The Garden Cat Cottage

2012-01-30T20:12:00.002-06:00

I got this from my friend Joe. His son is a retired Brigadiere General, who also happens to be a doctor and the chief of staff at the Omni Clinic in Nashville , Tenn. I went to one of his seminars, and the guy makes alot of sense.

***********
Interesting! listen up folks,
There's better treatment out there than poison pills.
Everyone should move to Florida or Arizona and plant lemon trees...Useful info that may help someone .... LISTEN UP FOLKS: This is something that we should all take seriously – just had a recent test myself that sent shivers up my spine – or near by – Even doctors are now saying that there is value in trying “LEMON”So, a tablespoon of "real lemon" (the concentrate in a bottle) in a glass of water every morning. What can it hurt? Subject: A must-read- The surprising benefits of lemon!I remain perplexed!

Institute of Health Sciences,

819 N. L.L.C. Charles Street

Baltimore , MD 1201.

This is the latest in medicine, effective for cancer! Read carefully & you be the judge. Lemon (Citrus) is a miraculous product to kill cancer cells. It is 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy. Why do we not know about that? Because there are laboratories interested in making a synthetic version that will bring them huge profits. You can now help a friend in need by letting him/her know that lemon juice is beneficial in preventing the disease. Its taste is pleasant and it does not produce the horrific effects of chemotherapy. How many people will die while this closely guarded secret is kept, so as not to jeopardize the beneficial multimillionaires large corporations? As you know, the lemon tree is known for its varieties of lemons and limes. You can eat the fruit in different ways: you can eat the pulp, juice press, prepare drinks, sorbets, pastries, etc... It is credited with many virtues, but the most interesting is the effect it produces on cysts and tumors. This plant is a proven remedy against cancers of all types. Some say itis very useful in all variants of cancer. It is considered also as an anti microbial spectrum against bacterial infections and fungi, effective against internal parasites and worms, it regulates blood pressure which is too high and an antidepressant, combats stress and nervous disorders.The source of this information is fascinating: it comes from one of the largest drug manufacturers in the world, says that after more than 20 laboratory tests since 1970, the extracts revealed that: It destroys the malignant cells in 12 cancers, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreas ... The compounds of this tree showed 10,000 times better than the product Adriamycin, a drug normally used chemotherapeutic in the world, slowing the growth of cancer cells. And what is even more astonishing: this type of therapy with lemon extract only destroys malignant cancer cells and it does not affect healthy cells. Institute of Health Sciences, 819 N. L.L.C. Cause Street , Baltimore , MD1201 SEND TO EVERYONE ... Please! ! ! ! !

Joe
___

VALENTINES FOR MY SWEET SENIORS

2012-01-29T10:07:00.003-06:00

I was at the store this morning and I came across these cute Valentine Patterned Pocket Tissue Packets. I thought they would make great treats for my Seniors,and I know they would definitely be used. Then I saw the cute Puppy and Kitten Valentine's cards, and the polka dot basket, so I knew I had a project.

The Valentine's Day Cards came with a variety of stickers, so I used those to attach the cards to the tissue packets. I addressed all the cards to the folks I see regularly. I put the extra cards in the basket as well with a flower festooned pen so just in case I run across someone I may have missed, or I make a new friend, or just see someone in one of the facilities who needs to know that someone cares, I will have one for them.

It doesn't take much to brighten someones day and the little things count in a big way.

******

Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. ~Author Unknown

*******

CHINESE NEW YEAR- EMBRACING THE DRAGON

2012-01-29T09:02:00.004-06:00

Despite my best efforts to complete all my Western New Year Traditions to ensure a Good 2012, things didn't turn out so well. The only business that was left undone through no fault of my own was being conned by a crooked auto mechanic, who not only stole my money but my vehicle as well.

Because of the bad mojo this fellow brought into my world, I totally blame him, for my freezer going out, and my cell phone continuously malfunctioning. As well as the new gray hairs that have appeared from the stress and aggravation of the 6 week ordeal with him that's going to drag on into months.

So I took the chance of a do-over with the 2012 Year of the Dragon Chinese Lunar New Year. I watched a youtube video by Cathay airlines about what Asians do in preparation for the Lunar New Year. So off to the Hong Kong Market I went. I bought a beautiful Yellow Mum Plant, I bought 3 Bahn Mi sandwiches, and a tiny red lantern that sticks to the window, and I wore red as from what the video said those are all "Good Luck" I forgot to lite incense but I did light a Holy Candle.

Anyway it seems to be working. I have embraced The Dragon. I enlisted the aide of many old and new friends and law enforcement agencies. I was able to get my vehicle back and what parts were left. My vehicle is now at another shop and I will be picking it up tomorrow.

So Thanks to the Dragon ,I wont be forced into a car note this year.

I filed suit against the Crooked Mechanic, and the wheels of justice move slowly, so I doubt that I will ever see the money returned, but at least I am not going to let him get away with it.

The other shop owners have banned together with the management of the industrial park and are having this guy evicted. I am sure he will just set up shop someplace else and con people.

There are 8 victims I have found so far. Most are female, and disabled or elderly.

I am working with an Investigative journalist who is going to document all this and publish it after the court case.

So hopefully I can at least warn others not to fall into the trap I did.

You may wonder how I found this guy to begin with. I asked friends who I have known for over 20 years to recommend a good mechanic. I trusted them when they bragged on how fabulous this guy was. Despite all the evidence presented they still believe their bar room buddies lies. I do feel betrayed by people I had considered friends.

The Dragon is giving me the strength to do what I have to do to , and I will have a Good New Year after all.

The Dogs Last Will and Testament Poem

2012-01-13T15:57:00.002-06:00

A Dog’s Last Will And Testament

I really would love to know the author of this poem. I have Googled and searched to no avail. The following was the best information found:“A Dog’s Last Will and Testament,” (Author anonymous) included in a recently published book in Germany “Der Verlust eines Hundes,” (The Loss of a Dog) by Elli Radinger, translated by Janet Beasley.

“Before humans die, they write their last will and testament, give their home and all they have to those they leave behind.

If, with my paws, I could do the same,

this is what I would ask …

“To a poor and lonely stray, I’d give my happy home, my bowl, cozy bed and all my toys, the lap which I loved so much and the tender loving touch.

Also the hand that stroked my fur and the sweet voice, which called my name.

I’d will to the sad, scared shelter animal, the place I had in my human’s loving heart of which their seemed no bounds.

So, when I die, please do not say,

‘I will never have a pet again, for the loss and the pain are more than I can stand.’

Instead, go find an unloved animal, one who’s life holds no hope or joy and give my place to him.

This is the only thing that I can give ... the love I left behind. This is my inheritance — my last will and testament.”

Susan Boyd Dickinson

GIFTS OF CULINARY DELIGHTS

2012-01-02T18:04:00.006-06:00

de Buyer Crêpe Pan Kit
$39.95
Whether you wrap them around sweet or savory fillings, crepes transform breakfast into a special occasion. The perfect recipe for successful, delicious crepes, this kit includes our exclusive mix, a turning spoon and the quintessential steel crepe pan, a French-made design that's remained virtually unchanged since the early 17th century.
Kit includes solid steel pan, a 10-oz. package of our Voilà La Crepe mix and a wooden turning spoon.
Sloped sides of steel pan facilitate flipping and removing crepes.
Uptilted handle is designed to help smoothly swirl batter and turn crepes.
Makes an 8" crepe.
Pan requires seasoning.
Ideal for use on any type of cooktop, including induction.
A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.
9 1/2" diam., 1" high.
2 lb.
Made in France.
Use
Ideal for use on any type of cooktop, including induction.
Care
Allow pan to cool before washing.
Hand-wash in hot water without detergent; dry immediately.
Avoid using steel wool, steel scouring pads or harsh detergents.
Season the pan before first use: rub interior with oil and place in hot oven. After each use, hand-wash in hot water without detergent and dry thoroughly. Oil regularly to maintain seasoning.

***

My husband surprises me. He got me this French Crepe set. I can't wait to try it out. When I opened the package I was pleasantly surprised. It immediately brought memories of our honeymoon in Montreal to mind. The wonderful creperies we would stop at nightly and the quaint cafes.

Antica Dispensa Olive Oil with White Truffle Essence
$24.95

Northern Italy’s Piedmont region is famous for its white truffles, their rich, earthy flavors lending a singular character to local dishes. This Ligurian extra-virgin olive oil is infused with aromatics that capture the fragrance of white truffles.
Drizzle over everything from risottos, pastas and mashed potatoes to roasted meats and vegetables.
For a luxurious breakfast, drizzle the golden oil over scrambled eggs.
3.38 oz.
Made in Italy.
Made in Italy.

Truffle & Salt
$29.95

Capturing the seductive earthy character of Italian black truffles, this specialty salt from Italy will soon become one of your most frequently used ingredients. Its richly nuanced flavor enhances everything from grilled meats and roasted potatoes to scrambled eggs and buttered popcorn.
Sea salt is blended with a generous amount of Italy's fresh black summer truffles from Abruzzi.
Sprinkle on foods as a finishing touch before serving.
3.5-oz. jar.
Made in Italy.
Sea salt, summer black truffle, truffle flavor.

Butter with Truffle

Manni White Truffle Extra Virgin Olive Oil
$89.50
Armando Manni creates this exceptional extra-virgin olive oil using rare olives from age-old trees found only on the Tuscan slopes of Monte Amiata. Earthy white truffle adds an unmistakable flavor and bouquet, making the oil a perfect choice for finishing soups, salads or pastas.
Intensely flavored white truffle extra-virgin olive oil adds an elegant finishing touch to prepared dishes.
Meets the certified organic farming standard in Italy.
Exclusive “live oil” extraction method produces an oil with extremely low acidity and preserves its valuable antioxidant properties.
2 oz.
A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

***

When I visited Seattle my husbands hometown for the first time. We did a Culinary Tour and visited Pike's Market. It was there that I fell in love with the The Truffle. Its romantic that my husband remembered these little things and all his gifts reminded me of our Travels and adventures. I hope we have many more.

Our Le Creuset family is growing. I got my husband the round dutch oven for Christmas this year and he got me the whistling teapot. The pots are very heavy so they live displayed on the stove top. The cheery red color always makes me happy when I walk into the kitchen. Nothing cooks as well as these pots. There is something magic in them , food takes on a life of its own and reaches culinary perfection when cooked in them.

RESOLUTIONS 2012

2012-01-01T08:26:00.002-06:00

RESOLUTIONS 2012

I want to learn the Rosary in Italian

As always I vow to eat healthy, exercise and lose weight

I want to try and pay off debt and start a savings plan

I want to Read more and continue to Learn more

I would really like to take a couple of weekend trips to visit relatives, I haven't seen in a long time.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE

2011-12-31T23:58:00.005-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE

This is by far the worst New Year's eve ever.

I am in my fuzzy nightgown, had my shot of NyQuil,

I am still running a fever , my neck aches

and I feel miserable in pretty much every way.

Not to mention I have serious vehicle woes.

I welcomed the New Year with a box of Kleenex, tears and a heating pad.

Someone is setting off fireworks and it has my girls all upset. My dogs do not like loud noises.

On the other side of the coin. I completed all the rituals, to have a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year

My Aunt Lee had a saying that what ever you are doing on New Year's Day is what you will be doing all year long. So if things are left undone you will be playing catch up all year long.

Every year I seem to add a little something. I don't know where my whimsy comes from , but it always comes.

Yesterday while straightening my pantry , I realized I really have to much stuff, food and things that could be used by those who truly have nothing.

A few weeks ago I threw away some really tattered and torn up linens at a clients. The next time I came to visit a neighbor came out and said he took those linens out of the dumpster and washed them, an he was using them now. I thought to myself those items were so filthy, had I had a match, I would have used it. It hit me that this poor man was so without, that even something so tattered was a God send to him.

So I went thru my pantry and got out about 8 grocery bags of non perishables.I also raided my towel closet and picked out all my older towels. New Years Day when I go to the island to have dinner with my parents I will stop by my clients apt, and bring him all that food , for him to keep what he can use and share the rest with the poor souls living in the same complex.

“When someone steals a person’s clothes, we call him a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat hanging unused in your closet belongs to those who need it; the shoes rotting in your closet to the one who has no shoes. The money which you hoard up belongs to the poor. ” - Basil of Caesarea (330-379)

***I don't agree completely with St. Basil, as he does kinda sound like a socialist. But I am all for giving things away I no longer need to help those in less fortunate circumstances then myself.

Back to my rituals

1. There must be food in the house.

Pantry and Fridge fully stocked

2. All laundry done

3. All plants and pets watered/ fed

4. Money in the bank and in your pocket book

5. Bills paid

6. The house has to be cleaned well,

and everything in its place

7. All family graves must have new flowers.

8. All trash removed from house

9. Make Peace with anyone who has angered you--this is a hard one.

10. Gas in the vehicles

11. I have to have a vase of red and white roses in memory of my Daddy that's another whimsy thing of mine.

The Rose Beyond The Wall

2011-12-31T23:45:00.002-06:00

In Memory of my DADDY

The Rose Beyond The Wall

A rose once grew where all could see,

sheltered beside a garden wall,...

And as the days passed swiftly by,

it spread its branches, straight and tall......

One day, a beam of light shone through

a crevice that had opened wide

The rose bent gently toward its warmth

then passed beyond to the other side
Now, you who deeply feel its loss,be comforted

- the rose blooms there-its beauty even greater now, nurtured by

God's own loving care.

***********

I miss you Daddy every day of every year, but even more so this time of year. I visited you today and I cried, and I told you all the things I needed to tell you. I just hope that you know how much I will always love you and how much I miss you and you will never be forgotten.

Love Always,

Kathy

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE GOODWIN'S

2011-12-31T23:41:00.001-06:00

OUR FIRST EVER FAMILY CHRISTMAS PHOTO.

The Goodwin's 2011 Christmas Party Menu

2011-12-23T11:35:00.001-06:00

The Goodwin’s Annual Christmas Party 2011

Hearty

Tamales and Chili
Chorizo Queso Blanco
Sausage and Cheese Stuffed Jalapenos
Smoked Turkey with Mustard Sauce

Savories
Vegetable platter w/ 3 Onion dip
Ragin Cajun dip
Sun dried Tomato and Horseradish dip
Seafood dip (Shrimp, Crab, Oyster)
Relish Tray Marinated Carrots and Olives
Cold Smoked Cheese Platter
(Gouda, Gruyere, Truffle, Irish Cheddar and Dubliner)
Assorted Bread, Crackers and Chips
　
　
Sweets
European Candies
Chocolate Truffles
Petite Fours
Pecan and Pineapple Cake
Christmas Cookies
Beverages
Cranberry Sherbert Punch with Dark Cherries
Tazo Mint Iced Tea
Orange Spice Iced Tea

GOOD DOG!!!

2011-12-07T15:54:00.001-06:00

My Uncle porter didn't believe my dog could tell the difference between paper and money. He threw a piece of paper on the floor and she tore it up. He threw down a $20 and she carried it back to my office and pushed it into my purse. Good dog! Anything she wants to hide she puts in my purse. I never know what I will find

The Twelve Days Of Christmas Texas Style

2011-12-05T19:01:00.002-06:00

The Twelve Days Of Christmas

Texas Style

On the ___ day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

Twelve yellow roses
eleven blueblonnets
ten gallon hats
nine cowboy boots
eight enchiladas
seven jalapenos
six armadillos
five chili beans
four oil wells
three pickup trucks
two tumbleweeds
and a possum in an oak tree

*****

One of my clients had a copy of this song and showed it to me. I thought it was so cute. I do love Texas and Christmas...Smiles

THE HORSE WHO ATE CHRISTMAS

2011-12-01T21:24:00.003-06:00

The other day my Mom and I were passing a street and I noticed old man Campbell. I pointed him out to my Mom and told her how he used to come visit me at my office. He told me that he used to keep horses for my Daddy and had an old saddle that was my Dads.

My Mom said that when she and my Dad first married , my Daddy had horses 2 sway backed old nags that he kept right there on the property on Broadway. She said that the first year Galveston went all out decorating Broadway for Christmas the horses got out and went down Broadway eating all the Christmas decorations.

The police knew right off who the horses belonged to rounded them up and brought them back. I am sure it was shortly after that the horses began living down island with Mr. Campbell

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN

2011-11-30T21:10:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas from Heaven

I still hear the songs

I still see the lights

I still feel your love on cold wintery nights

I still share your hopes and all of your cares

I'll even remind you to say your prayers

I just want to tell youyou still make me proud

You still stand head and shoulders above the crowd

Keep trying each moment to stay in His grace

I came by here before you to help set your place

You don't have to be perfect all of the time

he forgives you the slip if you continue to climb

To my family and friends please be thankful today

I'm still close beside you

in a new special way.

I love you all dearly now don't shed a tear

Cause I'm spending my Christmas

with Jesus this year

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2011-11-24T06:50:00.000-06:00

2011-11-24T06:48:00.000-06:00

Making a big batch of Mr. Wilson's Sweet Seduction Marinated Carrots..... I hope you are looking down on me from heaven and smiling my dear friend. You are missed Everrett Greg Wilson.

2011-11-24T06:45:00.001-06:00

Imitation is suppossed to be the sincerest form of flattery...but it really pisses me off. If you want to copy me and steal my ideas atleast make an effort to out do me.

BLACK FRIDAY NOT!

2011-11-24T06:43:00.000-06:00

Happy to say I have never done the Black Friday Madness and never will. I am all done with Christmas Shopping and Cards. Believe me I am even scared by my own efficiency..lol

REMINICING ....MACKINTOSH'S QUALITY STREET CANDIES

2011-11-24T06:02:00.003-06:00

The other day my Mom asked me if I ever see Mackintosh's Quality Street Candies anywhere. Just a short time later I was at World Market and I found them with the new Christmas foodie items they had just put out. I bought a tin for me and one for my Mom.

As a little girl my Daddy worked in Europe and would always bring me wonderful delights from abroad. Mackintosh candies with their sparkly jewel toned wrappers were always a favorite. My Mom and I both seem to think there used to be some hard candies in the mix as well but that no longer seems to be the case.

*************************************************************************************

Quality Street is a popular selection of individual sweets, usually contained in tins or boxes, manufactured in Halifax, in the United Kingdom by Nestlé.
History
Quality Street was launched in 1936 by Halifax confectioner Mackintosh's, the name being inspired by a play of the same name by J. M. Barrie. 'The Major' and 'Miss', two figures inspired by the play's principal characters, appeared on all Quality Street boxes and tins until 2000.
The brand was acquired by Nestlé when they bought Rowntree's in 1988.
In recent years, individual larger versions of the more popular chocolates have been manufactured and sold separately, as an extension to the brand.
In Western Norway, it is called "Shetlandsgodt" (Shetland Sweets), because it often was brought home by fishermen visiting Shetland. In Iceland it is traditionally known as "Mackintosh."
Contents
The sweets within the box have changed and evolved over the years. As of December 2010, there are 12 flavours of the individually wrapped sweets, all of which are either chocolate or toffee based, as follows:
Current varieties
Milk Chocolate Hazelnut with caramel (the 'Purple One')
Chocolate Noisette Pate (the 'Green Triangle')
Chocolate Toffee Finger (gold wrapped stick)
Toffee Penny (gold wrapper)
Vanilla Fudge (pink wrapper)
Strawberry Delight (red circular wrapper)
Coconut Eclair (blue wrapper)
Caramel Swirl (yellow frustum)
Milk Choc Block (green wrapper)
Orange Crunch (octagonal orange wrapper)
Orange Creme (orange circular wrapper)
Toffee Deluxe (Brown wrapper)
Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

MY SPEC'S FINDS OF THE DAY

2011-11-19T20:11:00.002-06:00

"RED MOSCATO"

"This innovative blend from Beringer is the perfect harmony of Moscato, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. It brings together the vivid aromas and flavors of the Moscato grape with the classic red berry characteristics of Zinfandel and ripe black cherry flavors of Petite Sirah."~ Winery Notes

When I saw this Red Moscato from my favorite Vintner I was thrilled with my new discovery. Even better was the 10 bottles for 10$ sale they were having at Spec's. I can hardly wait to try this tonight

Lavender Syrup I wanted this for a recipe I have been wanting to try. I gave it a taste and its very sweet with the delicate taste of lavender.

I like everything I have ever purchased in the Rolands line. They have very interesting items. I like to pick up things like this to have on hand for quick appetizers for my Desperate Housewives parties.

SEASIDE TREASURES CRAFT FAIR-MOODY METHODIST

2011-11-19T19:21:00.004-06:00

WWW.TexasHillCountryOliveco.Com

This is one of the most unique booths I have come across in a while. The lady working the booth was knowledgeable and very friendly. She was more than happy to let us taste absolutely everything they were offering. She gave fantastic recipe and usage advice. I bought 2 balsamic vinegars a Fig and a Peach. The Peach was unlike anything I have ever tasted before, I fell in love with it immediately. My Mom choose Original Balsamic and Mandarin Balsamic both of those were great as well. In the middle jar is olive oil over Olives, sun dried tomatoes, herbs and feta cheese. Just the presentation was so beautiful I had to have it for my pantry. This is one of those vendors I will buy from again and again.

This is the Churches Cook Book. I always love the history that goes into a good church or community cookbook. There was a lovely write up in the Galveston Daily News about this one and it was number 1 on my Mom's must get list. We each bought a copy . I look forward to enjoying many recipes from it soon.

I am a flip flop, zebra print and Fleur De Lis fanatic, when I saw these, that incorporated all 3 of my loves, I knew I had to have them. I live in a place that rarely gets cold enough to have to wear closed in shoes. I can wear Flip Flops pretty much every day of the year. I think these are going to become a fast favorite.

These are Doggie Kerchiefs that can be slipped on the dogs collars. I bought these for my girls to wear this Christmas Season.

A charming couple ran this booth. The husband is the one who makes this sauce. The wife told me how her husband used to make the sauce for his Firefighter sons cook off team and it developed into a cottage industry. I thought that was great. I picked these up as a gift for my husband to go with his new Grill he is getting for Christmas

There is a man working on a project for my husband. I don't know him well, but he always wears a rosary around his neck, a Saint Medal and a Scapular. He is very polite and reverent and has a peace about him. Despite the long hours and hard work he does, his temperament is the same whether day or night. His contentment has made me long once again to become dedicated to my own Catholic faith. When I saw this rosary at the craft fair at a price I could not say no to. I bought it and will start wearing it as a constant reminder to take time for my faith, to pray the rosary which I used to do daily and love and learn the prayers in Italian. I know the rosary in English and in French, and a friend is after me to visit the nursing home and learn the Rosary in Italian from a lovely lady who may not have many more days to share her tradition.

COINTREAU TEESE-LAVENDER COCKTAIL

2011-11-19T19:02:00.003-06:00

COINTREAU TEESE
The recipe:

1 1/2 oz Cointreau

1/2 oz Apple juice

1 oz Monin violet syrup

3/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
Frost ginger around the rim of the glass

I bought some Violet Syrup at Spec's today .

I really want to try this cocktail. I love all things Dita.

SUNFLOWER BAKERY AND CAFE REVIEW

2011-11-19T15:36:00.002-06:00

Sunflower Bakery and Cafe
512 14th St, Galveston, Galveston Island, TX 77550

For years I have gone to and loved the Sunflower Bakery and Cafe.

I have followed them every time they changed locations.

I couldn't think of a place that had better menu items, quality food, and hands on ownership.I respected the owners for their dedication to the community.

My parents bought breads , desserts and cakes from them for all our holiday celebrations .

All that changed today.

I came home to the island to visit family and Christmas shop. My Mom suggested Sunflower and we were all excited to go. Parking is almost always a nightmare there but we lucked out and got a Spot right in front at noon, none the less.

When we walked in I noticed it wasn't jam packed like usual. Anyway the 3 of us were seated and given menus (2 lunch menus,3 breakfast menus), I told the waiter we all wanted lunch and could I please have another lunch menu since I didn't get one. He said they didn't have enough and I would have to share my Moms .

When I looked at hers I was surprised none of the delectable items I used to adore there were on the menu. Nothing on it was overly appealing , so instead of getting up and walking out . We ordered 3 Tomato Basil Soups and 3 BLTS.

I had to pick out a chunk of onion and a huge piece of hard stewed tomato from my soup. This piece of onion and tomato were not spoon size by any means, they were practically whole. Aside from that the soup was good.

The BLTS arrived my Dad bit into his, and immediately said man this bacon is rock hard they must have had it left over from breakfast or something. All our Bacon was hard and the fries extremely over cooked. We paid $41 for 3 cups (not bowls ) of soup and 3 BLTS.

We took the scraps for the dogs, for $41 at least someone should get to eat it.

Anyway we walked to a shop next door, and I asked the guy at the desk if the same folks owned the Sunflower, he said yes , I said well it was terrible and definitely not the same, about that time Lisa Blair owner of The Sunflower walks around the corner and begins to chastise me that we should have sent our food back and had them fix something else instead of talking bad about her restaurant. I began to tell her the things we didn't care for, but she arrogantly made the motion "like talk to the hand" and walked out on us. I would have never ever expected that reaction from her. Needless to say we were all offended in her handling of it. In the car on the way home we all decided that would be the last time we would ever go to sunflower.
********

**Send it back and have them fix something else

Who does not know that if you do that something really bad is going to happen to your food..

COCK A LEEKIE SOUP RECIPE WITH A SNICKER

2011-11-15T07:31:00.001-06:00

One of my dear friends brought me a cook book from her native Scotland. Anyway I made a big pot of Cock a leekie soup for some little get together and it went over really well and several ladies asked me for the recipe, so I made copies from the recipe page and handed them out. The ladies were quite excited when the first Ingredient was 1 young cock. They all wanted to know where they could buy one of those...lol Needles to say I can not make that soup with out a little snicker..lol

"Braveheart" Cock-A-Leekie Soup

Ingredients:
1 3.5lb young cock; cut into 8 pieces
1 lb Beef shanks; cut into 1-inch pieces
6 c Chicken stock
3 sl Thick cut bacon
1 tb Dried leaf thyme
1 Bay leaf
3/4 c Pearl barley
1 1/2 c Chopped leek; white only
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tb Chopped parsley
Directions:Put the cock, beef, stock, bacon, thyme, and bay leaf in a large, heavy pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Meanwhile boil barley in 1 1/2 cups water for 10 minutes. Drain and set aside. Remove chicken for pot. When cool enough to handle, debone and set aside. Add leeks and barley to the pot, and simmer 15 minutes. Remove beef shanks and debone. Chop meat coarsely, and return to the pot, along with the chicken. Simmer covered, for 5 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper to taste and garnish with parsley.

ALL HALLOWS EVE- ALL SOUL'S DAY

2011-11-13T20:05:00.004-06:00

Father, All-Powerful and Ever-Living God, today we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place. May their prayers bring us your forgiveness and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. —All Hallows Eve Prayer

I am deeply steeped in Tradition, I always visit the cemetery, not just on All Soul's Day but many times during the year. I decorate the graves every season and visit on special days. For me, my family lives on in my memories and in my heart as long as I do what I do they will never truly die or be forgotten.

Soul, soul, an apple or two,

If you haven't an apple, a pear will do,

One for Peter, two for Paul,

Three for the Man Who made us all.

Every year I give out school supplies instead of candy to the trick or treaters. I figure pencils, erasers and sharpeners will last longer and be alot more useful than candy.

MAMA'S SLEEPING ANGELS

2011-11-13T16:46:00.001-06:00

HOLIDAY ICE CREAM'S- ICE CREAM PIE RECIPE

2011-11-13T16:14:00.004-06:00

I was shopping and happened upon these Seasonal limited edition Ice Creams Pumpkin, Egg Nog and Candy Cane. Immediately my mind went retro and I started thinking about the Ice Cream Pies I used to make. I also had to throw a couple of containers of Seasonal French Vanilla Cool whip in the cart as well.

Ice Cream Pie Recipes

1 quart Ice Cream Softened

1 graham cracker, shortbread, or oreo pre made pie shell

1 Container Cool whip

optional: Hershey's chocolate syrup, magic shell, or chocolate shavings, maraschino cherries

Directions

1. I generally place softened ice cream in a mixing bowl and hot it with the mixer til its smooth

2. Spread Ice Cream into pie shell making a nice raised center

3. Put it in the freezer to chill about 30 mins

4. Take out and garnish

Garnish ideas

a. cover with whipped cream, sprinkle chocolate shavings and put a cherry in the center

b. Use Magic Shell and form a lattice pattern over cake and promptly put in freezer to set

3. drizzle Hershey's syrup and add dollops of whipped cream to each slice.

I will use Oreo crust with candy cane ice cream, graham cracker crust with pumpkin and with egg nog ice creams

NUTCRACKER MARKET 2011

2011-11-13T09:34:00.007-06:00

http://www.houstonballet.org/Nutcracker_Market/Nutcracker_Market_Admission/
Nutcracker Market
Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 10:00am - Sunday, November 13, 2011 - 6:00pm
Reliant CenterHouston, TX 77054

Over 325 national and international merchants, offering unique items for the entire family, including home décor, gourmet food, apparel, accessories, toys, garden items, and much more … just in time for holiday shopping!
Show Times & Dates Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 10 AM - 9 PM Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10 AM - 9 PM Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 10 AM - 6 PM
Tickets Advanced tickets may also be purchased at Houston-area Randalls for $11.00 beginning October 17, 2011. Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $12.00. Half-price admission is available daily 3 hours prior to closing. Children under 5 are free. Groups of 20 or more will receive a discount of $2.00 off the regular admission price if purchased in advance.
Parking Fee per vehicle is $10.* *Parking rates are subject to change without notice.

http://www.hopefaithmiracles.com/

This is the 2nd year in a row, I have got to meet Kristen Alfonso. I am a big fan of Days of Our Lives, so seeing her is always a perk for going to the Market.

I am a Foodie so I am immediately intrigued by any easy gourmet sounding meal, I can impress my friends with. If Winter finally shows up this year these soups will be fantastic.
Potato Leek, Tomato Basil, and French Onion.
I will add a few drops of truffle oil to the Potato Leek, a garlicky toasted bruschetta to the Tomato Basil and ofcourse a gooey Gruyere covered slice of rye bread to the French Onion.

Leibman's is always one of my favorite vendors. I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Leibman a few years ago at a Nigella Lawson Book signing. She is a wonderfully charming, and creative lady that has a way of bringing out the very best in food. I tasted a sample of the Shrimp dip and the Pesto dip and loved them. They will come in handy for Holiday company. Generally I buy more but I still have a well stocked pantry of goodies I haven't even gotten to use yet.

This brand Allure is new to me. They had a lovely display and very nice people working the booth. I bought Vanilla Almond scented potpourri and Room Spray.

It was time I threw out my old dusty faded potpourri and replace it. The Allure Potpourri has a pretty mix of organics and looks beautiful in crystal bowls around the house. I sprayed my fresh bed linens with the room spray. The scent didn't last long on the sheets, but it was worth a try. Its a nice fresh scent that isn't floral. Normally I am very much a flower girl, but I did like this scent very much.

My number one client and good friend let me leave work an hour early to go to the Market when I said I'd bring him some pralines. He is from Louisiana so I knew I had better come back with the real McCoy. I found the New Orleans Candy Co. booth and knew I had hit a winner. Very nice people at that booth with loads of samples and goodies.

Anyone who knows me well , knows I am a Glitzy Glam gal with Domestic Goddess dreams of grandeur. I have a world class apron collection. I saw a woman wearing a red one like this. I immediately liked it but didn't like the $45 price tag, I put it on the back burner for my first run thru of the market. Since I didn't go overboard or break the bank with what I did buy, I went back and bought this Red Sequin apron it has ruffles on the bottom that are hard to see in the picture. It also comes in black and gold.

It will be good the next time I want to play Sexy Housewife for the husband, Ooh La La. Hopefully he doesn't sleep thru my routine..lol

HOUSTON PEDI- CABS

This year I decided to take the Pedi-cab/tuk tuk from the back 40 of the parking lot to the golden doors of Reliant Center. No reason to use up all my energy hiking when I could be using it for commando shopping. I used the Pedi-Cab to and from the center to my vehicle. The guys work for donations. I gave them a $5 each ride.

BARS- YES A CRAFT FAIR WITH ALCOHOL

When I told my husband they had several bars set up in Reliant Center as well as a couple in the parking lot, I think I changed his mind about going to craft fairs with me forever...lol

FOOT MASSAGES AND MIMOSA'S

I was disappointed the Foot Massage guys were not there this year. Last year I saw these great old timey wooden shoe shine seats. Upon closer inspection there were men offering foot massages while ladies sipped Mimosa's. Who ever came up with that idea is a genius.
***********

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT:

Every woman there will be dressed to the nine's. You will be shocked at how many stylish gorgeous women of all ages are there. So glam it up, or get ignored like an ugly step sister.

You have just paid $21 to get in the place, that's more than guys pay for cover charges at Strip Clubs. This is an event, a place to see and be seen. So live it up!

Men are allowed- generally they are parked in a corner to watch your bags and the bags of all your friends.

There is a lingo , a kind of silent code, the double entendre,... If someone smiles at you and says excuse me, (just know that there is a silent "bitch" on the end of that) and you should get out of the way. Prices are clearly marked on everything- So if you have to ask, either you are blind or you cant afford it. Questions? Ok most if not all products have no moving parts and are really self explanatory. So don't hang around the register asking questions about some product you aren't going to buy anyway while 5 people are actually trying to check out,if you'd just get out of the way. I think more sales are lost due to "Strollers" than anything else.

Strollers and Rollings bags are not allowed. Ok , we all understand baby strollers and rolling grocery cart/totes, but that's the politically correct version.

To expand the definition to include what it means literally. Strollers- those who slowly trudge thru the market congesting traffic and hovering over the samples counter like its a buffet with no intention of buying.

Rolling Bags (Not meant to offend my elders, but) Old ladies/Men on Motorized scooters or walkers. This is such a crowded pedestrian area you will become a hazard to yourself and others.

If you have children get a babysitter, I saw one woman with a kid in a backpack and thought she is going to be hating herself in about 30 mins and ready to dump the kid and backpack into the nearest trash bin in an hour. There may have been 2 toddlers wandering around, I didn't see them for long. Your kids may be precious to you, but in this stampede of shopping frenzy they will quickly become trampled over speed bumps.

This is the female equivalent to Running with the bulls in Spain.

THIS IS THE BEST AND MOST ACCURATE REVIEW

I HAVE READ...LOVE HER SENSE OF HUMOR:
Rachel C.
Houston, TX
12/4/2010
Ok, here's the Down Low...Everything is expensive. It doesn't matter. You will get swept into the hysterical madness and find yourself gasping and fighting for the perfect Christmas decorations that you have never wanted/needed until THIS VERY SECOND. You will shove people and you will not be embarrassed. You will leave with a lot of bags that will sit in your closet. And you will love it and drool when you think of next year.Not a good place for kids-- no strollers allowed and no toys sold in general, so just leave them home with the hubs. Plus, I'm already irritated with the sheer number of people so keep your child out from under my feet.Has some regular old stuff here too... bought myself a new pair of Toms that I rocked all around Vegas.You are going to have to park about five years away so wear good shoes and a light jacket-- you will hate yourself if you wear a coat, regardless of how cold it is outside it is a sauna inside. You can take the free tram or bus to the gate but hold on and be ready for hell on wheels...Buy your ticket from a Randal's or online before you go so you can breeze past the line and make sure to grab a map.Def eat before you go, but be ready, regardless, to shell out some bucks for a coke and a snack to sit down and give those 'dogs a rest.Bottom Line: I hate to shop. But my mom and I walked inside the Market for seven hours and considered going back the following day as we had so much fun. Need I say more?

Ras el hanout Focaccia and Herbed Dipping Oil Recipes

2011-10-30T21:22:00.004-05:00

Ras el hanout is a spice mix used in Moroccan cooking. It’s a blend of warm spices, usually containing anise, fennel, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cumin, black pepper, sometimes nutmeg or allspice or rose petal.

For the dough:
1 package active dry yeast

1½ cups warm water (110-115 degrees)

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 to 3½ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt
**I do my dough in my bread machine.**

For the top:
Extra-virgin olive oil

8 or so large thyme sprigs, the leaves chopped

1 teaspoon ras el hanout

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Pour the warm water into a large bowl. Sprinkle in the yeast, giving it a quick stir to dissolve clumps, and let sit until frothy, about 8 minutes.
Add the olive oil to the yeast mixture. Then add 3 cups of flour and the salt. Stir the mixture until you have a nice soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead quickly, just until it’s smooth and elastic, about 3 or 4 minutes, adding a little more flour if needed to make it easier to work with. The dough will be quite soft.
Oil a large bowl, and place the dough in it, turning the dough once to coat the top with oil. Cover with a kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1½ hours.
Coat a 10-by-15-inch sheet pan well with olive oil. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead very briefly to get out any air bubbles, then place it on the oiled pan. Stretch and pat the dough out to fit the pan. Now make indentations all over the dough with your fingertips. Give the focaccia a drizzle of olive oil, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it sit again until it’s puffy, about 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Give the dough an extra drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of Ras el hanout , salt and black pepper. Bake for 15 minutes. Lower the heat to 375 degrees, and bake for about 15 minutes longer, or until the focaccia is golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.

HERBS FOR DIPPING OIL

Yield: 1/2 cup

Prep. Time: 0:05
1 tsp. crushed red pepper

1 tsp. ground black pepper

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried rosemary

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. parsley flakes

1 tsp. granulated garlic

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 - 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 TB Balsamic Vinegar

-Combine all ingredients, except oil, on a shallow bowl or plate.-Pour olive oil and balsamic over.
Notes: Serve with fresh-baked bread for dipping.

CANDIED LEMON SLICES-OVEN BAKED RECIPE

2011-10-30T20:58:00.003-05:00

5 small lemons

(or limes or oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, etc.)
1 cup Powdered Sugar or more as needed

1/4 C. Caster Sugar

Directions:
1
Preheat oven to 275*F.
2
Line a 15x10x1" baking pan with parchment paper(or wax paper).
3
Cut 2 small lemons crosswise into 1/8-1/4 inch thick slices.
4
Arrange in a single layer on pan.
5
Dredge lemon slices in powdered sugar.
6
Bake in at 275*F. 45 minutes take out of oven and re-dredge in powdered sugar bake for another 45 mins or until lemons are almost dry and covered with a sugary glaze. While still warm, loosen slices from paper to prevent sticking.
7.
Drain away syrup from the pan and reserve for other recipes
8.
on a fresh sheet of parchment paper, spread a scant layer of caster sugar, lay a single layer lemon slices and sprinkle caster sugar on top

Store in an air tight container separated by a layer of wax or parchment paper. I then keep it in the fridge.

Cinnamon-Pumpkin Empanadas from Texas Monthly

2011-10-28T08:07:00.002-05:00

Cinnamon-Pumpkin Empanadas From Texas Monthly

A Mexican Breakfast recipe from Esperanza's Cafe

(Joe T. Garcia's Bakery), Fort Worth

Pumpkin Filling

1 fifteen-ounce can pumpkin

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

1/4 teaspoon ginger (optional)

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
Mix ingredients together and set aside.

Empanada Dough

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/4-ounce packages dry yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons)

1/8 teaspoon baking powder

2 generous pinches cinnamon

3 cups flour, divided in half

generous 3/4 cup vegetable shortening

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine water, sugar, salt, yeast, baking powder, and cinnamon. Using an electric mixer, gradually blend in half of the flour.

Add shortening and thoroughly mix, then gradually blend in remaining flour.

Divide dough into 4 equal parts, then shape each of those parts into 4 dough balls.

Slap the dough balls between the palms of your well-floured hands until somewhat flattened, then roll on a floured surface into circles approximately 4 inches in diameter and 1/8-inch thick.

Put about 1 1/2 tablespoons of pumpkin filling in the center of each circle, fold over, and seal edges by pressing lightly with a fork on both sides.

Bake on a greased cookie sheet until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes (watch carefully; they can burn quickly).

Makes 16 empanadas.

PUMPKIN MARTINI RECIPE FROM COTTAGE JOURNAL

2011-10-28T07:56:00.000-05:00

PUMPKIN MARTINI

Makes 1 drink

Cinnamon-flavored syrup* (optional)

Graham cracker crumbs (optional)

2 tablespoons pumpkin puree

2 ounces half-and-half

1/2 ounce vanilla-flavored vodka

1/2 ounce butterscotch-flavored schnapps

1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1. Dip rim of a martini glass in cinnamon-flavored syrup, then into graham cracker crumbs to coat, if desired.

2. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add pumpkin puree, half-and-half, vanilla vodka, rum, butterscotch schnapps, and pumpkin pie spice.

3. Shake vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds. Strain into prepared martini glass.

Serve immediately.

*We tested with Monin cinnamon syrup, available where Monin syrups are sold or at moninstore.com.

PUMPKIN CAKE RECIPE FROM COTTAGE JOURNAL

2011-10-28T07:49:00.001-05:00

PUMPKIN CAKES

Makes 48 to 60 mini cakes

1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree

3 large eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups sugar1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

Garnish: decorative skewers or picks

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

Line a rimmed 18x12-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat pumpkin, eggs, oil, and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until ingredients are well mixed. Set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and salt, whisking until well blended.

4. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, beating until just combined. Pour batter onto prepared baking sheet, smoothing with an offset spatula.

5. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 18 minutes. Cool in pan. Freeze for 4 hours.

6. Using a 1 1/2-inch round cutter, cut as many circles from frozen cake as possible, avoiding edges. Slice frozen cake circles in half horizontally. Set aside.

7. Place Cream Cheese Frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip. Pipe frosting onto bottom halves of cake circles. Top with remaining cake halves. Pipe a star on top of each mini cake.

8. Garnish each mini cake with a decorative skewer or pick, if desired.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Makes 4 1/2 cups

12 ounces cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup butter, softened

6 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1. In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt, beating until smooth.

PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE WITH PUMPKIN ALE

2011-10-28T07:32:00.003-05:00

I read a post about a Bakery in Buffalo New York

making Pumpkin Ale cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

Since I own " Texas Tipsy Cakes" and formulate all the recipes personally.

I was excited to try and use Pumpkin Ale.

This cake came out wonderful, it is now my favorite Fall Cake.

I made a Pumpkin Spice Cake with Golden currants ,

chopped pecans , and whole pecans for the top ,

I added butterscotch and the Pumpkin Ale to the mix.

The cake came out Intensely flavorful and moist.

I then glazed it with a blend of Pumpkin Ale and Pumpkin Pie Syrup.

I can't wait to debut this cake for my friends and family at the next big event.

PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE WITH PUMPKIN ALE

is now on the Menu at

"TEXAS TIPSY CAKES"

TIS THE SEASON FOR GOURMET PUMPKIN

2011-10-28T06:57:00.004-05:00

I read about Pumpkin Ale and became obsessed with trying it in some recipes. I tasted a teaspoon full it tastes just like beer, after you swallow you get a nice delicate taste of pumpkin pie spice in the finish.
I am a big fan of World Market.
I love all the interesting seasonal items they put out.
This soup mix looks very interesting.
All you need to add is pumpkin puree and heavy cream.
I plan to make one as directed with the heavy cream,
the other I will use Pumpkin Ale

UPDATE:11/20/11

I made this today using the Pumpkin Ale and the Heavy Cream. It came out incredible. This soup and a nice artisan bread, Perfecto!

Last year I made Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
from Scratch and it was wonderful.
I picked up these seasonal pasta sauces
for the pantry so I have a quick fall meal on hand.
I like tossing in crumbled bacon or diced pancetta
into the pasta.
Last Thanksgiving I made a fall
Harvest Butternut Squash Lasagna with Italian sausage.
Everyone is still talking about how good it was
and asking me to make it again.

I have a pretty good collection of Torani Syrups at this point. They always have unique flavors that can be used for more than flavoring coffees and Italian sodas. This Pumpkin Pie syrup was a must have for the Fall season. I didn't notice til I got home it was sugar free. So to me its flavor is weaker.

I happened to be walking thru WalMart and saw the Fall Baking display they had up. I had never seen this Pumpkin spice pudding so I picked up 8 boxes to have on hand. I am thinking I can layer vanilla wafers (just like you would making banana pudding) and make mini pudding pumpkin pies. I had to pick up the Pumpkin Pie Spice just because...

RUMMY GUMMY BEARS & OTHER BOOZY TREATS

2011-10-24T23:22:00.002-05:00

1. Unpackage your Gummy Bears spread them out in a single layer in a pan or sheet of wax paper. You want them to dry out a little bit to take away some of the stickiness. Let them dry out from at least 8 hrs to a day.

2. Put the Gummy Bears in a glass baking dish in a single layer.

3. Pour rum over them until there's enough to coat, but they're not swimming in it. Stir it all up, cover it, and leave it for a little while. As they absorb the rum, add a little more and keep stirring

4.Repeat this until they're no longer sticky.

5.They'll be finished in about 24 hours, but you can leave them to soak for maybe 36 hours max.

6.After that, they turn to a more Jello-like consistency.

7. Use a slotted spoon to remove Bears from alcohol, line a tray or cookie sheet with wax paper and place bears individually on waxed paper. You want them moist but not puddling. Place tray with Gummies in freezer til ready to serve You can soak your Gummies in

Flavored Rums, Brandies, Vodkas , Whiskey

Anything your heart desires
This is how much you can expect the Gummy Bear to swell once its absorbed the alcohol

These Gummy Coke Bottles would be great soaked in Whiskey

Try soaking Peach rings in Vodka, Gin, or Schnapps

SUNDAY IN THE GARDEN

2011-10-23T13:58:00.002-05:00

I can't believe this late in the season I am still picking tomatoes,

all kinds of peppers, okra, eggplant and herbs.

I got new fish for the Thai water garden and changed out the water in the turtle pond.

I added the new fish on Friday and not one has died. I am so happy about that.

Now if I could just get the turtle to go in her pond every so often, for some reason she prefers to live in a tree.

I kid you not, our turtle lives in a banana tree.

TEXAS BELLINIS RECIPE

2011-10-14T15:36:00.000-05:00

TEXAS MONTHLY
Texas Bellinis
Recipe from executive chef Michael Thomson,

of Epicure in the Park, Dallas.
Makes 8 drinks
2 cups fresh chopped Parker County peaches

1 cup peach nectar

1 cup peach schnapps

2 cups crushed ice

Champagne

Fresh fruit
To make base, combine peaches, nectar, and schnapps in blender, and mix until well blended but still pulpy. To serve, place 2 cups base and 1 cup ice in blender; purée until well blended. Fill champagne flutes 1/2 full, and top with champagne to 3/4 full. Garnish with fresh fruit.

SERENE SUNDAY

2011-10-02T16:54:00.002-05:00

FLOWERS FROM MY GARDEN

GARDEN MUSINGS

2011-10-02T16:26:00.002-05:00

Canteloupe vines entwining in the handle

of this lantern.

I love nature embracing art.

I like how the sun casts spectrums

on the wall from the irridescent glass.

Its like living light.

Yes my canteloupe vines have gotten out of the garden ,

but I just cant bring myself to hinder there wanderlust.

LAST OF THE SUMMER HARVEST RAGU AND STUFFED PASTA SHELLS

2011-10-02T15:38:00.003-05:00

Last of the summer harvest

Eggplants, bell pepper, tomato

add an onion and 4 cloves garlic.

Dice and saute in olive oil

RICOTTA STUFFED PASTA SHELLS

lightly oil pan and put in pre-stuffed shells

add 1 lb ground beef cook til done
then add 1 jar pasta sauce
and I put in a can of black olives

cover pasta shells with the ragu

and top with grated mozzarella

Bake at 325 for 35-45 mins.

***serve with a nice hot loaf of french bread

PUMPKIN CREME BRULEE RECIPE FROM COTTAGE JOURNAL

2011-10-02T14:54:00.003-05:00

PUMPKIN CRÈME BRÛLÉE

from Cottage Journal

Makes 6 servings

3 cups half-and-half

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

6 egg yolks

1 cup sugar, divided

3/4 cup canned pumpkin

1. Preheat oven to 300°.

Place 6 (8-ounce) ramekins in a large baking dish. Fill baking dish with 1/2 inch hot water.

2. In a large saucepan, combine half-and-half, pumpkin pie spice, and ginger. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a low simmer. Remove pan from heat.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar. Using a ladle, pour 1 cup hot half-and-half mixture into beaten eggs, whisking constantly. Add another 1 cup hot half-and-half mixture to egg mixture whisking constantly. Add egg mixture to remaining hot half-and-half mixture in pan, whisking constantly until smooth. Whisk in pumpkin. Pour into prepared ramekins. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until set and firm. Let stand for 30 minutes, or until cool enough to handle.

4. Remove ramekins from baking dish. Cover, and chill for at least 8 hours.

5. Preheat broiler. Sprinkle custards with remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Broil 5 1/2 inches from heat for 3 to 5 minutes, or until sugar melts. Chill for 15 to 30 minutes before serving.

AUTUMN IN THE GARDEN

2011-10-01T19:50:00.004-05:00

LAST OF THE OKRA BLOSSOMS

ASIAN EGGPLANT

WHITE EGGPLANT

EGGPLANT BLOSSOM

BIRDS EYE PEPPERS

Gourmet Finds.....

2011-10-01T19:20:00.002-05:00

While shopping at World Market today ,I came across these items . Torani syrups in Toasted marshmallow, Honey Vanilla, Caramel, and Chai Tea. I think these will be great glazes for my holiday cakes.These flavors are ones that I don't regularly see.
How could I go wrong with dark chocolate filled with sweet espresso. Nice little after dinner sweet.

Truffle oil has been a love since my husband and I visited La Buena Tavola in Seattle Pikes Market District. The value for size seemed pretty good on this product. I haven't used it yet to see if I really got a deal. In the fall I love making soups such as Potato, Butternut Squash, Mushroom even White Lima Beans and drizzling a few drops of truffle oil on top . It definitely adds an elegant dimension to each dish.

THAI COTTAGE --REVIEW

2011-10-01T17:55:00.002-05:00

THAI COTTAGE --REVIEW

Tom Kha Shrimp
5.25
Delicious Shrimp with lemon grass, galangal,

mushroom blended in lime juice and coconut milk.

Shrimp Mermaid

6.95
A Mixture of crab meat, shrimp wrapped and grilled on skewers with homemade sauce.

************

Thai Cottage

565 w. Bay Area Blvd

Webster,Texas

I arrived there a little after 2pm. The place seemed to have alot of customers. No one greeted me, so I walked over and sat at a table. A couple came in shortly after I did and sat across from me. They got waited on first. Finally a waiter walked by and handed me a torn menu and snarkily asked what I wanted to drink. Everything absolutely everything on the lunch menu had chicken in it. I don't care for chicken so I had to order from the dinner menu.

I ordered the Tom Kha soup with Shrimp which took awhile to come out but I understood as it was probably cooked fresh in back. The soup was very good.

The Shrimp Mermaid sounded really good and was beautifully presented. How ever the homemade dipping sauce was nothing more than sweet and sour sauce. The crab mentioned in the description was non existent. Instead it was more a like ground chicken meat coat around the shrimp.

No waiter asked if I needed anything or offered to bring me another drink. Instead the only other contact I had with the waiter was when he put the bill on the table and said you wont be ordering anything else will you? I took it as more of a statement than a question.

The kitchen crew began coming out with plates of food and sat at nearby tables and began eating. The waitstaff had all pretty much walked out the door. There were still many tables of customers. I paid my ticket at 3:13pm sans tip.

MOVIE THEATRE ETIQUETTE

2011-09-29T20:38:00.002-05:00

Movie Theatre Etiquette....

These are just a few guidelines feel free to add others.

A civilized human being will already abide by these, but it seems humans are de-evolving and need to be told what's acceptable in polite society.

1.Do not come into a movie late. If you are late see something else.

2. Do not talk during movie

3. Do not get up in middle of movie to buy concession items and loudly take all your friends orders.

4. Do not disrupt a row of people by getting up repeatedly

5. Do not sit directly in front of someone when other seats are available

6. Don't put your feet on top of the seats in front of you, or kick the seat of the person in front of you.

7. Turn off your cell phone. No talking or texting.

8. Come early and choose your seat, don't crawl over people and disrupt others that are already seated

9. Stay seated til the movie ends

10. Don't bring food items that are noisy and disruptive
***********************************************************

I went to the movies a week ago. 20 minutes into the movie about 8 people walk in talking loudly and crawling over people to find seats. 4 old bags come in laughing and start shining a flashlight in peoples faces blinding them while they cackle looking for seats.

One of their cell phones rang and they answered it and had a conversation.

Another guy got up at least 3 times disrupting the people seated on his row.

Stimy with his pimp hat had to plop down right in front of me. Another guy behind me kept kicking my chair, I turned and glared at him atleast 5 times to no avail when I finally said very loudly "You know I can feel you kicking my seat" he never apologized or said anything but he didn't kick my chair anymore.

A Mexican woman and 4 kids came in with a grocery bag of food. They talked loudly and passed food back and forth like it was their living room.

Also a big fat ass and his crew several rows ahead, stand up during the last scene of the movie blocking the view, they stand there watching the movie before they make a run for it before the credits roll.

Last but not least was the big fat woman that should have changed her diaper before going out in public the smell of shit was over powering as she waddled past.

VERNAL EQUINOX-BROOM STANDING

2011-09-25T12:02:00.003-05:00

KATHY'S BROOM

GAYLE'S BROOM

LINDA'S BROOM

VERNAL EQUINOX-BROOM STANDING

Every year my friend Gayle calls and announces the Equinox and its time to stand up our brooms. Its a fun tradition and we all like to post our broom standing pictures.

The story goes that during the summer and fall equinox the planets are aligned and makes this possible.

Ofcourse there are the scientific naysayers that claim there is no scientific basis linking the two. That a broom can stand up at any time of the year. To that I say go stuff your hat.

Rather I believe it or not, its fun, especially sharing it with friends and children . Life is much brighter when you can still have mystery and whimsy in it.

As noted in the following article on Wiki. The Equinox effects satellites. There for to dismiss a standing broom or having more nutcases out than usual during the equinox could have a basis. After all aren't these scientists the same ones that try to convince us there are black holes in the universe and spend billions on research for somehing they say can't be seen. Well I can see my broom standing, so bite me, Mr. Scientist go tell some young child there isnt a Santa Claus or something.

*****

Wikipedia
An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator. The term equinox can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage happens. The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, the night and day have approximately equal length.
At an equinox, the Sun is at one of two opposite points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator (i.e. declination 0) and ecliptic intersect. These points of intersection are called equinoctial points: classically, the vernal point and the autumnal point. By extension, the term equinox may denote an equinoctial point.
An equinox happens each year at two specific moments in time (rather than two whole days), when there is a location (the subsolar point) on the Earth's equator, where the center of the Sun can be observed to be vertically overhead, occurring around March 20/21 and September 22/23 each year.
Although the word equinox is often understood to mean "equal [day and] night," this is not strictly true. For most locations on earth, there are two distinct identifiable days per year when the length of day and night are closest to being equal; those days are referred to as the "equiluxes" to distinguish them from the equinoxes. Equinoxes are points in time, but equiluxes are days. By convention, equiluxes are the days where sunrise and sunset are closest to being exactly 12 hours apart.

Effect on communication satellites

One effect of equinoctial periods is the temporary disruption of communications satellites. For all geostationary satellites, there are a few days around the equinox when the sun goes directly behind the satellite relative to Earth (i.e. within the beam-width of the groundstation antenna) for a short period each day. The Sun's immense power and broad radiation spectrum overload the Earth station's reception circuits with noise and, depending on antenna size and other factors, temporarily disrupt or degrade the circuit. The duration of those effects varies but can range from a few minutes to an hour. (For a given frequency band, a larger antenna has a narrower beamwidth & hence experiences shorter duration "Sun outage" windows.)

LEISURE 18 SLIMMING COFFEE---REVIEW

2011-09-25T10:25:00.004-05:00

LEISURE 18 SLIMMING COFFEE---REVIEW

I heard about this product from a Filipino friend of mine. She said her sister who is a Dancer in Japan ( exhibitionist kind). Goes home to the Philippines for a month every summer and during that time she always puts on weight, so to loose it before returning to Japan she uses this Slimming Coffee also another cousin of hers lost 20 pounds taking it and walking.

I finally decided to check into and read reviews. I saw only two bad reviews one I thought was complete and utter bullshit, the woman claims to have lost weight and after the fact does some chemical analysis of the product with dishwashing liquid and declares it bad.

Someone else claimed to have heart palpitations and insomnia.

Anyway I ordered a box. Right off the bat,let me tell you you need to use a small Asian teacup, the packet and about 2-3 ozs of water. If you use an American size coffee cup its going to taste like hot water.

Not sure why so many people couldn't figure out the water mix ratio.

It definitely curbed my appetite I did not feel hungry at all. When I did eat although I did not feel hungry I wolfed my food down like I was starving, but I was sated with lesser amounts of food. I couldn't finish a whole plate of food like before. I also didn't crave sweet and salty stuff like before.

It does make you incredibly thirsty and you will pee alot the first 2 weeks. So drink plenty of water.

It claims to give you energy. I cant say I had alot more energy but I was alot more focused and seemed to get alot more done in a day, big projects. I had no issue with insomnia or heart palpitations. I have done no exercise, or lo cal diet food. I also went on vacation for a week while using the first box and I have lost 8 lbs with out even trying.

So I figure My stomach had been hard as a rock and looked like a watermelon, that has all gone away now and I lost 8lbs with no effort than I will order more product and actually try to limit my caloric intake and maybe exercise. I got as far as getting the yoga mat out but that's as far as it went with the exercise so far. But once I get my mind straight and do the healthy things for myself as well as the product. I will reach my goal weight.

I am feeling more energy. I ordered 4 more boxes since its kinda hard to come by. I will give an update after I finish the next box.

UPDATE:

As of 11/20/2011 I have easily lost 14lbs. With no side affects aside from being more thirsty and foods tasting more spicy to me than normal. I have not exercised, I havent changed what I eat. I just seem to eat less with the product.

KATHY'S LEMON GINGER TISANE/TEA

2011-09-25T10:14:00.002-05:00

KATHY'S LEMON GINGER TISANE/TEA

JUICE OF 2 LEMONS

1 INCH OF GINGER(PEELED AND MINCED)

1 RED CHILI(SPILT UP THE MIDDLE AND SEEDED)

MAPLE SYRUP TO TASTE

OPTIONAL: LEMON ZEST , MINT LEAVES,ROSEMARY, OR A FEW SAGE LEAVES

APPROX 3 CUPS OF BOILING WATER

ALLOW TO STEEP 5 MINS or More

*****

Teapots come in all shapes and sizes so you will have to customize the recipe for your personal use and preference. This recipe is based on the master cleanse tea recipe I saw a few years ago. Anyway I can never leave a recipe alone and always change and add my own little touches.

My husband and I visted Montreal and I brought back quite a bit of Maple syrup from the Farmers Market there. This is a good recipe to showcase its flavor. I also have a garden with various herbs which I enjoy experimenting with. I don't have any knowledge of holistically what each herb may be good for I just know what flavors and scents I my palate likes.

KATHY'S LEMON,GINGER AND SHRIMP CONGEE RECIPE

2011-09-25T09:52:00.002-05:00

KATHY'S LEMON,GINGER AND SHRIMP CONGEE RECIPE

3/4 c. cooked rice (left over rice)

2 cloves garlic minced

ginger 1 inch (peeled and minced)

1 TB dried Shrimp

lemon zest

juice of 1 lemon

1 chili- slit up the middle and seeded

2 cans vegetable broth

add all ingredients in a crockpot or soup pot simmer 30 mins, or for crockpot leave all day

Condiments : french fried onion,diced green onion, or cilantro

diced chili, hot sesame oil,soy sauce

*******

While my husband and I were in Thailand, Congee was served on the breakfast buffets at all the hotels we stayed in. Each hotel had a different variation, beef, pork , chicken. I was told that congee was a typical Asian breakfast food. Trying to immerse myself in the culture I began having Congee and sauteed veggies (bok choy, napa cabbage and carrot) each morning. It was very soothing on the stomach.

I knew I wanted to make it when we got home, any way months passed and I thought of congee again this week. I looked up a variety of recipes which are all very basic and devised my own with a couple of my favorite ingredients that are not traditional at all in Congee. I think I came up with a nice blend.

Although Congee is considered a breakfast food I think it could really be served for any meal. I also think it would be great to have on hand for dieters.

A few variations of this recipe I can already see me doing would be to substitute Asian noodles (ramen) for the rice, and perhaps add the sauteed veggies I mentioned above to the mix. Ofcourse it would no longer be considered Rice Porridge but a nice flavorful soup none the less.

ARKANSAS

2011-09-10T22:45:00.002-05:00

These are some candid pictures from a recent trip to Arkansas. We were invited to some friends of friends log cabin on the Caddo river. It was a huge place about 93 acres. They had a gorgeous log cabin home decorated with wilderness charm and animal skins. You have to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle as you have to drive through the river to get there.

Who wouldn't want a clear blue river as a swimming pool.

It is one of those places set so far out in nature, you can forget about cell phones or Internet

Grand Promenade

2011-09-10T22:09:00.002-05:00

I was very surprised to find that the town fountains are actually running directly on water from the Hot Springs . The water was steaming hot.

Running parallel with Central Avenue and Bathhouse Row from Reserve Street to Fountain Street, the half-mile Grand Promenade offers views of historic downtown Hot Springs, the Arlington Lawn, the hot springs cascade, quartz veins in the sandstone and tufa cliffs. The brick promenade has been a National Recreation Trail since 1982. It is a must-see for all visitors.
The north end passes the site of the first superintendent’s residence, demolished in 1958. The south entrance is below the impressive Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center. Built in 1933 as the second Army-Navy hospital, it has been used by the state for over 40 years.
The Grand Promenade started as part of a Public Works Administration project in the 1930s and was completed in 1957. Several park trails begin and end from the Grand Promenade.

HAUNTED TOURS OF HOT SPRINGS

2011-09-10T21:44:00.003-05:00

The Haunted Tour was dog friendly.

Our girls enjoyed being included. One of the stops on the ghost tour We went to 5 spots( I could have sworn it was 6 but neither I nor my husband can remember what the other one might have been) with in easy walking distance. I am doing this from memory so the names might be a little off.

1.Malco Theatre

2. Andrea Rose B&B

3. Castle of Death

4. West Mount Ghost

5. Poets Loft

The only ghost story I was able to verify was the Malco. The others while pretty good stories I could find no documentation on. Any way it was a good tour, I enjoyed the walk through the beautiful city. The best part was being able to bring our dogs.

FACTS, MYTHS, LEGENDS
OF HAUNTED HOT SPRINGS

ENJOY OUR ONE-HOUR WALKING TOURS OF THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HOT SPRINGS. OUR GUIDE WILL TAKE YOU TO SEVERAL HAUNTED BUILDINGS, WITH THE OLDEST DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1800'S. WHILE AT THESE LOCATIONS, YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT THE DARK-SIDE OF HOT SPRINGS, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT. THE TOURS BEGIN AT 430 CENTRAL AVENUE. SO, IF THE EVENTS LISTED BELOW SEEM INTERESTING, YOU'LL ENJOY OUR HAUNTED TOURS. SEE YOU SOON.

*SPECIAL*
PART OF OUR TOUR WAS SHOWN ON
THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL'S "GHOST-LAB"
IN DECEMBER 2010.

HAUNTINGS
MYSTERIES
GHOSTS
MURDERS
DEATHS
SUICIDES

TOUR TIME
SUN - THUR 8:00 pm
FRI & SAT 8:00pm & 10:00pm
*EXCEPT DURING BAD WEATHER*

PRICING
TICKETS - $15
KIDS UNDER 10 - $10

BUY TICKETS
AT TICKET BOOTH
(430 CENTRAL AVENUE)
30 MINUTES BEFORE EACH TOUR
OR
ON THE "MERCHANDISE" WEBSITE
PAGE FOR A DISCOUNT PRICE

MY FAVORITE DOG FRIENDLY SHOPS IN HOT SPRINGS

2011-09-10T21:19:00.004-05:00

La Pet Pourri Boutique
330 Central Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901-3568
Phone:
(501) 623-3323

I don't recall the lady's name that ran this shop but she was wonderful. We bought two new dog leashes and our tickets for the Haunted Hot Springs tour from her. She gave us the low down on all the dog friendly shops to visit and the best things to do and see.

Chez Julie's Gifts
328 Central Ave.Hot Springs, AR 71901

501-623-2672
A unique blend of home decor, antiques and unusual gifts.
I bought these gorgeous ultra glam flip flops there. Julie Buhrow the shop's namesake and proprietress was charming. I loved that her shop was dog friendly. she had beautiful items, and I plan to shop with her online now that I am home.

BLEU MONKEY GRILL HOT SPRINGS AR

2011-09-10T20:56:00.002-05:00

4263 Central Avenue Hot Springs, Ar. 71901

Phone: (501) 520-4800

Hours: Sunday - Thursday : 10-10 Friday - Saturday : 11-11

Bleu Monkey Grill came about when the founders, Joey Godoy & Ozzy Oseguera, after being in the business for over 15 years, each dedicating their time to
opening Mexican restaurants, decided they wanted to try a new venture. After traveling and eating at many different places around the country, they composed a
menu that would bring many different flavors from around the world under one roof. They used their knowledge and experience to put together Bleu Monkey Grill
, and decided that Hot Springs AR, would be ideal for the birth of this new concept.

********

This place was recommended by friends that live in Hot Springs,Ar.

I really enjoyed my meal. I had Tomato basil soup, a house salad and the spicy ahi tempura rolls, my husband had a steak. I was very impressed by the eclectic nature of the menu. Everything on it sounded like something I would love to try.

I JUDGE NOT- POEM BY BETSY WESTBROOK BURROW

2011-09-10T20:42:00.003-05:00

I Judge Not

I cannot judge those who walked these streets before me,

for I am a product of today.

Nor can I do any more than acquaint myself

with the facts of the lives lived before my time.

I cannot make my way through the streets and tunnels

in any shoes other than my own,

Yet I can share the knowledge of our city's past,

when notorious men instilled fear.

Already judged by those who shared time on a clock,

those dubious souls are left to God.

The infamous players with nefarious schemes

ultimately died as all men do.

Though I tell you the tales of iniquitous men,

I deliver the truth without praise,

for I am no more than a teller of stories,

who drops facts for your entertainment.

If you, my fair patron, believe judgement is due

the gangsters whose chronicles share,

wisely exercise your prerogative to judge,

remembering we are who we are

because of the lives lived out before ours.

Betsy Westbrook Burrow

2009

********

I read this poem at the Gangster Museum and I thought it was a beautiful and well written piece. I purchased a copy. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

THE GANGSTER MUSEUM OF AMERICA-HOT SPRINGS,AR

2011-09-10T20:31:00.002-05:00

THE GANGSTER MUSEUM OF AMERICA

510 CENTRAL AVE

HOT SPRINGS, AR

501-318-1717

My husband and I arrived too late for the tour. They were just about to shut down for the evening. We were traveling with our dogs and I was pleasantly surprised that we were invited in dogs and all. The gift shop was quaint and I bought a beautifully written poem by Betsy Westbrook Burrow called I Judge Not. My husband was talking to the gentleman that runs the place (Robert Raines) and mentioned I was from Galveston, Robert began giving the names of many a gangster from my area that had relocated to Hot Springs back in the day. My husband started to laugh when many of the names he threw out were my relatives. We had a very enjoyable visit and I appreciated their hospitality.

Gangsters In Arkansas
Hot Springs' Gangster Era
Visiting beautiful Hot Springs today, it’s hard to imagine the city as a hotbed for organized crime such as gambling, crime, prostitution, bootlegging, wild nightclubs and notorious gangsters.
But from the late 1800’s through the mid 1900’s, especially the 30’s, that’s one of the things Hot Springs was widely known for.
Al Capone, Frank Costello, Bugs Moran, Lucky Luciano. Some of the country’s most infamous villains came to know this safe, secluded, scenic city as their home-away-from-home.
But in order to understand how and why they ever came to Hot Springs in the first place, it is important to recognize the corruption that had been going on here for decades.
Pre-1930 Spa City
For 50 years, as early as the mid to late 1800’s, the city had been “rolling the dice” on illegal gaming. At that time, two families held the reins to Hot Spring’s illegal activities: the Flynns and the Dorans. The two families constantly fought for control of the city’s gaming rights, a competition that eventually led to the famous Hot Springs Gunfight in 1899.
During this realm of local rule, hotel rooms, saloons and back alleys were the hotspots for cards and craps and casino-type gaming of all kinds.
Though illegal, and a felony under Arkansas law, the betting was no secret to the majority of local authorities. Police officers, judges, and even the mayor turned a blind eye to the industry either because they were being paid off by one of the families, or were participating in the gaming themselves.
So it’s easy to see why Hot Springs became a haven for criminals.
Hot Springs Organized Crime
On top of the local corruption, the healing hot springs, Ouachita Mountain beauty seclusion, and uptown nightlife, were attractive to the gangster elements from all across America. After all, Hot Springs offered Las Vegas-style amenities before there even was a Las Vegas.
So who was the gangster that began the gangland migration? His name was Owney “The Killer” Madden (today referred to as “the English Godfather”).
Madden arrived in Hot Springs in 1935 seeking slower days than the New York City lifestyle he was accustomed to. Originally from England, Madden grew up in the rough neighborhoods of Manhattan’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and is said to have put the “’organized’ in organized crime” in that city.
Madden settled right into Hot Springs though, and was actually well-respected and liked. He fell in love with and eventually married the local postmaster’s daughter. But his storybook ways ended there. He quickly got his feet wet in the local scene by supplying bettors with gambling lines and race results, opening the Hotel Arkansas Casino and later becoming involved with the famous Southern Club.
Eventually, more and more gangsters arrived. The word spread that Hot Springs was simply the perfect hideout from the big city lifestyle, especially for criminals running from police investigations.
The gangsters came in droves. It was said that Al Capone and his bodyguards would rent out entire floors of hotels.
But even for the bitterest rivals, such as Capone and Moran, Hot Springs was off limits for violence. The two once vacationed in the city at the same time — Capone at the Arlington Hotel in his famous room 442, Moran just a block away at the Majestic Hotel — but bloodshed never erupted, as the truce of vacationing in Spa City trumped any preceding quarrels.
Hot Springs Gangster Museum
The Hot Springs, Arkansas gangster activity came to an abrupt end in the 1960’s thanks to a federal crackdown on what the government called “the site of the largest illegal gambling operation in the U.S.” Some gangsters were finally arrested; others left or died, such as Owney Madden, who died of emphysema.
Today, nestled within the rolling Ouachita Mountains, Hot Springs is the beautiful laid-back city that it always seemed destined to become.
Remnants of the city’s notorious past can still be found inside The Hot Springs Gangster Museum of America, which features classic relics including old roulette tables, vintage slot machines, Madden and Capone exhibits, gangster weapons and a documentary in the museum’s theater.
**courtesy of the Gangster Museum

NOOK COLOR- MY HAPPY REVIEW

2011-08-28T20:41:00.006-05:00

NOOK COLOR, August 28, 2011
By Katherine Herrin "Katherine Herrin" (Galveston Texas)
This review is from: Barnes & Noble NOOK Color eBook Tablet

My husband bought us a pair of Nook Colors for our anniversary.

I find it to be very user friendly . The first day I got it was able to load pictures from my pc, add apps so I could have Facebook, Twitter and Google + at hand, I was able to check my email, view videos. Its awesome!!!!

We took the Nook Color class at B&N just to make sure we were utilizing all of the features. I was very impressed a the speed of the Nooks processor. I can look up books, magazines, newspapers, apps & order them and they are downloaded in about 30 seconds.

I also like the Nook accessories. When we bought our Nooks we purchased screen scratch protectors and leather covers. I got a beautiful "red" leather one, my signature color, my husband got a very nice tri fold leather one in tan, we were also given cute little nook corner fobs with literary quotes on them.

The Nook incredibly stylish.

The images on the screen are clear, crisp and vivid.

I have been taking it with me everywhere. At dinner out, was able to use my Nook to check movie times. Its like having a mini laptop in my bag.

I picks up wi-fi great. I am working on tethering it to my cell phone in non wi fi areas with some success. My issue is where there is no wi fi ,I also have a weak signal on my phone. Everyone I have shown my nook color too has been impressed.

I forgot to mention it stores and reminds me of appointments, lets me take notes and email asap. This Nook is great for work and pleasure.

Oh yeah I can read books on it too...smiles

Thank you dearest husband for this anniversary gift. I absolutely love it.

END OF SUMMER 2011-ITS BEEN A LONG HOT SUMMER

2011-08-28T18:59:00.002-05:00

Its been a long hot summer.

Despite the drought my garden grew beautifully. My tomatoes tasted like sunshine. Picking home grown veggies always makes my spirit smile. Tallulah a red slider turtle now lives in our banana tree and my husband put a pond in for her. The fish are getting fat and sassy in the water garden and all the water foliage has gotten established. Our dogs and cats are loved and content.We floated down the river, had alot of BBQ's, had some family time,bought vegetables at the Farmer's Market , and fresh milk from the Dairy. We have all had good health and work so we are blessed. Despite the ongoing 100 degree plus days, summer is drawing to an end. Theoretically Fall starts in a few days. A new season a new beginning.

ROCKIN THE COON SKIN CAP ON SAN ANTONIOS RIVER WALK

2011-08-28T18:46:00.001-05:00

KATHY

BUCCEES

2011-08-28T18:38:00.003-05:00

I LOVE BUCCEES TRUCK STOP. THEY HAVE ALL SORTS OF CUTE STUFF. FROM FOODS, GAMES, JEWELRY TO CAST IRON POTS. WE HAVE TO STOP IN LULING EVERYTIME WE ARE UP IN THAT DIRECTION AND I ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING I WANT.

GRAYSONS MARINE CORPS HAIRCUT

2011-08-28T18:18:00.001-05:00

GRAYSON GETTING A HIGH AND TIGHT
FUTURE MARINE

SEAWORLD SAN ANTONIO

2011-08-28T18:15:00.001-05:00

GREG,GRAYSON & RICKY
On the Steel Eel

MARINE CORPS FAMILY DAY AT FORT POINT

2011-08-28T17:52:00.003-05:00

GRAYSON AND AN AMTRACK
GREG AND GRAYSON

GREG

GRAYSON

TUBING THE GUADELUPE AND COMAL

2011-08-28T16:33:00.005-05:00

KATHY
GREG

GRAYSON

THE CREW

KATHY,GRAYSON,GREG,SUSIE AND RICKY

***********

We took a week long trip up to Gruene Texas. Every summer we go tubing at least once if not twice. Texas hasn't had any real rain in 10 months so we are in a pretty bad drought. I wasn't sure there would be enough water in the rivers to go this year, but after talking to a few folks that had been we went and had a great time. We did the Guadalupe at the Horseshoe which is usually our favorite but the water was low and slow, it was a 5 1/2 hr float and we hit lots of rocks. Another day of tubing we did the Comal in downtown New Braunsfels they have 3 chutes, the water was flowing and the float lasted about 2 hrs. We did the float 3 times in a day.

There is a much different crowd on the Comal than at the Horseshoe.

2011-07-31T18:26:00.002-05:00

I CAN TELL SOME PRETTY OUTLANDISH STORIES, ALL OF THEM ABSOLUTELY TRUE. I AM JUST ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT REALLY HAS DONE AND SEEN ALOT. I AM A WEIRDO MAGNET AND STRANGE THINGS OFTEN HAPPEN IN MY PRESENCE. SO WHEN I WAS TELLING MY FRIENDS ABOUT A MIDGET STRIPPER ON A MOTORCYCLE, THEY ALL THOUGHT I WAS KIDDING. I FINALLY FOUND VIDEO PROOF!!!! SEE THE VIDEO BELOW...IN YOUR FACE BIRKLEBOCH..LOL

Selene Luna

2011-07-31T18:23:00.000-05:00

Preview of Dita's Opium Den Show

2011-07-31T18:21:00.000-05:00

DITA

2011-07-31T16:39:00.003-05:00

DITA MARTINI GLASS

DITA COW GIRL

DIRTY MARTINI

ROMEO

DITA OPIUM DEN

I went to the House of Blues with some friends to see Dita Von Teese. Her show Strip Strip Hooray!! was exquisite. The costumes were the most lavish I have ever seen. She was tasteful and elegant in each of her performances. I am so glad I went. I have been a fan of hers for awhile now. She is always dressed to perfection, she has glamour , Charm, Mystery. What she does is an art form. She has a creative intellect I don't think people give her enough credit for. To be able to design the costumes and sets as she does is pure genius. She is definitely a worthy Icon.

Dita Von Teese Interview

2011-07-31T09:57:00.000-05:00

I LOVE THIS STORY--

2011-07-28T16:49:00.003-05:00

A man and his dog were walking along a road.

The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years.

He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble.

At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?' 'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.

'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'The man gestured, and the gate began to open. 'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.

'The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed.

There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. 'Excuse me!' he called to the man.

'Do you have any water?''Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.

''How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.'There should be a bowl by the pump,' said the man.

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked. 'This is Heaven,' he answered.

'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said.'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.''Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's Hell.''Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?

''No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

SUMMER SUNDAY

2011-07-24T19:29:00.001-05:00

FLOWERS I PICKED FROM MY GARDEN THIS MORNING.

KATHY'S CUCUZZA RECIPE

2011-07-24T18:53:00.003-05:00

KATHY'S CUCUZZA RECIPE

1lb loose Italian Sausage (cooked & reserved)
2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp sea salt20 oz. Cucuzza, 1 Medium Squash or part of a larger one, peeled with a carrot peeler and cut into 3/4-inch cubes1 Lb. ripe tomatoes, cored and chopped (& a 14-oz. can of chopped tomatoes, including juice)2 Baking potatoes, peeled,then cut into 1/2-inch cubes
4-6 carrots (peeled chopped rustica)
3 ribs celery
6 banana peppers
2 bell peppers
1 onion diced1/2 Cup chopped Italian parsley 8-10 snipped fresh basil leaves
1-2 branches Oregano
1-2 branches Rosemary
1-2 branches Thyme
1 can vegetable broth

Cook Sausage and Reserve
saute veggies in olive oil, when they start to get tender, add sausage and canned tomatoes with juice and broth to cover. Simmer on med heat 1.5-2 hrs

garnish
with Grated Romano Cheese

Serve
with Italian Bread

CUCUZZA/ZUCCHINI BREAD RECIPE

2011-07-24T13:29:00.004-05:00

CUCUZZA/GOOGOOTS
ZUCCHINI BREAD
　
3 EGGS
1 1/4 C. OIL
1 1/2C SUGAR
1 TSP VANILLA
2 C. DICED ZUCCHINI/OR CUCUZZA
2C. FLOUR
2 TSP BAKING SODA
2 TSP BAKING POWDER
1 TSP SALT
1 TSP CINNAMON
1 TSP CLOVES
1 C. NUTS (PECANS CHOPPED)

1 C. RAISINS 　
　
BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 1 HR 15 MINUTES　
　
**COOKS NOTES: YOU MAY USE BISQUCK INSTEAD OF FLOUR AND OMIT BAKING SODA AND POWDER. ALSO I ADDED A TSP EACH OF ALLSPICE AND GINGER.

**I also doubled the recipe for it to make 5 loaves**

SAVING A CAT IN DISTRESS

2011-07-24T13:08:00.003-05:00

On the way to work I saw a cat on a fence post with a cheeto bag (small snack size bag) on his head he was suffocating . I pulled over, climbed the fence in dress to rescue him but,He jumped down startled into a horse pen.

I couldn't get to him thru the barbed wire. So I climbed back over the fence and I drove to the ranch house to get help. A cowboy named Saldovar came and rescued the cat. He got scratched up pretty bad, but cheers to him for saving a life today.

The poor cats head was soaking wet from saliva and respiration. He took off like a shot and ran into the hen house, so I believe he will be ok. I never got to check him up close after the event.

That's the first time I ever saw something like that. I don't throw trash out of the window. All the Public Service Announcements I heard as a child about "Don't Mess with Texas" regarding not littering our Streets. Highways and By-ways sunk in with me. Now I have seen first hand the ill effects litter has on nature. It really affected me. Had I not come along and saw him, the kitty would have died.

I did rip my panties and my dress getting over the fence, I threw out my back, and I have a good bruise on my bottom. I definitely get my love of animals from my mom .

SIMPLY SUNDAY ZINNIAS FROM MY GARDEN

2011-07-17T21:14:00.000-05:00

CUCUZZA/GOOGOOTS

2011-07-17T20:28:00.004-05:00

Cucuzza

The cucuzza (pronounced ko-KOO-tza or, for slang, goo-GOOTZ)

I love heirloom vegetables. I also love getting in touch with my Italian ancestry.

The Cucuzza is from the gourd family but is used as a squash. I have only had this once at a San Giovanni potluck and old man everyone called Uncle Joe grew them and prepared them he called them googoots . His recipe was like this one from cucuzzasquash.com

To Stew:
Peel approximately

2 pounds of Cucuzza squash and dice into 1/2 inch cubes.

In oiled skillet , combine small chopped onions,

1 clove chopped garlic, sauté 2 minutes.

Add 15 ounces of can stewed tomatoes and summer 4 minutes.

Add Cucuzza squash and cook till tender.

(approximately 30 min.).

Season to taste.

Serve plain over thin spaghetti.

Tastes great with meat too!

Courtesy of :
http://almostitalian.com/the-cucuzza-chronicles/

I saw this photo on the above website. What a fabulous picture. He looks like the Italian Uncle everyone wished they had. I had no idea that cucuzza
was grown on a trellis as shown. He definitely took great pride in gardening and growing his prized cucuzza.

Minestra di Cucuzza e Tenerumi
Far greater than the sum of its parts, this uncomplicated and refreshing dish comes together very quickly.
Minestra di Cucuzza e Tenerumi
Courtesy of:
Copyright © 2010, Skip Lombardi
Ingredients:
4 oz. pasta corta (tubettini, ditali, or other short, tubular pasta)
3 Cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. peperoncini ( more to taste)
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
6 Tenerumi, each about 10” long (optional)
20 oz. Cucuzza,
1 small fruit or part of a larger one, peeled
with a carrot peeler and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 Lb. ripe tomatoes, cored and chopped
(or a 14-oz. can of chopped tomatoes, including juice)
8 oz. new red potatoes, previously boiled in their skins,
then cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 Cup chopped Italian parsley
or 8-10 snipped fresh basil leaves
Salt to taste
Fruity olive oil to finish
4 Tbsp. Freshly grated pecorino, Romano,
or other Italian grating cheese
(Aged caciocavallo might be a Sicilian choice.)
Notes:
–Variations of this dish appear throughout Sicily and in the kitchens of Sicilian immigrants. Potatoes seem to be an American addition.
–Many cooks simply add the dry pasta and 1-2 cups of water to the pan along with the cucuzza and tomatoes, resulting in a dish with less-defined textures. We prefer a little crispness to our cucuzza and are sticklers for pasta al dente, hence the sequence we present here.
Preparation:
Boil the pasta in salted water for 3-4 minutes; it will be less than al dente.Drain the pasta and set it aside. Reserve 2-3 cups of the starchy pasta water.
In a large pan at least 2 inches deep, sauté the garlic, peperoncini, and black pepper in olive oil. Add the cubes of cucuzza and sauté on medium heat for 7-10 minutes, or until crisp-tender.
Meanwhile, if you are using them, wash and chop the tenerumi stems and leaves into 1/2 inch pieces. Add the tenerumi and the red-skin potato cubes to the cucuzza. Sauté for 2 minutes or until the greens are wilted. Add the tomatoes and any collected juice. Simmer for 3 minutes and add the undercooked pasta and a few ladlefuls of the pasta cooking-water, depending on how “soupy” you would like your dish.
Gently stir to combine and simmer for a minute or two, then turn off the burner. The pasta will continue to cook in the residual heat. Taste for salt.
Stir in the chopped herbs and ladle the minestra into shallow bowls. Drizzle a bit of olive oil over each serving and sprinkle on just a little grated cheese (Don’t overdo the cheese—the subtle, sweet flavor of the cucuzza should predominate.)
Enjoy hot or lukewarm, accompanied by good bread.
Serves four.
********
This is another wonderful and interesting recipe
I came across in my search for cucuzza recipes.
Chocolate Cucuzza Cake
CAKE
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 cups shredded cucuzza (Seen note below)
FROSTING
6 tablespoons butter, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup sweetened coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup milk
Change Measurements: US Metric
Directions:
Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 1 1/4 hr
1 Preheat oven to 325°F.
2 In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, oil and sugar, creaming until smooth.
3 Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition.
4 Add vanilla and beat well.
5 In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and cloves.
6 Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternately with buttermilk.
7 Stir in shredded cucuzza.
8 Pour batter into a greased 13X9-inch baking pan.
9 Bake for 45-50 minutes until done. You can test to see if the cake is done by inserting a toothpick near the center of the cake and see if it comes out clean. If it does, it's done.
10 Allow cake to cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.
11 Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, combine all frosting ingredients.
12 Spread over warm cake.
13 Broil in oven approximately 4-6 inches from the heat for about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to burn, it will broil fast!
14 Cool cake completely before serving.
15 ~NOTE~ You don't have to peel or seed the cucuzza, just wash the outside skin with warm water and pat dry before shredding.
Courtesy of: http://www.food.com/recipe/chocolate-cucuzza-cake-245186#ixzz1SPpjBbfn

Louis Prima - My Cucuzza

2011-07-17T20:10:00.000-05:00

GARDEN CAT COTTAGE TURTLE POND

2011-07-17T06:22:00.000-05:00

GARDEN CAT COTTAGE THAI URN WATER GARDEN WITH GOLDFISH

2011-07-17T06:21:00.000-05:00

CUTE TURTLE STORY- ROY THATS A SNAPPER

2011-07-16T08:02:00.006-05:00

I was telling my neighbor Roy about my new turtle.

So he told me a funny story that happened 30 years ago

when his grown children were little.

He said his son was crazy about turtles and they were driving to go to Grandma's when on this old road they come across a turtle. His son starts yelling Dad, its a turtle. I want him. So old Roy pulls over and picks this turtle up and puts him in the back with the kids. His son is so happy he has a turtle.

Well a little ways down the road the turtle starts acting pretty aggressive. Kids, The wife and Grannie start screaming, so Roy does one of those pulling over real quick maneuvers and every one bails out of the car. The turtle is hissing and snapping.

So Roy gets a big stick he said it was about 2 inches thick and he starts prodding the turtle out of the car by this bait shop. He said the turtle bit that stick in half. So that taught Roy not to pick up hitchhiking Terpins.

No turtles were harmed in the telling of this story....

GARDEN CAT COTTAGE TURTLE

2011-07-15T19:40:00.004-05:00

What pretty color contrast stripes she has.

Her belly is yellow.

What a lovely arrowhead design down the middle.

The entire pattern looks like an Egyptian scarab.

With her large size its estimated she is about 5-6 years old

Today I was driving with one of my clients and I thought I saw a turtle on the side of the road. I asked if he minded if we turned around so I could check it out. Sure enough it was a turtle. I picked it up and put it in the back seat of the car.
The turtle is pretty good size I'd say 12 inches long 10 inches wide. I sent pictures to a site I saw online and within 45 mins. I got a response:

That's a female Red-eared Slider.

Tim Cole(512) 83-SNAKE

www.austinherpsociety.org

www.AustinReptileExpo.com/www.AustinReptileService.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<>
She is in my backyard and tomorrow I will try and find a water receptacle appropriate for her. I have always wanted a turtle for the garden. I hope the garden and this type of turtle
are compatible. I am going to do my very best to give her a happy and healthy habitat

I just have to find a name for her now.

MY UNCLE PORTER

2011-07-15T19:33:00.003-05:00

My Uncle Porter is 5 ft tall and 5 ft round, bald and has a glint in his pretty blue eyes like an evil Santa Claus. He used to get that Dr. Leonards catalog all the time. Well he ordered something called stump juice (for rotting out old tree stumps) anyway our housekeeper took his catalog and ordered several of those long line granny bra's, ...somehow they shipped her bras to him. I happened to walk into the office when he was on the phone having a hissy fit saying I am a man I don't wear bras, where is my stump juice. Had anyone who didn't know the background story walked in they would have thought it was an obscene phone call...lol

William S. Cherry Katherine, that's one of the great stories of all times! And I have the God given authority to say that since I've written at least a 1000 of them mself. Thanks for sharing it with me/us.

Ruth Lacquement Katherine, Bill Cherry is right! That's a great story and you told it so well...SO funny!

Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Figs

2011-07-15T08:14:00.003-05:00

Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Figs
Serves 6

Ingredients
12 fresh figs1/4 lb.

Gorgonzola dolce

10 slices prosciutto di Parma, cut into thirds

24 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for at least two hours

2 Tbs. aged balsamic vinegar
Directions
Preheat grill to high (gas) or until coals are glowing (charcoal).

Cut stems off figs and slice in half lengthwise.

Place dollop of Gorgonzola in center of each fig half.

Wrap prosciutto around figs and cheese and secure with bamboo skewers.

Grill for about 30 seconds, then turn and grill for additional 30 seconds. To serve, arrange on platter and drizzle with aged balsamic vinegar.

http://www.charlestonmag.com

***********

COOKS NOTES:

My ex husband used to say I could'nt follow a recipe to save my life. I always put my own little spin on things.

Here I am using :

Chevre Goat Cheese spiked with a little bit of rosemary from the garden

I also made a dipping sauce

6 Tb Honey

3-4 Tb Balsamic

Fresh Rosemary

Lemon Zest

I also used a Rosemary Sprig as a brush to apply sauce to figs

When Grilling figs I actually used tooth picks and placed them in my Jalapeno roasting grill rack shaped like to Great State of Texas.

Kathy's Fire-Roasted Gazpacho Recipe

2011-07-15T07:43:00.004-05:00

Kathy's Fire-Roasted Gazpacho

Ingredients:
4 C Roma tomatoes, Roasted

1 green bell pepper (Roasted)

or Garden peppers such as Banana Peppers(Roasted)

1 jalapeno (Roasted) seeded and ribbed

1 onion (Roasted) halved

1 zuchinni (quartered and roasted)

1 yellow squash (sliced and roasted)

3 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar

1 bunch cilantro

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce or to taste

2 tsp. cumin powder

1 head garlic (Roasted)

1 tsp Tony Chacheres spice blend

Pinch of cayenne pepper

Sea salt, to taste

Black pepper, ground to taste

Directions:
* Over a charcoal grill ( For the smoky flavor) but you can use a gas grill. Roast the tomatoes, peppers , onion, and in a wad of tin foil add olive oil and un peeled garlic cloves and roast with other ingredients. Tomatoes and peppers should split and the skins become black and charred. You can dispose of half the charred skin as you like, it depends on how much of that flavor your taste buds enjoy.

As for the garlic, squeeze out the soft roasted garlic from the skins and throw skins away.

Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Serve chilled, the colder the better.

Garnishing/Serving
I serve this in shot glasses with a boiled jumbo shrimp, lemon twist, avocado slice skewered on the rim. I also like to add a dab of blue cheese crumbles on top and french or herbed bread as an accompaniment

2011-07-13T06:48:00.000-05:00

Don't just go through life, Grow through life.

--Eric Butterworth