green eggs and...

haven't actually tried them with pork thus far,
but we sure have enjoyed them
every other way possible.
scrambled. hard-boiled. egg salad.
quiche. baked goodies.
have i missed anything?
do you have a great egg recipe
that i must try?
please share.

it's a joy to walk out and
collect the bounty from our
young ladies in the backyard.
although not everyone may agree.
between pooping and digging
they make plenty of extra
yardwork for the mr.
he's a gem to put up with me.
and them.

meet the nanny

After a day at school our premier chef/au pair
cooked us up a dish of
tortellini with chicken and homemade pesto
with a spinach salad and parmesan rolls for dinner.
It was outstanding.

She then decided to hold the little peanut
so that I could clean up the kitchen
(that's the deal at our house,
you cook ~ I clean and vice versa)
so she strapped miss love on
and decided to do some light reading.



 

It's so beautiful to watch my
sweet Bri growing into a talented,
 multi-tasking (you have no idea until
you see a teenager maneuver the incredible
world of technology) woman,
but I especially treasure this view~
my first true love nurturing her younger sisters.

So long

to our favorite summer treat...the root beer float.

we will miss you as fall approaches, but are looking forward to
our winter friend...warm apple cider.

do you have a favorite summer or winter treat?

Waking up

to my new favorite:
Organic plain yogurt
Organic maple syrup
Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste

It's better than ice cream plus I get to have it for breakfast....wahoooooo!

Happy Saturday friends

Meet our new chef

Madame Bri will be cooking for us once a week to work on her culinary skills.  Last monday's menu was pesto chicken pasta and salad.  It was delish!  Since this was only her second time cooking a real meal from a recipe on her own I quickly realized that she's going to need a sous-chef for the first month or so to keep the family from eating raw meats or dining on each course in half hour increments.  I am so excited for this journey with my sweet young chef as we prepare food, dance around the kitchen and taste some fun recipes together. 

It's crazy to think how quickly she will be ready for life in the real world ~ without us by her side for every decision, every tear, every accomplishment.  Savoring the days for now.

What's on your table?

Last week our family watched Food Inc, a movie (we ordered from netflix) that had a great impact on me.  Not to say I wasn't already an advocate for organic locally grown foods, but this movie has rocked my nutritional outlook even further.  The saddest thing about it is that not everyone can afford organic local foods, because the major food corporations have made a science out of how to sell nutritionally void, illness inducing, mouthwatering tempations that cost merely pennies.  It really broke my heart to see a glimpse of what the food industry has become and what the american people are (many unkowingly) choosing to eat morning, noon and night. 

The scariest part about it is that it really isn't much of a choice for many.  Those who are barely getting by have to buy what they can afford and they are truly getting what they're paying for, but even worse is the increasing major health problems that just keep growing as the illnesses get doused with more and more medications.  As far as buying any type of meat, the choices for local or organic options are few and far between.  Call me granola, but I like to think that the food I'm eating hasn't been showered with pesticides, genetically altered, pumped with steroids and antibiotics or treated inhumanely.  Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but my hope is that more and more people will make the choice to eat local.  Eat organic.  Choose humanely raised meats.  And in doing so, increase the demand and lower the cost of these foods for all.

Ok, I'm done with my ranting.  If I've lost you somewhere along the way, but you're interested in what spurred this long winded post you can read more at hungry for change or the Center for Food Safety or cspi. 

Scrumptious

January is a busy month around these parts as we celebrate birthdays left and right.

Last week I celebrated the birth of my cousin and good friend G along with several other girlfriends. 

She invited us over to dine on some fine french cuisine created right there before our eyes. 

Every bite was delicious and the company divine.

On the menu:

Seared Ahi Tuna, Shrimp & Scallops (no scallops for me/unless I wanted to hug the toilet all night) on a bed of bright and beautiful sauteed veggies

Shitake mushrooms and stuffed quail salad with a white truffle vinagrette

Perfect lady-like portions of new york steak and a filet with a delectible cheese sauce, gratin potatoes, asparagus and incredible roasted tomatoes

Creme Brulee to die for

It was good. So good. 

Thanks G for the amazing night, what a gift that was...isn't it supposed to be the other way around?

.......................................................................................................................

I forgot to mention that the meal was prepared and served by an amazing french chef  Gaël Lecolley who you can read more about here

The beautiful table setting was laid out by Miss Sheila Callahan.  Wish I would have gotten some better photos of the table.  Simply put the table was elegant with a bit of french flair. This woman lacks nothing in the way of creative table settings for any type of event.  She's incredible.

Date night

(photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil website, click to view)

at Cirque du Soleil.

Last night my main squeeze invited me out for a date filled with wining, dining and jaw dropping entertainment. After a wonderful dinner at JiRaffe we headed down to the big tents on the beach for some acrobatic action. I had never been to a Cirque du Soleil performance before and really didn't know what to expect. It was phenomenal! Each act left me astonished at the talents these performers have. From the high wire to contortionists to incredible balancing acts to the live band throughout ~ I was in awe from beginning to end. I walked away with a new appreciation for physical discipline of the human body. The way these people moved there bodies was, well....inhuman ~ but so inspiring to watch.

Ironically, the name of the show was Kooza which also happens to be the name our little miss gave to her first "baby". I figure she'll be some kind of marketing genius when she gets older. That or she'll just have children with really scary names.

To my Mr:

Thanks for treating me to such a fun night! I am so lucky to be traveling through life with you and am grateful for your loving spirit.

Relaxed in Red

Our family took a little mini vacation this weekend out to the country. It was the perfect place to unwind, harvest veggies, overdose on mulberries, swim, play, sleep in and absorb the amazing views. The little miss and her big sister had a blast driving the electric car round and round the property, swinging through the air and connecting in a way that only sisters can do.

We were surrounded by shades of crimson, brick and barn red giving this ranch paradise so much warmth and life. Everywhere I looked the place was dappled in red, delicious beauty. From the bushels full of tomatoes and peppers to the giant mulberry tree we filled our hands, buckets and tummys with goodness. Let me add that if you've never tasted a mulberry...it is absolutely something you don't want to miss. They are incredible!

The day and a half away was such a peaceful break from the usual routine that rejuvenated my soul for the coming week.

May you find peace and happiness in the colors that surround you this week.

In love with another....

Country

Before we head off for yet another little traveling excursion I had to give a taste of our journeys in Southern France. There were so many reasons that France swept me off my feet ~ the rolling hillsides blanketed with vineyards, the beautiful architecture, the stillness, the simplicity and last but not least was the incredible food. Ohhhhhhh the food. Fresh & delectable produce, mouthwatering cheeses, sensational cappuccino, and don't even get me started on the desserts. Insane.


I can't wait to share more of our french adventures, but for now we are on the road again to visit friends and family.

xoxo

How does your garden grow?

We have gotten so much enjoyment out of watching our garden grow this spring. We have already harvested lots of lettuce, beans, zucchini, brocolli, beets, a few strawberries and some parsley and have loved nurturing the growth of life and sharing the results with our neighbors and friends. My "gard"en dog stands at her post as I shuffle through the greens.

As big as our plants have gotten, some of the tomatoes are not looking so hot (I think because of the foggy weather). Their tips are brown and curling and some leaves are yellowing with brown spots. I cut back on the water to see if that would help and I think it has a little. I'm hoping once the weather gets sunnier, the girls will look happier. Still, I'm loving the food we're producing and looking forward to watching our "butterfly garden" flourish with flowers. The girls and I planted the seeds a few weeks ago and are watching all the seedlings pop up here and there.

Last week as we were out picking produce, our neighbor stopped by and we gave her some zucchini and parsley. Within an hour, she came knocking at our door with this tank of dinner...

complete with crockpot and all.

What a great neighborhood we live in!

Wildfires in May???

This is no bueno. Really. The smoke is blowing far and wide from the Jesusita fire in SB and I am just sitting and praying for the safety of the firefighters and all of those that are kicked out of that most comfortable place they call home tonight.

Summer's feeling like it's already here so tonight it was chicken salad sandwiches for dinner. Not my best creation, but it sure felt good to have a light meal on a hot day.

What's your favorite summer dish?

The unexpected weekend

The cold fairy came by our house on friday and sprinkled her cold germs on me for the weekend reminding me once again that life does not always go according to my plans. She decided that I needed some extra rest from my daily doings and so it was...
Needless to say I stayed home and slept took little miss M to a photo session that I had signed up for a while ago and decided to do a "shoot" of my own when we got home....how could I resist?

Although I didn't sleep my entire days away, naptime was in full effect this weekend and I have to admit ~ it felt good lie down next to my little one and let go of all the "want to do this and need to do that" just to rest my body and mind. Feeling too yucko to do any of that stuff anyway made me acknowledge that it's just stuff....it will always be there and taking a little time for myself won't hurt anyone or anything.

Saturday I was going NOwhere, not even to my beloved farmer's market. But that afternoon I got a little artsy with Maya and we made some butterflies for her room. It was such a fun and easy project, I'm inspired to get out those art supplies more for some creative time.

We finished off our weekend sharing homegrown lettuce with our neighbors, playing with the girls at the harbor, soaking up the gorgeous weather and ending with our usual sunday dinner serving a barbecued steak salad with fresh sourdough bread and lemon bars plus rhubarb pie for dessert. Yummmm! It was a full table with Matt's parents, g-gran Irene and Bri's bff. I LOVE sunday dinners.

The weekend certainly didn't unfold as I expected, but brought some great surprises in leau of my agenda. Just another reminder that I AM NOT IN CHARGE as much as I like to think I am.

neighborly love

A couple of weeks ago we shared a few Meyer Lemons from our tree with a friendly neighbor. By the next day she arrived at our door with a fresh lemon pie which was deeeeelish! We don't talk to all of our neighbors enough and this little exchange reminded me of the importance in community interaction. I tend to get wrapped up in my own little world a little too often without taking the time to visit with the people that are right outside our door. Next week on the agenda: invite the neighbors over for tea.

May you enjoy the gifts that you receive this weekend.

xoxo

5,475 days to celebrate

Today my first born child turned 15 (and yes, for the record and to be announced on a bullhorn to everyone I encounter ~ I know I look too young to have a fifteen year old daughter, but it's true and not just something I like to say for effect). From the day she was born she has blessed my life with her laughter and her love. Seeing her grow into such a kind, happy and playful young woman brings my heart such comfort and pure joy. So today we celebrated with her favorites........friends, chocolate and movies.

The dinner menu was simple...

Barbeque chicken salad with cheesy garlic bread & sparkling lemonade

The dessert menu was a little more involved...

mini hershey's bars

chocolate covered peanut butter cups

chocolate peppermints

chocolate wafers

chocolate chip cookies

chcolate truffle brownies

chocolate covered strawberries

chocolate cake

The girls feasted on chocolate until they could devour no more then finished up the night with some guitar hero (this deserves it's own post) and movies. Needless to say we've got a lot of chocolate treats waiting to be finished off, so if you're in the neighborhood stop by and I'll put together a choco-bag to indulge in...ahem...jenn.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRI!!!

Grow your own

Just as I was about to stop my Sunset subscription they decided to tempt me with the best issue yet. This month's mag is full of inspiring gardening stories and ideas on making the most of the space you have for planting edibles.

Just looking at these tomatoes (compliments of sunset) makes my mouth water for the tasties I am nurturing in my own front yard. Can't wait for harvest time!!!

Here is the garden box my incredibly talented husband made for our compact veggie garden out of recycled split rail fencing from my cousins old fence. It looks awesome and being in the front yard it gets the neighbors out and visiting with us more than ever.

These are what I dream of having in my own backyard one day. Not sure how the neighbors would like it, but maybe if I offer them some fresh eggs they'll cut us some slack. I guess if they put up too much of a stink I can always use them as ammunition in the driveway. For now, I am blessed by the generosity of my thoughtful friend Julia who delivered these beauties from her own backyard.

One of my favorite plants that came with the house....a meyer lemon tree. We love all the juicy jewels on this tree and enjoy sharing them with friends and neighbors.

Growing our own food is such a fun journey for the whole family to share. As much as we love growing food for ourselves it excites me even more to have the opportunity to share our crop with others. I've got a plan in my head to start a neighborhood food co-op so that the whole street can benefit from all of the food that is grown and often wasted in our area and hoping to get people on the band wagon this summer.

Wish me luck.

Cookie Madness

Last week was my first cookie exchange with the preschool parents. We made gingerbread and sugar goodies in trade for a whole slough of spare~tire~makers to fill our tummies. As if that weren't enough, I decided to have another cookie-fest for Sunday night dinner. Oatmeal and peanut butter were on the dessert menu and they were divine. Now I just have to get them out of my house asap before I turn into a B.L.I.M.P.

happy to be healthy

Now that the virus had made its rounds through our house, I'm happy to report...we're back to our healthy version of life. Hope you can keep the germs out of your house this season ~ it's no fun having sick babies!

Time for soup

Bri has had a wicked cold for the past few days, so as a family tradition I made chicken soup (for the soul if nothing else). As I was cleaning and preparing this little bird I thought about the life that it once was and how grateful I am to be able to feed my family organic & free range foods. We are so blessed by the access we have to all types of food which I admittedly take for granted sometimes.

I'm hoping this homemade soup will bring health and energy back to my sweet girl in the next few days so that I can see her glowing smile again soon.

xoxo

Giving tradition a try

A little daddy-daughter time

As anyone who knows me is aware...I'm not one for routine. My days flow as they go and I'm not one to sign up for too many scheduled commitments at once. I can go as far as preschool twice a week and swim lessons on fridays, but committing to hosting dinner every Sunday is a huge leap for me because I know people (my grandmother in particular) will be depending on me to follow through. Nevertheless, I did it and am pretty excited about it too.

Last Sunday was our second go at it, and I think it was a success. Although we ate at 8 o'clock (not ideal timing) our meal was so delicious and I loved having everyone together. Our table was set for seven and my in-laws accompanied us along with my grandma. The menu included whole organic roasted chickens stuffed with lemon and rosemary with a lemon sauce, mashed butternut squash and an organic salad with radishes, yellow bell pepper and goat cheese. It was the perfect first fall meal to start the season. The dessert was most certainly my fave though. My dad-in-law created the best apple pie I've ever tasted. He is an amazing cook who also makes tasty pies for the holidays and special occasions. Thanks so much for joining us and for leaving that pie, too. We finished every last crumb.

xoxo