regular customers know that we reuse magazine pages in our products at napa farmhouse 1885(tm). many of our items come packaged in mason jars and the "toppers" are repurposed magazine pages. when you make a purchase on our website each jar, or tin, or box is wrapped in pages....almost like a present...and the packing material is usually crumbled up magazines. (we use biodegradable peanuts when necessary for extra protection). since i have collected magazines for years..and am now going through a "clearing out of stuff" phase, this green way to manage our shipping materials is a win win for all.
today i was thinking about all that i have learned from magazines...cooking techniques and recipe ideas throughout the years from bon appetit, food and wine and the aforementioned gourmet; the home and garden design inspiration from martha stewart magazine and countless other publications. fashion...where would we be without all the fashion mags? throw in business journals, music, art...countless lessons from so many wonderful issues.
this dish is delicious year round...and you can change up the vegetables to stay seasonal...turnips and beets are delicious in winter, try with summer squash and tomatoes in summer... (you do not need to precook the squash and tomatoes...just add them to the pan with the fish). i love to serve for dinner parties...easy and can easily be doubled.
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pot roast halibut
3 large carrots, cut into bite sized pieces
6 fingerling potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 sweet white onion, peeled and sliced
4 oz brown mushrooms, sliced
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 1/2 lbs halibut fillets (about 1 inch thick)
large pinch herbs de provence
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
more e.v.o.o. for drizzling
preheat oven to 325 degrees. fill a medium sized saucepan with water 3/4 full. add large pinch of sea salt and bring to a hard boil. add the carrots and potatoes and cook 10-15 minutes, just until they start to soften (do not overcook). drain.
add olive oil to a large, oven proof skillet (you will need a lid later for this pan) and heat until oil is hot. add onions and mushrooms and cook until vegetables are softened (4-5 minutes). do not let the onion brown. add the garlic and cook an additional minute stirring constantly.
remove from heat. add carrots and onions to skillet. season vegetables with a pinch each of salt and pepper and stir to combine. push the vegetables to the sides of the pan and add the fish to the center. season the fish with a small pinch of salt and pepper. pour the wine over the fish and sprinkle the entire dish with the herbs de provence .
cover the pan with the lid and bake for 25 minutes. remove from oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes. drizzle with additional extra virgin olive oil (the best quality you have) and serve immediately.
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what are your favorite magazines? why? do you still receive hard copies...or do you use the ipad versions? curious minds want to know :)
best,
diane
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well....8 months later....the space has been leased. i am very happy for our landlord...she has been fantastic to work with....but a bit torn regarding my feelings for this development. on one hand, the napa farmhouse 1885 collection is now being carried by a few very cool shops throughout the napa valley and beyond. making the product and filling wholesale orders, along with website orders, is keeping me very busy...thank you very much. on the other hand, i have so loved meeting all the customers of the shop and hearing their comments, feedback and suggestions. and it has been so cool to showcase the product and merchandise the entire assortment together.
sign up for our mailing list and we will keep you posted on the status of Studio-Store. lastly, thank you so much to all our customers...especially the regulars. it has meant so much to hear your kind words.
#1 my favorite concept of the show could be titled "why did it take so long?" a company called glacia icebox water in a box is packaging pure arctic spring water in a paper box...like a milk carton. i have been horrified the past few years watching stories of the damage discarded plastic water bottles do to wildlife and the environment. what a brilliant solution! milk cartons...the company says their packaging is "sustainable, biodegradable, recyclable, environmentally friendly, disposable...they say it reduces the amount of refuse in landfill by 97%!!..healthy and eco-sensitive. and, the water is delicious!.... i love this company...their people were knowledgeable, friendly and very funny....and the product is my favorite of the show (which is saying a lot...did i mention all the chocolate, cheese, oils and baked goods?) check them out at 
#2 my most enjoyable experience was talking to the people at a company called flamous organics...they make organic falafel chips and hummus bottled dressing. the sales rep was good...but in the middle of his pitch...the founder took over and this guy was hilarious! i should start by saying the products are delicious...and could sell themselves....but he started talking about how to eat his food, how to serve, gave recipes, told us about the "unlimited uses" for the items (remember, these are chips and salad dressing)...at one point he asked me to "feel his hand" to see how soft it was...he proceeded to tell me it was due to the "organic ingredients in the hummus" and recommend that...in addition to eating the dressing... i use it as a "face cream and hand lotion"! this man was very, very passionate about his products...and i love that. 
hands down...the most bizarre was a company called "cupless joe". walking by their booth, i was handed a small packet of capsules. the sales rep started talking about how the convenience of a capsule of coffee and a glass of water would change my life...for a minute i thought this was some new type of instant coffee...nope. the capsules are full of dried, concentrated coffee which you take to "get the coffee high without actually having to drink coffee". their marketing campaign says"
my maternal grandmother's name was mildred but everyone called her mim.... she was a fantastic cook..spent most of her days in the kitchen..and always managed to look perfect when sitting down for dinner. she wore the coolest aprons..and there was something special about the moment she took off the apron and sat down with the rest of us at the dinner table..my definition of family. i started collecting vintage aprons a few years ago..and really fell in love with the designs. i hesitated wearing them..they were so beautiful..and i did not want to "mess them up" by staining them while cooking...(and yes, i do understand that misses the point of an apron)..i shared this concern with a fellow collector who told me that vintage aprons have witnessed years of family stories..and that i should add my stories to the rest...i thought this was a really appropriate sentiment.
