Saturday, July 31, 2010

summer is fleeting


I am so behind with my blog postings. BUT, here I am with a great recipe, an excellent book and keep your fingers crossed an amazing author event. Michel Nischan the head chef of The Dressing Room, Westport Theater's restaurant has a beautiful book, "Sustainably Delicious."It has many of the recipes featured in the restaurant as well as more. He totally embraces the local food movement, giving major support to "Wholesome Wave", an inner city organization based in Bridgeport bringing wholesome food to low income customers at affordable prices. Check out this wonderful link.

http://www.wholesomewave.com/


Soooooo, I am very hopeful that ESB will be partnering with Michel for a fall event. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Here is a terrific recipe from his book.

Easy, lots of good veggies and yummy. I love the crunchiness! Try it and stop by the store for the book. Mention you read about it on the blog and you'll get another 10% discount.

USE A SPOON CHOPPED SALAD

Serves 6
1 1/2 cups white wine vinegar
3 celery ribs, cut into 1/4 inch dice
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch dice
1 large red bell pepper, seed, cut into 1/4 inch dice
1 heirloom apple, cut into 1/4 inch dice
1/2 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/4 inch dice
1 cup each of the following; all sliced thin. radicchio,arugula & napa cabbage
3 TBSP good olive oil
seasonings to taste (sea salt, ground pepper)
1 1/2 cups crumbled local goat cheese
1/2 cup toasted almond slivers



Bring the vinegar to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat.Add the celery and carrots.
Remove the pan from the heat.
When the vinegar has cooled, add the peppers. Cover and refrigerate til cold.
Strain the chilled vegetables through a sieve. Reserve the vinegar and vegetables separatel



Lastly,
Mix together the apple, cucumber,arugula,raddichio and cabbage in a lare bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the reserved vinegar and the oil and toss well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the goat cheese and almonds.
This is a salad that displays summer's bounty. Enjoy.
















Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Summer Pick




Jayne has just finished the new Hilderbrand book...check out her review!




Elin Hilderbrand's new novel "THE ISLAND" is the perfect beach read if you are looking for a quick read with sun, romance, secrets,and a deserted island! If you are heading for a Nantucket vacation, or just want to go to Nantucket in your mind, read on because Elin takes you to the inside life of this popular little Island out to sea by setting the story on the remote, privately owned Island off the coast of Nantucket, called Tuckernut.
The story centers around a Mother who brings her two grown daughters and her Sister together for a long stay on Tuckernut to bond one more time before the wedding of one of her girls. India, Birdie, Chess and Tate each come full of personality, secrets, desires and search for answers at their ancestral home, now almost deserted but for the ghosts of relatives and their own memories. Grab your beach towel and umbrella, and don't forget to take along this great beach read!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

The Heat Is On



OK, 90 degrees today in the New Canaan area! Good day to grab an icy Swedish thriller and sit by the pool, the beach, the woods. If you have'nt already started the Steig Larsson books "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" group you are one of only a few left. Lead character Lizbeth Salander will take you on a ride you won't soon forget....and then just when you think it's over, two more books join the pack,"The Girl Who Played With Fire" and "The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest." She is a heroine for the 21st century.

Finished all the Larsson books? Then try Camilla Lackberg, one of Sweden's bestselling thriller writers. "The Ice Princess", another icy cold read for this steamy weekend.


Or jump into Henning Mankell's stand alone thriller "The Man From Bejing." Readers applaud Mankell as the "intellectual" thriller author. He reaches for deeper truths about humanity and largely succeeds.
On a lighter note we have the author and illustrator of the adorable "Ladybug Girl" books joining us at the New Canaan Library, 11:00am today, Saturday, June 26th. Don your ladybug wings and fly by for a storyhour and signing. Great gifts for the little ones in your life.















Sunday, June 20, 2010

Richard Russo Sunday June 27


Richard Russo
Sunday June 27 @ 4:00pm
The Wilton Library,
137 Old Ridgefield Rd, Wilton, CT
203-7623950

Pulitzer prizer winner, Richard Russo will be speaking about his lastest best selling novel, "That Old Cape Magic." Enjoy the opportunity to pose questions to Richard and hear his insights on the creative process of writing. Not to be missed! Be early, this event is sure to sell out.









Saturday, June 5, 2010

Tupperware




Remember Tupperware??




Well Elm Street Books will be hosting an
old-fashioned Tupperware Party on
Wednesday June 9th @ 6:00-7:30pm
at Elm Street Books, 35 Elm Street, New Canaan
Stop by to see all the new cool products. Bring your friends.
Wine and cheese soiree.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Hay Fever, How Chasing a Dream on a Vermont Farm Changed My Life








I love stories like this!
Thursday night at the New Canaan Library, 7:30pm we are hosting author Angela Miller of "Consider Bardwell Farms" cheese makers. She left her high powered NYC job to give the rural life in Vermont a try. What began as an innocent project to restore her new country home became a full-blown obsession that led to a successful artisanal cheese-making business. Still pursuing her NYC career she somehow balances this second "act" in life for a fulfilling culinary adventure.
Her cheeses are featured in the finest restaurants, including Daniel and The French Laundry.
Stop by for a glass of vino and a great tale!


























Saturday, May 29, 2010

Memorial Day 2010



This weekend we will be celebrating Memorial Day across the USA. A day when we pay tribute to the men and women who serve or have served in our armed forces to keep our American ideals alive. Pick up some books that speak to these values.






"7 Events That Made America America and Proved That the Founding Father's Were Right All Along"
By Larry Schweikart



"A welcome, refreshing, and solid contribution to relearning what we have forgotten and remembering why this nation is good and worth defending." -National Review


Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Illustrated - Jack E. Levin


“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”


A wonderful gift idea for graduates, friends, family! Inspirationing.