 Four Chefs on a mission!
 Four Chefs on a mission!  When given a break from meetings in San Francisco, where do chefs go for a cold beer (on draft) and some good old fashion comfort food?  Where else, Tommy's Joynt on Van Ness!
 Four Chefs on a mission!
 Four Chefs on a mission!   I've decided to bake something for my management meetings and hope everyone likes it. OK, here's my problem...who is sitting at the meetings? The Executive chef, Sous Chef, Beverage Manager, Restaurant Manager, and GM...conclusion...major food critics.
  I've decided to bake something for my management meetings and hope everyone likes it. OK, here's my problem...who is sitting at the meetings? The Executive chef, Sous Chef, Beverage Manager, Restaurant Manager, and GM...conclusion...major food critics.Thank you Tuesdays with Dorie!
The recipe can be found on page 194 in Baking from my home to yours by Dorie Greenspan.
 I've mentioned it before, but SUGAR IS EVERYWHERE!!!  I recently attended an event at the Bellevue Hyatt and what is the worse the Open Bar or the Dessert Buffet.  OK, I try to be good and avoid the massive sugar trap in front of me, but eventually, I give in.
 I've mentioned it before, but SUGAR IS EVERYWHERE!!!  I recently attended an event at the Bellevue Hyatt and what is the worse the Open Bar or the Dessert Buffet.  OK, I try to be good and avoid the massive sugar trap in front of me, but eventually, I give in.
Huge discovery...Today I am sure the gold at the end of the rainbow came from Kerrygold. I love their butter, but this Dubliner cheese with Irish Stout is a wee bit o' Irish I can't live without! I don't know why I bought it, but I am sure glad I did.
The texture is firm, a little chalky, a little salty, similar to a super sharp cheddar and worth it's weight in gold. I ad a little hunk with a glass of red wine...mmm...YUM!
 18 years ago at 7:30 am my son Tyler changed my life.  I never thought I would have children, but I am glad life took a turn and gave me a son.
18 years ago at 7:30 am my son Tyler changed my life.  I never thought I would have children, but I am glad life took a turn and gave me a son. Here he is in London in 2003, his second trip to London.  He just won't give me a serious smile.
 Here he is in London in 2003, his second trip to London.  He just won't give me a serious smile. Here we are on the the night of Tolo, his Senior year.  He's grown into a very handsome young man, don't you think!
Here we are on the the night of Tolo, his Senior year.  He's grown into a very handsome young man, don't you think! I've never been to Peru and I've never had Peruvian food.  Funny that my first experience with Peruvian food would be in Fresno, California.  After 3 weeks in Fresno, I learned a little about the culture and the diversity that Fresno has embraced.  Who would have thought?
 I've never been to Peru and I've never had Peruvian food.  Funny that my first experience with Peruvian food would be in Fresno, California.  After 3 weeks in Fresno, I learned a little about the culture and the diversity that Fresno has embraced.  Who would have thought? The wine list was decent, I settled for the Malbac, for a very new looking place in a very big strip mall.  FYI - If you've never gone to Fresno, there are strip malls everywhere, with every store (except Nordstrom) and every fast food chain you can imagine.
 The wine list was decent, I settled for the Malbac, for a very new looking place in a very big strip mall.  FYI - If you've never gone to Fresno, there are strip malls everywhere, with every store (except Nordstrom) and every fast food chain you can imagine. I started with the Limon Ceviche. Very tart, which I like, big chunks of halibut, squid, and shrimp...YUM.  This is served with a roasted sweet potato AND, this is when it goes south, toasted corn.  There was also hominy, which was a nice accompaniment.  OK, the toasted corn was so hard, not your ordinary CornNut, and bitter, I hate to admit it, but I had to spit it out.
 I started with the Limon Ceviche. Very tart, which I like, big chunks of halibut, squid, and shrimp...YUM.  This is served with a roasted sweet potato AND, this is when it goes south, toasted corn.  There was also hominy, which was a nice accompaniment.  OK, the toasted corn was so hard, not your ordinary CornNut, and bitter, I hate to admit it, but I had to spit it out. Hoping for Limon to redeem themselves, I took my waiter's advise and ordered the house specialty, a Peruvian favorite, the Saltado de Pollo, chicken breast sauteed with onions, tomatoes and fries, served with rice.  What I got was not what I expected.  I don't know why, but I didn't "REALLY" think the fries would be sauteed together with the chicken.  I thought to myself, I should have gone to Panda Express in the mall.  I could have saved myself $50.00 + tip.
 Hoping for Limon to redeem themselves, I took my waiter's advise and ordered the house specialty, a Peruvian favorite, the Saltado de Pollo, chicken breast sauteed with onions, tomatoes and fries, served with rice.  What I got was not what I expected.  I don't know why, but I didn't "REALLY" think the fries would be sauteed together with the chicken.  I thought to myself, I should have gone to Panda Express in the mall.  I could have saved myself $50.00 + tip. I just love Tuesdays with Dorie!  These thumbprint cookies are so buttery, nutty, and not too sweet...YUM.  I had to put them in a jar right away so I would stop eating them.  My family and I will be going to Mexico in a few weeks, so I am trying to keep off the sugar.  These little babies will be finding a new home today!
I just love Tuesdays with Dorie!  These thumbprint cookies are so buttery, nutty, and not too sweet...YUM.  I had to put them in a jar right away so I would stop eating them.  My family and I will be going to Mexico in a few weeks, so I am trying to keep off the sugar.  These little babies will be finding a new home today! The recipe is so easy to follow.  I used a #60 scoop and made a hole with the end of a wooden spoon.  Also, I made a few filled with raspberry jam and others with Nutella.  Perfect little treat at the end of the night with a glass of Cabernet.
 The recipe is so easy to follow.  I used a #60 scoop and made a hole with the end of a wooden spoon.  Also, I made a few filled with raspberry jam and others with Nutella.  Perfect little treat at the end of the night with a glass of Cabernet. I'm not usually a big fan of mixes or pre-made stuff, but my husband picked up a bag of Harvest Grains Blend from Trader Joe's, and I love it!  I don't shop at Trader Joe's too often, I find all the pre-packaged "stuff" a little overwhelming, I have such a hard time dodging all the "snack" stuff they sell, and I'd rather make my own.  However, sometimes they hit a home run.
 I'm not usually a big fan of mixes or pre-made stuff, but my husband picked up a bag of Harvest Grains Blend from Trader Joe's, and I love it!  I don't shop at Trader Joe's too often, I find all the pre-packaged "stuff" a little overwhelming, I have such a hard time dodging all the "snack" stuff they sell, and I'd rather make my own.  However, sometimes they hit a home run. OK, a few months ago I posted about a Cube Steak recipe I found on Recipezaar. Great recipe. Easy. The only thing is, I am trying not to use too many processed things...cream of mushroom soup, for example. So, here's my Cube Steak RE-DO!!!
 OK, a few months ago I posted about a Cube Steak recipe I found on Recipezaar. Great recipe. Easy. The only thing is, I am trying not to use too many processed things...cream of mushroom soup, for example. So, here's my Cube Steak RE-DO!!! 
 If you find yourself in California's Central Coast, take a little side trip 12 miles in, to Paso Robles and visit Tablas Creek Vineyard.  Unlike the busy roads that take you to the very popular Napa, the drive, to the many wineries in Paso Robles, is peaceful and relaxing.
If you find yourself in California's Central Coast, take a little side trip 12 miles in, to Paso Robles and visit Tablas Creek Vineyard.  Unlike the busy roads that take you to the very popular Napa, the drive, to the many wineries in Paso Robles, is peaceful and relaxing. Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2007
Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2007  Tablas Creek is owned by both the Perrin Family, fifth-generation proprietor of Chateau de Beaucastel, and the Haas family, with over 100 years experience in the American wine business.
 Tablas Creek is owned by both the Perrin Family, fifth-generation proprietor of Chateau de Beaucastel, and the Haas family, with over 100 years experience in the American wine business. The 120-acre site shares many of the same characteristics of the Perrins' Rhone estate: the limestone clay soils are of the same geologic origin as those of Beaucastel, and the Mediterranean climate of hot days and cool summer nights.  This is ideal for the Rhone grape varieties that are grown at Tablas Creek.
 The 120-acre site shares many of the same characteristics of the Perrins' Rhone estate: the limestone clay soils are of the same geologic origin as those of Beaucastel, and the Mediterranean climate of hot days and cool summer nights.  This is ideal for the Rhone grape varieties that are grown at Tablas Creek.
 The Pride and Joy of Tableas Creek:
The Pride and Joy of Tableas Creek: