All posts filed under: inspirational women over 40

Food: Chocolate Cake Is In Order Tonight

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On Fridays I work from home, and it almost feels like it is the busiest day of the week, even while the weekend is on everyone’s mind. I realized while clicking away at my keyboard, that I needed a treat of some sort tonight and lucky for me, this tantalizing chocolate cake popped up in the corner of a site I was visiting, attempting to  calm my stress level.  I think what sparked my interest is the word VEGAN in the title – which I find hardly an option when baking any dessert. In my head, dessert needs to be rich in all flavors, and if paired well with an after-dinner drink, champagne in the case of chocolate cake, your mouth will thank you, and your brain will love you. 🙂 So, I’ve ordered a bottle of bubbly to pick up from the ‘grogers’ in a few hours, and as soon as I am done for the day putting out million little fires at work, I will be baking this lovely chocolate cake, with a …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Spicy, Ramen, and Sweet Potatoes

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My tastes buds are forever set to spices of all types, and although on occasion, I settle for bland, just to flush out the over indulgence – I start searching for that exotic dish, full of robust flavors.  The funny thing is while I take out the ingredients from the refrigerator or the cupboard, those around me waiting for my creation to take shape, always wonder with great curiosity how I know what ingredients work well together. This recipe for example is the perfect combination of ingredients, I know it, because I can taste it virtually 🙂 – those who cook understand what I am mean by virtual tasting. INGREDIENTS 4 strips thick cut bacon, chopped 3 small shallots, thinly sliced into rounds 2 tablespoons sesame or extra virgin olive oil 8 ounces wild mushrooms, torn 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced 8 cups low sodium chicken broth 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup rice vinegar 1-2 tablespoons Gochujang (korean chili paste), using more or less to taste 2 small sweet potato sliced into 1/4 inch rounds or half moons 3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast 4 squares ramen noodles 4 cups shredded Tuscan kale   {not a fan of …

Boutique Hotel Picks – Stylish Motels In America

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Since Airbnb, travelers have opted to stay most anywhere these days – a home in the woods, a tree house, a bungalow, and everything else outside of the normal hotel stay. And I suppose motel chains, or those independently owned have realized, they either need to step it up a bit, or become a thing of the past. And so, the aim to renovate, and promote the chicest of stay for a handful of motels across America, and ones you may want to consider adding to your list – you know the one – where you drive your way across the country. This applies to Americans and tourists alike – check them out: {featured image – Skyview Lodge} {for a list of other properties, go here}

Lifestyle: Is It Really Love…

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Or madness – as I read this article listing the 19 best love stories of all times in comparison to modern definition or thinking – about stalking, obsession, and simple criminal behavior. Or do we just chalk it all up to being true love and the measures humans would go to achieve the forbidden ones. How do you know if you are in love or otherwise? 

Food: Dinner Tonight – Lemony Chicken and Orzo

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I got a late start today – after waking up at 330 in the morning, to get glimpse of the only blood moon for 2019 – which was more silvery by the coastal San Francisco. But that’s ok. It was a beautiful sight no less – clouds stacked upon clouds, and the full-moon larger than usual, adding the perfect soothing shades to the fluff, glistening over the Pacific. I grabbed a fresh-bought novel from the stack I brought back with me from England, and got back into bed – with dog by my side, I attempted to read, but ended up falling asleep instead – waking up suddenly and realizing I hadn’t shared a subject of interest with all of you this morning. So – first of all – thank you to those who emailed me for a copy of a novel I had written a few years back. Your copy will be in the mail in the next few days. Second, I am jumping right into an easy dinner on this cold San Francisco …

Sunday Edition – Grab A Cup of Coffee and Read On

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Don’t you love it, that over the course of the week you make plans for the weekend, and by the time Saturday rolls around, you find yourself lingering in bed, or even getting a slow start to organizing a breakfast outside of an energy bar, or a fruit or a yogurt you grab on your way out the door every single day of the week? Well, that happened to me on Saturday to the point, I stayed in my pajamas and vegged out. I guess my body needed to recoup from something – perhaps the winter blues – or just the fact, I spent a month away from home in December travelling and haven’t yet recovered. This morning, while sitting perched with my back  against my pillows in bed, tapping on my iPad at a paint-by-numbers app I downloaded, hoping to calm my anxiety, which it does, I started thinking about a few topics – which ironically fit in line with a novel I’ve been  working on in a much slower pace than I care …

Food: In Search Of Olive Oil and Lemon Cake

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I had a recipe a decade ago that I seem to have misplaced. It was a simple cake, baked in one round pan and no frosting. I mean who really needs frosting? Not Europeans and not me, especially if the cake is the best of flavors combined. A few days ago, while in an assembly belt style restaurant, where you pass by a dozen dishes and pick and choose what your eyes think your stomach can handle, and end up ordering too much – sort of place. But it was organic, freshly made variety of proteins, and side dishes, and very creative salads which changes using seasonal veggies and fruits. So, I queued up, and with my eyes opened wide, and my mouth-watering, ordered more than I needed to and by the time I reached the cash register, I noticed a lemon cake made with olive oil and I pointed to the very slice I wanted – making the person behind the counter laugh at my reaction of pure joy. The cake was good enough, …

Decor: A House on A Lake

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I have been tossing around the idea of buying a house, not a big one, but rather a one or two bedroom chalet with views of Lake Thun in Switzerland or Lake Como, in Italy, and when I do, the renovations would lean towards modern, with windows so grand, to take in all of the surrounding views: For more lake side living and home renovations – go here {article photo source}