THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Well pleaseth me the sweet time of Easter That maketh the leaf and the flower come out." ~ Bertran de Born ~ White cyclamen ______________________ COCONUT CREAM CHEESECAKE ~ 20 year old recipe from The Heritage House in Little River, California ____________________ CRUST: 2/3 cup flour 1 Tbsp. sugar 5 Tbsp. chilled unsalted butter, cut in small pieces FILLING: 3 8-oz. packages room temperature cream cheese 1 1/2 cups sugar 4 room temperature organic eggs 2 room temperature egg yolks 2 cups flaked coconut 1 cup whipping cream 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. almond extract toasted coconut For crust: combine flour & sugar in large bowl. Using pastry blender (or 2 knives) cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Gather into ball. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 325-degrees. Press dough into bottom of 10-inch springform . Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Cool slightly. Cool slightly. Reduce oven to 300...

"Plants in pots are like animals in a zoo--they're totally dependent on their keepers." ~ John Van de Water ~ Indoor Garden Joy (cyclamen, white rose, primrose, daisy mum) ~ Reblooming cyclamen ~ African Violet

~ Cacto de Navidad (Christmas Cactus) ~ Cyclamen, Cymbidium orchid, Ivy, Christmas Cactus " ... All seasons shall be sweet to thee, Whether the summer clothes the general earth With greenness, or the redbreast sit and sing Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch Of mossy apple-tree, while the night thatch Smokes in the sun-thaw ..." ~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"Grow what you love. The love will keep it growing. " ~ Emilie Barnes ~ Ivy and cyclamen _______________ "Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers Plucked in the garden , all the summer through And winter, and it seemed as if they grew In this close room, nor missed the sun and showers." ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning ~ Ivy, cyclamen and alstroemeria

"May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions." ~ Joey Adams ~ Happy Birthday! ~ Happy 'Reblooming' Cymbidium Click for more information on growing cymbidium orchids

"Nothing is worth more than this day" ~ Goethe ~ Connected in beauty (cyclamen)

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~ Peg Bracken ~ 'Oldie but Goodie ' (Cyclamen) _____________________ CRANBERRY ORANGE TORTE ~ Old holiday favorite often shared as a gift for neighbors and friends ____________ 2 1/2 cups flour 2 cups sugar, divided 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts 1 cup diced pitted dates 1 cup fresh whole cranberries Grated rind of 2 oranges 2 beaten eggs 1 cup buttermilk 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 cup fresh orange juice Whipped cream In large bowl, combine flour, one cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in walnuts, dates, cranberries and orange rind, and toss until coated and separated. In another small bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk and oil; beat well and add to dry mixture. Blend thoroughly and turn into greased and floured 10-inch bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees on hour or until cake tests done. Cool in pan until lukewarm. Invert ...

"I said my prayers and ate some cranberry tart for breakfast." ~ William Byrd ~ Sunbathing on sunporch (Cyclamen persicum ) The Cyclamen Society ___________ LEMON-WALNUT SCONES with CRANBERRY CREAM CHEESE ~ At only 149 calories , try these warm and nutty 'almost guilt-free' goodies enjoyed since last holiday ( Cooking Light Nov. 2007) ________ 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour (about 5 oz.) 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour (about 2 1/2 oz.) 1/4 cup finely ground walnuts (short pulses to avoid making walnut butter) 1 Tbsp. baking powder 2 tsp. finely grated lemon rind 1/2 tsp. salt 3 Tbsp. chilled butter, cut into small pieces 1/2 cup fat-free milk (or buttermilk) 1 large organic egg Cranberry Cream Cheese: 3/4 cup dried cranberries 1 (8oz.) softened package fat-free cheese Preheat oven to 425-degrees. To prepare scones: lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups and tablespoons; level with knife. Combine flours, walnuts, baking powder, rind, and salt in large bowl...

~ 'Winter Beauty' (Cyclamen) ___________ CROQUE MONSIEUR STRATA ~ Make ahead and sleep in late. 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter 2 chopped onions 1 tsp. dried thyme 1 tsp. rosemary coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper 1 tsp. sugar 1 Tbsp. dry vermouth 3 cups (1/2-inch) cubed baguette 1 cup Boar's Head rosemary ham (or Black Forest) 1 1/2 cup grated Emmenthal or Gruyere cheese 6 organic eggs 1 1/2 cups half & half (or milk) 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp. Hungarian paprika freshly chopped parsley Melt butter in saucepan and saute onions, thyme, rosemary, and salt & pepper until soft. Add sugar and vermouth and cook until caramelized , stirring often. Set aside. Combine bread, ham and half the cheese into onion mixture. Spread evenly into greased casserole. Whisk eggs with milk, Dijon and paprika. Pour evenly over bread and onion mixture. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Cover and set in refrigerator several hours or overnight. Bake in preheat...