Charlie’s trained eyes peered through the binoculars from his vantage point at the top of the playground castle. He had a full view of the park and the turret shielded him from view of onlookers. He jotted notes in a little pad with a pencil, kept tucked in his suit pocket.
The man had approached the bench from the south, glancing furtively to his left and right several times before catching sight of the pretty young woman and quickening his pace when she looked up from her book with a smile.
Winter and spring are perfect for meals that require oven time. Living on a boat, we opt for barbecuing most of our summer and fall main courses so we don’t heat up our living space. But when the cold winds are a’blowin’ the oven helps to keep us cozy and fills our home with a delicious aroma as we tuck in against the elements.
Being from an English family from Northern Ireland, I grew up with a lot of potatoes in our meals … baked, boiled and mashed with gobs of butter. Before Daddy opened Benson Electric he was the head electrician (shout out to IBEW 595) for East Bay Packing in Oakland, which was a major meat packing company for the East Bay. So we also had a lot of beef (we’re talking five out of seven nights a week!) for dinner.
My mother made this recipe using ground beef, but Nana was a purist and used ground lamb. Both used a bag of frozen veggies which other than for this recipe, I never use as we don’t have a freezer on our boat and I prefer buying fresh produce a few times a week. But I do like the uniformity of the pieces and it sure makes it easier than having to cut and prepare each of the different veggies.
Pickled peppers add zing to sandwiches and are used in many Asian and Mexican dishes. This recipe combines just the right amount of sweet and heat and are tasty eaten right out of the jar as a snack or with cheese and crackers. I’m a fan of savory martinis and think I’ll add a slice to my next dirty martini with my usual olives.
No boiling of jars is necessary and they will keep in the refrigerator for up to a year. The 1 lb bag of Serrano peppers was only $1.29 at the Alameda Grocery Outlet and with the other ingredients the total cost was about $5. I made four 8-ounce jars ($1.50 each at Michael’s) from this recipe, which I gifted to friends for the holidays. You don’t have to tell anyone what a great bargain they are!
Variations: I used Serrano peppers but Jalapeno’s can be used to take the heat factor down a notch. You can also experiment with different types of white vinegar for different flavor profiles.
We grew up sailing San Francisco Bay, indisputably the best sailing in the world and one we generally take for granted. On a typical day on the water we’ll motor up the estuary (which we fondly refer to as the “Alameda Riviera”) raising sails just beyond the Port of Oakland. We know all the stories associated with the local landmarks such as President Roosevelt’s refurbished USS Potomac and Jack London Square, the old Navy Base and the various Coast Guard stations.
Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone how easy this silky smooth bite of chocolate heaven is to make! I made a double batch to bring to a holiday party, give as gifts and have some at home. It has only five ingredients and they are always in stock at our Alameda Grocery Outlet in the baking aisle.
I’m married to a milk chocolate purist, so kept it traditional with tried and true Ghiradelli semi-sweet milk chocolate. (Yep, you’ll find Ghiradelli brand at about half price off big supermarket prices at our Grocery Outlet!) You can use dark or white chocolate instead, or combine flavors. I do suggest that you use the same brand if combining; different brands can vary in melting points and getting it perfectly melted is key. Don’t worry about the condensed milk and bag of chocolate chips being slightly more or less than the ingredients call for. Brands aren’t always consistent in packaging.
Nothing says “Hanukkah” more than latkes! But they are actually a delicious addition to any meal, year round. (And you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy them.) This Bubbe is fairly new to the latke game and I’m not adept at the use of electric appliances, so these are handmade with lots of love (and oil). They are a bit on the time intense side … turn on some music, pour a glass of wine or eggnog and put on an apron.
The five basic ingredients are simple and available year-round at our Grocery Outlet and the cost is about 50 cents per serving. I find the best way to mix and form the patties is with my hands; a bit messy but the results speak for themselves.
These past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity and I haven’t taken any quality time for myself. I haven’t spent any time on my blog or writing short stories or recipes, haven’t decorated our salon for Hanukkah (and it’s almost over!) and I have a few gifts still to finish before our family celebration tomorrow evening. My home and husband are both in need of my attention. Half day of work today with the other half committed to paperwork for the sale of Nana’s house and errands. And a busy, busy weekend ahead with the kids. The last time I felt rested and not rushing was Thanksgiving weekend.
So I stood on the end of the finger and closed my eyes. I listened to the sea birds calling to each other and the water lapping gently against the neighboring hulls, felt the bite of cold air on my skin and breathed deeply. I let my thoughts drift from my “To Do” list to the miracle of a new day unfolding and opened my eyes to watch the world awaken.
I’ve been crazy busy with the holidays and babysitting my grandchildren and missed my weekly GO To Tuesday post … so we’ll do a GO To Thursday instead! Our local Alameda Grocery Outlet is a great one-stop go-to for holiday menu ingredients. I’m creating a Hanukkah menu of brisket, latkes and roasted asparagus this weekend that I’ll feature next week.
Both sweet and savory … these delicious noodles take minutes to prepare and make a great side to an Asian-inspired meal or, as we did, serve with fresh Dungeness crab and garlic bread. (One can never have enough garlic in my opinion!) Grocery Outlet doesn’t sell fresh crab, but they do feature an amazing ocean caught salmon that would be terrific with a miso-soy glaze. Hubby says he could easily eat just a big bowl of the noodles all by themselves … they are THAT good!
Vivo O Sonho 