After a wonderful summer vacation, I am back to working on my blog and can't wait to share the food and sites we enjoyed in Paris and Barcelona. Talk with you soon!

There is something so appealing about a new start. Beginning that new diet on January 1st or waiting until after the holidays to commit to an exercise plan is what most people do. They wait until the new year to make their goals and set their intentions. I believe that by waiting until the new year to plan our goals, we are throwing away the valuable information that the last 12 months can offer.  Evaluating the past year can greatly improve your chances of succeeding in your goals for next year.
Here are three questions you can ask yourself now to set yourself up for success in 2017:
 
What were you proud to have accomplished in 2016?
Maybe you spent more time with friends or read more books. Thinking about how you made those goals happen can put you in the right frame of mind to make your new goals possible.
It will also remind you of what you consider important and valuable and help you to cultivate those habits to make them a permanent part of your life in 2017.
 
What were some mistakes or failures that happened to you in 2016?
It’s hard to look at mistakes but, it’s essential to identify what went wrong.  Most importantly, what can we learn from those mistakes to insure they are not repeated.
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently,” Henry Ford.
While it may sometimes be embarrassing or difficult to look at your mistakes, it is a valuable way to help you plan what you want in your life going forward.
 
What would you regret NOT doing in 2017?
We sometimes go through life as if we have all the time in the world, when the truth is we don’t know what day could be our last. Think about some of the goals you’ve always wanted to accomplish: Do you want to run a marathon? Have you always wanted to sing?
Do one thing that will give you more information on a nearby race or Google “voice lesson” to find out where the nearest class or teacher is located. Start now, in 2016, and by the time 2017 is here you will have a plan and not just a wish.
 
I know that the holidays can be a busy and hectic time. But, taking a few minutes during the last few days of December will help make your New Year’s goals and resolutions more successful.
Cheers to a great 2017!

The peaches right now in Northern California are at their peak  So, when we had some friends over last night, that was the first thing I thought about for my cheese board... juicy, ripe peaches.

That's usually how I come up with my cheese or charcuterie boards... I just ask myself, What is in season and really delicious right now?  Then I build around that flavor with other foods that will complement it and throw in some interesting textures for good measure.

Sound complicated? It's  easier than you think..

Let's do this together... First, start with a board that works with the type of event you're having - a fancy board for a fancy dinner, or a rustic one for a casual dinner. What I used last night is actually a wooden cutting board turned upside down! Perfectly casual and rustic.

I knew that peaches had to be the star so I thought, 'What would go with a sweet and juicy peach?' It needs something that enhances that taste, like a salty cheese with some richness to balance the sweetness and acid of the fruit. I used a Dolce Gorgonzola  or a "sweet" Gorgonzola, which is an Italian Blue cheese that is more delicate and creamy than a traditional blue cheese and is the perfect counterpoint  for the peaches.  I also added honey to my board to further enhance the creamy cheese and create another layer of flavor to the peaches.

Second thing to add to your board is some texture, like nuts or crispy crackers.   Adding crunch to something creamy adds interest and makes a bite more interesting. Last night, I had cashews and pecans to add a crunchy texture to the board.

Third, add another cheese with a different consistency for variety. Since the Gorgonzola Dolce is creamy, I opted for a harder cheese that is mild and plays well with fruit.  I chose Manchego  which is  a Spanish sheep's milk cheese that has a mild and nutty flavor. It is semi soft so it offers a different texture than the creamy Gorgonzola and keeps your board from becoming one note or one texture.

That's it.  Pick a seasonal fruit you want to highlight,  then choose a main cheese that is the opposite flavor so it will show off your fruit. Add some texture with nuts, crackers or crusty bread. Those components will be the anchor to your cheese board. Add one or more cheeses that offer a different texture to your first cheese and you will have an interesting board that will be pleasing for your guests.

What will you put on your cheese board this summer? Tell me in the comments section and please like this post! Happy eating!

What does tradition mean to you?

I asked my son this question while we were baking a coffee cake together this morning. I bake this same delicious sour cream coffee cake every Father’s Day ever since my husband became a father to our now 13 year old twins.

As he whisked the eggs my son thought about this question and then said, "Traditions let you continue something you love to do again and again,".  I thought about how every year my husband looks forward to this cake and how wonderful the kitchen smells as the cinnamon streusel smell wafts through the air.

I looked at my sweet boy as he licked the batter and smiled at me. It's the same tradition but it changes a bit every year as my sons get older and can help me with the baking or express themselves in the cards they write to their Dad.

I love the continuity that tradition provides us in a constantly changing world .

As we celebrate Father's Day today, what are some of the traditions that observe every year?
Share them in the comments below!