Previously documented moments

Time is zooming by, with the speed of...hmmm...time. Time is the only thing you can not catch, except with the camera. And, at the end of 2011 there were so many beautiful moments that we caught on camera, but because of all the hectic mess of the holidays and our parents visit i never organized for future memories.


I made an improvisation inspired by Rachel Ray's recipe and it turned out to be fun:

Chipotle Cashew Chicken

• 1.5 lbs boneless skinless thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 Tbsp Montreal Steak Seasoning blend by McCormick
• 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• 4 gloves garlic, chopped
• 1 small red or orange bell pepper thinly sliced
• 1/2 onion thinly sliced
• 1 leek thinly sliced (just the light part)
• 1/2 small jicama, sliced - about 1/2 cup
• 3/4 cup edamame without shell, defrosted
• 4 teasp adobo sauce from "chipoltes in adobe"
• 1 teasp ground smoked  cumin
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 2  tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley
• 1/2 cup raw cashews

Here is how:
In iron pan with 2 Tbsp oil, on high heat, i brown the chicken sprinkled with grill seasoning. Add soy sauce, mix and move off the pan.
On medium heat cook leaks, onions, garlic and peppers, adding in that order. Cook 5 min total.
Add jicama and edamame, mix and cook 1 more minute.
Add back chicken, add the adobe and cumin and toss to coat.
Glaze the mixture with honey and maple syrup and turn off the heat.
Add in the cashew nuts and mix.
Before serving add chopped cilantro or parsley.


For New Years eve, we rode our bikes through Alameda's bay, people watching, talking, singing songs, drinking champagne. Before the nigh was over, we shared a mango and saw this fun window display:

For X-mas S got ice cream paydough set, which she loved. On the box there were some pretty pictures that could be made using the tools of the kit. S asked me to make this one, and i did:

For Hanukkah we went to Universal City Walk to watch lighting of the menorah:

On a random Monday, C and i took a day off and went to Disney:

With C's parents in town, and before X-Mas, i was lucky enough to book us a cottage at Crystal Cov
e. It was a wonderful weekend, with beautiful weather, a ton of food that we grilled on a brand new gas grill we purchased, and there was a X-mas tree on the beach: what could be more California than that?

The view from our patio:

In Feb we went to Lilia Downs concert:

And bought crazy shoes:

For valentines day i followed our tradition and made a fruit tart:

And, on the day when we bought S's furniture, we stopped at our local wine store and got the recommended wine that was cheap and yummy:

The last report card of the kid, from fall season:

Revisiting our wedding spot, with sunflower seeds and bloody mary, in November. Sitting on the top of the hill, talking about something silly, having a moment to ourselves - love and peace and C+J: