Acai Breakfast "smoothie" Bowl

Acai (ah-sai-ee) bowls are delicious. If you've never had the opportunity to try an acai bowl, they're incredibly easy to make at home if you have a blender and access to a Sprouts or Whole Paycheck that supplies little packets of Acai. I first had one at a little Brazillian cafe in Santa Cruz. Since I liked them so much I had to figure out a way to make them at home, and now that I know, I make them all the time.

If you're not familiar, Acai is a Brazillian superfood touted for its anti-aging and weight loss properties. The Acai berry itself is full of antioxidants and all kinds of omegas. Despite the fact that I'm pretty sure most research regarding the health benefits (weight loss and anti-aging) are inconclusive, it still tastes pretty awesome and it's a good source of vitamins either way.

To make an acai bowl you'll need:

Fresh fruit! I usually go for chopped strawberries or bananas
1 pack of Sambazon, broken into pieces and blended with some coconut water.
1/2 cup of your favorite granola.

Directions
1. Blend together your frozen acai pack and enough coconut water to get it to your desired consistency, I like mine a little watery so everything gets mixed up great, usually less than a 1/4 cup will do it but more or less depending on your preferences. (Sometimes I get crazy and like to add about 1/4 of frozen blueberries or pineapple too).
2. In a bowl, layer the acai mixture on the bottom, granola, and then finally top with the fresh fruit of your choice. I did bananas here, but like I said earlier you could definitely throw some chopped strawberries, or even some shredded coconut  on top.
 3. Enjoy! Some people like to mix up their bowls, but I like to eat mine bite, by bite.

What are some Acai bowl combinations you'd like to try?

xo

Siobhain

2013 Eat Real Fest

There are so many events in the Bay Area on the weekends that it can be really overwhelming to decide what to do. It is definitely a good problem to have, but a dilemma nonetheless because no one can be everywhere at once (Even though most of the time I really really want to be).

When I stumbled on the website for Oakland's annual Eat Real Festival I pretty much knew without a sprinkle of doubt how I was going spending my day off. It didn't take long to get my man on board with the plan to eat food all day, and the next morning we gassed up the car, ate the smallest of small breakfasts, and drove down the road to ye old oak town.

Neither of us had really spent much time in Oakland, with the exception of a couple of shows at the Fox Theater and several A's games, so we weren't really sure what to expect. We were definitely surprised by Jack London Square and had the best time walking around trying all the different things people were offering at the event.

Eat Real Fest showcased so many talented artisans from the Bay Area and it was such a blast getting to try a bite from several places I had been wanting to try all in one go.

Chicken and waffles from Soul Groove, something I'd never really thought to try before but Jon insisted I take a bite, and it sure was delicious!

Carne empanada with the most perfect pastry and filling from Porteno SF.

Onigiri Nasu (eggplant rice ball) from Onigilly, which was HANDSDOWN my favorite thing of the day with all its delicious umami flavors.

Enjoying a peachy-minty-bourbony cocktail in an ultra hip - resusable - keepsake - mason jar.

A very large and impressive paella from Ñora Spanish Catering that we weren't sure we would like because we are very spoiled with Spanish Cuisine because Jon's mom is originally from there.

See all that black stuff? That's the crispy rice from the bottom of the pan, and it's the best part. The paella was actually really delicious and had big chunks of braised lamb shank, crispy pancetta, peas, garbanzo beans and all around yumness!

I hope you all took home some good memories over the weekend and indulged just a little, because I know I did!

Cheers! 

Siobhain

All the stuff I want right now.

The season is changing and I just noticed today that my wardrobe is seriously lacking cooler weather appropriate pieces. I can blame my lack of fall/winter preparedness on two things: 1. I live in California, where it's *almost* always 70 degrees year round, and 2. I'm a tank top addict. I buy sleeveless things without a second thought and when this time of year rolls around I'm always ripping apart my dresser to find a something with sleeves I can comfortably wear for more than 50% of the day.

Here is a list of things I would really like to incorporate into my wardrobe if I had a million dollars to spend on a new wardrobe. Or, I guess I don't really need a million dollars, but wouldn't it be nice?

1. This totally adorable ASOS PETITE Exclusive Stripe Maxi Dress ($50.63)
2. This rocker-esque Wilfred Free Mueller T-shirt ($50)
3. These little Mixx Shuz tan ankle booties, because duh! ($55)
4. A leopard print scarf to add a little pop to my normally monochromatic wardrobe. ($68)
5. Flannel. It's pretend we're all lumberjacks season. ($55)
6. Black leather gloves. Are gloves cool? I think they're neat, it's not ever really cold enough to wear gloves in the Bay Area, but they're still pretty awesome right? Right? ($33)
7. A new fragrance to add to my little collection. (Bergamont & Cucumber, $60)
8. Wilfred Free Daria faux leather leggings. Edgy with a dash of comfort. ($135)

What items are your fall wishlist?

Siobhain

Faux Benedict with Summer Squash

I love eggs. I love them when they're runny and poached and oh-so-delicate. I love them with toast. I love them for breakfast. I love them for lunch. I even love them for dinner.

I make so many egg things, I would call myself an egg-spert (har har). Poached eggs, are without question my favorite way to have eggs. It's so simple, but it's so complex. I remember I wasn't able to poach eggs until I was like 22 or something. Which means I've only been able to have them poached at home for two years.

I finally picked up a copy of Jacques Pepin's "Complete Techniques," and learned step by step the best way to poach an egg. It's harder than it looks you guys. It's not easy for anyone without egg-sperience (too much?) and if you put the egg in too soon, or too late it gets messy. Instead of perfect little ghosts floating in water you get weird white chunky clouds and broken yolks. It's not pretty. I've even tried to follow recipes online with great failure... I don't know why but Pepin's book explains things much more clearly for me. (And genuinely if you have questions about any recipe he'll show you the way to make almost anything! This book has your answers!)

This is an easy breakfast I like to make for myself in the summer (or I guess technically the fall too since it's September now) in lieu of a heart stopping eggs benedict. I rely on the creamy yolk to create a "sauce" for the onions and zucchini which is caught by the crispy english muffin. I can't get enough.

The stuff:
(Serves 1) 

1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

2 eggs 

1/2 tbsp olive oil

1 small zucchini sliced thinly (use either a mandolin or a peeler-- whatever you have on hand)
1/2 small onion sliced
1 english muffin

How:
First, in a medium saucepan on medium heat add olive oil until shimmering. Then add the onions and cook until lightly browned but not carmelized and add shaved zucchini and cook until lightly browned. (Add a pinch of salt to taste)

Toast english muffin to desired setting.

While you are waiting for the onions to brown, fill a medium pot with water about 3/4 of the way. Over medium-high heat bring to a boil. Once water is boiling reduce to a simmer and crack eggs on a flat surface and open with both hands into simmering water as closely as possible (without touching your fingers to the water, obviously). Do this again with the second egg as quickly as possible to keep the cooking times relatively close together.

While the eggs finish cooking, butter your english muffin and cover each piece with onion and zucchini mixture.

Remove the eggs from the water one at a time with a slotted spoon, and place each one on top of each slice of muffin. Add salt and pepper to finish, and enjoy.

How do you prefer your eggs in the morning? 

Siobhain 

End of Summer Scones

Oh, scones. You are the food of my childhood tea party dreams. These are best right out of the oven, with a dollop of clotted cream, or a quick smear of softened butter alongside your favorite black tea.

Scones are ridiculously easy to make, and you can substitute this or that when you've run out of something (milk for cream, butter for shortening). I'd never tried layering my scones like this, which I thought was a pretty neat experiment, and they look so darn pretty this way. I had this lonely peach left over a few days after the famers market which was on its way to peach heaven and decided to slice it up and utilize it before it was inedible when I stumbled onto this recipe from joy the baker (everything on her site is just ahhmazing).

I don't know if I would layer the peaches again next time, but I certainly enjoyed the experiment, and they came out tasting oh-so-yummy with my cup of english breakfast when I made them that morning.