Life Begins at 30

Shutter Sisters

{147} in my kitchen window, originally uploaded by jen_maiser.

Some of my favorite people on the Internet have come together to create Shutter Sisters -- a "collaborative photo blog that welcomes all women with a passion for photography from experts to amateurs alike." 

I am very excited about this website!

Posts in other places

marin roots farm, teeny tiny beets, originally uploaded by jen_maiser.

With the chaos of the holidays, I didn't get a chance to tell you that I posted my Top 10 Tastes of 2007 on Bay Area Bites.  It was a year of delicious tastes, and I hope to have equally wonderful bites this year.

And today, I wrote about Marin Roots Farm, a new booth at the Ferry Plaza Farmers' market.

Oh, and if you haven't had a chance to read the Eat Local Challenge piece called "Shut up and Eat?" it's worth checking out.

Happy Tuesday, all!

Things I Never Get Tired Of

Stormy Day in San Francisco, 10/2007, originally uploaded by jen_maiser.

You may have noticed that over on the left-hand sidebar I have a list of blogs that I call "Inspirations."  These are blogs that make me stretch my mind and imagination and expectations and I love them all for that.  Via Chookooloonks* yesterday I noticed Jen Lemen's post about "25 things I never get tired of."  I thought it was a perfect thing for me to consider during the first week of 2008.  So without further ado:

1. Cracking open a brand new cookbook.
2. Looking at really amazing portraits.
3. Chapstick.
4. Talking to my grandmother.
5. Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge.
6. Going to farmers' markets.
7. KFOG Acoustic Sunrise on Sunday mornings.
8. Listening to my friend Anna's outgoing phone message - her daughter recorded it when she was about 2 (she's about to be 6), and I hope they keep it till she's 18.
9. Chatting with the people who create or grow my food.
10. Watching stormy days in the city from the warmth of my living room.
11. Filling notebooks with random thoughts, lists and notes.
12. Really great stationery stores.
13. Giggling uncontrollably with my best friend - we met over giggles in 7th grade and somehow manage to crack each other up to this day.
14. Eyes closed, iPod on, dancing around my bedroom alone.
15. Listening to people tell me how amazing my family is.
16. Reading my blog comments (not a ploy -- I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate them though I am atrocious at answering them).
17. Supermarkets in foreign countries.
18. The surprise of becoming dear friends with people who I have met as a result of this blog.
19. Reading old handwritten recipes.
20. The anticipatory moment when I am transferring photos from my camera to my computer.
21. The overwhelming feeling of realizing a dream.
22. Hearing a compliment from a client who is pleased with my work.
23. Planning & making a meal for friends who really appreciate my cooking.
24. Walking through the city with no real destination, camera slung on my shoulder.
25. Fresh figs, cherries, tangerines, and blueberries.

* Chookooloonks is an amazing photographer and all around bad-ass chick.  Don't believe me?  Check out her amazing shots of her daughter.  I think I'm a better person because I read her blog and look at her photos.

Stay safe out there, all of you who are experiencing storms!

CUESA panel discussion: Is food safe to eat?

On Monday, January 7, you'll find me at the free CUESA panel discussion called "Is it safe to eat? A panel discussion about food safety solutions"

This event features several interesting panelists and I am looking forward to an high level discussion about food safety.

From the CUESA website:

panelists: C. Noelle Ferdon, Senior Organizer, Food and Water Watch
Kevin Zelig Golden, Staff Attorney, Center for Food Safety
Elisa Odabashian, Director of the West Coast Office, Consumers Union

description: E. coli, Salmonella, GMOs, pesticides…every week, it seems, news arrives of the latest potential danger in our food supply. When the very thing that is meant to nourish us may also do us harm, how can consumers be conscious without being paranoid? A panel of food safety experts will discuss strategies for making our food safer and the powerful forces that are keeping the status quo in place. Learn about the latest advocacy efforts, proposed legislation, and legal actions that these groups are taking to ensure that our basic human needs are met without compromising our health, and find out how your food choices can make a difference. Join us at 6:30 for a reception with light refreshments. Discussion begins at 7. This event is free and open to the public.

location: Port Commission Hearing Room, Ferry Building, (Embarcadero at Market St.), San Francisco

Organic Brussels Sprouts

Between being in Southern California for 10 days and going to Sea Ranch for New Year's, I feel like I was in San Francisco for about 5 minutes last week.

As is the usual case when I've been out of town, I went to a farmers' market as soon as I could.  Even when I don't need anything, going to a farmers' market grounds me and makes me feel like I'm home.  Last week, the market of choice was the Thursday San Rafael Farmers' Market, and the cohort of choice was Stephanie.

The market last week was pretty unique.  Many farmers were absent, having taken off the week between Christmas and New Year's, and many customers were missing.  We spent much more time at the market than I expected -- mostly because it was so quiet that we were able to have long, leisurely conversations with some of the farmers.  Everyone was chatty and in a good mood despite the fact that business was slow.

We ran into Jessica Boncutter, the chef at Bar Jules.  She was talking to Dave Little of Little Organic Farm and I had to stop myself from gushing over her and how excited I am to try her restaurant.  We spoke briefly and she went on her way.  (We were especially excited to see her leave the market, laden with veggies, in her City Car Share Prius.  She car shares!  Just like me!)

We spoke with the farmer at De Santis farm and found out that she is expecting to be selling Bergamot oranges within the next couple of weeks.

My favorite purchase at the market on Thursday was organic Brussels sprouts from Orchard Farms, a farm located in Sebastopol.  "Organic sprouts are hard to find," I commented to the farmer.  "I'm the only one I know who has them," he replied.

I've heard from other farmers that organic Brussels sprouts are especially difficult to grow.  So it's pretty unusual to find them, and when I do, they definitely aren't as pretty as conventional sprouts.  These sprouts were pricey at $6 per pound, but I purchased a pound and brought them home.

Brussels sprouts are best eaten when they are small and young.  According to Jeff Cox in The Organic Cook's Bible, they're difficult to find in this size outside of farmers' markets.

"Most Brussels sprouts are frozen and sold by packers, and they want sprouts that are between the standard 3/4 and 1 3/8 inches.  Sprouts for the fresh market tend to be the frozen market's rejects -- bigger, older, stinkier, and tougher."

With the chaos of the past couple of days, I forgot that I had them in the fridge until today.  Always susceptible to the blog posts of friends, I read Cookicrumb's post about her New Year's Day meal and remembered my sprouts.  Though I didn't recreate her dish as planned, I sauteed them up and had them for lunch along with some Rancho Gordo Cellini Runner Beans (sauteed with olive oil, garlic and sage).

The great news is that we San Franciscans now have an additional farm which will be selling organic brussels sprouts: Swanton Berry Farm!  I've been told that last week was the first week they were available, and they will have a few available at their Ferry Plaza booth (not sure about other markets) as they roll out this new crop.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!, originally uploaded by jen_maiser.

Happy 2008 to all of you!  I'll be back with this blog shortly -- it's been a couple of weeks of family time, relaxation, and holiday travel. 

Hope your holidays were safe and full of joy.