This is Newton. Could it be that he knows his profile is quite stunning? He was on pretty good social behavior the other night, unlike his sister Lulu who was a no-show (we’ll get her next time!). One this is for sure, seemingly aware of his good looks, no none is gonna mess with this Puss! I guess you could say Newton has major Cattitude and we love it!!!!

I love cooking Sunday night dinner but it’s also really nice to be invited to a friend’s house. Especially when you know that friend is a really good cook, is promising to make comfort food suitable for the rainy night and is inviting some fresh faces which include a wonderful photographer and his author wife!

Wanna read a juicy book? Novelist Jessica Speart once an investigative journalist now writes about her experiences through the eyes of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agent Rachael Porter. Cool thing is all cases involve wildlife law, endangered species and the environment! Jessica is currently out here in Los Angeles researching a case for her next novel and we had the pleasure to meet her and her husband George!

Elizabeth almost has the entire collection (now all autographed!!!), here a sampling.

For a chilly night, the soup course, an amazing tomato fennel courtesy of Bill Granger. Check out his cookbooks, they are beautiful!

More from Bill: Chicken Pot Pie (a touch of tarragon makes them soooo good!)

This picture must have been taken towards the end of the dinner.
Wine = blurry pictures!!!
Sorry about that Jessica and George, it was great to meet you!
What can I say!!! We had a great time, Elizabeth you always do such a AMAZING job!
Hannah and Newton we loved seeing you, where was Lulu???
Ryan, I hope you enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies we “accidentally” left behind!!!

Yesterday I did the craziest thing. Well not really but it was raining cats and dogs, I mean storming! So hoped in the car and drove to meet my friend Miriam in Burbank for tea and a little Thrift Shopping on Magnolia Blvd.

When it rains in Los Angeles, people really drive nutty so I was relieved when I got off the freeway and pulled up right in front of our meeting place, Urban Eats. Somehow I couldn’t find any of my 3 umbrellas, of course! Their food looked pretty good although I was able to resist and only ordered a tea. (Magnolia Blvd. needs a really great coffee shop but with all those tiny, funky little stores it’s a wonder any can stay in business these days anyhow).

In fact, the iconic store Victorian Rose, is closing and liquidating all merchandise. So sad! But it seems the owner just wants to retire, so maybe it’s not another tragic victim of the economy. So Miriam and I went in in search of some vintage plates and found the prices still way out of range. We even saw plates that were owned my Marie Antoinette, part of the owner’s collection which were valued at $2000 per plate!

Miriam and I parted each in our perspective raincoats, she going on to do a minute more shopping (where she was totally successful finding bargain-o-rama plates!) and I went home to finish reading my book club Mademoiselle Benoir: A Novel which could not be more perfect for a rain day. And yes, another cup of tea!

It’s supposed to rain again tomorrow, yipppeee!!!

I know people in the East Coast are freezing their butts off but it’s definitely a different story out here in Los Angeles. And even though the weather is calling for rarely seen rain this Thursday we’ve had nothing but total Spring. Here are a few things I am excited about:

1. Spring flowers. In my garden I see evidence of last year’s bulbs popping through – tulips, daffodils and crocuses – can’t wait for the blossoms!

2.Smith and Hawkin – such a gorgeous gardening store, I love their paperwhites, pottery and topiaries – I always get inspired here!

3. J.Crew – Time to buy a few new things and I LOVE the colors they are doing for Spring with the influence from India. Pastels never looked so good! (and love the pictures from Greece in the Wedding section!).

4. Iced tea – not that my tea kettle is going away but lunch is now happening out on the patio and lighter food requires iced tea!

5. Fruit Tarts – I will become a pro this year. Can’t wait to go to the Farmer’s Markets when the fruit is in season! Elizabeth, are you game for a little baking?

6. A juicy Spring novel – our bookclub is starting out 2009 by reading Mademoiselle Benoir: A Novel by Christine Conrad. This time we have a 30-something guy buying a farmhouse in France. Done in the form of a series of letters.

Grab that iced tea and get out on the patio, the air is fresh, it’s Springtime! And for your East Coasters, soon, soon!

Would love to hear your thoughts on Spring, what inspires you?!!!

There is no better solution to getting laid off your job of 7 years then packing up and heading for the wine country! Just 2 days of beauty, relaxation, good food and wine – instant happiness! A photo montage of some of our experiences:

A shed we discovered during a walk through a neighborhood in Solvang

We always stop at Pierre LaFond in Montecito on the ride up for breakfast. They have a market, a deli, a coffee shop, and sell everything from flowers to candy to cookbooks! Everything is beautiful here!

No Three Muscateers here! Even the candy bars are cool!

Los Olivos Cafe – super COZY and we LOVE it here! (great atmosphere and delicious food and wine!)

My appetizer, warm goat cheese with marinara sauce – delicious!

And of course, little wine purchasing!

The barn of my dream house – right down the street from the cafe!

Black and White Ball

Ok, I’m finally over thinking about the inauguration and realize I MUST MOVE ON!!!!
So my seguay is another type of ball and a recipe served there. The famous Black and White ball held in 1966 by Truman Capote. And funny enough, I learned all about this ball and this Quirky recipe from Ina Garten on the Barefoot Contessa. This is a new take on comfort food you will want to add to your repetoire!

I Wiki’d it to find out more information as you’ll see below. What Wiki does not mention (what? no foodies contributing, will I be the first?) is that Truman served at this ULTRA ELEGANT SOIREE a total comfort food – BASIL CHICKEN HASH! Read about the party:

TRUMAN CAPOTE’S BLACK AND WHITE BALL

On November 28, 1966, in honor of The Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, Capote hosted a legendary masked ball, called the Black and White Ball, in the Grand Ballroom of New York City’s Plaza Hotel. It was considered the social event of not only that season but of many to follow. The New York Times and other publications gave it considerable coverage, and Deborah Davis wrote an entire book about the event, Party of the Century (2006), excerpted by The Independent.[16] Different accounts of the evening were collected by George Plimpton in his book Truman Capote.[17]
Capote dangled the prized invitations for months, snubbing early supporters like Carson McCullers as he determined who was “in” and who was “out”. In choosing his guest of honor, Capote eschewed glamorous “swans” like Babe Paley and Fiat heiress Marella Agnelli in favor of Katharine Graham. Capote’s elevator man danced the night away with a woman who did not know his pedigree.[citation needed] Norman Mailer sounded off about Vietnam, and Frank Sinatra danced with his young wife, Mia Farrow.

Basil Chicken Hash
2006, Ina Garten, All Rights Reserved

Prep Time:45 minInactive Prep Time: hr minCook Time:1 hr 10 min
Level:
Intermediate
Serves:
4 servings

Ingredients
2 whole (4 split) chicken breasts, bone-in, skin-on
16 basil leaves
Olive Oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
2 pounds boiling potatoes, peeled and large diced
2 red onions, chopped
2 red bell peppers, large diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon tomato paste
4 minced scallions, white and green parts
1/4 cup chopped fresh leaf parsley
Sour cream, Cheddar and sliced lemons, for serving
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Loosen the skin from the meat with your fingers, leaving one side attached. Place 4 basil leaves under the skin of each chicken breast. Pull the skin over as much of the meat as possible so the chicken won’t dry out. With your hands, rub each piece with olive oil and sprinkle very generously with salt and pepper. Bake the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes, until the skin is lightly browned and the chicken is just cooked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then remove the meat from the bones. Cut the chicken in large dice pieces and set aside.

Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large saute pan. Add the potatoes and onions, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and saute over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until evenly browned and cooked through.

In a separate saute pan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the red peppers, garlic, thyme, paprika, tomato paste, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and saute over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the edges of the peppers are seared.

Add the chicken and the pepper mixture to the potatoes and heat through. Add the scallions and parsley, toss together and place on a serving platter.

For absolutely amazing and unique pictures of people in the U.S. and all over the world watching the inauguration check out this link to Boston.com

A townhall in Paris, France

Soldiers in Iraq

Baghdad

Now more than ever we can say it’s a global world we live in and Obama is President!!!