San Francisco Excursion in Union Square and a Fancy Profiterole Recipe

Have you been to San Francisco during the Holidays? Last November, I took a few of my friends to the Ferry Building and beyond. We had an incredible foodie/cocktail day together walking through the city, enjoying the sparkly lights in Union Square, and spotting various bedazzled Christmas trees in many fancy hotels and restaurants. We tasted our way beginning at the Ferry Building, La Mar, Michael Chiarello’s Coqueta at the Embarcadero, and ending with delicious pastries from Tyler Florences’ Miller and Lux Patisserie and one last cocktail at the Clock Tower.

Sandra, Elyse, LuAnn and me in San Francisco at Gumps

I was excited to finally get back to San Francisco at this time of year. My husband Ken and I have fond memories of taking our kids and his mother Nilda there over 20 years ago. It was an unforgettable experience decorating Cat and the Hat Cookies on the roof of Nordstrom and driving the streets of SF where Nilda was raised. She was thrilled to spend the afternoon and evening with her grandchildren in her favorite city. Now that she has passed, Ken and I try to get back to this incredible city to honor Nilda.

LuAnn, Sandra, Elyse and I were driven to Bart in Walnut Creek by LuAnn’s husband. It was a mere 45 minute commute ride to get to The Embarcadero stop. From there we walked to the Ferry Building where we bought a bag of rocky road chocolates at Recchiuti Confections, tasted a few pastries at Mariposa Bakery, visited Far West Fungi, got bagels to go at Daily Driver, and more.

On our walk to Coqueta, we meandered into the bar at La Mar. We saw the most beautiful Christmas tree which is what drew us in. There we stopped for a cocktail and started off our Holiday the only way we know how. I began the day drinking an espresso martini. I had never had one before and it didn’t disappoint.

The others ordered their favorite fun mixed drink or champagne and we sipped to good friends and a girls day out. 

Our waiter Estevan at Coqueta was waiting for us as LuAnn had made a reservation. There we ordered several dishes to share. Croquetas de pollo, Ensalada Remolacha, Paella De Otono and a Tarta de Chocolate for dessert. I brought a Zinfandel from Biale Vineyards and our waiter was kind enough to not charge us for the corkage. The service was divine and the food was excellent. I will definitely go back. Sadly, the Chef and owner Michael Chiarello, who opened Coqueta died from a severe allergic reaction the month before. He was a pioneer in the food to table movement beginning in 2003 and a former Food Network Star celebrity hosting “Napa Style” back when cooking shows began to get popular.

After our extravagant Spanish lunch, we walked to Gumps where you can find beautiful gifts. I found a jar of hard candies to give to my Mom and some raspberry dark chocolate ganache which is extra yummy in the espresso I drink every morning. Harry Winston’s Fine Jewelry took us in and gave us a tour of the 1905 constructed building on 200 Post Street. This building is particularly rare as a pre-1906 earthquake example in San Francisco and was opened by the Shreve & Co. which was a maker of jewelry, silverware and retail goods in San Francisco beginning in 1852.

Miller and Lux creation of Yuzu and lime tarts found at Miller and Lux Provisions in Union Square

Tyler Florences’ Miller and Lux Provisions Cafe was where my taste buds carried me. I had been following Karla Marro, the pastry chef of Miller and Lux located in Union Square, for a few years and had been dying to try one. I purchased four of their desserts and was able to bring them home to savor with my family. The chocolate devils food cake was my ultimate favorite. The lime and yuzu tart was a work of art and almost too pretty to eat. One must try their Straus soft serve affogato, which is a rich vanilla swirl served in a croissant. Karla knows how to turn an ordinary treat into a spectacular piece of edible art. Do check them out. 

Miller and Lux fruit tart

Chocolate Devils food cake with chocolate mousse served at Miller and Lux Patisserie in San Francisco

The last stop before heading home was The Clock Bar at The Westin St Francis. We clearly didn’t need another drink or one more morsel to eat, but we had to complete the San Francisco experience. While we were ready to get on Bart, we learned of an incident that closed BART. Instead, my husband Ken came to the rescue and picked us up from The Westin St. Francis. It was a fun day with the ladies and I can’t wait for the next day out.

Huge thank you goes to Luann for planning this special day. Sandra loved her belated birthday celebration in San Francisco with the girls. Here is my blog from our excursion in San Francisco with our great niece and nephew last December.

Started out at the Ferry Building for a photo opportunity with Sandra, Elyse, me and Luann

Here is a recipe I make every Christmas. My sister in law Nancy has been making cream puff trees for many years and I needed to bring a dessert that everyone loves. Whether you top with a chocolate sauce or leave plain with confectioners sugar, they are divine. I usually fill them with whipped cream, but some prefer custard, pastry cream or vanilla ice cream in their profiteroles. I’ve been wanting to make them again since my chickens have been laying more eggs.

Fancy Profiteroles

Ingredients:

⅓ C Butter or Margarine (They rise better with Margarine)

1 ½ C Boiling Water

1 pinch Kosher salt

1 ½ C All Purpose Flour

6 Whole Eggs

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees

Directions: Melt Margarine or butter in boiling water. Add flour and salt all at once, stirring vigorously. Cook constantly til mixture forms a ball that doesn’t separate for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Add eggs one at a time while beating with a hand mixer.

Scoop dough onto a greased sheet pan. I use a large scooper for larger puffs, but you can make smaller ones as long as you leave about an inch and a half between each puff. 

Bake for 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the puffs dry out for 30 more minutes or overnight.

When completely cool poke a hole through the bottom of the puff and fill with whipped Heavy Cream with a little vanilla and sugar, or non dairy Pastry Pride found at Smart n Final Stores.

Profiteroles in the making. Some not filled yet. Some already frosted in chocolate.

Here I’m whipping up Pastry Pride non dairy whipped cream and their chocolate version for profiteroles.

Frosting: 

Melt 2 blocks of Baker’s Unsweetened Chocolate in a large glass bowl in the microwave or over a bain marie. In a small pan, melt ¼ C Margarine or butter. Boil water in a teapot.

Add 2 C confectioners sugar in the glass dish with the melted chocolate and the melted margarine. Add one teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix with a hand mixer adding at least 2 tablespoons of boiling water until the frosting reaches a nice consistency. 

Dip each puff into the chocolate. Either stack into a christmas tree shape, or leave on a tray to serve. I always purchase See’s dark chocolate colored balls to decorate the tree and add a handmade cardboard star covered in foil to place on top.

Recipe makes @ 12 big profiteroles or 22 smaller ones. I usually double the recipe to accommodate our large family.

Keep cold in the refrigerator until served. Profiteroles can be made ahead of time unfilled and placed in the freezer in a sealed container. 

Enjoy! 

 

Two Year Anniversary of losing half of my flock

Chaos and loss on Smyth Family Farm this week

 

San Francisco Cookie Exchange, Lunch at Nopalito and a Fruit and Nut Crisp Recipe

Today I’d like to share one of our Christmas present experiences from December. My husband Ken and I took our nephew’s kids Zander and Daphne to San Francisco for the day. We began the weekend by having them spend the night at our place so they could meet our new kittens Dougy and Snuggy. The kids had a blast running amuck through our farm chasing chickens also.

Ken took Daphne and Zander to Great Donuts for breakfast. It’s a fun way to start the day and there are no dishes to wash either. We kissed the kittens goodbye and headed out for the day. 

We drove around for a few blocks near the Civic Kitchen Cooking School before we found a place to park. We arrived early, so we ordered four birria tacos with consume’ at Taco Loco and gobbled them up before the cooking school opened. The food was outstanding and just what we needed to fill our tummies.

Me, Zander, Daphne and Ken at Taco Loco in San Francisco.

I love taking kids out for their birthdays or Christmas, instead of buying them a toy or giving them money. This way Ken and I can get to know these precious kids and let them experience something new and different. I had learned about this cookie exchange a few days earlier on Instagram while looking at my feed. Amisha Gurbani posted a story about a cookie exchange and demo in San Francisco. I quickly called my niece Beverly and asked if we could take her kids to this class. She approved the idea and I was thrilled. 

The cookie exchange was optional, but if anyone knows me, they know I love to bake. I’ve got hundreds of recipes and love finding a way to share them with friends and family.I met Amisha at Dean Jones’ -The Well Seasoned Librarian’s book event held at Dougherty Library last year. There I met Dean who has a podcast introducing cookbook authors to the public. At this event, Amisha introduced her new book Mumbai Modern. She had brought her famous Thandai Shortbread cookies for all of us attendees to taste. I immediately bought her signed book and went home and made these cookies for my book club to go alongside a pot de creme. This chai spice cookie is my favorite shortbread recipe and I couldn’t wait to share it.

The kids baked Chocolate Crinkle Cookies which was originally their grandma Nancy’s recipe. It’s their family favorite cookie. We also made a Millionaire Shortbread recipe to bring to the cookie exchange because it makes a lot. We were up past 11PM getting all of these desserts baked, cut and put on trays for the event the next day.

Several of the cookies from the event at Civic Kitchen Cooking School in December 2023

It was special arriving a little on the early side and picking out our 12 cookies each to take home. There was an option to buy cookies if you didn’t have time to bake them yourself, which would be easier for most people. Most years, I have made dozens of Christmas cookies to share with my neighbors. My family has always asked me to bring dessert to all of the holiday parties as well. The Cream Puff Tree has been a favorite of my niece Kendall. This recipe was originally also from my sister in law Nancy. She is an incredible baker/cook and has been an inspiration to me over the last 36 years. This has pushed me to become more serious about cooking and baking. It’s important to feed your loved ones healthy food instead of buying from a fast food restaurant or buying a store bought cake.

Toppings for Amisha’s shortbread cookie

Salt and Spine and his daughter putting on a demo for a cookie exchange at Civic Kitchen Cooking School in SF

We met Frances Wilson @francesiscooking at the Civic Kitchen Cooking School. She teaches classes there and brought the most delicious meringue cookies w candied orange sandwiched together with a chocolate ganache. They were to die for and I took two of them! She explained she learned how to make the candied orange peel from Carlo Maddionne who was an Italian Chef on KQED years ago. I’m a big fan of education and taught at Draegers and Andronico’s Cooking Schools over the years. I helped out as a sous chef at winemaker dinners with famous chefs, helped at many lunch and learns and week long cooking camps for kids at Andronico’s Cooking School. They have since closed the school. I worked at Draeger’s Cooking School for almost 1 year. They had promised me a job as an instructor, but never followed through. Instead I helped with hands on classes, set up their “mise en place” which means “putting in place” or “gather and measure the ingredients” before the chef’s came in. I also washed dishes, poured wine and accumulated many recipes. I left when the last instructor went on maternity ward leave and they still didn’t promote me. This school and grocery store is still open, although they haven’t had any in person classes at the Blackhawk location since before the pandemic.

I wouldn’t want to regret not mentioning @saltandspine  brought his daughter to the cookie exchange. He collects cookbooks and has a podcast. The event at @civickitchensf had the proceeds go to @lacocinasf. They provided bubbles from Gruet Winery too.

After we finished decorating extra Christmas cookies, we stopped in at Dianda’s Bakery. I needed panettone to share with my Mom and her husband Tom and of course, some for myself. I like to make a spiked with pear brandy from Ambix Spirits French toast with it and serve it with a warm blueberry compote.

Nopalito Mexican Kitchen for lunch was our next stop. I ordered the Mole Poblano con Pollo, chips and guacamole, Ken ordered the Tacos de Pescado, Zander had the bowl of Pozole Rojo, and Daphne had a quesadilla. The food was delicious and vegetarian. They roast their veggies in a wood fired oven. Soo good.

Zander and Daphne our great nephew and great niece hanging with Hello Kitty in SF

We explored the Haight District at Ashbury next for fun. The kids picked out a small toy at a cute shop. I loved looking at the clothes at Relic Vintage. I would have shopped longer, but Mr. Smyth is always ready to go.

I have to say our day with the Smyth Kids was a success. Zander and Daphne loved baking cookies with us, spending the night, and sharing the cookie exchange experience with their great aunt and uncle. I hope to keep this tradition going since it’s fun for everyone.

Thanks for reading. It’s been a hoot keeping track of our outings. Thank you Instagram, for providing me with new and exciting adventures. I learned about #Fruitandnutcrisps from Monideepa Chandra using a hashtag to find a recipe. I’ve added a few extra ingredients that make them extra special.

Thought I’d share the best recipe for Fruit and Nut Crisps that I like to make for cheese and charcuterie boards. It’s fast and easy and these crackers will set you apart from the rest of the party goers.

Almond Fruit Crisps

3/4 C all-purpose flour

¼ C Flax meal

½ C Almonds

½ C Pistachios

1/8 C Sesame Seed

1/4 C Raisins

¼ C Candied Ginger

¼ C Dried Cranberries

¼ C chopped Dried Figs

1/4 C Flax Seeds,

1/4 C Brown Sugar,

1/2 tsp Sea Salt,

1/4 tsp Baking Soda,

1 C Milk

Directions:

• PreHeat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously spray bottom and sides of loaf pan with cooking spray 
• In large bowl, stir flour, almonds, pistachios, raisins,candied ginger, cranberries, flax seeds,sesame seeds, brown sugar, salt and baking soda. Stir in milk. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan.
• Bake 55-60 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack. Transfer to freezer and freeze at least 1 hour, or leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove loaf from pan. Use knife to cut loaf into 1/8-inch thick slices.
• Arrange slices in single layer on baking sheets with parchment or on silpat. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown, flipping halfway through baking.
• Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

I like to keep a loaf in the freezer, in case we have surprise company. They are best right after you bake them, but will keep in a plastic Tupperware for a week.

Fruit and Nut Crisp for charcuterie boards

 

Things to do in the Bay Area Plus a Calzone Recipe

Travel Day to Mt. Diablo Summit and Fond Memories shared at Turtle Rock Ranch and [Ranch Dressing Recipe]

One of my favorite sites to see on Mt Diablo. A Tarantula!

Calzones

• 1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed or make your own pizza dough
• 2 T butter, melted
• 1 T Olive Oil
• ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
• ¼ teaspoon dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon pizza seasoning
• ¼ pound sliced deli ham
• ¼ pound sliced turkey breast
• 6 thin slices mozzarella cheese
• 6 thin slices cheddar cheese
• Pizza sauce or marinara warmed
• 1 egg beaten plus 1 teaspoon of water for brushing calzone before baking

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

Coat a baking sheet with non-stick spray or use a sil pat.  Roll dough into 10×14 inch triangle.  In a small bowl, combine butter, olive oil and seasoning.  Brush dough with butter, olive oil and spice mixture. 

Layer ham, mozzarella cheese, turkey and cheddar cheese lengthwise over half of dough to ½ inch of edges.  Fold dough over and pinch firmly to seal.  Brush with remaining butter and olive oil mixture.  

Bake at 400 degrees F. for 13-20 minutes or until golden brown.  Cut into one inch slices and serve with warmed marinara or pizza sauce.  Serve 4.

Variations include: Ricotta Cheese, Sliced Chicken, Pepperoni.

 

Breweries, Wineries, Distilleries, Apothecary in Sebastopol California and a Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Cute Holiday Store at The Barlow Sebastopol

I hope this new blog is finding everyone healthy and happy. The Holidays are finally over and we can all take a breath. Ken and I went to Sebastopol and stayed for three nights at a VRBO a few weeks ago to rest up after a busy few weeks with family and friends. We had a great time and love exploring Sonoma County.

I had always wanted to visit the Barlow which is a shopping destination in Sebastopol. I have passed it up many times, unable to stop in, so I was excited to learn our rental was walking distance to it.

We walked into a few boutique shops, and walked into Pax Winery and Tasting Room. This place had a great fun vibe about it. They played great music and had a nice record album selection. That’s something you don’t see every day. They serve tasting flights, with a small bite with each taste. Their promotion was to buy 2 bottles of wine, and one would receive $20.00 off the total purchase. They had a 2022 Pinot Blanc from Dutton Ranch in the Russian River Valley, (my favorite since that’s where my family is from), a Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast, and a 2021 Grenache from Alder Springs Vineyard in Mendocino County. Fridays they have live music from 5PM-7PM, and you can book a Private Tasting and Cellar Tour by appointment for $85.00. It includes single vineyard Syrahs that are paired with local cheese and charcuterie platter. Sounds like fun to me.

Two fancy cocktails served at Spirit Works Distillery in the Barlow (Currently closed)

I’m always happy to find a new distillery, and was happy to check out Spirit Works Distillery. Justin and Erica made two cocktails for us to try. Saturn Return was made with their Navy Strength Gin, lemon passion fruit, orgeat and Spirit works “The One” Citrus Aromatic Bitters. I have been drawn to passion fruit since my cousin’s wedding in Hawaii when her girlfriend made mini passion fruit cheesecakes for every guest who attended the wedding. Sandi wanted to start her own cheesecake company and I admired her for the ambition and drive she had. She would make three different crusts depending on the flavor of cheesecake. She would use gingersnap cookies from Trader Joes, and a chocolate wafer cookie for other cheesecake flavors. She never did follow through with her dream because of money and health problems, but I will never forget how good her cheesecakes were.

Spirit Works makes great cocktails and Ken and I had a great time visiting them. It was sad to hear they were closing their location at The Barlow after 11 years in business. They would still be selling their gin, bitters, etc but in retail shops instead. It hasn’t been an easy time for businesses since the pandemic. I just came from a hair appointment in Walnut Creek and there were quite a few buildings unoccupied. I hope the economy bounces back and we can all feel more secure about our money and the world in general.

Woodfour Brewing Company had a great menu that offered many varieties of beer including a dark stout called Salmon Creek Stout. It had a 4.3% ABV and a nice dark chocolate flavor. I only sampled a couple since Mr Smyth was waiting outside. I was able to find a beer to go in their fridge. They offered three different kinds: New Ridge Lager, Gone West and Sonoma Festbier were the ones they had. I like to support these small businesses and so I got one. 

I liked #Woodfour because they also sold wine by the glass for $14 or the $52.00 by the bottle. Matanzas Creek was their Sauvingnon Blanc, Pedroncelli was a Rose of Zinfandel and they had a Pinot Noir from J Vineyard, all I’m assuming from Sonoma County. Their 6.9% Cider is from Goat Rock is organic and has flavors of rose, passionfruit and apple. How fun!

For dinner we found a to go only pop up called Lunch Box who made burgers with mushrooms and truffle oil. We ate these burgers back at our place while watching a movie on Netflix.These burgers were melt in your mouth delicious! Later that week we saw the original Lunch Box location in town. I would definitely go back there again.

Me and Cousin Barbara Galetti at Ambix Spirits in Sebastopol California

The next day, we spontaneously invited Ken’s cousins Barbara, Gloria and Joe to join us in Graton for lunch at Underwood Bar & Bistro. They had a wonderful caramelized French Onion Soup, fresh French bread and a tasty tuna poke for an appetizer. The cousins live in Rohnert Park, closely watch my Instagram stories and asked if we were ever in the area to reach out. We were excited to connect with them and enjoy their company for the day.istro

To surprise them, I got us private tastings with the owner David Klein at Ambix Spirits and Distillery in Sebastopol just down the street. Justin and Erica from Spirit Works Distillery told us about this new business who has only been open to the public for 6 months. This special place deserves a blog of its own, so I will save the rest for my next blog.

I would be remiss not to mention our morning breakfast experience the next day at Howard Station Cafe in Occidental with my Dad’s other cousin’s Skip Cassady and his daughter Cindy. Skip is a hoot. He is responsible for my love of growing cannabis. He and I have spent many hours on the phone exchanging recipes and I’ve learned specific growing techniques, timing on harvesting, trimming and storing weed. Skip lives in Guerneville where my dad grew up. He and Cindy are my connection to my roots and they bring me joy.

Thanks everyone for joining me again and being patient with me as I navigate working a lot, taking care of my garden, the chickens on the farm and two new kittens who we adopted in November. It’s been a crazy time, getting enough sleep and adapting to all of the happenings at Smyth Family Farm.

Be sure to tune in for the next post, as I will talk about our fabulous experience at Ambix Spirits, a small batch, French style brandy from over 200 varieties of cider apples locally sourced or grown in Sebastopol. I also joined my first winery called Marimar Estate Vineyards and Winery also in Sebastopol! It is a family owned female run winery which I was drawn to after driving past their up cycled junk art made by Patrick Amiot. These sculptures are made with oil tanks  and all over town. We even dropped by my Dad’s cousins Gus and Tammy Mesenbrink’s house since we were in their neighborhood. Tammy and I talked about food, recipes and even exchanged homemade jams, apple cider, and some of the gin from Spirit Works and a bottle of pear brandy from Ambix Spirits. They were thrilled to see us and we enjoyed the spontaneous visit. It was sad learning that cousin Gus has been diagnosed with dementia. He seemed to be doing okay, but it’s always good to spend time with family while we have them in our lives.

It was lovely to visit Rosemary’s Garden Herbal Apothecary while walking through town. I was able to buy some skin care goodies for my boys Curtis and Andrew. It’s nice to bring them something since they keep an eye on the farm animals for us when we are away. This business was originally owned by Rosemary Gladstar who is an icon in the plant medicine industry. I hope to someday learn more about herbs and their tinctures that heal people.Here is a blog about Mountain Rose Herbs in Oregon, where I first learned about Rosemary Gladstar.

Obviously, I have a lot to write about. I truly enjoy sharing my adventures with you and I hope I’ve inspired you to check out surrounding communities in your area for a fun day out.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

One Whole Chicken (2.5-3#), cleaned, de boned and cut into small cubes

1 Box Chicken Stock

4 T Olive Oil

1 Onion diced small

1 Clove Garlic chopped

1 T Chili Powder

3 T Fresh Oregano chopped

4 Roma Tomatoes, blanched, peeled and medium dice

1 ear of corn, cleaned and husk removed

½ Red Bell Pepper small dice

½ bunch Cilantro cleaned and chopped

Tortilla Chips and or corn tortilla cut into strips and deep fried

1 Avocado

1 C Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

3 Green Onions diced small

1 can Red Kidney Beans

¼ C. canned Salsa Verde

Salt and Pepper to taste

Method: Prepare chicken by baking it in a 375% oven for an hour and 15 min. Let cool. Remove from bones and cut into small cubes.

Or

Get a precooked whole chicken and proceed with instructions.

In a Large Soup Pot on Medium heat saute’ onions, garlic and chili powder, cook until soft. Add oregano, tomatoes, corn and cook for 5 min. Add hot chicken stock and cook for another 10 min. Add Chicken and cilantro. Adjust seasoning as needed.

At time of service, place soup into a bowl, top w warm tortilla strips, cheese and green onion.

Enjoy! Recipe adapted from Chef Brian McGlynn Spring 2006

Teri

 

Pumpkins & Gourds. It’s Fall Y’ALL and an Au Gratin Recipe

It’s Fall and absolutely gorgeous in the Napa Valley. My husband Ken and I have spent the last couple of weekends up in St. Helena and Calistoga with friends. We only take day trips to avoid the expense of staying the night. Since Ken doesn’t drink, he can drive us safely home the same day. We love the wine country this time of year.

October has been crazy busy getting the garden in shape for the winter. The chickens are always needing a new kind of medicine or something in addition to the normal feed they get. Mabel, one of my original chickens, hasn’t been well for five months, and it’s concerning. We’ve tried all the remedies that have been suggested by my chicken experts, but none of these has brought her back to laying eggs again, The last time I brought a sick chicken to the avian hospital, it cost me over $400.00, two long car drives to Oakley and she still had to be put down. That wasn’t a fun experience because the vet technician wasn’t able to do the deed, and neither was her coworker. I finally had to leave the building, and let them figure it out without me. I’m pretty sure, most farmers cull their own sick chickens, but neither Ken nor I could manage that.

So taking a day trip to Napa is just what we needed to relax. 

Great day for a hike at Bothe Napa State Park with friends

Our friends Marie and Ron joined us last month for a fun filled day of experiencing what St Helena offers. We started out having a bite at Stanly Ranch. If you haven’t been there yet, you must go. The fairly new property is stunning with beds of Fall vegetables, fields of just trimmed lavender, a spa, a coffee house with various special pastries and desserts, and of course the restaurant “Bear” where they serve breakfast, lunch or dinner. Angele the bartender is usually greeting us as we take a seat at her counter. She makes the best palomino gin cocktails, and will make sure you are taken care of. Ken and I shared the burger and a salad instead of the French Fries. Marie and Ron enjoyed their meals as well and we were off to our next destination. I can’t forget to mention they had a pumpkin decorating class in session by the new chicken coop. How fun!

Ken and I love to hike and so do our friends, so we drove to Bothe State Park in St Helena. There is a $10.00 entrance fee to park and two fairly easy walking paths along a creek. I’ve gone there after the rains this time of year and seen tiny frogs crossing the path which is a thrill for me. It’s beautiful there and especially nice to be outside this time of year. 

Me, my husband Ken, and friends Marie and Ron at Bear Restaurant Stanly Ranch Napa Valley

Close by a little further North is Brasswood Bar & Kitchen. Marie had been there before and was familiar with this wonderful place. I love that they have a bakery on site, a very nice wine cellar, delicious red wines, a women’s boutique and restaurant. I find sitting at the bar exhilarating being able to watch the bartenders in action twisting oranges, making shrubs with herbs and adding teeny tiny pansies to their drinks. 

Brasswood’s Chocolate mousse cake for Marie’s birthday

We shared a couple of appetizers and were swayed into ordering their house made mozzarella and heirloom tomato salad. Ron devoured his soup, and the kitchen prepared two beautiful desserts (a butterscotch panna cotta with creme fraiche and a rosemary hazelnut cookie, and a dome of chocolate mousse) to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday. The presentation was spectacular and service was outstanding. I love sharing moments like these and making the day extra special.

Butterscotch Panna Cotta served at Brasswood Bar and Kitchen in St Helena

The Acacia House was next on the agenda, although rarely do I have an agenda. I just keep tabs on my guests and think of where they might enjoy going next. When we arrived, we stepped up to the quaint restored Georgian Farmhouse front porch and walked in. It was a perfect time to drop in since it was in between lunch and dinner time, so there wasn’t a need for a reservation. The three of us had a splash or two of wine and an appetizer or two. Their food is outstanding here and they are generous about giving us an “extra” item from the menu for free, since I’m a food blogger.  We then walked the property exploring what the grounds had to offer. The open outdoor cabana is officially open. This is a fun new addition to the already gorgeous property.

Last but not least, we ventured into a Michelin rated Philip Tessier’s Press Restaurant. I’d never eaten here before and was excited to try it. We didn’t have reservations so we walked up and took seats at the bar. I brought a nice bottle of cabernet from home and they were able to pour it for us for $40.00. Already I felt a little taken back by the cost of opening a bottle of wine, but I didn’t care. It’s still the more economical way of drinking wine at a fancy restaurant. What we didn’t appreciate was being given two menus. One was an autumn tasting menu for $175.00 where the chef chooses the menu for the day. The other menu had a four course menu which you could choose from for each of the courses. This would cost $150.00 per person. Since we had been eating and drinking all day, we weren’t especially hungry. And it was rude of the bartender to not give us an additional option for over 20 minutes. None of us wanted an explosion of food. Eventually, Ken asked if we had any other options to order from a la cart. Each of us picked one item to share between us. It was perfect. I had the matsutake mushroom dish. The mushrooms were raw which was a little off putting, but the broth was fantastic. We also tasted the melon dish since pistachio sounded yummy with it. But this dish  was underwhelming. It’s extra fancy food that is served in a special way. It’s just not that good and I don’t think I will be dining with them again. I know we are in the Napa Valley, but we weren’t expecting the food to be so bougie. 

My beautiful friend Marie and her husband Ron in front of sunflowers in the town of Yountville, California

Overall, I’m overjoyed that my friends Marie and Ron made  time to spend the day with us. We are all about making memories and having experiences when celebrating a birthday. Here’s another blog with photos from Marie and Ron’s son’s wedding and a cake recipe.

Thanks for joining me today and reading my blog. I hope I’ve inspired you to try a new restaurant or take a hike in Napa. Comment below if you have any questions  or want to share where you like to go when in the wine country.

Here is a yummy potato recipe that you must try. I sometimes substitute chicken, vegetable or beef broth for the heavy cream. It’s good either way. I love making these cheesy casserole dishes when I entertain a lot of people. You can dress it up by sprinkling with chopped garlic chives from the garden.

POTATO ONION AU GRATIN

• 6 -10 medium Yukon gold potatoes, sliced thin
• 1/2 large Sweet Onion sliced thin 
• ½ pound Gruyere cheese, grated
• 1 1/2 Cups whipping cream
• 3/4 Cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a 13X9 baking dish, spray with Pam. Layer the sliced potatoes, onion and Gruyere cheese.  Top with Parmesan cheese and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Carefully add whipping cream around the sides.  

Bake at 400 degrees F. covered with foil for 30 minutes.  Then bake 30 minutes more uncovered.  Serve warm.

Teri 

 

Wine Country with the Kids? Say Yes Everytime.

Lots of catching up to do here on my blog. I can’t wait to share our day in the Napa Valley with my husband Ken, Tim, Tammy and their kids. It’s the first time I have taken three youngsters with me to the wine country. The last trip with kids there was with our other nephew Dan and his wife Beverly and their two kids Zander and Daphne, which I have yet to write about. The wine country never disappoints. 

On this special occasion a month ago, we celebrated Tammy. It’s the first time I’ve taken her and her family out. Tammy is originally from Hong Kong and has been in the Smyth family for more than Ten Years. She married our nephew Tim, who works as a lawyer and is a phenomenal dad and husband. It’s not the first time our family has married someone with an Asian descent. Ken’s sister Terri Ann married Hanson Louie over 36 years ago. They had three children, Laura, Michelle and Peter. I met Ken and was introduced to the family when Laura was just a wee child, probably only a year or so. She is now in her mid to late 30’s and was just married a few months ago. We are so happy for her.

“The Gavel” Coffee Shop at Stanly Ranch Napa Valleyhttp://www.letsmakemudpies,wordpress.com

We drove to Martinez, got organized with all the books, snacks and toys, and transferred to the minivan where we all made our way to Stanly Ranch. I wanted to make sure Angel at the bar made a special birthday drink for Tammy. Angel and I are bff’s and she always hooks me up with the best cocktail while visiting her bar at The Bear, the restaurant at Stanly Ranch. What’s great about this place is they have a coffee house “Gavel” which has coffee and pastries for your pleasure. You can start out your day right in the Napa Valley, by stopping off here. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the chess game which the girls were automatically attracted to. My husband Ken immediately went into the role of uncle and taught them how to play. I persuaded Tim and Tammy to check out the grounds at Stanly Ranch while we attended to the kids. There are fields of lavender, a gorgeous herb and vegetable garden, a spa up the hill and much much more.

They have lots of activities to keep the kids busy. Corn hole, ping pong, a huge vegetable garden, lots of lawn to run and play on site are just a few activities Stanly Ranch offers. The pumpkin farm at Stanly Lane just a block away hadn’t open yet, and that was disappointing for the kids, but we made the best of it. We ordered them hot chocolate with whipped cream and a pastry to keep them occupied.

Next up was Oakville Grocery, where the kids could hang out and color and play with the toys I brought from home out on the courtyard, while I gave Tim and Tammie an introduction to the Oakville Grocery Wine Merchant where they could taste a variety of wines from the valley. We ordered them a pizza from their wood fired grille and Tim and Tammy got to have a few private moments to themselves. Before we left, we got a photo or two of the handsome couple with grape vines in the background and photos with their kids with the pumpkin which will be on our photo wall for years to come. 

Great Nieces having a little Scrabble Game moment at The Estate in Yountvillehttp://www.letsmakewordpress.com

Next up was the town of Yountville, where we took the family on a tour of many of the fine hotels. First up, was the Estate where we took the back route and walked through the gardens and water feature. I didn’t realize The Estate had a new bar, pool room area, and board games in their lobby for patrons to enjoy. We must have stayed there for at least two hours enjoying each other’s company, getting to know the kids better and relaxing in the practically vacant lobby. 

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These are the moments where I swear my mother in law Nilda, who we lost 3 years ago in October during Covid, in heaven is watching over us and guiding us into moments like these. The kids had an absolute blast learning to play pool, scrabble and snack on treats like fresh cookies, Peanut M&M’s and more which were free in the lobby. We bought the kids Shirley Temples, I ordered a red wine which I tend to stick with to keep my tummy happy, and Tim and Tammy got their favorite cocktail or wine of choice. 

On the walk back to the van, I had to take them through The Bardessono Hotel and Lucy Bar. It’s one of my favorite places to go while in the town of Yountville. The gate to the pool was wide open, so we were able to take them onto the property and show them around. We had decided to have dinner at the Italian Restaurant Il Posto down the road where I thought the kids would find something they would like on the menu. 

I was first introduced to this place many years ago when my dad asked me to attend a Veterans Day event at the Veterans home. My Dad knew this event would be of interest to me, since the best restaurants of the valley supply the food and wine for the special event. Unfortunately, only veterans can attend, but I was able to sneak in under the radar and pour coffee as a volunteer. Dad was trying to share his meal with me, but instead, I was invited to stop by Lucy Restaurant and have a dessert. The pastry chef provided the dessert for the Veterans day meal, and I was happy to learn about them. This happened over twelve years ago and I still remember trying all three of their desserts for lunch. They were out of this world delicious and I have made my way back to that destination ever since. They also make a mean espresso martini which my niece Marie has enjoyed.

Our last stop before driving back to the Bay Area was Il Posto Trattoria. I love this place because of its ambiance, vibe and location. It’s right off Hwy 29, the perfect place to stop and end your wine country experience. The kids were happy coloring their menus and us adults got to relax and take in the great local farm to table fresh ingredients. It’s always nice to end the meal with an affogato (vanilla ice cream with espresso). I do like to bring my own wine to dinners like these since they sometimes waive the corkage fee. Even so, it’s almost always less expensive to share a bottle than to have to purchase one at the restaurant. These are the few ways we can afford to enjoy the luxuries of the wine country on a budget.

Yeay for me, who finally wrote another blog. I’m happy to share my experiences with you and inspire you to indulge in the good life while living in the Bay Area. 

Thanks for joining me and reading my blog. It means a lot and I am always in constant awe of the love and support I’m given here on my WordPress site. Don’t forget to spend a little time with your loved ones and why not make it happen in Northern California? Hope to see you soon friends.

 

Welcome to My Bread Making Classroom and Grain Walks in Maine and Petaluma California

It’s been a while since I’ve written. Life moves fast and sometimes we don’t make blog writing a priority. Between working, gardening, farming, keeping up a home and caring for my husband, I haven’t stopped. There have been funerals, engagements, weddings, birthday celebrations to prepare for, beekeeping classes and more. It doesn’t matter. I’m back.

My husband Ken and me and our cousin Michael and Alexandra’s weddinghttps://letsmakemudpies.wordpress.com

I reported in my last blog that I would share recipes from my Maine Kneading Conference in Skowhegan Maine. I took classes all week and started with Lower East Side Manhattan’s Jaqueline Eng’s sourdough bread class at Kennebec College. I may have paid extra for this course, since it involved dinner with the bakers/instructors. Jacqueline owns Party Bus Bake Shop in New York City. She was young and fun and gave explicit instructions on how to form your loaf and even talked about the math and particular ratios that you need to make a sourdough loaf. I was out of my league. Tired to take notes. Maybe even took a video of her explaining how to change hydration, etc… I walked away defeated. But I’m a beginner, I have to remind myself. Whenever I’ve baked bread, I’m a rule breaker. I add an egg (from my girlfriends in the coop), dry milk, olive oil, butter, salt, sometimes molasses, or beer. You name it, I’ve added it to my sourdough loaves. That’s what’s so great about baking. When you have been doing it as long as I have, you have the courage to break the rules. Someone like my husband Ken, would be better at sourdough. He would follow directions exactly, and not change a thing. But that’s no fun.

Jacqueline Eng’s Bakers Math

Let’s go back to how the trip to Maine actually started. I asked my husband to confirm how to get the key, since he made the reservation. It was too late to call the night before we left, so in the morning, while I was packing, I called the VRBO. A man answered and informed me, his son lives in the VRBO now because of a divorce. He thought he had taken it off the website. 

I quickly ran to the office where my husband works. He was in the middle of a training lesson and couldn’t help me. So, I called my good friend Nancy Solomon, who is a travel agent. She promptly made a few calls and booked another VRBO 30 minutes away from the conference. I was grateful. I could finish packing and get driven to the airport by Ken and pick up my son Curtis. Nancy makes my life easier. Here was my trip with Nancy in Iceland.

Spent the weekend before in Calabasas in Southern California. My Aunt Teri and I had attended her son Michael’s bride Alexandra’s bridal shower. My Aunt Teri and I drove to Southern California on Saturday, attended the beautiful shower on Sunday and drove home on Monday. We were graciously invited to stay with the bride’s mother Saundra. My Aunt Teri and I love to travel together. She is like a mouse. Super quiet. I toss and turn, but she never snores or moves an inch.

Ken drove Curtis and I landed in Boston late July 25th. We stayed at a hotel in Boston, then got a shuttle to the rental car place at the airport the following morning. Curtis scored a 2023 Q50s Infiniti by talking the sales guy into an upgrade. We took off for our destination, only stopping in Freeport Maine for chocolates at A. Wilbur’s of Maine and lunch at Tuscan Bistro. Had to buy the chocolate covered blueberries, liquorice and a few dark chocolates with caramel.

A. Wilbur’s Of Maine Chocolates https://www.wilburs.com/

Curtis dropped me off at Kennebec Community College a few hours later and he then checked in to our VRBO in Heartland Maine. The place was located on Moose Lake. It was out in the middle of nowhere. My only two complaints were the wet dog hair smell in the house and how there wasn’t a bathroom upstairs. Each time we needed to use the bathroom, Curtis and I both had to walk down these creaky steps to the other side of the house. Overall, we were grateful to have a place to sleep, since our plans had changed at the last minute.

Don Guerra gave the keynote speech after a hearty breakfast made by Beesham Soogrim from Sweden also known as Beesham the Baker and his staff at the Skowhegan State Fair. Don’s speech about his start in his “garage bakery”was inspiring and started off our week with a positive message and warmth. Don is an internationally known baker, educator and advocate for local food systems. Similar to Berkeley’s own Alice Waters and Chez Panisse (a blog about her restaurant and mission here ), he is passionate about providing heritage grains to the local community and beyond. He has taught at the University of Arizona and affiliated with the seed to table program at Tucson Village Farm. He’s a James Beard Award winner, the founder of Barrio Bread, an artisan bakery in Tuscon Arizona. His newest enterprise will be bringing Sonoran wheat sourdough bagels, baguettes, breads and more to the new Gilbert location in Phoenix at Hayden Flour Mills’ kitchen one day a week. He is happy to be collaborating with Vermont’s Emma Zimmerman the co-founder and who recently received a James Beard nomination this year for her book “The Miller’s Daughter.” She was also involved at Amber Lambke’s co-founder of Maine Grain Alliance’s Kneading Conference and stood out sporting a dress made with an Arizona grain bag. Just stunning and so creative!

Here is Emma Zimmerman and Sheep and baker, wool curator at North Star Farm’s Lopez Island Washington

We ate well, trying several types of bread for the next three days. Beesham Soogrim shared his Walnut Bread recipe and his Beetroot Bread recipe which I have yet to try. He teaches sourdough master classes online and has a You Tube Channel. Andrew Janjigian (also known as wordloaf on Instagram) prepared his Armenian Tahini Spirals substituting mochi flour (or glutinous rice flour) instead of whole wheat. Andrew sells a popular Bread Baker’s Pocket Companion which provides conversion tables, formulas and bread recipes. I’m most excited to make this tahini spirals, since I’ve never tried baking anything like this before.

Nora Allen from Mel the Bakery in New York taught a rye bread (Smoorebrod) workshop at Maine Grain Alliance’s Kneading Conference. She shared a handout on Rye since she had a class on rye bread. Chef Ashley Patino from Pizza Bones in Richmond, Virginia Gave a pizza making class, and The Maine Meal taught a pasta class and explained how they got involved with a farm to school lunch program in Skowhegan during the pandemic. Of course they use Maine Grains flours and their pastas and soups can be found at the Belfast Farmers Market in Skowhegan.

Nora’s Rye Bread

Nora Allen from Mel the Bakery

T wo of the classes at Kneading conference

I barely caught the end of Alex Bois’ flat bread class. Alex is from Lost Bread Company in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He owns a bakery (Howard Street currently closed, but reopening soon) and mill and sells his breads and pastries at a few New York Farmers Markets and four Farmers Market locations in Philadelphia. Alex makes a smoked potato knish, a hominy biscuit, a buckwheat cherry loaf, a whole grain croissant, a spelt hand pie, pretzle shortbreads and more. My son Curtis and I had a lengthy conversation with Alex while running into him at Bloomfield’s Tavern, the local bar in Skohegan, Maine.

My son Curtis and Chef Alex Bois from Lost Bread Co.

One morning I woke up extra early for a Grain Walk with Richard Roberts a grain expert. He took us to a wheat farm similar to Tara Firma Farms in Petaluma which I haven’t written about yet. They grow the grain for their non-profit Honore’ Farm and Mills. Last May, Ken and I went to a community Hourani wheat, and Jaljuli planting day led by Mary Giles. Mark Squire co-owner of Tara Firma Farm shared his farm story.This day deserves a blog to itself and I promise to share more.

Mary Giles of Honore Farms and Mill and Mark Squire of Tara Firma Farms Petaluma

The best day was taking a drive into Skowhegan where I had lunch at The Millers Table Cafe and Bakery. The Maine Grain Mill was closed for tours that day, but the dry goods store was open. I had a ball looking at all of the gifts, books about growing grain and Maine Grain’s offerings. I would love to write more on this beautiful place as well. What was most inspiring was their library of cookbooks which were free to the public to check out. I was mesmerized by all of the famous authors and writers and wished I could have rented out a few.

Thanks for all the support and for taking the time to read my blog. It means the world. I’ve barely scratched the surface of writing about the Kneading Conference. Let’s see if I get my chef drive back into the kitchen to whip up a loaf. You know i will share it on Instagram, so keep a watch out.

Teri

 

Maine’s Kneading Conference for Bread, Beer and Fun

 Just got home from a Kneading Conference in Showhegan Maine. Oh my goodness did I get an earful and a full stomach. We ate and ate bread all week tasting, learning about local grains from Maine Grains, and eating fresh local, organic food grown nearby. I met dozens of famous bread makers, chefs, bakery owners, recipe developers, garage bakers, homesteaders, and just people who love to bake bread and feed people. Beesham Soogrim  “Beesham the Baker” from Sweden catered all of our delicious meals.  Don Guerra from Barrio Bread who won the 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker in southern Arizona gave the keynote speech, Jacqueline Eng from Party Bus Bakeshop gave a naturally leavened hearth bread and baguette class at Kennebec Valley Community College the day before the conference started, Dan Leader from Bread Alone and Dr Gemma Humbly-Smith from The Supplant Company spoke about reducing food waste in the baking field about utilizing the wheat stalk which when adding to the flour adds eight times more fiber than regular flour. Unfortunately, I didn’t arrive early enough to attend Dan’s class, but I did find myself getting into Skowhegan early enough to take Jaqueline Eng’s course. There were many more chefs and bakers. I will have to make a part II of this blog just to include everyone.

Me and my son Curtis in Freeport Maine at Tuscan Bistro

My adventure began when my son Curtis and I were driven to the San Francisco Airport by my husband Ken on Tuesday around 11:30AM. Ken stayed home to care for the farm. Curtis and I flew to Boston Logan Airport and proceeded to get a shuttle to the Town Place Suites. It was a long day and I didn’t have a TV that worked on Jet Blue, but I listened to podcasts and slept.

The hotel was fine and we were literally only there for a limited time. We shuttled back to the airport to rent the car and my son Curtis was able to talk the sales guy into giving us the upgraded Infinity Q50s for only $10.00 more dollars a day. Sweet!

This was the first time my 38 yr old son Curtis and I have traveled together and it was a hoot. We both have anxiety at some level, so we kept each other honest and real. We drove towards Showhegan only stopping once for lunch and libations at Tuscan Bistro in Freeport Maine as our final destination would take three hours. It wasn’t a cake walk getting to the University, or the class but we eventually made it there. Curtis dropped me off to check into the VRBO in Hartland Maine next to Moosehead Lake.

Jacqueline Eng, PartyBus Bakeshop teaching a bread class at Kennebec Valley Community College’s Kneading Conference 2023

I quickly felt at home there at the community college kitchen since I have taken lots of baking classes at our own Diablo Valley Junior College near my home over 20 years ago and have worked as a sous chef at lots of cooking classes at Andronico’s Market and Draeger’s Market. 

I was able to make my own personal with a high hydration levain loaf, using the autolyse method and adding whichever add-ins I wanted. They offered several types of flours from Maine Grains, all with different protein levels. Khorasan, rye, buckwheat, spelt, red fife, kamut and more. I used the high 75% extraction mixed flours which had the bran and germ sifted out which makes a lighter flour. Plus I added a kamut flour, sesame seeds, quinoa, flax seeds, molasses, olive oil and walnuts in my loaf. These loaves were baked off two days later at the kneading conference and had to wait until the pizza class had ended to use their oven.

This was my loaf after I added all of my ingredients, which unfortunately I didn’t get to try

I didn’t get around to looking for my loaf until day three. It was practically impossible to find my loaf because each loaf had a name taped at the bottom, but most were skewed and I just grabbed one that could have been mine. I didn’t grab my loaf, cause the one I cut today for breakfast was very plain. I did take a friend Cat’s loaf who had to leave the conference a day early. I gave it to the bartender Alexis at Bloomfield’s Tavern that evening where Curtis and I met for Allagash Beer and cocktails. Alexis’ father had a bakery that she worked at when she was a teen, so she was excited to be given the bread. I was hoping she and my son would hit it off. I’m always trying to get my boys married off. Shhh. Don’t tell them. Ohh. And we happened to see one of the presenters, Philadelphia chef Alex Bois, owner of Lost Bread Co.  Alex is a James Beard Rising Star Chef Award winner and owns one of the best bakeries in the country according to Food and Wine Magazine. 

I could go on and on about the event. It was magical. I’m home with dozens of recipes, new Instagram people to follow, and tons of inspiration to bake and feed people. I’m grateful for my husband Ken who graciously let me attend this even though it was all the way across the country. He attended to my vegetables, flowers and more importantly the chickens at the farm.

These wild flower arrangements were arranged all over the picnic tables and at each table to brighten our day. Many of these grow wild along the highways

More fun stories in part II and recipes to follow. Thanks for joining me and I’m in awe at all the love and support my fellow blog followers have given me through the years.

Teri

 

Hiking in Utah with friends and Ritual Chocolate

Last August, we joined my husband’s family in Jackson Hole Wyoming for four days and then traveled to Yellowstone National Park for five days. We drove and also stopped for an overnight in Utah at our good friends the Tustings place. If you’ve never been to Utah, then you will want to know what to do while in this fabulous destination. Here is a blog from my latest hiking adventure in the Napa Valley.

We got an early start on a Monday and made it to North Springville by dinner in twelve hours, stopping several times for bathroom breaks, snacks, coffee and more. The Tustings had a nice ahi tuna poke dinner waiting for us when we arrived. Johnny is quite the cook. We brought them jalapeno peach jam, bread and dessert. I can’t remember what. We chatted and got caught up on what’s happening with their kids, grand kids and their new house build project in the most beautiful remote picturesque spot in Utah. We’ve known them for over 33 years and raised our kids together, seeing their daughter get married, etc…

My husband Ken, Karen, me and Johnny after the hike near the Sundance Mountain Resort

The next day we got a tour of their incredible property, and then they took us on a gorgeous hike called Stewarts Cascade Trail. We spotted grasshoppers, mullein, mushrooms, and even a cicada insect. We ended our hike at the Sundance Mountain Resort where Karen works as a hiker guide. Both Johnny and Karen retired to move closer to Karen’s family, yet decided to find jobs again to keep them entertained. These two are in excellent physical shape. Karen was a personal trainer for thirty years and Johnny has always been physically active fishing, hunting and keeping up with Karen. We adore them and are bummed that they moved so far away.

One of the many photos on the wall of Robert Redford at the Owl Bar at Sundance Resort

We ended our hike by the pond at the Owl Bar where we met Karen after her shift.This property was owned by Robert Redford who was committed to a balance of art, nature and community until Dec 2020 when he sold it. They still have Art, Music and Food Festivals during the summer, hiking and people can ski there in the winter. The Owl Bar has antique wood sculptures and some that had been in Robert’s movies. There was a fancy Indian theme restaurant which I would have loved to eat at, but we were in our hiking clothes, so we settled for a drink at the bar.

Old fashioned bar at the Owl Bar at Sundance Resort with fancy beers on tap

After a nice shower, we joined up with Karen’s parents at their community pool for pizza. It was a pleasant visit and fun to get to see our friends again. I didn’t swim much as I’m not a big water person. I’d pretty much do anything besides wear a bathing suit and go swim.

Me in my happy place with https://letsmakemudpies.wordpress.com the decadent hot chocolate drink and Complete Chocolate Collection from Ritual Chocolate

We made it to Park City Ritual Chocolates and had to buy the entire collection of chocolate bars, a few savory pastries and their sipping chocolate. Ken stayed in the car to avoid seeing me spend our hard earned money. I shared many of the chocolate bars with the family while in Wyoming. Shumway Farm Store in Afton Wyoming  was a fun place to visit. They sold ice cream, Icelandic Skyr Coconut and Lemon Yogurt and more. 

I will have to finish the rest of this blog at a later date. I have an appointment to get to.

Thanks for joining me in the fun.

Teri