Happy New Year, my dear friend!
How lovely it is to meet you here on “As it cooks…” on Jan, 1, 2017. So how have you been? Healthy? Happy? Aspirational?
What about inspiration? What does it look like?
Meet Ms. Twiggy of the Great Plains below. She lives in a beautiful canyon.
While hiking on a lovely fall afternoon with Mr. Chi-Town and our GSD, I spotted her. (Mind you that an ever so curious silver/barn owl called “Mrs Owl” also lives here.) She was tall and beautiful. How does she maintain her roots?
Look at the show of brilliant mint-colored leaves. And that big reddish, brown boulder. The areas is so rustic yet enchanting!
If Ms. Twiggy of the Great Plains is not mighty enough, take a look at Mr. Big Paws below. He lives in The Big Basin Redwood State Park below. The moment Mr. Chi-Town pulled up at the parking lot, I ran wildly and blindly to give him a King Kong hug. As I hugged him with my eyes closed, my voice went “hmmm, hmmm, mmm…”
You’re magnificent. I love you, too, Mr. Big Paws of The Big Basin.
Okay. So much about Mrs. Owl, Ms. Twiggy of the Great Plains, and Mr. Big Paws of the Big Basin. Now, let’s talk food. FOOD!
LOL I know. I’ve been “missing in action” for a while now, haven’t I? I just didn’t feel like pushing it and cheesing myself off. After all, “As it cooks” is always ready to roll when I’m ready to roll. So during the last school holidays, Mr. Chi-Town and I decided to roll out of the Great Plains for a change and fly out to California via Friendly Skies.
Talking about “roll”, what do you think of the black beauty below?
Please meet “roulette.” I discovered it by chance at the Santana Row Cocola Bakery last summer. It’s got everything I love: it’s not too sweet, it’s got coffee in it, it’s got dark chocolate on it, and it’s just the perfect size to share with that someone you love and trust — like me. The second time I had this delightful dessert was at the Palo Alto Cocola Bakery. If you are a “salad” person, I highly recommend the eggplant with roasted red pepper and mozzarella cheese salad with a side of the artichoke heart salad. Vibrant flavors! The best part? This bakery is also located in close proximity to a TESLA showroom. (Thanks a million for the most memorable test drive, Tom! Mr. Elon Musk is a super duper genius. Ms. TESLA may be way beyond my means. But that car ride she took us on? That was surreal. Oh yeeea!)
One last shot of the compactly rolled goodness.
Cocola Bakery also serves a good cup of cappuccino. If you know me, I like my espresso strong with all the “the good stuff” taken out: Zero sugar, zero milk. A couple of spoons of foam would suffice. That’s it. Having 5 sugars with my coffee in England is a thing of the past, you all. (5 sugars. Wow! Really? Yikes! What was I thinking?)
But wait. A cup of cappuccino is not complete with a good dusting of dark cocoa powder goodness, right? Where’s the cocoa powder, Cocola?
If you cant’ have a Cocola roullete or a great cup of cappuccino, sweetness that also can be found in a canyon, in the woods, in an orchard, or a farm. There’s just something magical about being in the nature.
When it comes to desserts, there’s nothing better than making them and baking at home. Those delightful aromas take me back to my roots, my children, my family I love and cherish, and the seasons that come and go. With great joy and passion, As it cooks wishes you and your loved ones a a very happy & healthy 2017. Find a source of inspiration. Hug a tree! 🙂
So what’s your inspiration story?
Love,
Tee