They should tell you when you’re born… Have a suitcase heart, be ready to travel! …Gabrielle Zevin
What are you waiting for?…get out there!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Motivational Monday…TRAVEL
Foodie Friday….Easy Chocolate Chip Scones
…having a few challenges with the website lately, so apologies for late/no postings and pics being weird….aaahhhh, technology!
I’m not much of a baker (I prefer cooking meals and appetizers), but these chocolate chip scones are so easy and always a big hit when I bring them to the office…or for a weekend in Sonoma! Enjoy!
Chocolate Chip Scones
Preheat oven to 425
2 cups unbleached flour (I just use regular)
1 Tbs. Baking powder
› tsp. salt
┬╝ c. sugar
› c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 ┬╝ to 1 1/3 cups whipping cream
- Combine flour, baking powder, salt, & sugar in a bowl
- Add the chocolate chips.
- Stir in the cream with a fork until the dough holds together in a sticky mass. (You may need to add a Tbs. or more of cream until the dough holds together)
- Turn dough out on a lightly floured board. Knead the dough several times.
- Roll it out with a rolling pin & use an inverted wine glass or cookie cutters (dipped in flour to prevent sticking) to make the shapes you want.
- Place on an ungreased cookie sheet & bake for about 12-15 minutes…’til a bit golden on top.
Optional: You can brush the scones with melted butter before baking…and even sprinkle with a little kosher salt for that sweet and savory taste.
Have a FABULOUS weekend everyone!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Fall Sonoma Weekend
I was fortunate to travel to Sonoma this past weekend with my friends, and team mates, to our friend, Dennie’s, home & vineyard. It is an expansive property with views in every direction of vineyards, apple trees, persimmon trees, mountains and everything that reminds you of Fall. We were excited to hear that there was rain in the forecast and rain it did, most of the weekend! ….perfect for reading on the porch, playing games until the wee hours and just enjoying each others company. The spectacular Fall colors were out in full force and Dennie’s hospitality is something to aspire to. Here’s a glimpse of our Sonoma weekend escape….
Went to the cute town of Graton for lunch and some looky-loo shopping in the cute stores on our first day…before the rain really started coming down!
We had quite a few laughs playing games & I loved reading on the porch, hugged by a warm quilt, as the rain came down.
….and then a walk through the beautiful vineyard to gather some leftovers from the harvest for lunch on Saturday
…and a weekend away wouldn’t be complete without a few fabulous meals. I’m sorry I didn’t get a pic of our beautiful lunch on the patio of apples & grapes that we’d gathered from the property, cheeses, local amazing breads and some homemade jams/jellies….and, of course, Dennie’s pie.
Saturday night we showed up for dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg, but we were there on the wrong night.
So, what happens when you make a reservation for the wrong night? They seat you in the wine library! We had our own private dining room with the faint sound of the jazz band from the adjoining bar.
It was sad to leave such a beautiful place, but the memories from this fun, beautiful weekend will get me through this ridiculous heat wave we’re experiencing. Bring back Fall…PLEASE!!
….and no trip to the Bay Area would be complete without a visit with Mary Kay & Laura…and lunch at Burma Superstar!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Foodie Friday…Chicken Marbella (…and couscous)…great for a crowd
Make ahead, easy, perfect for a group. Silver Palate’s Chicken Marbella recipe is the perfect choice for weddings and large parties. I’ve made it numerous times and it almost never disappoints! So, here you go….
Silver Palate’s Chicken Marbella
Serves 10-12
4 Chickens (2 › lbs. each) quartered ** I usually use boneless, skinless breasts approximately 8-12
1 head of garlic, chopped ** I use already chopped garlic, a couple of TBS or more
┬╝ c. dried oregano
Salt & pepper
› c. red wine vinegar
› c. olive oil
1 c. pitted prunes
› c pitted Spanish olives ** I use Kalamata Olives & I use more than › c.
› c. capers with a little bit of juice
6 bay leaves
1 c. brown sugar ** this was too sweet for me, so I reduced it the 2nd time I made it.
1 c. white wine (dry)
┬╝ c. Italian parsley or cilantro ÔÇô finely chopped (optional)
- Place all ingredients, down to and including the bay leaves, n a ziploc bag or bowl to marinate. Refrigerate 24 hrs. if possible (sometimes I don’t have to time to marinate it at all)
- Preheat oven to 350
- Arrange in a large pan in a single layer with all the marinade
- Sprinkle with brown sugar & pour white wine around.
- Bake approx. 50-60 minutes.
- Sprinkle with parsley or cilantro & serve.
I usually pare it with a boxed couscous because it’s super easy and is ready in less than 10 minutes…..but, I cook the couscous in chicken stock instead of water and then add feta and some roasted pine nuts to give it that extra flavor & texture.
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Magical, Ethereal, Spiritual
I’ve always been intrigued by the pictures I’ve seen of lantern festivals around the world…usually in remote places like Thailand or India. They look so magical, spiritual and just plain cool! Anyway, I think I was just googling “lantern festivals” one day and saw that there’d be one somewhat close, the RISE festival, in the Mojave dessert, outside Las Vegas. So, over 6 months ago I bought a couple of tickets & so did Taylor & Dan.
I never imagined how cool it would be (…&yes I would do it again next year@). I think I’ve said it many times before, but a picture says a thousand words…and it’s hard to describe something so magical, emotional & spiritual.Enjoy..and hopefully the video works too, ’cause that captures it best.
Thousand of lanterns circled around us!
turn up the volume for the video
….then we drove back to Vegas to spend the night…ugh, not as magical! I’ve been to Vegas quite a few times and had fun, but after such a cool experience it was just a bit too many lights & sounds!
You cannot direct the wind but you can adjust the sails!
Motivational Monday….Inspiration
There’s no need to be perfect to inspire others….let others be inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.
Your life is your message to the world. Make sure it’s inspiring!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Two Weekends Celebrating LOVE
AAAHHHH, LOVE….I had the privilege and pleasure these past couple of weekends of attending two beautiful weddings in two beautiful places…as well as having cherished time with my kids. (Unfortunately I inadvertently deleted many of my pics, so this is what I cobbled together…sometimes I love technology, sometimes I hate it!)
The first weekend was in beautiful Arroyo Grande on the central coast near Pismo Beach to celebrate the union of the Anderson and Duddridge families…or as Austin said in his speech, they’ve created a sort of SUPER-family. We (Kate, the great, & I) picked Austin up at the airport late Thursday and arrived at the tail end of the wedding rehearsal festivities that evening.
I did a home exchange for the weekend and the condo was perfect, with an ocean view. (have I mentioned how much I LOVE doing home exchanges?) Took some time on Friday morning to have breakfast in, and explore, the village of Arroyo Grande…adorable.
…and I was honored to attend a lovely luncheon in the vineyard at Laeticia winery
…followed by a sunset celebration on the beach with the soon-to-be Mr. & Mrs.
The wedding ceremony on Saturday took place under some beautiful old oak trees, with a small platform and gorgeous archway covered in flowers, on a family ranch in Arroyo Grande. The celebration that followed was under a huge tent, where very detail was perfection…food, music, dancing, ambiance, and of course the love of family and friends that surrounded the joyous newlyweds.
We had one more night before A&K went back to NYC, so, thanks to Mariellen and Peter, took a leisurely Duffy ride around beautiful Newport Bay. It was another fabulous evening on the water…I never get enough of them!
This past weekend marked the union of the Bianchetti and Vossler families. The venue of The Vibiana, a former cathedral in Downtown LA (DTLA for you hipsters) was stunning and elegant. We entered, serenaded by violins, to witness the traditional ceremony, then retreated to the ivy laden outdoor courtyard for drinks as the ceremonial space was converted to a reception area that was breathtaking. Again, not a detail was spared, yummy food, dancing and the love of family and friends surrounding the newlyweds.
My feet are still recovering from the endless dancing at both events…enhanced even more for me because I was able to enjoy it with my kids! My heart is bursting as I reminisce the celebration of LOVE, family, friends and new beginnings. Congratulations and best wishes to the two happy couples!
(Dang it…I really had some good pictures..you’ll just have to take my word for it!)
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Motivational Monday…Every Morning
Every morning you have two choices:
Continue to sleep with your dreams
OR
Wake up and chase them!
(thanks to Taylor for finding this one)
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Motivational Monday…FUTURE
Dear Past, thanks for all the lessons.
Dear Future, I’m ready!!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Foodie Friday…Michelin meal in Copenhagen
So I usually do some research before traveling to a foreign land…about the places to see and restaurants to go to. I knew our trip to Copenhagen would involve lots of rowing, so needed to plan that one great meal on Saturday night when our races were over to savor a long, well deserved, meal. Okay, I could have tried to get into NOMA, with a price of over $300…but who knew Copenhagen had so many amazing restaurants to choose from? How about a 1 Michelin Star meal in the kitchen somewhere else? AMASS was the answer and it didn’t disappoint. I opted for “Table 153”, a special table with a maximum of 8 guests (you can only reserve 4 though). I love the idea of a shared table with people you don’t know. It makes for great conversation and a sharing of cultures & ideas that you wouldn’t experience at a regular table.
Amass is in a weird, kind of out of the way, area… but still right next to the canals and city. It’s almost an industrial area. You enter an unassuming corridor and are transported into a space that opens up to high ceilings and dramatic landscape for the senses. A great outdoor space and a sparse modern indoor experience. When we arrived we were given a glass of wine and went out to explore the garden and the sunset.
Table 153 is right next to the kitchen, which is always such a show in and of itself. The weird thing about having a eight course meal of small plates is that it’s hard to describe how amazing the food is and the menu just looks so out there…so you’ll just have to take my word for it that you should go and experience this awesome restaurant!
So, here’s the menu….
..and pics to go along with the menu (photos courtesy of Patricia Gatewood)
My mouth is salivating just reliving this meal…and feast for the senses!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!