New Post Coming Soon...

Happy Birthday Nikki!

Hope you got an ice cream today to celebrate!

Jorgen's English Muffins

My little brother, the artisan baker and bread enthusiast, has selected this recipe to share with you. English muffins! They look so good. I wish I could be eating one right now. Enjoy!

Traditional English Muffins
1/4 cup warm water (105 - 115 degrees)
1 tablespoon (1 package) active dry yeast (or a little less than a tablespoon of instant yeast)
Pinch of sugar
4 to 4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 egg
1 1/4 cup warm milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
Cornmeal (for dusting)

If using active dry yeast, combine the water, yeast, and a pinch of sugar in a small bowl and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. If using instant yeast, mix the yeast in with the flour and omit this first step and the sugar.

Combine 2 cups of the flour and the salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in egg, milk, butter, and yeast mixture. Mix until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining flour a 1/2 cup at a time, stirring in each time, until you have a soft dough that just clears the sides of the bowl.

Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead for 3 to 5 minutes. Return the dough to a clean, greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rise until doubled in size, about 90 minutes.

Sprinkle a work surface with cornmeal. Pour the dough out of the bowl and onto the surface. Sprinkle the top of the dough with cornmeal and then roll the dough into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick. Use a large round cookie cutter or an upside down drinking glass to cut the muffins out of the dough.

Cover the cut dough and let rise for 1 hour.  

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Place the muffins onto the skillet and let the bake for 5 to 10 minutes until quite dark before flipping.

An optional step, if you are concerned about baking them all the way through (which I was), is to have your oven heated to 350. After baking the muffins on the griddle for 5 minutes on each side, place them on a cookie sheet and place them into the oven for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. This assures that they are baked through.

Bon Appétit!

Hidden Gem #6: Craigslist End Table

I picked this up today from a woman who was trying to get rid of her parents' antique collection that had been in storage since the 80's.  I had to hold myself back from all of the other hidden gems in their warehouse unit.  I bet you can still find some of them on craigslist! happy hunting.

Knitting Project: Doggie Sweater

I have decided on a project based on the votes counted from my recent poll.  The winner: matching dog sweaters for Riley and Scout.  The only problem is that Scout has no need for a sweater.  Since he shed his puppy coat he is now left with thick, shiny, wavy tresses that keep him very warm in the cold.  It would really just be uncomfortable and he would probably chew it up anyways.  So that leaves me with the task of one dog sweater.  Fine.  I need to start out easy anyways.  It's been a while!

I will be trying my hand at this pattern found on Ravelry.com, the online community for knitters and crocheters.

Here is the yarn I will use, with size 8 needles:

Wish me luck!!

Cheap Date: The Metropolitan Opera for $10

Coming to a movie theater near you!  Carmen is one of the first productions of 2010 in The Met: Live in HD series.  You can see it tomorrow and only tomorrow, February 3rd at 6:30pm, playing at your local movie theater.  Carmen was filmed live on January 16th at the Metropolitan Opera House so it will be just like you flew to NYC and you're sitting in the loge at the Opera House, except for only $10! This sounds like a formal occasion.  I might have to break out a full-length gown.  This is definitely what I'll be wearing...

To find a theater near you and to buy tickets:

Click here, enter in your zip code next to your chosen event in the box on the left and click 'buy tickets'.  A list of theaters showing your event will appear.

Here is the official Metropolitan Opera website. Other operas showing this year include Simon Boccanegra, Hamlet, and Armida.

I will be going to the opera tomorrow at the Palo Alto CinéArts theater, maybe with my husband, and maybe not.

To get you excited, here is a clip from the 1984 film version of Carmen, directed by Francesco Rosi...
 

Apple Cake Consortium

Lindsey's Apple Cake Experiment (LACE)

This union of apple cake recipes was arranged for the common purpose, beyond the capabilities of either single recipe, of being completely delicious, utterly delectable, and unavoidably devoured by anyone who has the good fortune to cross it's path.

Credit is principally due to the two original parent recipes, without whom, the end result would never have been born into existance.

Mom's Apple Cake, from the Smitten Kitchen blog and Apple Bundt Cake, contributed by RavenTresses from the I Like Big Bundts group on  Mixing Bowl were the inspiration for my creation, which will, henceforth, be known as Lindsey's Apple Cake Experiment or LACE.

The properties of LACE are as follows:

3 Fuji apples, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 C sugar
2 1/2 C flour
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 C vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a bundt pan. Peel, core and chop apples into chunks. Toss with lemon juice, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1/4 C sugar and set aside.

Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, remaining 1 tablespoon cinnamon and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, eggs, remaining 1 3/4 C sugar and vanilla.  Mix wet ingredients into the dry ones, until batter is smooth. Scrape down the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.

Add half of the apples to the batter. Spread the remaining apples in the bottom of the bundt pan. Pour the  batter over the apples. Bake for about 1 hour, or until a tester comes out clean.  Let cool for 10 minutes before transferring cake onto a serving dish or cake platter and sprinkling with powdered sugar.  

Optional quality enhancements to LACE could include the addition of walnuts, pecans, raisins, or even the elusive craisin.  Also, a maple glaze would be a viable alternative to the powdered sugar sprinkle.

DIY Bangs Trim: Not Necessarily Recommended

not recommended for the weak at heart, but totally worth it if you're looking to save $10 to million bucks at a hair salon.

p.s.  isn't Scout cute looking out the window in the background? its his favorite watchdog perch.

Doggy Heaven at Fort Funston

Yesterday Riley, Scout and I took a long walk across the cliffs, dunes and beach at Fort Funston.  This is one of the most beautiful places to visit in San Francisco.  Amazing views, sunny weather, and there is a great community of dog owners and dog walkers that are here everyday from dawn to dusk, so you don't need to worry about going alone.  Scout took some of his first tentative steps into the ocean on this trip and Riley got the zoomies sprinting up and down the beach.  I will never get bored of watching Riley run.  It always puts a smile on my face.

Scout waiting for me to throw another rock

the wide beach and shallow waves are great for the little ones

Riley and Scout inspecting something in the sand in the distance

playing in the water

lovely sunset over the ocean

You got a hitch in your giddy-up?

Down on your luck?

Worried about the big interview?

Need some encouragement for your new exercise routine?

Finding it hard to stay awake to study for your final?

Feeling the sting of buyer's remorse?

Anxious about making a life-altering decision?

Going through Dexter/Glee/True Blood/Mad Men withdrawals?

Trying to find the courage to stand up for yourself?

Recovering from a makeover gone wrong?

Experiencing S.A.D. symptoms?

Just realize that you finished an entire box of Wheat Thins all by yourself?

Or maybe you just feel like you're in a rut?

All of these songs will help you through this trying time.  Here are my favorite motivational tunes that will never let you down:

• Chiquitita, ABBA
• Super Woman, Alicia Keys
• You Should Be Dancing, Bee Gee's
• Judy and the Dream of Horses, Belle and Sebastian
• Diva Hustler, Beyoncé
• 9 to 5, Dolly Parton
• Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien, Edith Piaf
• Juke Box Hero, Foreigner
• Singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly
• Gotta Getcha Head in the Game, High School Musical
• I Am Changing, Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls 
• Be Somebody, Kings of Leon
• Make It Happen, Mariah Carey
• Grace Kelly, MIKA
• Jump (For My Love), The Pointer Sisters
• Go or Go Ahead, Rufus Wainwright
• I Don't Feel Like Dancin', Scissor Sisters
• You've Got the Love, The Source ft. Candi Staton

Also, if you read this article from the ZenHabits blog, Get Off Your Butt: 16 Ways to Get Motivated When You’re in a Slump, while listening to my playlist at the same time, you are 100% guaranteed to feel better.

What are your favorite motivational songs?

Hidden Gem #5: Wooden Wall Clock

$2.00!!!

Little Sis and I dropped in on an old favorite on Friday - The Thrift Station in Danville.  Generations of Sisters have shopped here.  So it is a tried and true classic.  It's hard to come in here and not find something that you love.  Sister Spend almost bought a huge bag of royal blue yarn for $11 to fuel her new knitting hobby, but decided (against her better judgement) to keep looking for a better deal.  I mean, where else are you going to find a huge bag of royal blue yarn for less than $11?

Other great things about the Thrift Station include:

• Being right next to El Balazo. Great Mexican food!
• And once a month(?) they have a day where you get to stuff as many items as you can fit into a grocery bag for only $7.  

The Thrift Station
486 San Ramon Valley Blvd
Danville, CA

Cheap Date: Potrero Hill

Going to start posting about the cheap dates my husband and I go on around the bay.  These aren't formal four course dinners or anything like that.  No, that would require some $.  We're just trying to be creative with what we have and take advantage of all the free and cheap things to do around here!

Tonight's date, Cruising Potrero Hill 

Tonight we are hoping to shatter the myth that there is "nothing to do except be a family" in this little neighborhood between 101 and 280.  We are thinking of moving here so we hope to find otherwise on this date.

First up: Sourdough thin crust at Goat Hill Pizza.  Please be good!  Also, I will be having an Anchor Steam to make up for not being able to tour the brewery, which is just down the hill and around the corner.  Who can actually go on a brewery tour at 10AM on a weekday? Seriously.  They need to add some evening tours or opening a bar would be good too.

Next up:  Stroll down 18th Street, which is supposedly where it's happening on the hill.   Planning on taking a peek into Farley's, a cafe! Because every neighborhood needs a good one.  Just in case you need to walk there at 10pm.  I would also like to spot an O.J. Simpson mural, since I've heard there are several (still?!) in the area.  Potrero Hill was his childhood home.

And finally:  Catching a show at Bottom of the Hill!  Tonight, I The Mighty, Scissors for Lefty, Via Coma, and Fight the Villain are all playing (although we're really just going for Scissors) and tickets are only $10 a pop!

Can't wait for my date!  I'll let you know how it goes and if Potrero is still on the list of possible relocation destinations.

Anyone want to join us for the show???

Hidden Gem #4: Cake Platter Found!

I just popped into Menlo Park Goodwill a couple days ago and this lovely cake platter appeared before my eyes.  Isn't it sweet?  I can't wait to put a cake on it.  Preferably a lemon or coconut cake.  And have a tea party!  Actually, this cake platter is reserved for use as a centerpiece at Colby's wedding reception.   She is gathering all sorts of adorable vases and centerpieces for her outdoor farm wedding in late May.  It's going to be so beautiful, and what a creative idea!  Here are a few that she purchased from the SPCA thrift shop in Davis, a hidden gem in its own right.   Can you believe those bud vases were only 25 cents each!? Now there's a thrifty sister!

   

Goodwill Menlo Park

711 Santa Cruz Ave

Menlo Park, CA

Yolo County SPCA Thrift Store

920 3rd Street
Davis, CA

Hidden Gem #3: Black Tassel Loafers

I've been coveting men's loafer shoes for a while now and I almost bought some the other day at Nordstrom, when Lindsey stopped me, saying that I could probably find some at a thrift store that didn't make me look like an elf and would cost a 1/4 of the price (the $40 Steve Madden pair were curiously small looking on my feet). So when I saw these at the Novato Hospice a few days later I was delighted! Size 8, in perfect condition, $8. Of course Sister Thrift had been right, and they've been on my feet every day since.

~Sister Spend

Hospice Hodgepodge 2
910 Grant Avenue
Novato, CA

Dinner Tonight? Currylicious

This $8 recipe has been contributed by acclaimed guest chef, W.B. Withrow, who would like to assure you that when you make it your home will be filled with a delicious aroma.  It's pretty tasty, and works great if you have a crock pot, but is not needed.  Most importantly, you can use the cheapest meat available. Yes!

Currylicious
1 can of coconut milk, warmed
1 onion, chopped
1 pkg. Golden Curry
1 can of chick peas
2 cups cauliflower, chopped
Stew meat, cut into 1.5 in cubes (or substitute tofu)
Rice

In a bowl, stir together warmed coconut milk and the Golden Curry (for those of  you, like me, who had never heard of this Golden Curry, this is what it looks like). Add chopped onion and stir together until the curry dissolves. Add meat or tofu and marinate for 5-6 hours.

After the meat or tofu has marinated, move to the crock pot or large pot.  Add chickpeas and simmer on low heat, covered, for 1 hour. Add cauliflower and simmer until cauliflower is tender. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm over rice.

Now that sounds satisfyingly economical!  Many thanks to the chef for his contribution!

Hidden Gem #2: Copper Tea Canister

I went in this thrift store looking for a cake platter and I came out with this adorable copper tea canister ($5) and a new water bowl ($6) for the pups. This place is huge!  A two story treasure trove of anything your heart could possibly desire.  Furniture, tons of holiday decor, rows and rows of clothing that I didn't even get to.  I was surprised they didn't have a cake platter because they had tons of kitchenware and serving dishes of all sorts.  I will find that cake platter though and I will be back to Savers in Redwood City.

Savers
875 Main Street
Redwood City, CA

Hidden Gem #1: Striped Flower Shirt

Does this look like a popcorn bag or something Leslie Caron would wear circa "An American In Paris"? According to Jorgen, it looks like the former, but for $4 I don't really care. I bought this on a whim at Novato Goodwill and I will be wearing it either to my next carnival or on Bastille Day.

~Sister Spend

Novato Goodwill
936 7th Street
Novato, CA

New Year's Day Dinner Menu

My husband and I celebrated New Year's Day with Little Sis and two of her friends, Joelle and Morgan. Morgan is French so we were anxious to impress him with some good cooking. This is what Kelsey and I decided to make...

Happy Hour Stuffed Mushrooms

Presecco

Chicken Parmigiana

Shiraz-Cabernet-Merlot, 08 Barren Jack

Bacardi Rum Cake

Chai Tea

We loved the chicken parm so much that we decided to make it again the next night. Pioneer Woman has great photos and step by step instructions for all her recipes. It makes things a lot easier on the chef.   Here are our recipes:

Happy Hour Stuffed Mushrooms
15 medium sized mushrooms
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 clove garlic
5 tablespoons shredded Jack cheese
2 tablespoons dry white or red wine
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs

Remove stems from mushrooms and save for other use. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter; brush over mushroom caps, coating thoroughly. Stir together remaining 4 tablespoons butter, garlic, and cheese until well blended. Place mushrooms, cavity side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Evenly mound filling in each mushroom, pressing it in lightly. Broil about 6 inches below broiler unit until bubbly and lightly browned (about 3 minutes). Serve warm.

Chicken Parmigiana
See this recipe on The Pioneer Woman blog...

side note: I don't think I can last another day without making this recipe from the same site. It's just looks too mouthwatering!

Bacardi Rum Cake
1 C. chopped pecans or walnuts
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 3-3/4 oz. pkg. jello instant vanilla pudding
4 eggs
1/2 C. cold water
1/2 C. Wesson oil
1/2 C. dark rum

Glaze:
1 stick butter
1/4 C. water
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. dark rum

Preheat oven to 325˚. Grease and flour 10” tube or 12-cup bundt pan. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan. Mix all cake ingredients together. Pour batter over nuts. Bake 1 hour. Cool. Invert on serving plate. Prick top. Drizzle and smooth glaze evenly over top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze. Repeat till glaze is used up. For glaze: melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in rum.

Many warm wishes for the new year and the new decade!  May 2010 bring you health, happiness, great adventures, and delicious meals with friends and family.