Longing for those days of R & R....

As I look at my calendar, I see that school starts two weeks from this coming Thursday. I know if you are not from California, you are probably saying, big deal, school already started here a week ago. It's just that I am not ready for summer to end. I do love the fall and winter seasons. They are my favorite times of year, but with that comes lots of school projects, never ending spelling words, and homework. Ugh!  

So as I look back over my summer, and the last weeks of the school year 2007-2008, I do long for those leisurely days of vacations, pools, and sleeping in late. So I will take this time and with the next few post, I will tell you about my wonderful adventures. 

The first started with our trip to Sedona, Arizona from May 16-May 20, 2008. 

This was our yearly business meeting, but since my husband and I are the only 2 shareholders, it made it a quiet intimate meeting! After our 1st year in business, it was nice to get away and retreat to a place that was quiet and also had a beautiful setting.

Now my husband loves to do things in style for me, so when we got to the Phoenix airport, there was a full size limousine waiting for us. Two hours of pure pleasure and relaxation. We popped open a bottle of White Star Champagne, kicked back, put our feet up and enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way. Once we arrived at our final destination, the Enchantment Resort, we were ready to work! (...that is, work at resting and relaxation!) 

Adobe Casita style accommodations amid a pristine 70-acre setting of majestic red rock  formations of Northern Arizona's Boynton Canyon. Lovely! Since we booked two packages, The Tranquility Package & Enchantment's Mii amo Package, we were treated to spa treatments each day.  We spent many days after our spa treatment laying out soaking up the sun by the pool or indoors by the pool reading or relaxing.

Our packages also included Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily at the Mii amo Cafe, which featured amazing fresh meats, seafood, and poultry all made using healthy cooking techniques. We also were able to savor the 180-degree view and the beautiful sun setting on the red rocks from our dinner table out on the patio of The Yavapai Restaurant. We could have spent the whole evening just sitting there talking. My husband also treated me to a vintage bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne. The food was delicious and I was able to enjoy two of my favorites; Rack of Colorado Lamb and Buffalo Tenderloin.  We also had a wonderful Jazz Brunch on Sunday at The Yavapai Restaurant pictured below.

We also enjoyed smoothies and yummy concoctions from the juice bar in Mii amo spa and poolside.  One of the highlights of our trip was a wonderful cooking demonstration we went to at Mii amo Cafe.  We were treated to Shrimp with Gyro Marinade, Taziki (cucumber yogurt), Tabbouleh, Seared Sea Scallops in Feta Cheese Cream with Tomato Cous Cous and Eggplant Caponata.  All were easy to make and replicate in one's home kitchen. 

We took quiet walks at night under what looked liked millions of stars. The weather was perfect and we couldn't have asked for more. 

We also ventured out of the resort one night to have dinner along Oak Creek at L'Auberge Restaurant. We ate outside on the open air terrace right next to the creek. The food was delicious and the setting romantic.  

After "wining, dining, rest and relaxation", our wonderful trip had to come to an end. My chariot was waiting. Ahhh, all good things must come to an end.

We are looking forward to going back to the Enchantment Resort and the beauty and solitaire of Arizona's "Red Rock Country." I hope you will consider this wonderful place to get away from the hurriedness of our everyday life and go to a place where you can eat well, and truly get some rest. 

We came back smiling. :) 

P.S. Okay it wasn't all R & R, I did get our business meeting minutes done...and yes, it was a business trip!

 

A Movie Worth Seeing...

Mom always said..."Eat Your Peas!"

I remember as a kid having to eat peas and hating them. I use to swallow them whole with a big gulp of milk, which was just as bad, but better than the peas by themselves. 

Fast forward, 40 + years and I never thought I would say that I love peas! But not just any kind of peas...I lovvvvvvve Fresh English Peas!  Okay, I admit, Fresh Black Eyed Peas are my all time favorite, thanks to my Grandmother who use to always bring them to our house for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But....Fresh English Peas run a close race!

Now these are not the easiest things (or cheapest!) to find in California...but then again any "Southern Gal" would tell you that you can't find good Southern food anywhere, but in Texas!  After living in California for 21 years, I am always on the search for good "Southern" food findings....Not impossible, but it will cost me a small fortune to buy the Southern things I love if I can find them in the first place. Every once in a while I am able to find "Gulf Shrimp" on a menu.  I use to be able to find Fresh Black Eyed Peas, but the store I was getting them at upgraded, and decided that a Boar's Head Deli was more favorable then those darn black eyed peas. 

My newest finding is at Whole Foods Markets ( which is about 25 minutes away from my house) You guessed it, it is those wonderful little green peas that I use to hate! ( but then again my mom never served them "fresh" )  At $3.99/lb. they are not cheap, but well worth the extra dollars. I buy a big bag full, bring them home, and sit on the couch to get those precious peas out of their shells. When all is said and done, I have a little bowl of gold!  You would think that you would get a lot more for your money, but you don't so I have learned to stretch those little green things to go along way. 

I place my "little gold nuggets" into a pot along with halved red new potatoes and let them bowl until all is tender. After draining them, I add a couple tablespoons of flour, carefully mixing it all around. Then I add some milk, lots of salt and pepper and let it thicken up to a nice and thick yummy cream sauce. I am now in heaven!

Okay, I know this isn't the healthiest way to eat peas, but hey, we're talking Southern here.

Now that I know where I can buy my peas, I am going to look for a healthier way to fix them... The California way...after all, I'm a "California Gal" now. 

So, here's to peas! 

And here's to my mom who forced me to "eat those awful green things!"...  Now if I can only get my own kids to eat green...

Mom knows best, RIGHT! 

When I find the healthiest way to eat these things I will let you know, in the meantime, I am going to sneak them into my kids food. What the kids don't know, won't hurt them, RIGHT!

Summer at the Beach....

Wouldn't be summer at the beach without S'mores'.....