Labeled with love: a DIY recipe for piquant preserved pears
Everyone loves an edible gift, but there's nothing more disappointing than those oversized tins of stale popcorn or radioactive, store-bought sugar cookies. For something safer (and tastier), we sought the aide of Kevin West, writer of the Saving the Season blog, for a lesson in preserving. For our jam session, we opted to use a unique recipe that utilized some of the season's best Bosc pears.
PIQUANT PEARS WITH BAY LEAF AND BLACK PEPPERCORNS
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 cup honey
5 small bay leaves (we used California bay, which is considerably stronger than Turkish or Mediterranean bay; adjust accordingly)
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 1/2 pounds small, firm pears (we used slightly underripe Boscs)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 2-inch by 1-inch strips of lemon peel and additional thinner strips
Yield: 2 pints
1. Make your syrup: Choose a small pot, so that the liquid will stand at least 2 inches deep in the bottom, then add water, vinegar, sugar and honey. Stir over moderate heat until it boils. Skim the foam that rises off the honey. Add bay leaves, two large strips of lemon peel and peppercorns and return to a boil briefly. Then turn off heat.
2. Peel, quarter and carefully core the pears. As you work, place the fruit in a bowl with the lemon juice to prevent browning, and periodically turn the fruit over in the juice to coat it well.
3. Bring the syrup back to a boil, and introduce a single layer of pear slices to the hot liquid. (You'll be working in several batches.) Return to a boil and cook for five minutes or more until the pears are softened but not mushy.
4. Carefully spoon the cooked pears into your prepared jars. Fit them in snugly, gently shaking jar to settle the slices, but don't smash the soft fruit. You might also want to move them with a simple wooden kabob skewer. To each jar, add a few peppercorns, a bay leaf from the pot and a fresh strip of lemon peel. Try to place these at the wall of the jar for aesthetics. Don't yet top up with syrup or seal.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have cooked and packed all pears. Now top up jars with hot syrup, leaving half an inch of headspace. Run a thin implement (we used a bamboo skewer, which worked well, but you could also use a knife or a small spatula) around the inside of the jar to release air bubbles. Skim any foam or bubbles off the top of the liquid, wipe rims clean and seal.
6. Process jars in a boiling-water bath for 15 minutes.
7. Print your own custom labels (see below for ours) to tag onto the jars.
For more ways to preserve some seasonal produce, visit www.savingtheseason.com
--Krista Simmons
Photo by Kirk McCoy/Los Angeles Times; Illustration below by Laila Derakshanian
Making luxuriant bath salts (without getting soaked)
Ingredients:
2 cups Epsom salts
1 tablespoon baking soda
5 sprigs of rosemary (find this from in your yard — or your neighbor's; it grows like a weed in Southern California)
10-15 drops essential oils (we used lavender, but other choices include sandalwood for a more masculine scent, peppermint or eucalyptus for energy and purification, and citrus for a pick-me-up)
1 seashell to use as a scoop
Yield: enough to fill one Mason jar
Directions:
1. In a large glass bowl, mix the salts and baking soda. Make sure there aren't any lumps. You can do this with your hands, or use a wooden spoon. You don't even have to use the baking soda, but it acts as a skin moisturizer.
2. Muddle or tear up most of the rosemary — this gets the essential oils working — and stir into the salt mixture. Save a few smaller pieces sprigs to place inside the jar for decoration.
3. Add in 10 to 15 drops of the essential oils to salts. Start small. It's just like baking — you can always add, but it's more difficult to subtract. Mix them around with your hands or spoon.
4. Put the salt mixture into the clean Mason jar, adding 1/4 of it at a time, placing some of the rosemary near the walls of the jar to allow them to show through.
5. Leave it simple, or decorate with a piece of lace on the lid or some satin ribbon.
Total cost of one jar: about $2
—Krista Simmons
Photo: Kirk McCoy/Los Angeles Times
Couch change chic: make a $14 gift basket from 99 Cents Ony stores
Who needs those expensive gift baskets that can easily cost more than $100?
Total cost: about $14.
-- Elina Shatkin
Photo credit: Kirk McCoy/Los Angeles Times
Giant robots attack Montevideo and the DIY director behind it
When Federico Alvarez, a filmmaker in Montevideo, Uruguay, decided on a lark to make an effects-laden short to demonstrate his directorial and special-effects skills, little did he know it would be seen by hundreds of thousands of viewers, practically overnight. And now Hollywood is calling.
Brand X: How did "Panic Attack!" ("Ataque de Panico") come to be?
Alvarez: We made it among friends in a period of six months. It was shot with 300 bucks. Everybody worked for free, except for the extras, who made a little money. We put 50 people on a bus and toured the city, making them run from one place to another. I don't think anyone knew at the time what they were supposed to be running from!
Brand X: The reaction to the video has been strong. Did this take you by surprise?
Alvarez: The craziest part of the story starts when I posted the short on YouTube. A few days later, it was all over the news in prime time in Montevideo. Then Buenos Aires and Madrid. Monday, it made the cover of the London Metro newspaper with the headline "Big Robots, Tiny Budget." That was nice!
Brand X: So things are working out like you wanted them to. That's great.
Alvarez: I'm learning by the minute how nuts Hollywood is. My e-mail is overflowing with e-mails from half of Hollywood wanting to buy my soul right now. I love it. Next week, I'm going to be in Los Angeles meeting executives from DreamWorks, Fox and Warner Bros. If nothing comes of it, at least I get a first-class ticket to Los Angeles and some free meals!
-- Richard Metzger
AFI's DigiFest: On the fly, on the cheap movie making
"There are no excuses now," says Suzanne Stefanac of the American Film Institute. "You don't need a giant camera and lights and crew of six anymore," she says of experimental filmmaking today. "Now, it's you and a cellphone, and -- if you have it -- the fortitude."
Stefanac is the director of AFI's Digital Content Lab, which was launched in 1998 as a place for, as she puts it, "like-minded souls to come together" and make innovative imagery that TV studios and directors such as James Cameron, an early participant, could previously only dream of. In the last decade, more than 90 projects have been completed by more than 700 people from all over the world, who collaborate on special effects, groundbreaking Web platforms and even iPhone applications.The Digital Content Lab is one of "Hollywood's best kept secrets," said Stefanac, but it's gained attention in the last two years with an annual slot in the massively popular AFI Film Fest that takes over L.A. every fall. AFI DigiFest, which runs Wednesday and Thursday at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, involves two days of wall-to-wall pixels, geeked-out demos and screenings.
Wednesday's program explores projects currently in development by lab participants. Austin Lynch and the enigmatically named Jason S will discuss their "Interview Project," a beautifully shot and poignantly edited documentary series that captures the stories of random Americans encountered during the filmmakers' cross-country trip. Launched on David Lynch.com, the website of Austin Lynch's auteur father, the webisodes are developing interactive rating and feedback systems to reach a broader audience. "The opportunity to have people see your work," he says, "is much greater with online viewership."
Social networking and celebrity collide again in a tech-savvy bid to promote environmental awareness on the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation site, which is also innovating an interactive platform to steer the younger generation toward eco-conscious activism.
Eschewing the comforts of a crew, filmmaker L.M. Kit Carson, a Hollywood veteran who penned the script to "Paris, Texas," recently gained attention in digital filmmaking circles for his series "Africa Diaries," shot entirely on a Nokia cellphone. Carson will deliver an expository demo Wednesday on how to capture documentaries on the fly -- and probably on the cheap.
Thursday's program offers screenings of completed digital films, including "Urban Wolf," shot from the vantage point of security cameras in addition to a former Sony executive's violin-meets-guitar animated love story, produced via collaboration with more than 50,000 participants. Also showing is Josh Koppel's eBook "First Things Last," which attempts to merge a novel and cinema with an interactive iPhone application that scrolls forward to reveal prose and accompanying illustrative photos.
Likely the most anticipated film on the bill is the Purchase Bros.' "Escape From City-17," a virally popular project that used motion capture of the 3D environments in the combat-based video game "Half-Life 2." David and Ian Purchase have managed to astound YouTubers and gamers with this method of "machinima," combining captured digital footage with live action scenes shot on a low budget. The result is a new narrative that creates the illusion of a bloated-budget action flick -- but was made for less than $500. Obviously, the two didn't factor in salaries for themselves; rumor has it that they live together in a basement, turning down lucrative deals in favor of continuing the series, the second episode of which they'll premiere Thursday.
In previous years, AFI Fest and DigiFest required a ticket purchase, but given the troubled economy, festival organizers are opening up all screenings for free this year. A post-DigiFest cocktail party at the Roosevelt Hotel will feature outdoor screenings and will likely be abuzz with chatter about the future of "new media."
Austin Lynch predicts that the affordability and accessibility of digital filmmaking will "create a greater diversity in the films that we see in the future."
"Of course," he continues, "nothing can change the fact that a good idea is essential to making a great film."
--Alie Ward
Image: A still from "Urban Wolf" by French director Laurent Touil Tartour
DIY Halloween costumes: It's easy to go Gaga
One might argue that Angelenos are by nature always in costume, but the pressure of outward appearance is never greater than on Halloween. Although many have been crafting their costumes since July, others among us will scramble around the house with mere hours to spare, trying to piece together something passable. In the event that you've procrastinated -- or are barely making the rent -- here are some free, last-minute get-ups that will, if nothing else, get you past a "costumes mandatory" policy.
Although pop star-fashion maniac Lady Gaga has a reputation for nonsensical outfits involving everything from bird nests on her face to gyroscopes around her waist, a Halloween impersonation of her is not out of reach. Simply wear what you would normally wear, but remove your pants. This act of daring instantly sets you apart from the pants-wearing population, and a smear of fuchsia lipstick and sunglasses seal the deal.
Kimberley Vlaminck
Adam Lambert
Just as Halloween gives the universal green light for ladies to dress like tramps, it's the silent nod to males to experiment with cosmetics. For a relatively fuss-free costume, gather any articles of clothing that are black and put them on in layers. Black pants, black shirt, possibly a vest if you're feeling fancy. Then raid your roommate's or girlfriend's bathroom cabinet and raccoon your eyes with some eyeliner. Next, gloss the lips and run a lump of gel in your hair for a casual fauxhawk. Grab a hairbrush to sing into, and you now have a free Adam Lambert ensemble.
Swine flu
Assuming you're not actually saddled with the H1N1 flu virus this Halloween, go for the timely option of dressing as the most feared flu virus in modern history. All you'll need is an outfit in pink, a thermometer, a box of tissues and some rouge to give your nose a raw, ruddy look. If you want to get extravagant, affix a curled-up pipe cleaner to your posterior and cram a pillow under your shirt. Oh, and don't forget to sneeze on people. Great conversation starter.
Sexual harassment suit
Litigious proceedings seem like a hard thing to personify, but a sexual harassment suit is surprisingly easy to pull off. Don a jacket and slacks, pin lascivious notes to your body and call it a day. If you're headed to a soiree and are shy around the opposite sex, you can always point leeringly at a note and let your costume do the talking. (Note: Consult a lawyer first if you're attending a work party.)
Leftovers
If there's one household go-to for Halloween, it's that industrious, flexible roll of aluminum foil in the kitchen. Although most people will be fashioning some sort of Balloon Boy get-up (yawn), we advise you to wrap your body head to toe in foil and crinkle into a party as a shiny enigma. When asked, tell people that you're leftover pizza, and -- if you want to come off as particularly creepy -- that you're even better the next morning.
Pajama-clad blogger
If you've got a pair of pajamas, you've got a costume. Simply dress down, don't bother washing your hair, and shuffle into a party looking like you haven't left the house yet. When onlookers try to guess your intention, just look somewhat irritated and tell them you're a blogger. This outfit is made even more effective if you are Twittering from your cellphone while answering the question and administer a snarky jab about the inquirer's Balloon Boy costume being totally played out.
-- Alie Ward
Photos: Top, Lady Gaga. Credit: Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images. Bottom, Alie Ward as "Kimberley Vlaminck." Credit: Tara Godvin / Los Angeles Times
DIY Glenn Beck diaper Halloween mask
Xeni Jardin at Boing Boing posted this amusing item that takes you step by step through the process of making a Glenn Beck mask from a diaper: Two funny fellows named Ethan Persoff and Scott Marshall tell us how it's done:
Send us your photos of your favorite DIY Halloween costumes to brandx@latimes.comDownload this zip file (5 mgb) includes four images of Glenn - two in color and two in black and white. Print them scaled to the size of your face (images are high-resolution, 15 inch faces) Buy a bag of diapers. We found in our research Depend Adjustable Super Plus S/M Waist allows for best full-face fit.
When the holiday is over, mask converts for daily use. Listen and watch Glenn in this perfect receptical to fill your head with waste. Dispose of in trash can. Do not flush.
-- Richard Metzger
Photo: Ethan PersoffDIY Halloween: Send us your photos
In a town built on the
industry of playing dress-up, the pressure’s always on for Halloween. Though
some people have been crafting their costumes since July, others among us
scramble around the house the day before trying to piece together something
passable. We’re asking you: What are some of the best or wittiest DIY costumes
you’ve seen or made? Send us your photos!
brandx@latimes.com
Photo credit: Alie Ward
Apartment Therapy's fall colors contest
If you've got a Crayola-style crib, warm up your digital camera and get ready to enter Apartment Therapy's Fall Colors Contest. All it takes to enter is a handful of pics of a single room -- shoot for colorful and beautiful -- that need to be submitted before Oct. 12. This year, for the first time, participants are asked to design and name a color palette to describe their room.
Take the room above -- maybe it's sangria-internationale, or citrus grape, or blossom bruise. Whatever you might call it, don't call it competition -- although it was certainly colorful, it's no longer in the running, because the owner furniture designer Harry Segil has moved.
Apartment Therapy's editors select a group of candidates and post them for public vote. The voting window on each entry is short -- two days -- so perhaps there's a bit of a whiplash race to get friends' support, in addition to the aesthetic judgment. Then there's a round-robin of finalists with March Madness-style brackets to determine the ultimate winner, who will get $1,000 and a shopping day with Maxwell in New York.
What's fun about the contest is that it isn't about buying the most expensive pieces -- we have magazines for that. These are real people's homes, with their own individual ways of implementing color and style. In prior years, almost every entry has included eclectic pieces: vintage furniture, goofy lighting ornaments, bold paint colors and original artwork have all appeared in the mix.
The first selections go online this Thursday, open to public vote and ready to provide inspiration.
-- Carolyn Kellogg
Photo: Harry Segil's former living room. Credit: Richard Hartog / Los Angles Times
DIY: How to sync up your computer to your television set
Get a set-top box
The demand for set-top box devices, which enable users to watch online shows on
their TV, is slowly climbing. But obstacles such as confusing setups and
steep prices [up to $1,000] have significantly hindered the uptake. According
to research by the Dell'Oro Group, in fact, sales declined during the second
quarter of this year. But in the next four years, set-top box sales are
expected to increase sixfold and sales of a new breed of Internet-enabled TVs
are predicted to rise as well, according to research firm iSuppli.
But what if you want to bypass consoles and get a straight-forward set-up? Instructions after the jump.
