Change of Address for This Blog

I've moved my blog over to http://ginahyams.com/blog/, so that it can live within my website. Please join me there. Thanks, blogspot, for everything.

In Honor of Father's Day

Spring Radish Spread

Radishes, radishes, radishes. I've been enjoying them the French way lately, sprinkled with sea salt on a sweet-buttered baguette. Today I'm going to try this recipe that I picked up at the local farmers' market.

Grammar note: I spell farmers' market with an apostrophe at the end, but the below is how the referenced cookbook and this particular market seem to spell it. Any copy editors care to weigh in?

Spring Radish Spread

from The Farmer's Market Cookbook 

(via Indian Line Farm at the Great Barrington Farmers Market)

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened

1 - 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, drained

4 cleaned radish leaves

1 teaspoon dill

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 - 2 bunches red radishes

crackers, tortilla chips, or French bread

Mix all ingredients except crackers in medium bowl or food processor to desired consistency. Cover and refigerate 1/2 hour. Serve with crackers, chips, or crusty French bread. Makes 2 - 3 cups.

P.S. We don't have a food processor, so I'm going to shred the radishes.

Frida Kahlo's Meatballs

For his birthday dinner last month, Dave requested that I make Frida's meatballs from Frida's Fiestas: Recipes and Reminiscences of Life with Frida Kahlo by Guadalupe Rivera and Marie-Pierre Colle. It's a lovely book in the tradition of Monet's Table. Does anybody remember that book? Somebody gave it to us as a wedding present in 1991 and I've been obsessed with yellow and blue kitchens ever since. Our kitchen in New England is pale straw and sky blue and the one in Mexico has a lemon yellow polished-cement floor and a cobalt tile pattern of sort-of daises on the countertops.

Anyway, we discovered the Frida cookbook in 1997 while living in Pátzcuaro, where going to the butcher to buy the pork and beef for these meatballs was a knee-buckling thrill. Shopping for meat at Guido's isn't so exciting, except for when I find myself in line with this guy. 

When I tweeted that I was making this dish, many people requested the recipe. I apologize for taking so long to post it. Here you go:

Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce

(8 servings)

1 lb. ground pork

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

2 garlic cloves, chopped

3 eggs

1/4 cup bread crumbs

Salt and pepper

Chipotle Sauce

6 chipotle chiles, pickled or in marinade

6 medium tomatoes, roasted and peeled

1 cup chicken broth

2 garlic cloves

3 cumin seeds

1 tablespoon drived oregano

2 tablespoons lard (the butcher at Guido's looked at me like I had lost my mind when I asked if she had any)

Salt and pepper

Combine the pork, beef, ground cumin, garlic, eggs, bread crumbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Shape the mixture into medium-sized meatballs. Cook the meatballs in the Chipotle Sauce for about 25 minutes. 

To make the Chipotle Sauce, puree the chiles, tomatoes, broth, garlic, cumin seeds, and oregano. Strain. Sauté the puree in hot lard (or oil, as the case may be) and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil.

¡Buen provecho!

Twitter 101 in San Miguel de Allende: August 20

Hello! Lucky's custom letterpress Twitter icon.

I'm heading down to San Miguel de Allende to visit my mom and will offer a "Twitter 101: They Don't Call It Social Media for Nothing" how-to/why-to/what-to workshop on Thursday, August 20, 10am to noon, at our house in Colonia Guadalupe. I will cut through the Twitter hype with clarity, a rockin' tutorial handout, and excellent snacks.

US$25 or peso equivalent. To reserve a spot, please send me an email at ginahyams@gmail.com.

My New Aspirational Motto

From Accidental Mysteries: the Beauty of Bottle Caps

Berkshire International Film Festival Party Photo

Me and Goose's friend Loki's mom, Hope Sullivan, who runs IS183 and who walks/runs/chats-about-writing with me at dawn now and then, and her artist friend, Dan Mahoney, at the Berkshire International Film Festival opening night party at Pearl's in Great Barrington. Photo by Seth Rogovoy.

My head is still spinning from the incredible weekend of films. I don't have time for a full report just now, but hope to debrief soon.

2009 Berkshire International Film Festival

The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) opens this Thursday night in Great Barrington, MA. I will be tweeting live through the festivities at www.twitter.com/BIFFMA. Hope to see you there!

Goose in Spring

FarmHouse Fresh Sweet Cream Body Milk: A Mother-Daughter Conversation

Here's a conversation Annalena, age 14, and I just had about FarmHouse Fresh Sweet Cream Body Milk .

Gina: What do you think this stuff smells like?

Annalena: It smells like peaches and cream.

Gina: The box says: "Our cows eat cookies." Does it smell like cookies?

Annalena: Not really. I think they just mean that it's sweet smelling. Like, it's really, really sweet.

Gina: Yes, I agree. It's too sweet for me. What about you?

Annalena: I like it a lot.

Gina: Do you think it's best for teens?

Annalena: No, it's not a youthful scent, but it smells yummy.

Gina: It says it has almond oil in it. Does it smell like almonds?

Annalena: Not really. There's a slight hint of it, but the tangy, milky scent over powers the almond.

Gina: What does it feel like?

Annalena: It's kind of a watery lotion. Not too oily. It's really nice. It makes your skin freakishly soft.

Gina: What do you think of the package?

Annalena: I like that it comes in a little pitcher. It's very elegant.

Gina: Does it look like vinaigrette?

Annalena: I don't know. Vinaigrette comes in lots of different packages.

Gina: Anything else?

Annalena: It's more cream than peach.

Gina: The copy on the box recommends using it with your favorite perfume.

Annalena: It's pretty strong. The scent is mild, but it lasts for a while. I don't know about mixing it with perfume.

Gina: It costs $26. Do you think it's worth it?

Annalena: Well, to me $26 is a lot to spend on any kind of beauty product, but it's a nice lotion. I don't think it's ridiculous except that spending that much on any beauty product is ridiculous. You're paying for the package, which is really pretty.

Attention: Antiques Roadshow

We found these vessels in the barn. Anybody guess as to their vintage and original uses?

Spring Green

My mother-in-law says it's still too early for pots, but the weather was so gorgeous this weekend, Dave couldn't resist putting a few out.

Second Guessing My Glasses

Glasses Under Consideration - View 1
Glasses Under Consideration - View 2
Current Glasses

I know there are more important things to worry about in the world, but what do you think of this other pair of glasses? I See GB let me bring them home to show Dave and he's not home yet. I brought a friend into the shop this afternoon for a second opinion and she said she liked my current pair better. She thought the other ones look the same only more boring. I still think they might be better, though -- less severe, more subtle in their charm. They are also on sale...just $99...but my new progressive lens prescription is expensive, so if you're not impressed with them, please speak up.

Movies About Journalists

Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday

Last night I decided to channel my grief about the death of the newspaper industry into compiling a list of movies about journalists. I queried the Twitterverse and Google (which, interestingly, came up with different suggestions). Here's what I've found so far. Please add others in the comments section or email me and I'll add titles to the list.

Movies About Print Journalists:
A Mighty Heart (2007)
Absence of Malice (1981)
Ace In The Hole (1951)
Adaptation (2002)
All The President's Men (1976)
Almost Famous (2000)
The Bedford Incident (1965)
The Big Carnival (1951)
The Big Clock (1948)
The Blessed Event (1932)
Blood Diamond (2006)
Call Northside 777 (1948)
Capote (2005)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Continental Divide (1981)
Dan in Real Life (2007)
The Day The Earth Caught Fire (1961)
Deadline USA (1952)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Die Hard (1988)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Fletch (1985)
Five Star Final (1931)
The Front Page (1931, 1974)
Hellraiser VII: Deader (2005)
His Girl Friday (1940)
The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (2008)
Johnny Come Lately (1943)
It Happened One Night (1934)
The Killing Fields (1984)
I Love Trouble (1994)
The Mean Season (1985)
Meet John Doe (1941)
The Paper (1994)
The Parallax View (1974)
Park Row (1952)
The Pelican Brief (1994)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
The Quiet American (1958, 2002)
Reds (1981)
Roman Holiday (1953)
Salvador (1986)
Scandal Sheet (1940, 1952)
Sex and the City (2008)
The Soloist (2009)
Shattered Glass (2003)
State of Play (2009)
Superman (1978, 2006)
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Under Fire (1983)
Wag the Dog (1997)
Woman of the Year (1942)
The Year of Living Dangerously (1983)
Zodiac (2007)

Movies About Television Journalists:
Broadcast News (1987)
The China Syndrome (1979)
Eyewitness (1981)
Frost/Nixon (2008)
Good Night and Good Luck (2005)
The Insider (1999)
Live from Baghdad (2002)
Mad City (1997)
Network (1976)
Street Smart (1987)
Switching Channels (1988)
To Die For (1995)
Up Close and Personal (1996)

Movies About Radio Journalists:
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

Documentaries About Journalists:
Citizen McCaw (2008)
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008)

Goose and the First Pedicure of Spring

Yesterday I endured my annual mammogram. I share this as a public service announcement: chicas, take care of yourselves. The staff at Fairview Hospital make it as stress free as possible and nothing unusual showed up in the X-rays, but still, it's hardly pleasant. I craved a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream as a reward. Instead, I had a Skinny Cow Chocolate Truffle Bar and treated my feet to this pedicure. Cheers to spring and to health.

Berkshires Cat Molly Needs a New Home

If you know of anyone with room in their home and heart to care for a cat, please spread the word.

A note from Jeffrey Borak:

My wife and I are looking for a safe, loving, caring home for our 10-year-old neutered indoor cat, Molly. Because she has been bullied by three adult cats we have brought into the house, we have moved her into a comfortable room of her own, isolated from the others but this is not a good permanent solution.

She is loving and affectionate, once she has learned to trust the situation she is in. She also is easily spooked by loud, abrupt noises - thunder, strangers entering the house.

If you are interested or have questions, I can be reached via cell phone at 413.281.2475.

I'm Also The New Spokesmodel For These Shaker Piglets

Video by Ben Garver of the Berkshire Eagle.

Another new client is Hancock Shaker Village. The baby animals festival will run April 11 - May 3. I'm going to do special baby animals outreach to east coast mommy (and daddy) bloggers. Are you one or do you have any favorite parenting blogs I should know about? Thanks in advance for any tips.

My New Gig: Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) Tweetmaker in Residence

Posting in a hurry as I've got lots to do today, but want to let you know about my fun new gig as Tweetmaker in Residence for the Berkshire International Film Festival. Leading up to the festival, I'll be tweeting about the films and filmmakers (this year's BIFF schedule includes 70 films from 13 countries) and then I'll be a live micro-blogging fool during the event itself, May 14 - 17 in Great Barrington, MA. To follow along and add to the conversation yourself, please see http://twitter.com/BIFFMA.

Three Generations of Hyams Women

San Miguel de Allende, February 2009
Photos by Judith "JJ" Anderson

Elizabeth Gilbert: A different way to think about creative genius

I've not read Eat, Pray, Love and resisted watching Elizabeth Gilbert's much-touted TED talk, as I thought I'd dislike her out of envy, but she's smart and charming and this lecture is inspiring.