Quick Report from Snowed-In NYC.

This is what I saw first thing in the morning.

Hope everybody had great Christmas. 
From Florida to Maine, the East Coast had the First Snow Storm this winter.
In New York, snow started falling down the day after Christmas until early this morning. I don't think I have ever seen this much snow in this city in just one night. I've been living in this city for long time...  News Report said that this is the 6th biggest storm in the City's history. 
I think we even saw the lighting in the night.

"the View from the window."

Back Yard had wonderful snow stripe, hope she will not destroy by Shovel.

"the View from the window."
Other side of back yard  had new patio-set.

There are many people who are stuck on the roads since last night. 
Some are with a grandmother or a few kids in the car. Many tourists are stuck at airports. Trains are all canceled. Very few Buses & Subways are running. People start walking to get to the places if they must go.  Some are cross-country skiing on the avenues.
Snow stopped falling, but snow is not going anywhere. Strong Wind stirs up the snow all over the city.
Every time this kind of bad thing happens, I'm always surprise how resilient people are in New York City. Of course this morning I saw them. 
A lady who was walking 3 dogs. A girl was running on the 10th Avenue. A boy caring his bicycle. We will see more than a few Snowmen will appear by end of today all over the city. 
There I was taking a picture of Snow Covered City.
Believe me,  I was not the only one who was using a camera this morning.

"West 22nd street"

"Boy & his Bicycle"

There was no way you can ride a Bicycle or Car this morning.

"Dogwalker"

Believe it or not, she had been walking with 3 Dogs since 8AM.

Yes, she was Running !

Making a Snowman.

I think they too were making a Snowman ?

Stairs are completely disappeared by the snow.

"Holiday Butterflies."

I can't imagine many stores are open for business, so I'll make a soup with what ever I can find my fridge. This is the reason I always keep box of "Chicken Stock" in the kitchen.

" The Tree "

It is Christmas.
If you are visiting New York City, you have already been Rockefeller Center to see the Tree. We New Yorkers who live here, are probably trying not to go there altogether until January 10 or so. I myself did not go to Rockefeller Center at Christmas Time for at least 10 years. But since I started blogging this Fall, I decided to take photos of the World Famous Christmas Tree for people who did not have chance to come to see it, specially friends in Japan.
I started to go there almost a month ago to see and take pictures, way before it got Lights. So you can see how the Tree changes its appearance.

This is the Norwegian Spruce delivered from Connecticutt.

Before preparation starts, but still looks great enough for our city.

I guess you need to have this kind of "Scaffolding"
 in order to have million Christmas Lights .

I did not know decorators need to wear such 
Unfashionable Green Helmets! 
Mind you I saw more than a few workers putting lights on the Trees.

This is the Crystal Star Tree Topper. Of course made by "Swarovski"

The day of "Tree Lighting Ceremony".
Spot-Lights were set up for other stars of the night.

This Tree will be never the same after that night.

Jonathan and I went there early evening yesterday for the final shots of the Tree, it had to be at night. It was a very cold and windy night.  
But as we walking down the Fifth Avenue, we could feel many people gathering there to see the Tree.
Yes, most of them were tourists. But they were bringing Christmas Spirits among us. Yes they were walking too slow by New Yorker's standards, yes they were blocking the side streets by walking together side-ways like they do at the mall. But some how we could pass by without cursing them.  
Beside we had to take a pictures of Christmas Decorations of the shops, for that it was good not to walk too fast !
We have not done this for long time. We NewYorkers will not take pictures of the city, although if I take pictures in the city, people will think I'm a Japanese tourist not a resident.

The Big Tree is company by many small undecrlated trees. 

Some how they are look shy to be at the place.

I must say, the Tree looks fantastic !!
Everyone who was there was saying so.

You can hardly see the massive tree trunks from far away.

But that is the reason the tree can stand there for many weeks.

"Picture Perfect"

The city gets so pretty this time of the year.

I almost forgot how beautiful Fifth Avenue could be. As I said before, I  had not walked down the Fifth Avenue at night for so long. 
This is the reason people come here from all over the world for Holiday Season.

It is musical. Most of stores are decorated with lights and creativity.  Where else you can see this much Special Make-up for the buildings.

If you do not mind walking in the cold night, this is the time to do it, before decorations are gone. I guarantee you will have smile on your face...

"Snow Flakes" on Saks Fifth Avenue.

"Cartier Red Ribon"

Be dazzled with Silver & Gold Lights.

 "Trump Tower" never be so pretty.

The Star at 5th Avenue & 57th Street.

The Other Symbol of the Holiday Season in NYC.

"Mushroom Soup" for Winter Night.

It is getting very cold. Hot soup is the best dish for Bone Chilling Winter Night.
When you go to Union Square Farmer's Market Saturday morning, you can count on "Bulich" for the freshest mushrooms. They bring us Crimini, Portobello, Oyster, Button, and Shiitake Mushrooms.
They have brown paper bags for them. You don't want to keep mushrooms in plastic bags. You must keep them in a paper bag and cool dark place, not in the fridge. 
As you know mushrooms dry out so easily, I always try to cook them within 24 hours...
But I always keep Dried Shiitake-mushrooms in the cupboard. 
For Japanese cooking Shiitake -mushrooms are crucial, both fresh and dried. 
If you go to the Japanese market you will find many kinds of Dried Shiitake-Mushrooms. Whole or sliced, large and small, many sizes of Dryed-Shitakes are available. 
You have to decide which one to get by what you are going to make in that day.

Last Saturday we bought "Crimini & Shitake Mushroom." 
And I remembered, I still had "Dried Porcini Mushrooms" from Italy.
When our friends go Italy and if they ask me what I want from there, my request is always "Dried Porcini Mushrooms."
When I cook with any kind of mushrooms, I always save the stems. 
When I've got enough of those stems in the freezer, its time for me to make the Mushroom Broth with them. That was the base of the Mushroom Soup I made last Sunday, instead of Chicken Stock. 
Making "Mushroom Soup" is a 2 day process for me. First day is "Broth Making".
In the medium-size pot, I put all the frozen Mushroom stems, Garlic, Leeks or Onions, Carrots, and Thyme. 
Thyme goes with Mushrooms very well. You all know that, don't you ?  
Finally cover them with plain Water and bring to a boil.
After simmering a few hours, the broth will become deep amber color. That is the very rich Mushroom / Vegetable Broth. Strain it, then keep it in fridge, till ready to use.
"Porchini" will be reconstituting in plain water overnight. Reserve this liquid. You are going to use it for soup along with the Vegetable Broth.
Following day I start making the Mushroom Soup. 
Chop up onions and mushrooms, and of course Garlic. Sweat chopped onions and add minced garlic then all sliced Mushrooms. When they all get soft, add Broth and Liquid from Dried-Mushrooms. Then chop up and add the reconstituted Pocini-Mushrooms. Don't forget to add some Worcestershire-Sauce, Salt and more Thyme. Cook for an hour or so. Ready for the final step !

It is time for the Blender.  Make it smooth as much as you wish for your taste.  
Add Unsweetened Nonfat Condensed Milk, cook for few minutes. Adjust taste with Salt.
It is Supper Time. We invited our friends for this Hot Soup Supper.  
My secret ingredient for soup is "Huile de pignons de pin" (pressed pine-nut oil) from "J Leblanc" on "Rue Jacob" in Paris.  Just before serving, a healthy drizzle of this Special Oil will add depth to the Mushroom-Soup. 
I made a simple salad of Watermelon-Radishes, Persian-Cucumbers, and Chinese-Cabbage. I also roasted Turnips with Olive Oil. And I quickly sautéed Rainbow-Chard with Garlic as well.
It's sounds almost like a Vegetarian Dinner, except we had "Proscuito-Bread" with the soup.

Nature Does Wonders on My Block

It is Winter here, already. We even had a little snow this morning.
Those Yellow Orange Red Leaves are long gone. 
Trees are so bare, only trunks and branches and twigs.
But those branches and twigs make wonderful patterns against Gray Winter Sky.
Black against Gray, I love Monotone Patterns, even in those cold windy days. 
These are all photos I took on the block where we live in Chelsea, New York City.
I'm sure that everybody takes photos of trees in the Autumn when they have Colorful Leaves, including me.  But in those Bare Trees, you will see the totally different kind of beauty. Sometimes almost like calligraphy on the sky.
I also can see some of Black Trees without leaves are almost like mysterious creatures in the sky who are looking down on us to find out what we are doing in the Winter Days.
Those branches look like fingers coming down to snatch my Hat or Scarf.
Look up sometime, you will see what I am talking about !
Here are some of my favorite trees in my block.

The messenger on the steps from the creatures in the sky told me,

" You have enough portraits of us ! "

"Crudite Basket" for "Thanksgiving"

the table was set when I arrived.

My Crudite was for Cocktail Hour before the Dinner.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner at our friends John & Jonathan's home in Greenwich Village.

This past Summer I made a vegetable basket for John's Birthday Party. I guess they liked that contribution, so they asked me to make a Fall Version of that for this occasion. 
It all depended on what I could get at the green market the day before. Mainly I looked for what looks good and will stay fresh for a few hours.
The things I bought on that morning were,Orange Cauliflower, Purple Broccoli, Watermelon Radishes, Rainbow Chard,  Persian Cucumbers, Small Carrots in Yellow Orange Red and Purple, Peppers, Japanese Radishes, and Radicchio...

Vegetables I've got for the Basket. 

The hardest part of making a "Crudite Basket" is washing those Veggies, after that you have to do only peeling and cutting, if necessary. Somethings I keep in the cold water for couple hours to get clean. Of course you have to keep them pretty as much as you can.
If food looks good, you are almost there to succeed making a great appetizers. 
It is all about presentation. If you made it beautiful, taste will be better already. 
I think I'm very good at it, and I enjoy doing it !
Making things pretty is my specialty.  Mind you, that takes practice and you needs to have good eye to find things in the market. What colors of vegetables make people say "What is this?" or "Where can I get this veggies?". 
I've been going to the Farmer's Market for long time. I know which vender to look for what, and what is available each time of the year.
If you need to make "Vegetable Basket or Platter" for the Party, look for the Colors. Everybody expected to see Green and Red and White, so look for other colors, Bright Colors !
Keep stems with them if you can. Because that makes different from the platters you will get from the Super Market. Keep everything eatable on the platter.  Use Bell Peppers as containers for dips. Use leaves for liners instead of Plastic Wrap.

"Broccoli & Cauliflower" 

cut into bitable florets then keep in the water.

dry them well just before putting into the basket.

 

"3 kinds of Dips in Bell Peppers, and Japanese Spiced Salt."

Yogurt Dip, Miso &Bblue Cheese Dip, Tahini & Sesame dip.

This was for 19 people, I could have used a smaller Basket, but it is always a good things to have more than you think enogh, specially for Big Holidays.  Besides, it is always good to have left-over vegetables to make Turkey Soup the next day...
I made 3 dips for the vegetables this time, not including Japanese Spiced Salt which contains "Yuzu-Kosho", "Black & White Sesame Seeds" ( this one is good for Japanese Radishes, and Green Mangos in summer.)
Miso & Blue-Cheese Dip has very saturated flavor and people love it.  Greek Yogurt with Small Pickled Red Pepper is a new invention of mine for Vegetarians who doesn't like any cheese in their diet.  When you make things for parties you have to think about those people. These days, many people are becoming vegetarians therefore we can't forget about them.
Tahini & Sesame Dip, I also created this time. Which is mixture of Ground White Sesame Seeds and Sesame Oil and touch of Soy Sauce and Agave and Tahini. 
I thought those 3 dips would go with hardy fall vegetables.
By the way, you have to cover the basket with Damp Paper Towels to keep vegetables fresh during transport. Keeping vegetables fresh is crucial !

"Baby Turkeys and Baby Pumpkins" 

keeping eyes on my "Crudite Basket" 

This is how my "Crudite Basket" looked before gusts started devouring.
Although, it stayed as was for while until John picked one Carrot. Because nobody wanted to destroy my edible composition. Taking off the cap of  Bell Pepper did help...
Guests liked best "Tahini & Sesame Seeds Dip" in a Red Bell Pepper. The most surprising New Vegetable for guests was "Watermelon Radish".  Nobody knew there is such a vegetable and it looks so pretty. I recommended them to try it without dip for the first bite. They kept asking me "It's so sweet, where can I find them?".  
My answer to that was, "Don't you know where I go every Saturday Morning to meet John & Jonathan ?"
What a lovely evening it was...

"Osage Orange"

Do you know what is an "Osage Orange" ?
More than a few years ago when we were in some life-style shop in Paris we found a candle with "Osage Orange". That sounded very exotic. As I said,  this was quite some time ago.  I did not know what that fruit was and if I could find it in New York City.
When you research it in the Dictionary this is what they will say about this exotic sounding fruit.

They are Very Strange Fruit, you may find in the Fall at the Farmer's Market. 
"Hodgson Farms & Garden Center" brings them from Walden NY to the City along with Broccoli,Cauliflower, Eggplant, and Pumpkins.
You do not buy "Osage Orange" to eat.
I don't remember where it was or who told us that "Osage Orange" is good as a Cockroach repellant.
We have been placing under the kitchen sink and vanity for many winter seasons.
I don't know for sure if it is working or not, but we certainly did not see any Nasty Creepy-Crawlies in our home.

Now it is the time for us to get a few of them to hide where we don't have to see every day.
The fruit will get black sometime within the month. But, we are supposed to keep them until they get Brown to Black.  I think we can keep them at least a month or so. We get more than a  few to keep in home.
It has faint smell and sticky surface, but they are so much better than any chemicals you get for cockroach protection at drug store. "Osage Oranges" are light Green, so they go well with your X'mas decorations. Most of all they are Fruits, they won't cause any harm to you, as long as you keep them in a safe place for your four legged friends in your home.
They are cheap enough for you to try them under the sink at least once. Unless you don't mind seeing those Little Black Crawling Things in your home.
By the way, did you know cockroaches in Japan are much bigger and they Fly ?
So, now you know I'm not always telling you that Japanese things are always better.
One final thought, why do other languages have such cute names for Cockroaches ?
In Spain "Cucaracha", Yugoslavia "Bubaschawaba", and in Japan "Gokiburi".....