Views From My Kitchen

Mini sweet peppers ready to go under the broiler.

After broiling -- they charred more than they should have,, especially the very small red peppers. That will teach me to multitask while something is under a hot broiler.

I placed them in a bowl after roasting under the broiler

and covered them with a towel to let them sweat for a few minutes. Then I removed skin and slit them open to remove stem and seeds.

I whisked up a vinaigrette of red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, chopped shallot, capers and chopped fresh basil.

The salad -- fresh mozzarella and the roasted mini sweet peppers topped with the caper-basil vinaigrette.

I had the beautiful lemons and tangerines so I squeezed juice from both, added some tequila, chipotle powder and Mexican oregano to marinate boneless skinless chicken breasts.

A very simple dinner starting with the salad and then French green beans steamed to crisp-tender, grilled marinated chicken and a shared baked potato.

Craft - Paper Folding - Boxes and Notecards

Today is the perfect day for me to do paper folding crafts. I needed quiet time and a project that didn't take much preparing and was easy enough that I could let my mind wander and just be for a while. I only had a couple of boxes and zero notecards left, so good thing I am this tired today.

I got out my stash of paper which needs to be used as well and started folding small gift boxes. Sometimes the design is that of the paper I used, and sometimes I use rubber stamps for the design.

These are not real sturdy however they work well for light things.

I find them a fun presentation knowing that they were handmade.

A few ideas to put inside -- earrings made by you or purchased, a small bag of dried herbs from your garden, a purchased gift certificate or a personal one you made for your someone special......

Then it was on to all inclusive notecards.. Another simple matter fo folding with fun papers.

This particular one folds so that there is a small corner that comes over the top at the end of the folding right where the postage stamp goes. Placing your stamp there keeps the notecard closed to mail.

This type folds so that there is a pouch where the last corner goes into. I tape this down if sending in the mail.

I'm excited to be ahead in small gift boxes for special occasions and the holidays fast approaching and having notecards at the ready.

Happiness

When we arrived at the hospital yesterday for David's appointment with the surgeon we discovered they have a Farmer's Market out front every Friday morning. This was real treat to say the least! Made the trip out there fun for me.

The berries are so sweet! I am looking forward to stuffing the pascilla/poblano chiles and roasting the golden and orange carrots. I love that the orange carrots are pencil thin!

Here are a few more things I picked up at the Farmer's Market and Costco; looking forward to a tomatter sandwich today and using them in a variety of other ways. The asparagus will get grilled or roasted and I will be roasting the mini sweet peppers. Oh yum! The tangerines and lemons will be used in cooking as well as eating in their natural glory.

Last evening was out dinner group which met at Paulette's house this time around. She planned a simple grilling menu and I was to bring fruit salad. Here it is. It was so hot again yesterday that the fruit was very refreshing.

Catching up and sipping wine. Barbara, Verona and Bill and Rose brought wines this time. We forgot our contribution in wine at home! There was a variety of VJB wines of course and Barbara also brought a Turnbull cab for us to try. VERY good! I need to ask again the year it was.

Rose did the appetizers this time and she is getting them out at this point. There was an artichoke spread with jalapeno served with crostini, and mozzrella wrapped with prosciutto and basil leaves.

Bill opening and pouring wines.

Rose plating her appetizers and Paulette helping her.

Paulette's table.

Paulette marinated tri tips and grilled them outdoors. They were grilled perfectly and the marinade flavored the meat nicely.

Averill and Bob brought fresh corn.

Paulette's famous potato salad.

Verona, did dessert. We call her the dessert queen she is so good at it. This was a rustic apple and cranberry tart made with a puff pastry crust, full of apples, xcranberryies, orange essence, nuts, spices and glazed with starwberry jam. Incredibaly good. This would make a perfect Thanksgiving dessert. When I get the recipe from her I will definitely share it in my food/wine newsletter. ANYway it was a relaxed, enjoyable evening with good friends, good wine and good food.

David Update - Visit to the Surgeon

David had an appointment with Dr. Gilles this morning. The great news is that the fractures are healed and grown back together! The surgeon is pleased with how David is doing.

He needs to keep doing the therapy exercises to increase motion range and can add in stationary bike and movement in a pool. He needs to just keep trying to get 100% weight on his foot and using his walker or crutches to keep trying to walk.

Because of the way the bones fractured both squashing up and sideways, and the correction needed, David may find in walking that the one leg is now a tad shorter than his other. He was given heel lifts to place inside his shoe if he finds he needs it. He can also use it to help him place more weight on the ball of his foot, then slowly remove the layers of the lift until he is using only one level or none at all if he doesn;t need them. This will help him at first whjile the heel is still hurts when all weight is placed on it.

He can start wearing his tennis shoes which is great news as well! He still has some swelling but Dr. Gilles was not surprised or concerned about it. He also told us that David's side of the foot near the ankle will always be wider. There is not a follow-up appointment. We now call him if David needs him. More great news! He just keeps working at walking and getting the foot/heel strong again. When he feels he can drive, then he can try driving. It's up to David to continue to listen to his body and make decisions accordingly.

The surgeon did mention that some of the lower screws may become uncomfortable or may even loosen and start coming out, which would poke into David's skin and cause pain. If that happens David will have to have them removed. Of course, it may not happen and that is what we are concentrating on; just getting him walking, driving and back to normal as best we can. We also were not surprised to hear that it most likely will take a year for us to know for sure just how well it all works out. We are so very grateful to Dr. Gilles for his expertise and care, and for how he was able to take such a squashed and twisted mess, and put it back together almost perfectly. We both feel truly blessed.

The Last of Our Time in Truckee

Justin and Soikey Girl. He takes good care of her and is a good Dad to her.

Spikey Girl skateboarding.

Justin hard at work on his homework.

Jacob. Look at the ears -- I swear he has my Dad's and brother Bill's ears. Jen and I keep wondering if he is going to be able to wiggle them like the two before him!

This little guy is alwasy hingry!

See what I mean?

Jen decided to try giving Jacob some rice cereal to see what he thought of it.

From these pictures

it's easy to tell
he wasn''t too crazy about it yet. We laughed so much.........

Labor Day with My Favorite Guys

Jacob grabbing my hands and we clapped them together. He found great delight in this.

He keep reaching for my almost empty glass of water. I finally put it to his mouth. He licked the glass........

From his face above, you can tell what he thought of that!

Jacob rolling over and over, showing off for Gram Gram and Grandpa.

Jacob in his bounce bounce with his big brother Justin. They are two of the most handsome boys on this earth.

Jacob on his changing table; he always has fun.

I got those feet again!

There's me holding Jacob while he holds his own bottle and feeds himself!! I was so surprised!

Justin enjoying some Labor Day food goodies, as well as the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies I baked for him. They were a hot BTW. Big smile here.

Jacob and me playing with this blow-up water learning toy.