Budget's Tight but the Meal's Alright! Dinner and a Movie at "Chez Calasanz" September 11th, 2010

We have plans. Lots of plans.

We will both be running the Napa Marathon in March 2011. Andrew will be doing the Boston Marathon in 2011 and he wants to take me with him.  We want to do the Tokyo Marathon. AND the Paris Marathon. We will do the Montana De Oro Ultra in February 2011, and who knows how many other adventures.

These plans cost money!

Here's Our 401K plan

We've each got one our nightstands

I know how to live on a tight budget without having to sacrifice a good meal.

Mister Andrew Calasanz is getting to reap the benefits of my frugality and my love for cooking healthy, inexpensive, beautiful meals.

I had to learn to make and save money between gigs during my years as a professional dancer. 

I held many jobs.

Some of my favorite jobs revolved around the food and wine industry.

I've worked as a caterer; a catering assistant; food stylist with some of the most amazing LA Chefs who were having their food photographed for events and reviews; a bartender; personal chef; and I was also a Salaried Kayak Instructor/Guide in charge of the Food and Wine Pairings for our Sunset Paddles.

These jobs helped me learn how to prepare healthy, beautiful food on a tight budget, in some of the most random conditions.

Have you ever tried to prepare a meal for 12 guests while in a kayak in the middle of a turbulent lake?

Well, I have.

Since we want to save money,  really enjoy great food and wine, and I love to cook, I've promised to keep our daily food budget to $40 per week.

The $40 includes food for the two of us for our breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners.

Yes, it can be done, and it's even cheaper when you eat the way we do...healthy.

Our dinner and movie nights are our little splurge since popped corn and bubbly is not covered in the budget nor is the movie rental.

Thank goodness for Redbox!

Here's our 1st  of many "Dinner and a Movie Night at Chez Calasanz"

Fixing the "Fixings" for Dinner & Movie Night at Chez Clasanz

: )

Prepping the Salad

Heirloom tomatoes, basil, buffalo mozzarella bocconcini on butter lettuces and raddicio

So simple, so pretty, so tasty.

Slicing cucumbers for the meal and sliced plouts for dessert

Fresh fruit not only looks good and tastes good, it's good for you and inexpensive

The Complete Meal

Baked Halibut with spinach, garlic, ginger, green onions, shallots, and citrus.

Served over Jade Pearled Rice.
Served with Heirloom tomatoes, basil, and buffalo mozzarella bocanccini on butter lettuces and raddicio, and Chopped Cucumbers

Every table needs fresh fruit

Every meal becomes a celebration with bubbly!

One of my favorite views in life is looking across our dining table to see Mister Andrew Calasanz enjoying a meal that I prepared for us in our kitchen.

A colorful salad with fresh ingredients can stand alone, looks impressive, but wont break the bank..

Uh, I guess I ate it all...

That smile is why I love to cook

Andrew getting set to attack his 2nd plate.

Plates prepped for our dinners the next day, along with lunches packed in containers

What's in your fridge?

Movie Time!

Nothing's better than watching a movie in your PJs, except doing it with bubbly, popcorn, and a fine date!

Bubbly is even more enjoyable when you know you don't have to drive home.

 Bubbly with a Calvados Night Cap

Menu Price Breakdown

Fish: $12

This got us enough fish for our meal on that night (including Andrews 2nds) and 3 extra meals. 

(if you choose to go to 99 Ranch Market, you can get the same amount for about $7)

Veggies & Fruit $14

from Growers Direct, including Heirloom Tomatos and Pluots that lasts us 4 days for all meals.

Rice: $1.50

I buy my Jade Pearled Rice in Bulk from Whole Foods. This happens to be a pretty pricy rice, but way worth it. This batch was on sale and I bought a ton. It came down to about $1.50 for this meal with leftovers for 2 meals the next day.

SPLURGES

Popped Corn: $2.99

Pack of 8 at Target

Bottle of Bubbly

$42

TOTAL:

$72.42 which includes our date night treats and food for the week for 2 people!

 We saved a lot of money staying in for our dinner and a movie.

Eat healthy! Save Money!

Destinations are Only as Delicious as the Journey. This is the story of our first adventure together and how we returned to the scene of the crime 6 months later.

On February 14th, 2010, Andrew and I woke up at Montana De Oro State Park.

It was to be the first of many adventures together that would include running, water, wine, great people and wonderful food.

We had wanted to get out of town at the last minute and Andrew wanted me to pick the destination.

I gave him two choices:

Joshua Tree or Morro Bay.

I was thrilled that he chose Morro Bay!

There is no better place for a quick getaway that has the best of both worlds for each of us.

I crave the ocean, he craves trails, and Montana De Oro has it all!

Not to mention, just a 20 minute drive to Paso Wine Country!

Since we were still a new couple and I love to sleep under the stars, I slept outside and he slept in the car.

I couldn't wait till the morning so I could show Andrew the beautiful coastal trail.

A few moments after the above photo was taken we spotted the first of many runners wearing racing bibs.

Huh? I was totally confused. It turns out, it was the Montaña de Oro Ultra Marathon.

Now I really knew for sure that we had picked the perfect place to be.

We even tried to see if we could do a last minute registration but it was too late.

The race director was great, she told us about all the trail markings and said

 "...feel free to run it, and be sure to register for the next one in August..."

We ran part of the coastal trail before heading to Paso Robles for some Wine Tasting at Lone Madrone.

We decided that we'd definitely be back in August to run the Ultra!

Breakfast of Champions?

Quiche, Oatmeal Bars with Calvados Soaked Cherries, Brownies, Hard Cider, and Pork Rinds!

What more could a weekend ask for when you've got the water, trails, and wine?

How about a little bit of tap dancing?

I guess you can call teaching some basic tap dancing steps to some fellow trail hikers while holding a full glass

a great example of

"Disciplined Indulgence"

***********************************

Fast forward 6 months

***********************************

Saturday August 14th, 2010 

We set off on our 2nd Morro Bay and Montana De Oro Adventure.

We got the Truck packed with all the necessities, even a foam roller! : )

And Perrier!

After several hours of scenic driving it was time for lunch! 

Just before stopping for lunch,  I made a call to Silverlake Wine and asked George if he had any suggestions for places we had to visit while in Paso. 

He suggested Hug Cellars.

George couldn't have picked a better place to send us!

Hanging with my Ham, Cheese, and Chive Quiche; Quinoa Salad; and Raw Shredded Carrots and Beets; and a wonderful Hug Cellar Red.

Notice my cute top?

Andrew bought it for me in June at the Grandma's Marathon Expo.

Andrew enjoying his lunch and wine. 

We shared some of our lunch over great conversation with the "Hostess with the Most-est",  Raquel Hug, one of the dynamic duo behind these wonderful wines.

The wines that we tasted at Hug Cellars were all beautifully balanced, amazing "Food Wines" that were obviously crafted with love.

We cannot wait to visit again.

Check out their website, visit their tasting room, and hook up with them on Facebook.

Our Paso Trips always include a visit to Lone Madrone to sip some more amazing "food wines" and to pick up some more of their delicious Hard Cider.

 One this day, the charming Art Kishiyama, of Olio Nuevo, was sampling his delicious artisan crafted extra virgin olive oils and balsamics.

I had to get a bottle of the "Premium Aged Balsamic of Modena"

Estate Blended in Paso Robles.

My salads are loving it!

 Mister Andrew Calasanz, giving the grapes some love before we headed off to get some sleep.

Good Morning! Ready for the Ultra!

One last pic in the Spooner Cove parking lot, ready to head to the start.

 Would one of my adventures be complete without one of these poses?

Let's go!

 Since I only did the 8k (with all that elevation, if felt like the LA Marathon all over again), I had time to kill while Andrew finished his 25k. What better way to celebrate an early morning trail run then with some Lone Madrone Hard Cider with a yellow jacket chaser?

Poor little fella was loaded by the time I got him out of the glass.

The neatest thing about Ultras is that they have TREATS at the aid stations.

I had to take a picture of the "PUDDING" for my friend Gavril

  It was interesting to see what each runner chose to eat for "re-fuel-ing."

Golly, those trails sure got me dirty!

: )

 Andrew was even dirtier!

Big thanks to our friend Kristine!

 She let us crash at her beautiful home that was only 4 miles from the starting line. 

We're hoping she'll want to run it with us in February.

On Sunday, August 15th, 6 months to the day of our first adventure, we returned to Morro Bay, Spooner Cove, and Montana De Oro, and this visit was just as wonderful as our first.

On our first visit, I already knew that Mister Andrew Calasanz was "THE Man".
The only man.
I look forward to all the adventures our future together holds.
Thank you for sharing in our journey.
: )

Sweet Surprises Make Me Want to Bake Sweet Treats!

Every day should be a journey.

Tuesday, September 21st, marks the beginning of a new and wonderful journey that I am thrilled to share with Mister Andrew Calasanz.

The Man who has made so many of my dreams come true.

He is the most wonderful friend, passionate partner, and athletic inspiration.

He has provided me the love, respect, and security

to live our dream of a healthy, happy, and active life.

We have our small edible garden and an amazing kitchen where I can experiment with all the beautiful ingredients mother nature provides for us.

I am so proud to be the woman behind such a wonderful man and to have such a wonderful man who is willing to eat all the "experiments" that come out of our kitchen.

This is the beginning of an edible journey that I am happy to share with whomever is interested.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 21st

Baked Plums with Brandy, Brown Sugar, Ginger, and Lime. 

I baked some plums drowned in a bit of Brandy, Sugar in the Raw, Chopped Raw Ginger, and a squeeze of lime.
I browned butter and pie crust in the bottom of ramekins.
I filled the ramekins with the plums,

placed pie crust cut-outs on top, then sprinkled with sugar.
I baked till crust was crispy enough...I would have waited longer but I really wanted to eat one.

No, there is no recipe.

As with 99% of the treats you'll see here, I become inspired by what's in my fruit bowls, vegetable drawers.

I sniff, touch, and taste till I am satisfied.

I encourage you to do the same.

These sweet little treats were inspired by the wonderful surprise my wonderful man bestowed upon me at 6am that morning.

No, not a little box...I didn't even see that till after the surprise, since he happened to be wearing it before he gave it to me.

: )

I take even worse pictures of beautiful gifts.

Aquamarine and diamonds set in Platinum.

Everything I asked for and given to me by the Most Wonderful Man I Know.

: )