Back to California

Sunset Over Harmony Bird Sanctuary

Well, at the crack of ass tomorrow, I’m flying back to Sunny So-Cal. Yes, I’ll be driving up to No-Cal while I’m there, but I just can’t seem to stay away from California these days.

I know I have often said that LA is the nadir of human culture, and it may be, but that doesn’t mean that it’s all bad. It’s certainly preferable to, say, Des Moines. California, North and South, just has a different idiom from the rest of America; it’s part Western independence, part intense aloofness but also a strange kind of inherent truth. I can’t explain it fully.

And it’s also home to some very important people in my life, one of whom turns 80 next week. You know what that means: I’m making 80 cupcakes on Friday, boo-ya. I’m also going on a pasta-making adventure. I’m locking myself in the house with 10 different kinds of flour and I am going to write a cohesive pasta recipe that I actually like- whoa.

Speaking of pasta, there are just a handful of whole wheat pappardelle left in the freezer, and it’s time to feed this fish. I’m thinking butter, cheese… maybe something green.

Remember, when in doubt- add some frozen peas.

Also, since this post doesn’t seem to be about anything specific, I’ll just mention that I have been catching up on [Carol in Maryland who's cooking her way through the French Laundry Cookbook](http://carolcookskeller.blogspot.com/). If you haven’t read this woman’s blog, you need to in a hurry. She’s a passionate home cook, with a job, kids, a business, and she’s making puff pastry from scratch. And trust me, Betty Crocker she ain’t. If you’re expecting some odious Marth Stewart type, just check out her [video of lobsters lip-synching Celine Dion on their way to the big steamer in the sky](http://carolcookskeller.blogspot.com/2007/05/butter-poached-maine-lobster-with-leeks.html).

It’s not so much moribund as it is darkly humorous. All I know is I would not want to be on her bad side.

Listening: “Mekong” The Refreshments Fizzy Fuzzy Big and Buzzy