Every Girl Should Have Good Scents

I am a perfume lover...Not just ANY perfume lover...I ADORE perfume, and I like many different kinds, though I tend to lean more towards Chanel, especially #19, and Jo Malone, (Pomegranite Noir is one of my favorites..)

Unfortunately like everything else, my taste tends to run a bit on the expensive side. Now how is a girl EVER going to support an expensive habit like that? Well, of course a girl like me comes up with an answer, one that I have been using for at least 10 years, maybe more.

I know that there are "discount" fragrance websites, stores, all about, but I can personally only vouch for one, and that is the website,  "Scentiments".

Sure I still occasionally hit up Neimans for a "Chanel" special, or when I cannot live without some "Jo Malone" product, (as Scentiments unfortunately does not carry Jo Malone)
For the most part though, they do carry some wonderful scents and at fab prices, if you know how to shop, and/or get lucky enough to find what you want in stock.

You see, I'm afraid that this secret is not just my own..Dreadfully, many others dip their toe into this pond as well....Often I will go to order a perfume, and find that they are out of it. There is an option to leave your

email and be notified when they get the product in, but let me tell you, you have to act quickly or it will be gone once again. I also notice that at times, it takes them what appears to be a century to get a product back in.

If you are like me, (and of course, you should be), and willing to experiment on a scent that you have possibly never even smelled, you will love using this site. If  I do order a scent that I have not smelled, like the one that I reviewed in my last blog entry, I make sure that it is a scent from a well know perfumery...i.e. Burberry, Boucheron, Bvlgari, Prada, Versace, etc...

Secondly, I consult the site to find one that is considered spicy and/or oriental or that contains y-lang y-lang, amber, and/or bergamot oil, as I tend to be attracted to these scents.  

Those of you who are not familiar with "bergamot", will find it to be a lovely light citrus aromatic that blends

beautifully with ingredients.
Funny but doing a bit of research on "Bergamot" lead me to this...

What Is Bergamot Oil?

Bergamot oil is obtained from the peel of the bergamot, a citrus fruit grown mainly in Italy. The oil is used as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages and in various cosmetic products (for its citrus scent). It is also used to treat skin conditions, such as psoriasis or vitiligo (when applied to the skin), or to treat anxiety or depression (when used as aromatherapy).

Wow...and to think that I've spent all that money on anti-depressants, that don't work, when all

I had to do was soak in some hot water doused with bergamot!!??!!

Live and learn....Live and learn...

Not like we couldn't have figured that out! Ever notice the pleasurable "rush" that you get after
a whiff of some wonderful perfume or European chocolate?

Kudos to the genius that eventually figures out how to bottle those two...

Imagine how happy Tom Cruise would be?
(no more Anti-Depressants! MIND CONTROL...so much more effective..)

Not to mention Chocoholics...
(so much less fattening when you can just wear it!)

Sometimes I even go a step further, and consult Neimans online to see if they are selling the perfume that I'm considering ordering...Personally , if they sell it, that's enough for me to try it, owing to my long-time faith in Neiman Marcus's taste.

I also enjoy gloating about the price I'm going to pay for it. Now, you don't get the freebie samples or the lovely bag like you do if you purchase it at Neimans, but after a year's time, if you buy perfume like I do, you should have saved enough to afford a little trip to Neimans for tidbit or two.

Like that rationalization? (got lots more where that came from!)

Lastly, if they have the "tester" of a fragrance, look to see what that means. It will either mean that
it comes in a plain box, comes without a cap, or comes without a cap in a plain box.
The only time I buy a tester is if it comes in a plain box. I DO NOT buy a perfume without a cap, as
it will expose the perfume to air. Now if it comes in a plain box, who cares? Unless I am taking it on
a trip, I dispose of the box immediately anyway. (Actually the "plain box" turns out to be a very sturdy
box, perfect to pack in luggage!) The "tester" is, of course, the most economical way to go, and is OFTEN
what they are out of...The "tester" I assume, is one that they were going to put out at the store, but your
bottle never made it out there. That's how they can sell it for such a fantastic price. Again, a "tester" is where
you REALLY get a bargain. I have bought a tester without the original box, but otherwise exactly as new,
for $42.00 instead of $110.00 MANY TIMES.

The scents are all THE REAL THING...I repeat..

They are THE REAL THING.


No doubt where this is concerned, as I would not consider buying anything that wasn't.

So, there you have it...My secret, along with about a million others, is out.

www.scentiments.com

One more thing about Perfume (I never buy "Toilette" or "Cologne"  Why would you want a watered-down version?)

You must use your Perfume in a timely manner. Keep it in a cool place and it should smell like new up
to a year. If it starts to get darker or change color, throw it out...
Look what I found while I was doing a bit of research....

"Older perfumes contain musk from other animals or ambergris, whale vomit. These fixatives are intended to make the perfume scent last longer"



"Older Perfumes", eh?  Makes me want to rethink my "Joy"and "Shalimar" obsessions...I have a thing for
scents produced in the twenties...( Shalimar, Chanel #5, Joy, etc...)


How does one capture "whale vomit" anyway? I'm not going to think about this any further....



Wear Your Perfume. 


Perfume is not just for a so-called "special occasion"


Everyday is a "special occasion"


Spritz on a bit when you emerge from the shower...


Go easy for work and crazy otherwise!

They sell both mens and womens cologne and perfume, and certain gift sets as well.
I love the miniatures for traveling...

I must add, that their shipping is extremely timely, except for perhaps holidays...(forget finding anything
around Valentines day or Christmas)

I would be remiss if I didn't share with you my NEW LOVE.

He came to me at Christmas time and I can hardly stand to be away from him.

His name is Kindle, but I call him "Kin"...

Yes, it was LOVE at first sight... (sight...LOL...get it? I crack myself up!)

He is never far from me, and is always the last thing I see before sleep...

He ROCKS!

https://kindle.amazon.com/

. 

My Review of Lolita Lempicka 3.4 oz EDP spray TESTER for women by Lolita Lempicka

Originally submitted at Scentiments

Eau de Parfum, With a liquorice accord comprising of aniseed, violet, vanilla and praline with a floral oriental harmony of ivy, iris, amarena, tonka bean, vetiver and musk makes it a rich fruity fragrance . Comes complete but in a plain box.

Lolita Lempicka 3.4 oz EDP spray TESTER for women by Lolita Lempicka

Oriental

By Class Act from Dallas on 1/20/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Sexy, Draws Compliments, Smells a bit like Angel, Great Smell, Long-Lasting, Sensual

Cons: Strong smell, Overpowering

Best Uses: Evening Use, Daily Use, Just a whiff for days

Describe Yourself: Classic Style

Fragrance Type: Powdery, Oriental/Spicy

I love it, but would not be for those that love a
subtle smell....Bottle a beauty...Strange atomizer
though..took a minute to get used to it..

(legalese)

Holiday excusion to San Francisco 2010

One never tires of San Francisco. I especially love a holiday visit, as the city is filled with the most

beautiful Yuletide decorations. Our stay at the Westin St. Francis Hotel was a wonderful one, as expected.

A huge edible all sugar Castle that rotated with a train rounding the bottom of it,  adorned one of the entrances, surrounded by a white gate and dozens of admirers, day and night.
The St. Francis is an amazing hotel with so many beautiful things that one must try to focus on one thing at a time, lest you might miss something. Everything is very old and extremely ornate, as the original St.Francis was built at the turn of the Century. The Great Earthquake and the fire that followed destroyed some of it as well as all of Union Square, but it was built again, in all of its glory two years later. Check it out at www.westinstfrancis.com, and if you ever get a chance to stay here, do so, and in the Main Bldg. which is the older historic one.

I enjoyed the city, as I always do, shopping at my favorite jewelry store for a new and unusual piece, visiting the wonderful little British tea shop that carries unique and whimsical gifts, a stop at the Ghiradelli Chocolate Shop in the Square, the sound of the trolleys, the beautiful and huge lit Christmas tree and ice skating rink at Union Square, the sights, smells, and sounds of the Wharf....

San Francisco is a treat...A visit there is on my list of guilty pleasures, and there's a lot there to love...I contend that once you have been there, you simply must return, time and time again....(think that I have a
former blog about returning to San Francisco...check it out...)

Now...I will give you my newest/and or updated restaurant reviews from one of the best Foodie destinations there is: Three restaurants to be exact..An updated review of "Slanted Door", and reviews of two new restaurants, "Wayfare Tavern" by Tyler Florence, and "Orson" by Elizabeth Faulkner...

I have dined at "Slanted Door" before, and though it was nice, I was not overwhelmed, and needed to be.

Glad that I gave this very popular establishment another shot, as this time it was absolutely sublime..

Amazing cocktails, BBQ spareribs, Daikon Rice cakes, Cellophane Noodles with Crab, and Caramelized

Shrimp, creating a delicious way to spend the evening. This is the kind of restaurant, especially on a Saturday

night, that one feels quite special dining in...There is definitely "magic" in the air, as well as dollars, for this is certainly not a dining destination for the frugal-hearted, but oh-so absolutely THE  dining destination for the foodie...This is haute Vietnamese at its best, and I daresay better than you have or will ever eat it...

For a more economical version, there are a couple of "Out the Door" locations in town, with take out from

the same restaurateur, and though not all of the menu is available there, it is known as a very tasty alternative, and it can be eaten there or taken home, at a fraction of the cost. "Slanted Door" is located in the Embarcadero at the Ferry Bldg (more about that in a minute).
Just remember to get reservations early if you ever plan to dine there. (www.slanteddoor.com)

Another very delicious dinner was had at Tyler Florence's new restaurant, "Wayfare Tavern." Located in the Embarcadero Area, it simply does not disappoint. Other than the cocktails, which could use some

improvement, everything we tried there was outstanding. Loved the atmosphere, (old world tavern, duh),

it is quite popular, though they do take reservations. I recommend the fried chicken (brined and brilliant), the deviled eggs (capered and anchovied with love), popovers (who knew that these could actually be delicious?), brussel sprouts (mustard braised and ham hocked, so divine that I felt weak in the knees), oh, I could go on and on...Suffice it to say that everything that we tried was ambrosial...(www.wayfaretavern.com)

Finally, one of the best burgers EVER, along with their duck fat fries (yes, we have actually found a way to

make french fries even MORE sinful), can be had at "Orson", the new restaurant in the Soma area, opened by the famed pastry chef Elizabeth Faulkner (of "Citizen Cake", and many appearances on Food Network...You know, the one with the short, spiked platinum hair? No, not the loud one, the quiet one...Oh well...)

Her "Orson" is a very modern, futuristic space with sparse surroundings, and will not be everyone's "cup of tea" to speak, but is definitely mine...My Mother looked almost faint when we first arrived, as the ambiance was a bit um, "frightening" shall we say, though she appeared to feel much better after a strong scotch on the rocks...

There is a film, usually old, that plays on the huge wall behind the bar...When we arrived it was a video of

a fire in a fireplace, helping to give a "cozy" feel to all of the surrounding steel...Actually I felt quite at home, as it reminded me of so many places that I frequented in the 90s'...Remember that cold, white, steel, too contemporary for comfort, design of the 90s? That's exactly what Orson looks like...

The menu looks extraordinary, and I'm certain that it is all tasty, but we were all in the mood for the burger.
"Orson Burger with Duck Fat Fries" (grass fed beef, parmesan bun, truffle mayonnaise, cob relish, and
house made steak sauce...)

The description of a dish is an important job...Indeed, I do like this one, AND it also delivers!

To make sure that the duck fat fries are decadent enough, they are accompanied with a browned-butter

bearnaise...Ketchup just can't do these jewels justice...gotta have the browned-butter bearnaise to really feel

guilty, remorseful, and luxuriously happy...

When finished, one simply MUST remember that DESSERT is what has made our Elizabeth famous, so 

to continue support for the chef, dessert is to be ordered..
Our favorite was "Guilt By Association", (hazelnut cake, salted malted milk chocolate ice cream, malted almond crunch)

The description is drool-worthy, don't you think?

Delicious and interestingly constructed, as all of her desserts are..Nothing here is as you have seen it 

before...This goes for not only desserts but other items as well.
For example, her version of Caesar salad is literally an "explosion", due to the pop rocks hiding in the romaine, that "explode" with the dressing....
It's quite evident to me, that Ms. Faulkner believes in having fun while dining on her decadent cuisine, and I
am all for it....I shall return....(www.orsonsf.com)

One of the greatest things about San Francisco restaurants, at least those that I have visited, is  that they
use only locally farmed, organic, and sustainable products. This makes such a huge difference in the taste of their food...One place that you must visit/experience is the Ferry Building.
Visiting the Ferry Building  (especially on Saturday morning) is wonderful, as all of the farms are represented there, and touting all of their very best wares..Do not eat before you go, as noshing here is a glorious experience.
I've decided, that for a more economical foodie experience here, I could almost stay at a hotel near the Ferry building and eat there most of the time. Places like Boulette's Larder, Il Cane Rosso, Cowgirl's Creamery Artisan Cheese Shop, Acme Bread Company, and Bocccalone Salumeria, as well many others, could make for some delicious meals, and a bit less expensive way to go..(Right, like that's gonna happen...) Just say'n.
www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com  (a delicious destination)

I hope that you visit San Francisco if you never have, and return to it if you've already been, as it is one
of the most delightful places to spend a few days, especially for a holiday visit...

Way up there on my "I Don't Get It" List

For years I was one of those people that didn't like cranberries.
When I was growing up, that jellied cranberry jarred monstrosity was all that I knew.
          
What in the world are you supposed to do with that stuff?
The consistency alone is enough to send me over the edge,
The "mouth feel" is a punishment.
The taste is simply not tart enough.

Having said that, it is probably still one of the best sellers during the holidays.
Amazing

 It will forever stay on my "I don't get it " list.

Years later I started tasting the "real deal" or homemade cranberry sauce, with
actual cranberries in the sauce. You could see, taste, and FEEL the cranberries,
and it turned my cranberry world around.

Not only is it the easiest recipe in the world, (my "can't cook" sons could do it in their sleep),
but it is delicious and refreshing.
With added orange zest in a cut crystal bowl, it's not only tasty, but gorgeous to look at.

The recipe I am going to give you is not meant to replace our beloved homemade cranberry
sauce, but is a wonderful addition to the holiday table.
Frankly, this would make a wonderful relish/chutney all year round!

Fresh tasting, with an exotic punch, you'll find it's great not only with turkey, but
baked ham as well.

Served instead of bread and butter pickles, it's a versatile dish, that will "WOW"
your family and guests.
(I myself am a huge fan of the "WOW" factor.)


GIFT IDEA! (Make a batch or two and spoon it into wide mouth jars tied with a pretty ribbon.)
MARTHA would be PROUD!
Kept cold in the refrigerator, this will keep indefinitely.

The year that I made this, there were "oohs and aaahs" a plenty, and as I mentioned earlier,
it was absolutely the bomb on leftover turkey sandwiches. Use it as a relish, or if you wish, eat it
straight out of the bowl!
ENJOY!



Pickled Grapes with Ginger and Chilies


(from Salsas, Sambals, Chutneys, and Chowchows)

Makes about 6 cups


1 1/2 cups white vinegar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. crushed coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cinnamon
7 whole cloves
1 tbsp. salt
1 piece ginger the size of your little finger, peeled and cut into dime-size slices.
3 red or green jalapenos, finely diced, with seeds (trust me, it is not too hot)
4 cups seedless red and/or green grapes. (Red is best, I think)


In a large saucepan, combine the vinegar, sugars, coriander seeds, cinnamon,
cloves and salt.

Mix well, and then bring to a boil over moderately high heat.

Remove from heat and add ginger, jalapenos and grapes.

Mix thoroughly, and allow to stand for one hour.

This is a great one to make ahead a day or two, and let the flavor meld together,
but after just one hour, it's fresh tasting, and ready to rock the table...

Again, it keeps a long time kept covered and chilled.
I like to serve it closer to room temperature.

Feedback is always appreciated if you'd care to leave a comment.
I'd especially love to hear from those that give this a whirl...
Another recipe soon....

Nicole

  

Mini-Survival Kit for the Holidays plus a sumptuous recipe

I find that we have only two ways to approach the holidays.

With RESENTMENT, because we don't get to enjoy them each on their own,
before Christmas peeks its little head out at the Department Stores, pushing us to
make gift decisions very, very early...(Hey, what happened to the real meaning of
Christmas?
These VULTURES!
Give me a break....etc.etc...)



                                                            OR


By completely EMBRACING it!  Now by that I mean, you will have to leave
behind your traditional expectations and give yourself and your family some major
breaks. Here are some holiday truths that should help...
  

If you are not a crafty-type, you are not going to magically turn into Martha Stewart or Rosie O'Donnell.. (That's why there's a Hallmark store)

If you hate to cook, you will hate it even more. If you don't have time, you will have less....
(That's why there are caterers, restaurants serving and selling holiday meals, and Whole Foods Stores etc.)

If you cannot stand shopping malls, don't go...Sure they're pretty right now, but still crazy!
(Small independent shops have better gifts anyway. Better yet, buy it all on the web... get started now)

This last tip was one that I utilized one Christmas and it was a breeze..Did it all at Barnes&Noble.com.
That's right...Never visited one store! Everyone loved their gifts...truly!

You don't have to have a big tree.
(They have really cute tabletop ones these days...Okay, I guess if you have small kids..)

One year I just put a huge Father Christmas on the dining room table, scattered some pine scented candles
about, put an 8 inch "silver" tree on a shelf,  and my boys were quite pleased!

If you have been laid off or just don't have extra money for whatever reason, try to come up with
something special that doesn't dip into your gas bill...

Now this one may be hard for some, but don't give up immediately. Open your mind...

Can you draw or paint? (an original drawing is kept forever)

Can you write a song and play it or record it? (quite special indeed)

Can you write a poem or story that will have specific meaning for the receiver?
Even a small little writing can mean a lot from a loved one.

If you have ANY artistic talent, this is the time to put it to use..

But what if you don't? (Hard to believe but...here's an idea...)

How about that beautiful little necklace of yours that your daughter has always admired?
Why wait until you're dead to hand it over?
(You can't see the smile on her face if you wait until then anyway...Think about it...)
Put it in a small velvet box with a ribbon and surprise her! (you know that you don't really wear it much anymore...)

How about some one's favorite treat that you rarely make?
My "Million Dollar Fudge" comes to mind, but I know that you and your family have their favorites...
It could be a very special loaf of bread or any much loved treat...
Whip it up when no one is around, and put it in a festive tin, or wrap it up in colorful plastic wrap with
a bow...
People eat that up...literally!

Hey, better yet, if you have kids or grandkids do the Christmas cookie thing...(Sadly, I'm not sure that
I ever did that...I'm sure that I MEANT to ...Hmmm....Well there ya go...You can produce holiday "guilt" even years later if you allow yourself!)

Note to self...Do Not Allow!

I truly feel that a lot of what we get Hyper and Disappointed in ourselves about, has EVERYTHING to
do with our own illusions of what the holidays should look and FEEL like...(reinforced by every single
item in the media...Remember...they are ALL advertisements in one form or another...They need to sell
to you...It is their business...)

These hard to manufacture illusions may come from one's own childhood experiences, magazines, or films we've seen and grown up with...(Not to mention Martha Stewart's Crafty Christmas Shows and Food Network Holiday Specials...)
Hey, I love them too, but there's an abundance of  time, money, and help that produces all of that
enchantment...

For me it is comparative with the trap that we allow ourselves to fall into when we are getting married
and having the "Big Wedding"..
We reference all of what we have seen or dreamed about, and WHEN and IF it doesn't line up as we have
perceived it, the disappointment sets in...

I dearly love movies, books, magazines, and fantasizing, but one must resist the temptation of buying into
the whole "Disneyesque" version of life...
These images will always lead to a let down, or worse, you'll tell yourself that you didn't do what you could have done to make it really "perfect"....

(A note about "Disneyesque" life...Everyone should visit Disney World at least once in their life to enjoy the
true "Disneyesque" experience. One is never too old, and I feel that the older you are, the more you appreciate it ..You certainly deserve a complete and total "too good to be true" fantasy...I say leave the kids home, and go and delight in it yourself....but then that's just me...)

VERY IMPORTANT STATEMENT:

Holiday Depression is a serious epidemic, and I feel that a lot of it stems from unrealistic expectations.


Having said all of this, if you find yourself in a position to turn your holidays into a world of homemade crafts,
glistening wreaths, glass balls, silver linings, tin soldiers, golden angels, velvet ribbons, nutmeg candles, along with a kitchen filled with apple cider simmering on the stove, cheese straws dancing on candy cane plates,
layers of smoked turkey and cheddar circling a silver platter, and champagne bubbling in crystal tulip goblets, well...
THAT'S OKAY (and we'll all be over for the party on December 17th!)

I will be posting recipes suitable and delicious for the holiday season the next few weeks.
This week I will start with a simple, yet elegant recipe from the late and great culinary master,

Craig Claiborne. God rest his culinary genius soul.




Sweet Potato Puree with Walnuts and Ginger


Serves 6 -8

6 to 8 sweet potatoes (about 3 lbs) organic is best
1/2 cup ginger preserves (look for it at gourmet groceries or order it online)
3 tablespoons dark rum
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped walnuts (preferable black walnuts)
3/4 cup whole milk


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
Put the potatoes in a baking dish and place in the oven. 
Bake 1-2 hours, depending on the size of each potato. Press with the fingers and remove each potato as it becomes soft.
When all the potatoes are cooked, let them rest 
until cool enough to handle. Split each potato in half and scoop out the flesh. 
Put the flesh through a fine mesh or a potato ricer. (you should seriously have a potato ricer as they are so cool...especially for mashed potatoes)
There should be about 3 cups. Put this into a 
saucepan. 
Combine the preserves and the rum in a small
saucepan. Bring to the boil, stirring. Add this to the potatoes. Add the butter, walnuts and milk;
heat to the boiling point, stirring.(watch and stir
faithfully, so as not to burn...)
The recipe contains no salt, so at the end, I would taste, to make sure that the black walnuts added enough salt, if not, I would not hesitate to add a 
bit to taste. 
I can SO see this mixture piped from either a 
piping bag, or a large Ziploc bag with a small 
snip on one corner (this always works...)
You could pipe this mixture decoratively around
the platter of sliced turkey, ham, or whatever
meat you were serving...
You could also just serve it as you would mashed
potatoes...
Why you could even do your best Martha Stewart impression, and pipe it into hollow orange halves! (somebody stop me!)


Delicious!

Falling Apart You Say? What Now!

Well today it's official.
I'm
falling
apart.

I guessed
this might happen
(Yes, right from the start)


Surprised you ask?
Why no,
of course not...

It's why I don't visit
the Doctor
a lot.


While I do like
 to work with them
(and God knows I do)

The truth about me
from their lips,
turns mine blue


For little can shock
a girl like me,
who avoids
Doctor visits
like the plague,
you see.


Well the pain
broke me down..
Had to visit a clinic

Which was
no small feat,
for a healthcare cynic

Come to find out,
it appears that my knee
that's failed me
for months now,
is lost
and unseen


How on earth did it vanish,
(is there a "missing knee" site?)

Might there be a way
to find it?
Or must
bone spurs
be my plight?


Yes, I'm told
a replacement
is the only way,
I can live
without pain
(at least that's what they say)


I  MUST be too
young
for such a
serious
endeavor.

(Besides, not my style...
overdone, hardly clever)


And there's no guarantee...
Why I could
actually expire!

From a pulmonary embolus
that explodes
like a tire....


Didn't even
get my breasts done
(they'd have really looked great!)

Nope,
fears that it
might kill me,
Left me with my
small boobs fate.


So for now
I've decided
I'll just
try my luck,
with shots
and pills
and all that
schmuck.


I guess
it's just inevitable
that our bodies
break down...

Oh, and
limping's just not sexy...
not in scrubs
or evening gowns..


Written with sincerity, truthfulness, and paranoia...
                        
            Nicole 10/26/10

HALLOWEEN II AND MY CREEPY POEM FOR YOU

I should SO be asleep...

Why I've chosen to cruise the Internet and catch up on my Blog, instead of getting the essential

4 hours of "I've gotta get up and go to work at 5am " sleep, is beyond any explanation.

I DO love my sleep, though at times, I feel just as Ernest Hemingway did...

"I love sleep...My life has a tendency to fall apart when I'm awake"

I hope that some of you (my loyal followers) are still out there...

Surely not ALL of you have lost interest.

(though I could hardly blame you)

As not only am I a sporadic blogger,

I'm not always in my foodie mode.

Honestly, as the writer, I strive to avoid prosaic, monotonous material ,

for fear of not only boring my reader, but myself as well.

I've not lost interest, it's just that sometimes I go through "spells"

(spells?)

Feel too involved/busy, living my highly predictable schedule of work, sleep, read, and eat.

At times I'm convinced that the

"creative genes" have vanished...

or worse yet...

that they were never there to begin with.

Introspection is certainly healthy,

but years of it can get old,

know what I mean?

Let's move on...

In Celebration of this ghostly season,

I have written a new little ditty that's just for you....

"JOURNEY BACK TO SALEM"

A lingering feeling

surrounds me tonight..

A chill in the air

for wings to take flight...

A sobering gloom

like an unexplained fear...

Just what could it be

that would

follow me here?

It looms in the darkness,

Like a lantern, it glows..

Feels so familiar,

something I know?

In my darkened abode

I'm watching a film

I've seen once before

Filled with horror

and gore

A" Serial Killer,"

a "Sicko,"

a "Clone"

The ending's predictable,

already known..

I'm drifting towards

dreamland,

to a place I remember...

I was there

a few days

just shy of November

It was Halloween week

and in Salem I found,

a place like no other

world famous, renowned

for the huge celebrations

that October brings.

And now I'll return

to discover new things

Ignoring the prickling

at the base of my neck..

down my shivering spine...

(Must get a health check)

Strange thoughts scatter

aimlessly

inside of my head

"So glad you're returning!"

a distant voice said

(the witches' necks

hung on soft swaying trees,

then burned all together

and cast out to sea)

On streets and in shops

Potions ready to sell

And magic dust lingers

with a rusty old smell

Inside their cloaks

in back rooms

of old stores

are the pouches of venom

Hidden safely in drawers

They'll lure you inside

"such delightful tricks"

and you try to resist it

(cause you figure it's shtick)

Still you find yourself

following this

black hooded creature

whose smooth tongue

reminds you of a

well rehearsed

preacher

There are SPELLS

for everything

one could desire.

though some are unpleasant,

(like lynching and fire)

Some Spells are enchanting,

and others just garish

(and those less successful

have caused folks to perish!)

This is one Holiday

you won't soon forget...

("the shivering spine..

the prickling neck")

"Come close to me...

Turn around!...

Now closer" he said...

The Potion-Filled Vials

entice you to pay

for Hexes and Vexes

that lead you astray

"It's here in my pocket

for just a small fee...

Not just smoke and mirrors!

It's MAGIC, you'll see..."

Blank stares and Whispering

Where Merriment should be...

(No sign of Pumpkins, one normally sees)

The sky starts to darken

and a loud shuffling sound...

Makes me look round the corner,

and guess what I found!

THE ZOMBIES ARE BACK!

it's the season, you know...

(these Guys really know how

to PUT ON A SHOW!)

I should have guessed it...

(that frightening sight, of

CREATURES THAT NO LONGER LIVE IN THE LIGHT)

Quick!..

Lower Your Voice,

or THEY'LL HEAR

what you said

Don't look,

and keep still,

or

they'll

know

you're

not

DEAD.....)

Nicole

Oct. 2010

An Artist in the Family

No, that would not be me...I am the woman who still draws stick figures after all of these years...(though I do feel that my stick figures have CHARACTER!)

My eldest son is very artistic, though he has never developed a keen interest in it, (music making is his obsession, as was his Mother's for the first 40 years of her life...)

My one and only sister, has always enjoyed personal creativity. It started when we were young...I wanted to go BUY something for a special occasion, and she wanted to MAKE something...

For my parent's 20th Anniversary, my sister and I gave them 20 different gifts...some bought, some made....This would have never happened had it not been for my sister, who found great joy, and still does, in creating something original....

My sister is very diverse in her creativity, having written plays, directed and acted in theater productions, teaching high school and junior high theater classes, co-owning a catering company in the past, and on and on....

For awhile now, she has been creating art in the form of what is called "Domino Art"...

Yes, that's right, like the Dominoes that people used to play with...The ones that you and I may have set up in a curvy row, and when done, tipped the first one to watch the whole row collapse, one by one...(Reminiscent of the "Rockettettes" in New York. They incorporate a falling dominoes type of dance during their Christmas show...)

My sister's art incorporates Dominoes mixed with other mediums, making some very interesting and unique pieces...

I will stop and not go on and on, as everyone has their own opinion when it comes to art.

I will simply give you the website, and let you decide for yourself...

http://www.charlottegiles.com/

I will write again soon. I am working full time at one hospital and prn at another, and very busy, but happy....I have planned a trip to Boston the week of Halloween....(Yes, I DO plan to see the "Zombie Parade" again, as once is simply not enough!)

Let Them Eat Cake with a Wee Personal Scentiment

"You must take a lover" they Said.
(I'd much rather go back to Bed)

At least in my dreams
I'm happy, it seems.

Untouched by the
post-wedded "Dread"


It's been disappointingly Clear
I'm not meant to be some one's "Dear"

But it turns out, you see,
to be JUST FINE with me!

(And the audience stands up to Cheer)



......................................................................




Well now...That was inspiring wasn't it?

You can always depend on me to add hearts and flowers
to any situation at hand....


(cut to recipe...)


And now for an old fashioned, easy, and sumptuous cake for all.

Served plain or enhanced with fruit and whipped cream, or adorned
with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream, you just can't lose
with the ALL AMERICAN POUND CAKE.

(I'm an "eat it plain person, myself" or MAYBE with a scoop of Blue Bell)

I was inspired to post this because it is the week of July 4th, but even
more so, because it is baked differently than other cakes.


It's quite Southern, lighter than most pound cakes, (due to the shortening),
and is a recipe that James Villas acquired from a very old Southern Lady,
who told him that the recipe had been in her family for generations.

It's unusual because unlike most cakes, it starts in a COLD OVEN!

Follow the recipe to a "T", and it will turn out beautifully every time....

(I always suggest getting an oven thermometer to make sure that your oven
is the right temperature...Mine was 25 degrees off...Always a good idea to do
if you decide to BAKE anything....)




"Cold Oven Pound Cake"


3 cups sugar

2 cups butter, softened

8 Tablespoon vegetable shortening

5 large eggs

3 cups all purpose flour

1 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon lemon juice


Grease a 10 inch tube pan with some butter, and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar, butter, and shortening.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating until well blended

Alternately, add the flour and milk, and beat until the batter is smooth.

Add the two extracts and the lemon juice and mix until well blended.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, and place in the center of the oven.

Heat the oven to 325 degrees F, and bake until a cake tester or knife blade, inserted

into the center, comes out clean.

This should take about 1 1/2 hours.

Turn the cake out on a rack, and let cool completely.


10-12 servings

FOR THE LOVE OF "SMALL BITES" or "TIDBITS"

As far back as I can remember, before we knew what "Tapas" were, we, that is my friends and family, were always more enamored with appetizers, grazing on small plates, or casually noshing on small "bites"....

We preferred it to the large holiday dinners, and for many years on Christmas Eve, we looked forward to our favorite Christmas treat, which was an evening filled with different appetizers and Champagne....We always had too much food, as my Mother would always point out, but it never went uneaten as we all headed home with small bites of "this and that" to nosh on for a few days to come...

I had dinner out last night with a couple of my oldest friends...We have known each other since High School, and have what seems to be a million years of memories. We don't get to see each other as often as we would like, but when we do, there is nothing that we cannot share with each other, as though we had just seen each other.

As we perused the menu, we had so much to catch up on, that we could not be bothered with devoting much attention to what we wanted to order. The THIRD time that the waiter came by the table, he suggested the sharing of a small plate of marinated Mediterranean Olives, which was accompanied by almonds and garlic rubbed grilled toasts.....The pairing of this small bite with my lovely glass of light Chardonnay was perfection.

I have been working like a DOG for the last couple of weeks...(Why do we say working like a "DOG", when all I ever see most dogs do is sleep?)

I greatly looked forward to my few days off this week to sleep late, read, and try some new recipes or make them up....These activities always relax and please me (especially the part about sleeping late, because I am now getting up at 4AM!!! to go to work...)

Now that I AM working very steadily, I grocery shop, but don't do a lot of cooking because I am not around as much. Hence the need to buy smaller quantities of food that is good for on the go..

Now when I refer to food like this, I mean sumptuous Goat Cheese, French Feta Cheese, Marinated Greek and Green Olives, Peppers, loaves of Rosemary Seven Grain Bread, Sourdough small loaves, good Olive Oil, Garbanzo Beans and Tahini for Hummus, Greek Yogurt and English Cucumber for Tsatziki, Cans of my Favorite Tuna, Lemons, Garlic, Greens, Chicken Breasts, and all sorts of fresh Herbs....

With these fresh ingredients in the kitchen, I can whip up just about anything that I might be interested in making, or grab a quick snack so as not to have to make a "big deal" out of a meal...

This morning I wanted to take something over to my parents house for them to enjoy....Maybe something that they have never eaten and hopefully would find to be delicious...

Out of the refrigerator I grabbed log of Chevre' (natural goat cheese), a small amount of some French Feta, and a bit of Cream Cheese....I also pulled out the last of some walnuts, toasted them, and in the veggie drawer grabbed the herbs that I had on hand, some Dill, Tarragon, and Italian Parsley.....At this point I settled on a jar of "Party Olive ANTIPASTO" a product made in Greece and manufactured by the "PEPLOPONNESE" company...It contained olives, green peppers, cauliflower, carrots, and red peppers...PERFECT...(Believe it or not, this jar was found in the Grocery aisle where the olives are at my local KROGER...Really! Just gotta look for these goodies....)

I decided that a great cheese spread made with this Antipasto could be very delicious, and absolutely divine on some homemade CROSTINI....So easy....

I happened to have a loaf of small rounded Sourdough bread, as well as the end of a Rosemary Seven Grain Loaf bought at La Madeline....The Bread slices were the perfect size, but had they been too large, they could have been easily sliced in half....More about the making of the Crostini later.....For now back to the.....

"MEDITERRANEAN WING IT CHEESE SPREAD"

In your food processor, clean and throw in a handful of each and every fresh herb you have or want to use (be sure to take off any stems...)...Throw in a peeled garlic clove or two...Dash a bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in and process until it is finely chopped.

Add all of the cheese, room temp, and process until combined. Add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the Antipasto along with a little marinade (but not a lot, as it is quite salty)....Grind some pepper into the processor bowl, as well as a bit of cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne (if you have it, which you should since it is FAB in just about everything but chocolate cake....)

Turn on the processor and process until really smooth almost like a "mousse"....After this is done, add the toasted walnuts (I used about 1/4 to 1/2 cup)....Turn the processor on and off a couple of times or so, as you want the nuts to still be intact, though not large....

TASTE...

ALWAYS taste your food...What does it need? Too salty? Add a bit more cream cheese...Bland? I doubt it will be, but if so, you could add some additional marinated olives, or just regular green or Kalamata olives....(Again, these are very salty, so go easy...)

Fill a crock jar with the spread and if giving away, tie a pretty ribbon around it...(this is a great idea, and some day I will buy ribbons just for this very reason....As for now, the jar will remain naked....)

THE CROSTINI

Oven preheated to 350 degrees...

Take your largest cookie sheet and line it with parchment...Place the small sized bread, (Sourdough, French, or Italian is best), on the sheet....Cut larger sized bread in half if you wish, though I think that the smaller rounded "toasts" are the most attractive...

Sprinkle or brush each piece with Olive Oil....Bake for around 7 minutes or so, but watch carefully after 5 minutes...They don't have to be brown in color, just toasted like a large crouton....

As you pull the crostini from the oven, and while they are still warm, rub each piece with a peeled garlic clove....

Put them on a wire rack to completely cool, then store them in a large plastic ziploc until ready to serve....

I hope that you will try this Spread, as it is quite tasty, or at least gather some inspiration from the recipe, and give it a try yourself with your own choice of cheeses, herbs, and other ingredients....You could do a roasted pepper one or do one with the roasted tomatoes that you have made yourself....(i.e. see post before this one...mine were all gone!)

This is the kind of cooking that I love to do, and find to be the most creative...A bit of this, a bit of that, and who knows? You might be the creator of something amazing! I think that one of the keys is to keep you refrigerator stocked with the freshest of ingredients, the best that you can afford in terms of quality, and items that you and you family/friends like....

As Summer shows its heated little head, especially here in Texas, glasses of Chilled Wine, Lemonade, and "Small Bites" sound more and more the answer to mealtime...

I hope that you will enjoy this addition to your favorite "Tapas," or as my sister and I called them growing up, "Tidbits"....

DELICIOUS Oven Roasted Tomatoes (or how working brings out the Culinary in me...)

Feels great to work again...As I told my son, I missed taking care of my "Peeps"....

I am working so much (PRN, alas no full time position yet), at two different hospitals....I have to be careful not to "overbook" myself, as I did last week...This was my first day off for over a week...

After sleeping for most of the morning, I emerged an energy filled woman, ready to watch a couple of films that I recorded awhile ago, and cook at the same time...(have always loved to do this...)

I am feeling SO much happier since I am back to work, and when I am happy, I always feel like cooking...I also HATE anything frozen and/or basically anything less than wonderful....I have been known to cook, as I did last week, 6 different things in one day, just so we would have good things to eat in our fridge..

My son has been on a "working out and only eating healthy things" regimen for awhile now, so I do try to keep this in mind when I am planning what I will prepare...

I made a recipe today that was not only completely delicious, but easy and fairly economical...It filled my apartment with the smells of an authentic Italian kitchen, and that in itself was lovely....
You can make this all year long, and would be especially helpful in the winter, when tomatoes are really tasteless....

Oven Roasted/Dried Tomatoes

You can do this with big tomatoes, cut into quarters, but I like doing it with cherry tomatoes....They could be put on top of a pizza, scattered on top of a salad, used as a topping on a sandwich or panini, tossed with pasta, used with mozzarella, goat cheese, or French feta cheese for a great bruschetta, or just on their own...They are seriously addictive and versatile....

Oven 225 degrees

Use parchment paper on a big sheet pan...(If you don't use parchment, just make sure that you spray the pan or coat with olive oil, but parchment makes it so easy...)

Wash, dry, and half the cherry tomatoes...(about 2 pints or more if your pan will hold it..)

Place on large baking sheet, and scatter unpeeled garlic cloves around the tomatoes...

Drizzle all with olive oil (extra virgin is best, but the regular would do...)

Sprinkle with Kosher Salt (don't overdo that), and cracked pepper...

Take whatever dried Italian spices that you have and mix them together...(I used basil and oregano...Fennel would be nice if you had it...)

You will need 2 teaspoons of very fine spices, so take more than that, and with clean hands, use your fingers and turn the spices into a very fine powder...(If you have a mortar and pestle, it would be perfect for this, but I do not...)
Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the finely ground spices over the tomatoes...(I used a little cayenne as well for a kick...)

Bake these for about 3-4 hours, checking them after 3 hours, as you do not want them black all over...I cooked mine for 3 1/2 hours, but it will depend on their size...If you were to half and cook the grape ones, it would take less time....

These will keep for a few days, kept in a covered jar or container, covered in olive oil....Not sure that it will last that long though...The roasted garlic can be stored right along with the tomatoes...
These are perfect to make on your next day off...Make more rather than less....Enjoy

Let's get all dressed up and go shopping!!!

Dont' you just love to shop? Oh, I don't mean a crowded mall with sale tables overflowing with unrecognizable items, (it reminds me of my laundry room, you almost have to hire a detective to find that ONE pair of red pants...)

No, I speak of practically vacated malls, like during the weekdays, where you feel like a million bucks and EVERYONE working asks if you need help....Of course my favorite kind of shopping is in small intimate shops that are rather antiquated in form, and lie on Cobblestone Streets with Gas Lamps...That would be Charles Street in Beacon Hill in Boston...Lovely...Another great shopping memory lies in the heart of the historic district of Charleston, South Carolina...Blocks and Blocks of antique shops, perfume shops, and basically everything "girly"...You gotta love it...Not to mention the incredibly restored mansions with their perfectly furnished pieces that are an art form in themselves...My very favorite places to shop are Art Museum Shops, where they go out of their way to provide unique and hard to find items, from art and jewelry, to music and even furniture...Even when I cannot afford to buy much, these places give a breath of fresh air, and I rather enjoy fantasizing what I would buy if I could...Of course sometimes when I am doing well, I DO buy, mostly jewelry, great stuff that is one of a kind....Hmmm..Just thinking of it puts a smile on my face......Yeah, this pup's in for a great day!

"Pimento Cheese Fit For A Queen" and Tzatsiki Sauce that's "Fit" and Fabulous

You all have probably wondered what a "once again" unemployed girl, who is on the verge of yet "another" nervous breakdown, (yawn...) does at 2:30 in the morning..




Sleep? Heavens no! Way too predictable. and I just can't afford that kind of a reputation at this point in my life....


The answer is...I'm cooking! But of course....



I'm either crying or cooking, and tonight it's
cooking.... (well SOMETIMES I laugh...last night at 2:30 in morning, I was watching the recent remake of "The Importance of Being Earnest", and cracking up at lines like, "When I'm sad, I refuse everything, except food and drink"....As you
all know, I adore Oscar Wilde...(See previous post from way back...)



Actually I've had quite the productive day where the culinary arts are concerned...

(too bad it doesn't pay, but then a girl can't have everything...)


I made some delectable Tzatsiki sauce today, and felt that I needed to balance that low fat

regimen by following it with a high fat recipe tonight...hence the:


"Pimento Cheese Fit For A Queen"


1/2 Lb Sharp White Cheese
1/2 Lb Cheddar
Shred cheese by box grater....
Mix these cheeses together...

2-7 oz cans pimentos (drained)
Put those on plate and mash with fork to a pulp
Add to cheese

1 to 2 Jalapenos with ribs and seeds (depending how hot you want it) minced finely
Add to cheese mixture

Add small amount salt, and small or larger amount garlic powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, dry mustard-"Coleman's" is best...(all to taste, go small then add more as desired)

Add Mayo (Hellman's or homemade) to bind...Will take at least one cup or more...(should
be spreadable and NOT stiff)
Do not skimp on this...

(Reminder...This is not a low fat recipe, as no respectable Southern recipe is....)
Best mixed with a fork....

Will require a bit of mixing and patience...
Want everything very incorporated...

Finish with shots of Tabasco and a little Worcestershire sauce...
Mix well...

Put in crocks or covered dish in Refrigerator, and let it stay there for at least 3-4 hours or overnight before serving....(of course, that is after you get yourself some!!!)

Makes two really good sized pint sized crocks (I like to use the pickling jars with lids)

Consider giving one away and keeping the other...(to some lucky friend/family...no foes, unless you want them to become friends...)

Good for one full week refrigerated... So good, you're gonna have to find someone to SLAP...
(I, for one, never thought that "YO MAMA" was a good choice...just say'n)

Notes on Recipe...Of course you could add some finely chopped Italian Parsley, Smoked Paprika, Onion, Juice from the Pimentos or Dilled or Bread and Butter Pickles, finely minced Garlic..

Actually just the original recipe is best, I think

Could leave out the Jalapeno and Tabasco....(pity, though)

Serving Suggestions...On crackers, ripe tomato slices, top of burgers, stuffed celery, or traditionally, which is on white bread (the kind that nobody buys anymore...)


Now for the Tzatsiki Sauce....

Hard to believe that it's healthy and low fat because it's just too good for that!


My Tzatsiki Sauce

2 cups of plain yogurt ( If you can afford the Greek Yogurt you do not have to drain)

I used regular plain yogurt and put it in a couple of coffee filters in a stainer over a bowl in
the refrigerator and left it there to drain overnight... (doesn't actually take all night)

In the morning it is nice and thick like the consistency of thick Sour Cream...


2 regular cucumbers, peeled, seeds removed, grated, and squeezed dry with some
kitchen towels to remove all moisture (just as you would do with defrosted spinach)


Combine these two ingredients, then add 2-3 cloves of finely minced garlic, a bit of salt and pepper, about a tablespoon or two of finely minced fresh dill, the juice of 1/2 a lemon, a dash of white or red wine vinegar, a dash of cayenne pepper, and enough extra virgin olive oil to suit your consistency preference....

You can replace the dill with fresh mint if you desire...Both are wonderful....


Serving Suggestions..

Great with pita bread, cut up veggies, as a healthy substitute for sour cream in a baked potato, drizzled over roasted potatoes and other veggies, and any grilled lamb or chicken breasts (marinate lamb and/or chicken first in extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper, and only about 1/2 hour before you grill in the case of the chicken breasts, or they will cook in the lemon juice...can marinate lamb longer...)

"Lamb Burgers" are wonderful with topped with Tzatsiki....

Think that I might have that recipe posted either on this blog or on foodbuzz.com under "sautegrillfryfunnygirl"....

This sauce is so versatile, I'm sure that you will come up with delicious ways to eat it...

Well...Happy Eating.

Hope you enjoy these recipes...

When I come out with a recipe for sauteed acorns garnished with crisp fried crickets , you'll know I'm in trouble...


See you in the "Soup Lines"...(bet they won't have any Tzatsiki or Pimento Cheese there...)

Hmmph...

Oh and why the cowgirl picture?

Just a rare occasion when the Texan in me shows her true roots, which reminds me...

Roots look horrifying when you're unemployed....

If my hairdresser saw me, he would pretend that we weren't acquainted...

Uh oh....here comes the crying again...

How Boston can save a girl's life

I suppose that's overdoing it a bit...It seems to be my chosen haven for when everything is great and when everything is not so great. Yes, here I am several months later, so terribly sporadic concerning my entries, and I do apologize for that. I will say, though, in my defense,that I just woke up last week for the first time in 7 months.

I had NO IDEA until I was forced to resign from my full time night shift job a little over a week ago, that I had been living and walking around in a "zombie state" (somewhat reminiscent of those I encountered in the Salem zombie walk awhile back...hopefully, those that have been avid readers of this blog do recall one of my finer moments around a year ago....)

It was not until about a week after from the day that I was asked to resign from my position, (experiencing large doses of anger, shock, resistance, horror, outrage, and sadness), while trying to initially recover for a few days in Boston, that I realized one afternoon that I had this very foreign, yet positive feeling coming from inside of me...It was something I could not initially put my finger on...

In no time at all, I realized, that in fact, it was that I was AWAKE!

For those of you that have smoked, and then quit, it was exactly what one goes through soon after you quit smoking...Suddenly you feel so much better...Why, you didn't even know that you felt badly! What a surprise...Well, that's how being awake felt...So nice for a change...

My struggles with this job were made possible by not only experiencing a completely new hospital/staff/and work that I didn't normally do (intensive care for brain injuries), but I could have survived that and eventually thrived. I knew that, and I suppose that is what hurt a great deal...The anger and outrage portion was brought on by the fact that my newly promoted manager, who had never managed before, and didn't care for me before the promotion, spent the last 8 weeks of my job, "mentoring" me in the ICU policies and procedures. It's interesting that you get to a point in life where you tell yourself that people aren't really evil, as surely there is just a communication breakdown that can be remedied...

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!

I won't go on and on and belabor this point, let's just say that what we had on hand was a little "Hitler" that had been physically abused by his Daddy as a boy, and also didn't particularly like women that spoke up for themselves when being tortured and emotionally abused....(uh...that would be me...)

So, that would be it, in a nutshell, as they say...It didn't take a few days in Boston for me to realize that this was seriously for the best, as I was beginning to wear down quickly as the last few weeks went by...

It was WONDERFUL for me to spend a few days in Boston again...Helped me put things into some perspective...I needed to get away from home, from the constant calls (especially those "well meaning" friends? from work, who I'm sure wanted all the gory details...I did not answer the phone...No one there got the "gory details"...)

So....Now here I am...A second time in the last 12 months without a job...A girl who has kept a full time steady job for 29 years and does not get used to being unemployed...Why I can't even apply for "unemployment" because I "resigned" (which I had to do because of my License or I would not work again in Texas...)....

I know that I will find something or maybe a couple of things at some point...As much as I thought that I enjoyed working nights, I had no idea how much better I felt when I came off of them...Definitely a love/hate relationship with night shift work...Money is so much better...Don't have to deal with the problem of not being able to get to your patient due to a multitude of others around you (physicians, OT, PT, etc)....Quiet on nights, I like that....Like being awake also....Don't like not being able to wake up on my days off....I have done NOTHING but either work or sleep for the last 7 months...Even when I went out for town, which I did often, I could hardly stay awake...My God, I have almost seen nothing that is up for the Academy Awards this year! That in itself tells the story, as I am a film freak....(Did see "An Education" while in Boston, and "A Single Man" last night....both marvelous....)

You can imagine the state that I was in while in Boston....Trying to get away to my favorite place and "chill" after what has been probably the worst 7 months of my life...(and that includes my last marriage...yeah...THAT'S how bad it was...)

Here I am, gleefully happy, as I have just stepped out of "THE TRIDENT BOOKSTORE", one of my favorite places in Boston....I have spent a couple of hours inside, roving through the most interesting books, books that one cannot find at Barnes and Noble, etc. There are also very interesting and happy people inside, some browsing as I was, some meeting socially for a meal and/or a snack at the Trident restaurant that serves decadent looking desserts, smoothies, soups, etc. It is a PERFECT January day (for a Texas girl anyway)...Earlier that morning I am walking, eating, and mostly window shopping in my beloved Beacon Hill on the cobblestone streets, with the gas lamps glowing, when all of the sudden, the beautiful and graceful flakes of snow begin to fall....I am inside having lunch at this very quaint little shop, and as I look out on the snow coming down, every so gracefully, I have to take a deep breath, as I am overcome with happiness (a feeling somewhat foreign to me at this time...)

Walking in the falling snow up and down those streets is like a perfect dream...Only problem is, eventually your hair is so wet, you have to duck inside somewhere....This brings me back to walking out of the Trident Bookstore. I've had probably the best day I've experienced for too long to remember...All of my favorite things in one day....As I walk out to stand under the awning to wait for my ride, I immediately see a little woman, humped over, on the phone, and she eyes me up an down quickly, and tells her caller that she must go, and that she will call her later...This little bent over, dark stringy haired, crooked nosed woman, is a shoo-in for the part of Hansel and Gretal's witch....I'm looking away, because I SO don't want to be bothered, but NO, not gonna happen....She comes towards me, extends her hand, and introduces herself. As she is still looking "around me up and down", she exclaims that "I MUST do a reading for you".....I decline and tell her that I'm sure that there are many others that would appreciate a "reading", but she tells me, "NO! I will NOT do readings on just anyone...My Grandmother, my Mother, we all have the "gift" and we do not abuse it! You don't understand, you NEED a reading, and I MUST do one on you"...I SO wanted just to give this woman money and say bye bye, but instead I told her that I didn't want a reading, as they tended to scare me, and I did not feel like being scared today.....She succumbed to my wishes, and we shook hands and she told me "God Bless You", and I said, "God Bless You Too", and sighed that it was over...She walked a few steps to the Trident door, opened it up, and then turned her twisted little body around, and spoke in an ominous tone as she warned.....

"BEWARE...THERE ARE THOSE THAT WANT TO INVADE YOUR LIFE...THERE IS TERRIBLE JEALOUSY.....EVIL MEN WILL COME.....BEWARE...." Immediately I told her, "I know, I've already met a few..Gotcha though...."

I bring this little incident up, because I think that it is important to note, THAT IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING, ISN'T IT? I'm certain that someone else would've come out of the bookstore, happy as a little clam, and been left the hell alone...Not me...NEVER ME! It's as though I have a sign on my head that says...."HEY...FEELING A LITTLE TOO HAPPY/SECURE...COME BUG ME..."

Never a dull moment...Story of my life...

Later...

ESCAPE TO BEACON HILL

I got back this week from a wonderful week in Boston

I fell in love with Boston last year.

(remember my blog on the "Zombie parade" in Salem?)

As usual I knew no one where I was going...

I had just always known that I would love the place.

It was MY kind of place, and was certainly "love at first site" before we ever laid eyes on
each other...

Some things you just KNOW, maybe by movies you've seen, possibly by books read....

Not the least of which, those gorgeous photographs you've always seen...


The beautiful Golden Dome on top of the State House...(my hotel this time was right next to

it...what a gorgeous sight!)



The Cobblestone Streets of Beacon Hill...Gas lamps lining the streets...( lingering in the
precious antique, wine, specialty food, gift, clothing, jewelry shops...both up and down Charles Street...This is where I stayed this time...Nirvana...)


Architecture that has except for upkeep, simply has NOT been changed since the 1700s!!!


Beautiful Back Bay with the bells ringing from the Trinity church, the oldest Episcopalian church in America...Both inside and out, it is almost overwhelming...There are no words to describe this kind of beauty...


Let us not forget those that are more the "Rodeo Drive" type of shoppers......
Newbury Street in Back Bay is your paradise...



Statues of Paul Revere, Henry Adams, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, President Kennedy, and many others surround you....


The Boston Common (oldest park in America)...The public garden...Swans gracefully set upon the water in the summer, and in the winter covered in ice for an outdoor skating rink...This is wonderful to watch, because in Boston, as in New York, people actually know how to skate and skate well....


SO MUCH HISTORY SURROUNDS YOU...


The kind of history that one doesn't probably appreciate as a kid...One of the joys of getting older...that love of history...and to see it right in front of you...To hell with history classes, this
is the way to learn and love history (I know, unrealistic, but too bad)


Sipping tea where Louisa May Alcott used to sip her tea, as she wrote "Little Women"...


I could go on and on...(and probably will...)


Beautiful and exciting Cambridge...(where the very best restaurants are..more later)

Cambridge is literally one of the best places in which to observe people...Very interesting

types of people...Intellectual, attractive people...Love it...



Speaking of people, I have now spent two week of my life in Boston and never met a rude

person...I have ONLY encountered either polite or downright friendly people...Sorry to

bust yet another "myth" about people up north...east....



The Boston Symphony Orchestra...(my second time, where once again, I landed a seat on the 6th row, close enough to actually view the genius virtuoso that inevitably performs during the concert. This time it was a 21 year old "child"....She was obviously gifted beyond reasonable comprehension...Mozart as a child came to mind, as I watched her fingers produce literal "magic" on the piano keys....I had to try to keep my mouth from falling open...As previously stated, drooling in public is simply not an option for me....)


The Isabella Gardner Museum...

I am so passionate about this "museum" (it was actually her huge mansion), that I will try to
hold myself back from 3 paragraphs of explanation...


Let's just get to the major points...


Point number one...If at all possible, you must do what you need to do to see this stunning
museum before you die....


That said....


Point number two...There is a massive "Garden Courtyard" in the house that literally has to be seen to be believed...She loved her courtyard and poured herself and her love of art (not to mention a lot of money) into this garden and every space of this mansion....It is 3 or 4 stories, and probably contains about 30 or more rooms that contain precious art from all over the world....This is place where the horrific art burglars around 1990 got away with some Picasso, Matisse, and many other priceless paintings...They have NEVER found the paintings or the criminals...Their frames lay vacated on the walls...Mrs. Gardner left a will specifying that NOTHING ever be changed in the museum and it has not...Even when a painting is stolen, the frame remains just as it was...Wow...


Point number three... There is a precious little tea room/lunch room inside the museum if one gets "the vapors" or any other malady while trying to take it all in...


Point number four...For those that adore Museum Gift Shops, THIS is your place...I would say that next to the gift shop at the MOMO in NY, this is my favorite museum gift shop...Last year I bought the CD that was playing while I was in the shop, a collection of charming French tunes sung by well known contemporary French artist...(not well known by us, of course)
It is still one of my favorites...
I put it on when I am particularly irritated, and it seems to help.....

I digress...

Point number five...On first Thursday evening of the month, and on Sundays at 1:30, they have small and interesting "concerts" by musicians from all over the world...I attended one this time while in Boston, and while it wasn't exactly my kind of musical preference, I really enjoyed the whole "private" affair held in one of Mrs. Gardner's "concert rooms"....(It was an "experiment" in Classical and Synthesizer music, that had its exciting moments, I must admit)


So that you don't think that I am just waxing on about nothing...do check out their website if you are more interested...I feel that it is my duty to share this incredible place with the world...

www.gardnermuseum.org/


There are many wonderful things in and about Boston...Much more than this, and I might as well write a guide book (hmm...think this has been done already...but not by me! Note to self...think
about this later...)

I know that most of my followers are foodies...so I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that this
is one of the best places for foodies in the country...Seriously, it's right up there with San Francisco, you just have to know where to go....


I do think that there are some wonderful places in Boston itself, "Hamersley's Bistro" being one of them, but most of the really special and deliciously different ones, I have found, reside in Cambridge....

I was there for a week, and I must say that it was difficult for me not to revisit my favorites, which I did, but I managed to try two new ones....(I did go to my very favorite twice though...)

I will provide you with a list of not to be missed places for foodies...(but I must say that I do it out of love for my fellow foodies, because it is VERY difficult at times to share one's researched and favorite "gems"....)

Okay...here goes....(oh, and of course, nothing is cheap, because organic, quality, fresh and farm grown sent immediately to restaurant, type of food, never is...Foodies simply cannot be bothered with that silly detail anyway...)


In Boston...

South End:
Hamersley's Bistro http://www.hamersleysbistro.com/

B & G oysters http://www.bandgoysters.com/


North End:
This is their "Little Italy"...many good Italian ones here...I am not particularly as huge a fan as others of Italian, though I understand that "Mama Maria" set in a century old farmhouse and right across from Paul Revere's home is suppose to be quite special


The North End is where one could find some authentic and cheaper food...I understand that
"Mike's Pastry" is also wonderful for the best pastries....(note Mama Maria NOT cheap)

I did do a foodie tour here last year, but never made it back to dine here...One of those, need to
do my next visit deals....


Many of these restaurants that line Hanover Street are Mom and Pop and may only take cash, so be prepared...


Special mention for "Neptune's Oyster" in North End...People rave about their "Lobster Rolls"


Cambridge:

"Oleana" (my favorite restaurant ANYWHERE)

(Vegetarians take note...I have been there three times now, and have never tasted meat, because the Vegetarian dining option is so incredible, it is what I always get...It is different every
night...)


"Craigie on the Square"

This chef won the James Beard Award...

I did the after 9Pm on Sunday night "Chef's Whim"

You have to be adventurous, because you do either meat or veg, and then it's up to his

"whim" at the moment as to what your 4 or 6 course dinner is plus dessert....

This is the first time I have ever eaten "sweetbreads", a Hannibal Lector favorite, and I must
say, I probably will not seek them out again, but I got through it and it was quite delicious...I don't know...think I have seen "Hannibal" too many times to appreciate this....

The rest of the course were too complex to even describe, but all very special and delicious...

I sat next to a woman who was also by herself, doing the "whim" and even she got different
things than I did...(interesting woman, on business in Cambridge...A physician recruter for an infamous hospital in Memphis, who meets with soon to be graduate Medical students from Harvard and Scientist from MIT....Great job...."I get excited talking about Science"...She was also a serious foodie...)

It was fun, a great experience, and I will do it again...

They also had a "cocktail whim"...4 Mini cocktails of their choosing, from light to dark, in the cutest little miniature cocktail glasses that you have ever seen. If Ken and Barbie had "cocktail hour", this is what they would drink out of....
Okay, Okay...maybe not that small....


"Hungry Mother"...

Excellent Chef living in Cambridge, who saw a need for "gourmet" Southern fare...I have eaten it in Charleston, some of the best ever, and his take, although quite different, was no less delicious and I highly recommend it....
He had me at the "pimento cheese" starter and it just got better and better...
Anyone who can make "greens" taste that delicious, has my vote....(and no bacon it seemed)


All three of these are "foodie heaven"....


All of these places must be reserved, and Craigie probably a bit ahead of time...
I'd do it at least a week in advance, maybe longer..

All are very, very popular....

Those folks in Cambridge love the good stuff....and I'm right there with them...

Oh and don't let me forget to mention the really cool bookstores and poetry slams that they
have in Cambridge...

Great jazz as well....

I could do at least 3 or 4 days in Cambridge alone...


My hotel is different every time, but never anything less than remarkable...This time it even came with a chauffeur...I used him about 3/4 of the time, and he had to be booked, as it was a small hotel and everyone wanted service....(Boston is a great walking city though....)

XV Beacon was my hotel....

Other great hotels...The new "Liberty hotel" in Beacon Hill, The Fairmont Copely in Back Bay,

the Charlesmark ( very reasonable), Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro ( somewhat reasonable), the

Charles Street Inn (bed and breakfast with incredible rooms named after famous Bostonians, expensive but seasonal like most of them)....The Elliot Hotel in Back Bay...These would be my particular picks....


So, I had another adventure in Boston, and plan on many more...

Some choose to "Escape to Witch Mountain"...that's so ordinary....

I'd much rather "Escape to Beacon Hill"

okay, alright, I'll stop now....