Holiday Table at Domaine de Manion
Thinking of all of you, thankful and grateful for the journey we have had together this year through the musings, recipes, places to know, garden, kitchen, workshops, culinary experiences, events, lifestyle tips, and above it all—the sharing.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season….Bonnie
After a break for the holidays, I will return in January 2024. Merci mille fois!
Paperwhites Create Holiday Cheer In The Garden
If you force Paperwhites (part of the Narcissus family) in beautiful containers inside your home for the holidays, what do you do with them afterwards? Several years ago I started planting the spent bulbs in key spots in my garden. Just like clockwork they emerge on their own in the garden in time for the holidays. Not only do their spectacular blooms create a very special holiday feel to your garden, their heavenly scent is intoxicating as you pass by them. There are many, many Paperwhite varieties, and most can be found at garden stores and nurseries in late fall. Online bulb companies such as Brent and Becky’s Bulbs and Easy to Grow Bulbs offer a nice selection.
Plant them in a home entrance flower bed, near a gate, or a pathway to capture their scent as you pass by. Of course, this suggestion is for those who live in a Mediterranean climate, most varieties are hardy in USDA zones 9-11. My garden is in zone 10, and they are very happy. If you don’t live in the mentioned zones, enjoy your Paperwhites indoors.
Paperwhites like air, sunlight, and light water. They don’t like their feet wet, and they don’t need fertilizer. Planted in groups and mass in the garden they are spectacular. Bloom time is about 2 weeks. If you are planting your Paperwhite bulbs in the garden from a forced vase, it might take a few years for the bulbs to catch on and really shine. You can clip spent flowers, but keeping the green foliage and letting it brown and die back by itself, it actually provides energy to the bulb for next year’s blooming.
Please be aware the entire Paperwhite plant is toxic to pets and to people. It is the plant’s natural defense. If you have a curious pet, an inquisitive small child, or grandchild, you might not want to tempt them with reachable Paperwhites. On the other hand, Paperwhites will deter gophers and deer in their immediate area, so an added benefit, beauty and function.
Past Related Posts:
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie
Side by Side, Bibb Lettuce Salads with Persimmons and Candied Pecans
I wrote about this delicious perfect holiday salad recipe, Bibb Lettuce Salad with Persimmons and Candied Pecans, two years ago. It is such an easy divine salad, so perfect for the holidays, I wanted to mention and highlight it with you all once again.
The cranberry-based dressing is just a natural to complement holiday pork, turkey, and even beef recipes. If you can’t by chance find Fuyu persimmons, substitute pears in this recipe. Yum!
Would you like to know a perfect holiday salad, easy, and elegant for your holiday gatherings? It is “Bibb Lettuce Salad with Persimmons and Candied Pecans.” It is chock full of fresh seasonal ingredients like cranberries, Fuyu persimmons, and pecans.
Visually, a treat for your table. Healthy and good for you. It is what I call a composed salad, which is layered with a drizzled dressing on top, rather than tossed all together. You can make this salad ahead of time on individual salad plates or on large serving platters. It has different textures of crunch and softness, and sweetness from the cranberry dressing and candied pecans that stand up well to the tang of bold crumbled blue cheese. Your family and guests will love this salad!
Bibb Lettuce Salad with Persimmons and Candied Pecans
Lovingly Adapted from Bon Appétit Magazine, December 2005
Ingredients:
3/4 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce (purchased or homemade)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon golden brown sugar
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 heads of Bibb lettuce, coarsely torn
4 Fuyu persimmons, peeled, sliced
1 cup (generous) crumbled blue cheese
Candied Pecans
Directions:
-Whisk first 4 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk in oil. Season with salt and pepper.
-Mound lettuce in center of 8 plates. Top each with persimmon slices, then drizzle with dressing. Sprinkle with cheese and Candied Pecans.
Recipe Note: I often substitute Bibb Lettuce with a Baby Spinach & Green Lettuce Mix, or when I can find it, a Baby Red Butter Lettuce. Trader Joe’s carries a ready-made Candied Pecans 5 oz. bag, perfect for salads or snacking.
If you make this salad, please share with me your comments. I would love to hear from you!
Another Related Post:
Beet & Goat Cheese Arugula Salad
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie
Every year I bring out this vintage sleigh to decorate and place by my front door. Year to year the vignette and decorations vary. My holiday decorations and style are generally simple and rustic, and often using greens from my garden.
Making This Vignette:
Find an interesting piece for a base, such as this weather-worn sleigh. Choose a piece that is novel, whimsical, and might bring on a smile.
Use a focal piece or showstopper. I chose a 10” beautiful red poinsettia plant inspired from a recent tour at Weidner’s Gardens, organized by one of my garden clubs, The Village Garden Club of La Jolla.
Wrap the plant in simple burlap.
Cut Blue Juniper greens and Little Gem Magnolia pieces from my garden, arranging them on the sleigh. Look for greens, foliage, berries, pine cones in your garden, or possibly from a neighbor or friend.
Add another smaller interesting piece. In this vignette, an interesting pine cone from another part of California.
Add a colorful bow, if your vignette needs a pop. I didn’t want to take away from the color and beauty of the poinsettia, so I didn’t add a bow.
Make sure everything in your vignette can tolerate being outdoor for a period of time.
Enjoy what you have created. If you make a vignette, I would love to hear about it!
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie
Bottling And Labeling Our Syrah 2022 Vintage
The good news is, our Syrah 2022 harvest was a record yield for us—over 1,400 pounds. Aged in oak barrels for over a year, it was a perfect sunny autumn morning to bottle 30 cases of our wine, with the help of our enthusiastic friends.
The bad news is, we lost our entire grape crop for 2023. We had a cool spring, a tropical mid-summer rain, more summer rain, and not a terribly hot end of summer. The grapes simply didn’t ripen and the powder mildew pressure persisted. Grapes split, bees came, and even coyotes for a nightly nibble. At first, we tried to cull grape clusters amongst the good, but it in the end we let the harvest go. You can’t make good or great wine from poor grapes.
This was an exceptionally trying weather year, but we have had a few here and there. We were not the only ones, many local vintners were also affected. It is humbling, and it is farming. There is always next year, and a fresh start once again.
Full Boxes Finished And Stacked For Storage & Further Aging
More good news. John and I are pouring our Domaine de Manion wines at the upcoming Olivenhain Wine Tasting Event on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, from 6pm to 9pm, along with six other local vintners. Cost is $35.00 per person, and includes hand-crafted appetizers and a complimentary etched wine glass. It is an annual fundraiser to support the maintenance of the historic Olivenhain Town Hall and the surrounding grounds.
For this event, you don’t have to be an Olivenhain member, but what they call a Supporter. So come on out and support this fun and great event. Tickets are now available online along with more details. There is a limited amount of tickets sold, so if you are interested in going, be sure and book your ticket(s) in advance.
I hope to see you at the Olivenhain Wine Tasting. A big thanks to all of you for your continued interest and support!
Santé
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie
Autumn Tablescape
Thinking of you all, and wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving full of love, blessings, and deliciousness.
Gather your loved ones close. Gather the abundance of the harvest and its many comfort flavors. Gather your gratitude. Gather your thoughts, and take time to reflect on the year that has unfolded.
Be in the moment, but honor the past, and carry forward creative positive thoughts that will manifest how you want your next year and life ahead to unfold.
Bon Appétit et Happy Thanksgiving….Bonnie
Roger’s Red Through the Autumn Morning Sun
Roger’s Red grapevine is something to roar about. An ornamental grapevine that is thought to be a natural hybrid between the native grape, Vitis californica and the European wine grape, Vitis vinifera.
This grapevine is absolutely stunning with red foliage for your autumn garden. It can produce small grapes, although mine hasn’t yet. I really can’t say enough about the foliage, sometimes chocolate in some light, sometime warm red to burnish orange leaves in other light. And a dash of green color, too.
Roger Red Grapevine Climbing Up My Outdoor Patio
It does like to climb on fences, gates, or some kind of support, which is perfect for a garden setting. It will take full sun to light shade with regular to moderate water. Allowing this grapevine to climb will allow it to move and dance with the wind.
I found my Roger’s Red grapevine at Tree of Life Nursery. Sometimes you can find it in nurseries, in their native plant section. You can probably find it online, too.
A very hardy grapevine, it did take me a few years to get it started and growing.
Another View of Roger’s Red Grapevine
I like the idea of decorating your autumn table or buffet with this fabulous grapevine. A trick to doing this is clipping your grapevines in advance, and soaking the ends in a watering can overnight before your intended use. This will help keep your leaves from wilting during your special occasion.
You can even totally immerse individual leaves in water overnight, dry them, and press them flat for a few hours before needing to use them on your table or in your vignette.
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie
On a Mission, Walking in Paris. Photo Compliments of Stephen Caldwell
This fall I spent a glorious week in Paris with a dear friend. I had wanted to do that for a while, spend a week just enjoying everyday Paris. We did a lot of walking in Paris, which I highly recommend. One can really take in the details of Parisian everyday life, study the architecture, smell the croissants, and enjoy the razzle dazzle of this great city. So often, a view, or a scene is like a real life picture perfect postcard. No editing or enhancing needed. Everyday Paris is amazing.
Walking so much in Paris, I had an “aha” moment where all of my past trips to Paris came together. I really got a grasp of the layout of Paris, and now it seems very personal and familiar to me.
Of course, if you are walking, it helps to have a plan. Last June, The New York Times published A Walk in Paris: Gardens, Greenery, and Flower Shops by Christine Chitnis, which was curated by Sandra Sigman. Sigman has had a long time love affair with Paris, recently bought an apartment there, and has a popular floral business in Massachusetts specializing in French floral design. Her delightful new book, French Blooms highlights the celebrated florist and her distinctive French style of flower arrangements. In The New York Times article Sigman tastefully guides you on a short three mile walk through the 6th and 7th arrondissements. You can stop and start whenever you like. If walking is not your preference, you can get to these places in your preferred mode of transportation.
Sigman highlights her favorite florists, eateries, green spaces, and specialty shops such as Barthelemy, an incredible cheese shop that has been in the neighborhood for more than 40 years.
One of the Neighborhood’s Most Charming Cheese Shop. Photo compliments of Stephen Caldwell.
These two neighborhoods, the 6th and 7th arrondissements, have an abundance of incredible flower shops. I can see why Sigman especially loves this area. This neighborhood also boasts Cafe Varenne, one of my favorite (and Ina Garten—Barefoot Contessa) casual spots for people watching and delicious lunch.
Inside the Flower Shop, 69 Bac
Each flower shop is different from the next, in what they carry, how they display, what they specialize in, and their locations. Flower shops and flowers are very popular and well supported in the Parisian community. It is not uncommon to see an armful of beautiful flowers heading to someone’s nearby home.
Jardin de Luxembourg, A Perfect Spot to End Your Walk
Sigman ends her walk at the Jardin de Luxembourg, a classic Parisian park, usually filled with relaxing Parisians strolling about, lounging in a chair by the Grand Bassin, or contemplating by the magnificent Medici Fountain. In October, the gardens were still bursting with color for all to enjoy.
Started in 1611 by Marie de’ Medici originally, Jardin de Luxembourg has seen many transitions. Thank goodness Jardin de Luxembourg was saved from the mammoth Haussmann urban redevelopment happening in Paris in the 19th century. Slated for demolition and development, 12,000 Parisians petitioned to keep the garden, ensuring its glorious permanence.
The Magical Setting of the Seine at Dusk. Photo compliments of Stephen Caldwell.
Not on Sigman’s curated walk, but a “must to do” sometime while you are in Paris. Stroll the Seine at dusk and sunset with a friend or a loved one. It is breathtaking, and postcard picture perfect. One really feels the essence of Paris and the amazing beauty that abounds.
Paris has recently made strides to make the city more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Roads down to the Seine have been blocked from cars, encouraging you to stroll, meet up with friends, or perhaps stop at one of the riverfront cafes. Allons y!
Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie