A casual lunch at my home this past weekend, and a cute visitor!
On Sunday, I was paid a visit by my good friend and former counsel, John Cuti, his wife Sarah, and their adorable little boy, Eli. Eli is already twenty months old and I’m very impressed by how well he speaks and in full sentences. He is a very adventurous little boy and it seems that he tries and likes all kinds of different foods. I always love when he comes to visit.
Since Pierre is no longer working for me full time, I am doing a lot more cooking at home myself. On Saturday, I invited six friends to join me for a casual lunch. Lily, my weekend housekeeper and I prepared this meal together. Lily is Chinese and happens to be a superb cook. We made fresh egg noodle soup as a first course. Lily also made jasmine rice, which she steamed in a Pyrex bowl set in a big covered pot. The rice was served with jellied pigs feet, chicken with fresh bamboo shoots and tree ear mushrooms, Chinese broccoli with ginger and oyster sauce, pea sprouts with garlic, and sautéed bok choi. As you can imagine, everything was incredibly delicious, incredibly fresh, and extremely healthy. I always enjoy cooking with Lily.
I just had my first pig's feet not too long ago, and they were delicious. The Asian grocery store in my town stocks them, and I'd like to try making them. Would you and Lily share the recipe?
Posted by: Kate | March 1st, 2009 at 7:07 pm
I love the use of the pigs feet--you see them in the market, but they are never sold because nobody knows what to do with them! Thank you for featuring them (they have always intrigued me due to their strangeness, and it would be great to learn how to make them properly). The whole meal sounds perfectly lovely--I hope you post the recipes!
Posted by: Elizabeth | March 1st, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Mmmm, Life is for sharing good things. I cannot _wait_ to make your delicious looking crepe noodles. Thank you, Donna Gray-Davis
Posted by: Donna Gray-Davis | March 1st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Those pots are beautiful. They almost look like they're made of chocolate. Are they Yixing clay pots I wonder?
And sure I wish I was adventurous enough to try pigs feet!
Posted by: Diana | March 1st, 2009 at 7:29 pm
The citrus cup looks colorful and appealing. What was the little sliver of (almond?) tart that you served with it? Recipe available??
Your teapots are exquisite. . .pristine stoneware sculptures. . .works of functional art! I'll bet they make especially wonderful teas.
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | March 1st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Hi Martha!
The menu sounds and looks delicious and very healthy. Your collection of hand made teapots are so pretty love the color. Martha, when I first saw the picture of the teapots I thought they are chocolate! The pigs feet cooked with star anise and pepper looks delicious.
I use AMC Cookware, they are so good for cooking healthy, and so easy even with having helpers at home I love cooking myself for my guests. Martha check it online AMC Cookware.
God Bless
Best Regards,
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | March 1st, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Everything looks great! The oranges look especially lovely. Spent all day making chicken stock today but for the life of me, I can't get it clear; but I'm still amazed at the difference with homemade vs. store-bought.
Posted by: angela | March 1st, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I took Chinese cooking classes many years ago at a school in Pleasantville NY and so appreciate some of the unusual ingredients - BUT you lost me with the pigs feet!
Posted by: Jayne Rogers | March 2nd, 2009 at 2:14 am
I keep asking my chinese friend to do a cooking session with me so I can learn how to cook Chinese food. As for pigs feet - they're delicious!
Posted by: radish | March 2nd, 2009 at 3:40 am
Martha, the story and photos here remind me so much of the original "Martha Stewart Living" television program. I loved watching you work either alone or with a special guest in your kitchen preparing all sorts of delicious, occasionally exotic foods. Especially the pancakes with the freshly chopped vegetables nearby--it looked like something directly out of the series.
The post was so eloquently simple, and if you can imagine, it was refreshing to read (though I can certainly imagine that it was much more refreshing digging into that citrus medley--yum!).
Thank you for such a nice morning perk-me-up on a snowy day!
-Alex
Posted by: Alex | March 2nd, 2009 at 3:52 am
Good morning! It must be so hard-core to be your "weekend" housekeeper! I love you every day, Martha!
I'm wondering what you added to your oranges & grapefruit? That looks amazing.
Have a great week!
Julie
Posted by: Jules | March 2nd, 2009 at 4:15 am
Love ya, Martha! You're an inspiration to us all! I wish you'd feature the Bearded Collie sometime as sheep herding dogs. They're adorable! My guys would be available anytime!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1323667640&ref=name
patti
Posted by: patricia steward | March 2nd, 2009 at 4:56 am
Hi Martha:
Your luncheon looked yummy. I love your teapots.
Chinese food is one of my favorite cuisines. Lucky you to have a wonderful lady like Lily to teach you to cook Chinese cuisine.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | March 2nd, 2009 at 5:07 am
Hi Martha,
I hope you will put these recipes on the site and especially the noodles and the pigs feet. I love pigs feet but have never had them with star anise and I don't remember them looking so dark. I think my mother used to boil them with other things; it's been awhile since I've eaten them. What a neat way to make noodles and your teapots are great! Well, I hope everyone enjoyed your meal. Trish
Stay warm and dry everyone in the snowy areas. Florida is cool but no snow!
Posted by: Trish | March 2nd, 2009 at 5:37 am
Please share the source of the teapots. They are extraordinary.
Posted by: IowaCowgirl | March 2nd, 2009 at 5:58 am
Hi Martha,
Your lunch looks fabulous! I would like to know how Lily steamed the rice in the Pyrex boil.
Thanks, Jacque
Posted by: Jacque Pierro | March 2nd, 2009 at 6:38 am
I tho't of you over the weekend, Martha, and processed in my mind that you prob'ly thrive in an environment where there are always people around - do you EVER crave some quiet 'alone time'?!...I know, I know - too many things to accomplish, right?... [grin]
(Your luncheon get-together and menu from Saturday sounds and looks really good, by the way...)
Brrrr! Man oh day! Is it ever COLD today - blustery winds that dumped some snow your way, Martha. We ended up being on the western-most edge of the track, and western Maryland got off easy with just a skiff. As you mentioned on your show last week, winter in the northeast has been brutal. Whereas we've had little snowfall this winter in my town (less than 3" total), the temperatures and winds have been (and have remained) frrrigid throughout most of the season! I replaced a pine swag for a basket of yellow (faux) forsythia sprigs on my front door on Saturday, which gave me a real pick-me-up - a breath of fresh air, so to speak...yeah, well, today, it's turned into biting wind nipping at any unprotected and exposed skin... [look of bewilderment]
March definitely came in like a lion this year! Roarrr!
(...more like 'grrrrr'!...)
=^..^=
"There is a language in each flower that opens to the eye. A voiceless but a magic power doth in earth's blossoms lie."
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | March 2nd, 2009 at 6:59 am
(Fellow readers, does anyone else use the saying 'man oh day'? I grew up saying this, obviously from hearing it at home, and I've oftentimes been asked by ex-coworkers what the phrase means. Maybe it's 'man o'day'(??) [like "man of day"(??) interpreted literally]
I downright don't know it's origin, nor the answer!)
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | March 2nd, 2009 at 7:04 am
Hello everyone,
To answer a few questions about today's blog, my citrus salad had nothing other than the wonderful juice from the fruit. I did serve it icy cold, making it deliciously refreshing.
Along with the citrus, I served something like a Kouign Aman, or cake with butter. It was also something I brought back from St. Louis.
Regarding my teapots, they were purchased in Beijing and are contemporary pieces, which were handmade in the traditional style. They are unglazed, both inside and out and are only rinsed and never washed. The more they are used, the more they smell like really fine tea.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | March 2nd, 2009 at 7:34 am
Martha,
Love this blog piece. Wish I could cook. My husband does it all.
The food looked yummy but I'm not sure I could eat a pigs foot.
Tricia
Marietta GA
Posted by: Tricia | March 2nd, 2009 at 7:57 am
Hi Martha, This wonderful blog about cooking Chinese food with Lily reminds me of your old show. Am I correct in assuming that this Lily is the same one who used to be a guest on those shows? I remember you cooking with her and her husband{?} and Lily taking you on a tour of Chinatown in New York and you buying lots of Chinese cooking tools. Your food looks absolutely scrumptious and I'll bet everyone enjoyed it all. I've never eaten pig's feet but your photo looks really delicious. Thanks for sharing. How much snow did you get today? Stay warm! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | March 2nd, 2009 at 9:27 am
What a delicious looking lunch! Eli is so cute - looks like he had such a good time with your animals, especially the chickens & rooster! Wonderful pictures:)
Posted by: Sherry | March 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 am
Hi Jan,
Yes, this Lily is the very same one. All told, about 10 inches fell and it's very windy now.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | March 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Hi Martha.. I'm Syafil from Malaysia and I was one of your fan. I love watching your show. Before this, I thought that your show is only for women but after I watched it myself, I can feel something different. Your show is suitable for every people around the world, all ages, all races, and gender. For your information, you are my idol since I was in high school. Your show gave me everything i never learned at school and college. Now, I know how to cook a very delicious food, create simple furniture with my own hand, and try to have my own garden.
Whatever it is, I really love your show.
Thanks Martha..
Posted by: Syafil Jefri | March 2nd, 2009 at 11:12 am
How cute is Eli ??? I remember that segment you did a few days ago making that cute little stove !!
Yes more snow I am done with Winter thank you very much !!
I have never had pigs feet, don't know if I could
Thanks for this post Martha,
Kathy
ps I have your rooster cutting board and I LOVE it, just thought I'd throw that out there
random I know lol
Posted by: Kathy :) | March 2nd, 2009 at 11:30 am
To Cindy Bricker: (Thanks Laura.)
I usually say man oh man or something else a bit more colorful, but have never said man oh day. Sakes alive, I'm curious to know the origin too if there is one! Try to keep warm! Trish
Posted by: Trish | March 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 am
Martha...the noodles made my mouth water. As a child i watched my grandmother make noodles for her delicious homemade chicken noodle soup. I still wish grandma was here making her soup and other dishes that we all loved and were nourished by.
Posted by: Sherey | March 2nd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Hi Martha, Thanks for answering my query. I love Lily and would love to see her on your show again. She's so darn cute! We have almost 60 degrees here in the Seattle area today. Sure wish I could share some of this lovely weather with those of you who got snowed upon. Can't wait to see more photos of your beautiful farm in the new snow. Eli is getting cuter and cuter every time you share photos of him. I could almost hear him squealing when he saw the chickens and the donkeys. You look as happy with him as you do with your puppies. Cindy, we used to say 'man oh man' which meant what a deal. Perhaps that's what you meant by 'man oh day'. Have a great evening everyone. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | March 2nd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Hi Martha,
I enjoy the simplicity of this meal and will give it a try. You received more snow today than we did here in Winterport, Maine…we got 8 inches. We did get 17 inches in the last storm and was fortunate to have it all cleared from our roof and driveway before today’s storm arrived.
You look like a sex kitten in that hat! Your “look” reminds me of Raquel Welch during her younger sex-kitten days. I am so glad that you are a beautiful woman representing “the everyday woman”. It really does make us feel better about ourselves.
~Gloria
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, Maine | March 2nd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Martha,
Is that really you on Twitter?
I love reading your blog, and see you enjoy interacting with your fans and admirers, but I'm still puzzled over whether that's really you or not!
Posted by: Carly | March 2nd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Everything does look special. I think all the participants would think it special as well.
I have a couple of tea pots that I brew my day's tea in but I do wonder if you reserve each pot for a specific tea.
We are hot and dry. No coats needed.
You may need to buy another ton of hay for the horses.
Posted by: Margie | March 2nd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Hi Martha,
The menu sounded delightful! I believe Chinese is my most favorite of foods. Glad you had a good time.
Martha I have a question for you. I was a winner in a contest held on Martha Stewart Crafts (Be Inspired Contest). It was a thrill to win! My prize was gift certificates to spend on MS Crafts and I just about got all I wanted. Ok so here is my question...why are there so few items on your craft site for purchase, yet there are tons of wonderful products at Wal Mart and Michaels? I still have money to spend and nothing to spend it on. I wish I could just spend this prize at the store....
Thanking you in advance,
Gina
Posted by: Gina O. | March 2nd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
You really should share those recipes from the Chinese dinner, Martha. It isn't fair!
Posted by: Scott | March 2nd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I'm in love with your paint colors at Lowe's. I did test spots with other colors, and picked out your "mixing bowl" color. Awesome, Martha, thanks for having such a good eye for color!
Posted by: Cheryl Verran | March 3rd, 2009 at 6:00 am
On todays' program,keeping and organizing dishes and linens(basement organization), I have a helpful hint.Instead of folding the fine linens, take a cardboard roll from an empty paper towel roll,or empty giftwrap paper roll, and roll freshly ironed linen around it,then secure it with large head pins(point into the roll, so you won't get poked). You can the store them in a buffet drawer. Saves space,and you don't have alot of fold creases that can break the fine threads of the linen. When my mom passed away, she had 100 or more empty cardboard rolls that she saved and I didn't know why until I opened her old hopechest and there was the answer. Saves money,and you're recycling.
Posted by: Alice Talbert | March 3rd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Hi Martha,
I have a tip for storing dishes, instead of the felt in between you can use the white coffee filters, very inexpensive you can get a batch at the dollar store !!!
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy :) | March 4th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Looks like an amazing meal and a wonderful time to spend with friends
Have a wonderful weekend!
KayEllen
Posted by: kayellen | April 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 am
Great Blog entry!
Posted by: Bren/ BGgarden | April 10th, 2009 at 11:26 am
thanks for sharing your life. i think Eli will live to remember the moment he had at your heavenly home, my son loved the horse feeding part.
Posted by: mympe | April 20th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Hi Martha
Have you ever considered putting your wonderful signature touches on a Sweet 16 Party?? I am planning my only daughters sweet 16 and I'm trying to use alot of your wedding ideas for the party. I want it to simple and elegant just like her. I think it would be a great idea for your show and if you want to plan our party ...let me know!! The Fontanez Family
Posted by: Tiffany from New York | June 11th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
BUEN DIA MARTHA, CONFIESO QUE CREO QUE NO HE VISTO TU PROGRAMA PERO, HASTA ANOCHE QUE VI UNA PELICULA EN CABLE SOBRE TU PERSONA ( CONFIESO QUE LA VI UN POCO EMPEZADA ) SIENTO QUE ES MUY INTERESANTE TU VIDA, EL LOGRAR ESE EXITO A PESAR DE LAS VISICITUDES DE LA VIDA, CREO Y VISUALIZO ESA SENSIBILIDAD, LA CAPACIDAD DE AMAR ASI COMO, TODA UNA FIRMEZA EN TUS DECISIONES MUY BIEN LOGRADAS.
SOY MEXICANO, VIVO EN LA CIUDAD DE TIJUANA, ESTADO DE LA BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO; VI TAMBIEN EN TU BIOGRAFIA QUE VISITASTE LOS CABOS EN LA PARTE SUR DE LA PENINSULA, LA CUAL ES MARAVILLOSA, TAN LLENA DE CONTRASTES.
NO DESEO QUITARTE EL TIEMPO, POR LO QUE VI CONTESTAS TODAS LAS CARTAS QUE TE LLEGAN, ESPERO, HAGAS LO PROPIO CON LA MIA, ESTOY INTERESADO EN VER TUS PROGRAMAS Y SABES MAS DE TI.
SOY ABOGADO Y EN LO QUE PUEDA APOYARTE EN MI PAIS, CON GUSTO LO HARE.
BUEN FIN DE SEMANA.
ALFONSO BALLESTEROS . . .
Posted by: NESCHAN | October 4th, 2009 at 11:39 am