THE VILLAGE VOICE

" A Kiss that's never tasted Is forever and ever wasted." ~ from a song by Billy Holiday _____________ RACK OF LAMB WITH ROSEMARY SAUCE 2 (1-lb.) frenched * racks of lamb (*have butcher trip meat from tips for easy serving) 3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 3 Tbsp. soy sauce 3 cloves minced garlic 2 Tbsp. fresh minced rosemary 3 tsp. thyme 3/4 tsp. fresh ginger 6 Tbsp. olive oil 2 tsp. cracked pepper Blend Dijon, soy sauce, garlic, rosemary, thyme and ginger in food processor or blender. Add cracked pepper and pour over lamb. Marinate several hours or overnight. Bring lamb to room temperature before cooking. Drain lamb, reserving sauce, and place in roasting pan with ribs curving down. Bake in preheated 500º oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 300º, baste with sauce, and bake and additional 10 minutes for rare, 15 minutes for medium-rare. Simmer remaining sauce in small saucepan for 5 minutes. Serve over lamb with Pistachio Crusted Sweet Potatoes and Stir-fried Sweet & Plump S...

"All of the evil that people have thrust upon chocolate is really more deserved by milk chocolate, which is essentially contaminated. The closer you get to a pure chocolate liquor (the chocolate essence ground from roasted cacao beans) the purer it is, the more satisfying it is, the safer it is, and the healthier it is." ~ Arnold Ismach (The Darker Side of Chocolate) COUNTESS TOULOUSE- LAUTREC'S FRENCH CHOCOLATE CAKE ~ a perennial favorite, perfect for Valentine's Day, adapted from MAIDA HEATTER'S BOOK OF GREAT CHOCOLATE DESSERTS _____________ 1 lb. good semisweet chocolate 5 oz. (1 1/4 sticks) room temperature sweet butter 4 extra-large eggs, separated 1 Tbsp. unsifted all-purpose flour Pinch of salt 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In an 8-inch springform pan, cut a round waxed or parchment paper to fit the bottom. Butter one side of paper and the sides of the pan (not the bottom). Place buttered paper in pan, buttered side up, and clam...

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." ~ Marcel Proust ~ Thanksgiving Roses "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~ John F. Kennedy

Multiple Personality Day When : Always March 5 th " Multiple Personality Day is an opportunity to get in touch with yourselves. Someone with a split personality has two personalities. Someone with multiple personalities has more than two personalities . Its a psychological disorder that we hope none of our readers have. When you wish someone 'Happy Multiple Personalty Day' , you may need to do so multiple times, once for each personality. " ~ Holiday Insights ~ 'Multiple Personality' Rose __________ COFFEE BAKED ALASKA with MOCHA SAUCE ~ A newer twist on and old 'multiple personality (hot & cold)' yummy '50s favorite, perfect for this crazy 'multiple personality' month of March. ( Bon Appetit 1999) _____ CAKE 1 quart softened coffee ice cream 1 (10.75 oz.) frozen pound cake 4 large room temperature egg whites 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar 1 tsp. coffee liqueur (like Kahlua) 1/3 cup sugar SAUCE 1 1/2 cups freshly brewed strong coffee ...

" Those of us who are gardeners do not need to train ourselves to be aware of the seasons, intuitively or any other way, for the seasons have us by the throat. " ~ Germaine Greer ~ A Winter Night's Dream ________________ SCONES with ROSE PETALS and PISTACHIOS ~ Tuck this delicious recipe from FLOWERS in the KITCHEN away until roses bloom. Be sure to use pesticide-free flowers (best to grow your own). ________ 2 1/4 cups unbleached white flour 2 tsp. sugar 3/4 tsp. salt 2-3 pinches cinnamon 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1/3 cup pistachios (lightly toasted & finely ground) 1 cup cream 1 tsp. rose water (can be found at Specialty Food Stores or Whole Foods) 1 cup confectioner's sugar 1 Tbsp. rose jelly (or red current jelly mixed with 1/2 tsp. rose water) Preheat oven to 425-degrees. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl and blend thoroughly. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in pistachios. Stir in cream together with rose water. Rinse rose petal...

"February fill dyke, Be it black or be it white." ~ E. Holden ( Country Diary of Edwardian Lady ) ~ 'Eye of a Rose'

" A single rose can be my garden...a single friend, my world" - Leo Buscaglia ~ Beauty of a single rose _________ INDONESIAN LAMB with COLD PEANUT SAUCE ~ Romantic memories loom from a quite booth at the Bijou , one of Detroit's 'top 10 restaurants' back in the 80s ... this recipe is 'trial & error attempt after a 'first taste' of Renee's (the chef) peanut sauce. ______ 2 lb. Frenched rack of lamb 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/3 cup diced celery 1/3 cup diced onion 1 clove minced garlic 1/2 cup Dijon mustard 1/4 cup cider vinegar 3 Tbsp. curry powder 3 Tbsp. honey 2 bay leaves 2 tsp. A-1 steak sauce 1 tsp oregano 2 dashes Tabasco sauce juice and zest of 1 large lemon COLD PEANUT SAUCE: 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup coconut cream 2 Tbsp. soy sauce 1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/4 tsp. coarse salt dash of Tabasco juice of 1 lemon In a medium skillet, heat oil and add celery, onion and garlic and saute until soft and transparent. Reduce hea...

"All gardeners need to know when to accept something wonderful and unexpected, taking no credit except for letting it be." ~ Allen Lacy Allen Lacy information ~ http://www.ibiblio.org/london/agriculture/literature/1/msg00057.html __________ ~ Daisies, daylilies, rose, and Monarda (beebalm/bergamot) ~ Oriental lily ~ Coneflower (Echinacea), dahlia, Ligularia, Herb Robert, astilbe, Moombeam coreopsis, and Heuchera (Key Lime Pie & Creme Brulee) ~ Daylily ~ Coneflower (Echinacea), daylilies, rose, Monarda, phlox and New Guinea impatient

~ Iceland Poppy ~ Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) ~ Spiderwort (Tradescantia) ~ 'Carefree Beauty' Rose

"Oysters are the most tender and delicate of all seafoods . They stay in bed all day and night. They never work or take exercise, are stupendous drinkers, and wait for their meals to come to them.” Hector Bolitho ~ 'The Glorious Oyster' (1960) =============== OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER SOUP ~ adapted from COOKS.COM 1 pint fresh shucked oysters (drained & liquor reserved) 1 lb. fresh stemmed spinach 1 1/2 cup chicken stock or canned broth 4 Tbsp. butter 1 small minced onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 rib finely chopped celery 2 c. half & half or light cream 3 tbsp. Pernod 1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese 1 1/2 tsp. anise seed 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper Lemon slices for garnish Or use 1 (10 oz.) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry. If using fresh spinach, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the spinach and cook until just wilted, 1 minute. Drain and rinse under cold running water. Squeeze as dry as possible. Plac...

Today is the 248 th anniversary of Scottish poet Robert Burns' birthday. Sit by the fire after dinner, sip a bit of Scotch whiskey and nibble on Scottish Oatcakes, Stilton cheese and toasted nuts. Scottish Oatcakes (All Around the World Cookbook ~ Sheila Lukins ) Process 2 cups rolled oats in food processor until they resemble coarse flour. Transfer to bowl and add 1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1 tsp. salt, mixing well. Add 2 Tbsp. melted butter combining with wooden spoon, adding 1/3 cup water, a bit at a time, until combined. Scatter 1/4 cup rolled oats on work surface. Gather dough in a ball and roll in oats. Roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2 - inch rounds and bake 15 minutes in 350 degree oven until edges lightly golden. Cool 15 minutes before serving. (20 oatcakes) A Red, Red Rose ~ Robert Burns My love is like a red, red rose That’s newly sprung in June : My love is like the melody That’s sweetly played in tune. As fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in love am...

THINKING ~ IN BLACK & WHITE