Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘blog’

Toffee Bars

Posted in Recipes, tagged , , , , , on August 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Take butter and sugar and add chocolate and nuts. Mmm . . . have I aroused your sweet tooth and gotten your attention, yet? Although there are innumerable variations of toffee, the four ingredients just mentioned are pretty much it for toffee purists. But by adding two more ingredients to the mix, you can transform toffee candy into delicious toffee bars. This recipe produces a toffee bar that falls somewhere between a candy and a cookie. I much prefer the the crunch of these toffee bars over the cake-like texture of blonde brownies or the sweet snap of toffee candy.

I received this recipe over thirty years ago from one of my sister’s college roommates. Since then it has become one of my go-to recipes for bake sales and potlucks. My husband likes crumbling these toffee bars over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert. Enjoy!

Toffee Bars
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups sifted flour
1 C chopped walnuts
1 – 6 ounce package of semi-sweet chocolate chips (I mix semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate chips together)

Directions:
1. Thoroughly cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla.
2. Add flour slowly and mix well.
3. Stir in chocolate and walnuts.
4. Press mixture into an ungreased 9″ by 13″ pan. The layer of dough will be thin.
5. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Cut into squares while warm and still in pan. Cool before serving.

Makes 5 dozen.

Read Full Post »

Friday’s Fresh Five! (8/13/10)

Posted in Aging, Creativity, Health, Helping Others, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Marriage, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Originally the words embedded in the wall struck me as being cute, but after a little more consideration, I thought they were perfect. I spotted this sign in the village of Oia in Santorini, Greece – a no hurry and no worries destination. In Oia it’s okay to be slow and to rest. How many restaurants in America boast slow food? My guess is not very many, but maybe that’s what our country needs to return to – savoring our food and enjoying the company of others.

#1 – Slow Food and Eco-Gastronomy
Coincidentally, I found an organization online called Slow Food that has a snail as its logo. Read Slow Food’s philosophy below and if you want to find out more about the organization, click on the link above.

We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to pleasure and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible. Our movement is founded upon this concept of eco-gastronomy – a recognition of the strong connections between plate and planet.

Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.

#2 – Slow Dancing
Do you remember the song you danced your first dance to as a married couple? Looking for a perfect song to slow dance to at your daughter’s wedding? Here’s a link to a D.J.’s list of his most popular and most requested slow dance songs. Is your favorite slow dance song on his list?

#3 – Slow Cooking
Most of us own slow cookers and enjoy the convenience of this type of food preparation. To remind everyone of food safety tips when using a slow cooker, here’s the link to the USDA’s article on slow cookers and food safety.

#4 – Slow Brain?
Is your brain a little sluggish these days? Sharpen them up with some brain games! I’ve posted links to sites with brain games before and here’s another one I just discovered.

#5 – Slow Down
“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.”
Eddie Cantor

Enjoy a slow weekend!

Read Full Post »

The Haul

Posted in About me, Kids, Parenting, tagged , , , , , , , on August 12, 2010| 6 Comments »

Endless miles of ochre-colored mountains speckled with tufts of arid vegetation line the interstate and provide the only interesting bits of scenery outside the car window. As I gaze at the slopes in search of signs of life, I half-heartedly listen to the blood-and-guts detective thriller playing in the background. My husband and I are wearily making the long haul back home. The four letter word “haul” is such a small word for such an exhausting accomplishment and it barely describes what we had been through over the last 72 hours.

Our daughter moved again. This time, though, her plans involved moving into an unfurnished apartment which when translated into consumer-talk means “IKEA” and when translated into parent-talk means truck. Murphy’s Law dictates that when you reserve a ten-foot truck, you are given a 16-footer, with the extra 6 feet for free, of course. Our nightmares of negotiating a behemoth throughout heavily-trafficked urban streets would soon become a reality.

Flying her home so she could sort out her belongings, unceremoniously dumped on the garage floor prior to her departure to Greece eight months ago, seemed like a good idea. With only four days in which to do all of this, I transformed into a drill sergeant whose words “pick” (through) and “pack” resounded throughout the house. “Sorry, no time to visit with friends,” I reprimanded her – although how could I not let her? After sorting through box after box, we had finally consolidated enough stuff to fill the truck.

With my husband and I enjoying the bone-rattling, earsplitting ride of the truck, my daughter and a friend turned our comfortable sedan into a karaoke fest. “Since you two are driving so slow, is it okay if we drive on ahead and meet you there?” my daughter asks. “Why not” my kind husband says while I’m thinking to myself, “Wait, if we have to crawl along, the least they can do is keep us company!”

As night fell we arrived at the first of many destinations. The objective here – to pick up more cast-off furniture from brother number one. We hit the road again and soon arrived in her college town. She and her friend went happily to a friend’s place to stay the night while my husband and I tried to fit our unruly vehicle into our motel’s dinky parking lot.

Bright and early the next day we met our daughter at her new digs. Noting that her apartment was on the second story, my husband and I heaved a sigh and began to unload the truck. Before we could give our muscles a rest, we were off with the truck to help her roommates move. If I’ve learned anything in the last decade of moving kids, it’s having a tool kit or a truck makes you very popular.

Although spending hours in Ikea is not my idea of fun, I have to admit I enjoyed watching my daughter and her roommates excitedly select furniture for their new place. Plans for their post-college futures brightened their faces and peppered their conversations. Any trip to Ikea for our family is always followed by a marathon assembly and pizza party and this time was no exception. The somewhat shabby apartment began to look like a home.

Our last day with her was filled with visits to rental offices, banks, and the bookstore. Soon it was time to leave for the long car trip home. I’m sure many parents can relate to this story and as much as I grouse about the hassles of moving my children, I don’t think I would want it any other way. For as long as I can, I want to be there for them during these times of transition. I enjoy helping them get settled and it’s reassuring to me to see that they are in clean, safe places. I’m a mom – I’m used to being a work horse. Making order out of chaos is my specialty.

Read Full Post »

Friday’s Fresh Five! (8/6/10)

Posted in About me, Creativity, Gardening, Health, Husbands, inspiration, Photography, Recycling, Style and fashion, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 6, 2010| 10 Comments »

” Smash it! Smash it! Smash it!!” the crowd chanted. Goaded on by his peers the bridegroom smashes a piece of wedding cake into his young bride’s face and then ducks to miss her intended aim. What you don’t see is the next frame in which the angry young bride (angry that he had the nerve to duck) grabs another handful of cake from the bottom-most tier and firmly plants it on his face. Turnabout is fair play after all, right? And thus our marriage began. Amazingly, we celebrate our 33rd year of marriage today and through the years we’ve learned the art of compromise and diplomacy, and that there’s no ducking when the cake flies!!

#1 – Two Foods
The Two Foods site offers food nutrition comparisons. In one space type in a food item and in the other space type in the other food item you want to compare it with. The site will give you the calorie, carbohydrate, fat and protein breakdown of both foods.

#2 – Running the Numbers
Okay, here’s my seemingly weekly link to a photo series. Had to pass this one along because it depicts the huge environmental impact of our “throw away” society.

#3 – Color Scheme in a Snap
In my Friday’s Fresh Five post dated 10/23/09 I wrote an entry called Simple Color Theory about determining complementary colors based on primary colors. My son, the artist, told me that this site makes a snap out of determining color schemes for projects and has almost infinite possibilities. Well maybe not infinite, but close to it!

#4 – Making Cut Flowers Last Longer
A. Cut garden flowers early in the morning, avoiding the heat of the day.
B. Remove all the leaves from the part of the stem that will be submerged under water.
C. It is better to cut the stems under water. Cut at a 45 degree angle with sharp pruners/scissors.
D. Change the water everyday to keep the bacteria level low.
E. Adding a teaspoon of sugar to the water will help refresh the flowers. Some use a crushed aspirin instead of sugar.
F. Avoid placing the flowers in direct sunlight and or in drafts.
G. At night store them in the refrigerator or in the coolest room of the house.

#5 – Soul Mates
“A soul mate marriage does not at all mean that you have found someone
you match up with on all the cards – on all the issues, on everything. That
would be the most deadly dull thing to even imagine. Instead, it means you’re
with someone who wants to take care of your soul – they want to make sure
your soul continues to grow, they don’t ever want to blow out that little light
inside you. And you feel the same way about them.”
Diane Sollee, NPR, The Real Life Survival Guide


All’s well that ends well . . .

Celebrate your weekend!

Read Full Post »

Melon Spritzers

Posted in Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , on August 4, 2010| 2 Comments »

Fresh vine-ripened melons from the farmer’s market sit on my kitchen counter and stare at me. I’ve enjoyed their sweet deliciousness all summer long and can’t seem to get enough of them. My dilemma today involved finding a different way to showcase them, so here’s a recipe that is sure to quench your thirst on a hot day or be a big hit at your next summer brunch. If you prepare the fruit base ahead of time, it’s easy to have a melon spritzer any time of the day! This is the season when honeydews, cantaloupes, and watermelons shine, but make sure you don’t miss out on the sweet flavors of the Hannah, Ambrosia, and Galia melons! Don’t like melons? No problem – this recipe can be made with any kind of fresh fruit with only slight adjustments in the quantity of fruit.

Melon Spritzers
Adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar or Splenda*
6-8 cups of cubed fresh melon
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Pinch of coarse salt
Sparkling water or club soda

*Depending on the sweetness of your fruit, you may need to increase or decrease the amount of sugar.

Directions:
1. Cut melon into cubes. Measure out about 6 cups and put in blender. Lay remaining cubes flat in a single layer in a container and freeze.

2. Create a syrup by putting sugar/Splenda and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Stir to completely dissolve the sugar/Splenda. Remove pan from heat and let it cool slightly.

2. Puree fruit, syrup, lemon juice, and salt in a blender. Depending on the volume of fruit, you may need to do this step in two batches.

3. Pour blended mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl. Stir contents in sieve if fruit puree is thick. Refrigerate collected pureed juice until cold (30 minutes minimum or up to 2 days maximum).

4. To serve, fill glass with ice, pour 1/2 cup of pureed juice into glass and top off with sparkling water. Stir to combine. Stick a decorative pick into a frozen melon cube and place it in the glass. Serve immediately.

Serves 8.

Read Full Post »

Apartment Set Up List

Posted in Kids, Organization, Parenting, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Moving children hither and yon seems to be this parent’s job. In and out of dormitories, in and out of apartments, and sometimes in and out of the country – there seems to be no end in sight. I’m happy to help my kids and I’m lucky I’m the organized-type, but I’d love it if they stayed in the same place two years in a row!

Years ago I came up with my Ultimate College Packing List to help organize my first child when he went off to college and then a few years later I created another list when he moved into an apartment. For the lack of a better title, this list became the Apartment Set Up List. Originally used to set up a college student’s first apartment, this list is also good for anyone setting up their first household, whatever abode it may be. If you lived in an apartment with roommates one year, but are now moving into a place of your own, check this list to see which items you may have shared before, but need to purchase now.

Like my Ultimate College Packing List, personalize the Apartment Set Up List and use it as a springboard for your own ideas. Cross off items you don’t need and add items as you are reminded of them. Because I made this list for my children and they like to cook, the list of food ingredients and cookware may be more extensive than normal. Also, this list calls for the “number” and “description” of items. These details come in handy if you and your roommates and are trying to sort things out at the end when you are no longer living together. Keep a copy of this completed form for that purpose.

This is a a very thorough list, but it’s not comprehensive because each person’s needs are different. It’s meant to give you a little head start in the process. If you think of items that you think should be on this list, let me know. If I think it’s appropriate, I’ll add it to the list!

Happy Moving!

Read Full Post »

Friday’s Fresh Five! (7/30/10)

Posted in Creativity, Health, inspiration, Pets, tagged , , , , , , on July 30, 2010| 2 Comments »

July is almost gone now, but it was a month filled with the highs and lows of life. Milestone birthdays of 80, 83, and 88 years were joyously celebrated, but tempered with sad news from friends. July brought the reminder that life is to always be appreciated and celebrated.

#1 – Artistic Skylines
Lately I seem to be posting links to series of photos taken around the world, and, although I promised myself I would not do it this week, I am again linking to another series of photos. It features artistic skylines created out of a myriad of materials. Ever consider Jello as a building block before? Sorry, I find these types of things interesting!

#2 – Anyway the Wind Blows
Every year at about this time, I take a close look at the ceiling fans in my home to see which way they are rotating. In the summer, ceiling fans should rotate in a direction that pushes the air downward. The fan blades should spin with the leading edge up and you should be able to feel this downward air flow by standing underneath it. For most, but not all fans, this means a counter-clockwise rotation.

#3 – Good to Know
My local newspaper featured an article about poison control that had some good-to-know information. The most important bit of information is the phone number for the state’s (California) poison control hotline: (800) 222-1222. “It’s staffed around the clock, including holidays, and language interpreters are available.”

#4 – Lesson Learned
Another recent article in my local newspaper brought back memories for me. I wrote a post in April called What Not to Feed Your Pet and I thought it was a pretty comprehensive list, but the newspaper article listed a category that I had not included in mine. How could I have forgotten this one category?! One day when my little Romeo was just a pup, I came in from gardening and removed my shoes and thin nylon socks. I was reading the newspaper when I heard one of my sons say, “Mom, Romeo is sniffing your socks.” I continued reading the newspaper and calmly said, “Okay, keep an eye on him.” A split second later my son yelled out, “Mom, Romeo just ate your sock!” Well, my little dog was lucky that he didn’t need abdominal surgery, but boy was he a pathetic little thing after the veterinarian forced him to swallow charcoal and throw up the sock.

This is what the newspaper article says:
Socks, underwear and nylons: Unsafe. Keep laundry picked up and in hampers, and always watch what your dog has in her mouth – especially during the chew-everything stages of growing up.

Lesson learned for all of us that day. Please add socks, underwear and nylons to my What Not to Feed Your Pet list. It might save you some money on vet bills, but more importantly, it might save your pet’s life.

#5 – Part of Our Lives
“Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.”
Roger Carras

Today is a great day – it’s my dad’s birthday! Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Read Full Post »

Papaya Seed Salad Dressing

Posted in Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , on July 28, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Food always seems to taste better when you’re in Hawaii. Exotic tropical flavors refresh our senses and remove us from our gastronomic ruts. Here’s a salad dressing recipe that has Hawaiian origins, but can easily be made in anyone’s home. Not only is it a cinch to make, it uses normally wasted parts of a papaya – its seeds. Papaya seeds have a slightly bitter and peppery taste which adds an interesting element to the sweet-sour base of the dressing.

My sister, who is a fabulous cook, gave this recipe to me decades ago. She was my “go-to” source for recipes when I was a young bride, and sometimes even now.

Papaya Seed Salad Dressing:
Ingredients:
1 cup tarragon vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 cup salad oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
3 tablespoons fresh papaya seeds, rinsed and drained

Directions:
1. Cut the papaya in half lengthwise and scoop the seeds into a bowl. (If not using immediately, cover the bowl and put the seeds in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the salad dressing – hopefully within a day or two).

2. Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend until thoroughly mixed and smooth. Papaya seeds will resemble ground black pepper flakes.

3. Pour into a glass jar and chill for at least one hour before serving.

4. Shake or stir before serving.

Don’t forget to eat the papaya! Put each papaya half on a plate and serve it with a wedge of lime. There’s nothing quite like the fresh taste of papaya and lime! With their buttery flesh, papayas are not only delicious to eat, they are also an excellent source of antioxidants (carotene, vitamin C, and flavonoids), B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and fiber.

Read Full Post »

Double Tomato Bruschetta

Posted in Recipes, tagged , , , , , , on July 26, 2010| 2 Comments »

Bruschetta is a popular appetizer and snack served in central Italy. During the summer months, bruschetta (which is pronounced bruus-ket-ta) appears on many restaurant and home menus thanks to the arrival of vine-ripened summer tomatoes and fragrant basil. At a recent family gathering, one of my sister-in-laws brought a bruschetta that was different than most I’d had before. Her recipe uses two different types of tomatoes – vine-ripened Roma tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes. I love the intense tomato flavor that this bruschetta offers! Buon appetito!

Double Tomato Bruschetta
Allrecipes is the original source of this recipe.

Ingredients:
* 6 roma (plum) tomatoes or other fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, diced
* 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), diced
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
* 1/4 cup fresh basil, chiffonade
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1 French baguette
* 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven on broiler setting.
2. In a large bowl, combine the fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to sit for a minimum of 10 minutes to let the flavors meld.
3. Chiffonade the basil by stacking the leaves, rolling them together lengthwise (like a cigar), and then cutting across the roll to create thin ribbons. Add to tomato mixture.
4. Cut the baguette into 3/4-inch slices. On a baking sheet, arrange the baguette slices in a single layer. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly brown.
5. Divide the tomato mixture evenly over the baguette slices. Top the slices with mozzarella cheese.
6. Broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Makes 12 servings.

Read Full Post »

Friday’s Fresh Five! (7/23/10)

Posted in Art and Crafts, Creativity, inspiration, tagged , , , , , , on July 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »

As I studied this photo taken in my garden of a Peace rose, I began contemplating on, how like the petals in this rose, achieving peace is a layering process. Whether it be inner peace or world peace, it takes layer upon layer – layers of the soul, layers of compromise, layers of human effort etc. – to collectively achieve the beauty of peace. Not one layer alone can create the same harmonious effect.

#1 – Hallucinogenic Computer Art?
My cousin left a comment for me about the computer doodling site I posted about in last week’s Friday’s Fresh Five!. She said it was hallucinogenic. Well, if that one made your mind swirl, check out this one!

#2 – Mental Floss
I used to subscribe to a magazine called Mental_ Floss, but dropped my subscription because I was drowning in magazines that I wouldn’t throw away. Now I pop in on its website to peruse the many fun articles aimed at tantalizing my brain! Here’s an article called 10 Notable Staircases you might enjoy.

#3 -Paper Roses
On Cut Out and Keep, another set-by-step craft tutorial site, is a tutorial for making handmade paper roses. Sheet music was used in the tutorial and the finished project was very cute. The directions are quite simple. Photos of other versions are also posted. My mind exploded with the possible uses for these roses and the types of papers that could be used for different effects! What about using these roses in lieu of bows on gifts – bridal shower gifts, wedding gifts, Mother’s Day gifts? Make these roses larger or smaller – the size is dictated only by the size of the hearts you cut out for petals. How about using Chinese newspaper for an Asian flair? To make cutting out the hearts/petals easier, I would recommend tracing around heart-shaped cookie cutters or using paper punches.

#4 – What About This? Subscriptions
I’ve been asked by many people about ways they can receive What About This? regularly. I certainly appreciate the dedicated followers of my blog! Thank you all so much! I’ve listed a few options below for you to choose from. If you have any problems with any of the options or have followed the steps and still do not receive What About This? in your email, please feel free to contact me.

A. On my homepage on the upper right column is a box with “Subscribe and Get Email Updates!” Click on the link/small green words that say, “Subscribe to What About This? by Email.” That will take you to a window where you will type in your email address and a cryptic word. Click on the “Complete Subscription Request” button and you are done.

Or . . .

B. Email me with the subscription address(es) that you want W.A.T? sent to and I will submit the information for you.

Or . . .

C. Email me and ask me to put you on my mass mailing list, so that you will receive an email from me with a link to W.A.T? every time a new post is added.

#5 – Something to Ponder

If you woke you this morning with more health than illness, you are more
blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of
imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are
ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest,
torture, or death, you are more blessed than
three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead,
and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish
someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If your parents are alive and married, you are very rare.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch.

If you can read this message you’ve just received a double blessing in that
someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over
two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and pass this along to remind
everyone else how blessed we all are.

Copied from Poetic Expressions, WWW.POETICEXPRESSIONS.CO.UK

Have a peaceful weekend!

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »