Summer Black Bean & Avocado Salad
There is nothing better during the hot summer months than cool black beans doing the samba with crunchy red peppers and rich, buttery avocado, all dressed up in a cilantro-lime vinaigrette. This recipe was inspired by a Mexican salad made at the first restaurant I ever worked at in my teen years. I never did get the exact recipe, so I decided to develop my own version based upon the dreamy recollection of my seasoned and discerning palate.
Read More →Lox & Dill Scramble ?
I developed the Le Voov! Lox Scramble with my Mother’s mentality prevailing. Clean out the older food in the refrigerator by Sunday! We served an appetizer requiring lox at a party the previous day, and I wanted to make good use of it quickly so it would maintain it’s freshness.
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The addition of a small quantity of Gruyere cheese makes for a deep blending of flavors both bright and rich in this lovely scramble.Guess Where I am…? ?
We had an enchanting visit to Safari West in the heart of California’s Sonoma wine country recently, where this picture was taken. Commonly known as the ‘Sonoma Serengeti’, Safari West is comprised of 400 acres cradled in the mountainous area above Santa Rosa. Visitors are welcome to wander the trails and partake in the open-truck safaris to experience over 1000 exotic African species of mammals and birds within the natural habitat of this beautiful wildlife preserve.
Read More →Green Eggs & Ham in a Cup! ?
On a lazy weekend, I’ll spend a bit more time creating a lovely breakfast for my family and friends. However, during the week, it needs to be quick and easy. This combination of Black Forest ham, eggs, mushrooms, fresh basil pesto, scallions and Gruyère cheese is a perfectly delightful breakfast to savor! I make this glorious, healthy breakfast on the weekend, and enjoy it again and again just by heating up the leftovers during the busy weekdays.
Read More →Chimichurri Sauce
We have used this sauce on everything from Filet Mignon to fish tacos, chicken to a fresh vegetable stir-fry, and it never fails to impress. The blending of classic chimichurri ingredients with the delightful, rich flavors of chutney inspired the development of this recipe. I always double the batch so I have leftovers to throw into a stir-fry or over morning eggs. Please feel free to contact us and let us know your favorite application for this fabulous exotic condiment. Enjoy! 🙂
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Napa Postal Mushrooms! We came upon this glorious stone mushroom installation in front of the post office while wandering through Napa Valley wine country. The long shadows of the autumn light made for a dynamic, interesting composition. ? ? ?
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We took this picture while vacationing in Lake Tahoe, California. Every time I look at this photo it makes me smile with the memories of our exciting day sporting around the lake in a speed boat, dragging a tube with some member of our party white knuckled, trying to hang on for dear life! This was followed by the inevitable yipping and howling after the individual on the tube was projected, at high velocity, through the air, and touched down in the water with an exhilarating splash.
Read More →Summer Pasta Salad ? ? ?
As with most pasta, this salad gets better and better over time. As the pasta cools, the flavors mingle and blend into a lovely group of complementary flavors on the palate. This recipe is perfect for a BBQ or party because it’s easy to make and it feeds a lot of hungry people!
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On a rainy day last December, we visited the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, which is affiliated with University of California, Santa Cruz. To celebrate the seasons, they had decorated the giant whale skeleton out front with thousands of Christmas lights. After out tour, the sun broke through the clouds and provided a lovely rainbow right over the facility. What a glorious treat!
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Last 4th of July, we spent a glorious night watching the San Francisco Fireworks from Angel Island State Park. We took the Blue & Gold Fleet ferry service out from the Embarcadero and enjoyed an afternoon of great food, celebration, and merry making with hundreds of other people. Once the fireworks got started, there was clapping, whistles and singing from all around the port. What a wonderful place to enjoy our country’s Independence Day! ?? ? ? ?
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We snapped this picture just off the side of Highway 29 while visiting the Napa Valley wine country in Northern California. The mustard flowers were in full bloom while the grapes were still dormant. Stay tuned for another fabulous Napa Valley tour coming this autumn! ? […]
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On a recent trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we were mesmerized by the massive jellyfish exhibit. Watching the colorful cast of gelatinous characters undulate before us was such a peaceful, relaxing experience. The music from Disney’s Fantasia danced through my head as we observed their graceful movement. I also kept thinking that this would be wonderful place to hang a hammock and take a nap! But, alas, the tens-of-thousands of other aquarium guests may not have appreciated my wish for a peaceful siesta, and perhaps would have disturbed my slumber…. ?????? ?
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Answer: We snapped this picture at Disneyland, Anaheim CA during the evening World of Color Light Show, set to the timeless tunes of classic Disney. This spectacular event was followed by an amazing blaze of fireworks bursting in the sky above us. What a fun […]
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This photograph was taken from our bed at dawn from the Arenal Observatory Lodge, Smithsonian room, in Costa Rica. We had arrived the night before in darkness, under a sky filled with massive lightning and bomb-like thunder. The road was flooded and when we finally arrived, we fell into a deep slumber with the sound of the rain dancing on the floor to ceiling windows. This was our very first visual of the Arenal Volcano. What a glorious way to awaken from a night of magnificent tropical dreams…
We plan upon touring Costa Rica again and will provide a detailed account of our wild fun and adventures. Stay tuned…! ✈️ ? ?
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Rooftop of The California Academy Of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA.
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This was always my favorite place to go as a child. Newly remodeled in 2008, the natural science museum now features a living rooftop with over 1.7 million California native plants, which opens to allow natural ventilation throughout the building. If you get the opportunity for a visit, don’t forget to stop by the alligator pit and say ‘hello’ to Claude, the albino American gator.
Adult admission is $35 and family memberships are available for $250/year. http://www.calacademy.org/Guess Where I Am…? ?
Spires at Antoni Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. Construction of this amazing cathedral began in 1882 and as of 2015 was approximately 70% completed. To honor Gaudi’s commitment to the design and construction of this extraordinary structure, a final completion target date of 2026 has been projected to mark the 100th anniversary of his passing. The annual construction budget is 25 million euros ($28 million+ US). If you have an opportunity to visit, the entrance fee is 15 – 20 euros ($17 – 22 US)
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