Azucar!

From the "why didn't anyone think of this before" file... Hubby and I visited a groovy Cuban cafe/bakery down in Ocean Beach called Azucar.  It was so fabulous and so delicious.  Hubby, having worked for years in the Bronx,  has always craved and loved a good Cuban Sandwich.  In San Diego, its not the easiest thing to find.  At Azucar you can get one, plus, plus...  This weekday the place was hopping.  To start, we tried one of their ham croquettes (love the word croquette) - kind of a fried ham ball - yummier than it sounds.  We each had a Cuban sandwich - mine with a salad and he got the plantains... the cubano coffee was the best I have ever had - a sweet espresso.  To take home, I got a Mojito Cookie (basically a lime/mint sugar cookie) and a Guava danish - the guava filling was pink and so pretty.  We also got a pound of the awesome coffee for the house too.  It just goes to show if you build it and its good, they will come... a Cuban Bakery in San Diego, how great is that!

Let's Talk of Spring!

OK... it's not edible but I couldn't resist!  These flowers were just too pretty not to share.  

My friend Ruby was over the other night and she presented me with the sweetest little bouquet.  Lilac, Sweet Pea, Forget-Me-Nots, Blue Bonnet, and Lamb's Ear.  Perfect in every way and perfectly Spring!  Thank you Ruby!

Burekas...a party in your mouth..

Hubby traveled to Israel and (Yea!) all I got were some burekas!!!!  He calls them "a party in your mouth."

Burekas are little savory/danish/knish/spanikopita-like,  treats that I discovered when I went to Israel several years ago.  It was love at first scarf.  Burekas can be found throughout Morocco, Turkey, Albania, and everywhere in the Middle East.  They are basically phyllo dough cakes stuffed with whatever the cook feels like:  potato, cheese, spinach, eggplant, etc.  A breakfast of strong coffee and a couple of these is a common breakfast in Israel.  The Pop Tart of the Mid-East, if you will....   I'm going to try to make them.  It looks pretty straight forward.

Next time you are over there, throw a few in your suitcase for your friends, family, or wife!!!

Patty's Favorite Trader Joe Items

I agree with Sarah...there are many favorites to find at Trader Joe's and the best thing is they are always finding and introducing new items. I have to say that my all time favorite is the frozen cubes of fresh garlic. I always have them stocked in my freezer for the times when dinner must be a quick process and even the peeling and chopping of a few garlic cloves takes more time than allowed. The best thing about these little cubes of convenience is the flavor is the same as a fresh clove of garlic...it doesn't have that funky taste the jarred chopped garlic carries!!
Other favorites include:

1. Great selection of cheeses
2. Microgreens
3. Avocados by the bag...cheap!
4. Toasted Pine Nuts
5. Greek Yogurt
6. Thai Red Curry Sauce
7. Escargot in Brioche - always have a box in the freezer for impromptu appetizers
8. Steamer Clams - a quick and easy dinner with a good salad, bread and wine

Trader Joe's Appreciation Society

"I found something cool at 'Trader'...." A lot of my conversations begin this way - how about you? OK, the pre-packaged fruit/vegetable scenario is a drag and a crap shoot so I avoid them but if your throwing together an impromptu cocktail party or just trying to stretch your weekly grocery budget there's no better place to go. Whether its staples or treats everybody has their favorites. Here's my top 10 in no particular order:

1. Rosemary Marcona almonds
2. Edamame Hummus
3. Organic Blue Cheese dressing - tangy & fresh
4. Extra-virgin olive oil - best price in town
5. Frozen steel-cut oatmeal
6. Manzanita olives - great price and a martini must!
7. Caramelized onion/ham Alsace "pizza"
8. Cheese enchiladas
9. Pelligrino - best price in town
10. White cheddar cheese popcorn

This could change tomorrow but that's my choice for today. Maybe we can get Patty to post hers too...

Double Check Ranch

This past weekend I had an opportunity to visit a ranch southeast of Phoenix in a small town called Dudleyville. Double Check ranch is owned and operated by the Schwennesens (Paul and Sarah and Jean and Eric.) and their commitment to responsible, small-scale agriculture demands high praises.

The Schwennesen's approach to raising cattle is humane and filled with respect for both the animal and the land. Their cattle live on open range and pasture grass. Double Check's approach is very much a dance between animal and land that mimics nature in her true sense. The pastures, which are separated into sections by fencing, are planted with a number of grasses, a varietal salad bowl, for their cattle to graze. The cows are rotated between these sections to insure that the grass is eaten at its peak and then are moved to the next paddock before they can violate the "law of the second bite." You see, the grass needs time to recover so that the salad bowl of mixed greens maintains itself for continued feeding. Think of herds in nature that are constantly moving...they instinctively know that they must not continue to graze from the same spot in order to promote growth for when they return.

Not only do the cows graze these pastures but their chickens come in after to get their fill, too. Chickens will avoid fresh manure, but bring them in a few days later and they will go to work eating the fly larvae before they have a chance to hatch, hence keeping the fly population down and all the while getting copious amounts of protein. Here is where the dance becomes interesting...chickens cannot navigate well in high grass, so the cows trim down the grass for the chickens, then the chickens come in and scratch the cowpies for their dinner, further aiding in decomposing the manure. This process fertilizes and sanitizes the pastures for Paul and his cattle. It was evident that this system works for there was no dodging of cowpies walking around their pastures. This is nature's way of eliminating the need for parasiticides. This results in cattle that have no hormones, antibiotics, or animal byproducts in their diet.

Another unique aspect about the Double Check Ranch is the operation is full circle from raising the cattle, to processing the beef, and selling to the public. The ability to process your own beef requires a difficult and tedious journey through bureaucratic channels. The Schwennesen's commitment to raising their animals with respect and treating them humanely provided them with the tenacity to work through the proper channels and gain the necessary certifications to process their own beef. By owning the entire beef cycle Double Check utilizes all parts of animal so there is no waste. In fact, Paul is now producing biodiesel fuel for their tractors from the beef tallow. This produces a clean-burning, renewable fuel from animal fat. I just wish we had more ranchers with this type of philosphy and commitment...thank you Double Check!

If you are wondering where you can purchase Double Check Beef you must be in Arizona. They do not sell their beef through a distributor for they feel that the connection to their customers on a personal level is what brings integrity to the table. So, you will not find their beef in the local grocery store but instead you will find Paul or Sarah at the local farmer's markets discussing their philosophies and educating their lucky customers about the qualities that make their beef desirable...the social, environmental and health benefits and the flavor! Or, take a visit to the ranch and pick up your meat there. If you are interested in attending one of their Open Ranch Days visit their website for details at http://www.doublecheckranch.com/.

So, if you live in Arizona consider this beef your primary choice...for you are eating local and supporting a rancher with ethics!

Sara's OJ Rant

Don't tell anyone but I buy & love Tropicana orange juice. I think it is the best, brightest tasting juice next to fresh squeezed. I have a small glass almost everyday for breakfast. A few weeks ago I went to the store to get some and did a double take when I saw that they had given their packaging a makeover (see above). I hated it and I guess I'm not the only one. I agree with other consumers that the new carton has kind of a generic, bargin brand look to it. I'm usually in favor of the modernization of many things, but in these times there is something to be said for the comfort a familiar face. This week Pepsi Co., the parent company, said its new look is being discontinued and they will bring back the old one next month. I was at the store today and saw that the new look cartons were on sale: two for $7.00!

How do you feel about companies re-branding themselves?