Cheap, family-friendly day trips

1. Long Meadow Ranch @ Rutherford Gardens
   Working farm designed to be KID FRIENDLY and educational
   Website: http://www.longmeadowranch.com/Gardens/Rutherford-Gardens
   
   
2. Merryvale Vineyards
   Wine tasting
   Website: http://www.merryvale.com
   
   
3. Culinary Institute of America @ Greystone
   Lunch
   Website: http://www.ciachef.edu/california

Yukon Gold Potato Blini with herbed salmon mousse and Crème Fraîche
Yield 30 bites Ingredients: Blinis

• 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes
• 2 tablespoons All Purpose Flour
• 3 tablespoons crème fraîche
• 2 large eggs
• 1 large egg yolk
• salt and white pepper, to taste

• 8 ounces smoked salmon
• 2 ounces cold butter, cubed
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon thyme or English thyme
• 1 tablespoon chives, minced
• 1 tablespoon sherry wine or lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• ¼ cup crème fraîche
• salt and white pepper, to taste
• Garnish
• 1 cup crème fraîche
• Chive flowers and chive sprig for garnish

1. Cook potatoes until tender. Peel while still warm and press them through a ricer or food mill.
   
   
2. Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix until just blended (do not over mix). Season to taste with salt and white pepper
   
   
3. Preheat a sauté pan over medium heat. When hot, add 2 tablespoons of rice bran oil. Spoon the batter onto the pan to form small, silver dollar sized pancake. When golden brown on each side remove and reserve.
   
   
4. Place the salmon and herbs in the bowl of a food processor and puree until smooth. While the machine is running, slowly add the cream and crème fraîche, stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl then continue pureeing. Add the remaining ingredients and season to taste with salt, pepper, and lemon juice if needed. Place in a covered bowl and chill for 1 hour, this will help the flavor to develop. When ready to serve, place in a pastry bag with a decorative tip and pipe or spoon the mousse onto the blini.
   
   
5. Whip crème fraîche in a mixer until soft peaks form. Using a spoon or piping bag, place crème fraîche in the center of each blini
   
   
6. Spoon a small bit of the crème fraîche on top of the salmon and garnish with fresh herbs and flowers. Enjoy!