Friday, June 26, 2009

Cape Cod Screwballs Return to Eden



Hidden on a back road just off Rte 6A in Dennis, MA, you will find Eden.

Not in the Biblical sense of course; but rather that of a local jewelry maker. Eden’s Hand Arts, maker of the “Cape Cod Screwball” bracelet, to be exact. Almost everyone I know on the Cape (and beyond) has one of these instantly recognizable silver bangles (the one with the small gold ball) on their wrist. Everyone that is, except me.

Having lived on the Cape for over 10 years now, my Mother decided it was high time I have one too. I just celebrated a “big” birthday, so my Mother and Sister took me to Edens to get me my very own bracelet as a birthday gift. Both my Mother and Sister each have one of these bracelets, and have visited the small, almost shed-size shop several times. Now it was my turn to experience shopping at Eden’s. And what an experience it was.

To give you a little history on the bracelet, local legend has it that Eden’s designer, John Carey, was the first to create this simple, yet highly sought-after bracelet. Unfortunately, he failed to secure a patent on the design, so just about every jewelry store and gift shop on the Cape offers their version of it. Eden’s even has a disclaimer on their brochure and website: www.vst.cape.com-rch/eden.html that states “No other website or store is authorized to sell our Eden Cape Cod Screwball jewelry.” That being said, if you have an authentic Eden bracelet, it makes you feel like you are part of a very small and highly guarded secret society.

It feels like a secret society for many reasons. First of all, it was a good thing my Mother had been to Eden’s several times before, otherwise I don’t think I would have found it on my own. In fact, if it weren’t for the unexpected rush of cars turning, backing up and frantically vying for the 6 parking spaces in front of the shop, I would have driven right past it. Second, there seems to be some unwritten rules (among the many posted rules) for shopping at Edens.

Here are just a few of them, with a word to the wise:
1. Hit the bank machine before you go – they only accept cash or checks (no credit cards).
2. You cannot park on the street (or even up on the grassy shoulder). If all 6 parking spaces are taken, you either need to circle the block a couple times and hope that one opens up, or you’ll need to park in the gas station parking lot down the street and walk over. (They even have a rule against turning around in the neighboring driveways.) They are VERY strict about parking, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on your shopping experience before you’ve even gotten out of your car.
3. The line forms out the door, so be prepared to wait. Maybe bring a paperback book or an ipod... The wait can be anywhere from a couple of minutes to over an hour. We had a good day; we only had to wait 15 minutes.
4. Once you finally get to the front of the line (at the doorway) don’t let your excitement and anticipation get the best of you. They will scold you if you stand too close to the door. I recommend not stepping up on the first step until the person in charge motions for you to do so. Trust me – you’ve come this far and waited too long; you wouldn’t want to be sent packing at this point!
5. They only let 2 groups of customers in the shop at a time. As with most things, safety in numbers: Go with a couple of friends. It will make the time pass and will add to the overall shopping experience.
6. Know what you want before you go in. The more you look like you know what you’re doing, the nicer the salesperson will be.
7. Appreciate this unique and truly New England-style shopping experience. All kidding aside, Eden is a very special artisan jeweler and it is evident they are very proud of their product. If you have any questions or need an adjustment made to one of their pieces, they will treat you with much respect and gratitude for your patronage.

So, if in doubt, make sure your bracelet has the tell-tale small silver Eden tag, which indicates you have an authentic “Screwball” bracelet, and not a knock-off copy. This tells the World you shopped at Eden’s and lived to tell about it! Happy shopping, and Good Luck!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Summer Dinner Guests

"Mary, Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?"


I don't know about Mary, but mine grows with Radishes, Radishes and more Radishes. We, like so many Americas (thanks Obama White House!) started a vegetable garden this year. The difference with us is that we have never attempted to grow so much as a tomato plant in a pot, much less an actual vegetable garden. Ours was an ambitious attempt too: Four 5' by 10' plots, containing over a dozen varieties of herbs and vegetables. It's enough to make the Victory Garden look like a window box.

We planted vegetables our kids were most excited about; cucumbers, broccoli, watermelon and corn. We also chose a few for Mommy and Daddy; tomatoes, basil, cabbage and yes, radishes - for my husband. I have never eaten a radish in my life. That is until 3 weeks ago, when the most gorgeous, perfectly round, ripe, red bulbs started to appear. If I've worked this hard to plant it, water it, weed it and nurture it, by God I'm going to eat it! As it turns out, radishes are one of the most foolproof plants to grow. They are quick to sprout and reach full maturity in less than 30 days. This is ideal for impatient children, by the way. But a fresh radish straight from the garden has a light, peppery taste - almost refreshing.


I "Googled" radish recipes and found this wonderful website: http://www.allrecipes.com/. On it, I found a recipe for Radish-top Soup. The tops of radishes are so green and lush, it seemed a shame to let them go to waste - I can be such a Yankee sometimes. I also found a recipe for Radish Dip. Anyone who knows me, knows I am the self-described "Queen of Dips". I love a good dip; hot or cold, but this one really was surprisingly good.

This led me to a fabulous summer meal.

No matter where you live most people like to entertain, especially during the summer months. But when you live on the Cape that seems to happen more often than not, and usually includes out-of-town guests. Problem: What to feed these wonderful people? Solution: A quick, easy (and in this economy) surprisingly affordable meal that is sure to please just about everyone - whether they think they like radishes or not.

Here's the menu (enough for 4 adults) followed by my version of the recipes. Happy cooking, Happy entertaining, Happy eating, and most importantly, Happy Summer!

Appetizer: Radish Dip
Soup: Radish-top Soup
Main course: London-broil Bruschetta with Asparagus
Dessert: Strawberry-Rhubarb pie


Appetizer - Radish Dip


Ingredients:
4 cloves garlic, peeled
6 radishes, quartered
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese softened, and cut into chunks
2-3 radishes, thinly sliced for garnish (optional)

Instructions:
Place garlic in the container of a food processor, and pulse until finely minced. Add radishes, mince. Add cream cheese chunks, and mix until well blended. Transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with sliced radishes, and chill until serving. Serve with crisp crackers or small tortilla chips.


Soup - Radish-top Soup

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, diced
2 medium potatoes, sliced
4 cups raw radish greens
4 cups chicken broth
1/3 cup heavy cream (or whole milk)
5 radishes, sliced for garnish

Instructions:
1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and saute until tender. Mix in the potatoes and radish greens, coating them with the butter. Pour in chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.
2. Allow the soup mixture to cool slightly, and transfer to a blender (or use hand blender). Blend until smooth.
3. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Mix in the heavy cream/milk. Soup will have the consistency between pea soup and cream of spinach soup.
Cook and stir until well blended. Serve with radish slices, good crunchy bread and a crisp white wine.

Main Course - London-Broil Bruchetta and Asparagus


Ingredients:
One whole head of garlic
1.5 to 2 lb. London Broil
1 small red onion (or appx. ½ cup), chopped fine
2 medium tomatoes
1 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
2-3 thinly sliced radishes
fresh baguette loaf (or other good French bread)
Horseradish
2 lbs. fresh asparagus, steamed or grilled

Instructions:
Prepare garlic for roasting by rubbing off outer paper, keeping cloves intact. Trim appx. ¼ - ½ inch off the top of the head of garlic. Place garlic on a square of aluminum foil. Lightly drizzle olive oil on top of garlic. Wrap foil up around the garlic, sealing lightly. Place in a 350 degree oven for 45 – 60 mins. Marinate London Broil in Ken’s Italian Salad Dressing for one hour (can be done up to 3 hours before, but no less than 30 minutes). When garlic is finished roasting, squeeze each clove into a small bowl; mix thoroughly to make a paste. Drizzle a few drops of olive oil and mix until well combine. Set aside.

Grill London Broil to rare/medium rare doneness. While steak is grilling, chop red onion and tomato. Mix together in a medium size bowl, set aside.

Trim and prepare asparagus. Steam or grill asparagus to just crisp-tender. Slice loaf bread into ½ - ¾ inch thickness. Bread can be served as is, or very lightly toasted. Serve on wooden cutting board. Serve Gorgonzola crumbles, sliced radishes, horseradish, and garlic paste in small individual serving bowls. When steak is done, slice VERY thin on the diagonal to form long, thin strips. Have guests assemble bruschetta as they like. I suggest spreading a thin layer of garlic paste or horseradish on the bread, top with steak, add a spoonful of tomato/onion mixture, then gorgonzola crumbles, finally top with sliced radish. Serve with asparagus. Enjoy!

Dessert - Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

Either make your own from scratch, or give yourself a break and buy one at the bakery. You've done enough work. Sit back, pour another glass of wine and enjoy your guests!






Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Heritage Museums and Gardens, Sandwich, MA

It was the quintessential beautiful Cape Cod day. The air was clear, dry and warm. The shade of blue in the sky was the type of color that can only be described as “sky blue”. Wisps of white clouds filtered the sun, while mountains of pink, red, and lavender dotted the lush green backdrop of the flowering shrubs. Kinda makes you want to break into song…

“Rhododendron
Is a nice flower,
Evergreenin’
It lasts forever.”


- “Do The Strand” by Roxy Music.


You can’t talk about “Rhodies” without thinking about Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, MA. Heritage is the closest thing Sandwich has to a park, albeit a huge and amazingly beautiful one! We made our first trip of the season to Heritage this past weekend. We renew our family membership each year, and honestly, it is worth every penny. From touring the museums and riding on the antique carousel, to simply strolling through the amazing gardens, Heritage has something for everyone. Some of the attractions and exhibits are well known like the J.K. Lilly II Automobile Museum, the American History Museum and the Carousel. But we’ve found that our favorites are some of the lesser-known sites. Here are our “must see” recommendations:

Just before the Old East Windmill and C.B. Caldera Hosta Gardens, is a small driveway that leads to the Fringe Tree and Herb Garden. The Fringe Tree is one of the most spectacular trees you’ll ever see. The silky blossoms of this rare and beautiful tree are reminiscent of the fringe on a Victorian shawl. The blossoms are so soft to the touch they feel like pure silk. The Herb Garden, which is next to the Administration building, is where you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a Beatrix Potter story. Maybe you’ll find Peter Rabbit eating a bit of parsley, a little chive or maybe some coriander. Letting your kids “scratch and sniff” their way through this little garden is part of the fun (tasting a leaf off the spearmint plant is even better - shhh!)


The “Lake Walk” is a lovely and peaceful walking trail that winds around Shawme Lake. You’ll often find a couple sitting quietly on the handful of benches that over look the Lake. Follow the railroad-tie steps that lead to Parade Field near the American History Museum. This is a perfect spot to spread a quilt on the lush, almost golf course perfect lawn and enjoy a picnic lunch. Packing a picnic makes the day much more economical for those watching a budget. With the money you save, splurge on an ice cream treat at Blossoms CafĂ©! Many people bring a Frisbee or a ball and glove to play catch. The grounds are perfectly manicured and Heritage encourages you to play to your hearts content on their nearly 5 acres of open lawn.

Labyrinth? This classic 7-circuit labyrinth is a landscape wonder located under an awning of black locust trees. Dappled sunlight flickers on the granite cobblestone and crushed shell path. Just entering this space, you feel almost transported to ancient Egypt. The quiet and serine surroundings invite visitors to lose themselves in contemplation and reflection. As you wind your way back and forth along the path, leading eventually to the large tree in the center, you enter into a pleasurable state of timelessness. Some people feel a spiritual connection and Zen-like calm in surrendering to the flow of the path.


The Hart Family Maze Garden is a little off the beaten path, but well worth the search. Unlike the Labyrinth, this is a true maze containing cul-de-sacs and dead ends. Young and old alike will delight in the over 30 varieties of annuals and perennial vines, including trumpet vine, climbing hydrangea and wisteria. There are also some whimsical topiaries peeking around nearly every corner, so look close!

On any give day from mid-May to late September, the variety of activities and flora make Heritage Museums & Gardens a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. In fact, we plan to go back this Sunday, June 14th to attend the European Union Auto Show and the Outdoor Music Concert. For more information check out their website: http://www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/

Chances are pretty good that you’ll run into us during your next trip to Heritage - Happy exploring!