So, I'm back.  Back to life as I know it.  Back from a great weekend with friends and sand and babies and food and wine and beer...and olive oil.  It was a perfectly wonderful trip!  Before I begin the posting of recipes again, here are some shots from the weekend.



We made it of course to the farmers market where I stocked up on Avocado Blossom Honey (which tastes a bit like molasses), jalapeño blueberry jelly (used by the Burger Bus on their burgers), some local cheese- which was consumed all weekend, and some other goods we ate over the course of the time there.

We also made it to my favorite restaurant, Hungry Cat, my favorite spot for drinks, the Boat House- seriously- sat on the pacific ocean while drinking a $4 glass of wine and had a $6.95 kobe beef burger with fries.  Did you hear me DC?!  Lower your prices!



We also got up to Santa Ynez and tasted at Briddlewood (wedding wine) and Stolpman (very delicious).  I got some of their olive oil which is extremely tasty.





We made it to the urban wine trail for a tasting at Carr- their wine has gotten a lot better since last I tasted! and then next door to the beloved Telegraph Brewing where I was able to taste and bring home my absolute favorite Oatmeal Stout.

I got to hang out with friends at Los Arroyos & Jeannines- another yum- and came home to a husband who had lost weight, and myself who had gained weight from the weekend.  Not too surprising.



I got home to this face below, and some snow.  A good dinner of fish and chips at a little pub that opened up near us, and thankful for where I've come from, where I've been, the fact that I got to live in such an amazing place, and ready to hit the ground running here in 2011 with whatever it may bring.