Katherine Spiers

kcetliving: Weekend Trip: Camping in the Sand at Jalama...

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:04:51 -0700

Weekend Trip: Camping in the Sand at Jalama Beach

Because of its location directly on the coastline, Jalama Beach is flush with sandy real estate. You can walk for miles in either direction without stumbling on any other buildings or packs of people, exploring tide pools along the way. Head north along the coast and pretty quickly you run into Vandenberg Air Force Base land, much of which is still open along the shore. Rocky outcroppings abound and eventually you’ll begin to make out the shape of the Cal Space launch complex, which launches many of the nation’s unmanned mapping and guidance satellites.

Head south along the beach for even more tide pool and cliffside viewing. And, for more adventurous hikers, it’s possible to hike the sandy seaside all the way to Point Conception, which is home to an old lighthouse and Coast Guard station. The trip is simple enough: just follow along the coastline for about four miles, then duck into the canyon on your left-hand side, turning south again at on old paved road that leads to the Coast Guard station at the point. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to access all of the grounds at Point Conception (and it’s not recommended you try to slip past the No Trespassing signs, lest you be fined by the on-site game warden), but the vistas and stunning lighthouse offer views you aren’t likely to find anywhere else nearby. Be sure to watch the tides; if they’re high, it might be a watery hike.

Read more at the link!

TAKE ME!

kcetliving: Local And Seasonal: Fava Bean, Prosciutto, and...

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:56:50 -0700

kcetliving:

Local And Seasonal: Fava Bean, Prosciutto, and Pecorino Romano Salad

Click through for the recipe, and some info on favas …

laphamsquarterly: Man, WASPs really know how to...

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:28:42 -0700

laphamsquarterly:

Man, WASPs really know how to summer.

wnyc:

nwkarchivist:

Ice Cubes Made from Tonic Water…

Folks were serious about their g & t’s back in ‘73!

Early running for best tip of the summer.

-Jody, BL Show-

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Tue, 21 May 2013 19:22:22 -0700

kcetliving: Summer Cocktail Recipes Summer unofficially kicks...

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:42:24 -0700

kcetliving:

Summer Cocktail Recipes

Summer unofficially kicks off with this week’s Memorial Day celebrations. We’re ready for some sun and some sparkly drinks to imbibe in said sun. Grey Goose, the French vodka company, has come up with some new drink recipes for the season, which we’ve reprinted here. Now, they encourage you to use Grey Goose products. We make no such demands. Whatever you use, just don’t drive after consumption!

See the recipes here.

Yes to these. (No to Tumblr’s enraging photo “capabilities.”)

kcetliving: Pixies And Wine In Ojai Sixty-five miles north of...

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:58:53 -0700

kcetliving:

Pixies And Wine In Ojai

Sixty-five miles north of Los Angeles, Ojai has long been known as a small town (population 8,150) that melds Mayberry’s easy hominess with European sophistication; the post office, where everyone knows everyone, is housed in a Castilian bell tower. But of late, this heaven-touched valley — face the pinking Topa Topa Mountains at sunset and you’ll understand — has raised fruit, in its myriad forms, to new heights. As you read this Ojai farmers, with help from scientific cohorts at the University of California Citrus Center at Riverside, are fomenting new citrus variants; sweeter, juicier, easier to peel. Not to be outdone, local winemakers — several, like Adam Tolmach and Manfred Krankl, with an avid global following — are creating new alchemy with grapes. And Ojai restaurants are bringing this fruity bounty to the table in innovative and yummy forms. Start with chef Laurel Moore’s stuffed dates at Azu.

Ojai sounds positively dreamy. Read more about what to do there here.

kcetliving: Container Culture: The Romantic Potential of...

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:50:50 -0700

kcetliving:

Container Culture: The Romantic Potential of Beans

…Sando says it’s when he gave up that things started to fall into place for him. “I started taking my beans to the farmers’ market, and one day Thomas Keller from French Laundry found my stand and loved my heirloom beans.” Take that, song about beans that highlights their flatulent potential.

From there, things took off for Sando. Rancho Gordo has been featured in the pages of Bon Apetit, Sunset, and Chow, among others. Saveur Magazine even put them on their heavily-prized Saveur 100 list. Rancho Gordo is now opening up a store in San Francisco’s Ferry Building, a haven for foodies. So I guess you could call Sando’s story, a ferry tale. Ugh, someone punch me.

Sando’s adoration for the legume might sound curious. None are the times I’ve heard someone emphatically declare, “I want to start a garden so I can grow beans!” Roses, yes. Eggplants, yes. Tomatoes, definitely yes. In fact, Sando got hooked on beans by accident because he was growing tomatoes and planted beans for the sake of crop rotation. But there’s good reason why people should embrace beans.

For one, beans are a nitrogen-fixing crop, which means they are one of the few plants out there that will actually put nitrogen into the soil instead of taking it out. Nitrogen is important for healthy plant foliage and is usually in short supply. So, if you plant a crop of beans, you are enriching your existing soil so you can plant again using that same soil. Also, because beans don’t produce large fruits, their sunlight requirements aren’t as demanding. Their root systems are shallow so they don’t require deep (expensive) pots.

Read more here.

"Creating a life that reflects your values and satisfies your soul is a rare achievement. In a..."

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:10:26 -0700

“Creating a life that reflects your values and satisfies your soul is a rare achievement. In a...

kcetliving: Meatless Monday: Herb and Ricotta Cheese...

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:12:52 -0700

kcetliving:

Meatless Monday: Herb and Ricotta Cheese Soufflé

“Generally, the color of the feathers inside a hen’s earlobe indicates the color of the eggs that she will lay. If a hen has white feathers, she will lay white eggs. If her earlobe feathers are red, expect to find brown eggs. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Araucana hens, native to Chile, have red earlobe feathers but they lay sea foam green eggs.”

What?! Anyway, get the souffle recipe here!

Naughty cowboy, getting in fights and kissing boys! You are BAD...

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:54:53 -0700

Naughty cowboy, getting in fights and kissing boys! You are BAD NEWS!

Yahoo board approves 1.1 billion cash acquisition of Tumblr, according to WSJ

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:57:52 -0700

Yahoo board approves 1.1 billion cash acquisition of Tumblr, according to WSJ: Womp womp. I’m...

kcetliving: Weekend Recipe: Strawberry Salsa and Black Bean...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:33:56 -0700

kcetliving:

Weekend Recipe: Strawberry Salsa and Black Bean Tacos

Strawberry salsa? Try it! Tomatoes and strawberries are both fruits, after all, and I’ve discovered lately that swapping strawberries for tomatoes in traditional recipes yields surprisingly delicious results. These tacos straddle the line between savory and sweet for a simple, light meal or colorful appetizer. Feel free to make extra salsa to serve with salted tortilla chips.

See the recipe here.

"I’ve been studying the diner burger lately, and there’s something so reassuring about the formula of..."

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:20:14 -0700

“I’ve been studying the diner burger lately, and there’s something so reassuring about the...

kcetliving: Dare 2 Dream Farms: Backyard Chickens Delivered to...

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:16:00 -0700

kcetliving:

Dare 2 Dream Farms: Backyard Chickens Delivered to Your Door

Somewhere along a canyon road in the small town of Lompoc, you’ll come across a covey of quail resting under the shade of mature oaks, a rooster fluffing up its feathers in defiance and a flock of hens bathing in the dust of a family-owned farm. You’ll smile at the four-legged mascots — Conner, Walker, George and Bandit — lounging lazily in the grass with their feathered family.

You’ll find Megan Raff out by the coops, collecting freshly laid eggs from the hundreds of chickens that freely range about the ranch; or you’ll find her on the computer, answering emails and coordinating deliveries for her husband, Jeremy Raff, who brings beautiful breeds of chickens into the homes of their new families.

Read more about this fantastic business here. The chickens play in the trees!

latimes: pbs-food: Click here to find a delicious chocolate...

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:39:44 -0700

latimes:

pbs-food:

Click here to find a delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe perfect for your own noms.

We endorse this message.

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Wed, 15 May 2013 08:18:23 -0700

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Tue, 14 May 2013 21:54:22 -0700

kcetliving: LAUSD Breakfast Program May End The Los Angeles...

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:40:59 -0700

kcetliving:

LAUSD Breakfast Program May End

The Los Angeles Unified School District board will decide today whether to continue the Breakfast in the Classroom program, which has faced some criticism for cutting into instruction time and causing some unsanitary conditions at schools.

Parent and union groups have staged a series of rallies in support of the program in recent weeks, saying it provides meals for nearly 200,000 children with the idea that students are more attentive and perform better if they start the day with a nutritious breakfast.

Read more here.

kcetliving: Organic Farmers Request Farm Bill Change California...

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:40:40 -0700

kcetliving:

Organic Farmers Request Farm Bill Change

California farmers are asking Congress for an organic “boost.” Last year’s national Farm Bill extension failed to include funding for a program that helps organic farmers offset the cost of getting certified.

According to Tom Page, a farmer from Ramona who is vice president of the Pacific Southwest Chapter of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), they need the certification to be able to sell to places like Whole Foods or local natural-food markets so, without the financial assistance cuts will have to be made.

Did you know farmers must pay for organic certification? See more here.

Is joke, yes?

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:29:51 -0700

Is joke, yes?