Randomness

I couldn't help myself today. When I went to the nursery there were all these lovely plants, just calling out to me to buy them. They even have some heirloom tomatoes and peppers there. I know it's a little too early with MayGray/JuneGloom coming up but I had to. This is the beauty of living in SoCal. The state may be belly-up, but the weather still is perfect.

Good words of advice I'd gotten in the past that we were laughing about yesterday:

"Never say yes right away. Say I'll get back to you on that"

"I will work for what you pay me."

"You want me to do that for free? Would a lawyer do that for free?"

These are all very funny and very relevant given the day's events yesterday. Now let's see if the change is going to come.

LJ Farmer's Market

Our favorite: mango with lime and pico

Gorgeous broccoli and all kinds of beans you can imagine.

Love this potato stand. We got the best yams for Thanksgiving ever here.

Kid trying to start the engine while I admire the citrus.

It's almost spring but some of the best looking salad greens are here.

Got a bunch of the pink ones today and they are delicious.

Lettuces and mushrooms.

Love the Farmer's Market on Sundays.

My favorite flower stand. The nicest guy works here and these tulips last a week easy.

English peas are so sweet and the bunch onions are great in cooking.




My favorite fruit stand.

Killer Pink Ladies. We buy a ton to last one week...and they will last maybe 3 days.

There are these Farmer Market snobs in San Diego. This one at LJ is truly wonderful but because there are crafts, the CH'ers knock it and say it's not authentic. But most everything here is organic and there are superb stands with crepes, mini donuts, the best Mexi food, East African stand (my favorite),etc etc. And where else can you buy gorgeous bonsai, buddha bracelets, undersea treasures and the freshest produce. So yah, Hillcrest and Little Italy have some great stuff: HC has the largest produce selection and LI has cheese and meat but I love LJ!

Pear cake

Today's project is Mom's Pear Cake. I loved it so many years ago and since it's raining and blustery in San Diego, it will make the house smell good and feel cozy.
The mise en place.

The pears actually are beautiful at Von's. Screw locavore, we want pear cake today!

Mixing the diced pears into the batter.

I love my hand mixer. I'd been only using the Kitchen Aid stand mixer but I love my new hand one. It's what I'd always used many years ago and it's the only thing mom used and it's her pear cake recipe after all.

Covering the batter with the sour cream mix, to be followed by chopped walnuts, sugar and cinnamon.

40minutes later!

A couple minutes after that! It is delicious and we all enjoyed pear cake after our whole wheat penne with chicken, broccoli and sundried tomato dinner.

YUM!

PEAR CAKE

1-2 Bartlett pears peeled and diced

1/2 c milk

1 1/2 c flour

1/4 c softened butter

1/2 c sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 c sour cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon, divided

1/3 c chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375. Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon (1/2 tsp) and salt. Cream butter with 1/2 c sugar until smooth then add one egg and milk and mix until smooth. Blend in flour mix. Pour into 9 x 9x 2 greased and floured baking pan. Mix sour cream with one egg until smooth and spread on top of batter. Mix nuts, 1/4 c sugar and 1/2 t cinnamon together and sprinkle on top of mix. Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes, until cake tester comes out clean.

Yum!