tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26537134936737694192024-03-14T04:46:06.737-04:00At Home in the HillsNancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-77633549408106078502011-02-19T23:05:00.001-05:002011-02-20T14:04:20.676-05:00Saturday Centus - All I Didn't Know<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Jenny Matlock" src="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/kha02a/jennysidebar_button_SAT-2.jpg" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow, it's Saturday Centus time already. Where did the last week go??? Here's the routine for those of you not familiar with the meme. Grab the prompt, (it's in red in the body of my piece), and write a story using 100 words or less, not including said prompt. Then pop over to Jenny Matlock's blog by clicking on the 'Centus' button above. Follow the instructions to link your story and you're almost done. I say almost, because once you're there you <u><em>must</em></u> go read all of the other wonderful submissions. And don't forget to leave comments. Folks have worked hard here, they need a few thumbs up or they'll stop writing. And Saturday Centus will disappear. And Miss Jenny will cry.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then she'll get the hiccups and it will be your fault. You don't want that on your conscience now, do you?</span></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Now on to my story. It's a tad dark this week, a place I usually don't go, but it just popped out! Just so you know it's so dark, that I needed a beer when I got finished. But the doctor says no alcohol, so I had a glass of apple juice instead. Just for the record, the apple juice didn't do it! </span></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>All I Didn't Know</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">When I said, "<span style="color: #660000;">I'd catch a grenade for ya</span>," I didn't know</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you'd be the first to toss one at me.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>I didn't know that a barrage would follow in the days, the weeks, the years to come.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>I didn't know I couldn't save you from yourself.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>I didn't know I would become hard like the bits of shrapnel that you embedded in my soul.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>I didn't know that I would stop caring whether or not you could catch as well as you could throw.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>I didn't know that I would leave.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">PS: I still really need a beer! Hope I haven't caused anyone else to need one...</span></div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-34673853216571176562011-02-12T13:19:00.000-05:002011-02-12T13:19:07.652-05:00Saturday Centus - Flames of Love - A Valentine<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/search/label/Saturday%20Centus" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Jenny Matlock" height="200" src="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/kha02a/jennysidebar_button_SAT-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's Saturday Centus time, and this week Jenny Matlock has come up with a dilly of a prompt. Write a verse, (50 words or less), for a Valentine card to match the picture below. (Wherever did she find a pup with<em> 'bedroom'</em> eyes???) My humble submission is below the picture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572579602687218226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CLzvuA0skt4/TVXHn7TCUjI/AAAAAAAAE_c/8hZdbM_AogY/s320/ridiculous.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 269px;" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>I want to be your super hero.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Let's not waste time, fiddling like Nero.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>We don't look like swells or even like yuppies,</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>But between us I'm sure that we'd have cute puppies.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong> Come be my love, and I'll take you higher.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Together we'll start our own kind of fire.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need to apologize for not making the rounds to read and comment on other submissions in the past week or so. I've been ill of late and have not been up to spending much time on the computer. Didn't even get to do a post myself last week...Bummer. I'll try to do better this week and make the rounds. The only thing that would prevent this from happening, would be if I'm packing for the move to Kansas City. You see, I've included this gem in my portfolio and mailed it off to Hallmark Crown Center this morning. I'm just sure I'll get an immediate response!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The rest of you </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strike>can</strike> should read the other valentine verses by clicking on the Saturday Centus button at the top of the page. Please do that. We all live for comments.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy Valentine's Day!</span></div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-42887949061975030772011-02-02T12:55:00.009-05:002011-02-02T13:03:51.467-05:00Saturday Centus - A Respect For Words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/search/label/Saturday%20Centus" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Jenny Matlock" height="200" src="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/kha02a/jennysidebar_button_SAT-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know it's been a zooey week when it's <em>Wednesday</em> and you're just getting to write your <em>Saturday</em> Centus piece. Ah life! It can certainly interfere with blogging.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here's the scoop on Saturday Centus. Our facilitator, Jenny Matlock, gives you a prompt. Then you get to add 100 words to that to form a story. And good luck! It ain't easy! That's a fact! (BTW: You'll want to link to the SC homepage, and then read the other entries. Just click on the button at the top of this page and you'll be guided through.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now, my story for the week. The prompt is in red.</span><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>A Respect For Words</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<strong></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Dorothy found a bundle of yellowed envelopes, tied with a piece of rough twine, in an old trunk in the attic.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<strong></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;">She lifted the stack of letters from the ancient chest</span>, and immediately recognized her husband's handwriting and the name on the address. These were Ben's letters to his first wife, (now deceased), that he had sent from Korea!</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<strong></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Dorothy's thoughts drifted to the letters from her late husband that were neatly tucked into the back of her lingerie drawer.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<strong></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>"Some words are written to be read by only one set of eyes," she whispered, as she placed the letters back in the trunk and gently closed the lid.</strong></span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-13326042846653422982011-01-27T20:30:00.008-05:002011-01-27T20:44:05.189-05:00Foodie Friday - World's easiest Cherry Cobbler<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2009/02/introducing-foodie-friday.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FOODIE FRIDAY Click for details" height="200" id="Image39_img" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DBz7W5TWbkk/SZh9UJUdczI/AAAAAAAAHBc/M739aCg4sJg/S150/Foodie+Friday+Logo+2.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't do much microwave cooking, except for one dessert that we love...Cherry Cobbler. It's good anytime, but this recipe comes in particularly handy when unexpected guests drop in for a visit. In about 20 minutes you can have warm cobbler on the dessert table! The ingredients are things you probably have on hand. We like this best served with vanilla ice cream, but whipped cream works well too!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/TUIDxAHQqlI/AAAAAAAACzo/y1kcKt7s_QE/s1600/P1010022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/TUIDxAHQqlI/AAAAAAAACzo/y1kcKt7s_QE/s320/P1010022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>World's Easiest Cherry Cobbler</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">6 T. butter</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">1 C. all purpose flour</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">2/3 C. coarsely chopped nuts</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">1/3 C. packed dark brown sugar</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">3/4 t. ground cinnamon</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">2 t. cornstarch</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">1/2 t. fresh lemon juice</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
Melt butter in large pyrex cup in microwave. Mix in flour, nuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Set aside. In a one quart casserole, combine cherry filling, cornstarch and lemon juice. Mix until smooth, then microwave for one minute on high. Sprinkle topping over filling mixture and microwave on medium-high for 6-8 minutes. Cool slightly before serving with vanilla ice cream.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My advice: grab a serving for yourself as quickly as possible, because at the end of the evening this is all you'll have left.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/TUIa81teXsI/AAAAAAAACzs/McNUA_rGw44/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/TUIa81teXsI/AAAAAAAACzs/McNUA_rGw44/s320/3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This post is being linked to Foodie Friday. Now please hop over to <a href="http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2011/01/foodie-friday-100-williams-sonoma-give.html">http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2011/01/foodie-friday-100-williams-sonoma-give.html</a> and take advantage of the Mr. Linky feature that our hostess, Michael Lee provides. You'll be able to surf tons of wonderful recipes right from the comfort of that desk chair!</div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-77320356215792791442011-01-24T21:10:00.084-05:002011-01-24T23:30:32.936-05:00Saturday Centus - Closetman<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/search/label/Saturday%20Centus" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Jenny Matlock" height="200" src="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/kha02a/jennysidebar_button_SAT-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you know the drill? On Saturday, Jenny Matlock gives you a prompt and you have to write a story in 100 words or less. Fortunately for me, the prompt is not included in the 100 words. Of course I forgot that this week, (cut me some slack I'm new to this meme), and it came up four words over! I started to pull out some lustrous locks, but stopped short once I remembered this 'gift.'</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">To make things even more interesting this week, your story must be Sci-Fi! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, Jenny Matlock! Sci-Fi??? My least favorite genre! How clever of you. How diabolical. I'm here to exercise my shrinking brain and expand my limited horizons. You've thrown me a challenge and I can't resist. So here's my submission. The prompt is in red.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Closetman</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Midnight</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>"Mommy, the man's in my closet again."</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>"Oh Sweetie," she sighed. "We looked twice this week. No one's there."</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>Tiny sobs.</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>"Okay, get in bed with Daddy. I'll check."</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>In her sleep deprived state, she stumbled to Bobby's room, and on impulse crawled under the Sponge Bob comforter.</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>She never did decide if she was awake or asleep when she heard the man's voice:</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>"Damn it! I'm in the kids closet <em>again</em>. The first time I thought it was an innocent mistake. The second time I thought the coordinates weren't erased. But a third time?" </strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;">"Beam me up, Scottie</span>...we need to talk."</strong></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"> *****</span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When I do like Sci-Fi, it has to be humorous, like the short parody <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7p96aiE32k">Hardware Wars</a>.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> What? You haven't seen it? Ah, you're probably too young. If you have a strange sense of humor and want to give it a view, click on the title. Please do this <em>after</em> you click on the Saturday Centus button and read the other stories. That's what I'm gonna do. You'll really like what ya read!</span></div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-10325645217138665382011-01-15T23:31:00.025-05:002011-01-16T00:12:20.894-05:00Saturday Centus<span id="goog_271051306"></span><span id="goog_271051307"></span><span id="goog_271051308"></span><span id="goog_271051309"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_271051317"></span><span id="goog_271051318"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_271051319"></span><span id="goog_271051320"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_271051321"></span><span id="goog_271051322"></span><span id="goog_271051338"></span><span id="goog_271051339"></span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been meaning to try my hand at Saturday Centus for a while and it looks like this is the week! For those of you unfamiliar with this meme, it revolves around a writing prompt provided by our 'hostess', Jenny Matlock. Usually you have a 100 word limit, not including the prompt, but this week the limit is 25 words. For those of us who get too 'wordy' it was a challenge!</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's prompt...the lottery ticket.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, without further ado, here's my first attempt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Sweet Revenge</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">With the receipt for <strong><span style="color: #660000;">the lottery ticket</span></strong> securely in his pocket, he made the call. "Hey Darlin'," he purred into his ex-wife's voicemail. "Catch the 11 o'clock news."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Having a blogger problem linking to the button. To get to Jenny's blog just use this link for now. <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/01/saturday-centus-hey-wake-up-its-another.html"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/01/saturday-centus-hey-wake-up-its-another.html</span></a></span>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-46831180935731577212010-04-29T21:29:00.001-04:002010-04-29T21:33:13.441-04:00Foodie Friday - cocoPop<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When bloggers get crazy busy they don't blog. When bloggers who usually write about food get busy, they don't blog <em>or</em> cook. In my case, life has gotten hectic, and I've been doing minimal cooking that will leave enough left over for a second or even third meal. Oh, and I don't stop to take photos. Even though last night's meatloaf was <em>fabulous</em>, I didn't have time to coax it into becoming photogenic. We ate it, I dumped the dishes in the sink, and ran to a meeting. So lately food has to be simple in our house, that's why I like this new product that we recently discovered in <strong>Wegman's</strong>, our local upscale supermarket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let me introduce you to <strong><em>cocoPop</em></strong> rice cakes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S9ojesJnIXI/AAAAAAAACuE/ANDPeyGGo3A/s1600/in%20bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S9ojesJnIXI/AAAAAAAACuE/ANDPeyGGo3A/s400/in%20bag.JPG" tt="true" width="395" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They're nifty whole grain 'cakes', about 5" in diameter, that are freshly 'shot' from an exotic machine right in the store. (Think puffed rice here.) The first time we <em>heard </em>them being made, I thought it was a gun shot! Luckily, I did not embarrass myself by diving into the cheese counter. I love <strong>Wegman's</strong> and do wish to keep shopping there.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Here's what an unadorned cocoPop looks like. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S9ojVJw3EyI/AAAAAAAACuA/tYqstmNl1dw/s1600/best+individual.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S9ojVJw3EyI/AAAAAAAACuA/tYqstmNl1dw/s400/best+individual.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing special, and rather plain tasting. (Think rice cake.)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They do look better stacked, don't you think?</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S9ojGyNZhFI/AAAAAAAACt8/gvEJhDlab3E/s1600/best+stack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S9ojGyNZhFI/AAAAAAAACt8/gvEJhDlab3E/s400/best+stack.JPG" tt="true" width="392" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And they'll look even better to you when you read this label...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S9oi60syGKI/AAAAAAAACt4/sLffh9K9Xjw/s1600/best+label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S9oi60syGKI/AAAAAAAACt4/sLffh9K9Xjw/s400/best+label.JPG" tt="true" width="226" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's right, only 16 calories each, no fat, no cholesterol, and only 4g of carbohydrates! I think this may be the new miracle food. With those low numbers, you can put hummus, or other spreads on these babies and not feel guilty. Put some pico de gallo on them and you're burning up all of the calories that have just entered your mouth by the simple act of chewing! (One cake + 1/4 cup pico de gallo = 34 calories...how can you beat that???)</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Of course, I've discovered that they are best with Nutella. Oh my, oh my...How that changes the calories. One cake + 2Tbsp. Nutella, (no sense skimping), = 216 calories. Hey, it <em>was</em> dessert! Still not too shabby!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S9oix6jDS5I/AAAAAAAACt0/Q3S2iYCiYuM/s1600/best+spreads.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S9oix6jDS5I/AAAAAAAACt0/Q3S2iYCiYuM/s400/best+spreads.JPG" tt="true" width="378" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no way of knowing how widely available this product is nationwide, but if you spot them in your local supermarket give them a try. Oh, and don't forget the Nutella!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This post is being linked to <a href="http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/">Foodie Friday</a>. To start your culinary adventure, just click on the link. Our hostess, Michael Lee, has Mr. Linky ready to escort you to dozens of wonderful food blogs.</span></div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-51015707324041858442010-04-10T09:38:00.010-04:002010-04-10T13:06:32.435-04:00Food For Thought<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Pomegranates-Mother-Daughter-Monk-Kidd/dp/0670021202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270888052&sr=1-1">Traveling With Pomegranates</a></strong></em></span> ****</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_Od1ScSYI/AAAAAAAACoA/mLgMrabj1zc/s1600/best+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="632" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_Od1ScSYI/AAAAAAAACoA/mLgMrabj1zc/s640/best+cover.jpg" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Traveling With Pomegranates</strong></span> </em>is listed as a 'travel memoir', but don't be deceived by that simplistic classification. Sure, there's a bit of souvenir shopping, and wonderful passages that describe foreign locales, but there are other much more complicated journeys occurring in this book. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sue Monk Kidd is approaching her 50th birthday and has entered perimenopause with a bang. Her daughter Ann, is about to graduate from college and enter the 'real' world. Each is crossing the threshold into the unknown and both are confused, and at times depressed, about the changes that are occurring in their lives. Trips through Greece and France bring direction and revelations, while their time spent traveling together renews and strengthens the mother-daughter bond that Sue fears may have diminished while Ann was away at school.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Early on, it becomes apparent that both women are also on spiritual journeys. Sue is continuing the trek she chronicles in her earlier works. Ann's is just beginning.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">After reading the book jacket blurb, I fully expected to have a strong connection to Sue, considering she's </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">my peer and the 'mother' half of the writing team. I was rather surprised to find that I was much more in sync with daughter Ann! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I lost patience with Sue's attitude towards menopause, and her search for her 'Old Woman'. She spends far too much time contemplating her own death, instead of embracing her new freedoms. About half way through the book, I also lost interest in her obsession with the Persephone-Demeter myth </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">and her quest for the 'sacred feminine' through the Black Madonnas. I suppose that my religious background, combined with a 'Snap out of it already!' attitude are responsible for my irritation with Sue, but those are the reasons that I dropped this book to 4 stars. (Okay, I was a<em> tiny</em> bit sympathetic, but not enough to go for the full 5.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">(FYI: If you ever need a Greek Goddess refresher course, click <a href="http://www.paleothea.com/">here</a> and bookmark. It will direct you to a very clever website that's an invaluable and fun resource.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Before I explain my attraction to <em>Ann's</em> travelogue, I should mention the 'edibles' encountered in the book. Remarkably, little is mentioned about the food in France, although there is a funny hamburger scene. There are, however, several meals mentioned during the travels through Greece. This made me happy. This made me cook!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Of course there was the obligatory Greek salad as shown in the first picture. Always a delightful first course!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Next up...Moussaka. Ann experiences the Greek national dish while on tour with her college history class. I read. I salivated. I created.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_N_6tqc6I/AAAAAAAACn8/9V6TrrkbWN0/s1600/moussaka.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_N_6tqc6I/AAAAAAAACn8/9V6TrrkbWN0/s400/moussaka.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And last, but not least...dessert. Baklava would have been appropriate, but Galaktaboureko was something I had been craving. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_NzqTnXhI/AAAAAAAACn0/QLvXhN3O5EA/s1600/Copy+of+galatobourkeo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_NzqTnXhI/AAAAAAAACn0/QLvXhN3O5EA/s640/Copy+of+galatobourkeo+1.jpg" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Flaky phyllo dough is filled with a custard thickened with farina. Then the entire pastry is bathed in syrup that is flavored with orange peel and cinnamon. A perfect end to a perfect meal. Indeed this was food for the Gods and Goddesses! (I think Mary would have approved, too.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_NqY1-VuI/AAAAAAAACns/qxjaGlni9ZI/s1600/galatoboureko+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_NqY1-VuI/AAAAAAAACns/qxjaGlni9ZI/s640/galatoboureko+2.jpg" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now back to Ann, and why I was so taken with her version of the story. I was only a year younger than Ann when I found myself in Greece for 2 1/2 months. My closest friend and her mother were going on an extended vacation to visit family and asked if I would like to go. I hesitated, but like Ann, I heard, "If you don't go, you'll regret it." I listened. I went. It changed my life in a way that was very similar to what Ann experiences. The tour guide assigned to Ann's college group tells her that this life changing experience is called 'the Greek Miracle.' I didn't know there was a name for it. I just know that it happened to me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Ann was a history major in college, and was researching a paper on Athena while on her first tour. She was hoping to see this relief in the museum at the Acropolis in Athens, but the museum was closed. She doesn't get to see the piece until a return trip a few years later. When she does finally get to view the real thing, her interpretation is different. Her life has changed. She sees the relief through different eyes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_Nhf815MI/AAAAAAAACno/Y3NItreiuBs/s1600/Mourning_Athena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_Nhf815MI/AAAAAAAACno/Y3NItreiuBs/s640/Mourning_Athena.jpg" width="347" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was an English major, and except for the photos in our art history textbook, and the Parthenon made out of sugar cubes that was enthroned in a corner of the art room, I had little knowledge of Greek art. I reveled in all art that I encountered in Greece, but the statue of Aphrodite and Eros fending off Pan that is on display in the National Museum in Athens, struck a particular chord with me. I probably would have been transfixed in front of this piece for several hours if the museum hadn't closed for the night.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I thought that I was Aphrodite in this scenario, because I was the Queen of two dates. If I didn't think a particular date was 'the one', I refused number 3, sandal in hand. I was working my way through college and didn't have the time or inclination to waste on dead ends. My mother used to tell me that I was too critical. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_NY3l30pI/AAAAAAAACnk/ur9XhqLGsSs/s1600/Aphrodite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="403" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S7_NY3l30pI/AAAAAAAACnk/ur9XhqLGsSs/s640/Aphrodite.jpg" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, many years later, I'm wondering if I was actually Pan in the grouping. Was I afraid of being alone? (His name is the root for the word panic.) </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I did start dating my husband a few months after I returned from the trip. When my mother flippantly asked me if they'd be seeing 'this one' again, my immediate answer was, "Yes. This one I'm going to marry." I had a new open heart and equally open mind, but I still wasn't willing to settle for 2nd best. Lo and behold, Mr. Right had materialized.Strange, no?</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">It took me a long time to write this post. I kept stopping to look at pictures and postcards from that trip, and reread the journal that I kept that summer. Honestly, I think I enjoyed my reverie more than I enjoyed Sue and Ann's memoir. Our experiences certainly do color how we feel about what we read.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">(Note: If you're a fan of Sue's novel, <strong><em>The Secret Life of Bees</em></strong>, you can watch the groundwork for the book take shape during the authors travels. I also feel compelled to explain the lack of pomegranate photos in this post. Earlier this week, I scoured my corner of NE Pennsylvania for one of these exotic beauties, but alas, my hunt was 'fruitless.')</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">This post is being linked to <a href="http://foodforthoughtediblebooks.blogspot.com/">Food for Thought</a>. Please click on the link to discover more timely 'edible' book reviews.</span></div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-7080066061429706852010-03-27T13:02:00.003-04:002010-03-31T20:52:20.034-04:00Food for Thought<strong><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Here-If-You-Need-Me/dp/B002SB8QZ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269658390&sr=8-1">Here If You Need Me</a> *****</em></strong> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442781807950965906" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ilN5zgLJI/AAAAAAAACcg/eieUghAKtMA/s400/use+this+cover+1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 326px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />Kate Braestrup is not just another housefrau, and her book, <strong><em>Here If You Need Me, </em></strong>is definitely not just another run of the mill memoir. The story begins when her husband, Drew, a 34 year old Maine State Trooper, is killed in an automobile accident while on patrol. Left a widow, with four young children, Kate is led to pursue her husband's dream of becoming a minister.<br />
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After she completes her studies, Kate seeks employment as a counsler with the State Police, which was Drew's goal, but there are no positions available, and she is ultimately employed by the Maine Game Warden Service.<br />
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Drawing on her skills, (she was already an accomplished writer), Ms. Braestrup chronicals her husband's death, her experiences as Chaplain to the Warden Service, and the trials of being a single parent. She does this with a very deft hand. She also explores the spirituality of death as it relates to her family and job situations, and the healing power of love. I truly admired the candor she displays in the telling of her amazing journey through difficult situations. Her honesty is at once refreshing and awe inspiring. How she manages to pack this all into a relatively short book is downright amazing.<br />
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Food vignettes in this book center around comfort food. Right after news of Drew's death reaches the community, a neighbor brings brownies to the family's doorstep. It's just the first of many such deliveries that will be made in the weeks and months following the accident.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ilNjOCGJI/AAAAAAAACcY/Q1yhjiwGkuc/s1600-h/best+brownie+text+3.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442781801888225426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ilNjOCGJI/AAAAAAAACcY/Q1yhjiwGkuc/s400/best+brownie+text+3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 260px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 408px;" /></a><br />
<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ikSH64_vI/AAAAAAAACcI/Oyv-iegFNgU/s1600-h/best+brownie+2.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442780780947898098" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ikSH64_vI/AAAAAAAACcI/Oyv-iegFNgU/s400/best+brownie+2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 298px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>The Warden Service also runs on food. The Wardens fish, trap hunt and then prepare their catch. They even do all of the cooking and serving at their annual dinner.<br />
<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ikRhrCYEI/AAAAAAAACb4/U7wAWn94Hnk/s1600-h/stew+text4.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442780770680856642" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ikRhrCYEI/AAAAAAAACb4/U7wAWn94Hnk/s400/stew+text4.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 204px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Kate's on call 24/7, and sometimes is on extended duty during search and rescue missions. She mentions endless cups of coffee and sandwiches eaten in the cabs of the Warden's trucks, and the stews and soups dipensed by the Salvation Army canteens set up on site.<br />
<div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ij2i0X3BI/AAAAAAAACbw/km0fYyFCOq8/s1600-h/very+best+stew+5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442780307131980818" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ij2i0X3BI/AAAAAAAACbw/km0fYyFCOq8/s400/very+best+stew+5.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Family meals get a nod too, and are woven into the tale of balancing a life where multitasking is the norm.<br />
<div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442780306361061346" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ij2f8kj-I/AAAAAAAACbo/pLmSW1t5Jk8/s400/best+lasagne+text+6.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 205px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ij122RLEI/AAAAAAAACbg/BjM1osDh_A0/s1600-h/best+lasagna+7.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442780295328771138" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ij122RLEI/AAAAAAAACbg/BjM1osDh_A0/s400/best+lasagna+7.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 368px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> The book ends with the description of a search for an Alzheimer patient who has wandered into the woods. Volunteers who are too old to search the woods gather at the firehouse and cook for the professionals and volunteers combing the area.<br />
<div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ij1hpbDaI/AAAAAAAACbY/U-aG1qJsK3Q/s1600-h/searchers+text+8.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442780289637748130" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ij1hpbDaI/AAAAAAAACbY/U-aG1qJsK3Q/s400/searchers+text+8.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 227px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ij1eGotzI/AAAAAAAACbQ/Dj3bYvJaFqk/s1600-h/cookies+9.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442780288686536498" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S4ij1eGotzI/AAAAAAAACbQ/Dj3bYvJaFqk/s400/cookies+9.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 444px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 382px;" /></a>I really admire Kate Braestrup and I'm totally taken by this book, but I feel obliged to issue a warning. If you're the least little bit squeamish about the mechanics of death, you may want to read this memoir with a bit of caution. It's not gorey, just candid and real...very, very real. </div><div></div><div>This post is being linked to <a href="http://foodforthoughtediblebooks.blogspot.com/">Food For Thought</a>. For more reviews, please pop over to the website by clicking the button at the top of the page. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-68685235539741441592010-03-25T21:17:00.008-04:002010-03-25T21:52:13.252-04:00Foodie Friday-Thai Style Rice Noodles with ChickenI just love cooking in the wok. There's only one pan to wash, and once the prep work is done the meal goes together in a flash. This Thai style noodle recipe is one of our favorites. It's hearty and satisfying in the cooler months, yet seems light and refreshing on a warm summer day. It's truly a dish for all seasons.<br /><br /><br />Here's the cast of characters:<br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452746701606428978" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S6wMPDdvITI/AAAAAAAACdk/jTYuIOTwFFs/s400/best+thai+ingredients.JPG" />7 ounces rice stick noodles - 1 Tbsp. canola or safflower oil - 2 cloves of garlic, minced - 3/4 inch piece of fresh ginger, finely chopped - 4 scallions, chopped - 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of sambal oleck (or one small red chili, seeded and finely minced) - 10 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breast, finely chopped - 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced - 1 large carrot, finely shredded - 5 cups shredded Chinese or regular cabbage - 4 Tbsp. fresh lime juice - 2 Tbsp. fish sauce - 1 Tbsp. soy sauce - For garnish, any of the following: pickled ginger, cilantro, fresh mint </p><p>1) Place rice sticks in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak for 15 minutes or according to package directions. Drain well.</p><p>2) Heat oil in wok and stir-fry garlic, ginger, scallions and chili for about one minute. Add chicken and stir fry for an additional 2-3 minutes just until it begins to brown.</p><p>3) Stir in the celery and carrot and stir-fry for another 2 minutes to soften. Add Chinese cabbage, then stir in the lime juice mixed with the fish sauce and soy. (Note: If using regular cabbage, you may want to cover and steam for a few minutes now. It takes a bit more cooking than the Chinese leaves. I also double the amount of liquid to accomodate the extra cook time.)</p><p>4) Add the drained noodles and toss to heat through.</p><p>Sprinkle with the garnishes. We use fresh mint from the garden in the summer and cilantro the rest of the year. </p><p>Here's a picture of the wok full of good eatin! It's also very tasty as a cold leftover next day.</p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 361px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452746546988070338" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S6wMGDd2NcI/AAAAAAAACdc/spFXyKBQsVY/s400/best+noodles+in+wok.JPG" /><br />For more recipes and a tour of what everyone has been cooking this week, please head over to <a href="http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/">Designs by Gollum</a>. Michael Lee is our hostess for Foodie Friday, and she's got the tour bus, (Mr. Linky), up, running and ready to take you on a trip to some pretty wonderful food blogs.Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-56119239683012923392010-02-18T21:34:00.003-05:002010-02-18T21:46:39.710-05:00Happy Anniversary Foodie Friday!<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;"><strong><em>Happy First Anniversary Foodie Friday!</em></strong></span><br /><p>In honor of this momentous occasion, I've baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies and invited a few friends to help celebrate. You're invited too, as we thank Michael Lee, at <a href="http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/">Designs by Gollum</a>, for a year filled with fabulous recipes and wonderful Foodie ideas. </p><p>Pull up a chair, grab a cookie, then hop over to her blog and join in the fun and festivities.</p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439777648182542626" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3348ykHwSI/AAAAAAAACbI/WUJSFpqEpHM/s400/plate+of+mice.JPG" />And again, thank you Michael for a wonderful year of Foodie Fridays. I've met new friends, tried new recipes and learned much. I've had a ball, and I'm looking forward to year two!Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-81782983138521113932010-02-13T00:15:00.009-05:002010-02-26T22:48:00.590-05:00Food for Thought<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Very-Valentine-Novel-Adriana-Trigiani/dp/0061257060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266038080&sr=1-1"><strong><em>Very Valentine****</em></strong><br /></a><br />This post is being linked to Food for Thought. Please click on the icon to the right to connect to more "Edible Reviews."<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437389882281274258" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3V9Shatq5I/AAAAAAAACZg/y9CnUn8tvRM/s400/use+as+cover+%231.JPG" />In my little reading corner 'chick lit' always has its place. Sometimes I need a pick me up, or I know I'll have limited reading time. In those cases, I need a novel that's a quick read and not too thought provoking. But most frequently, I treat myself to this genre in between 'heavier' reads.<br /><br />A <em>good</em> piece of chick lit can serve the same purpose as a sorbet served between courses in a fine restaurant. It can cleanse the mind the way the sorbet cleanses the palate. The <em>very</em> <em>best</em> chick lit can also stand alone as dessert, and that's where I would place <em><strong>Very Valentine</strong></em> by Adriana Trigiani. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that it's part of a trilogy, and the novel ends with unresolved story lines. A fifth star will have to be earned by books 2 and 3. (The second book, <strong><em>Brava, Valentine</em></strong>, was release last Tuesday and is on its way to me now.)<br /><br />The main character is Valentine Roncalli, a 33 year old, single, Italian-American woman who abandons her career as a high school teacher to become an apprentice to her octogenarian Grandmother. Together they create handmade bridal shoes in their workshop/home in Greenwich Village. Along the way, Val has a proposal of marriage from her long standing boy friend, Brett. Here's her reaction:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><em><strong>"...I felt the great relief that comes with being alone. I needed to seek my own counsel, to think things through. So I made a dish of spaghetti with fresh tomatoes from this garden, olive oil from Arezzo, and sweet white garlic. I made a salad of artichokes and black olives. I opened a bottle of wine...Then I sat down to eat a glorious meal, slowly savoring every bite and sip.</strong></em></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em><strong>I realized that my answer to his proposal, upon his return, would not be the great moment; the great moment had already happened. He had asked."</strong></em></span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436800140350185730" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3Nk7Bhd4QI/AAAAAAAACWY/_ArmaCekbnI/s400/full+salad+plate+6.JPG" />Valentine is a woman who enjoys good food and she's also a thinker.<br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3Nk6dP8S2I/AAAAAAAACWQ/2qIzI6YTGfU/s1600-h/best+pasta+plate+%26+book+3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436800130613005154" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3Nk6dP8S2I/AAAAAAAACWQ/2qIzI6YTGfU/s400/best+pasta+plate+%26+book+3.JPG" /></a> She turns down Brett's offer of marriage, because she realizes that they're heading down different paths.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3Nk5-JMYHI/AAAAAAAACWI/w5e0bSxzjQQ/s1600-h/tom+closeup+4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 352px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436800122263199858" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3Nk5-JMYHI/AAAAAAAACWI/w5e0bSxzjQQ/s400/tom+closeup+4.JPG" /></a>Of course another love interest pops up in the form of restaurateur Roman Falco. He's a hunk and he cooks...need I say more? He prepares a meal for Valentine's family on a night that his restaurant is closed. Truffle ravioli is the pasta course, followed by roast pork with root vegetables and preceded by a fabulous sounding antipasto. Despite the sumptuous fare, the evening is ruined by a Roncalli family squabble.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3NkiTuGIsI/AAAAAAAACWA/e9pNLzkMVts/s1600-h/best+raw+rav+use+this+one.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 371px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436799715738264258" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3NkiTuGIsI/AAAAAAAACWA/e9pNLzkMVts/s400/best+raw+rav+use+this+one.JPG" /></a> Roman has issues with the in-fighting in his own family, and he is not amused.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3NkiB4QDTI/AAAAAAAACV4/LRNrRs9Hsbk/s1600-h/cooked+rav+6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436799710949018930" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3NkiB4QDTI/AAAAAAAACV4/LRNrRs9Hsbk/s400/cooked+rav+6.JPG" /></a> Roman and Val are both devoting huge amounts of time to their careers and business problems, and not making enough time for each other. To make amends, Roman makes plans to meet Val on the Isle of Capri after she concludes a buying trip to Tuscany with her Grandmother. </div><br /><div></div><div>On their arrival in Tuscany, they check in to an inn where the proprietor knows Gran from her previous trips. The Senora serves them each a crock of perfect minestrone, crusty bread, fresh butter and wine.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3Nkhu2nnXI/AAAAAAAACVw/knh0K3xH7tk/s1600-h/best+warmer+minestrone+7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 310px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436799705841900914" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3Nkhu2nnXI/AAAAAAAACVw/knh0K3xH7tk/s400/best+warmer+minestrone+7.JPG" /></a>In Tuscany, Gran reveals a few secrets about her past and present. Val meets one of Gran's suppliers who is also a special friend, and his son Gianluca. Gianluca becomes Valentine's tour guide in Tuscany and when Roman has to cancel his trip to Capri because of problems at the restaurant back in Manhattan he also shows up on the Isle. Val is attracted to Gianluca, but basically remains faithful to Roman, despite his no show status and her subsequent anger.</div><br /><div></div><div>Left to her own devices on Capri, Valentine spends her days working with an elderly master shoemaker, Costanzo, who is 'besotted' with her. He approves of the fine shoemaking skills that she has aquired. She learns much in only a week and she hates to leave him. He feeds her breakfasts of fresh figs and pizza <em>alige</em>, and makes a special lunch of fresh tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella on her final day. He calls it their 'last supper.'<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3NkhDHBBxI/AAAAAAAACVo/P7CMdqUyKlQ/s1600-h/tom+salad+8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 339px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436799694099515154" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3NkhDHBBxI/AAAAAAAACVo/P7CMdqUyKlQ/s400/tom+salad+8.JPG" /></a></div><div>Valentine falls in love with Tuscany and the relaxed lifestyle, but she has to admit that she also loves Manhattan. She ponders how to bring elements of Tuscany into her New York life. Ironically, I was reading Frances Mayes <em><strong>Bringing Tuscany Home</strong></em> while I was reading <strong><em>Very</em></strong> <strong><em>Valentine, </em></strong>and they made perfect companions.</div><br /><div></div><div>Not too long after Valentine and Gran return home, Gran takes a fall and is hospitalized. Gianluca and his father fly to New York as soon as they hear, and in an amazing hospital room scene many things occur, including a face to face meeting between Gianluca and Roman. Roman is there because Gran was complaining about hospital food and he had specially prepared panne cotta for her.<br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3NkgwDPsfI/AAAAAAAACVg/8yYgZFk8f2o/s1600-h/very++best+panne+cotta+9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436799688983425522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3NkgwDPsfI/AAAAAAAACVg/8yYgZFk8f2o/s400/very++best+panne+cotta+9.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>I liked this book for many reasons. I've always loved New York city. I learned to love Long Island, (although it took a while), and I love Forest Hills where Val's parents live. (We actually have <em>Italian</em> family there.) We always go to Ferrara's in Little Italy for pastry, and we've been to a wedding at Leonard's of Great Neck. All of these places are exactly as Trigiani describes them. She writes with warmth, humor and great affection for her characters. You really can't ask for much more.</p><p>I love this Italian family and found it refreshing, and much more realistic, that they were portrayed as just a loud, large Italian family and not cast members of the<strong><em> Sopranos. </em></strong>The family members as written are people I've met. Gran is a very hip 80 year old, Valentine is the quintessential 30 something New Yorker, and Val's mom is the chic middle aged Italian matron that I've encountered several times over.</p><p>I also liked the fact that there were no shortage of food scenes in this book. If I illustrated them all, I'd still be in the kitchen! I even finally used the pasta machine and ravioli press that my husband bought me last year! Thank you Adriana.</p>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-4909796016432054762010-02-11T21:04:00.021-05:002010-02-11T22:51:57.077-05:00Foodie Friday - A Chinese New Year ValentineThis year, Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year are on the same day, and what better way to treat your sweetheart than with a few of his favorite Asian dishes. This worked out well for me, because I prepared one dinner that covered both occasions. I planned this for tonight because of this post, and the fact that it will leave us free to do brunch on Sunday! That's a nice bonus.<br /><br />We started our meal with <strong><em>Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls</em></strong> accompanied by <em>nuoc cham</em> for dipping. Round rice wrappers, (banh trang), are soaked in warm water until softened, then filled and rolled like an egg roll. These were filled with prepared rice noodles, cooked shrimp, cucumber, carrot, scallion, snow peas, and fresh cilantro. They're a year round favorite here, but are especially nice during the summer when it's too hot to do much cooking. When the mint is over running the garden during the warmer months, we add that too.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437172631877781922" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3S3s4mNCaI/AAAAAAAACZI/6jmCrKXDTlo/s400/fresh+spring+rolls.JPG" /> Our main course was <strong><em>Thai Green Curry Chicken with Long Beans</em></strong>. Chicken is poached in a coconut milk sauce that is seasoned with Thai green chile paste, garlic, kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass, fish sauce, lime, and fresh basil leaves. This dish is packed with flavor, and can be mildly hot or very hot, depending on how much curry paste you add. We serve this over jasmine rice. The rice collects some of the sauce, which is very thin, and also mitigates a bit of the heat. This dish is simple to prepare. Finding 'exotic' ingredients is what consumed my time.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437172628936340962" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3S3sto6NeI/AAAAAAAACZA/dxEJ6Gp17DA/s400/use+this+green+curry.JPG" /> I would have made Thai Black Rice Pudding for dessert, but in my travels to local food stores I've yet to find the special rice. As a substitute, my husband requested my regular rice pudding. It's a perfect finish to almost any meal, so I'm including the recipe that an Aunt gave me years ago.<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 389px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437172614473366946" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S3S3r3wqvaI/AAAAAAAACY4/atB1EjehhJs/s400/rice+pudding+best.JPG" /></div><em><strong>Creamy Rice Pudding</strong></em><br /><br /><em>Cook 3/4 cup long grain rice in 1 quart of water. Don't let dry out. When the rice absorbs most of the water and looks creamy, add 1 quart of milk and bring back to a boil.</em><br /><br /><em>Thoroughly mix together 2-3 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, a dash of salt, and 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract. (You can also add a cup of raisins now, if desired.)<br /><br />Using a whisk, whip the egg mixture into the boiling rice mixture. Stirring constantly bring back to a boil. Pour into a large serving bowl. Chill before serving. (Note: Pudding thickens as it stands.)<br /></em><br /><div><div>This post is being linked to <a href="http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2010/02/foodie-friday.html">Designs by Gollum</a>, where Foodie Friday is well under way. Please stop by and visit our hostess, Michael Lee, and see what others are cooking up for the dual holiday on February 14th.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong><em>Happy New Year and Happy Valentine's Day</em></strong>..........Nancy</div></div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-43664742322516349892010-02-04T21:09:00.013-05:002010-02-05T12:14:33.613-05:00Foodie Friday - Japanese Steak House Sauces and Restaurant Week in NYCIf I ask my husband what he'd like me to make for dinner, 9 out of 10 times it will be some type of Asian food. Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, or Thai food will put a smile on his face any night of the week.<br /><br />One of our favorite dinners is a Japanese steak house style plate. Mushrooms, zucchini, and rice are the mainstays. We use beansprouts if we have them, and then we complete the meal with chicken, shrimp, scallops, beef or lobster. This past week we chose chicken, because I had some in the freezer.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 434px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434576209988891730" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2t-RPUtNFI/AAAAAAAACRA/rO6GqRgTS50/s400/very+best+fuji+plate.JPG" />While the meat or fish and vegetables are certainly delicious served as prepared, they are tremendously enhanced by the addition of ginger or mustard sauce. Years ago I stumbled upon the recipes for both. I make them well in advance of preparing the rest of the meal, so the flavors mellow a bit.<br /><br /><p><em>Japanese Ginger Sauce</em></p><p>1 small onion , sliced 1 small piece of ginger cut into small dice </p><p>1/2 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar</p><p>Place all ingredients in a blender and mix at high speed for 2 minutes, until ginger and onion are finely chopped. Just before serving, strain if desired.<br /></p><p><em>Japanese Mustard Sauce</em></p><p>1 Tablespoon dry mustard 2 Tablespoons hot water 1/4 clove garlic, crushed</p><p>1 Tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted 3/4 cup soy sauce 3 T. whipping cream, whipped</p><p>In small bowl, combine mustard and water until smooth. Place in blender and add remaining ingredients except whipped cream and blend on high until smooth. Remove to bowl and stir in whipped cream.</p><p>BTW: You don't need a hibachi table to prepare this meal. Any griddle or large flat fry pan works just as well.</p><p>Please go visit our hostess, Michael Lee, at <a href="http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/">Designs by Gollum </a>for more Foodie Friday surprises. She'll have Mr. Linky up and ready to take you on this weeks culinary tour.</p><p><em><strong>Foodie Friday Extra!!!</strong></em></p><p>Restaurant Week is drawing to a close in NYC. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this event, participating restaurants charge a reduced price for full course lunches or dinners. This year the lunch price was set at $24.07. Reservations are snapped up quickly, but this year my son was able to get one for lunch at Nobu, chef Nobu Matsuhisa's trendy restaurant in Tribeca. He's wanted to go there forever, but the budget of a family of four didn't really permit the luxury. To say he was excited would be a total understatement. He kept sneaking pictures of the food with his phone and sent them along after each course! Here's the email he sent when he returned home...further proof that some Foodies are born into the fold. (BTW: He's a really good cook, too.)</p><p><em><strong>The food was simply outrageous. It WAS the best meal I've ever (and probably will ever have) eaten. The portions were proper, too. We left satisfied, and didn't have to make an emergency stop at Grimaldi's on the way home (that was our contingency plan should they give us teeny-tiny bites of really nice food). If they do it next year, I want you and Dad to come - he would've been in heaven between the Rock Shrimp Tempura w. Creamy/Spicy sauce and the Beef Anticucho. The sauce on the Anticucho was brilliantly spicy with Peruvian peppers, and required the provided sticky rice to temper the heat - right up Dad's alley. You probably would've chosen entree #3 - almost every diner around us did - the broiled Black Cod with Miso. It smelled heavenly, and the fish was flaking off of everyone's chopsticks. It looked perfect.</strong></em><br /></p><p><em><strong>The Sashimi Salad was pan-seared tuna with pepper crust, two large pieces, over mixed greens, with Chef Nobu's personal dressing, the best variation on a sesame-ginger I've ever tried. I tasted equal parts ginger/garlic/onion, and had a low acidity point, as to not further cook the fish. The sushi was fantastic - every piece melted in our mouths, not like what we get at places around here, which is tasty but requires some work. These were all "like butter!" M shared two pieces of her tuna roll with me, as well as the maguro (tuna) and cooked shrimp sushi. She polished off three different pieces of white fish (looked like sea bream, yellowtail, and smoked salmon), salmon, salmon roe (I identified it for her - she loved it), and 4 pieces of the tuna roll.</strong></em><br /></p><p><em><strong>Dessert was Tofu Cheesecake! I was worried we'd get some variation on green tea ice cream, but they totally came through - light, fluffy, and absolutely delicious, it was served with a lemon-orange sauce, a spoonful of syrupy diced apple, and a crispy chip seasoned with cinnamon and cardamom. It made for a perfect finish to a perfect meal.</strong></em></p>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-55618745090180776282010-01-29T12:46:00.000-05:002010-01-29T12:44:42.150-05:00Food for Thought<em><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Consuming-Passions-Food-Obsessed-Michael-West/dp/0060984422/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264781731&sr=1-1">Consuming Passions</a> - A Food Obsessed Life</strong></em> *****<br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 404px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 341px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431811968386774530" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2GsNM5otgI/AAAAAAAACPM/bKI5ZXjm3LU/s400/use+this+cover+1.JPG" /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 411px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431811867812656914" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2GsHWO5dxI/AAAAAAAACPE/lTo6VKUxBCU/s400/heart+2.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431811865324300978" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2GsHM9oKrI/AAAAAAAACO8/yT1pa9dBdYE/s400/bear+%2B+biscuits+3.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431811856871435042" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2GsGteTqyI/AAAAAAAACO0/bkl3PN1YL2k/s400/buttermilk+slant+2.JPG" /><br /><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2GsGeTJkMI/AAAAAAAACOs/sdX7mONlRYg/s1600-h/best+cake+in+fridge+6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 409px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 321px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431811852798103746" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2GsGeTJkMI/AAAAAAAACOs/sdX7mONlRYg/s400/best+cake+in+fridge+6.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2GsGHQIYqI/AAAAAAAACOk/XOagOMAxkjk/s1600-h/cake+text+5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 422px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431811846611428002" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2GsGHQIYqI/AAAAAAAACOk/XOagOMAxkjk/s400/cake+text+5.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C5QV0GNOI/AAAAAAAACHk/MmFsjeH1NX4/s1600-h/cake+7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 432px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 488px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544840993518818" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C5QV0GNOI/AAAAAAAACHk/MmFsjeH1NX4/s400/cake+7.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C5PwZccoI/AAAAAAAACHc/MdhYPN85Wig/s1600-h/cake+8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 432px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 337px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544830949618306" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C5PwZccoI/AAAAAAAACHc/MdhYPN85Wig/s400/cake+8.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C4oZeF4jI/AAAAAAAACHU/5oedRuCVtDY/s1600-h/cake+9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 418px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 336px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544154780197426" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C4oZeF4jI/AAAAAAAACHU/5oedRuCVtDY/s400/cake+9.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C4oJbIyDI/AAAAAAAACHM/0BO_kO8oQpY/s1600-h/egg+text+10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 420px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 406px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544150472837170" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C4oJbIyDI/AAAAAAAACHM/0BO_kO8oQpY/s400/egg+text+10.JPG" /></a><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 411px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 378px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544146411900754" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C4n6S7z1I/AAAAAAAACHE/mAt55BbouUg/s400/egg+salad+11.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 415px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 394px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544140485227906" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C4nkN59YI/AAAAAAAACG8/U6TMBJcAUM0/s400/burned+pot+12.JPG" /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 421px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 398px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544136743231602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2C4nWRvoHI/AAAAAAAACG0/Yjr1GZbZb2I/s400/photos+%26+tea+12A.JPG" /></div></div><div></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Do you read cook books like they're novels? Do you enjoy a good memoir? Do you like to laugh? If you answered yes to any of these questions, <em><strong>Consuming Passions</strong></em> by Michael Lee West should fly to the top of your 'must read' list. </div><div>~~~</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Author West takes us on a guided tour of the southern kitchens that she knew as a child, but she doesn't stop there. With a witty and breezy writing style, she also candidly chronicles her adventures and mishaps in her own kitchen, while sharing treasured family recipes. Stories about making breakfast for her new husband, mastering the art of making her grandmothers buttermilk biscuits, her husband's foray into bee keeping, and the quest for the best egg salad recipe are wonderful telltale vignettes of a true foodie's life.</div><div>~~~</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>There are also helpful hints scattered through out the book. We learn how to season cast iron cookware, what type of food to bring to a funeral, how to handle kitchen fires and what to do when you're burned while cooking. The aunts and Mama also liberally dispense advice on men folk, and some of their hysterical observations certainly ring true!</div><div>~~~</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Along the way we're introduced to a wonderful cast of family characters. Aunt Dell, the family 'artiste', Aunt Tempe, renown for her coconut cake, and Ary Jean, West's mama are just a few of the colorful southern women who bring spice and life to this memoir. They're so skillfully drawn, that you feel you know them by the end of the book. </div><div>~~~</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So pour yourself a tall glass of sweet tea, (if you don't have a recipe there's one in the book), and settle down for a most enjoyable read. Of course you won't be seated for long, because when you read some of these recipes you'll be on your feet, in the kitchen, and up to your elbows in flour!</div><div>~~~</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>This post is being linked to Food For Thought. If you'd like to read more book reviews please just click the icon at the top of this page. You won't be disappointed.</div><div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-33519747472164174792010-01-28T21:44:00.007-05:002010-01-28T22:56:51.507-05:00Foodie Friday - Cheatin' PizzaMeet my new best friend... <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431992522131345394" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQa0A3j_I/AAAAAAAACQA/luRmo_sYimU/s400/close+up+crust+pkg+1.JPG" />Yes, it's that cute little Poppin' Fresh, and he brought me a pizza crust! That's a good thing to have on hand when you've had a hectic day, all of a sudden it's 6PM, and you need a quick, easy dinner. (This is especially true when it's really, <em>really</em> cold outside, and a trip to the local pizza joint just isn't gonna happen.)<br /><br />My husband and I like thin, crisp crust, so first we roll the dough out with a rolling pin on a large, <em>very</em> <em>lightly</em> oiled cookie sheet.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQPl4X7rI/AAAAAAAACP4/zQTktpHNtuM/s1600-h/best+just+rolled+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431992329359060658" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQPl4X7rI/AAAAAAAACP4/zQTktpHNtuM/s400/best+just+rolled+2.JPG" /></a> It goes into a hot oven for a few minutes to crisp up a little,<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQPA5dAwI/AAAAAAAACPw/XHonyDVq2gc/s1600-h/just+baked+3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431992319431475970" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQPA5dAwI/AAAAAAAACPw/XHonyDVq2gc/s400/just+baked+3.JPG" /></a> Then my sous-chef, aka: husband, will cover the crust with sauce and toppings. This particular 'pie' is half white, which is a mixture of ricotta, grated pecorino romano and shredded mozzarella. We ran a small clove of garlic through the press and chopped some fresh basil, then tossed those seasonings into the cheese mixture as well.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQOv91qcI/AAAAAAAACPo/Wm4ZhQSQYmA/s1600-h/adding+toppings+4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431992314886465986" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQOv91qcI/AAAAAAAACPo/Wm4ZhQSQYmA/s400/adding+toppings+4.JPG" /></a>Now back into the hot oven for about 12 minutes, (NB: After <em>5</em> minutes, your house will smell like a wonderful Italian restaurant. It's a nifty bonus!) </div><br /><div>Now for the finished product...<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQN4-W6QI/AAAAAAAACPg/p9GxANP65f8/s1600-h/nicely+baked+5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431992300124694786" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQN4-W6QI/AAAAAAAACPg/p9GxANP65f8/s400/nicely+baked+5.JPG" /></a> Start to finish this only took us 25 minutes, and there's always enough left over for lunch the next day. Best of all, it was piping hot, because it didn't have to take a ride in a cold car and be carried though a 16 degree night.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQNsfjkNI/AAAAAAAACPY/nhShCuZJoUE/s1600-h/red+close+up+6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 379px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431992296774275282" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S2JQNsfjkNI/AAAAAAAACPY/nhShCuZJoUE/s400/red+close+up+6.JPG" /></a> Please stop by <a href="http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2010/01/foodie-friday-sinful-desserts.html">Designs by Gollum</a> and see what else was cooking this week around the blogosphere. Our hostess, Michael Lee, has provided Mr. Linky to guide you on your way... </div></div></div></div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-41266600769810312272010-01-23T20:12:00.013-05:002010-01-23T20:35:52.979-05:00Waffle Iron give-away!With just a few minutes of your time, and a little bit of luck, your next batch of waffles could be baking in this hot little number...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 357px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430112650824142242" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S1uir5q6TaI/AAAAAAAACA0/wILCx0LS4r4/s400/Belgian%2BWaffle%2BMaker%5B1%5D.jpg" />and it even comes with a box of waffle mix!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S1uhKyeOSpI/AAAAAAAACAk/0CozLes3KNs/s1600-h/Gourmet%2BWaffle%2BMix%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 242px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 251px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430110982444567186" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S1uhKyeOSpI/AAAAAAAACAk/0CozLes3KNs/s320/Gourmet%2BWaffle%2BMix%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p>Have you seen the waffle iron give-away at <a href="http://heartnsoulcooking.blogspot.com/2010/01/all-you-have-to-do-to-qualify-for.html?showComment=1264295518750_AIe9_BGdXX-N1bw5dUybtg-JdivU8ErX7OhnYxMjjMmZ44HQP9EV_YdccYjX-PTYucKnrap_FWne-hIIKZkvBHARZamHL7ijYj4bUNHe7wjkcWVdiIDZ2lqTuUnkhKxz1EMD_wKtudf0iWzv1a3uwVqHWq2aHpqknZ-kJD0lEe6Rnc9d5q2z9qRmjyPyOMP23dPTPrXvdc8cSq-1q_U6Y7Um9FRh-HTEt-yGjqpYAu1S9VCVAbxC5xiYwEtDirnzDWkaWandGaWK">Heart and Soul Cooking</a>? Just click on the link to visit Geri and get the scoop on how to enter. </p>While you're there, you may want to check out the rest of Geri's delightful blog. Some mighty fine things going on there...Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-24572872370050280532010-01-21T19:15:00.014-05:002010-01-21T20:58:15.304-05:00Foodie Friday - Simple ShrimpHere's a tongue twister for you to try - <em>Spectacular</em> <em>Super Simple Shrimp Supper</em>. Repeat continuously while you're preparing this dish, and by the time you've gotten it right, dinner will be on the table! Yes, it comes together that quickly, and it's wonderfully tasty to boot. It's one of our go to meals on a busy day. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429351493365921010" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S1juatLP9PI/AAAAAAAAB_c/uF2cCLp6FW8/s400/best+shrimp.JPG" />I really don't have a recipe for this, but I can give you some guesstimates and a game plan for preparation. You can, of course, adjust the amount of any ingredient to suit you or your family's tastes, and you can double amounts for a larger group. Most of the ingredients are probably staples that you keep on hand, and this makes it a perfect meal for unexpected dinner guests.<br /><br />One 15oz can of plain stewed tomatoes<br />Olive oil<br />One small to medium onion, diced<br />One or two cloves of garlic run through a press or finely minced<br />A few liberal splashes of dry white wine<br />Minced fresh parsley<br />Minced fresh basil<br />Salt<br />As many shelled, deveined shrimp as you'd like to add (You can also use bay scallops, sliced sea scallops, tiny fresh clams that have been well scrubbed or any combination of the seafoods mentioned)<br />Hot cooked pasta of your choice - my husband and I prefer linguine<br />Freshly grated pecorino-romano or parmesan cheese<br />Freshly ground pepper<br /><br />Briefly saute the chopped onion in the olive oil. (Do <em>not</em> let brown.) Add the garlic and saute for another 30-45 seconds. (Again, do <em>not</em> let brown.) Turn off the heat and add a few splashes of the wine...maybe 1/4 cup or so. Turn the heat back on, and add the stewed tomatoes. Break up any large tomato pieces with a wooden spoon. Toss in the minced herbs and a tiny bit of salt, if desired. Give everything a good stir, pop in the seafood and cover. After a minute of two, give the mixture another good stir, cover again and let the seafood cook through...this will only take a few minutes. Turn off the heat, and let rest a few minutes for the flavors to marry. If necessary adjust seasonings, then toss with the pasta. Pass the pepper mill and grated cheese around the table for each diner to add according to personal preference. Crisp garlic bread and a tossed green salad are perfect accompaniments.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429351361008746034" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S1juTAG1vjI/AAAAAAAAB_U/kFFihR2nfFQ/s400/best+with+cheese.JPG" />I wish I had gotten clams when I made this last week. They make this dish look a little more spectacular when they're sitting on top of the pasta peeking out of their shells, and they add a nice briny flavor to the sauce.<br /><br /><p>Now please stop by <a href="http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2010/01/foodie-friday-trifling-matter.html">Designs by Gollum</a> and see who else may have an easy entree up their sleeve. Our hostess, Michael Lee, will have a link ready to help you navigate the internet waters.</p>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-73120590349272640212010-01-15T22:47:00.001-05:002010-01-20T12:25:50.176-05:00Food for Thought<em><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Travelers-Wife-Audrey-Niffenegger/dp/015602943X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263612358&sr=1-1">The Time Traveler's Wife</a></strong></em> *****<br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 370px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426457267714417074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06mImb0YbI/AAAAAAAABjs/GlHL6l4RZN8/s400/best+cover+1.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 406px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 495px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426457185319806242" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06mDzfaZSI/AAAAAAAABjk/yl6CsiPtZqE/s400/aqua+poem+2.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426457073541686658" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06l9TFbpYI/AAAAAAAABjc/zhYcXPzSe_E/s400/picnic+passage+3.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 406px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 408px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426456942744109314" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06l1r03AQI/AAAAAAAABjU/q4WVix_0j2E/s400/best+picinic+4.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 326px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426456869207401858" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06lxZ4V5YI/AAAAAAAABjM/RQbiCIj5hFg/s400/P1010025++5.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426456789500261906" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06lsw8rdhI/AAAAAAAABjE/MRdjXJP-K6c/s400/P1010049+6.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 406px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426456680590175074" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06lmbOfa2I/AAAAAAAABi8/knYEoSkNDOc/s400/P1010010+7.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 409px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 362px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426456593173857026" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06lhVk0QwI/AAAAAAAABi0/4Hf5f3WwoWc/s400/P1010003+8.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 410px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426456506956375554" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06lcUY95gI/AAAAAAAABis/l7ZRaWmNCZw/s400/cutting+board+9.JPG" />I tend to avoid reading anything that even remotely resembles science fiction. It's a genre that has never appealed to me. That being said, I was making it a habit to avoid <em>The Time Traveler's</em> <em>Wife, </em>by Audrey <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Niffenegger</span>. I didn't bother reading the New York Times book review. I ignored it when I saw it on the end shelf at the library or in a book store display. I ignored it when it appeared on the best seller list. Need I say that it never appeared on my long hold list at the library? Yet, the book seemed to be presenting itself to me at every turn. Odd, no?</p><p>Then one day, it appeared in my hands, carefully wrapped in pretty paper and tied with a bow. A birthday gift...<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ughhh</span>. I smiled graciously, did a little ooh-aah dance, said thank you, then tossed it in to a carton of books being packed for our move to Pennsylvania. </p><p>It was several weeks before the book surfaced again. I was rummaging through moving boxes stored in our unfinished home. I needed some books to read while we waited in a residence hotel for our house to be move in ready, so I tucked it into my tote bag.</p><p>That afternoon, I opened the book and started to read. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Walcott</span> poem was the first glimmer of hope that I had for this being a good read. It appears before the dedication and a prologue. It was the first hook...the prologue was the second. A few pages into the first chapter, I was a goner. A love story was emerging. Sure it was a quirky love story with the time travel twist, but the characters were finely drawn and complex. With each passing page, I was drawn deeper and deeper into their story and their unique problem. </p><p>The two main characters are Clare, the wife, and Henry, the time travelling husband. Henry never knows when he'll be subject to moving though time or how long he'll be gone. He doesn't know if he'll be going back in time or forward. He starts popping in and out of Clare's life when she is only six years old. She brings him food and clothing, since he's always hungry after one of his passages, and also arrives naked. Some of the food she brings him is quite odd. She later confesses that she wanted to find out if there was anything he wouldn't eat.</p><p>Henry is due to appear on Clare's 18<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> birthday, and she prepares a picnic 'feast' for him. She doesn't know how to cook, and seems to have no desire to learn, so she puts together a rather odd assortment of prepared items from her parent's larder. It's all part of a seduction plan that only an 18 year old could plot. You'll have to read the novel to see how it plays out...</p><p>Henry does know how to cook, and when they meet in 'real time' and begin their adult courtship, he prepares a dinner for Clare's 21st birthday...vichyssoise and salmon. He wants to take care of Clare and cooking is one of his offerings...an expression of his love.</p><p>By the time Henry is 43 and Clare is 35, he has had a glimpse of what the future has in store, and he begins worrying about leaving Clare alone. The couple also have a daughter, and he's concerned that he won't be there to take care of them. In an effort to prepare Clare for her future, he gives her cooking lessons. After Clare prepares her first meal, and realizes that she can now cook, she stares across the table at Henry and thinks, <em>'Don't leave me.'</em></p><p>I was rereading this book when the Food for Thought meme came about, and I'm now happy that I was. It was the perfect vehicle for me to join in the fun.</p><p>And just a closing thought...the perfect book can be like an abiding true love. You can be narrow minded and refuse to allow it to enter your life, but if it's meant to be, it will somehow find you and endure the test of time.</p><p>Please click on the Food for Thought button at the top of the page. It will take you to <strong>Once in a</strong> <strong>Blue Moon</strong> where our hostess has supplied a Mr. Linky connection to help you travel to other sites celebrating food and the written word.</p>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-50467468978353697642010-01-14T21:53:00.000-05:002010-01-14T22:05:53.181-05:00Foodie Friday - Muffin MadnessBaking muffins may not be the way to keep that New Year's resolution to lose weight, but it's certainly keeping my kitchen warm during the terrible spell of cold weather that has been invading the hills.<br /><br />Last week I made a batch of French Breakfast Puffs, which are far and away my all time favorite morning goody. An ordinary, plain muffin becomes spectacular when dipped in melted butter, and rolled in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. I limited myself to 1 1/2 of these darlings, but it wasn't easy! On a good morning, I could polish off several of these in record time.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426423698976988130" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06HmpJI2-I/AAAAAAAABiM/elmItZ4zxdA/s400/best+puff.JPG" /> This week I tried a 'new' savory/sweet treat. The recipe for Bacon-Cheddar muffins has been languishing on a note card in my recipe box for such a long time, that I now have no idea who gave it to me!<br /><br />A sweet muffin is studded with crumbled, crisply fried bacon and a smattering of sharp cheddar. My husband really enjoyed them, and they were definitely tasty, but I think I'd prefer these with less sweet and more savory. An extra strip of bacon, a little more cheddar and less sugar would be more to my liking. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426423572976515202" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S06HfTwSOII/AAAAAAAABiE/8l8HVyYypXs/s400/best+bacon+cheese+muffin.JPG" /> Have to admit, they did photograph well though, in spite of the fact that I'm having camera problems...<br /><br /><p>You can find the recipe for the French Breakfast Puffs at <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/12/french_breakfast_puffs/">The Pioneer Woman</a>. If you're one of those rare mortals who have never been to her blog, you're in for a real treat. She's one heck of a good cook and also just published a new cook book! Simply click on the link, and you too can become addicted to these tasty little morsels. I'm gonna hold back on the Bacon-Cheddar muffin recipe until I play with it a bit. I'm thinking it needs a little tweaking.</p><p>Now scoot over to <a href="http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2010/01/bandwidths-low-carb-low-cal-portobello.html">Designs by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gollum</span></a>, and see who else has been firing up their ovens to keep their house warm. Michael Lee is our hostess for Foodie Friday, and she has Mr. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Linky</span> up and running.</p><p>BTW: I've got a great dieter's tip to share. Go ahead and make that recipe that's on the forbidden list, then find <em>victims,</em> (excuse me, I meant to say something more like friends, family, co-workers,) with whom to share. You'll be surprised how quickly a basket of warm muffins can disappear!</p>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-84540820340897617102010-01-08T19:56:00.015-05:002010-01-08T21:44:48.560-05:00Foodie Friday- Soup and Bread to beat the cold...There's nothing better than a steaming bowl of soup to take the chill out of your bones, so this week I whipped up a batch of Hearty Mushroom-Barley. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 558px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 411px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424538235113477954" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S0fUyM52l0I/AAAAAAAABbg/l7DLgZ3egSU/s400/best+mushroom+soup.JPG" />What can be better than this, when the thermometer is headed to the single digits???<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 540px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 435px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424538124315066674" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S0fUrwJdATI/AAAAAAAABbY/bXEtnYx31K0/s400/best+closeup+soup.JPG" />How about adding a homemade loaf of herbed french bread that's still warm from the oven? It complimented the soup perfectly!<br /><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424538045900334226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S0fUnMB7JJI/AAAAAAAABbQ/fkUZrohYP2o/s400/best+whole+loaf.JPG" />I discovered the bread recipe in the booklet that came with the bread machine that my husband <em>insisted</em> I own. I loathed the dang thing until just recently, when I started using it for the initial mixing, kneading and rising. Then I shape the loaves outside of the machine, pop them into my old bread pans and set them up for the last rise the way I do for my traditional recipes.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424537948987974802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/S0fUhjAN5JI/AAAAAAAABbI/4UqdFxrlpOQ/s400/best+bread.JPG" />The results are much more satisfying. The crust is now nice and crispy, and this method gives me a more aesthetically pleasing loaf without the hassle of hand kneading or constantly monitoring the temperature for a perfect rise. Now that I've achieved a certain amount of peace with the Breadman, I'll be using it more often...on my terms, of course!<br /><div><br />You can find the recipe for the soup on The Learning Channel's website or simply click <a href="http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/hearty-mushroom-barley-soup-recipe.htm">here</a>. I did add 1/4 oz. dried porcini mushrooms that had been soaked in boiling water for about 1/2 hour. We love mushrooms, and these imparted a smoky, rich, flavor. (Don't forget to add the water in which the mushrooms were soaked. It's loaded with flavor.) I also added a small clove of minced garlic, and left out the scallions. They just didn't appeal to me!</div><div></div><div>Now for the bread...</div><div>If you have a bread machine, you can follow the instructions for your unit until the shaping stage. Then simply shape, set to rise in a greased 10"x5"bread pan until doubled, and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes until done. Couldn't be any easier!</div><div><br />FRENCH HERB BREAD<br />Ingredients: for a 2 LB loaf</div><div><br />Water 80º F 1-1/2 cups<br />Olive Oil 1-1/2 TBL<br />Salt 2 tsp<br />Sugar 2 TBL<br />Dried Herbs, crushed 1 tsp<br />Garlic, dehydrated, 1/4 tsp<br />Garlic, powder 1/4 tsp<br />Bread Flour 4 cups<br />Active Dry Yeast 2-1/4 tsp<br />Select French Cycle</div><div>(Note: I skip the dehydrated garlic and substitute a few shakes of dehydrated onion. For the herb mix I use Italian seasoning, rosemary and parsley.)</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>For more recipes to take the chill out of the winter weather, please visit our Foodie Friday hostess, <a href="http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/">Michael Lee</a>. You're sure to find a recipe that will warm up your kitchen and your soul.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-88531308992154399382010-01-01T11:29:00.001-05:002010-01-01T11:36:09.674-05:00Foodie Friday - Simple Food for the New YearWe were on the road after Christmas. Went to visit our grandchildren in New York, and then went to the Sight and Sound theatre in Lancaster to see the Christmas show. Lots of fun, but very tiring, so my husband and I had a small New Year's Eve celebration at home. Minimal cooking was the order of the day, so we bought a few prepared goodies...a round of brie, some cured meats, a jar of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">taramosalata</span>, and a large loaf of artisan bread.<br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421805412583542962" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sz4fS_pVELI/AAAAAAAABbA/1hkrorzX0Xk/s400/P1010012.JPG" />We followed that up with lobster tails, risotto <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ala</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">milanese</span>, and asparagus with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">hollandaise</span> sauce.</p><p>For dessert there were chocolate <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">cannoli</span> from one of our favorite Italian stores on Long Island. They package the shells and filling separately, so they don't get soggy. That's a good thing when you drive them a few hundred miles.</p><p>I was so lazy that I didn't even take pictures of the dinner. (I also dozed after dinner and never got this post done!) We just sat to table and enjoyed!</p><p>Hope all of you had a stress free New Year's Eve, and that 2010 brings you many blessings and much joy...</p><p>Please stop <a href="http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/">Designs by Gollum</a> and say Hi to our hostess, Michael Lee. Bet there's some fancy foods on display this week, and you'll enjoy the array.</p>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-82987788140987660622009-12-25T21:23:00.006-05:002009-12-25T21:44:10.770-05:00Foodie Friday-Christmas ClassicsMerry Christmas to all! I'm a bit late posting this, but at least it's still Friday!<br /><br />Earlier today, we enjoyed dinner with some friends at their home. My contribution was a smoked ham that was given a brown sugar, orange and mustard glaze. Oh my, oh my, was it ever delicious!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365587813297122" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzV0SgGWa-I/AAAAAAAABag/qtiPh-HWKUc/s400/best+ham.JPG" /><br />I also brought chocolate-raspberry squares to share, but I left one dessert at home...a pan of gingerbread. This evening, we topped the moist, spicy cake with lemon sauce. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365484760171074" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzV0MgMkgkI/AAAAAAAABaY/rwRDJofaKcU/s400/best+gingerbread.JPG" /><br /><p>It was a traditionally perfect ending to a peaceful and lovely day.</p><p>I hope everyone had a beautiful and blessed Christmas. </p><p>Nancy </p><p>PS: Please stop by <a href="http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/">Designs by Gollum</a> and see who served what this holiday. Our hostess, Michael Lee, has Mr. Linky up, running and ready to assist you.</p>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-14181372369621343262009-12-23T11:24:00.007-05:002009-12-23T12:03:16.694-05:00Christmas in the CityThought I would post a few more pictures of the Christmas street vignettes scattered around our home. These buildings and accessories are from the Department 56 series called Christmas in the City. If you've ever lived, worked or just visited Manhattan, I think they may bring back a memory or two.<br /><br />Perhaps you've been to a see a show at Radio City...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418470143075460658" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJF4wgSpjI/AAAAAAAABaQ/rA14czSRtdY/s400/very+best+radio+city.JPG" /><br />and have seen the lovely <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rockettes</span>.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 329px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418470140562094818" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJF4nJDuuI/AAAAAAAABaI/uEAMlxyVuko/s400/rock+closeup.JPG" />Maybe you've gone to a Broadway show and have tried to get an autograph from one of the stars.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418470137226687442" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJF4at1c9I/AAAAAAAABaA/mdFWoRbR-vU/s400/actress.jpg" />You may have walked by this synagogue in mid-town. This building is an amazingly accurate reproduction.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418469941730039634" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJFtCbzV1I/AAAAAAAABZ4/f30p_VjxkiU/s400/synagogue.JPG" />If you were very brave, you probably rode the subway. Hopefully you didn't fall on a patch of that famous sidewalk ice!<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418469936146863346" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJFstoq1PI/AAAAAAAABZw/CkWuC-K8GJw/s400/slip+and+fall.jpg" />Walking the streets, you might have caught sight of more than one couple who were <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">desperately</span> in love. Looks really hopeful, doesn't she?<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 321px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418469934619313874" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJFsn8eRtI/AAAAAAAABZo/fke03wtuIUY/s400/wedding+shop.jpg" />You may have seen a fabulous toy shop...<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418469926118186690" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJFsIRpXsI/AAAAAAAABZg/Bbe7iMurLJ0/s400/scotties+toys.JPG" />or prehaps you bought flowers from a street vendor.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418469920690068498" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJFr0De3BI/AAAAAAAABZY/znd_q1zM_SE/s400/best+Boschetti.jpg" />Maybe you saw a business man getting a shoeshine on the street.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418469548052270866" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJFWH3tTxI/AAAAAAAABZQ/dza1U0cl7IA/s400/best+shoe+shine.jpg" />Did you ever see Christmas trees being sold in the middle of the sidewalk?<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418469539007711938" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJFVmLUSsI/AAAAAAAABZI/slSRP-tcmaM/s400/best+tree+seller.jpg" />And there are always Policemen around, although everytime I've asked one for directions they don't seem to know where to go!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 354px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418469533724805522" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJFVSfxiZI/AAAAAAAABZA/ewUj-R7sa3Q/s400/hitching+post.jpg" />I'm old enough to remember organ grinders and their monkeys...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418469527041886722" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJFU5mcSgI/AAAAAAAABY4/3fvXtflzcy0/s400/monkey.jpg" />and the sidewalk newstands, although they are almost all gone now.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418469523946605986" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/SzJFUuEeDaI/AAAAAAAABYw/FQxvjcl1MkU/s400/newspaper+stand.JPG" />I hope that you've enjoyed this little tour, and that perhaps it's stirred a memory or brought a smile. Everyone should see the 'City' at least once at Christmastime! </div>Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653713493673769419.post-22116376540469070722009-12-21T17:40:00.016-05:002009-12-21T22:10:07.949-05:00Deck the Halls - Some of everything...Not long after my husband and I were married, I decided that we needed Christmas dishes and I found some I liked at a small gift shop in a neighboring town. Problem was that they were rather expensive, so I only bought a few pieces every year. I made it to 10 settings and then the shop closed! I really wanted 12, but never found them any where else.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417825009222312370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_7JBnsYbI/AAAAAAAABYo/RhNBwy8pdiI/s400/good+place+setting.JPG" />Except for a broken cup and chipped dinner plate, we still have them and enjoy them every holiday season.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824765255297922" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_660xbK4I/AAAAAAAABYY/vu8TKeojSZU/s400/closeup+with+mug.JPG" />Fruitcake update...It was fabulous. I say <em>was</em>, because it's gone.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824650236349442" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_60ISxTAI/AAAAAAAABYQ/upTTVdYdXcw/s400/best+cake.JPG" />It was moist, very boozy, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">luscious</span>.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 342px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824548709701138" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6uOE7lhI/AAAAAAAABYI/kXBlsDt-MJ4/s400/fc+close+3.JPG" />It's now a memory. I think our guests enjoyed it too.<br /><br /><p>I thought that I would share some of our glass ornaments with you this week. Some are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Radko's</span>. Some are Polonaise. Some are dime store. Our collection has grown so large that it covers 2 trees...one in the living room and one in the master bedroom.<br /></p><br /><p>There are kings waiting to follow the star...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824460366880322" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6pE-XHkI/AAAAAAAABYA/cp4R_rRErVY/s400/king+1.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 177px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824451477047602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6oj23CTI/AAAAAAAABX4/wvYpCk7edCg/s400/king+2.JPG" /></p>Some very fancy and artistic shapes...<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 356px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824449334347698" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6ob4AB7I/AAAAAAAABXw/hVIHsDobQLY/s400/lg+multi.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 348px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824445367529762" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6oNGPMSI/AAAAAAAABXo/Gh65-PaQ2N8/s400/lg+orange.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 217px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824174108185618" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6Yak-FBI/AAAAAAAABXg/BZfAhL4e424/s400/lg+point.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824170256378434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6YMOoKkI/AAAAAAAABXY/CDP9hoH4hP4/s400/lg+purple.JPG" />some funny, cute, pretty or pious characters...<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 232px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824028280597234" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6P7U9qvI/AAAAAAAABXQ/ZvfMJeOltpA/s400/bunny.JPG" /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6PhI2bbI/AAAAAAAABXI/_a6y8NNkw-8/s1600-h/best+peacock.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824021250469298" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6PhI2bbI/AAAAAAAABXI/_a6y8NNkw-8/s400/best+peacock.JPG" /></a><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824012631611074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6PBB9FsI/AAAAAAAABXA/dtDbNVkF3vU/s400/choir+boy.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824010581466386" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6O5ZKXRI/AAAAAAAABW4/TnlZ-f-ZO9Q/s400/holly+boy.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417824007325177010" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_6OtQzVLI/AAAAAAAABWw/_AWYw6L0X8c/s400/red+bird.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 182px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417823652681396066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_56EHIr2I/AAAAAAAABWo/hArdWxFC51I/s400/sailor.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 354px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417823649777247378" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_555Su5JI/AAAAAAAABWg/yQ4A7FNmTCk/s400/snail.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 217px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417823645915721330" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_55q6ErnI/AAAAAAAABWY/oWDllWisL-Q/s400/stripe+santa.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417823638569818290" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_55PirGLI/AAAAAAAABWQ/71QjzwdmA3c/s400/tally+ho.JPG" />and many beautiful birds.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_54851KyI/AAAAAAAABWI/OdJyj0zaUQI/s1600-h/tucan.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417823633566673698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yt16tHGlZz4/Sy_54851KyI/AAAAAAAABWI/OdJyj0zaUQI/s400/tucan.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />Many thanks to Susan at <a href="http://www.thoughtsfromovertherainbow.blogspot.com/">Thoughts From Over the Rainbow</a> for hosting 'Deck the Halls' this year. Please stop over at her blog and thank her for her efforts, and while you're there, check out her lovely home and the decorations that all of the other participants have posted. Thank you Susan!Nancy Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759395209131739135noreply@blogger.com9