Vivo O Sonho

Tag: MarinaLife

• Portobello Mushroom “Pizza”

  Posted at 8:23 am by SV Sonho, on January 23, 2019

  I love portobello mushrooms as they have a “meaty” texture and I can sneak in a vegetarian night without hubby complaining. This is a quick and easy meal with lots of options to use whatever fresh veggies are on hand or sale. Our local Grocery Outlet has a wonderful selection of pre-cut bagged, frozen and organic veggies so this is a GO-to meal.

  It’s also a fun “make it yourself” dinner for a group. Put out the chopped ingredients in bowls and let each person build their own “pizza.” Use a permanent market to write each name on the outside of the tinfoil before tenting. You can add a grain on the side, but I find that this is plenty for a meal unto itself, especially if there is a dessert to follow. 🙂

  Continue reading →

  Posted in In the Galley | 0 Comments | Tagged AlamedaGroceryOutlet, BargainMarket, BoatingLife, Cruising, GalleyCooking, GOAlameda, GroceryOutlet, homeofWOW, LifeOnboard, LiveAboard, LivingTheDream, MarinaLife, shoplocal, Tayana, TinyKitchen, VivoOSonho

• GO To Tuesday: Savory Sausage Breakfast Strata

  Posted at 3:44 am by SV Sonho, on January 15, 2019

  I love lazy weekend fall mornings when I can whip up something warm and yummy for hubby and I for brunch while watching a football game. I don’t love all the dishes when I want to relax after filling my belly. This strata is made the night before in a large Ziploc bag and then simply placed in a pan and baked; easy and virtually no mess! A side of hashbrowns and fresh fruit rounds out the meal nicely.

  Our local Grocery Outlet carries all of the ingredients regularly at about half the cost of other stores. The Lit’l Smokies come in a 28 oz package and can be divided and half frozen for other dishes (they are great in a rustic vegetable soup!). I used about half of the pack for this recipe. Any form of bread works, but I especially love the San Luis Sliced Garlic Sourdough. The garlic is already roasted and the crust has a nice texture. I used half of the loaf for grilled cheese and toast 5 days prior, which allowed the other half to become slightly stale, preferable for the strata.

  Variations: You can switch up the type of cheese and herbs for different flavors. I prefer fresh herbs whenever possible, but if using dried reduce the amount to about a third of fresh. I added a few drops of Dave’s Insanity Sauce for a little zip; you could add other hot sauces mixed in when you add the half and half, or as a condiment for folks to spice to their own liking.

  Tip: Use a good quality Ziploc bag or you will end up with a mess! I double bag the mixture before placing in our fridge, just to be sure!

  Ingredients
  

  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon coursely ground pepper
  • Half a roughly chopped yellow onion
  • 20 Lit’l Smokies by Hillshire Farms, cut into thirds
  • 2 1/2 cups of shredded Gruyere cheese (reserve 1/2 cup for top)
  • 6 large slices of stale French bread, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • Optional: Sour cream dollops, hot sauce and chives/thyme for garnish

  Directions:

  • Crack the eggs into a clean gallon size Ziploc bag.
  • Add the half and half and mustard, seal the bag and mix by squishing the ingredients in the bag until well combined.
  • Open the bag, add the thyme, salt, pepper and onions and squish again.
  • Add the Lit’l Smokies and 2 cups of the cheese and squish again.
  • Add the bread in batches, mixing until all pieces are fully covered in the egg mixture.
  • Zip the bag securely closed, pushing out the air so it has a vacuum-packed feel. (You don’t have to get all the air out; just enough so the mixture isn’t sloshing around in the bag.)
  • Place in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Pull the bag out of the fridge 30 minutes before you put it in the oven to bring to room temperature. Pour the ingredients into a 8 inch square glass baking pan, generously greased with butter.
  • Bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes, then sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of cheese on top.
  • Increase temperature to 375 and bake an additional 20 minutes until strata is puffed, edges are pulling away from pan sides slightly, and cheese is browned. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean when done.
  • Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing.
  • Serve with optional sour cream, hot sauce and fresh thyme or chives as garnish.

  Serves 4 to 6 people.

  Go To Tuesdays are weekly recipes from products purchased at the Alameda Grocery Outlet, 730 Buena Vista Ave.

  Please let me know if you made the recipe and liked it or would suggest changes. And also feel free to suggest future recipes.

  Posted in In the Galley | 0 Comments | Tagged AlamedaGroceryOutlet, BargainMarket, BoatingLife, Cruising, GalleyCooking, GOAlameda, GroceryOutlet, homeofWOW, LifeOnboard, LiveAboard, LivingTheDream, MarinaLife, shoplocal, TinyKitchen, VivoOSonho

• GO To Tuesday: English Shepherd’s Pie

  Posted at 2:07 am by SV Sonho, on January 8, 2019

  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.

  Alameda’s Grocery Outlet carries all of these ingredients regularly. For both storage and ecology sake, I love that most of Grocery Outlet’s meat selections aren’t on styrofoam. They also have an extensive frozen food aisle so you’ll most likely find different varieties of veggies that you might prefer to what I used. Some don’t have the green beans and others have lima beans, for instance.

  I’ve tweaked the recipe to our own tastes, but thought of Nana’s kitchen as I mashed the potatoes with the dough mixer she used to make pie crusts, cookies, mashed turnips and potatoes.

  Mashed Potato Ingredients:

  • 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1 egg yolk

  

  

  

  

  

  Filling Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 cup chopped white onion
  • 3 cloves of minced garlic
  • 1 lb ground lamb
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • 12-16 oz bag of frozen mixed vegetables (I used peas, corn, carrots and green beans) that has been completely thawed in the refrigerator and drained in a colander.

  Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Put the potato pieces in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook uncovered for 10 minutes or until the potatoes easily fall apart with a fork. Drain.
  • Add the butter and half and half and mash with a ricer or fork until no lumps remain and mixture is smooth. Add salt and pepper.
  • Add the egg yolk to the potatoes and mix until fully blended. Set aside.
  • Heat oil in a large deep pan.
  • Add the onions and garlic and saute over medium heat until they begin to brown.
  • Add the lamb, salt and pepper, and stir, breaking apart as it browns.
  • When the lamb is fully cooked, sprinkle the flour over the mixture and combine.
  • Turn heat to medium high and add the turmeric, rosemary, thyme, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and broth and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
  • Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or mixture begins to thicken.
  • Remove from heat and mix in the veggies.
  • Spread the mixture into an 8″ x 8″ glass pan. (No need to grease as the lamb fat does the job nicely.)
  • Spread the mashed potatoes even over the lamb/veggie mixture, starting at the edges to create a seal to prevent the filling from bubbling over.
  • Place the pan on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or tin foil in the center of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the potatoes just begin to brown. (And despite your best efforts, there will be some bubbling over. The filling may ooze over the potatoes a bit and the turmeric will give it a yellow tinge.)
  • Remove from oven and place on cooling rack for 10 minutes before serving.

  Serves 4; or two with leftovers for lunch!

  Go To Tuesdays are weekly recipes from products purchased at the Alameda Grocery Outlet, 730 Buena Vista Ave.

  Please let me know if you made the recipe and liked it or would suggest changes. And also feel free to suggest future recipes.

  Posted in In the Galley | 0 Comments | Tagged AlamedaGroceryOutlet, BargainMarket, BoatingLife, GalleyCooking, GOAlameda, GroceryOutlet, homeofWOW, LifeOnboard, LiveAboard, LivingTheDream, MarinaLife, shoplocal, Tayana, TinyKitchen, VivoOSonho

• GO To Tuesday: Easy Pickled Peppers

  Posted at 4:27 am by SV Sonho, on January 1, 2019

  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.

  Continue reading →

  Posted in In the Galley | 0 Comments | Tagged AlamedaGroceryOutlet, BargainMarket, BoatingLife, GalleyCooking, GOAlameda, GroceryOutlet, homeofWOW, LifeOnboard, LiveAboard, LivingTheDream, MarinaLife, shoplocal, TinyKitchen, VivoOSonho

• GO To Tuesday: Marshmallow Fudge

  Posted at 10:11 am by SV Sonho, on December 25, 2018

   

  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.

  Continue reading →

  Posted in In the Galley | 0 Comments | Tagged AlamedaGroceryOutlet, BargainMarket, BoatingLife, GalleyCooking, GOAlameda, GroceryOutlet, homeofWOW, LifeOnboard, LiveAboard, LivingTheDream, MarinaLife, shoplocal, Tayana, TinyKitchen, VivoOSonho

• GO To Tuesday: Creamy Potato Leek Soup (Vegan)

  Posted at 3:26 am by SV Sonho, on December 18, 2018

  Winter is definitely upon us in San Francisco Bay, which means time to break out the Dutch oven and whip up pots of comfort food. I’m a fan of soups that need to simmer for hours to bring out the flavors, but sometimes I want a quick recipe that just tastes like I was in the galley all day.

  This one can be made in about 30 minutes and then served right away, or allowed to sit and heat up later or even the next day. It is hearty enough to serve on it’s own with a crusty loaf of french bread, or as a side with a salad and/or an entree. I made it on a rainy Sunday when I was babysitting my granddaughter and watching football games and served it for dinner alongside steamed artichokes. Continue reading →

  Posted in In the Galley | 0 Comments | Tagged AlamedaGroceryOutlet, BargainMarket, Cruising, GalleyCooking, GOAlameda, GroceryOutlet, homeofWOW, LivingTheDream, MarinaLife, shoplocal, Tayana, TinyKitchen, VivoOSonho

• GO To Tuesday: Traditional Latkes!

  Posted at 5:18 am by SV Sonho, on December 11, 2018

  

  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.

  Continue reading →

  Posted in In the Galley | 0 Comments | Tagged AlamedaGroceryOutlet, BargainMarket, BoatingLife, GalleyCooking, GOAlameda, GroceryOutlet, homeofWOW, LifeOnboard, LiveAboard, LivingTheDream, MarinaLife, shoplocal, TinyKitchen, VivoOSonho

• Sunrise Perspective

  Posted at 8:14 am by SV Sonho, on December 7, 2018

  

  

  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.

  Continue reading →

  Posted in You Live on a Boat?! | 0 Comments | Tagged BoatingLife, LifeOnboard, LiveAboard, LivingTheDream, MarinaLife, Tayana, VivoOSonho

• GO To Thursday: Lavash Bites

  Posted at 4:59 pm by SV Sonho, on December 6, 2018

  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.

  Continue reading →

  Posted in In the Galley | 0 Comments | Tagged AlamedaGroceryOutlet, BargainMarket, BoatingLife, GalleyCooking, GOAlameda, GroceryOutlet, homeofWOW, LifeOnboard, LiveAboard, LivingTheDream, MarinaLife, shoplocal, TinyKitchen

• Lost and Found

  Posted at 5:44 am by SV Sonho, on November 29, 2018

  Amy saw the poster tacked to the phone pole at the bus stop.

  LOST: Female Dog.
  Beloved Family Pet.
  Sat., Oct. 6
  near Grand and Otis.
  Answers to Cookie.

  The picture below the text showed two adorable little boys with their arms around an even more adorable little brown dog. Her heart sank. It looked exactly like the dog she had found just after midnight two days ago.

  Continue reading →

  Posted in Story Shelf | 0 Comments | Tagged AlamedaAnimalShelter, BoatingLife, DogOnboard, FAAS, LiveAboard, LivingTheDream, MarinaLife, ShortStory, Tiki, TLWA, ToLiveandWriteinAlameda, VivoOSonho

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