5/22/2016

Breakfast for Dinner!

Breakfast dishes are some of the best comfort foods-but face it, we simply don't have enough time to cook on most mornings. Our favorite work-around is breakfast for dinner! A complicated breakfast suddenly becomes an easy meal. Plus we can bring out more veggies and include more intense flavors, that aren't always welcome first thing.

Breakfast is a pretty balanced meal, so there's no reason to hold back. Here are some of our best recommendations for the perfect evening breakfast:

Our strawberries are fantastic right now, and we also have delicious frozen fruits from Willamette Valley Pie Company--they are great in baked goods and pancakes.

For French Toast we love to use Grand Bakery's Challah or Semmifreddi's Cinnamon Twist Bread-they are both pretty amazing toasted, too. Bo's Best mixes make great scones, and we can't stop talking about Stonewall Kitchen Farmhouse Pancake and Waffle Mix.

Now for something to put on top, right now we are loving Jamnation Jams in all their amazing flavors. And we are still loyal to Stonewall Kitchen Jam, INNA Jam, and anything by the Mountain Fruit Co.

To keep your eggs interesting, it could be as simple as sprinkling them with a good Parmesan, or topping with Roberto's of Santa Cruz Salsa, some Tobasco or Sriracha sauce, or a tapenade. We also love a touch of sour over

sunny-side up eggs: Mia's Kitchen Balsamic is a favorite, or simply a squirt of fresh lime juice.

From the Meat Department, Framani Breakfast Sausage or Hempler's Center Cut Bacon.

You'll be needing a cup of tea with this-something herbal to help you unwind. Our line of Buddha Teas comes in unusual and delicious flavors, and can be served with a spoonful of L'Abeille Occitane Honey...so flavorful!

For those evenings when you can't even...Cafe Fanny Granola with yogurt or milk is a comforting conclusion to your day.

Stonewall Kitchen Farmhouse Pancake & Waffle Mix

An All-Time Favorite

Stonewall Kitchen consistently makes exceptionally fluffy and fresh-tasting pancakes and waffles. We have loved it for years. Their secret ingredient of malted flour makes your pancakes light, and creates a rich vanilla aroma.

We like them best with buttermilk for the liquid ingredient, and we love them topped with fresh berries and maple syrup...or bananas and pecans.

Bites Off Broadway Is Back

Does this mean it's finally summer?

This wonderful, pop-up foodie and neighborhood experience happens just a few blocks from our store, every Friday evening in the Summer. The lines for the six or so trucks that gather in front of Studio One are rarely more than a few customers deep, and there's a big stretch of lawn where families and friends can sprawl out on a picnic blanket, and enjoy the late afternoon sunshine. There's room for the kids to run around.

Bring the family for great food, live music, and Noah twisting balloons-of course!

Every Friday evening
5:30 to 8:30 PM
365 45th Street, Oakland
In front of Studio One Art Center

Read More...

Michelada

The Mexican Michelada kicks up the flavor of a cold beer-it's like a Bloody Mary, savory, spicy, and tart (and considered a hangover remedy). Here's the recipe, if you want to make one at home.

Michelada
Makes 8 servings

Ingredients
1 32 ounce bottle chilled Clamato (about 4 cups)
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1 small, yellow onion
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 32 ounce bottle or 3 12-oz. bottles chilled Mexican lager
2 tablespoons coarse sea salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Lime wedges (for serving)

Get the recipe...

Cherries are here!
(and a recipe for Grilled Cherry Milkshakes)

Get 'em while they're ripe.

These sweet, delicious signs of early summer have arrived in the market, and we can't get enough of them. They're only at their peak for about a month-so, don't hold back!

We love eating them fresh, or you can try them in this recipe.

Grilled Cherry Milkshakes
(Non-dairy version included)
Yields 3 to 4 milkshakes

Ingredients
2 cups vanilla ice cream (or Coconut Bliss)
1 cup milk (or light coconut milk, chilled)
1 pound fresh bing cherries
2 to 3 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Get the recipe...

Cal Shakes 2016 Summer Season

California Shakespeare Theater opens its 2016 summer season on May 25th. If you have never experienced this unique blend of food, community and theater, now's your chance.

Here's the season schedule:
Much Ado About Nothing-May 25 to June 1

August Wilson's Fences-July 6 to 31

You Can Never Tell-August 10 to September 4

Othello-September 14 to October 9

All performances are at the Bruns Amphitheater, just on the other side of the hills from Oakland, at 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way in Orinda.

Find out more...

Red Chilaquiles

From Amy and our "What's For Dinner Wednesday" recipe blog

Breakfast, It's What's for Dinner

I have long been a fan of breakfast for dinner-it kind of feels like you're breaking the rules a bit. A rebel without a spoon, if you will...

We would have breakfast for dinner once in a while when I was growing up, usually waffles 'cause Dad was a big fan. When I moved out on my own, scrambled eggs and toast made for and easy and cheap dinner. Throw a little salsa on there, and it was a fiesta. Ole!

Nowadays we have breakfast for dinner at least 3 times a month. It's my culinary equivalent to running up the white flag. Whether it is because of time constraints, over-achieving chickens or the inability to string an idea together beyond eggs, breakfast is a great way to avoid extreme pizza, Chinese take-out, burger fatigue.

Breakfast for dinner almost always involves whatever I have on hand. Sometimes that means straight up scrambled eggs and toast. Sometimes there's bacon or sausage. Pancakes have been known to make an appearance, with or without pecans and bananas. Other times there might be drop biscuits and honey instead of toast. My favorite though, is when there are leftover tortilla chips because that means one thing: Chilaquiles.

My love of Mexican food is well documented which is why it should come as no surprise that my favorite breakfast for dinner dish is basically Mexican breakfast. If you have never had Chilaquiles you have been missing out on the ultimate comfort food and hangover cure (or so I have been told). It's spicy, cheesy, crispy goodness piled high on your plate. Sometimes there is shredded chicken. Sometimes I use salsa verde or regular salsa instead of making a red sauce...just depends on mood and my previous shopping trips.

So next time you find yourself with a half-eaten bag of stale tortilla chips, give this a shot!

Get the recipe for Red Chilaquiles...

In This Issue

Featured Product

Cookbook Recommendation

Vendor of the Month

Bites off Broadway

The Cocktail Post

Cherries!

Cal Shakes

Red Chilaquiles

_________________