We have a favorite little beach we frequent just north of Malibu. It's just a 20-minute drive from home. It's well off the proverbial "beaten path," but, being the introverts that we are, we want to ensure that we have the place mostly to ourselves, away from boisterous people, especially those with dogs off leashes. …
Tiramisu without mascarpone
Tiramisu is George’s favorite dessert. When my friend Rubaab mentioned she made it, I asked her for her recipe. However, I ended up modifying the recipe slightly to replace the mascarpone with coconut cream. When I posted about it on my instagram story, several people asked me if the recipe was vegan and if I …
Rules of the Road for Driving in L.A.
Los Angeles is a big place and in its own world. This is especially true when driving. The rules of the road apply a bit differently to L.A. drivers, so before you roll, it’s good to know what you’re in for. To begin with, those little white lines separating lanes are merely a suggestion. L.A. …
This place is for the birds
There was a time, not so long ago, when we could do whatever we wanted at our humble domicile. But then our avian friends arrived, and they decided that “Su casa es mi casa.” They just moved right in, without even asking permission.. In fact, they seem to have quite the attitude, as though we …
Our little corner of the world
We hail from different hemispheres of the globe. I am a New England boy and Sherry, although born in Canada, claims Mauritius as her homeland. For those of you who don't know, the island nation of Mauritius lies smack dab in the middle of the Indian Ocean. After Sherry and I met, traveled the world, …
Ooh, baby, it’s a wild world
If you look closely, you will see evidence of an aphid attack on our new rose blooms. https://videopress.com/v/TGy1FMhp?preloadContent=metadata A hawk dogfight. OUR BACK YARD seamlessly flows into open space, and from our vantage point on the patio, it’s one big high-def, wrap-around entertainment center for watching nature at work. While sipping coffee, a coyote might …
The best-tasting oatmeal, without even cooking
When I was a kid, my younger brother disliked two things: school and oatmeal. In a brilliant use of reverse psychology, dear old Dad told him: “If you don’t eat your oatmeal, you’re not going to school.” It worked. It turns out Little Brother was not the only human to scoff at consuming what is …
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Spring has sprung
Here in Southern California, the weather is sunny and mild and things are blossoming all around. Sherry had planted a row of daffodils and tulips. Daffodils are out. Tulips are still sleeping in.
Sourdough croissants can’t be beat
Is there any thing better than croissant? Je crois que non! But there is, in my opinion, an improvement on the original recipe for the quintessential French pastry, and that is to use sourdough as the leavening agent. Patience may be a virtue, but it is an absolute necessity here. I’ve written before about the …