Healthy Sustainable Cooking Class

091017-19 Denver Colorado

My husband had a business trip to Denver, Colorado and I went there to meet his cousin's couple.
After I lived in US for 14 years, this is the first time to meet them. They lived in Denver, Colorado for more than 30 years.

Dinner @the steak house where they grill meat with firewood. This is such a casual restaurant that if men ware ties they will cut them! At the entrance, lots of guests ties were displayed which were cut in the past.

Firewood

Potato Skin/very tasty

Fried Mushroom/crispy and tasty

Prime Rib/very tender and juicy


We visited the Air Force Academy. This is the academy to foster the Air Force leaders


The Garden of the God/This is a beautiful red rock park.


Pike's Peak/This is 14,110ft high and we can drive to the top. We rode on the train and enjoyed beautiful scenery.

This is the place "America the beautiful" song made. This is the monument.

14,110ft sign.

The scenery was very beautiful and we could see the Rocky Mountains. Thin air and hard to breathe. Windy and cold.

Beautiful view


Red Rocks Amphitheatre This is the outdoor theater where many famous artists played since 1908 including the Beatles.


Enstrom's I visited this shop to buy gifts. This is the family owned local Almond Toffee shop in Colorado.


Sushi Lunch @Sushi Den/very tasty


It was a fun trip and I really enjoyed the cousin's couple's hospitality and beautiful nature and nice food in Colorado.

091003-04 Santa Clara Valley Passport Weekend

I joined Santa Clara Valley Wineries Passport Weekend today.

This is the event just purchase the passport at any participating winery to tast wines with pairing foods.
It is nice cool sunny day today to go out and this is the first time to visit local wineries in Santa Clara Valley.

Pinder Winery in Campbell.

Satori Cellars in Gilroy.
They named this winery from the winery's founder's family's first name initial and it turned out the word "Satori"= "Enlightenment" in Japanese!


I got following wines here.
-Hallelujah Cabernet Sauvignon/2006 Walla Walla Washington(Double Gold Medal Award)
-Ta-Da Syrah/2006 Santa Clara Valley(Silver Medal Award).


Solis Winery


I got following wines here.
2008 Fiano Estate Santa Clara Valley/good pair with cheese
2005 Merlot Estate Santa Clara Valley(Gold Medal Award)/good pair with salami
2005 Cara Mia Meritage Reserve Santa Clara Valley/good pair with chocolate
All these wines are so smooth and good, I loved them.

Kirigin Cellars
Their best seller is dessert wine and they serve ice cream with dessert wine.


Jason-Stephens Winery
They have a picnic area and nice appetizers.
I got 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Clara Valley


Clos LaChance WineryTheir symbol is humming bird.

Entrance area


Morgan Hill Cellars
I got 2004 La Fenice Cabernet Sauvignon


Emilio Guglielmo Winery
I tasted barrel red wine and they have very nice appetizers.
I got following wines here.
2006 Zinfandel Santa Clara Valley private reserve
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Clara Valley private reserve
Eredita Port dessert wine special family reserve
Also I got chocolates good pair with Cabernet and Port wine.

I really enjoyed today's wine tasting and got so much information for local nice wineries in Santa Clara Valley. I would like to visit them again.

091001 Eggplant & Flax Seeds

I planted Japanese eggplant from the seeds. But the eggplants did not grow well and I only harvested few eggplants this year. I already pulled out from the vegetable garden yesterday.


I was looking for many eggplant recipes but I could only make pickles. Soaked in salted water for 15 minutes, squeeze, seasoned with soy sauce and citrus soy sauce.


Turnip is seasonal. I made turnip & Vegetable soup.


I tried to use flax seeds for daily meal these days because our home doctor recommended this to keep heart healthy condition and prevent heart disease. Flax seeds contain Omega-3 fatty acid which has medical benefits.

Flax seed/soy bean refuge croquette


Benrina and Shimeji mushroom stir fry w/Flax


Zucchini Bread w/Flax seed


I made fresh Yatsuhashi/Japanese sweet and this is my older son's favorite. He was happy.