Measurable Thrill in Oakland and a Blackberry Pie you Won’t Forget

Our family celebrated my son Curtis’ 34th birthday in the Berkeley Oakland area last month and we had a ton of fun. We ate and drank at Limewood, Mad Oak Bar, and at Mua Restaurant all evening long and truly enjoyed spending time together. It’s rare my husband and I get to take our boys Curtis and Andrew 27 out on a Friday night, so we took advantage of the opportunity. I’m hoping today’s blog will inspire you to check out Oakland and all it has to offer. Plus I will include my recipe for my home made Blackberry Pie.

Our Hansome men Curtis and Andrew out celebrating Curtis’ 34th birthday at Limewood Bar Claremont Hotel Berkeley

 

I always do a ton of research before exploring a new area, yet trying to make reservations online isn’t my cup of tea. I never want to box myself into a time in case our plans change last minute. That’s why we started off at the Claremont Hotel and their Limewood Bar. Also Curtis didn’t wanted to miss the Warriors  game, so we were happy we could keep track of the score while eating dinner.

 

The Claremont is a special place because my husband and I stayed there on our wedding night over 29 years ago. It is a gorgeous historic place and I knew my boys would love experiencing the food and nightlife there.

 

My husband Ken was our designated driver so Curtis, and Andrew and I could enjoy ourselves and imbibe in fancy libations, but we first had to eat. We ordered the crispy Brussel sprouts made with fish sauce caramel, peanuts and cilantro, olives, ahi tuna with potato chips, the roasted chicken and lentils and their braised beef cheek in tagliatelle. The food was presented nicely and everything was delicious.

Me and my number one son Curtis at Mua Restaurant checking out the art. My dad named him Montana since he was born on superbowl sunday 1985.

 

Andrew ordered a Guinness beer, Curtis had a cocktail and I had a glass of Cabernet. We asked the bartender where he suggested we go next and he recommended the Penthouse Bar Mad Oak. This place was very hip and popular. They had a rooftop bar that was packed with a fun crowd. They also had the Warriors basketball game showing on a large wall. We found a spot to sit at the roof top bar and enjoyed our drinks. Curtis had the vodka cocktail that was on special, while Andrew and I stuck with our beer and wine. We weren’t hungry yet, so we sat and talked and enjoyed the clear night and open air bar.

 

Next we went to Mua Restaurant not far from the last stop. We were lucky to find parking close by and an available table. We ordered more drinks, guacamole and chips, the half pound burger with fries, the “Mac n Cheese” made with butternut squash and cream and who knows what else. The night is a blurr and I can hardly remember much else. All I know is that we didn’t get home until 1:30 AM after dropping off our boys.

Cool art at Mua Restaurant

Mad Oak roof top Bar in Oakland

Mad Oak roof top Bar in Oakland

 

I can’t remember the last time we partied like this with our kids. It doesn’t happen on a regular basis, but we are excited to spend time with them, especially around their birthdays. I highly recommend spending the evening in Oakland and checking out the Limewood Restaurant and Bar, the Mad Oak Bar and Mua Restaurant.

 

Next you will find my favorite Blackberry Pie recipe. It’s the perfect dessert to go with your Valentine’s day dinner. It’s my husband’s favorite pie, so I had to have my friends over today and show them how to make it. We had a blast and you will too.

 

Be sure to share this blog with your family and friends on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook or via email to a friend. And follow me for more fun recipes and travel posts.

 

Blackberry Filling for Pie

 Ingredients: 

6 Cups of Frozen Blackberries (3 bags of O Organics from Safeway or fresh if in season)

1 Cup granulated sugar

Juice and zest of 1 orange

½ t grated nutmeg

Pinch of Maldon Salt Flakes

 

¼ C Hanson’s Sonoma Organic Vodka Mandarin Flavored

2 T Cornstarch

 

3 T Tapioca Flour

3 T Unsalted Butter cut into chunks

 

1 whisked whole egg (used to brush on top of pastry)

 

1 T granulated sugar

1 T demerara sugar

 

Directions: 

Pour 6 Cups of blackberries into a heavy medium sized pot. Add sugar, nutmeg, orange juice and zest and salt and cook until bubbly.

Mix mandarin vodka and cornstarch in a small bowl and add to the pot of boiling blackberries. Cool.

Make pastry. Check out my previous post here: pastry recipe .

 

This is Nancy’s blackberry pie. She chose to use fresh blackberries and bake them without cooking first. Looks so pretty

After mixture is cooled and pastry is rolled out and placed into pie dish, mix 3 T of Tapioca Flour into blackberries and pour into pastry lined pie dish. Dot with chunks of butter. Top with remaining rolled out pastry, crimp sides with your thumb and pointed finger to make a nice edge. Cut out a tiny whoel (I made a heart shape) in center of pie.

 

Brush with egg and sprinkle with both sugars.

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place filled blackberry pie onto a sheet pan and bake for 1 hour or so until crust is golden brown.

 

Let pie cool completely so that blackberries have time to gell and set. This is the hardest part. Serve at room temperature with vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

Teri:)

 

 

 

Cinnamon Rolls with a Boosey Twist Recipe and (Bay Area Restaurant Reviews)

 

Valentine’s board for month of February

Had kids make their own bees w egg cartons and took pics w googly eyes

Fun preschool art project

Ran across these fun pic s from my time teaching at Tassajara Learning Center

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I went for a bike ride into downtown Walnut Creek for Valentines Day. I had issues with my Apple iPhone that needed to be resolved so we decided to enjoy the day by riding into “the Creek.” It was a beautiful Spring like day and we both needed some exercise. Since we are practically empty nesters we aren’t running our kids to basketball games, soccer practice or baseball tournaments anymore. Instead we can leisurely take our time on the weekends and go on a hike or bike ride together. Last weekend was no different. The photos above were taken while I worked as a preschool teacher at Tassajara Learning Center.

After our iPhone appointment, we took a chance for a quick bite to eat at True Food Kitchen. This place is usually packed, but we got lucky and landed two spots at the juice bar. I have heard great things about their restaurant from my hiking friends who frequently come here to celebrate birthdays. Excited to learn about the menu, the bartender walked us through the gluten free, naturally organic vegetarian, and vegan menu offerings explaining that they focus their food on anti inflammatory dishes. Dr Andrew Weil believes that by eating this healthy diet, people can avoid Alzheimer’s, heart disease and many cancers. I’m all for that.

True Foods Kitchen has it going on

Squash toast

Quinoa burger

What I was most excited to learn more about was their fresh juice drinks. They actually have a hangover drink  that has fresh pineapple juice, orange juice, honey, and coconut water. I have no idea if that would help a hangover, but I bet it is a big seller. Of course, I saw plenty of a few Bloody Mary’s being served which looked gorgeous with watermelon radishes used as a garnish.

Open seating area and outdoor too

Cool bar area

The Hangover

I ordered the “Bright Eyes” which consisted of fresh pear, ginger root, beet, pineapple, turmeric and carrot juice, and it didn’t disappoint. We also tried the Inside Out Quinoa Burger made with hummus, tzatziki, tomato, butter lettuce, cucumber, red onion, feta and avocado. It is served alongside a generous portion of roasted butternut squash which my husband loved. I tried the Toast with winter squash, brussel sprouts, caramelized onion, lemon, saba and roasted hazelnuts. It was an unexpected delight being crunchy and yet sweet from the squash that was probably roasted with honey or maple syrup. Yum. I had to order light so I could make it back up the hill to our house on my bike!

I have to say, I’m usually not a huge proponent of these restaurants since I think they are a “fad” or “trend” to for the younger generation. After all, I love a good burger. But it’s nice to eat extra healthy once in a while and my husband was thrilled with his Mediterranean dish. We found Opa Restaurant last week for a quick weeknight dinner. Ken was so happy to find this place because they serve lamb, chicken and beef sandwiches in a warm pita bread with tzatziki sauce tomatoes, onions and mint. He said it was his very favorite new place and that says a lot because he can be finicky.

Burrata w procuitto

Harvest in Danville

Honey wheat bread w creamy salted butter

While I’m at it, I may as well give a review of a fairly new restaurant located in Danville called Harvest. My friend Barbara and I met there a few weeks back after quick jont on the Iron horse trail. This place does things right. Barb and i met several years back when we our kids were at San Ramon Valley High School together in the choir. We also were both involved in the Vista Oak Chapter of the National Charity League. She volunteering with her daughter Lauren and me with my niece Jasmine. We had many good times together when our kids were young and now continue to meet up and have an occasional lunch or breakfast together. Barb recommended Harvest so we gave it a try.

First our server brought us a platter of their delicious wheat bread with a dollop of creamy butter with smoked sea salt and chives. I judge most restaurants by their bread and theirs  was to die for. For lunch, I ordered Di Stefano’s Burrata Toast cause I have to have burrata whenever I’m at a restaurant. This dish was the perfect balance of sweet, salty, creamy and chewy presenting the burrata along side prosciutto, figs and well dressed arugula. Delish! Barbara and I also shared the Harvest Cobb which the chef was nice enough to divide. The chicken was brined with a lemon sweet tea before it was flawlessly grilled and served with avocado, hard boiled egg, tomato and bacon. We passed on dessert even though their warm apple cobbler sounded appetizing. Over all, I have to give all three of these restaurants a thumbs up and we will definitely make it back for future visits.

It’s a good thing my phone is repaired and I’m back to blogging and taking photos again. I’d better get myself back home now and prepare a little something for the family.

But first here’s my recipe for Cinnamon Rolls with a Boosey Twist

Ingredients for Dough

¾ C Sourdough starter (I made my own from 2 C pressed grapes in a tea towel, 2 C flour and 2 C water and let ferment for 1 week in a large glass bowl stirring every day) Not needed to make recipe, but adds a nice sour note to the recipe. Place in stand mixer fitted with flat beater. Mixes better than dough hook)

½ C warm water (warm to touch)

1 T yeast (Red Star Rapid Rise or regular dry yeast)

1 teas honey or 1 t granulated sugar

Mix these ingredients together in a small glass bowl with your fingers and let get bubby and add to mixer

 

1/4 C sourdough starter (not necessary, but makes them have a sour taste)

2 eggs room temperature

3/4 C Milk (warm on stove until luke warm, not hot) Or use milk powder which i always have on hand

2 T soft unsalted butter (plus 1 T to smear on glass bowl when rising)(plus 1 T for baking dish)

1 T Kosher Salt (do not forget this!)

¼ c granulated sugar (plus 1 t more for yeast)

1 Tablespoon Molasses (Adds a nice caramel flavor)

2 C Bread flour (maybe ¼ c more for kneading and rolling out)

1/2 C Whole Wheat Flour

 

Filling for Cinnamon Rolls

½ C unsalted softened butter

½ C granulated sugar

1 C brown sugar

1 T cinnamon

1 t ground ginger

½ t Maldon Salt

½ t ground cardamom

½ t ground espresso powder optional

1 T tapioca flour

3/4 C toasted pecans

 

¼ C Grand Marnier

½ C water

1/4 C Golden Raisins

¾ C black raisins (Dried cranberries, dried strawberries or dried blueberries make for a fun new breakfast treat)

(Heat water in microwave in glass 2 c measuring cup and add grand marnier and soak raisins or dry berry fruit mix until soft) Drain and throw away liquid. This step allows the raisins stay moist and juicy in the cinnamon roll.

 

Glaze

1 T spiced rum or milk or water

1 ½ C powdered sugar

¼ t Maldon salt

 

Directions:

 

After placing Sourdough starter in stand mixer, add bubbly yeast mixture.

Add milk, egg and mix. Add in 1 C flour, mix and let stand for 5 minutes.

Then add salt, sugar, molasses and softened butter and mix again.

 

Little by little add remaining flour and mix on low speed until combined. Keep mixing on med to med high speed until dough is soft to touch and springs back when touched (about 8-10 minutes mix time) Or knead by hand until dough feels soft.

Place in a buttered glass bowl and cover with a buttered plastic wrap in a warm spot and let rise for an hour. I put mine in an oven with the light on to keep warm. Fold dough over itself 3 times while turning bowl. Let rise again for 30 minutes. (overnight works well) 

 

Assemble rolls:

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle until about ¼ t thick. Spread softened butter onto dough.

Sprinkle with both sugars evenly, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, espresso powder, salt and tapioca flour.

Sprinkle soaked and drained raisins and pecans over dough.

Roll the dough tightly by starting at long edge and form into a long log. Cut with a pastry cutter or serrated knife into 1 Inch pieces. Place in a buttered baking dish or sheet pan with rolls touching. Let rise in a warm place, or fridge if you can possible wait. I baked mine immediately and they rose well.

Otherwise place in a preheated 375 degree oven and bake until brown and bubbly about 17-25 minutes.

Cool slightly and spread rum glaze over rolls. (if you prefer a cream cheese frosting use 4 oz or ½ pkg cream cheese, ½ C butter, 1 ½ C powdered sugar, ¼ t Maldon Salt, and 1 t vanilla- Or Rum!)

I especially enjoy making these boosey treats for my husband and son on a lazy Saturday or Sunday morning. They love waking up to the intoxicating smell of these yummy treats and I do too.

 

Hope you try my recipe and leave me feedback about your results in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. It means a lot!

Teri:)

 

 

Celebrating my Mom and a Risotto Recipe to die for

We are getting close to Valentines day, and  I can’t help but share a story about helping my mom find love. Yes. I had tried for years to set her up with patients at my dental office with no luck. I thought about matching her up with a guy from my meditation group, but that didn’t pan out either. For many years my mom was single. My dad and her divorced when I was 14 and neither of them remarried. That is until a few years ago when my mom found love.

This is a pic of my Mom, Tom, Virginia and Keith my mom’s long time friends
Tom was my neighbor. He and I went for walks with our dogs. He would casually stop by with his wife when taking her out for short walks. Tom’s wife suffered from cancer and he would talk to me about food, and how he was caring for Penny. “12 almonds a day” he would tell me. I thought he was a special man since he cared so deeply for his wife.

After she passed away, I would stop by to see how he was doing sometimes offering some oranges from my garden or delivering a book on grieving. Tom was always on the go, choosing vacations to go on back East and entertaining friends and family. It wasn’t until Tom walked by one day while I was gardening that I got the idea to introduce him to my mom. He complained that he missed talking to someone and bouncing ideas off of them like he had with his wife for over 49 years. I gently suggested when he was ready, I would like to introduce him to my mom who was also lonely. She and Tom both loved the same hobbies like gardening and cooking. I thought they would make a great couple.

A few weeks later, it happened. I invited my mom and Tom over for some tea and cookies. They met at the driveway and instantly made a connection. They arrived at my door together and have been together ever since. They married about 2 years later and have been through a lot together since my mom was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma a rare blood disease, but treatable a few weeks after their honeymoon.

My Mom, Tom, sister in law Alyson and the cutest niece ever Josie
Tom is a wonderful man and my family is so grateful for the love he as given to all of us and especially my mother. She has never been happier. Not only do I have a new dad, but my kids have a new grandfather who they look up to for love and guidance. Tom’s family has been a God sent too giving my mom 6 more grand kids to love and care for.

A pic of my mom and dad in their earlier days of marital bliss 1967

above that a pic of Mom and Tom, Andrew and his friend Mary after a St Mary’s Choir concert

This is what Valentines Day is all about. I love bringing happiness to others through networking and my food.  I am also the luckiest girl around since I’ve been married to Ken the love of my life for 28 years. Happy Valentines Day Mom and Dad. May your lives be richer because of the love you share.

A friend asked me to share my risotto recipe. Hope you try this and make it for your own valentine this Tuesday.

 

Mushroom Fennel and Leek Risotto

Ingredients:

2 T Extra Virgin Olive oil

2 T Unsalted Butter

2 C Arborio Rice

6 C Veggie or Chicken broth

1 C White Wine(Chardonnay or your fav) Can use champagne also.

1 C Cremini Mushrooms chopped finely

½ C Fennel chopped finely

½ C Leeks chopped finely

2 cloves chopped garlic

¾ C freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

2 T Heavy Cream
Instructions:

Put Oil and Butter into heavy bottom soup pot. I use Le Creuset pan. Place chicken broth or veggie broth on med high heat in an alternate pot. (I make my own from using chicken bones from baked chicken, garlic, onion, celery, carrots, water, ginger, fennel and boil for 1-2 hours. Cool in fridge overnight)

Place Mushrooms, leeks, and fennel into hot oil on med to med high heat until softened.

Add garlic and rice and stir to moisten rice. Cook for 3 minutes. Add white wine, cook and stir until it evaporates. Add chicken broth ½ C at a time and stir rice. Continue to add broth until rice is cooked about 15-20 min. When the rice is no longer toothsome or chewy and is plump and moist add cream and Parmesan cheese. Top with a splash of truffle oil and chopped herbs like parsley from the garden. Serve immediately. Serves 4

Here’s a variation of this recipe using roasted pumpkin from my organic vegetable garden and carmelized brussel sprouts in bacon fat. Made this recipe this week and enjoyed this gorgeous and ripe cinderella pumpkin that I trained to grow on a trellis.

Enjoy!

 Teaching Preschool and Making Pumpkin Cake 

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