SPA DAY...MOTHERS DAY GIFT...-DREAM COME TRUE!

ON SATURDAY, I SPENT THE DAY AT RANCHO LA PUERTA IN TECATE, MEXICO WITH MY BEST FRIEND....IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE... I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO VISIT THIS SPA FOR MANY YEARS, BUT NEVER COULD AFFORD THE WEEKLY COST. RECENTLY AFTER OPENING A BRAND NEW KITCHEN AND COOKING SCHOOL, THEY BEGAN OFFERING "SATURDAYS AT THE RANCH", COMPLETE WITH A THREE HOUR COOKING CLASS, USE OF THE HEALTH FACILITIES, POOL, BUFFET VEGETARIAN LUNCH AND FITNESS CLASSES....

WE ARRIVED AT ABOUT 10:00AM - A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THE SWINE FLU....TOOK A YOGA CLASS, WALKED AROUND THE BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS AND THEN SAT BY THE POOL...THEY OFFERED A HEALTHY VEGETARIAN BUFFET LUNCH...EVERYTHING SERVED IS GROWN RIGHT THERE AT RANCHO LA PUERTA!

AT 3:00PM A BUS TOOK US TO ANOTHER LOCATION WHERE THEY HAVE BUILT THE MOST AMAZING STATE OF THE ART KITCHEN, THERE ARE ACRES AND ACRES OF ORGANIC VEGGIES AND FLOWERS GROWING...

WITH A GROUP OF JUST 16, WE CHOSE ONE OF 8 DISHES TO PREPARE FOR DINNER, BETSY AND I CHOSE DESSERT..... A HEALTHY CARROT CAKE..DUH!!

WE WENT INTO THE GARDEN TO PICK SOME VEGETABLES FOR ONE OF THE RECIPES...PUT ON OFFICIAL APRONS, WHILE THE HEAD CHEF GAVE US COOKING TIPS. AFTER MIXING, CHOPPING AND SAUTEEING, WE SAT DOWN TO A DELICIOUS DINNER OF CARROT AND JICAMA SALAD, ROASTED VEGETABLES, GRILLED TILAPIA, QUINOA AND OUR CARROT CAKE!

WHAT A MOTHERS DAY GIFT....WITH SPECIAL MEMORIES WITH A GOOD FRIEND!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU!

IN HONOR OF EARTH DAY

5

I decided to take a walk through Quail Botanical Gardens, located here in Encinitas....a lovely place with a palm canyon, cactus garden, bamboo forest, and a relaxing waterfall surrounded by lush trees. This peaceful oasis is to home to plants from all over the world, and a couple of whimsical garden people. A Children's Garden has been recently added and they have great events....I am looking forward to the Chocolate Festival and the Wine Festival coming up in the next month---Wine and Chocolate and a beautiful garden...what more could a woman want??

Let's all honor Mother Earth and enjoy the nature around us ----whether it's in our backyard, a community park, or a nearby lake or ocean.

P.S. I bid on and won a brand new red Kitchen Aid Mixer on EBAY - Thanks for all your advice and suggestions!

Now, THIS is a coffee house!

Everyone has a Starbucks around the corner. How many of you have a coffee house that you have been visiting for over 25 years? One where you remember going to for a latte with your girlfriends, after aerobics class, still dressed in your leg warmers and Reebok's? Or when you were unemployed, a place to hang out and read the want ads for hours....Well, the Pannikin is that place!

The Pannikin was the original Encinitas Train Depot, built in 1888. In 1975 it become a charming yellow coffee house, with delicious teas, freshly roasted coffees and awesome baked goods...

This morning I met Janie, Panini Girl for coffee, and we reminisced about how LONG we have been coming to this special place. Besides selling its own blend of coffees, they sells lots of coffee and tea paraphernalia, and for many years it was the home of a wonderful art gallery...

Outside, there are colorful Adirondack chairs strewn all over the lawn...families come with their dogs and their kids pretty much run wild. Sometimes there is a line of 20 people outside the door.

Mostly what the Pannikin is a local place where people can come, run into their neighbors, or their 20 year old daughter's kindergarten teacher, and feel at home.

With times being the way they are, I think we all need to find a place in our community that welcomes us.... a home away from home. I hope you have a special place like this where you live.

If you do, make sure you support them.

CITY BY THE BAY

WE JUST RETURNED LAST NIGHT FROM a WEEK'S VACATION IN SAN FRANCISCO...VISITING MY DAUGHTER ALI AND MY MOTHER IN LAW, ENJOYING THE SIGHTS AND ENERGY OF THE CITY BY THE BAY .

I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT YOUR BLOGS IN A WHILE, I APOLOGIZE AND REALIZED THAT THURSDAY, APRIL 9TH, WAS THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MY BLOG.

WHAT A YEAR ITS BEEN. I HAVE NOTHING BUT POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE WHOLE BLOGGING EXPERIENCE... MEETING GREAT PEOPLE.. SHARING THINGS ABOUT MYSELF, AND DISCOVERING THERE ARE MANY WOMEN WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT I AM! I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO MEET ONE BLOGGING FRIEND, JANIE, AT PANINI GIRL....I HOPE TO MEET MORE OF YOU IN THE FUTURE.....HINT----SAN DIEGO IS A LOVELY PLACE TO VISIT.

I DO HAVE TO SHARE THOUGH I HAVE GAINED A FEW POUNDS BLOGGING, BUT NOW THAT SPRING IS HERE, I AM GOING TO GET OUT MORE AND EXERCISE, AND SIT ON THE COUCH LESS.!

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUGGESTIONS ON THE KITCHEN AID MIXER SITUATION. I AM BACK TO CHECKING OUT EBAY FOR DEALS!

I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY EASTER.

CRAIG'S LIST BLUES...

DO YOU SEE THIS LOVELY RED KITCHEN AID MIXER....IT IS THE MIXER OF MY DREAMS, BUT RIGHT NOW I CAN'T AFFORD THE $300.00 PRICE TAG. I HAVE FANTASIES OF WHIPPING UP SOME GREAT CHEESECAKES, BROWNIES, AND CUPCAKES...JUST LIKE INA AND GIADA!

A FEW WEEKS AGO I STARTED SEARCHING CRAIGS LIST FOR A USED MIXER....I SAW ONE FOR $140.00, ONE FOR $130.00, A FEW FOR ABOUT $90.00- BUT, BY THE TIME I CALLED OR EMAILED, ...SOLD.... -ON SATURDAY NIGHT I WAS PERUSING AND NOTICED "A HOUSEHOLD DIVORCE SALE" ON CRAIGS LIST. A GAL WAS SELLING THE CLASSIC WHITE KITCHEN AID FOR $50.00- I CAN AFFORD THAT!. SO IMMEDIATELY I EMAILED HER THAT I WAS INTERESTED!! WE SET A TIME FOR 11:00AM SUNDAY MORNING TO TAKE A LOOK.. SHE GAVE ME HER PHONE NUMBER TO CALL HER WHEN WE ARRIVED AT HER APT. COMPLEX...AT 11:03 I CALLED HER NUMBER..

HI.MELISSA, WE ARE HERE! HER RESPONSE, OH, I TRIED TO CONTACT YOU VIA YOUR EMAIL, BUT COULDN'T FIND IT!... THIS MORNING WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE MIXER, I DROPPED IT AND IT BROKE!!!!

NOW IS THAT THE TRUTH, OR DID SHE SELL IT ALREADY TO SOMEONE ELSE....I SAID OH OK, GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DIVORCE SALE!!

NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS A LITTLE MAD...

SO NOW I AM SEARCHING E BAY FOR ANOTHER DEAL!! SO FAR, I HAVE BEEN OUTBID ON SEVERAL SLIGHTLY USED MIXERS--I AM GETTING FRUSTRATED! ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO BE THE WINNER OF MY VERY OWN SHINY KITCHEN AID!

ARE SICILIANS ITALIAN??

WELL, THAT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK. APPARENTLY SICILIANS ALWAYS FEEL THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE "BOOT" FROM THE REST OF ITALY. .I AM HALF SICILIAN. MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN PALERMO. WHEN I WAS A KID, I WOULD ASK HIM, ARE YOU IN THE MAFIA GRANDPA???....HE WOULD GET REALLY MAD, AND SAY, THERE IS NO MAFIA!...I HAVE VISITED ITALY BUT HAVE YET TO ENJOY THE

RUSTIC BEAUTY OF SICILY.

LAST WEEK, ANTHONY BORDAIN, HOST OF "NO RESERVATIONS" ON BRAVO, DID AN EPISODE ON SICILY....I LOVE TONY!! HE IS SARCASTIC, FUNNY, AND A GREAT WRITER. HIS SHOW ALWAYS GIVES YOU A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON TRAVEL!

WATCHING THIS SHOW WAS MY FIRST REAL TASTE OF WHAT SICILY IS LIKE ...A PLACE OF EXTREMES, FROM THE SLOPES OF MT. ETNA, READY TO ERUPT AT ANY MOMENT, TO THE CLEAR BEAUTIFUL WATERS OF COASTAL TOWNS AND ALL OF THE ANCIENT RUINS...SICILIANS ARE PROUD PEOPLE, LIVING SIMPLY, WITH SO MUCH BEAUTY AND NATURAL RESOURCES AROUND THEM,....THE SEA SALT FROM TRAPANI, ABUNDANT SEAFOOD, VINEYARDS, OLIVE GROVES, BLOOD ORANGES AND LEMONS GROWING ON EVERY HILLSIDE. AND LET'S NOT FORGET THEIR RICH DESSERTS - ESPECIALLY CANNOLIS!

I AM HOPING TO VISIT WITH MY BROTHER SOMEDAY, AND EXPERIENCE ALL THAT IT HAS TO OFFER....I JUST HOPE WE DON'T RUN INTO THOSE SO CALLED "MAFIOSOS!

GOT LEMONS???

Don't make lemonade....make Limoncello Cheesecake Squares!

Nonstick cooking spray
8 ounces purchased biscotti
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons grated lemon zest
1 (12-ounce) container fresh whole milk ricotta, drained, at room temperature
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup limoncello liqueur*, store bought or homemade
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs, at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of a 9 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Finely grind the biscotti in a food processor. Add the melted butter and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, and process until the crumbs are moistened. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom (not the sides) of the prepared pan. Bake until the crust is golden, about 15 minutes. Cool the crust completely on a cooling rack.

Blend the ricotta in a clean food processor until smooth. Add the cream cheese and sugar and blend well, stopping the machine occasionally and scraping down the sides of the work bowl. Blend in the limoncello, vanilla, and remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon zest. Add the eggs one at a time, and pulse just until blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan. Place the baking pan in a large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the baking pan. Bake until the cheesecake is golden and the center of the cake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour (the cake will become firm when it is cold).

Transfer the cake to a rack; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days. Cut the cake into squares and serve.

*Limoncello liqueur can be found at most liquor stores and in the liquor department of some specialty markets.

These are creamy, smooth and lemony!!