What's In Season - June (Northern California)

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With the kids out of school and summer fun just around the corner -- it's time to start thinking about our annual Mid Summers Party (very Victorian). Everyone must indulge me and wear something festive - as fairies, elves and magic rule the evening. I usually make a somewhat traditional Swedish meal - which my kids love. There will also be music and dancing under the stars. I can't wait!!

Cucumber Salad (a little something from the menu -- my daughter Faith's favorite)
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Ingredients :

2 large cucumbers
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

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June - (Northern California)

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n = newly in season

p = peak of season

w = winding down

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Vegetables

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• beans, green (n)

• beets (w)

• carrots (w)

• corn (n)

• cucumber (n)

• garlic (n)

• eggplant (n)

• greens: kale• lettuces (w)

• onions, red
• onions, sweet: Vidalia (p)

• onions, sweet: Walla Walla (w)

• peas: English / shelling (w)

• potatoes

• squash, summer (n)

• tomatoes (n)

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Fruits

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• apricots (p)

• berries: blackberries (p)

• berries: blueberries

• berries: boysenberries (p)

• berries: loganberries

• berries: olallieberries (n)

• berries: raspberries (p)

• berries: strawberries

• cherries (n)

• figs, Black Mission (n)

• grapes (n)

• limes (p)

• melons: cantaloupe (n)

• melons: honeydew (n)• melons: watermelon (n)

• nectarines (n)

• peaches (n)

• pineapple

(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

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Wonderful and Simple - Lemony, Garlic, Herb Sauce

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I saw Ina (via Barefoot Contessa) make this sauce with chicken and decided it to try it with fish the other night - sans the oregano. It was so easy and delicious I thought I'd share it. I will try it later this week on chicken. Of course, you can add or subtract any herbs that suit your taste and I'm sure it will be just as wonderful!! It's great to find an easy solution, that adds big flavor, to a weekly meal.
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BTW - serve with some crusty bread - the sauce is definitely dip worthy.

Easy Lemon, Garlic, Herb Sauce

Ingredients:

» 1/4 cup good olive oil
» 3 tablespoons minced garlic (9 cloves)
» 1/3 cup dry white wine
» 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
» 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
» 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano (optional)
» 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves (optional)
» Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
» 1 lemon

Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the garlic, and cook for just one minute — but don’t allow the garlic to turn brown. Off the heat, add the white wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, (oregano, thyme, or other herbs - optional) and 1 teaspoon salt, and pour into a 9-by-12-inch baking dish.

Place fish or chicken over the sauce. Brush chicken or fish with olive oil and sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper. Cut the lemon in eight wedges and tuck it among the pieces of meat.

Bake - depending on the size and type of the chicken or fish Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot with the pan juices. Yum!!!

Enjoy!! :)

(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Bloggers Day of Silence - For Japan With Love

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Pass it on ♥!!

Spring - Is Almost Here

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When we moved into our home (on my 31st birthday) 17 years ago we were so excited! My husband worked in San Francisco and we decided to move about 60 miles north of The City to look for a house at a better price. The home we found had been completely refurbished inside - new carpets, linoleum, paint, fixtures, etc. but still had all the original charm - lift windows and a beautiful 1951 Wedgewood stove (that still cooks like a dream). It was perfect for us. One surprise though came about 2 weeks after we moved in. A large tree right outside our bedroom window began to bloom. This rather ordinary looking tree was all at once transformed by these amazing pale pink flowers in such abundance that when the wind blew tiny petals wafted down like a flurry of snowflakes. One look at that beautiful tree each year and we know... spring is almost here.
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(Above photo on the left copyrighted to Sabina DeShazo & barefoot in the orchard - photo on the right is courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Women Thrive Worldwide Promotional Spot 2011

Get Involved - "Happy International Women's Day!!"

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Today marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day!! Right now, around the world, thousands of events are being held to recognize all the progress women have made over the years!

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Help spread the word about this special day! Visit and get involved with Women Thrive Worldwide.

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• Tell a friend Tell the women in your life about International Women’s Day.
• Facebook Sample status: Happy International Women’s Day!
• Twitter "Happy International Women’s Day!"

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(Above Photo - UNHCR / S. Schulman)

To My Mother - Happy Birthday!!

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I am the middle child of three and had one incredible advantage in this life - - I was born with a great mom. A mom,who I am told, carried me around for the entire first year of my life never putting me down - until my sister showed up 14 months later. There was enough of her to go around though, for all of us. You see, love is something my mom has never been short of. Another wonderful gift she gave to me were her words. She chose to praise my positive attributes instead of criticizing any shortcomings. She seemed to feel that her children were perfect - in her eyes. My husband accuses me of having the same rose colored glasses with those I love and I am proud of that. Something I got from my mom. She also allowed me the freedom to travel whatever path I chose and even make my own mistakes from time to time - but still she let me decide. Her trust in me gave me the ability to trust in myself ultimately. When my mom smiles she lights up from inside and gives off a kind of glow. It is her pureness of heart and kindness that comes through and it is irresistible. She read to me - played with me - stood up for me and loved me. She coaxed me out into the world and helped me see the good in life and others. She may not be perfect but what she has given is perfect and all that I am I owe to her.
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Thanks Mom. I Love You!!

Sabeanie ~

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Yummmmm - Salmon BLT

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OK, I nearly fell off the sofa when I first saw this sandwich featured on Martha via Adam Richman (Travel Channel host of Man vs Food). Sweet, savory, crunchy, creamy - all in the same dish - yummmmmm!! I immediately wanted to run out, buy all the ingredients and make 10 of them!! But then I thought that I should wait and save it for a special luncheon guest or a special picnic. Of course now it has been in my pile of new recipes for far too long and I think it needs a test run, today!! ;)
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Remember to buy only "Certified Sustainable Seafood" when possible - for your health and the Earth's. :)
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Ingredients
Serves 2
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2 teaspoons wasabi paste
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons sesame oil, plus more as needed
2 (6-ounce) skinless salmon fillets (
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 green or red tomato, sliced (this may have to be skipped depending on the time of year but you can always find a good hot-house tomato if you can't live without it or wait until they are seasonal)
4 slices thick-cut bacon
4 slices brioche
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon fresh chopped dill
1/2 cup watercress
Prepared fig jam
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Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
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In a small bowl, mix together wasabi paste, maple syrup, and sesame oil until well combined. If mixture seems too thick for a glaze, add a little more sesame oil to thin.
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Place salmon on a baking sheet and brush tops with glaze, reserving about a tablespoon. Transfer to oven; cook for 5 minutes.
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Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tomato slices and cook until crisp, about 2 minutes. Turn and continue cooking for 1 minute more. Remove from skillet and set aside.
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Wipe skillet with a paper towel and add bacon. Cook, turning once, until crisp; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside and reserve fat in skillet. Add bread slices to skillet; cook, turning once, until bread is toasted. Remove from skillet and set aside.
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Remove salmon from oven and brush with remaining wasabi glaze. Set broiler to high and broil until salmon is medium-rare, about 5 minutes.
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In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and dill. Spread mayonnaise mixture on one side of two slices of bread. Top with salmon, bacon, watercress, and tomatoes. Brush one side of remaining two slices of bread with fig jam and top with remaining 2 slices bread to form a sandwich; serve immediately.
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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

What's In Season - March - Northern California

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n = newly in season

p = peak of season_

w = winding down
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Vegetables
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• artichoke (p)
• asparagus (n)
• avocado, Haas
• broccoli
• cabbages (p)
• carrots (p)
• cauliflower (p)
• celery
• celeriac/celery root
• celery
• chard
• collards (p)
• fennel (p)
• garlic, green (p)
• greens including braising mix, frisee, mustard, nettles, tat-soi
• kale
• leeks
• mushrooms, morels (n)
• onions, spring
• peas, edible pods (n)
• radish• spinach
• salad mix, spring (n)
• sunchoke (w)
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Fruits
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• berries: strawberries
• cherimoya (w)
• kiwi (w)
• kumquat (w)
• lemon, Meyer
• lime, Key
• oranges: navel (p)
• rhubarb
• tangerine

(Courtesy of KQED - Northern California)

My Top 10 Most Romantic Movies

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With Valentine's Day fast approaching - I thought I'd list my "Top 10 Most Romantic" movie picks. They are in no particular order. I've also included one memorable line with each film.
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Clicking on the titles will take you to a clip of the movie. Be warned though - some are spoilers.
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1. Annie Hall - A classic. I've seen this movie too many times to admit. "La-de-da."_
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2. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir - A tragic kind of love story, since the female lead has to wait her whole life alone, before she can reunite with her true love ghost/captain - still I love it. _ "I can't imagine you being an ordinary anything."_
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3. When Harry Met Sally - A strange, hilarious, perfect love story. "I'm saying, that the right man for you might be out there right now, and if you don't grab him someone else will and you'll have spend the rest of your life knowing that someone else is married to your husband."_
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4. Before Sunset and Before Sunrise - Not fair to name two at the same time but they go together. Such witty, intelligent, complicated dialog and continuous shots that seem to go on forever. "Baby, you are gonna miss that plane."_
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5. Out of Africa - OK, I've seen this movie a ridiculous amount of times as well. My husband always says Dennis (R.R.) is mean to Karen (M.S) but I get these characters completely. _ "Doesn't that outfit come with a rifle?"_
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6. The Way We Were - Doesn't everyone love this film! I cry each and every time I see it. _ "See ya kid."_
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7. An Affair To Remember - _ "If you can paint, I can walk." Enough said. _
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8. Romancing the Stone - This is "our movie" as couples like to say. _ "Let me see the map."_
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9. The Notebook - The whole premise of the movie is soooo romantic. _ "If you're a bird, I'm a bird." _
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10. City Lights - Some of the most charming scenes of The Little Tramp (Charlie Chaplin). The female lead is blind and mistakes the tramp for a man of means. She needs an operation to restore her sight...but I've said too much. _ "Wonderful! Then I'll be able to see you." _
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