from the desk of the couch potato tv junkie in the falling economy

During the end of August, both Jay and I were stuck home, sick; a little early for cold season. Jay missed a few days and had to return to work, while I took longer to recover as usual. My head was a bit too fuzzy to catch up on reading so I became a couch potato and tv junkie.

I have so many recipes to try this Fall after all the cooking shows I watched on the Food Network. I say Fall, because it seems all the recipes were for soups, stews, and roasts, and it's been way too HOT to cook those things now. I often avoid that tempting channel because it's so addicting.

For those crafty ones, I caught the Martha Stewart Show one day. I'm sure almost everyone reading my blog has either played with boxes in their childhood or created something out of cardboard for their child. If you thought yours was creative, well think again. Check out these more elaborately decorated cardboard boxes.

Washer/Dryer
Oven
How about some food to go with the oven, perhaps a delicious felt cherry pie.
Table and chairs for dolls.

To view more about these items visit the show archive here at The Martha Stewart Show. I highly recommend viewing the links to each of these crafters. They have some more amazing items made from cardboard and felt. Has anyone ever gone beyond those traditional cardboard box houses or Halloween costumes? If so, I'd like to hear, so post a comment.

I also learned on her show about this website hosted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium that provides a guide to purchasing the freshest environmentally friendly seafood. The guide includes the best choices, good alternatives, and fish to avoid. Visit the site here at Seafood WATCH.

Most of us are watching our pennies these days in such a tight economy. This has caused us all to give some thought into cutting corners or being creative with our spending. I came across these online stories, which I found most amusing. As you know from previous posts, I'm all for "thinking outside the box." Well this California Resort did just that! Click on the link to view about their "Survivor Package." Imagine upscale hotel meets outdoor camping.

This next story/video will amaze you. I would guess that in tight times, people are holding onto their cars rather then purchasing a new vehicle. I know we're trying to take good care of our cars in hopes that they'll reciprocate the love.

Super Summer Salads

Thanks for your patience as I work to get posts up about Bryan's recent Mount Whitney adventure and Jay's bi-plane ride. While your waiting, here's some tasty refreshing recipes for those hot summer days.

Recently I explored my cookbooks for some new healthy recipes. This week I ventured to try two new recipes. It's been awhile since I've shared a recipe. Both these salads have been approved with thumbs up!

guacamole salad
I used a shallot in place of the red onion and a few drops of Tabasco in place of the jalapeno peppers. We didn't use all the dressing.

caesar salad with lemon pepper shrimp
I used pre-made croutons from Trader Joes and Girard's Light Caesar Salad Dressing instead of making both from scratch.

be fearless & bake me happy

Many of you readers know that I love to cook, bake and enjoy fine cuisines, and that my cupboards are full of kitchen gadgets. So it should come as no surprise to you that since I have more "free time" on my hands, I've been getting my hands dirty in the kitchen whipping up new dishes and treats.

Recently I got together with my longtime friend Erica (no this isn't a typo) for a day of fellowship and baking. We set out to make Biscotti (Click for link{in bold} to the recipe. We used the almond extract version & added sliced almonds). This was my first time EVER baking Biscotti. We were so pleased because they turned out perfectly. I must say they are divine when you dunk them in your coffee. Biscotti was much easier to make than I anticipated. In fact, now it's become my "new thing" to bake.

Here's a picture of the first batch of Almond Biscotti I made at home on my own as a treat for my in law's travels; they turned out deliciously.
Below are a few pictures of the batch I made for my bible study, a new recipe, Chocolate Anise Biscotti from Giada De Laurentiis's cookbook Giada's Family Dinners.

Biscotti logs cooling before slicing and baking them for a second time.
Everything ALWAYS tastes better with chocolate!
Between my time with Erica, watching cooking shows while being sick at home this past week, and reading Julia Child's biography has lit my passion for cooking. Perhaps you'll be lucky and have the honor of trying my treats.

In the words of Julia Child in her book My Life In France, " This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook-try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!"

So... go, be fearless!

giving thanks and enjoying leftovers

My parents and Jay joined me up in No. Cal. for Thanksgiving this year to celebrate with my aunt and uncle and my grandparents. Our gourmet menu consisted of a roasted grape and shallot arugula salad (pg 68), garlic mashed potatoes, Greek stuffing, traditional herb stuffing, Kibbah with a yoguart dill sauce, roasted acorn squash, green beans, and homemade pumpkin pie.


The following day we joined some friends of my aunt and uncle for a leftover dinner party. We had such a blast and I enjoyed the creativity with our leftovers. I think we have a new tradition to add for years to come. We brought to the dinner party a few more gourmet dishes; turkey, sweet potato and watercress salad, turkey croquettes (made with leftover mashed potatoes, turkey, and bread crumbs), and a pumpkin cheesecake.


If you click on the menu items that are in bold, it will send you to the recipe. Here's a few Thanksgiving quotes to remind you of gratitude and what this special day means.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. ~W.J. Cameron