Southern Sonoma Country Life

Baking with Phoebe - Red Velvet Cupcakes

Sporting her spiffy new red cherry baker's apron, Phoebe and Auntie Frances embarked on an afternoon of powdered sugar, Cadbury's cocoa powder and cream cheese frosting.

Popular consensus is that Phoebe's red velvet cupcakes, somewhat haphazardly adapted from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook are even tastier than those in the internationally beloved bakery's Soho store.

Phoebe's Red Velvet Cupcakes (makes 12)

4 tablespoons of unsalted butter

1/2 cup of sugar

1 large farm fresh egg

9 teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder

8 teaspoons of red food coloring

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

4 fluid ounces of buttermilk

1/2 cup of flour

1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

1 teaspoon of white vinegar

Cream cheese frosting (cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar)

Preheat oven to 325 F. Cream butter and sugar, add egg and beat until smooth. In another bowl, mix cocoa powder, red food coloring and vanilla and mix to a paste. Add to butter mixture along with buttermilk and flour, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. Beat until silky smooth. Spoon into paper cases in a cupcake pan and bake for 25 minutes. Frost when cool. Double delicious.

 

 

 

 

Sunday Afternoon Notes from London

Snow covered Ireland viewed from the airplane window, while descending towards neighboring England's Heathrow Airport gave way to greener, if not slightly frozen fields, at least in the southland.

Good thing, as I wasn't all that well prepared for a white winter's arrival for my week's visit to family in Twickenham. I did manage hat, coat, gloves, scarf, suitcases stuffed with Christmas gifts from California amidst a remarkably civilized crowd of 82,000 mostly gentlemen sporting enthusiasts making its tweed-jacketed, collective way to England's home of Rugby, in Twickenham Stadium, two streets away from my sister and brother-in-law's terraced Victorian.

There's nothing quite like making a perfectly timed entrance back in the home land, swept along the famously packed streets of Twickenham during a pre-game Rugby rush, attempting to whip off the Virgin Atlantic luggage tags so as not to look too much the incongruous American.

"Planning on making a few changes of outfits, during the game are you love?" asked one particularly chirpy bobby, herding the hundreds if not thousands of Rugby spectactors off the train at Twickenham Station.

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Good to know The Times is now available in iPad edition as well as in a daily e-edition for Anglophile's with Kindles. Today's issue features star-studded Christmas menus from some 17 of the world's top chef's who've shared their favorite festive treats.

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Enjoyed a Sunday stroll around town with the family and my newest born niece wrapped up like a little Eskimo baby to keep her warm and toasty in her bright red pram. Traditional Sunday roast lunch out and back to the house for indulging in miniature mince pies, another cup of tea a big pile of glossy English magazines and a wrangle with the wireless internet so that I'm able to bring you notes throughout the week.

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Interesting to read Royal Wedding news in the British Press, finally. The media here is predicting Scotland Yard run security costs of around $5 million to $6 million for the day. Street parties are already being planned in neighborhoods around the country, with tea, beer and cupcakes the primary order of the day. Mad-Men-style slim fitted suits are expected to be seen on male guests, with wives and girlfriends decked out in cocktail-length dresses in floral print or block colors.The Times anticipates the tv audience for the Royal Wedding to exceed that of Prince William's parents which, at the time, attracted 750 million viewers. Westminster Abbey holds 2,200 people in its congregation, compared to 3,500 at St Paul's, making this a considerably smaller in-person affair than the nuptials of Charles and Di. Similarly, fashion critics are placing bets on a long, sophisticated look for the future Princess Catherine's wedding dress, most likely to be created by an English designer. 

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Wales is experiencing its coldest November on record and as the majority of Britain is now under snow, it's rather odd to be sitting here in Twickers, looking out of the window and wondering if the London area will miss out on a sprinkling this week.

 

 

 

Handmade for the Holidays 2010 - Paintings, Textiles, Fine Crafts and Jewelry from Sonoma County Artists

Handmade for the Holidays is an artisan showcase of first class treasures created locally in the Southern Sonoma County area. December 4 & 5, 10am to 5pm

3820 Bodega Avenue, Petaluma, CA 94952 (behind Praetzel's Furniture). High recommended for those hard-t0-buy-fors on your list who have an eye for the best of the best.

Happy Thanksgiving from Southern Sonoma Country Life

This gorgeous photo of a Japanese Maple in the vineyard, taken by the talented Lara Knutson on harvest day this November, 2010, depicts the beauty and simplicty of the season.

May your day today be filled with good reasons to give thanks.

Custom Corkboards from West Petaluma

Wondering what to do with an impressive collection of wine corks stashed on the pantry floor? I know, it's a problem many of us share, the inability to toss a perfectly good cork from a memorable vintage!

Well, here's one grand solution. Retiree and fellow Brit ex-pat, Gordon Cooper of West Petaluma has been pottering around his woodshop of late, concocting all sorts of nifty cork board creations such as the gorgeous oval trivet he gifted me with this week.

I'd admired the prototype at a party at Cooper's family compound a couple of months back and was thrilled to bits to be delivered of a new design for my own wine country dining table. Just in time for the hols.

I'm thinking of commissioning a giant, cork pinboard at some point in the near future. And Cooper, a former pub landlord from the North of England, is just the man for the job.

Email his official order taker: k.cooper@comcast.net for commissions to keep him out of mischief during the winter months. Don't worry if you haven't diligently collected a household supply of the past year's party evidence, Gordon let me in on a little secret that a special someone also in the west of town has delivered him an enormous sack of corks from some of the best of the best in Sonoma and Napa counties.

 

Return of the Snowmen - Take Your Holiday Photo in the Big Blue Chair at Cornerstone

Take a drive out to Cornerstone Sonoma for the Sixth Annual Lighting of the Snowmen, this Saturday, November 27th, 2010 at 4pm.

All very festively tasteful, you'll happen upon Chestnut and Marshmallow Roasting, Holiday Jazz, Frosty in the Olive Grove (Outdoor Cinema), Hot Cocoa and Cider Brew and Kids Crafts.

Take a quirky SoCo holiday snap in Cornerstone's Big Blue Chair, along with Frosty the Snowman (this particularly fun, free photo op is available from November 24th through December 22).

A "Chefs Dessert Savoring Under the Big Top" also takes place during Saturday's late afternoon holiday activities, raising money for Sonoma Valley's Education Foundation.

For a change of pace, shop, lunch and wine taste at Cornerstone this holiday season. Located at 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma.

Petaluma Arts Center Annual Members Show - Perfect for Holiday Gifts

Loved this original piece in the newly opened Annual Members Show at Petaluma's Art Center down by the Visitor's Center along the railroad tracks on Lakeville Street at East Washington, bridging east and west of town.

Fortunately, Writer's Block is not an affliction I suffer from very often, though my occasional attempts to launch into a longer book project do tend to result into toppling piles of notes stuffed to the back of my desk.

What I love about the show this year is that you're welcome to purchase and take home any piece that takes your fancy, for your own original art collection, or as a thoughtful gift. Featured artists are then able to replenish their allotted spot in the exhibition. It's a cool concept and encouraging of local creatives. A great way to spread the wealth of holiday shopping spends within the community.

The Arts Center is open Thursdays through Mondays fromnoon to 4pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

 

Petaluma's Fabulous Woman Krista Gawronski Speaks About her Experience on Oprah's Favorite Things Show

Talked with Petaluma Fabulous Women's Krista Gawronski this afternoon to get the scoop on her visit to the Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago this week, just as the Queen of Talk's ultimate 'Favorite Things' Show is about to air.

"I had no intention of visiting the show during Oprah's last season on the air specifically to be in the audience of the Favorite Things finale," said Gawronski, who, along with her sister Sandy, joined an audience of equally unsuspecting hometown heroes for the taping of the show's annual extravaganza, on Tuesday.

No one knew that they were in store for the biggest surprise of their lives. "When Oprah ripped off a gown to reveal a beautiful, sparkling red Christmas dress, she'd asked us all as givers to meditate for a moment," shared Gawronski. Once the set opened to reveal a Santa's Workshop, North Pole scene of splendor, the crowd went crazy.

These were women, like Gawronski, who dedicate much of their time to making a difference in their communities. None of whom were used to being on the receiving end.

Gawronski and her sister had spent a few days sightseeing in Chicago, taking in the musical stage show Billy Elliott and having some well earned girl-time out of town. The Mr. Pickles Sandwich shop owner from Petaluma, busy mom and community fundraiser extraordinaire had email Oprah to tell her that the star had been her inspiration to find what her gift was and to go out into the world and truly make a difference. Oprah picked the Petaluma mover and shaker and motivator of some 300 fund a local cause women out of thousands of people who had responded to an email prompt to express what the show, now in its final season, has meant to them personally.

Gawronski said that Oprah has a way of speaking to a crowd and having the audience feel like she is speaking to each and every one personally. "She raised a challenge to me 11 years ago," explained Gawronski, who had attended a taping of an Oprah show in Chicago with another sister and her mother. She and sister Sandy had seen Oprah speak in San Francisco previously. "This was full circle for me, taking my sister with me," she said.

Not prepared for the bounty of gifts bestowed upon the audience on Tuesday, the sisters stopped in at a Bed, Bath and Beyond store near their hotel after the screening to pick up a suitcase set to transport their Oprah Favorite Things back to California, that same evening.

"It was my fifteen minutes of fame," said Gawronski."I'm on cloud 9, it was amazing." Still, Petaluma's Fabulous Woman herself was quick to keep things in perspective. "If I can inspire others to make a difference, to think about raising money for charitable causes without breaking the bank, or putting little Petaluma on the map, that's what it's all about."

The Petaluma Fabulous Women will gather again in January to raise monies for 4H Programs.

 

Harry Potter Movie Release Sparks Interest With Long-Time Fans

Older teenagers and those in their early twenties were clearly the core demographic in this week's release rally for the second from last Harry Potter cinematic extravaganza .

It was these avid young people who have quite literally grown up with the Harry Potter series, from its first UK publishing of J.K Rowling's, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997.

Four hundred million copies of Rowling's seventh and final book in the Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Harrows (1997) made this the biggest selling book of all time. The end story was split into two for grande finale cinematic purposes. Die-hard fans won't have too wait too much longer to wrap up a complete 14-year experience, as Part II of the Deathly Hallows will release next July.

A six year old new reader when the first book was released in England, my 19-year-old English Major college student son, Rocco, took these photos for me down at the Boulevard Cinemas in Petaluma. As much a fan as any of his era, Rocco couldn't make it to the midnight screening last night, as he was in class during the camp out for tickets.

He has decided to wait it out until the Potter fever settles over the next couple of days. He'd told me after pulling an all-nighter back in '97 to read the last book in one sitting that his childhood was then officially over. The question is, will Harry Potter continue to inspire young readers around the world, or was it a phenomenon peculiar to those fortunate enough to be swept up in the bookish craze that Harry Potter's magic conjured out of the blue?

 

 

Learn How to Create Long Lasting Holiday Centerpieces Using Succulents

 

Stop by for festive cookies and coffee at Cottage Gardens of Petaluma during the popular garden center's annual Holiday Open House on December 4th and 5th.

Shoppers receive 10% off throughout the weekend while shopping for gifts for gardeners. Tucked away in the hills of West Petaluma, Cottage Gardens is a plant lovers paradise offering high quality, intriguing gardening gifts, including eco-friendly garden art, containers, fountains, trellises, tools and accessories, as well as the whimsical Tuffits stepping stones and planters which are handmade on-site.

During the holiday season, owner Bruce Shanks offers vintage ornaments he's collected over the years.

As part of the Holiday Open House, on Sat, Dec 4th from 11:00-Noon and again from 1pm-2pm, noted interior designer Cecilie Starin will hold a free demonstration on creating long-lasting holiday centerpieces using succulents, with accents such as roses, fruits, vegetables and ornaments.

Call to reserve a space for either the 11am or 1pm demonstrations as space is limited. Cottage Gardens of Petaluma, 3995 Emerald Dr ~ RSVP: 707-778-8025 ~