lalala

Pathetic, but true Tulios Nells Burgermaster by U Village (seriously, we go there before most international trips, so usually 10 times a year without even thinking). lalala

Fine. We have a tangerine, a small lime, two lemons and an olive tree. They are outside now, but in the winter we put them up on porch (we have a large porch). In the worst of it, we bring the olive, one small lime and one lemon into the front hall. The rest we cover with blankets and put a small light (usually a ball or two of christmas lights) underneath them for a bit of warmth. They seem to do okay. I wish we could build an orangerie, but it'll have to wait until next year. They don't seem to produce that much, but honestly, the blossom smell is worth it to me.

Yup. Raintree in morton. http://www.raintreenursery.com/catalog/Pro...?ProductID=J210

Its going to warm all week. I would highly recommend starting some stuff from seed if you can and remember they need water. I should have freaking dahlias by memorial day! I put two rouge vif d'etamps in the ground yesterday and some cukes. I am about to go and smoosh the sawflies off my gooseberries which are full of berries already. Fool anyone? lalala

Have you tried Langley? Leda should be at the U District and West Seattle Markets. lalala

My tomatoes are on the porch until Saturday, then its in the ground surrounded of course, by wall-o-waters. Basil gets covered by remay. I will direct seed in next weekend and cover with remay. I have pretty good luck. lalala

Nice job. You are making me hungry, but we're having tortilla soup for dinner. lalala

Remember the Master gardener sale is tomorrow and sunday at the Center for Urban Horticulture and has quite the tomato tent. Ditto for the Tilth Edible Plant sale at the good sheperd center. I know Langley Gardens, Growing Things, Billys and Rent's Due will have lots of stuff at the U District Market tomorrow. We are going to put our tomatoes in the ground tomorrow (in wall of waters) and my guess is they'll do just fine. As for beans, I would get them in the ground in the next week. I will plant some poles and some french filet beans, but I like pole beans because they produce all season, where bush beans are basically a short picking season. Mmm. Beans. Herbs? I may have some chive, thyme and oregano that I might be happy to divide. lalala

It is okay, I wish they would just give you the sauce on the side, but the sides were decent and free refills on drinks. They have a fidelity card, 10 punches and you get one free meal. lalala

Doesn't Ettas do a butterscotch pudding? lalala

Let me talk to my mom tonight and get some recipes or proportions for you. lalala

I just rinse mine three times in a colander. I do not soak it. ← I soak for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Glad you made your fesenjoon! mmm. lalala

I don't cook Persian food at home, but when I walk into my my parents house and smell something like polo or a khoresht I become sad. I don't know why I don't cook more Persian food, I make elaborate ethnic foods up the ying yang, but for some reason, I find Persian food too time consuming. I am having my mom start writing down her recipes and talking me through silly things like rice making so that I get it down. However, here is my list... noone-panjereh (window cookies -rosettes) noone-nokhodechi (chickpea cookies) tah-cheen with barberries and really tangy yogurt my mom's noodle/lemon and carrot soup really good lavashak from Iran or homemade lavashak from someone's plum tree (fruit leather) my mom's kufte tabrizi (tabriz meatballs).... lalala

You can make fesenjoon with beef and I have seen veggies make it with mushrooms. Its not the meat that makes the fesenjaan, its mixing the rohbe-anar (pomengranate paste) with the ground walnuts to make it sweet, not bitter. As for tahe-dig or potbottom as my grandfather used to say, my mom has good luck with tortillas. I'm a girl who likes it with potatoes, but am not a big user of oil, so they are typically dry. Like Elaine on Seinfeld, I just wish you could order tahe-dig, like muffin tops. Its the best part of the rice and my American friends fight over it. lalala

There is a Pars on Lake City as well if you don't want to cross the bridge. lalala

I just harvested my second batch of asparagus and first batch of rhubarb. Yum. Market has washington grown asparagus in right now! Will run down on Saturday to pick up tulips and more asparagus. lalala

We just jumped over a candle and ran for a flight to Boston that night. However, we did No ruz on the 25th with a bunch of American friends and instead of stuffing a fish we just baked it. I made two kukus - sabzi and badamjoon (eggplant) which disappeared rapidly. Sabzi polo and some salad rounded out the meal. Here are some pics of my haft-sin. I did one in Rome earlier that week and then one at home. Rome 2006 Seattle 2006 Chagali badam (early almonds to eat) Chahar Shambeh Souri Ajil

Pierre Marcolini on grand sablon has moved to a bigger location down the street and on a cross street. I can't really describe it, but it wasn't where I thought it would be and it confused the heck out of me. Its really moved into a swanky destination store now. Great looking pastries, a floor of just teas and tablettes, very swish. Something called pierre's tarts serving savory pastries has moved into the other space, same typeface being used, so its very confusing. I was in Brussels on Saturday. Nothing really new has opened in the chocolate world. We did Pierre Marcolini and cafe tasse, skipped Galler, Neuhaus and Wittamer and skipped Dandoy as well. I spent most of Friday running from one chocolate place in paris to another. I am chocolated and macaroned out. lalala

Hah. I was in that line at 7 pm last night with a nice 26 degree temp to go with it (wimp from Seattle that I am). When we got there they said that it would 2.5 hours which was fine (right), but at 8:15 they started to pull 2 tops out of line and we were picked. Got a great table and the food, though not stellar was good and it was nice to get back there. The apple strudel was very yummy and believe or not, so was their coffee. lala

We're flying to Chicago tomorrow night to eat at the Berghoff. It was a place that my TH would go with her parents and it means a lot to her that we go. I am not too taken with their food, but the waitstaff that we have met has been really nice and I'll be sorry to see it go. I hope the weather cooperates. lalala

Bistro Magnolia -- That would be a seven minute walk home. I'm thinking now......................... lalala

Bumping up to see if anyone is going anywhere interesting... We're going to Nells, because I love it and its close enough that if desperate we can walk. I'm not sure about the party hats though. Unfortunately, with a 9:30 ressie, we may not be out of there soon enough. At least we'll be up for NYE! lalala

We went to clarklewis for lunch yesterday and really liked it for lunch, I have heard mixed reviews about dinner, so we opted for lunch. Had dinner at the Park Kitchen (did the chef's tasting menu) and loved it. Stopped by the Pearl Bakery twice as well, but that was for a snack, nothing deeper than that. The Portland Recommendation thread is jewel like. lalala

Pg, That is a great Thriftway! Thank you for the tip (ha) and reminding me that I should stop by there when I go visit my friends on Boxing Day. Great seafood counter too, IIRC. Happy Holidays. Will report back on quality of buche from Le Panier. lalala

Thank you all. I called Le Panier after I went and saw Le Fournil's version which was more about mousse and less about buche. I'll head down there on Saturday am to pick up. I think I'll leave the one at Bartell's alone though. I was in Paris a week or so ago, I'll have to readjust my trip schedule so that I can bring back a Pierre Herme one for next year. lalala