food nextwork this morning....

I'm watching Aarti Party on the food network.  I'm telling you, she has some great recipes.  She is engaging and has a great personality.  Today she is making some very good food, chicken, salad, bread pudding, (who thought it was an Indian food). She does say there are not a lot of salads in India, instead they make yogurt with vegetables in it.  They do use many exotic spices and she has a container with smaller containers of a variety of spices.  Terrific.  It stays on the counter and the spices are constantly dipped into.  She talks plenty about Cardamon, I will be getting some on my next marketing trip.  I really like her style and her ease in the kitchen.  Congratulations Aarti on your success on a craft you obviously love.  I am going to print the recipes you are making today.

A nice gift....

This might be something that might come in handy for the student.

And the next food network star is...

Isn't it wonderful how people who love to cook can now get their own shows on TV.  I think the winner of the Next Food Network Star is really interesting and a great cook.  I'm looking forward to her use of the wonderful Indian spices.  I  use cumin and turmeric in a few special recipes and I would like to experiment with more creative uses of these and others.  (see my sweet potato fries video)
I was curious about her and found it exciting that she started as a blogger.  In my day, the only food shows were on WGBH.  And of course, Julia was the forerunner of this huge business that we are all exposed to everyday. And to think, something so basic to human life generates such an interest to so many.  Before all the cooking shows, I used to read my cook books all the time.  I found it very relaxing. Now I watch TV.  I belonged to a cook book club and got some good books from it.  I never pass up a cook book at a yard sale.  If it's a good one, I treasure it.  I have a small home economics text book from the early 1900's that was used in the Boston public schools.  I love it.  And the recipes are not that different from what we use today.  I find the cost of the meals especially fascinating.  Pennies.  (Yes it gives the cost, how to budget, how to take care of the home, etc)
Anyway, I will continue to watch the Food Network, look up the recipes that I want to try, learn new techniques in food preparation and prepare and enjoy good food.

Could it be that it's time for school already?  I didn't realize it was so quickly upon us until I was driving to work today and saw all the telltale signs.  The CVS flashing sign stated in big bright red letters, "Welcome Back Stonehill".  This is the local college and CVS is welcoming them back with open arms.  It's walking distance to the college.  Plenty of money to be made from the new and returning students.  As I continued my drive (it's only about 13 minutes), I passed the Ninety Nine restaurant.  I looked to see if they had joined CVS with a "welcome back" invitation.  No, just the banner across the front of the restaurant stating, "Red Sox win, Kids eat free".   Pretty good deal, although I haven't taken advantage of it.  But a good deal all the same.  Let's face it, you might as well throw your money in the street for as much as kids eat at this kind of restaurant.  Anyway, as I continued my ride, I came up to a set of lights at the entrance to the college.  Sure enough, the cars, many with out of state plates, were lined up at the light.  As I watched the cars enter the campus, I noticed two tired co-eds sitting on a stone wall with signs resting on their laps.  I could not see everything written on them, but I did see "Welcome" and "2014".  I guess they were the welcoming committee.  They looked tired and were resting after a busy day.

How wonderful for these young kids to experience college life.  Some will thrive, some will just make.  I'm sure that at a college like Stonehill, a private Catholic school, most will thrive. My own experience in Catholic schools was high expectations and no fooling around.  Although we all fooled around, when the nuns weren't looking.

Two cakes down and many more to go...

I made two cakes for the car cake. They are the bottom layers.  Oh, you would not believe how much research I will be doing to make this a spectacular cake.  I hope to make a video of the execution of the final product. 

The quintessential white layer cake...

My quest to find the quintessential white cake recipe continues.  Each time I find a new recipe, with a bit of a twist, I think, "is this the one?"
My best white/yellow cakes are my chiffon.  Aside from the chocolate, carrot, banana, pumpkin cakes that are delicious, I have yet to find a really good white cake.  And I know that I'm not the only one out there seeking the recipe.  Anyone out there up to the challenge of a perfect white cake recipe? 
I am getting ready to design a car cake for a 7 year old boy's birthday.  I will keep you apprised of my progress.  It will be a chocolate and white cake.  I've done some research and feel confident that I will succeed with a nice show piece.

I am busy designing a Sweet 16 masquerade three tiered cake.  It's for October, but I want to be sure I have everything in place well before the date.  I am going to invest in this airbrush system.  I already bought 5lbs of fondant.  I will need to buy purple fondant also.  Satin Ice makes this.  It will be purple, silver and some black ribbon.  I will definitely keep you posted on this endeavor.

Interesting story about the author.  He died before his books were published.  The lead female has also been chosen.  This book is one that I think I will read.  I want to see what all the excitement is about.

Recipe for oil and vinegar salad dressing...

Here is a very good recipe for dressing for the wonderful fresh greens and tomatoes that we are enjoying at this time of the year.
Get the Good Seasons carafe
put your favorite vinegar up to the v line
add one teaspoon each of salt (I use salt sense, not kosher, just plain salt) and garlic powder
Add water to the water line Shake
Add canola oil (don't use Olive oil, it will congeal) to the oil line.
This is a very good dressing without the sugar, chemicals or other ingredients that you find in dressings you buy.
Refrigerate and you will always have a good topping for your salads.

Facebook...

I've resumed my relationship with Facebook.  I'm still not sure if I like it.  There seems to be an awful lot of info there.  I mean, you can look at anybody's pictures even though you're not friends with them.  I was looking at my friends' friends and was able to click onto their info. Maybe I have to read these books!  I've put a link to my blog, maybe I will get more to read it.  I hope so.  I also hope you are visiting my You Tube videos.  Having alot of fun making them. 

Back to work...

While I was ironing my uniforms for work, I was thinking of the movies I love and have seen many times.  I was also making a plan to go through one storage bin a day.  I want to see what's in all those plastic holders.  Things I'm sure I've forgotten about.  The movies that came to mind immediately are, Hannah and her sisters, Radio Days, Jurassic Park, The Women, 1930's one, Four Seasons, I think that's the name of it with Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Halloween, Psycho, I did love the Ring, even though it was extremely scary.  Jaws, Dog Day afternoon.  There are some great lines in that one.  Of course the Godfather movies are always a good watch.
Anyway, I'm off to the market. Did you know I'm one of the original coupon queens?  I have a couple of good ones that I need to use before the expiration dates run out.
I put my blog on Facebook.  I hope it encourages others to come here.  I think there is some decent reading.  I would love to start a discussion on films that others love. 
Oh yea, my vacation is over and I go back to work today.  That's ok, you have to work to play.  Have a good day and I might stop back later.

sea glass

I was catching up on some of the Sunday magazines that I missed when I was on vacation.  Sure  enough, I find a story about "Sea Glass".  My granddaughter is collecting it, so I, along with my sister,  found a few pieces.  The pictures above are our finds on a couple of walks by the ocean side.  So, I read this story in the Parade magazine about the collectors of this beautiful glass.  It is some serious collecting.  There is a North American Sea Glass Association that draws in more than 5000 each year.  This year it is in Hyannis on October 9th.  According to the story, collectors are secretive about their locations and sometimes take great lengths to get to the beaches.
I have seen sea glass all my life, but never thought to collect it.  In Brigantine, large tractors with sifters clean the beach most mornings, leaving little debris on the sandy beach.  I'm sure there are plenty of goodies in the sifter.  I will ask my sister to continue to look for the glass on her daily walks on the beach. 
The story talked about Richard LaMotte, the "Godfather of Sea Glass".  His self-published book tells all about it.  Here is his book along with some others if you are interested in starting this neat hobby.

Justice for girls and lunch...

We are going to go out for lunch tomorrow.  We have a new Mexican restaurant here in town.  Very good food and good prices. After we will go to Justice for girls.  There's a store in the Mansfield Crossing shopping center.  Great stores and an LL Bean is there, too.  Anyway, we will go to Justice after lunch.  But after we have dessert at my house.  I just made three chocolate layer cakes.  Will put it together tomorrow.
Anyway, Justice has a coupon for 40% off.  We will go for backpacks and school clothes.  The selection is good and the clothes are really cute.  I will let you know what we get.
For the coupon, go to the first ad, scroll down and you will find it. 

The health of our children...

We had an opportunity to have dinner with my husband's college friend and his wife.  She made a wonderful dinner.  She's an excellent cook.  She was a teacher in the late 60's and 70's.  She taught in Catholic schools in Philly.  I was interested in the health of the kids.  Today so many have diabetes, asthma, ADD, allergies to nuts.  I saw that when I did clinicals in elementary schools.  Anyway, because she had a broader experience, I felt she was a good resource.  When I went to school, there were 52 kids in the class, two classes, and I can't remember any sick kids.
Our hostess agreed with me.  As a teacher, she too did not see what so many are afflicted with today.  Her feeling is that our immune systems are changing.  I don't know what it is.  I do think it's interesting.
Could it be the increase of fast foods?  Global warming?  The lack of home cooked meals?  The busy schedules the children have today?  Increased immunizations?  Let me know what you think.  I will continue to explore this change in our children's health.

Vacation reading...

Yes, I'm here on vacation.  Won't bore you with the nothingness that I've been doing.  I do want to comment on an old magazine story I was reading.  Actually, my mom keeps it by her side.  It's a story about Michael J. Fox and Parkinson's disease.  My mom reads the story, carefully studying the content to see or find something that says there is a way to manage this disease.    Anyway, in his story it talks about how he copes with the illness. I see my mom and how she copes with the illness.  It's tough.  She gets around the best she can.  I think it's too bad that Fox got this disease at such a young age.  However, he will probably have excellent care.  Money will be no object.  He probably will have someone assist him to put his shoes on, to button his shirt, to assist him into bed and onto the toilet.  I felt the article was not real.  There are plenty of people with the disease, but not as fortunate as him.  Anyway, I could see my mom reading the article for some clue on the cure so she could walk better, not get freezes, be able to get herself out of a chair and into bed.  There was none.

Yea, vacation time....

So what did you do, continued.....

Finished baked goods

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a clean floor!

As you can see, the baking is done.  (I had to take a taste of the banana bread.  I fooled around with the recipe and was not sure the texture was to my liking, it's OK) 
I will be constructing the cakes tomorrow.  More pictures then.  Oh, and by the way, I also cleaned the powder room floor, (why waste that water!)  and did two loads of wash.  I think now I will rest for a few minutes. 
The last wash is in the dryer.  My house  smells spic and span clean with a hint of chocolate and banana.  Not bad!

Chiffon cake, banana bread and hershey's chocolate cake.. and what did you do this morning?

So what did you do this morning?  I made a lemon chiffon cake, cleaned up a bit, worked on my blog, went to the supermarket, they had reduced bananas so I got three for banana bread.  I returned home and made clams and angel hair, shrimp and started on the banana bread.  After cleaning up that mess, I made a hershey's chocolate cake, which is in the oven right now.  It should be out by 1p.  In the meantime, I'm going to wash the kitchen floor.  When the cakes come out, I'll try to rest before work.  I leave at 3p.  Oh yeah, I would also like to watch the Bethenny episode that I taped.  I will try to take pictures of the baked goods.  Sure smells good in here, but a little hot!


Here is a good bakeware set that I have.  Nice even heat!

Bethenny was at it again last night.  Don't you love the way Jason laughs when she makes her comments?  He could have passed for a doctor when he put on the scrubs.  I think she is a hoot.  The CPR class was very entertaining.  This women really does not have a clue about kids.  But I do think she was trying to learn as much as she could.  Life does have a way of changing once a baby arrives.  They take over the house, the car and especially your life.  Those are the best days of your life.  I know most of my friends would agree.  I came from the generation of still stay at home moms.  The lazy days of taking care of kids was the best.  Now everyone is running wild, looking for others to care for their most cherished possession.  I feel like saying, "Don't you want to raise your children".  We did with less and stayed home more.  We cooked meals most nights, no fast food in our houses.  Life was nice.

Here is a reasonably priced car seat. Do you need one?

Just created a couple of nice memory books on Snapfish.  Between Picasa and Snapfish, I'm having a great time.  Can't wait to do more.  Family went on a Princess cruise.  I hope they like them.

Feel good sneakers...

I wear Skechers to work.  My knees don't bother me, my back feels good and I think they are a great buy at Amazon.com.  I've been wearing them for over a year and spent $110 for them.  I also bought the sandal.  Like that too.  I would suggest that anyone that wants a comfortable shoe, reduce leg, knee, and overall aches in lower extremities, to invest in these shoes.

After all, we only have one body and we have to take care of it.

The 30 minute meal...

sweet potato fries

sweet potato fries, chicken and kale

Here is a picture of the sweet potato fries and a finished meal.  The chicken was OK.  Tried something different, instead of making the usual cutlets.  This  was only two potatoes, I should have used two baking sheets.  But they were still delicious.
If you are following my meals, you will notice we eat on dessert plates.  Nothing original, but you will eat less.

This is a great day...

I went to TJ Maxx to look for a bathing suit.  I dreaded going into the dressing room with the harsh florescent lighting, making me look worse than I already feel.  Anyway, I brought in 5 suits.  I couldn't believe it when I had to choose between 4.  Do you believe that I actually had 4 that looked decent and that I had to debate over.  No, this doesn't happen too often.  No, it never happens.  I ended up with a blue tankini top and bottom.  No matter how old I get, I still feel the two piece bathing suits are the most comfortable.  Even though I haven't shown my stomach in decades.  Yes, that's right, decades!
Then I came home and made chicken tenders with sesame seeds, peanut butter, teriyaki sauce, don't ask, I just made it up as I went along.  I also made oven roasted sweet potato fries.  Now that's a recipe you'll love.  And of course I made kale and a green salad.  And Rachel Ray thinks she can put a meal on in 30minutes.  I invented it, but she capitalized on it.  I will post pictures of the meal, but not the bathing suit.
Oh yea, I also picked up a fabulous cover up.  I might wear it as a dress.  Nice.
It's interesting what makes someone have a great day, isn't it!

Cake decorating supplies...

I have so many cake decorating supplies.  I have used them all at some point of cake decorating.  I especially love the rotating cake stand.   I don't think I could decorate a cake without it.  I love all the Wilton products and am looking forward to using Duffs new line of fondant and other cake decorating supplies. 

The beauty of this equipment is that you can use it for all your baking needs.  The roll and cut mat can be used for anything you need to roll out, pie crust, cookies, and of course fondant and gumpaste.  The surface is fabulous and easy to clean.  Love it!

This is a must have piece of equipment for cake decorators.  There is another one that tilts, but this one does a great job.  I have also used it to elevate my cakes for display and it works beautifully, sturdy and good size.

Day at Foxwoods...

Well the 5 of us took off for Foxwoods at about 10a.  It was a long drive, the navigator had short cuts that I didn't think were any too short.  Anyway, on arrival, we headed to the slot machines, assigning a place to meet at 1p. 
Pat, the cat lady(she has 10cats) got on a machine and didn't move.  She was up a bit, but just kept on playing.  (isn't that always the way).  I met Kathy a few times, but we were not doing too much.  We had already put in about as much as we wanted to with little success.  Sheila, the world traveler, navigator and avid casino fan, was losing.  We could tell by  her walk, just no pep and averting her frustrated eyes.  Of course, someone was lucky.  The driver, Judy, had some luck.  Kathy found me in the sea of blinking machines and said that Judy hit for $2500.  Drat, why couldn't that have been me.  What machine was she on?  How long was she playing?  How much money did she start with?  All the same questions that we all ask.  She was happy enough.  I would have been tripping out. 
We went to Hard Rock for lunch. 
Good enough food, but the prices were higher than the last time we were there.  Can you imagine how much it costs to eat out?  I did have a great drink, "Sex on the Beach", delicious, although I hadn't eaten anything until then and I got a bit woozy after drinking about half of it.  I gave it to my friend to finish, but it was good.  Anyway we designated another place to meet at 5p.  I wanted to leave, it was my day off and I wanted to relax for a bit of the night.  Also, Bethenny was on and I couldn't miss that. 
So that was a pleasant enough day.  I came home with more money than  I went with, and that made me happy.  After lunch and all the other little things I spent money on, I felt I had a good day and was ahead. 
When we got back to Kathy's (where we all met in the morning) we all headed home, but not without making a plan to do this again soon.  Nice day, nice people.