Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts

Best Homemade Bread -- New York Times.

I made this bread over the weekend! That wonderful homemade bread smell filled the house - it was so yummy and fresh! Mark Bittman from the New Your Times shares tips from the Sullivan Street Bakery in New York, NY. It's the best and easiest recipe I've found yet! If you want to jazz it up, try poking in a few roasted garlic gloves and rosemary sprigs after the rising process. 
Have fun cooking! You'll love this recipe!


Ingredients:
3 cups (430g) flour
1½ cups (345g or 12oz) water
¼ teaspoon (1g) yeast
1¼ teaspoon (8g) salt
olive oil (for coating)
extra flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal (for dusting)
    Equipment:
    Two medium mixing bowls
    6 to 8 quart pot with lid (Pyrex glass, Le Creuset cast iron, or ceramic)
    Wooden Spoon or spatula (optional)
    Plastic wrap
    Two or three cotton dish towels (not terrycloth)
      Process:
      Mix all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add water and incorporate by hand or with a wooden spoon or spatula for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Lightly coat the inside of a second medium bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest 12 hours at room temperature (approx. 65-72°F).
      Remove the dough from the bowl and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest 15 minutes in the bowl or on the work surface. Next, shape the dough into ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover the dough with a cotton towel and let rise 1-2 hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.

      Preheat oven to 450-500°F. Place the pot in the oven at least 30 minutes prior to baking to preheat. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes Then remove the lid and bake 15-30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.

      Berkeley Dog

      Dan and I have beenwatching the Yule kids for the past week (and next) while their parents are in Europe. We are having so much fun! We took Donovan and Austin to Sky High (a warehousefull of trampolines) earlier this week and yesterday we took Katie, Aiden andAustin to Berkeley Dog. Dan and I have wantedto try this place for awhile now. We discovered it during one of my lunchbreaks when I was at UCI.
      They have a HUGEselection of tasty dogs and gourmet mustard's, sauerkraut and other yummy thingslike fries and chicken wings. They also have an AMAZING futuristic Coke machine -- a touch screen with over 100 different flavor combinations. I got avanilla Sprite! So good!

      This place is too much fun!

      Here's a few things on their fabulous menu.
      Hot Dogs and Sausages
      Frankfurter
      Bockwurst
      Veal
      Kielbasa
      Calabrese - secret recipe from a 60year old butcher shop in San Francisco
      Kobe Beef
      Louisiana HotLinks
      Mighty Hot Juicy Habanero Beef and Pork
      Pepper Lemon Chicken
      Smoked Chicken Apple
      German Frankfurter with Garlic
      Pastrami Dog
      Bacon HashBrown Dog
      Toppings
      Grilled onions
      Grilled bell peppers
      All beef chili topping
      Shredded cheese
      Sides
      Fries
      Sweet potato fries
      Funnel fries
      Famed La Indiana Tamales from Los Angeles! Spicy pork, chicken vegetable and the veryspicy chili and cheese

      and...for the more adventurous



      Danny and Aiden


      Very cool Coke machine! Over 100 different flavors!


       Cherry, Orange, Vanilla, Strawberry, Raspberry, Grape and Peach Sprite! What!?


      Aiden!






      Sweet Maui Onion Mustard, Coney Island Mustard, Pineapple Mustard, Louisiana Creole Mustard, Russian, Stone Ground and Classic American Mustard's! Nice!



      A Manx, A Man And 85 Degrees

      Danny has a fun Meyers Manx that we take out on the weekend. I secretly call it "The Pika" (short for Pikachu...) because it reminds me of that cute yellow and black Pokemon. Dan would think the name is lame-o, so hush, hush. Any who...he took me for a ride Sunday morning. We drove down to Balboa Island. "Nooooo don't take the corner so FAST! Slow down!!! There's a Dip, Dip, DIPPPP!" He laughed and just went faster. I'm pretty sure our back wheels got some air. It smelled like burnt rubber. He's crazy.


      Here is a picture of the bridge we cross to get to Balboa. If you aren't from around these parts, I would highly recommend to stop by for a visit. Balboa is a quaint little island with cute shops and beautiful houses. Danny and I like to get coffee and walk around the island in the evenings. Sometimes David will come along too. I love those walks.



      Here's a picture of the shops just over the bridge. My mom would always take Bran and me to get frozen bananas dipped in chocolate. Her favorite topping was toffee peanut. We would sit on this bench and the pigeons would come and eat the toppings that spilled over our paper trays. Be warned... if you eat at this bench during the summer, pigeons are bound to attack you and your food! I also remember babysitting the Rankin kids when they were staying on the island. John had just learned how to walk. Daniel chased him down the sidewalk while I held Annie and the wagon. Those kids are a bagillion years old now...time flys. Good times.




      We parked our Manx by the Chinese restaurant and walked to a sweet shop around the corner. They sell all kinds of caramel and candied apples this time of year! I got my favorite -- Apple Pie Caramel Apple.



      Later that evening, I picked up Julia, Shan, Mo and Lyssa and we drove to 85 Degrees for some pastries and sea salt coffees! 

          

      The line is ALWAYS out the door.


      Once you get inside, grab a tray and have fun! They have the best breads and pastries!


      Carb overload! Peanut butter almond twist, coffee bread with red bean mochi, chocolate almond croissant, sweet bubble loaf, strawberry half moon and a herb cheese baguette.



      Sea Salt Coffee. There is a layers of buttery salted cream on top of cold coffee sweetened with condensed milk -- biggest flavour trip ever. Julia, I am forever grateful.


      Next time I want to try salted green or passion fruit tea!

      It was a fun day!

      Codes For Longevity

      I am so proud to announce that my Great Uncle Phillip Schaeffer along with my Great Aunt Gita Labrentz, Ph.D finished the revised edition of:

      Living well beyond 80, 90, and 100 years.



      I am simply fascinated with Phillip’s healthy lifestyle and warm personality. He is one of the kindest people I know – always smiling and happy; he gives the best hugs and always has something genuine to say! I've re-read this book many times and I love all the advice he gives about taking care of your body, mind and soul; it’s my go-to-book for tips on living a healthy, natural life. Phillip Schaeffer is a truly remarkable man with wonderful recommendations on how to promote longevity.

      And as they say… “Behind every great man, there is a great woman” (love you too Aunt Gita)! You both did a fabulous job on Codes for Longevity.


      Here are a few of Phillip's sworn-by health tips that he has implemented into his daily life. Pick up a copy of your own HERE and read about many more lifestyle routines that will help improve the quality and length of your life.


      -Take time to practice deep breathing exercises daily.

      -Eating foods rich in anti-oxidant will counteract free radical damage.

      -Embrace life with joy and enthusiasm. Positivity will help lengthen your life. Let go of stress (meditation, prayer, yoga)
      [On a side note… I learned in a few bio-psych classes that your body will produce stress related hormones such as Cortisol and Catecholamine’s when you are worried, angry or frightened. A build up of stress hormones can lead to heart and cell damage in the body. You can literally make yourself sick from constant stress.]

      -Get 8 hours of sleep

      -Always stay connected to younger generations. Do not surround yourself with negativity or lazy spirits

      -Keep up-to-date in everything you do…reading, technology, events, entertainment.

      -Get involved in community activities; take up hobbies or college classes. Learning new things and helping others will ward-off depression.

      -Laugh more and forgive freely, don’t hold grudges. You can alter your life by altering your attitude

      -Use it or lose it! Increase your flexibility and mental activities (exercise, stretch, puzzles, math and music…)

      -Multivitamins A 10,000IU, B complex 400mg, B6, C and E, pantothenic, zinc 50mg and selenium 400mg, D (1,000 IU) and multivitamins daily.

      -Avoid refined foods and artificial sweeteners

      -Eat Garlic = antibiotic cleansing agents

      -Smile as much as possible

      -Massage lymph nods often (neck, armpit etc.) they filter toxins and are sometimes concentrated and need to be massaged

      -Avoid using household cleaners. Use natural products such as vodka or alcohol to clean.

      - Drink 2 spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water 3 times daily (to alkalize the body). A body that is too acidic will lead to illness and disease.

      -detoxify your liver and practice eye exercises to eliminate glasses.


      ********************************

      "You are responsible for the kind of energy that you put out into the world. Whatever you give, you will get back"-B

      Congrats Uncle Phillip and Aunt Gita!

      The Counter

      Today we tried a new place for lunch -- The Counter! Our friends had given this place a great review so we thought we would try it out. The Counter isn't your usual burger joint, you can actually build your own burger! How cool is that?

      We got some french fries with ranch and crumbled blue cheese and a tasty burger with herb goat cheese, organic mixed greens, grilled onions, sprouts, tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon and roasted garlic aioli on a multigrain bun. Good stuff!

      Westcliff Plaza
      1104 Irvine Avenue
      Newport Beach, CA 92660







      My Favorite Candle



      MANDARIN GRAPEFRUIT CANDLE LIFE NK
      My all time FAVORITE candle.
      LifeNK Candles are marked by their uniquely inspired scent combinations and long-lasting, far-reaching fragrances. Their essential oils are hand-picked for their mood-improving capabilities.
      Upbeat and infectious: A blend of juicy mandarin orange and grapefruit, infused with gardenia, tiare blossom and water lily. $30                   

      La Crêperie Café: A Night Out With Friends

      So Christina called tonight and had the GENIUS idea of going to La Crêperie Café in Downtown Long Beach. I had never been there, but had heard wonderful things about it. Shanny, Christina, Alex, Dan and I all drove down to check it out. One word...freakenfantazmic! If you're nearby, you've got to get some crepes here! First-off, the place looks really cool. They have giant chandeliers, fun French murals and a live band! The crepes were amazing -- savory dinner crepes, as well as DESSERT crepes. Shanny, Dan and I weren't too hungry so we ordered garlic fries and  the Martinique dessert crepe; Bananas flambéed in dark rum with brown sugar in a warm crepe with French vanilla ice cream! Yummmm! Christina and Alex ordered a savory crepe for dinner and a Nutella, fresh strawberries and bananas crepe for dessert. All in all it was an A+ night. Good food and friends!




      Some of My Favorite Teas

      I am a sucker for teas. Savoring a nice cup of tea is the perfect way to unwind and enjoy the moment. In no particular order, here are a few of my favorites! They will make your taste buds smile!

      #1 MIGHTY LEAF - VANILLA BEAN
      Today I made an wonderful cup of Vanilla Bean Tea. I mix mine with a little half & half and a spoonful of sugar. If I really want to get carried away, I'll scrape 1/3 of a vanilla bean pod into a saucepan along with cream and sugar to simmer on medium heat for 5 min before adding it to my tea...to die for!

      "Vanilla Bean black tea, a deep blend of black tea leaves with Madagascar vanilla, conjures up images of inhaling the heady aroma of wild vanilla as you hike the tropics near Mt. Maromakotro. A full-bodied and fruity cup, Vanilla Bean flavored black tea, a blend of Ceylon and China black teas, makes a deeply satisfying impression.  Enjoy the whole loose leaf flavor in the silken tea pouch, our twist on the gourmet tea bag."
      $9.95 for 15 pouches



      #2 HARNEY & SONS -PARIS

      This Tea is a definite crowd pleaser. Everyone I've ever made it for becomes an instant fan! So... if you are looking for a tea that will impress or to give as a perfect gift, this is it! I like to sip it and pretend I'm in Paris.

      "Mike has enjoyed many a pot of tea at the famous Paris tea shops. In homage to Paris, he has created this blend reminiscent of one of the most popular blends in Paris. It is a fruity black tea with vanilla and caramel flavors, and a hint of lemony Bergamot."
    • 20 Sachets in a tin

    • From our Classic Collection

    • Each sachet brews a 12oz cup of tea

    • Caffeinated

    • Our 20ct tin of Paris is Kosher

    • $8.00 for 20 Sachets in a tin



      #3 TEAVANA - STRAWBERRY LEMONADE HERBAL TEA

      This tea is great! I personally like it iced and mixed with Teavanas Bluberry Bliss Rooibos Tea. So fruity, you'd think you were drinking fresh juice! Love the taste, perfect for summer!

      "Irresistibly fragrant strawberries infused with tart lemon slices creates a new twist on an old favorite! This wonderful herbal tisane is the delicious strawberry lemonade you've been waiting for. Great hot or iced, it also is a great choice for kids, since it is caffeine-free."
      Price reflects 2oz (25-30 teaspoons per 2oz)
      $6.80
       
       
       
      Ohhhh my my, this is a special one. I have never been able to find a tea quite like this magnificent masterpiece! It’s spicy and sweet with a cool mint finish! No sugar or cream needed! Drink it plain – hot or cold. It will cost you a pretty penny but it’s worth EVERY cent!

      Care for the Earth as you care for yourself: our blend is 100% certified organic, and its soothing herbal infusion—naturally sweet, with licorice root and peppermint—steeps you in calm.”
      no caffeine, sugar or added flavors
      $26 for 4.9oz






      Enjoy!
      -B