Cookie Time.. Red Walnuts and Lavender Buds!

Last weekend I went to the Temecula Farmers Market looking around for new fresh items of the season. Red Walnuts and Lavender Buds for cooking.  The walnuts were a bright hue of red that do not loose their color when baking. If you are not close to this farmers market you can get them from Amazon.

Notice the pure color that does not look like they are just dyed.

I made Red Walnut Oatmeal cookies that turned out terrific! Here is the recipe:

Red Walnut Oatmeal Cookies 

Keys Creek Lavender Farm up the road from Temecula has a table filled with the only organic certified farm for lavender around. The farm used to be open to the public, but now only if you are attending a class or function. Their Linen spray is the best on the market and made at the farm. I purchased the food grade buds to make lavender sugar and to decorate the cookies.

Have you even purchased something from etsy.com? I was looking around at rolling pins and found these remarkable tools from Rolling Woods: They even make to order.. They are out of Poland, but no worries if you order with Paypal.. My pins arrived within 3 weeks from ordering! Rolling Woods

I made Lavender Butter Cookies using the Lavender buds and European butter:

Lavender Shortbread Cookies 

Lastly,  I am a sucker for a good Chocolate Chip Cookie. I love how these turned out with the soft inside and outside with a little crunch. They also look like ones my grandmother made..

 

Rich Chocolate Chip Cookies

Thursday is National Cheesecake Day.. Post coming soon.. I will be on LIVE CW6 San Diego Living.. Tune in.. 9am! 

Over 120 countries.. But France is Special! SDLiving

French Influence ~  SDLiving Also 

I have visited over 120 countries, But France is it! Over 20 years ago when I decided which country to focus on International Food Tours I decided on France. I had so much in common with the rich country of food history. One of my mentors and chefs was from the Alp region of France in Chamonix. I knew I needed to see and share.

For over 18 seasons I packed my bags and took small groups to the South of France. We lived in the former home of Julia Child. The past 5 seasons I have rented a 17th century villa, and this year Julia's former home is up for sale. An end of an era. I hosted about 150 in the home over the years.. We are in our final stages of booking 2016 dates as we only have 2 spots left and will not be adding a week. If you are interested, please email as soon as possible. ggeary@aol.com .

I am so proud that I have 2 former tour goers coming back for yet another week in the South of France.  

SDLiving: 

Last week I created Tapas outside on the outdoor set. Here are the recipes. 

Sangria Blanca

Meatballs with Tomato Sauce

Cold Tomato Soup

White Bean Salad

I am back next week for National Cheesecake Day! July 30th.. 9am Live on SDLiving CW6.. Recipes here afterwards! 

Father's Day

Monday on SDLiving I will be doing a special show for Dad's.. Mainly my dad!

Here is a rare picture of us.. Mom really didn't let Dad hold us.. In fact some didn't think we had legs that worked! Father's Day is a tough day for gifts.. You try to get something useful yet fun.. So I came up years ago with a blend of Cinnamon Sugar that dad likes on his buttered toast in the mornings.. I packaged it and put lables with this picture.. Wala! A perfect personal gift.. We will be making this and also a Steak/Rub rub. Also some of Dad's Favorite Chocolate Desserts!

Join me on SDLiving Tomorrow LIVE at 9am.. Here are the recipes...

Dad's Cinnamon

Dad's Steak Rub

Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies 

See you on the HAL Flagship... The ms Amsterdam on Sunday out of Seattle.. Heading to Alaska for a week! 

We are 1/2 full for France 2016.. Will you be coming with us? It maybe our last weeks in the villas for a while.. ggeary@aol.com 

SDLiving... On Friday!

Busy Week!

On Friday the 5th I will be making Salsas and Moscow Mules as the Adult Beverage for my segment on San Diego Living.  We are on LIVE at 9am.. Top of the hour I bring on the Mules! Then later I will show you how flavorful and fun home made salsas and baked chips can be! The show is on in San Diego on the CW6.. But if you check it out later the show is put on the web for 24 hrs.. Here are the recipes.. 

Moscow Mules (Invented on Sunset Blvd at Cock 'N Bull in the 40's)

Baked Chips

Two Salsa's (Traditional and Peach Mango)

Holland America: I will be on the Flagship.. ms Amsterdam on June 21st from Seattle.. 7 day Alaska!

France 2016.. We are 1/2 sold out! We will be going for only one week in April. If you are interested email me at ggeary@aol.com for a brochure.. 

France...

I just returned from 2 weeks in the countryside in the South of France... It was the best year of tours ever I think. 

We had great classes, tours and food. The countryside was packed with red poppies and the aroma of the floral danced in your nose. We even walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film

We woke up to the village's church bells every morning and ended our evenings with them as well.  

2016 maybe the last year for our use of this great villa. So if you are interested please email us. The dates are April 24th-30th, 2016 .. We only have room for 4 couples.. We take care of everything except your airfare into Nice, France.. 

Don't Procrastinate! 

Cheers George