Monday, November 28, 2011

Thanksgiving and More

November is quickly passing.  A lovely hike on the Coastal Trail above Rodeo Lagoon; a few more boat errands and projects; and one of my favorite holidays:  Thanksgiving.  What can be a better day than one dedicated to showing love by shopping, chopping, and cooking food for dearest family?

We are also celebrating Bryan's first job:  he has been selected as a UC Davis Tour Guide!  The greatest challenge of the job seems to be walking backward while giving a peppy and heartfelt tour of the campus.  He is thrilled.  He also is celebrating his first college protest as the Davis community reacts to the pepper spraying of nonviolent protestors.

Back to the food.....I merged several recipes to come up with a new Thanksgiving side dish:  Gratin of Four Onions.  We actually tested this out on Wednesday night as I don't have enough oven space for turkey and yam casserole and an onion gratin.

Gratin of 4 Onions

1/2 lbs shallots, chopped
1 large yellow onion, sliced thin
2 bunches of leeks (I used 4 leeks but I love leeks)--green tops discarded, washed and sliced thin
2 garlic cloves
3 Tablespoons of butter
1 bag of frozen pearl onions (1 lb)  -- I only used about 1/2 of the bag
1 Tablespoon of bread crumbs
Grated cheese -- about 1/2 cup -- gruyere or other melting cheese

1 -2 cups of bechamel sauce.

In a large skillet cook the shallots, yellow onion, leeks and the garlic in the butter over low heat, stirring until the onions are soft.  (I like them really soft so give this step some time.)
Stir in the frozen pearl onions and cook until they are tender.
Take off the heat and stir in the bechamel sauce.  Season with salt and pepper.

Place in a gratin or other baking dish (oiled or buttered).
Sprinkle bread crumbs on top; next sprinkle on the cheese.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until the cheese melts and the sauce is bubbling.

I used the leftovers in a vegetable lasagna:  roasted some mushrooms, red peppers, zucchini, peas and corn.  Then stirred in the remaining onion gratin and, finally, all of that was combined with tomato sauce.  It was totally delicious!

So here are some pictures of our last few days:

Hiking along the Coastal Trail near Rodeo Lagoon

The Coastal Trail
Bryan -- the newest UC Davis Tour Guide!
Ready for Thanksgiving Dinner!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Projects Every Day

We are back & hardly laying low.

Bryan came for a brief visit and he is thriving at UC Davis.  He has settled into apartment living and backed off on the cooking "gourmet" approach to food.   Tasty and fast -- words to eat by!

Alan and I are in the thick of projects -- both house and boat projects.

So how many mittens, gaiters, snow pants, and hats do you need?

Lists:  marine, hardware stores, on line shopping.....keep it straight!

New cockpit seats -- bye bye teak!

I'm back to Rosetta Stone; got to laugh:  I have to be back in California to find time to learn Spanish!



Thursday, November 10, 2011

Guaymas Memories

What a difference a fast internet connection makes!  Especially when it comes to photos.  Here are a few images from our working trip to Guaymas.  It was 100 degrees when we arrived and 3 weeks & 50+ projects later it was only 70.  Really -- winter and cruising season are fast approaching!

Cold Drinks are a switch away!

Boats going in the water -- Contessa del Mar is headed to Australia

Horatio -- indeed the yard jefe (boss)

Helados Man -- every morning our first break was a popsicle

Sunday at Algadones Beach

Francisco redoes our water line

About those building codes

Open air market

Open air market

Aldo's Shop -- we got new leather seat cushions for the car

Well, I'm sure it is here somewhere......

A New Sonora

Street scene

private water taxi for early morning workers

The Mexican Way -- getting 2 engine blocks onto Magic.  Omar & Cheva & assistant

Bow down and say "Merry Christmas" to the skipper

Omar -- my new best friend (and diesel mechanic) in Guaymas



Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Hello This is the San Anselmo Police!

We drove 23 hours over two days through such exciting spots as Hermosillo, Nogales, Tucson, Gila Bend, Blyth, and Santa Clarita before pulling into our garage in San Anselmo.  It was really cold (for us and this early in November) but we cranked on the furnace and fired up the hot tub.  A quick supper (sour batard bread is a fine meal) then early to bed.

About midnight I heard the shout out:  "Hello This is the San Anselmo Police" and was blinded by the powerful flashlight beam coming from the kitchen.   "Wake up Alan, it's the police!"  Or else a very nice home invasion team.  Alan is still dreaming and decides these are the guards from the marina and he needs to move the car.  He suddenly is fluent in Spanish:  "uno memento" he calls out and then looks for his car keys.  I give some advice to put his pants on and go to the back door get them to turn off the d#%&m flashlight.

Finally he is aware that he is in SAN ANSELMO!   And the police are at his back door.

Our police department has a free service to patrol houses for residents away from home.  They come by several times a week to check the doors and windows to determine if anything is amiss.  And since we always leave the back door unlocked (when we are home) the patrol stumbled upon us.  So much for that well deserved long sleep!

So we are back, working on two lists:  everything for Magic to take back in January and everything for the house so we can be moved out by January.  We will get working on those tasks just as soon as the heat kicks in and the coffee warms our bones!