July 1, 2010
July 2010 Desktop Calendar
At the beginning of every month, I am offering C&Z readers a new wallpaper to apply on the desktop of your computer, with a food-related picture and a calendar of the current month.
Our calendar for July is a picture of zucchini blossoms shot at Alain Passard's vegetable garden a few years ago. It was a memorable visit that inspires me to this day, and in case you missed my report then, I invite you to take a look at the post and the accompanying photo set. If you're stuck in the city this summer, perhaps they will provide a measure of refreshment.
And as far as zucchini blossoms are concerned, I've tried stuffing them in various ways and it was fine (especially when the filling involved fresh sheep's milk cheese), but really, nothing beats frying them.
Instructions to get your calendar are below.
Here's how it works:
1- This link will open a new window (or tab) displaying the right wallpaper image for your screen.
2- Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set as Desktop Background", "Use as Desktop Picture," or something to that effect -- the exact wording will depend on the browser you use.
3- If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.
4- Enjoy!
[Note: Readers of this blog live all around the globe, and I am unable to provide localized versions of the desktop calendar at this point. This is why I've opted for the international standard, by which a large majority of countries abide, and which states that Monday is the first day of the week.]
 December 2011 Desktop Calendar |
 November 2011 Desktop Calendar |
 October 2011 Desktop Calendar |
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Very colourful! Thank you for this nice desktop calendar. ツ
It's really funny, I thought they were lemons until I actually opened the large image. Thanks again for the calendar.
What a fantastic picture - bright and cheery!
Beautiful colors, I love it!!!
luv the calendar
The screensaver this month is so large it covers the whole screen and I cannot see the calendar. This is the first time, previously I never encountered this problem.'
Thank you for the wonderful pictures you choose each month.
Velia
This should be solved by opening the desktop image preferences, and choosing the display option "fit to screen" (the exact wording depends on your operating system).
Lovely photo. Personally I'm partial to my blossoms stuffed with cheese and then fried. Fresh ricotta and herbs are my favorite filling.
Oh thank you! I've been having an awful morning so far and the beautiful, bright colors are a great mood booster.
Love love love this one!!!! I want to take a bite out of one of them.
Geez, that is so beautiful and clever. thanks. I am installing now.
Great picture! What a wonderful opportunity to get to check out Alain Passard's garden. I've never been to one of his restaurants, but every time I watch a rerun of Iron Chef, they're always gushing about him!
Thanks, I love your desktops!
Beautiful! Thank you!
Your desktop calendars are a great start to every month! I look forward to seeing what August brings but will enjoy these gorgeous vegetables for July. Tres jolie!
This one is so beautiful! Love the bright yellow. More like this!
Thanks Clotilde, I love courgettes in summer!
I love it! Thanks :D
Clotilde, June was the first time I started using your photos for my desktop images, and I loooooved the pink background. But now you've followed up with my favorite color ever--I love the squash!! Thank you so much!
just wanted to say that i love your blog!! the recipes look so yummy :)
page
Here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Fried Zucchini strips are de rigueur in many restaurants (especially Italian-American ones). This batter recipe by Cindy Pawlcyn, then-head chef of Mustards Grill in Napa Valley, CA., appeared in "Bon Appétit" magazine in August 1986, and best approximates what is made professionally here. Please let me know how you like it with your zucchini (or thin-sliced eggplant*, or quartered artichoke hearts, or sliced tomatoes, or...)
BEER BATTER
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup flour
2 egg yolks
3 Tablespoons olive (or other) oil
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne red pepper
1 cup flat beer, at room temperature
2 egg whites
Flour, for dredging
Vegetable oil, for frying
DIRECTIONS:
Mix cup of flour, egg yolks, oil, salt and cayenne in large non-metal bowl; gradually whisk in beer. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (this is really important!). In separate small bowl, beat egg whites stiff, then fold into batter. Dredge thin-sliced vegetable pieces in flour, dip in batter, then fry @ 360°-370°F till golden. Drain and blot off excess oil on several thicknesses of paper towels.
COMMENTS:
This is the lightest frying batter we've found. We prefer a 13"-diameter sauté pan with ½" oil in bottom to a deep fryer. Keep blotted earlier batches warm on baking sheet in oven while subsequent ones cook, till ready to serve.
*To reduce eggplant bitterness, use smaller fruit and lightly sprinkle slices with salt and let stand ½ hour; when ready to fry, blot off excess salt and resulting moisture with paper towel, then dredge with flour and proceed as above.
Thank you for the desktop image! It's definitely brightening up my computer :)
Thanks for the calendar, its so bright and cheerful even my computer is happy!
Thanks, I love it!
Fried zucchinni flowers have been a summer favourite every since we were little! The calender is a beautiful idea nice work