Random Query

Does anyone else but me much prefer carrot sticks to baby carrots when it comes to eating them raw in crudite?

Quick Tuesday Meal

If you are anything like me, and constantly wish you had about 4 more hours in each day, this recipe is great for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner.

Spiced Maple-Glazed Salmon

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

4 (about 6 ounce) salmon fillets

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 tablespoon melted butter

1 tablespoon chopped green onions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and brown sugar.
Sprinkle the 4 salmon filets the salt, then rub with the spice mixture. Combine melted butter and maple syrup with a whisk. Drizzle each fillet with a bit of the mixture. Spread with a basting brush to spread and coat salmon. Sprinkled chopped green onion over each filet. Bake for 12-14 minutes to desired degree of doneness, or until salmon flakes with a fork.

I usually serve with roasted asparagus or stir fried sugar snap peas and whole wheat couscous.

flj

Forever New

I was so surprised this evening to realize I have never written about Forever New. This great fabric wash, which can be purchased at Nordstrom, has been keeping my delicates in top form for years. Forever New is great for everything from hosiery to cashmere sweaters (if you dare). It has a wonderful, fresh scent, and is definitely worth the price. - LG

Sweet Treat

I don’t usually attempt to make any of my own candy at home; I stick to cooking and baking, especially after a disastrous try at Egg Nog Fudge this holiday season.

However, my cousin brought these yummy homemade candies to us as a hostess gift last weekend and they were fabulous. And, as it turns out, fabulously easy to make. She brought them in cute, white boxes with pink and green twine and labels, which I of course neglected to take a picture of in my rush to consume them.

Mint Oreo Balls
1 package of mint Oreos (you can use regular Oreos)

8oz package of cream cheese at room temp

8oz semi sweet baking chocolate

Place the entire package of Oreos in a food processor and blend. Then add cream cheese and blend until there are no traces of cream left (it should be pretty soft). Refrigerate the mixture for 30-45 minutes, or until slightly firm. Roll the mixture into little balls (about the size of a large gumball) on a cookie sheet and put them back in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler (or in the microwave) and then dip the balls in the chocolate and set on waxed paper to dry/set. Refrigerate them in an air tight container until you are ready to serve. They stay good up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Enjoy!
flj

Cake Idea II

Another cake idea, courtesy of Liz, who also brought us the bikini cake. This "cake" was actually made of 120 diapers and served as a gorgeous centerpiece at a recent baby shower. - LG

Dogs have Manners, too

We have a love of etiquette books, and apparently they aren’t just for humans anymore!
Charlotte Reed’s Miss Fido Manners Complete Book of Dog Etiquette: The Definitive Guide to Manners for Pets and Their People addresses a multitude of issues relating to both canine and human behavior. From the most basic issues of grooming and dealing with guests in your pet-friendly home, to the more in-depth chapters of “Best Practices on the Dog Run” and “Dogs, Custody, and Divorce,” just about everything is covered, most of the time with an over the top, tounge-in-cheek approach.
What a cute gift for the new-dog owner and seasoned pet veteran alike!
flj

Help!

Today I checked out our blog related email account for the first time in...quite a while. I made several discoveries:

1. Inside Edition contacted us about a story they were producing about six weeks ago re: bridesmaids. Needless to say, we missed out on that opportunity. Grrr.

2. All Things Kimba sent us a blog invitation, but it has now expired. Will you send another?

3. Magnolias, Marriage and Manhattan did not send us an invitation to read. I would like to respectfully request one.

And now for some good news! Williams-Sonoma Home is having a White Sale. I love linens, but what really caught my eye was the pictured preserved lemon wreath. - LG

Almost Spring....

With the fleeting warm weather we had earlier this week, I started seriously thinking about spring. It seems like all of local retail establishments are thinking about it, too. The stores are filled with cute spring clothes and accessories.
While out running errands yesterday, I picked up these cute gardening gloves as a housewarming gift for friends who are new first-time home owners. Paired with a gift certificate to their local nursery, they should make a cute gift! Hable Construction’s website features a plethora of adorable gifts and home accessories and is definitely worth checking out!
flj

Wow or Weird?

A friend sent me this recipe today for Hot Chocolate Meringue Cake. The twist comes from a pinch of cayenne pepper. So what is the verdict? Amazing...or...not so much? - LG

The Practical Middle Ground

Disclaimer: I grew up with very limited exposure to microwave foods. In fact, I did not eat a microwave meal until after college. However, now that I am living in the city and working in the suburbs with no car (that's right, I take the subway, the commuter rail and the bus to work), my lunch options are somewhat limited. My saving grace has been the various microwaveable options from Amy's Kitchen. Made of all natural and/or organic ingrediants, they make me feel like I am getting some nutritious food for a low price, even if I can't say I made it myself. My favorite dish is the Santa Fe Enchilada Bowl. So next time you need a middle ground between a Big Mac and a leftovers, choose Amy's Kitchen! - LG