Are you angry & bitter because you did not force bulbs like Concha's (above) for the post-holiday blues? That is terribly unattractive, so snap out of it! Instead, look at your neighborhood market's floral department. A single potted hyacinth can be had for $3-5. If you can afford more, great, but one is all it takes to lift one's mood. (If it flops over, just cut it & place in a small jar or vase.) Heavenly. xoxo
Yes, it's true. GG's editor is so lazy that she'll leap at two remotely connected ideas, find a photograph & there's a post. ;) Not really. It's St. David's Day & we're flower-less (except for one primrose, valiantly hanging in for over 5 weeks now). But for anywhere between $1-2.50 you can buy 10 stems of daffodils or jonquils. There are also plenty of daffodils/narcissi in pots for fairly low prices. This happy state of affairs lasts usually through May. Go for it!ciao-cariad-meow/GG's FloristPS: A true St. David's Day in southern Italy tale from Giulia's human servant(photograph by Carrie)
At double the price of regular eggs, it's not quite "every day" but for a lunch or supper or a poached egg for breakfast a few times a month, (really) fresh eggs are lovely. The point of everyday luxury is to make GG's editor look at ingredients/food in a different way.
We're lucky that our neighborhood farmer's market is open year-round. Perhaps that's the case for you, too. Or maybe there's a local shop or market that sells local farm eggs. If you don't have your Christmas tree or wreath or greens yet, you can probably pick those up, along with holiday flowers, at the same time.
La Tartine Gourmande has some wonderful egg recipes. And if you're feeling a bit low & sad about the gloom settling in around 3-4pm (or sooner!), take a summer stroll with Béatrice & family through a French farmer's market.
ciao-meow/GG
(photograph by La Tartine Gourmand)
Of course you can buy honey year-round; but at farmers markets & coops, right now, beautiful jars & bottles of new golden honey are available. Saveur & Martha Stewart have good articles (& recipes) about honey. You can check with the National Honey Board for information about honey in your area.If you're thinking "but I don't use honey enough & it just sits in a cupboard..." Leave the honey out on a counter or the table with a dripper. Look up a few recipes to use it with right away; it's not just for tea. Here's a favorite easy recipe & a favorite cake. You'll begin to use it more often. GG Guarantee.
And of course there are few things as satisfying on a chilly autumn day than bread & honey. Unless it's a spoon & honey. But we're trying to be less piggy these days;)
ciao-meow/GG's editor
(photographs by Francine Zaslow & Jeff Kubina)
Pineapples were something we bought rarely until this past March. Since then, we've bought one every week. They're available year-round but at their harvest peak from March through July. Golden fair-trade pineapples (including some organic) are available for $2.99 - $3.99 on sale. It's worth it, whether you have a family or you live alone. We haven't had any leftover to make salsa or to use as a facial mask. Carve up the pineapple & store the leftovers in the fridge; it will disappear quickly. Icy pineapple on a hot summer evening is a low-calorie thing of beauty. (Some terrific ideas if yours last longer than ours.) If you have a cat or dog, you can tie the discarded pineapple top onto their head in a tribute to Carmen Miranda. (Kidding!)ciao-meow/GGCM(pineapple illustration - for sale - by Andy MacGregor via Supermarket Sarah via Bippity Boppity Boo)
