My Amazing Race - 34.3 Miles in 7 Hours 45 Minutes

This past weekend I participated in Seattle's Oyster Urban Adventure Race. The race is a combination of running, biking and using public transportation to make your way to destinations around the city and complete the tasks given to you.

About 80 teams met at the Fisher Pavilion at the Seattle Center on a grey drizzly morning to start our adventure. While a little chilly at first we really appreciated the dampness as soon as we got started! For the race we had to start and finish each of the 7 legs at the Fisher Pavilion so there's a lot of back and forth that you have to do.

At 8:00 a.m. the race started with the organizer's taking each team's best runner (Mandy for us) and putting them on the Duck... blind folded... to where the ferry's get serviced down by Magnolia Bridge. In the meantime. Mayli and I ran up to Kerry Park to find her only to realize she wasn't there and wait another 15 or so minutes for her to run the extra mile there.

To Kerry Park and back 2 Miles on Foot

Next our instructions sent us to the wall of gum in Post Alley where we had to add our own piece to the landmark.

To Pike Place Market Gum Wall and back 2.2 Miles on Bike

After returning from Pike Place we had to find business or street signs that spelled out O-Y-S-T-E-R (for the name of the race) using the first letter of each sign. We found most right in the Seattle Center House but had to go a 1/3 of a mile over near Mercer to get the letter Y at the Young Children's Academy.

Finding Business Signs around the Science Center .6 Miles on Foot

After turning in our business signs pics we hopped on our bikes to the University District Farmer's Market. No easy way to avoid the hills we finally made it and ate a small bite of cooked oyster. Easy for Mayli and I, Mandy washed hers down with a fresh strawberry since she's not a fan of seafood.

To University District Farmers Market 4 Miles on Bike

From the farmer's market we were given part 2 of this leg to head to Greenlake where 2 of us were to jump in a boat and paddle a course on the lake. And the 3rd teammate would head off to the Woodland Park Dog Park for an undisclosed task...

To Green Lake Boat Rentals 1.9 Miles on Bike

Since I live in Seattle I decided Mayli and Mandy should do the boats because Reilly and I could do it anytime. Plus I knew exactly where to go. So I ended up at the dog park only to find out that I had to pick up dog crap. Yes you got that right. Pick up dog crap. Fortunately they had bags and hand sanitizer and it was relatively easy to do. But I'm the one person on my team who doesn't even have a dog and they got to go on the lake. I was a little annoyed but it is pretty funny and makes a good story :)

Side Trip to Woodland Park Dog Park and back to boats 2.4 Miles on Bike

The three of us rejoined at the boats and jumped back on our bikes to return to Fisher Pavilion for our next task.

Back to Seattle Center 5.7 Miles on Bike

We dropped our bikes off at the pavilion to find out that we now had to run all of the way across downtown Seattle to the International District and find the Chinese Community Bulletin Board. With Reilly's help via phone he found the location on Yelp (one of the race's sponsors) and after a gruelling jog/walk through downtown we made it to try and unscramble a coded message to our next destination.

To the ID Chinese Community Board 2.4 Miles on Foot

So the bulletin board had a series of numbers on it and we knew that I = 3 and Z = 20 so we figured out the rest of the letters but then didn't know what to do with them. After 10 or 15 minutes of frustration and teams arriving and leaving while we tried to decipher the code I overheard another team say is it "aquarium?" Duh! We just had to unscramble the letters "irqmauua" but we were too brain dead at that point to figure it out plus we thought it was going to be a location a little bit closer to where we were....

So we were off to the aquarium where our task ended up being to take a photo with the "Vacuum of the Sea" which is a sea cucumber and easily found since another team was already taking their picture there.

To the Aquarium 1.3 Miles on Foot

Then we went back to the Fisher Pavilion for our next clue. If we didn't make it back by 2:00 p.m. we wouldn't be able to finish the race. Fortunately we got there by 1:30 and got to keep going which was our goal.

Back to the Seattle Center 1.3 Miles on Foot

The second to last leg of the race had us head to Whole Foods where we received a sudoku puzzle that we had to complete on the South Lake Union Streetcar before we could get off. Unfortunately I accidentally misread the instructions and we first went to the Westlake Streetcar Station instead of the Westlake and Denny Station which added on an extra .5 mile at least to our day.

To Whole Foods (via an accidental detour) 1.4 Miles on Foot

Fortunately Mayli is a pro and I'm not to shabby at sudoku so we quickly finished and then were on our way.

From the South Lake Union Street Car Stop back to the Seattle Center 0.9 Miles on Foot

The 7th and final leg of the day gave us the option to bike or bus to the Seattle Language Academy in Fremont. Totally exhausted we decided to bus it.

Catching a Bus to Fremont 1.2 Miles to Bus Stop on Foot

Finding a bus and stop ended up taking longer and being more complicated than we had hoped. But we got to rest our legs and it all worked out.

To Seattle Language Academy in Fremont 2.8 Miles by Bus

After arriving in Fremont we hoofed it over to the language academy.

From Fremont Bus Stop to Seattle Language Academy 0.2 Miles on Foot

At the Seattle Language Academy they played a recording of "Bravely Done" in Russian which Mayli memorized how to say properly and then headed to our next stop, the Red Door Bar just up the street.

To the Red Door Bar 0.2 Miles on Foot

At the bar we had to taste test 4 of the Deschutes Brewery beers (an Oregon establishment) and correctly match the flavor to what beer it was. By first matching color and then taste we got it right on the first time plus Mayli did a great job pronouncing the Russian version of Bravely Done and we were given our next clue in the final leg to get our picture in front of the Linen Statue which was fortunately just a couple of blocks away.

To the Lenin Statue 0.1 Mile on Foot

From the statue we had finished all tasks on the race and just had to get back to the Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center. So we headed back to a bus stop.

To the Fremont Bus Stop 0.2 Miles on Foot

And after a 10 minute wait hopped on to head back.

To Denny an Dexter 2.8 Miles by Bus

The bus dropped us off at Denny and Dexter, the closest stop. And we decided after resting our legs that we could jog the final distance to the finish line.

From the Dexter and Denny Bus Stop back to the Seattle Center and the end 0.7 Miles on Foot

And after about 7 hours and 45 minutes, 12.5 Miles on Foot (I completed a half marathon), 16.2 Miles on Bike, 5.6 Miles by Bus, for a grand total of 34.3 miles we finished our Ultimate Urban Adventure.

We were greeted by a half empty pavilion as most of the racer's who had already finished had gone (the winner's did the race in 4.5 hours!) and booths were being torn down, but there was still lots of leftover pizza and beer. I am so impressed that we finished and proud of what we accomplished!

Overall, the experience was pretty cool but I was disappointed that the tasks were pretty simple. The adventure was more about getting there and back than actually doing anything. And we really didn't go anywhere unexpected. The only tasks that took more than a minute was kayaking (which I picked up dog crap instead), sudoku which really isn't a challenge, and figuring out the aquarium puzzle which actually was a good challenge!

Would I do it again? Probably - as long as I'm with a great team like Mayli and Mandy. We stayed together, kept eachother motivated as we struggled throughout the day and were determined to have a good time and finish and not worry about being the most athletic out there.

Thanks to my awesome teammates Mayli and Mandy, Reilly for technical support, and all of the friends and family who supported us with donations and their good thoughts!

15 Hours - The Perfect day in Paris

On Fridays I will post an itenerary for what I would do if I only had a day (about 15 hours) in a city. The itenerary will be based on my interests of food, art, shopping and history so you may do it differently and if you're so inclined feel free to let me know what that might be.

This week - one of my favorite cities - Paris, France:

8:00 a.m. - Wake up and get ready for the day!

8:30 a.m. - Get a croissant or a small roll with bacon or cheese bits cooked in it for breakfast from the nearest boulangerie - just use your nose to find one - the cities smells incredible in the mornings.

9:00 a.m. - Head to Notre Dame Cathedral and tour the inside and soak up the history and gothic atmosphere of the space.

10:00 a.m. - Make your way to the Louvre with your pre-purchased entrance tickets so you can skip the ticket lines and explore the many wings of paintings and sculptures including the Winged Victory and the Mona Lisa. Some of the large-scale paintings feel like you could just step into the scene and be a part of the past.

1:00 p.m. - Lunch at Pizza Oskian 1 block from the Louvre at 139, Rue St Honoré. Order the pizza that is called the "gondola". It's a frommage and jambon (ham and cheese pizza) that's literally shaped like a boat. The pizza's are cooked in a wood-fire oven and the crust is thick and chewy when it comes out. Definitely different and doughier than pizza I have had elsewhere but I just love it. This is a pretty efficient Paris restaurant that's used to American tourists so don't be surprised when they bring you your bill without asking!

2:00 p.m. - Head back across the Seine to Musee Rodin - Rodin's sculpture are worth the time. His work exudes beauty and such a level of detail and emotion that I just love exploring the indoor and outdoor space of the museum to take in all of his sculptures.

4:30 p.m. - Cross back over the Seine so that you can walk the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triumphe. If you see a creperie stop in for a bite and a cafe au lait. Have fun popping into stores like the Virgin music store or whatever else peeks your shopping interest.

7:15 p.m. - Stroll to dinner/or take the metro if you're short on time ...

8:00 p.m. - And end up at Restaurant Le Procope, founded in 1686, situated in the Saint-Germain neighborhood. The restaurant as been graced by many famous names including our own Benjamin Franklin. You'll want to make a reservation - use your hotel concierge if you have one - and don't be surprised if the earliest you can get a table is 9:00 p.m.! The nice thing about this restaurant is that while it's nice and it is Paris we were able to go wearing jeans and not feel out of place at all. The restaurant services traditional french cuisine. I recommend the coq au vin or the braised ox cheek for a very tender and flavorful meal and you must try the foie gras. For dessert have the creme brule. Yum.

10:30 p.m.- Walk off dinner as you head to the Eiffel Tower (actually head to the Champs de Mars for the best view and to sit on the grass and relax - just beware of the wine peddlers) for the light show at 11:00 p.m. or midnight.

Transportation:

I'm a walker so I'd probably take the extra time to walk to everything and really experience the city. But Paris has a good metro system which makes it easy to get around especially when you're tired. It could also save you some time crossing town if you want to cram more things in.

Notes:

Paris is a huge city with so many beautiful and historical sites. If I was there for more than a day I'd walk Rue Mouffetard, stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg, head up to the Sacre Couer, go to the Musee d'Orsay, visit Napoleon's tomb, and the list goes on and on.

I've been to Paris twice now and the above itinerary reflects the parts of Paris that I really love and will continue to go back to.

Making Kung Pao Chicken in my Kitchen - A Recipe

We try to take cooking classes when we can and especially when they have a two for one special. Cook's World in the University Village area of Seattle recently held such a special for a chinese cooking class. We probably never would have taken the class otherwise but I'm thrilled we did.

The recipes that we made in class were delicious and even better I've been able to recreate some of them successfully on my own. My favorite is the Kung Pao Chicken which I've been able to make for friends and family too. One of my friends even asked for the recipe which never happens!

You can make Kung Pao Chicken on the fly or if you're planning ahead you can take time to do the marinating and prep in advance.


Kung Pao Chicken

Chicken Velvetizing Marinade

- 1 Large egg

- 1 Tablespoon dry white wine or sherry (or apple juice/acidic liquid)

- 1 Teaspoon of kosher salt

- 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch

- 1 Pound of chicken breast cut into small 1/2 inch square pieces (the smaller the piece the more likely it will get tender especially with limited time)

Combine and whisk together all ingredients but the chicken. Add the chicken and stir it into the marinade making sure every piece is covered. Marinade over-night in the fridge covered or for 30 minutes on the counter-top uncovered.


Kung Pao Sauce

- 1 Cup of chicken broth

- 3 Tablespoons of hoison or oyster sauce

- 1-3 Teaspoons of hot sauce based on your heat tolerance

- 1 Teaspoon of cornstarch

Whisk all items together in a small bowl. I've let this sit in my fridge for most of the day and just re-whisked right before I needed to use it.


Stir-Fry and Bringing it All Together

- 3 Tablespoons of canola or vegetable oil

- 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped peanuts

- 1 large red, yellow or orange pepper diced

- 3 to 6 cloves of garlic minced

- 1 to 1 1/2 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger (easier to grate if it's been frozen I've found without losing any flavor)

- Marinaded chicken

- Kung pao sauce

Make sure to prep all of the ingredients above before you start cooking.

Heat the wok on medium-high (highly recommend to invest in a wok - $40-$50 for flat bottom/carbon steel) and once hot add 1.5 tablespoons of oil.

When the oil is hot add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry for 30 seconds.

Add the marinaded chicken and cook until the chicken is half-way done. Then transfer the unfinished chicken to a plate for later.

Take the wok off of the heat and wipe out. Reheat the wok on medium-high and add the final 1.5 tablespoons of oil. Once the oil is hot add the diced peppers and stir-fry for 2 minutes.

Return the half-done chicken to the wok with the peppers and pour the kung pao sauce over everything. Stir-fry until the chicken is fully cooked.

When the chicken is just about done, mix in the chopped peanuts in the last 30 seconds.

Remove from the heat and serve. Don't forget to clean and care for your wok properly - instructions come with it.

This recipe makes 3 to 4 servings.


Optional Serving Ideas

- I like serving my kung pao chicken over asian noodles (you can also add the noodles into the stir-fry while it's cooking).

- Serve over sticky rice or other asian rice.

- Crispy asian noodles or deep-fried egg wrapper pieces are also a nice texture to add onto the top.

- Serve with a side of stir-fried asian vegetables with a touch of soy sauce.


This dish has a nice heat from the hot sauce and you can add as much or as little as you like to suit your taste buds. Or just have the hot sauce on the table for folks who like the heat to mix in more. The more you marinade the chicken the more tender or "velvety" the chicken will be. And the peanuts add a nice crunchy texture. Definitely a favorite now in our home.

Araya Thai - Delicious Vegetarian Buffet in Seattle

This Saturday we went to Araya's Vegetarian Place - a Thai restaurant in Seattle's University District that offers a lunch buffet Monday through Saturdays. They have a standard menu as well but I recommend going for the buffet to try a wide variety of dishes that you probably wouldn't have had on your own.

The restaurant is vegetarian and vegan so my husband wasn't entirely convinced about going when he kept asking if there was meat on the menu. I had to keep telling him no it's strictly vegetarian - no meat.

The buffet at Araya offers a wide selection of soup, rice, salads, vegetables, pad thai, egg rolls and dessert. I'm not much of a salad girl so I went straight for my favorites. Their deep fried egg roll is a must try - nice crispy texture and a savory filling. And they have a vat of peanut sauce that you can ladle as much of it as you want over anything and everything.

Their pad thai with tofu is standard a little more on the sour side and I usually pour a little peanut sauce over it to perk up the flavors. A new favorite that day was a very delicious light lemon grass coconut sauce over tofu, carrots, zucchini and other vegetables. I thought at first that it was filled with ginger so when I tried and realized it wasn't (not a huge ginger fan) I went back for more. The lemon coconut sauce really made the dish shine as it was light and sweet and the tofu was perfectly saturated with the flavors.

For dessert, they had two selections on the buffet. Black rice with coconut milk is their standard - the black rice is cooked into what looks like jam but it's a warm, slightly sweet concoction that grows on you as you keep eating it - you can add as much or as little coconut milk as you want to find the perfect sweetness combination for your taste buds. Also new this time, they had banana chunks in a sugared coconut water that was absolutely scrumptious and made for a tropical treat.

As we finished our meal and I noticed that my husband's plate was looking rather empty I asked him, "so did you miss the meat?" of which I was pleased to hear that he didn't miss it at all.

Truffle Goodness at La Spiga

On Friday we went to La Spiga in Seattle's Capitol Hill Neighborhood - an Italian osteria which we haven't been to before.

We decided to go for an early dinner so that we could catch their happy hour before it ended at 6:30 p.m. $4.00 glasses of house wine - I went with the house red which was fairly smooth with many fruity flavors and $3.00 pints of Perino which my husband enjoyed.

They have a good selection on their happy hour menu of appetizers, salad, pasta dishes and dessert so you could have your entire meal from the menu. We ordered a selection of 3 cheeses that the chef personally selects herself served with a sweet fig jam and fresh, warm flat bread that has a nice saltiness and light layers that you can pull apart. The cheese that was most memorable was a truffle and herb cheese that had a nice subtle truffle taste though it could sometimes be overwhelmed by the other cheeses (can't remember what the other cheeses are anymore - not as memorable but all decent).

Not on the happy hour menu - but a standard italian appetizer that they do well is their caprese. Small cherry tomatoes split in half mixed with cut basil, fresh mozzarella balls drizzled with olive oil and served with more flat bread. A nice combination of fresh and savory their caprese is a delicious classic.

For dinner my husband ordered "Spaghetti alla Chitarra al Pesto, Pomodorini e Taggiasca - Farro “chitarra” spaghetti, basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, Taggiasca olives." From what I've researched I believe Spaghetti alla Chitarra is a square-cut pasta that is made from farro, a type of wheat. Don't quote me on that but the pasta had a nice thickness that I enjoyed. La Spiga really focuses on simple fresh ingredients and that came through with the basil and tomatoes. The olives really made the dish stand out by adding a burst of flavor to each bite.

I ordered "Tagliatelle al Burro di Tartufo -Tagliatelle noodles with white Alba Truffle butter." This is probably the most simple yet flavorful dish you could ever find. Noodles and truffle butter. The truffle butter just makes the noodles want to melt in your mouth. Truffle is really a flavor that I can't describe - I want to say smokey and salty but it just doesn't do it justice. The flavor is so distinct you have to try it yourself to understand. Either way - the dish was simply wonderful.

La Spiga's space is lofty yet cozy with a lot of booths. Plus I love their indoor patio feel with the large front window that opens up to the sidewalk. The staff was attentive and friendly and really helpful with describing anything on the menu. Portion's were perfect - not too small that you're disappointed and not too large so you don't feel too guilty when you're licking your plate clean.

Since our favorite Italian restaurant Cellar Bistro closed down we haven't been having a lot of pasta lately. We both left La Spiga feeling that we've finally found that Italian restaurant in Seattle we would love to frequent and know we'd always come away feeling happy.

15 Hours - The Perfect Day in Vancouver, B.C.

Every Friday I will post an itinerary for what I would do if I only had a day (about 15 hours) in a city. The itinerary will be based on my interests of food, art, shopping and history so you may do it differently and if you're so inclined feel free to let me know what that might be.

This week - our neighbors to the North - Vancouver BC:

7:30 a.m. - Wake up and get ready for the day.

8:00 a.m. - Walk up Robson street and grab a crepe to go at Cafe Crepe on Robson. They have a walk up window so you can get your piping hot crepe to walk with and keep your fingers warm.

8:30 a.m. - Jump in your car and head to Stanley Park - while you can't see everything some of my favorites include the Hollow Tree, exploring the beach and checking out the lighthouses. Here's a link to a map so you can get to what pique's your interest.

10:30 a.m. - Drive over the Lions Gate Bridge to the Capilano Suspension Bridge and splurge big time (it's way over priced but you must do it once) and walk over the crazily suspended bridge to explore the tree-top walk ways on the other side. Take your time and get your money's worth!

12:30 p.m. - Drive to Granville Island and get lunch inside the Public Market which is a feast for your eyes. Either make a picnic lunch to eat on the pier from the different meat, bread and fruit booths or grab a plate at one of the restaurants.

1:30 p.m. - Try the seasonal beer or a sampler at the Granville Island Brewery.

2:00 p.m. - Browse through the Kid's Market and reminisce about your child hood.

2:45 p.m. - Take the False Creek Ferry or Aquabus (25 to 30 minute boat ride) to Science World and act like a kid again exploring and playing with the gizmos and gadgets.

6:00 p.m. - Take the ferry back to your car and head to the Robson shopping district.

7:00 p.m. - Walk along Robson Street and drop into the clothes stores that are open late. (The malls in Canada have weirder hours and often close at 7 p.m. on Saturday.)

8:30 p.m. - Sit down for dinner at Shangai Chinese Bistro - they make handmade noodles which have a nice thicker and chewier texture and their mongolian beef is like none other I've tried with a breaded crispy texture that you can't get enough of.

9:30 p.m. - Walk off dinner so you can enjoy an ice cream dessert at Mondo Gelato - for a short walk they have one on Robson and for a longer walk head to the Denman store (or whichever one hopefully has the shorter line). Check out their 100+ flavors before you go so you have an idea of what you want already :)

In Need of Comfort Food - La Spiga or Cantinetta???

So it's been a long week and I'm in need of some good, yummy, and filling comfort food that I just can't make for myself at home.

I've got a growing list of Seattle restaurants that I want to check out so I figured I'd do a quick poll in case anyone has been to either of these to see what's going to be the most comforting and delicious. I haven't been to La Spiga or Cantinetta but here's what I know about them. Let me know what you think (and of course I'll post a review and photos after I go!):

La Spiga Osteria
http://www.laspiga.com/
Authentic Italian Food Experience

Some of the tasty items that catch my eye on the menu include "Spinach and Formaggio di Fossa filled tortelli with butter and sage" or the "Tagliatelle noodles with white Alba Truffle butter."

Cantinetta
http://www.cantinettaseattle.com/
Neighborhood Pasteria

Their ravioli with provolone picante, carmelized onions and pancetta sounds like it would be rich and satisfying and while I have no idea what their pea agnolotti is I want to try it! And they have pancetta wrapped dates which I've had before elsewhere and the sound of them are already making my mouth water.
Vote
Vote on the right hand side of this post for which restaurant I should go to for comfort food!

Enjoying Ice Cream at Molly Moon's

While out visiting my brother he made homemade ice cream from scratch. The finished product was a delicious peanut butter with Reese's peanut butter cup chunks ice cream. It was pretty darn good.

When my brother came into town last week I took him to Molly Moon's. A newer Seattle ice cream establishment, Molly Moon's has really taken root with their delicious homemade style ice cream and interesting variety of flavors. It's gotten quite popular and I've never seen the place without a line. We visited the newest store on Capitol Hill (their original and other location is in Wallingford) and had impeccable timing. We just beat the after-dinner rush because right after we arrived and ordered the line was 10 people long behind us and still was when we left!

Molly Moon's has a combination of standard flavors but always has special flavors to try. My brother enjoyed a scoop of salty caramel on top of a scoop of vivace coffee ice cream in a waffle cone. The salty caramel is seriously salty - I've only attempted a sample but I think I'm going to try to get through a whole scoop next time.

I stuck with my tried and true favorite thai iced tea ice cream. It's not as sweet as a real thai iced tea but that's why I like it so much (and if you haven't had a thai iced tea order one next time you have thai food!).

My husband went for their classic balsamic strawberry ice cream which actually has ribbons of balsamic vinegar running through it and it's a really nice subtle combination of sweet and salty.

And our friend Matt enjoyed a scoop of mojito ice cream. And it was literally like having a frozen mojito (but without the buzz unfortunately). Cool, limey and minty it was a fun flavor to experience.

Camping on the Pacific Ocean - Things To Do at the Beach

We spent the weekend camping at Grayland State Beach Park on the Pacific Ocean. The state park is located on Grays Harbor on Washington State's west coast - south of Ocean Shores but north of Long Beach for those who grew up going to the Washington Coast beaches.

Going to the beach in Washington isn't a tropical experience - in fact it's pretty hit or miss. We had about 1 luxurious hour of sunshine on Saturday that I spent napping and reading a book in - was pretty nice. But fortunately it wasn't too wet so I can't complain. We stayed warm in layers (I wore thermal underwear in August), coffee and hot chocolate and blankets too next to the fire!

Our campsite was 10 feet away from the beach access. One of my favorite things was going for a run barefoot on the beach with my friend. At one point we actually ended up running in the ocean - which I don't recommend due to the sudden drop offs - it was pretty funny at the time.

Camping at the beach gave us a lot of extra fun activities to do right outside our tent flap. Here's a photo experience of what we did.

Things to Do at the Beach

Take 100 cool sunlight through the cloud photos:

Play with your food:

Take fun jumping photos until you get a cool matrix pose like this one:

Work your beach camping fashion:

Play in the sand:

Play with the puppies (or your friends anyways):

Bring and play lots of games:

Seattle's Cupcake Royale Makes the National News for Healthcare

Cupcake Royale made NBC's national news tonight for their effort to provide healthcare to all of their employees.

Cupcake Royale is a Seattle establishment that has the best carrot cake cupcakes anywhere. They have a new "moisty-er" cupcake that I can't wait to try. You can find them in Ballard, Capitol Hill, Madrona, and West Seattle.

The View Out My Window - Summer in Seattle

I will always be the first to say that we have the best summers in Seattle.

But today when I look out my window and see the rain drops beading up, the trees moving in the wind, and the sky a gloomy gray I am snapped back to reality that I do live in Seattle.

Always ready to remind us that winter is just around the corner - so fill up on your natural doses of Vitamin D now before it's gone for good!

(And at least those brown lawns across the street might get some renewed life.)

Making a Creamy Polenta Concoction - A Recipe

I was first introduced to polenta while eating at Farestart in Seattle. A must try is their Vegetable Polenta, Sunny-Side Up which is a perfect comfort dish on a cold day - or really any day. Farestart is an amazing restaurant that takes in people from the community who have been down on their luck and gives them an environment where they can learn culinary skills and be successful in life. Farestart has a restaurant near downtown Seattle that is open for lunch and has weekly dinners that feature a guest chef from the community. Farestart is non-profit so all income goes directly into maintaining the program so it makes me feel doubly happy to go there and spend money on good food and a good cause.

Polenta, an Italian cornmeal, is typically served in a more solid, grilled form but Farestart's vegetable polenta is actually a soft and creamy polenta. Last night I picked up some polenta and did my best to recreate my favorite dish and it turned out pretty good. It was also low-calorie and incredibly filling!

Here's what I did:

- 1 White onion chopped
- 1 Orange bell pepper chopped (you choose your favorite color)
- 3 Minced garlic cloves (you can use as much or as little as you like)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Medium can tomato sauce
- 1 Package pre-cooked polenta
- 1/2 Cup Non-Fat Milk
- 1/2 to 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon Butter

In a sauce pan or wok add the olive oil and heat at medium to medium high. Add the garlic, onion and pepper and saute until soft.

Put the entire package of polenta into a blender or food processor (or like I did - just use a hand blender in a bowl) and add half of the milk and half of the salt. Taste for saltiness and add the rest as needed. And add more milk as needed so that it's a creamy puree.

Put the polenta and half of the butter into a microwave safe dish and heat for 1 minute on high (cover with a paper towel to prevent splatters). Stir in the melted butter and taste. Add the rest of the butter as needed. Microwave for an additional minute or two until hot and make sure all the butter is completely melted and stirred in.

In another bowl mix the hot sauteed vegetables with the can of tomato sauce.

Dish a cup of the sauteed vegetables and tomato sauce into individual serving bowls and spoon over with a cup of the polenta and serve hot and enjoy.

This should make 2 to 3 generous servings.

The Farestart version also used swiss chard or kale with the vegetables which is an awesome addition. Their version is served with a sunny-side up egg on top so that you can break the yolk and mix it in to the polenta for a richer flavor. And they also top it off with a crunchy, thin baguette which is great for dipping.

I'll keep going to Farestart for their version but I'm pretty proud of myself for being able to recreate this dish on my own.

Wine Tasting in the California Sierra Foothills

This weekend my husband and I flew down to Sacramento to check out my brother and sister-in-laws new digs near Placerville (an hour's drive east from the airport).

Just 15 minutes from my brother's place is Coloma which is the original location of the gold rush. They have a cute town to visit if you'd like to try your hand at panning for gold and good historical information for kids. Also a big part of this area is rafting on the American River. There are tons of outfits everywhere offering rafting trips and on a hot weekend like we had the river was full of families on their personal rafts just floating along.

The area is pretty rural so it has many little towns that have some basic amenities to get you by. But head into Placerville or back towards Sacramento to stock up on supplies.

We spent Sunday morning at the craft fair in Placerville's old main street checking out the booths and shops. On this one street there were 3 old-time candy shops so we popped into one to stock up on salt water taffy and fudge.

The main highlight of the weekend was wine tasting in the Sierra foothills in an area called the Shenandoah Valley. We visited 4 wineries and while wined out by the end of the day we tasted some great finds.

First stop -Amador Cellars had a delicious sun-dried tomato basil spread which we picked up for a picnic lunch later that day and I really enjoyed their 05 Zinfandel which was much smoother and less acidic than their other reds.

2nd stop - my favorite - Deaver Vineyards - had a delicious Viognier that was a sweet and light white wine which we ended up buying. They also had 2 very good sparkling wines - one raspberry and one almond and a really delicious orange muscat port that wasn't overwhelming sweet. They also had a very good and large selection of spreads and dips. The two we tried I would have bought if I could take it back on the plane with me. The picture of the Red Bell Pepper & Ancho Chili Jam was served over a cream cheese and was the perfect combination of sweet, salty and sour.

We stopped for a picnic lunch at Deaver Vineyards where they have a small lake and picnic tables. We enjoyed a truffle cheese (which I must find again because anything with truffle oil is amazing), an herbed cheese, crackers, the sun-dried tomato spread, and fudge. A very delicious and local experience.

We also dropped by Dobra Zemlja Winery which offers a cool cave like experience and it's also a "cool" way to get out of the sun. And Villa Toscono was our last stop of the day which offers beautiful Tuscan inspired grounds, multiple dining options, and purse shopping too. We got a kick of their signage.