Public Bicycles

For Christmas this past year, I bought myself a new bicycle...and I am in love!! I had forgotten how much fun riding bikes could be. If you are looking for a good way to get around town, go to the store etc...get on your two wheels!

After a lot of research (I should say John's research), I decided on a local SF brand, Public Bikes. I now ride my back to and from work everyday and have a whole new respect for the bicycling community.

As a total coincidence, my friend Amy ordered the same bike as me for Christmas...we went out riding after work on Friday....what a perfect SF day...check out picture below:

If you are looking for something new and fun in your life...hop on your bike!!

Covet Stile

I am so excited to share with you all my fashionista dear friend, Kate's, new blog: Covet Stile...I have known Kate since 6th grade and she even made our school uniform look stylish!!

Move over Anna Wintour.

Sweetie Pie!

This past weekend Chucks, Petey and I took a Pie in a Jar class at Workshop SF...it was a total hoot...and we came away with a great recipe and an adorable idea...pie in a jar...who would have known?!

Making a Pie in a Jar is incredible simply and incredibly yummy...and the options are endless- apple pie, blueberry pie, chicken pot pie...

Here's how you do it:

What You Need:

- Sterilized pint bell/mason jars- get the one where the jar opening is as wide as the jar

- 4 ounces of dough (3 oz for jar and 1 oz for topping)...although this was a bit much in class- may decrease portion when making at home

- pie filling (1/2 cup per pie jar)

- topper (basic crust, crumb topping)

Steps:

1. Place your 3 oz dough ball in jar. Manipulate with your fingers as fast as possible to spread the dough evenly as possible around the jar, fill to the tip top of the jar...using flour makes this process a bit easier

2. Put 1/2 cop of your desired filling in the jar

3. Choose your topping- cut out shapes with your dough, make a lattice, only use crumb topping

4. To ensure the best taste, chill your pie before baking. Once chilled brush the top with an egg wash and bake pie (on cookie sheet to catch droppings) at 350 degrees for one hour or until golden brown

Side note: You can also freeze your pie in a jar...then bake for later...screw on your lid and toss it in the freezer. When ready to bake, place in a cold oven and set temp to 350 degrees. This will ensure the glass doesn't break

Pie Dough Recipe:

Perfect recipe for sweet or savory pies in a jar...Yields 9 balls of dough

3 cups of flour

1/2 tbsp baking powder

1/2 tbsp salt

12 ounces of butter (cold, diced)

1 1/2 cups sour cream

Put all dries in the bowl of a kitchen aid- add butter on speed one and mix until butter becomes pea size. Add sourcream all at once. Do not overmix. Mix until just incorporated. Divide into 4 ounce balls.

Filling Ideas:

Strawberry Rhubarb:

pint of strawberries cut in half

1 1/2 pounds rhubarb

1 1/2 tbsp flour

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Crumb Topping:

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 sticks chilled, unsalted butter- cut into pieces

oops eating not making the pie....

we like to call him petey pie

CUESA Website

John and I are a part of a CSA (community supported agriculture) weekly program called Eating With the Seasons. Each week we pick up our bag filled with local, seasonal and organic fruits and veggies. I had no idea how much I was going to love this weekly treat. This CSA has given us the opportunity to try out new foods and recipes while at the same time supporting local farmers.

One of my favorite things about living in San Francisco is our farmers markets. When we are running low on our CSA chow- I love wandering thru the market for recipes ideas and season inspiration. I recently discovered the CUESA's (Center for Urban Education & Sustainable Agriculture) website and am in love! Take a look and you will see all the food that's in season, recipe ideas, farmers market dates and locations.

I just picked up our CSA weekly bag and we have a whole lot of avocados. I am going to try out this recipe I found on the CUESA website- Arugula, Avocado, Orange and Red Onion Salad 

P.S. Paper

I have been loving following Kathryn + Ryan's San Francisco wedding on Snippet & Ink.  Kathryn is one the main girls behind this blog- so definitely is the ultimate planner. It's fun to see how they put together this party in all the spots of my backyard- Presidio Social Club and Cavallo Point.

I wanted to share with you my favorite part of her planning- the invitations and paper...of all things, it was done by a store right in my hometown- P.S. Paper. I am loving these welcome bags- the personalization of them and the color- all designed by Jill Sassa at P.S. Paper

Have a great Wednesday!

San Francisco Restaurants

With all my oohhing and ahhing over the NYC food last week, thinking that I need to do a post for San Francisco. Sometimes it's easy to forget how good the food is right where we live...and if you live in the Bay Area- the food is pretty spectacular.

I often have people ask me for SF restaurant recommendations...by no means am I any sort of expert- I only think it's because I've lived here for so long. I wish I was more adventurous in my dining- I often stay in the same neighborhood aka"campus": Marina, Pacific Heights, Cow Hollow, and Polk Street...but there are so many fantastic neighborhood restaurants that I have yet to discover- the Mission, Castro, Noe Valley, Potrero Hill, Soma, etc.

I wanted to share with you a list of my favorite SF spots and then the "to do" restaurants that I haven't tried yet:


FAVORITES:
Tipsy Pig, Umami, Mamacitas: My cousin, Stryker, is one of the owners of these three spots, so I am obviously a bit biased...but even if we weren't related- I would be going to these spots all the time. Umami has half off bottles of wine before 7pm, Tipsy Pig's moscow mule cocktail is heavenly, and I love just about everything on the Mamacita menu.

Sociale: This is right up the street from where I live- one of my top 5 favorite spots in San Francisco. Little neighborhood spot, you can sit outside- amazing pasta and wine.

Pizzeria Delfina: Amazing. Get the pizza with the arugula and prosciutto. You will go home very happy. If the wait is too long...walk right down the street to Dino's.

Wayfare Tavern: New Tyler Florence spot downtown. I love the feel of this spot- big fire and great place to get cocktails. This is always a spot I go for work things because of it's location, but the food is always top notch.

Hillstones: So I am embarrassed to admit that I am suggesting a chain restaurant (gasp)...this spot used to be called Houston's- it's the same look, location and menu- just different name. So many fabulous things about this spot- no wine corkage, artichoke dip, veggie burger and brownie dessert. Go there hungry.

Firenze By Night: John and I went here years ago because one of my friend's is the bartender. To be honest, I didn't really have high expectations for this spot because of the kitschy name of the restaurant- but I've got to say that the dinner was absolutely incredible. I am not sure if it was because we were being served a lot of free cocktails, but it is some of the best Italian food that I have had in SF.

Little Star Pizza: Deep dish, incredible pizza...one piece and you'll be stuffed- totally worth it- my favorite is the Mediterranean Chicken. I don't love the location- but the pizza is worth going off campus.

La Med: John used to live around the corner from this spot and I still have never gotten sick of the food- consistent and affordable- always happy at the end of my meal. I sadly have only ordered one thing for the many years that I have been going here (Middle Eastern Plate with Lamb Lule)...it's just so good- can't imagine ordering anything else.

Boulette's Larder: We rented this spot out for my mom's birthday a couple of years ago and it's just dreamy- we ate right in the kitchen- the food and experience was out of this world. I am not sure how dreamy the night would be if I had to pick up the bill, but if you have someone else hosting- suggest this spot. Right in the ferry building.

Cavallo Point: Pass the expensive and snotty Murray's Circle and head straight to Farley Bar. Across the bridge, I adore this location and spot. Great martinis and bites at Farley Bar.

"TO DO":

Chez Spencer: supposed to be in a very random location, but amazing French food.

Heirloom: everyone is talking about this place lately, want to see what all the buzz is about

Frances: see notes about for Heirloom. Tried to make reservations and first available was in June!

Nob Hill Cafe: I have been talking about going to this spot for years. My friend, Sterling, used to live right by this spot and we still never went. Looks like a cute spot in the perfect SF location.

Flour + Water: I can't imagine any pizza better than Delfina, but people continue to quack about this spot. Impossible to get reservations.

Chapeau: This spot is walking distance from where I live...with 1200 yelp reviews- this spot has got to be good

Farina: I just need to go and have dinner here- feel like I've been talking about it now for about a year. The pesto is supposed to be heavenly and is in a fun location in the Mission.

Benihana: I think the last time I went here was for my 8th birthday, but now at 31- people are still going there for their birthday parties...got to try it again!

What am I missing? Let me know some of your favorite spots.

Napa Bound: Oxbow Market

My mom and I have a tradition of heading up to Napa the morning after Thanksgiving...no, we aren't those looney people that start sleeping outside of Best Buy 48 hours before Black Friday, but we do like a good bargain and any excuse to head up to the wine country. This year after we got some adorable gifts (oops, only bought for myself), we headed over to the Oxbow Public Market in Napa...wowowow...what a find!

Oxbow Market is "a one of a kind place, not to be missed. Whether your in search for a tasty picnic, great take-out, fabulous meal provisions, or if you are looking for a bottle of wine, river front patio dining and and a unique shopping experience, Oxbow will answer all your needs under one roof."

oysters galore

cowgirl creamery...yes, please

Dipsea Hike

What do you do when you eat one too many cookies?  Hike, hike...and then hike some more.

I am embarrassed to report that, even as a fourth generation Californian, last Thursday was the first time I hiked the Dipsea trail. Although this is a very popular hike and am sure you have already done it...have to pass on my two thumbs up. If you haven't done it yet, pack some Sweet Jennies in your backpack, and get your buns to the trail...amazing. 

Our friend organized a "sunrise hike" on Thanksgiving morning. Hearing the alarm go off at 5:15am on my first day of vacation was the only bad part of the day (oh and scraping the ice off the windshield wasn't too pleasant either)...but it was all worth it. We hiked to Stinson Beach and had a spectacular morning hike. Definitely something to put on your bucket list.

 

mile seven and still able to strike a pose. go gina go!

Ork Posters

Welcome to December...the holiday craze is finally here. Where has this year gone?! Christmas lists are coming together and, in addition to your Sweet Jennies order, I want to share with you some things that I think should be on your gift giving list.


I have always loved Ork Posters. These city neighborhoods are perfect for your home and adds that personal touch- frame posters of your favorite cities or those that have special meaning...stylish and thoughtful...done and done.


Here are my favorites:

California Cutting Board

There are so many fabulous finds on Etsy that I think I could lose days wandering all over the site. I wanted to share with you a great gift idea that was in this month's Real Simple. 

Head on over to AHeirloom's etsy shop for this perfect kitchen gift...even better, only $40!

Beach Dinner Party

Although no cookies in this post...I just had to share this amazing idea...the perfect dinner party that Jordan Ferney hosted below the Golden Gate Bridge...what a way to celebrate our Indian Summer!

This setting is the absolute perfect backdrop to raise a glass to our gorgeous city. I am going to put my name down to reserve a spot a Kirby Cove next summer!

 

Thank You Oh Happy Day Blog for the great idea!

Tuesday Night Sail

Anyone in dreary, foggy San Francisco Tuesday night would not have believed that it was absolutely gorgeous in Sausalito...just 5 miles away. We had the perfect evening on the bay...good friends, good wine...and of course good cookies...