Figs and Fog
FROM THE CALIFORNIA FIG TO THE COASTAL FOG, THESE ARE SOME OF THE SIMPLE PLEASURES IN LIFE I ENJOY.
FIGS ARE ONE OF THOSE DELICACIES THAT MAKE A BALSAMIC VINEGAR BEYOND DELICIOUS.
AND, COASTAL FOG. AS THE SUN PEAKS THROUGH, BEFORE SETTING ON THE OCEAN, IT CHANGES THE COLOR OF THE WATER TO THE BLUEST OF BLUE. LISTENING TO THE FOG HORN BLOW IN THE DISTANCE; THESE ARE THE THINGS I LOVE.
WE ALL HAVE THOSE THINGS WE LOVE, AND CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE WITH OTHERS. LIFE IS FULL OF THEM.
'FIGS AND FOG' IS ABOUT MY FAVORITE RECIPES, MOVIES, RESTAURANTS, OR ONE OF THOSE TREASURES I'VE STUMBLED UPON, AND CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE SOMEHOW LIVED WITHOUT. I HOPE YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT INSPIRES YOU HERE AND BRINGS JOY TO YOU, AS IT HAS FOR ME.
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Mac’s Lip Conditioner has been a “must have” for me for years now. I use it every day! Contains SP-15, almond oil, shea butter, avocado extract, wheat germ oil, and vitamins A and E. I always apply it right before I go to sleep at night. The best! Thank you Mac! -
Valentine Card Set by Cavallini & Co., Inc.
Okay, February is wonderful… and, it seriously doesn’t get much cuter than this. I love the memories of exchanging Valentine’s with my classmates in elementary school. I wish I would have saved them all! But, how cute are these classic Valentine cards that come in a set from Cavallini & Co.. The set includes all you need to create an adorable Valentine for friends and family. Inside a keepsake tin are 3 rubber stamps with a red ink pad, 24 assorted cards and envelopes, with 100 assorted labels. Thank you, Cavallini & Co.!
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The Famous LuLu’s restaurant in San Francisco is one of those favorite dining spots, Restaurant LuLu features a rustic French Provencal menu, a wood-fired oven, rotisserie and grill. “The rustic, unpretentious fare is served family-style, creating an atmosphere of good food in perfectly comfortable surroundings.” All, in a 1910 warehouse that has been transformed in to a beautiful restaurant. Award-Winning wines from the California Wine Country, France, Italy, and Spain to accompany your meal. Their gourmet food line is without exception one of the best. LuLu’s Fig Vinegar is my favorite! Thank you LuLu’s!
Oakville Grocery Recipe for:
LuLu’s Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette
1 Shallot, minced
1 Teaspoon Fresh Thyme, chopped
1/2 Cup LuLu’s Fig Balsamic Vinegar
1 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 1/3 Tablespoons Walnut Oil
1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk until combined. Makes about 2 cups.
I use this amazing Vinaigrette with the following Salad recipe:
Spinach Lettuce or Artisan Lettuce
Red Onions, thinly sliced
Stilten Blue Cheese, Crumbled
Dried Cranberries
Candied Walnuts, chopped
This is one of my most favorite Holiday Salad recipes.
Enjoy! -
Madeleine - A Little French Cake
I absolutely love these little french cakes, and have found so many recipe varieties from savory to sweet. But, I had to share this Lemon-Glazed recipe from the book - The Sweet Life in Paris - by David Lebovitz. I love lemons…and love this recipe. A beautiful cookbook filled with great stories, and wonderful french recipes! Thank you David Lebovitz.
Lemon-Glazed Madeleine Recipe
3 Large Eggs
2/3 Cup Sugar
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
1 1/4 Cup Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
Zest of one Small Lemon
9 tablespoons Butter (melted and cooled to room temperature) - additional melted butter required for Madeleine molds.
Glaze:
3/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Tablespoon freshly-squeezed Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons Water
1. Brush the Madeleine mold with melted butter. Dust with flour, tap off any excess, and place in the refrigerator or freezer.
2. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer, whip the eggs, granulated sugar, and salt for 5 minutes until thickened.
3. Mix Flour and Baking Powder…combine with other ingredients.
4. Add the lemon zest to the cooled butter, then slowly pour the butter into the batter, a little at a time, while simultaneously folding in the butter.
5. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. (Batter can be chilled for up to 12 hours.)
6. To bake the Madeleines, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. (bake in center of the oven)
8. Spoon batter into each mold.
10. Bake for 8-9 minutes, or until golden. While the cakes are baking, make a glaze in a small mixing bowl by stirring together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and water until smooth.
11. Remove from the oven and cool. The moment they’re cool enough to handle, dip each cake in the glaze, turning them over to make sure both sides are coated. After dipping, rest each one back on the cooking rack, shell side up. Optional: Sprinkle with Powdered Sugar after cooled.
Jouir de! -
Spark Woodfire Grill
Rustic Italian and absolutely delicious. We were looking online for a great restaurant while in Los Angeles and found out that Spark Woodfire Grill is well known for it’s amazing food at very reasonable prices. So, we gave it a try. It’s atmosphere, service, and food are the best! Thank you Spark Woodfire Grill.
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Cavallini & Co.
I absolutely love organizing and being organized. For me, being organized helps facilitate everything else in life. It’s definitely a continual process, and the job is never really finished. It’s always ongoing. But, if I keep it up, it’s a much easier task.
I love beautiful file folders, calendars, stationary, notebooks, journals, labels, and all those wonderful things that keep me organized. Years ago I came across a line of paper products that I think are absolutely beautiful and at the same time keep things neat and in order! Cavallini & Co. was founded in 1989 in San Francisco, California. A touch here and there adds beauty to wherever they are in my home. I love the vintage feel they have. The first time I noticed this product line was in the movie “Something’s Gotta Give” written and produced by Nancy Meyers, starring Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and Amanda Peet. It was a Paris wall calendar in the kitchen. I loved it! Thank you to Cavallini.
