September 2009 newsletter

good cateress newsletter September 09


A fantastic end of summers sunday; not a cloud in the sky, low humidity, birds are singing. Oh yes, the church behind us is in full swing; not always the prettiest of swings and it is very loud. I keep thinking we will get used too it, but it has yet to happen. Definitely no lie ins here on a sunday morning.

Yesterday at Union Square Market I bought sweet end of summer peaches, bigger and juicer than the july peaches, which I have turned into jam and chutney. Kirby’s that Num has pickled: dill and then chili too. Tomatoes for a country soup. Last night we had excellent striped bass for dinner with a few zucchini sticks and union square salad. I enjoy august saturdays in the city, I drive down to union square, park without a problem, but I know that this will be the last time for that. Union square will be busier next week, I will need to get up and go earlier. I am ready for the start of the Fall vegetables to appear!

I have a fantasy about asking our neighbor to cut down his tree, so that we would have a sunny garden in which we could grow all manner of vegetables and fruits. In my minds eye, I see the rows with brick paths round them. But, then we would have no shade at the back of the house, the south side and on those 90 degree days we look for that shade. And the squirrels... I had grown some peppers, japanese eggplants, tomatoes in pots, the squirrel gets to them all, and eats his full. Now I am thinking about a roof garden. It has however been fascinating to see the increase of insect varieties in the last few years. And the slugs and snails who are not quite so fascinating.

Summer memories 2009

A cold dreary June; probably one of the only times that England was hotter in June than here in New York. Full of expectation of warm days on the beach on the Isle of Wight I took, shorts and bathing suit that once again went unworn.

England winning the Ashes; a great Test match at Lords. Meaningless to Americans but a once in a lifetime event for England.

Walking Plume ( a black and white Springer Spaniel) each afternoon around the Trout lakes in the center of the Isle of Wight. Looking out over scrubby meadows towards the Square Norman turret of Godshill church rising in the distance. Across farmland dotted with cows, a distant lark singing, a kestrel hovering overhead, rabbits scurrying into barrows. A gray Heron rising from the nearest fish lake, it’s giant wings hoisting the ungainly bird into a distant tree. A sight unchanged in a hundred years or more; a Constable painting awaiting an artist.

A pair of cormorants sitting on a fishing pier at the trout lake, clearly making use of it! I had never seen cormorants anywhere but the sea! Red squirrels in the Cobb bushes; Isle of Wight only has red squirrels, who as far as I know, do not eat garden produce! The last few flowers on the wild foxgloves. Scenting a fox nearby; Badger barrows; endless rabbit warrens. Sloes, blackberries, hazelnuts, crab apples; the hedgerow filling with it fruits. Dragonflies scudding over the giant Gunerra.

Beautiful Bride and Handsome groom at a garden wedding. Pretty girls in shoestring straps impervious to the chill of an english summers night. Scrumptious hot dogs at 1 am! The wedding buffet of Isle of Wight Produce: Baked Hams, Roast Beef, new potatoes, cous cous and roast vegetables, cole slaw. Strawberries and raspberries with clotted cream. It all tastes so good when someone else has worked and cooked it!

Simon came down to the Island with Ian and Sofia for a few days; I knew we would be at the beach no matter the weather. The first day it was very windy but sunny, I found a sunny hollow part way down the cliff out of the wind; I lay among the scrubby grass and wildflowers, watching a kestrel ride thermals, spotting its prey and dropping from the sky like a stone 30 feet away. Gulls crying. The sound of the surf crashing on the beach below. The kids shouting up to me how delicious the water was. The next day, it was not so windy, so I went down and lay on the cool sand. Walked along the beach, the water was as I suspected, cold; even though everyone kept telling me that the Gulf Stream was now running through the Channel. Sandy picnic food supplied by M & S.

Local caught Plaice meuniere, sauteed samphire, and julienne celery root remoulade - a perfect meal. Corn chowder; Black currant crumble; Sue’s chocolate courgette cake and Bacon and Onion tart and Yes, lots of Roast Isle of Wight lamb with mint sauce. Local crab salad; carefully picking the meat from the shell; some mouthfuls not as well as others; enjoying it a lot more when someone else has picked the meat for me.

Sitting at sunset on the dock of Southhold fish market eating fried clam rolls and Barbecue shrimp wraps.

Barbecuing on the rooftop garden of the Arsenal watching a large spider spinning its web as the sun set behind it.

As many of you know Num is a first rate musician. He and his band are available as a duo on up, for Christmas parties, Wedding, Bar Mitzvahs, etc. They do an outstanding job of Jazz and Pop Standards, as well as reggae. Contact DRastadub@aol.com or 212 831 3313.

Cathy, my friend who occasionally works with me, has started a new Business called Home Transitions. She and her partner Martha can help you move, organize, declutter and clean out homes and storage. www.HTransitions.com or call 203 853 2547.





Jane’s Creole Crab Cakes

1lb crab meat
3/4 cup bread crumbs - panko or home made
1 cup mayonaise
2 tablespoons meaux mustard
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
3 chopped scallions/spring onions
1 tablespoon bourbon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper - optional
salt and pepper to taste


Combine all the ingredients, mix well. Make to desired size patty. Saute in a small amount of canola oil. Serve immediately.





"Smoke hangs like haze over harvested fields, 
The gold of stubble, the brown of turned earth
And you walk under the red light of fall
The scent of fallen apples, the dust of threshed grain
The sharp, gentle chill of fall.
Here as we move into the shadows of autumn
The night that brings the morning of spring
Come to us, Lord of Harvest
Teach us to be thankful for the gifts you bring us ..."
-  Autumn Equinox Ritual