tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71408083617059135312024-03-12T17:59:52.479-07:00My Food LifeLive the Food Life. Eat, Drink and Be Merry.CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-86855950419205247972012-04-24T20:07:00.005-07:002012-04-24T20:07:55.436-07:00Spring Break<div style="text-align: center;">
For those of you following along, you know that I have been attending cooking school. Now that I am back in the academic world (ahem, sort of) I did what any good student would do. </div>
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I went away for spring break. </div>
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Where to? Where else but one of my favorite hot spots. A place that is alive 24/7. </div>
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Where world class dining meets a fabulous night life. </div>
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You guessed it, Las Vegas. </div>
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One of the many great things about Vegas is the diversity among the hotels and restaurants. A quick cab ride can take you from Venice to Paris & New York, then off to a Tropical getaway. </div>
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The entire strip is a study in who can out-do who and impress their visitors with over the top themes, stunning design and spectacular shows. Probably the most recognizable is the water show at the Bellagio. </div>
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People line up along the sidewalks surrounding the lake to get a front row view of the entertainment. </div>
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We found a better way. </div>
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<a href="http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/olives.aspx">Olives Restaurant</a>, by Todd English at the Bellagio has an outdoor patio that overlooks the water. Which means you can dine and take in the show at the same time. What better reason to indulge in a long lazy lunch? </div>
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These help too...</div>
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My favorite is the Tiffany, made with vodka, muddled raspberries and just a touch of champagne. I think its name comes from the fact that if you have a few too many you feel compelled to go next door and purchase something sparkly in that famous little blue box. </div>
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I admit that my favorite thing about this restaurant is the bread basket. Is that wrong? It is just so perfect. It is served with a variety of olives and tapenade, but the star of the show is the flat bread. </div>
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Perfectly thin and crispy and covered in herbs, sea salt and parmesan cheese, this bread speaks to me. </div>
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Another favorite is the Caesar salad. Simple yet delicious. </div>
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One of Olive's specialties is their flat breads, aka pizza. Baked in a wood fired oven, they have a rotating menu of gourmet toppings such as smoked salmon, fig & prosciutto and portobello with white truffle . We decided to be super fancy and get pepperoni. </div>
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Sometimes, pepperoni is all you need. </div>
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After our fill of dancing water, we decided to head on down the strip and check out one of the newest hotels, <a href="http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/">The Cosmopolitan</a>. The tag line is "just the right amount of wrong". Don't you just love that?</div>
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The lobby is incredible, with ever changing digital wall displays and a giant 3 story chandelier that doubles as a lounge. </div>
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Vesper Bar, in the lobby, is an old school James Bond inspired lounge. </div>
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They make all their syrups and flavors in house, displayed in a line beautifully on the bar. </div>
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And it is 007 class all the way by using fresh flowers as a garnish.</div>
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It was the perfect spot to hang out and people watch. </div>
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Once we worked up an apetite, we headed upstairs to <a href="http://www.holsteinslv.com/">Holsteins</a> for some gourmet burgers.</div>
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I love the decor of the restaurant, filled with cartoon cows. </div>
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Even though we didn't spend spring break on a beach, we wanted some fruity tropical drinks. </div>
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And then it arrived. A burger like no other. </div>
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It is called the The Rising Sun and is a perfect combination of Kobe beef with a teriyaki glaze, nori, crispy yams, spicy wasabi mayo and then all topped with a tempura avocado. </div>
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It was like someone combined all the best flavors from a sushi meal and put it on a burger. Whoever it is, they are a genius in my books!</div>
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Captain McBlack got the Gold Standard, a fancy version of the classic bacon cheeseburger, complete with aged goat cheddar cheese and a tomato confit instead of ketchup. </div>
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I love the way they serve the onion rings, in individual mini buckets. </div>
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It isn't just the burgers that make Holsteins special. It is the adult milkshakes, cleverly called bam-boozled shakes. To feed the kid at heart, my big strong man got the Cereal Bowl, made with Captain Crunch and vanilla vodka. </div>
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Captain McBlack drinking a Captain Crunch milkshake. I knew it was only a matter of time....</div>
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Not to exclude the child in me, I got a Campfire Smores milkshake. </div>
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Is this where I mention that I went to sleep-away camp when I was a kid? This milkshake tasted just like those long nights in front of the bonfire. </div>
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Looking back, I guess you could say those summers were Spring Break in training. Staying up way too late, having fun and hanging out with friends was what it was all about. As an adult in Vegas, not that much has changed. But this time, my milkshake had vodka in it. </div>
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And now it is time to head back to school. Is that the bell I hear ringing? </div>
<br />CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-91168544000829582272012-04-01T17:53:00.001-07:002012-04-01T17:53:28.073-07:00Cook Street: Sophomore Class<div style="text-align: center;">
When I signed up for cooking school at <a href="http://www.cookstreet.com/">Cook Street</a>, I was most excited about week 2. The curriculum included knife skills and making pasta by hand. Woo hoo! We were encouraged to bring our own knives but they had plenty there for us to experiment with. </div>
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Turns out you only really need one knife. I'm not trying to harm the profits in the cutlery industry, but this puppy, a chef's knife, is all you really need. However, you must hold it properly!</div>
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While keeping your knife sharp is definitely a necessity, it is just as import to hone it as well. Sharpening removes metal to form a new edge as opposed to honing which straightens the existing metal on the blade. Basically, it puts all the metal molecules back in line. Chefs will hone their knives many times a day to keep them performing effectively, but sharpening is required less frequently. </div>
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See? Its working now.</div>
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We were taught how to cut vegetables. Here is the sum of the lesson...control the vegetable, don't let it control you. In order to cut something easily and safely, it must lie flat so the first step is to make it square. I've been cutting celery for more years than I'd like to admit without figuring out the simple step of smashing it down first. Yup, that is the official culinary term...smashing.</div>
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To make a dice cut, of any vegetable, you first make strips, then cut those perpendicularly. And voila, equal sized diced celery!</div>
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To dice a carrot, you must first turn them into squares by cutting a small length off each side. This stops the carrot from rolling, and sets you up to acheive even sized pieces. Matchstick slices first, then cut in the opposite direction to get dices. </div>
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And then it was time for the onion. Does anybody actually like cutting onions? The tears, the odd shape, the inherent slices inside...its a recipe for disaster. At least for me. But no more! I now possess the secret. </div>
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Step 1. Cut off the top (the part that looks like a little ponytail) but leave the root intact. You can trim the hairy parts off, but make sure it is all still attached.</div>
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Step 2. Dissect the onion in half, right through the top.</div>
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Step 3. Holding the onion on its side, slice parallel to the cutting board, but stop before you reach the root (see below)</div>
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Step 4. Slice lengthwise from the top towards the root, but again stop before you get to the end. </div>
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Step 5. Slice straight down and your onion will magically fall apart into a perfect dice. </div>
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Phew. Now I just need to practice on 20 pounds of onions. </div>
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Which vegetable is worse to chop than onion? In my opinion, that would be garlic, the stinking rose. Turns out that sprinkling a little coarse salt on the cloves and scraping the edge of the knife over it will enable you to create a very fine paste.<br />
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Our turn to try! </div>
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I think we did ok, but we did leave a bit of a mess. </div>
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The final product, ready to be turned into soup.</div>
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Our plan for dessert was grapefruit with basil chiffonade and candied zest. </div>
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We learned how to "supreme" citrus, which leaves the juicy innards of the fruit without any white pith or peel to contend with. </div>
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I've never peeled a grapefruit with a knife before but it sure makes it efficient if you can do it correctly. Sadly, when I tried most the good part was lost with the peel. </div>
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He made this look so easy....just slice between each membrane to release a perfect triangle of flesh. </div>
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Here is my version. </div>
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With my grapefruit <strike>massacred </strike>cut and ready for later, it was time to move to the main event. Making pasta. I have wanted a pasta machine for a long time, but committed to only buy one once I knew how to use it. Isn't it gorgeous in all its shiny glory???</div>
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We were taught how to make the pasta by hand, I'm guessing to really appreciate and understand how it all comes together. Once you try the traditional method, you can switch to using an electric mixer. </div>
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We each made a small portion using one egg and about a cup of flour. The first step is to use the egg to make a well inside your flour. </div>
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Then drop it in. At this point, we got a lesson in cracking eggs with one hand but due to the disastrous results, I'm not going there. </div>
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Then you stir the egg, adding a little bit of the surrounding flour as you go. This step actually takes quite a while. Stir, add flour, stir, add flour....</div>
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Eventually it forms into a solid-ish mass. </div>
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Once it holds its shape, it is time to pick it up and knead it. Gently. </div>
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Did I say gently? Ok, it needs a little force to get those gluten strands to form. </div>
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After it has rested for 30 minutes or so, it is time for some fun. I was a little intimidated by the pasta machine at first, but it couldn't be easier. Like I said, I've wanted one for a while but wasn't sure I'd know what to do with it. Now I know. </div>
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You cut it into manageable size chunks (about the size of a golf ball) and then flatten it by hand. Next, it is threaded through the machine on the widest setting first. The dial on the side allows you to adjust the thickness, and after each time the pasta gets flattened, it is reduced to a thinner level. </div>
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When it is at the desired thinness (I recommend going all the way to get the most delicate pasta), it is time to cut it. The cutter is attached to the other side and comes in many traditional cuts- spaghetti, angel hair, fettuccine, linguine... </div>
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We used the thicker blade and out came fettuccine</div>
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Semolina flour sprinkled over top prevents the noodles from clumping and sticking. Corn meal works well too as I discovered later that week at home. </div>
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Put it all together, and what do you get? (Do you remember those <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_Down_Baby">Sesame Street lyrics</a>?) </div>
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Chicken noodle soup.</div>
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Delicious, with-home-made-pasta-and-perfectly-cut-veggies chicken noodle soup. Or poached chicken and vegetables over fettuccine as they referred to it in class. </div>
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Our dessert was grapefruit with basil chiffonade and candied zest. Oh ya, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pernod">Pernod</a>, a French Anise flavored liqueur. It was refreshing, bright and packed with interesting contrasting flavors. </div>
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The candied zest, made from heating the peel in sugar water, was a perfect topping and I will definitely be using it for other applications. </div>
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Was week 2 all that I was hoping it would be? Actually, it was more. </div>
<br />CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-40944301416342824492012-03-14T23:46:00.000-07:002012-03-14T23:46:32.811-07:00Cook Street: Freshman Class<div style="text-align: center;">
I admit it, I'm a little obsessed with chefs. </div>
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I don't necessarily want to be one in real life, but I want to know all that they know. It should be no surprise seeing as my life is heavily steeped in all things food related. Need proof? Just read my blog. My career as a dietitian and Food Service Director has allowed me not only to work in a kitchen every day but to partner up with some incredible chefs (Ray, Herb...you boys rock!) </div>
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I love reading chef autobiographies and discovering the stories and experiences that led these talented professionals down the path of culinary greatness. My recent favorite is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Line-Chasing-Greatness-Redefining/dp/1592406971/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1">Life on the Line</a> by Grant Achatz, and I highly recommend this awe inspiring story of a genius chef, his rise to fame, and his battle with tongue cancer. I watch plenty of cooking shows (interestingly they are all competition based) and my favorites include <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef">Top Chef</a>, <a href="http://www.fox.com/masterchef/">Master Chef</a>, <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/the-next-iron-chef/index.html">The Next Iron Chef</a>... are you starting to pick up on the theme? </div>
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I've always said that if I ever won big bucks, I would go to culinary school. So as a treat to myself (without any winning lottery tickets to speak of), I signed up for a 4 week culinary course at <a href="http://www.cookstreet.com/">Cook Street</a>, titled "Classic Techniques: Essentials One" </div>
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The tagline? Feed Your Senses. Live your Dreams. </div>
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Yes!! That is exactly what I want to do!</div>
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I may have my fair share of food knowledge (it comes with my profession), but I don't have all the skills and techniques to apply it and make it successful. I consider myself a "book smart" version of a chef, lots of reading but minimal doing. Don't get me wrong, I love to cook but it feels like I'm making the same re-worked versions of what I already know how to prepare. I want to be challenged and stretched into creating new and exciting dishes in my kitchen, not just in my head. </div>
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Before the cooking began, we got a chance to meet our fellow aspiring chefs and to peruse our course books. The wine helped too...</div>
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The first lesson was all about eggs. I've always heard that the measure of a great chef is how well they can cook an egg. It sounds like one of the simplest things to prepare, but in reality there is plenty to know and understand about the properties of eggs and how they will react under different manipulations. </div>
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The planned menu for the evening was </div>
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<a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/le-grand-aioli">Le Grande Aioli</a> (a French feast of boiled vegetables, fish and garlic mayonnaise) </div>
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Omelettes </div>
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Macerated Fruits in French Meringue Nests with Creme Anglaise.</div>
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The menus are designed to introduce us to various techniques and methods. Along our egg cooking journey, we learned about the types of salt, making chicken and vegetable stock, and blanching & shocking vegetables. </div>
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The first item on our prep list was to make meringue for our desserts. </div>
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Meringue is simply egg whites whipped with sugar until they hold a shape. We learned that there are 3 kinds of meringue (French, Swiss and Italian) that all use the same ratio of eggs and sugar but are made employing different techniques, some with heat, some without. We made French meringue (egg whites beaten with eggs at room temperature), and watched it progress through the various levels of firmness from ribbon stage (the meringue flows like a ribbon) to soft peak (the meringue forms a peak and then falls over) and eventually stopping at medium peak (the peak holds, but is still delicate). </div>
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We piped them into nest shapes and popped them into a low heat oven (200F) to bake and dry out (about 2 hours). The goal is for the meringue to solidify without turning golden. </div>
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Cool tip? Draw circles on your parchment paper to give you a guide and ensure your nests are all a consistent size. </div>
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Next up was the creme anglaise. We learned about tempering, which is allows the egg mixture to get used to the hot liquid slowly so that it doesn't seize up and turn into scrambled eggs. </div>
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We also experienced the difference in flavor before and after the cream was strained. It was shockingly noticeable, and resulted in a creamier, more even taste sensation. </div>
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Did I mention that tasting is one of our favorite parts of the class?</div>
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We all got the opportunity to make our own aioli, which is a simple mayonnaise with added garlic. Once you know how to make it, you can alter it with many flavor variations such as tomato sauce, curry and herbs. Aioli is made by mixing egg yolks, salt, lemon juice and garlic until smooth and creamy. We were advised to stir the sauce in one direction and one direction only. This helps to establish the protein bonds and prevent the sauce from "breaking". </div>
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Note: If you take this class Chef John prefers whisking in a counter-clockwise direction. Clockwise goes against every fiber in his being. </div>
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Speaking of Chef John, he is a walking encyclopedia of all things culinary. I'm not sure whether to be amazed or envious (I'm both). I now know how much I don't know. </div>
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Here he is explaining a bouquet garni, which is a bundle of herbs tied together for flavoring stocks. </div>
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One of my favorite fun facts of the night was about the measurement of salt. A 3 finger pinch (using your thumb and 2 fingers) equals a teaspoon while a 4 finger pinch is the equivalent to a tablespoon. So cool!</div>
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We worked as a team to blanch (boil) and shock (cool quickly in ice water) fresh asparagus and broccoli. This technique helps to keep the texture and color of the vegetable intact, and allows for a quick re-heat at time of service. </div>
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Finally, it was time to make the omelettes. We started with room temperature eggs and beat them with water to provide additional air and subsequently result in a fluffier texture. Milk or cream (a common addition by most) will just weigh down the eggs. </div>
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How do you know when your pan is ready? When it is silent. The butter will sizzle until the water content in it is cooked off. Just as it starts turning a little golden, and just as you think you've waited to long it is ready. </div>
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Contrary to what I have always done, you actually keep the eggs moving in the pan by pulling the edges in and allowing the liquid to fill in the gaps. Hmmm, so much for just letting the eggs cook undisturbed. I also learned that you only cook an omelette on one side. Thats right, no flipping required. Phew! Seeing as my flipping success rate is sadly close to zero, this is one tip I am perfectly eager to embrace. The cheese is supposed to get added while the eggs are still a little wet and then the pan is removed from the heat. You should depend on residual cooking to melt the cheese and finish cooking the omelette. Another hmmm. I normally cook my eggs to completion. And beyond. </div>
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Yup, my omelette making knowledge was rattled from start to finish. </div>
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The magic of a beautiful omelette depends on how it comes out of the pan and onto the plate. We learned this really easy rolling technique that is sure to impress anyone. Well, maybe a non-chef anyone. </div>
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Dinner at last. We ate our gruyere stuffed omelettes with chilled fresh veggies, boiled potatoes & shrimp. The aioli on the side made a perfect dipping sauce and provided some tang and garlic to the plate. I have to admit, it was the best omelette I've eaten <strike>in a really long time</strike> ever. </div>
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The meringue nests were plated over our vanilla creme anglaise and then topped with fresh berries. </div>
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It is hard to say what I enjoyed more. The food? The learning? The experience? I guess it doesn't matter. I get three more weeks to figure it out, and I can't wait. </div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-32255266374599709392012-03-10T15:58:00.000-08:002012-03-10T15:58:01.124-08:00Snooze & Snow<div style="text-align: center;">
Today it is 70 degrees and sunny. As gorgeous as the weather is right now, it isn't what I've been experiencing the last few months. It has been more like this. </div>
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We get snow in Denver. A lot of snow. To be fair, it is only a lot compared to what I've been used to in California, so I'm sure others in the area would disagree. And my family back in Canada. And pretty much anyone in Russia. </div>
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Nevertheless, there is no shortage of the white stuff here. </div>
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I will admit that it is pretty. </div>
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In a "I-guess-if-I-can't-have-summer-and-beaches-then-this-is-nice" kind of way.</div>
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A couple of weeks ago we had a major storm. </div>
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Some people had to resort to cross county skiing through the city streets! </div>
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Others of us chose to walk. </div>
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And where did we go? To our neighborhood breakfast hot spot, the famous <a href="http://www.snoozeeatery.com/">Snooze</a>. </div>
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With my love of brunch, I'm no stranger to busy, trendy restaurants on a Sunday morning. But Snooze is in a class of its own. There is always a line, and I mean always. Its not just the usual weekend brunch crew, but even on a Tuesday morning at 10am you can expect to wait for a coveted table. We thought that on the morning after a foot of snow the crowds wouldn't risk the drive and we would finally get in quickly. We were wrong. We still had to wait but it was worth every minute. </div>
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First, and always first for me, is a cup of coffee. On the menu, they tell the whole story about this particular coffee bean, and how it was discovered and exported from Guatemala exclusively for Snooze. As interesting as the history of this coffee was, I was just happy to have a steaming hot cup of it to warm me up after hiking through all that snow. </div>
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Once the caffeine hit my system, I was ready for a more adult beverage. Snooze had no shortage of specialty cocktails. </div>
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I sampled a candied version of a screwdriver, complete with whipped cream flavored vodka and even more whipped cream on top. </div>
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Captain McBlack chose a winter day classic, hot chocolate with Bailey's. </div>
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The one drink that I saw float continuously around the restaurant was the Bloody Mary. But these weren't just your every day run of the mill Bloody Marys. They offer 6 different versions on the menu, made with unique flavors such as jalapeno pepper, dill pickle and the one that I eventually gave into, The Bugs Bloody with carrot infused vodka. What's up Doc?</div>
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Oh ya, we are here for food too.</div>
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While we were deciding on our breakfast choice, our waitress (now forever on my favorite list) brought us a complimentary pancake of the day, filled with dried cherries, walnuts and chocolate chips. </div>
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Why? We asked. </div>
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Because you two look like you would enjoy it, she said. </div>
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And she was right. It was delicious!!</div>
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Captain McBlack ordered the Snooze Spuds Deluxe. Say that 5 times fast. It was a heaping portion of hash browns, covered with melted cheddar & jack cheese, scrambled eggs, and a choice of meat and veggies. Guess what he picked...2 meats of course. </div>
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I love eggs benedict, and I especially love unique and non-traditional versions. This one, named Benedicto Tuscano, was a ragout of tomatoes, white beans, kale and squash served upon rustic </div>
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French bread and topped with two eggs poached, cream cheese hollandaise and shaved parmesan. </div>
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I think I fell in love with my breakfast that morning. Just saying. </div>
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In case that wasn't enough food, we ordered one more pancake for dessert. We had to take advantage of actually getting a seat at Snooze, and wanted to make the most of our visit. </div>
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So we ended this glorious meal with a red velvet pancake, topped with espresso infused maple syrup, cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans. </div>
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Needless to say, we loved every bite. </div>
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I would really love to go back there for brunch one day. That is if we can ever get another table...</div>
<br />CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-16620145857856404572012-01-28T11:50:00.000-08:002012-01-28T11:50:20.744-08:00Juicing it<div style="text-align: center;">
Last week I told you all about my new pressure cooker. This week, I am excited to share another new kitchen appliance and one of the best holiday gifts I received this year. A juicer. </div>
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To be honest, I never thought I fit the juicer profile. You know the type... super healthy, makes their own yogurt, snacks on seaweed. While I may be a dietitian, and homemade yogurt sounds delicious right now, I just hadn't considered going down that path. Until last summer. </div>
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Before I moved to Denver, I stayed with one of my best friends in the Bay Area. She had just come back from a yoga retreat in Costa Rica and a week full of freshly made juice. <br />
She was hooked. She got me hooked. </div>
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Thanks to my wonderful host, I awoke every morning to a glass of juice. Apples, carrots, beets, lemons, oranges, celery, ginger. A farmer's market in every glass. </div>
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Captain McBlack did a great job of remembering my oohs and ahhs about the juice and my claims about how great I felt after 2 weeks of a daily dose. So, come the holidays, I found one wrapped with my name on it. Let the juicing begin!</div>
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By reading the juicing book I received as a companion gift (and then perusing many juicing blogs), I learned a few tricks to enhance the flavor and nutrient content of the juice. For example, adding beet greens (which are actually pink), is similar to adding the beet itself. </div>
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Not only does it provide a wonderfully earthy, bold flavor but it also adds a beautiful magenta color. </div>
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I like to drink my juice out of my happy glasses. It makes me happy. <br />
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No two juices are ever quite the same, but so far every creation has been delicious.<br />
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I'm excited to see where this new addiction leads...<br />
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Cheers!</div>
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<br /></div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-7994201804213805222012-01-22T14:55:00.000-08:002012-01-22T14:55:32.133-08:00Cooking Under Pressure<br />
I love getting new kitchen gadgets. My Amazon wish list is full of cooking toys, but usually they are small items such as a new peeler, or paring knife. {I recently purchased a set of <a href="http://www.swisscatalogue.com/swissmar/can/FMPro?-db=swissmardb&-format=record_detail.htm&-op=eq&SKU=00440&-Script=Counter&-find=">3 Swissmar peelers</a><span id="goog_2139574943"></span><span id="goog_2139574944"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>, and they are incredible! I de-fuzzed a kiwi with zero wasted flesh, which is crucial seeing as those things are so small to begin with. And don't get me started on my colorful <a href="http://kuhnrikon.com/products/tools/tools.php3?id=474">Kuhn Rikon market knives</a>}. Anyhow... <br />
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Now that I have a larger kitchen (and a basement pantry, woohoo!) I decided I had the space to buy a new appliance. I love the concept of slow simmered soups, stews and sauces but lets be real, who has time for that? Not me. At least not until this pressure cooker came into my life. <br />
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The concept of pressure cooking can be credited to a French physicist back in 1679, but at the time it was only seen as experimental. It took until 1919 for the first patent to be granted, and the appliance finally gained popularity among housewives at the World Trade Fair in New York in 1939.</div>
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How does it work? By sealing the vessel and not allowing air or liquid to escape, the pressure inside increases as it heats. As the pressure increases, so does the boiling point of water thus allowing the liquid inside to rise to a much higher temperature. A higher temperature means food cooks faster. A lot faster from my recent experiences. </div>
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My first attempted recipe was beef stew. I've never made beef stew in my life. In fact, I have only eaten it a handful of times but somehow this seemed like the right choice for my new pressure cooker. I started by coating the beef with flour and browning it. There is a browning feature on the cooker, essentially turning the pot into a giant frying pan, and I've quickly learned that this is a must. Some meats need a sear on the outside to bring out the flavors, and doing it all in the same pot couldn't be easier. </div>
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Next, I prepped veggies- onion, celery, and carrots. </div>
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I set aside the beef, and cooked the veggies using the browning mode as well. Onions are always better after a little sauteeing. </div>
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Next I added the liquid. Pressure cooking absolutely requires liquid, but be aware that none of it evaporates so what you start with, you end with. In this case, I used red wine diluted with a small amount of water.</div>
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Lastly, I added back the seared beef and some cut potatoes.</div>
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I set the timer for 13 minutes. Just 13 minutes to cook stew? To cook potatoes? I was skeptical but since that was the recommendation, I found some faith and closed the lid. </div>
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Thirteen minutes later, here is what I saw. It was cooked and I was shocked. I realized at this point that I started with too much liquid (nobody gave me the warning that just passed along), so I got out the corn starch and thickened 'er up. </div>
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Served with a crusty bread and a bold red wine, this meal was perfect for a cold winter's night. </div>
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Since my first attempt was such a success (if I do say so myself), I decided to see what other day long recipes I could cook in lighting speed. Next up was a Bolognese sauce. Bolognese refers to a meat based sauce originating in Bologna, Italy. I don't like eating too much red meat, so I substituted the customary ground beef with ground turkey. Shhhh, don't tell Captain McBlack. </div>
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I started by browning the onions and ground turkey. </div>
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Then I added some veggies and diced tomatoes. </div>
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Meanwhile, I cooked up some linguine. </div>
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By the time the pasta was ready, so was the sauce.</div>
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Can't forget the parmesan cheese. </div>
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How easy was that? From prep to eating within 30 minutes. </div>
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Now that I had two great dishes under by belt, I had to try making soup. I absolutely love making chicken soup from scratch, but it is a full day commitment. Lately, that just hasn't been possible but this pressure cooker is changing everything! I followed same technique I use when I make soup the traditional way, but each step was a fraction of the time. </div>
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I started with the usual cast of characters (carrot, onions and celery) and added dill. Most people see dill as an unusual ingredient to add to chicken soup, but this is how my grandmothers made it and so this is how it shall be. Besides, it adds a wonderful complimentary flavor. </div>
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There was no pre-cooking this time. I simply layered the vegetables and chicken, seasoned and covered with water. </div>
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Twelve minutes later, the soup was cooked but not done. </div>
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I removed the veggies and chicken from the pot and pulled the meat off the bones. At this point, it was so juicy and tender it simply fell off. </div>
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I cut a fresh batch of vegetables and dill and added it back to the broth with some noodles. </div>
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Since we weren't in a rush to eat I used the slow cooking setting instead of pressure cooking the soup to completion. The seal prevents evaporation, so during the few hours that I let it simmer the flavors had time to combine without any loss of liquid. It my opinion, that is a huge advantage versus cooking on the stove. </div>
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The soup was a hit, and knowing that it can be done so quickly means that I can make it more frequently. I'll eat this over canned soup any day. </div>
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After the ease of these three pressure cooked meals, I am wondering how I ever lived without my pressure cooker. I prefer to eat dishes that were prepared from scratch, and this will allow me to vastly expand my repertoire, with no pressure (ha, ha, pardon the pun). </div>
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Hmmm...didn't I hear you could make desserts in this thing too?</div>
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<br />CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-59243945984722820472012-01-04T17:57:00.000-08:002012-01-08T20:08:51.432-08:00And there go the holidays...<div style="text-align: center;">
As fast as they came, they were gone. <br />
I'm talking about The Holidays. That time of year when the more sparkles the better.</div>
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The more lights the merrier.</div>
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And the more presents, the cheerier. </div>
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And what holiday would be complete without a feast?!? I can't think of any. We invited the family over and set the table for those naughty or nice. </div>
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As a recovered vegetarian, I don't have a lot of experience with cooking turkeys but if ever there was a time to try one, this was it. I made a bed of apples, carrots, onions and dill to roast the turkey on. </div>
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And then I gave it a bottle of wine. I figured the turkey deserved to have a little fun too. </div>
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I rubbed it down with salt, pepper and various secret herbs. </div>
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Four and half hours later, the turkey was pulled from the oven, golden and crisp. <br />
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The results? Juicy and full of flavor. No disrespect to the turkey roasters out there, but it really wasn't that difficult. </div>
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Add some mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce and steamed broccoli and you have yourself a traditional holiday meal. I'd love to show you the brisket and latkes that were served alongside but they were consumed faster than I could photograph them. And besides, sometimes you need to put down the camera and just enjoy the moment. (I hope that last line isn't quoted back to me next time I make Captain McBlack wait to eat while my shutter is clicking away).</div>
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The Holidays are the only time of year when peppermint is not only appropriate, but encouraged. Every dessert, drink and candy is dripping with it. I happily jumped on the train and decided to try making my own candy. </div>
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It was as easy as melting chocolate into a mold, adding crushed candy canes and letting it solidify. </div>
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I took it one step further and made white chocolate peppermint bark. Easy to do with impressive results- what more could you ask for?</div>
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After the cooking, the entertaining and the unwrapping of gifts it was time to unwind and enjoy the last few days of 2011. We spent a relaxing afternoon 27 stories above downtown Denver, watching the sun set over the Rocky Mountains. </div>
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Even though the thermometer was well below freezing, we chose drinks with fruity island flavors and day-dreamt about sunny vacations on the beach. </div>
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Which isn't to say our current locale wasn't enjoyable.</div>
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The sun set,</div>
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the city lights brightened the sky,</div>
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and the last day of the year came to a close. </div>
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2011 may have been filled with life changes, but it was smothered in love, happiness and plenty of good eats. My plans for 2012? To continue living the food life. </div>
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On New Year's morning, I felt it appropriate to drink out of my favorite mug and start the year out with the perfect piece of advice.</div>
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Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. </div>
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Happy 2012!</div>
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<span id="goog_2139650543"></span><span id="goog_2139650544"></span>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-34653720965212828532011-11-06T20:06:00.000-08:002011-11-06T20:06:02.409-08:00What Halloween Looks Like<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is definitely fall out there. With fall comes a holiday dedicated to chocolate, candy and costumes. What could be more fun?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1FU8A7jodP0/TrIYPpkEDTI/AAAAAAAADKg/M7lnMR3ZxZo/s1600/_DSC0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1FU8A7jodP0/TrIYPpkEDTI/AAAAAAAADKg/M7lnMR3ZxZo/s640/_DSC0440.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We celebrated the spooky season with all the Halloween classics. And of course, that means pumpkins. Lots and lots of pumpkins.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pUN4AccGjNA/TrIWdeFuAHI/AAAAAAAADHI/x3PoOi7qQLM/s1600/_DSC0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pUN4AccGjNA/TrIWdeFuAHI/AAAAAAAADHI/x3PoOi7qQLM/s640/_DSC0214.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Much to the amazement of Captain McBlack, this was my first trip to a pumpkin patch. Maybe pumpkins don't grow in Montreal, or maybe it just wasn't the thing to do when we were young but you can be sure we had our share of pumpkins. They just came from the grocery store. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n10P4GghuSE/TrIWZ0oTADI/AAAAAAAADHA/va17fAqbh5I/s1600/_DSC0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n10P4GghuSE/TrIWZ0oTADI/AAAAAAAADHA/va17fAqbh5I/s640/_DSC0265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For my first visit, I couldn't have asked for a nicer day or a prettier backdrop. Yup, those are the Rockies you see in the distance. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZPcnzkoeDM/TrIWheRjHUI/AAAAAAAADHQ/8hYkJw97Hp4/s1600/_DSC0449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZPcnzkoeDM/TrIWheRjHUI/AAAAAAAADHQ/8hYkJw97Hp4/s640/_DSC0449.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another classic, that apparently goes hand in hand with pumpkin patches, are corn mazes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RuQQQu_uKh4/TrIXbA05iTI/AAAAAAAADI4/2EnDU4g87vY/s1600/_DSC0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_66hizyGMXA/TrIWlk0PKgI/AAAAAAAADHc/yh2XgNOmA4U/s1600/_DSC0272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_66hizyGMXA/TrIWlk0PKgI/AAAAAAAADHc/yh2XgNOmA4U/s640/_DSC0272.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Five miles of corn mazes and it all basically looks like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bWJRxzM6U6k/TrIWskuAQ0I/AAAAAAAADHk/jJjfl4z-qck/s1600/_DSC0358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bWJRxzM6U6k/TrIWskuAQ0I/AAAAAAAADHk/jJjfl4z-qck/s640/_DSC0358.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, um, there actually is corn growing in them.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WEVv1aIhT2s/TrIWxfhyvEI/AAAAAAAADHs/QUYHdrBxrwA/s1600/_DSC0377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WEVv1aIhT2s/TrIWxfhyvEI/AAAAAAAADHs/QUYHdrBxrwA/s640/_DSC0377.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After navigating our way out of the stalks, we got our pumpkins home and set out to carve them. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vCdz3OF35Y/TrIW1MrdNmI/AAAAAAAADH4/jeGLfVMhWgc/s1600/_DSC0556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vCdz3OF35Y/TrIW1MrdNmI/AAAAAAAADH4/jeGLfVMhWgc/s640/_DSC0556.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I turned mine into a cat. I figured that every Halloween needs a black cat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGLUmxGlbBc/TrIW6DmwH5I/AAAAAAAADIA/4TEqIi6uGg0/s1600/_DSC0561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGLUmxGlbBc/TrIW6DmwH5I/AAAAAAAADIA/4TEqIi6uGg0/s640/_DSC0561.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Complete with earrings, eyelashes and a beaded collar. Fancy. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IaZDD0SGuUE/TrIW9d4EexI/AAAAAAAADII/FWCcductpKM/s1600/_DSC0563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IaZDD0SGuUE/TrIW9d4EexI/AAAAAAAADII/FWCcductpKM/s640/_DSC0563.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course we pulled out all the seeds...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OH9Qz8QJGOg/TrIXD_OJg4I/AAAAAAAADIU/zibwknzkZYU/s1600/_DSC0462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OH9Qz8QJGOg/TrIXD_OJg4I/AAAAAAAADIU/zibwknzkZYU/s640/_DSC0462.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and roasted them with sea salt. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-id-iD0wNEOo/TrIXH1FO_rI/AAAAAAAADIc/RUXBIKqckYU/s1600/_DSC0471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-id-iD0wNEOo/TrIXH1FO_rI/AAAAAAAADIc/RUXBIKqckYU/s640/_DSC0471.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">After the pumpkins, it was time to make some cupcakes. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ABeIfpMGUpQ/TrIXgeTRpdI/AAAAAAAADJA/9Pp0d-z8L1Y/s1600/_DSC0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ABeIfpMGUpQ/TrIXgeTRpdI/AAAAAAAADJA/9Pp0d-z8L1Y/s640/_DSC0112.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Who wants skulls with their dessert? I know I do!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZEa3SGrHTM/TrIXjnfjK9I/AAAAAAAADJM/YaQZ-REUs7A/s1600/_DSC0118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZEa3SGrHTM/TrIXjnfjK9I/AAAAAAAADJM/YaQZ-REUs7A/s640/_DSC0118.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I didn't exactly plan it, but Red Velvet turned out to be a fantastic choice for Halloween. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvoNsCLqv0Q/TrIXqQ0zmkI/AAAAAAAADJU/DPQjW5TYWeg/s1600/_DSC0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvoNsCLqv0Q/TrIXqQ0zmkI/AAAAAAAADJU/DPQjW5TYWeg/s640/_DSC0125.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">It looks creepy and gory. Naturally, the boys loved it. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZwzxWQ4sBg/TrIXvWRoETI/AAAAAAAADJc/0uLiZlwnCbU/s1600/_DSC0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZwzxWQ4sBg/TrIXvWRoETI/AAAAAAAADJc/0uLiZlwnCbU/s640/_DSC0133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure what is scarier. The goblins of Halloween or the decor on these cupcakes. While they may not meet professional standards, they certainly were fun to decorate. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yD_P2tdjGMY/TrIX0Z6k48I/AAAAAAAADJo/1Z2k945tEFY/s1600/_DSC0704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yD_P2tdjGMY/TrIX0Z6k48I/AAAAAAAADJo/1Z2k945tEFY/s640/_DSC0704.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">In case all that sugar wasn't enough, we made some Halloween Candy bark, thanks to a fellow <a href="http://gingerbreadbagels.com/2011/10/18/halloween-candy-bark-smores/">blogger</a> who inspired the idea. Turns out, this is a popular method of using up extra Halloween candy (as seen on countless food blogs over the last few weeks) and I'm sure it will be in my repertoire for many holidays to come. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was as easy to make as melting chocolate chips and adding candy. Well, actually, that <i>is</i> how you make it. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hhFD-BZvKfQ/TrIX5p4YVNI/AAAAAAAADJw/OHCJ1v2CdPs/s1600/_DSC0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hhFD-BZvKfQ/TrIX5p4YVNI/AAAAAAAADJw/OHCJ1v2CdPs/s640/_DSC0108.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can add some orange melts for a little color. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-424NiuMbIsQ/TrIX9QBlxqI/AAAAAAAADJ4/lrpvz1fpJTE/s1600/_DSC0126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-424NiuMbIsQ/TrIX9QBlxqI/AAAAAAAADJ4/lrpvz1fpJTE/s640/_DSC0126.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then all your favorite Halloween candy. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-05AlGAAo5Jc/TrIYBmoHg1I/AAAAAAAADKA/Rrp1owZjR_w/s1600/_DSC0174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-05AlGAAo5Jc/TrIYBmoHg1I/AAAAAAAADKA/Rrp1owZjR_w/s640/_DSC0174.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzpl5ZUu0hA/TrIYGj-COjI/AAAAAAAADKM/khfkbr1B_sw/s1600/_DSC0176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzpl5ZUu0hA/TrIYGj-COjI/AAAAAAAADKM/khfkbr1B_sw/s640/_DSC0176.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope your spooky day looked a little something like this too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Halloween!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S9OLncFBgmQ/TrIWT9jlucI/AAAAAAAADG4/GdLGG7rdPAY/s1600/_DSC0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S9OLncFBgmQ/TrIWT9jlucI/AAAAAAAADG4/GdLGG7rdPAY/s640/_DSC0105.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or should I say, Trick or Treat!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RuQQQu_uKh4/TrIXbA05iTI/AAAAAAAADI4/2EnDU4g87vY/s1600/_DSC0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RuQQQu_uKh4/TrIXbA05iTI/AAAAAAAADI4/2EnDU4g87vY/s640/_DSC0095.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-34892248312933141982011-11-02T21:18:00.000-07:002011-11-02T21:18:25.501-07:00Road Trip on a Wordless WednesdayWe drove my car from San Francisco to Denver, through Reno, Salt Lake City and across the beautiful Rocky Mountains. And here is what we saw...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtZoQlFpYgk/TrIFie2xe4I/AAAAAAAADEk/-SBSj-UAt5g/s1600/_DSC0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtZoQlFpYgk/TrIFie2xe4I/AAAAAAAADEk/-SBSj-UAt5g/s640/_DSC0076.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-HabuoTQhI/TrIFe3fRFAI/AAAAAAAADEY/Cbzc3nXujFg/s1600/_DSC0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-HabuoTQhI/TrIFe3fRFAI/AAAAAAAADEY/Cbzc3nXujFg/s640/_DSC0081.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJdjjuFBBaA/TrIE_tmJJ0I/AAAAAAAADDY/HDUdjXiBEcc/s1600/DSC_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJdjjuFBBaA/TrIE_tmJJ0I/AAAAAAAADDY/HDUdjXiBEcc/s640/DSC_0082.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qMcopOSVUaE/TrIFD5Tp0AI/AAAAAAAADDg/klhZGin116E/s1600/_DSC0512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qMcopOSVUaE/TrIFD5Tp0AI/AAAAAAAADDg/klhZGin116E/s640/_DSC0512.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XoN4EOJaA2g/TrIFJNcwlnI/AAAAAAAADDs/00XCRa6Uyi0/s1600/_DSC0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XoN4EOJaA2g/TrIFJNcwlnI/AAAAAAAADDs/00XCRa6Uyi0/s640/_DSC0525.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">We made it home safe and sound. Goodnight</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-91448880105087023362011-10-17T20:29:00.000-07:002011-10-17T20:29:19.312-07:00New BeginningsHi there. Remember me? The California Foodie girl who shared her every bite on this blog? You do remember her? I barely do. There has been <strike>a few</strike> a lot of changes in the last few months. And it all starts with me moving to Denver, Colorado. I traded the rocky coastline of Northern California for the Rocky Mountains.<br />
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New city. <br />
New job. <br />
New house. <br />
New insta-family complete with 3 very energetic, fun little guys and one adorable big guy.<br />
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Aside from that, not much has changed :)<br />
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Before I left, my fabulous team threw me a going away party, complete with homemade sushi, chocolate dipped strawberries and one of the most creative fun cakes I've ever seen!<br />
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As I finally find some time to breathe and reflect on the last few months, I realize that the old saying "The more things change, the more they stay the same" actually rings true. Even among the craziness, my camera has not been far from my hands and my love affair with photography has continued in Colorado much like it did in California.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">In California, there are beautiful green fields to take photos of.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibaDSIPseHg/TpzRQnlDiWI/AAAAAAAAC90/QHpLPcTPgU4/s1600/_DSC0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibaDSIPseHg/TpzRQnlDiWI/AAAAAAAAC90/QHpLPcTPgU4/s640/_DSC0347.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Same in Colorado.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XnlAlOMsTG4/TpzRU_DguyI/AAAAAAAAC98/mSg-SPsGUJ4/s1600/_DSC0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XnlAlOMsTG4/TpzRU_DguyI/AAAAAAAAC98/mSg-SPsGUJ4/s640/_DSC0735.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In California, I loved taking pictures of the water.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ubfUQ3tweQk/TpzubF419rI/AAAAAAAADCs/PuMrFQ6oBX4/s1600/DSC_0766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ubfUQ3tweQk/TpzubF419rI/AAAAAAAADCs/PuMrFQ6oBX4/s640/DSC_0766.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is water in Colorado to photograph as well, but I think it is a little colder.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNv6TecO-DI/TpzRgx6cAsI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/2ARQPq75Q18/s1600/_DSC0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNv6TecO-DI/TpzRgx6cAsI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/2ARQPq75Q18/s640/_DSC0236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">California is filled with sweeping, panoramic views.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">So is Colorado.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMY8iK4LwDw/TpzRocP1epI/AAAAAAAAC-g/v2KoBIHaOGk/s1600/_DSC0715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMY8iK4LwDw/TpzRocP1epI/AAAAAAAAC-g/v2KoBIHaOGk/s640/_DSC0715.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In California, pretty yellow flowers grow, and beg to be captured in a photo.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qo5Pmrk5kH8/TpzRszBZ9ZI/AAAAAAAAC-o/5N7NxuywfE0/s1600/DSC_0327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qo5Pmrk5kH8/TpzRszBZ9ZI/AAAAAAAAC-o/5N7NxuywfE0/s640/DSC_0327.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found some in Colorado too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hye1jwCgyQ0/TpzRyIcG5ZI/AAAAAAAAC-0/9V4a0IZsAZ0/s1600/_DSC0119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hye1jwCgyQ0/TpzRyIcG5ZI/AAAAAAAAC-0/9V4a0IZsAZ0/s640/_DSC0119.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In California, there are beautiful trees, framing beautiful places. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MODbSTiUkxY/TpzR71vYwOI/AAAAAAAAC_I/ll5-AGqVQxw/s1600/DSC_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MODbSTiUkxY/TpzR71vYwOI/AAAAAAAAC_I/ll5-AGqVQxw/s640/DSC_0183.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And look, there they are in Colorado as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3EgxgkXPURs/TpzR3xy039I/AAAAAAAAC_A/rv8XlHJzru8/s1600/_DSC0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3EgxgkXPURs/TpzR3xy039I/AAAAAAAAC_A/rv8XlHJzru8/s640/_DSC0153.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And at the end of the day when the sun sets over California, the sky is painted every shade of purple. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NTfSH1tuH1A/TpztrP6Wx6I/AAAAAAAADCY/RX2zAM9-3TI/s1600/_DSC0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NTfSH1tuH1A/TpztrP6Wx6I/AAAAAAAADCY/RX2zAM9-3TI/s640/_DSC0240.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">They must have the same color pallet in Colorado. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A35z8us14AI/Tpztv6GAWFI/AAAAAAAADCg/-_L6alGW_80/s1600/_DSC0441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A35z8us14AI/Tpztv6GAWFI/AAAAAAAADCg/-_L6alGW_80/s640/_DSC0441.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">And for all these reasons, I have found my new home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-59977773082249897172011-08-04T20:26:00.000-07:002011-08-04T20:26:38.184-07:00Burger Mania<div style="text-align: center;">Hello. My name is Claire and I'm a recovering vegetarian. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v5MzweW9y8s/TjtPjd9u_6I/AAAAAAAAC6s/MHU2jBBSmYI/s1600/_DSC0666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v5MzweW9y8s/TjtPjd9u_6I/AAAAAAAAC6s/MHU2jBBSmYI/s640/_DSC0666.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I stopped eating red meat at age 16, and didn't touch the stuff for another 16 years. One day, I ate a piece of filet mignon. And then it was all over. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The reason I stopped eating meat was because I just stopped wanting to. My family went out for a steak dinner, and I remember finding the food on my plate completely unappealing. I cut out fish and chicken too, and looking back I can tell you that my food choices over the next few years weren't the greatest. Once I got to University and started studying nutrition, I experimented with beans and lentils and more vegetable than I even knew existed. I didn't miss meat at all.</div><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLtLlkSRK_M/TjtOvBlE0aI/AAAAAAAAC4o/AFtf8CPB8jk/s1600/_DSC0523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLtLlkSRK_M/TjtOvBlE0aI/AAAAAAAAC4o/AFtf8CPB8jk/s640/_DSC0523.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Over the next decade, I added and deleted various animal products more often than I bought new shoes. I tried being a vegan, but missed the parmesan cheese on my pasta. I stopped eating eggs, but missed all those delicious baked goods. I just didn't have the discipline to skip out on brownies and chocolate chip cookies. I re-introduced chicken and fish into my diet, but red meat was absent for the full 16 years.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcSFBJXFkYw/TjtVEFoW7PI/AAAAAAAAC7k/mwjnr15zbgE/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcSFBJXFkYw/TjtVEFoW7PI/AAAAAAAAC7k/mwjnr15zbgE/s640/DSC_0042.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Since the filet mignon love at first bite incident, I have been very cautious about eating red meat. Or should I say very cautious about eating cuts other than filet mignon. If that sounds pretentious and snobby, I apologize, but when you start with the best its hard to be satisfied with anything less. My cousin and I have been eating our way through the top steak houses in Las Vegas, and that was enough to satisfy my new apetite for meat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Until I started craving burgers. It started with just a bite or two of someone else's burger, but then turned into a desire to order my own. I can count the number of burgers I've eaten in the last year on one (ok, two) hands but I have a feeling the rate will increase.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The first was at <a href="http://www.legaragebistrosausalito.com/">Le Garage</a> in Sausalito. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s4AFscJWjA8/TjtWbvbGMII/AAAAAAAAC7w/HN4Ih1yW8V4/s1600/DSC04076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s4AFscJWjA8/TjtWbvbGMII/AAAAAAAAC7w/HN4Ih1yW8V4/s640/DSC04076.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4lLQHOCKK4/TjtQzQ2hc-I/AAAAAAAAC7M/VU8y6H5ha8c/s1600/DSC_0087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4lLQHOCKK4/TjtQzQ2hc-I/AAAAAAAAC7M/VU8y6H5ha8c/s640/DSC_0087.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The waiter promised me that this burger, Kobe beef with grilled onions, marbier cheese and aioli on ciabatta, would be the best I've ever had. Seeing as this was the first one I ordered for myself in two decades, he had a pretty good chance of being right. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PmQdZpHkynE/TjtQ0zYyDBI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/dhGrM3rGkg4/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PmQdZpHkynE/TjtQ0zYyDBI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/dhGrM3rGkg4/s640/DSC_0106.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Then came Hubert Keller's <a href="http://www.burger-bar.com/">Burger Bar</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GejchUAA_Yo/TjtOoLlgTJI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/U2Iz8tmbV1Q/s1600/_DSC0465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GejchUAA_Yo/TjtOoLlgTJI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/U2Iz8tmbV1Q/s640/_DSC0465.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">First in Vegas...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-rpYNYQ7fI/TjtRXsaKzVI/AAAAAAAAC7U/BtXqlUtnYOc/s1600/DSC_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-rpYNYQ7fI/TjtRXsaKzVI/AAAAAAAAC7U/BtXqlUtnYOc/s640/DSC_0190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and then again in San Francisco</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e_oo3alMVvc/TjtOfQy-teI/AAAAAAAAC4E/nOoJZBm9DV0/s1600/_DSC0365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e_oo3alMVvc/TjtOfQy-teI/AAAAAAAAC4E/nOoJZBm9DV0/s640/_DSC0365.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29GMFhfFstM/TjtOl8URC7I/AAAAAAAAC4Q/KSEacdOhUpU/s1600/_DSC0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29GMFhfFstM/TjtOl8URC7I/AAAAAAAAC4Q/KSEacdOhUpU/s640/_DSC0445.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">They had a drink special on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caipirinha">Caipirnhas</a> that I couldn't pass up. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H9FX7sTd0_4/TjtOplXfwpI/AAAAAAAAC4c/uIuO-Fb9eRk/s1600/_DSC0468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H9FX7sTd0_4/TjtOplXfwpI/AAAAAAAAC4c/uIuO-Fb9eRk/s640/_DSC0468.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ordered the Kobe Burger, topped with grilled onions, sauteed mushrooms and avocado. Delicious, but slippery. So slippery that with every bite, the toppings would escape through the back. My inexperience with burgers has left me not knowing the ideal relationship between the toppings and the bun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Served on the side, a black Perigord truffle sauce was not only a great addition to the burger, but a perfect dip for the fries. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BCoxHusv_zY/TjtOsIzq7LI/AAAAAAAAC4g/X0KZWJNmv9A/s1600/_DSC0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BCoxHusv_zY/TjtOsIzq7LI/AAAAAAAAC4g/X0KZWJNmv9A/s640/_DSC0511.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the presentation of the fries, in individual little fryer baskets. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sDAgosjnRLY/TjtO05zCcTI/AAAAAAAAC40/kR_SRxh2MPY/s1600/_DSC0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sDAgosjnRLY/TjtO05zCcTI/AAAAAAAAC40/kR_SRxh2MPY/s640/_DSC0513.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> As good as the main dish burgers are, the burger desserts are even better. Made from a donut filled with cheesecake and fruit slices, these are the perfect completion to the burger experience. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VsN4eitlBgo/TjtO83QbAmI/AAAAAAAAC5I/dxlZar8twtQ/s1600/_DSC0527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VsN4eitlBgo/TjtO83QbAmI/AAAAAAAAC5I/dxlZar8twtQ/s640/_DSC0527.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OkUV6oSbDXs/TjtO-5XnSPI/AAAAAAAAC5M/lFgli4tMpgE/s1600/_DSC0531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OkUV6oSbDXs/TjtO-5XnSPI/AAAAAAAAC5M/lFgli4tMpgE/s640/_DSC0531.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The alcoholic milkshake, with mint chocolate chip ice cream, mint liquor, whipped cream and an oreo did the job pretty well too.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JwCKOaFXbVs/TjtPAYaJ4zI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/dCEHGhaKLnA/s1600/_DSC0539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JwCKOaFXbVs/TjtPAYaJ4zI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/dCEHGhaKLnA/s640/_DSC0539.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For the those control freaks out there who want complete power over the creation of their burger, <a href="http://www.thecounterburger.com/">The Counter </a>is the place for you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MHsYsszhYOc/TjtPEAyNmsI/AAAAAAAAC5c/RRLw2TyleSA/s1600/_DSC0582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MHsYsszhYOc/TjtPEAyNmsI/AAAAAAAAC5c/RRLw2TyleSA/s640/_DSC0582.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can dine in...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mokbzCMir40/TjtPMP3U9rI/AAAAAAAAC5w/c_ZaUyvYwxQ/s1600/_DSC0591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mokbzCMir40/TjtPMP3U9rI/AAAAAAAAC5w/c_ZaUyvYwxQ/s640/_DSC0591.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">or take out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q97Ig_cGlro/TjtPJ1GJL3I/AAAAAAAAC5s/FOPl7WTC2lY/s1600/_DSC0570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q97Ig_cGlro/TjtPJ1GJL3I/AAAAAAAAC5s/FOPl7WTC2lY/s640/_DSC0570.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And everything is custom made. Even the drinks!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_hWmZFUNp4/TjtPQHgamkI/AAAAAAAAC58/-v9W3u7gHiE/s1600/_DSC0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_hWmZFUNp4/TjtPQHgamkI/AAAAAAAAC58/-v9W3u7gHiE/s640/_DSC0563.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2M9AoR3OwI/TjtPTOjk5OI/AAAAAAAAC6A/NbGDFAwrMYk/s1600/_DSC0574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2M9AoR3OwI/TjtPTOjk5OI/AAAAAAAAC6A/NbGDFAwrMYk/s640/_DSC0574.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The topping selection is very impressive, from fried eggs, to dried cranberries, and every sauce imaginable (I was torn between the tzatziki and peanut sauce). This menu is sure to please the most selective of people, while stressing out those of us that just can't decide... I was guilty of the latter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WRr0X65c34/TjtPNtopU4I/AAAAAAAAC54/eVgOtkkbpw0/s1600/_DSC0560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WRr0X65c34/TjtPNtopU4I/AAAAAAAAC54/eVgOtkkbpw0/s640/_DSC0560.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Having clearly not learned, I ordered my burger with grilled onions and sauteed mushrooms. I left off the avocado, thinking maybe that was the culprit. Nope. Still slippery. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Delicious? Yes. But slippery just the same. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VJdWU3c5gs/TjtPbqBKFsI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/yqBqEkCPCGU/s1600/_DSC0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VJdWU3c5gs/TjtPbqBKFsI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/yqBqEkCPCGU/s640/_DSC0607.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">They offer "fifty-fifty"side dishes. We chose the skinny fries and onion strings. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cTj0lURwQUg/TjtPdb9AQaI/AAAAAAAAC6c/m_StQ1CkLhk/s1600/_DSC0605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cTj0lURwQUg/TjtPdb9AQaI/AAAAAAAAC6c/m_StQ1CkLhk/s640/_DSC0605.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And finally, what kind of Californian would I be if I didn't mention <a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/">In-N-Out burger</a>? In-N-Out is a crowd favorite, especially to those who don't live in a state lucky enough to have one. The lines are always out the door, and it is a must-stop for many tourists. If you don't know about them, I suggest you follow the link and educate yourself about a cult classic. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQG_H2DR4SQ/TjtPfqTDShI/AAAAAAAAC6g/lFNGloXSGUQ/s1600/_DSC0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQG_H2DR4SQ/TjtPfqTDShI/AAAAAAAAC6g/lFNGloXSGUQ/s640/_DSC0664.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Their menu is simple. Hamburgers, cheeseburgers and fries. At least that is all that is posted on the menu board. There is a "secret" menu, which is not so secret anymore, that includes some variations on the burgers including the 4x4 and animal style. Being a purist, I stuck to the simple hamburger with a side of fries.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQMn63QG2wE/TjtPlm8irWI/AAAAAAAAC6w/ML2Jdf38Mmk/s1600/_DSC0668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQMn63QG2wE/TjtPlm8irWI/AAAAAAAAC6w/ML2Jdf38Mmk/s640/_DSC0668.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> The fries are all freshly made, and you can watch them slice potatoes in the back and toss them straight into the oil as you wait for your burger. And trust me, you will have to wait. But I promise it is worth it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OJZDXUyUKP8/TjtPsMNWv4I/AAAAAAAAC7A/qvzao-JoREY/s1600/_DSC0674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OJZDXUyUKP8/TjtPsMNWv4I/AAAAAAAAC7A/qvzao-JoREY/s640/_DSC0674.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Hello. My name is Claire and I'm a recovering vegetarian.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-64178251811708611192011-07-06T21:21:00.000-07:002011-07-06T21:21:25.040-07:00Red, white and yellow?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_C5gCHX5-4I/ThUL4d_5YcI/AAAAAAAACww/eZ53K3Kg-iU/s1600/_DSC0862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_C5gCHX5-4I/ThUL4d_5YcI/AAAAAAAACww/eZ53K3Kg-iU/s640/_DSC0862.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know, I know...it is supposed to be red, white and blue for the Fourth of July. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHOVFsCsh1w/ThUMEI9ld4I/AAAAAAAACxM/fTbjilNov2o/s1600/_DSC1162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHOVFsCsh1w/ThUMEI9ld4I/AAAAAAAACxM/fTbjilNov2o/s640/_DSC1162.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But as I was perusing through the many food blogs that I follow, I came across a post about grilled fruit skewers and I knew I had to try them. I would love to give that blogger credit, but unfortunately after extensive searching, I could not find the recipe again. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Good news, this one won't melt in the rain. If you are scratching your head right now and don't know what I am talking about, <a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/macarthur-park-lyrics-richard-harris.html">click here</a> for some classic old song lyrics lamenting a cake in the park, ruined by the rain. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back to the skewers. I had the red. Fresh strawberries that are wonderfully in season right now. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_lFx43zG35Y/ThULXyBDJrI/AAAAAAAACvw/foo0MZXdKaU/s1600/_DSC0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_lFx43zG35Y/ThULXyBDJrI/AAAAAAAACvw/foo0MZXdKaU/s640/_DSC0749.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I had the white. Well, that is if you allow me a little artistic license. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nA-rdb7c2qw/ThULnjL34mI/AAAAAAAACwE/is7P-ImDDwA/s1600/_DSC0818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nA-rdb7c2qw/ThULnjL34mI/AAAAAAAACwE/is7P-ImDDwA/s640/_DSC0818.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But sadly pineapples don't come in blue. I really wanted to try grilling them so in a very unpatriotic gesture (I'm Canadian anyhow), I sacrificed the traditional colors in favor of taste. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WQUB5snYroQ/ThUMl-4NHkI/AAAAAAAACxo/NGwdx2s304o/s1600/_DSC0753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WQUB5snYroQ/ThUMl-4NHkI/AAAAAAAACxo/NGwdx2s304o/s640/_DSC0753.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> I cut up the fruit and managed to save enough to actually use. It was so refreshingly good that <strike>a few</strike>, many pieces ended up in my mouth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOHETV_Gh4E/ThULj1WLPqI/AAAAAAAACwA/LMAkb7XX0Eg/s1600/_DSC0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOHETV_Gh4E/ThULj1WLPqI/AAAAAAAACwA/LMAkb7XX0Eg/s640/_DSC0772.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I made a sauce out of honey, thinned down with banana flavored rum. Hey, what can I say? Those were the ingredients available. And a chef always makes do with the available resources. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ea9wWnk-Z1g/ThULqdokR6I/AAAAAAAACwM/wyfDyOuQxxU/s1600/_DSC0787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ea9wWnk-Z1g/ThULqdokR6I/AAAAAAAACwM/wyfDyOuQxxU/s640/_DSC0787.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The fruit was lined up on the skewers, brushed with the sweet marinade and placed on the grill. </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The edges of the pineapples caramelized beautifully, and they were the star (and stripes, ha ha) of the dish. It was definitely a unique and fun way to serve dessert, and I look forward to trying other fruit on the grill. Maybe next time I can do a better job of keeping to the traditional holiday colors. Anyone interested in black grapes and orange slices for Halloween? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lastly, it wouldn't be the Fourth of July without fireworks! Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-39806778625940115352011-06-28T20:02:00.000-07:002011-06-29T09:23:08.804-07:00Happy BlogiversaryOne year ago today I started my blog. One year, 49 posts. On one hand it seems like only yesterday, but when I look back to all the food, the photos, and the memories a year hardly seems long enough to hold them all. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3SpEPQHA_Yc/TgqUjEKhxiI/AAAAAAAACvY/xP4CyeG94hU/s1600/_DSC0500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3SpEPQHA_Yc/TgqUjEKhxiI/AAAAAAAACvY/xP4CyeG94hU/s640/_DSC0500.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
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I started My Food Life after I saw <a href="http://kitchen-em.blogspot.com/">Kitchen-Em</a>, a blog written by a friend and fellow dietitian. I was mesmerized by her beautiful photos and immediately knew it was something I wanted to do. In fact, I was sort of disappointed in myself that it hadn't occurred to me earlier. I love all things food, and I especially love talking about food, so what better hobby could I find? What I didn't realize at the time is what a huge impact blogging would have on my life. I know that sounds dramatic and very cliche, but it is true. Here is why....<br />
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First of all, it is fun. My blog helps to chronicle my food adventures and serves as a momento of good times with friends and family. It is a creative outlet that allows me express myself, share my experiences, tell stories and sometimes even educate on a topic that is near and dear to my heart. It is very gratifying for me to put time and effort into something I am passionate about, in a manner that is productive and meaningful. Actually, as I'm writing this I realize that my career in foodservice allows me the same thing, but this way I get to include pictures. :)<br />
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Blogging has pushed me deeper into the culinary world and has encouraged me to do more with food. It tempts me to try new recipes, experiment with ingredients, explore restaurants and find unique ways to share my love of food. I follow many food blogs, and perusing through their photos and stories is both inspirational and educational. Through them, I have learned so much about cuisine and capturing the essence of food and eating. I always enjoyed cooking, but now I find myself creating in the kitchen as much for the blog as for my desire to eat. It's actually a bit of a circular cause and effect. I love food, therefore I blog about food. Through blogging, I learn new things about food, blog about it, and I end up loving it even more.... <br />
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The other outcome of food blogging is that it has rekindled my interest (though underdeveloped) in photography. Inevitably, simply taking pictures of food wasn't enough and it led to me wanting to truly learn about photography. I've taken a few courses, both live and on-line, and my evening television viewing has been replaced with hours pouring over websites and blogs devoted to mastering the craft. Looking through the lens has caused me to see the world differently. I pay more attention to my surroundings, and I am constantly seeking the best light and angles as I'm composing photos in my mind. It is a beautiful art, and I am humbled by the many wonderful photographers whose blogs and photo sites I follow. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idm9FNkSncA/TgqVC7PiAyI/AAAAAAAACvk/nY8w-QsnD3U/s1600/_DSC0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idm9FNkSncA/TgqVC7PiAyI/AAAAAAAACvk/nY8w-QsnD3U/s640/_DSC0356.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Thank you to my wonderful boyfriend for always being the first one to read a new post, for encouraging me and for believing in my talent and abilities right from the beginning. <br />
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Thank you to my Mom for always contributing comments on my posts disguised as Teranga, the family cat. <br />
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Thank you to my Dad for giving me the photographer gene and engaging in lots and lots of shop talk.<br />
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Thank you to my friends and family who are brave enough to dine with me and my camera, and who patiently wait to touch the food until I have gotten the perfect shot. <br />
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Thank you to my co-workers for indulging me and being loyal followers (especially because I stand over their computers and watch them as they read my posts.)<br />
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And thank you to my fellow food bloggers, my foodie friends, who have inspired me, who teach me, and who have let me into their virtual kitchens.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Time to start another year of <i>living the food life</i>. <br />
Bon appetit!<br />
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.CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-85859111425623574992011-06-19T20:38:00.000-07:002011-06-19T20:38:28.219-07:00Eat, Drink, Banff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is one of many gorgeous views in Banff National Park in The Canadian Rockies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-woKAVtUQUWk/TfV1vAqauNI/AAAAAAAACqc/PtDJKMo0muU/s1600/DSC_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-woKAVtUQUWk/TfV1vAqauNI/AAAAAAAACqc/PtDJKMo0muU/s640/DSC_0277.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not bad, eh?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P_UTqvZqRHQ/Tf6zMFGM4TI/AAAAAAAACu4/_2ssNi4hFJQ/s1600/DSC_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P_UTqvZqRHQ/Tf6zMFGM4TI/AAAAAAAACu4/_2ssNi4hFJQ/s640/DSC_0469.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And this is the view down Banff Ave, the main street in the alpine town of Banff, Alberta. If you look closely, you will find the t-shirt store and various restaurants where my friends at I worked during our summer breaks from university just a few years ago. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QZ_p2vvsj0o/TfV13QxwqkI/AAAAAAAACqo/Gar-eh_bYCQ/s1600/DSC_0532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QZ_p2vvsj0o/TfV13QxwqkI/AAAAAAAACqo/Gar-eh_bYCQ/s640/DSC_0532.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OK, I'll admit it. It is actually 19 years ago. Where did the time fly to? Barely 18 years old, my girlfriend Dodo and I went to Banff with a one-way ticket and a sense of adventure. Once there, we met a Russian cranberry, and the three of us were inseparable. We got jobs and a place to stay and spent our summer working, playing and having the time of our lives. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuEBeSlSbps/Tf6sO74gOaI/AAAAAAAACuo/umTY2WvciR8/s1600/0006tq.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuEBeSlSbps/Tf6sO74gOaI/AAAAAAAACuo/umTY2WvciR8/s640/0006tq.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After this many years, we were due for a reunion so the three of us met for a long weekend. We set out to do all the things we never did when we actually lived there, having neither the time nor the money to take advantage of all the area has to offer. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C19e9eyUzOA/TfV4_qqSN8I/AAAAAAAACs0/HuTYmJewhCY/s1600/DSC_0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C19e9eyUzOA/TfV4_qqSN8I/AAAAAAAACs0/HuTYmJewhCY/s640/DSC_0266.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First stop? Beautiful Lake Louise. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahTM91voKu0/TfV1-4RV2uI/AAAAAAAACq4/8RDudmYDW8k/s1600/DSC_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahTM91voKu0/TfV1-4RV2uI/AAAAAAAACq4/8RDudmYDW8k/s640/DSC_0179.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VRR8lVmCW58/Tf6sMmEcGBI/AAAAAAAACug/vTPCjKJtYl4/s1600/0004Bd.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VRR8lVmCW58/Tf6sMmEcGBI/AAAAAAAACug/vTPCjKJtYl4/s640/0004Bd.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">We visited the <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/lakelouise">Chateau Lake Louise</a>, where Ms. Cranberry and I actually met and worked very briefly. This time, we chose to eat in the lobby lounge instead of the staff cafeteria. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IN162AByWao/Tf6sK5hI5SI/AAAAAAAACuY/1T5PMjJGNxg/s1600/0002BI.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="465" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IN162AByWao/Tf6sK5hI5SI/AAAAAAAACuY/1T5PMjJGNxg/s640/0002BI.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We started with a flight of wine, appropriately named A Taste of Canada. Think Global, Drink Local.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-33iHk40Ws0Q/Tf6sJ_DvHzI/AAAAAAAACuU/PQHIJkZndm0/s1600/0001Os.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-33iHk40Ws0Q/Tf6sJ_DvHzI/AAAAAAAACuU/PQHIJkZndm0/s640/0001Os.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Feeling the mountain vibe, we ordered the Rocky Mountain Antipasto Platter. It was a plate overflowing with locally air dried beef & duck, venison salami & chimney sticks along with grilled artichokes, pickled beets, mushrooms, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appenzeller_(cheese)">Appenzellar cheese</a>, and hazelnut crusted goat cheese. It just seemed like the right thing to be eating at that moment. And it was. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxB2LQLmjr0/TfV2CrndlNI/AAAAAAAACrI/3rWBaE8k7LM/s1600/DSC_0227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxB2LQLmjr0/TfV2CrndlNI/AAAAAAAACrI/3rWBaE8k7LM/s640/DSC_0227.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also ordered the Red Quinoa Tabouleh Salad, flavoured with mint and Italian parsley relish. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the Local Hot House Tomato Bruschetta with roasted red peppers, vine ripened tomatoes and Alberta feta cheese.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YGCpSgGOEAU/TfV2Jodvw6I/AAAAAAAACrU/yy06-MJYa9Y/s1600/DSC_0228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YGCpSgGOEAU/TfV2Jodvw6I/AAAAAAAACrU/yy06-MJYa9Y/s640/DSC_0228.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Next stop was for drinks at <a href="http://www.earls.ca/">Earl's</a>, the restaurant at which we most coveted a waitressing job. Back then, it was a fun, lively, brightly painted hangout with parrots hanging from the ceiling. It was always busy, especially on Margarita Mondays. <br />
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This is how it looked 19 years later. <br />
I guess we weren't the only things to mature. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdabgH0eO6c/TfWBmRRIyVI/AAAAAAAACs4/2wHxkVCOYC4/s1600/DSC_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdabgH0eO6c/TfWBmRRIyVI/AAAAAAAACs4/2wHxkVCOYC4/s640/DSC_0076.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It didn't stop us from settling in and ordering some Sangria and appetizers. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hlTCjtQ8Khg/Tf6sQp6iVLI/AAAAAAAACuw/3wSrxepynuI/s1600/0008XB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hlTCjtQ8Khg/Tf6sQp6iVLI/AAAAAAAACuw/3wSrxepynuI/s640/0008XB.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">We snacked on warm spinach and feta dip, with aged white cheddar and artichokes. We also sampled the shrimp and ginger goyza, served with Japanese mustard and spicy ponzu sauce.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7q0dCeBwVQ/TfV2PkbFxtI/AAAAAAAACrk/LDoKill2eVU/s1600/DSC_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7q0dCeBwVQ/TfV2PkbFxtI/AAAAAAAACrk/LDoKill2eVU/s640/DSC_0096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We threw in a few edamame beans for good measure. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bil9wwc6_nI/TfV2S2gwijI/AAAAAAAACro/2rc8pXazW20/s1600/DSC_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bil9wwc6_nI/TfV2S2gwijI/AAAAAAAACro/2rc8pXazW20/s640/DSC_0097.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ajHJiDTZjxo/TfV2WEqRi3I/AAAAAAAACrw/gUZsHY704_E/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ajHJiDTZjxo/TfV2WEqRi3I/AAAAAAAACrw/gUZsHY704_E/s640/DSC_0099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">We then set out to explore the "new" hotel, the <a href="http://www.rimrockresort.com/">Rimrock Resort</a>. In reality, it has been there almost 20 years but since it opened as we were leaving town it is the new kid on the block as far as we were concerned. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m__OAEYflTM/TfV2bACpcNI/AAAAAAAACr4/ITWmKy230PA/s1600/DSC_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m__OAEYflTM/TfV2bACpcNI/AAAAAAAACr4/ITWmKy230PA/s640/DSC_0347.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made ourselves comfortable in the lobby, complete with floor to ceiling windows, and overstuffed old leather chairs.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4SqPhGwO_Ko/TfV2cm2W3tI/AAAAAAAACr8/KMUOw6Og-8c/s1600/0002bB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4SqPhGwO_Ko/TfV2cm2W3tI/AAAAAAAACr8/KMUOw6Og-8c/s640/0002bB.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We selected from the spring cocktail menu, and enjoyed Mandarin Breeze martinis. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pr8Ua7C2sT8/TfV2ei04luI/AAAAAAAACsA/beoo5YMFZM8/s1600/DSC_0370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pr8Ua7C2sT8/TfV2ei04luI/AAAAAAAACsA/beoo5YMFZM8/s640/DSC_0370.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have fond memories of eating nachos in Banff (at a restaurant that sadly is no longer there), so we wanted to re-create the experience. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qO8s0vr_BsU/TfV2ljnM1tI/AAAAAAAACsQ/S-Bhx2xbln8/s1600/DSC_0373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qO8s0vr_BsU/TfV2ljnM1tI/AAAAAAAACsQ/S-Bhx2xbln8/s640/DSC_0373.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LLTKKQ4iHsM/TfV2pH_S4gI/AAAAAAAACsU/3N9l4C1AOGk/s1600/DSC_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LLTKKQ4iHsM/TfV2pH_S4gI/AAAAAAAACsU/3N9l4C1AOGk/s640/DSC_0376.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Even though we were spending most of our time in the upscale gorgeous resorts, we hadn't forgotten how we lived back in the day. That would be in local bars drinking our favourite Rocky Mountain beer, <a href="http://www.kokaneebeer.ca/">Kokanee</a>. We stopped in at <a href="http://roseandcrown.ca/">The Rose and Crown </a>for a mid afternoon drink on the rooftop patio. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dZ4UcGAcjkM/TfV2slrDnJI/AAAAAAAACsY/j6mlOPZRt4o/s1600/DSC_0445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dZ4UcGAcjkM/TfV2slrDnJI/AAAAAAAACsY/j6mlOPZRt4o/s640/DSC_0445.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cheers!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Og735gj7kwc/TfV2v67KEUI/AAAAAAAACsg/XLZrbWwhvhg/s1600/DSC_0446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Og735gj7kwc/TfV2v67KEUI/AAAAAAAACsg/XLZrbWwhvhg/s640/DSC_0446.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have you heard of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_(cocktail)">Bloody Caesar</a>? It is similar to a Bloody Mary but made with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clamato">Clamato juice</a> instead of tomato juice. I didn't realize until that weekend, but the Caesar is a Canadian specialty, and was actually created nearby in Calgary. Although I haven't attempted to, it is difficult to find this cocktail in the states. One more reason to love Canada!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1wlaF-IVoNU/TfV2zcFZYXI/AAAAAAAACsk/uBz5Lp-YIz0/s1600/DSC_0455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1wlaF-IVoNU/TfV2zcFZYXI/AAAAAAAACsk/uBz5Lp-YIz0/s640/DSC_0455.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> No visit to Banff would be complete without the late night eats. In fact, I'm pretty sure that is when the majority of our "dining" occurred. The only meals we can remember eating together (while not at work), were late snacks after the bars closed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-lCLJ_72v0/Tf6sNuCJdAI/AAAAAAAACuk/suJnWUSOsHc/s1600/0005NU.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-lCLJ_72v0/Tf6sNuCJdAI/AAAAAAAACuk/suJnWUSOsHc/s640/0005NU.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We were thrilled to discover that <a href="http://www.aardvarkpizza.com/">Aardvark's</a> is still open and serving up pizza slices and subs until 4am. Exactly how we remembered it. <br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Jn6rnXcgec/Tf6sP_8WGZI/AAAAAAAACus/NpwXoX_2R80/s1600/0007AR.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Jn6rnXcgec/Tf6sP_8WGZI/AAAAAAAACus/NpwXoX_2R80/s640/0007AR.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a fabulous weekend trip down memory lane, and I'm glad we got to experience our beloved Banff with a more mature set of eyes (and pockets). I don't think we will wait another 19 years to visit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Why would we if we could meet for a drink here... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sx_7SkWsh5A/TfV259jZjVI/AAAAAAAACss/-rwm00fmlp0/s1600/DSC_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sx_7SkWsh5A/TfV259jZjVI/AAAAAAAACss/-rwm00fmlp0/s640/DSC_0493.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Editor's note: All the "u"s were included in words such as flavour and favourite as an tribute to my Canadian roots. If only my spell checker would stop fighting me on it. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-4667344572814603922011-06-13T21:56:00.000-07:002011-06-13T21:56:15.739-07:00Pasta, Pronto<div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes the best dishes are the quickest and easiest. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes quick and easy gets it done. Even in a food blog. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLDnuIuveoE/Tfbf520hjpI/AAAAAAAACtA/ZXQhxyWiiaU/s1600/_DSC0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLDnuIuveoE/Tfbf520hjpI/AAAAAAAACtA/ZXQhxyWiiaU/s640/_DSC0101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I started with some grape tomatoes.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--aGSVX6UXNg/Tfbf-Ko72HI/AAAAAAAACtE/CRX2VbBAHLY/s1600/_DSC0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--aGSVX6UXNg/Tfbf-Ko72HI/AAAAAAAACtE/CRX2VbBAHLY/s640/_DSC0072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Threw them in a pan with some olive oil, garlic and basil.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49yGFdW7jL0/TfbgGQb7cSI/AAAAAAAACtM/zohRn2byXcY/s1600/_DSC0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49yGFdW7jL0/TfbgGQb7cSI/AAAAAAAACtM/zohRn2byXcY/s640/_DSC0080.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tossed in some lemon pepper pappardelle, and a little of the pasta water (a trick I learned to help thicken the sauce.)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c45nQFpM3ow/TfbgONBho-I/AAAAAAAACtQ/4m15UxI9JNg/s1600/_DSC0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c45nQFpM3ow/TfbgONBho-I/AAAAAAAACtQ/4m15UxI9JNg/s640/_DSC0088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dished it up.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fLuiCn7eWbM/TfbgW67sdKI/AAAAAAAACtY/SgF9xTyG0TA/s1600/_DSC0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fLuiCn7eWbM/TfbgW67sdKI/AAAAAAAACtY/SgF9xTyG0TA/s640/_DSC0091.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Added some parmesan cheese and freshly cracked pepper.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9plo4-3rnc/TfbgfyOpIKI/AAAAAAAACtc/JO47-DN0n00/s1600/_DSC0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9plo4-3rnc/TfbgfyOpIKI/AAAAAAAACtc/JO47-DN0n00/s640/_DSC0093.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Twirled and enjoyed. It was delicious.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KvdpmhchYrM/TfbglBfz8-I/AAAAAAAACtg/UIhauexpDK0/s1600/_DSC0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KvdpmhchYrM/TfbglBfz8-I/AAAAAAAACtg/UIhauexpDK0/s640/_DSC0106.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It doesn't get much simpler than that. And today, that is just what I needed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-51844287456578783852011-06-09T21:36:00.000-07:002011-06-09T21:49:52.376-07:00Grilling in the Rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We haven't exactly had nice weather here in Northern California.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dgcZ2ItWqyA/TfGC6hvqyjI/AAAAAAAACp8/hbzJEgC72X0/s1600/DSC_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dgcZ2ItWqyA/TfGC6hvqyjI/AAAAAAAACp8/hbzJEgC72X0/s640/DSC_0141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> There has been way too much rain for my liking. Despite the fact that I grew up where rain is perfectly normal in the summer months, I now have very little tolerance for wet weather after May.</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t0Mta_VAsKg/TfGAr5AyM_I/AAAAAAAACmo/EFzyL_WTVpY/s1600/DSC_0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t0Mta_VAsKg/TfGAr5AyM_I/AAAAAAAACmo/EFzyL_WTVpY/s640/DSC_0206.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I wasn't going to let it interfere with my desire to BBQ, or grill out as my boyfriend says. There actually is a difference between bar-b-quing and grilling, but I'd like some poetic license to use them interchangeably. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4J5xgATXxTI/TfGApijuSSI/AAAAAAAACmk/4gi9eSXpqes/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4J5xgATXxTI/TfGApijuSSI/AAAAAAAACmk/4gi9eSXpqes/s640/DSC_0148.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Speaking of the boyfriend, he informed me the other day that he would like a nickname for my blog instead of being referred to as "my boyfriend". So here goes. <br />
<br />
Starting today, the part of my boyfriend will now be played by Captain McBlack.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> You are probably wondering where that nickname comes from. Well, he is half Irish, was an infantry officer in the US Army, has the word "black" in his last name in another language and eats Captain Crunch for breakfast. The last one is a lucky coincidence. I really didn't want to call him "snap", "crackle" or "pop". </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Anyhow, back to grilling... I bought Captain McBlack this book to kick off our summer grilling and inspire us to try some new recipes. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BvDHSys9kpE/TfGAtyni7DI/AAAAAAAACms/c2TelE2xkTI/s1600/DSC_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BvDHSys9kpE/TfGAtyni7DI/AAAAAAAACms/c2TelE2xkTI/s640/DSC_0160.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We poured a drink (a delicious new discovery of wild tea flavored vodka and lemonade) and perused the grilling bible. It was the kind of refreshing cocktail you would want on a hot summer day. <br />
Whenever those arrive. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-deefL508eUk/TfGAwE81vZI/AAAAAAAACmw/HFv8b2q4KZo/s1600/DSC_0157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-deefL508eUk/TfGAwE81vZI/AAAAAAAACmw/HFv8b2q4KZo/s640/DSC_0157.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first fascinating tip we learned was that adding ice cold water to the hamburger meat will increase juiciness. I don't eat bacon, but the captain added it along with grated cheese to his burger. I'm pretty sure that just increases yumminess. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9SK4fKEUOUo/TfGBD_BFdaI/AAAAAAAACnk/2cvajqPGqDQ/s1600/DSC_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9SK4fKEUOUo/TfGBD_BFdaI/AAAAAAAACnk/2cvajqPGqDQ/s640/DSC_0190.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However, I do eat turkey bacon. I've never tried it wrapped around hot dogs, but it sounded like a perfectly good idea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2oo8CLgQRsw/TfGA-KClrmI/AAAAAAAACnY/KOogNBw3k8Q/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2oo8CLgQRsw/TfGA-KClrmI/AAAAAAAACnY/KOogNBw3k8Q/s640/DSC_0169.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">One with regular bacon, one with turkey bacon. I sense that we will be needing a larger fridge for our diverse tastes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8GGIrs_y5c/TfGBBE25spI/AAAAAAAACnc/wXGo4IqZdNA/s1600/DSC_0175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8GGIrs_y5c/TfGBBE25spI/AAAAAAAACnc/wXGo4IqZdNA/s640/DSC_0175.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since I love brussel sprouts, I decided to try grilling them. Why not? I've cooked them every other way.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3xDRfJSJvpY/TfGAyOyMc5I/AAAAAAAACm0/3esguMazKE8/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3xDRfJSJvpY/TfGAyOyMc5I/AAAAAAAACm0/3esguMazKE8/s640/DSC_0137.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper was all I added for seasoning. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YgdDS948IPc/TfGA0ag9EqI/AAAAAAAACm4/xldnJ2U5rcM/s1600/DSC_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YgdDS948IPc/TfGA0ag9EqI/AAAAAAAACm4/xldnJ2U5rcM/s640/DSC_0143.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Let the grilling begin!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N3-UigWWTE0/TfGA45Xs_JI/AAAAAAAACnI/GxRLitirApg/s1600/DSC_0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N3-UigWWTE0/TfGA45Xs_JI/AAAAAAAACnI/GxRLitirApg/s640/DSC_0191.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgWwV4ylgy4/TfGBG0RtKrI/AAAAAAAACns/Y6VSXKtpKOY/s1600/DSC_0209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgWwV4ylgy4/TfGBG0RtKrI/AAAAAAAACns/Y6VSXKtpKOY/s640/DSC_0209.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3UaoKLOW90A/TfGBJ8NFZTI/AAAAAAAACn0/6mZBYE18qHk/s1600/DSC_0212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3UaoKLOW90A/TfGBJ8NFZTI/AAAAAAAACn0/6mZBYE18qHk/s640/DSC_0212.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cBRG-Po-l54/TfGBNBLdbOI/AAAAAAAACn8/u5XNRbZVBNI/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cBRG-Po-l54/TfGBNBLdbOI/AAAAAAAACn8/u5XNRbZVBNI/s640/DSC_0213.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eozIxYOndYE/TfGBP-4oleI/AAAAAAAACoE/zr4t1FoMUf0/s1600/DSC_0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eozIxYOndYE/TfGBP-4oleI/AAAAAAAACoE/zr4t1FoMUf0/s640/DSC_0211.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-iUkw7IQhk/TfGBS43DetI/AAAAAAAACoI/ju6PMxzvVMk/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-iUkw7IQhk/TfGBS43DetI/AAAAAAAACoI/ju6PMxzvVMk/s640/DSC_0214.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kY3Kshzi5u8/TfGBW8bz7FI/AAAAAAAACoM/kg6etIU22TA/s1600/DSC_0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kY3Kshzi5u8/TfGBW8bz7FI/AAAAAAAACoM/kg6etIU22TA/s640/DSC_0216.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jALjjQ8hiTA/TfGBY_89UDI/AAAAAAAACoU/GmztP9c_uvI/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jALjjQ8hiTA/TfGBY_89UDI/AAAAAAAACoU/GmztP9c_uvI/s640/DSC_0194.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ica0UhemhtQ/TfGBbw9EXHI/AAAAAAAACoY/0oLChEEFIBU/s1600/DSC_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ica0UhemhtQ/TfGBbw9EXHI/AAAAAAAACoY/0oLChEEFIBU/s640/DSC_0219.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">By far, this was one of the juiciest burgers I've ever had. I'm willing to give credit to the ice water, and will definitely be trying that trick again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ji_KF2OjiY/TfGBe9r5JPI/AAAAAAAACog/MbHBQL6yVQg/s1600/DSC_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ji_KF2OjiY/TfGBe9r5JPI/AAAAAAAACog/MbHBQL6yVQg/s640/DSC_0222.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R_zuhrKeMbs/TfGBh06PaSI/AAAAAAAACoo/dYLEwMUmDBY/s1600/DSC_0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R_zuhrKeMbs/TfGBh06PaSI/AAAAAAAACoo/dYLEwMUmDBY/s640/DSC_0224.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2MrmeGB1yA/TfGcozPoBdI/AAAAAAAACqY/L-wGpfm0lAo/s1600/DSC_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2MrmeGB1yA/TfGcozPoBdI/AAAAAAAACqY/L-wGpfm0lAo/s640/DSC_0197.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the bacon wrapped hot dog? Fabulous. How is it possible that I didn't think of this trick earlier?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sbg8paqE35I/TfGBk3CslBI/AAAAAAAACos/4-22y2MLNYM/s1600/DSC_0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sbg8paqE35I/TfGBk3CslBI/AAAAAAAACos/4-22y2MLNYM/s640/DSC_0226.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As soon as we were finished grilling, the rain stopped and the sun came out. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m3fRQjT7DXs/TfGBz66NoVI/AAAAAAAACpU/3mq_7tdri18/s1600/DSC_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m3fRQjT7DXs/TfGBz66NoVI/AAAAAAAACpU/3mq_7tdri18/s640/DSC_0299.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Maybe summer is here after all.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KznX9FRy8Zw/TfGB2w_VgJI/AAAAAAAACpY/zfZjoVNMQkg/s1600/DSC_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KznX9FRy8Zw/TfGB2w_VgJI/AAAAAAAACpY/zfZjoVNMQkg/s640/DSC_0308.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-2457570693244341192011-06-02T00:31:00.000-07:002011-06-14T12:49:30.402-07:00Eating Our Way through Bodega Bay<div style="text-align: center;">On Memorial Day we did what any Californian would do. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We jumped in the car, and drove to the coast. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nUnOO4ZA1nQ/TecnxkWVxFI/AAAAAAAACjU/Xp8x2pG6Vgw/s1600/0001Gt.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nUnOO4ZA1nQ/TecnxkWVxFI/AAAAAAAACjU/Xp8x2pG6Vgw/s640/0001Gt.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Ok, so maybe not every Californian would choose to spend their day in such a manner, but I can't get enough of the ocean. I love inhaling the salty, fresh air. I am soothed by the sound of crashing waves. I am hypnotized by the jagged rocky coastline. And I adore exploring the local quaint shops and eateries.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-esQMYlD76ug/TecnwtN6plI/AAAAAAAACjQ/wfp7IvsykpI/s1600/DSC_0757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-esQMYlD76ug/TecnwtN6plI/AAAAAAAACjQ/wfp7IvsykpI/s640/DSC_0757.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We drove north and ended up in <a href="http://www.bodegabay.com/index.php">Bodega Bay</a>, along the Sonoma Coast.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-flJnb--E2GM/TecnzgiJPBI/AAAAAAAACjY/nPuQLQYn9dA/s1600/DSC_0640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-flJnb--E2GM/TecnzgiJPBI/AAAAAAAACjY/nPuQLQYn9dA/s640/DSC_0640.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We stopped at <a href="http://www.gourmetaubay.com/">Gourmet au Bay</a>, for a little wine tasting, or wine surfing as they refer to it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i6oz7Sq_kQQ/TecqjsfgjoI/AAAAAAAAClk/Iv_CckgGPWs/s1600/DSC_0736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i6oz7Sq_kQQ/TecqjsfgjoI/AAAAAAAAClk/Iv_CckgGPWs/s640/DSC_0736.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The selection was huge and we couldn't decide...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpGr7ClZiRY/Tecn6ukTNPI/AAAAAAAACjk/No8SsgEDwQc/s1600/DSC_0637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpGr7ClZiRY/Tecn6ukTNPI/AAAAAAAACjk/No8SsgEDwQc/s640/DSC_0637.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y98T-isbrJU/Tecn8pNER7I/AAAAAAAACjw/upaJwozBkQE/s1600/DSC_0658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y98T-isbrJU/Tecn8pNER7I/AAAAAAAACjw/upaJwozBkQE/s640/DSC_0658.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...so we ordered one of each. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Oh6Pc1Sbgc/Tecn-q13aOI/AAAAAAAACj0/NStOleuwkVc/s1600/DSC_0642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Oh6Pc1Sbgc/Tecn-q13aOI/AAAAAAAACj0/NStOleuwkVc/s640/DSC_0642.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The flights each came in handcrafted wooden wine surf boards. I tried really hard to find a reason to buy one, but sadly I couldn't justify the need to serve wine in such a whimsical manner. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpu79kaMD1s/TecoAwNHnWI/AAAAAAAACj4/i736ajFowGs/s1600/DSC_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpu79kaMD1s/TecoAwNHnWI/AAAAAAAACj4/i736ajFowGs/s640/DSC_0648.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What wine tasting isn't better with cheese, crackers, almonds and dried cranberries?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFLn0mEcEQ0/TecoBpN7J2I/AAAAAAAACj8/NyBhKFA5mms/s1600/0001ln.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFLn0mEcEQ0/TecoBpN7J2I/AAAAAAAACj8/NyBhKFA5mms/s640/0001ln.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We sat. And drank. And soaked up the view.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4S4QdtvoU44/TecoCWl7-fI/AAAAAAAACkA/C5XYoolL0gg/s1600/0001O6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4S4QdtvoU44/TecoCWl7-fI/AAAAAAAACkA/C5XYoolL0gg/s640/0001O6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a few hours of pure relaxation, we hit the road again and headed north to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenner,_California">Jenner</a>. We had gotten a recommendation to try <a href="http://ilovesunsets.com/home.html">River's End</a>, a restaurant and inn named for the point where the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_River_(California)">Russian River</a> meets the sea. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QHWc_Wc_e7M/TecoOvM3uqI/AAAAAAAACkY/QERlX5GJtTQ/s1600/DSC_0797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QHWc_Wc_e7M/TecoOvM3uqI/AAAAAAAACkY/QERlX5GJtTQ/s640/DSC_0797.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aZW5zI_NIaw/TecoSAC54bI/AAAAAAAACkc/PPZeFzkhp1I/s1600/DSC_0803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aZW5zI_NIaw/TecoSAC54bI/AAAAAAAACkc/PPZeFzkhp1I/s640/DSC_0803.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The restaurant is perched on the edge of a cliff, with spectacular views and a wrap-around balcony from which to take it all in. It almost feels like you are dining in a tree house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_eXke3Ileo/TecoortpCGI/AAAAAAAAClE/E3SJ7SFQkGw/s1600/0001k4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_eXke3Ileo/TecoortpCGI/AAAAAAAAClE/E3SJ7SFQkGw/s640/0001k4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After an afternoon of wine tasting, I decided to change things up with a wine soda instead. The beverage, made from Chardonnay grapes, was a refreshing hybrid of sparkling soda and wine. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2G50LKH3nh8/TecoYFFa7tI/AAAAAAAACko/l-SnXzMqEq8/s1600/DSC_0818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2G50LKH3nh8/TecoYFFa7tI/AAAAAAAACko/l-SnXzMqEq8/s640/DSC_0818.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First course- Salmon Poke with cucumber and avocado, infused with an Asian vinaigrette and served with crispy won tons. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lOaI4CYOPOg/Tecobki2VjI/AAAAAAAACks/PxistwTPThM/s1600/DSC_0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lOaI4CYOPOg/Tecobki2VjI/AAAAAAAACks/PxistwTPThM/s640/DSC_0821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kK1ta9yHnQ0/TecoeqIAngI/AAAAAAAACkw/LYDX3WUOC2E/s1600/DSC_0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kK1ta9yHnQ0/TecoeqIAngI/AAAAAAAACkw/LYDX3WUOC2E/s640/DSC_0822.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next, I was served the best beet salad that I have ever eaten. The Technicolor Beet Salad. It was made from roasted multi-color beets layered with goat cheese, macadamia nuts and fresh basil then drizzled with an orange balsamic reduction. Oh. My. Delicious. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KyfUmWblDIM/Tecohk4YbdI/AAAAAAAACk0/m_i_8PGwqwU/s1600/DSC_0833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KyfUmWblDIM/Tecohk4YbdI/AAAAAAAACk0/m_i_8PGwqwU/s640/DSC_0833.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My boyfriend cleverly named it "The Leaning Tower of Beetza".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Still makes me laugh. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9U_a1xYyRtw/TecokqfyGMI/AAAAAAAACk8/vqLZWGA5u0w/s1600/DSC_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9U_a1xYyRtw/TecokqfyGMI/AAAAAAAACk8/vqLZWGA5u0w/s640/DSC_0840.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Funny Boyfriend ordered the fish and chips in ale batter, a classic dish that was well suited for a lazy coastal meal. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zv-SLTLh5w/Tecon8spk-I/AAAAAAAAClA/p3Fg5irYWug/s1600/DSC_0829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zv-SLTLh5w/Tecon8spk-I/AAAAAAAAClA/p3Fg5irYWug/s640/DSC_0829.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">To end what was already a wonderful afternoon, we stopped at one of the many beaches along the way and took a nap on the sand. Zzzzzzz.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-6zsPwZoHg/Teco2uckMTI/AAAAAAAAClY/tcU_youb244/s1600/DSC_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-6zsPwZoHg/Teco2uckMTI/AAAAAAAAClY/tcU_youb244/s640/DSC_0885.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">For this Californian, it was a perfect way to spend Memorial Day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-86383140493366559472011-05-17T23:07:00.000-07:002011-05-17T23:07:58.286-07:00Under the BridgeIt was one of those perfect Bay Area days. The sun was shining. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. The air was warm, and the breeze was gentle. In other words, the kind of day to leave work early and get outside. Luckily, my co-workers and I had scheduled a networking meeting (aka very early happy hour) on this beautiful afternoon. Is this where I confess that we planned it only after checking the weather report, and purposely picked a beautiful outdoor location? I think our company is very lucky to have such a smart, and forward thinking group of employees. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNiRHpGGOjI/TdNIYzbFKgI/AAAAAAAACig/MLcyVhrpyLU/s1600/DSC_0405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNiRHpGGOjI/TdNIYzbFKgI/AAAAAAAACig/MLcyVhrpyLU/s640/DSC_0405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cavallopoint.com/index.html">Cavallo Point</a>, also know as The Lodge at the Golden Gate, is a resort/spa/restaurant destination located at Fort Baker, a former U.S. Army post. Visitors can wander along the hillside among trees, historic buildings and retired officer's residences, now converted to guest rooms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9MywAiyIQeU/TdNRhY59LXI/AAAAAAAACio/geoRqP1q2oo/s1600/DSC_0402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9MywAiyIQeU/TdNRhY59LXI/AAAAAAAACio/geoRqP1q2oo/s640/DSC_0402.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nj0ngNFC6fc/TdNIV5U-NUI/AAAAAAAACiQ/hi6RXmxcwR4/s1600/DSC_0400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nj0ngNFC6fc/TdNIV5U-NUI/AAAAAAAACiQ/hi6RXmxcwR4/s640/DSC_0400.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We decided to meet at <a href="http://www.cavallopoint.com/dine.html#murray-circle-restaurant">Farley Bar</a>, a popular, casual lounge at Cavallo Point, known for it's tasty small plates and creative cocktails. And did I mention that it is located right under the Golden Gate Bridge complete with sweeping views of the bay?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wt6c7pF50Os/TdNILWeznWI/AAAAAAAAChI/Nqul4I3XQxo/s1600/DSC_0368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wt6c7pF50Os/TdNILWeznWI/AAAAAAAAChI/Nqul4I3XQxo/s640/DSC_0368.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Naturally, we picked an outdoor table....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dMOsa9dtlw/TdNIMNl75VI/AAAAAAAAChM/y9EjVf5s54E/s1600/DSC_0370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dMOsa9dtlw/TdNIMNl75VI/AAAAAAAAChM/y9EjVf5s54E/s640/DSC_0370.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....with just a simple little view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTtGnOnnSmk/TdNIID0hgyI/AAAAAAAACgw/ItLwxuagBN4/s1600/DSC_0330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTtGnOnnSmk/TdNIID0hgyI/AAAAAAAACgw/ItLwxuagBN4/s640/DSC_0330.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our canine companion was tempted by the field stretched out in front of her, but she patiently waited for us humans to socialize until it was her turn to run around. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kt5d_uq3jmI/TdNIIu7WR3I/AAAAAAAACg0/TsuIUVqwGWQ/s1600/DSC_0337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kt5d_uq3jmI/TdNIIu7WR3I/AAAAAAAACg0/TsuIUVqwGWQ/s640/DSC_0337.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">First up, drinks! The drink menu rotates for each season, and we got to sample Spring. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aNzOF2Tz970/TdNIKZjqAyI/AAAAAAAAChA/x6Y_dvGH30Y/s1600/DSC_0348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aNzOF2Tz970/TdNIKZjqAyI/AAAAAAAAChA/x6Y_dvGH30Y/s640/DSC_0348.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I ordered a Strawberry-Rhubarb, a blend of Dubonnet Blanc, Skyy citron vodka and Moscato d'asti that somehow lived up to it's namesake in flavors. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv_NO1L_rss/TdNIJ4ARbpI/AAAAAAAACg8/rv_wEZ7i96E/s1600/DSC_0346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv_NO1L_rss/TdNIJ4ARbpI/AAAAAAAACg8/rv_wEZ7i96E/s640/DSC_0346.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>P</i> ordered The Pineapple, made from Meyer's platinum run, lime, crushed ice and mint. I'm not sure when mint and lime combined started tasting like pineapples, but this drink did. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGtcERx4TvY/TdNIUbrnaOI/AAAAAAAACiI/54r04G3pBIY/s1600/DSC_0395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGtcERx4TvY/TdNIUbrnaOI/AAAAAAAACiI/54r04G3pBIY/s640/DSC_0395.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And <i>J</i>? Well, he was happily sampling a few drinks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0RhQldpBuo/TdNIHuRdqYI/AAAAAAAACgs/-kwwTqurXg0/s1600/DSC_0327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0RhQldpBuo/TdNIHuRdqYI/AAAAAAAACgs/-kwwTqurXg0/s640/DSC_0327.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> We ordered some appetizers, starting with wood grilled Japanese shishito peppers, sprinkled with sea salt.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgBO41y6OEs/TdNINoSi8_I/AAAAAAAAChU/-Xh1jZHcVZg/s1600/DSC_0372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgBO41y6OEs/TdNINoSi8_I/AAAAAAAAChU/-Xh1jZHcVZg/s640/DSC_0372.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8vao48jZXI/TdNR_xriJSI/AAAAAAAACis/KUpacdpPdwI/s1600/DSC_0373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8vao48jZXI/TdNR_xriJSI/AAAAAAAACis/KUpacdpPdwI/s640/DSC_0373.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Next, we got organic <a href="http://www.ranchogordo.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RG&Product_Code=POPRED01&Category_Code=DCP1">Rancho Gordo popcorn</a>, flavored with truffle. At the time, I couldn't have told you that it is a very rare, red colored kernel, but I could have told you it was delicious. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EslgB_L77AE/TdNIPK4uJEI/AAAAAAAAChg/Be7MIg-K1xY/s1600/DSC_0379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EslgB_L77AE/TdNIPK4uJEI/AAAAAAAAChg/Be7MIg-K1xY/s640/DSC_0379.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QkrOb0_CqcM/TdNIP4o1wQI/AAAAAAAAChk/B2eh2M2ospg/s1600/DSC_0380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QkrOb0_CqcM/TdNIP4o1wQI/AAAAAAAAChk/B2eh2M2ospg/s640/DSC_0380.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The platter of house baked breads consisting of olive and onion focaccia, multigrain flat bread and a pretzel roll, was served with a spread sampler.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2qR_YoRgW2Y/TdNITzg007I/AAAAAAAACiE/9oRsEjXmibU/s1600/DSC_0392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2qR_YoRgW2Y/TdNITzg007I/AAAAAAAACiE/9oRsEjXmibU/s640/DSC_0392.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The trio of spreads was made up of sundried tomato, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mascarpone">marscapone </a>with chives, and creme fraiche with mustard seeds and cracked pepper. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WIutPmAGLIw/TdNITXRiBBI/AAAAAAAACiA/O3MFvzRz7rI/s1600/DSC_0391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WIutPmAGLIw/TdNITXRiBBI/AAAAAAAACiA/O3MFvzRz7rI/s640/DSC_0391.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XMpgw9cwF9A/TdNIS-tK_aI/AAAAAAAACh8/aW2hNyLsJHM/s1600/DSC_0390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XMpgw9cwF9A/TdNIS-tK_aI/AAAAAAAACh8/aW2hNyLsJHM/s640/DSC_0390.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We ended with the seafood <i>fritto misto</i> (which is Italian for mixed fried items), accompanied by grilled lemon and fresh mayonnaise. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AV7ywpqWLic/TdNS1WQL1iI/AAAAAAAACi0/GhF5HUDx1xI/s1600/DSC_0383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AV7ywpqWLic/TdNS1WQL1iI/AAAAAAAACi0/GhF5HUDx1xI/s640/DSC_0383.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_-KN_9xtMo/TdNIQz5qFxI/AAAAAAAAChs/7yt_3DUNXCk/s1600/DSC_0384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_-KN_9xtMo/TdNIQz5qFxI/AAAAAAAAChs/7yt_3DUNXCk/s640/DSC_0384.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Cavallo Point is the kind of place you visit to lounge for hours, enjoy good company, indulge in delicious food and soak up incredible views. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You can bet that we'll be back. Maybe next time we'll even invite the boss.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqtN7T0X1Rc/TdNIU5nlZCI/AAAAAAAACiM/M_Km-2M4cFg/s1600/DSC_0398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqtN7T0X1Rc/TdNIU5nlZCI/AAAAAAAACiM/M_Km-2M4cFg/s640/DSC_0398.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-7751818745517148732011-05-08T19:50:00.000-07:002011-05-08T19:50:53.962-07:00Made in Canada<div style="text-align: center;">I think most of my readers know by now that I am Canadian. Canadian and proud! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EkuHJJcxOxI/TcdBYhoK12I/AAAAAAAACcU/hUj-o4Qs4nI/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EkuHJJcxOxI/TcdBYhoK12I/AAAAAAAACcU/hUj-o4Qs4nI/s640/DSC_0060.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Proud of the friendly people, the impressive, vast, open landscapes, free healthcare, colo<b><i>u</i></b>rful money and of course hockey. Even though we are so close to "the States", Canada has a culture all of its own. It is hard to define, but it falls in the category of I-know-it-when-I-see-it. My American boyfriend happily points these moments out when he finds them, and I swell with red and white maple leafed pride. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLjKOxVzmek/TcdUzkR-YDI/AAAAAAAACdw/MukisIDYl6o/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLjKOxVzmek/TcdUzkR-YDI/AAAAAAAACdw/MukisIDYl6o/s640/DSC_0104.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have blogged about <a href="http://www.livingthefoodlife.com/2010/09/montreal-bagels.html">Montreal bagels</a>, <a href="http://www.livingthefoodlife.com/2011/04/montreal-poutine.html">poutine</a> and <a href="http://www.livingthefoodlife.com/2011/05/mmmmmaple.html">maple flavored goodies</a>, and thought I would share a few more treats that are found only in Canada. That's right. Only available north of the border. </div><div style="text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DdieH9epsJ8/TcdBbe_v_DI/AAAAAAAACcY/h4Kdq3AepDI/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DdieH9epsJ8/TcdBbe_v_DI/AAAAAAAACcY/h4Kdq3AepDI/s640/DSC_0081.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Let me introduce you to ringolos, aka the childhood snack that I consumed every day on the bus ride home. Nutritious? No. Delicous? Yes. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pLNXbdaBVd8/TcdBeKiVLmI/AAAAAAAACcc/AyV3a4R2fKg/s1600/DSC_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pLNXbdaBVd8/TcdBeKiVLmI/AAAAAAAACcc/AyV3a4R2fKg/s640/DSC_0086.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zm7ypPyoVoE/TcdBgk4AVyI/AAAAAAAACcg/pWw7koJHgWE/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zm7ypPyoVoE/TcdBgk4AVyI/AAAAAAAACcg/pWw7koJHgWE/s640/DSC_0087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Imagine potato chips ground up, reformed into rings, baked and then sprinkled with BBQ flavor. I'm not sure if that is actually how they make them, but I'm satisfied with the description. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qZYGl6D7plA/TcdBl-DOabI/AAAAAAAACcs/iYEawhRTYh0/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qZYGl6D7plA/TcdBl-DOabI/AAAAAAAACcs/iYEawhRTYh0/s640/DSC_0099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Much like any crunchy snack, these are addictive. Good luck eating just one. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F0RwlBGAaic/TcdBjWs2rmI/AAAAAAAACco/dmqzn53jNwc/s1600/DSC_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F0RwlBGAaic/TcdBjWs2rmI/AAAAAAAACco/dmqzn53jNwc/s640/DSC_0098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SuuVYlJzGn8/TcdBnGG5YTI/AAAAAAAACcw/h2l8s7Vzvmg/s1600/DSC_0106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SuuVYlJzGn8/TcdBnGG5YTI/AAAAAAAACcw/h2l8s7Vzvmg/s640/DSC_0106.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we were kids, we used to put them on our fingers. Ummm, did I say when were kids? I also meant now. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffW-kiEtLtk/TcdBphk-CuI/AAAAAAAACc0/8PHHOjk-maQ/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffW-kiEtLtk/TcdBphk-CuI/AAAAAAAACc0/8PHHOjk-maQ/s640/DSC_0102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">For those of you with a sweet tooth, do I ever have a cookie for you. Meet the Whippet. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jRbX8i6mRjQ/TcdBsLcgwvI/AAAAAAAACc8/T5BHKAzcxMY/s1600/DSC_0220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jRbX8i6mRjQ/TcdBsLcgwvI/AAAAAAAACc8/T5BHKAzcxMY/s640/DSC_0220.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Whippet, around since 1927 according to the box, is a cookie composed of a chocolate covered marshmallow sitting on top of a graham cracker. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hCRJsyLkDyc/TcdBunKl9SI/AAAAAAAACdA/ke9a2Bfomx0/s1600/DSC_0221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hCRJsyLkDyc/TcdBunKl9SI/AAAAAAAACdA/ke9a2Bfomx0/s640/DSC_0221.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I bet there are many Americans out there thinking "Why didn't we think of that? We have the s'more after all. It was just one small step away" </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As kids, we used to peel off the chocolate, suck the marshmallow off the base and then eat the cookie last. I'm starting to think that we had a special way to eat every food. Hmmmm...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-llLsMZXGuq8/TcdBzWcePgI/AAAAAAAACdI/Jeq8zP03J3w/s1600/DSC_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-llLsMZXGuq8/TcdBzWcePgI/AAAAAAAACdI/Jeq8zP03J3w/s640/DSC_0240.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">After salty snacks and then sweet cookies, you are probably thirsty and would like a drink. How about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce_beer">spruce beer</a>? Despite the name, this is a non-alcoholic beer, similar to root beer. It is made from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce">spruce</a> needles, an evergreen found all over North America. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtFdauxJHqs/TcdB4kJBclI/AAAAAAAACdU/jSOD1LyCPL4/s1600/DSC_0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtFdauxJHqs/TcdB4kJBclI/AAAAAAAACdU/jSOD1LyCPL4/s640/DSC_0058.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll be honest, this isn't something I drank growing up but it was worth a try on my last visit home. The verdict per the American? "It tastes like melted snow dripping off pine needles". And there you have it.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For something a little more adult, we also purchased Sleeman beer.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3qvWCsy05H0/TcdRWm-1F_I/AAAAAAAACds/4sLUGGdCcI0/s1600/DSC_0109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3qvWCsy05H0/TcdRWm-1F_I/AAAAAAAACds/4sLUGGdCcI0/s640/DSC_0109.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just seeing the name brought back memories as it was the beer of my university days. Guelph, Ontario (which is about an hour west of Toronto) is the birthplace of Sleeman and they have been brewing beer since 1851. It is also the home of my alma mater, The University of Guelph. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">University, beer... I think we can all make the connection there.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope you enjoyed a little taste of Canadian eats. There will be plenty more to come over the years. Until then, I will be <i>oot</i> and <i>aboot</i> living the food life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-19891955375874314752011-05-01T11:33:00.000-07:002011-06-14T09:34:37.031-07:00mmmmMaple<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rAZojg_LJ3c/Tb2gNK0vz5I/AAAAAAAACZ4/M8wVPVoHGzM/s1600/DSC_0454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rAZojg_LJ3c/Tb2gNK0vz5I/AAAAAAAACZ4/M8wVPVoHGzM/s640/DSC_0454.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Spring in Quebec means one thing- the maple syrup is flowing. Well, to be exact, the sap is flowing and through a long technique of boiling and reducing it down, maple syrup is made. But it isn't just a process that occurs in some plant, it is an event to be celebrated. It is referred to as sugaring off. One official definition I found was "an informal social gathering in which the guests help make maple sugar". Typically, this occurs outside the city, deep in the woods at a maple shack (<i>cabane a sucre</i> in French). Guests spend the day witnessing the boiling of sap, inhaling sugar fumes, going for sleigh rides, and smothering maple syrup on foods you never thought possible. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>And then, there is the maple taffy pull (<i>tire d'erable</i> in French).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0il8DYpyEz8/Tb2cB48urcI/AAAAAAAACZY/POgt181oklA/s1600/DSC_0449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0il8DYpyEz8/Tb2cB48urcI/AAAAAAAACZY/POgt181oklA/s640/DSC_0449.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Imagine this. Maple syrup boiled beyond the usual liquid phase until it is thick like honey. Poured onto fresh snow, and then scraped off with popsicle sticks to form your own personal maple lollipop.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xAXGTFcxOp4/Tb2gGdCXjkI/AAAAAAAACZs/AQG3SBOpS5M/s1600/DSC_0437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xAXGTFcxOp4/Tb2gGdCXjkI/AAAAAAAACZs/AQG3SBOpS5M/s640/DSC_0437.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1SlXa-oD5k0/Tb2gJzI06sI/AAAAAAAACZ0/y66FOeQl2PM/s1600/DSC_0436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1SlXa-oD5k0/Tb2gJzI06sI/AAAAAAAACZ0/y66FOeQl2PM/s640/DSC_0436.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t7lMeB3tLak/Tb2gAcCtQMI/AAAAAAAACZk/hSTrLWPclW4/s1600/DSC_0444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t7lMeB3tLak/Tb2gAcCtQMI/AAAAAAAACZk/hSTrLWPclW4/s640/DSC_0444.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cbKldYyiAFQ/Tb2hu0695DI/AAAAAAAACaE/EUPKT5Y7vTk/s1600/DSC_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cbKldYyiAFQ/Tb2hu0695DI/AAAAAAAACaE/EUPKT5Y7vTk/s640/DSC_0447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="338" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/22871444?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&autoplay=1&loop=1" width="601"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In case you don't get your fill of maple through sugaring off, you can also buy it in ice cream form. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzQ8d0BblIo/TbMJ1G1RzwI/AAAAAAAACQU/7CezBAPoX9M/s1600/DSC_0369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzQ8d0BblIo/TbMJ1G1RzwI/AAAAAAAACQU/7CezBAPoX9M/s640/DSC_0369.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
We were walking down a quaint little street in Montreal, and a sign outside an ice cream shop literally stopped me in my tracks. "<i>Creme glacee a tire d'erable</i>". I think you can figure out by now that means maple taffy ice cream. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJRtw0Sfz1s/TbMJ5rlssqI/AAAAAAAACQc/Re6leWPz8lQ/s1600/DSC_0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJRtw0Sfz1s/TbMJ5rlssqI/AAAAAAAACQc/Re6leWPz8lQ/s640/DSC_0372.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
So of course we bought some.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2LbEFphoX0/TbMJ9x_3zPI/AAAAAAAACQk/dED6RysGwYc/s1600/DSC_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2LbEFphoX0/TbMJ9x_3zPI/AAAAAAAACQk/dED6RysGwYc/s640/DSC_0374.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
And it was absolutely heavenly. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPGBMISpy_M/TbMKAL17WCI/AAAAAAAACQo/XjTO72O3j8U/s1600/DSC_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPGBMISpy_M/TbMKAL17WCI/AAAAAAAACQo/XjTO72O3j8U/s640/DSC_0376.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sad problem? We only got one bowl before we had to leave, and couldn't bring it home on the plane. So Mom & Dad, hope you are enjoying my taste of Quebec for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.foodista.com/food/WMCFNGHC/maple-syrup" style="background: transparent url(http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_red.png) no-repeat scroll 0px -10px; display: block; padding: 10px 0 0 0; text-decoration: none; width: 260px;"><span style="background-color: #c44f50; display: block; overflow: hidden; padding: 0 10px; text-indent: 0;"><img alt="" src="http://dyn.foodista.com/content/images/84a9b560e833f320ea3dba1a2f077dc1a2ef8008_240x180c.jpg" style="border: none; height: 180px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 5px 0; width: 240px;" /><span style="-moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; background-color: #c36c6d; color: white; float: left; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px; text-align: left; width: 155px;">Maple Syrup</span><img src="http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_logo.png" style="border: none; float: right; height: 25px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 70px;" /></span><span style="background: transparent url(http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_red.png) no-repeat scroll 0px 0px; clear: both; display: block; height: 10px; padding: 0;"></span><img src="http://dyn.foodista.com/content/embed/z1.png?foodista_widget_WMCFNGHC_AAAAAAAA" style="display: none;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-62887676911844250142011-04-25T20:23:00.000-07:002011-06-14T12:26:26.702-07:00Chocolate Covered Matzah<div style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow is the last day of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover">Passover</a>. Finally. Phew. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0rSkaRYKCQ/TbYyES9DnrI/AAAAAAAACU0/ty-FhmaeIf4/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0rSkaRYKCQ/TbYyES9DnrI/AAAAAAAACU0/ty-FhmaeIf4/s640/DSC_0004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can wipe away the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matzo">matzah</a> crumbs (I know they are everywhere), and finally swallow your food without needing excessive hydration.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTBrOkeJwbQ/TbYyGU4150I/AAAAAAAACU4/-GZyAdRaeqo/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTBrOkeJwbQ/TbYyGU4150I/AAAAAAAACU4/-GZyAdRaeqo/s640/DSC_0007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But before you throw out those last few pieces of matzah, here's a way to jazz them up enough that you'll want to eat them year round. This is a recipe that I tried on saltine crackers, which are really the same as matzah, only less dry. Did you hear that? Less dry!?!? </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CophxRSDDIA/TbYytTm655I/AAAAAAAACWE/llbh8l5jQ18/s1600/DSC_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CophxRSDDIA/TbYytTm655I/AAAAAAAACWE/llbh8l5jQ18/s640/DSC_0055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I will go so far as to say that this chocolate covered toffee'ed matzah is so good, you may actually forget that it is matzah. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkpW28aiaYM/TbYyz6_1BQI/AAAAAAAACWM/-SWAezTlKkI/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkpW28aiaYM/TbYyz6_1BQI/AAAAAAAACWM/-SWAezTlKkI/s640/DSC_0069.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You start by melting equal parts brown sugar into butter. What can possibly be wrong with that?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FIoXTeezCls/TbYyTPazu8I/AAAAAAAACVU/KD3C4aFrfg4/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FIoXTeezCls/TbYyTPazu8I/AAAAAAAACVU/KD3C4aFrfg4/s640/DSC_0021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then you spread the mixture over a single layer of matzah. I suggest lining your cookie sheet to make cleaning up easy. Then, put it in the oven for about 10 minutes, until it bubbles and liquefies enough to cover the pieces. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-11tqUDrEUGA/TbYyWpCm_FI/AAAAAAAACVc/hpU8DpCe5rI/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-11tqUDrEUGA/TbYyWpCm_FI/AAAAAAAACVc/hpU8DpCe5rI/s640/DSC_0027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next, sprinkle chocolate chips over the hot sugar mixture.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZSlWYYcWwI/TbYyZ4nZO0I/AAAAAAAACVg/rpvIiEXiJ9U/s1600/DSC_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZSlWYYcWwI/TbYyZ4nZO0I/AAAAAAAACVg/rpvIiEXiJ9U/s640/DSC_0034.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They will melt quickly, and you can spread it evenly over the matzah. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bM_Peghj-B8/TbYyc5UiasI/AAAAAAAACVk/a-O2K7-5AsI/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bM_Peghj-B8/TbYyc5UiasI/AAAAAAAACVk/a-O2K7-5AsI/s640/DSC_0036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2ZerTus07Y/TbYygQk_aQI/AAAAAAAACVw/e6ErDZ_JRb4/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2ZerTus07Y/TbYygQk_aQI/AAAAAAAACVw/e6ErDZ_JRb4/s640/DSC_0037.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Add chopped nuts if you so desire.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0wdbqjIzJGw/TbYyjchLf_I/AAAAAAAACV0/rel5xenJ7vo/s1600/DSC_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0wdbqjIzJGw/TbYyjchLf_I/AAAAAAAACV0/rel5xenJ7vo/s640/DSC_0044.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSOW3nVE-Hc/TbYymQfWPkI/AAAAAAAACV4/FXj3iU-mqso/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSOW3nVE-Hc/TbYymQfWPkI/AAAAAAAACV4/FXj3iU-mqso/s640/DSC_0043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let cool, and break into pieces. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XbfUHI4PxQE/TbYyp3dWjjI/AAAAAAAACV8/DGvbh3PnHUk/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XbfUHI4PxQE/TbYyp3dWjjI/AAAAAAAACV8/DGvbh3PnHUk/s640/DSC_0049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See how the toffee and chocolate seeps into the cracks?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfz-VRgwtBM/TbYy3DujypI/AAAAAAAACWQ/szApb1tJnL0/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfz-VRgwtBM/TbYy3DujypI/AAAAAAAACWQ/szApb1tJnL0/s640/DSC_0071.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hopefully I've given you something to look forward to for next Passover. Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_l46_p4nbg/TbYywjihqSI/AAAAAAAACWI/ntSmIaUg4rg/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_l46_p4nbg/TbYywjihqSI/AAAAAAAACWI/ntSmIaUg4rg/s640/DSC_0067.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note: I'd love to give credit to my fellow foodie bloggers who posted similar recipes, but sadly, I don't remember where I saw them all. Thanks for the inspiration and I hope you all had a great holiday!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-3542445299189200032011-04-23T12:10:00.000-07:002011-06-14T12:27:06.088-07:00Montreal Poutine<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0XTN8PLNjE/TbMNJGo7ttI/AAAAAAAACR8/o0Uk2UKQELk/s1600/DSC_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0XTN8PLNjE/TbMNJGo7ttI/AAAAAAAACR8/o0Uk2UKQELk/s640/DSC_0567.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you live in Montreal, this is a familiar sight. It is available on almost every corner, at every hour, day or night. It has an unmovable place in the culinary landscape of this great food city. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOfx-5H0gNo/TbMO8_FVHQI/AAAAAAAACTo/j7UfchpxyUM/s1600/DSC_0557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOfx-5H0gNo/TbMO8_FVHQI/AAAAAAAACTo/j7UfchpxyUM/s640/DSC_0557.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you are from Montreal, but no longer live there, this is probably awakening cravings and a desire to book your next flight to Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport, formerly Dorval (and still referred to as such by many). <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_p7jOxdxBCo/TbMPA6DxRtI/AAAAAAAACTw/fCe7zqX7I7w/s1600/DSC_0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_p7jOxdxBCo/TbMPA6DxRtI/AAAAAAAACTw/fCe7zqX7I7w/s640/DSC_0560.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So what exactly is Poutine? <br />
French fries, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese_curds">cheese curds</a> (aka squeaky cheese) and gravy. <br />
So simple, so delicious.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvSTR_V2kNA/TbMZPvEf7fI/AAAAAAAACUc/lMuNMYxittM/s1600/DSC_0562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvSTR_V2kNA/TbMZPvEf7fI/AAAAAAAACUc/lMuNMYxittM/s640/DSC_0562.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you have not had the pleasure of visiting Montreal, and tasting this French Canadian classic, then let me take you on a little tour. Montreal, in the province of Quebec, was officially established in 1642 but explorers first visited over 400 years ago. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rcIumDQB2eo/TbMNLUKrQ2I/AAAAAAAACSA/R-pjYRQnV1Y/s1600/DSC_0398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rcIumDQB2eo/TbMNLUKrQ2I/AAAAAAAACSA/R-pjYRQnV1Y/s640/DSC_0398.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In <a href="http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/eng/accueila.htm">Old Montreal</a>, the streets are still lined with cobblestones. Many buildings, still standing from the 18th century, add to the visual history of the city. A stroll through these streets is a stroll through the past. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfwPKyeDI3c/TbMNP2IfmxI/AAAAAAAACSI/-ONibjmlIDw/s1600/DSC_0595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfwPKyeDI3c/TbMNP2IfmxI/AAAAAAAACSI/-ONibjmlIDw/s640/DSC_0595.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uxRC19lHXxs/TbMNUcSo2mI/AAAAAAAACSQ/-YEIW0YSEPM/s1600/DSC_0586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uxRC19lHXxs/TbMNUcSo2mI/AAAAAAAACSQ/-YEIW0YSEPM/s640/DSC_0586.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6H_JceCyN-8/TbMNcvSWS6I/AAAAAAAACSk/TFro2b44FDE/s1600/DSC_0526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6H_JceCyN-8/TbMNcvSWS6I/AAAAAAAACSk/TFro2b44FDE/s640/DSC_0526.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rue Saint Paul is lined with restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, and gift shops. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJXnaH9BS20/TbMNNdsMzmI/AAAAAAAACSE/h3h47kxIBRg/s1600/DSC_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJXnaH9BS20/TbMNNdsMzmI/AAAAAAAACSE/h3h47kxIBRg/s640/DSC_0584.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marchebonsecours.qc.ca/en/index.html">The Bonsecours Market</a>, as seen today, was built in 1847 as a public market. The site is full of history, as it was once a hotel, a club house and even a theater at which Charles Dickens staged a play. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vme6RkWu8U8/TbMNWpvbciI/AAAAAAAACSU/8JtfKjxQboQ/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vme6RkWu8U8/TbMNWpvbciI/AAAAAAAACSU/8JtfKjxQboQ/s640/DSC_0379.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8UpgvVQ9QEI/TbMNY536SdI/AAAAAAAACSg/cPmDGCItl4Q/s1600/DSC_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8UpgvVQ9QEI/TbMNY536SdI/AAAAAAAACSg/cPmDGCItl4Q/s640/DSC_0589.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1J0hnixTVlA/TbMNgj4SnWI/AAAAAAAACSs/-QUPJRhqlRk/s1600/DSC_0512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1J0hnixTVlA/TbMNgj4SnWI/AAAAAAAACSs/-QUPJRhqlRk/s640/DSC_0512.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the popular draws to Old Montreal is the abundance of restaurant terraces which overflow with both locals and tourists when the weather turns nice. After long cold winters, a Montrealer will grab any opportunity to sit outside. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ebHA-veQqlM/TbMNkO9qenI/AAAAAAAACSw/oudTecWXBDk/s1600/DSC_0568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ebHA-veQqlM/TbMNkO9qenI/AAAAAAAACSw/oudTecWXBDk/s640/DSC_0568.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kPGgfUWLwc/TbMNnHM0ZlI/AAAAAAAACS0/5neTz-3-UPg/s1600/DSC_0404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kPGgfUWLwc/TbMNnHM0ZlI/AAAAAAAACS0/5neTz-3-UPg/s640/DSC_0404.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nestled among the many cafes, is Montreal Poutine, a new discovery for me and my recommendation from now on for anyone seeking the poutine experience.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MUcRNe8FV_o/TbMNpyPt7hI/AAAAAAAACTA/vmR5qbesM-E/s1600/DSC_0529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MUcRNe8FV_o/TbMNpyPt7hI/AAAAAAAACTA/vmR5qbesM-E/s640/DSC_0529.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> The menu has some twists on the classic poutine, such as added chicken, sausage or smoked meat, another Montreal classic. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B-uZ1FeEAyw/TbMNtGyitJI/AAAAAAAACTE/Df-B1aMeD80/s1600/DSC_0533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B-uZ1FeEAyw/TbMNtGyitJI/AAAAAAAACTE/Df-B1aMeD80/s640/DSC_0533.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c4IBo1VRYWk/TbMNwdCw9KI/AAAAAAAACTI/_FQY5Phu3Zs/s1600/DSC_0539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c4IBo1VRYWk/TbMNwdCw9KI/AAAAAAAACTI/_FQY5Phu3Zs/s640/DSC_0539.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A local beer, La Fin Du Monde, really brings out the flavors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wS5uQpdLP0g/TbMNz_S9LSI/AAAAAAAACTM/q22hbetaFtI/s1600/DSC_0540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wS5uQpdLP0g/TbMNz_S9LSI/AAAAAAAACTM/q22hbetaFtI/s640/DSC_0540.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K4IN-6kKL3k/TbMN273u3YI/AAAAAAAACTU/2uFJhJ1daps/s1600/DSC_0548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K4IN-6kKL3k/TbMN273u3YI/AAAAAAAACTU/2uFJhJ1daps/s640/DSC_0548.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Served immediately after the hot gravy hits the cold cheese, a poutine will actually morph as you eat it. During the the first few bites the cheese still holds its shape and a firm texture. The french fries are crisp, fresh from the fryer and can be picked out and eaten by hand. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PHUQgNvRR2U/TbMN6W1RVFI/AAAAAAAACTY/7CgeTlmmyVc/s1600/DSC_0566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PHUQgNvRR2U/TbMN6W1RVFI/AAAAAAAACTY/7CgeTlmmyVc/s640/DSC_0566.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> By the end of the poutine, the cheese has happily melted into the gravy, which has completely smothered the fries, creating a soupy and flavorful mess. And I wouldn't have it any other way.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P16Omgh9cMY/TbMN966M20I/AAAAAAAACTc/nJV2gzHRd6A/s1600/DSC_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P16Omgh9cMY/TbMN966M20I/AAAAAAAACTc/nJV2gzHRd6A/s640/DSC_0559.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-53696472413360691872011-04-10T16:20:00.000-07:002011-06-14T12:27:47.075-07:00Dolce Far Niente<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dolce Far Niente</i> is Italian for Delicious Idleness. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It sounds almost a beautiful in English as it does in Italian. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XnnWiez4nyI/TaI2p3J6cVI/AAAAAAAACPo/VKTuq9RK5tk/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XnnWiez4nyI/TaI2p3J6cVI/AAAAAAAACPo/VKTuq9RK5tk/s640/DSC_0052.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I watched the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0879870/">Eat, Pray, Love </a>again this weekeend. While the film version is well done, as is often the case, I found the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Pray-Love-Everything-Indonesia/dp/0143038419/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302477140&sr=8-1">book</a> to be way better. I read it about 5 years ago, before the craze, and not only did it impact me at the time, but it has stuck with me all these years. There was dialogue that made me laugh, some that made me cry and plenty that made me dig deep and ponder life. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bjn5Eu59mSw/TaI2yHnlMrI/AAAAAAAACP8/wAU6ukE7b1E/s1600/DSC_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bjn5Eu59mSw/TaI2yHnlMrI/AAAAAAAACP8/wAU6ukE7b1E/s640/DSC_0234.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">What struck me watching it this time was this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg3n9z5zuJg">clip</a> of the main character in Italy getting a lesson from some locals about enjoying the simple pleasures in life. It should come as no surprise that in Italy that often equates to food. Even less surprising is that I feel the same way. A quiet Sunday morning with fresh baked cinnamon rolls and hot brewed coffee is a wonderful example of dolce far niente. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rnfBXrrEk5U/TaI2mH1kjAI/AAAAAAAACPg/7rahvZ4bUho/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rnfBXrrEk5U/TaI2mH1kjAI/AAAAAAAACPg/7rahvZ4bUho/s640/DSC_0053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ljaYR-DSSus/TaI2n3IDvzI/AAAAAAAACPk/uyIkyG1BftI/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ljaYR-DSSus/TaI2n3IDvzI/AAAAAAAACPk/uyIkyG1BftI/s640/DSC_0050.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0aNYx7jh5fM/TaI2r6Eeb_I/AAAAAAAACPs/rsb2RGWqHuE/s1600/DSC_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0aNYx7jh5fM/TaI2r6Eeb_I/AAAAAAAACPs/rsb2RGWqHuE/s640/DSC_0063.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you find your dolce far niente too...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--dxYHIRtL0c/TaI2v84qsYI/AAAAAAAACP0/btQYNrnI_Yw/s1600/DSC_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--dxYHIRtL0c/TaI2v84qsYI/AAAAAAAACP0/btQYNrnI_Yw/s640/DSC_0233.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Editor's note- while the above picture was indeed taken at sunrise, it was not on a Sunday morning. Those are meant for sleeping in, and completely missing the sunrise. Early morning work meetings however, are the perfect reason to be up in time to catch spectacular sunrise photos.CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-3750649038838464272011-04-06T22:53:00.000-07:002011-06-14T12:28:16.712-07:00Sweet Monterey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Welcome to my tour of Monterey, California. There are many reasons to <s>like</s> love Monterey. This decadent dessert is my favorite, but I'll be sure to give you many more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hd-3m9exWlY/TZ1AggoUEQI/AAAAAAAACOQ/tNUDASBJTJM/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hd-3m9exWlY/TZ1AggoUEQI/AAAAAAAACOQ/tNUDASBJTJM/s640/DSC_0090.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">First, there is the beautiful rocky coastline.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNrvuajmT4M/TZ1APWgeT1I/AAAAAAAACN0/RL32VCOmUTg/s1600/DSC_0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNrvuajmT4M/TZ1APWgeT1I/AAAAAAAACN0/RL32VCOmUTg/s640/DSC_0302.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pHV-YN6D3MA/TZ1FanlauPI/AAAAAAAACOs/wF7ykvAR7WY/s1600/DSC_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pHV-YN6D3MA/TZ1FanlauPI/AAAAAAAACOs/wF7ykvAR7WY/s640/DSC_0325.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are plenty of oceanside dining options with fresh seafood and flaming fishbowl sized drinks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GYqDODkoBl4/TZ0_nmV2T3I/AAAAAAAACMs/_jgXTKoHZVc/s1600/DSC_0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GYqDODkoBl4/TZ0_nmV2T3I/AAAAAAAACMs/_jgXTKoHZVc/s640/DSC_0364.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eGEXamkL7ic/TZ1OErxODcI/AAAAAAAACOw/IVyfeJt63uI/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eGEXamkL7ic/TZ1OErxODcI/AAAAAAAACOw/IVyfeJt63uI/s640/DSC_0140.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzZGVanSPe0/TZ1AJSdS4vI/AAAAAAAACNo/rbAtcG4h6tI/s1600/DSC_0147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzZGVanSPe0/TZ1AJSdS4vI/AAAAAAAACNo/rbAtcG4h6tI/s640/DSC_0147.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the main attractions is <a href="http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/">The Monterey Bay Aquarium</a>, filled with beautiful and exotic sea creatures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sxyOos8D3dU/TZ0_rhtbOVI/AAAAAAAACM4/DSiL_VA6GlQ/s1600/DSC_0457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sxyOos8D3dU/TZ0_rhtbOVI/AAAAAAAACM4/DSiL_VA6GlQ/s640/DSC_0457.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--erX9dTsOdA/TZ0_uNvBy_I/AAAAAAAACM8/8yNWIU7sexA/s1600/DSC_0500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--erX9dTsOdA/TZ0_uNvBy_I/AAAAAAAACM8/8yNWIU7sexA/s640/DSC_0500.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zwb0-NRWip0/TZ0_0NuY9FI/AAAAAAAACNI/kmsGdcu5Mxk/s1600/DSC_0660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zwb0-NRWip0/TZ0_0NuY9FI/AAAAAAAACNI/kmsGdcu5Mxk/s640/DSC_0660.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2G1FxpEAQdI/TZ0_2yaAsvI/AAAAAAAACNM/z8KOwWH25t8/s1600/DSC_0719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2G1FxpEAQdI/TZ0_2yaAsvI/AAAAAAAACNM/z8KOwWH25t8/s640/DSC_0719.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Monterey is considered wine country which means wine is always acceptable, day or night, on the beach or by the fire. But really, is there any part of California where it isn't?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1IB8CTnwTm4/TZ0_c9LMd4I/AAAAAAAACMQ/Y7IlmdnqzAQ/s1600/DSC_0193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1IB8CTnwTm4/TZ0_c9LMd4I/AAAAAAAACMQ/Y7IlmdnqzAQ/s640/DSC_0193.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hzycCo92Mi8/TZ1ADC3jFGI/AAAAAAAACNg/JCUOkbX05V8/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hzycCo92Mi8/TZ1ADC3jFGI/AAAAAAAACNg/JCUOkbX05V8/s640/DSC_0119.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">The streets are lined with cute shops. Some are even filled with candy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FiQwMJ3h2cs/TZ0_jniwKPI/AAAAAAAACMc/VBCjaY55yHI/s1600/DSC_0296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FiQwMJ3h2cs/TZ0_jniwKPI/AAAAAAAACMc/VBCjaY55yHI/s640/DSC_0296.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oGH-VeFKlWs/TZ1B6qFlsZI/AAAAAAAACOg/Rv7UV5p2i0s/s1600/DSC_0284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oGH-VeFKlWs/TZ1B6qFlsZI/AAAAAAAACOg/Rv7UV5p2i0s/s640/DSC_0284.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Gxq-P8C68/TZ1B38CbX6I/AAAAAAAACOc/SYaMA5Aaum4/s1600/DSC_0271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Gxq-P8C68/TZ1B38CbX6I/AAAAAAAACOc/SYaMA5Aaum4/s640/DSC_0271.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've saved my favorite reason for last. Every trip to Monterey should be sweetened with a stop at the historic <a href="http://www.ghirardelli.com/">Ghirardelli</a> shop for their famous chocolate squares and hot fudge sundaes. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r62c4sHlzTI/TZ1OMpyXmaI/AAAAAAAACPE/X3cy4cvuO68/s1600/DSC_0047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r62c4sHlzTI/TZ1OMpyXmaI/AAAAAAAACPE/X3cy4cvuO68/s640/DSC_0047.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNHe5zeOQxU/TZ1OOwXlKWI/AAAAAAAACPM/vJDRZrXvt4k/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNHe5zeOQxU/TZ1OOwXlKWI/AAAAAAAACPM/vJDRZrXvt4k/s640/DSC_0051.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ach27Vwz7nU/TZ1OKbV9n9I/AAAAAAAACO4/GfAcwsBNW1k/s1600/DSC_0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ach27Vwz7nU/TZ1OKbV9n9I/AAAAAAAACO4/GfAcwsBNW1k/s640/DSC_0045.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4qr5TcfaC3U/TZ1Ad9ABWuI/AAAAAAAACOM/ni6oBIjZUMI/s1600/DSC_0086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4qr5TcfaC3U/TZ1Ad9ABWuI/AAAAAAAACOM/ni6oBIjZUMI/s640/DSC_0086.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-45dt1KUlWao/TZ1AVJT6JuI/AAAAAAAACN8/l20rg6wWeXM/s1600/DSC_0084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-45dt1KUlWao/TZ1AVJT6JuI/AAAAAAAACN8/l20rg6wWeXM/s640/DSC_0084.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32YH1FEwbHM/TZ1Ajpm_bEI/AAAAAAAACOY/1RN_tpgux2w/s1600/DSC_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32YH1FEwbHM/TZ1Ajpm_bEI/AAAAAAAACOY/1RN_tpgux2w/s640/DSC_0098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mmmmmmm....sweet enough for you to visit?</div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7140808361705913531.post-24311022830091397312011-03-22T20:26:00.000-07:002011-06-14T12:28:37.060-07:00Eat Right with Color...Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">March is <a href="http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442462682">National Nutrition Month</a>. <a href="http://www.eatright.org/nnm" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eatright.org/nnm" target="_blank"><img alt="I'm Blogging National Nutrition Month" src="http://www.eatright.org/uploadedImages/National_Nutrition_Month/NNM_2011/nnmwidget_small.jpg" style="margin: 15px 10px;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">For most of you, that probably doesn't sound too exciting but for those of us who are registered dietitians, it is a big deal. This year's theme, as sponsored by the American Dietetic Association, is "eat right.with color" (the ADA website is <a href="http://eatright.org/">eatright.org</a>. so its a cute play on their logo). The message is to encourage adding a splash of colors to your plate thus ensuring you are consuming the various nutrients and antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. Each color has a different bundle of potential benefits based on the antioxidants which are found in the pigments. While I could go into the details, lets just say that the deeper the color, the better it is for you. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the easiest colors to add to your diet is green. Green vegetables are high in Vitamin A,C,E,K, folate and niacin. In other words, eat your veggies!! I thought I'd share a few of my standard green vegetable dishes to give you inspiration and motivate you to think green. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Believe it or not, I love brussel spouts. I know, its weird. I'm not sure when it started, as I doubt I asked for them as a kid, but I cook with them all the time. One of my favorite ways to make them is as a warm brussel sprout salad. I owe the inspiration to <a href="http://www.pizzaantica.com/menu.php">Pizza Antica</a>, but have simplified the recipe and made it as easy as possible. First, I cut the top (or bottom) of the brussel sprout off to release the leaves. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0LYA91ptRQ0/TXBoMuExNtI/AAAAAAAACIo/KAvbjhelG8g/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0LYA91ptRQ0/TXBoMuExNtI/AAAAAAAACIo/KAvbjhelG8g/s640/DSC_0054.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I pulled off the leaves to add volume and so that they cook faster.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ctBJYOkF3CI/TXBoPR8YZcI/AAAAAAAACIs/Q6dzjNmJuas/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ctBJYOkF3CI/TXBoPR8YZcI/AAAAAAAACIs/Q6dzjNmJuas/s640/DSC_0058.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A bit of diced onion and some of olive oil is all you need to add flavor and get them cooking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UQ64JYXjmB4/TXBoT3JajqI/AAAAAAAACI0/MDvFvLBCauQ/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UQ64JYXjmB4/TXBoT3JajqI/AAAAAAAACI0/MDvFvLBCauQ/s640/DSC_0049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And now for the secret ingredient. Croutons! I'm not sure if you've ever had warm croutons, but they are a completely different experience from the hard ones found in most salads. When they heat up, they soften and provide a great texture contrast. Right before the dish is finished cooking, I add a little balsamic vinegar and the croutons are a great help at soaking up the flavors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X6eOiRxoqPM/TXBoWcLRVOI/AAAAAAAACI4/zmrck8iBw0w/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X6eOiRxoqPM/TXBoWcLRVOI/AAAAAAAACI4/zmrck8iBw0w/s640/DSC_0068.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e0FAY97kl_Y/TXBobV2v03I/AAAAAAAACJE/FFPuVxYj0e4/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e0FAY97kl_Y/TXBobV2v03I/AAAAAAAACJE/FFPuVxYj0e4/s640/DSC_0073.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Topped with Parmesan cheese, it is the perfect starter or side dish to any meal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aqx-M9898Uo/TXBod6rIeoI/AAAAAAAACJI/x6kN2OcEzuI/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aqx-M9898Uo/TXBod6rIeoI/AAAAAAAACJI/x6kN2OcEzuI/s640/DSC_0081.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Baby bok choy, also known as Chinese Cabbage, is a popular leafy vegetable in Chinese cuisine. It seems to me to be a cross between celery and spinach, although it isn't related to either. It is actually the same species as the turnip, but I admit that I don't see a connection. However it is classified, in my books, its delicious. The flavor is very light but slightly sweet, and the texture is wonderfully crisp yet wet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-07BCEZw4Lag/TXBogHug7ZI/AAAAAAAACJM/CEcXtcv52lE/s1600/DSC_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-07BCEZw4Lag/TXBogHug7ZI/AAAAAAAACJM/CEcXtcv52lE/s640/DSC_0100.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I find them visually beautiful, and in these photos they remind me of some exotic sea creature, adrift in the ocean. Poetic descriptions aside, they are easy and quick to cook. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w7rna2YD-Xw/TXBoi7hVatI/AAAAAAAACJQ/L_iFycUiydk/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w7rna2YD-Xw/TXBoi7hVatI/AAAAAAAACJQ/L_iFycUiydk/s640/DSC_0102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I threw them in a very hot pan with vegetable oil, soy sauce and a touch of sesame oil. Since it has such a strong and distinct flavor, its easy to overdo it on the sesame oil so I suggest you start small and build up as needed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WT4ayHPy25U/TXBolG5ehoI/AAAAAAAACJY/Vf1pSff_igA/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WT4ayHPy25U/TXBolG5ehoI/AAAAAAAACJY/Vf1pSff_igA/s640/DSC_0115.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RgDJ9hjmbNk/TXBonqjCvzI/AAAAAAAACJc/LqmAAGOgaas/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RgDJ9hjmbNk/TXBonqjCvzI/AAAAAAAACJc/LqmAAGOgaas/s640/DSC_0121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I served them with a side of tofu and noodles. But since this post is all about green, you'll have to learn about that recipe another time :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QUT6QF9YaAo/TXBotV9sKgI/AAAAAAAACJo/iB-rGnusG1U/s1600/DSC_0131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QUT6QF9YaAo/TXBotV9sKgI/AAAAAAAACJo/iB-rGnusG1U/s640/DSC_0131.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The last green recipe I want to showcase is a pasta dish with broccoli and spinach. I always try to keep spinach in the fridge because it is so easy to add to dishes, and get in those extra vitamins. It wilts down quite a bit so you can concentrate your nutrients without a lot of bulk. I also love broccoli. I can eat it steamed with nothing on it, not because I'm trying to be good, but because I really enjoy the natural flavor. For this recipe, I simply cooked the spinach and broccoli in olive oil and garlic. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P5xI67HmPnk/TXBo2_1GaAI/AAAAAAAACJ0/xQ7r7XMmSwg/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P5xI67HmPnk/TXBo2_1GaAI/AAAAAAAACJ0/xQ7r7XMmSwg/s640/DSC_0053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I added some store-bought pasta purses. This one was stuffed with brie and roasted garlic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-83_eD2v9Vug/TXBo6NkUqAI/AAAAAAAACJ8/lXafdxxJnOI/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-83_eD2v9Vug/TXBo6NkUqAI/AAAAAAAACJ8/lXafdxxJnOI/s640/DSC_0058.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">After adding my usual shaved parmesan and freshly cracked pepper, this dish is ready to enjoy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qaVRGrxtHLI/TXBo9WHCshI/AAAAAAAACKA/BnFn7RtCtGs/s1600/DSC_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qaVRGrxtHLI/TXBo9WHCshI/AAAAAAAACKA/BnFn7RtCtGs/s640/DSC_0062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So next time you are at the grocery store, or farmer's market, or even at your favorite restaurant, think about eating right with color. As Georgia O'Keefe said, "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way- things I had no words for". I think its kind of the same thing when cooking with vegetables. Don't you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.foodista.com/food/PT4MRW62/brussels-sprouts" style="background: transparent url(http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_red.png) no-repeat scroll 0px -10px; display: block; padding: 10px 0 0 0; text-decoration: none; width: 260px;"><span style="background-color: #c44f50; display: block; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><img alt="" src="http://dyn.foodista.com/content/images/0f26d219b95a2083a2e568384f4dc69788ba4423_240x180c.jpg" style="border: none; height: 180px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 5px 0; width: 240px;" /><span style="background-color: #c36c6d; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px 5px; color: white; float: left; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: left; width: 155px;">Brussels Sprouts</span><img src="http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_logo.png" style="border: none; float: right; height: 25px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 70px;" /></span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_red.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; clear: both; display: block; height: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><img src="http://dyn.foodista.com/content/embed/z1.png?foodista_widget_PT4MRW62_MV2VYV2C" style="display: none;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.foodista.com/food/SRNPYS43/bok-choy" style="background: transparent url(http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_red.png) no-repeat scroll 0px -10px; display: block; padding: 10px 0 0 0; text-decoration: none; width: 260px;" title="Bok Choy on Foodista"><span style="background-color: #c44f50; display: block; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><img alt="Bok Choy on Foodista" src="http://dyn.foodista.com/content/images/5d6215612153c3c1ffd33c5910b2ac2e842db4cb_240x180c.jpg" style="border: none; height: 180px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 5px 0; width: 240px;" /><span style="background-color: #c36c6d; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px 5px; color: white; float: left; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: left; width: 155px;">Bok Choy</span><img src="http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_logo.png" style="border: none; float: right; height: 25px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 70px;" /></span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_red.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; clear: both; display: block; height: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><img src="http://dyn.foodista.com/content/embed/z1.png?foodista_widget_SRNPYS43_MV2VYV2C" style="display: none;" /></a></div>CAL (My Food Life)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03252582812491292076noreply@blogger.com5