Intimate Dinner for Miss Z. and Guest

Lately I've made some huge changes in my life and while it's all been exciting it's also been very stressful. My life in the past 6 months has changed drastically professionally and personally. I've decided to pursue a longtime dream of finally changing careers and personally I've made many small changes that seem to add up. I've been taking it one step at a time, but there are times when the stress is overwhelming. There's a the thrill of the unknown and the sneaking fear that snakes it's way into my heart as I contemplate my new uncertain future. In times like this what's a girl to do, but to have a handsome surfer come over to my house for dinner. It's always a joy to be able to sit down with him talking about our weeks and relaxing with a plate of food.

It's been a stressful couple of months and the last few weeks in particular as I've been trying to nail down the little details. There's still miscellaneous items to be worked out, but for the moment I was ready to simply relax with a nice intimate dinner. I cooked because Surfer Boy we'll call him E. for now on doesn't cook at all. He's particularly amazed when he looks in my fridge and sees fresh food that needs to be prepared. Apparently it's shocking to him that anybody would take the time to cook when something can be so easily microwaved. Although, that has never stopped him from eating anything I make or requesting that I make him his favorite dish of chicken pesto pasta. Thankfully like my father I enjoy cooking and sharing my joy of life through my food.

We started off with a cheese plate, which frankly I didn't take pictures of since E. devoured it all before I could take pictures. It was however for the record a nice cheese plate with double creme Gouda, jack cheese, salami, crackers and grapes. I would like you readers to know though that double cream Gouda is amazing lusciously creamy and soft with amazing amounts of yummy flavor.

We sat down to a dinner of roasted mushroom ravioli from Home Maid Ravioli Co. bought at my local farmer's market topped with a creamy sun dried tomato sauce. On the side was shiitake and asparagus saute and white wine of course. We lit the candles sipped our wine and just talked while eating. It was a peaceful way to end a stressful week and I'm so glad that I had somebody to share it with. There are days when I need nothing more than a ear tilted my way and E. provided that. I finally relaxed for the first time in weeks just being present with somebody who makes me laugh so much. Then we ended up in food coma from the raviolis with the amazing cream sauce. Yummy!

Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce:
1/2 Cup sun-dried tomato pesto
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cup of whole milk, half and half or cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons minced basil

1) On med. heat melt butter for 1-2 minutes. Once butter is melted add in flour and make a light roux another 3-4 minutes.
2) Add sun dried tomato pesto to the roux and stir till incorporated. At this point add the milk in a little at a time being careful not to scald the milk. If the sauce is too thick add in more milk or even a little pasta cooking water.
3) Toss with the cooked pasta and garnish with basil.

Sauteed Shiitake & Asparagus:
1 cup or 8 oz. fresh shiitake mushrooms
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 bunch asparagus
1/2 teaspoon salt
pepper to taste

1) On med. heat heat up the olive oil. In the meantime slice the shiitakes and asparagus.
2) Once the oil is hot stir in the shiitakes and saute for 4-5 minutes until the shiitakes start to get a little brown.
3) Toss the asparagus and saute for another 7-10 minutes. Add in salt at the end and pepper to taste.

Waiting for you......

Fresh Figs

Earlier today I went with a friend to Pier 39 along Fisherman's Wharf to check out a venue for his birthday. It was a gloriously hot sunny day and I was so happy to be out wearing a sundress. The best part of the day was that amidst the crowds of tourists I found this little fruit stand. It was selling the most luscious looking fruit and little plastic containers of chocolate to dip them in. There were the first figs of the season and strawberries piled high. Grapes spilled out of the crates and I could smell the peaches nectarines nestled in their crates. I wanted that fruit, though lusted after might be a better way to describe how I was feeling. Seeing those figs made me understand how in the world Eve could have taken a bite of that forbidden fruit. It was torture seeing it all there so ripe and waiting.

However, I asked how much the figs were and balked at the $8.95 per pint price tag. Especially when I know that soon figs will be in season and will flood my local farmer's market. I promise that you my beautiful figs that I'll buy you up then. I'll roast my figs up with a little honey and devour you with a dollop of ice-cream on top. I walked away empty handed today, but I'll be waiting for you my sweet little figs.

Simpler is better

The other day I put together this little salad of mine from some of my favorite flavors from summer. A little cucumber, tomato and dill topped with some briny capers to liven things up a bit and verjus from a local winery. It's amazingly simple and I love all the bright flavors mixed together.

Cucumber and Tomato Salad Miss Z's Way
1 large heirloom tomato
1/2 English cucumber
1 tablespoon capers drained or rinsed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon verjus
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh dill
fresh black pepper to taste

1) Chop the cucumber and tomato. Mince the dill very fine.
2) Toss all the ingredients together.
3) Eat & Enjoy

Flowers Galore

Ah summer in San Francisco means fog and cold chilly nights that call for a cuddly blanket. Lately the city has been so cold that I've been turning on the heat at night. I walk around the house wearing sweatpants, tee shirt, sweater, socks and slippers. Looking outside the fog is so thick that looking at the sky is like looking into a cloud. This weather makes me long for hot nights with a cold beer in hand. So imagine my joy when on Tuesday it was warm! Plus it was a free Tuesday at the The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Which meant it was time for me to play tourist in my own city.
The building itself is amazing. I mean really I drive by it and I think to myself how charming and lovely it looks. A building with character and distinction....plus I have a personal fondness for domed buildings. I think it makes them look more elegant and stately like a woman wearing a big hat it's unique. A huge part of that stems from me being from Charlottesville, Va home of Thomas Jefferson who built his home Monticello with a huge dome. However, I digress let's get back to the important part the flowers.
Outside there's formal flower beds arranged in rainbow hues for people to enjoy. I was wandering outside and there was the cutest mother and two daughters. They were doing a little mini photo shoot outside and it reminded me of when I was a child. I got super nostalgic thinking about the times my family and I used to do the exact same thing in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Once my Dad took me to those gardens by myself and bought me a huge ice cream cone which I of course promptly dropped on the ground. There were no such ice cream tragedies on this day as I was too busy playing tourist in my own town snapping pictures.

Pink tropical flower
Orchid on a tree trunk

Soft pretty moss

I love playing tourist in my own town. I get to fall in love with my city all over again and get reminded of all the reasons why I moved here. That's all that takes me to make me happy a warm day and some pretty sights.

Jealous Much?

Yep if you aren't jealous of this picture you should be. I just had it for a little mid afternoon snack slash treat for myself. Fresh organic strawberries with mint from my balcony and homemade creme fraiche. If you haven't tried creme fraiche please do yourself a favor and try it. You can eat it the way I did over some fresh fruit or in place of sour cream on top of some soup. I have some white peaches in my fruit bowl that are going to be smothered in this creamy treat later on.

Anyhow, I've been reading a lot about food lately and in one of book full of tips I read about making your own creme fraiche. I remember none of the other tips of that book nor the book name, but I remembered that you can make your own creme fraiche with a little bit of buttermilk and whipping cream. I HAD to try it. Creme fraiche is a thickened creme that tastes somewhere like a yogurt and a cream cheese mixed together. It's sold in some stores, but it's expensive if you can find it. I've seen it called for in recipes for fancy appetizers, on soup, and for desserts. I had it first with some potato pancakes and caviar. Occasionally I would see it in the store and stare at it longingly, but remind myself that non-fat yogurt is healthier and cheaper. Only problem is now that I know how to make it easily and it's not expensive.

So you know what this means for me? Fruit smothered with cream all summer long. Then I plan on licking the bowl after the fruit is gone to get that last bit of creme fraiche up...after I can't let it go to waste. Oh yes. I promise I only do that in the privacy of my own home, but I know you've done it too when something was too good to resist.

Homemade Creme Fraiche:
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 tablespoon buttermilk

1) Combine the whipping cream and buttermilk in a clean jar. Let sit out at room temperature loosely covered for 8-24 hours until thickened until desired consistency. Put it in the fridge when it reaches the desired consistency where it will keep to 2 weeks. In the fridge it will slowly thicken more.

*Also if leaving dairy out at room temperature bothers you then heat the mixture slowly on the stove until 110F then leave it out.