Tempeh Pizza

When I first got back to town I was craving pizza. We had just been to Portland where wonderful pizza abounds (our friends even have a few pizza restaurants). I realized I've never had good pizza in California. None of the pizza shops around here are gourmet or fresh enough for my taste. I've tried several and all the reviews I've read mention doughy, cheesey and otherwise bland pizza.

We even went out to dinner last week to try the pizza at a local brewhouse, because Andrew remembered the pizza being good. It was alright, but not great.

I asked my neighbors (who moved here from Boston) if they knew of any good pizza places. Nope. Homemade is the way to go.

Since I've been back from traveling this summer, I've been relishing my kitchen time. I love cooking. And I had forgotten: I know how to make pizza!

While home on Maui, I picked up some tempeh at the local health food store (I heart Mana Foods!). It really broke up my tofu rut. I found out that Andrew had never even tried it.

We're a mostly veggie household (pescatarian to be exact) so yummy forms of meatless protein are to be celebrated.

I was thrilled when my cousin sent me a link to a lovely blog called 101 Cookbooks. They were featuring a tempeh sandwich.

I made the TLT as featured... When I tried it I realized the way the tomatoes and the marinaded tempeh were prepared was worth remembering. Both were soooo delicious, I made a bunch extra.

And tonight we threw together a pizza with:

(Almost) whole wheat dough (TJs)
Bell peppers from the garden.
Oven roasted cherry tomatoes (yellow and red--from garden and farmer's market)
Goat Cheese (Mmmmmmmmmmm)
A sprinkling of mozarella
Tempeh that had been marinated in adobo sauce, balsamic vinegar, shoyu, maple syrup and olive oil from the Tempeh Lettuce and Tomato recipe.
parsley, basil, and oregano fresh from the garden

It was a great combo. Worth writing about even. And Andrew observed, "WOW, this is awesome sausage."

I think tempeh has become our latest household staple.

Love/Hate Oregon

Great microbrew can be found at the Blue Moon.

I just spent a week in Portland, Oregon, visiting old friends and returning to old haunts. While living there off and on for nine years I developed a very strong love/hate relationship with the place.

Things I love about PDX:

1. Very good beer
2. Great prices!
3. Trees and greenery are refreshing
4. Easygoing people (mellow drivers)
5. Charming neighborhoods (I love certain bubbles)

6. Farmers' Market

Will work for food (our old Saturday job).

Things I don't miss:

1. Smokers
2. Weather (though I was there for a perfect week)
3. Trees (somehow seem a bit dark and ominous)
4. Hipsters
5. Strip malls
6. Billboards

My highlight of the week was kayaking on Oswego Lake and seeing a catfish and a mink. And meeting handsome baby boy Finn!

Loving the Lake in perfect Oregon sunshine.

I've spent the last year really missing Oregon (well, mainly my friends who are like family) and longing for all the things I used to love. My visit made me realize that I like Oregon but I don't love it. I always knew in my heart it wasn't for me--yet, absence really can make the heart grow fonder.
After checking in with my past home, I'm feeling very ready to embrace life here in California.

Oahu Living

I just had an awesome trip visiting my little sisters in their island bungalow in the city of Honolulu. We took the Hawaii Superferry over from Maui with my dad which was a painless 3 hours in what seemed to be a floating airport lobby with a new movie theater feel. I'm impressed with the aged beauty of Oahu's mountains and the amazing views from the foothills. But it mainly did my heart good to see my little sisters, grown up and independent, taking on this new city as their home. I also had a great reunion with several of my best girlfriends from college who live on Oahu now. I'm proud to see how successful my friends have become. They're such healthy, beautiful, accomplished women.

My new boyfriend and my college girlies!

Great beaches, good shopping, city lights, evening walks, and a perfect little dog named Ollie. Life is good over there.

Maui My Love

A benefit of being in the education field is summers remain a time of freedom from routine...

I made a last minute ticket home to Maui and have been spending some true quality time with my family. It is amazing how easy it is to fall back into old routines and a different reality.

WHY I LOVE IT HERE:

WEATHER (sounds obvious, Hawaii and all) but I love the way it can rain and be simultaneously sunny--you can see each raindrop sparkle in the light as it falls.

FOOD--lilikoi (passion fruit) juice, guava juice, coconut candy, avo sandwiches, fresh OJ--all from the yard. Also gifts of pineapple, fish, salad greens, all from friends. I feel myself becoming a raw foodie with little effort.

OCEAN--I'm a walk away from gorgeous beaches in SB but something about the balmy, bouncy North shore ocean does it for me. I went for a night swim with my sisters last night. On the way home from town I'll pull off the Hana Highway and rinse the city smut off of me. I never feel cleaner after this type of baptism.

PEACE--the privacy of the country--only the sound of wind and palm fronds.

PUPPIES--I am spoiled with doggy love. I miss my Andrew, but I have a warm b0dy next to me each night--in the form of a hopelessly devoted chihuahua. Also a doe-eyed pit bull sleeping on the carpet next to me. I am never lonely.FLOWERS--I am a flower freak. I am growing a lot in my California garden and tend to keep some in each room. Sexy pinks, white orchids, and red gingers make me happy here!

Looking forward to an eventual return to my Cali life and BF but am very content at the moment...

Summer Solstice--SB Style

We saw a fabulous summer solstice parade last weekend. Hula hoopers, feather dancers, aliens, and other extraordinary townfolk gathered downtown for the gathering. It was hot, hot day--but always comfortable in the shade--is that just how desert climates are?

It was fun to see a cultural event like Solstice celebrated in style. It reminded me of Maui and the carefree and fabulous weirdos that are drawn there. It made me feel more a part of life in Santa Barbara as well. I didn't have any idea how unsettling moving is--even if it is an ideal place.

Yes, I can't complain here. I miss my P-town folks, but am realizing how much happier the climate here makes me. Constant rain made me feel stuck and sad. Sun makes me happy. Hooray for the Solstice. Yay, it's summer!

Another lovely float...

Colorful dancers set the mood.

Here comes the sun!

Worth a Read

People by Peter Spier

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars

Have you guys updated your goodreads lately? Books have such an important role in my life. I have no problem "reviewing" anything I read so I am trying to break my writer's block and try some different themes to these postings.

I loved this book as a kid and read/studied it until the pages fell out. It has great, detailed illustrations celebrating the diversity of the people on this planet.

There is a page where white villagers are pointing and making fun of people dressed like native aborigines...and then a picture of the "natives" pointing at the odd white people. That cultural relevancy was so curious to me as a kid--not all people think the same things are beautiful. Normal is different for everyone.

I use to cry when I thought about the line, "And in the end, all people die." Death is a hard concept for adults, let alone kids. (Plus, I've always been a big crier).

I also enjoyed the page that had all the different shapes noses come in. I still appreciate interesting noses!

It's a very poignant, interesting read for all ages.


View all my reviews.

Garden Queen--The After Picture

Guess what?

I won a prize for being a top gardener this month:

Awesome gardener - weeds tremble as you walk by! Your garden over by the sign has many admirers. No you don't need a fence or bird netting and it looks phenomenal.

Enjoy your dorm food meal tickets - things have changed since you last ate dorm food - Its pretty good!

Andrew and I now have a hot date planned at the DLG (yes, as sung about by Jack Johnson in Bubble Toes).

Other updates:

Ground squirrels did a number on my basil so now I'm keeping it in a pot.

My potted lemon tree has all sorts of new growth and flowers.

I retired my calendula. Our love affair is over. I now have a new patch of wild flowers going--cosmos, zinnias, hollyhocks, and more.

I have pumpkin patch growing (the sweet, smaller cooking ones). Also butternut squash, lemon cucumbers, acorn squash, and bowl gourds for carving.

My pepper plants are happy and tomatoes are starting to ripen already.

I've had an asparagus thief--two plants dug up and today someone helped themselves to about 7 spears (at least they left the plant though--they take 3-5 years to establish!)