15 minute tiramisu

 

I love Tiramisu.  I am not in love with hours of prep.  I think I died and went to heaven when I discovered this Martha Stewart recipe for 15 minute tiramisu.  The secret to 15 minutes--have everything ready to go, of course.  I have adapted the recipe slightly, and I think the results are delicious.  Best of all--you don't cook anything!

Pound Cake Tiramisu

Ingredients:
1 and 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
8 oz bar cream cheese, at room temperature
5 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
3 tsp of vanilla extract
1/2 cup strong coffee or espresso, room temperature
2-3 tablespoons dark rum or brandy
1 loaf pound cake, sliced
1/4 cup shaved semisweet chocolate
Unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

In a large bowl, beat together with an electric mixture the cream, cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla till smooth and thickened.   Combine coffee and rum/brandy.
In a 2 quart baking dish, lay half the cake slices in a single layer, trim to fit.  Brush with half the coffee mixture.  Top with half the cream mixture and half the shaved chocolate.  Repeat.  Dust top with cocoa powder and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

thanksgiving at the house of prime rib

This Thanksgiving Brendan and I went to the House of Prime Rib for our 'fix'.  As many of you know, it is one of our favorite restaurants, and although it is not something to eat everyday, it is at least a couple times a year indulgence and worth every darn fat gram and calorie.

Let me explain.  This temple of old school deliciousness located at 1906 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco was established in 1949 and has been turning out near exacting meals ever since.  Specially selected cuts of beef, salt packed and roasted off to perfection are served with warm loaves of sourdough bread, a house salad tossed (well, spun) table side, creamed spinach, baked potatoes with all the toppings, Yorkshire pudding and pan au jus---all for one reasonable price!  If you have the room, finish with the creme brulee.  This year, Brendan I are giving thanks for many things---but included in that is an enduring friendship with wonderful time shared at a landmark restaurant that also continues to stand the test of time.

the treasure island flea in san francisco

I just recently had my first visit to Treasure Island--well the Treasure Island Flea to be precise.  I know, how is that possible during all the years I have lived in San Francisco that I had not made it to Treasure Island?  Well it might be that I had no particular reason to go until I heard about the flea that takes place the last weekend of each month.  The flea, located at the beautifully landscaped address of 1 Avenue of the Palms, utilizes the only historic building left from the 1939 San Francisco World's Fair.  The building is complete with original lighting, wood paneling, deco curves and a mural featuring a timeline of historic events.  Check out this YouTube video of the original 1939 World's Fair.  The view of the San Francisco skyline from this perspective is not to be missed--it's spectacular!   Booth space for the flea is available both indoor and outside,  music and drink abound plus some of the best food trucks around.  Admission is $3 and parking is free.

the valley of amazement and a recipe for pork wontons

To celebrate Amy Tan's latest book, The Valley of Amazement, I prepared some homemade Chinese food for the book group. The book is a non-stop read, spanning three generations of women whose lives and stories of love and loss intertwine from China to San Francisco and back. I prepared  my own version of cashew chicken, marinated thigh meat tossed with thinly sliced baby zucchini and onion, beef chow fun made with pappardelle and thinly sliced bok choy, and of course a hit at every party, crispy pork wontons.  You might think 48 pieces is more than enough, but guess what, ever bite disappears!

Pork Wonton Recipe:

1 lb fresh ground pork

1/3 cup chopped green onion
5-6 oz of water chestnuts, drained
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. corn starch
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic chili paste
½ tsp fish sauce
1 tbsp. sesame oil
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp. minced garlic
1 egg, beaten
Vegetable oil
1 package wonton skins

In a small food processor, blend water chestnuts  and green onion till rough paste. In a mixing bowl, add all the other ingredients except the egg and oil.  Add the green onion mixture and mix well.  Cook a small piece of the meat mixture in the microwave to taste for seasoning—and add if needed.

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper or foil—spray with non-stick spray.  Lay out a wonton wrapper, moisten 2 sides with beaten egg, add tsp of pork filling, fold over, seal well and pull points of wonton up into a little U.  Place on cookie sheet and repeat.  Recipe will make 45-50 wontons.  You can cook them immediately or the wontons can be covered with foil and frozen on cookie sheets till ready to use.  Fry in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot in oil heated to 350 degrees till golden brown and serve with favorite sauces (hot mustard, sweet and sour sauce, garlic chili sauce, etc.)

To stack cookie sheets in a small freezer, use a couple of small bowls as risers.

 Frozen wontons go from the freezer directly into the fryer with no problem.

 

diane gilman makes the best jeans

Courtesy HSN:
"Fascinating!"  said a group of TV executives on a flight from New York who recognized Diane Gilman as the "Queen of Jeans" with over one million loyal "Boomer Consumers" on HSN. For the next few hours we volleyed around the idea of my own reality show about the unique advantages of being a Baby Boomer and breaking through the age barrier:  I was asked, "When are you going to stop making jeans for old ladies?"  I had to laugh. "Honey," I replied, "there is nothing old about making ladies feel sexy at any age." Challenge yourself to break through the preconceived ideas handed down to us as women. As if you're in your fifth, sixth, or seventh decade, you must be "an old lady." Forget it! Just like Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, my mission is to break through the age barrier by redefining what's sexy for Baby Boomer women now.  ( Best jeans for every age!)

1950's bascal aluminum cups

I recently found myself reminiscing about a certain jewel colored metal cup that I drank from growing up.  But the memory was foggy--who had them?  My mom or grandmother?  Where did they originally come from and who made them?

I shared with my boss and dear friend Nancy Morgan, the procurer of all things unique and beautiful, that if she ever ran across these cups in her travels please pick them up--and not soon after she did indeed find a set of 6 near perfect Bascal cups.

Now I needed to do the research.  It turns out that the cups were made in Italy by 2 main companies, Bascal and Sunburst. The aluminum was anodized to keep the metal from oxidizing and to keep the jewel like colors from fading.  The cups were the plastic ware of the times--perfect for outdoor barbecues, picnics and camping.  The most amazing thing about the cups is the amount of cold that they produce.  Add a beverage and the metal creates instant condensation and a sublime icy drink.

Now, where did I remember them from?  Well my mother said they belonged to my grandmother and she kept them in the camper--and that statement brought the memory right back --I could then see them in that little upper cabinet over the tiny camper stove.  I remembered drinking the Hawaiian Punch.  I have read on the web that they came from the grocery store--a few articles say they may have contained cottage cheese.  Mom said they might have been available with Green Stamps--a popular shopping outlet at the time. So, still a little mystery there, but how wonderful to have the memory back and a set of beautiful cups as well.

october trip to the wine country

 

 

Mom was here to visit recently and we had a wonderful time.  As usual the city was filled with dozens of activities: street fairs, concerts, ball games, World Cup trials, conventions, and Fleet Week to name a few.  We tried to do everything, dinner out with friends, two dinners at the house, the Ferry Plaza and the Farmer's Market and front and center at the wharf for the Blue Angels and World Cup trials.  We really felt like we were on vacation when we booked a wine country tour.  There is something so magical when you meet the tour guide and que up to get on that tour bus--hard to explain, but I love the feeling--you step out of your world and let someone or something transport you away.

This trip included stops at Franciscan (elegant showroom and delicious wines), V. Sattui (super deli and gifts), Andretti Winery (with catered lunch) and Rutherford Ranch (outstanding olive oil).  We also returned to the city via the ferry rather than by bus, which added a pleasant ride on the Bay. Another too short but wonderful visit with mom.

the chemex coffee maker

There is something so elegant, sleek about the glass coffee maker.  It's part the sensual hourglass shape, the sheer glass and the organic wood and leather collar and part the pure art of the laboratory style, giving the coffee maker a permanent home in places like the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and the Smithsonian in Washington.

No wonder it's called the Chemex.  This iconic piece was invented in 1941 by Peter Schlumbohm, a chemist, originally from Kiel, Germany who settled in New York.  His goal was to brew coffee without imparting any other flavors.  He achieved this by using a simple one piece funnel style brewer made of non-porous borosilicate glass that included a steam channel and a measuring "belly button" blown right in the glass.  Today, this simple, functional design is often touted as one of the best designed items of modern times.  Well, I sure love it.

10th anniversary party

I helped Joseph Leon and Dan Jordan celebrate their 10th anniversary a couple of weeks ago and had a lot of fun doing a few dishes and helping set up the buffet in their beautiful home.  Joseph had a special request for classic chicken salad with sliced almonds and quinoa tossed with lemon vinaigrette, spinach, feta and avocado.

a sunday of great concerts

Well, we started summer right on Sunday, June 24th beginning with a concert in Golden Gate Park at Hellman Hollow sponsored by Alice@97.3,  featuring Graffiti6, Boys like Girls and Adam Lambert.  Joseph, Scott and I packed a great picnic, got a strategic spot and listened to some good music until it was time to race to Stern Grove at 19th and Sloat to hear Anita Baker. 

It's Stern Grove's 75th anniversary and in response, the beautiful redwood grove is featuring free Sunday concerts at 2pm, June 24th through August 26th.  Anita Baker's beautiful voice floated through the trees like the ultimate surround sound, amazing.  A great way to kick off summer!

a birthday and bartel's giant burger, redding ca.

Just got home from a wonderful weekend in Redding to celebrate my aunt, Sara Resse's, 80th birthday.  Sara is an elegant lady and Bank of America veteran who doesn't look or act her age--beautiful inside and out.  Happy birthday Sara!

My aunt Jan and uncle Roger picked me up from the airport; of course we were hungry and Jan suggested Bartel's Giant Burger, a family favorite and a Redding institution since 1975.  The great thing--it's not fancy, just the perfect fluffy (wrinkled) bun on a perfect medium patty, with cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion, or a fat, split polish dog, you choose, plus fry sauce.  Both are perfection.  Opt for a creamy frosty freeze cone or shake to add to the decadence--an American classic--yum!  The family birthday get-together--one of the best ever and one great family!

a great visit to healdsburg, ca.

If you haven't been to Healdsburg in awhile, it is time to plan a day trip to this wonderful town.
My aunt is lucky enough to live there, for me, I only get there occasionally and it is truly a treat.

This past weekend Joseph Leon and I went up to check out a few collectible and antique stores, do a little wine tasting and have a wonderful lunch.  We accomplished all three easily.  First stop on the square, Oakville Grocery.  Not only is the fresh food outstanding, you can't resist picking up some great sauce or in this case some gorgeous crisp crackers perfect with brie or pate.  Down the street at the JCB tasting room we experienced a sparkling to die for, No. 69 Brut Rose Cremant, dry, citrusy and delicious and only $20.00 a bottle.  Stop by Seasons of the Vineyard and visit with Al as he pours your choice of 3 Ferrari-Carano tastes for only $5.00.  We walked about 50 feet for brunch at Bistro Ralph, an established Healdsburg eatery and sampled a morel mushroom omelet and a divine lamb burger smothered in whipped blue cheese.  Oh, they had No. 69 on the wine menu, what a surprise--we had another glass.

After lunch we walked the square with stops at Lime Stone, owned by Charlie Palmer's wife (Dry Creek Kitchen is right next door) and a quick stop at Barndiva a top recommendation from Al at Ferrari-Carano. A wonderful day; Healdsburg really has it all.

who will win the next iron chef?

This season of The Next Iron Chef on the Food Network is the best ever.  When they promoted  it as the battle of the super-chefs I was a little skeptical, since it seemed to be closer to the battle of the Food Network Chefs, but as I read up on the pedigrees of the 10 contestants I was convinced.

The show challenges have also taken it up a notch, with an extreme outdoor challenge, movie theater food and a Hampton's seafood/passion challenge to name a few.  With the addition of a weekly 30 minute lightening round cook-off between the bottom 2 contestants for that week's challenge featuring such daunting secret ingredients like peanuts, coconuts and party crackers, this nail-biting round is made even more nerve-racking as your fellow contestants stand behind you second guessing your cooking decisions and techniques.

One of my favorites, Robert Irvine, was eliminated in week 2.  I had the feeling that the judge Michael Symon was not a fan, and rumours on the web seem to back that up, since Irvine replaced Symon on the show Restaurant Impossible.  The surprise breakout is Elizabeth Faulkner, from Citizen Cake and Orson in San Francisco.  Several of the other contestants repeatedly remarked that she was JUST a pastry chef.  She has proven she is so much more. Michael Chiarello, (Napa Style, etc.) who was eliminated this week was always regarded as the one to beat, but in the end, it was the elegant, refined classic French style of Geoffrey Zakarian, (Lambs Club, NYC) who will face Faulkner in a final cook-off in Kitchen Stadium.  Bloggers are saying that Cat Cora is being replaced, letting the odds-makers lean toward a win for Faulkner.  Bottom line, tune in Sunday, December 18th, 9pm on the Food Network to find out.

holiday traditions at filoli

I had a lovely evening at Filoli last night.  Friday, November 25th was the Premier Access Shopping Evening featuring an amazing holiday boutique with piano melodies, wine and hors d’oeuvres. This beautiful estate located in Woodside, hosts a variety of events throughout the year, but the Holiday Traditions events are certainly part of the most anticipated. Check the Filoli website for a list of all events, prices, and availability.

Located 30 miles south of San Francisco, Filoli is a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century.

Filoli was built for Mr. and Mrs. William Bowers Bourn, prominent San Franciscans whose chief source of wealth was the Empire Mine, a hard-rock gold mine in Grass Valley, California. Mr. Bourn was also owner and president of the Spring Valley Water Company whose property comprised Crystal Springs Lake and the surrounding lands, areas that are now part of the San Francisco Water Department. He selected the southern end of Crystal Springs Lake as the site for his estate. 

The estate was purchased in 1937 by Mr. and Mrs. William P. Roth, who owned the Matson Navigation Company. Under the Roths' supervision the property was maintained and the formal garden gained worldwide recognition. Mrs. Roth made Filoli her home until 1975 when she donated 125 acres, which included the House and formal garden, to the National Trust for Historic
Preservation for the enjoyment and inspiration of future generations. The remaining acreage was given to Filoli Center.  Happy Holidays!

2215 manzanita drive, oakland, ca.

If you are looking for a great value in a home plus excellent location, beautiful views, curb appeal and loads of space, 2215 Manzanita Drive is the home for you.  Offered at only $799,000 and located in the serene Montclair hills, this gorgeous home has it all. With 5 bedrooms and 3 baths, this hilltop contemporary  features level  front and back yards, wonderful flowing floor plan, huge master suite, solarium and SF Bay and Diablo vistas all steps from Hills swim club.  Live the life you deserve!  Call FRITZ, (520.813.7489) at Pacific Union International for all the details and make an appointment to see this home in person.