There's Nothing Like Homemade Mayonnaise

If you've never had homemade mayonnaise you don't know what you're missing. It is so superior to regular mayonnaise, even the best brands, that it's worth the 10 minutes that it takes to make. Below you will find a basic recipe which you can whip up in no time, and I'll give you a few ideas for variations. Mayonnaise can be used as a dip for artichokes, fresh veggies, a condiment for grilled fish and as a spread on sandwiches of all kinds. One of my favorite lunches during artichoke season is a cold, steamed artichoke with anchovy mayonnaise. That may not be for everyone, in which case make a garlic or a garlic and caper mayonnaise. Here is the basic recipe.

Homemade Mayonnaise

2 egg yolks

3/4tsp salt

1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard

pinch of cayenne pepper

4 to5 tsps lemon juice or white vinegar

1-1/2 cups cannola or salad oil

4 tsp hot water

Beat yolks, salt, mustard, pepper and 1 tsp. lemon juice in a small bowl until very thick and pale yellow. If using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed. Add about 1/4 cup oil, drop by drop, beating vigorously all the time. Beat in 1 tsp each lemon juice and hot water, then add another 1/4 cup of oil, drop by drop, beating all the time. Beat in another teaspoon each of lemon juice and water, then add 1/2 cup oil in a very fine, slow, steady stream. Continue with this process until all the lemon juice, water and oil are added. If you like thin mayonnaise, add a little more water. The key is adding the oil drop by drop, otherwise it will clump. You can do this in a blender too, but the oil must be added slowly. Mayonnaise will keep about one week in the refrigerator.

For a variety of sauces, add one of the following at the end of the process: 4 tsp dijon mustard, 2 T. tomato puree with 2 minced pimentos and 1/2 crushed garlic clove, 1-2 tsp curry powder, 2 tsp. anchovy paste. Enjoy.

Eating Healthy at the Naked Cafe

After a lively meeting of my favorite social club, 14 of us went to the Naked Cafe (http://www.thenakedcafe.com/) for lunch. We had worked up quite an appetite voting on budgets, boundaries and bylaws, and were ready for a hearty, healthy meal.

The Naked Cafe has two locations. The one in Solana Beach is on Sierra, right across from Fletcher's Cove. The other location is in a shopping center on Carlsbad Village Drive in Carlsbad. At both you will get delicious food, and plenty of it.

Since I had been there several times, I warned our group that splitting was necessary, unless they all wanted doggie bags. Only one person did not heed my warning, and she ended up taking half her meal home. They're only open for breakfast and lunch, and at the Solana Beach location expect a wait on the weekends, especially in the summer.

The breakfast items range from several varieties of humongous pancakes, most made with whole grain and fruit, and very big. Then there's coconut french toast, topped with shredded coconut and a fruit puree. Eggs, omelettes, breakfast burritos, bacon, sausage, hand made tortillas, fresh herb bread, beef hash, scrambles, homemade granola, fresh fruit, and oatmeal complete the breakfast options.

I was there for lunch, and had difficulty deciding between a wrap, a salad or a sandwich. Many lunch items have an Asian influence. Barbie and I split the Goddess Wrap, a mixture of sauteed tofu, with grilled veggies, a little spice and a little sweet, all wrapped up in a spinach tortilla, served with black beans on the side. Big, beautiful smoked turkey sandwiches, veggie sandwiches, and soft chicken tacos were also delicious. The homemade soups are available Monday-Friday, and vary from day to day.

In addition to all this, Naked Cafe serves wonderful speciality drinks. Green tea latte, pumpkin spice coffee late, and Mexican hot cocoa are just some of their hot drinks. The cold drinks include several different mimosas, with various fruit juices, Arnold Palmers, and berry tea mixed with pomegranete and lemondade. Last but not least, you can splurge with a shake or a smoothie. No way you go hungry here. Best of all I got to spend an hour with some wonderful women, talking about our busy lives and showing pictures of our grandchildren.

Great Trips

One of my most memorable trips took place about 10 years ago, when I went to Benin and Togo. Being the adventurer that I am, even though I had never heard of either country, the chance to explore a little known area of Africa intrigued me.

I was working as a travel agent in Los Angeles. A woman from Ghana, who planned group trips to West Africa and shared office space with our travel agency, was taking a group of journalists and some dignitaries to Benin and Togo and asked me if I'd like to join them. I jumped at the chance. Having never heard of either country, I did not know what was in store for me. We met at JFK, and from there flew Air Afrique to Benin. I arrived there and discovered I was the only Caucasian person on the trip. No problem, I thought this would be a fantastic experience. It would give me a look at what it's like for African Americans when they're the only one of their race in a room.



Most of the people were very nice, and many were going to discover their roots. After all, Benin was one of the biggest ports for transporting slaves from Africa to America. Ouidah was the main port in West Africa for shipping slaves to the Americas. You can visit the Old Portugese slave fort with its excellent museum. You can walk along the route the slaves took, past the Tree of Forgetfulness to the Door of No Return where they were put onto the ships. Many in our group cried when we took the walk from the slave quarters on the beach to the ocean where many of their ancestors began their journey to America. It was a very moving experience.



Even in the main city, Cotonou, the only accomodations above the level of a hut at that time was at the Sheraton. They were typical, with big lobby, bar, nice pool area, etc. The staff at the hotel began our stay with an al fresco meal by the pool, with fish, rice, several salads fruit and sweets. Everything was delicious. They also had a local group performing typical West African music, which was delightful.



This was a cultural trip. No animals to see, just lots of villages, tribal chiefs, crafts, and dancing. One thing typical of West African culture is very colorful clothes. The fabric is printed with colorful, stylish designs. And boy can they dance. Every celebration begins and ends with dancing and singing. You often think that people that don't have a lot of worldly possessions are sad, but this is not the case. They celebrate life, and enjoy every moment of it. There is much more to tell about Benin and Togo. I will stop now and pick this up next week, when I'll tell you more about the places we went and the interesting things we saw.

Morning or Noon, Pipes is Awesome

Could a surfer joint in Cardiff by the Sea really serve one of the best breakfasts around? You betcha. I've been eating (I really can't say dining) at Pipes since we first started coming to San Diego in 1999. It began as a surfer hangout for breakfast and lunch, but now has a loyal following of locals from all over the area. Last year Rachael Ray visited Pipes on her San Diego for $40 a day show and raved about it. So it's no longer a secret, and the long lines for lunch and dinner confirm that.

It's really just a little shack, with surfer pictures all over the walls. The inside has only about 8 tables. The rest is patio seating, which is what you want with our beautiful weather. It's great for people watching. You might see young or old surfers, businessmen, mommies and their kids, movie stars or sports stars. On a recent visit I saw Luke Walton (basketball player, son of Bill Walton).

So here's the drill. Line up and plan on a 10 minute wait. It's really not bad. In the meantime check out the menu and get ready to order. The staff will bring the food to your table while you get your own drinks. They have a special coffee bar outside for specialty drinks, otherwise regular coffee and soft drinks are served inside.

The food is fresh and plentiful. Breakfast is probably a little more popular than lunch, but not because the breakfast food is any better. It's all good. The breakfast burrito is enough to feed an army. It's a large tortilla stuffed with eggs, potatoes, beans, cheese, chilis and who knows what else. You won't be hungry until dinner. Pipes serves lots of scrambles, using eggs or just egg whites, as I like to order. The add ins can be anything you want: bacon, peppers, onions, cheese, sausage. Served with an English muffin, this breakfast is a winner. French toast, pancakes and omelettes are also available. There is a special everyday. For example, pancakes and bacon with an egg, for around $6.50. Good, hot coffee completes a delicious meal.

Lunch is equally great. My favorite is the egg salad sandwich on toast with either potato chips or delicious, fat, salty, french fries for around $6. The tuna stack, veggie sandwich,burgers, burritos and several salads give you plenty of deliciousness to choose from. Again at lunch there is a special every day, which will save you a little money.

Next time you feel like a place with real local atmosphere, try Pipes. The food is great and the people watching is even better. They're located across the street from the Seaside Market in Cardiff by the Sea. 121 Liverpool Drive. No web site. Happy eating.

I just returned from a five mile walk. My walking partner Fran, was unable to make our planned outing, so I carried on without her. I walked from the Lumberyard north to D Street, west to the ocean and down to the Self Realization Temple, then continued south to Pipes. I had a delicious egg salad sandwich and two diet cokes, and walked back. A total of about five miles, so I think I burned off lunch.

New Ways to Shop

For many of you, shopping is a favorite pasttime. Unfortunately, it's not a good activity for those of us trying to save money. But I have some ideas on how to feel like you've been shopping without spending a lot.

Have a clothes exchange. Get together with a dozen or so of your favorite people, preferably ones that are your size, and have a clothes exchange. You each gather from your closet unwanted or unused clothing, meet somewhere and display it, and swap clothing. I know I've got practically unused items in my closet that I will never wear, and they may be just what someone else is looking for. You can also include handbags, costume jewelry and hats and scarves.

The other idea is to visit a consignment store. There are several in the area to choose from. My favorite is Take Two in Rancho Penasequitos.(9917 Carmel Mountain Road 858 484 3300) This is run by my friends Alex and David Collett, and has been a big hit ever since they opened. The clothes are high end and merchandise is always changing. I have seen several friends, including Carole, who have bought some exquisite outfits there, at a fraction of the original cost. Another good consignment store is Double Take. They have three locations, Carlsbad, Encinitas and Solana Beach. They have a good selection of clothing also, with merchandise changing often.

Finally, thrift stores are everywhere. Every charity and church seems to have one, and if you've got the patience to sort through the stuff you may find something great. Generally, the items are not of the same quality as those you'll find in the consignment stores.

So feel like you've been on a shopping binge. Have a clothing swap with your friends, go to a consignment store and buy a really expensive outfit at less than half the price, or browse in a thrift shop and discover something wonderful. Any which way, shopping will brighten your mood. If it's good enough for Sarah Palin, it's good enough for me!

Great Recipe from Colorado

I brought back more than just great pictures of my new grandson Lennon from my recent trip to Colorado. I brought some incredible recipes, which I will share with you over the next few weeks. As I've said before, my son Phil is a fabulous cook, and he impressed me with each and every meal. Staying home for a few weeks have given him time to cook and garden. I enjoyed the benefits, and you will too, if you try some of these recipes. He does not cook from a recipe, so he gave me the measurements off the top of his head, and I can't guarantee the amounts. Taste everything, and adjust if necessary.

On the first night of my visit, we had a salad made from ingredients from his garden. It was just delicious. We had it with steak, but it woud go well with chicken or fish. You'll love this one.

Endive Radicchio Salad

1/4 head radicchio, chopped

1 head frisse (lettuce) chopped

belgian endive, chopped (use as much as you desire)

hazelnuts, to taste

fresh Parmesean cheese, sliced thin

Dressing

1/3 c. vinegar, combo of champage and white wine vinegar

1/2 good olive oil

1 T. honey

2 T. lemon juice

Mix all ingredients together, making sure the vegetables and cheese are cut in small pieces. Toss with the dressing, drizzle truffle oil on top before serving (optional). Serve on a large white platter, with the salad spread out over the plate, not piled up. It looks beautiful.

Serve the salad with the following bread: Slice good bread, and toast in oven or on top of an open grill (to create grill marks). Drizzle with olive oil and small amount of minced garlic. This is a great first course. You're going to love it.

Coffee Wars?

Remember the cola wars of the 1960's? Every shopping center had a booth where you could sample Coke and Pepsi and decide which was best. Years after the cola wars began, there's no answer to the question, which drink is best, Coke or Pepsi? Everyone has their favorites. I guess it's the same with coffee.

I recently was at Starbucks and noticed they are having a taste test from October 2-5. I went home to check it out online, and could find no mention of it. I assume it's a sampling of their many varieties of coffee, not a comparison to other coffee houses like Peet's and Coffee Bean, although that would be a great idea. Actually, last night I saw a commercial for this promotion. They are introducing individual INSTANT coffee drinks, so that's what you'll be sampling if you go to Starbucks this weekend. This is not a new concept, as instant coffee has been around forever, but I'll be anxious to taste it and see if it's any good.

As with the colas, everyone seems to have their favorites, mine being Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. I've been frequenting them for over 35 years. Did you know that they invented the iced blended drink years ago? (Starbucks calls it a Frapuccino, but Coffee Bean was selling this drink in the 1970's). But I digress. The coffee at Coffee Bean is good and strong, but not bitter. Starbucks is good too, but their regular blend is a bit weaker. Peet's and Seattle's Best also have excellent coffee, as do many of the fast food restaurants, most notably McDonald's and Dunkin Donuts. These, however, do not compare to the coffee houses in either regular coffee or specialty drinks.

According to a coffee history legend, an Arabian shepherd named Kaldi found his goats dancing joyously around a drak green leafed shrub with bright red cherries in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Kaldi soon determined that it was the bright red cherries on the shrub that were causing the peculiar euphoria and after trying the chrries himself, he learned of their powerful effect. This sounds very good, but is in fact false. The coffee bean began on the plateaus of central Ethiopia and somehow were brought to Yemen where it has been cultivated since the 6th century. Upon introduction of the first coffee houses in Cairo and Mecca coffee became a passion rather than a stimulant.

Our passion for coffee has not diminished through the years. Quite the opposite. On every corner of every city throughout the world, you're likely to find a coffee house. The great marketing of companies like Starbucks and McDonald's have showed us that we can't live without coffee. And going to a coffee house to drink coffee and work has become a lifestyle for many, both old and young. I will often make coffee at home, but much prefer to go out for my coffee. It just tastes so much better!