Little Gems Hiding in Plain Sight

I go to the Target shopping center all the time, so why have I never noticed this intriguing time capsule before?

Temecula Hits "Best Up and Coming Wine Regions" List!

Woot woot!

 Here we are on Travel Nerd's list of best newer wine regions. How awesome is this description?

 Temecula Valley Wine Country, CA

 Located 60 miles north of San Diego, Temecula is the heart of California’s South Coast wine region. 

The microclimate is ideal for grapes, offering morning mists, sunny days and cool nights. Temecula’s wineries take advantage of their California weather, with a focus on sustainability and the outdoors. 

Ponte Family Estate was founded in 1997 and is one of the largest vineyards in Temecula. Ponte Family Estate is focused on sustainability, and they transitioned to become a certified California sustainable winery in 2007. Its neighbor, Wilson Creek Winery, is a family-owned vineyard that is famous for their Almond Champagne and a Decadencia Chocolate Port, served in a chocolate shot glass – perfect for the experimental wine-lover.

Down the road, Thornton Winery is celebrating their 25th year this summer with a Champagne Jazz Series. Musicians perform live shows every Saturday at 7 PM through August.

 Locals know this is a woefully incomplete (though flattering!) description of our picturesque little corner of the world. With over two dozen wineries currently, and more opening all the time, what is your favorite Temecula winery?

Saving Trees

Check your (snail) mailboxes, Temecula parents of kids with public elementary and middle school students. You should be receiving instructions this week for paperless enrollment of your kids for the 2013-2014 school year. I was a little bit intimidated to receive not only my child's unique password, but a detailed page (front and back) explaining the step-by-step process. For me, at least, as well as for a couple of my Facebook friends who also said they completed the enrollment this week, the process was quick and easy. So if you are sitting on your letter (or you got something from the district and didn't want to open it because you're in denial that the first day of our "traditional year" school begins on August 13th(??!!) just do it. Let me know...how was your experience signing your child(ren) up without killing any trees?

Wine & Sunshine

Check it out!  Temecula is famous.  We made this list of America's Best Weather Cities. I love their description of Temecula's climate, because it can be hard to explain to people who haven't spent much time here. How are you feeling about our weather lately? We seem to be having typical June Gloom mornings followed by lots of sunshine all afternoon, with the sun setting late. Then at around 8:30 p.m. or so it has been cooling down to the 50s or 60s for the evening. Personally, I love it! It's ideal layering weather.

How to Make Homemade Herbal Iced Tea

Yup, it's sweltering here in Temecula with unusual (for us! what is this, Miami?) thundershowers, humidity, and plain old heat, as we send our TVUSD kids back to school. (Don't be jealous, MVUSD; you get to go back next week.)

 My kids are really feeling it, so I am breaking out a secret happiness weapon: homemade herbal iced tea. 

This is very similar to the herbal iced tea served at Native Foods (two locations here in Riverside County, in Palm Springs and Palm Desert, plus multiple Los Angeles and Orange County locations. If you go, try the Chinese "chicken" salad. If it's not on the menu because they rotate items, ask them to put it back on for me!)

The Red Zinger tea is made with dried hibiscus flowers (also known as "jamaica" which is pronounced "ha-MAY-ee-ka" in Spanish.) Here in Temecula, look for Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger at Sprouts Natural Market, Henry's Marketplace, and Winco. In a pinch you could also buy Jamaica tea from a Latin American grocer.

It is different from the sugar-sweetened commercial "tropical teas" served at some restaurants. This is sweetened with 100% fruit juice. Which yes, does still contain sugar (I know, I know!), but because it is blended with naturally-sweet herbal teas, the sugar and calorie content is actually quite low.

A 48 oz pitcher of my homemade herbal tea contains a grand total of two cups of 100% apple or white grape juice, which comes out to only two ounces per six-ounce glass.

Serve it chilled and over ice. The herbal teas I use are completely caffeine free so this is a great drink for even the youngest kiddos.

Stay cool! Enjoy!

Homemade Herbal Iced Tea (makes 6 c)

Pour 2 c boiling water over 4 Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger and 4 Celestial Seasonings Lemon Zinger tea bags. (8 bags total.)

Set aside to steep 10 minutes. Remove tea bags and let cool.

Pour into serving pitcher and add 2 c filtered 100% apple juice OR 2 c white grape juice.

Stir well and chill. Serve over ice.

This Week at the Old Town Temecula Farmer's Market: Jujubes

These little gems with the whimsical name are reputed to have lots of health benefits. I found them at the Old Town Temecula Farmer's Market on a recent Saturday morning. Jujubes, also known as Korean dates, Chinese dates, or red dates (Ziziphus Zizyphus) Old Town Temecula Farmer's Market Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mercedes and Sixth Streets

Temecula Shopping Finds: Wine, Honey, and Tea, Oh My!

Check out what I scored at local Temecula stores recently:

Masia de Yabar Winery is located at 39788 Camino Arroyo Seco, Temecula, on the de Portola Wine Trail in Temecula Wine Country.

What was I drinking the night I walked off with my souvenir glass (oops!  I WILL return it, I promise!)?   Masia de Yabar 2009 Malbec.  My husband's favorite is their 2008 Garnacha.

Sprouts Natural Market is located at 40458 Winchester Road, Temecula, on the Margarita Road side of the Promenade Mall.  This local, independently owned market has been in the area since 1989 and is not affiliated with the natural foods market chain also  called Sprouts.

Recommendations:  the serve-yourself soup and salad bar and the smoothie bar.

California Coffee & Tea Brewery is located at 40315A Winchester Road, Temecula, on the northeast side of Margarita and Winchester.  Say hi to the friendly owners, Vern and Diane Walden.

I recommend my friend Rachel's daughter Maisie Lopez's prize-winning drink creation, San Jose Peach iced tea.

Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle is located inside the Promenade Mall (on the second floor):  40820 Winchester Road, Temecula.

Recommendations:  housewares, dishes, beauty supplies.