Cooking with a Wallflower - Page 69 of 139 -

Destination: Watsonville

“Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.” – Dr. Seuss

So much has happened this year, so much sadness, but I’ve been determined to take life back and live it to its fullness. My goal this year has been to travel more. Not necessarily to far away places. It could be 20 minutes away and still be a new destination. So I’ve been sharing more of my adventures, whether they’re far away or nearby, with you. Hopefully, you’re enjoying them as much as I like sharing them. And maybe you’ll discover new places too. =)

I mentioned previously that I went down to the Monterey Carmel area over the fourth of July weekend to visit my friend Kim from Sweet Kimplicity. We did so many different things in such a short amount of time so to make it less confusing, I’ve decided to split my trip by city.

Our first stop was Watsonville, which is not a very well known agricultural town. But as a food blogger, what they do have there is just amazing.

There’s a farm called Gizdich Ranch which lets you come and pick fresh berries. In the summer, you get to pick strawberries, boysenberries, and ollalieberries. Unfortunately, I was late by a few days and the boysenberries and ollalieberries were closed for the season! But as you might have noticed, I’m now obsessed with picking fresh strawberries. Not only do you get to select each one individually, but I swear they taste so much better than the strawberries you buy from the supermarket. Each one is super sweet!

Blackberry Peach Pie

A double crusted pie filled with fresh peaches and blackberries. This seasonal blackberry peach pie tastes like summer in each and every bite.

Happy Saturday!

I’m so excited! I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for the weekend to arrive. Because that means now I get to share this pie with you.

This pie! <3

I think this might be the best pie I’ve ever made. It’s filled with fresh peaches and fresh blackberries. It’s sweet and slightly tart. And it tastes like summer in every single bite. And I specifically waited until the weekend to share it with you so that you’d have time to enjoy it too!

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Have you been strawberry picking before?

If you haven’t, now would be the perfect time to do it. Strawberries are in season so you better hurry before they’re all picked for the season. Ever since I went strawberry picking over the 4^th of July weekend, I’ve been obsessed with sharing the idea with everyone. Lol. So if you haven’t gone, you really need to go.

Strawberries picked fresh from the farms are so much sweeter than the ones you buy from the supermarket, and sometimes even the ones you get from the farmer’s market. Now I just need to find a farm where I can pick fresh strawberries that’s closer to the city. =)

Honey Strawberry Brie Bites

Mild brie and fresh strawberries with a drizzle of honey on crackers. These honey strawberry brie bites are perfect as a summer snack.

Let’s talk about this honey strawberry brie bites!

Just a little over a week ago, I was in the Monterey Carmel area visiting my friend Kim from Sweet Kimplicity. I’ll share photos of my trip soon. But a couple highlights from the trip: strawberry picking and cheese tasting.

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Life of a Wallflower

Life After Loss

“Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming.” – Vicki Harrison

It’s been nearly four and a half months since my grandma passed. Some days it gets easier and other days not so much. Recently, it’s been the latter.

I don’t normally write personal posts. I focus on food, and lately, travel. But I’ve been overwhelmed with a sense of loss, and I only know how to write how I feel. So today, I’m sharing a more personal post, just as I did a few months ago, here. Thank you for all the stories you shared with me and for getting me through that difficult period.

And just as before, it’s okay to skip this post since it’s not one of my usuals.

Zucchini Lentil Pasta with Mashed Cauliflower

*This post is sponsored by Bird’s Eye®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Zucchini lentil pasta tossed with summer squash, mushrooms, and grape tomatoes and served with a side of creamy mashed cauliflower. This zucchini lentil pasta with mashed cauliflower is simple to make and so delicious.

It’s finally summer, and I’ve been obsessed with all the fresh produce at the farmer’s market. From various summer vegetables and squashes to all those berries and stone fruits, I just can’t resist! Every weekend when I’m at the farmer’s market, I end up buying so much more than I planned.

Don’t you just love summer?

Pineapple Rosé Summer Cocktail

Pineapple juice and rosé wine served with crushed ice. This two ingredient pineapple rosé summer cocktail is delicious and refreshing, perfect for summer gatherings.

I hope you had a wonderful 4^th of July.

I didn’t really do much for the 4th of July, but I had such an eventful weekend filled with strawberry picking, pie filling sampling, apple cider tasting, and clam chowder sampling. I did so much in two days that it almost feel as if I’ve been vacationing for a week rather than just one weekend. And I’m so glad that I had a few extra days off after my trip to the Monterey area to recover from all the eating that I did before going back to work again.

Destination: Muir Woods

Happy 4^th of July!

Do you have any plans for the 4^th of July? With family or friends? Or do you have any annual traditions?

I was away this past weekend and had soo much fun. Some photos from my trip are posted on Instagram, but I’ll share photos and stories of my adventures on the blog sometime soon.

In the mean time, I’m sharing photos from another adventure a couple weeks back.

Just outside of San Francisco, huge redwood trees loom above, covering the skies, at Muir Woods National Monument. Some redwood trees are much older with gigantic trunks and roots, while others are younger and skinnier but just as impressive.

Roasted Asparagus Mushroom Quiche

Cheesy quiche in a buttery crust loaded with roasted asparagus and mushrooms. This roasted asparagus mushroom quiche is easy to make and so delicious, perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Happy Sunday!

I’m actually away this weekend. Just a little getaway to the Monterey area to explore new places and visit friends. And of course, how could I resist good food? Especially when it’s fresh seafood?

But let’s talk about this quiche. And I promise I’ll share photos when I’m back from my mini vacay. Or you can always take a look at my Instagram page for sneak peeks.

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The other day I stumbled across a little free library near my work. Of course, all libraries are free. But I love that this is a tiny little box in front of someone’s house where you can take a book and return either the same book or add a different book. Have you seen one before?

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