in honor of FARM AID, held today in New York City, i mixed a cocktail using cilantro purchased from my local farmer’s market, blooming hill farm. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews have been involved with this annual event for years - playing before sold out shows to benefit small farmers in the US. true, it’s nice to hear these icons play, but it’s a real shame they have to do this. it wouldn’t be necessary for them to go raise money to keep small farms going if the US government would pony up all ready and give aid to family-run farms. instead the government gives grants and monies to large corporate farms. i wonder, exactly HOW the did our government get so screwed up? like willie says, farms are the bottom rung of our economic ladder… so then why, are they getting the shaft? it should be the opposite! small local independent farms grow a variety of crops, right next to each other. this is very good for the soil, and the plants. i believe it’s called BIODIVERSITY. this naturally keeps the bad critters away. when you start growing acres upon acres of the same exact crop, season after season, that’s a problem. the bugs learn where the stuff they like to eat it is located, the soil gets the same nutrients, and hence lacks a lot of other nutrients. it’s not good for the biosystem. that’s why the government is bringing in the GMO (BAD) crops to fight off the bugs! if they planted small, diverse crops in rotation, they wouldn’t have nearly the problem they do with insects. it’s a vicious cycle and we’ve got to break out of it. find a grocery store that purchases produce from a nearby grower, and support them. they’re out there - you just have to do a little bit of research to find them.

now i’m sure you’re just DYING to know which sign CILANTRO belongs to! well, it’s ruled by mercury, and hence it belongs to VIRGO. it’s feathery leaves and cutting flavour indicate it’s allegance to the planet of speed (not the drug, the velocity). the same quality which gives CILANTRO it’s sharp flavor, also gives VIRGO her sharp mind. for virgo is the sign of the processor of analytic truths. i wonder if the first computer ever invented was born under the sign of virgo, for that is how the mind of this creature works. this virgin (not!) will cooly sit and sip her celestial cilantro cocktail, assessing the taste of each ingredient as it settles on her unadulterated palette. and more than likely, the purest of them all will give it her blessing.

did you miss willie play today? no worries! catch him doing another bennie in times square, this time for his new BIODIESAL collaboration with daryl hannah & woody Harrelson. but act fast, the gig is TONIGHT (sept. 10th)! VIA ECORAZZI & SUSTAINABLE BIODIESEL ALLLIANCE.

this recipe is one of many cocktail gems in the book HIP SIPS by Lucy Brennan and Carolyn Burleigh. (this cocktail is listed as the AD LIB). this is a must buy, and you can do that through kittykind’s amazon to give them a percentage donation.

CELESTIAL CILANTRO
5-7 fresh cilantro leaves (i increased this to 18 leaves)
2 1/2 oz vodka
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup* (i increased this to 1 1/2 oz)

muddle cilantro with cocktail ice cubes. note, most peeps don’t have access to these miniature cubes. i don’t. so, instead, muddle the cilantro with the vodka. after cilantro is macerated, add the remainder of ingredients and shake in ice filled mixing glass. strain into lollipop* rimmed glass.

*SIMPLE SYRUP is a mixture of half sugar (raw is best) and half water. stir or shake until mixture dissolves completely and store in fridge.

*LOLLIPOP RIM as defined in HIP SIPS:
works best in a large (10 oz) glass. put the sugar in a moderately deep, wide-mouthed bowl. put sugar (i use raw, organic) in a deep, wide bowl. make a deep slice down the center flesh of a lemon. place the slice on the rim of the glass and holding the glass upside down, rotate the wedge around the glass to coat the rim with citrus juice. when you are finished, insert a quarter of the lip of the glass about 2 inches into the sugar. quickly spin the stem to coat the entire trim with sugar. lift the glass from the sugar, holding the cup upside down, and gently tap the bottom of the glass to remove any excess sugar.

thanks to DAILY UNADVENTURES IN COOKING for hosting WEEKEND HERB BLOGGING #100.

VIA ECORAZZI
(photo credit TOP 40 CHARTS.COM)