Put your feet to the pedals this weekend in Pleasanton! If you’re cycling to the farmers’ market this Saturday, you won’t worry about where to park your bike. Free bicycle parking is being provided – and you’ll receive a $1 in carrot cash to use on your fresh finds and other market purchases. The market runs from 9AM to 1PM. For more info, click here.

Listen to tunes from the “Green Isle” this weekend in Pleasanton! Famed member of The Irish Tenors Anthony Kearns is coming to the Firehouse Arts Center this Sunday at 3PM. Get tickets here.

And, since it’s Mother’s Day weekend, here’s a yummy recipe that your mom will love!

Crepes with Peanut Butter and Jam 

Total Time: 35 min
Prep: 25 min
Cook:10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Level: Easy
Ingredients
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 10 cubes
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup strawberry or raspberry jam
1/2 cup (2 ounces) fresh blueberries
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Directions
In a blender, combine the eggs, milk, flour, sugar and salt. Blend until the mixture forms a smooth batter.

Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Melt 1 cube of butter in the pan. Add 1/4 cup of batter and quickly tilt the pan to form an even coating of batter on the bottom of the pan. Cook for 1 minute, until set and slightly browned. Using a heat-resistant spatula, carefully loosen the sides and gently flip the crepe over. Cook for 1 minute. Repeat with the remaining batter and butter, stacking the crepes on top of each other on a plate as they are ready. You should have 8 or 9 crepes total.

Add 1 tablespoon of peanut butter to each crepe and, using the back of a spoon, spread evenly over the crepes, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Spread 2 teaspoons of jam over the peanut butter. Line 5 to 6 blueberries along the center of each crepe. Fold the crepe in half over the blueberries. Fold the two ends inward and continue to roll into a tube shape. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.

Cut each crepe in half horizontally and arrange on a platter. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Happy Mother’s Day from Ponderosa Homes!

The holiday season is officially here, NorCal! Come out for these festive events happening on Saturday and Sunday in the Bay Area.

See downtown San Jose turned into a whimsical holiday fantasy this weekend! Christmas in the Park at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez is an annual event featuring glittering lights, a 60-foot-tall Community Giving Tree, musical and animated exhibits, winter wonderland of lights and entertainment – now through January 1, 2015. For more info, click here. 

Lights, lights and more lights this weekend in San Jose! Festival of Lights is happening this Saturday, December 6 at Evergreen Village Square from 2PM to 5PM. Head over for holiday entertainment, cultural performances, photos with Santa and face painting. Click here to learn more. 

Sip, sip, hooray! Enjoy an assortment of tea, delectable treats and Santa this weekend in Dublin! Holiday Tea is taking place this Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 at the Sunday School Barn. Seating is available between 11AM and 2PM. Make reservations here.

A snow day is coming to downtown Livermore this weekend! The Lizzie Fountain will be transformed into a snowy winter wonderland for your little ones during Home for the Holidays, this Saturday from 10AM to 4PM. Get the details here.

Parades are definitely one of the best parts of the holiday season. Come out for the annual Hometown Holiday Parade in Pleasanton this weekend! Be a part of this festive community-based event this Saturday, December 6, starting at 5PM. Get more info here.

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Here’s a cute and crafty way to get your kids involved with your Thanksgiving festivities!

Turkey Bowl 

Age: preschool and up

Time: 3 hours, plus overnight

Type of activity: holiday arts and crafts

This turkey will look great as a centerpiece on your Thanksgiving table! Fill it with fruit, napkins or other items for your guests.

Materials:

·         Plastic bowl

·         Mixing bowl

·         Vaseline® or petroleum jelly

·         Lots of Newspaper

·         Scissors

·         Brown tempera paint

·         Paintbrush

·         Orange, yellow, red, black and brown construction paper

Directions:

First you’re going to make the papier-mâché bowl.

1.       This project is messy, so place newspaper over your entire work area.

2.       Cut more newspaper into 1-inch wide strips. You’ll need at least 50 strips for this project.

3.       To make the paste, combine an even amount of flour and water in the mixing bowl until it becomes the consistency of pancake batter. Start with one cup of each and add more if necessary.

4.       Cover the outside of the plastic bowl with Vaseline®. This will make it easier to remove the mold from the bowl.

5.       One at a time, dip a strip of newspaper into the mixture and lay it smoothly over the bowl. Keep adding strips until the bowl is completely covered with one layer of newspaper. To give the bowl more strength, add the first layer in a horizontal pattern, then add a second layer in a vertical pattern. Add a third layer of newspaper strips in a horizontal pattern.

6.       Place the bowl on top of a layer of newspaper in a cool, dry place. Let the bowl sit for several hours. You may even want to let it sit it overnight.

7.       When the bowl is completely dry, gently pull the newspaper mold away from the bowl.

Now it’s time to make the turkey.

8.       Paint the bowl brown and set it aside to dry.

9.       Draw and cut out all the shapes you’ll need from the construction paper.

·         1 brown circle 4 inches in diameter for the turkey’s head

·         10 rocket-shaped tail feathers about 8″ x 1″ in yellow, red and orange paper

·         1 small yellow triangle for the beak

·         2 tiny black circles for eyes

10.   Now, you’ll make the turkey’s wings. To do this, trace your child’s hands on a sheet of brown construction paper and cut out the shapes.

11.   Make sure the bowl is dry before you glue the construction paper parts to the turkey’s base. First, glue the tail feathers in a fan shape along the inside edge of the back of the bowl (the feathers should be pointing up).

12.   Next, glue one of your child’s handprints to each side of the turkey to make its wings.

13.   Glue the turkey’s beak and eyes in place on its head.

14.   Glue the turkey’s head to the top edge of the front of the bowl.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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If you’ve always wanted try something new on Thanksgiving day, here’s a delicious recipe that will have your guests raving for more!

Rosemary-Pepper Beef Rib Roast with Porcini Jus

• ACTIVE: 30 MIN
• TOTAL TIME: 4 HRS PLUS OVERNIGHT MARINATING
• SERVINGS: 12 TO 14

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh rosemary

2. 3 tablespoons fresh coarsely ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning

3. 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

4. One 6-rib standing beef rib roast (14 to 15 pounds), 1/2-inch fat on the meat

5. Salt to taste

6. 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

7. 1 medium shallot, very finely chopped

8. 2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced

9. 1/4 cup dry red wine

10. 1 quart beef stock

11. 1/4 cup sherry vinegar

12. 4 thyme sprigs

13. 1 ounce dried porcini, ground to a powder in a spice grinder or blender (makes 1 cup)

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine the rosemary with the 3 tablespoons of black pepper and the vegetable oil, and rub all over the roast. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

2. Put a large roasting pan in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375°. Let the rib roast stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

3. Season the roast with salt and put it in the hot roasting pan, fat side down. Roast for 30 minutes. Turn the roast over and cook at 350° for about 3 hours, rotating the pan 2 or 3 times. Insert an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. When the thermometer reaches 130°, the roast is done. Transfer the roast to a carving board to rest for at least 20 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, melt the butter. Add the shallot and garlic and cook over moderate heat until lightly browned, 5 minutes. Add the wine and boil for 2 minutes. Add the stock, vinegar and thyme and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until reduced to 2 1/2 cups, about 20 minutes. Strain the sauce and return it to the saucepan. Whisk in the porcini powder and simmer for 1 minute. Cover, remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Carve the roast and serve with the porcini jus.

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy! 

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There’s plenty to do with your family this weekend in the Bay Area! Get ready for music, dance, artistry and more on Saturday and Sunday.

Puppet shows are always sure to delight! This Saturday at the Martin Luther King Library in San Jose, your little ones can experience “The North Pole Review” by Fratello Marionettes, featuring an ice skating snowman and a juggling penguin. The show starts at 3PM. For more info, click here.

Stride is the name of the game this weekend in San Jose! The Purple Stride Silicon Valley 2014 event is a timed 5K and untimed family-friendly walk taking place this Saturday to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Registration begins at 9AM, with the run/walk beginning at 10:30AM. To register, go here. 

Take part in an artistic cultural experience this weekend in Livermore! Dancer and artist Patricia Bulitt presents A Gift Exchange of Dance: A California Dancer’s Exchange with the Eskimo in Alaska (1977 – 2013) at the Civic Center Library Storytime Room on Sunday at 2PM. This interpretive dance performance includes a slideshow of life in Hooper Bay, Alaska. Click here for more info.

This classic show will surely get you tapping your feet this weekend! Singin’ in the Rain is coming to the Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton. The Pacific Coast Repertory Theater presents this lighthearted romantic comedy on Saturday at 8PM. For tickets, click here. 

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Get out and about in the Bay Area this weekend and enjoy the beginning of November with your family!

Experience the culture of the Pacific Islands this weekend in Pleasanton! Kuma Hula Association of Northern California presents la ‘Oe E Ka La Hula Festival at the Alameda County Fairgrounds on Saturday from 9AM to 6PM to celebrates Hawaiian culture and traditions through dance, arts and food. For tickets, click here. 

Get ready for Thanksgiving a few weeks early in San Jose!  Head over to Color Me Mine pottery studio for Family Gobble Platter Day on Saturday at 11AM to create your favorite holiday designs to display your recipes at the end of the month. For reservations, click here. 

Come grab the season’s freshest fruits and vegetables this weekend at the Pleasanton Farmers’ Market! Open rain or shine, this market features all California-grown produce sold directly by the farmers themselves from 9AM to 1PM on Saturday. For more info, go here.

Books, books, and morebooks this weekend in Livermore! The Friends of the Livermore Library are hosting their monthly book sale this Sunday from 12PM to 4PM at the outdoor plaza of the former library location. Click here for more info. 

Don’t forget to set your clocks back this weekend for Daylight Savings!

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This warm, gooey and yummy treat is sure to get everyone in your family excited about Halloween!

Vanilla Coffee Roasted Pumpkin Seed Snack Clusters…Dipped in Chocolate. 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

Yield: 25-35 pumpkin seed clusters

Ingredients

3 cups raw pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried

1 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds minus the shells)

1 cup pistachios

2 tablespoons ground or whole flax seeds

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2-4 tablespoons fresh coffee grounds

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon all-spice

6 ounces semi-sweet, or dark chocolate, melted (use milk chocolate if you prefer)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Spread the raw pumpkin seeds (not the pepitas) on a greased baking sheet. Roast the pumpkin seeds for 15 minutes to dry them out. Remove from the oven. Leave on            the pan.

3. To the pan with the pumpkin seeds, add the pepitas, pistachios, flax, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, coffee grounds (2 tablespoons), salt, cinnamon, nutmeg      and all-spice. Toss well, making sure all the seeds are evenly coated. Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times during cooking until the pumpkin seeds are golden          in color. Remove from the oven and using the back of a rubber spatula push the seeds into an even layer about 1/2 inch thick. Allow the seeds to cool completely. As           they cool they will harden. Break up into clusters.

4. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or on the stove. Carefully dip the clusters into the melted chocolate. Place on the prepared              baking sheet and if desired sprinkle with coffee grounds and sea salt. Repeat with the remaining clusters.

5. Place the pan in the fridge for 10 minutes or until the chocolate is hardened. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, or in the fridge, for up to two weeks.

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Enjoy giving back to the community, culture and art this weekend in the Bay Area!

An afternoon of opera is coming to Livermore this weekend! During a one-hour program of arias and duets, the Livermore Valley Opera will preview Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Livermore Public Library on Sunday at 2PM. For more info, click here.

Help some paws in need this weekend in Livermore! Come out for the Paws & Outlaws Barbeque where you’ll enjoy delicious eats, dance to the music of Blues House band and have a chance to win raffle prizes on Saturday at 3PM. The barbeque benefits the Paws In Need Just Like New Fund and spay/neuter programs. Click here for tickets. 

It’s all about food, wine and creative culture this weekend in Dublin! The “splatter…not your ordinary food, wine & art festival” on Saturday from 12PM to 8PM, features a tasting pavilion, best in food truck eats, live entertainment and a marketplace – plus fireworks at dusk at Emerald Glen Park. Click here for more info. 

Do something good for the environment and beautify the area this weekend in San Jose! Help remove debris from the river channel at Guadalupe River Park & Gardens with local residents during the Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday at 9AM. To learn more, click here.

Celebrate art this weekend in San Jose! Come watch artists create live works at The Luna Park Chalk Art Festival, listen to music and indulge in delicious bites from a variety of food trucks on Saturday at 10AM at Backesto Park. To purchase tickets, go here. 

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Have a great Saturday and Sunday in the Bay Area doing what you love with your family! Enjoy!

Get ready for one of the most popular comic operas this weekend in Livermore! Pirates of Penzance, presented by Lamplighters Theatre, is coming to the Bankhead Theater on Saturday at 2PM. For tickets, click here. 

Come watch a fun family flick this weekend in San Jose! The Lego Movie is hitting the big screen at Almaden Lake Park as part of the Outdoor Movies Series on Saturday at 8:30PM. Get more info here. 

Pick up the season’s freshest fruits and vegetables this weekend in Pleasanton! The Pleasanton Farmers’ Market offers the best in California-grown produce on Saturday from 9AM to 1PM – rain or shine. For more info, click here. 

Experience an abundance of culture this weekend in San Jose! The San Jose Italian Family Festa is coming to Guadalupe River Park and Gardens this Sunday at 10AM and features authentic Italian eats, entertainment, arts and crafts and even a grape-stomping and Tarantella contest. To learn more, go here.

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Get ready for a weekend of comedy, wine and more this Saturday and Sunday in the Bay Area!

Enjoy a night of comedy and wine this weekend in Livermore! Comedy Uncorked 2014 brings three Bay Area comedy geniuses to Retzlaff Vineyards for an evening of laughs. Benefiting the Open Heart Kitchen, an organization that feeds the hungry of the Tri-Valley, this event will take place on Saturday starting at 7:30PM. To purchase tickets, click here. 

Take in an afternoon of Shakespeare this weekend in San Jose! The laughter and romance of A Midnight Summer’s Dream will be presented by San Jose Youth Shakespeare at the Historic Hoover Theater on Sunday at 2PM. For tickets, click here. 

Come out for an afternoon of the tunes from folk singer-songwriter Carl Tilchen this weekend in Livermore. Join other music enthusiasts for jazz, blues and original songs on Sunday at 2PM at the Livermore Public Library. For more info, click here. 

Join lululemon athletica for a workout session this weekend! The Summer Free Yoga Series is taking place at Santana Row in San Jose on Saturday starting at 8:30AM. For more info, go here. 

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