Lost and Found

2016-08-05T15:19:00.003-04:00

Chocolate Chipped Chocolate Dipped Madeleines

½ cup butter (1 stick)

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup ripe mashed bananas

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ cup chocolate chips

¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

¼ teaspoon cardamom

½ teaspoon cinnamon

For the chocolate “dip:”

Half and half or heavy cream

1 tablespoon baking cocoa

Equipment: mini-muffin tin or madeleine pan

Directions:

Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla extract and the mashed bananas.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda and spices. Add to the banana mixture and stir until just blended. Add the chocolate chips and mix through. Pour into greased muffin tins or

shell pan (pre-greased and preheated) and dust the top of each muffin lightly with a little extra cinnamon. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 15 minutes. Turn out on a kitchen towel to cool.

Set a small pan of water to a light simmer, and put a larger mixing bowl over it (or use a double-boiler.) Use the rest of the bag of chocolate chips, and add the tablespoon of baking cocoa and enough cream or ½ and ½ to make the chocolate thick enough to coat the muffins. Stir until dipping sauce is glossy. Line your plate or tray with wax or parchment paper to fit. Then one at a time, dip one end of the muffin into the chocolate. Let excess drain off, then lay down on the paper. If there is not enough chocolate to coat all the muffins, do alternating rows of chocolate and plain. Refrigerate long enough to harden the chocolate, then serve.

Creamsicle Jello Salad

2014-06-08T17:32:00.000-04:00

4 packages (3 oz.) orange jello

2 packages (3 oz.) vanilla pudding (not instant)

2 tablespoons instant tapioca

1 - 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained

1 - 8 oz. container Cool Whip

3 - 11 oz. cans mandarin oranges, drained

In a bowl combine two packages of orange jello with 2 cups boiling water. Stir until dissolved, about a minute or so. Add 2 cups cold water, and stir. Pour into a large glass bowl, such as a trifle bowl, and place in the refrigerator. When jello is about 75% solid, add one can of drained mandarin oranges, poking them one at a time until they are suspended all throughout the jello layer. Especially try to get the mandarin oranges around the edge of the glass so they are visible.

In a large saucepan, bring 3 ½ cups of water to a boil. Add the 2 remaining packets of jello, both packages vanilla pudding, and the tapioca. Stir and bring to a boil again. Continue to stir until mixture is thickened, then remove from the heat.

Cool mixture thoroughly. At this point, fold in about 5 ounces of the Cool Whip. Reserve the remaining Cool Whip in the freezer. Gently fold in the crushed pineapple and one can of drained mandarin oranges. Refrigerate the pudding mixture or layer it on top of the jello in the glass bowl if the jello is completely set. Chill overnight.

Before serving, top with the remaining Cool Whip (thawed if needed) and decorate with the final can of drained mandarin oranges on top.

Sensational Short Ribs

2014-02-17T19:54:00.000-05:00

Want a simple, succulent beef short ribs recipe, but not sure how to go about it? No worries, here are easy step by step instructions.

Ingredients:

5 lbs. meaty short ribs

Flour, seasoned with salt and pepper

Canola or vegetable oil, for searing ribs

Onions, carrots, celery

12 – 14 oz. can tomato paste

Bottle Cabernet Sauvignon, or your favorite dry red wine

Good quality beef base, made into stock

Rinsing the ribs

First give those lovely ribs a good rinsing.
Pat dry with a kitchen towel and dredge
each rib in the seasoned flour.

Dredging in seasoned flour

In a large saute pan, begin searing the ribs. Do this in several small batches so the pan isn't crowded. Put each batch into a large pan until all the ribs are nicely browned on all sides.

Pan-searing the ribs

The mirepoix

Now for the mirepoix: peel several onions and carrots, and along with the celery stalks, cut up into large diced pieces. In the same pan your ribs were in, begin sautéing the onions.

Pourin' in the wine...

As soon as they are translucent,

add the carrots and the celery.

Season with salt and pepper and

sauté for a few minutes.

At this point, add your can of tomato paste. Stir that in and let it get incorporated into the mirepoix.

Then deglaze your pan with 12 oz.

or more of your dry red wine.

Cook off the alcohol for a

few minutes.

Close-up of ribs in beef broth and mirepoix

Pour the contents of the mirepoix pan over your ribs. Then add just enough beef stock to barely cover the ribs. This may be a few cups

to a quart, depending on your pan

and the amount of ribs you have.

Foiled again...

Now, cover your pan with tin foil

and carefully place in a heated 325˚ oven. You’ll want to cook

the ribs low and slow. This takes between 2 – 3 hours. You’ll know the ribs are done if you can twist the bone around inside a rib. This means that the meat is nice and tender. If you try this technique

be very, very careful not to burn yourself in the process!

At this point, take your ribs and set them aside on a clean plate. In a colander over a saucepan, drain off the braising liquid. You can either toss the veggies or keep them as part of the plating, as you wish. As for the liquid, add a little cornstarch slurry (a few tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with cold water) and bring it to a boil while whisking to make a fantastically flavored gravy.

Then simply serve your short ribs alongside whatever sides you like. This succulent entree pairs quite well with either polenta or mashed potatoes and your favorite green veggie.

Some nice crunchy rolls help to sop up the lovely gravy.

This may seem like a lot of steps, but it is well worth the time and effort to make. Especially if you can find the ribs on sale! Bon appetite!

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallow and Praline Streusel Topping

2013-11-15T07:50:00.003-05:00

For the praline topping:

1 cup flour

2/3 c brown sugar

1/4 c chopped pecans, toasted

1/4 c melted butter

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Bag mini-marshmallows

4 medium (2 1/2 lbs.) peeled & halved fresh yams
or 1 large can sweet potatoes

1/2 c sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 large egg white

1 5 oz. can evaporated milk

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine first 5 ingredients together to form a streusel. Set aside.

If using fresh yams boil until just tender, drain & mash. If not, mash a drained can of sweet potatoes. Stir 1 cup streusel, sugar, vanilla, egg white and milk to the mashed sweet potatoes.

Spread sweet potatoes in a single layer into a greased 2 quart casserole. Alternate rows on top of casserole with remaining streusel and mini marshmallows. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until marshmallows are nicely toasted.

Custard-Filled Cornbread

2013-11-14T23:06:00.000-05:00

This side dish is my most requested "must have" dish every year. I'm including two pics from last year's Thanksgiving: one of the finished cornbread and another close up shot of my Thanksgiving plate with a little slice 'o heaven.

1 cup all-purpose flour

¾ cup yellow cornmeal

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs

3 tablespoons butter, melted

3 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon salt

2 cups milk, warmed or at room temperature

1½ tablespoons white vinegar

1 cup heavy cream, warmed or at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 350° degrees.

Butter an 8-inch square or a round casserole baking dish, and place it in the hot oven while preparing the batter.

Stir together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and baking soda.

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and the melted butter until well-blended. Add the sugar, salt, milk and vinegar and beat well. Stir the dry ingredients into the egg mixture just until the batter is smooth.

Pour the batter into the heated dish. Pour the heavy cream into the center of the batter. Do not stir. Check the cornbread after 45 minutes. It is done when the top becomes lightly browned.

Thanksgiving plate closeup. Cornbread is on the top left.
See the custard glistening in the center of the cornbread?
Ooo la la!

Serve warm.

Yield: 1 cornbread casserole

Fear of Frying

2012-05-08T14:40:00.002-04:00

If life is a journey, then every experience is a possible notch on the road map of one's life. I contend that the work we do throughout our lives makes up the bulk of the experiences in the journey.

Each job generates mileage on our travels, and can potentially add to or impact on the journey. But not all jobs work out the way we expect. Some people find a job in their youth and stick with it all their lives. Others (like me) never seem to find the right fit and bounce from job to job. While that puts a lot of interesting mileage on one's road map, it can also make the worker pretty road-weary.

Now, I've lived and worked in the same city all my adult life. So when I'm in my car, I often pass by one of the many places where I've worked. Sometimes when I drive around town and see all these various and sundry job sites, my self-appointed GPS kicks in. GPS ... my Guilt Projection Syndrome. Yet instead of chalking all these jobs up as experience, I've come to attach a strange sense of failure to them.

To be fair, most of the jobs I lost had little or nothing to do with me. At one place, I requested a transfer to a different location. When the company had found a replacement for my job - the spot in the new location became unavailable when the person I was supposed to replace, suddenly decided not to leave. And I couldn't get the original job back. Another business where I worked, the company went bankrupt, and everyone (not just me) lost their jobs. Oh, and my personal favorite: a restaurant hired me as a cook but the chef refused to let me sign W2 forms or tell me definitively what my pay would be. After several days of working and asking for these simple things, I called the business office and asked them. Then got a call from the chef telling me that "it just wasn't going to work out." These things happen; but to me, it's been a tiring road to travel. Employee ennui.

I'm working in another food industry job now. It's hard work, but as I love to feed people, just being a part of the process is pretty satisfying. I have to say that professional kitchen equipment fascinates me. Where I work, there's a giant oven which not only bakes but which can also be set to steam food. Pretty cool. We have shrink-wrap machines, and a blast chiller, and industrial-size deep fryers. The deep fryers are in hot demand; cooks from different sections of the kitchen use them throughout the day. I use them as well. But I have a mortal fear of the oil splashing up and burning me. Yes, it has happened, but no, nothing dramatic.

Yet I persist in having a fear of frying. I think much of my attitude spins off this fear. Am I good enough? Will I ever be comfortable enough in my own skin that I know I belong, that I excel, that I make a difference?

Sometimes I wonder about the places I've worked in, wondered about things I might have done differently. But when I really think about it, I know that circumstances don't define who I am as a person. Losing a job for whatever reason should not knock me out. Things happen. To everyone. But if I hang on to the fear, to the bad memories surrounding an incident (like loss of a job, or an issue I may have while working) it only adds insult to injury. Who needs that? I have enough going on in my daily life that I don't need to be dragging around extra baggage from my past.

I think fear holds many of us back. It can be multi-tentacled, reaching into our hearts and minds to choke us. Fear can also deceive and distract us; it gets us off track from the important things in our lives and prevents us from moving forward. So why do we allow it? Allow all the hand-wringing, all the heart-wrenching fear? Even as a Christian I wrestle with this issue. How can I say that I trust God, yet let fear have such a stronghold on my heart? God does not want us to have a spirit of fear. He tells us not to shrink from the work he has set us to do. "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7

If I only focus on what I think I can do - or worse, focus on what I think I can't - there is no way I will ever succeed at anything. I realize that I am at my most fearful when I rely only on myself. If I say that I trust in God, I need to make a conscious effort to hand over control ... which includes the fears I have.

When I do make that effort, God never throws it in my face. He takes my fear and replaces it, gently, with peace. It's a peace that passes all understanding. I should know: I've tried to muscle through it intellectually. But the point of faith is not knowing. It is believing. And if I truly believe in God, believe that He has good plans for my life, then I need to relinquish the things that keep my faith from thriving.

There was only one perfect person who ever walked this earth. I know that He doesn't expect the same perfect performance from me. God will be with me wherever I go and support me through all my trials. Shying away from life because of fear is not an option. The point is to make the effort to keep moving forward. And because I choose to rely on God for my strength and not merely on myself, I know that my best is good enough.

So now I can finally dismantle that old GPS of mine. I trust God in the driver's seat of my life. And you know what? The road ahead looks pretty promising.

_______________________________________________________

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4: 4-9

_______________________________________________________

Chicken Parmesan

2012-05-08T10:50:00.000-04:00

This pic is from chicken parm I made at work, and the pieces are huge!
Pics beneath are from my at-home version. You want them this size?
Pound them once before breading and then when you get them in
the last stage of your breading station, whack them with your hand.
That will stretch them out and give you some mighty nice looking pieces.

Chicken Parmesan is possibly my favorite dish of all time. You've got a nice healthy cut of meat, then all the good stuff: a crispy coat of breadcrumbs, delicious sauce, and wads of wonderfully melted cheese. Definitely worth the time and effort to make this delish dish!

Ingredients:

4 boneless chicken breasts, about 1 pound

1 cup flour seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder

3 eggs, beaten with 2 tablespoons water

1 ½ cup seasoned Italian bread crumbs

8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

Parmesan cheese

Spaghetti or marinara sauce, homemade if possible

Olive oil

Side dish ingredients:

Cooked pasta (your choice) with additional sauce

Italian bread

A nice leafy green salad
Grated Parmesan or other Italian cheese, for topping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375° degrees. Also have a large pot of salted water heating on your stove top for the pasta.

Assemble your breading station, with separate bowls for flour, egg wash, and bread crumbs. Start by dredging a chicken breast in the seasoned flour. Tap off excess. Dip chicken breast in beaten egg, making sure that each piece is completely coated. Drain off any excess egg, then put chicken into the bread crumbs. Press to make sure bread crumbs adhere evenly on both sides. Set aside on a clean plate and repeat with remaining pieces.

Breading station: first flour, then egg wash, then bread crumbs.

In a large skillet, cook chicken in olive oil over medium heat, turning once so the pieces are golden brown on both sides. The chicken will finish cooking in the oven so just get it browned and on to the next step. And check the pot on your stove: is the water boiling yet? Because you'll need to start cooking your pasta at this point.

Nicely browned in the pan.

Transfer chicken to a baking sheet (or if you have an oven-safe cooking skillet, by all means, just use that and save yourself an extra dish to wash!) Top each piece of chicken with sauce and mozzarella cheese. How much cheese is enough? Well ... how much cheese do you like on your chicken parm? Also sprinkle a handful of Parmesan cheese over each piece and a little parsley for color, if desired. If you've got some fresh herbage (basil, oregano, or parsley) use some kitchen scissors and snip a little over the cheese. If not, dried herbs are fine.

Gettin' into the sauce ...

Cheese, cheese, and more cheese!

Finished in the oven and browned under the broiler.

Bake 10 – 15 minutes until the chicken has an internal temp of 165°. Briefly run under the broiler to melt and lightly brown cheese. Once completed, let your beauties rest on a cooling rack to drain off any extra oil while the pasta is cooking. Then serve with the side dishes of your choice, and dig in!

Chicken Parm with pasta and a nice hunka hunka buttered bread.

Chef's note: I have found that if the chicken breasts are too thick, you end up with a lot of chicken and the toppings get lost. You can either pound your breasts (pun intended) or carefully cut them lengthwise through the middle so one chicken breast gives you two (more manageable) pieces. I think smaller pieces of chicken makes for a much nicer dish. Plus you don't have to feel guilty about eating two! :D

More Beauty Less Beast

2012-03-22T11:41:00.000-04:00

I'm probably not the typical gal. I don't enjoy shopping and couldn't care less about the latest fads/fashion/frenzies. I don't even own a purse (the only exception was an all-black diaper bag when my kids were in the infancy age and needed baby gear.) If I can't fit what I need in my pockets, I probably don't need it in the first place. Be that as it may, I do try to at least look respectable when I go out of the house. So I guess I'm not totally immune to worries about my looks.

Along comes More Beauty, Less Beast, by Debora Coty. This handy dandy manual teaches women about managing both inner and outward beauty - and the accompanying attitude, or "beaut-i-tude" that goes with it. For most ladies, our self-image is just as important as how we think others think about us. And much of that is wrapped up in what we (and others) can see on the outside. In order to please, and to look pleasing, ladies to do some pretty crazy things.

But we focus on the wrong things when we neglect our 'inside' essentials and obsess over our 'outside' appearance. Inside out and upside down. True beauty isn't really about having flawless skin and a size 2 wardrobe. This book teaches that women should be nurturing our spirits and disciplining ourselves physically and mentally. Just as women love and appreciate beautiful things, we also loved to be appreciated for our beauty. But it's a far better thing to be loved for the beautiful people we are - in how we express our love to those around us, in our care for them, and in our words and actions to them - than to be admired for how well we look. It's not the pretty package that really counts, it's what’s inside that really matters.

More Beauty, Less Beast by Debora Coty is a great book for reminding us that the good stuff is worth working for!

~ Review by Judy Fedele ~

I was given a copy of The Beautiful Wife by Litfuse Publicity

in exchange for a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

More Beauty, Less Beast by Debora Coty | $150 Visa Cash Card Giveaway, "Divine Beauty" Facebook Party and Blog Tour

Welcome to the campaign for Debora Coty's latest laugh-out-loud release, More Beauty, Less Beast!

With the wit of Erma Bombeck and the wisdom of Dear Abby, Coty weaves a practical handbook into a fun, easy read. Patsy Clairmont calls Debora "delightful ... invigorating". Debora is celebrating the release of her new book by hosting the "Transform Your Inner Ogre Giveaway" (win a $150 Visa Cash Card!) and hosting the "Divine Beauty" Facebook party (3/22)! Details below.

"More Beauty, Less Beast is both spiritual retreat and much needed makeover, complete with one of my favorite aerobic activities - belly laughing!" ~Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Belle of All Things Southern and author of Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy!

"Deb Coty is funny and wise. This is my favorite combination in any human being." ~Rachel St. John-Gilbert, author of Laugh Yourself to Sleep and The Well Lived Laugh

"In More Beauty, Less Beast, Debora Coty creatively and hilariously helps us tag that inner beast we all battle, then gives us practical ways to muzzle and tame the brute." ~Rhonda Rhea, Author of How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take to Change a Person?

"More Beauty, Less Beast, will revolutionize your thinking about the who, what, and how of beauty and fashion. ...Debora Coty is funny, insightful, and beautiful inside and out. And you are too!" ~Martha Bolton, Emmy and Dove nominated writer, author of 84 books of humor and former staff writer for Bob Hope

{More about Debora Coty}

Debora Coty is an occupational therapist, a piano teacher, and a freelance writer. She's also involved in the children's ministry at her church and is an avid tennis player. Debora began writing to fill the void when her last child left for college, and it has since become a passion. Debora has a real knack for getting across sound biblical concepts with a refreshing lightheartedness as attested in her monthly newspaper column entitled "Grace Notes: God's Grace for Everyday Living."

Visit www.deboracoty.com for more about Debora and her books.

{More about More Beauty, Less Beast}

With her own offbeat brand of wit and near-wisdom, inspirational humorist Debora Coty addresses heart needs of women struggling to tame that out-of-control inner beast that unexpectedly pounces, roaring and shredding, as it threatens to destroy the divinely beautiful princess hidden within. Whether jaded by emotional wounds, unrealistic standards, or lack of confidence, this laugh-out-loud, girlfriend-to-girlfriend encouragement will help women transform their destructive inner beast into the exquisite beauty they were always meant to be.

{More about the Transform Your Inner Ogre Giveaway}

Using Biblical advice and her trademark humor, Debora Coty urges women to conquer guilt and re-institute hope in More Beauty, Less Beast. Celebrate with Debora by entering to win a $150 Visa Cash Card!

One "beautiful" winner will receive:

A $150 Visa Cash Card (Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend get-away!)
A Debora Coty Library (More Beauty, Less Beast, Too Blessed Too Be Stressed and Everyday Hope)
Chocolate (Every good thing begins with chocolate!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/22/12. Winner will be announced at Debora's "Divine Beauty" Facebook Party on 3/22. Debora will be hosting an evening of chat, fun beauty trivia, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Debora via Skype.)

So grab your copy of More Beauty, Less Beast and join Debora and friends on the evening of March 22nd for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 22nd!

The Beautiful Wife: Book Review, Blog Tour and Facebook Party

2012-03-02T10:09:00.000-05:00

I do not always feel like a beautiful person, much less a good wife or mother. After years of marriage one can take things for granted - on both sides. And one can feel unappreciated, or worse, feel almost invisible. Even when both partners in a marriage love each other, relationships can still get in that unavoidable rut of routine.

Being a wife is not easy. There are so many expectations from society, expectations we put on ourselves, not to mention those our husband has for us. But when we are able to view our lives in a different way - in a biblical perspective - it's a game changer. God does not see us as we see ourselves, nor does He condemn us for the faults and follies that accumulate in a marriage. He loves us unconditionally. He sees us as perfect, beautiful, and worthy. There is an unmistakable sense of peace that comes from throwing off all these 'outside' expectations and following the way the Lord defines marriage. It is liberating, in the highest sense.

This book gave me an opportunity to reflect and recharge so that I was able to view my marriage (and my 'marriage' relationship with the Lord) in a whole new light. The writing in this book coupled with the perfect scriptures really drew me in and made a solid impact on several different levels.

The Beautiful Wife by Sandy Ralya is the type of book that I would absolutely recommend as required reading to any woman about to get married - but just as likely to recommend to those already married. We all can use a little attitude adjustment from time to time! And I know I will pick this up again, and again, and again ... because it is a good way to stop and reflect on my life and my marriage. And if I want to be a beautiful wife (which I am!) I want to keep reminding myself to make the right kind of choices and have the right kind of outlook ... so my marriage will be rock solid, forever and for always.

~ Review by Judy Fedele ~

I was given a copy of The Beautiful Wife by Litfuse Publicity

in exchange for a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Want to read MORE? Here's the blog tour schedule! http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13457272/beautifulwife

_______________________________________________________

The Beautiful Wife by Sandy Ralya Kindle Giveaway and Facebook Party

Welcome to the campaign launch for Sandy Ralya's The Beautiful Wife!

We are thrilled to tell you about these great resources from Kregel Publications and Sandy's minsitry, Beautiful Womanhood. To celebrate Sandy is hosting a fabulous Kindle Touch giveaway (2/15 - 3/7) and an encouraging Facebook party on 3/8. All the details below.

There was a time when Sandy Ralya's marriage was in trouble. While she eventually sought guidance from godly mentors and Christian counselors, she didn't forget the fear and isolation she experienced and knew other women were feeling the same. So in 2003 Sandy started Beautiful Womanhood, a marriage mentoring ministry, to help other women know they are not alone in their struggles. Being a wife has always been a difficult role to understand. It's not a one-size-fits all formula and with that in mind, Sandy has written The Beautiful Wife o that all women can benefit from her "messy" story and her insights into the value of marriage mentorship.

"...An incredible handbook that every woman needs. I believe this book will be life-changing for many, many women and their marriages." -Best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn

"Sandy Ralya candidly shares her experiences, others' personal stories, and God's wisdom to mentor women for great marriages." - Florence Littauer, speaker and best-selling author of Personality Plus

"Simply and honestly, Sandy speaks to the real issues that wives deal with and gives practical guidance on how to become 'beautiful' in Christ." - Dan Seaborn, author and founder of Winning at Home

{About Beautiful Womanhood}

{More about Sandy}

Sandy Ralya is the founder and director of Beautiful Womanhood, a marriage mentoring ministry based near Grand Rapids, Mich. Her marriage testimony was the focus of a popular three-day interview on FamilyLife Today, TV's Walking by Faith, and Time Out for Women. Sandy is a sought-after speaker, presenting Beautiful Womanhood seminars to hundreds of women each year at MOPS groups, women's retreats, and church leadership conferences across the country and in Canada. Sandy and her husband Tom have been married since 1980, and have a growing number of grandchildren. www.beautifulwomanhood.com

{More about The Beautiful Wife book, Prayer Journal and Mentor's Guide}

The Beautiful Wife uses these inspiring stories along with biblical principles to guide and encourage any wife looking for God's best in her marriage. The Beautiful Wife answers serious questions women have about their roles as wives. Discussing everything from romance and money to beauty, communication, and sex, Sandy challenges women to open up and share their journeys so that together they can see God's plan for their marriages. "It is my passion to help women discover God's heart for their marriage, just as the other women helped me," writes Sandy. "When women share with each other the details of their journeys with God as wives, it's a beautiful thing indeed." The Beautiful Wife has two companion resources - Prayer Journal and Mentor's Guide.

{More about The Beautiful Wife Kindle Touch Giveaway and Facebook Party} Celebrate with Sandy by entering her Kindle Touch Giveaway!

One beautiful winner will receive:

A Brand new Kindle Touch with Wi-Fi
The Beautiful Wife by Sandy Ralya
The Beautiful Wife Prayer Journal and Mentor's Guide by Sandy Ralya

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/7/12. Winner will be announced at Sandy's "Beautiful Womanhood" Facebook Party on 3/8. Sandy will be hosting an evening of chat, laughter and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, prayer journals, gift certificates and a live chat with Sandy for your Bible study or small group!

So grab your copy of The Beautiful Wife and join Sandy and friends on the evening of March 8th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 8th!

Alienation by Jon S. Lewis: Book Review and Blog Tour

2012-02-08T11:08:00.002-05:00

If you love multi-armed aliens, fast-paced action, and teen-aged angst, Alienation by Jon Lewis has it. If you want a book that combines sci-fi with spy gadgets with a little surfer dude thrown in for good measure, it's in there. If you want a story that takes the comic book vibe and expands it into a novel - but wait, there's more - a whole series of novels ... Alienation's got your number. What's not to like?

Colt McAlister and his two best friends, Danielle Salazar and Ox Romaro are privileged to enter the C.H.A.O.S. military academy. But the transition is not an easy one: the world as we know it is changing and Colt is grabbling with all those changes and more. He's the classic reluctant hero, trying to come to terms with who he is in the universe and who everyone thinks he should be. The story weaves in lots of fun fantasy - school uniforms with nanotechnology that customize the fit to the wearer, electro-magnetic Hoverboards, and over the top simulation rooms, for starters. But there's also a great story with tons of danger, intrigue, and shape-shifting alien assassins.

Alienation is a sci-fi hit that caters to kids of all ages. Not that I'm telling my age or anything. But I, like, totally enjoyed the story! This is the second book in the C.H.A.O.S. series, and though I do wish I had read Invasion first - it was easy to dive into the story, cozy up to the characters, and run with the action. And now I can go pick up the first book and see what I missed. Then look forward to the next in the series!

~ Thank you to LitFuse Publicity for providing me with a complimentary copy of Alienation. This review reflects my own personal opinion of the book. ~
Judy L. Fedele

Join us for the Alienation Facebook party here!

Alienation by Jon Lewis | iPad2 Giveaway, blog tour and Facebook Party!

C.H.A.O.S...

Welcome to the campaign for DC Comics author Jon Lewis' thrilling new novel in the C.H.A.O.S. series, Alienation! To celebrate Jon has teamed up with his publisher, Thomas Nelson, for the Alienation iPad2 Giveaway (1/19 - 2/17)!

This second installment in Lewis' series was inspired by the life of King David. As a boy, David started out as an underdog, but went on to overcome an unlikely beginning and high-level betrayal to become a respected warrior and national hero. Lewis says, "In Alienation I want readers to realize that like Colt, we all have a special calling. We just need to figure out what it is." Young adults and fans of graphic novels will find Alienation and the C.H.A.O.S. series a thrilling read, which includes a graphic novel prologue and a sketchbook of characters.

Praise for the series:

"Flying motorcycles, shape-shifting aliens,
comic book superscience, and mind-control technology...a fun read...."
--Publishers Weekly

"Comic book characters come to life! ...Brisk pace, aliens and jet-packs--
Lewis is a veteran of the comic-book industry, and his plot is a domestic read-alike of Alex Rider."
--Kirkus Reviews

About the book:

After his parents were killed in a car accident, Colt McAllister was drawn into a world he thought only existed in comic books-one where mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles don't even scratch the surface.

Along with his best friends Oz and Danielle, Colt is now training at the secret Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural academy. But strange accidents seem to follow him. . . even with the security of the school grounds. What first seems random soon turns deadly. But who is targeting Colt?

As the alien invasions increase in frequency and force, C.H.A.O.S resources are taxed to the limit and they're forced to utilize the new recruits. In the midst of battle, Colt will discover some startling revelations . . . about himself, his friendship with Oz, and why he has been chosen to defeat this alien attack against earth.

Watch the video trailer:

About the author:

Jon S. Lewis is the coauthor of the Grey Griffins trilogy (over 500,000 books in print) and the upcoming Grey Griffins Clockwork Chronicles. He also writes for the DC COMICS family of publishers. He resides with his family in Arizona.

For more about Jon and the series, visit www.chaosnovels.com.

About the Alienation iPad2 Giveaway:

The invasion was only the beginning! Jon is celebrating the next adventure in his fast-paced series with an explosive giveaway!

One thrill-seeker will receive:

iPad2 with Wi-Fi
Copies of the C.H.A.O.S. novels, Invasion and Alienation

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below.
But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 7th.
Winner will be announced at the Alienation Facebook Party on 2/7. Jon will be hosting an Author Chat, giving away copies of the books and gift certificates to iTunes and Amazon.com! Don't miss a second of the intrigue!

Grab your copy of Alienation and join Jon on the evening of February 7th for an author chat, spy training (How much do you know about alien invaders?) and lots of giveaways.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!

Loop de loop

2012-01-23T11:27:00.001-05:00

Life is a giant loop de loop, and it takes money to keep on riding that roller coaster. And while some say that life isn't all about money - well, you can declaim the idea that money matters, but honey, if you want to enjoy life, you have to have the money to pay for it. And thus, our lives are spent in pursuit of the money we need to pay for the lives we live. Everyone has bills to pay, everyone has the basics to buy. Money may not be the reason you get up in the morning, but you've got to admit, it is a mighty powerful motivator.

My husband makes a good income, but in this economy, things are tight and every dollar counts. Though I don't get paid for being a stay at home mom (or my preferred term, "Domestic Engineer") I know I contribute tons. I do everything for everyone, run the household, run the kids to their activities, and run - run - run to get it all done. But now that my girls are in school full-time, I got a job. And when I received my first paycheck it was a great feeling. But now my hours at home are limited, and I'm feeling the pressure of still having to do it all - but in less time. And it got me thinking about the things that I really and truly value, since my time is more valuable these days.

I have a friend I know who works two jobs. She's this teeny little slip of a woman, but inside, she is tough as steel. And this woman has a daughter. She likes to keep her daughter busy after school - lots of extra curricular's - piano lessons, sports, creative things. This woman is deliberate in how she is raising her child - and she does not want her girl sitting around like a lump, but instead, shapes her daughter's free time. And I look at my kids and think, gosh, I must be a slacker mom. My younger daughter is taking gymnastics and basketball, my older does drama and dance. But that's all they do. Because that's all we can afford to do.

My friend busts her chops between her two jobs so she can pay for the many activities her daughter is involved in. These things cost money. Lots of it. For example - you enroll a kid in a drama class. You pay for the class. Then you pay for whatever gear they need for the weeks/months they are in the class (dance shoes, leotards, etc.) Then you pay for the costumes they will need for the performance. Then when their performance comes up, you pay for tickets. Let's not forget about all the gas to get these kids to their activities, back and forth, back and forth, plus the time involved spent shuttling them to the activities, and being there - whether involved, or just waiting - during those activities.

Seems as parents we pay through the nose when our kids are involved in activities. So my question: are all of these activities necessary to develop our kids into well-rounded adults? Or is having some free time, down time, mindless game-playing, chip-munchin' time okay, too?

How much is enough? How much is TOO much? I remember being involved in sports when I was a kid. I was very athletic. It was my thing and I enjoyed it. But I don't remember being dragged to activities just to keep me busy. I remember having plenty of playtime, plenty of free time to just hang out and play in my neighborhood with my friends. And I grew up okay.

I'm not saying that kids shouldn't be involved in activities. But if we have to work a second job just to pay for those activities - and then not be able to be with our family because we are working so hard, trying to pay those endless bills ... I have to ask, "Is is worth it?" This endless loop de loop of busyness? Of forced activity for the sake of itself?

Or is it better to maybe not focus on the money so much, to not go - go - go all the time? To slow down ... breathe a little easier ... without all the rushing. And maybe, just maybe, spend a little more time with the ones we love. As for me, I realize how valuable my time is now. And I want to spend the time I have available, with those I value the most.

A Plateful of Resolutions

2012-01-05T09:46:00.001-05:00

Finally can take a breather after all the rush-rush of the last few months. Holiday’s certainly stack up at the end of the year, don’t they? I enjoy the season as much as anyone but I also like moving on to the space afterwards, when we can relax a little, put away the decorations, and get on with the everydayness of our regular lives. Guess I’m just not the party animal type.

Apparently the big food companies have their own opinion of what kind of partying I’ve done over the past season; there are diet, no carb, low fat and weight loss coupons swamping my newspaper this week. Just how much eggnog do they think I drank? I had to go out and buy my own little carton of eggnog because none of the parties I was at had any! Hmmph. They can’t make me diet - I like food too much! I never see the point in making any New Year’s Resolutions anyway. Who needs the extra pressure? I’ve got enough on my plate (little anti-diet joke there) without stressing myself out over my weight or housekeeping or time management skills or whatever.

Why aren’t people ever happy with the way they are, or their lot in life? We certainly have a lot to be thankful for - but sometimes we need to look around us, to see how good we really have it. What with all the many tragedies in the news - the economy, widespread issues and stresses a-plenty for millions ... well, I’m trying to think a little less of my own needs these days.

So my “resolutions” for this year? Simple To be truly grateful for the life I have, for my husband and kids, even for our crazy dogs. And especially for all the blessings we do have. To give as we are able, to show compassion a little more, and to have a few folks over for dinner this year.

After all, what’s the fun in having nice plates if I can’t share a little of what’s on my own?

(not my real plates! lol)

Observations on the Holidays

2011-12-13T12:56:00.003-05:00

On Holiday Parties: Under the right conditions during a holiday party, a chocolate fountain can rotate loose from its moorings and spin wildly, spraying chocolate for yards in a circular pattern. Chocolate is a viscous substance and does not wipe up easily. Chocolate sprayed on the wall, however, is easily accessible for dogs or small children to lick. For dogs, chocolate acts like a happy drug in their systems. Trust me, this is not a good thing. Especially when they come down off their high and vomit on the rug. In front of the company.

A chocolate fountain, finding itself in good humor from the previous catastrophe, will gladly repeat the offense a second time during the party, this time waiting just until the hostess comes to the table to get some food before it breaks loose and sprays all over the place. When this happens, it is perfectly acceptable to just walk away from the mess, change into a clean shirt, and sit down with an adult beverage to enjoy the rest of the party. The dogs will help with the cleanup, anyway.

On Christmas Cookies: No matter how much time and effort you put into creating home-made morsels of love, the kids will prefer the store-bought versions of cookies they are used to. They will even ignore the lovely goodies sitting right on the kitchen table and actually scale several shelves up into the pantry to reach the shiny commercialized packages.

Christmas cookies left on the counter will also be ignored by one’s husband, who prefers salty snacks anyway. The choice is then whether the cookies will go to waste, or to waist. Vigorously perusing the ads for sales on elliptical machines, treadmills and exercise bikes in the newspaper while eating cookies will increase your heart rate but will not reduce caloric intake.

On In-Laws: No matter how much time and effort you spend cleaning your house and slaving over a hot stove, the in-grates (or is it out-laws?) will consume every morsel you prepare, not lift a finger to help clean up, and demand the very dessert they brought with them as a gift. Plus they will completely ignore you throughout the evening, never say thank you for the meal or your efforts, and when they leave they will comment that their own cooking is better. Not to mention that they never bothered to call to confirm they were coming over until your husband finally contacted them the day of the dinner, and when they did come, they brought extra uninvited guests with them. (True story.)

On Christmas Gifts: Toy manufacturers do not actually want children playing with their toys. What with all the twist-ties, plastic restraints, and industrial-strength tape in toy packaging, parents need a degree in engineering to remove said toy from said package. Hours later, when the toys are finally freed and assembled, the children will prefer to play with the twist-ties and boxes. Neatness does not count with gifts for kids. Children don’t pause thoughtfully on Christmas morning to admire how carefully the packages are wrapped. It’s what’s under the wrap that matters. Providing that the parents can get the toys out of the packages for their children after all that neat wrapping paper has been ripped to shreds.

On Stockings: it is unnecessary to wrap every little item that goes into the stockings. Not only is it frustrating and time-consuming, it just delays the whole process. Also: even if it’s been a family tradition for generations, putting a fruit in the toe of a Christmas stocking will only prompt an annoyed roll of the eyes. But it’s worth it just to see the irritated look on the children’s faces when they pull out an apple as their final stocking gift.

Giving a ‘bean box’ (a large container filled with dried beans, scoops, funnels and measuring cups) to a two year old with no history of throwing things, virtually guarantees that the two year old will suddenly discover a deeply repressed need to fling handfuls of dried beans all over the carpet, at the dog, her sibling, her parents, and into the heater vents.

And finally, whoever it was that came up with the saying, “It is better to give than to receive” never had days’ worth of picking up and cleaning to do after the whole gift-giving fiasco was over.

All the Difference in the World

2011-11-27T21:03:00.001-05:00

by guest blogger,

Nicholas J. Fedele

Well it’s that time of year again. The colors run green and red, interspersed with gold twinkling lights and silver threads of tinsel. Children's eyes are wide with wonder and magic, and for a couple weeks they’re all on their best behavior. Families reunite, feasts are prepared and everyone wishes for peace on Earth and goodwill towards men, if just for a little while. Christmas is coming!

Then there's the glorious music! The choruses ring out all over the world, beckoning the faithful and the curious to come and adore Him on this silent night. But inevitably some boy comes to the stable banging on a little drum which wakes the sleeping baby, making him cry. Annoyed, the shepherds throw the little drummer boy out on his keyster for disturbing the newborn babe in the straw. At least that’s my version of the story.

Ah yes… 'What Child is this who laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping?' asks another timeless carol. Good question.

When we think about it, everyone in some way is faced with that question every Christmas season. The Child in question is everywhere! He's unavoidable! So who is He? What do we do with Him? Do we even give it any serious thought in the midst of all the busyness? Does it really matter? What difference does He make for our lives anyway? For anyone’s life?

I'm thinking now of most of the people I encounter in my day-to-day. Family, friends and acquaintances who are what we would call genuinely good people. The salt of the earth.

From all appearances, they seem to have got it all together. They have a loving marriage and 2.5 beautiful kids. They say grace at their meals and go to church on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, just like proper believers should.

They're content with where they are in life and where they're going. They have real joy in their hearts, sometimes despite their circumstances, again just like believers do.

They grow and mature in character through hardship and trial, what do ya’ know, just like believers grow!

But here's the rub… They feel no need for true relationship with Christ. Why should they? What difference does He make? What Child is this?

I've found these dear people to be the most resistant to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The reason often is that they have heard it all before many times. And for the most part, not only have they heard it all before, but they’ll swear that they most certainly believe it to be true! And again, for the most part, they actually do.

Where the problem arises is in this: There is an insidious indifference present in their mindset. A failure to connect their own goodness and righteousness to its focus and end point in a vital, life changing relationship with Jesus.

The apostle Paul speaks about people who are like this in Romans 10:1-4:

Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Jesus Christ is the source of all righteousness and recognizing and accepting the Lordship of Christ is what makes all the difference in the world. As human beings, it is only in knowing Him that we fully become who we were created to be.

So can people be content and have a ‘got-it-all-together-life?’ Sure, but ‘Christ has come that we may have life, and have it more abundantly’ (John 10:10).

Can a person have joy in any circumstance? I imagine so, but only in maintaining relationship with Jesus will His ‘joy be in you, and therefore your joy will be made full and complete’ (John 15:11).

Can people grow and mature through the hardship and trials that come their way? Of course, but when God puts us through the fire to stretch and purify our character, His word states that our maturity is moving toward perfection. We become more and more the person God designed us to be; mature and complete, not lacking anything’ (James 1:2-4).

It is a deadly deception of Satan that allows a person to accept contentment, joy and maturity, but only for this life. “It is enough,” they think. Here and now. This is all there is to existence.

We must understand that there is no temporal or eternal purpose in living life apart from God. Vanity, vanity, all is vanity and life is futility, the wise man wrote. Nothing lasts and nothing matters. Not without Him.

So what do we do this Christmas for people who feel no need for Christ but are awash in the ‘Christmas spirit’ and the ‘hope of the season’ as it were? When that hope disappoints and the post-holiday blues set in, we can be there to quietly point the way past the manger scene to a ‘hope that does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us’ (Romans 5:5).

The Lord desires all of us to know Him and break free of the lie of superficial religiosity and so called ‘Christmas spirit.’ Let us just pray for wisdom and opportunity from the Holy Spirit to draw our loved ones to Him this Christmas season. Be His hands and feet. Be His eyes and ears. Listen to His still small voice. Be a living example of His love. People are especially open to the gospel during this time of year. So go tell it on the mountain – that Jesus Christ is born! Remember, He makes all the difference in the world.

GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE!

Thanksgiving ... thanks for what?

2011-11-19T10:52:00.001-05:00

Hidey ho there, fellow feast goers! Are you all geared up for the big T-day event? Got your table set, turkey brining, crafts for the kids ready, and everything running according to schedule? Okay, maybe someone out there has it all planned down to the last salad fork … but you can bet it’s not me.

This is one of those annoying holidays where you work like a slave (unpaid, and likely unshowered) for days, only to produce a meal that will be eaten in 19 minutes flat. Your kitchen will be trashed and the house will look like a tornado hit after the whole affair is over. Thanksgiving? Thanks for what??

I tend to look around and look inward at this time of year and wonder what in the world I’m really thankful for. It seems like the proper thing to do. Introspect. Retrospect. Try to make some sense

of the yearly drudgery.

But honestly, how thankful can I be when my husband hates the very foods that make Thanksgiving the eating holiday of the year? He detests turkey, mashed potatoes and pie. Don’t ask me why; there’s no rhyme or reason to it. He’s not fussy with any other kind of food. Kind of puts a damper on the whole feast thing. Of course, that doesn’t stop me from cooking any of those dishes. Just means there’s more pie for me.

Let’s see, how about my kids? Well, I am thankful that my two daughters are pretty good eaters. But the thankfulness index plummets when it comes to their sleep habits. Or should I say the lack thereof. Neither of the girls seems to need more than a thimbleful of sleep each night. I've had big-time sleep deprivation for over thirteen years. In a row. Yet these are just minor irritants in my daily life.

These things, in the end, don’t mean a whole lot. There’s just too much going on in the world nowadays to get upset by little stuff like food and sleep. What with terrorism, hurricanes, floods, fires, financial disasters, tsunamis, earthquakes, epidemics … and heartbreak from one end of the world to the other, the quote of the year is from a TV host who said: "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

He’s certainly got a point. The news during these last few months has been rife with strife. But as we enter into the holiday season it’s easy to get so frazzled and unfocused that we forget the reason behind the season. When we take God out of the equation it reduces holidays like Thanksgiving to a meaningless exercise. It’s not about football and full tummies. Truly.

I’m thankful I have a God who knows me fully and still loves me, a God who cares about the little details in my life. I know there are many in the world that aren’t as fortunate as us. People who would be thankful for even a tiny portion of the feast we’ll have this year on Thanksgiving, much less the plenty we have from day to day.

So when I’m washing my millionth dish, or folding my billionth pile of laundry, or cleaning up the trillionth mess in the house, maybe I can do so with a little more grace. Because when I do stop long enough to count my blessings, you know what? I’ve got plenty to be thankful for.

And I bet you have too.

Push Through the Pain

2011-11-10T09:25:00.000-05:00

If I had to summarize what motherhood means to me, and try and pin it down to one defining word that pretty much captures the whole experience, I would have to say … pain.

Yep, PAIN it is. (What, you were expecting ‘fulfillment’ or ‘love’?) Nope. Children come into this world, bringing joy and excitement and a w-h-o-l-e lot of pain. And they keep on bringing it, in one form or another. With some woman the pain of motherhood begins with a difficult pregnancy; with others, it’s the excruciating labor of childbirth. Everyone has their own little horror stories to share - especially if there is a pregnant lady within earshot. The tales we tell can range from the blood and guts hospital variety to the twisted red tape of adoptions. Women are all about relationship, and instead of trying to one-up each other with our stories, we typically use them to commiserate with each other. We bond, we sympathize, we relate. Perhaps you can relate to my story.

With my first-born, Jaime, it’s a tale about a broken tailbone. And Jaime loves to tell it to anyone who will listen. “When I was born I broke my mom’s tailbone. She was pushing hard and I was pushing harder inside and then there was this snapping sound. Everyone was like, ‘What was that noise?’ And wham! snap! out I came. And I’ve been a pain in the tush ever since!” That’s my sweet Jaime. As for my second, my little Delia, well, that was no picnic either. Though the labor was much shorter (5 hours compared to a full 24) the pain was far more intense. For my first labor I chose to have no meds; with the next pregnancy, I put in my order for an epidural at my first pre-natal check-up. The second time around I knew what was coming - and I was more than a little apprehensive about going through labor again. But the nurses knew I could get through it, and they kept encouraging me. “Push through the pain! Just push through the pain!”

To be honest, that wasn’t what I wanted to hear in the middle of the worst pain I’ve ever had. At the time, I would have preferred a little more sympathy, an understanding look, an assurance that it was going to be all right. But those nurses knew a thing or two, I guess, because I did manage to “push through the pain” and get the job done. And thus my little peanut, my Delia, came into the world. I’m pretty sure she was worth the effort. And the same with Jaime (though my tailbone is still a little sore.)

Pain doesn’t end with the beginning of Motherhood. Oh, no. The fun is just beginning. There’s the recovery from pregnancy. The sleep-deprived nights. All of the endless, thankless, mindless tasks mothers have to do every day, multiple times a day. Not to mention all the repetitive training, nagging, and teaching that comes into play as the kids get older. It’s all rolled up into motherhood. Being a mom is a struggle.

Of course, I’m not saying that it’s all hardship. There are wonderful moments with your kids (brief, shining moments) when you heave a contented mommy sigh and understand all the love in the universe. We need
to focus on the good stuff, those happy little carrots that
get us through the slogging dreariness. Because it is worth it. All the pain they give us, in whatever form, in whatever shape it comes, is still worth it. Pain is wrapped up in us and transforms into something better, deeper, more profound. It changes us as women, builds character, and teaches volumes.
So pain isn’t a bad thing in itself. It’s a springboard for better things.

So when your little ones are hanging on you, trashing the house and talking with their mouths full and pulling the dog’s tail and breaking your crockery … just sit down, take a beverage break and let it roll over you.

Because it’s all good. Bring it on.

Price Chopper Holiday Showcase Event

2011-11-05T01:13:00.000-04:00

Mouth-watering mini desserts

I had my first experience as a food blogger at an event: The Price Chopper Holiday Showcase,
held on Friday, November 4th in Schenectady, NY. Bloggers from near and far attended, which included sampling from a variety of departments, food demonstrations and a mini-seminar on tips for entertaining during the holidays.

Price Chopper obviously emphasizes value for their customers, but they also stress quality for the consumer as well. Who wouldn’t want time-saving apps, entrees and desserts to make their party rock without all the work? Everyone's time is at a premium these days, and Price Chopper offers amazing deals from soup to nuts to make your life during the holidays that much easier. And I should know... I sampled everything from the roasted chestnuts to the butternut-apple soup.

Wreath display

Of course they also have all the gizmos, gadgets and gift ideas you need to deck your halls out in style and splendor. Here's a nice pic of the wreath display. We were treated to a mini-seminar on Tips for Holiday Entertaining.

Key pieces of advice: organize in advance, make a timeline for purchase and preparation, and do as much as you can in advance of the party. Write out a list of your dishes for your event, so you won't inadvertently leave something in the fridge - or the microwave, as my mom is famous for doing every year! We got tips on presentation, like napkin folding (try an accordion style, served in a glass) traffic control (two-way buffet tables are best, napkins out of the way, and easy access to trash cans) and general party hints, like how much ice you need per person (1 pound!) and having disposable cups to cut down on the spread of germs (have a marker out so folks know which cup is theirs.) And have your serving area set up - labeled, so you know where your dishes are going, with the serving pieces and utensils ready at hand. It's no fun scrambling last minute for that slotted spoon or pie server!

Cheese platter with grapes

The food demonstrations were informative and interesting as well.
For the apps we learned how to build a cheese tray. Pick about five or so cheeses, starting with mild and ending with the stronger flavor profiles. Cut the rinds off one side, arrange on a cheese board or plate along with assorted crackers, breads, and fruits, like figs or grapes. And make sure you take your cheese out of the fridge an hour before your party starts, because cheese tastes better at room temperature. The cheese department at your local Price Chopper is glad to let you sample different cheeses so you can learn what you like, so that you are able to make an informed purchase. Always a good choice for a party. Who doesn't like cheese and crackers?

Certified Angus Beef demo

From the meat department, we learned all about Angus beef. Angus is a breed; Certified Angus Beef is the best of the best. The great flavor in Angus beef comes from the marbling (the fat running through the meat) and that is made by corn-fed cows, which gives them the starch in their diet to get their meat oh-so-tasty. I tried samples of the different meats, from the prime rib to the strip steaks... and wow. Tender, flavorful, melted like butter in my mouth. So they absolutely know their stuff. One of the things I liked was that Price Chopper offers a roast made from NY Strip Steak. They slice it length-wise and tie it off with butcher string, which shapes the meat and gives it a nice uniform slice. They have this available for purchase in smaller sections, for smaller families. Nice!

Dessert Table, with the luscious limited-time layer cake seen at the top.

And hey, when I heard about this showcase I was of course the most excited about the Decadent Dessert line. The pics speak for themselves... drooling yet? Price Chopper wanted to offer customers amazing desserts with the same taste and creativity found in upscale bakeries. And they have certainly done that.

I sampled a cannoli - the shell still crispy because they make them to order, not hours or days in advance. For parties you can also purchase the shells and the cream and pipe them yourself at your party, and as the presenter said, "And look like a rock star." Can't argue with that! I also sampled a natural berry pie and an eleven layer cake made with red velvet and whipped cream, and if that wasn't enough - a middle layer of cheesecake with a graham cracker crust layer. Decadent, delicious, to dye for. And also only available for a limited time ... so get it fast! They showcased many other amazing looking desserts, like the unique 'cake in a cup' - monthly creations too big to be called mere cupcakes. And Peanut Butter Pie, and Lemon Berry Bliss and Tres Leches Cake, and glossy fruit tarts. What makes those babies shine like that? But all oh-so-tempting!

Super cute specialty breads

And the Decadent Dessert presentation didn't end there, no ... the bakery also makes custom design specialty breads for your holiday table. They had a turkey made from rye bread, with dip
(that was gobbled up pretty quick!) and assorted other shapes and creatures. Got a special request? Check with your local Price Chopper bakery, and they will be happy to accommodate you!

All in all, the Price Chopper Holiday Showcase was a big hit. The food was fabulous and the demos were right on point. Everyone on the Price Chopper team made us feel right at home.
So if you are looking for quick and easy ways to entertain in YOUR home this holiday season,
and want good food for good value ... I think you know where you'll find it!

Turkey bread with dip

Loved the prosciutto-wrapped crunchy bread sticks! On the far right.

Appetizer table with an amazing brie en croute!

Pork crown roast ... imagine cooking that for your guests. You can't get any fancier than that!

A very shiny berry pie, cannoli, chocolate dipped pineapple ...
and an inside shot of that luscious red-velvet/cheesecake...

The Candy Conundrum

2011-11-01T12:57:00.001-04:00

And so it begins. The kick-off to the holiday season starts with a one-nighter anticipated all year by children and dreaded by parents who sigh and shell out money on ludicrously overpriced costumes and stockpiles of bite-size candy for the hordes of children that will descend on their doorsteps.

On this night, it’s a giant scavenger hunt, masquerade, and free-for-all, bundled together with the enthusiasm of sugar-crazy kids on a quest to score as much candy as their big bags and little legs can carry.

Candy from strangers … it really goes against the grain of everything we teach our children. Any other day of the year this is a no-no. But on this night, rules are relaxed, belts are loosened, and common sense goes out the window like so many discarded wrappers.

Aside from the hunter-gathering activities, Halloween is also a big social event. My older daughter is now at the age where she has separated herself from the family unit and wants to go trick-or-treating with just her friends. Friends meaning, a ‘mixed group’ with both girls and boys. By far, that was definitely the scariest thing I saw this Halloween. At 13 she has officially reached “the teen-aged years.” Years that inspire terror in parents across the globe. It’s not a trick and it’s definitely no treat when your kids want to go off and do their own thing. It means a whole new set of worries when your kids reach that age and that new stage in their lives. But it’s part of growing up, and if I want my daughter to learn to do that well, I guess I need to let go of her hand a little.

Speaking of ‘Little,’ I had a totally different experience with my younger girl.

This year my also-growing seven year old made it her personal mission to collect candy that I like. Can’t say what prompted that (and no! I didn’t ask her to do it!) but when she gets something set in her mind, she is unshakeable. It was truly wonderful to see her chatting up the neighbors and showing off her costume and just being her sweet little self. So we had a really good time together, and as tired as I am today from all the walking, it was worth it.

Now we have a pretty sweet stash of candy between our two girls’ collective efforts. And I’ve decided this is a good thing. If you can’t trust a skinny cook

(and I do love to cook!) then maybe I shouldn’t worry so much about my weight. So if I eat a little candy each day, I ought to start bulking up. Winter hits pretty hard in Central New York, and I might as well appreciate the built-in padding that will help keep me warm during those long, cold months.

So really, there’s no reason to worry going into the holiday season. Don’t fret about your kids’ teeth or the future dentist’s bills. Don’t obsess about the crick and crack from your back every time you have to stoop to pick up another dropped candy wrapper.

Think about it this way: you want to be able to pack it in on the mother of all eating holidays, right? So go ahead, sneak a few extra of your favorite treats from the kids’ candy stash, and enjoy the pre-Thanksgiving stomach stretch. Cut yourself a little slack and learn to indulge your inner child. Just don’t forget to brush regularly between steals.

A Day in the Life of Little

2011-10-26T09:33:00.000-04:00

Kids can suck the life right out of you. If they also sucked the fat out, at least I would be exhausted and skinny. But no such luck. Once upon a time, I was healthy, active, and upbeat. Now, a mere 13 years after I've had my children, I'm a crumpled shell of my former self.

You always hear folks saying about children, "I wish I could bottle their energy!" Ain't that the truth. And the more hyper, the more intense, the more 'spirited' those kids are ... the more rapidly they age you. I am old before my time. Both my girls stopped napping at 12 months. Not because I wanted them to! They just didn't need the sleep. My girls are energized bunnies, running on some internal power source that defies my ability to find the 'off' switch. Every hour those kids don't sleep, is one more gray hair on my head. I have a lot of gray hair.

At times as a parent you might think, "I can't wait to get through this stage." Like those early baby years - the sleepless nights, the endless diapers. But it doesn't last forever. Some of the most beautiful sounds you can hear are the toilet flushing and the sink water running … as your child outgrows diapers and moves forward into a new time of life. Every age and stage has both its challenges and its joys.

It's funny ... we used to call our younger daughter "Little" because she was just a peanut. And now we have friends with younger kids who call her the big kid. Life marches on. Sometimes it marches right over you.

When my kids were small, I did publicity for our local M.O.P.S. group (Mother's of Preschoolers.) I found an article I wrote in one of our newsletters about "Little" that still cracks me up. So I'd like to share it. It's a reminder that they do grow up fast. So try to enjoy your kids, even if they can make you a little crazy!

______________________________________________

A Day in the Life of Little

We call her "Little." Little is our two year old daughter. The nickname indicates her diminutive size but does not describe the incredibly huge amounts of trouble she gets into.

A typical day for Little will include:

Trying to climb into the oven (thankfully cold) while my back is turned. "While my back is turned" can vary from 10 seconds to a minute, but no longer, because as our 8 year old commented, "When she's playing and we can hear her, it's fine. When it’s quiet, you better find her fast 'cause there's sure to be trouble."

Stacking my glass spice jars 5 high while perched precariously on a shaky little plastic 4-drawer organizer jammed between the kitchen table and the kitchen counter.

Having a party with the sugar bowl, after climbing on the above kitchen counter. Sometimes this includes making her way across the entire length of the counter and the sink to peek into the cupboards above the (thankfully cold) stove top.

Commandeering "read: stealing" tea from my teacup. I haven't had a cup of tea to myself in months. Little has several tiny plastic play teacups in her arsenal. She will get one and dunk her cup into my ceramic tea cup. She's a precise child, always turns her cup so the rose pattern faces her and she can grasp the tiny handle on the right. Drinks her thimbleful of tea. Then she dips, and repeats. Dips. Repeats. I don’t believe the expression "tea for two" meant quite this. When Little has drunk her fill all that's left is backwash and a memory.

Then there are the frequent escapes from the house. We have had to install deadbolts on certain doors to prevent our little Houdini from escaping unexpectedly. If the front door isn't latched tight with the extra lock fastened, she will pop out of the front door like a jack in the box. Whoever is closest will charge out after her and retrieve the wayward child. My favorite of her escape attempts was during a particularly severe nighttime rainstorm. There was of course no time to put on a coat (much less shoes) for the chase. Squishy, squinchy, squelchy socks.

Little enjoys water play when she can get it (rainstorm or tub, it doesn't matter.) In between regular baths she likes to scale up the bathroom vanity, toes clinging to the drawer ledge to play with the water in the sink. Splashing happily away on the walls and the floor as well. Good way to get me to mop, I guess.

Pantry raids are a favorite activity, too. If we are watching TV, Little will bring us all sodas. She will conveniently have her tiny teacup at the ready, waiting for us for serve her the coveted beverage. If we do not open the soda, she will raid the pantry again and bring more sodas. We call this the "take the hint" technique. This also applies to any snack food she can reach. Raid. Repeat.

Then there's the whole potty training fiasco. I repressed the whole experience from my first daughter. Now I get to 'potty' all over again with the new kid on the block. I know that Little is ready for this stage: she's quite aware when her diaper is wet (or worse). Sometimes if we're lucky she will gleefully take it off and carry it to us to show us the contents. She’s happy as a clam to wave bye-bye to the poopy pebbles as they go down the toilet. I can't say the potty chair is completely ignored, though; she uses it as a step stool to reach the light switch in the bathroom. On, off, on, off. Repeat endlessly. But to actually use the potty? Not going to happen any time soon. Regardless of the fact that I am ready for her to be ready. Ah, well.

This is a typical day in the life of Little. I thought my older daughter was difficult at that age; I now know she was just a warm up to prepare me for the real deal. I wonder sometimes which of my kids is going to get me first, one from an ulcer, or the other from a heart attack. But for all the craziness in my life, I really am thankful for both of my girls. I'm also really thankful that they’re not twins.

Patience Unraveling

2011-10-23T18:41:00.000-04:00

Long lines and short tempers... instant coffee in the microwave... frozen “convenience” foods that cater to the “I need it yesterday” mentality as a culture. I’m late! I’m late! I’m late! we scream as we dash out into rush-hour traffic. Seems like everyone’s patience these days is worn thin with all the hurrying, scurrying and worrying.

Patience. That’s one of those little ‘object lessons’ that I definitely object to. I’ll give you an example. I found a cool decoration for our basement rec room, one of those retro beaded curtains that hang in a doorway.
I wanted to string them along the open space going down our cellar stairs.

The individual beaded cords had to come off the hanging rod, since the area was wider than the rod. So I did that. But then … those beady little strings managed to get intertwined into a big, knotted mess. It was unbelievable. I had to disentangle each twisted string from the heap.

So, naturally, I copped an attitude while I was doing this. What is the point of this … nothing is ever easy... why, Lord, whhhyyyyy? Thoughts turn cosmic when things make no sense.

But after a while, I got into a groove working on those silly strings, unraveling the knots one at a time as if they were wound into a kind of puzzle. And rather than hang on to my frustration, I began to see that even the most ridiculous of situations can be turned into a lesson in patience.

It's one of the "fruits of the spirit" talked about in the Bible (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness... found in Galatians 5:22-23) we often think we acquire instantaneously when we begin a relationship with God. But fruit takes time to ripen and grow, time to cultivate its sweetness. There’s no shortcut, no easy way to learn patience. It must be developed in us. And that only happens when we allow God to teach us through the trials (major, minor, or just plain annoying) that we experience daily.

No express lane thinking for me, thanks. I’d much rather take the scenic route, and learn to enjoy my life instead of just rushing through it.

Well, the beaded curtain did get up after a while... and I have to say...
it looks great. Though only a small lesson in patience, it may yet prove handy. Winter’s not too far away. And I can’t wait to see what our box of Christmas lights looks like.

The Wrong Line at the Wrong Time

2011-10-20T08:58:00.014-04:00

Let’s talk food shopping. You know when you’re at the grocery store, finished with the hunting and gathering and in a hurry to leave? You scan the checkout lines, trying pick which looks the fastest. This may seem like a no-brainer decision, but in reality it takes a very scientific approach to correctly choose the lane which will most likely get you and your groceries home the quickest.

There are important factors to calculate:

1) How alert is the cashier (upright or slumping?)

2) Number of customers already in line

3) Quantity of groceries in the carts ahead

4) Whether those customers look like they will either: a) argue with the cashier over expired coupons and non-existent sale prices, b) or worse, try to chat with the cashier

5) Whether those customers have their kids with them, which means they will be distracted and slower to unload their groceries and sort out their coupons and beverage-return slips, all while trying to keep the younger child safely in the grocery cart seat and focused on the free cookie snagged from the bakery to keep them out of meltdown mode during the tedious check-out process, while the older child is busy sneaking forbidden items onto the conveyer belt which go unnoticed because the harried parent is otherwise occupied. (This being a hypothetical situation and not one I’m familiar with myself…)

Unfortunately, even the most astute assessment can backfire, because at the exact moment you commit your cart and move into a checkout lane, that lane will reverse polarity from warp speed and grind down to a crawl. As every line but yours moves forward in a forwardly direction, there’s nothing you can do but grit your teeth and sweat into your coat. You know that feeling? I feel like that all the time.

And then, of course, we have the shopping horror-stories. These are typically not as gruesome as pregnancy/childbirth stories from veteran moms to expecting mothers-to-be, but it’s a shared experience we can all relate to. My favorite three shopping stories are all grocery store mishaps. The first is from a few years ago, as I was checking out, and the woman behind me in line had a child who was touching and handling my groceries as I was putting them onto the conveyer belt. This child was definitely old enough to know better than to touch someone else’s stuff and I politely asked the woman to have her stop. This mom – obviously a strong disciplinarian - responded with, “She ain’t got no germs!” Charming. Ain’t got no manners, either.

My second story (which happened quite recently) continues on the conveyor belt, where again I was unloading my groceries and the woman behind me began unloading hers before I was even halfway finished. The plastic stick divider did nothing to keep her stuff from squashing my poor groceries as the cashier and I struggled to keep up. This is one of those times where we wonder if it will do more harm than good to say something. Hey, lady, turn on your “clueless” light and warn us all that you’re coming.

My last trip is a visit down Amnesia Lane, and one incident I would rather forget. I was newly married and doing some grocery shopping on a very limited budget. I had maybe $30 dollars in my pocket at the time, cash only, without a credit card or bank/ATM card as a backup. I don’t know what I was thinking but I had loaded up my cart without keeping any kind of mental tally. I checked out and it added up to something like a hundred dollars. Reality hit, and hit hard. Had to explain I only had $30 and started the tedious (and embarrassing) business of voiding pretty much my entire order. That’s one store I never visited again.

Sometimes food shopping is great, where I get to slay dragons and battle giants and come home with fabulous deals on meals for the family table. It’s a hard fight, but one I enjoy winning. Other times, not so much. Shopping can be at best an outright drag, or at worst… well, you fill in the blank. Which reminds me, the fridge is empty and I’m pretty sure I saw tiny tumbleweeds blowing around in the pantry. I’ve got to suit up for battle and get out there to do some serious shopping. I’ll likely have my kids and my coupons with me, so if you see me in the checkout line at the store, I give you carte blanche (freedom of the cart) to pick any line other than the one I’m in. It will guarantee you’ll get home in record time.

It's chili out there

2011-10-18T10:25:00.000-04:00

As a child, I was as fussy about food as you can find. Though my mother was an excellent cook, it didn’t matter. I wouldn’t try anything new. No Chinese or any other ethnic food, no to anything that looked suspiciously vegetative… heck, I wouldn’t even eat pizza when I was young. I would scrape everything off and just eat a wet triangle of bread. Yep, I was that bad.

In college when I lived off-campus and had to cook for myself, I survived on ramen noodles. But once I got married I realized I had to man up and learn some basic cooking skills. And when I started that… my love of cooking took off. The more recipes I tried, the more pride I had, and the more curiosity I developed about food and cooking. So in time I turned into quite a good cook. I’ve catered some awesome parties, and I am now a foodie through and through. So, if you have a fussy eater out there (of any age!) there is still hope. They can be taught, and turned.

Funny back story about my chili recipe. My girls are six years apart, but at separate times, each girl has brought home Thanksgiving schoolwork with their thanks for different things in their lives… and BOTH girls have artwork proclaiming, “I am thankful for my mama’s chili.” Warms you right up inside!

Now, chili can be a very regional kind of dish, with as many recipes as there are regions. So I don’t make any claims to say mine is the end-all of chili recipes. But when your kids cite your chili as one of their "thankful for's" … then you can bet it’s a good one!

___________________________________________

Simply Delicious Chili

1 pound hot Italian sausage links, removed from casings

2 pounds ground beef

1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 28 ounce can kitchen cut or diced tomatoes

2 soup size cans dark kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2 soup size cans light kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 medium onion, chopped finely

2 red peppers or 1 red and 1 green pepper

1 box Carroll Shelby Texas chili seasoning

Pour the two cans of tomatoes into a large cooking pot along with two cans worth of water. Add the chili seasonings and mix together. Crumble the sausage meat and cook in a sauté pan until browned.

Add cooked sausage to pot. Brown ground beef in the sauté pan with a little salt and pepper. Drain and add to sauce pan. Chop up onion, add to sauté pan with a little olive oil and cook for 5 or so minutes. Cut red/green peppers into small pieces and add to pan with onions. Sauté until softened, then add vegetables to pot. Add drained cans of kidney beans. Let simmer approximately 1 to 2 hours on the stove top, or load all ingredients into a large crockpot and cook about 4 -5 hours on low.

Serve over cooked white rice, and top with shredded cheddar or Mexican style cheese if you like. Cornbread and a leafy green salad make great side dishes.

Please note: I have specified Carroll Shelby’s chili seasoning in this recipe. You can certainly do your own spicing, or buy a different package of chili seasoning that you prefer. This brand comes with a really impressive amount of seasoning, plus separate bags of mesa flour (for thickening) salt and cayenne pepper, so you can spice it to taste.

Chef’s notes:

You can use ground sausage for this recipe, or get sausage links and just take the meat out of the casings. If you do the second option, have a little water in the pan you are going to cook the meat in, and use your hands to break up the sausage into small pieces in the water. It will cook up much more evenly that way.

Chili is a great dish to play ‘hide the veggie’ for those fussy eaters in your house. I use a micro-grater and grate a couple carrots right into the pot of chili. It gives the dish a touch of sweetness, and adds an extra veg to the dish. And no one will ever know! ;)

Serving tips: our family loves chili over a nice bowl of white rice. You can certainly use brown rice to sneak in a few extra vitamins - and even fussy eaters won’t notice the difference under a steaming scoop of savory chili. You can also top it with a little shredded cheddar or Mexican-style cheese, some sour cream, or whatever you like!

Cook smarter, not harder: this recipe works wonderfully in a crockpot. Just prep your ingredients in the morning and come home to a hearty dinner. Also, chili freezes well. So go ahead and make a double batch, and freeze half for an easy-peasy freezy meal!

___________________________________________

Perfecto Cornbread

1 cup cake flour

2/3 cup yellow cornmeal

1 tablespoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1 egg, room temperature

½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 cup milk, warmed

Preheat the oven to 400° degrees.

Grease a 9-inch round, 1½-inch deep cake pan.

With a fork, stir together the cake flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and sugar.

Beat the egg, melted butter, oil and milk in a large mixing bowl until well-blended. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and stir until blended. The batter will be somewhat thin and light.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 15 minutes, until a straw inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Press the center of the bread; if it feels slightly firm the bread is done. Be careful not to overbake.

Serve warm wedges of the cornbread with honey butter.

Yield: one 9-inch round loaf. Batter may also be baked in a corn-muffin pan or regular muffin tin for approximately 10 minutes. Makes several batches.

Cook smarter, not harder: An easy make-ahead shortcut: sift together the dry ingredients and keep them in a container. Then when you are ready to cook, grab the wetworks, mix ‘em together, and pop your cornbread in the oven.

Nemesis

2011-10-17T09:05:00.000-04:00

There are days I wonder why I ever wanted to have kids. Now that one of our girls is a teenager, those days are more frequent. Yes, we have a teenage daughter. Did I hear a sigh of sympathy? Thanks. I needed that.

I don’t know what’s worse… having an only child that whines and begs for a sibling, or having a child who has received the long-awaited sibling and then regrets their request. Because once the new baby has grown old enough to get into her stuff … copy her… and show signs of being smarter than her… all bets of sisterly love are off.

People ask us all the time why we waited six years to have another child. Simple answer: just meet the first kid. Intense. Dramatic. Spirited. And that's on a good day. So we waited, and prayed, and when we thought we could handle another child (hoping that the new one would be... well, less like the first) decided to give the first one her wish of a sibling. She got her wish, and so did we. Different kids, as unique as the fingerprints on their sticky little hands. Now, different works well for some things, like tastes in style and food. It's nice to have a little variety. But when it comes to personality differences in siblings ... not so much. My two girls often clash like rams, locked head to head in mortal combat.

I spend a lot of time prying the two stubborn sisters apart, hearing both sides of the story, counseling and consoling, yet making little headway. Time lost defusing the endless enmity of everyday life.

Individually, both are bright, beautiful and loving. Each girl has her own wonderfully unique talents, temperament and eccentricities. And of course we adore both our girls. But to each other, they are as opposite as they could be. Diametrically opposed. Sister against sister. If they ever formed a singing group, they would be Nemesis.

Sibling rivalry is nothing new under the sun. I know this. But dealing with it is one of the most difficult things you ever have to do as a parent. It’s a never ending struggle, and if you favor one child over the other, you won’t hear the end of it. If you show equality to both (or all, depending on your household) you also can’t win … because children are self-centered creatures. They are a world unto themselves, revolving around their own bright little stars.

So when my girls go at it and the usual threats don’t work, I head for my parenting manuals. In these kinds of situations, the bigger books are better, because they make more of an impact when you chuck them at the kids. Paperbacks are okay, but if you really want to get your kids to stop arguing, hard-cover books are best for the kind of impression you need to break up a fight. Then I enjoy the 180 in attitude as their anger is diverted off of each other. Mission accomplished on two fronts: the fighting is over, and the two are back on one side - them against me. Let them sulk, I care not. I just want peace and quiet.

There are times when the two get along … brief, shining moments when they play and sing and work together famously. When they put their lovely little heads together in peace and not in battle. Times like those… well, of course I like to take all the credit for that as a parent (since it’s not in their nature to get along!) and I wish it could be like that always. Because as they grow older, they will need each other, need those qualities that the other has, that they aren’t as strong in. Need the bond of sisterhood, the connection of family. Life is unpredictable. If you spend your time on earth in angst and anger, there is much to regret later.

So I’ll keep on encouraging my girls to get along. I know they will catch on sooner or later. And when it does happen - and it will - it will be a sweet thing to see.

“Where did THAT come from?”

2011-10-12T05:53:00.000-04:00

We are dog owners. Zoe, 8 years old, is a female Cocker Spaniel/Poodle mix. Izzy, almost 3, is a male Pekinese/Cocker Spaniel. This time of year their coats are growing out, so Zoe (who is white and has curly fur) looks like a sheep; Izzy (who has silky jet-black fur) looks like a shaggy little bear. And these two are about as much trouble as you can get in a pair of mismatched dogs.

Zoe woke me today at three a.m. … the dreaded ‘need to go out’ hour of the night. I followed her wearily downstairs, and Izzy, my shadow dog, followed me. The second (after) I let Zoe out, I noticed a steaming pile of cockapoo-poo on the pile carpet. Fabulous. She tells me she needs to go out ‘after’ she goes? Such is my life.

No, we don’t have the best trained dogs in the world. Sweet, yes. Loyal, absolutely. But not good when it comes to use of the ‘outdoor’ toilet. Nope: my dogs are both masters of carpet chaos. They would much rather unload inside than face the elements outside.

Now that we have two dogs, we have much the same issues as we have with our two girls. The dreaded ‘whodunit.’ (“Who broke the lamp?” “Not me!” “Not me!” Sigh.) Both dogs will gladly hover by my side, looking at whatever current evidence is soaking into the shag, with the expression, “Where did THAT come from?” With two dogs, it is nigh impossible (short of DNA testing on the sample) to know for a fact which of them done the deed. In fact, Zoe - older and wiser in these things. will often look at Izzy with a doggish smirk, because she knows that he will act guilty… even when he’s not.

Izzy is a rescue dog, and for a long time, if he was upset, or frightened, he would turn around and smell his own butt. It was always a sure sign that he was the guilty party. But he is older and more secure now, and will stand blithely by without blinking. So it’s a lot tougher to tell who left the package, when neither is talking.

Now, when one dog feels the need to get a little fresh air at three in the morning, the other has to get their turn as well. And if it’s raining outside, guaranteed they will be coated with mud when they come back in. So I have a squeaky cocka leaky peki and a muddle puddle poodle battle to clean after their night-time romp. More fun and games for mama, who of course is the only one awake. More fun for me.

These things always seem to happen in the middle of the night. My kids routinely take off the dogs’ collars at night to give them some good scratching time, and it’s always those nights that the dogs will come collar-less and want to go out. As those collars could be anywhere, and I’m already downstairs, I have to struggle to get each dog in a walking harness to put them on their retractable leads. This is not an easy task in the daytime. At night, bleary-eyed without my glasses, it is a challenge. But once the dogs are out, I can commence with the carpet clean-up.

Now, if you are a parent, I’m sure you’ve endured the sole-shredding toys of toddler turmoil. There’s nothing quite like stepping bare-footed on razor-sharp Barbie shoes and Legos. Well, we’ve been through tootsie torture with our girls and their toys, and now we have it again with the dogs and their dry food. How dog food pellets can be both sharp and slimy at the same time, I don’t know. Kibble shrapnel, exploding underfoot like wet little bombs. I guess it all adds to the ambiance of our home, and adds color to our carpets.

But for all the trouble, I still wouldn’t give those two up for the world. Even as I type, Zoe is ensconced by my legs in the warm nook under the computer desk. And Izzy is right beside me, curled up in a bean bag chair and snoring softly, a de-fluffed bear nestled between his paws. Yeah, being a dog owner is a lot of work. But you know what? They’re worth it.

Minestrone Memories

2011-10-10T20:10:00.000-04:00

My husband grew up in a big Italian family. To this day I can't go anywhere where I have to use my last name, without someone saying, "Oh! Are you related to ...?" Yeah, probably. Have no clue. I was super excited getting 'in' with an Italian family because I'm a foodie, and naturally assumed I'd be busting at the seams after every visit. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Nick's family is third and fourth and fifth generation Italian. And if there were any cooking genes in that family... they've long since been watered down. Much like their soup. I cannot tell you the profound disappointment I've had with meals from his family. It's so bad that when you visit for dinner, you need to eat before you go... then feign stomach cramps and wait it out on the couch, moaning softly, until dinner is over. Yeah, it's that bad.

So when Nick's mom helpfully wanted to teach me to cook while we were dating ... I took her advice with a grain of salt. Then added a few grains of my own. And some pepper. And some texture, and flavor, and visual appeal. So, with many fond memories of developing my own Italian recipes, here is my minestrone soup. Buon apetito!

Minestrone Soup

1 1/2 lb. ground beef

1 large onion, diced

3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed

4 carrots, peeled and sliced

4 stalks celery, sliced

1 zucchini, peeled and cubed

6 cups beef stock (preferably made from a good base)

1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes or tomato puree
1 can (15.5 oz.) light kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (15.5 oz.) dark kidney beans, drained and rinsed
olive oil

2 cups ditalini (or your favorite soup pasta)

Parmesan cheese

Make the stock according to package directions. Add can of crushed tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Add salt and a generous amount of pepper. If you wish to add some bay leaves or other dried Italian seasonings like parsley, basil, and oregano, about one tablespoon each will do. Put each tablespoon in your hands and rub back and forth for a few seconds to refresh the dried herb, then add to the stock.

Brown ground beef in sauté pan on medium about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Drain and add to stockpot. In the same sauté pan on medium heat, add about 3-4 tablespoons olive oil. Add diced onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add carrots, celery, potatoes and zucchini. Season with salt and pepper and sauté an additional 5 minutes. Add sautéed vegetables to stockpot. Drain and rinse both cans of kidney beans, and add those to the stockpot. Taste and correct for seasonings, as needed. Keep soup at a light simmer.

A slightly different version of the above recipe.
I used shank beef instead of ground beef,
cranberry beans instead of kidney,
and added some escarole
right at the end.

While the soup is cooking, bring another pot of water to boil. Add about a tablespoon of salt. When it has come to a boil, add ditalini (or other soup pasta) and cook according to package directions. Drain, and put back in that pot off the heat. Keep covered.

Ladle soup into bowls and add a scoop of ditalini. Top with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve with a nice crusty loaf of Italian bread.

Serves 6.