Presidential Playground and Beef Stew With Walnuts

There are license plate frames that read “Playground of Presidents”, streets named for Dinah Shore, Bob Hope and presidents to name a few. The celebrity history runs deep: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the Marx Brothers, Bing Crosby all had homes here. John F. Kennedy visited the area with the Rat Packers like Frank Sinatra and Crosby, both of whom enjoyed their desert getaways. President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty made this their retirement home as well as the location of the Betty Ford Clinic here.

Celebrities continue to flock here each year for the ever growing Palm Springs Film Festival and the Bob Hope Classic.  This sleepy valley made the news in 2008 when Britney, in the midst of her public meltdown, escaped to our valley and was seen having brunch with her then paparazzi boyfriend at a local restaurant. Suzanne Somers and Barry Manilow call this home year round and put a great deal of their time, talent and energy into supporting the area. And yes…the Cookbook Apprentice Family are locals as well.

This part of California is very different from where I grew up in the suburbs of New York or where we once lived in Florida. The first time we stepped outside of the airport and saw the majestic mountains that surround the valley was also my very first time in California or on the west coast of the US for that matter. It was an overwhelming and at first a bit of a claustrophobic sight. Standing in one spot and turning around 360 degrees, mountains fill the scenery all around. I was immediately captivated by the history held by the great land formations and my mind traveled back to what it must have been like hundreds of years before.

As we became familiar with the area in the first few weeks, I was always aware of the landscape painting these mountains create and the lore of celebrity residents and visitors. The strip shopping centers, interstate roads and residential areas appeared like elements of a train set, placed in the forefront to bring a bit of civilization to those who live or visit here. It fascinated me to see the exotic architecture of our local Target with domed rooftops against the mountain scenery. I grew up  on Long Island in New York and went to college and graduate school there as well. I clearly remember my classmates from the mountain areas of upstate New York complaining that the island was too flat. I didn’t get it. Florida is that way too but that never mattered to me, my focus was on the palm trees and the tropical nature of the state, which I love.

We’ve lived here two and a half years now and what starts to happen (as it does anywhere you live) is the focal point becomes the places you go to and the people you know, not so much the beauty that surrounds it or the famous history that threads itself through the tapestry of it all. When we need to go to Target I’ve stopped noticing the mountains that nestle up to the back of the store. My mind stays on going to my kids’ schools and picking them up and often forgets about the wow factor of the range that faces the parent pickup area. Walking the stars along the streets of Palm Springs becomes secondary to the destination.

I’m a bit more appreciative when the winter comes and while we have temperatures in the 60s and 70s here that snowbirds flock to, up in the tallest mountains, only an hour away, there is snow. That is spectacular. I often find myself  reminding my kids to appreciate where we are but I too must be reminded these days. Life happens, you get caught up in it, it’s easy to think only about what is pulling at you for attention. Every now and then I need shake myself a little and become more tuned in with what makes it so special here.  We have mountains for hiking, golf course after golf course, horseback riding and one of the largest and most important annual equestrian shows, desert animal life, creative and political history and it’s all in what is considered one of the greatest vacation destinations in the country. So when I came across The Grand Rapids Junior League Cookbook from Grand Rapids Michigan (longtime home to President Ford) published in 1976 in a local store and thumbed through the pages to find a favorite recipe of the Fords’ I knew I had to buy the book and try it out. It was an opportunity for me to get to know some of the great people behind our history on a more personal level through their kitchen and palates. The note at the top of this recipe says this dish was “…served to the Ford’s guests for their wedding anniversary” I can certainly understand why this dish would be served to recognize such an important occasion, it is a beautiful blend of delicious flavors and textures. The addition of the nuts struck me when I first read the recipe, it called Mr. Cookbook Apprentice’s name, he believes everything tastes better with walnuts (except maybe his beloved coffee). Try it and become part of my Rat Pack, you’ll be glad you did!

Beef Stew With Walnuts

2 lbs. cubed, lean stew beef

2 Tablespoons of corn oil

2 large onions, cubed

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons of flour

Pinch of thyme

Pinch of marjoram

1 cup red wine

2 cups beef bouillon

4 carrots, peeled and cubed

4 stalks celery peeled and cubed

2 medium green peppers, de-seeded and cubed

6 oz. walnut halves

Brown meat on all sides in iron skillet in oil, add onions, garlic and salt to taste. Brown onions lightly. Transfer meat into a casserole or dutch oven. Add flour, stir well; add thyme, marjoram, red wine and beef bouillon. Simmer stew for 1 hour covered on medium heat. Stir occasionally. Add carrots, celery and green pepper to stew. Stir carefully with rubber spatula. Simmer for 1/2 hour more until meat and vegetables are tender. Spoon into serving dish, sprinkle with walnuts and serve.

Betty Ford           Serves 6