roasting peppers

How to Roast a Pepper

1. Slice a pepper in half
2. Rinse the pepper...get rid of the seeds
3. Place the pepper on foil
4. Broil the pepper for 15 minutes
5. Let the pepper cool...it will be hot
6. Peel the burnt skin off the pepper

Some people like to place the pepper in a paper bag after it has been broiled. I have heard it helps the skin to peel better....the moisture from the pepper trapped in the bag is supposed to work wonders. I have never had a hard time removing the skin...if you do, try the bag...if you don't, you can still try the bag, no pressure. So, roasting peppers...it's a cinch.

triathletic friend

Megan and I did our first triathlon back in June at Redondo Beach. It was terrifying and exhilarating...mostly terrifying but really cool. Let me confess that the ocean scares me. It's also very cold. I almost turned back a few times during the swim. I think the race officials had extra lifeguards that morning, just to be sure I stayed alive. The race was really exciting to be a part of and I hope to compete again. The Lord was kind and gave me Megan as a race partner and friend. She wowed us all during the swim, cycle and run. In fact, she is performing her third triathlon this fall...go Meg!

savoring summer

Summer is coming to a close and Fall is right around the corner. I have been excited for the new season but took a few minutes to savor a summer evening. This recipe was incredibly easy and can be adapted to the most particular appetites. The red-pepper, lemon and tufo kabobs come from Heidi Swanson's book, Cook 1.0 a fresh approach to the vegetarian kitchen. You can get other great ideas from her blog, 101 Cookbooks. Shrimp lovers would dig the shrimp, lemon and onion kabobs and die-hard shrimp fans would probably prefer the just shrimp kabob that snuck in somehow...

decaf, please

I love tea...green teas, white, red teas and pretty much all herbal teas. Some people would not refer to these as teas at all, but they come in a box that reads "tea" and are packaged in "tea bags" and have little "tea tags" that hang out of my mug. Most of the tea I drink is already decaffeinated and I usually drink it after some morning coffee. There are times, however, I want a brew of tea with caffeine but do not wish to be counting sheep for hours and hours. Here's how to decaffeinate your tea...naturally:

Most of a tea bag's caffeine is extracted in very hot water within 30 seconds. Most tea bags can make more than one cup of tea. So, if there is a tea you crave but have axed caffeine for the day, or forever, simply steep the tea for 45 seconds to extract all the caffeine. Pour all the tea out and then fill your mug and resteap. There you have it. Caffeinated tea...now decaf. I'll drink to that.

I found a great little book on tea this weekend written by Moby, of all. He taught me this decaffeinating trick in his book, based on his little tea shop in New York, complete with robots, 98 different teas and plenty of vegetarian bites...all the essentials.

it was good

Yesterday Rob and I had some carrot cake from Abby Lane Cafe. The cafe is not on the main boulevard of town, which makes it a nice place to get away for a quick bite. The chandeliers and flowers quickly made me a fan of their ambience and the menu was impressive. Quick treats, such as scones and cakes fill the pastry cases and rather huge portions of breakfast, soups, salads and specialty sandwiches will catch your eye and appetite. The carrot cake was good, which is not hard to prove with our clean plate.

the yamati

Rob, following a family that refuses to drive cars.

The influencers.

The Yamati.

My parents love surprizes...specifically, they love to surprize others. They are very good at it, too. I think that's why birthdays and holidays have always been celebrated with much planning and anticipation. This weekend my parents surprized Rob with a new Yamati skooter. You will probably see Rob driving through town on this sweet ride...I'll be enjoying the wind in my hair on the backseat...that is, until I get my license, also.

judds

I hope these incredibly talented ladies never lack the credit they deserve. They rocked on cassette, were killer on CD and iTunes and bring our record player alive.

quirky

When you think about it, we're all a little quirky.

many, many attempts

Some of you know my curious desire to be able to make bread. I'm not talking about a sweet bread to enjoy as a muffin or cake. I'm talking about good bread that would cause you to stop purchasing the pre-sliced loaves from the stores. After many, many attempts to produce quality bread that is fresh, flavorful and nutritious, and after many failed loaves, here is a version that I was delighted with--a whole wheat and spelt cracked pepper-dill bread, baked french style. Look forward to bread-baking tips and many other homemade loaves from this blog.

"head on, apply directly to the forehead"

Stop the madness! Have you seen this? Head On...just what is it? Why should we buy it and why should we apply it directly to the forehead...again and again and again? I don't see many commercials. I try not to, honestly, but I did see this one and it stopped me from whatever I was I was doing at the moment. I admit I starred at the television, at first confused and then mezmorized by this baffling advertisment. I don't think anyone knows exactly what Head On is or what is does. I don't. I really do not think it matters if I ever find out. The commercial was successful, in my opinion, just because people are discussing it. Even scarier, some people have even bought it not having a clue what it is. I'm content with this because the real mystery is not what Head On is...but who is that lady and what is she thinking as she is applying Head On directly to her forehead?

all grown up

Cassie, mom to Maggie and one on the way!

bike ride in paris

I like to get around by bike as much as I can, weather permitting. Yesterday's ride was hotter than I would have prefered...then I remembered this bike ride in Paris...it just doesn't get any better. If you are ever there, I highly recommend peddleing in the city. This company is great to go through.

59 cent centerpiece

DOMINO magazine gave me a fresh idea for a centerpiece this month...parsley.

peeps

Hollie, Shannon, Nathan, Erin, Jonathan & Megan. Very special people.

opposites attract

Thursday night left me lost as to what to prepare for dinner. I looked around and only saw some staples, but food nonetheless. Parsley, spices, a shallot...oh, and these red peppers that came from the garden.

I found some polenta and had an idea.

So, here it was...pepper-parlsey polenta served over a wheat-spelt bread. I will probably make more variations of this because it was so simple. Very satisfying but not fit for Rob's fancy. He opted for something more familiar...

Here I am to prove that opposites attract.

go ahead, throw them out

It's true. There are compostable utensils in existence. Forks, knives and spoons all meant to be thrown away and used to promote a better life for your next garden. These particular earth-preservers made from corn starch were feautured in the August issue of Food & Wine. You can purchase them here if you have already fallen in love with the concept of dissapearing trash. I spotted samples at the local Whole Foods Market and had to give them a try.

Some pros to review:

• corn starch utensils work great in cold and hot foods
• incredibly easy to use...just like every other utensil
• notice the grooves in this knife...very legit
• it cannot hurt to try them, especially when they are free

Some cons to keep in mind:

• still don't know if the wrappers these little wonders come packaged in are compostable...does this counteract the good deed of recycling?
• although I have not personally experimented, this article seems suspicious of corn starch and favorable of another compostable utensil-wheat.
• it really isn't that hard to just use a real fork and spoon...remember those?

i like to make pancakes

Do you like pancakes? It's safe to assume I do, since I have a recent blog about them. Click here to view the most popular video from YouTube this week. No joke, Good Morning America raved about it...or was it the mystery of this short video's popularity? Call them pancakes or crepes...it's funny what we enjoy.

quick thoughts

Rob and I have alot of fun together. He's my better half. Our friend, Josh Premako, took this picture. This is just one of thousands he has artfully snapped. He's great.

brother to be

Cortlen, my nephew. He will be a big brother soon!

new ideas for favorite tastes

Oat & Flax Pancakes with Almond Butter

By Sarah Ikegami

* 2/3 cup oats (not quick oats)

* 1 1/2 egg whites

* 1/2 cup soy milk

* 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

* 1 tablespoon ground flax

* cinnamon to taste

* pure maple syrup

* 1 tablespoon almond butter

Pancakes without flour? Who knew? This recipe is enough for one medium pancake or a few very small pancakes. Blend all ingredients in food processor. Pour batter onto a lightly oiled pan and cook just like regular pancakes. When you see small air bubbles forming flip and cook through. Simple as that and very tasty. Pure maple syrup is too sweet for Rob, but the only kind I prefer. I love the combination of almond butter and dried pineapple and have found too many ways to sneak them in the day.

brick

Heard of Brick? I hadn't either but we watched this film with friends last week. There's alot I could say about this one. I've never seen anything like it...a modern film noir about high school students? The quick slang requires your attention, maybe more than once. You might recognize some of the cast, Joseph Gordon-Levitt or my favorite, Emilie De Ravin. It's called Brick and it came out on DVD last Tuesday. I really liked it.

my folks

Mom & Dad

Tom & Madge

august compliments

There is something about peach tea that screams "August".

tips from a pro...or not!

Kayaking Tips

1. If kayaking in pairs, the person in front needs to help steer.
2. As much as possible, use your core to strengthen your paddling.
3. Do not drink too much water and coffee before your trip.

Kayaking is alot of fun. My arms are a little sore today.

more to come

Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation caught my eye more than once when making my weekly visit to the library. I passed it up assuming last summer's personal hit, Don't Eat This Book, to be more than enough information for a drive-through dropout. I couldn't help myself and finished the book a couple months ago. I consider Schlosser's three-year investigations a prequel to the Fast Food Nation Movie, coming out November 17th.

honey makes everything better

I think the secret to this open-faced treat is honey. It makes everything so good.

Ricotta & Honey Sandwich

by Sarah Ikegami

* wheat bread, sliced thick and toasted

* honey

* ricotta cheese

* walnuts

* raspberries

I recommend drizzling honey on your toasted bread. The honey will absorb and make bites melt in your mouth. The purer the bread, the better. I used an oat and flax wheat bread I baked recently. Smother with ricotta and top with walnuts and raspberries. Extra honey is always nice. Note-any toppings work with this recipe. Last week balsamic strawberries did the trick.

crazy cats

Dustin

Julie

Rob

Ryan

&

Alysia.

whoopsy daisy

Notting Hill was my favorite spot to visit in London. Maybe it was because of the movie, which I have seen about 8 times, but probably because it was filled with people who lived there, going about their regular lives at the shops and market. The sun makes London spectacular...so does going with your best friend.

end of the heat wave

Has there ever been better weather for Southern California in August? After what felt like an eternity of 100-plus degree days and sleepless nights, we have been enjoying beautiful afternoons of sunshine...you know...days where you want to go outside? Remember those? Maybe we spent too much time at the movie theaters and malls to remember what it is like to be outdoors... it's very refreshing. Some cultures spend hours people-watching. I partook for a few minutes--just enough to recall how nice it is.

sunday summer plates

Cherry Tomato, Bocconcini, And Zucchini Pie

saturday traditions

Sipping freshly-ground coffee and enjoying the season's ripest treats is a Saturday morning favorite of mine. I will often browse through magazines that seem to pile high during the work-week and rip out articles to feed my curiosity in the kitchen. I usually tear a recipe my sister would enjoy and mail it as an excuse to send her a card...as if I needed one.

the best book i still read

The Bible is the best book I still read. I beleive everything it says. I beleive in God, in His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. I am thankful for the Bible. It is the word of God. It has the power to change lives. I cannot write enough about its impact on myself...and millions of others. It's amazing. God is amazing and He has given me eternal life through His Son, who died for sinners, like myself. It is the Bible where I learn more about my Savior and what is to come--heaven...oh, how I long.

rise and shine

There is something about roosters that I absolutely dig these days. I know a few things about roosters. They aren't very friendly. They are pretty aggressive and way too controlling. I have spent some time with two in particular and I never approached them without a club. Yes, a club. Needless to say, I have no idea why the sudden fondness has come over me. I think it's the colorful feathers.

sugar

Being the beginner blogger and photographer that I am, I wonder if this post and picture does justice to the Better Homes and Gardens' Snickerdoodles we enjoyed tonight. It's amazing what happens when you mix quality ingredients...butter, fresh flour and pure vanilla extract rolled in cinnamon and organic sugar. You may need to scratch off the packaged cookies from your grocery list. They are that good. Chewy and fluffy, light, but not light on flavor. If that doesn't have you putting your apron on maybe how Rob described them will--in his own words..."they taste good to...really good!". How's that for tantilzing taste buds?