Pinterest French Toast

No Flipping!  No waiting while keeping slices warm! More time to snuggle in bed!

Another idea that has jumped from my computer screen to my kitchen.  This was so simple and easy, I'll never make French Toast on the stove top again!

Ingredients: 
4 eggs
6 slices of bread
2 tbs sugar
1 tsp nutmeg
1tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup milk ( I use almond milk)

Step 1:

Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar,nutmeg, and cinnamon

Layer bread into a baking dish or pan. (grease if desired but not necessary)

Step 2: 

Pour wet mixture slowly over bread.

Gently tilt pan to allow liquid to be absorbed.

Cover with foil.

Step 3: 

Bake, covered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes

Step 4:

Serve with butter and warm syrup!

Enjoy

Like it, Post it, Pin It!

Frankie Mae

Pinterest Pizza Rolls

Pinterest Pizza Rolls

Ingredients: 

Pizza Dough

Pizza Sauce

Mozzarella Cheese

Pepperoni

Garlic Salt 

Italian Seasoning

Butter

You may have seen it on Pinterest as I did.  I did not have a pan small enough so I placed them in a greased muffin tin and I used pizza dough from my local grocery store.  I rolled out small balls of dough and placed 2 pieces of pepperoni, a tsp of pizza sauce, and a tbs of mozzarella cheese in the center.  Pull the edges together to form a seal and place in a greased muffin tin.  Brush the tops with butter, dust with garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and sprinkle with a bit more cheese.  Bake for 20 mins. at 425 degrees.  I tried it!  It worked!  Serve with extra sauce for dipping.

The East Bay pt. 1

Old Oakland
A historic district in Downtown Oakland with elegant, brick, Victorian hotels, lamp lit streets, fine dining restaurants, and everything from art galleries to vintage bike shops.








Alameda Antiques Faire
The Alameda Point Antiques Faire is the largest antiques show in Northern California. Held on the 1st Sunday of every month.  All items are 20 years old or older.  The ultimate place to shop for vintage and antique home decorations, clothing, furniture, jewelry, art, pottery, books & collectibles. It is truly a feast for the senses, an all day event with food trucks to boot!  
If you have never been to Alameda, it is an island between Oakland and San Francisco that reminds us of downtown Lodi, Ca.  Ten minutes from Oakland, just drive through the tube.


Come and join us for a visit to the East bay!


Until then,
Frankie Mae 

Grilled Pork Loin- Inspired by B Restaurant in Old Oakland

Pork Loin

• Marinated in green chile, cumin, and lime juice
• Grill the whole loin 12 mins. on each side
• Rest for at least 5 mins. before slicing

Mashed Potatoes

• Boil potatoes until tender
• Mash with butter, milk, cumin and garlic salt

Greens

• Sautee garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil 2mins.
• Add mustard/collard/turnip greens to sautee pan and cook until tender
• Add artichoke hearts and warm through

The inspiration for this dish comes from B Restaurant and Bar in Old Oakland where they serve a bone-in pork chop  sweet potato puree, kale, brussels sprouts, pear demi-glace.  http://www.boakland.com/

It was absolutely divine and the truffle fries are a total game changer. I put my own spin on it with Latin flavors.

Enjoy,

Frankie Mae

The Winchester Mystery House

If you haven't been here, you really must go.  Take a tour of the mansion and the gardens.  You will not be disappointed.  If you dare, take the flashlight tour on Friday the 13th.  Doors that lead to nowhere, stairs into the ceiling and the most eerily beautiful stained glass windows you've ever seen.  Here is a preview from the outside.

Lake Merritt

When I first decided to move to Oakland, the response from most people was, "Are you sure?  Oakland?  Really?"  Yes, yes, a thousand times YES!!!!!

I live about 5 blocks from Lake Merritt.  In this picture you see my side of the lake, the Lakeshore side and a gondola.  Come for a visit, we can't wait to see you.  Or............. don't come and leave the sunny side of the bay for those of us who know and love all it has to offer.

Sincerely,
Frankie Mae

Lanters

I created this lighting feature in my living room from lanterns and a shower rod that I bought at IKEA.

Under $20.00

I strung the lanterns using thin wire from the hardware store that I spray painted to look like hammered metal.  This is the same spray paint used on the shower rod that I attached to the wall.

Happy Saturdays

• Grand Lake Farmers Market
• Cana
• Heart and Dagger

This day could not have been better!  We started off by heading to the farmers market in our neighborhood to meet up with the cousins.  We normally would have found a soft place on the grass and soaked up the sun but we were on a mission for some nearby food at Cana.  Two words............... Cuban Sandwich (roasted pork, two slices of ham, melted cheese, sliced pickle all on a mojo slathered, toasty roll).  My girl had the picadillo empanadas, as usual, delicious!  After lunch istwas 5 o'clock on the other coast, so it seemed that heading to the Heart and Dagger was an appropriate place to take our caravan of family and friends that had grown to an octet.  But what would a relaxing afternoon on  the back patio of said Saloon be without a little sweet and savory kettle corn?  Snacks and a Tallboy to finish off the afternoon was just what the doctor ordered for this teacher on her first day of Thanksgiving break.  I am thankful for friends, family, local farmers, Cubans, popcorn, and $4.00 tall cans.

Living thankfully,

Frankie Mae

Interested in any of these spots?  Check out the links at the top of the post.

Dodgeball Thursdays

I'm finally not feeling any soreness in my body after last Thursday's 2 hour, marathon of dodge ball.  Let me tell you how amazing it was!!!!  Playing dodgeball with my co-workers and friends was the highlight of my week for the following reasons:

• Showed up to find out that girls play for FREE
• 30 people, 9 balls, 2 hours of fun
• 7 school teachers taking out their aggression by pummeling strangers with what they call "no sting" dodge balls (that's a lie, by the way)
• Playground rules like "JAIL BREAK!"
• 4:30 Female to Male ratio and they didn't let up on us one bit
• Hatcher getting smacked in the face, followed by an 8 second recovery period for anyone who gets hit in the head
• Soren, the Harvard BEAST............. he moves with such grace and he went to Harvard!   What?! That is my 6th grade counter part!
• Parra, catchin' balls all day since 1990.  Hoodball Champ!
• Bonding and feelin' fierce while throwing the hell out of a ball over 100 times with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre as the soundtrack

This week we're up for it again....................... more to follow

I'm taking the picture so you don't see me,

Frankie Mae