Letters from our readers - Open House

Sunset, Sept, 2002

Readers meld recipes into delicious menus

I've been a subscriber to Sunset for the past three years, but this is the first time we've tried any of the recipes. I received the July issue, thumbed through it, and thought the Garlic Shrimp (page 138) and the Raspberry-Rhubarb Crisp (page 98) sounded like something good for dinner. My husband, Marc, the cook, got to work, adding the Basil Risotto (page 144) as a side dish. It all resulted in one of the best meals we have ever had! I even went off my lowcarb diet for seconds on the risotto.

Sharon Willis

DIXON, CA

Car Dogs' Sweet Cured and Smoked Salmon (July, page 150) is absolutely the best we've ever tried. My husband, David, and I prepared this, along with the Corn and Tomato Salad (page 154) and the Basil Risotto, for a weekend get-together. I also made the Filo-wrapped Brie (page 148) as an appetizer and served the Basil-Lemon Granita (page 146) as a palate cleanser. We paired our succulent salmon with a Chardonnay from Cambria Winery in the Santa Maria Valley. Delicious!

Cordelia Rackley

SANTA MARIA, CA

Easy flowers delight a mom with newborn

Since I was expecting my second son in May, I knew that if I wanted a flower garden this year, it would have to require absolutely no care. Along came "Easy Flowers for Cutting" (February, page 76). I rigged up an automatic drip-irrigation system, planted a variety of the flowers listed in the article, and let them grow Except for some minor thinning and weeding, I have had to do virtually nothing except keep cutting the blooms for bouquet after bouquet. Since it is such a success, I am planning to plant a variation of this garden every year from now on.

Margaret Ma

SAN JOSE

Editor's note: Marcus Ma (6 pounds, 15 ounces) was born May 8 to Margaret and Philip Ma.

Postcard from Holland

Having lived in Toronto for some 20 years and now back in Holland, we find your magazine very valuable. As we are frequent travelers to the U.S., we use the travel info extensively My wife, a gourmet cook, finds loads of nice, easy recipes, especially the salads, which are far more popular in the U.S. than Europe. So please keep those magazines coming.

Jan and Cookie Vansoest

LEIDEN, HOLLAND

San Diego's naval heritage

I enjoyed your article on San Diego ("The City and the Sea," July, Southern California and Southwest editions). I was surprised that more was not mentioned of its Naval history; San Diego is home port of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet.

John W. Cline

FULLERTON, CA

Send letters to Open House, Sunset Magazine, 80 Willow Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025; fax them to (650) 327-7537; or e-mail openhouse@sunset.com. Include your full name, hometown, and daytime telephone number.