Quote Friday...Little Things

Don't get angry over tiny things. Always put things into perspective. ~ To be a Lady no. 124

Image of Mirror Lakes, New Zealand (2006)

Adventures in Cooking...Gluten Free Apricot, Cherry, Walnut Muffins

First I have to say, it is SO nice to have my gifted Kitchen Aid mixer back.

Isn't she a beauty?

Okay, maybe she looks a bit sad, and odd colored. Well she is, she was the HOT Kitchen Aid for the 70s. My mom received it as a wedding present and I was informed that the cream color was the IT color of the time and the only color my dad wanted. I think it's fantastic and totally retro. I just love it. In college I was misdiagnosed as having celiac disease. At the time it was just becoming known and there were not many baked goods around. So my mom gifted me her mixer so that I could at least make some baked goods from the meager supply of mixes stores offered. Over the years it has moved with me and gone back to my mom's at least once, until now. I finally have the room to have it and am so excited.

After 5 years of eating gluten free, and many doctor's tests later I found out that I'm only slightly intolorent, yay! However, the past few years have been hard, as I went back fairly quickly to a gluten heavy diet and noticed that I was sluggish again. So I have decided that I will try to be gluten free with my baked goods at home (mostly) and in home made sandwiches and only eat gluten out. Since I got the mixer I decided to start with some muffins. Plus, now I don't have to buy one when I'm at a coffee shop studying, I can just pack in my own and save some money.

Here is my recipe for Gluten Free Apricot, Cherry, Walnut Muffins

Ingredients:
1 Box King Arthur Flower Gluten Free Muffin Mix (this one happened to have a vanilla base)
6 Tbs Melted Butter
3/4 Cup Milk
3 Eggs
1 Cup dried Apricots, Cherries, Walnuts, diced, evenly split (1/3 each)

Directions:
1) Prepare muffin tin (spray or put in muffin cups)
2) Preheat oven to 375
3) Mix Eggs, Melted butter, Mix in mixer on medium
4) Slowly pour in milk
5) Add in Apricots, Cherries, and Walnuts
6) Pour into muffin pan
7) Bake for 18-22 minutes
8) Let cool and enjoy
This recipe makes 12 large muffins

Note: Next time I would make 16 smaller muffins as there was a lot of mix and I like smaller muffins. You can add in fresh fruit like blueberries or raspberries or other dried fruit or poppy seeds.

Quote Friday: To be a lady

Never assume that someone else will do something for you. - To Be A Lady No. 093

College "adopted" sorority sisters (seeing that I was AXO and they were EK) 2010

Getaway in Cabo!

Nick and I love to travel. And if you haven't been able to tell from many of my Friday quotes, we have been getting a bit restless in the travel department. However it's tough to plan a trip when you are in school (damn Masters loans) but I did have some savings and we were able to get a great flight/hotel deal from Pleasant Holidays with AAA, last minute, even. So off to the land of surf, sand, sun, Corona's, Margaritas, it was...

We arrived Friday afternoon and spent the whole afternoon/evening in the pool having coronas, cazadores on the rocks, and pleasant conversation with some brothers from Huntington and a couple from Laguna (yes we flew 1,000 miles to Mexico and ran into people who are practically neighbors to us).  It was a great first day to vacation followed by the best burgers and fries room service could provide.

Saturday morning it was up early to participate in the Cabo timeshare shark trap. Everyone has to go through a Cabo timeshare presentation or you haven't been to Cabo. On the plus side, we got a great breakfast, got to see a cool hotel, and the town of Cabo del San Jose. We also learned that if you say NO, you have to say it a million times and if you do want to purchase one (we did NOT) then wait till the last guy, he will give you the best deal to "try it out". Just an FYI. That afternoon was spent laying in hammocks on the beach with a bucket of Tecate, followed by lunch at the pool, a margarita cruise, and a night out on the town. You have to check out Cabo Wabo and El  Squid Roe (we missed the Giggling Marlin on this trip) if you are in Cabo. We even ran into one of Nick's vendors from work on a bachelor party trip. Glad we did, we ordered a yard of beer and needed people to help finish it off. We ended the evening with more burgers from room service (did I mention they were delicious?)

Sunday we lounged around the pool then rented a car and it was off to Cabo del San Jose for some surfing at Old Mans and some lunch at Zippers. I have to say the surf was great, a bit intimidating. I don't know why they were head high looping waves, not like the pitching waves we have here, but still I am always a bit nervous in new water. Plus right as we got out a clean up set came through and during my turtle dive I hit myself in the face with my board, no fun. But after an hour I got comfortable and had a few good rides even. Was sad to have only rented the boards for 2 hours. Will have to to back sometime. That evening we strolled on the beach by our hotel and then hit up the marina area for some drinks, a tequila tasting, and some dessert. I think we got chicken fingers this night for room service. They were delish too. I have never ordered so much room service in my life.

Monday we got up early and drove down to Cabo del San Jose to check the surf again, then it was back to the hotel to catch a water taxi over to the public beach for some jet skiing and lunch. We did the tourist thing on the way home and picked up some Mexican souvenirs ( you know, wrestling masks, genuine Mexican ray bans and Rolex, a great woven fish tapestry, and some silver). Back at the hotel we took a walk along the beach and found a local who would "guide" us over the boulders to Lover's Beach at Land's End. I have to say it was the highlight of the trip, and a reason that I am so glad I speak Spanish, otherwise we would not have met him and done the trek. For about $2 (wish I had had more on me) the guy took Nick and I over some boulders and onto Lover's Beach, took a million photos of us, and brought us back safely home. Brilliant! That evening we had a nice dinner at the hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean and sunset.

Tuesday morning we swam, read books, and headed back home. It's always sad to come home from a vacation but then I woke up early Wednesday (thanks to the time change in my favor from Cabo) to walk on my own beach and witness the sunrise (as a plus I got to see the sunset this day too). It's kind of nice to leave one vacation behind for a beautiful place like home, especially when your home is near a beach as well... I just have to remember that I live in a vacation spot and to stop at times and witness the beauty that is around me. It will remind me of how lucky I am.

Adventures in Cooking...Cauliflower Rice

This is one of three favorite cauliflower recipes that I have (other recipes to come soon). Cauliflower is low in fat and packed with fiber, water, and vitamin C. It's a great addition on any meal, almost. For over 20 years I thought there were only 2 ways to eat cauliflower, raw, yuck, or steamed, okay but not that great. This year I stumbled (with Nick's help) on 3 fantastic cauliflower recipes. Now we eat more of the stuff than ever.

As some of you know Nick loves listening to NPR, and one day he was listening to Splendid Table and discovered that you could make cauliflower rice. It's super simple and an easy replacement for rice in meals, and a great way to sneak in veggies to someone who doesn't like veggies.

Here is a simple way to make cauliflower rice.

What you need:
1/2 head cauliflower
Cheese grater or food processor with a grater tool (much easier, less chance of nicking the fingers since cauliflower breaks easily)
Microwave safe bowl
Saran wrap

Instructions:
1) Grate the cauliflower

You DON'T need to add any water, cauliflower is packed with water and it is enough to cause the rice to steam, if you add water you will get soggy rice :(
2) Place in microwave safe bowl
3) Cover with Saran wrap and place in microwave
4) Microwave on high for 3 minutes

5) Carefully remove (the bowl will be hot), remove Saran wrap (careful the steam can burn)
6) Add any other ingredients you want and serve as a side dish or the main meal.

Here I added Trader Joe's frozen roasted corn, basil, sea salt and pepper.

Some other ideas are chopped green onions, chives, other herbs, diced tomatoes, the possibilities are endless.

Quote Friday, I Deserve

I deserve to have a successful career and I accept it now.

We all deserve this. I found this inspiration in my esthetician's office and loved it. It's so true. I hope that all my other Millennial or Gen X friends find their career passions. Life is about Family and Friends and we are now working to live NOT living to work. Times need to change. And everyone needs a career they love.

Adventures in cooking...Butchering

Nick and I have found that if you buy a large steak (about 20lbs) from Costco and butcher it yourself you can have at least 20 meals for about $40 to $70 depending on the type of steak you buy. We like to cut it up in to steaks, cubes and carne. Here are a few photos of our (or rather Nick's butchering adventure, I just wrap it up for the freezer). When we want steak I just pull out one of the wrapped steaks (we wrap up two steaks at a time) and put it in the fridge to de-thaw.

Quote Friday: To be a lady

Don't forget to appreciate the small and simple things - To be a lady no. 070

I appreciate all the times I just get to be with my mom. Here we are in Wales in 2010.

Playing Tourist at Home

I love it when I have visitors. That means that I get to play tourist in my backyard without feeling awkward. Fantastic! And Newport has a lot to offer. A few weeks ago my friend Kathy came down from the Central Valley for a much needed sunny beach weekend. I picked her up Friday afternoon in Long Beach and headed out to Huntington Beach for lunch on the patio at Longboards. It's always good to start a trip out with margaritas. Then it was off on the beach cruisers, because you have to have and ride them here, to explore the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island.

We rode the boardwalk down to the wedge. Unfortunately it was not very Wedge-y, more like a wading pool than the monstrous beast it can be. If only she had come a week later, the swell was packing.

Then it was off to the Newport Fun Zone to take the ferry across to Balboa Island. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the ferry. Once on Balboa we got Balboa Bars. Here is Kathy with hers at Dads.

After a quick stroll around the island it was back to the bikes for the ferry ride back to the peninsula and our ride home. At home we had some wine before heading out to Sake Sushi to meet another college friend for some amazing Sushi followed by a night of chatting/dancing at Blue Beet.

The next morning my friend headed back to Long Beach to spend the morning with another friend while I went to Nick's company picnic at HB. That evening I headed into Long Beach and got to play tourist, but this time as the tourist not the guide. We let Jacquelyn show us around Belmont Shore (I have only been here a hand-full of times). We had delicious Thai food at a new restaurant (I forgot the name, sorry) then headed to Legends to catch the end of the Chargers game (winners!) and off to Dogz for the rest of the night.

Sunday was spent lazing out at the harbor beach in LB watching some water polo, stand up paddling, and getting tans! Being a tourist in your backyard is great.

Adventures in gardening...My new herb (and cactus) garden

I have been wanting to garden for the past year, but in Newport we don't have any land. I finally sucked it up and went to Lowe's to buy some pots, soil and herbs (as well as a jalapeno tree) to add to Nick's succulent/cactus plants out on the back deck. I hope to have some recipes soon using my new herbs. For now check out my cute garden.

Right now I have jalapenos, rosemary, two types of sage, Italian parsley, oregano, thyme, chives (from seed so they just look like an empty pot with dirt), cilantro, peppermint, and basil, along with Nick's succulents and cactus. I hope to add a lime tree, strawberries, more mint (chocolate), green onions, and veggies in the future.

Quote Friday....Feeling Adventurous

I need more of this "adventurous" feeling everyday. I know that I'm more adventurous than some but I still have my drawbacks and sometimes miss out on open doors due to fear. Nick reminds me that I think too quickly about all the possibilities and sometimes miss out on the adventure.

 Do you ever feel/ act this way? Or do you always just take the plunge?

We took the plunge and booked a last minute Labor day Cabo trip....bring on the margaritas!

Date Night...Sunset Wine and Cheese

Nick had a bad flu/cold/bug about a week ago, hence not a lot of fun for me. But on Thursday he called me up saying that he felt better that day, why don't we meet up and have wine and watch the sunset out on the beach that night? Of course!

But I couldn't just stop at wine. On my way home form yoga that night I stopped by The Meat House (our favorite shop in Costa Mesa). I picked up 2 cheeses, some Jamon Iberica (expensive, and I didn't realize till after I ordered it, yikes) and crackers. But it was Delicious. When I got home I grabbed one of our special bottles of Rombauer Zin (we love Rombauer) and our dorky camping backpack (thanks Genni and Joe for having like a million of these things, ours has really come in handy) and a towel and headed out to the beach.

We were surprised at how many people were still out, but we were able to grab our favorite lifeguard tower and enjoy our snacks with the sunset. The lifeguards were pretty cool too. They didn't hassle us for stealing their tower, and we did a good job of hiding the wine.

It was a great night to just sit and watch the sunset enjoying great cheese and wine with Nick.