Christmas in August

Below is a book review I wrote for Amazon today. If you’ve purchased the book and like it, share your enthusiam by publishing a review on Amazon. It’s crucial that we thank Scott and Christine for their hard work by encouraging others to buy and use their book.

Indiana is rich in agricultural heritage and independent, local farmers dig in their heels against soulless agribusiness. Until the past few years, though, Indiana lacked consumers willing to appreciate and pay for this bounty.

With the publication of Scott’s and Christine’s book, Home Grown Indiana, those of us passionate about local and sustainable food have a reliable resource guide to farms, markets, restaurants and shops with high-quality food produced in our state. Home Grown is a watershed in our awareness of the table of communion all around us.

The book is practical, sensible. Protected by its plastic cover from tomato sauce stains in the kitchen or dust from the glove compartment of the car, the authors divide Indiana into geographic regions. Special stories about those creating local cornucopia teach us to wander away from the megastores and onto the backroads.

The book has an added attraction. I no longer have to worry about what I’m going to buy for Christmas. Everybody’s getting a copy of the book this holiday.

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Ramos Gin Fizz

A hot dog tastes best with a baseball game in front of it.

This always happens.

I’m on my way to Asia Mart to pick up Three Crabs Fish Sauce and the car takes over. I try to steer, but lose control. Suddenly I’m in the parking lot of Half Price Books. I promise myself $15 is the limit but usually end up spending $30-$40. 

On cookbooks. Which I really need.

Last time wasn’t so bad. I spent less than $20 and ended up with two hardback Marcia Adam’s, one an autographed copy.

I bought a book I’d never heard of by an editor I did not know. I bought it because of the title.

Death by Pad Thai and Other Unforgettable Meals.

Douglas Bauer, the editor, was a 24-year old, naive Midwesterner working for Playboy Magazine. They sent him to New Orleans for a week to eat at the city’s finest and best-known restaurants.

With MFK Fisher!

They started each day with a Ramas Gin Fizz. I’m not much of a cocktail drinker, especially gin, but this sounded good. Besides, NOLA’s been on my mind lately, and what better way to honor her.

Ramos Gin Fizz

• 1 1/2 oz gin
• 2 tablespoons of cream
• 1/2 oz of fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz of fresh lime juice
• 1 fresh egg white
• 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar
• 3-4 drops of orange-flower water

In a chilled cocktail mixer, combine ingredients and shake for at least a minute. Strain into a goblet glass and top with 1/4 oz of chilled club soda.