New to Me: Fresh Cannellini Beans

 The sign at the San Francisco Farmer's Market booth read:  "Fresh Cannellini Beans." Underneath the sign was a pile of long, skinny greenish-white pods with 3-5 little bumps inside them. What? Fresh cannellini beans?? Since when? I love cannellini beans. They are my go-to beans for soups and salads. I always have at least five cans in my pantry. I sometimes even soak the dried beans overnight then cook them for hours. Curious to find out what the beans I loved tasted like fresh, I purchased a pound of them. Still wondering where they had been all my life.

Some background: Cannellini beans are a European white kidney bean. Creamy and mild with a slightly nutty taste, they are used in many recipes from soups and salads to dips and stews or as a delicious serving of just beans on the plate. So why hadn't I seen fresh cannellini beans before? After a quick Google search I learned that most shelling beans (which means you don't eat the pods like green beans and snap peas) are harvested when the beans inside are dry. They become the dried beans you find in the grocery stores year round. But in late summer, you can sometimes find fresh shelling beans, and they are not always easy to find. You have to be fortunate enough to find a Farmer's Market at just the right time of year and a farmer who grows, picks and sells them fresh. Those stars had not aligned for me until last Saturday when I saw the sign for fresh cannellini beans––and then only one booth in the entire farmer's market had them for sale.

One pound of fresh cannellini beans in their pods equals about 1 cup of shelled beans. That might sound like alot of work but the cannellini beans Joe & I shelled came out of their pods easily and we had fun watching our pile of cannellini beans grow larger in the bowl. (If we needed beans to serve lots of people, I would probably reconsider the part about that being fun unless I threw a shelling party.)

Cooking them was a matter of putting them in a pot, adding water about an inch or two above the beans and simmering them until they are done. So it could be 5, 10 or 20 minutes depending upon how fresh they are.  Ours were really fresh so I just kept tasting them and they were done in about 10 minutes. And were they ever deeelishious! Their flavor was light and bright, creamy and, well, there's no better word so I have to use it, fresh! I could have eaten them all myself but since we were having a few friends over for dinner I chopped some celery and tossed it into the beans with some lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper. Oh my, a show stopper side dish that took center stage! Next Saturday it's back to the Farmer's Market for more. I'm hoping those same stars will still be aligned.

Veggie Chocolate Mousse––Seriously!

Who doesn't like chocolate pudding? It's been my comfort food of choice since my mom made it for me way back when (we'll not that long ago, she still makes it for me. I just don't smear it on my face and the walls like I used to.) So when I recently signed up for an on-line program called "Nourishing Food Detox for Beginners: 5 Days of Easy & Nourishing Foods for Your Mind, Body & Spirit," I was intrigued by one of the recommended desserts––a Raw Chocolate Mousse. Aha! I would not suffer on this "nourishing, easy, detox"! I wondered what made this mousse healthy since I'd be off all dairy, wheat and a long list of other forbidden foods and mainly living on vegetables and grains like amaranth, quinoa and millet.

OK, ready for this? The magic ingredient that made this chocolate mousse/pudding healthy was one AVOCADO! The rest of the ingredients were amazingly simple: 1/2 cup of raw cacao powder (I used Dagoda, it's an excellent brand), 1/3 cup of maple syrup, 1 tsp. vanilla extract and 1/4 cup of water. Put all the ingredients into a blender. Blend until thick and smooth. Scoop into a serving bowl or fancy glasses and chill. Amazingly delicious, chocolatey, smooth and very satisfying. You would never know there was an avocado in there! Not a spec of its green color shows up when it's blended. This recipe is now a regular go-to for a fast and easy dessert at our house.

And, yes, the detox was successful. I've never felt better and actually lost 9 pounds...even while enjoying several chocolate mousses! Then there was the sweet potato pudding and the pear smoothies. Just know that I did not suffer for good health! The process was truly easy and nourishing. If you are interested, you can learn more at http://www.eatwellenjoylife.com

Argentinian Red Shrimp

 The checker at Trader Joe's excitedly pointed to the bag of frozen shrimp in my cart and exclaimed, "If you haven't had these before you aren't going to believe how good they are! They're from Argentina and only available for a short time. They are amazing––taste just like lobster. You're gonna love'em." And he wasn't even my checker... he was in the line next to me and had gone out of his way to tell me about the possibly unknown treasure I had. The good news is––he wasn't kidding. These shrimp are unique. If I was blindfolded, given one to eat and didn't know it was a shrimp, I'd say I was eating a sweet  bit of lobster––the texture and flavor are definitely more lobstery than shrimp-like.

I sauteed these amazing shrimp/lobsters from Argentina in butter and garlic–added some linguine and cilantro and created the main course to follow the cheese plate (see previous blog post) for New Year's Eve.

It was a delightfully, delicious way to welcome the new year–and with 3 more bags of my newly found treasure in the freezer–2012 is looking pretty good.

Just Say "Cheese"

 It was New Year's Eve Day at the Ferry Building in SF and I fearlessly took a number at the exceptionally crowded Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Store––determined not to be intimidated by all I did not know about buying imported cheeses. People whose numbers had already been called were making tasting faces as they savored the flavors and textures of their tiny cheese samples. The young woman just in front of me had her iPhone out and was checking a detailed list of exotic cheese names and her descriptions of their flavors. "Whoa!" I exclaimed, "What a great idea." I vowed that I would start doing the same. But for now, I was a novice in serious cheese country.

I heard my number called and one of the clerks looked at me expectantly. I was wondering what I was going to say...  "I'd like a creamy blue and two other different cheeses to go on a cheese plate. Maybe something hard and perhaps a goat cheese." That was the extent of my expertise but it resulted in an exciting foray into cheeses with very unusual names: Fourme d'Ambert was the "creamy blue." Divine––creamy, dreamy, with a soft blue note. Queso Leonora was the goat cheese––also creamy but very, very light with an ever so slight hint of lemon. Coolea was a Dutch Gouda that was the response to "something hard" and it was amazing. The perfect counter point to the creamy selections. My taste buds were alive! The tiny samples were promises of so much more than my usual Safeway Camembert. Emboldened by my new found cheese discoveries, I added a slice of Colston Bassett Stilton to my order.

Joe walked up with two loaves of Acme bread (this bread is the best) from their bakery two spaces down in the Ferry Building. We were good to go...one Happy New Year coming up...and here's to many more adventures at the cheese counter!

There used to be Seagulls....

We had just been seated on the deck at Sam's Anchor Cafe in Tiburon when I remarked to my husband, "There used to be seagulls along the railing when we'd come here after volleyball games in the 70's". That's how long it had been since I'd been there. Now I could only see a few pigeons walking around under the tables. No seagulls. Seemed odd for a dining area outside over the water.

We decided to sit side-by-side to enjoy the view across the Bay. The San Francisco skyline was visible and it was a gorgeous day. We ordered clam chowder and fish and chips. When the waitress brought the food, I remembered to take a food-blog picture before diving in to what looked like two wonderful pieces of fish. I asked Joe to move over to the right so I could get a better shot. I took the picture (see above) and as I was checking the camera screen I felt this commotion (that's the only way to describe it) near my right shoulder and out the corner of my eye, I saw something white moving between us.

It took us a second or two to realize what had happened. It was that fast. When I looked at the plate and saw only one piece of fish, I knew we had been raided––from behind–– by one determined seagull! We were stunned. There had not been a seagull in sight but one was diving into our fish before we did!

The waitress casually walked over to our table and just looked at us. I asked her if she could replace our order since the bird had absconded with a piece of fish, knocked over the cup of tartar sauce and for all we knew, grabbed some fries. Then (as opposed to telling us earlier) she gave us the warning: "Yeah, those seagulls are very aggressive. You kind of have to hunch down and hover over your plate so they can't see your food." Seriously?

When I studied the "crime scene" I saw that one seagull perched on the roof above the deck dining area and watched for just the right moment. No longer did the seagulls hang out on the railing waiting for food to drop or be thrown their way––they just went for what they wanted. They'd certainly evolved over the past 30 some years. This one saw his opportunity when I asked Joe to "lean to the right so I could take the mandatory food-blog picture."

When our very low-key waitress brought the replacement fish, we "hovered over and covered"our plates (try it––you lean forward and hunch over your plate as you look furtively around to make sure the coast is clear!) and––fortunately, the fish was delicious. We just tried not to think of the Hitchcock movie about some other aggressive birds. So we ate and ran––just in case.

The lesson here is––if you do choose to dine on the outdoor deck of a restaurant that is over water and you don't see any seagulls––you might ask why or request a window seat, with a view, inside.

Presidio Social Club

The rest of the USA is having a heat wave. As the fog rolled into SF Bay and over the Golden Gate Bridge we put on our jackets and said a silent "thank you" for nature's natural air conditioning. If you like warmer summers this wouldn't be your ideal summer day but it works for us.

After a visit to the Legion of Honor for an exhibit of Dutch and Flemish Masterworks that was truly a visual feast, we headed for lunch at the Presidio Social Club. Based on a previous visit there with daughter, Megan, I wanted my husband to give it a try. And yes, this was after our early morning visit to the Farmer's Market, that's why you go early––so you can eat again before the drive home.

I ordered lobster bisque and a Jamaican-style red lager beer. Sounds like an odd combination but it was actually quite good. The bisque was absent of any pieces of lobster but the flavor was absolutely captivating–– it had a roasty, nutty, slightly salt-water taste that kept me anticipating each spoonful. There were a few tiny springs of sliced basil, just enough for flavor. The surprise was the few kernels of roasted corn that hung out in the bottom of the soup. When those got added to a spoonful of the bisque it was a wonderful pop of flavor. Although this was a simple bisque every flavor counted and it was delicious.

My husband Joe had the burger and fries. The fries were addictive and some of the best we've had. (Are you noticing how I'm sharing his lunch with him? There is more of that coming up...) I had just a small bite of his burger and it was almost creamy––the meat was smooth and just greasy enough to be tasty. I'm not a burger lover but I'd add this to my short list of burgers I will eat: Shake Shack in NYC is at the top––this burger is number 2––and there is no number 3.

Joe had to try the brioche beignets and Mexican hot chocolate. I'd been dreaming about them since my last visit–– so hungry or not (whose ever really still hungry for dessert?) we ordered them. They arrived hot and liberally sprinkled with sugar & cinnamon. They were totally delightful even though we decided they could have used a bit more time to cook...they were just a tad doughy. But we did find ourselves making that little "hum of happiness" sound as we ate them, enjoyed the spicy Mexican hot chocolate and marveled at how fortunate we are to live so close to a food mecca like San Francisco.

Ever heard of a Watermelon Radish? Or a Black Radish?

I discovered French Breakfast Radishes last year. Slice, salt and put them on buttered French bread and you have a snappy little treat. Those little radishes have a punch of taste that will wake up most people's taste buds.

Yesterday at the Farmer's Market I was looking for those breakfast radishes when I saw a plateful of different colored slices of some small root vegetables––I couldn't tell what they were so I asked. The vendor explained that "The pink and white one is a Watermelon Radish and the other is a Black Radish––it's really peppery." Whoa, who knew? I tasted the watermelon radish and it was slightly sweet. The black radish was indeed peppery, but it snuck up on you so by the time I left the vendor with my purchase, my mouth was on fire....well, to me it was on fire. Maybe you could say my mouth was "alive" and I didn't need more than that one slice to get the idea that this was one different kind of radish.

So now you and I both know about watermelon radishes and black radishes. They are worth looking for and will introduce you to an entirely unexpected taste from the familiar red radishes we all find in the grocery store.

Tastes at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market

Go early Saturday morning. Beat the crowds. Get coffee before the lines get too long. Then head for the Hayes Street Grill booth for scrambled eggs, Hobbs bacon and an Acme baguette. Add a killer view of San Francisco Bay and it is the perfect start to our weekend. Every time we think we should do something different, we pause and say: "Nawwww, you can't beat this so why change it?"

We did add something new this time though. I spotted a new vendor inside with a table full of great looking scones. If he's there next time, he's on our list of key destinations. The cinnamon bun scone was moist on the inside, crunchy on the outside and had just the right amount of cinnamon and glaze. (pictured above)

I considered skipping our visit to the Downtown Bakery booth, but even though I could substitute the new scone source for my beloved donut muffin (today only!), I couldn't make it through next week knowing we'd missed the apricot turnover. That turnover went right into the bag next to the new-guy-in-town scone.

Because everything we taste is made with the best ingredients by people who seem excited and proud of what they make––we end up having wonderful treats that don't send us into sugar shock or carb overload. Besides, my husband and I split everything...half the cost, half the calories and we always have room for more.

The Yellow Crane

My husband, Joe, and I often walk around the lake in a local park. It's a lovely 2 1/2-mile walk with opportunities to see turtles, ducks, fresh water pelicans, Canadian geese, an occasional leaping fish and all kinds of birds that rest and nest in the trees that surround the pathway. We also often spot blue herons and white herons and cranes which are wonderful to see either flying gracefully or stalking fish in the shallow waters. I have fun looking for interesting birds that can be hidden and hard to see in some of the denser sections of the trees and ponds.

This is what happened today.

Joe: Do you see that crane?

Me: What crane, where?

Joe: Right there, can't you see it?

Me: No, is it in the water, in a tree or on the ground?

Joe: Your kidding. You can't see that?

Me: So where should I look?

Joe: It's a big yellow crane.

Me: OMG, a YELLOW crane! Where is it exactly?

Joe: Right there, don't tell me you can't see that. It's the biggest one I've ever seen!

By this time I am frantically scanning every bush, tree, nook and cranny to see this yellow crane. I've never even heard of a yellow crane, but I'm not going to miss seeing this one!

Joe's got the camera and I see him position it to take a picture. But he's holding the camera up a bit too high. So I figure the yellow crane is up in a tree top. Then I look up and I see...yes, I finally see the Yellow Crane.

Brown Sugar Kitchen

Ever since I heard about the Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland, I've wondered how deep-fried buttermilk chicken, waffles and syrup would work for breakfast. My system usually wakes up slowly so I needed to talk to the tummy––I shouldn't have worried.

After one of the best cafe lattes I've had and an order of outrageously fresh beignets covered with a blizzard of powdered sugar, we were braced for what felt like having dinner for breakfast. (Doesn't everyone have beignets for appetizers?)

My husband and I split everything nowadays so we each had a piece of fried chicken and a waffle, which was just the right amount since we also ordered a bowl of cheesy grits–– and don't forget those beignets. Did I mention the homemade jam that went so well with everything...oh my.

The verdict? Absolute perfection. The chicken breast was juicy and tender, the buttermilk batter was crisp, full of flavor, and not at all greasy. It was a bit "herby" with rosemary but it still worked. The waffles weren't "airy" but just the right thickness. The syrup was not your ordinary maple syrup and was the perfect complement. Even the butter on the waffle had a distinctive flavor. That "pop" of flavor in the waffle, buttermilk batter, butter and syrup was a nice wake-up call and made this no ordinary breakfast experience. The grits were also extra-ordinary. Such creamy goodness that we could have ordered another bowl.

We enjoyed every bite of our "dinner for breakfast". We left the Brown Sugar Kitchen happy, satisfied and hungry for more! We noticed on the menu that they serve two poached eggs over those amazing grits and that is definitely worth another early morning trip to Oakland.

Oola's Baby-Back Ribs

In April, we attended a New Zealand Wine Tasting Event in San Francisco. A restaurant named Oola's was offering free samples of their baby back ribs. I took one bite and got back in line for a second sample. The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender and crispy. The sauce was sweet and savory and totally addictive. My march to become more of a vegetarian came to a halt right there.

Although we returned to the wine tasting (which was wonderful), I kept wondering if I could disguise myself enough to stand in line for a third sample of those ribs. When I decided that I probably could, I made my way back to their booth but couldn't disguise my disappointment when I saw they were out of ribs and closing down their operation. I took one of their business cards and promised to visit them soon.

We headed for Oola's a few weeks later. Could those ribs really have been that good? Truth is, they were actually better than I remembered. The secret? The ribs are braised for hours then deep fried ...yes, deep fried! You wouldn't know it unless you read the recipe ~ check it out.

Pre-ribs, we ordered a few appetizers and I can only sing more praises for the Cheeseboard, the Beet Salad and the Steak Tartare. Each provided pops of flavor that stopped all table talk. (Mmmmm-ing while eating = really good. Silence= outrageously good, talk to you later.)

The Beet Salad deserves a special shout-out: beets and watermelon, another surprising combo that really works. I wonder who imagined that partnership...or maybe they were just too close to each other on the cutting board one day and Voila! Or should I say "Oola!"

The All-In-One Sandwich~A True Man-wich

Imagine this: you are fed up with having to put down your sandwich to eat your fries and then, oh bother, you have to pick up a fork to eat your coleslaw. Well, that must have been going through the mind of one (or both) of the Giordano Brothers when they decided to throw it all between 2 pieces of bread. Their All-In-One Sandwich is one manly objet d'art. You don't have to let go to have it all!

And to think, I didn't even want to try it. My husband and daughter invited me to come along and watch while they did. (How could I refuse an offer like that? I'm joking.) So I went, prepared to observe and watch them struggle to eat the thing.

Somehow the Bros managed to get your choice of meat, a slice of provolone cheese, a fistful of coleslaw and an order of fries smashed between two pieces of crustless white bread. The secret has got to be the bread. It doesn't crack, fall apart or explode. It's spongey but not soggy. You get the picture? I don't know what it's made of... but it works to hold it all together.

Both daughter and hubby were doing that humming thing...like "mmmmmmm, this is good. You gotta have a bite." So I did...and it was surprisingly good. The french fries added a salty, crunchy texture. They would have been terrific on their own. The roast turkey meat was fresh. The coleslaw was not dripping with sauce and added a veggie-crunch to the mix. The cheese got lost and I didn't know it was in there until I saw it on the menu. And that bread, their secret weapon, held all those ingredients together and tasted fresh.

It actually took 3 of us to eat one sandwich but I saw several tables of guys who weren't sharing theirs.

Larger than LIfe Fruit

Art, whimsey and a food theme are a delightful combination. When I saw larger than life fruits and vegetables from the Cohn-Stone Studios displayed in an actual garden, I was certain one of their pieces belonged in my kitchen window.

Cohn-Stone are known nationwide for their hand blown glass pumpkins which are gorgeous and come in all sizes. What really caught my eye was their new pieces which include very large glass apples, pears, squash, peaches, tomatoes, pomegranates and flowers. How could I pick just one? It was Mother's Day, it was raining and they were having a Mothers Day Garden Tea and Spring Sale, so off we go.

I was leaning toward selecting 3 large pears until I saw what they had on sale. The choice ended up being between an apple or peach. So I picked an apple that I could turn in a way that the color and shape could look like a peach. I sent a picture to my daughter and she responded by asking "What is it? A peach or an apple?" Good, it worked...I had a two for one.

"How big is my luscious apple-peach?" 9 1/2 inches tall with a circumference of 24 inches. I'm delighted ~ it absolutely glows with the light from the window. And there is plenty of room for that garden to grow!

Donut Muffin: A Trip to the Source

My brother, who is one of my first "followers" on this blog, asked what I would be writing about. He commented that I just couldn't keep writing about the Donut Muffin. Well, actually, Bro, I could...they are that good. And did I mention they are "baked" not "fried"?

So here is the sequel: Donut Muffin: A Trip to the Source. The motivation: as the weather got colder and damper, the donut muffins available at the outdoor booth at the SF Farmer's Market got colder and damper. Not so good. The fix: Drive to the source ~ Healdsburg and the Downtown Bakery and Creamery. Goal: to get them when they first came out of the oven. I called to confirm the time the first batch would be ready and was told 7:15 am. The dilemma: Healdsburg is over 2 hours away, would we really get up early and drive there by 7:15 am? Probably not.

Then when my daughter needed a ride to SF airport for a very early flight... the plan started to come together. My husband & I would drop her off at 5:30am then head for Healdsburg. We were up anyway. It was perfect.

I didn't know they had such thick fog inland but I saw nothing on the 1 1/2 hour drive except the pavement several feet in front of the car. Joe slept, this was my obsession and I was determined to arrive just before those muffins popped out of the oven.

We parked in front of the Bakery and watched them open the doors. I'd like to say the Donut Muffin adventure had a happy conclusion, it did not. Disappointedly, the muffins were warm but they fell flat...literally, the tops collapsed or never rose. I figured there was a glitch or the real baker took the day off. I cheered myself up with a sticky bun, an apricot pastry and a chocolate croissant. Wondering if I should at least let them know their muffins were small, flat and not at all like the ones at the Farmer's Market! They had displayed the muffins with the collapsed tops in a glass case. I decided to let it go. By this time the line of customers was out the door and I was tired and sinking in to sugar shock from my consolation pastries, which were excellent, by the way.

But, yes, my friend, there is still a happy ending. We ordered breakfast. And here is where the morning hit a high note ~ The Poached Eggs on Polenta became my new best friend. If you've never had those two together it is really worth trying. I silently forgave them for the botched Donut Muffins (I'd wait until spring and resume my trek to the Ferry Building Farmer's Market) and savored my new discovery. The dish also included fennel, spinach and goat cheese...absolutely divine and well worth the drive.

One Weekend, Two Hikes

I'm still exploring how to use this blog. I never know how the pictures are going to arrange themselves. Looks like they just made a looong column down the middle ~ so I hope you scroll down to find my "story".

This past weekend was one that reminds us why we live in California ~ cloudless, azure blue skies, warm breezes and, since it's spring, those soon-to-be golden hills are cool, green and lush. Wild flowers tinted the hills in pastel purples and blues. It was the perfect time to be outside.

We decided to take advantage of the great parks we have nearby. Coyote Hills Regional Park is near the Dunbarton Bridge (east side). The hiking trails go along the Baylands and provide some terrific views of soaring birds, rolling hills and the Bay. See middle picture above. The trails weren't crowded and have gentle grades so we could enjoy the view.

The second day we headed inland for Sunol Regional Park (bottom picture). We hiked the trail out to "Little Yosemite". Given our recent rainfall, we figured the creek and waterfalls would be flowing. And they were. (top picture). This trail was more challenging with a little steeper inclines. When we saw the families with strollers moving right up those inclines, we decided to start working out again.

Then comes the best part, we set-up our camp chairs under a big tree near the creek and pulled out our latest books and read for about an hour. The entire forest became our living room. We could hear the creek, the birds, the breezes rustling the tree tops...and another familiar sound. Yep, Joe was snoring. I guess with two hikes in two days he deserved a nap.

Downtown Bakery's Donut Muffin

If I could sing, I'd sing a song to celebrate the Donut Muffin. It was love at first bite. With it's crunchy sugary top, cake-like texture and no hole ~ it combines the best of two worlds.

Don't know how we first found them at the San Francisco Ferry Building Farmer's Market. Somehow we ended up in line at the booth with the banner that read: Downtown Bakery & Creamery ~Healdsburg. People were recommending the sticky buns, the apricot pastries and the donut muffins. We got them all. They were all excellent...but the donut muffin , that was something special.

You'll find me most Saturdays up in SF with a donut muffin in one hand and a Blue Bottle Coffee latte in the other...totally blissed out. Join me?

Bouquets to Art ~ De Young Museum, SF

If you love flowers and art this is the most amazing event ~The 26th annual Bouquets to Art Exhibition was held at the de Young Museum on April 20-24. It featured 150 floral displays interpreting the museum's permanent collection.

Florists from around the Bay Area created original and very unique arrangements that mirrored the color, line and feeling of a specific work of art. I've included my favorites here. My friend, Maureen, and I were marvelling for several hours at the amazing creativity and the unique materials used. The way each arrangement caught the essence of the painting was truly remarkable.

Glad I finally made it..only missed 25 of them...but I'll be going back next year for sure!

Coming Soon!

Under Construction:
"Mmmmmmm" and "Look at that!" are two of my favorite expressions. I use them to mark the moments I am tasting wonderful food and discovering new places. AmazinGrazing is a journal of my Tastings and Travels. I delight in small bites and simple places...soulful, delightful and a good value.

Pictures and write-ups of my adventures to follow.