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On Sunday, Missy & I took Finn on his first farmer’s market outing. We seriously stocked up in San Rafael, and then went back to M’s place and had a wonderful afternoon with equal parts cooking and cuddling. For dinner, Billy joined us and we tried out the Wednesday Chef’s method for pork chops — so good! Equally good were the Lebanese-style Stuffed Eggplants we had on Monday.
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In addition to the savory side of things, we made a giant batch of apple butter. I have loved apple butter since I was a kid, and we would stop (and stock up) at The Apple Farm on the way to visit my aunt in San Luis Obispo. I hadn’t made it myself before, but now I am a total convert. SO easy. We did it in the slow cooker, but the recipe (from Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It) we riffed from just requires the oven and a blender. Bonus it had a measly amount of sugar — 1/3 cup for 8 pounds of apples!
I have been loving it in the morning on my steel-cut oats, with a smidge of peanut or almond butter too.
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In the past couple of weeks, I have said good-bye to summery nails and went straight to dark plum for fall. I am usually not terribly adventurous here, but the french manicure (which I generally loathe) with black tips seemed fun. A little bit fun but still perfectly safe for me — just basically black and white stripes — and plus, it’s just polish!
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One huge bonus of having parties in my opinion, is the abundance of flowers around the house after. I usually have a few blooms here and there, but nothing like the flowers perched on every open spot. Thanks again k o r o v i l a s ladies…it was fun!
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This week also brought (and is bringing) a few family visits. My cousin Hunter, who lives in New York, was in town for work, and it was such a treat to catch up. He came over Wednesday night, we made roast chicken & bread salad (surprise! but there was a chicken in the fridge waiting to be cooked) and some roasted cauliflower. Hunter is in the music business, so we had some chuckles about my lack of knowledge there, but it was super sun getting band (and book) recs. Hopefully he will have more trips out here soon.
And this weekend is the USC-Stanford game, so my dad is coming up for the game. I’m not sure if I will make it to the game, but I am super excited to see him … and sneak in a fun dinner tonight too!
Apologies for these last two pics, but I didn’t snap any while Hunter was over, but had to be sure and show him off — and for the one of me and pops, yes, it is a few (+) years old, but I don’t have anything current in Cardinal & Gold, and felt it fitting.
Hope you had a great week, and have some fun plans for the weekend too!
xx
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Images via my instagram (@caitlindentino), except the last two – Hunter via johngilesphotography.com (and my uncle) and the last one an old snapshot around the house.
Some dear friends from college recently started a clothing line, k o r o v i l a s, and we had a little trunk show at my house on Friday.
It was a great chance to check out fun new up-and-coming designers, try on their fabulous (made in Los Angeles) wares, sip some wine and catch up with friends.
Since it was a Friday after work, and the focus was all on the dresses, we kept the nibbles super simple … just jazzed up items from the market. I’ll do a separate post on my favorite fixes to trick out grocery store apps — super easy (and inexpensive) things we can all keep in our arsenal.
Thank you to all you lovies who came out; Maria, Kristina & Katie — love the line; and if their clothes are new to you, I highly recommend checking it out! www.korovilas.com
xx
Do you get any extra reading done in the summer? I must admit that my summer had fewer books than I would have liked … maybe it was because there weren’t many long vacations, just lots of short getaways. Long trips (with long flights) usually help the count.
I am a sucker for spy novels, so when the new Daniel Silva book in the Gabriel Allon series, Falling Angel, came out, it was devoured immediately. I also got in a few trilogys – some to remain nameless (and terribly written, by the way) – and a late entry to the Hunger Games, which I did totally enjoy.
Just read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, with just about everyone else it seems, and really enjoyed it. I had no clue what I was in for — just a recommendation from a friend — and was hooked. Another one that sucked me in, where again I was going on nothing but a friendly recommendation, was The Leftovers by Tom Perotta. It seems to have received a lot of traction last year, so I was late to the game, but thankfully good books don’t age.
Have you heard of Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick? I hadn’t and currently cannot put it down. Surprise, surprise, a friend recommended it and I am in so deep. I am fascinated and awed by the strength of the people, and cannot recommend this book highly enough!
But to round out a true summer reading list, perfect for one last trip to the beach, is Apron Anxiety. I first followed the author Alyssa Shelasky through her blog, and bought the book as soon as it was published. It follows love and loss, by way of the kitchen (with recipes too) — which, as we know, makes it perfectly at home with me.
Any books you read this summer that you couldn’t put down? Any recommendations that you haven’t gotten to yet, but are hoping to tuck into come fall? Send ‘em my way — suggestions from friends are obviously my favorite!
How do you like to organize things? If it has an alphabetical option, I will take it. Spices, DVDs, anything really. Although I stopped at books, because it looked terrible and I am not running a library … plus I don’t need to access them on the quick (that is what the Kindle is for).
But I when I found myself reorganizing a friend’s spice drawer on Friday (took me too long to find the chili flakes) I realized perhaps I had gone too far. What is worse is I asked if I could come back and tackle the pantry.
Anyone else OCD on the ABCs?
For months, I would met a friend for an early morning walk – sometimes through the marina and Chrissy field, sometimes up the hills – taking in the views, catching up and getting our heart rate up all while we used to sleep. Unfortunately job and schedule changes put it on hiatus for a bit, so I am so excited to have this back in my routine (albeit with a different, but equally lovely friend). I snapped this pic yesterday as they were setting up for America’s Cup World Series here in SF– should be quite a show!
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I have made no secret for my love of Captain Mike’s smoked fish and the tartines they have at the Ferry Building farmer’s market. But for weekends when I can’t make it down there, this homemade version isn’t too bad.
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Thanks to Cup of Jo, I have fallen deep in the Everlane trap. Perfectly soft and luxurious Ts for a song … I haven’t stopped wearing them since my package arrived earlier in the week. In fact, I ran into Caitlin Flemming (from Sacramento Street) last night and the first thing she said (after “hello” obviously) was “Is that Everlane!?!”
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Sometimes San Francisco can seem like a delighfully small town – running into friends at every turn. Not sure if it has do with living here a bit longer now and getting my bearings, or just the gods were in my favor last night — I was in fact wearing lipstick rather than gym clothes … so there’s my answer. But it was such a treat to run into friends both old and new. And that it happened at a favorite spot while dining with one of my favorite peeps, all the better!
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Sunday night was family dinner at Catie’s and since she had the meal taken care of (expertly, might I add), I thought it would be fun to bring her some flowers. I am loving the cone hydrangeas… I should’ve picked up a second arrangement for myself!
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Cotogna is for sure one of my most loved spots in the city, and particularly excited to have lunch there today. This pic is from a few weeks ago, but I hope the squash blossoms are still on the menu, as I think I may need to sample them at least once more before summer ends. But as good as the lunch will be, excited for the company … it has been much too long since I will have seen this dear friend!
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Hope you had some lovely little things to enjoy this past week — and lots of excitement (or relaxation or both!) for the weekend. My grandfather is visiting, which is such a treat, I am so excited to wander through the streets with him. What are your plans?
xx
Last week Billy and I celebrated our third anniversary, and that night he cooked me a lovely dinner. He doesn’t often spend time in the kitchen, so a delicious dinner at home {that I didn’t have to think about at all} was much more welcome than a fancy reservation.
In an attempt however to make sure he didn’t buy the whole store, not realizing we had things like chili flakes or olive oil, I went with him shopping, and then stayed out of the way.
Can we talk about how adorable this is — he took the cookbook in the store. When I asked if he wanted to make a list, he seemed genuinely flabbergasted – why write it all down again, when someone else already had?
The menu included grilled figs with proscuitto, spicy linguine with crab and buttermilk panna cotta with raspberries. He has decided that Italian will be his area of expertise. He poured through Mario Batali, Andrew Carmellini and a few other cookbooks – with these three recipes coming from those two.
I have no idea why he doesn’t cook more, because everything was really f*ing good!! Here’s hoping that this trend continues, and we see more of his work. Italian food has a lot to offer.
Thank you for a wonderful evening and Happy Anniversary my love! Here’s to many more!!
xxo
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wedding photo © Annie X Photographie, the rest from me
Quick Tahoe addition, with my first ever post from my phone, so we’ll see how this goes.
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Nothing better on vacation, than waking up and hitting the water right away. Love being able to paddle board while the lake is still glass.
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I also love checking out farmer’s markets in new towns. The one in Tahoe City was a bit smaller yesterday than in summers past, but I think we got some decent loot.
Excited for the feasts!
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Getting started on the lawn Olympics. My badminton isn’t quite up to speed, so I’m putting all my money on bocce.
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And all that “activity” is best followed by a few beverages and some simple table games… Well the follow with regard to the board games, the beverages perhaps enjoyed concurrently.
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But my favorite part of this week is most definitely a birthday! Happy birthday to my wonderful husband – may you enjoy many bloody marys, all served with bacon! I love you!!
I have a serious competitive streak, but since I am not in the least bit sporty or athletic, it often only comes out in cards, board games and other strange occasions. I think that is why I love the Olympics so — I can get into the competition, without having to participate (and then lose).
This is also why I love lawn games – athleticism is not a requirement for bocce or croquet, and bonus – they can be done drink in hand.
As we head up to Tahoe with some friends this weekend, I think a little lawn decathlon heptathlon is in order.
Bocce
Badminton
Horseshoes
Ladder Toss
Croquet
Cornhole
Putting
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Anything else we should add?
Finger’s crossed I win — I may need to add a rosé drinking element, just to ensure I get at least one W by my name.
Last night I had dinner with the absolute best company! Our dear friends Melissa and Colin had the handsomest baby boy a few weeks ago, and last night I made them dinner. I have been lucky enough to play with Finn a few times now, but I loved getting such a long visit — just the four of us!
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After dinner, I had planned on a little shortcake action, but the day got away from me and the biscuits were not baked. Dessert ended up just peaches and blueberries, tossed with the faintest bit of amaro and topped with loosely whipped fresh cream. The little sprinkling of salt and sugar didn’t hurt, but man – I forgot about how awesome just peaches and cream are!
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Nothing quite makes your day like a hand written card in the mail … on Wednesday, there were two!!
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The Olympics start today! I LOVE IT!! I get crazy involved, load my DVR to the brim, plus watch as much as I can live…can’t miss a minute. Swimming and track are my favorites by far, but I’ll watch someone win (and someone else lose) in just about any sport. 
This photo is of the Opening Ceremonies in Los Angeles in 1984, my first Olympics as an attendee. Note the Coliseum… which is apropos – along with Team USA, I will also be cheering on the 39 USC Trojan athletes worldwide.
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And speaking of LA, I am headed there now … some dear friends are having a Monte Carlo party that I wouldn’t miss for the world! It is going to be a bit more glamorous than my plastic chips and champagne in Tahoe, but you get the idea. Not to mention, I will get to see their cute little nugget too!
I’m sure there will be lots of good pics to share from this one.
xx
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Images from my phone and instagram (@caitlindentino), minus the Opening Ceremonies – from olympic.org.
When I spied these cornflowers at the market, I couldn’t help but throw a bunch in the cart. The bright blue flowers with the wild stems seem like the perfect embodiement of the overgrowth of summer.
I’m not usually too matchy-matchy, but I particularly love them in this blue and white vase … they were made for each other!
Vase: Spode Blue Italian 8″ Square Vase
