pasta party

 

Homemade pasta is amazing!

false spring

Mushroom Mayhem

 Today I went on a beautiful hike through Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos, CA. Its so lush, green and covered in mushrooms! Here's a glimpse of a few of the fungi I spotted. (When I identify all of them I'll post it)

Conocybe tenera, inedible.

Tremella mesenterica, inedible. Also know as "Witch's Butter."

Mycena epipterygia, edibility unknown.

 

Boutiquing

Bought these rad earrings at Ramona Lou in Downtown Auburn, CA. Super cute, new vintage store with lots of fun finds!

Cinna-nomm Rolls

Baked Cinnamon Rolls from a great Better Homes and Gardens: New Cook Book recipe. The only bad thing was this winter weather! Because my kitchen was too cold, the dough wouldn't rise. So I had to get really creative to make sure it proofed right. It turned out to be just right. Very yummy!

San Fransisco

 Chandelier in the Hyatt Grand

 

Closing time in China Town

 

 Spent some time in the Ferry Building Marketplace at the Embarcadero, a foodie's paradise! I bought a semi-firm, peppercorn goat cheese at Cowgirl Creamery. They have a delicious selection of cheeses!
 

I was really impressed by Blue Bottle Coffee! They patiently brew individual cups of coffee by drip and each cup of tea they give to you fully steeped!

look out your window

Cookie Cutter

 

 Made some adorable Gingerbread cookies today!

Santa Cruz Fungus Fair 2011

The Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz puts on an amazing fair! Seminars, cooking demos, identification experts, mushroom vendors and displays of central coast mushrooms made for a very shroomy day! The best part was learning ways to cook with mushrooms and learning about mushrooms that I've seen hiking through Santa Cruz county. Next year you have to go!

Bargin Buy

Found a complete retro Fondue Set at the Salvation Army today for only $5.50

Mmmm...Cant wait to get this it fired up!

Bun Bun

I love Bun Bun. 
He's the cutest little guy.

locally grown

Wandered on a foothill farm and found these jems. Everything about Persimmons are wonderful! The color, taste, the time of year and climate they grow and the things you can make out of them!

Cream Scones

My favorite scone recipe! Instead of butter, it has cream which cuts out some work and calories. With this basic recipe it makes it easy to add anything leaving you with any type of scone! I've done chocolate chunk, strawberry, blackberry, lemon and this morning I made apple cinnamon!

Cream Scones

2 cups All purpose flour (sometimes I switch half out with whole wheat flour)

1/4 cup Granulated sugar

2 1/2 tsp Baking powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1 1/4 cups Heavy cream

1 TB Cream

1 TB Course sugar/brown sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a medium sized bowl sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and any other desired dry ingredients.

After its all mixed, add any fruit/chocolate or any other ingredients for flavor.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the whipping cream. Stir mixture with a large spatula pressing down the dough along the sides of the bowl to moisten all the dry ingredients. The dough will look a little shaggy.

Place dough on a floured surface and press into a 8" circle. Work quickly so you don't warm the dough. Cut dough into 6-8 triangle wedges.

Place wedges on a greased and floured cookie sheet. Brush the tops with the 1 TB of cream and sprinkle sugar on top. Baked for 12-15 minutes until the top is light and golden.

Bon Appetit!

Bloom

 

Sprouted Buckeye

 

 Numi Flowering Tea

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Happy New Year