Mischief

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-27T17:10:00.000-08:00

Owens River

We packed up the pups and headed to Mammoth Lakes for Thanksgiving this year. The weather was beautiful, the food was delicious, the dogs had fun, and we got to spend time with family. What more can you ask for?

Our wonderful hostess Briana

Roland's new best friend Greg

The first of many games, Pass the Pig

After-dinner clean up and hopeful pups

Roland sucking up the attention

Friday we took the dogs down to the Owens River to run around. It was Roland's first time in the area and he had a great time running his fool head off. He even mustered up the courage to swim across the river when the other dogs did. Well, Ayla walked it since her legs are so long. My city dogs sure did enjoy playing out there; I wish we had something like it here.

Ballerina Ayla

Checking out the river

Shake!

The Boys

Roland being zippy

Willie's shadow

Majestically muddy

Ayla fording the river

My boys

Determination

It was the first time we've taken the Ford off road, and it did wonderfully.

We also did a little target practice with Greg's 9mm.

The ride home smelled like wet dog. But it was worth it.

I think Roland didn't want to leave. He really enjoyed playing with Willie and being spoiled by my brother-in-law and his girlfriend, and eating cookies for breakfast. We'll have to go back soon! Thank you to my wonderful family for a fun Thanksgiving, and I hope everyone has something to be thankful for.

Coffee Table Fort

2011-11-15T20:35:00.001-08:00

Roland seems to have found himself a new den in our living room.

Another Bulldog Meetup

2011-11-05T13:38:00.001-07:00

Today was the I Heart Bulldogs meetup in Dublin, so I took Roland to play with some friends. There was a pretty good turnout too, probably about ten bulldogs at one point. Roland had a blast, though he wouldn't stop trying to molest a puppy and got a little too friendly a few times. Aren't hormones fun? On to the pictures!

Cornucopia

2011-11-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

I'm sure we've been doing things, but I can't really think of what they are or were. I guess its nothing out of the ordinary: work, dogs, food, drink, etc. The biggest news lately is that we're no longer crating Roland when we're gone. He's penned in the bedroom so he doesn't annoy Ayla all day, and to contain any potential destruction. And he still has his crate available because he likes to sleep in it, but I took the door off.

So here's a bunch of pictures of the pups while I come up with something else to write about...

We've had fun at the local dog parks. We're very lucky to have four great parks within 15 minutes, and probably more I haven't found yet. Roland loves playing and wrestling with other dogs, and Ayla just loves being alive.

Roland loves car rides too.

Roland also likes naps.

And hanging out on the patio. Even if he does look at little suspicious.

And we carved a Halloween pumpkin.

And my rose keeps putting out blooms. Its also standing about seven feet tall.

Stay tuned, I have a now-out-of-season strawberry cake to write about.

Bulldog Meetup - Oct 15

2011-10-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

Another monthly bulldog meetup at Crissy Field. Roland didn't hesitate this time, he ran right in and joined the action. And the photographer present started snapping pictures the minute his toes touched sand. I hope she puts them up on the Meetup page, I'd love to see what she captured. Anyway, here are my amateur shots. I can't help but think Baywatch when I see the one up above there.

Making new friends

Checking out the sailboats

Getting photo bombed

Playing with friends from past meetups

That is Belle on the left


I think Rollie's in love

Here are some examples of why I love bulldogs. With looks these good, how can you not?

They're short and stout

With huge personalities

And looking at wrinkles like these everyday is a real ego boost

This guy is just too cute - looks ancient, but I don't know how old he is

Roland is getting better at keeping track of us and checking in. Especially when he figures out our pockets are never-ending treat fountains.

That's the Palace of Fine Arts in the background


Always take a moment to enjoy the view!

Bent Creek Winery

2011-10-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day for some wine tasting. My neighbor invited me to visit Bent Creek Winery this afternoon, "... nestled in the rolling hills southeast of Livermore." It was a very nice, relaxing winery with a small tasting room, two patios, and a small grassy area with tables.

They make reds, whites, and ports with local grapes. The vineyards all around the tasting area were sirah grapes. We especially enjoyed the Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Red on Red, Petite Sirah, and Petite Port.

They do not provide tours, but visitors are welcome to wander around as they like. And dogs are welcome too, so Roland will have to accompany us next time. There is a winery cat too. She's a cutie.

We explored a bit, walking among the grape vines. There's a gazebo, and we came across this large stone building.

I don't know what its used for, but I think it would make a lovely tasting room should they want to expand.

There's even a rustic windmill on the side.

The grapes were heavy on the vines too. Harvest time must be coming soon, and what a big job that has to be.

Tasting is free, and they have eleven wines to try. And I love that it is so close to home. I haven't visited the Livermore wineries until now, and I definitely want to see what else is there. Beats the two hour drive to the Napa and Healdsburg areas!

Refried Tequila Black Beans

2011-09-28T20:08:00.001-07:00

A bowl of black beans is difficult to photograph, but these were just too good to keep to myself. For reals.

I was making tacos for dinner tonight after spending an hour at the dog park with the pups (you didn't think I could go a whole post without mentioning them, did you?), so it had to be quick. So here's the down and dirty for my awesome, stumbled-upon...

Kinda Refried Tequila Black Beans

1 tbsp. Olive oil

1/3 onion, chopped

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup tequila

2 tbsp. Smart Balance (or butter)

1 tsp. taco seasoning

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, a few minutes. Add the black beans and tequila, reduce the heat to medium low. Cook until the beans are soft, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes. Add the Smart Balance and taco seasoning and mash with a potato mashed or fork. Enjoy!

These are really, really simple and tasty. They're also a great base to create from; add jalapenos, sriracha, cheese, or whatever else tickles your pickle. I'm sure it will taste just as good, better even. I wish I had made a double batch!

Picture of the Pups

2011-09-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

Happy boy at the park

There's not too much happening around here lately. Last weekend my parents visited and we watched their dog Belle while they went in to the city. Chris and I saw Contagion (I really wanted to wash my hands right after the movie) and had dinner at one of our favorite Mexican places, The Prickly Pear Cantina. We've been to the dog park, of course. And I've been taking Roland to work with me every few weeks. So here's a bunch of pictures (through Instagram) to make you happy!

Helping me at my desk

Sleeping under my desk at work

On a walk

Surveying his kingdom

Belle the Border Collie

What happens when Belle visits

Headed to the dog park

Always smiling

Swimming Bulldog

2011-09-06T16:01:00.000-07:00

Can you touch your tongue to your nose?

I took the a vacation day from work today, and took the pups out to Shadow Cliffs for some fun in the water. Its about 90F here, so any outside fun needs to be near the water for the bulldog. This is one of my favorite places to go, and its been a little while since I've been here (all those links are previous entries about Shadow Cliffs). There are a few changes, a new bench, a tree is gone, the water is higher, but its still got a great little beach for the dogs to access the water. Roland pretty much ignored the water when we went to the beach, but not here. Here he swam!

He was a little hesitant at first.

But then he got the hang of it.

Here's a little video of when the two first got in the water.

And Rollie made some friends.

He following Ayla around with her ball.

He played with sticks.

Ayla says hi!

He rested a bit too.

And then dove right back in.

Ayla bobbed for some broken rubber balls that had sunk. She loves this game, but usually when the balls are still floating.

Then Roland started really getting tired. After all, this is usually nap time for him.

Ayla was suddenly very alert.

But she's no retriever, so watching is all she did.

I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to summer, and its just now really starting to feel warm like it should be. But happy Labor Day nonetheless!

The Meetup

2011-08-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

When we were looking for a bulldog puppy I learned about the SF Bulldog Club and their monthly meetup at Crissy Field in San Francisco. A whole bunch of bulldogs playing on the beach? Sign me up! Now that Roland has all of his shots and such we took a trip out to the city yesterday.

Crissy Field is amazing, a giant dog-friendly park and beach in the Presidio are of San Francisco. We ended up parking at the opposite end of the beach than where the meetup was meeting up, so we headed through the park and down the shore about a mile. Along the way we saw all sorts of dogs, as well as joggers and bikes and many other people out enjoying a very nice morning on the bay.

We finally made it down to find a large group of people and 25 or more bulldogs having a good time. At first Rollie was unsure; he's never been in such a large group of people or dogs and there had been quite a few firsts on this trip already. But he made some friends and had a fantastic time running around. He especially liked the ladies - two other little white bullies named Pippa and Belle. There was a big tan guy he liked playing with too. There were pups a little younger than Rollie all the way up to some senior citizens, and they ranged in color from white to tan to dark brindle. It was quite a sight, I can only image what people thought who didn't know about the meetup and came across a large group of bulldogs in the sand.

Here's a video of Roland playing with some friends.

And here's a slideshow of some of the fifty or so pictures I took (hover over the slideshow and press the pause button if you want to take a closer look at a photo):

And another little treat:

When we finally got home Roland was absolutely exhausted. We walked two miles, mostly in the sand, and he probably ran around another half mile or more with the other dogs. But he was a really good boy and we had such a fun time. We'll definitely be doing it again!

Heavy Lifter

2011-08-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

I've discovered that Roland wears a size 18 mos. in children's clothes.

He has a little skin irritation from grass at the parks we've been going to, and I needed something to stop him from scratching himself up when he felt itchy. Hello baby clearance rack at Target! I got him the Heavy Lifter shirt you see here, another blue shirt similar, and an super cute white tee shirt with a picture of a bulldog riding a skateboard on it. He's all meta and stuff! I'll get pictures of that one soon too. The shirts work great as well.

He's loving the dog parks. He gets right in the mix with the big dogs, then they take off and he's left standing there wondering where they all went. Poor little bulldog legs can't take him as fast as the other big dogs can go. Its a lot of fun to have a dog that understands how to play with other dogs, and enjoys it.

Ayla is just a little... special, as far as that goes. She loves going to the parks too though. In fact, she loves going anywhere really.

Ack, blurry! But I love him expression here. He always looks like he's saying "Hrrmmphhh" to me.

But he is the snuggliest little pup ever. He really, really loves to cuddle.

He also doesn't really like me chasing him with my camera. Did you notice how he's trying to get away from me in this progression? Whoa is Rollie, but I'm a bit more stubborn than he is, even if he does try to hide in the blankets.

Five Senses Friday

2011-07-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

Five Senses Friday is a nice way to reflect upon the previous week. Want more? Pay Abby Try Again a visit.

Tasting: Fresh cherries, and blueberries, and strawberries. Thank you summer!
Seeing: A sunny patio, just beckoning me to enjoy some relaxation time.
Hearing: Podcasts on my commute.
Smelling: Tomatoes ripening in the vine.
Feeling: Itchy, thanks to a fun mosquito-bite allergy.

Happy Friday!

Let's Play

2011-07-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

Rollie and Ayla are always playing. They love to rough-house, and I mean rough!

Just look at those teeth!

Ayla is the queen of the mean, nasty, snarly face.

But Rollie is the instigator. And he always comes back for more.

And he knows that there's no bite to back up the bark in Ayla. See him sticking his tongue out? Neener neener!

This video shows their play better. Its not all bitey-face as the pictures seem, but lots of hopping around. I've never seen Ayla play with another dog as much as she plays with Roland. They're buds.

Five Senses Friday

2011-07-08T23:01:00.000-07:00

Five Senses Friday is a nice way to reflect upon the previous week. Want more? Pay Abby Try Again a visit.

Tasting: A tart whiskey sour
Seeing: A sleeping bulldog puppy
Hearing: A sleeping bulldog puppy, snoring
Smelling: Every flower I come across
Feeling: My fingers tingle in anticipation of tomorrow's ukulele class

Happy Friday!

Fourth of July

2011-07-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth of July, albeit a little late. The picture above is not necessarily patriotic, although it is of a Ford. We just can't walk past the car without Roland begging to get in. That puppy loves the car! I broke out the kiddie pool over the hot, hot weekend. Rollie just loves to be outside, and I was worried he'd overheat in the 100 degree weather, so we filled the pool with water to help keep him cool (along with making sure he came inside regularly). He had a great time playing in the water, and got a major case of the zoomies and sprinted around and around the pool too.

Here's a little video of the playtime too.

He was super interested in Chris' beer.

So he got to lick the (empty) bottle. Then he got tired.

And kinda grumpy looking.

Oh hai!

So Ayla and I played her favorite patio game, bobbing for the ball in the big blue bucket.

Love my silly girl.

And its just not a holiday without silly dog get-ups...

Mr Lincoln

2011-06-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

We decided to try our hand with a rose bush this year, and picked up a Mr Lincoln rose at our local hardware/garden store a while back. Its supposed to be hardy and very fragrant, and that's no lie!

We've had one rosebud bloom, and just within the past few days the other bud on the plant bloomed too. These flowers are huge!

Can you imagine that in a bouquet? Its also very, very fragrant, which is wonderful when I'm sitting on the patio. I think I've even smelled it wafting in the window to my living room.

I wonder if we'll get any more blooms this year. In any case, I'm very happy with good old Abe.

Golden

2011-06-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

Happy pup

Teacher's pet

This is my happy face

Win Sauce

2011-06-18T21:48:00.000-07:00

That is no typo. This sauce is full of win.

Its also full of wine.

I asked Chris what he wanted for dinner tonight, and he said something along the lines of my Mushroom Chicken Bake dish. I'm plum out of milk or cream though, so I made something up with what I had available: cream cheese. This sauce is simple, and incredibly rich and delicious. I served it with veggie chik'n fillets, but it would probably be great with salmon too.

Win Sauce

3 Morningstar Farms Veggie Sausage Patties

1/3 cup cream cheese

1/3 cup white wine (I used Cupcake Vineyards Chardonnay)

2 tsp. fresh sage, chopped fine

Garlic powder

Cook the sausage patties in a pan with some butter or oil per the directions on the box. Remove from pan and dice. Return the sausage mince to the pan and add the wine and cream cheese. Cook over medium heat until the cheese is melted and everything is hot. Add the sage and garlic powder or other seasonings to taste, stir, and serve. Easy peasy!

Related recipes:

Mushroom Chicken Bake

Boozy Mushrooms and Fresh Pasta

Wine Sauteed Mushrooms

Social Butterfly

2011-06-12T20:57:00.000-07:00

Roland assisted in washing the car today. Well, he actually ran around finding fun and interesting things to put in his mouth, and climb over curbs (its bigger on the other side) while we cleaned the car.

We wanted to clean the car because we had places to go!

Socialization is one of the most important things you can do for your puppy. Introducing him to all sorts of people, animals, places, and experiences helps him develop into a confident adult dog. We've been socializing Roland with our neighbors, and today we took him up to our friends' house to meet them, their dog Leela, ride in a different car, and go to a new place.

Leela did great with Roland, and he's very dog-oriented so it was lots of fun for him to meet another dog. And we had some group photos taken!

After about an hour of visiting we headed home. And since it was a beautiful day we put the top down on the Toyota.

Once home, Roland played with his new toy for a while, a cute frog that was a gift from our friends. Thanks!

But after a busy morning and then visiting, he was bushed. He's spent most of the rest of the day doing this.

More Puppy, and some iPhone Stuff

2011-06-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

First up, the puppy...

I think he looks rather nice on my comforter.

This was our first on-leash walk. He's fairly timid, and I know puppies go through fear stages, but its something that I didn't expect and I want to address right away. He loves walking with Ayla, bouncing along behind her. Who would have thought that she would be a good role model for something?

He fought the leash for a short time, but he's quickly won over with cookies. And one of Roland's favorite things is getting his teeth brushed. Go figure!

Here's Roland trying to get Ayla to play with him, though when she starts bouncing around he gets scared and runs to one of us for safety. That doesn't stop him though, he goes right back to barking and pouncing at her again.

And this segues into iPhone stuff. For my birthday last April I upgraded from an iPhone 3G to the iPhone 4, and I absolutely love it! The camera is great (all of these pictures and videos were shot with the iPhone), its fast and responsive, the screen is beautiful, and I just find use for it everyday whether for productivity or entertainment reasons. I almost always stream podcasts from my iPhone over the Bluetooth radio in my car on my commute to and from work (Stuff You Should Know, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Stuff Mom Never Told You, Stuff to Blow Your Mind; This American Life; The Moth; The Nerdist; Joy the Baker).

Yesterday morning I got in my car, started it up, and was fidgeting with various things before moving, when I heard barking. And I thought, that's Roland's barking! What is going on? I looked at my phone, thinking it had somehow dialed home, then remembered I don't have a home phone. I knew he was not with me, I had just put him in his crate for the morning. I sat for a few seconds bewildered. Then I realized that my car had accessed the above video file via Bluetooth and was streaming the audio over my speakers. Technology strikes again, making me hear voices!

Back to the iPhone, I've been using a lot of fun photography apps (or is it aps?), and I wanted to share a few and what I've done with them. Instagram is a huge hit with the iPhone crowd, and while I have used it I prefer qbro. qbro has many more choices for picture effects that I've had a great time using:

I've also been very happy with FX Photo Studio, with lots of options to improve and play around with your photos:

Ayla with a KFC-chapeau

View from work, tilt-shifted

I also love Cartoonatic and Film Director for a fun take on video. This one is shot and edited with Film Director:

He loves playing with baby carrots, tossing them around and chewing on them, which is great to keep him busy while I'm cooking dinner. In fact, open the fridge and he'll run over to try to pull the bag of baby carrots off the bottom shelf. Silly pup!

Enough randomness for now. Maybe I'll talk about food again soon.

Bring On the Puppy

2011-05-31T15:26:00.000-07:00

I love puppies.

I don't love puppy teeth.

Those suckers hurt!

The extreme cuteness makes up for it.

As does snoring.

Sunday was beautiful, so we spent a lot of time on the patio. His entire little head turns pink when he runs around a lot. I hope he doesn't sunburn in the future.

Roland wore a shirt I found in the dollar bins at Target. I think he looks like a lifeguard.

The turkeys came to visit.

Ayla looked beleagured, having to deal with the new little holy terror. Luckily she gets a steak (toy) to use as a pillow.

Gretel mused upon the meaning of life.

Psst... its 42.

Roland snuggled with his favorite person.

And he showed off his polka-dotty mouth and toes.

There was more napping inside too.

I guess we'll keep him.

Introducing Roland

2011-05-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Meet the newest member of our family, Roland. He's an almost-nine-week-old English Bulldog puppy, and he already rules the household. Here are some pictures from our drive home yesterday morning.

He's pretty much a land shark, all teeth and fury like any good puppy. But sometimes he sleeps.

But his favorite thing is play of course. And if he feels he's getting less than 110% of your attention, he'll let you know with a frustrated whine or a bark that's surprisingly loud.

He's twelve pounds of rolly-polly insanity.

So prepare for the puppy invasion!

Fun on the Hill

2011-05-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

Nothing much new going on right now. Ayla and I went for a walk on the hill yesterday.

Maybe if she flaps her ears hard enough she could fly.

We have lift off!

If only for a moment.

Love the smile.

Chasing a ground squirrel.

Yes, she is this narrow. Seriously, she looks like a bobble head from the front.

Another Macaroni and Cheese

2011-05-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

But can you ever really have too many mac & cheese recipes? I think not.

I was checking out Recipe Girl's site a while back and came upon her recipe for stuffed manicotti, and a light suddenly went on in my head. I've tried manicotti and stuff shells a few times in the past and always struggled with the boiled pasta splitting when I tried to fill it. She leaves the pasta uncooked, which makes it supremely easy to fill, and then covers it with a good amount of sauce so that everything cooks through. Brilliant! I followed her lead and made stuffed shells, and it worked like a charm.

And then I started thinking about other pasta dishes, and thought, why precook the pasta for macaroni and cheese? And why not throw in a generous amount of wine while I'm at it? The method is simple: make up your cheese sauce, toss with dry pasta, and bake. They key is to have a very saucy sauce that covers all of the pasta. And the end result is a perfectly al dente macaroni and cheese, with a nice strong wine flavor if you do it my way.

I also tossed in some chopped broccoli to add a veggie to the dish, and pretend its healthy despite the generous amounts of cheese I used. And I love BBQ alongside my macaroni and cheese, so I baked up some tofu slathered with BBQ sauce alongside it.

I'm still smitten with my large red ramekins, so I made individual servings of mac & cheese. Large individual servings, that is.

Here's the recipe!

Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

for two hungry people

1 cup dry pasta

1 cup broccoli, chopped

1 1/2 Tbsp. butter

1 1/2 Tbsp. flour

1 cup milk

3/4 cup white wine

Salt and pepper

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, or your favorite/mix

Preheat the oven to 375F.

To make the cheese sauce: Melt the butter in a small saucepan of medium low heat. Add the flour and whisk constantly until the mixture turns golden brown. Then add the milk and stir occasionally until the mixture thickens. Add the wine (use more milk and less wine if you don't want it too wine-y), seasonings (salt and pepper as desired, garlic, red pepper flakes, or whatever else tickles your pickle), and cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted into the sauce.

Add the dry pasta and broccoli and toss until coated. Divide between to large ramekins, or one large oven-safe dish. Top with more shredded cheese if desired. Cover with foil and bake for about 45 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through, removing the foil for the last 10 minutes or so to crisp up the top.

Enjoy!

Related recipes:

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

Fresh Pasta

Cheese Straws

Happy May Day

2011-05-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

Sunny Afternoon

2011-04-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

I took Ayla out to play fetch this afternoon, instead of a walk. Nothing special, but the light was nice.

And she was happy, as usual.

Silly puppy.

Twilight Petunias

2011-04-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

Tartlette's Quinoa, Roasted Pepper, and Avocado Cream Verrines

2011-04-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

I like layers: in my hair, in what I wear (it is the Bay Area after all), and especially in my food. One of these days I'm going to make a 14-Layer Cake.

But layered food isn't just for dessert. I love lasagna, especially with well-defined layers. And I really liked Tartlette's Quinoa Verrines. I pretty much followed her recipe, though I used Greek yogurt and an entire avocado. So whip some up for dinner; life's all about layers.

Quinoa, Roasted Pepper, and Avocado Cream Verrines

1 cup quinoa
1-1/2 cups water
Salt
1 pepper, or a mix of baby peppers
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
1 avocado
Juice of half a lime
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon red onion, chopped
1/4 cup Greek yogurt

Combine the quinoa, water, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil; simmer until the quinoa is tender, 15 to 20 minutes, and let cool to room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 400F. Toss the whole pepper(s) with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and peppere, and roast until it starts to blister, about 20 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then cut in half, remove seeds, and cut into smaller pieces as desired.

Mash the avocado with the lime juice, cilantro, onion, and yogurt in a non-reactive bowl until smooth.

Layer the quinoa, peppers, and avocado cream in glasses. Feel good about eating something healthy and pretty.

Related recipes:
Quinoa with Black Beans and Sweet Potato
Tempeh Provencal
Acorn Squash Tacos

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

Fancy poppy on my patio

Paper-thin, slightly crinkled petals

Red Velvet Chocolate Squares

2011-04-12T20:55:00.000-07:00

Oh man, are these good...

You wouldn't think they're good for you. They're sugar free and have no dyes. Sweetness is provided by agave nectar, which doesn't spike your blood sugar. And they're made with with beets, which gives the red hue to these confections.

Don't let that scare you though. The beet flavor is a subtle earthiness. The squares are smooth, dense, and rich. And really, really good. Try it, you'll like it.

Red Velvet Chocolate Squares
adapted from Costco Connection Magazine

1/2 c. Beets - I used roasted fresh, but the recipe calls for canned
1 c. Canned red beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 c. Unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs, but the recipe calls for 3/4 c. liquid egg substitute
3 Tbsp. Whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 c. Agave nectar
1 Tbsp. Unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. Almond extract

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray an 8x8x2-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Combine the beets, beans, cocoa powder, eggs, and flour in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth, 1-2 minutes, scraping the bowl as necessary.

Add the agave nectar, butter, vanilla, and almond extract. Process until combined, about another minute.

Pour the batter into the baking dish and smooth with a spatula. Bake for 20 minutes, then turn down the temperature to 300F and bake another 5 to 8 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center should come ot with a little soft batter clinging to it, not clean or it's overfilled.

Let the cake cool completely in the baking dish on a wire rack. Then refrigerate for at least 3 hours, it gets better with time. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Hindsight

2011-04-11T19:40:00.000-07:00

The usual: Ayla smiling out the back window when I drive. She's such a happy dog, especially when I take her on errands with me. I noticed some white on her muzzle recently. I didn't think Dobes gray with age, but I guess I haven't seen many old Dobes. Ayla is only 5, not yet a senior. You can't be getting old on me yet, girlie. Though I may start calling you Grey Goose in addition to your other nickname, Monkey.

Grilled Pear and Carmelized Onion Pizzas

2011-04-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

The return of warmer weather has us on the patio as often as possible once again. Chris is still trying to stay away from eating meat, so finding satisfying grilling options for him has been a little bit of a challenge. There's always veggie or bean burgers, veggie dogs, kebabs, my favorite Quorn Chik'n fillets, and tofu. We recently tried something a little different.

I've made grilled pizzas before, here. This time I pre-baked the dough rounds in the oven though. And its topped with grilled pears, caramelized onions, feta cheese, and mascarpone. Its very light and fresh, and the grilled pears are to die for.

Grilled Pear Pizzas

1 recipe dough, or store-bought fresh dough

1 onion, sliced thin

2 Tbsp. butter

1 tsp. brown sugar

1 pear, medium to thickly sliced

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

1 tsp. agave nectar

Black pepper

Mascarpone cheese

Feta cheese

Cilantro

Caramelized onions: Put the onion slices in a pan over medium heat with the butter and cover, stirring occasionally, until they start to brown, about 20 minutes. Add in the brown sugar and turn the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking until the onions are as caramelized as you like, adding more butter or oil as necessary to keep them from sticking and burning.

Combined the melted butter, agave nectar, and pepper in a bowl, and toss the pears in the mixture. Set aside.

Separate your pizza dough into personal-sized rounds pre-cook in the oven, undercooking slightly.

Fire up your grill, and grill the pear slices on both sides so they are hot and have some nice char marks. Grill both sides of you dough rounds as well (do these on low heat - they don't need to cook very long and will burn easily otherwise).

Assemble your pizzas: Take one of the grilled dough rounds, spread with some mascarpone cheese, sprinkle on some feta, and top with grilled pears and caramelized onions, as well as a little chopped cilantro if you like. Then put it back on the grill for a few minutes to warm the cheeses. Serve with a green salad, and enjoy the advent of spring!

Related Recipes:

Waffle Pizzas

Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Pizza

Soak Up the Sun

2011-04-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

The weather was so nice today that Gretel, Ayla, and I spent the afternoon on the patio.

I think Gretel must have a solar panel on her belly.

We listened to the birds and squirrels.

And we soaked up the sun.

We were content.

Ahhh...

I also snapped some photos of the plants growing on our patio. My grapevine is starting to take off; the petunias are as hardy as ever; the Princess lilies are budding; the avocado tree is sprouting all over; the various marigolds we just planted as doing well; there are flowers on the tomato; and I think our Mr. Lincoln rose might bloom sometime soon; even the shamrocks are flowering. Its very pretty... too bad its supposed to rain again. I hope everything makes it through just fine!

What We Eat

2011-04-04T20:52:00.000-07:00

I often wonder what everyone out there generally eat for their everyday dinners. This is one of our favorite meals, and it takes about half an hour to forty-five minutes to make, a lot of it unattended: sauteed veggies, mashed potatoes, and a protein which is usually baked tofu or a Quorn Naked Chik'n Cutlet as you see here. I've written about Quorn products before, and I've loved every one that I've tried. If you're looking for a vegetarian protein source I highly recommend these.

This meal is very flavorful and very satisfying. Here's a quick method:

1. Set the oven to 425F.

2. Get a pot of water boiling. Peel two baking potatoes and one sweet potato, cut into very large chunks, and add to boiling water.

3. Put the Chik'n Cutlets on a sheet of foil. Pour some balsamic dressing or other sauce or herb combination of your choice over the cutlets, then flip and pour more on the other side. Fold up the foil into a package. Put in the preheated oven to cook for 20 minutes.

4. Slice up some veggies of your choice - here I used leek, yellow squash, and red cabbage. Melt some butter in pan and saute the veggies. I put the leek in first so it would get soft, then added the squash, and at the end added the cabbage and some minced garlic so it would stay relatively crisp. Season with salt, pepper, and a dash of lemon juice. Set aside.

5. Drain the potatoes when they're soft. Put a tablespoon or so of butter in the pot you cooked the potatoes in and let it melt, then toss in some minced garlic. Add in the drained potatoes and a few tablespoons of milk and mash, adding more milk if necessary.

6. Layer it all on a plate and enjoy!

So what do you have for dinner?

Risotto with Roasted Butternut Squash and Garlic

Tangled Up in Blue

2011-03-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

Ayla and I went on a two-hour walk through our neighborhood yesterday.

We set out to get lost, take paths and roads we hadn't before, and find our way home again.

It drizzled. It down-poured. The sun shone.

It was beautiful.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Yellow

2011-03-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

A repeat, but it makes me smile

The Wait

2011-03-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

"Be like a flower and turn your face to the sun."
- Kahlil Gibran

Last week's Slice of Life is "The Wait." Darrah writes about spring in spring in Seattle on her site, and while I feel like I'm waiting for something, I don't quite know what it is yet. And end to the strange summer-winter weather we've been having here in the Bay Area? My next concert? For my fingers to recover as I'm teaching myself to play guitar? I suppose I'll just keep waiting to find out, and until turn my face to the sun...

See more Slices of Life here

Superfood Muffins

2011-03-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

I picked up a young coconut at Windmill Farms Produce, our local farmer's market, today. It was completely on a whim and I had no idea what to do with it, but I had been planning to make some sort of oatmeal and cranberry baked good today, and it came to me that fresh coconut might make an interesting addition.

Cranberries and coconuts are both considered superfoods, though "superfood" is not a term used by dietitians. Still, they're both tasty and have good-for-you properties, and I'd like to image that little muffin up there wearing a tiny cape. Cranberries are a potent antioxidant, with the highest concentration of phenols which are thought to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke, and heart disease. And coconut contains a healthy form of fat, while the water is high in electrolytes (natural Gatorade!). I even read somewhere that the water was used in place of blood plasma during WWII.

Breaking in to the coconut was interesting though. I did a little research online and after five minutes or so of various pounding and thwacking, I finally succeeded. I ended up with about 3/4 cup of coconut meat and 1 cup of coconut water.

Then I pureed the coconut meat with about 2 tablespoons of the water until smooth. I used this coconut puree in place of the butter in my muffins.

Before I had begun trying to figure out how to break into the coconut, I combined the oats and milk in a bowl, so the oats would soften.

I combined the coconut puree with sugar, two egg yolks, and the oats and milk. Then I added a mixture of flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir gently, just until everything is combined. Next add dried cranberries that have been soaked in hot water, then drained and tossed with about a teaspoon of flour, so they don't sink in the batter.

In a very clean bowl I whipped up two egg whites. I wanted to give these muffins some loft since the oats would make them denser. My egg whites appear to be smiling at me, so they must have agreed.

The egg whites are ever-so-gently folded into the rest of the batter.

Then I used an ice cream scoop to transfer the batter to a muffin-cup-lined and greased muffin pan, and I sprinkled the tops with demerera sugar for a little crunch. I baked them for 30 minutes, let them rest for 10, and my superfood muffins were done!

The result is a slightly chewy muffin, courtesy of the oats, with zings of cranberry and a light coconut flavor. These will make an excellent breakfast for the week, perhaps slathered with honey butter or alongside my new favorite thing, Greek yogurt.

Here's my recipe...

Oat, Cranberry, Coconut Muffins

makes 12

1 cup oats

1 cup milk (I used half and half)

1 cup dried cranberries

3/4 cup coconut puree (use softened butter if you're omitting the coconut)

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup flour

2 eggs, separated

Demerera sugar

Preheat your oven to 400F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners, and grease with cooking spray oil.

Combine the oats and the milk in a bowl and let sit for 20 minutes. In a separate bowl combine the dried cranberries with hot water for about ten minutes, then drain well and toss with a teaspoon of flour.

To make the coconut puree, blend the meat from one coconut with two tablespoons of the coconut water in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl, add the sugar and the two egg yolks, and mix well. Add the oats and milk and mix again.

In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add this to the wet mixture and gently stir, until just combined. Add the rehydrated cranberries and stir again.

In a very clean, large bowl, beat the egg whites with a hand mixer until soft peaks form. Very gently fold the egg whites into the rest of the muffin batter. Transfer the batter to the muffin pan, filling the cups nearly to the top if you want nice, large muffins. Sprinkle the tops with demerera sugar. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick or tester comes out clean when inserted in the middle of a muffin. Let rest 10 minutes in the pan, and then enjoy!

Hearty Cherry Muffins

Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Apple Pumpkin Muffins

Let's Go for a Walk

2011-03-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

Just another walk up on our hill with Ayla. I enjoy seeing how it changes with the seasons, and seeing the grasses and flowers grow almost overnight. I don't enjoys the bees, they scare me, even if they are just big old bumble bees that won't sting me. I have issues with those creatures. And I run really fast when one starts buzzing around me, which Ayla thinks is great fun. And I don't enjoy the remains of the local coyote's dinner that Ayla is so good at finding. This is another thing Ayla thinks is fun. Crazy beast.

I love it when Ayla gets Dobe ears, pointing up. I didn't want to have them cropped because it is unnecessary, and I wanted her not to look too scary, but I do like the cropped ear look at times.

Hello little lady bug.

Ayla is serious.

Okay, not really. Sproing!

A tired dog is a happy dog. With a really long tongue.

Ayla's version of tiptoeing, through the tulips.

Hmm, Ayla appears to have lost something. Along with her marbles, that is.

Just Call Me Abuelita

2011-03-09T20:02:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love a fresh homemade tamale? People are usually daunted by the prospect of making tamales on their own, but when I saw the recipe for Vegetarian Tamales on Tasty Kitchen recently I knew I had to try. And really, it wasn't hard or overly time consuming.

I made up a tasty filling, soaked the corn husks for wrapping, and mixed up the masa dough, and then set to spreading, filling, wrapping; rinse and repeat. And I ended up throwing most of them, uncooked, in the freezer for future meals. The longest part of the process is the steaming, which takes an hour and a half (and longer if frozen), so plan ahead a bit: I'm usually home around 4:30, so I'd toss some in my steamer when I get home from work, and about two hours later toss together a salad, and have a tasty dinner by 7:00.

Roasted Vegetable Tamales

adapted from Tasty Kitchen

1 package corn husks

2 cups masa

1 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. chili powder

2 1/4 cups veggie broth

1 stick butter, softened

1 sweet potato, chopped

1 zucchini, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. olive oil

3 green onions, chopped

1 bunch cilantro, chopped

2 Roma tomatoes, chopped

1/2 lime, juiced

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

Toss the sweet potato, zucchini, and garlic with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast the mixture in a 375F oven for about 45 minutes, or until done. Feel free to use whatever assortment of veggies tickles your pickle too, such as winter squash, regular potato, asparagus, etc.

Soak the corn husks in water for at least 30 minutes. I used a giant saute pan, filled with water, and weighted the corn husks down with another pot.

In a bowl combine the masa, baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. chili powder. Add 2 cups of the veggie broth to form a dough. In a separate bowl cream the butter until fluffy, then add the masa dough and mix well.

Combine the roasted vegetables with the green onions, cilantro, tomatoes, lime juice, the remaining 1 tsp. chili powder and 1/4 cup veggie broth, and cheese. Taste and season as needed.

Take one of the soaked corn husks and spread at least a couple tablespoons of the masa dough in the center. Put a spoonful of the veggie filling down the middle, but not to the very end of the masa dough. Then wrap it all up like a burrito and tie of the ends with strips of another corn husk. Keep going until you've used up your masa dough and filling. You may need to use two husks when they are smaller, to wrap everything securely. I've read that you can also use foil in place of the corn husks, but I haven't tried it.

Either put them in a freezer bag at this point and pop them in the freezer, or get ready to cook your tamales. I used a big stock pot with a steamer basket in the bottom, or you can suspend a metal colander over boiling water, or use a real steamer if you have one. Get your water boiling and add your tamales, making sure they aren't touching the water. Steam for 90 minutes, checking the water to make sure you don't run dry and burn your pot, then check one: if the masa's firm, you're ready for dinner!

Kind of a crummy picture, but they tasted great. I served mine with an slaw of red cabbage, carrot, and cilantro (dressed with mayo, lime juice, a splash of apple cider vinegar, chili powder, salt and pepper), and vegetarian refried beans. I haven't tried the from-frozen tamales yet, but I'm sure they'll taste just as good, just take a little longer to cook.

Related recipes:

Zucchini Bread

Quinoa with Black Beans and Sweet Potato

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-23T19:51:00.000-08:00

Where Darkness Meets Light

2011-02-22T20:02:00.000-08:00

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
"I don't much care where –"
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go."

- Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland)

This week's Slice of Life is Where Darkness Meets Light. There's a very nice poem on Darrah's site here, but the first thing that popped into my mind when I contemplated the poem was Alice in Wonderland. A few months back I read the book for the first time, and I have to say I prefer the animated Disney movie to the book, which I found a bit simplistic, though rife with wonderful quotable passages. I also watched the Tim Burton movie, being both a big Tim Burton and Johnny Depp fan, which was enjoyable and visually satisfying. I think dark and light is a common theme in the story: imaginary vs. real, the Red Queen vs. Alice, the Chesire cat, for example. But its where they meet that makes things interesting.

We're All a Little Special

2011-02-13T18:56:00.000-08:00

Poor kitty - she's "mowed" her belly for years now, chewing all the fur off of it. Last week she either went to far or had a reaction to something that came in contact with her bare skin, and has a bunch of red bumps on her belly now. The bumps were itchy, so she chewed them more, which made it all a big mess. I'm treating it with a topical cream and we're keeping her in a cone for a few days to see if it will resolve easily before taking her to the vet. She is very offended by the cone of shame, and was shoving it in my face all last night to share the indignity.

Ayla's also a special dog - half blind, giant goofball, and stymied by a tennis net. Check it out...

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-10T10:33:00.000-08:00

Gerber Daisy

Cyclamen


Feathery sunset

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

"La Fuite de la Lune"

2011-02-08T20:10:00.000-08:00

La Fuite de la Lune

by: Oscar Wilde





To outer senses there is peace,
A dreamy peace on either hand,
Deep silence in the shadowy land,
Deep silence where the shadows cease.

Save for a cry that echoes shrill
From some lone bird disconsolate;
A corncrake calling to its mate;
The answer from the misty hill.

And suddenly the moon withdraws
Her sickle from the lightening skies,
And to her sombre cavern flies,
Wrapped in a veil of yellow gauze.

This week's Slice of Life encourages us to choose a poem that speaks to us, and a photo that goes with it. I took this photo today of a giant dried flower on one of the hills I walk. There were a few large stands of these, amid the burgeoning green of spring. I also recently listened to a podcast about Oscar Wilde and would like to familiarize myself more with his work. I see a parallel in the flight of the moon and the starkness of this flower.

See previous Slices of Life here.

Gourmet Pizza

2011-02-04T21:18:00.000-08:00

We've been getting Zachary's Pizza quite a bit lately - its delicious, Chicago-style deep dish with copious amounts of cheese on the bottom and all the toppings on top. But maybe we've done that a few too many times lately, and even though I came home from work tonight exhausted and not wanting to do anything, when Chris said he wanted pizza for dinner and I thought about what I had in my fridge to use, I was ready to get cooking.

I used my standard pizza dough recipe, substituting a cup of buckwheat flour for one of the cups of AP flour, and topped it with Bechamel sauce, fresh mozzarella, roasted butternut squash, Merlot-caramelized red onions, some frozen chopped spinach, and a little Parmesan. And it was quite tasty!

We've got an escapee

For the Pizza Dough:

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
1 cup buckwheat flour

2 tsp. instant yeast
2 tsp. coarse kosher or sea salt
2 Tbsp. garlic olive oil

Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in a food processor. Turn the machine on and add 1 cup water and 2 tablespoons of the oil through the feed tube.

Process for about 30 seconds, adding more water, a tablespoon or so at a time, until the mixture forms a ball and is slightly sticky to the touch (I haven't had to add any extra water). If its dry, add another tablespoon or two of water (but no more than a total of 1/4 cup in this step) and process for another 10 seconds. (In the unlikely event that the mixture is too sticky, add flour a tablespoon at a time.)

Turn the dough onto a floured work surface and knead by hand for a few seconds to form a smooth, round dough ball. Put the remaining olive oil in a bowl, turn the dough ball in it, and cover the bowl with plastic wrap; let rise until the dough doubles in size, 1 to 2 hours.

Knead the dough, and let it rest for five or ten minutes. Then roll it out, place it on a cookie sheet and bake in an very hot (475°F or higher) oven until golden brown and cooked underneath.

For the Bechamel Sauce:
1 cup milk
1 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. flour
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the milk until very warm but not boiling. In another pan melt the butter on medium heat; do not let it brown. Whisk in the flour and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until golden. Gradually add the hot milk and continue whisking until the sauce thickens. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste.

For the Merlot-Caramelized Onions:
1 large red onion, sliced very thin
1 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup Merlot
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until starting to turn color. Add the Merlot and brown sugar, cover and reduce heat, and cook until caramelized, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper when they are as caramelized as you want, and serve.

Related recipes:
Waffle Pizzas
Cheater's Risotto
Risotto with Roasted Butternut Squash and Garlic
Wheat Berry Salad with Roasted Vegetables

Ordinary Moments

2011-02-01T19:06:00.000-08:00

I recently came across the website of Darrah Parker, a Seattle-based photographer who take some wonderful pictures of people (via The Mrs., another blog I enjoy reading and who takes some lovely photos as well). Darrah has created Slice of Life Tuesdays "...in which I provide a little inspiration and a gentle nudge, encouraging you to find the beauty in your everyday life." This really resonates with how I try to view things, so today I'm playing along.

Today's theme is Ordinary Moments. My day to day generally goes like this: wake up, get ready for work, take care of the pets, commute, work, commute, do something fun with Ayla, make dinner, good off for the rest of the evening (except for Thursday nights, when I have band practice). I've been listening to a lot of podcasts on my commute, since is kind of long, and I've really been enjoying it. Lately its been This American Life, Stuff You Should Know, Stuff You Missed in History Class, and The Moth. I love that I can turn a very ordinary moment, at least for a Californian, into something entertaining, educational, and just enjoyable.

Another ordinary moment for me, and one in which I find a lot of beauty, are my outings with Ayla. We often hike the hill behind our home, which has great views of the valley; or walk in the neighborhood or on the golf course, where I often find something small that catches my eye; or head to the dog park where I enjoy seeing all the variations in the canine world. A couple days ago we did the hill, and I took a few pictures while we were up there. We saw the turkeys (I love hearing them gobbling around our place), and I snapped a picture of Ayla mid-run, where she just looked happy. These are quite ordinary moments for us, but they always make me smile.

Shenanigans

2011-01-29T19:13:00.000-08:00

Chris' brother Greg visited us a couple of weekends ago. I got the pictures up on Facebook right away, but I haven't put together a slideshow until now. So here it finally is! And a quick run-down of what we did while he was here:

We went to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. It was very, very cool! I was a little hesitant to drive the new car to the city; I'd like to put off that first door ding as long as possible, thank you very much. Anyway, the Academy has a very cool Rain Forest Sphere you walk around and around, up and up, through the different rain forest levels. Below the sphere is an awesome aquarium. There's also a natural history section focusing on Africa, with penguins; a planetarium which we didn't have enough time to visit, and more. Our favorite was the aquarium.

Then we went down to Fisherman's Wharf / Pier 39. We spent a long time watching the sea lions, walked around, and had lunch at Bubba Gumps, always a fun place. We had to head home after that, since Ayla and Greg's dog Willy had been home alone the entire day by this point. We hung out at home, played with some remote control helicopters my parents had gotten us at Christmas, and had a good time.

The next day we spent locally. After a quick stop at Best Buy for camera lens shopping, we went up to Blackhawk Plaza. We walked around the shopping center, taking pictures of the ducks, geese, and swans; had lunch at Prickly Pear Cantina; and admired the Porsches outside the Auto Museum. Then we took the dogs up the hill at home to play, where we brought out the helicopters again. They don't do well in the wind, but we didn't lose them! For dinner we went to Pyramid Brewery, figuring Greg would enjoy the beer tasting.

Greg had to head home the next day, after this jam-packed weekend. But we all had a great time, and there's lots more we'd like to do with Greg and Willy, so come on back out again soon!

On with the pictures!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-26T16:16:00.000-08:00

Someone must have been a very good girl this year.

Happy Holidays!

Muddy

2010-12-23T17:50:00.000-08:00

I had to work a weekend recently, so I brought Ayla in with me for the day for company. She did really well too: she ran around the office in the morning, then hung out in my office. At lunch we took a hike on the Fire Trail, and then she came back and slept the rest of the afternoon. I'm very lucky to have a job where I can bring my dog in with me on occasion, though I'm very careful not to abuse that privilege. Here's a few shots from the day...

Babushka Ayla - her neckerchief fits well over her head.

A forest of fungi

On the Fire Trail - it was a beautiful, slightly foggy day

We went on a walk this afternoon and passed this tree or bush I've been admiring for a while. It looks so interesting without its leaves, all bare white branches.

That's it for now. Time to get ready for Christmas!

Biscuits and Gravy: Deconstructed

2010-12-08T21:04:00.000-08:00

Call me bandwagon jumper, and I won't disagree. The fact is, I'm a little late to this party already.

"Deconstructing" took the food world by storm perhaps four or five years ago, and Tom Colicchio of Bravo's Top Chef explains the phenomenon succinctly as "... an approach to a plating style, as well as a way of personalizing a dish and making it one’s own." Its about taking the different elements of a dish and putting them together in a different fashion. Its basically another way of playing with your food.

Technically, my biscuits and gravy aren't really deconstructed. I separated the dish into three components: the biscuit, the gravy, and the sausage (since I always remember it being a sausage gravy). Then I plated it all on one of my favorite leaf-shaped plates and we ate - tearing off bits of biscuit and dipping them in the gravy, spearing slices of sausage and biscuit to dip together, eating the gravy on its on, and doing whatever else sounded good. I didn't really put the components back together in a new way, but eating the dish this way allowed us to pay more attention to the various components themselves, which might have gotten lost in a big ol' pile of biscuits smothered in gravy. Not that there's anything wrong with that either!

And of course I slightly altered the individual components. I just can't leave well enough alone, so I made cheddar garlic biscuits, a creamy mushroom gravy with a good splash of wine (a lovely Bowers Harbor Vineyards Gewurztraminer, from a wonderful friend in Michigan, because its what I was drinking that night!), and vegetarian Italian sausages (I like Lightlife's Smart Sausages and Morningstar Farms Italian Sausages best).

The sausages aren't the only shortcut I took. The biscuits are Bisquick! We always had this around when I was growing up, and keeping a box handy makes pancakes, waffles, biscuits, and more even easier when you just can't be bothered to do anything harder. I used the recipe on the back of a box of Heart Smart Bisquick and threw in about a cup of grated cheddar, three cloves of minced garlic, and a pinch of Herbes de Provence.

I did, however, make the gravy...

Hearty, Creamy Mushroom Gravy

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
6 ounces mushrooms, sliced
Salt
Black pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. white wine
1 c. vegetable broth
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/4 c. heavy cream

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally,for about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the flour and stir until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Add the wine and broth and bring to a boil, cooking until thickened, about 2 minutes. Add the cream and thyme, and season with salt and pepper.

Its easy-peasy, and very tasty! Now get on out there and play with your food!

Related Recipes:

Simple Mushroom Stew

Boozy Mushrooms and Fresh Pasta

Wine Sauteed Mushrooms

Fetch Fiend

2010-11-22T21:21:00.000-08:00

I've been playing a lot of fetch with Ayla lately. It gets dark so early now that there's not much time to do much else after work. She loves it, though I do have to use treats to get her to drop the ball. I brought the camera out this afternoon and snapped a few shots.

Ayla's ears flip inside out when she runs. They're her Princess Leia buns.

She is very intent when we're playing and can barely stand still, just look at those eyes. She also gets drooly in her excitement and looks kinda rabid.

I threw the ball up in the air for this one, though she's pretty much useless at catching. But you can see just how big of a dog she really is. Standing up like this she's only a few inches shorter than I am.

We also saw some deer on the hill right behind our condo complex. This was a young male with cute little horns. He didn't like Ayla much and took off when he spotted us.

And a few does. I don't think I've ever seen deer on this hill, just coyotes, rabbits, turkeys, and pheasant; I wonder where they came from?

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T14:14:00.001-07:00

Or would that be Howl-oween?

Three in One

2010-10-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

"Meat"loaf base, topped with a layer of creamed spinach souffle, and finished with a generous helping of garlic Parmesan mashed potatoes. What do you call this? Meatloaf terrine? A take on Shepard's pie? Casserole? I don't know, but I call it tasty!

I don't have exact recipes, since this is really just layering three yummy dishes. Make your favorite meatloaf recipe (I used faux ground beef and the usual meatloaf suspects - bread crumbs, egg, seasonings).If you use a big pan you can make one big dish, but I liked the idea of smaller terrines so I used large ramekins.

For the spinach, I sauteed garlic and onions in butter, then added baby spinach and cooked until wilted and bright green. Next add heavy cream and a little cornstarch and cook until slightly thickened. Whiz together in a food processor with an egg or two until combined and the spinach is chopped. Return to the pan and cook, stirring frequently so the eggs don't scramble, until thick. Then put a layer of this spinach mixture on top of the meatloaf mixture.

Mashed potatoes are simple. I like to put garlic, butter, cream, and Parmesan in mine, and use my food processor to whip them. Some people don't like the consistency of using a food processor as it makes them a little gluey, so feel free to mash them with a standard potato masher. I like the gluey consistency and the ease of using the food processor. Mound the mashed potatoes over the spinach, and top with more Parmesan, then bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until the meatloaf at the bottom is cooked through.

This was a great dinner for the first rainy day of fall: hearty, homey, and warming. I think the next time I make this I want to get some small springform pans and see if I can remove it completely after cooking. The spinach would probably have to be less creamy, and I'd most likely have to use less mashed potatoes, but it would look great on a plate.

Girl's Weekend

2010-10-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago one of my oldest friends Katie came to visit. I've known her since the third grade, twenty-something years ago. She's getting married in a few more weeks, and she came to spend a bachelorette weekend with me and another of closest friends Stef, and we had a glorious time!

We set up our home base at Stef's place in Belmont. She had decorated with some funny bachelorette-inspired things (confetti, something overly large and inflatable, lollipops and whistles), which was hilarious. Friday night we had mushroom puffs, mini quiches, cheeses, crackers, and great wines. Katie opened gifts that Stef and I had fun shopping for (you're welcome, Eric!). We talked and laughed until our cheeks hurt; went for a walk along a bay inlet; and watched "The Last Unicorn," which we hadn't seen in quite a while. It was kind of a trip; I remember loving it as a kid, but its strange as an adult! When we were in high school we used to get together to watch movies all the time, and it was straight out of Mystery Science Theater 3000, so it was great nostalgia to get together and do it again.

Saturday morning we got a call from the fourth of our group, Liz, who is currently in Iraq and whom we were missing like crazy. It was wonderful hearing from her, and in her honor we made a little green dinosaur-dragon-monster-thing out of clay (another inside joke from high school) and vowed to take her with us the entire weekend. Then we headed out to Half Moon Bay to spend the day at the beach. We went to the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for lunch. Mmm... hefeweizen. Then we went to Stef's favorite beach, which entailed a steep hike down a cliffside to get to. We lounged in the sun, played in the surf, poked anemones in the tide pools, and just relaxed. It was wonderful!

After getting back to Stef's and cleaning up, we went out on the town. We started at B Street and Vine, a wine cafe where we had champagne, antipasto, and a cheese course. It was crowded and small, and I felt a little bad for the jazz trio shoved into a little nook, but it was still fun. The waitress here was the first person to ask about the Liz-monster we kept taking pictures of and kept on our table. Next up was The Cask, a wine and cheese bar where we sat on the patio and drunk-people watched. We had a red wine flight here, with a Malbec that tasted like old rubber boots after it sat a while. Yuck! The interior is beautiful and the other wines were tasty though. Then we went to Flight Lounge for wine, chocolate brownies, and chocolate port. The bartender here was the only other person to comment on the Liz-monster - I guess three 30-year-old women carrying around a toy and taking pictures wherever they go with it is not strange? Flight Lounge is a flight-themed wine bar that was nicely decorated with vintage airline posters and a bar that looked like a steel airplace wing. And the chocolate port was very good! Finally we headed back to Stef's, where we fell asleep watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail for the bazillionth time.

Sunday morning we went to breakfast at Hobee's (great blueberry coffee cake and florentine eggs benedict), and then went to play mini golf. I just barely beat the other two and my prize was custody of the Liz-monster, so its now my responsibility to get her to the wedding in a few weeks. Then we wandered the Japanese Tea Garden and Rose Garden in San Mateo, picked up bubble teas and went couch-shopping with Stef at Scandinavian Designs to cool off. A little later I headed home, and Katie flew back to Michigan later that night (and she didn't check her luggage; I hope airline security got a laugh).

It was a wonderful weekend, and so very nice to see two of my dearest friends again (we miss you Liz!). I can't wait for the wedding, which sounds like it will be awesome and very much Katie & Eric.

And I hear Stef is finding bits of x-rated confetti in the strangest places... :)

Woof.

2010-09-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

What a nice Labor Day Weekend just went by. We did a lot of resting and relaxing. On Sunday I took Ayla to Hap McGee Park, one of my favorite dog parks that I don't often go to since its further away than the other two. But its very big, with oak trees for shade and pretty benches as in the photo above to hanging out. It was a hot day, hence Ayla's huge baloney tongue, but she ran around and had a great time. She also adopted a family that already had two dogs and kept bringing the ball back to them, though she didn't drop it for them.

On Monday I took Ayla with me to wash my car, and the guy that runs the coin-op car wash brought out a box of cookies for her. Then we went to Memorial Dog park, which is much closer to home. We met up with a couple that had a scrappy little terrier named Benny, and it turns out they live in my condo complex. Hopefully we'll see them more often; I think Ayla kind of like Benny.

When I got back from the dog park I went to relax by the pool for a while, where I ran into my next-door neighbor and her friend. We sat around for about an hour sipping peach champagne and soaking up the sun, which was heavenly. Then I threw some chicken on the BBQ for Chris and spent the rest of the day reading, watching movies, knitting, and playing sudoku. Not terribly exciting, but extremely restful.

At one of the dog parks Ayla found this pink ball, which she brought home to Mac (when she finds a ball at a park that she likes its near impossible to get her to drop it, so I bring a couple balls with me each time we go to replenish the resident ball supplies). Mac loves it, maybe even more than his glow balls right now, probably because its new.

It compresses a bit more, so he can almost chew it like gum which is great exercise for his jaws. Mac is still recovering from his illness. Its been very, very slow and with frequent set backs, but I'm still hopeful. In the meantime we've discovered he cannot tolerate dry kibble and doesn't do very well with canned food either, so for the past three or four weeks I've been cooking homemade food for both dogs. Ayla now starts whining for dinner about half an hour before its time, and Mac cutely begs at my feet whenever I'm cooking up a batch (every couple of days) and when I'm dishing it up. The things I do for my pets.

Woof.

Why Did I Decide to Bake Bread in this Heat?

2010-09-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

This summer has been so mild; at work its been cold even. The Farmer's Almanac is predicting a mild winter for us as well. However, this week and the previous week we've actually had some hot weather. What better way to celebrate than bake bread? Yeah, I'm a rebel.

We're been attempting to cut gluten from the majority of our diet, to see if we notice any effects. But we also like a good piece of toast with melty cheddar alongside a cup of coffee on weekend mornings. Last week I bought a loaf of gluten-free tapioca flour-based bread. It was tiny, and very dry, pricey, and just kind of sad overall, though I did make some mean sandwiches for dinner one night with it. I'm going to look into making my own gluten-free goodies, but in the meantime I picked up a bag of Bob's Red Mill GF Hearty Whole Grain Bread Mix.

The bottom left picture makes me think the bread is raising an eyebrow at me.

It is quite good! They recommend a stand mixer to make the dough, but I used my food processor with the dough blade and dough cycle and it worked out just fine. I did have to add a few more tablespoons of water than the mix indicated though. I also let the dough rise until it was puffed up over the bread pan (I had something else in the oven, so let it rise extra long inadvertently), which I will definitely do again. The bread is nice and light, not dense as I was fearing it might be. The taste is close to pumpernickel or rye, with a moderate carraway seed flavor. There are whole sunflower and sesame seed that provide good texture. The loaf is a good size, and the cost of the mix is about half the cost of buying premade GF bread at the store. I'm hooked! I'm also looking forward to playing with all of the GF flours out there.

I also made this quiche from a new-to-me blog, Dixie Caviar.

I had some trouble with the crust, perhaps because I was using my food processor rather than mixing by hand. It was too crumbly to roll out (probably needed more water) so I ended up just pressing it in to a pie plate, and its nowhere as pretty as Nealey's version. I also used salted butter since its what I had on hand and could have done without adding the extra salt to the dough.

The quiche itself is very, very good. It is simple and not too eggy, as I find many quiches to be. I even used all half-and-half in place of the milk and cream, and it turned out great. To me this is comfort food with a glass of wine, a great light dinner. In fact, I'm going to go have leftovers now.

But before I go, just a reminder that my dog is funny:

She's a good girl and let's me do pretty much anything to her, and the white tank top did make her easier to see when I took her out that night to with the laser pointer in the dark. She loves chasing the "laser bug" and its a great way to tire her out a little more before bed. And the ears? They flip inside out all the time - they're her Princess Ayla buns.

Related Recipes:
Zucchini Bread
Banana Bread with Macadamia Nuts and Chocolate Chips
Tomato Swirl Bread

Still Alive

2010-08-29T21:49:00.000-07:00

And if you get that reference, I just might kiss you.

I'm still here, I just haven't had an urge to blog much lately. I think its coming back though.

The tomatoes are finally starting to ripen on the patio. This has been an unseasonably cold summer, with a few hot spells here and there (107 degrees last week!), so they've been slow to mature.

We've been eating, of course. There has been sinfully rich creamed corn (adapted from some recipe I found online, but I no longer remember where it was).

There has been many a spicy sriracha burger (just add a good amount of sriracha sauce and whatever other seasonings you like, such as garlic powder and black pepper, to ground beef and grill; I coat a veggie burger in a similar mixture for myself, and plan to incorporate it into a homemade veggie/bean burger soon).

Last week was my 3rd Veggie-versary, and I celebrated by making personal zucchini lasagnes in big ramekins (thinly slice zucchini length-wise and toss with salt, put in a colander, and let the moisture leech out for at least 30 minutes; then use in place of lasagne noodles with your favorite lasagne components).

I've been keeping quite busy with music, playing on board the USS Hornet with the Hornet Big Band; at the Sunol Jazz Cafe for regular gigs and even a wedding party with the Nightlife Big Band; and at the Livermore Farmers Market, Alden Lane Nursery's Art Under the Oaks, Ravenswood Historic Site and more with the Pleasanton Community Concert Band. I have no pictures, since my hands were full of saxophone, but I'll try to get hold of some that I know were taken at some of the events.

And today my good friend Stef came to visit and have some fun. We started with lunch at Stomp Wine Bar in Blackhawk Plaza. They have a large wine list and small plates for noshing. We sat on the patio in the comfy cushioned patio chairs, near the fireplace that I imagine is divine on a cool night. I had the 2007 Skylark Pinot Blanc, from the Orsi Vineyard in Mendocino, which was very good - subtle and refreshing. She had the 2007 Unti Barbera from Dry Creek Valley, which was underwhelming until we tried it with food, then it was quite good. When you sit the waiter brings water and house-made potato and root vegetable chips, with a little dip.

We stuck the metal lizard in the cone there in honor of our friend Liz, who we wish could have been there with us. There was another metal lizard on the fireplace grill that we were taking pictures of, so the waiter brought this one out for us to play with.

We ordered the fava bean crostini - spicy fava beans on top of what I believe was ricotta and toasted baguette, with an apricot drizzle. It was excellent.

And we had the fresh fig, goat cheese, prosciutto (I didn't eat the prosciutto), and caramelized onion flatbread, which was earthy and delicious.

I was eyeing the house-made chocolate and cheese platter desert course, but we were too full, which only means we'll need to go back and sample some more.

After lunch we had a good time shopping and hanging out. And I bought a pair of black sequined flats as DS shoes that are very cute, so I'm happy. Then we took the dogs out to play a little fetch, and Stef chased Mac around trying to get his plush soccer ball from him, which is just what he wanted.

All in all, a great day. I may not have a ton of friends, but I truly love and appreciate the ones I do have. :)

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

2010-07-24T19:59:00.000-07:00

This is what I had for breakfast - banana blueberry pancakes. And now I have a bag full of pancakes in the fridge, since I'm the only one here who usually eats breakfast, ready to be reheated and re-crisped in the oven for a few more days. They are great too, even for cheater pancakes. Yup, I used Bisquick. And I used the recipe on the back of the box for melt-in-your-mouth pancakes (to the regular recipe add 1 tablespoon each of sugar and lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon each of baking powder and vanilla). I also added my last handful of fresh blueberries and a chopped banana.

But you're not here for the pancakes... because I ate them. No, you're here for the creamy macaroni and cheese.

I used to make macaroni and cheese where I baked it after combining the pasta and cheese sauce, but I've found that to make it too dry. Although cutting a cold hunk of macaroni and cheese out of the dish from the fridge the next day and being able to eat it out of hand is always fun. I had a macaroni epiphany last winter while visiting with family and making dinner. The back of the cornstarch box had a recipe for cheese sauce that yielded something silky smooth and cheesy. Then I realized if I wanted a creamier mac and cheese, I should just skip the baking step, which is what I've done since.

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

1 package of cooked pasta (I used bowties this time)

2 Tbsp. butter

1 cup milk

1 Tbsp. cornstarch (or 2 Tbsp. flour)

Seasonings as desired

2 c. or more of shredded cheddar cheese

Get your pasta cooking in salted water.

While the pasta is bubbling away, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium low heat. If you're using flour, add it to the melted butter and stir with a wooden spoon or whisk constantly until golden, then add the milk. If you're using cornstarch, mix it with about 1/4 cup of the milk and add the cornstarch mixture and the rest of the milk. Stir until thickened, then add whatever seasonings you wish. I used salt, pepper, garlic, dry mustard, and crushed red chili flakes this time. Then add the cheese and stir until melted.

When the pasta is cooked, drain and toss with the cheese sauce. I like BBQ sauce and Sriracha sauce with my mac and cheese, as well as topping it with a little shredded Parmesan and sliced basil.

Related Recipes:

Boozy Mushrooms and Fresh Pasta

Zucchini "Pasta"

I'm Still Here!

2010-07-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

So, that was a long blog break. I kinda lost my mojo for a while, and then looked at my Google Reader where I had somewhere between 400 and 500 unread posts, after which I threw my hands up in the air and just walked away.

But, I've since regrouped. I simply marked all of the unread posts as read without looking at them. I'm sure I've missed seeing some great things, but sometimes you just have to let go. And now I'm back posting here in my little corner of the world.

Here's some pictures from our trip for the 4th up to Mammoth. Hopefully I have other good stuff to put up soon too. Until then, enjoy and thanks for coming back!

Chris and Greg, and Greg's awesome truck that he drove through a creek

The hippopota-Willy

Beers and a bulldog on the deck

My two favorite guys

The most patient lab ever - he didn't even try to take my sunglasses off

Chris and I went up to the Main Lodge on the mountain and wandered around. It was completely empty, but everything was mostly how we remembered it from when we were kids skiing up there.

We played mini golf just around the corner from Greg's place. It was actually a good little course too.

Pool and Big Game Hunter at Grumpy's, as well as Hefeweizen and jalapeno poppers

I took Ayla and Willy for a hike around Horseshoe Lake on our final morning

There was a snowboarder building a ramp over a bridge to jump - I can only assume he wanted to land in the lake and its ice-cold snow-runoff water

Willy sure likes it though

Ayla prefers to play fetch on the beach, but I didn't have her swimming vest so maybe she would have like swimming too... dogs are strange

Case in point

Mac loves that Ayla is forced to snuggle with him in the car

Golden Gate Park

2010-06-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I played with the Pleasanton Community Concert Band at the Golden Gate Park Concert Band Festival in San Francisco. I haven't been to Golden Gate Park in quite a while now, so it was fun to go back and see it again. We were one of six bands playing on Saturday, and another six played today. Its an annual event put on by the Friends of the Golden Gate Park Band, and its free for people to come see some of the bands that play in their communities. The weather was absolutely gorgeous (I'm glad our uniform is short sleeved polo shirts) and I got to play at the Band Shell on the Music Concourse, which was very cool.

Check out the detail on the frescoes:

I got to the park a few hours before we were scheduled to play, because I wanted to be sure I'd get parking (which turned out to not be an issue after all, but better safe than sorry). I wandered around the Music Concourse, which has many statues and was filled with people doing Tai Chi. Its flanked on either side by the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum. The Concourse is undergoing renovations right now, but there are still trees and flowers, including this particularly beautiful-smelling rose:

Since I had some time to kill, but not enough to really enjoy either museum, I headed over to the Japanese Tea Garden. Its a gorgeous Japanese-style garden originally built as the Japanese Village for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, with pathways winding through beautiful foliage, koi ponds, a small waterfall, pagodas, statuary, and a tea house. And so early in the morning, it was nearly empty.

Crazy bridge

Pagoda and crane statues

Stepping stone bridge

Pagoda peeking through the trees

Rock garden

Pagoda

Stone pathway

Iron Buddha

I liked his hand, it reminds me of how you hold your hands for ballet

Fountain in a large granite boulder shaped like a canoe

Self-portrait and koi

What a beautiful day, and what a great experience!

Bobbing for Apples

2010-05-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

Or balls, in my dogs' case.

We keep a bucket of water on the patio, for watering the plants (it usually takes a watering pitcher plus the water from the bucket, and more when it gets very hot in the summer). The dogs are obsessed with drinking from the bucket and race outside to it whenever we open the slider. For fun we throw a ball in there to retrieve.

Ayla delicately puts her long snout in the water and pulls out her orange ball.

Mac has no such luxury, and must shove his entire head into the bucket since the water offers so little resistance to get the ball far enough into his maw so he can pull it out of the water. Its impressive. And splashy.

Then he helps Chris water the plants.

He helps by getting right behind Chris and making him almost trip when he backs up. What a good dog.

And then we all head inside for dinner...

While the patio dries out again and its peaceful once more.

Wild Hibiscus

2010-05-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

This is so very cool...

I was reading through my Twitter stream a while ago and saw a link from @nandita (of Always Order Dessert) for a cocktail made with champagne and wild hibiscus flowers preserved in syrup. That immediately went on my list!

The flowers are from an Australian company called Wild Hibiscus, and I found them at BevMo. The company is dedicated to providing a quality product, but the price isn't too outrageous for such an interesting drink. A jar of 11 flowers cost me about $8, and I would gladly buy more. The flowers are edible, tasting like strawberries and rhubarb. And it comes with a small cocktail guide, including the champagne cocktail that initially drew me in. Easy, impressive, and oh so tasty!

Wild Hibiscus Royale

from Wild Hibiscus

Wild Hibiscus Flower Garnish
¼ oz natural rose water
2/3 oz Wild Hibiscus Syrup
Mint
Champagne

Muddle mint in the champagne flute & discard (squash some leaves around inside the glass). Place Wild Hibiscus Flower in bottom of glass & stand upright. Add rose water & some bruised torn mint pieces. Top with Champagne. Lastly, pour in the Hibiscus syrup which will graduate from crimson at the bottom to light pink at the top. Tip: pour syrup in first for a layered effect. The flower will sit in the bottom of the champagne flute and slowly open up over 3-4 minutes.

Dog Infirmary

2010-05-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

Back from my short blog-break... We've been dealing with some doggy health issues lately. Mac has been sick since January, and I think he may be getting somewhat better now, but it has been a rollercoaster since then. The past two weeks have been pretty difficult too as we're weaning him off of a steroid medication he's been taking. And then Ayla does who-knows-what to injure her paw and loses the entire pad from one of her right front toes. That's pretty much over now an the toe isn't tender any longer. While her paw was hurt I put a dog bootie on that foot to protect everything, as you'll see below. Last week I was able to take her for a long walk after not being able to for a few weeks, and boy was she ready!

But first, pretty flowers from our walk. I think these are daisies.

A gorgeous, giant peach rose.

Closer up.

More roses, I believe.

And a bottle brush tree. I love these... so Seussian.

With wacky flowers.

Ayla and I got down to the park and I let her loose in the tennis court to run around a bit. Some nice person there before us left a tennis ball behind too.

Ayla loves to fetch, though she's not very good at giving the ball back unless I have treats to bribe her with.

She's pretty much always happy though.

Back at home, Mac lounged in the sun on the patio.

He's gotten a lot of his energy back now, though, and its rare that I can sit down without him coming over with his favorite glow ball, wanting me to throw it down the hall for him. He's still got quite a ways to go before he's better, poor guy. But my neighbor has invited him over for cocktails once he's well, so he has incentive.

More Muffins

2010-05-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to think I might have a problem. A problem with pumpkin. And muffins. Combined. Seriously, whenever I think about making muffins the first thing I want to include is pumpkin. I think pumpkin helps make muffins super moist, but I don't have any science to back this up. But I also like the fiber and good stuff that pumpkin lends to a muffin, as well as the taste. Maybe this isn't quite a problem after all.

These muffins have a soft nutty flavor from the buckwheat flour, and are studded with juicy tart-sweet blueberries and melty, gooey chocolate chips.

Pumpkin Blueberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

Heavily adapted from a generic muffin recipe

1 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. buckwheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c. canned pumpkin
1/3 c. melted butter

2 large eggs
1 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

1 c. frozen blueberries

1 c. chocolate chips

Put oven in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with muffin cups.

Whisk together pumpkin, butter, eggs, cinnamon, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until smooth, then whisk in flours and baking powder mixture until just combined.

Divide batter among muffin cups (each should be about three-fourths full). Bake until puffed and golden brown and wooden pick or skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
Cool in pan on a rack five minutes, then transfer muffins from pan to rack and cool to warm or room temperature. I popped all of mine in the freezer, and nuke them real quick when the muffin-urge strikes me.

I would like to walk down this pink muffin-scented hall

Related recipes:

Hearty Cherry Muffins

Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Apple Pumpkin Muffins

Mexican Mocha Pudding with Pumpkin Cream

365 Photo and Five Senses Fridays

2010-05-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

Lunch

Sun worship

Path edged by flowers

Smile

Cooling off in the grass

Patio view

* * * * *

Five Senses Friday is a nice way to reflect upon the previous week. Want more? Pay Abby Try Again a visit.

Hearing: Willie Nelson singing "Drinking Champagne"
Tasting: Cheese straws
Smelling: Freshly made spicy salsa
Seeing: Ayla smile as she faces into the wind and enjoys the smells around her
Feeling: Fluffy hand-knit blankets on cool nights

Happy Friday!

Cheese Straws

2010-05-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

Oh man, are these good! These cheese straws are cheesy, a little spicy, and totally addictive. And they're easy to make too. Mix up a batch tout de suite and you will not be sorry!

Cheese Straws

by Eat Me, Delicious

1 1/2 c. grated sharp Cheddar cheese

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened and cut into 4 pieces

3/4 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp. milk (I used half and half)

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a food processor, combine the cheese, butter, flour, salt and red pepper in five 5-second pulses until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs (this took five pulses for me). Add the milk and process until the dough forms a ball, about 10 seconds (this took more like twenty seconds for me).

On a lightly floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough into an 8- by 10-inch rectangle that is 1/8-inch thick. With a sharp knife (I used a pizza wheel, dipping it in flour), cut the dough into thin 8-inch strips, each 1/4- to 1/3-inch wide. Gently transfer the strips to an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving at least 1/4-inch between them.

Bake the straws on the middle rack for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the ends are barely browned. Remove from the oven and set the cookie sheet on a rack to cool. Serve at room temperature.

We ate the entire batch at once!

Related recipes:

Warm Spinach Mascarpone Dip

Artichoke Dip

Lucky Me

2010-05-04T21:34:00.000-07:00

I've been the lucky winner of a couple of contests lately, and the lucky recipient of a couple of freebies as well. And I have been remiss in writing about them here, but I can fix that!

First up: I'm a member of the Pets Blogroll (see the widget in the right sidebar), a sister community of the Foodie Blogroll, in which I also participate. As a member, I get to participate in giveaways, and I actually won! I'm very excited to read One Good Dog by Susan Wilson (check out her Facebook fan page here and find out more about their promotion and how you and your good dog can participate). I'm a sucker for a good pet story, cried my eyes out when I read Marley and Me, and I know I'll love this one:

"Fans of Marley and Me will find a new dog to cheer for in Wilson's (Beauty) insightful heart-tugger about Adam March, a Boston man recovering from the shame of a foolish crime, and Chance, a scrappy pit bull mix trying to escape the illegal dogfight circuit."

From Publishers Weekly

I also won this fantastic potato masher from OXO. They are having a contest to celebrate their 20th anniversary, where they post a close-up shot of one product of the year every week. If you guess right, you might win that product. Get more information at A closer look at OXO. I really like OXO products and used this masher to make some delicious mashed sweet potatoes. I've been using my food processor for jobs like this for a while, but the masher really makes everything fluffy and light, not gluey and dense.

I love books! I signed up BookSneeze (also on my right sidebar), a site that sends bloggers free books to review. I chose A Century Turns by William J. Bennett, because I'm severely lacking in my knowledge of American history. This book covers America from 1988 through 2008, and I have greatly enjoyed reading it, though I've barely cracked the cover, since this is the time period that covers my childhood. I look forward to reading about more of our recent history; as Ronald Reagan is quoted as saying in the book: "... if we forget what we have done, we will cease to be who we are" (p.18). The book is very accessible and engaging, and I believe one of Bennett's earlier books has been used in history classes in schools.

I was also sent a package of dried mushroom samples from Marx Foods, as a promotion through the Foodie Blogroll. And boy were they generous! I have, clockwise from the top left: Chanterelles, Black Trumpet, Porcini, Morel, Matsutake, and Lobster mushrooms to try. They also sent me Szhecuan Buttons, but I didn't see the note on the pack that they had to be refrigerated and they spoiled. I'm bummed by this since I was really looking forward to trying these strange little things (sorry, Marx Foods!), but at least I still have my mushrooms. I've been putting some time into thinking about what I want to use this bounty in since I haven't worked with dried mushrooms before, and I'm foreseeing risotto, homemade ravioli, perhaps some sort of luscious boozy sauce... I'm hoping to start experimenting this weekend!

Lori, this one's for you. This guy always makes me feel like a winner. He's shoved his head between my knees while I'm sitting here, so he can put his favorite ball in my lap so that I'll throw it for him. I've got some wrinkles to smoosh now.

Fetch

2010-05-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

I took Mac and Ayla out to play a little fetch on Saturday, and enjoy the beautiful weather we're having now. Mac has been rather sick for a while, but he seems to finally be turning a corner and was up for the short walk down to the grass. Ayla was absolutely thrilled to have him with us too!

Mac wasn't up for much fetching, happier to lay in the grass and chew on his favorite glow-in-the-dark ball, soaking up the sunshine. Whenever I threw Ayla's orange ball for her, she run down, pick it up, and fetch it. But not to me, no! She'd barrel straight down on Mac, stopping right before him, and toss her ball on the ground before him. It was so cute, seeing her so happy to have her buddy outside playing with her.

Mac fetched a few very small tosses, but laying in the fresh air certainly seemed to be a balm to his spirits.

And after Ayla was tired from fetching we all relaxed for a while, before walking home again.

365 Photo and Five Senses Friday

2010-04-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

My collection of corks from the wine I drink

Mac supervising me making his dinner

Police horse trailer

Wildflower blooms from seeds we found in Chris' dad's shed

My new desk area set-up. I'm nosy, what does your house look like?

Mangos

* * * * *

Five Senses Friday is a nice way to reflect upon the previous week. Want more? Pay Abby Try Again a visit.

Hearing: Jazz on the last jazz radio station available out here, 91.1
Tasting: Peppermint tea
Smelling: Lemongrass ginger lotion from Williams Sonoma
Seeing: Endless Summer II on Netflix
Feeling: Warm, soft kitty fur on my ankles

Happy Friday!

More Squash

2010-04-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted spaghetti squash, Chris wanted cheesy (as usual), and combined you get Nicole of Pinch My Salt's Spaghetti Squash Gratin. I usually eat spaghetti squash topped with marinara, when I want to feel more virtuous and forgo pasta. This recipe may not be virtuous, but it is good!

Spaghetti Squash Gratin

adapted from Pinch My Salt

1 spaghetti squash, baked until tender

1/2 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. fresh basil, sliced
1/2 c. heavy cream
2 Tbsp. plain yogurt

1/2 c. shredded sharp white cheddar
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper

* To cook spaghetti squash, pierce all over with a fork and then microwave about 5-10 minutes, until the skin is soft. Let rest 5 minutes, then cut in half, remove seeds, and pull strands out with a fork. *

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place spaghetti squash strands in a large bowl, and discard shell.
2. Cook onion in butter over medium-low heat until softened. Stir in garlic, cook for a minute longer. Add onions and garlic to bowl with squash. Add basil, heavy cream, yogurt, and cheddar. Toss together well until ingredients are evenly distributed. Pour into a greased casserole and top with Parmesan.
3. Bake uncovered in a preheated 450 degree oven for 20 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

Buckwheat Scones with Fig Butter

2010-04-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Black Mission Figs

I don't often eat figs. I do have a fondness for Fig Newtons, and figs sliced in half, topped with mascarpone cheese, and drizzled with honey is definitely a little slice of heaven. However, when I saw Heidi of 101 Cookbooks' Figgy Buckwheat Scones I knew I would be making them, post haste. And, oh, am I glad I did! These scones are light and nutty - the raw batter is so very good, sneak a taste when you make these. And the fig butter, rich with red wine and port, is to die for. And the swirly appearance of the scones make it such a decadent treat with coffee or tea.

I took half the batch in to work so I wouldn't eat them all, and my coworkers used adjectives like heavenly and amazing. One coworker even brought me flowers the next day, four giant, beautiful calla lilies cut from his yard, in appreciation. If you're looking to wow someone, try these.

Buckwheat Scones with Fig Butter

from 101 Cookbooks

Fig Butter:

1/2 c. sugar
2 whole cloves
1 star anise
1 c. red wine
1/2 c. port
12 oz. dried Black Mission figs, stems removed
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
4 oz. unsalted butter, softened
Pinch of salt

1. To poach the figs, measure 1/4 cup water and the sugar into a small heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir the mixture together with a wooden spoon, incorporating the sugar without splashing it up the sides. If crystals do get on the sides of the pot, use a clean pastry brush dipped in water to wipe them off. (The goal is to prevent the syrup from crystallizing.) Add the cloves and star anise.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over a medium flame and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, until the syrup is amber-colored. For even coloring, the flame should not come up around the outside of the pot.
3. Add the red wine, port, figs, and cinnamon, standing back a bit, as the syrup is hot. Don't panic when the syrup hardens; this is the normal reaction when liquids are added to hot sugar. Continue cooking the mixture over a medium flame for 2 minutes, until the sugar and wine blend.
4. Reduce the flame to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The figs will burble quietly as they are jostled together by the flame; they are ready when the wine has reduced by half. Remove the pan from the stove and cool to room temperature.
5. Fish out the star anise and cloves. Pour the cooled figs, with their liquid, into a food processor and purée until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the softened butter to the fig paste and process until smooth.

The fig butter can be spread right onto the buckwheat scone dough or stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. If it is refrigerated, bring it to room temperature before using. Makes 2 cups.

Scones

Dry mix:
1 c. buckwheat flour
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Wet mix:
4 oz. cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 1/4 c. heavy cream

1 c. Fig Butter

1. Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl, pouring back into the bowl any bits of grain or other ingredients that may remain in the sifter.
2. Add the butter to the dry mixture. Rub the butter between your fingers, breaking it into smaller bits. Continue rubbing until the butter is coarsely ground and feels like grains of rice. The faster you do this, the more the butter will stay solid, which is important for the success of the recipe. (I used my food processor to do this, rather than by hand).
3. Add the cream and gently mix it into the flour with a spatula until the dough is just combined.
4. Use a pastry scraper or a spatula to transfer the dough onto a well-floured surface. It will be sticky, so flour your hands and pat the dough into a rectangle. Grab a rolling pin and roll the dough into a rectangle that is 8 inches wide, 16 inches long, and 3/4 inch thick. If at any time the dough rolls off in a different direction, use your hands to square the corners and pat it back into shape. As you're rolling, periodically run a pastry scraper or spatula underneath to loosen the dough, flour the surface, and continue rolling. This keeps the dough from sticking. Flour the top of the dough if the rolling pin is sticking.
5. Spread the fig butter over the dough. Roll the long edge of the dough up, patting the dough as you roll so that it forms a neat log 16 inches long. Roll the finished log so that the seam is on the bottom and the weight of the roll seals the edge.
6. Use a sharp knife to slice the log in half. Put the halves on a baking sheet or plate, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. (The dough can be kept, covered, in the refrigerator for 2 days.) While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. After 30 minutes, take both logs out of the refrigerator and cut each half into 6 equal pieces about 11/4 inches wide. Place each scone flat, with the spiral of the fig butter facing up, on a baking sheet, 6 to a sheet. Give the scones a squeeze to shape them into rounds.
8. Bake for 38 to 42 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through. The scones are ready to come out when their undersides are golden brown. They are best eaten warm from the oven or later that same day.
Makes 12 scones.

365 Photo and Five Senses Friday

2010-04-23T22:21:00.000-07:00

Candy striped petunia

Princess lilies and mint that were neglected all winter

My grapevine is going crazy

The petunias too, which were also neglected all winter

New Char-Broil Quantum Infrared Urban Grill

Birthday banana split sundae for me :)

A little fun

* * * * *

Fine Senses Friday is a nice way to reflect upon the previous week. Want more? Pay Abby Try Again a visit.

Hearing: Squirrels scolding Chris while he was working the patio
Tasting: Banana split sundaes yesterday for my birthday
Smelling: Fresh, clean laundry that I finally got around to doing
Seeing: A new arrangement of picture frames on my wall that I need to fill, and cut lilies from a friend's yard
Feeling: The cushy comfort of my new memory foam mattress topper... so nice

Happy Friday!