Happy New Year! The Year of the Water Dragon

How thrilling!  Not only is it MY year on the Chinese New Year Lunar Calendar, but it is also the year of the Water Dragon - how lucky am I??

The Water Dragon occurs only once every 60 years on the Chinese lunar calendar,  and is expected to bring prosperity, luck and exciting transforming changes.   I am ready for whatever this year may bring!  How about you?


Now to add some traditional red and water elements into my coastal decorating to celebrate - and to encourage the good luck!

Red coral always makes me happy and it does have a beautiful organic shape. (reminiscent of a dragon!)

Hmm... and it does come from the sea....

Maybe a few new pillows to toss on my couch?

Could not resist this one - it's already on my bed!  Just a touch of red in my sea aqua room....

Or a beautiful red bowl for my ever-growing collection of seashells?  I like this one for the sea grass type of etching on the base.  Can you imagine this filled with bleached white shells?  I can, it would be so gorgeous!






Wishing you all a very Happy Chinese New Year!  Special wishes to my fellow dragons... you know who you are.

Oh Yum... Salmon with Lemon Caper Sauce

Saturday morning started out with a picnic breakfast and a gorgeous beach walk at Montara... it's a new beach walk that we discovered just a tiny bit north of Half Moon Bay right off Highway 1.

Completely awestruck! Clear blue sky, roaring waves -  amazing, powerful, soul restoring, with fewer than 10 people (and a few puppies!) on the beach to share this incredible experience. Worked up an voracious appetite after our walk in the sand. So, of course we had to stop at our favorite fish market in Half Moon Bay on the way back home for some local fresh caught salmon for a seafood dinner feast.

To die for - Salmon with Lemon Caper Sauce

Ingredients:

Fish + Marinade
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
2 large shallots
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
3 Tablespoons of olive oil
4 salmon fillets

Lemon Caper Sauce

2 1/2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup fish stock (or 2T each water and clam juice)
1/4 cup half & half or light cream
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 Tablespoons capers, drained

salt
cayenne pepper

1. Fish: Mince parsley, basil and shallots in food processor or by hand; place in plastic bag with oils and salmon. Seal and turn to coat salmon completely; refrigerate 2 hours or overnight; turn occasionally.

2. Sauce:  Simmer lemon juice, wine and stock until reduced to 2 T, about 12 minutes, add half & half and boil until reduced to 1/4 cup (2-3 minutes)

3. Add Dijon Mustard to the already reduced lemon sauce.

4. Stir in half and half

5. Whisk butter in over low heat, 1 Tablespoon at a time, letting each piece melt before adding the next.  Set aside,  then add capers, salt and cayenne pepper to taste.

6. Keep Warm - but not too warm!

7. Finish: Place salmon on aluminum foil if grilling or on broiler pan, skin side down.  Grill or broil until opaque, about 8 minutes (be careful not to overcook!) depending on thickness.

7. Plate and spoon the sauce over each fillet and garnish with extra capers or parsley if desired.

School of Fish Wine Tumblers

Make sure to serve your elegant dinner with a really good wine!  And don't forget the pretty wine glasses too....

We've been saving a bottle of Alpha Omega Chardonnay (Napa Valley 2009) for a special occasion. Luckily for me,  every Saturday with Tom seems like a special event, even if we are just hanging out at our dining room table....


*vanilla sea salt tomatoes recipe courtesy of the Walrus and the Carpenter

Have a great week!

Beach Fossils on a Winter Coast

Beverly Beach, Oregon Coast.

We left Portland early on New Years morning, driving through the gorgeous Willamette Valley  - I was so excited to get to Lincoln City that I could hardly stand it!  (picture of Mount Hood taken from a hill in Dundee while were searching for our favorite Pinot Noir winery)

Tom has the patience of a saint,  I made him pull the car over several times when we started driving along the coast to Patti's.  Thank goodness he understands my need to actually hear the roar of the ocean and breathe the salt air...

First of all, I have to say that I am EXTREMELY lucky that my friend Patti took a leap of faith and bought her beach view cottage just above Beverly Beach a few years ago, and she was nice enough to invite Tom and I down for New Years Day.  She and her husband Michael live an incredible beach life, walking their pretty collie dogs on the beach, writing and playing music, searching for agates, hanging out at the Newport Aquarium, and scooping up fresh crab off the docks in Newport.  (Can you tell that I am just a little jealous?)

Second of all, a winter beach is so much more interesting to me than in the summer. The sky is filled with fascinating colors and clouds -not seen in summer. The beach takes on a whole different flavor and shape, revealing treasures and tidepools. 

I like that I have to wear my scarf, an extra sweater, and my furry jacket with big pockets...  I was practically skipping when we finally got to Patti's! 

Beverly Beach was littered with agates and jasper.  Michael and Patti know exactly what to look for, I simply pick up pretty rocks and put them in my pocket.  When my pockets are full, I put my rock finds in Tom's.  (he is the BEST boyfriend)

I love the winter sky on the Oregon Coast...

The sand had shifted to reveal ancient fossil rocks that don't show in the summer.  

I don't think I have ever seen fossils like this before.... 

Tom spotted this beautiful heart shaped shell fossil near the surf, it might be my favorite find of our day at Beverly Beach.

It's exactly how I feel about the Oregon Coast.  

I am so excited that we will be going back this summer!  Our reservations have already been made for a weekend trip in August with Tom's family near Cannon Beach.  Can't wait.