March/April 2008
Patio Planters of the Vieux Carré
THE PUNCH
Mar-Apr, 2008 | Vol. 50, No. 2
From our President . . .
In the words of the distinguished American philosophe, Yogi Berra, "it's déja vu all over again." At least it seems so for me.
At our February general membership meeting at Le Petit Théatre, ballots were counted and you elected your new Board consisting of, not in any particular order, Barbara Richmond, Adrienne Hartsock, Lyn Gladney, Jeff Collins, Ed Foulks, Janelle Masden and Debbie Mallernee. As immediate past president I am included on the new Board. Many thanks are in order to those who volunteered to run for the Board, those who voted and those who painstakingly counted the ballots three times, Sam, Sarah and Ruby. Also, thanks to the nominating committee who produced a strong slate and did the grunt work of assembling the ballots, envelopes and sending them in a timely manner: Lea Siegel, B. B. St. Roman and Craig Schexnayder.
The new Board met on February 18th and elected Stephen Swain as president (yes, condemned to another year of hard labor, but I'll make it fun!). Per our by-laws, the president, who has one appointee to the Board, called Tom McGinn and asked him to serve in that capacity. (That was an easy call. As a two-fer, we get Wanda as part of that deal!) Upon Tom's arrival the Board continued the election of officers including Adrienne Hartsock, vice-president, Debbie Mallernee, secretary and Tom McGinn, treasurer. The two chairs mandated by our by-laws are Membership, Janelle Masden, and Program, Lyn Gladney.
We have a very strong Board of leaders who will need your help in making this another successful year. Please check in the Punch for our Committee Chairs and try to make an early decision to volunteer for the committee that most appeals to you and your talents.
Of course, we'll miss the presence of super trooper Sam Poché, who served as president and immediate past president for a total of three years, at our Board meetings, but we don't expect her to stray far; she's chairing the White Elephant Sale with Debbie Mallernee. I am pleased to announce that Julie Hunt will join Tom McGinn and chair the October Secret Garden Tour.
Also, at our February general membership meeting former Patio Planters president Janice Foulks, who is now president of French Quarter Festivals Inc., gave us information about that upcoming event on April 11-13th and offered volunteer forms for interested parties (call 504-522-5730 to volunteer or e-mail volunteer@fqfi.org). This is an especially significant celebration of the 25th anniversary of the fest and is promising to be a truly awesome year. To quote a letter from Patio Planter member Sandra Dartus and her colleague, Shelly Hardison, the co-chairs:
"The April 11-13 French Quarter Festival will be a milestone event as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary! "..(W)e have exciting plans in the works ... including bringing back many of our long-time performers (and new ones, too), returning to the French Market with our children's area, establishing an educational outreach component, creating a "new" look for FQF merchandise, utilizing the inside of the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint, and expanding everyone's favorite T.G.I.F. party on April 10th."
The opening party will be at the Steamboat Natchez with Rockin' Dopsie, the Zydeco man, as the featured act. The tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. Don't miss it. Believe me, that opening party on the Thursday before the fest is always one of the most fun French Quarter events; you'll see plenty of PP types at that one! You may want to visit the website www.fqfi.org and check out the details, even to volunteer if you wish.
Finally, we're part of the main feature of the Philadelphia Flower Show, the largest flower show in the world, which is slated to start very shortly. The following is taken from their website:
http://www.theflowershow.com
A Flower Show Designer Jazzes it Up in New Orleans
Before jazz was created in America, music followed the straight and narrow march of the times. But when musicians embedded their personal stories, they unleashed a new art form. Just as jazz transformed music, Sam Lemheney, designer of Philadelphia Flower Show, wants to transform gardens with inspiring new ideas on color, texture, and design.
New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, will serve as the backdrop for the 2008 Philadelphia Flower Show, titled "Jazz it Up!" presented from March 2 to 9 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. In May, Lemheney took a tour of the French Quarter, from balcony to courtyard and private yard to public park for inspiration for the Show. Let's hear about his visit.
What did you see in New Orleans that inspired you?
Sam: We had a great tour by the Patio Planters (www.patioplanters.org), the garden club of the French Quarter. We were able to see some beautiful private gardens and wonderful balconies, patios and courtyards - places people don't always get to view. Stephen Swain the group's president and their members really opened their doors to us.
What great publicity for our city and our club!
Patio Planter member Richard Jeansonne points out that the Lower Quarter Crime Watch is having a potluck dinner March 11th at 6 P.M. at 1009 Burgundy, the home of Patio Planter members Jeff and Celia Collins. You are invited to learn about what this crime-fighting group is all about. Get to know other Patio Planter members and your neighbors.
In 2008, our 62nd year, please volunteer for Patio Planter events and be a big part of our fun!
Stephen M. Swain
From the Program Chair . . .
Our scheduled guest for the February meeting extended her visit to India because of an illness in her family there. Hopefully we can reschedule her soon to hear about art restoration, storage, etc. Many thanks are due John Barber for reading his poetry at our February meeting. It was a delightful time that everyone enjoyed and, of course, he very generously agreed to present with only a couple of weeks notice. Thank, John, for a fun evening.
Our March program is a very timely one as spring approaches and everyone is ready for beautiful blossoms and fresh green plants. Gregory Finsley will be our guest and comes with an impressive agenda, as well as lots of experience. He is a musician, singer, teacher, cook and amateur photographer, to mention a few of his talents, in addition to his gardening skills. Gregory spends a great deal of his restoring or re-creating balcony gardens and courtyards within the French Quarter. He is very enthusiastic about his work and is excited to present the program for our March meeting. See you there!
Lyn Gladney
Remembering Harold Haydel
Patio Planters recently lost a member, Harold Haydel, who departed this life on February 20th after a brief illness. Our hearts and prayers go out to Betty.
Remembering Marti Speights
The Passing of a Friend
Her spirit was as lovely as
her face,
Her charm was matched by her
grace,
May our prayers comfort her
in a better place.
One of the French Quarter's
most beautiful flowers was picked for a heavenly bouquet.
-- Samara D. Poché
It is with much sadness that we inform you that Marti Speights passed away last Friday morning in her French Quarter home. I was at her home visiting with her and her family at the time. When I left Marti and David's home that morning, he was surrounded by many loving family members.
Marti Speights passed away Friday morning, February 22, 2008, at her home in the French Quarter with her husband, David, and her family with her. Marti lost her long and heroic battle against cancer. Marti was a cherished friend to those who knew her. She had an eloquent and sophisticated sense of life and living. One could always count on Marti and David to show up for any event "dressed to the nines," with a flamboyant and gracious manner and always, always smiling. She added a touch of fun and generosity to everything she did.
A Jazz Funeral Mass is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, 11:00 am, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 411 North Rampart Street, followed by a Second Line through the French Quarter. As a tribute to Marti and her love for "dressing up," ladies are asked to dress up and wear their favorite hats. The family wishes that in lieu of flowers, a gift be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church or to any breast cancer organization.
--
Carol Greve
Recipe to Share
Fired Parsley
from Emeril's Creole Christmas
Cookbook
presented by Sam Poché
Want to do something different? Tease your taste buds with something different and decadent!
This recipe will quash the old saying, "no one eats the parsley."
Growing parsley at this time of year is easy. I have a beautiful bunch of parsley growing in one of my gallery baskets, near the kitchen. It's mixed in with the petunias, pansies and snapdragons. It comes in very handy whenever a recipe calls for a small amount, as I just walk out of the kitchen window and snip a sprig off. Bam!! I've got my finishing ingredient. Bon Appetit!
Ingredients needed:
2
cups vegetable oil for deep frying
1
bunch parsley sprigs, washed and patted dry
Salt
- Heat the oil in a large pot or electric fryer to 360*F.
- Drop the parsley into the oil for about 30 seconds. Be careful, as the oil may splatter.
- Remove with a slotted spoon
and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt to taste.
Recipe to Share
Italian Bread Pudding
presented by Stephen Swain
I found this recipe on the side of a box of panettone, one of my favorite Christmas goodies. I can never get too many! I found that I had to juggle the amount of eggs and evaporated milk, because it seemed to be too much liquid. However, below is the exact recipe I found. By the way, I used the whole panettone to make a party size for a Patio Planters board meeting, so you can triple it for a crowd.
Nonstick
cooking spray
1/3
Perugina Panettone (1/3 of 3.3 LB), cut into 1 inch cubes
2
cans (12 fl. oz. each) evaporated milk
6
large eggs
1/2
cup granulated sugar
2
tablespoons butter, melted
1
teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8
teaspoon salt
1 3.5 oz. Dark chocolate
bar, chopped ( I used several Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolates, crushed.
It was messy, but I loved the flavor)
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 11 x 7-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place the panettone cubes in the pan (Actually, I used a heavy Mexican earthenware casuela instead of a metal pan).
-
Place evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla extract and salt in large bowl; stir well. Pour over panettone cubes. (Let it sink in and set for a while) Sprinkle with chocolate (or slightly embed in surface).
-
Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
-
I think that this recipe is so moist and flavorful that you don't need a sauce, but if it did, an orange or lemon cream sauce would be good, as would whipped cream.
Patio Patter
Patio Planter member Harold Applewhite reports that the real name of his business is Harold's Indoor and Outdoor Plants, located on Press Street by the railroad tracks, lakeside of St. Claude.
Photographer Marcia Wall wishes to thank Patio Planters for the opportunity to perform at the January meeting. She hopes that we enjoyed the presentation. She appreciated our hospitality and the gift of a bottle of wine.