So Much to See in Santa Barbara

A few weeks ago I went to Carpenteria for a few days with a couple of friends. Our big outing was a day in Santa Barbara. There is so much to see and do there. We spent the entire day there and came back at dinnertime, exhausted.

There are many sights to see, but probably the most famous and most interesting is the Santa Barbara Mission. It has been beautifully restored to it's former splendor, and a guided tour can give you all the history. In front of the mission is a beautiful rose garden, very much in bloom at this time of year. As you drive up a slight incline to the mission you see the rose garden, then the mission. It's a beautiful sight.

Another building worth visiting is the Courthouse. It is a working courthouse today, and is well maintained. You can take an elevator, then stairs, to the top of the building. From the top you have panoramic views in all directions.

I had not been shopping in Santa Barbara in many years, and was shocked at how it had grown up. It has every possible type of store imaginable, and restaurants galore. It is really a shoppers paradise, with everything from Nordstrom to little coffee houses. The 25 cent trolley that runs from the beach to the end of the shopping street is fun, and makes parking less of a problem. You can park anywhere, then just take the trolley.

Where to eat in Santa Barbara? We were there during the day, so I only have recommendations for a few very casual spots. On the wharf, with beautiful views, try Longboards. They have great margaritas and good fish and chips. Also good for fish and chips, and also on the wharf is Char West. The Habit, a small hamburger chain that originated in the Santa Barbara area is on State Street, the main shopping street. Good, juicy, messy burgers. Our favorite find was Yogurtland (http://www.yogurt-land.com/), a self serve yogurt shop. The prices are great. 30 cents per ounce, including toppings. The flavors are fantastic, and many I've never seen anywhere else. Pistachio, pomegranete-raspberry, lemon lime, and many, many others. Unfortunately Yogurtland has no locations in North County San Diego, but they have four locations in San Diego and a few in Orange County. They should be here soon. Anyway, after the yogurt we drove back to Carpenteria, exhausted, after a day full of great shopping, sightseeing and eating.

Three Little Words

The three little words I'm talking about are not "I love you." They're words you see almost everywhere today, and if you remember them they will save you a lot of money. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. These are the three R's of waste management.

Reduce the amount and toxity of trash you throw away. This is easy to do if you bring your own bags to the grocery store, buy products that are packaged in an environmentally green way, and dispose of toxic material properly.

Reuse as many products as you can. For example, the plastic butter container can become a container for leftovers when it is used up, boxes and bags can be used many times, and plastic bags can also be reused. I use the newspaper bag as a doggie poop bag. Many products in home building can be reused. I have seen plumbing supplies, bricks, shingles, and wood reused again and again. I saw a great example of reusing products in Santa Barbara, at the store Art From Scrap, where donated throwaway items like cassette cases, foam, old tile, pottery, thread, pieces of paper, etc were turned into beautiful art.

Recycling is the final step. If you can't find another use for a throway item, then it's time to recycle. This means making sure that if it is toxic, it is disposed of properly. Otherwise, make sure it goes to the proper recycling bin. You can also help in reducing the amount of recycling by buying products that are packed simply, and use materials that are biodegradable. This helps alot.

These few little steps can make a difference. I already see my own progress. I produce less waste each week and when I get my composting going, it will be even less. Time to learn and practice the three R's all over again.

El Salvadoran Specialty: Pupusas

We always ate a lot of Mexican food when my kids were growing up. We had two women work for us over the years, a Guatamelan woman, Anna Maria, and a very special woman, Julia, from El Salvador, who taught me to cook their local specialities. Up until that time the only Mexican food I ate were tacos and enchilladas. But to my delight, there is a whole other world out there. Pupusas are an El Salvadoran specialty.



When my kids were young, one of their favorite outings was to go to church with Julia and her family on Sunday, and then to one of the many pupuserias in Los Angeles. She always enjoyed taking the two blond boys into a heavily ethnic neighborhood. The kids LOVED it. They both spoke Spanish, and fit right in. Only the adults noticed the difference between my two kids, and the rest of the children. This was such a great lesson for both them and me. I didn't realize at the time these outings were a "teachable moment" .

Pupusas

2 cups masa harina

• 1 cup warm water


• 1 cup filling

1. Mix masa and water and kneed well. Add water one tablespoon at a time to make a moist, yet firm dough.

2. Roll dough into a log, cut into eight pieces, and roll each into a ball.

3. Press each ball with thumb to make an indentation. Put 1 T. filling into each indentation and fold dough to completley enclose. Press ball out to make a disc shape.

4. Line a tortilla press with plastic and press each ball into a 5-6 inch wide disc, 1/4 inch thick. If you don't have a tortilla press, roll ball between plastic to desired size.

5. Cook in ungreased skillet over medium high heat 1-2 minutes on each side. Serve with Curtido and Salsa Roja. (recipes below)

Curtido

Mix 1/2 head of grated cabbage, 1 grated carrot, 3 chopped scallions, 1/2 c. white vinegar, 1/2 c. water, 1 diced jalapeno, and 1/2 tsp salt. Allow to sit and ferment before serving. Can be stored in a jar for future use.

Salsa Roja

Put 3 T. olive oil in skillet, heat onions and garlic until the onions are transluscent, add 1 diced jalapeno, 2c. skinned and seeded tomatoes, and 2 tsp dried oregano. Cook for 10 minutes, then puree in blender. Serve this sauce on the side with pupusas

Fillings for Pupusa (use one, or combine fillings)

1. Cheese-use quesillo, queso fresco, farmers cheese, or mozarella or a combo of chesses. You can also add diced chilis to spice it up.

2. Chicharrones-take fried chopped pork and a little tomato sauce and fill pupusas with this mixutre.

3. Refried beans.

My mouth is watering just thinking about pupusas with curtido and salsa roja. I don't think we have a pupuseria nearby so I will have to wait until my Sunday trip to LA to solve this craving.

Another Great Happy Hour: La Costa Grill

The other night I was stuck with nothing at home to make for dinner, and after a long day of playing bridge, I decided we'd go out to dinner. We decided to try a new restaurant, La Costa Grill. It is located in the old Crazy Burro building, at the corner of Alga and El Camino Real. The Mexican exterior remains, but that's about all. The interior is sleek and contemporary, with very comfortable furniture. The bar area is large and very busy, quite noisy. If you're there for happy hour you can also eat on the front patio, which is perfect with our beautiful weather right now. Their happy hour can't be beat for price or quality of food. It's from 4-6pm Monday through Friday, and also 9-11pm. Early or late, it's a great choice for a light dinner or snack.

Everything I tasted was good and plentiful. How about a burger on a bun for $4 (not a slider)? Guacamole and chips are $3. The shrimp cocktail looked delicious (I'm allergic) for $4. Two fish tacos, in either corn or flour tortillas, stuffed and messy for $3. Smoked ahi appetizer for $4. There were other items too, but it's easy to combine two items and have a delicious meal. The drinks, beer and wine were all $4.

The regular menu and the bar menu are extensive, but I will review those items another time. Give this restaurant a try at happy hour, especially while the weather is warm. I would avoid the weekends. I have a feeling it's very crowded and very loud.

Why Take the Bus?

I lived in Los Angeles most of my life, and I can honestly say I didn't take the bus more than a handful of times, and that was when I was very young. When we first started coming to San Diego for summers in the 1990's, we would usually stay at the Hilton in Torrey Pines. My husband and I were into long, strenuous walks, and we would often walk into Del Mar and back, about eight miles, with one crazy hill. Well, we got lazy after awhile, and decided we would walk one way and then take the bus back. That was when I first discovered how great the bus is. For 50 cents (at that time) the bus would take me to within a few feet of my destination, and I got to ride on a clean, uncrowded bus. When we lived in Del Mar and for a time only had one car, I took the bus often. I could ride to UTC in 15 minutes, without having to search for a parking space. It was great. Cheap, safe and friendly..

So we moved here permanently, had two cars and I no longer took the bus. The California way is to have one person in each car. What a waste. Just check out the freeway and you'll see what I'm talking about. Well, a few years ago gas prices skyrocketed, and I again started to think about the bus. I now live in Carlsbad, and the bus is just a three minute walk, so I started taking it occasionally. It went right down the coast to Solana Beach and Del Mar, where I was often going. Great money saver. I also used the bus to go to the Encinitas Fair, Carlsbad Fair and Moonlight Beach. Great way to avoid parking problems as well.

So why am I writing about this? Because today I am taking my car up to Oceanside to get new brakes, and I will probably be without a car for a day or two. I checked the bus schedule and discovered that there is a bus to bring me home, and there is another bus that can take me to Solana Beach later today. I always think of the inconvenience of NOT having a car, but it really isn't so bad. It just takes a little more time to get from place to place, but it also gives you time to relax and enjoy the scenery, listen to music or read, and enjoy living in Paradise!

After writing this blog, I discovered thatthe towns of Encinitas, Leucadia and Cardiff by the Sea are running a pilot program until Labor Day, September 7. It's a coast shuttle, that makes 11 stops between Leucadia and Cardiff, day and night. It is intended to promote movement between the three coastal communities without creating traffic congestion. I will definitely check this out. The shuttle runs on bio-fuel that has been converted from used vegetable oil. It is an extension of the city of Encinitas' Greening our Community efforts. I'm up for that. Go to www.leucadia101.com to check out the schedule.

Art From Scrap

I just came back from Santa Barbara, and visited the most amazing, innovative store. It is called Art from Scrap(http://www.artfromscrap.org). It is a nonprofit that truly lives the common phrase you hear today, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The concept is this. Scraps are donated to the store by everyone and anyone, from individuals that have buttons to get rid of, to manufacturers who have excess product, such as tile, carpet samples, pieces of foam, old box springs, marbles,, paper, wallpaper, just about anything you can think of. Schools in the area pay $1 per student per year and teachers come and use the materials with their classes to create beautiful art. Camps and adults also come to the studio and pay to create their own masterpieces. Some of what is created is quite amazing. Each year they have a fund raiser, auctioning off many pieces of art, sometimes at very hefty prices. Sorry I can't show it to you, but I was unable to get permission from any of the artists to print their work.

This is an example of taking recycled materials and reusing them. This reduces the waste in landfills by millions of pounds per year. Hopefully these businesses will be popping up all over the country in the near future. What a wonderful way to recycle and reuse.

Cupcakes: Are They Here to Stay?

Well of course they're here to stay, but are the cupcake shops that are becoming so popular just a fad? I'm not exactly sure where the cupcake frenzy began, either New York or Los Angeles, but it's been around for awhile. Two years ago I went to Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills, as I had heard this was the new "In " place. The line was out the door. I waited at least 20 minutes to buy my lemon cupcake with lemon cream frosting. I was not impressed. It was good, but not great, and certainly not worth $3.75 (I think that was the price).

Several cupcake shops have opened in the San Diego area. In the Gaslamp you can visit Heavenly Cupcakes (wwwheavenlycupcakes.com). They have many flavors which vary from day to day. Carrot, chocolate mint, banana chip, lemon, orange chip, peanut butter and s'mores are just some of the flavors available. They are good, with a nice moist cake. Most cupcakes are $3.

Another cupcake shop opened recently in Solana Beach. It is called Cupcake Love. I've been there several times, and sampled a few flavors. Coconut cream dream, lemon, German Chocolate, and cinnamon swirl are all delicious. What I especially like is that they have little bite sized cupcakes for $1.75, for those that just want a taste.

Bristol Farms in La Jolla has the most delicious cupcakes imaginable. They are huge, loaded with frosting, and cannot be eaten in one sitting. For my birthday this year I had a little party at Station Sushi with my friend Molly, who is one day older than me. We had about 10 people for lunch, and our friend Paula brought cupcakes from Bristol Farms for dessert. They were great. I don't know the cost, but one cupcake is big enough for two.

So, are the cupcake shops here to stay, or will they go the way of the dodo bird? Let's put it this way, I wouldn't be investing my money in a cupcake shop. I think in a few years they'll go the way of the croissant shops of the 80's. You'll find them in bakeries, just the way you always did. Cupcakes are here to stay, but cupcake shops, that's another story.

Finally, Tomatoes

Better late than never. My tomatoes were so slow in growing this year, I thought I'd never have more than one tomato at a time. Finally, here we are in the middle of July, and I have tomatoes galore. So what should you do with all those ripe tomatoes? I have two recipes to help you out, one using ripe tomatoes, the other using firm green tomatoes. I hope you like them.

Golden Gazpacho Soup

• 2 lbs. golden tomato cored and quartered


• 1 small yellow onion, diced


• 1 medium yellow squash, halved lengthwise and thickly sliced


• 1 garlic cloved, minced


• 1 yellow pepper, cored and seeded, and cut in chunks


• 1/2 c. carrot juice


• 3 T. sherry wine vinegar


• 2 T. olive oil


• coarse salt


• 1 avocado, diced


• 1 small red heirloom tomato

Place all ingredients in a blender, except the last two, and blend until desired consistency is reached. Some like a smooth soup, I prefer a little texture, so I tend to keep in chunky. Refrigerate for at least two hours, garnish with avocado slices and red tomatoes.

Fried Green Tomatoes

• 3 medium firm green tomatoes, cut in 1/2 inch slices and sprinkled with salt


• 1/2 c. all purpose flour


• 1/4 c. milk


• 2 beaten eggs


• 2/3 c. dry bread crumbs


• 1/2 c. olive oil for frying


• salt and pepper

Allow salted tomato slices to sit for fifteen minutes, then dip in flour, then egg, then bread crumbs. Fry in skillet with olive oil for 4-6 minutes. Salt and enjoy.

A Significant Life

I was saddened to hear of the death of Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt. He wrote Angela's Ashes in 1997, after a 30 year career as a New York City school teacher. At an age when most people are retiring, he began a new one. He learned a lesson that he had spent years imparting to his students. He learned the significance of his own insignificant life. His first book, Angela's Ashes, told the story of his own miserable childhood in Ireland, after his alcholic father had abandoned the family.

He also wrote Teacher Man, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. It was about his many years as a creative writing teacher in New York, and is a must read for all teachers. He was a gentle, encouraging man, and this memoir shows how he got the most out of his students. He will be missed.

Speaking of teachers and memoirs, one of my favorite books is The Freedom Writers Diary, by Erin Gruwell. It is an inspiring story of a young teacher in a poor school who finds innovative ways to motivate her students. Erin was a new teacher who stumbled onto creative ways of reaching her students, many of which were rebuked by the administration. For anyone who ever taught, you can almost feel Erin's frustration in dealing with the school district.

As an avid reader, I have a long list of books I recommend. These are just two (three actually, because I loved Angela's Ashes) of many, and I will comment on more books in the future. Happy reading.

A Wonderful Weekend Getaway

Even though we live in paradise, it's still nice to get away occasionally. My friend Christie has beautiful condo right on the beach in Carpinteria, California. It's a three and a half hour drive from Carlsbad, so I jumped at the chance to spend a few days there with Christie and a few other women. It's a wonderful beach community with a very slow pace. It's just what I needed, and although we were busy every minute I felt so relaxed. No schedule to adhere to, no place to be unless we wanted to be there, no one to cook and clean for. What a wonderful few days.

Carpinteria State Beach is a wide, sandy beach, with small surf, cool water, and lots of sun. We arrived around 11am, unpacked, walked around the main street for an hour or two, had lunch, then hit the beach. The main drag, Linden Avenue, is about four blocks of wonderful restaurants and boutiques. Beyond the Sea is a great antique store with collectable toys, games, old telephones, china, and crystal. Island Outfitters carries clothes, shoes and accessories, many of which you won't find anywhere else. The Cotton Company carries beautiful clothes and accessories for the mature woman, and everything was well priced. Kids World carries hand made childrens toys, bath accessories, unique childrens' clothing, and even some fancy gardening accessories. After a bit of shopping, we stopped at Tony's pizza and pastaria. The lunch of burgers, salads and sub sandwiches was good, but the highlight was the homemade banana cream pie. Chef Michael worked many months developing the recipe. His wife Lucy, was our waitress. She was the guinea pig who had to try each new pie recipe, and in the process gained 15 pounds! The pie was outrageous, we shared one piece and left stuffed and satisfied.

Next, it was off to the beach for the rest of the afternoon. It's a very family friendly beach, as there is an adjacent campground and many families vacation there in the summer. We walked, talked, read, and slept the afternoon away. The many condos, motels and campgrounds offer families and couples a variety of accomodations to choose from.

Dinner (after wine and appetizers at the condo) was at The Palms. Another family friendly place where for $12.95 I had a 10 ounce rib eye steak, cooked to perfection by me, all you can eat salad bar, spicy beans, bread, and baked potato. What a feast. They bring the raw meat to your table, and you go to the grill and cook and season it to your liking. It was lots of fun, and the price was right.

The following day was spent in Santa Barbara, which I will tell you about at a later time, but a few other places of note in Carpinteria are The Spot, a fantastic hamburger stand, messy with lettuce, tomato, mayo and catsup, Reynaldo's, a delicious smelling bakery that I didn't get to try because I could only eat so much, but all the locals said we should go in the morning for coffee and baked goods, and Robataille's, a fantastic candy store. Robataille's makes the official mints for the presidential inagugural, and have for many years. They also have wonderful fudge, and even sugar free candy. Yes, they are related to the famous hockey player Luc Robataille. He is a cousin.

Finally, Carpinteria is known for growing and shipping flowers all over the world, and we had a chance to visit Seacrest Nursery. It was most memorable. The nursery is divided into sections, such as Mediterranean plants, shade plants, succulents, vegetables, etc. I was interested in succlents, and spent most of my time there. What a selection. I saw many plants I had never seen before. So all in all Carpinteria is a wonderful getaway, filled with much to do in a quiet, picturesque setting. Don't forget to visit the Seal Sanctuary overlooking the bluffs of Carpinteria. Lots to enjoy, I hope you do.

Finally, don't forget tomorrow, July 21, if you visit Starbucks and buy a drink you get a free pastry.

And They're Off

That's what you'll hear nine times a day, from July 22-September 9, excluding Mondays and Tuesdays, at Del Mar Racetrack (http://www.dmtc.com/). San Diegans look forward to the Del Mar racing season, as it brings lots of visitors to its hotels and restaurants, and creates a great buzz in the area. Not to mention the fun we're all going to have at Del Mar.

Having been involved in horseracing for over 30 years, I know the ins and outs of Del Mar intimately. I spent many early mornings watching horses work, talking to jockeys, trainers and owners. It's a fascinating community of people from every walk of life. Morning visits to the backstretch taught me how hard everyone works to prepare their horses for racing. Everything changes in the afternoon, when winning is the focus. As a spectator of this wonderful sport, we often don't realize the hours of preparation that go into each and every horse in a race. It's wonderful to watch these magnificent athletes perform.

This year the racing week is only five days, Tuesday-Sunday. There are many reasons for this, but there's still plenty of time to go out and have fun. General admission is $6, and $10 gets you a clubhouse seat. Many people like to buy a general seat and go into the Veranda Room, a casual restaurant that overlooks the paddock, and have lunch and bet there. Ask for Ricardo, the maitre d'. He's a friend of mine and he'll give you a great seat where you can see all the paddock action, then watch the race on TV. The food is great. Concession stands have been upgraded both in quality and price, as you can now find Oggis pizza, Mrs. Fields coffee, Fish and chips, burgers and fries, and gourmet coffee drinks.

Purchasing a Diamond Club Pass is your best bet if you plan to go multiple times. You can get the form online, then turn it in at the booth at the track. With this pass seniors get in free on Thursdays, and general and clubhouse admission is always half off. Pretty good deal.

For the youngest attendees, there is Camp Del Mar. For $24, children ages 5-12 can attend a wonderful day camp at the track. Price includes lunch and a t-shirt. I know many kids who go regularly and love it. Friday night is concert night, and the performers can be found on the web site. Lots of young people attending these outdoor concerts.

Finally, the history of Del Mar is so interesting to read. Check out the web site for more details. Bing Crosby and a few friends opened the track in 1937, and it was an instant success. It was closed during WW11 from 1942-1944, but after that it became the playground for Hollywood stars. In 1993 the new Del Mar, the beautiful facility you see today, was opened. One of the the highlights of Del Mar history was in 1996, when 44,000 people (me included) watched a match race between Dare and Go and the great Cigar. It was a huge upset, and a race I will never forget.

So go out and have some fun. Betting and winning is great, but just being there and people watching is good too. See you at the races.

Sizzling Summer Specials

When the weather heats up in Mexico and the Caribbean, travel packages drop to all beach destinations. Pleasant Holidays, always affordably priced, has some hot summer specials for many beach destinations.

Packages from Los Angeles to Kona (Big Island) start at $498. That's usually less than you would pay for airfare alone. This is for a four day package at a budget resort.

Cancun, which can be quite hot in the summer months, has a number of well priced specials, also through Pleasant Holidays. A three night stay at the Oasis Cancun, a moderately priced all inclusive hotel starts at $279, which includes air from Los Angeles. You can hardly stay home for that price.

Or try the Crown Paradise Club Cancun for three nights, with rooms starting at $609 for an ocean view room in an all inclusive resort. Pleasant will add a Hertz economy car for free. If the heat doesn't bother you, these packages are great value.

Cancun is a wonderful destination, as there are many activities to keep you busy. A side trip to Tulum or Cozumel, or visit the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. Hope these destinations are of interest to you, or at least get you thinking about where you can go and how many great values are out there. So many places to see, so little time.

Obesity: An Epidemic

I usually don't write about current news stories, but I recently read something that really caught my attention. The obesity figures in America continue to rise, and the number of overweight and obese children is out of control. Mississippi has the highest percentage of obese residents, old and young. Colorado has the lowest, but in every state, obesity figures continue to rise.

I'm concerned about this for several reasons. Here we are trying to get health care costs under control and we are raising a generation of children of which 25% will be diabetic by the time they reach adulthood. That means their health care costs for the rest of their lives will be disproportionately more than for an average, healthy adult. Who pays? We all do, regardless of what kind of healthcare system we have.

There is talk of controling advertising of junk food, soda pop, and sugared cereals on childrens shows. I did not realize that the average child sees more than 10,000 food ads on TV each year, most for high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar meals. This makes if very difficult for them to want anything else. Some schools have gotten rid of soda machines and candy and chips. However, the fast food industry has infiltrated our schools and has signed lucrative food contracts worth millions of dollars. It will be years before some schools can legally get rid of some junk food items. Some school districts are trying to bring in healthier lunches for the students, but with cost such an issue, it is difficult to provide healthy options.

Why are we so fat? The answer is easy. It's a combination of diet and lifestyle. Living a life on the go, eating fast-food and microwave dinners, the health of the American people has been sacrificed. Our general lack of exercise and addiction to sedentary activities like video games and TV only add to the problem. Several years ago I went through the Pritikin Program, and one study has stuck in my mind. Scientists studied the weight and cholesterol figures for Japanese people from 1960-1975. Then they studied another group from 1980-1995. The earlier study, before fast food hit Japan, showed most Japanese to be of normal weight and cholesterol and having very little diabetes. The second study showed that weight in adults and children was up 20%, and diabetes was up over 55%. These are shocking numbers, but it is within our control to change them.

Why is it that parents can't learn to "Just say no?" Parents do have control of their kids almost exclusively for the first few years, and if these kids got off to a good nutritional start, perhaps some of the obesity could be eliminated, or at least delayed. Yes, fast food is everywhere, but with a little bit of discipline and the ability to say no to a begging child (you know, the one screaming in the supermarket that he wants a certain cereal), parents can take charge of raising healthy, happy kids.

What to do With Eggplant

My garden is growing. I have tomatoes all over the place, many different varieties and colors. I also have squash, which is not doing well. The yellow squash is very small, and the patty pan squash is doing nothing. However, my Japanese eggplant is doing great. I don't have many recipes for eggplant, but the one I will give you here is a winner. I started making this about 20 years ago when I had a big vegetable garden in my backyard and had to find some way to use the eggplant. This was perfect, as it is low in calories and can be eaten as a condiment with lamb or chicken, or just eaten as a snack. I hope you like it.

Japanese Eggplant Salad, Asian Style

• 4 Japanese eggplants, medium size


• 2 T. rice wine vinegar


• 3 T. soy sauce


• 1 T sesame oil


• 1 T. minced ginger


• 1 T. minced garlic


• 2 scallions, chopped


• 1 T chili paste with garlic (optional)

Cut eggplant into strips, about 1/2 inch wide and 2 inches long. Steam for about 15 minutes, until eggplant is tender. Drain and cool. Saute the garlic and ginger with the sesame oil, then add remaining ingredients of the sauce. Add the sauce to the eggplant, and marinate mixture for several hours or longer before serving. Mix the remaining ingredients together in a saucepan, add the cooked eggplant, and simmer for 5 minutes. Store in refrigerator. It will keep for at least a week, if it lasts that long. It is delicious cold, as a snack, or serve as a condiment with lamb or chicken. Enjoy.

Boulder Weekend

I spent the past few days in Boulder, Colorado, one of my favorite places to visit not only because my son Phil, and his wife Deborah live there, but because it has so much to do that I enjoy, and a philosophy of life that I love.

The reason for my visit was twofold. First, Phil's business, Phils Fresh Foods (http://www.philsfreshfoods.com/) is in the process of rebranding and expanding with a new name, Evol Burritos (http://www.evolburritos.com/). Their new offices in the foothills of Boulder have just opened, and they had a big party to introduce everyone to their new brand and the creative young men and women who are making everything happen.

Second, Phil and Deborah are expecting their first child in a few weeks, and I went to attend the baby shower, hosted by Deborah's sister, Leslie.

The weather was hot and steamy in Colorado, due to unexpected thunderstorms. We spent one morning walking along the creek in Boulder, and watching kayakers come down the rapids. It was a great way to keep cool.

We also spent several hours at the Boulder Farmers' Market. I am really into farmers' markets now, and have recently been visiting them wherever I go. The Boulder Market is one of the best in the country. I think the local outdoor markets are becoming a way of life in many communities. The locals have built in a visit to the market as part of their weekend routine. Everyone seems to know everyone else, so there is a definite social component to the outdoor market. Families, many with several small children in tow are enjoying socializing with friends and farmers, tasting the local fruit and produce, and watching food demonstrations. Of course the fruit, vegetables, herbs, baked goods, organic meats, chicken, eggs, and flowers were the freshest, most delicious ever!

One observation I have regarding the attitude of the young people in Boulder, compared to the thinking of yougsters in Southern California is that the youth in Boulder are all very conscious of the environment, composting and recycling are something they learn and practice almost from birth, and they make many life choices after weighing how their choice will impact the environment. We as adults are trying to change our traditional thinking, but if the next generation is made conscious of how they impact the environment from an early age, it will then become part of our way of life. Change really takes several generations to become fully implemented.

This was a wonderful weekend. I think from now on I will include a visit to the local farmers' market as part of my visit to any new city. Cities like Portland, Austin, Chicago and several places in New York all have great farmers' markets that I can't wait to visit. And of course the highlight of my weekend was seeing Phil and Deborah, and how happy they are.

More Happy Hours

In my continuing search to bring you the best happy hours in San Diego County, I now will review three more restaurants. I hope you find something new and interesting here.

Iris (http://www.irisfoodandspirits.com/) is a wonderful restaurant in Carmel Valley. The restaurant is good for both lunch and dinner, but if you're in the mood for something light, try their happy hour. It takes place Monday-Friday from 4-6, and consists of the dinner starters at 20% off. Cocktails are also offered at a reduced price. To give you an idea of what you might have, here are a few of their starters at the reduced price: Carlsbad black mussesl in a tomato basil sauce $9, baked goat cheese with pesto, garlic and carmelized onions$8, tempura firecracker shrimp$8.75, crispy calamari$7, Asian baby back lamb ribs$8, grilled pizzetta (something like a pizza)$7.25. There's more, but you get the idea. Many choices, and very eclectic.

Zenbu is a new sushi and seafood restaurant in Cardiff by the Sea. It is beautifully appointed, and draws a very upscale clientele. Happy Hour is Sunday and Monday all night, Tuesday-Thursday, 5-7, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11pm-1am. Most cocktails are $6, including sake, wine and mixed drinks. They have many sushi rolls and hand rolls to choose from, all ranging in price from $4 to $6. These include seaweed salad, California handrolls, shrimp tempura roll, and spicy salmon hand roll. Their fish is as fresh as can be. This is a nice new restaurant to enjoy for happy hour or a complete dinner.

Via Italia (http://www.viaitaliapizzeria.com/) is a wonderful restaurant for either dinner or happy hour. I have been going there for many years, first at the original location in Claremont Mesa, just off the 52 freeway, and for the past few years in Encinitas. They have recently added happy hour. It takes place every day from 3-6, and includes a wide array of appetizers, salads and pizza, and drinks. Prices range from $4-$8, so for less than $20 you can have a few appetizers and a drink. They have an antipasto, crostini with several toppings, bresaola (sliced beef), several pizzas, and many other options. Their food is delicious, and I have found the staff willing to accomodate as best they can. So here are a few more happy hours for you to try. I will soon have some more. There are so many out there, I could write about them every week and not cover them all.

Just a point of information. There is a difference between happy hour and early bird. Happy hour typically takes place between 4-6pm and consists of appetizers, salads, and drinks from the main menu at reduced prices. Early bird, on the other hand, is also early, usually 4-6, and consists of a complete meal at a reduced price. I haven't investigated early bird dinners in our area, but I will look into that sometime soon. In the meantime, continue to enjoy dining out, and keep trying new and unusual spots. We have so much to choose from.

There's More to Julian than Apple Pie

Julian is a great getaway for the day, or overnight. You really feel like you've gone somewhere. It's small, rural and so different than San Diego, just an hour away. The apple pie is not to be missed, and in the fall the apple cider makes you feel like you're back East. But don't forget summertime in Julian.

This summer, from August 20-23 is the Julian Starfest. It is a gathering of amateur astronomers for a weekend of lectures by guest speakers, exhibits by telescope manufactureres and night sky viewing. At an elevation of 4226 feet with clear, dark skies, the mountain resort town offers prime conditions for stargazing. To find out more about this event call 760-765 1083 or go to julainstarfest.com. This could be a fun little summer getaway, with an overnight at one of the many B and B's in the area. I will not be there, as I will be in Colorado at that time, but I thought there might be some of you out there that might be interested. Let me know if you go.

Exercise for Free

I know many of you feel that someone should pay YOU to exercise, but the reality is that group exercise is often very expensive. If you have a private trainer you might spend $50 per session, or an exclusive gym could cost you upwards of $100 per month. There are some free and fun ways to exercise for free!

My favorite free group exercise is at LuLu Lemon (http://www.lululemon.com/) in Carlsbad. Every Saturday at 9am they have a yoga class given each week by a different instructor from the area. It's a great way to experience many teachers and styles of yoga and find out what's best for you. They also teach pilates and zumba on Tuesday mornings, and they have a training program for those interested in triathelons and long distance running. They really perform a great community service.

In Encinitas there is a walking group that meets at the Lumberyard for early morning walks several times a week. Again, this is a free offering, and has a nice group of regulars. You can find informal groups of people walking almost anywhere, from Carlsbad to Torrey Pines. Several months ago a group of us walked from Moonlight Beach to Carlsbad during low tide. Most only expected to be able to walk one way, but with the group energy and encouragement, most of us made it all the way.

Many gyms and yoga studios will give you a trial offering of their program. Most yoga studios give you a free class, after that you have to pay. Cottonwood Creek Park in Encinitas has a bootcamp every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9am. The first class is free, then it's $20 per class.

Other free classes in the San Diego area include hula hooping, which is great fun and wonderful exercise for your core.

Perhaps the best value is the Ecke Y in Encinitas. All the Y's are great, and at $35 per month for a senior the price can't be beat, but the Ecke Y is outstanding. Everything from group walking to belly dancing, tap dancing, pool aerobics, zumba and pilates. There is truly something for everyone. I just love it.

Whatever you do, I hope you get out and enjoy our beautiful parks, beaches, and trails. We are so lucky to live in Southern California and have a climate that just begs us to put on our shorts and tennis shoes. Exercise really can be fun.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's 86th birthday. I wish you all knew her. She is amazing, and I hope I'm doing half of what she does in a day when I'm her age. Besides playing bridge twice a week with some wonderful women, some in their 90's, she does many other things. She takes a history class at UCLA every week, she leads a group of women on art tours around Los Angeles once a month, she belongs to a book club, and she counsels several senior citizens on how to manage their money, how to live alone, or whatever problems they might encounter. In her spare time she helps my niece Alison, who has just moved to Los Angeles. She takes her shopping every week and helps her with whatever she needs.

In addition to all of these activities, she has season tickets to the symphony and theatre. She goes to the movies almost every week too.

No question, my Mom's life is what I strive for. No complaints about arthritis or bad knees, no looking back. She enjoys everyday and is thankful for the life she has. And when one of her friends is in need, my mom is the first one there. Her lifelong friend Charlotte just lost her husband last week, and my mom was there to help the family with whatever they needed. She is a friend indeed.

Mom just got her license renewed for another five years, so she will continue to drive to Carlsbad to see me. It's great that she can still be so independent.

Mom adopted an adorable three year old chiuhuahua-daschaund named Captain about nine months ago, and has been working hard to train her. She took her to dog class, and works with her all the time. Except for her barking when people come to the door, she's a wonderful dog, and a great companion.

So here's to you, Mom. Wish I could be with you on your birthday, but we'll be together in Boulder for the weekend and celebrate then. Happy Birthday.

Great Lunch at Villa Capri

We used to eat often at Villa Capri (http://www.villacapriristorante.com/), in Carmel Valley, but since it is quite a distance from where we live now, I haven't been there in a while. I know they have expanded and have several locations, and reports from those that have eaten there lately are favorable. They do have an interesting concept that I think is a great value. They have a businessman's prix fixe lunch.

The three course meals start at $10.95, and go as high as $14.95. For $10.95 you get a Caesar salad or soup, grilled chicken with carmelized onions, eggplant and cheese, and dessert. For $11.95 you get the same starter choices with penne arrabbiata as the main course. For $12.95 you start with mozarella caprese or carpaccio caprese, followed by ravioli and dessert. For a little more they have a salmon dish. To me, this is a great value, as you would pay easily $30 for the same meal at night.

Villa Capri is also kid friendly, having several pizza and pasta choices for kids at very reduced prices. This is a great lunch choice when you're hungry, or when you're planning on a light dinner. The food is good, the price is right. I plan on going there soon. The fact that I don't live in the area anymore is no excuse. Distance has never been a problem for me. I figure once you're in the car, what's another 20 minutes? Tonight we're going to the Daily Grill in Irvine. That proves my point.

Those Oldies But Goodies

The other day I mentioned that things are never really quite the way you remember them. The dinner in France at a little cafe becomes, over time, a dining experience at a three star restaurant. Our memory exaggerates these experiences and they often become much more in our mind than they originally were. I was reminiscing about foods I had eaten years ago and wondered whether they were really as good as I remember.

So I went out to the garage and dug out my favorite cookbook from my younger years. It is called Thoughts for Buffets (published in 1958), and along with it's companion Thoughts for Foods, were the two books I relied on for many years. In the 1970's and 1980's I used to entertain a lot. I loved to cook, and would use these cookbooks, along with Gourmet Magazine, to throw some pretty terrific parties. One of my favorite desserts was Angel Fruit Pie, and I wanted to see if 40 years later this dessert was as good as I remembered. It was. So at least for this particular food, my mind did not exaggerate what my tastebuds remembered.

I started rereading the cookbook, stopping on the pages that were stuck together, realizing that I had made something on these pages, and remembering the menus that I had put together using those recipes. It was very nostalgic. There were a lot of great recipes in those cookbooks. I am going to try some of them again. Often we are looking for something new, a new way to do chicken or rice or whatever, when there are so many wonderful recipes we have left behind. So I for one will try some of these oldies again. My experience with the pie taught me that I need to trust my memory. If I was right about the pie, I could be right about some of the other wonderful foods I remember from the past.

Want to Feel Young Again?

There is nothing that I do that makes me feel more alive, younger, and just GREAT, than boogie boarding. When I moved to the San Diego area six years ago, my friend Christa invited me to join a group of a few women, all 60+, that went boogie boarding. I said Yes.

In my youth I lived just a few miles from Santa Monica beach and spent most of my waking hours during the summer at the beach, either playing volleyball or body surfing. I don't recall boogie boards even having been invented yet. We had rafts, and that was about it. It was long board surfing (which I was never very good at) or body surfing.

So at age 60 I discovered boogie boarding, which is so easy a small child can do it, in fact I was in the water with some little kids today and we all had a ball. Our group of 13 women braved 65 degree water, some in wetsuits (like me), some not (Fran and Christa). The waves were big and little bit choppy, but we were in the water for 45 minutes or more.

How can I describe what it feels like to catch a wave? Do you remember the feeling of riding in a convertible or motorcycle when you were young? Or the feeling of a great ski run? It's sort of like you can do anything! The way teenagers feel, like they're invincible. That's how it feels to me each and every time I go boogie boarding, and that's why I continue to go. Of course the comraderie with the women is amazing, but it's really that "I can do anything" feeling that brings me back again and again.

My First Tomato Harvest

I planted my garden at the end of March, and I figured by the first of June I would have more tomatoes than I knew what to do with. Not the case. The two tomatoes you see here is my first harvest. Pretty pathetic. I have, however, figured out the reason.

When I lived in LA my tomatoes took about 60 days to reach maturity. The reason was that we were about four miles inland, had more sun, and hotter days. Here in Carlsbad we have had nothing but overcast weather for the past few months, and when the sun does come out it is late afternoon and my tomatoes are in shade. I figure that July and August will bring my tomato plants to maturity. I can't wait, as I have many tomato recipes, and I will share some with you shortly. There's nothing like a fresh, ripe tomato with a little kosher salt. Yum.

My herbs are all doing wonderfully well. Squash is a big failure, so far. My yellow squash grows about four inches and stops, the same with the cucumbers. For those that live inland, anything in the squash family will do very well. Here on the coast we have to be patient to get big tomatoes, and wait for the fall, when the temperature will be perfect for autumn vegetables.

Lunch today will be the yellow tomato (pictured above) sliced, with buffalo mozarella, kosher salt, and basil. In short, a caprese salad. I can't wait for lunch today.