You’ll enjoy a wonderful weekend of artistic endeavors in the Bay Area!

Spend the afternoon learning about Dr. Seuss in Pleasanton this weekend! Children’s storyteller and magician Bob Kann will delight the audience with inspirational tales of the author and his play with language. The fun starts this Saturday, February 21^st at 2PM at the Pleasanton Public Library. To learn more, click here.

Explore classical ballet this weekend in Livermore! Ballet Basics, led by Vineyard Ballet Academy instructors, is a free interactive program for children in second to fifth grade. Your little ones will learn basic positions as well as the French terms for each step this Saturday, February 21^st at 2PM at the Civic Center Library. The event is part of Livermore Reads Together 2015. Click here to learn more. 

Visit the homes of artists Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh and more this weekend in Livermore! Carol Nelson, from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, presents a captivating slideshow and lecture at the Civic Center Library this Sunday, February 22^nd at 2PM. Click here for more info.

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Treat your sweetheart to a scrumptious dish this Valentine’s Day.

Rack of Lamb with Mustard-Shallot Sauce

PREPARATION: 15 MIN

TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN

SERVINGS: 2

Ingredients:

3 teaspoons vegetable oil

2 1/2-pound frenched rack of lamb

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2 medium shallots, thinly sliced

1/4 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth

1 tablespoon whole grain mustard

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons chopped thyme

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil until simmering. Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Add the lamb to the skillet, fat side down, and cook over moderately high heat until richly browned, about 3 minutes. Turn the lamb fat side up and cook for 2 minutes longer. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast the rack for about 20 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the meat registers 125°F for medium-rare. Transfer the lamb to a carving board and let rest for 10 minutes.

2. Discard the fat in the skillet. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil and the shallots to the skillet and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the whole grain, Dijon mustard and the thyme. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.

3. Carve the lamb into chops and arrange on warmed plates. Spoon the sauce over the lamb and serve.

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Spring is in full swing and after a long winter, it’s time for you and your home to bask in the radiant sunshine outside. That’s why it’s important to make sure your home is prepped and ready to take on the rays and heat bound to come in the months ahead.

Here are five quick spring maintenance tips for your home:

• From the ground, examine roof shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter. The summer sun can really damage roof shingles. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer.
• Inspect concrete slabs for signs of cracks or movement. All exterior slabs except pool decks should drain away from the home’s foundation. Fill cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk. Then, when weather permits, power-wash and then seal the concrete.
• Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage. Turn the water on and place your thumb or finger over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced. While you’re at it, check the garden hose for dry rot.
• Have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean and service the outside unit of the air conditioning system. Clean coils operate more efficiently, and an annual service call will keep the system working at peak performance levels. Change interior filters on a regular basis.
• Check your gas- and battery-powered lawn equipment to make sure they’re ready for summer use. Clean equipment and sharp cutting blades will make yard work that much easier.

There are so many great things happening in the Bay Area this weekend! Take a look.

Get ready to sing along to your favorite tunes from the 50s this weekend! The Taffetas will pay tribute to the girl groups of the poodle skirt-wearing decade at the Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre on Sunday, February 8th at 2PM. For tickets, click here.

Take a trip to the “Big Easy” this weekend in Livermore! The New Orleans Bash at the Bothwell Arts Center is complete with Louisiana-style cuisine and a French Quarter atmosphere. Be a part of this fun event this Saturday, February 7th. Click here for tickets. 

Happy Lunar New Year! Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of music and dance performances, games, goodies and more as the Friends of the San Jose Public Libraries celebrate the new year on Saturday, February 7th at 2PM. For more info, go here.

It’s all about wine this weekend in Livermore! Join Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser for a fun afternoon learning about his experience in the industry and his tasting project – and you’ll have the opportunity to ask him all your questions about wine on Sunday, February 8th at 2PM. To learn more, click here.

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Are you ready for some football? With the big game approaching – you’ll definitely want to have a delicious recipe to whip up for your party guests to enjoy.

One-Pot Sticky Chicken Wings

·         TOTAL TIME: 40 MIN

·         SERVINGS: 6

1.        3 pounds chicken wings, wing tips removed and wings cut into 2 pieces

2.       2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

3.       4 small dried red chiles

4.       2 whole-star anise

5.       1 3-inch cinnamon stick

6.       1/3 cup soy sauce

7.       1/3 cup sake

8.      3 tablespoons oyster sauce

9.      3 tablespoons mirin

10.    3 tablespoons sugar

11.    2 scallions, thinly sliced

1.       In a very large nonstick skillet (or in batches), cook the chicken wings over moderate heat, turning once, until golden, about 8 minutes. Add the ginger, chiles, star anise and cinnamon and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

2.      Add the soy sauce, sake, oyster sauce, mirin, sugar and 1/3 cup of water and bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the wings are cooked through and the sauce has reduced to a thick glaze, about 8 minutes. Discard the chiles, star anise and cinnamon. Transfer the chicken wings to a platter, scatter the scallions on top and serve.

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There’s so much to do in the Bay Area this weekend! Check out all of the great events happening on Saturday and Sunday.

Experience art this weekend in San Jose! The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art is hosting the first Bay Area exhibition of Colombia-based artist Leyla Cardenas. See Scarcity, her city-specific works, this Saturday and Sunday. Click here to learn more.

Get ready to get connected and stay connected with Pleasanton this weekend! The Make a Difference for Pleasanton Festival invites you to explore the possibilities of community service near home. Come out to learn about volunteer opportunities this Saturday, January 17 from 10AM to 2PM. Learn more here.

Watch Les Miserables come to life this weekend in Livermore! Set in the 19^th century, this story by Victor Hugo hits the stage at the Bankhead Theater this Sunday, January 18 at 2PM. For tickets, click here. 

Wearable technology plus the health care industry equals Body Metrics! Come see Kaiser Permanente’s® cool exhibit this weekend at The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose. For more info click here. 

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This weekend brings plenty to do in the Bay Area. See all that you can explore near home in the coming days.

It’s all about cars this weekend in San Jose! The Silicon Valley International Auto Show is happening this Saturday, January 10 and Sunday, January 11 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Click here to learn more.

It’s all about music this weekend in Pleasanton! The Vintage Brass Quintet brings masterful horn playing to the Pleasanton Public Library on Sunday, January 11 at 2PM. For more info, go here.

Volunteer at one of the biggest events of the year this weekend in San Jose! The annual pruning of the roses is taking place at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to prune the 3,500 rose bushes, and everyone is invited to help! Come out this Saturday, January 10 from 8:30AM to 12PM. Learn more here.

The Kingston Trio is hitting the stage this weekend in Livermore! The American folk music ensemble’s tight harmonies, smooth vocals and classic sounds will have you singing along this Saturday, January 10 at the Bankhead Theater at 8PM. For tickets, click here.

It’s time to create this weekend in Pleasanton! The Lawrence Hall of Science Inventor’s Workshop: “Wobble Bots” is happening this Saturday, January 10 at 1:30PM. This workshop for grades 3-5 presents a hands-on experience in electrical engineering. Click here for more info. 

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What better way to welcome the new year than with a sweet recipe that everyone will love—and one that pairs well with champagne!

Rum Balls

Served chilled, these balls are formed when a batch of brownies is broken into bits, flavored with dark rum, and rolled.

YIELD: MAKES 4 DOZEN

INGREDIENTS

• Vegetable oil, cooking spray
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) of unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 6 ounces of semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup packed of light-brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon of coarse salt
• 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of dark rum
• Coarse sanding sugar, for rolling

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Coat a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside. Melt butter and chocolate in a small heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

2. Whisk together eggs, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in a large bowl. Stir in chocolate mixture and fold in flour. Pour batter into prepared baking sheet. Spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake about 10 minutes, until top is shiny and a cake tester, inserted into center, comes out with some crumbs attached. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

3. Break up brownie into small pieces; transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With machine on low speed, pour in rum and mix until crumbs start to come together to form a ball.

4. Shape into 1-inch balls and roll in sanding sugar to coat. Transfer to a baking sheet. Refrigerate uncovered about 2 hours, until cold. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Have a happy New Year!

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This yummy recipe is sure to make your Christmas morning even better! Enjoy!

Mascarpone-Stuffed French Toast with Salted Caramel-Banana Sauce

Makes:

6 servings

Prep:

20 mins

Chill:

2 hrs to 24 hrs

Bake:

1 hr at 375°F

Ingredients 

12 slices of Texas toast

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened

½ cup of mascarpone cheese

½ cup of chopped pecans or macadamia nuts, toasted

2 tablespoons of  packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon of salt

6 eggs, lightly beaten

3 cups of milk

¼ teaspoon of salt

1 serving of salted caramel-banana sauce (recipe below)

Directions

1. Arrange half of the bread slices in a single layer in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Spread cheese mixture evenly over bread in baking dish. Top with the remaining bread slices to make six stacks.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and salt. Pour egg mixture evenly over bread stacks, covering all of the tops. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours.

3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Arrange bread stacks in the prepared pan. Bake about 1 hour or until golden, turning stacks every 15 minutes. Serve warm with salted caramel-banana sauce.

Salted Caramel-Banana Sauce

Ingredients 

¾ cup of packed brown sugar

½ cup of whipping cream

½ cup of butter

2 tablespoons of light-color corn syrup

1 teaspoon of vanilla

½ teaspoon of sea salt

1 banana

Directions

1. In a heavy medium saucepan stir together brown sugar, whipping cream, butter and light-color corn syrup. Bring to boiling over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally; reduce heat to medium. Boil gently for 3 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and sea salt. Pour into a small bowl. Cool to room temperature. If desired, cover and chill for up to 24 hours. (If chilled, let stand at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.) Stir in banana, thinly sliced.

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Get out and about and enjoy some holiday festivities this weekend in the Bay Area!

Grab some great reads and yummy treats with Santa this weekend in San Jose! Celebrate the season at a Winter Holiday Party this Saturday at the Bascom Branch Library from 11AM to 1PM. Make a craft, receive a free book and snap a pic with jolly Old St. Nick. For more info, click here.

Sugar plums will dance through your head this weekend in Livermore! Experience the music of Tchaikovsky and the magic and wonderment of The Nutcracker, this Sunday at the Bankhead Theater at 2PM. Get tickets here.

Santa Claus is making his way to Dublin this weekend! Enjoy a scrumptious pancake breakfast and take photos with Santa at the Shannon Community Center from 8:30AM to 12PM. Register here.

Hey, superstars – groove to the tunes of a legendary band this weekend in Pleasanton! CLOSE TO YOU: A Christmas Tribute to The Carpenters is happening this Sunday, December 14 at 2PM. For tickets, click here.

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