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Entries from December 2008

Gourmet Garden (Petaluma, CA)

December 26th, 2008 · 1 Comment

It’s Christmas Day and time for our annual tradition of Jews eat Asian food on Christian holidays (why? you ask…because we get the day off and nothing else is usually open, though that’s changed in recent years).  Normally we go down to Todai, a chain of buffets with huge amounts of decent sushi and other […]

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Categories: Food · Restaurant Reviews · SF Bay Area Restaurant
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Miriam’s Photography

December 20th, 2008 · 5 Comments

Miriam has always been more of a director than an actor.  Since she was old enough to hold a camera, she would grab one at any opportunity.  A child’s digital camera is a promised present (anyone know of one that is kid proof, has a display screen, and is under $30?) but, until then, she […]

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Categories: Family Life · Miriam Updates
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Namaste Cafe (Petaluma, CA)

December 11th, 2008 · No Comments

My brother, his girlfriend, and my 10 year old niece came to visit us and shop at the local outlet mall.  Last time I saw them all (at the Marin County Fair the 4th of July) I brought a huge picnic lunch for everyone but this visit I decided not to cook.  I’d been wanting […]

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Categories: Food · Restaurant Reviews · SF Bay Area Restaurant
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Thanksgiving 2008

December 9th, 2008 · 3 Comments

We spent Thanksgiving 2008 much like Thanksgiving 2007, at a potluck gathering at Ecology House in San Rafael, California.  Ecology House is the only HUD (US Government) low-income housing for people disabled with chemical sensitivities.  It has 11 apartments and a community room where residents host events, meetings, and parties.  The Environmental Health Network holds […]

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Categories: Family Life · Food · Meals & Events · Religion & Holidays · Thanksgiving
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Edamame Salad with Red Pepper or Red Cabbage

December 8th, 2008 · 3 Comments

Okay, so this isn’t a classic Thanksgiving dish, but it’s mine.  To people eating turkey or other meat, it is a nice side dish. For a vegetarian, though, it’s a good way to get significant amounts of protein without filling up on starch. This recipe disappears fast and gets raves (even from the meat-eaters). I […]

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Categories: Food · Main Dishes · Recipes · Religion & Holidays · Thanksgiving · Vegetable Dishes
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Homemade Pumpkin Puree

December 6th, 2008 · 4 Comments

I’m not going to pretend that making your own pumpkin puree is just as easy as opening a can and everyone should do it, but it is more satisfying, it tastes better, and does double duty using up your Halloween pumpkins.  And it’s not particularly hard. Start with the right pumpkins.  Your fabulous jack-o-lantern is […]

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Categories: Desserts · Food · Recipes · Religion & Holidays · Thanksgiving · Vegetable Dishes
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Goodbye old car!

December 3rd, 2008 · 1 Comment

“Goodbye old car!  Thanks for taking good care of us all these years! We’re going to miss you!” Miriam repeated words like this many times today.  I don’t know why I get sad when getting rid of a car.  Am I doing the right thing??  How can we just leave it here to be scrapped […]

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Categories: Family Life · House & Home
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Vegan Pumpkin Pie

December 1st, 2008 · 2 Comments

Shhh…don’t tell anyone it’s vegan: they’ll never guess.  The first time we made this was Thanksgiving 2007 and it (along with all the cashew cream) was devoured. Someone else’s pumpkin pie (homemade with traditional ingredients) still had half left.  In 2008, this Thanksgiving treat was one of 3 pumpkin pies (all gluten-free as it happens) […]

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Categories: Desserts · Food · Places to Go · Recipes · Religion & Holidays · Snacks · Thanksgiving
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Homemade Cranberry Sauce (without oranges)

December 1st, 2008 · 3 Comments

So what’s wrong with cranberry sauce made with oranges, you ask? Nothing. It’s delicious. But the slightest trace of oranges makes my daughter sick for hours. So I developed a version with lemons instead. I think it works better than oranges for cutting fatty foods and providing a clean crisp taste. You will need to […]

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Categories: Desserts · Food · Places to Go · Recipes · Religion & Holidays · Spreads & Dips · Thanksgiving
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