WILD MUSHROOM RAVIOLI

1 package Wild Mushroom Ravioli (12 pieces)

8 ounces fresh Crimini Mushrooms, sliced

2 or 3 slices of Prosciutto, chiffonade
Olive Oil
1Tbl butter

Salt and Pepper
Parmesan, grated.

Cook Ravioli as directed.

Slice fresh mushrooms

Chiffonade Prosciutto (bunch the slices together with left hand and slice in strips.
Bring Olive Oil to just before smoking and 1/2 butter, add mushrooms and stir till all are coated.  Add the rest of the butter and turn heat down to low simmer.  Add salt and pepper.

Remove Ravioli to paper towel and pat excess water off with an other paper towel.
Add Chiffonade of Prosciutto to sauted mushrooms and toss. 
Add Ravioli and gently combine. 
Serve Ravioli on a bed of the sauted mushrooms and dust with Parmesan.
Serves 2

LOS ANGELES METRO BRIDGE

 LOS ANGELES METRO RAIL BRIDGE

LOS ANGELES METRO RAIL BRIDGE

In recent years the City of Los Angeles seems to have become wonderfully enlightened.  This is a great example of this sophisticated, intelligent thinking that they are employing with city planning.  

Rather than hire and engineering firm, a bridge building company or architects, they handed over the aesthetic design to an artist, who was assisted by the technical people.  The result is absolutely stunning. 
Now, being me,my first thought was; 'can I please go into the basket ?  does the light come through the weave ?  can we put a camera obscura inside one of them ?  Well, I suppose that was three thoughts, but they came quite quickly on the heels of one another.

ANGELS FLIGHT

Angels Flight began operating in 1901. Billed as the shortest railroad in the world. It served to transport people up a steep incline between Downtown Los Angeles and The Bunker Hill residential area. In 1969 it was dismantled and place in storage when city decided to develop the Bunker Hill area in to Office buildings and Cultural Venues. It remained in storage for 27 years and at last this Los Angeles Icon is up and running again. Notice the great beauty of the interior wood work of the little cars. It is so finely crafted. It appears to be made by a shipwright to me. They are extremely talented 'cabinet makers' adept at fashioning such interiors into curved and 'lofted' spaced. A very high skill.

SEA SCALLOP BLUES

APPETIZER
for 6

6 Large Sea Scallops (2"x 2")
2 cups of whipping cream (or half and half if you must )
6 oz Roquefort Cheese
1/4 tsp white pepper
1 tbl lime juice (Mexican or Key limes are best)
2 tbl lime zest.
2 flour gorditas or flour tortillas

Roquefort Sauce
Bring cream to a low rolling boil add Roquefort and pepper reduce by half (about 15 minutes. ) This can be done earlier the same day.

Reheat on low heat just before plating add lime juice and 1 tbl zest.

Scallops
Oil and preheat grill
Pat the scallops dry, brush wit olive oil, sprinkle with white pepper and sea salt.
Grill about 3 " from heat for 2 minutes, turn and cook for another 30 seconds. Scallops should be light golden and still soft to the touch.
Toast tortilla wedges on grill for last 30 seconds or so.

Plating
Spoon about 3 tbl sauce on bottom of plate, arrange tortilla wedges (3 per plate) along left side of plate, place a scallop in middle, strew lime zest over scallops.

Yamashiro Inn

The Yamashiro Inn on a hilltop in Hollywood is closing in on it's 100th birthday in 2014. Construction began in 1911 by two wealthy brothers. The brothers were avid collectors of Japanese art and wanted a home to showcase the collection. They brought dozens of Japanese craftsmen to Hollywood to build the ten room residence. The Pagoda was purchased in Japan, disassembled and then reassembled on the hilltop. It is said to be the oldest building in California, 600 years. The views are commanding; the San Bernardino Mountains, Downtown Los Angeles, Century City and all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

http://www.yamashirorestaurant.com/history/

FRIDA'S HOUSE of COLOR

CALIFORNIA CLIMATE

An hour ago it was cripsy and fall like when I was getting dressed for my 'Sunday Go get the Paper Walk'.  So I put on jeans, a flannel shirt and my vintage Pendleton 49er Jacket (c. 1940s or 50s).

An hour from now it will be a very warm summer day spent with coffee and the paper in the garden.

I used to be a maniac vintage/thrift shopper.  It was like 'Big Game Hunting'.  I found the price tag for this shirt/jack in it's pocket; 12.00.  I just recieved a Pendleton Catalogue; going price 178.00 !!

See, 'Big Game Hunting' !

There used to be a dozen great Thrift/Vintage stores in Venice and Santa Monica.  Most are gone now.  They've fallen victim to the 'gentrification' movement.

CAL TRANS DIST 7 HQ

This beautiful new building was completed in 2009. Architects; Morphopedia. A colorful open air entry court. Art galleries, restaurants, child care facilities and solar panels designed in to the fabric of the building . Downtown Los Angeles at 2nd and Main.

Stock photos; Google Images

Kornish House Richard J. Neutra Architect

I came across these wonderful rendering by Neutra for the Kornish House.

The LA Conservancy is mounting a campaign to save the house which has suffered much damage and clumsy 'improvements'. First they will likely do an assessment of the property.

Hollyhock House

HOLLYHOCK HOUSE

nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Frank Lloyd Wright's beautiful Hollyhock House in the Hollywood Hills is gettin a little face lift this summer. I'm so happy we are keeping this beauty up to snuff.

Click on photos for L.A Times article.

These are stock photos from Google.

----maybe it's the rainy weather, but I've been getting creative in the kitchen lately.

I used to hate Brussell Sprouts. Our mothers used to just throw them into boiling water and the smell was horrific ! I like these.

Sweet and Sour Brussell Sprouts

3/4 lb brussell sprouts

1 TBL olive oil

1 tsp 'Splenda' or sugar

1/4 cup golden raisins

1 tsp butter

2 TBL flavored vinegar

2TBL chopped walnuts

dash salt and pepper

Rinse Sprouts, pat dry, cut off bottoms, cut in half lengthwise and cut out core.

Tear apart into leaves and small pieces.

Heat oil in Wok until water drops sizzle, throw in sprouts and sprinkle with 'Splenda' and toss till color 'brightens.

Add butter and toss.

Throw in raisins.

Add vinegar.

Let vinegar steam off a bit.

Sprinkle with walnuts.

This will hold for several hours. Just heat throught and toss before serving.

Serves 4

Variations:

Substitute Dried Cranberries for Raisins

Pine nuts for walnuts

DON'T FORGET TO MOVE TO THE BOTTOM AND FEED THE FISH BEFORE YOU LEAVE !!!

The Ennis House by Frank Lloyd Wright

This is the perfect time of year for me to go an architectural tour of Los Angeles.

We have so many great houses to see; Wright, Neutra ---

Californiating in November Sunsets

Wonderful skies lately. Counting my blessings.

View from the bluff overlooking the Marina with Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains in the background. Ahhhhhh Cali.

THE SANTA FE OPERA

This roofed, but open sided opera house relys on the breathtaking natural scenery for it's back drops, rather than built-out sets. The western view is across the vast mesa to the sunset over the Continental Divide. The photo is of a minimalist set for Madame Butterfly showing the sunset view as the backdrop.

The LAX Theme Building is open again after a massive restoration. This place has always been so Kitchy/Camp that it's cool.

Is that a giant Bubble Lamp/Sculpture I see in the 'Encounter Bar' ?

COCKTAILS

AT

SUNSET !!!!

Sprite

by

Frank Lloyd-Wright c. 1912

I found it.

Some people like flamingos.

Some people like gremlins (I almost went there)

I found the perfect Queen of my Garden.

She was designed in 1912 by Frank Lloyd-Wright.

Sculpted by Ianelli.

For the Midway Gardens Entertainment venue in Chicago.

A few of the original now live at the Arizona Biltmore.

This replica is just beautiful. So very well done and she is so happy with the Kangaroo Paws.

She is the Midway Garden Sprite. Now known as the Arizona Biltmore Sprite.

Frank Lloyd Wright 'Plantation'

I have long admired the art and architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. I recently discoverd a site with wonderful photographs of a house/estate he designed that I had never heard of.

This is described as Wright's take on a southern Plantation. It's just amazing. Not one wall is vertical, they all slant and slope. Everything is hand crafted. The stables and chicken coops are gorgeous.

What a guy. Yes, he was wildly eccentric, arrogant and vain--------but maybe that's what it takes, maybe all of us are bless to have his creations of genius.

I'm so grateful to the photographer for making his beautiful photos available to all of us.

There are many photos, so when you have some time to spare visit this link. I think you feel it was worth it.

www.peterbeers.net/interests/flw_rt/South_Carolina/Auldbrass/auldbrass.htm

This looks like a fun project.............after the house is painted and the patio pergola is built----