Here is a mumbo-jumbo of food and fun that I've had in the past month in August. I was in Napa for most of it, but some of the pictures are from other places as well. Starting with these first few pictures that are from in Denver, my last night before going home for a month! I had I think my second book-club meeting and we have made it into a sort of potluck. I had a bunch of fresh veggies from my farm deliveries and had to come up with something to do with them all. I decided on my own version of a ratatouille topped with mashed potatoes, creating a ratatouille shepherd's pie! I was so proud and it was extremely delicious. I think almost completely vegan too (I cooked it in a friend's kitchen so I didn't have all of my own ingredients and had to use dairy products in the mashed potatoes...)
BOOK CLUB
This pie/chocolate tart was made by another member of the book club. It was so decadent: dark chocolate, dried fruit (mostly berries), nuts and a pie dough. SO DELICIOUS!!!
NAPA TIME!!!
MARY'S VISIT
Mary, so typical! :)
Vegan pizza: we used tofu as a cheese and topped it with as many veggies and toppings I could find in Mom's fridge, always like a treasure hunt!
Margarita pizza with pesto on one side and tomato sauce on the other.
Yum Yum Yum!
Another tasty meal with some Isreali couscous, garlic naan and veggies all put together, topped with basil.
The veggies and bean mix.
We did two different types of couscous in that meal. This is the rainbow couscous, as you can see!
JESS' BIRTHDAY
Jess' birthday cake. Rainbow chip cake, chocolate frosting and freshly cut strawberries, picked from her church's garden. And of course some sprinkles, just a few though! JK
What would a garden-themed cake be without the gummy worms? Inadequate? I agree.
TRICIA'S BIRTHDAY VISIT
For Tricia's birthday dinner, we made a sauteed veggie tomato sauce for the potatoes mom roasted.
Mom's rosemary and garlic roasted potatoes.
Potatoes and tomato sauce.
With a side of fresh salad with tons of toppings!
Tricia's birthday table. I made her a surprise breakfast with a little something-something and some tasty treats!
One such treat, pictured above, were some apple pancakes, a few specially made in the shape of Mickey Mouse's head for Tricia on her oh-so-special day! Ha
The inspiration for the breakfast: 100% PURE MAPLE SYRUP from Canada. The Quebec territory of Canada is famous for it so I brought a can back home for mom and a smaller bottle for Tricia as a bday gift. It is much lighter with a pure flavor, hence the 100% pure.
I cut up lots of apples, stuck them in a bowl with a little lemon juice to prevent them from browning and put them in the fridge until I was ready to use them.
I also made a healthy-sized fruit platter with strawberries, peaches and melon. It was a bday breakfast feast!!
The beautifully made pancakes. I didn't think I was all that good at making them but I think I get better with practice--who would have thought?!
I also had some time to make a little banana bread. This one was for Tricia to take home with her with the nuts forming the letter "T" for Tricia. The other loaf we dug into with breakfast!
The table keeps growing with surprises (bread has been added).
We went wine tasting after our big breakfast. We enjoyed ourselves as we explored Beringer Winery with a well-informed tour guide ;)
It was Tricia's first time going wine tasting and I was so happy to have been the person to share that wonderful day with her. So much fun!!!
Roomies, buddies and wine-tasters!!
After wine tasting we went out to lunch in Yountville before Tricia headed back. I had grilled polenta with a portabello mushroom and some other grilled veggies in a tasty sauce.
Tricia had the grilled portabello and veggie sandwich with a few French fries! Great lunch to end an awesome day!
MOM AND ME PLAYING IN THE KITCHEN
Mom had been craving some grilled corn and she sure got it figured out with this batch of BBQed corn and a delightful rub/sauce.
We also grilled some peaches, which started my all-time new favorite dessert: grilled peaches with Grand Marnier, spooned over soy ice cream!!
We had us some patties going on!
I grated zucchini and added some other veggies to these zucchini cakes.
I also made a little aioli for the cakes with a bunch of older spices thrown in that ended up adding a BIG kick to the dish!
Quinoa salad with grape tomatoes and arugula.
Zucchini cakes and quinoa salad.
TOSTADA BAR
The fixin's
Super yummy barley with tomatoes and spices to mimic Spanish rice.
The best soy chorrizo from Trader Joes for like $1.50!!!
My humongous tostada with salsa, beans, barley, cabbage, avocadoe and more!
SNACKIN AT THE OYSTER BAR IN OXBOW
Beets, crunchy greens, almonds and goat cheese salad
Romano beans with browned garlic---delicioso!
Mom, enjoying her oysters and champagne :)
DINNER WITH JESS & MARTIN AT GIRL AND THE FIG
heirloom tomato & watermelon salad
marinated feta, yellow tomato vinaigrette
Mussels and grilled bread--that pic could be in a cookbook!!
pastis-scented steamed mussels & frites.
garlic, leeks, herbs, grilled bread
French fries!
stone fruit crisp.
crème fraiche ice cream.
Sarah, enjoying her little coffee drink
Love you girls!! So good to see and catch up you two! :)
BREAKFAST WITH GENELLE AND KENDAL
At the corner restaurant in the Kohl's shopping center downtown. We had a way-over priced fruit platter with a very decadent muffin
BERKELEY DAY
LUNCH AT CESAR
Fried peppers with lots of salt
Beans and tomato salad
Chunky potatoes with sauce
croque señor: toasted palacios ham & cheese sandwich
: catalan-style stew iwth monkfish, clams, museels and crispy potatoes
grilled eggplant with mojo verde
ALICE WATERS CELEBRATION
bread made in a can like in the olden days
Not bad but not all that good either
Sisterly love
and more
Shocked that our time together is almost over
Happy, mad
Interested, puzzled
Extremely interested, smiling
What?, cheese!
Pre-made pizza from Browns Valley Market made on a polenta crust with lots of mushrooms. Polenta crust ROCKS!!!
DINNER AT DON GIOVANNI'S
The best strawberry lemonade ever in the whole wide world!
Cheers to that sista!
Cabbage, raddichio salad with goat cheese and almonds on the side
Little ear pasta with veggies
romano beans, bacon, tomato (I picked around the bacon)
Cheers mom to a delicious meal, wonderful day and fantastic vacation in Napa! Lookin' good lady with your tasty drink ;)
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