The weekend, in brief

It was a busy weekend as always.  There is always so much we want to do and never enough time (cue Jesse Spano, "There's no time, there's never enough time!").  Highlights of the weekend include climbing a solid 5.10a on the rock wall and hiking and exploring the East Bay.  Sure it's got a bad rap but the EB has a lot to offer from terrific hikes including a dormant volcano and some cool neighborhoods.  We started working out with some kettlebells and I have to say I love it!  More kettlebell please!

My new rock climbing shoes! <3

We also had a nice Chinese New Year dinner cooked by our friends.  These same friends seem to win every food competition we have.  It's not hard to see why!

Honey walnut shrimp and fish with ginger and scallions

The weekend, in brief

Despite not having MLK day off, the weekend was fantastic.  It really couldn't get any better with wonderful food, good friends, and the 49er's one game away from the Superbowl.  Even though it was a busy weekend, the kind where so many events fall on the same couple of days, we managed to squeeze in some quality time with friends from out of town, friends leaving the country, and friends with birthdays.

Spring Lake 

great day for a walk around the lake

birthday feast - dungeness crab deliciousness

Aside from the company, I got around to purchasing some air plants.  I have been obsessed with air plants because they are so cool and seem so easy to take care of.  I had been hesitant on purchasing them because I didn't really want to put them in vessels I had to mount on the wall or keep a bunch of small vases around the house.  We saw some air plants placed willy nilly on a rusted old bicycle at Flora Grubb and it got us thinking as to what we could use to house our own plants.  My in-laws have been nagging us to get some of our stuff out of their attic and we had found a 1930's typewriter my husband had purchased when he had high hopes on becoming a writer (I guess lawyering will have to suffice).  Because the plants can be removed for watering once a week and don't require dirt, we thought placing a few on the typewriter would be perfect.  One more thing to cross off the list!

our new air plants on a vintage typewriter

succulents @ Flora Grubb

Wild Mushroom and Barley Soup

I'm obsessed with soup and in Boston I used to go to The New England Soup Factory with Ryan and Nic every Sunday.  When I think of those cold and snowy winters I endured it just isn't complete without some soup.  Ryan and Nic came out to visit this week from good ol' Beantown and I decided to make a recipe from the NSF book to not only pay a little homage to them but also for a little revitalization.


I have actually never enjoyed this particular soup at the restaurant because I was too busy stuffing my face with their chicken pot pie soup but I think the Soup Factory can do no wrong.  I didn't quite have all the correct mushrooms listed but I had 2 of the 4 including the portobello which was the most important ingredient.  The soup has such a rich meaty flavor because of the portobello that you don't even miss the meat and the recipe could be prepared vegetarian if vegetable broth is substituted.  I didn't have chanterelles or shiitakes and opted for the "Chef's Sampler" at Whole Foods because it was quick and easy and I've never met a mushroom I didn't like.  Judging from brief internet research, I think I used armillaria something or other.  This soup was actually delicious with a little heat added in the form of sriracha, but really, what isn't delicious with sriracha?

Soup and a sandwich

Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 cups diced onions

1 1/2 cups sliced or diced carrots

1/2 cup diced celery

3 large portobello mushrooms, diced

1 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms

1 cup chanterelle mushrooms

1 1/2 cup pearl barley

2 1/2 quart chicken or beef stock

2 cups Burgundy wine

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried basil

3 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup enoki mushrooms
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

mushrooms

Heat a stockpot over medium-high heat.  Add olive oil and garlic.  Stir quickly, then add the onions, carrots and celery.  Saute for 5 minutes.  Add the portobellos, shiitakes, and chanterelles.  Saute for 5 more minutes.  Add the barley, stock, Burgundy, oregano, basil, and tomato paste.  Stir well to combine.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium and simmer 45 minutes to an hour.

Remove from heat.  Stir in the enoki and mushrooms and season with vinegar, salt, and pepper.  Makes 10 to 12 servings.

The weekend, in brief

I'm trying something new this year.  It's a project not unlike the one picture a day or a picture for every meal project.  I'm not sure what it means yet but it is a great way to chronicle the fun, the mundane, and the little things that inspire me.

Getting ready to re-paint a chair for my vanity

New hobby - indoor rock climbing

Delicious meatball sub at a friends house - too bad about dem Bengals

Still loving winter vegetables - Brussel Sprouts stalk 

AYCE Indian - Garlic Naan

Earl Grey shortbread cookies

We bought a Groupon for indoor rock climbing at Planet Granite in San Francisco.  Planet Granite is a great space with a fantastic view.  It's situated in the Presidio with a killer view of Crissy Field and the Golden Gate Bridge.  It is an indoor rock climbing, bouldering, and yoga gym.  The facilities are amazing and the location is perfect from our house.  We can ride our bikes there and after climbing go for a run along the bay with the breath taking sights.  We took a belay class and then tried out various routes.  It's a bit of an addiction because it is challenging, a little bit scary, and requires a good amount of problem solving and working out solutions.  I'm excited to learn and improve my skills and not be such a "gumby".


I've been obsessed with Earl Grey flavored desserts for some time now and specifically I was thinking about the shortbread sandwiches cookies I had a bakery in LA called Twelve Centimeter.  It is light and delicious and I couldn't wait to make my own.  The recipe is so easy and delicious with the lime and orange zest really bringing out the flavor of the Earl Grey.  Of course because the tea is the main flavor, it's important to get a really quality tea.  The recipe is in grams which was a bit of a hassle but all worth it in the end.  These little cookies can be dangerous - so easy to pop in your mouth!

Happy New Year!

Lake Tahoe 1.1.12

Happy New Year!  The year started off with a bang with a quick polar bear dip into Lake Tahoe.  I hope everyone had a wonderful 2011 and is going into 2012 with a lot of hope and determination for an even better life.  I'm excited for what the year holds!