Author Archives: Sarah Auerswald

Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

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Today’s market shopper is my friend, Debra.

Debra at the market
She’s going to make something that sounds amazing: quinoa and red rice salad. 

 

The ingredients are: quinoa, red rice, carmelized onions, spring onions, arugula, pine nuts, dried apricots, and cilantro, dressed with olive oil and the juice and zest of one lemon. 

 

She’s also holding these cool-looking red carrots, which she’s going to glaze with a little butter and sugar. Thanks, Debra!!

 

ps Red rice is a special ingredient you need to get at Whole Foods (or I’m sure other places), so if you don’t feel like making the trip, you can substitute brown rice instead.
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

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Today was a big day at the Market! Crafts, Logos, Cooking Demos! Wild!

The market debuted its new logo today, created by the talented students at the Art Institute of California — Los Angeles, seen here on an apron. Awesome! And the students of the Institute’s Culinary Arts program were on hand to demonstrate mirepoix and it sure smelled good.
MVFM new logo

Join me after the jump for a run-down of the crafters, and of course, a new recipe!

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Happy Blogversary To Me!

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Today is Mar Vista Mom’s 1-year Anniversary and I’m very excited to celebrate it — at least in a virtual way — with you, my readers! 

 

This blog started out as a personal journey and has turned into a community resource and sounding-board, and really, a way of life for me. Time flies when you’re having fun — hard to believe it’s been a year already! 
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Save The Date: Sunday, March 1st: Crafts For Sale At The Farmer’s Market

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The Mar Vista Arts and Crafts Collective will be setting up booths this Sunday at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market, as they do each 1st Sunday of the month. 

Please come and see the beautiful, hand-made items by our own Mar Vistans!

 

The Farmer’s Market runs from 8:30 am to 2pm every Sunday.
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

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Today’s recipe comes from Bill Waiste, of P.O.P. Candy Co. He’s quite the chef, apparently. Bill Waiste

Today’s he’s chosen bok choy, which is abundant at the market. 
Bok choy

He’s going to saute it in a little olive oil and sesame oil, with some garlic and onions, for just a really short time, then he adds some chicken stock, which wilts the bok choy. At the last minute, he adds some soy sauce, sweet hot sauce, and fish sauce, and tops it all off with some sesame seeds for garnish. Sounds dee-lish!
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Mar Vista Moms And Dads Are Not Going To Take It Anymore!

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We, the proud, the too few, the Public School Parents. We are sick and tired of getting no respect from the LAUSD facilities department. (Among others…) But let’s start with them!

 

We have raised money, painted murals, fixed-up teachers’ lounges, even offered to buy locks for cabinets that had had valuable equipment stolen from them — only to be told we were no better than vandals. And the crazy part is, I’m not making that up.

 

It’s just not right, and it’s gone on long enough. We’re organizing in order to have a stronger voice when we point out the CRAZY-MAKING behavior that goes on in the system.

 

So that great place where you found your long-lost college roomie, and where you learn 25 new things about all your friends — well, now you can use Facebook to connect with other parents of LAUSD who are just as mad as you are about how the system ISN’T working.

 

LAUSD Parents Furious About Facilities. Join the group — and pass it on. It’s not just for Mar Vista, it just started here. Tell your stories, the good (if there are any) and the bad. We’ll all learn something and commiserate. And then we’ll take action.
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Whole Foods’ Weekly Craft Market

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Our local Whole Foods store holds a craft market each Wednesday from 11 am – 3pm, and they’ve been doing it so far for about a year. Who knew? I visited for the first time — and it won’t be the last.Whole Foods crafts.JPG

There were about 12 vendors there yesterday, including an old friend, Carole Yu, 

Carole Yu and BAO.JPG

who takes antique kimonos and uses the fabric to make these fantastic bags. 

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Check out her website: Bao. 

 

Plus I met Marie Lewis, who makes these delicious kids’ clothes.

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Her website is Whimsy Ranch and let me tell you, if this Mar Vista Mom had girl children, they would be wearing tutus right now! 

 

The craft market is such a fun idea, so cool that Whole Foods is doing it — weekly, no less — and even on the extra 2nd or 3rd Thursdays and 2nd Saturdays. (Please check the website for details — I don’t want to be held responsible for wrong dates.)

 

But what’s even cooler is that from now until the end of March, they are donating 10% of the proceeds from the craft market to the Whole Planet Foundation.
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Lead Toy Exchange In Mar Vista This Weekend

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The office of the City Attorney is conducting a toy exchange and testing program this Saturday, February 21st, across the city of LA, and here in Mar Vista it’s conveniently located at Grand View Blvd. Elementary school. 

Grand View name signBring toys that you suspect may have high levels of lead and you can find out for sure. They’ll also be testing childrens costume jewelry, ceramic tea playsets, childrens backpacks and lunch boxes, childrens Halloween costumes and pajamas.

If a toy is found to contain high levels of lead, it may be exchanged for a $25 American Express gift card. Did I read that right??? Yes, I did. (Limit 2 gift card exchanges per household.) 

The event lasts from 12 pm until 4pm and they’d like you to RSVP, so here’s the link for that. Grand View school is located at 3951 Grand View Blvd., just south of Venice Blvd.
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

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Rob Kadota is the Chair of the Mar Vista Community Council, and he’s a regular at the Farmer’s Market. Stop by the community booth, that’s where he hangs out, practically every Sunday.

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Today he was buying some beets. Half are for roasting and half are for pickling. He roasts them in a 350-degree oven, with olive oil, salt, pepper and a little balsamic vinegar, for about an hour, peels off the skin and serves them with chicken for dinner.
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Rob didn’t get specific about the pickling recipe, but he says it involves vinegar, salt, sugar and celery seeds. I have heard pickling takes a lot of time. Personally, I don’t have the patience. I actually read a cheater’s recipe for pickles recently: buy a jar of pickles you like, eat the pickles, and use the leftover liquid to pickle something new. Right up my alley.Pickle jar 2