All posts tagged: get creative with staycations

What Are Your Plans This Weekend

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This week seemed extra long for some reason, but I am glad that today is Friday and the planning for the weekend is in full force – chase sun, leave town. The same goal, but different places. I think a drive to Sonoma on Saturday is in order again – in search of a new trail and Sunday, perhaps the sun will force its way through the fog and we can walk through Golden Gate Park.  We’ll see. In the meantime, I found a few interesting finds online which naturally I feel the need to share and a few films – worth snuggling up on the sofa with a bottle of wine and pop corn – my favorite combination and simply allow your mind to escape. what are you doing this weekend? {featured image source and full credit}

Zoom, Cocktails and Conversation

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A friend asked if we could zoom at some point or another, sooner or later, and all things you type over text. But she actually organized the invite, which had me running to the grocers to pick up a bottle of wine to pair with ‘already made pizza dough’ I had in the fridge while stocking up a month back to avoid going to the grocery store and stand in a long line. Every time I opened the freezer door, I stared at the dough wondering when I was going to actually use it. So – wine and sheet pan pizza it is going to be instead of the normal cocktails and dinner we opted for over the years. By the way this recipe settled my decision: INGREDIENTS 1/2 pound pizza dough, homemade or store-bought 3 cups cherry tomatoes 4 cloves garlic, 2 whole smashed, 2 grated 2 teaspoons fig preserves or use honey 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (or 2 teaspoons dried) 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes 1 pinch kosher salt and black pepper 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for serving (or 1 …

Food: Chicken Florentine

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I decided to take this week off – from work and even the new /strange lifestyle we’ve all been living since the social distancing and all. It is a staycation naturally, where I had to find creative ways to be outdoors and away from San Francisco’s dreary ‘summer months.’ In case you don’t know, San Francisco has the coldest summer with heavy fog, drizzle, wind and nothing but gray. I’ll be talking about the staycation next week, once I’ve put my concept together on how to present the blog post to you all. In the meantime, just know, I am still cooking at home, in the evenings and this recipe is the winner for tonight’s dinner: Yes mother, we are having chicken 🙂 INGREDIENTS 1 large egg, beaten 1/4 cup all-purpose flour or use gluten free 4 boneless skinless chicken breast cutlets (about 3/4 inch thick) kosher salt and pepper 10 tablespoons cold salted butter, cubed (see note) 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes 4 cloves garlic, smashed 2 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes 4 ounces buffalo or regular mozzarella, torn 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup fresh basil, …