add 2 drops of orange to the second piece, and knead until the color is consistent throughout. Leave the third piece white. Roll each piece of dough into a strand, about 18-inches long. Cut each strand in half.

Roll 1 of the white pieces into a strand that is about 1/2-inch thick and about 22-inches long. Repeat with a yellow piece and orange piece. Lay the strands side by side and press them together using your fingers. Cut the strand into 4-inch pieces. Lay the strands, 1 at a time, onto the silicone mat and press into a wedge shape, like a triangle. Use a small think knife to cut the candies into pieces. Or a wire butter slicer, metal bench scraper or pizza cutter to slice the dough into small pieces. Repeat the procedure with remaining dough. You may need to shape them with your fingers to make the corn look somewhat round. You can also make pumpkins by rolling a small ball of the orange, add a tiny drop of blue to the yellow and use for the stems. Lay the finished pieces on a piece of parchment or waxed paper to dry for 1 hour in the refrigerator to harden. Store in a sealed container with parchment paper between each layer.

The batch makes a good deal of candy and if your children don't eat half in the process, I saw a recipe for candy corn martinis. You might need one after this...

Fall color from Laguna Nursery is a pretty old wooden cart with gourds, white pumkins, butternut squash...

These are called Princess pumpkins. I am not certain if a princess was supposed to make her Cinderella chariot out of them or what, but we stacked them like a japanese rock offering.

Swallows Come Back to Capistrano March 19th

March 19th the Mission in San Juan Capistrano is celebrating St. Joseph’s Day and the date the Swallows are to return. It is an old fashioned family party. Come join the live music and bring your camera. You ask what does St. Joseph have to do with the swallows?


They are celebrating the feast day of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary. Joseph was a humble carpenter. St Joseph is the kind of man you might choose for a Dad. We know when he took Jesus to be circumcised at the temple to be purified he offered of two turtledoves or a pair of pigeons, allowed only for those who could not afford a lamb (Luke 2:24).

 An angel came to Joe in a dream and told him Mary was pregnant with God’s child, without question he married Mary. This was during a time when adultery was punishable by death. A real man.

Enough of my side line catechism, what is the connection? The old padres at the mission knew on the feast day of St. Joseph the birds return. Some say it is to honor the Saint. Others might tell you it is the bells that bring the the martins home. I just hope the increasing flocks of crows here don’t scare them away.


Enjoy looking for their mud nests under the 5 Freeway, and come out for the fun.