Who: Francophile Families
What:French Tales
Presented in conjunction with Impressionist Giverny, this engaging reading features such classic French tales as Charlotte in Giverny, Madeleine, excerpts from The Little Prince, and more.
When: Saturday, September 29, 11:45 AM
Where: The San Diego Museum of Art
Why: Tres Chic
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
San Diego County Library Happy Hour
Nope...they aren't selling alcohol in the county libraries. To finish off Library Card Sign-Up Month, San Diego County Libraries are hosting a Happy Hour - during with they will waive fines on all overdue materials returned tomorrow afternoon, Friday September 28, from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
A list of San Diego County Library branches and their hours can be found at: http://www.sdcl.org/locations.html
A list of San Diego County Library branches and their hours can be found at: http://www.sdcl.org/locations.html
For more information, phone: (858) 694-2484.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
San Diego Mama Favorites: Ikea Bevara Sealing Clips
There is a lot I could say about the benefits of living close to an Ikea, and it is definitely a San Diego favorite among families. But out of all the "stuff," I've ever bought at Ikea, the Bevara sealing clips have to be my favorite purchase. 
They come in two different sizes and in a pack of 30...for only $2.99. I use them to clip shut everything...chip/pretzel bags, flour/sugar bags, bags of baby carrots and dried beans...anything that it's in a bag and that needs to be closed. They are dishwasher and freezer safe, and not a single one has broken. And - they help keep my pantry much more organized.
Mamas run...run to Ikea..these will solve all your problems...at least all your open bag, stale chip, disorganized pantry problems.
They come in two different sizes and in a pack of 30...for only $2.99. I use them to clip shut everything...chip/pretzel bags, flour/sugar bags, bags of baby carrots and dried beans...anything that it's in a bag and that needs to be closed. They are dishwasher and freezer safe, and not a single one has broken. And - they help keep my pantry much more organized. Mamas run...run to Ikea..these will solve all your problems...at least all your open bag, stale chip, disorganized pantry problems.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Calendar Pick of the Week: Family Day 2007
Today is Family Day 2007: A day to eat dinner with your family. Family Day was started by CASA - the National Center for Substance and Addiction Abuse, in 2001, as a national movement that encourages parents to frequently eat dinner with their kids and be involved in their children’s lives as simple, effective ways to reduce substance abuse among children and teens.
So, in honor of family day, and sitting down with your families for good conversation and food, I thought I would share a fun family-favorite recipe!
It doesn't matter what I top this with, this pizza dough recipe rocks. It is easy and so, so good.
Enjoy!
Pizza Dough
4 1/2 cups bread flour
2 1/4 tsp. yeast
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 T olive oil
1 3/4 cup warm water
1) In a kitchen aid, blend the 4 cups of flour, yeast, and salt with a dough hook until combined. With the mixer running, pour the oil, then the water until a rough ball forms -30-40 seconds. Let the dough rest for 2 minutes, then mix for 1 minute.
2) Turn the dough onto a lightly floured counter top and knead by hand to form a smooth, round ball, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of flour as needed. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1- 1 1/2 hours.
3) Place an oven rack to the lower-middle position. Place a baking stone in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees for at least 30 minutes.
4) Divide the dough into 3 even pieces. Shape the pieces into a smooth rounds. Keep the pieces covered when you are not working the dough, so they won't dry out.
5) Uncover the balls and shape it into a 12-inch rounds. Transfer to the hot pizza stone, and add sauce and toppings. Bake 8-13 minutes, until crust is brown and cheese is golden in spots.
Notes: You can either half the recipe for 1 large pizza, or make the entire batch and freeze half the dough for later. Also, if you like crispier crust, don't let the dough rise for very long. If you prefer softer, fluffier crust, just let it rise longer than 2 hours.
Have a great dinner with your family tonight!
So, in honor of family day, and sitting down with your families for good conversation and food, I thought I would share a fun family-favorite recipe!
It doesn't matter what I top this with, this pizza dough recipe rocks. It is easy and so, so good.
Enjoy!
Pizza Dough
4 1/2 cups bread flour
2 1/4 tsp. yeast
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 T olive oil
1 3/4 cup warm water
1) In a kitchen aid, blend the 4 cups of flour, yeast, and salt with a dough hook until combined. With the mixer running, pour the oil, then the water until a rough ball forms -30-40 seconds. Let the dough rest for 2 minutes, then mix for 1 minute.
2) Turn the dough onto a lightly floured counter top and knead by hand to form a smooth, round ball, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of flour as needed. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1- 1 1/2 hours.
3) Place an oven rack to the lower-middle position. Place a baking stone in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees for at least 30 minutes.
4) Divide the dough into 3 even pieces. Shape the pieces into a smooth rounds. Keep the pieces covered when you are not working the dough, so they won't dry out.
5) Uncover the balls and shape it into a 12-inch rounds. Transfer to the hot pizza stone, and add sauce and toppings. Bake 8-13 minutes, until crust is brown and cheese is golden in spots.
Notes: You can either half the recipe for 1 large pizza, or make the entire batch and freeze half the dough for later. Also, if you like crispier crust, don't let the dough rise for very long. If you prefer softer, fluffier crust, just let it rise longer than 2 hours.
Have a great dinner with your family tonight!
Friday, September 21, 2007
Weekend Happenings: Art in the Park!
Who: Fun for the whole family
What: Plein Air Art Festival.
Where: Torrey Pines State Park
Why: Proceeds benefit the Torrey Pines Reserve Endowment Fund
How: Reserve day use fee is $8 per vehicle or valid annual pass
Free shuttle service 8 am - 4 pm from South Beach and North Beach lots to the Visitor Center ~ courtesy of the Torrey Pines Association ~
Disabled parking available with placard in upper Reserve lot
Check out the San Diego Mama calendar for a complete list of weekend happenings in San Diego
What: Plein Air Art Festival.
- Wander the Reserve and discover artists painting on site Saturday morning
- Nature walks at 10 am and 2 pm
- Special historic architecture tours at 11 am and 1 pm will focus on the Lodge and Guy Fleming House
- Special for Kids – plein air watercolor activity, drop in 10 am - 2 pm
- New displays of Reserve projects – what we’ve done, where we want to go
- Docent exhibits of Reserve artwork and memorabilia
- Beautiful posters, books, note cards, T-shirts for sale (cash or checks only)
- Book signing by Bill Evarts, author of "Torrey Pines - Landscape and Legacy"
Where: Torrey Pines State Park
Why: Proceeds benefit the Torrey Pines Reserve Endowment Fund
How: Reserve day use fee is $8 per vehicle or valid annual pass
Free shuttle service 8 am - 4 pm from South Beach and North Beach lots to the Visitor Center ~ courtesy of the Torrey Pines Association ~
Disabled parking available with placard in upper Reserve lot
Check out the San Diego Mama calendar for a complete list of weekend happenings in San Diego
Dinnertime Trivia
Tonight at sundown, Jewish families in San Diego will begin their observance of Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement. Here are just a few facts from Wikipedia we can share with our families today to help broaden our perspectives:
- It is considered to be one of the holiest and most solemn days of the year.
- Its central theme is atonement and repentence for sins against both God and one's fellow man.
- Total abstention from food and drink usually begins half-an-hour before sundown (called tosefet Yom Kippur), and ends after nightfall the following day.
- Virtually all Jewish holidays involve a ritual feast; in the case of Yom Kippur, since one cannot eat a festive meal on the day itself, one therefore eats the festive meal on the afternoon prior to the fast. Traditional foods consumed during that meal include kreplach and rice.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Meet the San Diego Mama Behind....
This Week for Dinner is one of the coolest foodie blogs around, and the blogger is a San Diego resident...and my neighbor!
Meal planning can get so monotonous for us Mamas...and Jane has helped solve this problem!
Every week Jane shares her recipes, food facts, San Diego "Fab Fav's," music and much, much more. She also shares her weekly menu, and readers can post their own menus, which gives everyone a collection of ideas to pull from each week.
Meet Jane!
How long have you lived here?
6 great years. We love San Diego!
Why did you start your blog?
I’m no chef and I don’t even get food magazines (although I do love eating and CAN cook – I promise)! I always had trouble thinking of what to make for dinner every night…in fact it made me kind of crazy. I started the blog mostly to get ideas from my friends and family, ideas for REAL meals I would actually cook. I also felt the accountability to post a menu each week would keep me planning (which it has!). It just grew from there! I do love photography and writing, so it’s a great outlet for that as well.
What is your favorite thing about writing a blog?
I love taking the pictures of food…and I feel like the blog makes me continually improve on that front. I also can’t believe that I’ve essentially created a whole new ‘community’ of people. Whenever there is dialogue among readers or I get a letter from someone saying how much they love and use the blog, it makes me realize that people really are reading and benefiting from it. That feels great!
What is your favorite recipe from your blog?
That’s tough since I just post my favorites up there. But I guess if I HAVE to choose, I’d say the Fruit Dip. I just love that stuff. (It’s sooooo easy too.)
What is your all-time favorite thing about living in
This is going to sound SO clichéd, but it’s the weather. Until you live here you don’t realize how good weather all the time makes life so NICE. I’m really going to miss the weather when we have to move away one day. I also never get mosquito bites here!
Where is your favorite place to eat in
For nicer restaurants, I love the Ocean Terrace at George’s at the Cove in
That said, Extraordinary Desserts is hands-down my favorite food spot! The Hillcrest location is quaint, small, cute. Very nice ambience. The downtown location is very modern and hip feeling – fun in a totally different way. ‘The Viking’ is my favorite cake, which Nate gets me for my birthday every year. I also had an amazing Choclate Croissant Bread Pudding there once when it was on special. Yum, yum, yum.
Where is your favorite place to go with your child in
Probably the
Where is your favorite place to go without your child (with your husband or girlfriends)?
Well, with Nate I just love going out to dinner at the aforementioned restaurants – or anywhere for that matter. With girlfriends, I think it would be going for a pedicure, which I hardly ever do! Color Me Nails & Spa on
Any insider
Photography tip: The best beach spot for family/couple pictures is Wind ‘N’ Sea beach in
Shopping tip: ‘The Pink Zone’ and ‘Closet’ in
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