Nili Stevens Blog

AN ASSOCIATION OF ORGANIC PRODUCERS IN MARIN COUNTY WHOSE LIVELIHOOD IS BASED

San Francisco Spring Fling * Part 1

Tuesday, May 8, 2012 Posted in Cream of the Crop, Oh, the places you will go...

With spring in the air and summer just around the corner my heart was telling me to go north to San Francisco ! There is no better place to be for a little culinary inspiration. That being said I had three days to get my juices flowing. It is amazing what you can DO, SEE and EAT in three days. To make it a little easier on you and me. This post will have to be in parts. Let’s start with my day trip to Marin County. First stop Mill Valley and Beth’s Community Kitchen.

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Mill Valley is just 14 miles north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge. Beth’s Community Kitchen is located in downtown Mill Valley. I had my first encounter with Beth and her culinary delights at Christmas time when I received one of her famous pecan pie’s as a hostess gift. Let’s just say it was unforgettable. BEST PECAN PIE OF MY LIFE ! After hearing her story from my girlfriend Dori ( she and Beth went to Stanford together) and how she made her passion a reality. I knew I had to meet this woman !

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Beth Setrakian grew up in Prarie View Texas and discovered her passion as a child creating specialty mud pies. As young girl she found inspiration and developed some of her best creations in her mother’s kitchen. After years of perfecting her craft and dazzling her friends and family,she has brought them to life at Beth’s Community Kitchen.

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EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP LOOKED AMAZING. WE BOUGHT A BOX OF GOODIES, PARKED IT OUT FRONT & JUST STARTED EATING !

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ON A RESPECT FOR NATURE & SENSE OF PLACE.

In addition to the baked goods, they offer daily lunch specials and killer savory breakfast delights. The fare is fresh, seasonal and the ingredients more than likely have been hand-picked by Beth and bought from the Marin Farmer’s Market in San Rafael (haven for local premier chefs) where Beth knows the farmers and vendors on a first name basis. There is no way that this little space is going to be big enough when the word really gets out (they just opened in December).

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*STANFORD GRAD *ARTIST * DEDICATED DAUGHTER * MOTHER TO SOFI & NICK * WIFE OF ARTIST ROB SETRAKIAN *

* CULINARY GODDESS *

After meeting Beth, I felt immediatley drawn to her energy and zest for life. I was ready to put on my apron and do ANYTHING she asked. That’s how great it was !

Beth is most definetly “Cream of the Crop “

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The Scoop :

Beth’s Community Kitchen

34 Miller Ave. Mill Valley, California

415.383-3991

Open 9-5 Closed TUESDAYS

Tell them Nili sent you !

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NOTE : I HAVE LOTS MORE TO SHARE AND IT’S COMING RIGHT UP. THANKS FOR THE COMMENTS AND PERSONAL NOTES.

TALK TO YOU SOON ! XO

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Coconut Cookies with Lemon Cream

Wednesday, May 2, 2012 Posted in In My Kitchen, Party! Party! Party!

I just returned from another inspiring trip to San Francisco! While I get my photos sorted and my thoughts organized I thought I’d better get you a little something to chew on while you are waiting. These little numbers are the perfect quickie dessert to whip up for an army or just for a few peeps. With all the graduations, end of the year banquets, summer BBQ’s in our future these little treats would be just the thing to have on your radar. REMEMBER, it starts with the Toasted Coconut Cookie Thins from Trader Joe’s.

It goes something like this:

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HERE ARE THE SUPPLIES

LEMON CURD & MASCARPONE CHEESE

70 CRISP COCONUT THINS IN ONE BOX

MIX THE CURD & THE CHEESE TOGETHER TO MAKE THE MAGIC !

A LITTLE DAB WILL DO YA !

TOASTED COCONUT

LEMON ZEST

HOME RUN !!!!!

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NOTE : So here’s the dealio. Personally I prefer to make my own lemon curd. It’s not as sweet and somehow it makes me feel better. However, if you want to do it fast this is the perfect alternative. You want the color to resemble buttercream. The more yellow the mixture the more sweet it is. I figure 1/2 to 3/4 of a jar of curd to an 8oz tub of Mascarpone. Line these up on a big platter with a pretty flower and you will be the belle of the ball ! This is so darn simple that you don’t get a step by step recipe. Chew on that and I will be right back at you with some fun details of my trip. Let me know how it goes. xo Nili

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Hearts of Romaine with Creamy Caesar Dressing

Tuesday, April 24, 2012 Posted in In My Kitchen

If you are like me you are always looking for a great salad dressing or salad recipe that you can count on. This Romaine Salad with Creamy Caesar Dressing is good to go in both departments. Simple and easy. I have added a couple of my favorite finishing touches to make it a little more desirable. For those of you that are Caesar Dressing purists I am afraid this one may not be your dealio since it has NO ANCHOVIES or PARMESAN CHEESE. I promise you it is still yummy !

It goes something like this.

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A FEW BASIC INGREDIENTS

FRESH LEMON JUICE & PRESSED GARLIC

ADD DIJON * WORCESTERSHIRE *

BRING IN THE MAYO

WHISK IT TOGETHER

WHISK IN THE OIL

FINISH WITH PEPPER

YOU’VE GOT A WINNER !

WASH UP SOME ROMAINE

A LITTLE DRESSING PLUS SOME OF THIS

HERE’S WHAT YOU GET !

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Here’s what you need :

The juice of 2 lemons

1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup good mayo ( you can use light if you must)

1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

4 garlic cloves pressed

1 cup virgin olive oil

Salt & Pepper

Hearts of Romaine

Marcona Almonds

Shaved Manchego cheese

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Put it together :

Juice your lemons and put juice in a bowl. Press your garlic. Add mustard, Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Whisk until blended.

Add mayonnaise whisk until blended.

While whisking pour in the olive oil until blended.

Finish with pepper.

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Salad:

Wash romaine and wrap with towel until ready to use. This will keep it nice and crispy.

Arrange hearts of romaine on a plate or cut into large pieces and place in a large bowl. Top with dressing and finish with Marcona almonds and shaved Manchego cheese. Don’t be stingy either !

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NOTE: There is plenty of salad dressing here for a big salad plus. When I go through the trouble of making dressing I like to make plenty. This one holds up for a couple of weeks. I think you will like the combo of flavors. Add some sliced chicken and a slab of bread and butter and I promise you you are going to be happy. Let me know how it goes !

Thanks for stopping by ! xo Nili

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Spring at Studio SUZAN

Friday, April 13, 2012 Posted in Cream of the Crop, Everyday Fabulous

It is no secret that I am obsessed with ALL THINGS SUZAN! Just when I think I have had enough, a new piece enters the scene making me weak in the knees. Yesterday I stopped by the studio to check out the goods and knew right away that you needed to see some of the beautiful things on display and hear about the KILLER PROMOTION they have going at STUDIO SUZAN! I know it’s tax season and all but, Mother’s Day, Graduation and Summer are just around the corner.

I say, GET ER DONE !!! First things first. Feast your eyes…

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This blue agate and white bone necklace literally gave me the chills. This was just one of the beautiful agate crosses I saw. There are several in various shades of blue and some stunning black ones with hints of brown. The elements are definitely natural combining abalone, bone, shell, rose quartz and aqua marine on leather and silver.

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The in studio promotion goes like this: From APRIL 9TH- MAY 4TH get a $100 gift card for every $200 you spend. Use the cards MAY 5th -JUNE 30th. Seems like a no brainer to me. All you have to do is make a list.

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I ESPECIALLY LOVE THESE ENGRAVED SHELLS. PERFECT FOR MOTHER’S DAY !

ALSO ON DISPLAY ARE THESE ULTRA COOL HIS & HERS RUBBER AND STAINLESS BRACELETS BY KENTON MICHAEL DESIGNS

WHEN IN DOUBT THERE IS ALWAYS A GIFT CERTIFICATE * SO PRETTY TOO !

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I think you can now understand my ongoing obsession. The question is, can you resist the temptation ? I hope not. Stop by and see what all the fuss is about. Tell them Nili sent you !

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Studio SUZAN

Mon-Friday 10:00-4:00

Closed Saturdays in April

1733 Monrovia Ave. Suite U Costa Mesa, CA 92627

949.646-6009

studiosuzan .com

Promotion available online !

Disclaimer: No compensation was given for this review. This post was written so you would be in the know !

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The Orange County Great Park Antique & Farmers Market

Tuesday, April 3, 2012 Posted in Oh, the places you will go...

This past Sunday when the rain passed and the sun came out I headed out to my new favorite “quickie” antique and farmers market located at the Great Park in Irvine. What I mean when I say quickie is that it’s a place I can go when I need a fix but don’t necessarily want to spend the day. If you are lucky enough to get the kind of weather I did, then I am pretty sure you might just make this a regular once a month outing. I rolled into the antique market a little after 8:00am and things were definitely hopping.

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THE ANTIQUE MARKET

LOOK FOR THE BIG ORANGE BALLON

GOOD VIBE * COOL STUFF * NICE PEOPLE * GREAT SETTING

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The Farmers Market is just across the parking lot from the antique market and is open from 8:00am-2:00pm. It’s a relatively small market but the prices are decent and the quality is good. There is a small section of regular swapmeet type items that could use some improvement but hey, different strokes…They have a row of food trucks if you get hungry and lots of folks handing out samples of a variety of items. I am pretty sure that by summer this farmers market will be booming with all kinds of vendors

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SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL PRODUCE

INTERESTING DRIED FRUITS

GORGEOUS HERBS READY TO BE PLANTED

photo via travel mamas

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I definetly got my flea market fix and a big splash of sunshine to boot ! I enjoyed my visit to the Orange County Great Park and will be back next month. Hope to see you there!

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Here is the scoop :

The Orange County Great Park, Irvine California

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The First Sunday of Every Month

THE GROVES ANTIQUE MARKET

Open 7:00am-2:00pm

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THE FARMERS MARKET

Open 8:00am-2:00pm

Festival Site * Free Parking and Admission

Map & Directions

www.ocgp.org/

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This Week at Trader Joe’s * Skinny Chip & Dip

Friday, March 23, 2012 Posted in Everyday Fabulous, In My Kitchen

This week at Trader Joe’s it’s all about chip and dip. Period ! If you are like me, you Crave the Crunch. It’s not just the crunch you crave, but it’s the crunch plus a little somethin’ somethin’. Right ? Here’s the question, who can eat a bag of chips and dip everyday and make it through the front door ?? Seriously ! That is why I hope this little post will save the day !

On my latest run to Trader Joe’s I discovered a new dip to go along with my all time favorite “Reduced Guilt Pita Chip“. It is creamy and has a chunky texture and you don’t have to eat a ton of it to feel satisfied. It is 30 calories for 2 tablespoons and Weight Watchers friendly ! It is the perfect fix about 4:00PM when my blood sugar starts to dip and I reach for the cheese and crackers.

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IN THE REFRIGERATOR SECTION NEXT TO THE CHUBBY SPINACH DIP

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This semi healthy dip is great served alongside with hummus, sliced vegetables or used on bread as a spread for a Mediterranean inspired sandwich. YUM !!! Any way I know you get the picture. Rip open a bag of Reduced Guilt Pita Chips with Sea Salt and drop down the Reduced Guilt Spinach and Kale Dip and you have got a winner ! Short and sweet.

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NOW THAT IS WHAT I’M TALKIN ABOUT !

TGIF !!!

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Note: Since I started writing this blog, I can’t believe how many people I see at the Trader Joe’s as I stand in the aisles pondering. If you happen to see me, please say hi and share with me what ever fabulous thing you have discovered. Oh and disregard my outfit, hairdo and lack of make-up. After all, at TJ’s anything goes. That’s why I love it so much !!

Trader Joe’s, Tell them Nili sent you !

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Cannery Exchange

Thursday, March 15, 2012 Posted in Cream of the Crop, Everyday Fabulous, Oh, the places you will go...

A DESIGN AND CONSIGNMENT STUDIO IN NEWPORT BEACH

THE GRAND DAME

I can’t believe it has taken me so long to write about Arlene Spielman and the Cannery Exchange ! If you live in Newport Beach and you shop consignment you have more than likely walked by or stopped into the Cannery Exchange and met my dear friend Arlene. If you have not, I am hear to tell you YOU ARE MISSING IT !

The shop is packed full of treasures. You are never sure what you will find when you step through the doors. The sky is the limit at this little jewel !

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With 24 years in the design industry Arlene has a keen eye for hip and eclectic pieces that are all over the board. Don’t expect to find perfect little tags and everything in its place. That is not how things roll at Cannery Exchange. There are days when the shop is in a whirlwind and Arlene is in the midst of the chaos hanging a chandelier or refinishing an armoire. But hey, that is all part of the charm. I am certain that the customers come to visit with Arlene as much as they come to see what’s new. Bottom line, this lady knows her stuff !

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BETTER BUY IT WHEN YOU SEE IT OR CHANCES ARE IT WON’T BE THERE WHEN YOU GO BACK !

SEE ANYTHING YOU LIKE ?

PIECES ARE AFFORABLE AND PRICED TO SELL

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DARLING LEONARD & SHOP DOG TINY

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Besides having a happening store, Arlene is the mother of five (three girls and two boys), grandmother to thirteen and great grandmother to two darling little boys. All this activity has been shared with her husband of 53 years Leonard Spielman (one of my favorite guys). In addition to running a very successful business Arlene finds time to be a part of all of her children and her grandchildren’s lives. I have known their family for 15 years and have so many wonderful memories I cherish.

The Spielman family is the type of family you dream of being a part of. Arlene is the anchor, the life of the party, generous friend, crazy, fun loving, creative, foodie, mother, Nana and wife. According to Arlene, she wouldn’t change a thing in her life. All this action keeps her young and alive !

All I know is that when I grow up, I want to be just like her…

THE SCOOP:

The Cannery Exchange

2460 Avon Street Newport Beach CA.

949.631-2740

OPEN MON-SAT

10:00 ish to 5:00 ish

Tell them Nili sent you !

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