Leucadia Farmers Market

Beautiful produce, flowers, fresh baked breads & cupcakes! I got Kalamata olive bread and a rustic Italian bread, lots of vegetables & strawberries and had a grilled balsamic artichoke for lunch! Can't wait to go again next week-

Thai Iced Tea with Boba

Mango Black Tea,

 Honeydew Snowball,

 Taro Slushie

and Pomegranate Green Tea with Boba

A fun refreshing Boba for a walk through the Swami's Meditation Garden with my daughter & two neices~

Iceberg & Romaine Lettuce growing in my garden

Bowl'a Pasta

How cute are these pasta bowls filled with assorted pasta mixes? Makes a great gift for your hostess, teacher or simply thinking of you~

San Diego Sicilian Festival

Pass the Polenta...

I typically will pass on the polenta but I thought I would give it another try. I sauteed sliced polenta in olive oil until browned. It truly is versatile at this point how you want to dress it up~I added sauce and a cheesy topping. It would be awesome thou topped with some roasted asparagus, green beans or sauteed greens~

Olive you

I resisted this for a long time and I was right~ Olive em!! Breaded and fried jumbo Greek green olives baby~and next time I'm gonna stuff em with the blue cheese.

Mangia~Eggplant Stack with Cheesy Filling, Polenta & Tiara's Fresh Basil Pesto

This fun eggplant dish can be a different creation every time~adding your favorites. Fresh zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms...parmigiana or grilled~ Add your favorite cheeses, I love it topped with feta and a drizzle of balsamic. Stack a few thick slices of aged Tillamook, some crusty bread and a glass of wine and you have a great summer antipasto!

Yoga Power Dish

                                         ~Served delicious haute or cold.
Organic short grain brown rice with saute eggplant, baby bella mushrooms & yellow squash. Grape tomatoes, grated Piave cheese & drizzle of  fig balsamic glaze. Namaste~

Crisp Anise Biscotti~Coffee pleaz...

I love crisp Anise Biscotti with my coffee but there are endless variations you can make & dress them up with different frostings or drizzles of chocolate~my daughter suggested a banana biscotti after taking one with a banana in her school lunch~

Sun-Dried Tomato Vodka Cream Sauce

4 cloves minced garlic
2 large shallots
Olive oil
3/4 C. Vodka
2- 8oz. cans of Diced Tomatoes
4 T. Sun dried tomato pesto
Whipping cream to cream it up
Salt & Pepper
grated Parmesan

Saute the garlic & shallots in oil. Add vodka; simmer until evaporated. Add tomatoes and pesto, cook until thickened. Add desired amount of cream & parm and season with salt & pepper. Serve over your fav pasta.

Date night with Hubby

We tried a beautiful hip, new restaurant in Del Mar called Flavor. The bread & butter was served with 4 different flavored sea salts. Espresso, Spicy, Cinnamon and Strawberry. I've been having alot of fun trying different flavored salts with my food lately. My favorite is a black olive salt my friend Ingela brought me home from Sweden. The best sprinkled on fresh garden tomatoes!!

~Pesto Tomato Appetizer~

Using Whipped cream cheese as a base- layer pesto, Gambino's olive salad, diced fresh tomato and  sliced green onion. Top with a drizzle of olive oil & balsamic vinegar. Season with applewood smoked sea salt & fresh cracked pepper. Grated parmesan and a sprig of fresh basil.

Serve with fresh sliced crusty bread~

Happy Mother's Day!

I had a great day celebrating with my Mother, sisters, brother, family & friends. My husband BBQ'd for us and he and our three kids made it a special day for me! I wish it was Mother's Day everyday! One of my Mother's Day gifts~ A smart spoon that doesn't touch the surface!! Yay!

....peaches

Backyard Peach Tree~millions of peaches...peaches for free

Peaches from backyard tree

Mmmmm...Crisp Parmesan Shrimp Crostini~

A great appetizer or perfect with  your fav Summer Salad~

4 oz. cooked medium shrimp
1 T. mayo
1 T. pesto
1 T. fresh lemon juice
1/3 C. parmesan cheese
Sea salt & fresh ground pepper
fresh French baguette

Preheat oven to 350-

Place shrimp, mayo, pesto, lemon juice & parm in food processor. Pulse until chopped but still chunky. Season with salt & pep. Spread on baguette and bake until bubbly & warm about 10 minutes.

~All Dressed Up for Summer

This is a great fresh Italian dressing for your fav Summertime salad or yummy to drizzle over grilled chicken or meat~


(1) chopped garden fresh tomato-skinned & seeded
Balsamic dressing
Olive Oil
1 clove garlic minced
1/8 t. dried oregano
1/8 t. crushed red pepper flakes
fresh ribbons basil
Sea salt & fresh ground pepper

Chop fresh garden tomato. Discard skin & seeds. Whisk remaining ingredients, adding olive oil & fresh basil last.