Why hello NOR-CAL!

At the beginning of July (sorry, so late), I took the 6 hour road trip north to Sacramento to visit my family!  My grandparents from Colorado were in town for the weekend.  This was the first time the whole family was under one roof in a LONG time!

I had an amazing time bonding with my brother and sister, eating and more eating.  I wouldn't call the food I ate paleo, but I would say it was tasty!  I did a little (actually A LOT) of off-roading this weekend!

Bryan & I on the way to the River Cat's game

Jack's Urban Eats! One of my favorite places in Sacramento.  Great tri-tip sandwiches and I don't know why it took me reading Baked Bree to find these Urban Fries!!! Sweet potato fries with Creamy Ranch, Blue Cheese, Chili Oil

Lauren & I at the River Cat's Game

My Mom's house from high school! Oh the memories! 

Making homemade pork sausage with Bryan!  He was a pro!

California State Fair

FFA Animal Show - I wanted to take one of these well raised animals home, but where would I store it in my 1 bedroom loft? 

The one thing you can't leave the fair without! Fresh Baked Cinnamon rolls! 

Yes, I did leave with a stomachache, my gut wasn't ready for this trip.  It is a tough fight between my taste buds and my gut.  My taste buds usually will win on vacation and my gut wins the rest of the time!  

Viva La Santa Barbara!

Viva La FIESTA!!! 

Fiesta is a HUGE celebration in Santa Barbara the first weekend of August.  Everyone is out to celebrate Old Spanish Days! 

I started my fiesta Thursday granting Damian's wish at the PBR Show. 

Learn more about the Tri-Counties Make-A-Wish Chapter.

Friday I tried to stay out of the chaos, but Saturday to reward some studying I headed out De La Guerra Plaza for some great food and treats!

Chicken Tamales, Tri-Tip Tortas, Chicken Taquitos, and a little sweet treat funnel cake! (Didn't know that was spanish, but who cares.)

Confetti Galore! Gallon bag of confetti for $6, watch out visitors! Sorry, I'm not sorry, it was SO FREAKING FUN! 

Andrew, Bailey, and Phil... Covered in confetti and loaded up with another tray of confetti eggs! 

What's for Dinner?

Lemon "Pesto" Salmon with Spinach

Last night I planned to cooked my wild salmon, but I had no idea what to do.  7pm came around and I had made no progress, but I was hungry.  TIME TO ACT FAST! 

I decided even though I didn't have the exact ingredients to make pesto I was going to try and make something tasty... And I think my creation worked AMAZING!!! 

Sarah's Garden Lemon "Pesto"

Juice from 1 lemon (From my lemon tree)

10 basil leaves (From my basil plant)

1 tablespoon of Almond Butter

Few shakes of Garlic Salt

1/4-1/3 cup of olive oil

Put all ingredients but olive oil into a blender or food processor slowly add the olive oil while blending until the basil is the size you desire. 

Place the Salmon in foil and make a little boat around the salmon to keep all the sauce in while grilling.  

Pour Sarah's Garden Lemon "Pesto" on the salmon.

Pinch the foil at the top to create a tee-pee over the salmon.  Cook in the foil on the grill for about 7 minutes.  

Sautee Spinach in a pan on the oven. Top the Spinach with the Salmon. 

EAT

Oil & Vinegar Galore!

So this was our 3rd year attending the California Wine Festival in Santa Barbara.  I would call us pros by now.  We know how to make the best of it and find the best vendors!!! Well for us, the wine gets the party started, but the real gem of the wine fest that gets our taste buds going is Leonardo e Roberto's Gourmet Blends Oils & Vinegars.

Right now we have quite a few oils and vinegars around from gifts, last years wine fest, and other wine tasting adventures.  I told Andrew, "NO MORE", well until we use what we have.  That was a great plan, until the first place we visited was Leonardo e Roberto's booth and they introduced us to the new Chipotle Chili Dipping Oil which was amazing! The next 4 hours that was all I could think about.  So we tasted and tasted wine, and just before we left we stopped back by the booth to buy the Chipotle Oil.  Bad decision, well great decision!  After 4 hours of drinking, some how purchasing 1 bottle turned into 4, don't worry, buying 4 gave us $10 off!

Well we left with Chipotle Chili Dipping Oil, Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, and Garlic Basil Parmesan Dipping Oil.  Which we will add to our collection and make it a point to enjoy and share over the next year.  I better get ready for next year's wine festival... I know we will be purchasing more, we just can't help it!

Taco Bell: Cantina vs. Original

I don't know about you, but I have one weakness... And that is Taco Bell!  I have been really good to try to avoid it and the joint right up the street closing has really helped me, but when you are on a long drive, that is the one stop that I am willing to take.

Taco Bell recently introduced an upscale type of food on their menu, Cantina Bell menu by chef Lorena Garcia.  This has been influence by restaurants like Chipotle and Baja Fresh.  The questions I asked myself are the Cantina Bell items tastier and really the better (healthier) decision?

So yes, they do have a burrito bowl, but when I am at Taco Bell I don't want a burrito bowl, I want a burrito.  So lets compare:

Cantina Menu: 

Chicken Cantina Burrito

Side of Guacamole & Chips

 

My Normal Order: 

Chicken Burrito

Bean & Cheese

Nachos (Chips & Cheese)

  

Taste: 

Yes, the Cantina burrito has tomatoes, corn, and black beans, which is "fresh" and good, but unfortunately didn't give me that Taco Bell satisfaction... I come to Taco Bell for the real stuff, their beans and cheese, nacho cheese! 

Nutrition: 

Both meals are almost the same when you compare the nutritional facts.  Where one is a little higher in one thing, it is a little lower than the other in another and without having a degree in nutrition it isn't obvious to me one is so much better than the other.  I say, go to Taco Bell for the Taco Bell foods you love.  Sorry Cantina Menu, I will not be coming back.  

Picnic at the Mission

So I have always wanted to do a picnic at the mission, it is just gorgeous on these summer nights. 

We all brought some delicious food to share and enjoy with a glass of wine on lawn. 

Bailey's Meatballs

Prosciutto Wrapped Peppers

Peaches & Creme (Paleo)

Umm soooo good!  Here is the recipe.  I did 4 times the recipe.  Make sure you have really coconut milk, not the light stuff, and I added some extra flavor with cinnamon! 

What's for dinner?

STEAK & POTATOES! Kinda...

Tri-Tip with Santa Maria Style Seasoning and Mashed Garlic Cauliflower

This dinner was great, quick and easy, and very tasty! We season the tri-tip with South Seas Tri-Tip Santa Maria Style seasoning (buy it here or check your local store), put it on the grill and let it cook.  The Mashed Garlic Cauliflower was almost just as easy, cook cauliflower in water, drain, season, and blend (try not to blend too much, it will lose the right texture)! I used this recipe, but I accidentally forgot the butter...Oops!

Nutritional Info come from MyFitnessPal

Serving Size/Nutritional Info*: 

6 oz of Tri-tip, 

1 cup of Cauliflower Mash