Some gushing praise for the Windsor CA Farmer’s Market is due. On our recent trip to Sonoma, we visited the Saturday farmer’s market. It’s a medium-sized market with a nice variety of booths. It felt lively but not obnoxiously crowded. Best of all, we each received a $2 coupon for riding our bikes to the […]
Russian River Brewing Company
On our recent stumble through Sonoma Valley, we took a break from wine tasting and went to the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. The very blurry photo below shows the tasting sampler, which includes almost every beer on the menu. Russian River Brewing is home to Pliny the Elder, which is a highly […]
Sonoma Wine Tasting
or, We Like All of Them! We just returned from a long weekend in the Sonoma Valley with friends. We drank “a little bit” of wine. Here are a few of the wineries and wines that we especially liked this year. Gary Farrell We enjoyed the wines at Gary Farrell. The tasting room and the […]
The Vitruvian Gnome
or, How to Create a Fake Historic Document I had the (admittedly warped) inspiration to create a gnomish version of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. As you may know I have an unhealthy obsession with gnomes and I was looking to class up my collection. Part of my process was to make the design look […]
Grilled Shrimp Salad
On our recent stay at Drakesbad at Lassen National Park, we had a wonderful shrimp salad as a side with lunch. I was inspired to take the same ingredient and create a main dish. You’ll need: 1 pound shrimp, any size you like 1 clove garlic 1/2 sweet onion 1/2 pound green beens 4 ounces […]
Sierra Nevada Brewery
We just returned from a great weekend at Lassen National Park. On the way to the park, we stopped at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico. Visiting breweries is an activity close to my heart. I think my family toured every Budweiser brewery on the east cost when I was a child. At least it […]
Boozy Summer Fruits
A little bit of effort in August will pay off during the holidays. Liquor soaked fruit makes a great gift and is great for holiday entertaining. Use the same quality of liquor you would use for mixed drinks. For this recipe, you’ll need: half pint canning jars and lids stone fruits such as peaches, plums, […]
Mr. Pepper Pants
or, Look What I Found at Target Curse you Target! Why is it that I always buy more than I need from your store? I found a great salt and pepper set while wandering through the store last weekend. Take off his pants if you need pepper! Best of all, these shakers match my much […]
Smokey Pork Rub
I love the spicy and smokey taste of this spice rub on pork chops and ribs, but you can use it with any cut of pork. This recipe makes enough spice rub for many meals. For this recipe you’ll need: 9 tablespoons smoked paprika 2 tablespoons white pepper 2 tablespoons garlic powder 2 tablespoons celery […]
Grilled Shrimp with Garlic Yogurt Dipping Sauce
This easy summer appetizer is great for company. I’ve served variations of the yogurt sauce all summer; it’s great with grilled salmon and as a dip for veggies. For this recipe you’ll need: 1 pound raw shrimp, any size you like 3 tablespoons olive oil 6 cloves garlic 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves 1 lemon […]