Hello! I am sure your heart is as heavy as mine for Ukraine. Can you believe what tough/brave/independent/beautiful people the Ukrainians are? Well, I have a few cheerful things for you today along with Annie and Cindy like a lost wallet story, our son’s delicious Milanese recipe, a beachy retreat and more.
1. Lost Wallet In A Big City Story
My daughter, Alexandra is keeping me company while Howard is away on business. Last weekend, we were out shopping in Union Square, San Francisco. On our walk home, halfway up the steep Russian Hill, we discovered a wallet in the street.
We opened it up to look for a phone number while walking back down the hill to drop it off at the police station. Notice I said “down the hill” meaning we would have to go back up it again. This is when I said to Alexandra “it’s the Good Samaritan thing to do.”
Inside the wallet was a bit of cash, his I.D. (he’s my son, Tommy’s age), a Dave and Busters card, apparently his parents’ Costco card, etc. I was starting to feel like I knew this young man. No telephone number though.
While I was in the Police Station delivering the wallet, Alexandra was outside Googling the guy. And she actually found his phone number online! So…
Then we had to go back up the hill. But we were feeling pretty good about ourselves. And Howard had a nice dinner waiting.
Incidentally, those comfortable leather sneakers that I am wearing above and below are on sale…25% Off! They have “supercushy, ultra-supportive MWL Cloudlift insoles.”
2. Must-do Cable Car Ride
It costs $8 but you have to do it!
3. Thomas’ Pork Milanese
So nice to see our son, Thomas taking after his dad in the cooking department. He kindly wrote out his recipe for us.
Milanese
Ingredients:
- pork cutlets pounded 1/2 in thick – 1 per person (can also use veal or chicken breast)
- flour
- 3 beaten eggs, bread crumbs, with paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder added
- Salad handful of arugula – 1 per person
- Drizzle of olive oil, fresh lemon juice
- Tomato Mix: cherry tomatoes cut in half, a couple chopped cloves of garlicOlive oilSalt and pepper
- Fresh grated parmesan to serve
Directions:
Beat pork cutlets to about 1/2in thickness. Lay out plates or bowls (wide enough to hold cutlets) of flour, eggs, and bread crumbs. Drench each cutlet in each, and set aside on a plate or platter. Wrap in saran wrap, put in the fridge for 30 mins to an hour to let everything bind together.
Chop tomatoes and garlic, add to a bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper. Put in fridge until ready to serve.
Take out cutlets, heat olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a pan on medium-high. Add in cutlets (1 or 2 at a time) and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. If doing multiple batches, keep the already cooked cutlets warm in a 200 degree oven. I also like to try to extract some of the burnt bits and add more butter or oil between batches. If you like citrus, you can squeeze some more lemon on the cutlets once they are done cooking and resting.
After cooking cutlets, dress the arugula with olive oil and lemon juice. Place salad on the plate, then the cutlet on top, then the tomato mix. Grate parmesan over the top of everything, add lemon slice and serve.
4. “Empty Nesters Find Beachy Sanctuary From The City”
That title is in the “Cottage Style” Spring issue and I thought “are they talking about Howard and me”? If you get my newsletter, you know that we closed on a second home in Florida.
This article by Ashley Abramson with designer Jill Howard speaks to me in that I would like relaxed light interiors with some color and definitely texture for the new house too…
5. EASY Silverware Polishing Tip
We are having a Ladies Spring Brunch here today (full post about that soon) and in preparation I gave the silverware a polish. I am asked about this technique somewhat often so I thought it would be good to mention it again. Easy Silver Polish
Anyway, next time you find a lost wallet…try doing what we did! 🙂
And finally, Madewell is having a sale with 25% off (if you are signed up as an Insider)..including my favorite lug sole booties that I can walk all over the city in! They have padded insoles like my leather sneakers above.
If you are new here, each Sunday I share my top five favorite things along with my friends, Cindy and Annie. It’s like our weekly “catch-up” phone call. If you would like to receive this series every week, please sign up HERE.
Let’s see what Annie and Cindy’s Five Faves are this week:
Hi Mary Ann,
You are a good citizen, and got in extra steps today! Walking up the hill twice, ugh. Bet your legs are like iron! Bet that young man was super happy to get his wallet back.
That beachy house looks so inviting. I like all the texture and the casual vibe.
Delicious meal, you are so lucky the men in your family cook. I grew up with a dad who loved fiddling in the kitchen and could cook anything. Now it’s always up to me and frankly I’m worn out!
Hope you have a nice week,
XO Heidi
No Heidi…I could be in much better shape!
Mary Ann how wonderful you and Alexandra went to the trouble to find Cheuk and also take his wallet to the station. I can’t imagine how awful it is to lose your wallet in the big city like SF! I love Tommy’s recipe. He must be a great cook already! I love the home you shared by Jill Howard. I am so excited for you and can’t wait to see what you do with your new home! Great post as always. xo
Thanks, Kim. And the poor guy lived in Fremont.
I love that story of you and Alexandra finding the wallet and taking it to the police department. Can you imagine how happy and relieved that young man was?
I love how Thomas is such a great cook! Fondue, pork Milanese…impressive!
xx
After having my wallet stolen in Madrid…I could feel for the guy, Annie.
For the owner of the wallet, it was certainly his lucky day that it was found by you and Alexandra. Makes you feel good to do an act of honest kindness, doesn’t it. That recipe that Thomas made looks delicious and reminds me of the Schnitzel recipe that I make. Love the beachy cottage and know your Florida beach home will be fabulous once you’ve waved your magic designer wand.
Another wonderful post Mary Ann, thank you!
Looks like we share the same sterling pattern, 18th Century. I never tire of it.
Wonderful story about the wallet, and the recipe looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Do you know the source of the dining room chairs that were in the Cottage Style article? I’ve been looking for new ones just like them.
I have seen them before. Try Anthropologie or Article. I will let you know if I see them.
Men that cook are.. lovely, sexy and wonderful! Good karma for being a nice citizen! I am still living blissful after reading a great book, “The Guncle”. Weird title, yes, but a life affirming and great book about love. Romantic love, family love and best friend love. Grab a tissue, you will need it!
Oh thanks for the book, recommendation Laura.I will order it.
Wonderful story about the wallet. You’re a good person and this young man was lucky you stumbled across it. Love that Tommy is taking after his dad in the culinary department. This recipe looks delicious. I need to have a serious talk with Jim and his son. Apparently they aren’t clear of their cheffing duties. So excited about your beach getaway … but, wait … do I get your newsletter? Hmmm … I get your blog posts. I must investigate. xo
But Jim opens wine bottles and barbacues, Juliet!!
Hey, Mary Ann! Always enjoy your blog. In regard to your sterling silver, I know you said in an earlier post that you’ve started using it every day. Do you put it in the dishwasher? I really want to use ours daily, but am unsure about whether it’s necessary to hand wash it. Thanks!
Ours are doing fine…but we put them in a part of the dishwasher away from the stainless steel. And then I polish them every few months or so.
Great post, but no link to #4.
It’s because I have a subscription to it on Apple News.
What a feel-good story that you ladies found the wallet and that Alexandra was able to connect with Cheuk. That must had made your day, then to come home and your amazing hubby had dinner for all of you. I know the STEEP hills of San Francisco. Do you think a heart surgeons designed them? I remember driving my VW Super Beetle stick shift up those hills, and the cars lined up behind me. I could not imagine that today, or walking up those wonderful STEEP hills or if parking is allowed trying to parallel park. Y I K E S !!! Youth, and self confidence.
Thank you for sharing. It’s nice to hear a GOOD story after all the heavy war news. It’s difficult to stay up right now when you hear and witness such horror. I continue to pray for Peace.
I drove a stick shift up the hills in the early 80’s! Walking down the hills are fine…it’s just coming back up them. 🙂
Hi Mary Ann,
That recipe looks delicious, and I’ll be trying it soon! Don’t you love it when your adult children become equals (or better) in the kitchen? Haha.
Congratulations on your new second home. I know you’ve mentioned you have good friends there so that will be nice.
Karen B.
The owner of the wallet is definitely fortunate you ran across the wallet. My in-laws gifted Eighteenth Century to us when we got married. We use ours too. Aren’t you lucky the men in your life enjoy cooking?
I love that silverware…it’s gone up so much in price!
That is such a great story about the wallet. He was so lucky it was found by two honest people! That Tommy is a keeper! Handsome, charming, and a great cook! I am going to have to check out the Madewell Sale!!
Tommy needs to read your comment, Cindy. 🙂