60.Things Golden

Fifty years is a very long time, especially when you have been married to the same person.  Sometimes though it seems just like yesterday.  Our fiftieth anniversary won't be until December of 2011, but our friends Bruce and Dorothy Lacey celebrated their fiftieth this past Saturday.  Bob and Bruce have been the best of friends since they were eight.  We have celebrated all of life's successes and failures, happy times and sad times and everything in between with them.  There is something inexplicable about the bond that forms between people who have been through so much together.  It's wonderful to have confidants who will listen and not judge, help without reward, be there just to hold you up when you can't on your own.  We are blessed with many friends and I don't use the word blessed lightly, but few that have stood the test of time like the Lacey's.

They leave for a trip of a lifetime next week to Europe for seven weeks of cruising, train rides, guided tours and more fun than the average tourist.  You'll go a long way before you find people who love to travel like the Lacey's.  We should all pay attention to them and how they have learned to "Stop and smell the Roses!"  I don't know anyone else who has the lust for adventure as they do.  It simply makes Bob and I tired just to hear where they have been.  I defy anyone to out walk them and I swear that they have eaten at every restaurant in United States!  Their travel tips always start with the best places to eat, especially local cuisine.  They love to eat "where the locals eat."

We will be tracking their adventures with them through their "blackberries."  It's a funny world when Old Farts can keep in touch within seconds across the world holding something without a cord that fits in our pocket.  When we went to Europe with the kids and my sister in 1972 we had to make a reservation for a phone line in Greece 24 hours in advance to call home on Christmas.  We've come a long way.

We have put in our request for sand from the Isle of Capri and a couple of other places and asked them to look at everything twice, once for them and once for us, but mostly we wished them happy adventures, fabulous food, safe travel and remember there are still some places where you shouldn't drink the water!   Bon Voyage!

59. Eat, Pray, Love

Do you like to read?  We love it!  I usually read out loud to Bob.  I read in the car on the way to town, I read in the car on the way to L.A. or any where else we happen to go.  The last thing we do at night is snuggle down in the covers and I read out loud for about 45 minutes before lights out.  It is a wonderful connection for us.  But the last week has been a little different.  I still read as I have explained, but I have added another time slot just for me. 

When Trisha was here she talked about the book, "Eat, Pray, Love."  She hadn't read it yet but had it in her carry-on.  I didn't think it would be something Bob would particularly enjoy...oh, he would listen to it and not complain, but I figured it was a kind of girlie thing...the author's side of divorce.  I'll get the dvd from Netflix and he will watch it, but that is only a couple of hours and he can always go in the bedroom and watch the History Channel if he loses interest.  He does rather enjoy a good "Chick Flick."  (except for the Pride and Prejudice ones...he calls them ribbons and bonnets and way too much time on their hands)  At any rate, the library only had the book on  cd, so I decided I'd listen to it instead of waiting to read it.  I've been looking for the time to repair Preston's beautiful airplane quilt the Bob's cousin, Carolyn Sue, made for him.  He has loved it nearly to death.  The airplanes were hanging in near tatters.  The thought of just sitting there repairing each plane was more like a chore and I knew I would just put it off dreading doing something that I really don't have a fondness for...quilting.

Ah ha! My perfect opportunity to multitask and not feel guilty for just laying there and reading to my self.  I know that is silly, no one cares if I just lay there and read, but I feel like such a lagger when I do.  But this way I can work on the quilt and listen to the story at the same time!  I must admit that it is rather nice to listen to a book.  It will be interesting to see what my retention is like just listening like that.  I did find out that I can't just lay there and listen.  I fell asleep right away.

The book is really good and insightful, especially the part in India, but then I'm partial to Yoga and meditation.  She is quite the author and has done her research.  Of course, you must realize she IS an author and she got the money up front for this book after selling the idea to her editor.  So she was able to take the year and get paid for it too.  Not that that is bad or makes the book less readable, just something to keep in mind.  

Preston's quilt is almost finished and I must say it has been a pleasure to sit and have someone read to me for a change. 

58. Come On you Can Can!

Our walk this morning brings re-newed pleasure in living here.  It is quiet and so peaceful.  It has also been a cooler summer than usual.  I know the east coast has taken a beating with the heat and I'm thankful that we are spared.  I have to admit though, we live here by choice.  We made a conscious plan to leave the smog and heat of Southern California.  It was not without sacrifice, but we are glad that we did.  People come here for their vacations and we just look out the window and sigh with contentment.

Maggie is always so very happy when she sees us with  her leash in our hands.  Dogs are really good with sight signals.  It makes you wonder just  how  necessary  your voice is with them.  This morning when Bob was drawing the sink with water to do the dishes, he called to Maggie to give her a treat.  She held back in the dining room.  He called her again and then said to me, "What's the matter with her, Honey?  She won't come to me for her treat."  I started laughing.  I said, "She thinks you are going to give her a bath!"  Strictly a visual for her and it meant bath and that resistance superseded her desire for the treat. Pretty funny.

A dog trainer on television the other day said the best training tool for a dog, especially to teach them to walk next to you is a wooden spoon with peanut butter mashed into the spoon part so they can lick it but not get all the peanut butter at once.  Plus, if you have ever tried to carry pocket or plastic bag full of treats when training, you will soon find that the spoon is much easier to keep track of.  I have yet to meet a dog that wouldn't roll over and try to shake hands all at the same time to have a lick of peanut butter.  Come to think of it, a tablespoon of the gooey delight smeared on the wooden spoon wouldn't have nearly the calories or cost of doggie treats.  Another of life's twofers!

When we got back to the house, Bob said, "We sure have a lot of quail up on the upper meadow and earlier the turkey seemed to be gathered at the same place.  I wonder why?"  When we looked closer we discovered that the sprinkler up there had a small drip making the perfect puddle of fresh water.  I guess we won't be fixing the leak, at least not until after summer.  The turkey are so silly and fun to watch.  They love to take dry baths in the dirt mounds that the gopher make when they kick soil out of their tunnels.

Trisha and Robby enjoyed watching them in the yard in the early morning before their run.  Trisha has always liked to run.  It's an activity that has always escaped me, but then you only have to watch me run to understand why.  It's like the ground is always 2 inches closer to me than I expect.  It has always been that way.  It's yet another way I have to bring pleasure to those around me.  Bob used to tell the kids to watch that Mommy was going to try to run.  Isn't he cute, she says with great sarcasm.

Today my calendar is full with cleaning activities.  A few weeks ago we found some spicy, sweet picked okra.  I only bought one jar because you never know if you are going to like them.  Well, we loved them and now can't find them again.  So I dug out my fool proof bread and butter pickle recipe and we adapted that recipe We made pickled okra yesterday and the kitchen floor and cabinets are covered in the sweet residue.  How we managed to get it spread everywhere is a mystery, but the ants will be happy unless I get busy.  Then I'll spray with vinegar and water and let you know if that works.                                                                                                                     

Just in case you are interested, here is the fool proof bread and butter pickle recipe.

The Best Bread and Butter Pickles
Jars with lids.
Four quarts of cucumbers (I love those little Persian cucumbers from Trader Joe's)
3 large onions
2 red bell peppers or those little sweet multicolored peppers that are so popular now
3 cloves of garlic

1/3 cup salt


Pickling fluid
5 cups sugar
3cups CIDER vinegar
2 T. mustard seed
1 1/2 tsp. celery seed
1 1/2 tsp. tumeric
______________________________________________________________________________
Clean and slice cucumbers and veggies and place them with salt in a large bowl and cover them
with water and cover with lots of ice cubes then place a plate on the ice to force the
veggies not to float.  Let them sit for 3 to 4 hours.  Then drain, remove garlic and RINSE really well.  I rinse them for several minutes.  If you don't they are way too salty.  This soak is to keep the veggies crisp not to salt them.

Wash your jars and lids and place them in a pan large
enough to cover them with water and then simmer them while you are making the liquid.
If you have a dishwasher, by all means just run them through the cycle and keep the door
closed so they stay hot until you fill them.  Bob is my dish washer and he hates dishwashers.

In a large pan, stir the sugar into the vinegar.  Add spices and then add all the veggies.  Bring to

a boil, stirring occasionally.  When the ingredients have reached a boil, turn the heat to low.  Place your clean jars on a towel laid on the counter (so the glass isn't on a cold surface).  Pack the jars with the veggies saving the fluid til later.  When you have the jars all packed with veggies, pour the fluid into the jars leaving an inch of head room.  I use a liquid measuring cup so the hot fluid is easier to pour in to the jar.  They have a special funnel for wide mouth jars but you don't have to have one.  Just be careful because the hot, sweet fluid will burn your fingers.  Wipe the rims of the jars to remove any of the sticky liquid and place lids on tight.  Allow to cool on the counter top for a while.

You can make half a batch if you like.  Refrigerate the amount you want to eat right away because they can be eaten the next day.  If you have used regular canning jars, these can be kept in the pantry indefinitely.  I usually keep the jars that spaghetti sauce or those nice peaches from Costco come in.  They are canning jars and work great.  The onions and peppers are just as tasty as the cucumbers.

We are big bread and butter pickle fans and these are really good!  Even if you have never canned a thing in your life...these are easy! 

What's that???   I think I can hear the kitchen floor calling my name.

57. Chocolate and More Chocolate

While we were waiting for Bob's appointment with the doctor, (blood pressure check) I was thumbing through a "People" magazine.  I came across two things on one page that completely amazed me.  Maybe I'm easily amazed.  Maybe the average person either wouldn't find it note worthy or would just pass it by without giving it a second glance.  

On the same page, actually I think in conjunction with each other, now that I think about it, were two things about chocolate.  The first that caught my eye was the pictures of Rachael Ray, Whoopie Goldberg and Kathy Griffin.  Now, nothing that Kathy Griffin does surprises me, she is definitely her own person.  "Shock Value" is her middle name.  The little piece was about a bakery in New York  called "Ruby et Violette," a name that I admit evokes lovely images in my little brain.  However, they are extolling the virtues of chocolate cookies and brownies.  Now, you all know my kinship with the brownie.  It is one of life's treasures.  But read on my friends...three cookies OR two brownies for a whopping $15!  What on earth is the world coming to?!  My heart breaks for the hoards of poor children in New York who will never taste the deliriously delicious flavor of a fresh baked brownie, not if they want it from "Ruby et Violette!"  I can envision sad little children, their tiny noses pressed against the window, a tear in their eye and a little runnel of fluid coming from their nostrils.  I'm speechless..well, not really...but that my friends is what is wrong with America today.  How can we ever think we can be a world power if two brownies are $15?

The piece next to this simply awed me!  Bob and I both worked  the math. I guess you would call these puzzles genius.  The people smart enough to create these...I guess you call them brain teasers...just...well, it's simply amazing.  They called it Chocolate Math.  Please take a minute to work the formula and have a grin.  Bob, probably the only person on the planet, said the number of times he would like chocolate a week was 14.  Even at that number the answer was correct!  How do these formulas work?  How does a person figure these formulas out?  What kind of mind can calculate these mysteries?  Do they eat brownies?  These are the things we average mortals ponder.  Do they know they are a mystery to the rest of us?  Do they spend their days locked away in a room somewhere never knowing the feel of sun on their faces, pondering things like "Chocolate Math?"  What relevant inventions will come from this kind of pondering?  Velcro came from the lowly thistle, but "Chocolate Math?"  These little games are probably relaxation for those endowed with such unfair IQ's.  My idea of relaxing is a good book, a small glass of milk...and you guessed it...A BIG FAT BROWNIE!

Did it work for You?

56. Tootley Toot!

Tootley toot!  That's me blowing my own horn.  I think after all of  the years since menopause struck I have finally figured out, (thank you Weight Watchers) how much and what I can eat and drink and still have a great time.  A house full of company or a few days away from home used to strike fear in my heart.  No more, my friends.  A bit of planning and some forethought and learning to savor each bite, yes, even desert...just not the whole thing and I can go anywhere anytime and have a great time!  Knowing that is so empowering!

I was a bit heavier in high school than most of my girl friends, not so much as to give me a complex, but still heavier.  When I married Bob and we started a family, I lost 15 pounds with my first pregnancy.  I was compulsive about eating healthy and the result was a 7 pound pregnancy and a 7 lb. 6 oz. baby.  I kept that weight off through my second pregnancy and for many successive years after with equal success.  I loved saying, "I weigh less than I did in high school."  Then as if just menopause at 43 wasn't enough with hot flashes and sudden urges to pull my skin off over my head and jump off a bridge, all hell broke loose and I shot up to 178 pounds (I can't believe I revealed that!)  I tried lots of diets with varied success even though I knew that Weight Watchers worked the best, I just couldn't make myself go to the meetings and pay the money each week.

Now I know the truth about myself...I have to pay someone to weigh me!  I have to look someone in the eye, even though they are never anything but supportive; I still have to "face the music," so to speak.  My goal is to reach the weight that I weighed the longest and that falls into Weight Watcher's guidelines of between 125 and 142.  I choose 138.  Then as long as I stay within 2 pounds when I weigh in once a month, the program is free.  Imagine a program that rewards you with free Weight Watchers for life for being successful.  That reward and goal is what keeps me learning about myself.  You can live without smoking, you can live without drinking...you can't live without eating!

I love to cook and we love to eat.  I have always said that I read cookbooks like others read novels.  That is true and WOW do I love the Cooking Channel!  When a recipe sounds good, I try to see if I can make it with lower points.  Sometimes it already has a great low point!  Sometimes they are a resounding flop, but usually they are good and once in a while they are just Fabulous!  I have always liked polenta and grits.  My mom loved fried cornmeal mush.  She would cook the cornmeal and cool it on a dinner plate and then refrigerate it over night.  The next morning she would slice it and cook it in a small amount of oil until it was crisp.  Then it was to the plate and cover it with maple syrup!  I have to admit I do like it that way, but I have found a GREAT way to make polenta Weight Watchers friendly.  Bob and I both love it! 

Cornmeal is only 2 points for 1 cup cooked.  Polenta is the same.  That is a very, very healthy portion of polenta, grits or cornmeal mush!  This is one way to really jazz it up!  Potatoes, rice and pasta can get a little boring after a while and this recipe will really perk things up for you!

Polenta with Pazazz!

1 cup polenta or cornmeal   (polenta is more coarsely ground)
3 cups chicken stock or water or any combination of the two
1 ear of fresh corn or 1 cup of frozen corn kernels
1 diced onion
as much Tabasco either red or green as you like
diced green chilies to taste (optional, well I guess it is all optional except for the polenta and water)
a dash of salt and pepper
1 T of oil and 1 T of butter (browns things beautifully, thank you, Rachael Ray!)

In a sauce pan bring the stock/water to a boil and then add the polenta/cornmeal slowly, stirring

constantly.  The mixture will begin to thicken quickly.  When it is thick to your liking, take off the heat and set aside.  Cut the corn from the cob.  (put a small bowl upside down inside a larger bowl...rest the end of the cob on the bottom of the small bowl.  When you cut the corn from the cob the large bowl will catch all the corn and keep it from flying all over the counter.  Also from RR.)

In a small skillet heat oil and butter, add the fresh or frozen corn and allow to brown while you dice an onion.  Then you can add the onion to the corn and cook until transparent.  Add the onion/corn mixture to the polenta/cornmeal and stir.  Salt, pepper and Tabasco to taste and you can add part of a small can of diced Ortega chilies, if you like.  

Serve hot as a side dish.  Spread left overs on a plate and refrigerate.  Come morning slice off a slab and crisp it up in a skillet sprayed with butter flavored Pam or the real thing, if you like, and fry an egg over-easy to plop on top.  Well then, Ya'll can eat like a Queen and all for only about 4 points! 

Nothing about Weight Watchers needs to be boring you just have to be brave and try something new.
Boredom is the enemy, my friends. 

You certainly don't have to be watching your weight to enjoy this fabulous southern dish.  Paula Deen would agree, although, she would add about a cube of butter and two cups of grated cheddar cheese!  Believe me you don't need it.  But let's not tell Paula.  It can be our secret!