All posts filed under: Culture

Decor: San Francisco Home Tour And My Walk Across The City

On the weekends you can find me walking across the city, mostly from my home in the avenues/outer sunset to Pacific Heights and I do so of course for exercise, but mostly for the love of architecture, and the perfectly manicured landscapes. While walking I always imagine the interior of some of the homes, or let’s be honest, all of the homes of the rich and some famous folks that live or own the properties in the area. And of course, my prayers were answered with the interiors of this 39M home – yes you read it right – 39 Million dollar home in the city with views of that famous bridge of ours ;). I’ll see if I can borrow a cup of sugar…

Five Interesting Things For This Friday

I didn’t realize it was Friday today, until I needed to do a task for work that was slotted for Friday reporting. How time flies. We are mid-October and the holiday season is much closer than we are probably ready for. But today is for a few interesting topics I want to share  – to help get you through your Friday and into a hopefully fun and exciting weekend:

Food: Dinner Tonight – Roasted Squash-ghetti

I bought my first squash over the weekend for this season knowing exactly the meal to make. My version is simple – ground Italian chicken sausage, corn kernels, shredded Parmesan cheese, fresh cut cilantro, naturally the squash cut in half, and broiled…and voila the simplest and easiest dinner your family is guaranteed to love. But I am not one who follows a measurement – and if you have trouble imagining how to work with the ingredients I have listed, then please follow a similar recipe, where you can take away the ingredients you don’t want and still get the best of the simplest Squash-ghetti dish: INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling 1 head garlic 3/4 pound ground spicy Italian chicken sausage or ground chicken 1 small yellow onion, chopped 1 can (28 ounce) crushed San Marzano tomatoes 1 dried bay leaf 2 teaspoons dried oregano 2 medium spaghetti squash, halved and seeds removed 1/2 cup whole milk or heavy cream 1/4 cup whole milk ricotta cheese 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped 1/8 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg 1 1/2 cups shredded fontina cheese or mozzarella cheese 1 cup shredded provolone cheese kosher salt and black pepper …

Looking Forward to October

The first day of the month, and only 90 days to the end of the year. But no worries, October is a month I look forward to, especially after the sluggishness and the unmotivated I felt by the end of August, and all throughout September. To me, October is the month to shed all the negative and just enjoy the most brilliant of colors, the layering in fashion, the shift in decor,  comfort food in recipes, and the prelude to the holiday planning.  October is the coolest month of the year. What Film to see, what recipe book to buy, and where to vacation in October    

Why Treating Yourself Is A Wonderful Idea

I haven’t shopped much this year, thinking I already have all that I need in my efforts to downsize and live a simpler life. But, sometimes, one has to simply treat themselves to the smallest of things, to elevate the otherwise bleakest of emotions surfacing during this time of year. For that very reason, I did a bit of window shopping over the weekend, and without plan really ended up with these goodies. What have you treated yourself to recently?  {featured image source and inspiration for this post}

Interesting Finds From Around the World

This week has been a bit off, thinking today is Wednesday, when it is really Thursday. Not to mention the fact, the days are getting shorter and in San Francisco too gloomy for this time of the year. But, we strive on, and shift our focus on the positive or fun facts to keep us going throughout the day and well into the weekend and for that, I am aiming to divert your attention to some interesting finds from around the world: Recently I’ve started to watch Workin’ Moms on Netflis – have you seen the show? {featured image source}

Food: Baking a Pie Today

A lazy holiday today has me a bit off-balance, in that I flew back from a short trip up north and now find myself doing a bit of tiding up around the house, and the need to bake something. Perhaps my Fall/Autumn radar is up. But while killing time at coffee shop bookstore yesterday waiting for my ride home from the airport, I ordered a cup of coffee and a pistachio light dessert – and when I saw this recipe, it reminded of how perfectly tasty that one from the coffee shop was – so I made it – mostly with coconut milk, oil and cream: INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 full-size graham cracker sheets) 6 tablespoons salted butter or coconut oil, melted 4 tablespoons maple syrup 2 cups date caramel (below) or store-bought dulce de leche 3-4 ripe but firm bananas, sliced 1 1/2 cups heavy cream (see coconut cream variation in notes) 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 2 tablespoons maple syrup chocolate shavings, for topping {more}   and I will be sitting in front of the television set, binge watching  The Detour? Have you see it? …

Culture: Let’s Talk Entertainment

There is much buzz about shows, films and simple entertainment news, which sometimes is a fun topic to discuss and exchange opinions about – and so here is mine – about… In Comedy Tune In Period Series For This Fall Upcoming Movies from Books have you read the books?   What are you looking forward to? Or what shows have you seen on television and recommend?