Guess what? Last post was my 700th. Whaaaat? Do we even count anymore when we get that high? I guess I do. As always when I hit these milestones, I want to thank you for being here. When I was waiting in line to meet Deb last weekend, before we bailed because we didn’t want to wait three hours, two lovely young women recognized me from this blog and said hello. I can’t tell you how happy that made me. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to read your comments and emails and to know that yes, in fact there are people out there reading what I write, making the recipes that I post. It is terrific and I sincerely thank you for being along on this journey with me.
Last week started off warm. I decided to honor the 80+ degree day rather than the calendar with my shoe choice.
I spent a morning at the DMV beginning the process of getting a California license and license plate. Randy thought I should bring our marriage license with me which, as it turns out, I needed. It has killer whales on it. I love that.
Farmers’ market in Berkeley. The variety of what is available there is shocking and inspiring. Of course I bought some of those shelling beans. They are one of my favorite ingredients. (See this stew.)
I also bought some basil to make pesto. I thought I had missed the “buy lots of basil for little money and make pesto to store in the freezer” window, but that window is open longer in California. This is, by the way, the best way to store basil. In water like flowers and leave it out at room temperature. Change the water if you have it out longer than a few days. Mine kept for five days before I got around to the pesto and was as perky as the day I bought it.
Speaking of pesto, throw a couple of raw spinach leaves in with the mix and it will keep your pesto from turning brown.
Snail. On my front door.
Rain. That feels like the November I know and love.
Enough said.
Navy blue nails and the ring I got for my tenth anniversary. We bought it in South Africa. (I still owe you one more post from that trip…)
We went to a Cal game on Saturday night. Before moving here, I might have said Berkeley game. Because Berkeley is what the rest of the country calls the university that is in Berkeley. Am I right? Here they call it Cal. Anyway, the game started at 7:30 and it was freezing out.
So the boys had to have new hats.
Family shot.
Ghiradelli chocolate on sale. It is the favorite chocolate of the folks at Cook’s Illustrated. Did you know that?
I burned my finger while making quesadillas for the kids. Not a bad burn at all, but still a burn. Spencer disappeared after lunch and came back with a band-aid for me, then he drew me this picture, and then he got me a glass of water with ice. I almost never pat myself on the back for being a good mom but I did that day. Clearly all the hugs, and wiped noses, and kissed boo-boo’s have made an impact on him and have helped give him a surprising amount of empathy for a 5¾-year old. In other news, I am the only person in my family who has hair and all of us have arms coming out of our heads.
Laksa. Rice noodles and lots of veggies + tofu in a coconut milk broth.
Share
Stocking up on the chocolate – I like it! :)
Comment by Ellen — November 13, 2012 @ 1:50 pm
That was so sweet of him to take care of you like that. Just gorgeous x
Comment by Lis — November 13, 2012 @ 3:08 pm
Not only arms coming out of your heads, but legs too. I’m glad I’m not the only one with drawings of torso-less people! (Love the ring!)
Comment by Charlotte — November 13, 2012 @ 8:05 pm
LOVE your ring! Congratulations on 10 years!!
Comment by Pam — November 13, 2012 @ 8:16 pm
Dana,
I miss you in Seattle! Are you posting the recipe for the soup broth? Also, where did you purchase the shoes that were pictured a couple of posts ago? Love them!!!
Thanks so much!
Comment by Bonnie Faville — November 13, 2012 @ 8:54 pm
Those yellow shoes are DREAMY! If it were weather appropriate at ALL here, I would so be wearing them also.
Your boys are so sweet! You ARE an awesome mom.
Oh and laksa? Obviously I need that in my life.
Comment by Joanne — November 14, 2012 @ 12:59 am
Beautiful ring! Congrats on 700! I am about to reach 500, and I guess that’a first milestone for a blogger?
I made pesto tonight, a kale pesto. Turned out better than I expected…. shall blog sometime
Great round up, loved the shoes too ;-)
Comment by SallyBR — November 14, 2012 @ 1:46 am
I so look forward to your slice of life posts, Dana! Thanks so much for sharing your days. I’m really disappointed that I didn’t make it to the City to see Deb, but now I don’t feel so bad … I wouldn’t have waited in line that long either. Tomorrow I have tickets to see Ina Garten in San Rafael. Must be Fall cookbook season! Oh, and I will totally stop and say hey if I ever run into you! :-)
Comment by Julie J — November 14, 2012 @ 5:37 am
I just wanted to pop up and say that yours is my favorite cooking blog, and literally every recipe I’ve tried from here has been absolutely fantastic. Thank you for all your posts!
I’m also selfishly glad you’re closer to me now (I’m on the central coast of CA) so your farmers’ market veggies line up with mine. I’m excited to see what you’re doing with the crazy still-late-summer-but-also-fall produce we can get now!
Comment by aleah — November 17, 2012 @ 6:32 am
I loved the post. The blue nails are gorgeous. Thanks for the tip about the pesto and spinach leaves. Can we have the recipe for the laksa? BTW I’m signed up for many blogs, but I only mostly read yours and one other.
Comment by Elli — December 5, 2012 @ 3:10 am