Month: July 2019

Lifestyle: What Your Body Is Telling You

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Breakfast is to be eaten in a relaxed state of being – suggests this plan I am trying out recently to ward off some health issues that have popped up recently.  But I wonder how that is possible when there are a million and one things in life that keep us from being less uptight or stressed even while consuming our meals. The funny story here is that  this morning, I parked my car in Golden Gate park after a doctor’s appointment to eat the so-suggested calm breakfast before the start to my hectic day – and attempted to listen to French music on my Pandora to help set the mood. But of course, my phone had no service, no matter how many times I turned it off and on, and then there were the street cleaning trucks grinding almost as they crawled by across the street blowing debris in any direction but suctioning inside their vacuum-truck.  Or am I off my rocker to think the trucks actually have vacuum-like suctions underneath.  So basically even …

Boutique Hotel Pick – Le Mas Des Poiriers – Avignon, France

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Even at this point in life, I dream of fairy tales, not so much about a prince sweeping my off my feet and ending up living a life of a princess, but more like, a place an adult woman could escape to, and be pampered for a week or more, with pool side refills on the finest of champagne and naps  on a plush wicker chaise longue in the gardens – that to me is the ideal of a fairy tale – 🙂

Food: Dinner Tonight – Chicken Salad

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The recipe is titled Crispy Buffalo Ranch Chicken salad with Goddess dressing – and being that I am a goddess 🙂 I had to see what the ingredients are all about. I do love Buffalo Ranch chicken salad to start with and order the option at any given U.S. restaurant if they are wise enough to offer it on their menu. So, the only difference is this recipe calls for the goddess dressing: INGREDIENTS 1 pound boneless chicken breasts, cutlets, or tenders 1/2 cup buffalo sauce, homemade or store-bought 1 cup Panko bread crumbs 1 tablespoon each dried chives and dried parsley 2 teaspoons dried dill 1 teaspoon each garlic and onion powder 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, more or less to taste 1 pinch each kosher salt and black pepper SALAD 2 heads romaine lettuce, shredded 4 carrots, shredded 4 celery stalks, chopped 2 Persian cucumbers, chopped 4 radishes thinly, sliced 1/2 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, roughly chopped 1 avocado, sliced 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta cheese GODDESS DRESSING 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 cup fresh cilantro 1/2 cup fresh basil 1 jalapeño, halved and seeded juice from 1 lemon  {more}  On another topic, recently an event I planned a few …

Food: Panna Cotta and a Story

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When I was a child living in the middle east, my cousin, who was much older, 20plus years older, left our homeland to live in Paris so he could be a student of Le Cordon Bleu. Now, just in case you are not familiar with the culinary school, it is one of the best, was the best pack a century ago. I cried the day he left, not sure why, but I was only six and I hated seeing anyone in our extended family leave. Years later, we crossed paths in the states, and he invited our family for dinner. On the menu was  Panna Cotta adorned with fresh cherries he’d soaked in Grand Marnier, or a variation almost Panna Cotta, he’d learned to prepare at the very culinary school. Being a grown up and appreciating much of the finer things in cuisine, I ate one and then asked for a second serving and then stood in the kitchen afterwards discussing the ingredients he used to create the best dessert I have ever had. So …

Travel: What You Might Want to Know – If It’s Your First Trip Abroad

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I was excited to discover my first cousin has taken his family to Europe for the first time – and while they Instagram their trip, I smile at the thought of how excited his three daughters might be for experiencing something outside of the norm. So, while on the train commuting into the foggy downtown-San Francisco, I decided to compile a few interesting topics to cover what you might want to know if it’s your first trip abroad: And just in case you have trouble deciding how to pack for your first trip – here are some interesting of tips

Food: Dinner Tonight – Peanut Noodles

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Decades ago, I’d go into the grocery store and buy ready made peanut sauce and coconut milk and put together the perfect chicken noodle meal, which was intended for a two-day dinner, but the family always had seconds, it was so delicious. But now, it’s very difficult to find ready made peanut sauce, since all the nut allergies have come to light, the local grocers have all pulled the product off their shelves. So, since I have peanut sauce and know the family has no allergies, I was happy to come across this recipe. INGREDIENTS CHILI GARLIC OIL 1/3 cup peanut oil or extra virgin olive oil 2 small shallots thinly sliced 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or smashed 1-2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes PEANUT NOODLES 12 ounces rice noodles or long cut pasta 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce or tamari 1-2 tablespoons Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup 1 inch fresh ginger, grated 2 bell peppers, thinly sliced 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for serving fresh cracked black pepper  {more} on another note – this cool article about a …

Travel: Where to Go In August

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I normally travel to Europe off season or end to a season or the beginning to a season. Meaning May or Mid September through October – not so much for the great fares and hotel rates, but rather for the quiet before and after the student travelers have passed through the continent. But this list of best places to travel in August can also carry through the end of October just fine, I know, I’ve been there: {featured image} Also this How To article had me smiling – my favorite: How To Sleep Like A Pope In Rome

Monday Beautiful Things

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I’ve been having to juggle a few unexpected things which have recently come into my life and until I can get a good handle on it, or a rhythm, I must unfortunately streamline my most favorite distractions, to stay focused and in tuned. Until then, all I can think about are beautiful things to get me through… {featured image source}

Decor: Screened-In Porches For Lazy Summer Days

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Screened-in porches are not the norm in California, so when we bought our house in Sacramento a decade ago (and sold it since) – we never considered attaching a porch and so the summer nights, and early mornings were spent indoors just so I wouldn’t get attacked by mosquitoes – since I am very allergic. Which made me often wondered, why have such a perfectly landscaped backyard if I wasn’t able to enjoy the outdoors in the warmer months. Recently, I’ve been considering a renovation project for a home of a friend in the suburbs, about two hours from San Francisco, where a screened-in porch would be ideal – at least for my visits 🙂 Would you consider a screened-in porch or have one you adore?