Tillamook Farmer's Market

As you can imagine, for a cheese lover like myself, getting invited to an event revolving around my one true love cheese, is cause for celebration. But when the invitation comes from non other than Tillamook, my favorite sharp cheddar, it's basically like Christmas morning! 

Needless to say I was thrilled when Kelly from Soda Pop PR extended an invitation for the Tillamook Farmers Market Launch Party! And of course I RSVP'd yes in a hot minute! 

Andrew and I were looking forward to the event all day, and couldn't wait to check it out after work. When we arrived, the place was bustling. Everyone couldn't have been nicer. They were so kind and genuinely excited about the product.  We were lucky enough to speak with the CEO, Patrick Criteser as well as some of the Marketing team. I loved learning more about the company, and what they stand for. I didn't realize that they use all local fruits and dairy for their products. I just love that. It's obvious that the people at Tillamook take pride in their product, and want to make sure they're providing the best quality possible. Unfortunately, I think that is becoming rare these days. It was refreshing to see how dedicated they are to producing the quality products that their clients are looking for. 

Somehow, after all these years of being a Tillamook fan, I didn't know they made ice cream?! Well, I'm glad I'm finally in the know because that stuff is awesome! I may or may not have tried ALL of the flavors! #sorryimnotsorry I am not usually a huge ice cream person, but their flavors are unique and delicious. Since they use locally sourced produce, that is reflected in their flavors. My favorites were the Oregon Blueberry Patch, Marionberry Pie, and the Oregon Hazelnut and Salted Caramel! Fun Fact: Hazelnut is the official Oregon State nut! 

Another one of my favorite surprises was the dessert yogurt. I eat quite a bit of Greek yogurt, and love the thicker texture so I was happy to see they now have a line of Greek yogurt. But I hadn't seen or heard of dessert yogurt before, and it was heavenly. The texture is very similar to Greek. The flavor was just like fresh berries blended for a smoothie, light and tasted like summer. It's definitely something I'll continue to buy, especially since they'll be coming out with smaller sizes in the next few months. I could see how the large container would be a bit dangerous! 

As always, the cheese was wonderful, my favorite continues to be the aged sharp white cheddar. And Patrick told me they're coming out with a 4 year aged cheddar soon, so keep your eye out for that! 

If you're in the city this weekend, you have to stop by the Tillamook Farmers Market, you will love it! Plus, it's FREE! So it's the perfect outing with the little ones, or a fun date night. Who can say no to free cheese and ice cream?!

It's going on all weekend, Friday - Sunday:

Address:

403 Irving Street

San Francisco, CA 94122

Time:  9 AM - 8 PM 

so cute - loved these little buttons!

How did I not know TIllamook made Ice Cream!? You guys, it's seriously, THE BEST! 

Greek Yogurt and Dessert Yogurt

The America Grilled Cheese provided grilled cheese sandwiches that were to die for! 

Wine AND Cheese - It seriously can't get better than this...

Everyone having a wonderful time enjoying all the Tillamook products! 

And if I didn't already love Tillamook enough, they have vintage VW buses, even a baby loaf! So basically the company is even more amazing than I already thought possible! 

so cute!

We didn't come home empty handed! They had the cutest little tote bags for us to bring home our favorite Tillamook products. I can't get enough Sharp Cheddar and you can bet that dessert yogurt will be gone in no time!! Seriously, it's delicious!

I seriously had a great time, and am so thankful to be a part of the first Tillamook Farmers Market!

Super Bowl Sunday Snacks

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

Happy Friday everyone!

I don't know about you, but this week has gone by so slow! I'm so ready for the weekend (aren't I always)! We have a busy weekend planned. Meeting some friends for drinks tonight, and then all day tomorrow I'm shopping with one of my best friends for her wedding dress! It's going to be such a fun day, I can't wait! And of course, Sunday is the Super Bowl!

Although we've yet to decide what we're doing for the big game, I've rounded up a few of my favorite appetizer recipes so that I'm prepared. Super Bowl Sunday is always an indulgent day, I don't know what it is about football, but watching is usually paired with greasy comfort foods. But I'm all about enjoying my favorite things in moderation, so fine by me!

This year, I'll be rooting for Denver since the Niners won't be playing. And as usual, I'm pretty excited for the much anticipated Super Bowl commercials. I'm loving what I've seen so far, like this, Budweiser for the win! And I'm loving Anna Kendrick lately too, her Newcastle commercial is great!

Okay, back to the food. My sister always makes the most amazing Jalapeno Artichoke Dip for the Super Bowl, and I found this one on Pinterest that looks similar, so I thought I'd give it a try. I've been drooling ever since I found the recipe for those cheesy, bacon wrapped puff pastry twists! I mean, cheesy and bacon wrapped?! Does it get better? I will be making these! Then of course, you can't have a Super Bowl spread without some type of buffalo chicken appetizer, so I think my recipe for spicy buffalo chicken crescent rolls is perfect for game day! And potato skins are a crowd pleaser, you can't go wrong with the cheese, bacon and potato combo. Finally, a new recipe that sounds too good to pass up, bacon scallion hummus! Clearly there is a bacon theme happening. But, life is better with bacon.

If you were stumped on what to make for the game Sunday, I hope this recipe round-up provided some inspiration! I know any of these appetizers are sure to please! Links to original recipes above.

Have a great weekend! Go Broncos!

Ebelskivers

I know, you thought I was done with these Tuolumne posts...this is the last one, I promise. 

As a special treat this year, my mom brought my Grandma Norene's ebelskiver pan camping. Growing up, my Grandma always made them for breakfast on special occasions and on our family reunion camping trips. I'm sure most people have never heard of them, Andrew hadn't, but it's like the best possible version of a pancake. A fluffy, pancake ball, if you will. 

Ebelskivers are Danish pancakes in the shape of a sphere. Because of the beaten egg whites, they are the perfect, fluffy consistency. 

My mom had everything ready, and portioned out into bags so they were surprisingly easy to make while camping. I was in charge of beating egg whites. Which, sounds boring, but the vintage hand mixer made it fun :) We used my Grandma's recipe, but this one sounds similar. I'll try to remember to get a copy of our family recipe from my mom and share it with you. 

It was so much fun making these in camp. My mom even made a few stuffed with fresh raspberries, which were delicious. My favorite way to eat them is split open, with my mom's homemade jam stuffed inside. This year she brought her blackberry-nectarine jam, which was perfect. My cousin invented a nutella and fresh strawberry combination, which did not disappoint. And there is always the classic, syrup and powdered sugar. Traditionally they are served with jam and powdered sugar. 

Have any of you had ebelskivers before? Or even heard of them? 

If you have a ebelskiver pan, or ever see one at a thrift store, I recommend swooping it up as fast as you can! I think these should be a breakfast tradition for special occasions in every family! 



xoxo,


Theresa

A Taste of Independence

Hello friends! 

Today is my Friday, so it's been a great day so far. We're heading up to Tahoe tonight, but we're not really in a hurry. The traffic in the Bay Area has been horrendous this week due to the BART strike. So in addition to the usual Friday traffic, you can add holiday traffic and the increase in commute traffic due to the lack of public transportation. We plan on eating dinner at home and taking our time getting out of the city. Hopefully that way we'll miss the peak traffic times. 

For all of you last minute planners like myself, I've complied a few fun recipes that will be great to bring to a party or pot luck tomorrow! I can't wait to try a few of them myself, the goat cheese crostini looks especially delicious. 

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13

For all of my Bay Area friends, here is a link to the best spots to see the fireworks around the Bay. 

Bay Area Fireworks

I also saw this on Outside Magazine, a great resource for some of the best Firework shows. Something to keep in mind when planning for next summer...


I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday tomorrow! I'll see you all back here on Monday! Enjoy the long weekend!

xoxo,

Theresa

Brunch by the Bay

If you're anything like me, you love a good brunch! I've found quite a few great spots here in San Francisco for brunch, and decided I should share the love! There is nothing better than sitting with friends, sipping a mimosa or coffee, and chatting over a delicious meal. If  you haven't tried these spots you should definitely check them out.

I love them all for different reasons. For a fun, boozy brunch, I would definitely choose Marengo. It's on Union Street which is always lively and fun. It also has a retractable glass ceiling that is perfect for sunny San Francisco days. It's a great place to hang out for an extended brunch with friends.

Part of the reason I love Eats and Ella's so much is that they're walking distance from our house. But beyond that, they have excellent food! Both have traditional brunch items, but with a unique flavor. At eats I had an amazing pulled pork hash, and the homemade biscuits are out of this world at Ella's. Both can have pretty lengthy wait times at the height of weekend brunch hours, but it's worth the wait or waking up early.

Next time you aren't sure where to go for brunch, keep these three in mind! I know you'll love them!


If you have any must try brunch spots, do tell!

** click the restaurant name for website & details **

xoxo,

Theresa

Weekend Update

I had a wonderful weekend, but it was jammed packed! I can't believe it's already Monday and we're back at work. 

The weekend started with a visit from my parents. They got into town on Friday evening. We had reservations to try 1300 on Fillmore for dinner. I hadn't heard much about it, but it had good reviews, and availability for a last minute reservation. I'm always nervous trying new places without a solid recommendation, but I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant offers California cuisine with a southern influence. They also have a large lounge with live music on Friday night. I especially liked the decor in the lounge area, there was a huge gallery wall with old photographs that were actually back-lit. I'd definitely recommend 1300 on Fillmore if you're looking for a place for dinner, or even somewhere to meet for cocktail hour. 

For my entree I ordered the Catfish at the recommendation of our waiter. It was delicious!  After tasting everyone's dinners, I decided mine was the best. My parents both had the Petrale Sole and Andrew had the fried chicken, a house specialty. Everything from the salad with pickled watermelon to the strawberry shortcake and sorbet was delicious. 

Saturday morning we woke up and headed to one of our favorite breakfast spots, Ella's. We ordered way too much food, and I was stuffed. But it was delicious as usual. I ordered the Southwestern Benedict. It was amazing, the hollandaise had just enough spice. Instead of the traditional English Muffin, it was served over their homemade cilantro-lime biscuits. If you haven't tried Ella, add it to the list :) 

Since we stuffed ourselves at breakfast, we decided to do an urban hike through the city. We ended up walking to the Patagonia store after breakfast, and then back through the Marina and Pacific Heights on the way home. I forgot to use the app on my phone, but we figured we logged about 6.5 miles, including a few pretty steep San Francisco hills!

After our long walk, my parents headed back towards the foothills for a party they were attending that night. Andrew and I had plans as well, and took BART over to Berkeley for a concert.  We met a few friends at Jupiter for a pizza and a few beers before heading up to the Greek Theater. I've been a fan of Dispatch and Guster since college, and was really looking forward to the concert. It was a great show, and especially fun to see some old friends I hadn't seen in months! One of my good friends from college, Devin, and his fiance met us at the venue. Devin and I have been to many concerts together, and it was fun to add another one to the list. I was glad I finally got to see Dispatch live, even though I think I'm still partial to Chad's newer band, State Radio. 

Sunday was a low key day. We decided to make the famous Magliozzi Sunday Dinner. Homemade red sauce with pasta, meatballs and fried eggplant. It was amazing, but I ate wayyy to much! Andrew's sister came over once we got the sauce started, and we drove over to Marin to get out of the city for some warmth and sunshine. It was a fun drive. We went to a board shop Andrew had discovered a few weeks ago, got some frozen yogurt, and drove around Sausalito. Then headed back to the fog to enjoy our Sunday feast. 

It was a great weekend! But after writing this post, I'm afraid we did more eating than anything else, so I better get to the gym! 


I hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well! Happy Monday!


xoxo,

Theresa

The Green Monster

I actually owe a lot to the Green Monster, maybe that is why I love them so much! Way back in 2009, I was doing Weight Watchers, and discovered the message boards on their website. This was a life saver for me when I was on the program because I could read about other people's success stories, and get meal and exercise inspiration as well. One of the things I kept seeing on the message boards was "Green Monsters" so I did what any normal girl would do, I Googled it.

I discovered a website called The Green Monster Movement, started by Angela of Oh She Glows. It was a website dedicated to the idea of mixing spinach, or other greens, into fruit smoothies. The site is full of amazing recipes for all different types of Green Smoothies. It is a great way to get in a ton of nutrients, with a snack that still tastes great. I was immediately hooked.

Because I discovered The Green Monster Movement, it led me to Angela, and then Tina, Kath, and Caitlin. Once I started reading these blogs daily, I kept discovering more and more great healthy living bloggers, as well as fitness and lifestyle blogs. It's funny how a little green juice has had such an effect on my life. There would be no From Foothills to Fog without Angela's Green Monster, and my discovery of the blog world.

Anyways...back to the green stuff. I love it. I've gone through periods when I drink one every day. And I definitely notice a change in my skin and the way I feel when I drink them regularly. I am always experimenting with  different ideas of what to put inside my smoothies, but the base is usually the same. When I'm at home, I typically use frozen fruit, orange juice, almond milk, banana, ground flax and spinach. But when I was at my mom's last weekend, she had such fresh, wonderful looking fruit I used that instead. (If you use fresh fruit, just add ice).

Drinking green smoothies has definitely become my favorite way to eat spinach. I love the fact that the options are pretty much endless. I've even convinced my retired fireman co-worker to try it, and now he swears by them. He even says zucchini is a good addition, but I've yet to try it. When I first told Andrew I added spinach to my smoothies, he thought I was nuts. But guess who drinks them now, too?

Anyway, I just wanted to share one of my recent Green Monster creations with you since I love them so much.

What are your favorite combinations for Green Monsters? 


I'm linking up today with Because Shanna Said So for Random Wednesday! Come join the fun and meet new friends :)

xoxo,

Theresa

Off The Grid: Presidio Picnic

Hello my loves! How was your weekend? I can't believe it's already Monday. I had such a great weekend! It was jammed packed with fun, San Francisco activities. We even crossed off an item on my San Francisco Bucket List, I'd say it was a very successful weekend! 

Last week, Andrew sent me a link to an article about the Off The Grid event in the Presidio, it's a weekly picnic every Sunday happening now through October 27th. It's great because you can bring your dog, games, drinks, friends, and make a day out of it! The weather was going to be so beautiful this Sunday, so we knew it would be the perfect day to try it out. 

We rounded up a group of our friends and packed Corn Hole, Ladder Ball, Frisbee, and a full ice chest then headed for the park. We all had a great day enjoying the sunshine, music, bloody mary's,  mimosa's, beer and good food. 

It was a perfect San Francisco day. If you live in the city, or will be here sometime this summer, I definitely recommend stopping here on a sunny Sunday! I'd recommend bringing your own ice chest, they sell bloody mary and mimosa kits, but they're pricey. We had an ice chest filled with our favorite refreshments, then hit up the food trucks for lunch! It worked out great.

  

Unfortunately, I didn't read the article very carefully, and forgot sunscreen on my arms! I used to be so good about it, but I guess not that I live in the city, I'm used to a layer of fog between me and the sun! So suffice it to say, I got fried! I've been bathing in Aloe Vera ever since we got home yesterday. Lesson learned. 

Lounging in the sun with my favorites

Little miss Erica Bea aka Nannypology

We all agreed the tacos from Cholita Linda were amazing! Both fish and carnitas!

Louis was so happy that he got to come too, he loves the sun!

What did you do this weekend? SF friends, have you been to Off the Grid in the Presidio? Serena commented on my Instagram that she was there too! Next time we'll have to communicate better.  :) 

xoxo,

Theresa