5k red in the face run

Cali cooking couple is teaming up with the following food bloggers to support a 5k run in the month of september. 

I (alix ) have signed up for 2 runs. 


Color run in Sacramento and The color the skies run in ripon. ( there is a 1 mile and fun run to do with kids after you watch the hot air ballon show in the morning.) 
I am very excited about this and to motivate my children and family to eat healthy and exercise. 


Cindy, Once Upon a Loaf
Amy, She Wears Many Hats
Kristen, Dine & Dish
Bridget, Bake at 350
Katrina, In Katrina’s Kitchen
Robyn, Add a Pinch
Carolyn, All Day I Dream About Food
Krista, Budget Gourmet Mom
Shawn, I Wash…You Dry
Dara, Cookin’ Canuck


we would love to invite all our followers to also run with us and make heathy eating and living a part of your lives.

Yesterday I did 2 miles with my 6 year old son as my motivator.  He did really well and only needed a quick break in the jogging stroller. We will keep you updated. Pin It

4th of july cake and ice cream

a little sneak peak of what we are eating for MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY !!! 

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summer is here

Good news....larry's produce has opened

 Bad news..... my cute picnic basket broke. 

Well maybe that is good news because it broke because my kids just kept loading it up with yummy things they had to have. I love hearing them ask /beg for artichokes, avocados, pineapple, watermelon, cherries, green beans, peaches, plums, apricots and strawberries. Well maybe beg was not the right word because I would just say yes yes yes. Life is good right now. 

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Father's day Lemonade

Our Father's day tradition is to sell lemonade on the eve of Father's day

 and then use the money to get dad a really cool gift. father's always get free lemonade. The boys learn about working and money and dad gets to do something fun while we work hard. It's suppose to get 105 today- on man. 

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Where Do WE EAT

We get asked all the time for food recommendation in Napa- I have a hard time because there are so many wonderful places to eat- with a variety on budget, location , and style.

We are going to comprise a list for you of the places that we love.

Alix's top choices 

Breakfast- Napa General Store - Corn Meal pancakes
 click here for a more detailed review from us 
here for their menu and hours

Lunch- Azzurro Pizzeria- Caesar Manciata - a grilled flat  bread with cheese and caesar salad that you fold in half and eat like a sandwich
click here for menu and hours 

Dinner- Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen - Cindy has a handful of restaurants in town but this is my favorite its quaint and has great atmosphere and I have loved everything I have ever gotten from there. I love the Hanger Steak with the Avocado & Papaya salad
click here for menu and hours 

Dessert - Rutherford Grill - Oreo cookie ice cream sandwich - phenomenal
click here for menu and hours 

Bread- Vallergas Market - They have a wide variety but I can't decide if I like the Acme or Bouchon Bread better.  click here for hours 

A little treat - Bouchon Bakery - Bouchon Bakery's Ho-Ho. An upscale and much larger version on the Hostesses Ho-Ho  click here for hours  Pin It

Best ice Cream in the Us- Food and Wine Magazine

Well we gave you the best burgers and now it's time for 

ICE CREAM --- we have three near by. 

I have already been to one. It always excites me when I find a place and then later learn that others love it as much as I do. 

In no particular order

1. San Rafael, Ca Three Twins Organic Ice Cream - The whole store is very earth friendly and they use a splash of  balsamic vinegar on those strawberries. I have tried the trick and it does sweeten them up.
click here for more info 

2. Berkeley, Ca- Ici Ice Cream -  a pastry chef making ice cream cones.. I think I am going to scream for ice cream
click here for info 

3. San Francisco, CA- Bi-Rite Creamery - YES YES YES I love this place. Food and Wine suggest the Salted Carmel but I love the Sam's Sunday. it's fun, it's funky, and... can try all the flavors and on a real spoon.
click here for more info 
click here for MY review of bi-rite 

and for our family and to represent Kevin's home state
Seattle- Molly Moon Ice Cream - I think we will check this out when we go play there this summer
click here for more info 

congrats to all out local friends. click here to see a full review and see if you have any favorites near you 

and if you are looking for burgers click here 

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Father's Day pancakes

Happy father's day 

to all you dad's out there who read our posts. 

Here is what the wilcox clan is making this year for father's day breakfast. 

Dad pancakes 

very very easy
 1. fill your favorite squeeze bottle and fill with pancake mix
2.  squeeze into pan and cook like normal pancakes
3. enjoy your dad

make any words you like 

look our cute family .....

Happy Father's day. 

Stay tuned for our other father's day tradition coming soon- 

hint: something I do to help the kids earn so money for a present 

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Ina Gartens Lemon Curd Tart

I am very excited about the recipe today.

1. It's from Ina garten - who I love love love. I don't even think about tweaking her recipes. .... { Ina if you are reading this can we do a cook date together }
2. It uses lemons !! 
3. You get to peel the lemons not great 
4. I got to use my new food processor.

Tart Shell 

• 12 T butter - room temperature- very important  
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 t vanilla
• 1 3/4 cups flour 
• pinch of salt 
• bag of beans to weigh down crust 

1. mix together the butter and sugar in electric mixer 
2. add vanilla 
3. sift together the flour and salt then add 
4. mix till it just comes together then dump onto flighty floured surface and form into a ball
5. put into tart pans 
6. ***  ina called for a 10 inch but i was giving away one tart so i used two 5 inch and that worked great 
7. chill in fridge till firm 
8. heat oven to 350 
9. lightly coat annunimun foil with butter and place onto of tart 
10. fill covered tart with beans 
11.      - i totally forgot this step and it still turned out ok so don't freak out if you do 
12. cook for 20 minutes 
13. remove foil and prick tart with fork and bake for another 20 minutes 
14. cool to room temperature 

Lemon Curd 

• 4 lemons 
• 1 1/2 cup sugar 
• 1 stick (1/4 lb) butter- once again room temp 
• 4 eggs ( add one at a time) 
• 1/8 t salt 
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice- from the lemons you will zest 

1. zest the lemons with a vegetable peeler - try to not get the white part that is bitter 
2. add zest and sugar into food processor :) with the steel blade and pulse till its well incorporated 
3. cream the butter lemon sugar and eggs in your electric mixer with the paddle 
4. add fresh lemon juice and salt 
5. pour into saucepan on low heat and the curd will thicken- takes about ten minutes 
6. pour into your cool  tart pans 

tips

 you can make the tart and the curd or day before and then add the curd when ready to serve 

you can add 4 eggs to the tart recipe and come up with something really good- it was a mess up.... and the dough was divine--- new recipe ???? 

since you will have lemons lying around don't forget to make our 

lemon chicken with capers and lemonade 

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