Great Foodie-Gift Websites

Here are some links I found for the unique foodie gifts ..including t-shirts, jewelry, and an office desktop fondue set!

http://www.dietdetective.com/tshirts (love the stalker one)

http://www.mystudioacorn.com/goods/necklaces_3.php how about a turkey leg necklace?

http://www.uncommongoods.com/ -love those whisk and chef knife earrings, and coffee bean cufflinks..look under jewelery, natch.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/fundue.shtml be sure to check out the "cathartic knife holder", the posters, and other fun stuff.

http://www.zingermans.com/ A fabulous fresh food delivery site...be sure to check out Zings clubs for Bacon of the Month Club!

http://www.igourmet.com/ All things food.

http://www.wine.com/ for all kinds of wine and wine accessories. I am liking the "wine aroma wheel"

Happy Shopping.

My oldest turns 37 today..at 2:37 p.m.

Happy Birthday Mikey! He's the one on the left. God, I feel old.

Another Chapter in Dee's Life

Dee stood in the kitchen of her house on 3rd Street. No kids, no husband..it was quiet. She felt guilty..at first. She had not been in the house without her kids for this long. She stood there..alone, watching the sunlight filter through the tree. Then she put on her white socks, placed the Platters on the record player, threw back the rugs from the old hard-wood floors, turned up the sound..and began dancing to "You've Got The Magic Touch." She pretended to be the lead singer on "Smoke Get's In Your Eyes", and on "I'm Sorry". She had a big party all to herself. She sang with Nat King Cole on "Ramblin Rose" and then went wild with Mahalia Jackson on"Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho". She heated up the tuna casserole and had a few bites, swallowed a few shots of her husbands "Canadian Mist"....which he hid under the sink, and fell off to sleep listening to Patty Page singing "Let Me Call You Sweeheart".

Dee had been released from a psych ward the day before...her best friend brought her home, as her husband was working out of town..as usual. She knew that her children would be home in a few days..apparently they had been sent to relatives in Illinois and South Dakota...after she had apparently "gone crazy". She should have done it a few years earlier..it might have saved her.

Mel and Dave's Thanksgiving Dinner

Hi – I’m Lori from Hahn at Home. Mellie and her wonderful husband Dave invited me, two of the kids, and Uncle Doreen to join them and Dave’s parents for a fabulous Harvest Festival meal. Some of you might call it Thanksgiving. As usual, the food was fabulous. Mel & Dave made the turkey a joint venture and it was succulent. The sides and drinks sublime. The company, well, that too was as usual and was unsurpassed. Please enjoy these photos of some of what I was able to experience yesterday. Thanks guys! It was terrific.

I’ll let Mellie tell you about her holiday tradition and how that turned out—Mel – your turn! [okay Lori..but we did invite all of your kids..it's just that one is not home right now].

I have this tradition where everyone brings something that has meaning, but they are willing to let it go. All of the items are put on a table and people choose which item they want..and why. The person that brought it then tells why the item has meaning for them. Everyone leaves (or stays) with a new keepsake..and everyone knows a bit more about each guest. It's a nice little tradition.

Lori brought the relish tray..on her grandma's ceramic shell plate that she made herself.. in the 1950's. Doreen brought some fabulous stuffed mushrooms and some great wine. We had some Hahn Pinot Noir, some Fetzers Pinot Grigio, and some Kendal Jackson Chardonnay. We also had my grandma Rosenberg's stuffing, a great all-natural turkey that Dave had brined for 24 hours prior to roasting; my MIL brought pumpkin pies, a pecan pie, persimmon pudding with hard sauce, and yams. We had potatoes, and a cold green been salad dressed in balsamic vinaigrette with Pt. Reyes blue cheese sprinkles. (I took that recipe from my prep days in Paragarys kitchen).

We enjoyed lots of laughs, and Doreen managed to escape my FIL's looooooong stories by saying she had to go find Lori. We were in the closet..looking for movies. I still laugh everytime I think of the speed reader who stuttered..so he had blisters on his fingers!! That was a good one for sure.

I only invited Lori so she would bring Em, and Joe. They brought a portable Wii...and now Dave is pricing them all over the place.

Thanks Father Sky and Mother Earth for the blessings of food, family, and good friends...and of wine.

Do You Have AAADD??

Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder.
Somehow I feel better,even though I have it!!
Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D -
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that
I brought up from the mail box earlier. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full and should empty it.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first. I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking.I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.The Coke is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need water. I put the Coke on the counter and discover my reading glasses that
I've been searching for all morning.I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers..I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.

Someone left it on the kitchen table.I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV,
I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers. I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:
the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter,the flowers don't have enough water, there is still only 1 check in my check book, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses and I don't remember what I did with the car keys. Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day, and I'm really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail. Can you relate? [Thanks Pat..for this forward!]

Guess Who Is Coming to Dinner?

My mom always had a huge Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. I have old footage from 1955-1959 that shows a huge table that ran the length of the house filled with guests...and most were not family members. They were people who were alone, couples who had no family, and families who had no place to go. This tradition continued for mom until a few years before her death. She loved a crowd.

My sis and I have the most fond food memories of putting together the stuffing mix for the bird..always a bunch of women in the kitchen..chopping away and tasting. My sis, Pat, was the "official taster" right before we stuffed the bird. I miss that so much.

One year, my kids and I were driving to Wyoming from Billings, MT. They were very young. It was snowing like mad. We saw this old guy hitch-hiking, along the road. He had white hair..and a frozen white beard...and they thought it was Santa. I stopped and offered him a ride. He said to just drop him off at the next truck stop. Well, I just kept driving. We sang songs, ate snacks, and the boys kept asking, "are we almost there?."

We arrived at my moms house and the old guy was scared to death! He didn't look so good and didn't smell so good either. I assured him that all would be well. I actually rang the bell..and when my mom answered, I said "guess who's coming to dinner?" She laughed, we all came in. I introduced "John" to her, etc. She welcomed him, as did everyone else. Mom was especially pleased that I was not dating the poor old guy. [Hey.. it was the 70's] She and my step-dad fed him and took him to The Cook Hotel..where they paid for his room for 3 days, gave him clean clothing, told him to take a bath, and assured him someone would be back to pick him up the morning. We weren't sure he'd still be there the next day. Turns out, he spent the holidays with us.

He was smart, funny, and almost toothless. It was a great Thanksgiving..we had about 20 people that year. We eventually took "John" to the truck stop, as he wished, and we never saw him again. I think of him every year about this time.

Dressing to Impress

My maternal grandmother Rosenberg made the best stuffing. Making it, with mom and my sisters, is still a great memory. Every time I make this, I get rave reviews. Adding the bacon was something I began doing a few years ago.

Here is the turkey dressing recipe..or stuffing if you actually cook it in the bird (which I do):

I don't recall ever measuring anything..it was all done by "texture and taste".

2 loaves of white bread..cubed about 1/2"
1 nine by thirteen inch pan of cooked corn bread..cubed about 1/2 "
about 5-6 eggs
ground giblets and neck of turkey...simmered for an hour...shred and/or chop ..use broth too [I always buy a turkey leg and simmer that with the giblets so I have extra broth]
3-4 stalks of celery..chopped at about 1/4"
1 lg onion chopped like the celery
ground sage or minced fresh sage to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Fry about 6 pieces of bacon..crispy then chop into small pieces [add it last] . I use that pan with the bacon grease in it to saute my celery and onion for about 10 minutes on med..before adding them to the mix.

So ya mix all of the ingredients together...we always used our very clean hands to do so. It should be very moist but not soggy. I pack it into the bird, after it cools, and throw it all in a 325 degree oven until it is done..depends on the size of the turkey. What doesn't fit into the bird, I put in a buttered dish and bake it for about 35 minutes. I drizzle some broth on that about half-way thru so it stays moist.

Fabulous. Save some of that broth for the gravy!

[the turkey pic is from a few years ago..Mike BBQ'd one and it was great!...couldn't stuff it though]

Why Men Should Not Take Messages

I Was a Boob

I married the kids' dad when I was 17..he was 18. I had my first child, Mike, when I was almost eighteen. One of the problems I encountered early on... was that while I was enjoying the thought of married life..my husband still wanted to drag main, honk at his friends, drink warm Budweiser, and talk with the ladies. oooops.

It was 1970, and I wanted to nurse my little newborn...as was the popular deal at that time...but just barely. I had heard that breast-feeding would be good for the baby. One of the problems I encountered early on...was that my boobs grew to be the size of atom bombs and were just about as hard. I was told to get into a very hot tub of water, soak those girls, and then pump. I was afraid to leave Mikey alone, so I'd put him in a tiny air-filled pool on top of me in the tub. Pumping was done with a hand-held thingee that looked like my tricycle horn.

Well, so much for breast-feeding. After 6 weeks of total misery, and one very unhappy little baby, I went to my dumb Dr. and asked how to dry up the milk in my boobs. He gave me some red pills to take for a week. Relief. I could finally lay on my stomach again..and move without shooting milk all over the sheets...and the baby and I stopped crying all the time. I no longer felt like "a walking boob".

I began to mix formula for Mikey...and he slept 4 hours in a row... for the first time! I finally had, what I am guessing was, a maternal experience. He would eat, then sleep..and I would enjoy hours just watching his angelic little face. One of the problems I encountered after that, was getting kicked off the La Leche volleyball team. Oh well. Those girls couldn't serve anyway.

Guest Blogging at Sacatomato today

If you want to know about Taylor's Market...an old Sac favorite, go have a look-see.

http://www.sacatomato.com/

The Falling Leaves

I grew up in Montana and Wyoming where when it was near mid to late September, the leaves began to change colors and fall from the trees. This was always my favorite time of year. I loved the cold, the crisp feeling on my cheeks in the fall. We knew it was only a matter of weeks before the first snow would fall. Only a matter of weeks people..before the snow would fall.

Forward...I now live in Sacramento, CA. It is proudly considered "the city of trees". It is November 9th and I still have roses and dahlias blooming..and roma tomatoes ripening!!

I am fricken miserable due to the falling leaves. I shouldn't have to be..but due to my neighbor on my left..and my neighbor across the street...they are not at all happy about our huge, lovely silver elm tree losing its' leaves. They are totally obsessed with keeping ANY leaves off of their lawns. Crap...we should have bought a place down the street..where all of the homes have tons of leaves in their yards. Who does not love the crackle sound of leaves when you walk?

So...my neighbors come over to our lawn and blow our leaves into a pile onto the street..because they don't want one leaf in their yard. Both neighbors have given us names of people who would cut our tree down for cheap. Hello? This huge tree keeps our house cool in Sacramento's very very hot summers! We did pay a reputable tree company, last spring, to cut down three huge branches that may have, somehow, in a strange and never been before storm..hurt their property. It was expensive. They are still not happy..and they let us know.

So, today...I went out and blew fricken leaves for two hours. I blew them the hell out of both anal-type neighbors yards. I had this huge pile in the street..which the county picks up weekly..and I watered it down so it would not blow around to their yards. We also pay our own Gardener, once weekly, to do the same. Are they happy?

You know the answer. Geez...they are only leaves people!!

Dim Sum Anyone?

Why not join us this Sunday, the 11th, for dim sum at King Palace on Stockton Blvd? So far, we have seven joining us. It is from noon to around 2:00..depends on how fast we eat. We like to share, so be prepared. Bring cash. Very casual...we order when we get there. Robert is going early to save a big round table! Should be fun..always is.

King Palace
5829 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, CA

check it out at http://www.sacramentofoodgroup.org/ at the meetups board.

Cookies!

Just click on the name of the cookie and bam the recipe is there. Good to keep handy

[this was a forward from one of my nieces...it is fabulous]


1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss Treats Taralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee Squares Traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies Traditional Gingerbread Men Cookies Triple-Chocolate Chip Cookies Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Waffer Balls Walnut Butter Cookies Walnut Crumb Bars White Chip Chocolate Cookies Wild Oatmeal Cookies Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms

Romeo, Romeo..where for art thou Romeo?

Please..if you can, go home to Mike, Jenn, and Elaina!! They miss you so much...and I do too. :)

McCormick and "Schitz"

I met a friend downtown for lunch yesterday. Lori works in the Elks building, so I suggested we meet at McCormick and Schmicks. She agreed, secretly knowing I would be less than impressed but she was kind enough to allow me the pleasure of discovering this sad fact on my own.

First off, the young guy at the "reservation podium" was snooty. Not a smile to be had from him, not a welcome...just a look down his nose and "we'll have your table ready in 5 minutes". That was interesting since they were not busy, I had reservations, and the table they took me to had been ready for 5 minutes. I did notice that the "manager" had gone out to tell the valets to take their hands out of their pockets and place them behind their backs in a crosswise fashion..as if they were guarding a military post.

So, we get our menus and are told they are printed up twice a day to reflect the fresh and different kinds of fish that are delivered several times a day. Wry grins are exchanged between my dining companion and I.

I ended up with the fresh tuna melt with cheese and housemade chips and L got the cod sandwich. I got their frozen fries..not the fresh housemade chips but when I told the waiter I was surprised to get the fries he just said, "all sandwiches come with fries". Apparently he was not aware of what was on the menu with regard to what comes with my order.

The tuna was dry..and I didn't think the cheese was a match at all. Lori was not impressed with her dish either..and that seems to be the consensus of several people who work in the building. We left nearly all of the fries and each only had a few bites of our sandwiches. The waiter did not inquire about why we had not eaten much...but L told him, "note to the chef..the tuna was dry". The waiter thanked her. Hmmm.

McCormick's is a lovely restaurant. Wonderful atmosphere there. I did want the raw oysters..I love em. I might go back at night just for a drink and some raw oysters..and a seat in a booth by the window facing J Street so I can watch the homeless schizophrenics walk by, wrapped in blankets and ranting to anyone who will listen. On the way back to my car, I was stopped and asked for money for food..by a very skinny young woman. I gave her some, of course. Don't know if she bought a salad or crack....but whatever. She was in need.

On a side note, Miss Lori has quite the fancy schmancy office in the building. I was very impressed...and with all of the many renovations going on in that old building. She gave me the tour.

Thursday Farmer's Market on Florin.

I had to go over to the Peck house today, so stopped at the farmers market over there. I got some great produce...and even a dozen pork tamales...and a huge bouquet of gorgeous flowers. The weather was perfect for it and I met a lady who told me the easiest way to freeze green beans. She cleans and then blanches them in boiling water. She takes em out when they turn bright green..won't take too long at all...then puts em in a freezer bag, then drops em into an ice bath...dries off the bag, marks it..then freezes. I can do the same with the broccoli rabe and long beans.

I got persimmons, small onions, turnips, eggplant, small red potatoes, broccoli rabe (two huge bunches for a buck), tender green beans and long beans, end of the season tomatoes and cukes, a bag of apples and asian pears..all for 3 bucks, two bunches of sweet carrots, some kale and a butternut squash, 4 huge red bell peppers for a buck... and a jar of honey.

Total for all of it? $38.00. Just one more reason I love living in this part of CA.

This makes me very happy.

Gratitude & Happiness..and whoreray Lori!

I am happy and greatful that I have a good husband, an open spirit, a nice home, food on the table, friends, and ...well, I could go on. Just feeling greatful today...and wish I didn't have to go to the dentist at 10:00. But...I am greatful for my teeth so I'll go.

UPDATE: Lori won 3rd place over at blog interviewer and is donating her proceeds to the Sac Childrens Home. Hip Hip Whoreray! [there is a reason for that] http://www.hahnathome.com. She is a good woman.