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Happy Oktober!

I am in love with Autumn and October as it brings it on.  When for the most part, no matter where you are,  the weather reaches a balances between too hot and too cold.  And balance in life is always something of a beauty to watch.

So, after a wonderful day of celebration with friends yesterday, and a busy week of unpacking, cleaning, reinstating routines, and getting the UrbanToddler ready for attending pre-school sans mommy (for the past month I had been attending pre-school with her as she had not yet reached the ripe old age of two), today was declared a day to be mellow... 

And mellow in the lingo of a mama to a Toddler means trying to limit activities to as few as possible, and try to center them around ones that please mommy the most, yet still keep the Toddler happy and engaged.  

We started our day with visiting a lovely friend on the beautiful patio of Tootsie, where the three of us enjoyed Rocco's eggs with ricotta and zucchinis and paper thin house-made toasts and jam.   From there it was a nice trip to the market, where we picked up ingredients for a Friday night supper on our patio.  


After lunch and a nap that was not, my girl donned her brand new diamond initialed apron, a special birthday gift from Auntie Paola and Billy, and I wore mine.  We put on the Eat Pray Love CD, an especially great CD for doing anything mellow.  And then we got to cooking a feast for an Autumn night in Los Altos, something hearty, yet light, savory and tangy...


And later on tonight, when its all quiet and the day is almost over, I can't wait to sit down with my new Fall read that my Mr. Urban has recommended to me, The Art of Racing in The Rain, which has been delicious since the start.

If you are looking for an Autumn meal to enjoy with the ones you love very much, especially one that can keep you and your toddler busy for almost and hour, you may want to give the UrbanGirls' Tangy Rosemary Beef Stew a try.  






Here's wishing you a special Fall weekend... with pumpkins to look at, and good coffee to sip, and yellow crunchy leaves under your feet, and lovely meals in your bellies, and a good book on the coffee table just in case you get a moment to yourself....   



The UrbanGirls' Tangy Rosemary Beef Stew

1 pound Grass Fed Beef Shoulder
1 large carrot
2 zucchinis
1 small red onion
2 cloves of garlic
an assortment of mushrooms
olive oil
1/2 cup of red wine
2 cups of good tangy tomato sauce 
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
salt and pepper
* try to use locally grown and organic as much as you can


Wash, dry and cut the beef and the vegetables.  In a cast iron pot, saute the beef so its briefly caramelized on each side, and remove to a plate.  Saute the vegetables and remove to a plate.  Pour the wine into the pot and gently stir to scrape all brown spots on the bottom of the pot.  


Then layer in the meat, vegetables,  sauce, sprig of rosemary, and pepper.  


Transfer the pot to a 350 degree oven, and go play for 2 hours.   Add the salt just before serving (by adding it later, you keep the meat tender). 

Enjoy!
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