Tour of Hubbell and Hudson

For Valentine's Day last weekend we took my mother to Grimaldi's for lunch.  Not quite next door, but right around the corner from it is a fabulous little market called Hubbell and Hudson.  My hubby loves this place and I have to admit that I do too because it is not your everyday grocery store.   Since my mother had never been we decided to give her a quick tour before lunch. I love that today's phones have cameras because I can discreetly take pictures, which is what I did!

Right when you enter you see the Bistro, which we have not eaten at yet but after peeking inside, I want to soon.  The deli area is to the left.  To the right of the bistro are stairs leading to their Viking Cooking School where anyone can attend and learn how to prepare a variety of meals from experienced chefs.   My youngest daughter, Megan, bought a class for her and her boyfriend to attend in March as a birthday/Valentine's Day gift. I can't wait for them to go and let us know all about it! Hubby and I have wanted to take a class since it opened last year.

Here are a few of the salads that are made fresh each morning.  The homemade mac and cheese caught my eye, yummm...

Around the corner is the deli, which has the best sandwiches.  You can order one to go or take it upstairs along with your favorite beverage and salad and enjoy your lunch in a quaint little eating area that overlooks the store.

There's my hubby and mother.  What are they eating?

Oh, aged sharp cheddar cheese, I think I'll stop and taste too.

So, is it looking like just a typical grocery store?  Well, I thought so to until I saw the homemade pasta...

and the incredible wine selection...

or the many different varieties of olive oils!

So, how do you pick one?  Well you can try each if you want. I tried one plain...

and one with seasonings.

Coffee anyone?  The fresh coffee bar is fabulous.  Every coffee imaginable is available to purchase and have ground fresh.  There are even coffee fire logs!  I have never heard of such a thing but I'm intrigued.

This is my hubby's favorite part of the market. 

Here he is gazing at the aged beef.

They have a large selection or organic fruits and vegetables.

I don't know why I took a picture of the Le Creuset display, I can't afford to buy them, but a girl can dream.  By the way, the tiny little cast iron pot is $55.  We had to look twice to make sure it wasn't a mistake!  Didn't dare look at the price of the large ones.

The bread section is divine, many different types.  We  decided we needed to came back after lunch and buy some to take home.

Just around the corner from the bread are a variety of delicious looking desserts.  I thought the heart shaped pastries looked pretty and tasty.

At this point we were starving so we headed to Grimaldi's for lunch but returned with full tummies and bought some bread, cheese, salami and a greek pasta salad to snack on later.  I love pasta salads, they remind me of summer.  Below is an easy recipe for a tasty greek salad and a gyro sandwich.  Can't wait to make them both for my family on a warm spring day in the near future (crossing fingers)!

Greek Pasta Salad

4 cups penne or other pasta
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
Salt and ground black pepper
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
3 plum tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup chopped green pepper (optional)
1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper (optional)
1/2 cup KALAMATA Pitted Greek Olives, halved 
3 scallions,chopped
1 cup crumbled feta cheese


Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and transfer to bowl. Add  cucumber, tomato, peppers, olives and scallions.  In a small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper to taste. Add to pasta mixture, toss to combine.  Add feta just before serving.  


*A helpful tip when making pasta salads is to save a little pasta cooking water to stir into the salad if it needs moistening at serving time.

Crockpot Gyros

1 slow-cooker liner
2 lb boneless beef chuck steak, about 11⁄4 in. thick
1⁄4 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp dried oregano
1⁄2 tsp salt
1⁄4 tsp pepper
pocketless pitas

 Yogurt-Dill Sauce
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup diced seedless cucumber
1 Tbsp snipped fresh dill
1⁄4 tsp salt



Line a 3-qt or larger slow-cooker with liner and place beef in the liner.  Mix oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper in small bowl. Pour over beef, turning to coat. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours until meat is tender. Meanwhile, combine the yogurt-dill sauce ingredients, cover and refrigerate.  Once beef is done, remove to a cutting board and slice. Return beef to juices in slow-cooker to keep warm. Warm pitas as package directs; top with sliced meat, dill sauce, and your favorite veggies.  I like to add a little tomato and sliced purple onion to mine.  Serve with greek pasta salad.

Memories of San Diego

I ran across these pictures this weekend of our last morning in San Diego, a trip we took for my 40th birthday in October.  I had forgotten I had taken them and almost deleted them from my computer during an attempt to do a little cyber "clean up."

Before heading to the airport we had some time to kill so we  took a last minute trip to the harbor and found the Maritime Museum of San Diego.  Even though we didn't have time to actually go aboard any, we enjoyed walking along the harbor and admiring the beautiful ships docked there.  One of the workers selling tickets to the museum was nice enough to give us a brochure that gave us some information about the boats. 

This one is known as the HMS Surprise and was built in 1970 as a replica of an 18th century ship.  It was used in the movie "Master and Commander; Far Side of the World." The first thing that came to mind after learning this was, “Russell Crowe has been on and touched this very ship, cool..."

The other ship we saw was the Star of India.  It's the world's oldest active sailing ship, built in 1863.

There was even a submarine, the USS Dolphin, the deepest diving one in the world.

Below is a picture of one of the many art pieces displayed along the walk to the ships, pictured in the background. 

This is another art piece further down the harbor.

Before we headed to the airport we stopped at the Seaport Village to grab a bite to eat.

Here's a view of the marina right by the shops in Seaport Village.

It was early and most of the shops and places to eat were closed.  We did find one cute little cafe open.  That's my hubby going to check out the menu.

 

Against my wishes, "we" decided to skip breakfast at the cafe and head over to Little Italy instead to get a sandwich from a place a friend of my husband's told him about.  Thanks Marcus... 

Even though I wanted a breakfast bagel and fresh orange juice, I have to admit that the Italian sandwich I had at Mona Lisa's was one of the best I've had. I hate it when he is always right, at least when it comes to food! 

Soon after enjoying our sandwiches on a sidewalk table, we were off to the airport to head back home to Houston.  It was a great trip and I'm happy to have many fond memories (and pictures) to treasure for years to come.  For more fabulous pictures of beautiful California click on the picture "A Trip to Remember" on my sidebar.

Yummy White Bean Chicken Chili

Today at our school we had a "chili cook off."  Each grade level picked a representative to bring a crockpot of their favorite homemade chili.  The office staff participated as well.  Our principal then had volunteers (parents) come in and judge and determine the best of the batches.  The winning team gets to wear jeans all next week, a huge prize for us teachers!  So today in our lounge there were about 12 different crockpots with different varieties of chili.  I'm sad to say our second grade team did not place.  There are no losers, however, since we all enjoyed chili for lunch.  The third grade team won with their White Bean Chicken Chili.  I have to admit, it was the best chili by far.  It was delicious!!!!  So, I asked for the recipe and the sweet third grade teacher who had made it emailed it to our entire staff today.  If you enjoy a white chili with a kick, you have to try this recipe.  It's going to be a keeper at our house for sure!

White Bean Chicken Chili
1 whole fryer chicken, cut up (or 3 cups cooked chicken)
1 whole medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 TBS olive oil
3 cans whole green chilies, chopped
1 pound dried great northern beans, rinsed
8 cups chicken broth
2 whole jalapenos, sliced thinly
2 TBS ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
1/2 to 1 tsp cayenne (to taste)
salt and pepper (to taste)
1 cup whole milk
2-3 TBS masa (corn flour) OR cornmeal
1 1/2 cups grated monterey jack cheese
Sour cream for garnish
grated monterey jack for garnish

• Cover chicken with water and cook on stove for 20-30 min. until done. Remove meat from bones and set aside.
• In dutch oven, saute onions and garlic in olive oil. Add diced green chilies, then rinsed beans. Pour chicken broth into the pan. Add jalapenos, salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne and cumin. Put lid on and reduce heat to medium low.
• Cook for 1 hour and then add cooked chicken.
• Cook for another hour or until beans are soft.
• Mix milk with masa and pour into the chili. Cook for an additional 10 minutes to thicken. Adjust spices as needed.
• Add 1 1/2 cups monterey jack cheese and stir to melt.
• Garnish with sour cream and additional monterey jack cheese.
• ENJOY!
*adapted from thepioneerwoman.com's Hearty White Chili

Dreaming of Summer

I stopped by A Little of This and That and saw a picture of a beautiful sunset that reminded me of a trip I took a summer or so ago. 

 

These were taken close to Corpus Christi while accompanying my husband on a a business trip (I enjoy tagging along with him when I can on my summers off from school).  After a weekend stay we woke up early to begin the long journey back home, about an eight hour drive.   On the way we were lucky enough to witness this gorgeous sunrise as we drove along the coast. 

I just love the Texas coast. It's different from the west coast, which is what I had been accustomed to as a young girl growing up in California. And although the sand on the beaches does not resemble powdered sugar and the water is far from crystal blue, it has a charm about it that I've never experienced anywhere else.

. 

As I look out our living room window this morning and see cloudy skies and falling rain, I can't help but yearn for the days of summer and to be in a place like this right now. 

Happy Birthday Britty!

It seems like a lifetime ago that you were born; however, I can remember it as if it were yesterday.

Twenty two years ago today you entered our lives and changed us forever.  Two college kids could never guess how much until the day you arrived. 

Your presence created a family, gave us reason to strive to be our best and opened our hearts to a love only a parent can explain.

You were the best little girl parents could ask for, inquisitive and bright with a compassionate heart full of love. 

I can still remember how adorable you were reading Eric Carle's "The Hungry Caterpillar" at the age of three with that Boston accent we could never account for.  I was sure you were a genius...still think so today! 

 

Then, when Megan was born you became the best big sister to your little "Ducky" and a great bond developed that I have treasured watching grow over the years.  

You went from a little girl,

to a teenager ,

to a twenty-something in a flash!

You have grown into a caring, beautiful woman whose desire to make a difference in this crazy world we live in makes us so very proud. We are so lucky to be your parents and have someone so special in our lives.  No matter what you choose to do in the years ahead, we will be there to support you and cheer you on every step of the way.  We love you so much...Happy Birthday Britty.