I am going to be taking a little break for the rest of the month and will be back in June. It has been a whirlwind few weeks and I need to stop and catch my breath. I can’t thank you enough for all of the wonderful support regarding the new book and the book tour. I plan to set up a fall tour over the summer so stay tuned for more dates. In the mean time, don’t forget the June 4th signing in Concord, Massachusetts at JMcLaughlin!
Here are a few of my recent favorites from around the web for some fun reading while I am out!
– The Reed is now open. Perfect for adventurers like me.
– I just bought a case of my favorite DMZ rosé to get ready for summer.
– Natalie’s new book is fantastic. Wise, funny, insightful, downright cozy. Highly recommend.
– Plan on wearing this top in light blue with white jeans and pretty sandals all summer long.
– We’ve traveled to Harbour Island a few times and this book brings back so many memories.
It has been two weeks since we returned from Napa Valley and we are still gushing over what an amazing trip it was. Partially because we were without the kids, but also because it was the perfect place for us foodies to visit. Here are a few more details from our awesome trip:
The beauty of the time difference was that we were up and at ’em bright and early every morning. This made it easy to grab one more breakfast at Oxbow Market (we were hooked on the breakfast tacos, chilaquiles, and donuts with lavender sugar) before heading to Mumm Napa to start the day with a little bubbly. It was the first sparkling wine we’d tasted in the region and we were pleasantly surprised. The winemaker is trained in France and they use the same method champenoise in Napa, so the product is very close to its French counterpart. We also tried their sparkling Pinot Noir which we found quite unique.
Once we were fortified with bubbly we decided to break out of Napa and check out Sonoma. It just over the mountain ridge from Napa and was a gorgeous drive. I couldn’t get over all of the amazing vistas and made my husband pull over every mile so I could take a picture until he finally refused out of concern we’d never reach our destination.
Friends of ours recommended visiting Göpfrich Winery. It is a small, boutique winery in the Dry Creek Valley run by Ray Göpfrich. I didn’t get many pictures because it was just my husband and I at the tasting. We chatted with Ray for over an hour about his wine making process and all the nitty gritty details about farming grapes and running a vineyard. It was utterly fascinating and we both agree he was one of the most interesting people we met on our whole trip. I also loved seeing the difference between the boutique vineyards and larger operations like Stag’s Leap. Both are relevant, but we really appreciated the charm of chatting with Ray and tasting his delicious reds.
That afternoon we decided to take it easy and stroll through Healsburg. It is a charming town with a lot of shops and restaurants to try. Next time we go we’ll have to dedicate a whole afternoon to hanging out and staying for dinner.
Since it was our last vacation afternoon we decided to head back to Yountville and take a walk through town. I was particularly fascinated with the French Laundry kitchen garden. I found that lots of restaurants have them since the growing season is so long and the land is ideal for growing edibles. We didn’t eat French Laundry, that will be saved for another trip.
After another wonderful afternoon by the pool (we couldn’t get over the fact that we didn’t have kids on our backs while we swam), we headed for a simple dinner at Bistro Jeanty and off to bed.
On Sunday morning we managed to squeeze in two last excursions that were well worth it. The first was Swanson Vineyards. I’ll admit, I wanted to go because I’d heard about the beautiful interiors and fun Sip Shop. I am a sucker for great design and lush gardens and wanted to see it for myself. I am so glad we did this because the tasting salon was easily the prettiest one I’d seen during our entire trip. Our hostess was charming and informative and the wines were quite delicious. I especially loved the taste of Swanson cavier we were given (served on a potato chip with creme frâiche!). Such a fun treat!
After our visual and edible feast at Swanson it was time to head out. We were, of course, hungry before our flight and stopped at the Fremont Diner for one last decadent meal. As with all great Napa and Sonoma institutions this one featured a fabulous bar (in an airstream trailer out back) stocked with local wines. We chose a bottle of Gloria Ferrer because we didn’t get to visit the winery (they were closed for moving while we were there). It paired beautifully with our fritters and burgers, and the kitchy ambience was a hoot. There was no better way to bid Napa adieu until our next visit.
I’ll be out of town for Memorial Day this year so I am sharing my very favorite for the season with you right now. Berry season is just beginning here in Connecticut and when it comes around I am all about the strawberry shortcake. It is so. darn. good. Of course, you all know how to make shortcake, of course, but here is my special twist: lemon pastry cream. You guys, it is so much better than basic whipped cream and tastes incredible.
This spring I am making for my winter cooped up indoors with some terrific travel opportunities. I feel so lucky and grateful! Last month was Napa Valley, this month I am heading to Paris. The last time I was in Paris I was a 15 year old backpacker with a taste for pain au chocolat. This time I am going with my mother and daughter on a girls trip. I can’t wait! I’ve already chatted with my friend Ellise and plan to meet up with her. And, I have this awesome book that covers nearly everything I need to know, but I’d still love to hear from you. Any recommendations for things I need to see and/or do with Paris with my daughter? She is wrapping up the first grade and loves things like playgrounds, bright, bold paintings, design, chocolate, toys, nature, animals, and adventure walks. I already set aside one of my old point and shoot cameras for her to use as her own. Please, let me know!
Last month my husband and I escaped to Napa Valley for a much needed vacation without the children. We love our little maniacs, but everyone needs a break once in a while! My parents bravely stepped in to care for them while we flew west for some wine and sun.
We decided to use Yountville as our base of operations and stayed at the Bardessono. It is LEED certified and has a fantastic zen, earthy vibe. The moment we drove onto the property we felt calmer. They greeted us with a glass of wine, walked us to our room, showed us how to use all the extremely efficient amenities, and left us to relax. I’ll post more about the hotel itself later this month but, suffice it to say, we loved it. We especially enjoyed that the location enabled us to walk everywhere in town. Plus, there was a garage of bikes at the ready in case we went to explore beyond the sidewalks.
Our stomachs were still on East Coast time so, after we checked in at noon, we descended on Bouchon for what felt like a late lunch. Since it was mid-week we were ushered in immediately and chose to sit at the bar. We love sitting at bars and chatting with bartenders when we don’t have the kids with us. It somehow feels more adult and less formal. The classic French interior was charming and our meal was excellent, especially my asparagus buratta salad paired with a glass of crisp rosé.
I just returned for a wonderful, almost transformative, visit to the west coast and can’t wait to share all of the details with you over the next couple of weeks. To start off with, here is little taste of what I did:
On Tuesday April 28th, the day my book launched, my friend held a book party for me at her house. She was so generous to do this! I made a few dishes from my book to pass: Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Zucchini Applesauce Bread, and Bacon & Green Chili Quiche.
There were lots of lots of gorgeous fresh flowers everywhere. Flowers are the key to livening up any party space!
While we were in San Francisco we hit a few of our favorite spots like Sausalito for fish tacos…
a walk around town, including the pond at the Palace of Fine Arts…
and a quick trip to the lookout over the Golden Gate Bridge.
Mid-week my husband met me in San Francisco and we drove out to Napa Valley for a blissful five day vacation without children. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. Stay tuned for all of the details next week. In the mean time, here are a few pictures to enjoy!
When my husband travels, sometimes I like to feed the kids their own dinner and wait to make my own until after they have gone to sleep. This may seem unusual at first, but it is actually a good way for me to get a little “me time” in at the end of the day. Now that spring is finally here it stays light late enough that I can enjoy a few slices of pizza and a glass of wine on the back porch.
On nights like this, I want a convenient dinner without sacrificing gourmet taste, so I will pop my favorite Ristorante by Dr. Oetker Pizza in the oven. It truly tastes fresh -the flavors in Ristorante’s Pepperoni Pesto Pizza burst on my tongue with each bite. I set the pizza right on the oven rack and it bakes up crisp in just minutes. Then, I let it cool, slice it up, and relish a few moments with my feet up in the fading sun.
These moments don’t last all night. Once dinner is over there is laundry to fold and photos to edit! But, I totally love a tasty bite before getting on with the evening. It is a relaxing way to treat myself and take a few moments to process the day.
Ristorante by Dr. Oetker agrees that everyone needs a little delicious down time at the end of the day, which is why they are running the awesome Love Yourself Amore contest. Come check out the details and share a reason or two why you deserve some “me time” via a Me Time Meme. Then, you’ll be entered to win one of their fabulous prizes that are specially designed to make your life easier. How great is that?!
Planning your own “me time”? Ristorante is available in eight uniquely flavored varieties, perfect for any palate. See where you can buy Ristorante Pizza near you by checking their store locator. If your local supermarket does not currently sell Ristorante, you can put in a request with the store manager! And follow Dr. Oetker on Facebook for more “me time” tips.
(Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Dr. Oetker USA LLC. I received compensation for this post; however, all opinions stated are my own. Thank you supporting the brands that make The Naptime Chef possible.)
It only seemed appropriate to introduce this delicious recipe from the Cinco de Mayo chapter of my latest book, The Family Calendar Cookbook: From Birthdays to Bake Sales Good Food to Get You Through the Year, with my friends at OXO. They make the best everyday cooking tools and I am huge fan of using them when I make this dish. Today I am giving away a bundle of them along with a signed cookbook!
This dish begins with a fairly simple marinade that includes fresh citrus juices, garlic, and a hint of spice. Using the garlic press and citrus juicer ensures that making this is so easy to get all of the ingredients mixed in a jiffy without a big mess.
After the shrimp have marinated we grill them up in just a few short minutes. In this case I bought shrimp that were already deveined, but you could use this really cool shrimp tool to clean them if you bought the shell-on version instead.
While they are grilling I prepare the toppings by stripping corn off the cob with the corn stripper, slicing fresh avocado, and shredding fresh cheese.
My husband and I vary when it comes out our ideal taco so I set up a buffet of toppings so we can build our own. Here you can see avocado, sour cream, spanish rice, corn, cilantro, and lime wedges. So easy and so fun!
I hope you have a great Cinco de Mayo celebration planned. If you need a spectacular main course look no further. Even better, this delicious recipe is great not only for today, but for the rest of the summer as well. So, come enter to win your own OXO taco night tool bundle and a book to get you well on your way to taco night in your house!
The OXO taco bundle includes: A Shrimp Cleaner, Citrus Squeezer, Garlic Press, Corn Peeler, OXO complete Grate & Slice set. I am also including a signed copy of The Family Calendar Cookbook!
To enter to win:
1) Leave a comment sharing your favorite taco topping!
Place the shrimp in a large resealable plastic bag. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cayenne, and salt. Pour the mixture into the bag with the shrimp and shake gently so the shrimp are evenly coated. Place the bag on a flat plate or in a pan and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
Light the grill and bring it to medium heat. Once it is hot, brush a small amount of vegetable oil on the corn and grill it over medium heat until the kernels char, but don’t burn to a crisp. Rotate the ear as necessary to it cooks evenly, 6 to 8 minutes. Allow the ear to cool slightly; then cut off the kernels into a bowl.
Place the shrimp in a grill basket and cook them for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until they are bright pink. Then remove the basket from the grill and allow them to cool slightly.
While they are cooling, quickly grill the tortillas on each side, about 30 seconds per side. Place them on a platter for taco assembly.
To assemble your tacos, place two or three shrimp on a tortilla and top it with some charred corn, a dollop of salsa, a few cubes of avocado, a pinch of cheese, and a pinch of cilantro, dividing all the garnishes evenly among the tacos and serving on a large platter. Or you can plate the shrimp, tortillas, and garnishes separately and allow every- one to assemble their tacos as desired.
