A Post for My Mother

My mother as any other mother in the world wants to know how her kids live, what they do, and she wants to be part of our life on a daily basis. Because she is six thousand miles away and lives on another continent she is happy for every bit of news from us. She likes to say that photos of our everyday life shrink the distance and she feels as she is here with us.  So this post is my Mother's Day gift for my Mother. We love your Mom! :)

Yesterday we went to a place called Wild Things Farm to pick some strawberries.

It was a lovely day to be outside. 

We picked a few buckets of strawberries and a weekly dose of vitamin D.

Then we walked around the farm, didn't take the fun ride though. 

Happy harvest... Can you imagine pies, jams, lemonades, and all other wild things that can be done with all this strawberries?!

Back at home I made a cheesecake. I've been working on the recipe for a week, and this one came out just right for our tastes. 

With it we all had a delicious tea time.

I love having tea time with my Mother... And I wish to have one sometime soon... 

Happy Mother's Day!

See you,
Marina

P.S. It looks like we will be moving back to Washington State in July. And we also have two graduations: our teenager is graduating from high school in May, and my husband is graduating from the residency in June. With all that said, my posts will be sporadic for the time being, until we move and settle somewhere. I also may not be visiting your lovely blogs as often as I'd like to.  But I think of you all often. 

The Southside Rebels, and Graduation is Just Around the Corner (Photos)

Last night when our Teenager received a Varsity Letter Award I was fighting tears. It was another moment of realization that my baby has become a grown man and in a few weeks he will graduate from high school and enter the real world. 

When did he grew up?! 

See you,
Marina

P.S. It looks like we will be moving back to Washington State in July. And we also have two graduations: our teenager is graduating from high school in May, and my husband is graduating from the residency in June. With all that said, my posts will be sporadic for the time being, until we move and settle somewhere. I also may not be visiting your lovely blogs as often as I'd like to.  But I think of you all often. 

Kumquat Jam

One day at our local store a bright orange fruits caught my attention. I went by it once, than came back to the produce section to pick something else and looked at it again, then before I went to the register I came back to the produce section and couldn't resist to put in my basket a couple of kumquat packs. They were so sunny, so cheerful, and so happy looking at me, how could I had left without them?!

I came home, had a few kumquats with all their flavor bursting up to my brain. Then I had a few more, then... well, by the end of the day we finished it. Needless to say that the very next morning I went back to the store and headed straight to the section, where the little sunshine fruits were sitting. I bought a few more boxes with a single thought: "I need to preserve some of it". I didn't know how and what I was going to make, I just wanted a jar of this fantastic flavor to be preserved. 

And here it is, Kumquat Jam. I made it traditionally by pre-soaking sliced kumquats in sugar overnight, then adding some grapefruit juice and cooking for 30 minutes. The hardest part was to slice those tiny fruits into half moons. It took me just two hours to get it done. :) 

See you,
Marina

P.S. It looks like we will be moving back to Washington State in July. And we also have two graduations: our teenager is graduating from high school in May, and my husband is graduating from the residency in June. With all that said, my posts will be sporadic for the time being, until we move and settle somewhere. I also may not be visiting your lovely blogs as often as I'd like to.  But I think of you all often. 

Caught in action

Tomato and homemade cheese tower

Last few weeks has been a bit hectic around here. You know: taxes, more taxes, some work (unpaid, but fun though), upcoming move and all other things called life. 
When I was working on our taxes I attempted a few times to write a post. But except bad words, not much would come out from my fingertips. It wasn't about the taxes itself (although I do have some thoughts about it too), but the technical issues I encountered when trying to submit it. It took me a few days to resolve the issue, and as you may guess, a few strong words did slip off my tongue. Good thing  no one heard it. 
One day, after a few hours on the phone with different people working on resolving tax submitting issue, I came out to the kitchen and caught my men in action.

"...and if I ever need any guidance, who's a better consiglieri than my father?" (from The Godfather)

What are they up to? 

Husband's cooking: doesn't happen very often! :)

That must be our dinner...

Thank you, boys! I am so proud of you! 

See you,
Marina

P.S. It looks like we will be moving back to Washington State in July. And we also have two graduations: our teenager is graduating from high school in May, and my husband is graduating from the residency in June. With all that said, my posts will be sporadic for the time being, until we move and settle somewhere. I also may not be visiting your lovely blogs as often as I'd like to.  But I think of you all often. 

Improvising in the Kitchen Before Payday

It doesn't rain all the time in Seattle...

When we came back from our trip to Seattle, I did a small shopping for milk, vegetables and some fruits and decided to experiment: what if I don't go shopping anymore until the payday? We had milk, apples, flour, legumes, and different vegetables that I used for everyday cooking. 
Three days before payday I realized I am out of many fresh ingredients, so I had to be really creative to cook from what I had available. 

Three days before payday: soup (a.k.a. Kale soup)

After a quick inventory of the refrigerator, I made a "Three days before payday" soup, also known as Kale and Potato Soup. A friend, that we visited in Seattle, gave me the recipe, and despite a few missing ingredients, this soup quickly became my men's favorite.  To make it I had one potato, a small container of whipping cream, one onion, a few kale leaves, two cups chicken broth, salt and pepper, a tablespoon of butter or good quality olive oil. 
Cooking is just as easy:  saute onions in fat of your choice, add chicken broth, bring it to a boil, add potato, cook until potato is done, add cream, salt and pepper to taste. Add kale leaves and turn the heat off. Quick, easy, and simple. Plus delicious, as my men said.

Two days before payday: Beet salad with micro greens, and a meat filled pastry

The next day, I decided to make a meat filled pastry and a salad from a roasted beets and shoe box microgreens. "What?!" I hear you. Microgreens are a tiny green vegetables, that grow in shoe box (in my case), that rent a kitchen's window seal. Still have question? I guess it's about the shoe box. 
Well, there was an empty plastic shoe box, that was traveling from one closet to another, than to the shoe rack, than back to the closet until one day I looked at it and... Evrika!, decided to plant my greens in it. I made a few holes in the box, filled it with a good soil (I don't have a garden, but I do have my worms, that eat our food scraps and make a perfect compost and tea for my plants), planted seeds, and in two weeks I had my first harvest of the most nutrient and ecofriendly greens.

While I was making my pastry, beets were roasted at 400F for 90 minutes. Then I peeled it, sliced it, and mixed it with a sliced green onion. I seasoned it with a freshly grind black pepper and a good quality sea salt (I had Alaea Hawaiian sea salt), and served with a handful of micro greens (arugula, dill and lettuce), then drizzled a little olive oil on the top.
The Husband loved the salad, teenager however gave the greens a look and tried to push it to the side of the plate. I gave him my look (we have a long negotiated agreement that he finishes his salad before he eats any meat), and he asked me what was it. I told him it's lettuce, but a very small one. He scoffed but made a first bite. Then he quickly finished his salad and moved a bowl with meat filled pastry closer, giving it a soft hug. Kids... :)

One day before payday: Polenta with shallots and porcini mushrooms

On the morning of the third day I was inspired by Ottolenghi's recipe from his book Plenty, and had all available in my kitchen ingredients (polenta and dried porcini mushrooms) set on the kitchen counter to make polenta pizza for dinner. I don't have a book, hence I know only that this polenta pizza has mushroom topping. 
I prepared the mushroom with shallots and white wine, and all was left is to make the pizza crust from polenta. I was in the middle of making polenta when the husband came home with question that sounded more like a statement: "when's the dinner?" He rushed himself into the kitchen, looking for something to warm up. "Oh, polenta! Let me wash my hands!"
I quickly  changed my plans from pizza to simple polenta with porcini mushrooms: an always welcomed dinner in this house! 

Peach and berry pie

That was an interesting experiment that proves no extra shopping necessary to make a good dinner. We often tend to over-complicate our food, forgetting that simple food tastes just as good. 

Oh, yes, we also had some pie! All before payday. 

See you,
Marina

Mushroom Stuffed Eggs (for Chinese New Year)

Chinese New Year started on February 10th, so I am just a few days late with this post. My intention, a very good intention I must tell you, was to make this post upon our arrival to Seattle, illustrating it with some photos from celebration in China Town. And it didn't happened the way I planned. The closest I got to the celebration was this sign in the Bellevue Square Mall:

Because I already had this festive appetizer made, and also because I have two  snakes in my home (I meant two people born in the year of Snake: my daughter and my husband), I decided to go for it and post. Better late than never, right? :)

And what is the best food to welcome the Snake?

Mushroom stuffed eggs. 

Ingredients:

• 10 hard boiled eggs
• 2 portabello mushrooms, cleaned and cubed
• 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• 1 Table spoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon dry dill (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

In a medium saute pan pre-heat olive oil, add onion, and saute until golden brown.
Add mushrooms, and cook on medium heat until all water evaporates, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Cut eggs in half, remove from each half egg yolk.
In a food processor combine egg yolk, mushroom and onions, dill, garlic, and salt and pepper (start with a little pinch and taste). Pulse 2-3 times until all ingredients mix. Taste for salt and adjust if needed.
Carefully fill each egg white with filling and serve. 

Variation: use cooked chicken liver (my personal favorite) and follow the same direction. 

This appetizer is on top of 10 favorite appetizers:  easy to make, and everyone loves it. 
Although, now that I am thinking, I may not even have 10 on that list, but anyway it's on the top of however many are there. 

Happy Year of the Snake! May prosperity be with you!

See you,
Marina

La Conner, WA

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, April 2010

Last week my husband and I were in Seattle for business (and some pleasure). He had several job interviews in the area.  I had planned to make a few food posts and maybe one or two posts about our journey. Well, it was a good plan, but didn't happened that way. 

I didn't even look at the menu . The plates rotate on the conveyor  belts that winds through the restaurant, and I just picked what looked at me. Isn't it pretty?!

Upon our arrival our first stop was for food. We let our daughter to choose where to go, and lucky for us Sushi Me place it was. We love fish and everything seafood, and miss having a good seafood in the South. 

Who can resist the famous Pacific Oysters? I couldn't, twice... 

We couldn't resist this either, and  27 more plates! :) 

After we made our bellies happy, we drove 65 miles North to a small town Mount Vernon, famous for it's tulip festival and several breweries. 

I told you about the weather, so just ignore it and enjoy!
This photo is from our trip to Skagit  Valley Tulip Festival in April 2010.

Next day, while my husband was performing his best on the first interview, I went to a little town La Conner, one of my  favorite getaway place. 
Despite the rainy day (ignore the rain when in Pacific Northwest to enjoy your stay, really), I geared up for a little run: I needed to experience once again the mist in my face, beautiful 360 view, and air so fresh it made my lungs laugh! :)

Rainbow Bridge, La Conner, WA.
Legend has it that the new bridge was supposed to be painted in the usual grey/green color,
but someone decided to add some orange to the town's landscape.

Three miles later I treated myself to a cup of tea and a slice of delicious pie. I don't remember how crust tasted, but the filling was melting in my mouth, warming up me from inside out. 

I didn't take picture of the pie, but this is the cafe where I had it.

I strolled along town's 1st Street, entering almost each open door on my way: museums, stores, until I burned all my pie calories and was hungry for lunch. Each time I am in La Conner, I always have lunch, or dinner, or just a pie at one of my favorite places there, at Waterfront Cafe. 

Mural at Waterfront Cafe (by Jerry Ragg)

The place is small and casual, but famous for it's fresh seafood, clam chowder, and... a view at spectacular mural painted by Jerry Ragg complimented by a river side view. 

Clam Chowder - hearty New England style chowder.
I loved it's silky texture with chunks of fresh clams and potatoes. 

I ordered my favorites: clam chowder and Waterfront Cafe's signature dish Fish and Chips. It wasn't a rush time yet, so I enjoyed my food in quiet, immersed in a pleasant view. 

Fish and Chips, Waterfront Cafe's signature dish made with fresh Alaskan cod.

Under that golden crust is perfectly cooked flaky fish.
I guess they shake off the breading before frying as it has just enough of it to make a crust, but doesn't leave you wandering what was it: fish in bread crumbs or bread crumbs with slight flavor of old fish. 
Here it is definitely the most delicate fish enveloped in light crust.

Here's whom I met along my run. 
This birds didn't even notice me or any other moving object like other runners, bikers and cars.

I left La Conner refreshed, re-energized, and emotionally re-charged. I was glad I was able to squeeze this de-tour in our hectic schedule. 

I didn't have my camera when I run,
but this curious bird made me come back later to take it's photo...

See you,
Marina

P.S. All the meals were payed out of my own pocket.