It's Officially Fall in San Diego, But How Can You Tell?

Go almost anywhere in the the country at this time of year, and you'll see definite signs of fall. Trees turning, cool mornings and cool nights, and shorter days. Not San Diego. It's hot and humid here, flies and mosquitos are still around, but yes, the evenings are cooling off. So how do you tell when it's fall in San Diego?

Check out the trees. Instead of turning beautiful shades of yellow, red and orange, our trees go from green to brown. That's one way to let you know it's fall.

Pumpkins. They're everywhere. Pumpkin patches and fields of pumpkins can be found all around the county. Oh, and Christmas decorations. Yes, they come with fall now too. It used to be they'd wait until after Halloween, but with business being so bad, holdiday decorating comes early.

The busy beaches turn quiet, my favorite time of year. Moonlight Beach, which is swarming with men, women and children during the summer, almost shuts down after Labor Day. The kids are back in school, the camps are closed, and we adults can play at the beach with little interruption. The ocean water during September is still warm and inviting. Quiet beaches is another sign of fall.

People are starting to wear something other than flip flops and shorts. You might see someone wearing real shoes or long pants. Then again, the weather's still so warm here you might have to wait another month to see that.

Traffic is another way to know it's fall. The heavy traffic on the 5 during the summer months has dwindled. Now it's just regulars using the freeway. Most of the tourists have gone home.

Finally, the cougars in Del Mar have changed their look from summer to fall. They have replaced their blue mascara with a nice shade of mauve or tan. And their bright, low cut summer dresses have been replaced with sexy black dress.

Enjoy fall. It's a beautiful time of year. You might actually be able to put on a sweater soon and wear some real shoes, rather than sandals. And enjoy the wonderful new fruits and veggies that grow at this time. San Diego is great all year round.

The Art of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz

Visiting this remarkable exhibit just before Yom Kippur was fitting, as it gave me an opportunity to learn about the life of a remarkable woman and her family, and reflect on my own life. Esther Nisenthal was a 12 year old girl in rural Poland when the Nazis invaded her village in 1939. She and her sister were the only two from her large family to survive the war, and through 36 tapestries she paints a picture of what life was life in her village before the Nazis, during the occupation, and throughout the war.

The Oceanside Museum of Art has always brought to the community unique exhibits, from the wonderful quilt exhibits to Pop Art exhibits, to this tapestry exhibit. The museum is a little gem, and I always check their calendar for upcoming exhibits. This collection of tapestries can be viewed through October 25, and I encourage everyone who hasn't seen it to try and do so. You won't soon forget Esther Nisenthal Krinitz.

After the war, Esther and her sister came to America, where they had relatives in New York. Esther married, and lived a happy life here, until her death in 2001. While raising her children in New York, she decided to make a tapestry, first for one daughter, then later another one for the younger daughter, depicting her life in Poland. Her obsession with recording her history in this way continued for over 20 years, as she described her childhood through her coming to America in 36 beautiful tapestries. Unfortuntely, she passed away before she was able to tell the story of her life in America through tapestsry. We have her daughters to thank for putting the exhibit together.

Esther was not a trained artist, but was magically able to evoke great emotion through her art. Her work looks somewhat primitive but she tells through these tapestries the transformation of a young innocent girl, to an adolescent who learns to do whatever it takes to survive.

We've all seen, heard, and read many accounts of Holocaust survivors, but this one is different. It showed me that there are many ways to tell a story, and there is no end to the imagination of man. It also taught me that in our darkest hours, man is still hopeful. As you view these tapestries you can see hope in every panel. I hope you have a chance to see the works of this remarkable of woman, Esther Nisenthal Krinitz.

Comfort Food Part 1

Comfort food is something we'll always find on the menu, we'll always make at home and we'll always crave. Why? Because it's so darn comforting. We are all conscious of eating healthy and watching our weight, but we have so many reasons to gravitate toward comfort foods. Any problem, large or small, and many of us turn to food. Last week we were out for dinner with our friends Jeff and Cookie. After eating a pretty healthy meal (we're all watching our weight) I couldn't resist ordering bread pudding for dessert. No one wanted the bread pudding until it showed up with three extra spoons, warm and inviting, covered with creme Anglaise. It was gone in a flash, and was it fantastic. We were at La Costa Grill, and I highly recommend their black and white bread pudding. Following is a recipe that I hope you will enjoy.

Bread Pudding with Creme Anglaise

16 slices (about 1 loaf)egg bread or challah
1-1/2 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen
1T. grated orange rind
6 eggs
3 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup sugar
1tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Trim off bread crusts, cut bread in cubes, and arrange half of bread cubes in lightly greased 12-inch oval baking dish. Scatter 2/3 each of the cranberries and orange rind over top. Cover mixture with remaining bread cubes, then top with remaining cranberries and orange rind. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cream, all but 1 T. of the sugar and the vanilla. pour over bread mixture. Let stand for 15 minutes. Using baster, drizzle liquid over bread mixture several times. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until puffed and golden and until a knife inserted comes out clean.

Orange Creme Anglaise

1 c. whipping cream
1 strip orange rind
3 egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup orange flavored liqueur or frozen orange juice concentrate

In a small saucepan, heat cream with orange rind over medium heat just until steaming. Remove from heat, discard orange rind. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks with sugar until pale, slowly whisk in cream. Return to saucepan, cook, stirring constantly for 3 to 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Strain into pitcher, stir in liqueur. Serve warm over bread pudding.

This is so good, and you can make it with lots of variations, for example replace cranberries with chocolate chips, and use a chocolate liqueur in the creme anglaise. Use your imagination. Whatever you do, it's going to be great.

Always Something New at Balboa Park

The other day I joined about 15 women on a trip to Balboa Park. It always amazaes me. You think you've seen it all and you discover a new museum, a new cafe, a new fact about the history of the park. This group was a garden group, so we visited both the Friendship Garden and then after lunch, toured part of the park with Ranger Kim, who showed us lots of plants, gave us some new historical information, and told us about Kate Sessions, the famous horticulturist.

If you visit Balboa Park on Tuesday, many of the museums are free. You have to go online and get the schedule for the exact dates, but on a rotating schedule they are all free on some Tuesday of the month. We started our day with a tour of the Friendship Garden, or Japanese Garden. It's a very lovely place to visit now, very peaceful, but they have ambitious plans for expansion. It is now less than three acres in all, but when they complete their expansion it will be over 11 acres. I don't know if I'll be around to see it, as it hasn't even started yet.

For lunch we all did our own thing. Some went to The Prado, some went to the cafe next to the Museum of Art, some brought their own sack lunch, and I went to the Tea Garden. This is a cafe adjacent to the Friendship Garden. It is self serve, and they call it fusion food. Rice bowls, sushi, salads, noodle soups and sandwiches. The sandwiches were especially good. We sat out in the shaded patio, listening to new age music in the background, and talking about how lucky we were to live in San Diego.

After lunch we met Ranger Kim for a one hour talk and walk around part of the park. We learned about Kate Sessions' influence on Balboa Park, then we toured the Botanical Garden. Lots of information. Kim was a wonderful tour guide.

So here's a place we can all discover again and again. There is so much to see, learn, and enjoy at Balboa Park and it's practically free. What a wonderful way to spend the day. I've been to many of the great parks in the world, and this is probably my favorite. Lucky us.

Blogging is Fun

I've been blogging now for about seven months. I thoroughly enjoy it. When I first started I thought I might run out of ideas, but they just keep coming. I try to stick to my mission, which was bringing you money saving ideas, restaurant reviews, recipes and travel information. I have moved off the mission somewhat to bring you stories about organic food and gardening and other tidbits that I find interesting.

I would like to increase my readership, and this is where you can help. If each of you who reads this regularly could send my blog info to two people that you think might like it, that would really help. They don't have to live in the San Diego area to enjoy my blog. I have several people in Los Angeles who read it regularly. So please, find someone to forward it to. I would very much appreciate it, and I will continue to try to bring you interesting information five days a week. Thanks.

Beautiful, Unspoiled Ireland

For not much more than the cost of a flight to New York, you can visit Ireland this winter. Between Novemeber and March, Aer Lingus and several other airlines, are offering flights from the West Coast to Dublin for $250 each way plus tax. The total comes to around $610. Ireland is an amazing country, a combination of rugged beauty, history and architecture that will amaze you and lots of good culture. The weather's not great at this time of year, but the lack of crowds everywhere may compensate for that.

Ireland is a small country of only about 7 million people, including Northern Ireland. Finally, Northern Ireland can be included on your itinerary, and although I haven't been there, I hear it is worth including. Toursists outnumber residents, as they have over 7 million visitors every year, so going in the off season is a good idea.

My favorite trip would included a rental car, a very light suitcase, and some good travel books. That's about it. I would stay at B and B's. This is a great way to meet locals, go where they go and meet like minded travellers. When you check in to a B and B you are usually greeted by one of the owners. Most are warm and friendly and really make you feel welcome. You will get a key to your room, plus a key to the front door. Owners love to chat with the guests, give you their take on local folklore, and suggest pubs, restaurants and sights to see. Each morning you will be served a breakfast fit for a king. A full Irish breakfast is included in any B and B stay. This includes fried eggs, bacon, fried tomato, mushrooms and bangers. Some breakfasts also include white and black pudding, which is actually not pudding at all. It is a sausage stuffed with meat and grains. Go figure. Sometimes you will also have a choice of cold or hot cereal, fruit, bread and yogurt. What a meal.

B and B's are usually about half the price of nice hotel, so give them a try. Then get in your rental car, remember to keep to the left, and enjoy the beautiful sights of Ireland.

Grapefruit is not for Everyone

I love grapefruit and grapefruit juice, but because of modern science, it's no longer part of my diet. It's interaction with many modern day drugs was discovered in Canada, by accident, in 1989. A team of researchers was studying the interaction between alcohol and a heart and blood pressure medication. They suspected that alcohol might modify the metabolism of this medicine. They ended up flavoring the alcohol with grapefruit juice. They discovered that blood levels for thoses that took the drug felodipine in grapefruit juice, was four times higher than when taken in water. This research was ignored at first, but through time and more studies, it was determined that something in grapefruit, Pomelos and Seville oranges block a liver enzyme from breaking down certain drugs. Without the enzyme, blood levels of these medications increase beyond the recommended dose and can lead to dangerous side effects.

There are so many good things to say about grapefruit, it's hard to imagine that they could be dangerous. Grapefruit is a powerhouse of nutrition: Vitamin A and C and potassium along with smaller amounts of B vitamins, calcium and other minerals. The pectin in a grapefruit lowers cholseterol and can help with weight loss. Antioxidants protect against cancer, heart disease and macular degeneration. For a diabetic grapefruit is a way to get a nutritious citrus fix that's low glycemic as well as healthy.

At the moment there are over 30 common drugs that have been identified as having the "grapefruit effect". I stopped eating grapefruit several years ago when my doctor put me on a statin drug to reduce my cholesterol. Some of the drugs that have the grapefruit warning on the label include calcium channel blockers, cholesterol lowering drugs (zocor and lipitor), sleeping pills and anti-anxiety drugs (valium, halcion), heart drugs, transplant drugs, estrogen, HIV/aids drugs, and epilepsy drugs. Several other common drugs are suspected of having the grapefruit effect, but the final results aren't in yet. Thse include viagra, flomax, claritin, singular, and allegra.

Unfortunately, you cannot drink grapefruit in the morning, then take your pills at night. The grapefruit interaction is long lasting. I just wonder, since my doctor recommended a statin to reduce my cholesterol, and grapefruit is a natural cholesterol reducing food, maybe I'd be better off eating a whole lot of grapefruit and skipping the pills. Just an idea.

Department Store Savings You Didn't Even Ask For

Remember the days when shopping at a department store meant paying retail, unless you waited for the twice a year big sales? Well today, every day is a sale day, whether they advertise it as such or not. I was having a birthday lunch today with several friends and the topic of shopping, and saving came up.

Vivian is going to a fancy wedding in the Hamptons in October and was looking for something appropriate to wear that would not cost a fortune. She went up to South Coast Plaza, and hit the stores. First Bloomingdales, nothing. Then Nordstrom, again nothing. Finally she went to Macys, where she saw the most beautiful black silk suit, retail price $280. The suit looked fantastic on her (what wouldn't) and she was ready to buy it at any price. However, the suit was reduced to $180, then it was reduced again to $99 and finally she had a coupon that brought the final price down to $69!! What a bargain.

Another example of retails stores actually offering a discount is from Jean's experience purchasing a new handbag. She loved the handbag, but noticed a small spot on it, and brought it to the attention of the saleslady. The woman offered her a $20 reduction without Jean even having to ask.

It used to be that bargaining was just for flea markets, garment centers and street fairs. Now, anything goes. This doesn't just apply to retail shopping. It is also applicable to doctors, dentists, and home services. I have gotten reduced prices on all of the above, but I'll save that for another time. Don't be shy. Ask. All they can do is say no.

Some New Eateries in Town

The economy is bad, retail stores are going out of business right and left, and dozens of new restaurants have opened in north county in the past few months. Go figure. Someone's got money. I thought it was interesting, and of course it gives me lots of new opportunites to go out to dinner. After all, I must do my research. So here are just a few of the many new places that have recently opened. I'll give you further feedback on them as I have a chance to visit them.

Opening soon in Carlsbad, in the center at the corner of Carlsbad Village Drive and Highway 101 (in the space formerly occupied by Mr. Peabody's) is Hodad's, the famous burger joint from Ocean Beach. Jeff, I know you'll be happy, and so will everyone else that doesn't get put off by the long lines and tries this place. I do not know the opening date, but keep your ears open.

In the Lumberyard, there is a new eatery called Lotus Cafe. It is located near the north end of the shopping center. One of my exercise friends has eaten there. It is health oriented, lots of sandwiches, wraps, smoothies. She said it was very good. It's a nice place to try if you're tired of San Tropez.

In the Bressi Ranch Center, with the new Trader Joe's and Stater Bros, try Board and Brew. They're from Del Mar, and make great sandwiches. They're big, so think about splitting.

In San Marcos, there is a brand new Pizza Nova (Hillcrest and Solana Beach locations also). This one is very contemporary, upscale yet still casual. The outside patio is great in summer. Their food is consistently good. I've been back twice since it opened.

Also in San Marcos is the new Spiritos. They used to be in the Carlsbad Village Center, sold the restaurant a few years ago, and now that their non competition clause has expired, they're open again. It's mostly pizza at Spiritos, very good, thin, pizza, but no atmosphere. They also have salads, pasta and desserts, but it really lacks atmosphere. It's off the 78 and Jefferson.

Just across from the Carlsbad Outlet Mall you will see two new free standing buildings under construction. One will house P.F. Changs (Chinese) and the other B.J.'s Restaurant. Both are chains, both good, both should be very busy when they open in a few months.

In the Poinsettia Shopping Center at Poinsettia and Avenida Encinas (Ralphs and Rite Aid are there), we are anxiously awaiting the opening of a new sushi restaurant,......This restaurant has been under construction for quite a while, but it now looks like it might open within a few weeks. You can never have too much sushi.

Finally, there are several new yogurt shops to satisfy your sweet tooth. In Encinitas, try Very Berry, at the corner of Highway 101 and D Street. It is self serve, and they charge by the ounce. It's like Yogurtland which I like so much. You select your yogurt and your toppings, with many fruit and sweets to choose from. Also new in Solana Beach is Deserted Island. I have not tried it yet and don't know anyone who has. It seems all of a sudden yogurt is "in" again. The new yogurts are more like sorbets, tart flavors and an icier texture. I like them very much.

So even though times are tough right now, plenty of people are investing plenty of money in new restaurants. With a 90% failure rate in the industry, it surprises me that so many investors are sticking their necks out. It just goes to show that there are always people willing to take risks. Give one our new restaurants a try. So much to choose from, you're sure to find something you like.

Restaurant Coupons Equal Big Savings

When I first started this blog many months ago, my focus was saving money on dining out. I have moved off my original topic to talk about many current issues like organics, composting, obesity, and saving energy. But I still write about food much of the time, so here I am to tell you again, my favorite coupon sites for saving money on dining out. They are so good they bear repeating. Here are my four favorite sites.

San Diego Restaurants (http://www.sandiegorestaurants.com/) is a great website. It has individual coupons for each restaurant right on the website. All you do is click a button and print the coupon. Many of the restaurants are in San Diego, but many of us do go there to eat, and I just checked the site this morning and there were a few restaurants in North County.

Fox5San Diego (http://www.fox5sandiego.com/) is a great website for dining coupons. Click on the "Be Our Guest" link to see what they're promoting each week. The new restaurant is announced on Thursday of each week. Buy a coupon and you get 1/2 your check at that restaurant. Recent featured restaurants have been When in Rome, The Palm, and Nobu.

KYXY radio station (http://www.kyxy.com/) was the first site I found with great restaurant discounts. Their program has now expanded to include all kinds of services, from yoga classes, to dentists, to dry cleaners. You can buy coupons at their featured restaurants each week and save 1/2 off your dining bill.

Finally, Restaurant.com (http://www.restaurant.com/) is always great for finding some favorite restaurants and trying some new ones at $25 off. This is how I discovered Dell'z, one of my new favorite places.

I hope you will try some of these websites. I have discovered some new and wonderful restaurants ( and of course a few duds) and have been lucky enough to go to some excellent, usually pricey eateries at a great price.

An Organic Food Movement in China?

Yes, It's true. About 15 years ago the organic movement in China began, mainly fueled by increased overseas demand. Organics in the U.S. , Japan, and Europe were beginning to emerge, and China wanted to be a big player in the export of organic products. They are.

When I think of China, I think of products and food produced as cheaply as possible. This has led to some health scares, as in tainted milk, bacteria laden fish, and toys painted with lead based paint. However, to compete in this global economy, countries like China have to move with programs like organic farming, or be left behind.

The Organic Food Development Center, founded in 1994, is the oldest and largest specialized organic resarch, inspection and certification organization in China. It has been running annually national and regional workshops on organics food development and techniques. It's mission is to ensure human health and protect ecological environment through promoting sustainable agriculture.

Recent years have seen a surge in organic farming. The demand is driven by an explosion of organic food sales overseas. China's big cities, like Beijing and Shanghai have many specialized shops for organic food, selling vegetables, tea, rice honey and and fruits. Growth in domestic demand has been spurred by rising urban incomes, the emergence of an affluent middle class and because of an increasing number of food safety scandals. It seems to me that as a society becomes more affluent, it's people are more interested in health and nutrition. Can a Whole Foods store in China be far behind? We'll see.

Are Free Refills a Thing of the Past?

Remember the days when there was no such thing as free refills? If you wanted another coke you paid for it. Well, free refills have been the norm for the past 30 years, but things may be changing. I was out for dinner last night and when the bill came, we had been charged for two drinks each, as we all had our coke or iced tea refilled. I was shocked. I looked on the menu to see if there was any mention of a charge for refills and there was none.

The most profitable item on any restaurant menu is soda fountain drinks, iced tea and coffee. The literature says the profit is 110% but I think it is much higher. Charging for each drink is the easiest way for restaurants to increase profits. A soda cost pennies a glass, and they charge $2.50 for it. It's up to the customer to complain. From now on I plan to ask the waitress if they offer free refills before I order my beverage. If they don't, I will just drink water. Will they soon be charging for extra bread and refills on coffee? I really do understand the restaurants problem, but to conceal the fact until the bill comes is just deceitful, in my opinion. This is the age of full disclosure and restaurants need to be up front about what things really cost. If two people go to dinner and each drink two iced teas, the charge for the drinks alone could be $10 or more!

So keep your eyes open. Free refills may not be here forever. Always ask before ordering your drink if they give free refills or not. The only way restaurants will change is by customer pressure. If no one orders iced tea anymore because they don't get a free refill, the restaurant will change it's ways. Difficult times mean businesses will try anything to make a profit. I understand this. It also means that we, the consumer need to be on top of everything so we know exactly what we are getting.

The Best Burgers in Town

This is a new category for my blog. Occasionally I will write about the best (fill in the blank) in San Diego. Today it will be the best burgers in San Diego. I've eaten quite a few, and I will tell you about my favorites. Most of my choices include restaurants that also serve good fries, as I feel the two go hand in hand.

The history of the hamburger goes as far back as 1209 and Genghis Khan. As the Mongols travelled by horseback and had little time to sit and eat, they literally had a small village travelling behind them on wheeled carts called "yurts". When they needed food the villagers would prepare a lamb or goat and form the meat into a patty and cook over the open fire. To tenderize the meat, they would put the meat under the saddle for a day or two as the army marched on. I don't think this burger had much resemblance to its current form, but it was a beginning. In 1802 German sailors from Hamburg crossed the Atlantic between Germany and New York, and brought the hamburg steak to New York. It was a salted beef steak, good for long journeys as it would not spoil, but again, not like what we know today as the hamburger. In 1826 the first hamburger was on an American menu, at Delmonico's in New York and the price was $.10. This was a ground meat patty, seasoned and cooked and placed on a bun, so this seems like the real beginning of the modern hamburger.

The Claim Jumper(http://www.claimjumper.com/) has a perfect hamburger. Since I like a rare burger, this is an issue at many restaurants today, but the Claim Jumper will prepare it to your specifications. It's a half pound burger, excellent quality meat, served with lettuce and sliced tomatoes. Of course onions, cheese, bacon, etc. are available if you so desire. It is served with delicious skinny french fries, and a dill pickle. For $9.95 it's a great deal. Big enough for two light eaters to split.

Red Robin (http://www.redrobin.com%29is/ another favorite burger of mine. I don't think the meat is as good, but with everything they put on it you'll never know the difference. I like the Whiskey Creek Burger, with meat, cheese, shredded lettuce, mayo and shoestring fried onions. It is so full of flavor, but again, a very big meal. Although I have never done it, my friend Fran tells me you can order the same burger in a junior size. It's not on the menu, but it's a great idea, because you can't finish the regular sized burger. Fries at Red Robin are thick sliced, seasoned with seasoned salt, and very good. They will bring you free refills on the fries. The price is $8.95

Chief's Burgers and Brew(http://www.chiefsburgersandbrew.com/) in Solana Beach is a sports bar with a great menu. Their 1/2 pound hamburger with all the trimmings and good french fries (thin ones) is delicious. The burger is $6.99 without french fries. We often stop there for dinner before our Tuesday night bridge game in Solana Beach. There is a karate studio next door, so many families come for dinner after karate class. There's a big fire pit outside, and inside there are lots of TV's and Denever Bronco memorabilia.

The Red Rooster is an old fashioned bar in Oceanside. Don't go here if you want glitter and pazaaz. This is a bar with pool tables and big TV screens, good service and wonderful people watching. That aside, it also serves one terrific burger. Try the rooster burger. It's a 1/2 pound beef burger cooked the way you like, served on a sesame seed bun, covered with grilled onions, cheese, and an ortega chili. All this for around $6. The fries are great, they're the thick cut, covered in a delicious season salt. Or try the frings, a combo of onion rings and fries. They're great. The sodas are served in frosty mugs, or have a beer, there's always a special of the day.

Other burgers that I enjoy, but are not at the top of the list are as follows: Paradise Grill (kobe beef), George's at the Cove, Nessi's (on Highway 76), Mr. Peabody's, and D Street Bar and Grill. So next time you're in the mood for a burger and fries, try something new. I hope you'll like some of my choices.

Rocky Mountain High

I arrived in Colorado yesterday, anxious to see my first grandchild, 10 day old Lennon. It was everything I expected and more. I was told by grandma experts that the feelings you have for a grandchild, even before you hold him, are inexplicible. They were right. Our beautiful, innocent little bundle of joy is so precious. So I'm here to enjoy him, and my wonderful son and daughter in law, and of course the dogs, for a few wonderful days.

Little did I know that I was also going to be treated to some of the best food, morning, noon and night that you could possibly imagine. My son Philip is a gourmet cook, but I couldn't imagine that with changing diapers, doing laundry and housework, helping Deborah with all the baby duties as much as he could, and tending to his business, that he would have time to feed us like we were at the Four Seasons. I underestimated him.

Phil has a garden that not only feeds his family, but many other friends and neighbors. He has an abundance of squash, tomatoes, peas, beans, collard greens, cabbage and garlic. I arrived yesterday and lunched on the most amazing vegetable soup.You're probably saying, how amazing can vegetable soup be, but this is truly delicious. Below is the recipe.

Garden Vegetable Soup a la Phil

render the fat from 1/4 lb.bacon, save the crispy bacon to add back later, use the fat plus some olive oil to sweat the veggies. Use whatever you have. Phil used zucchini, corn, peas, onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Add herbs, whatever you have. Phil used basil, parsley, rosemary and thyme. Add some wine, red or white, to deglaze the pan, then add stewed tomatoes, dried pasta and chicken stock and simmer until veggies are done. This soup is absolutely delicious as a main meal with a salad and bread, or as a side dish with a sandwich for lunch. The soup becomes very thick when it is refrigerated. You may need to add a little water when reheating. I have not given amounts on anything. This is the kind of soup you can add anything you want to, in any amounts. It will be different each time you make the soup, but always delicious.

Going Green on a Budget

Many ideas for reducing your carbon footprint are expensive. Solar panels, trying to "get off the grid" and using recycled products in home imporovement are all very costly. I have a few ideas that will make a positive impact on the environment and save you money at the same time.

Shut down and unplug electronics. I just received a pamphlet from SDG&E with some great tips. Unplugging electronics can really save you some money. I'm not suggestion you abandon using the following appliances, but this will give you an idea of what they cost. Dishwasher, 39 cents per load, refrigerator $18.46 per month, air conditioner 3 ton central air 79 cents per hour , computer and monitor, 6cents per hour, gas water heater $21.23 per month, central gas heating $1.12 per hour. What does all this mean? Shut down your computer at night, and plug your cell phone and other electronices into power strips so you can turn several devices off with one switch.

Wash your clothes in cold water. By using cold water instead of warm, the average household can avoid emitting 1.281 pounds of carbon dioxide annually and save on energy bills. With the advancement in cleaning products, everything can be washed in cold water today.

Fill your water bottle with filtered tap water. Choose the greener, and cheaper solution by using a reusable bottle, and filling it with filtered tap water.

Use kitchenware products made of recycled materials. There are a number of lines of colorful kitchen gear made from recycled products, and since they're about the same price as regular kitchenware, it's a no brainer which to choose. One such line of products is Preserve products(http://www.preserveproducts.com/). Check them out.

Finally, the cost of using your oven is 50cents per hour for electric, 13 cents per hour for gas. The range top is 10 cents per hour for electric, 2cents per hour for gas. I know it's not much, but I don't need much of an excuse to avoid cooking and going out to dinner.

Great Del Mar Happy Hours

As I've said before, I could write about happy hour every day and never run out of material. For you Del Martians, or those who live in the the Del Mar area, here are two restaurants to consider for an early, light, and cheap dinner.

Paradise Grill, which I have tried several times for lunch and dinner and been very pleased, also has a great happy hour. Tuesday-Sunday, from 2:30-6;30 and Monday from 5pm until closing, you can eat and drink in the bar area on stools and lounges for a fraction of the cost of the dinner from the regular menu. Margarittas and Martinis are $5, beer is $2 off, and wine is $1 off. The menu sounds great. Everything is $4, and here's what they offer: shrimp taco, Barbequed pork slider, two jerk chicken skewers with jicama slaw and mango salsa, cheddar burger slider, mini margaritta or pepperoini pizza, mini bacon blue salad, and parmesean chive fries. It's a delicious sounding menu, and so reasonable.

The Brigantine, with several locations, has lots of specials. Taco Tuesdays, where fish taco are $2 each in the bar area is a great deal. I think they have one of the best fish tacos around, so check them out on Tuesday night. Wine Wednesday is great if you're eating in the main dining room, as they offer selected bottles of wine at 1/2 off. First Catch is their three course meal special starting at $19.

These are two of many great places to try in Del Mar. I hope you get a chance to try them, and as always, if you discover something that you think others want to hear about, please let me know and I will review them.

In Hot Water

As I delighted in the 76 degree water today at Fletcher Cove, and 74 degrees last week, I started to remind myself that this is not necessarily a good thing. Yes, we love to boogie board and body surf in the warm water. It is just fantastic, and people that don't normally go in the ocean are even checking it out. What's wrong with warm water? It's just another indicator of how man is causing climate change.

The ocean waters are the warmest they have been in 130 years. This is a worldwide phenomenon. The average water temperature worldwide was 62.6 degrees this summer, according to the National Climatic Data Center. The Gulf of Mexico, where warm water fuels hurricanes, has temperatures dancing around 90. Most of the water in the Northern Hemisphere has been considerably warmer than normal. The Mediterranean is about three degrees warmer than normal. The phenomena is most noticeable near the Arctic, where water temperatures are as much as 10 degrees above average. This could contribute to melting sea ice from below and even cause thawing of ice sheets in Greenland.

Meteoorologists say there is a combination of forces at work. A natural El Nino weather pattern, on top of worsening man made global warming, and a dash of random weather variations. The resulting ocean heat is already harming threatened coral reefs.

Breaking heat records in water is more ominous as a sign of global warming than breaking temperature marks on land, because water takes longer to heat up and does not cool off as easily as land. This warm water we're seeing doesn't just disappear next year. It'll be around for a long time.

So next time I go to the beach and enjoy this amazingly warm water we're experiencing, I'll think twice. First, I've got to admit I love it, and second, I understand that it's probably not a good thing for our planet globally. But for now, I'll just enjoy it.

One more thing, for those who read my review of of the new movie, Play the Game, it will be opening on September 11 at the La Jolla Landmark Theatres. I hope you have time to see it.

TMI

You've heard the phrase, Too Much Information, well it definitely applies to the new restaurant industry standard of publishing on the menu the nutritional value of each food item. For years consumer advocates have been working toward this and it has has finally arrived. You know the saying, "Be careful what you ask for". I guarantee this will make you rethink what and how you order.


Last night we went to Red Robin for dinner. I have always loved their Whiskey Creek Barbeque Burger. It's a burger with barbeque sauce, shredded lettuce, cheese, mayo and fried onions. It is really delicious, but I knew it was high in fat, sodium and of course calories. Last night my suscipions were confirmed. Red Robin now publishes a nutrional guide to their menu, which is on every table. That's a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. I discovered that my burger contained over 1100 calories and 1900 millagramsof sodium. I was so depressed after reading that that I wanted to leave.

We've been waiting for years for restaurants to tell us what is in their food. Now that they're doing that, some of us won't be happy with what we hear. For example, at Red Robin, a caesar salad with chicken is over 900 calories and 1300 grams of sodium. A chicken burger is about the same as the beef burger. Pasta dishes are over 1200 calories and 1800 grams of sodium. To be fair, there are still some healthy options on the menu. Tortilla soup, French onion soup, and chili are all relatively low in calories, fat and sodium. All the salads are equivalent calorie wise and sodium wise to burgers and sandwiches.

California Pizza Kitchen has always been a favorite of mine, and now I know why. Everything is loaded with calories. They print the calorie content right on the menu. My favorite salad, the Thai Chicken Crunch, has over 2000 calories in the large size, 1500 in the small. Imagine, a pizza is less calories than a salad, at only about 175 per slice. Better choices at CPK include some of the soups, appetizers, and the new Moroccan Chicken Salad. Weight Watchers will blow all their points for the entire day in one meal.

The Cheesecake Facotory(http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/) also has a nutritional supplement to their menu. It's like a small novel. They list EVERYTHING you can imagine. They list salad dressing separately, so when you read that the Chinese Chicken Salad is 900 calories, that's before dressing. I was there recently for brunch, and I enjoyed eggs benedict for about 850 calories, and I substituted tomatoes for potatoes. Thats' still a pretty hearty meal.

I really love the idea of restaurants giving us the nutritional count on their food, but I didn't realize how I would feel reading that information and then ordering. If you're watching your calorie, fat and sodium intake it definitely helps you make a good choice. On the other hand, if you just have to have a burger, you may feel guilty, as I did last night.

P.F. Chang is another restaurant that offers nutritional information, but only online. I checked it out before going there a few months ago, and decided not to go. Everything on the menu was loaded with sodium, fat, and calories. As I've said before, choice is a very good thing, and having the nutritional information gives you more tools to make the right choice, or throw caution to the wind, and eat what pleases you.

Fast food restaurants are really ahead of the traditional sit down restaurants in this respect. McDonalds, Burger King, Carls Junior, and Jack in the Box all offer nutritional information to the consumer, and it's in plain sight. You don't have to be a detective or wait for the server to call the manager and get a book out and look up the nutritional content of the item you want. They have made changes to their menu to include items that even the most serious advocat of healthy foods can eat. The saying "Be careful what you ask for" is really relevant here. We wanted to know what's in our food and now we do, like it or not.

I suspect more and more restaurants will offer the consumer a nutritional guide at their table to help them make these choices. It'll either force restaurants to include healthy foods in their menu, or people looking for healthy food items will eat elsewhere. As I've said before, choice is a good thing.

Great Dessert, Summer or Winter

I am NOT a chocolate person. I know that must come as a surprise to those of you who know how much I enjoy food. My favorite desserts are fruit tarts, cobblers, custards or flan. So I bring you a fruit cobbler, great in summer or winter, just change the fruit. My favorite summer fruits for cobbler are plums, peaches (yellow peaches only). In the winter I would use apples.

This particular cobbler comes from a cooking class I took at Westchester High School in Los Angeles about 30 years ago. My mom's friend Fran taught the class, and each week we made a different theme dinner. This was from aFrench dinner, and I have changed the recipe somewhat. I hope you like it.

Plum Cobbler

3 pounds Italian prune plums, pitted and quartered
1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2T. lemon juice
4T. creme de cassis liqueur

In a large bowl, combine above ingredients and pour into a 12 X 8 inch shallow baking dish

Topping

1 1/2 flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 sticks cold unsalted butter, diced

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or electric mixer. Mix on low speed until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is the size of peas. Spread mixture evenly over the top of the plum mixture. Bake for 40-45 minutes at 375 degrees, until the plums are bubbling and top is brown. Can be served cool or warm, with or without ice cream or whipped cream.

This recipe is GREAT for overripe fruit. Often I overbuy fruit that's on sale, and this is a good way to use up the fruit without wasting it. Enjoy a fruit cobbler any time, regardless of the season.

Great Mexican Food Without Leaving Encinitas

There's nothing better on a hot summer night than a cold Cerveza with chips and homemade salsa. At La Especial Norte you'll get this and much, much more. Right on Highway 101 in Encinitas you'll find this establishment, decorated with bright colors and Mexican kitsch. It's been a family run business for years, and the food will blow you away.

There's always a bit of a wait unless you get there very early, but that's not a problem. There's a small bar where you can order a good margaritta or beer, and either sip it in the waiting area or go to an outside patio waiting area. As soon as you are seated, hot chips and homemade salsa, chunky and a bit spicy, is put before you. It is delicious, and it's hard to contain yourself from devouring it all. Then it's time to get down to business, perusing the menu and making a choice from the multitude of choices.

I've been eathing at Especial Norte for years, and have eaten most items on the menu. My favorite meal is a small bowl of tortilla soup and one beef taco. The tortilla soup is loaded with chunks of white meat chicken in a delicous broth with vegetables, lots of shredded cheese, sliced avocado and fresh, crispy tortilla strips. The large bowl is a meal in itself, but I usually get the small one so I can have a taco too. The beef taco is made with shredded beef, cabbage, and guacamole in a slightly fried corn tortilla. This is served with Mexican cole slaw. The total meal is only about $10. Other items I can rave about are the jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon and served with rice, beans, and cole slaw. Very unique and so, so tasty. Many people I know go there for the shrimp cocktail. It is served in a large, wide rimmed glass, topped with avocado, diced tomato, cucumber and cilantro. Also delicious is the whole fried mojarra fish, served with salsa fresca, Mexican coleslaw, lettuce, beans and rice, all for about $12. Of course Especial Norte has all the standard fare, enchilladas done several ways, tostada salads, burritos, chile rellenos and sopes. The food you get at Especial Norte is authentic, not an Americanized version of a Mexican dish.
Service is friendly, but a little slow. Just enjoy your time there, have another margaritta. The waitstaff will happily bring you more chips and salsa while you wait. A small, family run Mexican restaurant with truly authentic tastes, what more could you ask for on a hot summer night? La Especial Norte is located at 664 N. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. Telephone 760 942 1040.

China Choking on Old Computers

Last night I watched a story on 60 Minutes that made me want to know more. The story was about American companies that were illegally shipping old computers to China, where they were taken apart for their useful metals, then dumped in landfills or rivers or simply burnt. This is horrifying on so many levels.

First, the American companies that are illegally sending containers of old computers to China are receiving their products from citizens that think they are disposing of them in an environmental \ly clean way. In Denver, thousands of people waited hours to turn in old electronic equipment, thinking they were doing the right thing. Instead, this equipment was loaded into huge containers and shipped over 7,000 miles away to be disposed of in a way that would make a lot of people a lot of money, make hundreds of thousands of people sick, and ruin the local environment.

Guiyu, China is a modern day gold rush town. Workers there sift through piles of broken old computer parts in acrid smelling shacks, smelting down parts with crude equipment to extract valuable metals like gold and coppers. The computers are smuggled in by sea to this city not far from Hong Kong. A lucky few wear rough but thin gloves. The rest work with uncovered hands, and have sores and bruises throughout their body. They are too scared of losing their jobs, or being beaten up, to dare to talk to visiting foreign reporters. The workers are making about $3 per day. When 60 minutes was there, they tried to take a dirt sample to have analyzed, but locals grabbed it away from them. The cameras that 60 minutes brought along were almost confiscated too.

During the disposal process, workers, including women and sometimes children, are exposed to a toxic cocktail of chemicals. The many small businesses take few safety precautions. Nine out of ten people in Guiyu suffer from problems with their skin, nervous, respiratory or digestive systems.

What can we do? Apparently not much, for these people in Denver thought they were doing the responsible thing, and look what was discovered? I guess we're lucky to have good investigative reporters like those on 60 Minutes who go after a story and follow it to its conclusion. There will always be cheaters out there that don't care about the ramifications of their actions. All we can do is keep the pressure on. A big thank you to all those reporters and camermen who risk their lives to try to get the story.

It's Always the Right Time for Chinese Chicken Salad

I consider myself an expert on Chinese chicken salad, having eaten it in dozens of restaurants, and made it hundreds of times. There are many variations to the ingredients in the salad and the dressing itself. My personal favorite is the salad from Feast from the East (http://www.ffte.com/) in West Los Angeles. I have eaten their salad hundreds of times over the past 20 years. I make it at home, too, and now that their salad dressing is carried in some markets it makes it even easier.

When I lived in Los Angeles, we used to have a crowd at our house every Sunday during football season. I would go to Feast from the East on Saturday( they're not open on Sunday) and buy the salads, ingredients all separate, then mix it up on Sunday. It was always a great hit. The restaurant itself has expanded, but is still in it's original location on Westwood Blvd. Suzanne, the owner, has had many opportunities to expand, but her attitude has been to have one location and keep it busy. This philosophy has worked well for her, for there is a line out the door almost everyday at lunch. Below is their recipe for Chinese chicken salad, with a homemade dressing, similar to the one served at the restaurant. It's a perfect lunch or dinner anytime, but especially great during the warm summer months.

Chinese Chicken Salad from Feast from the East (serves 4)

12 ounces cooked, shredded chicken (for convenience buy a roast chicken and either shred it or cube it)
1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
2 T. sesame seeds
1/2 cup chopped scallions
toasted almonds, to taste

Combine ingredients, then top with fried won ton strips, or if you prefer use the canned chow mein noodles. To make the won ton strips, just cut won tons into 1/2 inch strips, fry in hot oil until brown, and drain on a paper towel. The homemade won ton strips are awesome, but the chow mein noodles are a good substitute. Some markets may carry bags of fried won tons strips, but they're hard to find)

Dressing

2tsp soy sauce
2 tsp. sugar
6 T. vinegar
1/2 cup salad oil
2 T. sesame oil
1tsp. grated ginger

Combine ingredients and pour over salad. You can vary this dressing, by using less sugar, and using seasoned rice vinegar instead of regular vinegar. If you can find the Feast From the East salad dressing, try it. They have regular and lite. If not, the dressing above is very good. I hope you will love this salad as much as I do.