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Look Who's Banging on the Piano!

My sister made me this beautiful crown and I loved wearing it!

Hello!


It was a hot Spring in Los Altos.  And weekend Happy Hour has become mandated in the Urban household!  I love trying different cocktail recipes.  I keep the alcohol levels light, just so I don't alarm Mr. Urban with my new hobby.   I make a pitcher of Non-Alcoholic mix for the minors, and then just add a little zinger for the adults.

Truth be told, most of the time I am not happy with the results.  I have been researching recipes for cocktails that I have drank and loved at various venues, and found that although all of them appear simple, they are quite the time consuming labors of love... incorporating various fruit and herb infused syrups in sly.

But a recent winner were these Beautiful Berry Cocktails which I concocted from what we had in the fridge:  Organic cranberry juice, fresh juice of 3 limes, organic Agave for sweetening, and a handful of freshly picked raspberries in each glass to pick at with your fingers.  Plus a splash of orange vodka for the R rated version.



Father's day weekend was lovely.

It included a couple of wonderful and might I add sentimental gatherings with friends, which Mr. Urban and I attended sans little people.


On Friday night, at the charming home of a talented dear friend, we sampled no less than 10 unique and gourmet dishes in the company of great friends, enjoying the fragrant summer night.  At least four salads celebrating kale and lentils and the most well poached seafood I have ever had, and each with its own unique and delicious homemade dressing.  Onion dolmas, one by cute little one wrapped with a mixture of rice and minced meat and herbs and subtle spices TO DIE FOR.  Peach and meat stew over crunchy Persian rice....  Shall I keep listing?   And for dessert, a three tier home made garden fairy cake, each tier telling a different story and each making a  tribute to summer fruits and flavors and to the culinary imagination of our beautiful hosts.  Did I mention the lovely hostess is also a mom to a busy 8 year old AND a three year old?!



We couldn't wait for Sunday to start celebrating Daddy. Actually, we didn't.  The UrbanBigGirl felt free to give him all his gifts which I had hidden, some time during the week.

My mother would be thrilled to hear that I didn't make any reservations for Father's day.  Instead we allowed the day to just unfold around Mr. Urban.   After a leisurely morning that included lots of hugs and kisses and Hello Kitty drawings and even a run for Daddy, we finally made our way to Old Port Lobster Shack, our newest favorite restaurant in Portola Valley.  You can't go wrong with any dish off the menu, but I think the Nor' Eastern salad with freshly made Blueberry dressing is out of this world.  You should make plans to try it!

And for a finale... here's a shot of our very own Beethoven:


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