Sunday, March 30, 2008

Click Photo Entry



Here's my Metal click entry.

Beautiful weather and finishing a painting for a friend who's leaving town prevent me from writing much now. I'll be snacking on Lindt intense pear dark chocolate while I work. If you try some you'll be hooked too.
While I paint, red, yellow and chioggia beets will be roasting in my oven to be combined with Hare Hollow organic olive oil, feta cheese and some crunchy, tasty, nutrient adding, Alea Sea Salt.


Renée

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Back to Chico from SF


I have much to report on from my culinary journeys this past two weeks. Restaurant choices included Yuzu, Slanted Door, Pacific Catch, Tartine, Bi-Rite Ice Cream, Isa, Betel Nut, Dragon Well, Petit Robert.

I replenished my supply of Supreme Jasmin Pearls from Aroma Tea Shop on 6th & Clement after I spent an hour or more in Green Apple books. I found two books on Chinese Brush painting to inspire my artistic endeavors. I can't wait to start painting. Of course I found my supplies at Ichiban Kan in Japantown. I got brushes, ink stone and ink bar along with calligraphy paper.

I was privileged to see two performances of the Sf Ballet. I have no words that can describe the intensity of the experience. I will say that orchestra seats ARE worth the price. Treat yourself and try it one time, you'll be hooked. My favorite piece was the pas de deux from After the Rain. The music was as moving as the choreography.

Our weather was typical SF, windy, clear and beautiful. We walked until our legs ached at night. On our last day I saw the fog over the bay from high atop Filmore street and didn't want to go home.

Our best meal was at Yuzu. The star of the show were the tempura lobster tails. Oh my! What an experience. There little explosions of flavor with each bite, succulent and with a seafood flavor only lobster can deliver. The fusion roll is a personal favorite and the sashimi was very flavorful and fresh. I'm pleased to say they are now offering an oolong tea in addition to the genmaicha. Dessert followed at Tartine in the Mission. I shared the last piece of lemon meringue cake three ways, I wanted more. I went back the day we left and got a piece to eat on the way home.

I'm adjusting back to a slower pace here in Chico, and I plan to eat mostly fruits and vegetables for a few days. Included in my cleansing diet will be the three pomelos that I carried around the Farmer's market and back to the Marina, along with the dinosaur kale and dandelion greens I found at Marin Sun Farms booth. I will probably candy the pomelo peels too. I found a recipe at Figs with Bri to try.

I'm enjoying the wisteria show here and dreaming of what this springtime will show me. When seasonal activities permit, I will continue to post reviews of my eating choices on this trip.


Renée

Friday, March 14, 2008

My First Post and Green Smoothies


Hello blogging world!

I've spent so much time reading my favorite blogs, that I've decided to actively join the community. I will share my love of cooking, books, San Francisco, traveling, health and how they work together for me. I hope I can be an inspiration to others in the same way Amy Sherman, Heidi Swanson, Pim, Clotilde Dusoulier, Tea, Denise and many others have been to me. Every morning I look forward to seeing what's been cooked for dinner last night, what going to be made tonight and what's in the planning stage. My fellow food loving bloggers inspire my cooking creativity. I cook because of them. This community is a living breathing entity unlike the food related magazines I used to spend so much time reading. These journals have their place too, but somehow I feel connected to the lives and kitchens of food bloggers. I hope I will be welcomed into the fold.

I have a few friends who are raw foodists, they've been trying to win me over with their tales of weight loss and high energy. So far I've resisted. Green smoothies have been a way I can conveniently add more raw vegetables into my diet without making a life commitment. My inspiration came from the book Green for Life. My local (Chico) farmer's market supplies me with a wide variety of greens. Late winter is the season for dinosaur kale, spinach, red russian kale, beet greens, chard, bok choy, endive, radicchio to mention a few. I pop these into my, non-vitamix blender, along with 2 cups water and chunks of whatever fruit I have in my kitchen. I've used kiwi, pineapple, banana or apples. I add a bit of frozen acai pulp for some omega-3's, blend and that's my breakfast. My husband has developed a fondness for the green smoothies in place of a large dinner. The green drinks have calmed his cravings for sweets in the evening. He's very pleased. I have found myself searching my cheese drawer less frequently too. I sleep better at night knowing I've eaten my veggies along with their enzymes. I have, however, not turned into supergirl yet.


Recipe
1 handful of raw washed greens
such as dinosaur kale, spinach, red russian kale,
beets greens, chard, bok choy, endive, radicchio.

1 cup chunked fresh pineapple, apple, kiwi,
banana or whatever is in season.

1/2 bar of frozen acai

Add 2 cups of water to blender along with greens, blend until smooth.
Add fruit and acai. Blend again.


Enjoy!
Serves 1 or 2


Renée