With the last overnight freeze hopefully gone, I'm planting tomatoes and other summer veggies in the month of April. So let's visit my local Nursery in Marina Del Rey, now called Flora Grubb Gardens (the original name was Marina Del Rey Garden Center).
Last month, I replaced my topsoil with fresh compost that I make from used coffee grounds and veggie scraps. And in the last two weeks, I've made many trips to the Flora Grubb Gardens for tomato, lettuce, and herb seedlings.
And I especially like the variety of lettuce flats -- everything from Mesclun Mix to Red Buttercrunch and Gourmet Salad Blend. They also have a small orchard of budding fruit trees, some starting to bear fruit -- so you know your first crop is definitely on the way.
You can't get fresher produce than growing your own. And in my latest zany film foray, this green-thumbed budget horticulturist takes you on a tasty garden trek, with camera in hand. Now, you know this will not be a typical tour. Where The 99 Cent Chef goes, high jinx follow!
The Flora Grubb Gardens staff is knowledgeable and helpful, while giving you the space to explore on your own. You will see how the Cheapskate Forager takes full advantage of nature's bounty!
It's hard to resist plucking and tasting a tart Kumquat from a branch weighed down with the colorful fruit, and I'm sure everyone has snagged a Strawberry, Blackberry, or a Grape or two from budding bushes displayed for sale. But, no one has gone to the extremes that the Chintzy Gardener goes in this latest docu-comedy video.
This time around, I had some help from a couple of 99 Cent Players. Making her first appearance is Garden Master Elissa (a workmate & cool drummer), while the Omniscient Voice at the end is provided by my neighbor, and frequent contributor, Pete, a comedian and actor. Both Elissa and Pete provided additional camerawork, too. 99 thanks to them, and also to the Flora Grubb Gardens and all their nursery gardeners.
So sit back and let me give you a comedic tour of the Flora Grubb Gardens. It comes with a warning, though: don't try what you see here at your own local nursery -- I'd hate to have to bail you out of the slammer!
Please note: I brought my own fruit, veggies, and props to the Flora Grubb Gardens. I did pluck a grapefruit from the tree there, but used my own to eat from (there were a lot of grapefruits that had fallen to the ground, so I didn't feel too guilty picking just one -- which I left behind.) Finally, I bought the flat of lettuce used in the video. Although I must fess up to noshing a handful of kumquats during several visits to the nursery.
To make your own Wanted Poster like mine above, click here (and upload a photo.)
Acapulco Gold, Texas Tea, Panama Red, Maui Wowie, Mary Jane, chronic, ganja, pot, weed, grass, kush, herb, joint, blunt, roach, cannabis, reefer, spliff, fatty, jay, doobie, and locoweed, are just some of the euphemisms for marijuana.
Click on any photo to see larger.
Many local pot shops have a green cross or green type somewhere on their building. This comes from when marijuana was first legal in L.A. for medical purposes only - I guess it's a play on the Red Cross?
420 Coast to Coast
Venice, Los Angeles
East Village, New York City
This month 420 is celebrated with pot shop gift bags (given with a minimum purchase) and free handouts.
This year, Easter falls on 4/20 - eggcellent!
Here is my local marijuana dispensary, just down the street, where there's usually a line on this underground holiday. It's a cash-only business because banks will not service Marijuana dispensaries due to the Federal classification of Marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, the same as hard drugs like heroin, cocaine, and LSD. I often see a security guard stationed at pot shops.
I'm not the Wake-and-Bake type, and I don't blaze up every day and night.
Hemp products have a following.
If you're out of the loop, 420 or April (4th month) and day 20, is an international celebration of all things marijuana. The term "420" supposedly originated in 1971 here in California by a bunch of high school buddies who would meet at 4:20pm to smoke weed. You can read about it here.
Los Angeles marijuana shops are open to anyone 18 years or older with a government-issued ID.
Getting a prescription was a farce. Pay the doctor $100 bucks, pick your ailment, and walk out with legal papers. That song and dance is no longer played.
There are rules when entering an L.A. pot shop, besides showing your ID. First, no phones, although everyone carries one. That means no photography, but of course, that has never stopped me, yet!
I get it, but I had to think twice the first time I saw the sign.
Even man's best friend can be treated with cannabis. Not sure if they must provide a California ID?
Louisiana is entering the Stoned Age since decriminalizing Marijuana in 2021. I visited a Marijuana Dispensary in Baton Rouge, right down the street from a large Medical Center.
The dispensary, Capitol Wellness Solutions, was like entering a bank or a high-end jewelry store with waist-high glass cases displaying all manner of marijuana packaging and paraphernalia. All the goodies are behind a pharmacist's counter. Every age of adult was there, from dyed to gray hair.
It's legal in Louisiana for medical use only...so far. And, this is coming from a State where Magic Mushrooms grow in cow fields and on the Mississippi levee. And buying pot was as easy as calling a "high" school classmate for a fat $10 baggie of "skunk" weed.
I've been a contributing citizen to the economy and a creative artist most of my life so all the boogeyman stories of reefer madness don't fly here.
When I was in high school, I primarily used it when listening to music, as it was the 1960's and getting high brought a heightened experience and meaning to the lyrical and sonic content of songs by The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, etc.
And it was just a fun thing to do with friends on the weekend and long summer dazes.
Just watch my Mom's recipe for Tex-Mex Enchiladas to see my high school buddy Marvin and me have a 1960s flashback hanging out and listening to album rock in my bedroom.
These days, I like a cannabis-infused edible from time to time. They will last a couple of hours, just right for an art show, movie, or musical concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Check out some of the concerts I've seen there, including a Willie Nelson concert where I've never smelled so much marijuana in my life!
I'll leave you with another recipe should you be in need of some munchies while celebrating 420 - that is, not my recipe, but one from my brother from another daddy, the Swamp Chef! Check out a tasty cheesy Cajun Nachosvideo made with nephew Zak!
Cajun Natchoscalls for cooked crawfish tail meat, but it's easy to substitute small shrimp or any favorite protein.
For some, it's all about eggs for Easter this Sunday, and I have a basketful of recipes for leftover ovum. So read on for using up eggs that are hard-boiled, because there is no way youngsters can put away that many.
In these pandemic days, the Easter Egg Hunt will be kept all in the family or on computer video. Well, you can still have a hard-boiled egg-y good time.
And be sure to set aside a few raw eggs for some of my recipes listed below (click on any recipe name to see the original blog post.)
Eggs are expensive since the devastating Bird Flu. Who knows when egg prices will come down again?
The easiest leftover use of eggs is a simply delish Egg Salad. It's the quickest and easiest way to use up leftover boiled eggs.
Half a dozen cooked and peeled Easter eggs mixed with a little mayo and some chopped celery will yield a bowlful of creamy deliciousness that can go between 2 toasted slices of bread, as a topping for your favorite salad, or spread on your favorite crackers as appetizers.
Egg Salad Recipe - Video
Play it here. The video runs for 1 minute and 45 seconds.
Ingredients (about 3 sandwiches)
6 eggs - I used small eggs. Boiled, peeled, and chopped. about 2 cups total after chopping.
1/4 cup mayo - I used light mayo. Okay to add more. Add a teaspoon at a time to reach the desired creaminess. Extra-large eggs will need more mayo.
1 stalk of celery, chopped - including leaves on the stalk -- if it comes with them. About 1/2 cup total after chopping.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Water to boil eggs.
*Many recipes call for mustard, but I like it without. But you can add it - try a teaspoon of Dijon or regular mustard. You can also use 1/2 teaspoon of dried mustard powder.
Directions In a pot add eggs and cover with an inch of water. Turn the heat to high and bring it to a boil. Just when eggs start to boil, turn off the heat completely and cover the pot with a lid (or plate). Let sit for 15 minutes. Eggs will continue to cook in the hot water. (Okay to use any favorite boiled egg recipe you may already have).
Meanwhile, chop one stalk of celery, including leaves. Chop finely.
After 15 minutes, remove the eggs and rinse them off in cold water, so you can peel them without burning your fingers. You can also let them sit in a bowl of cool water with some ice cubes for about 5 minutes.
Now is the time to bring it all together. Peel, discard shells, and chop the eggs. You can add them as you chop to a large bowl. I usually chop the eggs in half, then place them yolk side down on the chopping board and finish slicing.
Add all the chopped eggs to a bowl. Mix in the chopped celery. Finally, scoop in 1/4 cup of mayo. Mix well. Salt and pepper to taste. Try out a small spoonful of Egg Salad. At this point you can add more mayo if you like, a teaspoon at a time to reach the desired creaminess.
I find less mayo and mustard (optional) the better, as they easily overpower the mild egg flavor.
A scoop of Egg Salad goes well with your favorite vegetable salad. Egg Salad is a tasty party dip on your favorite chips or crunchy veggie slices. Also, try a spoonful on an avocado half. But I like an Egg Salad Sandwich the best.
This recipe is easy to double using a dozen eggs -- just add another 1/4 cup of mayo and another rib of chopped celery. Keep the finished Egg Salad covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Okay, let's take an ovum break -- for kids, there is a lot of chocolate on the scene like this.
Another early recipe of mine is a silly Devilish Deviled Eggs I made one Halloween. Fun and tasty. Of course, leave out the spicy chili peppers for kid-friendly bites. And you can find all the yummy recipe details from my food blog by clicking on any recipe name.
Small packages of Cream Cheese and Salmon come cheaply, and I like to add it to my Jewish Breakfast Scramble. And add a dollop of cream cheese, and you have a lighter substitution for Lox and Cream Cheese Bagel. Try it sometime, I know you will like it, too.
On my last visit to New York City I visited a local bagel shop and came away inspired by all the Spreads they had, including Cream Cheese with Boiled Eggs.
Nothing to the recipe, really. Just allow the Cream Cheese to soften at room temperature, then mix in a chopped Boiled Egg. I like this on a toasted Bagel, but it's okay to use any favorite toasted bread or roll. Check out my yummy recipe video below.
Booze and eggs go together, especially if you're making my Homemade Eggnog. This video recipe is one of my holiday favorites. You won't believe your eyes when you see my intoxicated antics after imbibing on one Eggnog too many. Be sure to watch this recipe video all the way to the end!
One of my earliest published recipes is also one of the quickest and easiest to make: Scrambled Eggs and Sundried Tomatoes. I like to keep a jar of pungent dried tomatoes in herbs and oil in the refrigerator, right next to my carton of eggs. For a non-oil, lighter version, use plain dried tomatoes in a plastic pouch, too (this is what my wife uses.)
My Mom has an outrageousBreakfast Tacos with Scrambled Eggs and Curly Fries that will blow your mind and stoke your taste buds -- seeing is believing...below.
Eggs make a great binder for my sisterDenise's Veggie Eggplant Burgers. (You should make sure to check out the video we made that features a wacky shopping spree in my local 99c only Store.) And you want to add a scrambled egg or two when you make my cheap$kate version of Chinese Fried Rice.
Ever make Crepes Suzette? There's not much to it really, just eggs, flour, milk, and to quote Julia Child's nephew: "lots of butter." And who's the famed chef's nephew anyway?
Well, just watch the video to see this outrageous character shopping in the Hollywood Farmer's Market -- then moving on to the kitchen to show you how to make a tender and delicate pancake-like dessert.
Do you have a package of frozen veggies in the freezer accumulating frost, and a crisper drawer full of veggies that are close to being thrown out? Well, just rinse off the frozen veggies and slice off the brown spots from the bell pepper and onion to make my colorful Veggie Frittata. For this photo story recipe, I ran out of eggs, but my neighbor Nuno was kind enough to lend me a few. (How's that for a cheap$kate move, free eggs!)
Also, if you have a small patio garden, then I have a couple of nutritious recipes to use the freshly picked bounty. An easy veggie to grow is bright green Swiss Chard. Just saute it for a couple of minutes and add it to your favorite omelet recipe. - My recipe is here.
Every time I change out the dirt from my teeny garden, seeds sprout willy-nilly. Often it's some kind of squash that never bears fruit. Oh well, that's okay because the flowers make a great Squash Blossom Omelet.
I grew up in the South and was raised on Mexican food for a while. Almost everyone in Texas has tried Migas, which are tortilla pieces scrambled with eggs. And, you can't get simpler than having Refried Beans and Eggs. I didn't think I would like this meal at first, but learned that scrambled eggs elevate any humble ingredient!
Refried Pinto Beans & Scrambled Eggs
I get all types of Mexican chorizo, including beef, pork, and soy (vegetarian). Mexican chorizo is different than Spanish chorizo, mainly in its texture. Spanish chorizo is hard like salami, and Mexican chorizo is soft like ground meat. It's a pungent and flavorful protein that mixes well with Chorizo and Scrambled Eggs. And use it to stuff a Breakfast Taco or Breakfast Burrito.
Huevos Rancheros are the Eggs Benedict of Mexican cuisine. A corn tortilla with refried beans and a fried egg that's topped with crumbled queso fresco (cheese) and your favorite salsa is a decadent and filling way to start the day. Make a batch of this with your family sometime, it's quite easy to do when you follow this cheap$kate's recipe.
You can top any of my Mexican breakfast entrees with a favorite jarred salsa or go here to see my list of Homemade Salsa Recipes, with links, that include: Roasted Salsa Verde (tomatillo), Red Chili (2 dried types - but the same recipe), Pico de Gallo, and Mango.
Click on any photo to see larger.
Looking to impress an overnight guest, then serve them my recipe for Eggs Florentine for breakfast. This creamy spinach and egg dish will keep any afterglow going. And if that doesn't work, then I have a sensuous Fried Egg on Breadcrumbs with Asparagus.
I like a challenge. A favorite breakfast fast food is the classic Egg McMuffin. It's not as cheap as it used to be, so I figured out how to make my own cheaper version. And I share it with you in this homemade video recipe.
If you are flush with cash and your ship has come in, then make like a bonus bloated Wall Street con artist and serve up my Billionaire's Crab Omelet. (I even give you a cheap$kate shortcut, just in case the stock market crashes, your government bailout is rejected, and all your chips have been cashed in.)
I made a classic - a French-style Cheese Omelette. What's the difference between it and the ones you get at a typical American diner? Well, it is all about technique, mainly you just soft scramble the eggs in butter, add the cheese, and gently roll the egg to close up the omelette. Most American-style omelets are cooked dry, while a French omelette is slightly moist in the middle. It'sa different way to cook an omelette, but I've grown to like it.
From deep in the Louisiana bayou comes a recipe from my brother-from-another-daddy, the Swamp Chef. The recipe is a riff on the above French Omeletcalled a Swamp Omelet. The main ingredients are crawfish, cheese, and the Cajun Trinity - a combination of bell pepper, onion, and celery. Check out this wild recipe you'll only find here.
Eggs for dinner? Heck yeah, especially when pizza is on the menu. Break an egg on your favorite homemade or store-bought pizza during the last 10 minutes of oven-baking. A mix of creamy yolk is a sumptuous topping, so be sure to try my Pizza with Egg recipe.
And finally, if you're looking for a bit of levity, well, I have an early morning fried egg comedy video to brighten your day, here.
Whew, that's a lot of ovum riffing, I'm exhausted. You've just scrolled through over 10 years of recipes from my food blog.
And if you want even more egg pictorial poetics, then click here to view a fun video.
Cooking with eggs is cheap. While not as inexpensive as they used to be, it's still affordable, especially when you use any of my creative and tasty recipes listed above.
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