2 Foodies - 2 Dogs - 1 Budget

Sunday Breakfast & The Colors Of Summer

For our breakfast Sunday, Henry, Mom and I went to Mimi's Cafe.  Herny had chicken sausage and eggs, Mom had french toast and bacon, and I had crab cakes Benedict.  Sometimes, just taking a moment, sitting down and being served food without preparing it is an extra special treat.

Right after our Mimi feast, across the street was a local farmers market that happens every Sunday where vendors sell their fresh produce, plants, etc.  The deals at a local farmers market are sometimes unbelievable.  I snagged an 8 lb bag of grapefruit which had 12 large grapefruits for only $2 for the entire bag!  Here are some photos I took showing off the colors of Summer:

Weather report - Overcast - Drizzle - Dank: Must be Soup Time!

Today when I woke up it actually felt chilly in the house.  When I stepped outside I realized why.  It was overcast, and lightly drizzling in Long Beach.  After breakfast, I was motivated to make something hearty to serve with dinner later tonight, and soup came to mind.

When I was a kid living in the Bronx, I remember going to my Mom's Mothers apartment for family dinners now and then and Grandma would make a soup from a mix by Manischewitz. FYI Manischewitz has been serving up mixes since 1888!, they must be doing something right.  A few weeks ago while shopping I saw the mix she used to use and picked it up.  They have several different types, I actually picked up a lentil mix as well as a split pea mix.  Today I did the split pea mix.  The mix is pretty straight forward, add the peas to a pot with 5 cups of water, boil then cover and simmer for 1 hour.  About 10 minutes before the hour is up, add a flavor packet. 

Of course I am a foodie and can't just make something without embellishing.  So while cooking the peas, I had a ham hock in the pot which helped add flavor.  And i shredded the meat off the ham hock at the end and added it back to the soup.  As I am writing this I hear Ella and Louie fighting over the bones that they are enjoying from the ham hock. 

As a side note, Grandma Rose was a foodie in her own way.  I remember she would add a turkey neck to the soup when she cooked hers to give it extra flavor.

Foodie Mecca Canters & The Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax

This morning I started my day with a perfectly toasted poppy bagel.  This past Thursday when my Mom and I went to see my doctor at Cedars Sinai, we stopped after wards at two Los Angeles Icons that in my opinion represent a foodies paradise . . . Canters Delicatessen and The Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax.  While at Canters, my Mother had a half corned beef sandwich with a cup of kreplach soup and I had half a pastrami sandwich and a cup of barley bean soup.  Stepping into Canters is like stepping back in time, where the wait staff are professional servers with grey/blue hair, the deli meats are impeccably carved thin and lean, and the baked goods are authentic. 

After lunch I couldn't help but get bagels and two dozen assorted rugelah.  After we finished the tin of rugelah my Aunt Carol and Uncle Johnny sent me, I have been craving more, and Canters comes pretty close to what Grandma Yetta used to bake!

After having a filling lunch at Canters, my Mom and I went a couple blocks away to The Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax which has been around since 1934 and started out with vendors selling produce out of the back of their trucks.  Today the Farmers Market has over 100 shops, restaurants and grocers, and truly is a great place to people watch, step back in time, and relax.

There is a lot of history at the market.  It was originally founded and still owned by the Gilmore Family which struck oil and made their money way back in the oil/gas business.  A few years back they put up some history on the land to commemorate their heritage in the oil business.  For a full history on the market click this link History. 

While at the market, we made two foodie stops, the first was some fresh produce at The Fruit Company.  For about $7 we purchased fresh brussel sprouts, two beautiful eggplants, and a bundle of asparagus.

Continuing on our foodie shopping spree, our next stop was Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market.  This gourmet market has a wide selection of cheeses, olives, wines, gourmet foods, etc.  While there we purchased some gourmet infused vinegars, gourmet pasta, and maple syrup (Henry loves maple syrup with yogurt and fresh fruit).

During my Mom's visit, she has been on a quest to find large visors to keep the sun out of her eyes.  This was one she tried, and did not purchase but I couldn't resist taking a picture of her debut as a martian from mars in this stylish green visor.

The Power of Memories in a Foodies Life

When I was 13 my grandparents on my Dads side gave me this beautiful initial ring.  They actually gave all of their grandsons the same ring when they turned 13.  In the Jewish religion, when a young man turns 13 it symbolizes coming into manhood, and this is part of the reason they gave us such a nice gift.  I wore this ring quite a bit when I was younger. When I started traveling around the country and living in different cities, I had given the ring to my Mom to put in her safety deposit box for safe keeping, and I didn't think much about this ring in the last 20 years.  When my Mom came to visit me during my recuperation from cancer, she brought the ring with her and I slipped it on my finger and haven't taken it off.  I asked my Mom if she knew why Grandma and Grandpa picked an initial ring to give all the Grandsons, she just said it was to commemorate our turning 13. 

In actuality it was that but it is so much more.   Since I slipped this ring back on my finger, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of my belated Grandparents, especially my Grandmother Yetta.  To Yetta, her family and food was her life.  I can remember going over to their apartment on a Saturday morning with my older brother and having breakfast and having my first cup of coffee at age 8.  I also remember the family gatherings around holidays where she would be in the kitchen dishing out amazing Jew food. . . brisket, potato latka's, matzoh ball soup, gefilte fish, etc. etc.  The family would be eating at the table and she would be in the kitchen until all the food was served.  When she would finally come out to sit down, we were all so stuffed that our pants were unbuttoned, belts loosened, and none of us could take another bite.  Grandma was spunky and she would say "Eaaatttttt!" to which we all would reply we are full.  And she would say "Eaaaattt, I didn't see you eat, now eat!".  If we ate a little more she would be happy, if we were too full to get the next bite down she would tell us politely to "Eat S#&t".  As I said she was spunky, but oh so lovable.

The ring might have been to commemorate my turning 13, but to me it also commemorates my early memories of becoming a foodie, and the love and care that my Grandmother Yetta took in her food to make her family happy.

 

Ginger Mint Snap Iced Tea

This iced tea is sure hit the spot when temperatures start to rise, and it's packed with antioxidants from Silver White Tea, we used Full Bloom Tea's Teapot Bloom for this recipe.  Henry came up with the recipe and on weekends we can't get enough of this, it's really refreshing, and the blooming tea looks great in the pitcher.

• Brew your favorite white tea, pour into a pitcher and refrigerate
• Add
• Ginger simple syrup to taste
• Add fresh Mint
• Add Ice
• Serve, sip, enjoy, chill!

Ginger Simple Syrup

• Peel and slice fresh Ginger into thin slivers
• In saucepan boil 1 cup of water with the Ginger slivers
• Add 2 cups of sugar, mix until dissolved, lower heat to low and reduce until mixture is syrup consistency, remove from heat, let cool, remove ginger and refrigerate syrup
• Take the Ginger slivers and place in a plastic bag with cane sugar, toss to coat, place pieces on a cookie sheet overnight to make ginger candy which can be used for a garnish on the edge of the iced tea glass, the Ginger Candy is edible.