What Did You Eat?

Pain Relief

My knee pain and sciatica reached a crescendo the last few weeks, making it difficult to stand, walk, or sit. In case you're paying attention, that just about covers everything.  I felt quite sorry for myself until a package arrived from the marvelous Callipygia at Foodchair.   Why did I receive a package from her?  Because she's really swell (as they say in old timey films), and also because I'm a loyal reader of her blog.  So, there are two reasons to read her blog.  You could wind up opening a package of sensory delights that improves any bad day. But, most importantly, you should read her blog because dear Callipygia is one of those rare people who captures life in words and paintings.  Loyal readers (that would me) know to get a cup of coffee, ignore the phone, and sit back to leisurely read her posts, the better to enjoy the whole experience.  Not only that, she illustrates her posts with her own art work!   

So, I didn't need to receive a package to appreciate her, but who doesn't enjoy getting gifts in the mail?  The first thing I noticed was how woodsy the package smelled before I opened it.  Green scents are my favorite, so I was delighted with the Cedar soap. It makes me feel like I'm backpacking again in the Sierras, when I use it.  And then--she sent me chocolate!  It's hard to pay attention to your pain when you're chewing on one of these bars. I ate the milk chocolate bar for breakfast, and the dark chocolate for lunch.  And I washed my hands with the soap.  On the same day. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

In an ideal world, romance and affection would be celebrated every day. But, we have this official celebration, so let's make the most of it. Happy Valentine's Day!

Cookies from Bunty's Shortbread recipe.  Delicious.

I'd Like To Thank The Academy........

I'm overwhelmed!   Just minutes ago, the UPS guy delivered my Grand Prize for winning Glenna's Tackiest Gift contest.  Thousands of people voted, (OK, not that many).  My fond recollections of the humongous bras and panties that my grandma Bessie would send me for Christmas was the winning story!  I just want to say that said undies were much bigger than my actual size at that time.  If you go to Glenna's site at A Fridge Full Of Food..And Nothing To Eat, you will see all the tacky gift horror stores from the other contestants.  And how they must be gnashing their teeth in frustration when they see my prize.   

Happy Birthday Brussels Sprouts And Sausage Soup

It's hard to make a Happy Birthday treat when the celebratory person is on a rigid diet.  Yes, there are some sugar free and low fat options, but I chose a different route.  My husband's love for brussels sprouts is almost an obsession. If offered a choice between any dessert or a big bowl of steamed brussels sprouts, he would gladly choose the latter.  So, when I saw this soup recipe in Sunset magazine, I knew this would be perfect for him.  It also contains sundried tomato turkey sausage, potatoes, and caraway seeds.  And that's pretty much it.  The soup had a slightly sweet flavor, from the caraway seeds and the brussels spouts.  This certainly isn't a soup for people who hate these little cabbages, (as I like to think of them), but it was a huge hit with my husband. 

Happy New Year!

Well, I'm sure you all recognize the traditional bowl of red grapefruit to usher in the New Year?  No?  OK, it isn't traditional, but receiving citrus fruit for the holidays is almost a tradition.  I received a big bag of Ruby grapefruit, much to my delight.  They're a great treat for me, so I peeled and sectioned a big bowl of them, just like Julia Child showed me on TV years ago.  I know they won't really clean out all the butter and sugar from my veins, but it's nice to eat something so delicious and healthy. 

Everyone have a grand New Year's celebration.  I've loved meeting so many people through blogging.  Next year I resolve to answer my comments all the time!!  And lose weight. Which will be harder to do?  I'm laying money on the latter.

WCB: How We Spent The Christmas Holiday

How was your holiday?  We celebrated Christmas here, and it was fun.  I always love it, because there's always lots of yummy foods here.  This is me, waiting patiently by the Christmas tree, waiting to see if Mom got her annual gift of Italian tuna.  She did, which meant I got some too. Pumpkin, Muffin and I also ate leftover rock cornish hens, which impressed Pumpkin and Muffin.  Mom sure ate a lot (more about that later).  By the way, how many cats believe, like me, that drinking Christmas Tree Water, out of the stand, is fabulous? 

WCB is being hosted by Samantha and Tigger at their great site The Tuxedo Gang Hideout.  Go check them out to see all the rocking kitties. Caturday is at Coats Of Many Colors, The Bad Kitty Cats Festival Of Chaos is at Bad Kitty Cats Journal, and don't forget The Friday Ark. Last, Lawrence Simon is stepping down from hosting Carnival Of Cats, so head over and leave a farewell post  to this hard working guy.

WHB: Happy Blog Anniversary To Me!

Yesterday, I suddenly realized that today is my blog anniversary.  Amazingly, What Did You Eat is officially two years old.  When I started blogging, I didn't know if I would last a year, but here I am two years later. During that time, I've enjoyed preparing some great recipes, and sharing that experience with people all over the world.  Most important, I've made friends with so many fellow bloggers--and what a talented and generous group of people they are too!  There are also the people who don't have blogs, but visit here and leave comments.  I haven't been good about answering my comments lately, but I appreciate them more than you can ever know.  Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to visit me here.  I'm sorry my blog's appearance hasn't been updated, but any attempt to spruce it up always winds up backfiring on me.  I may be able to cook, but I'm a total nincompoop doing computer stuff.  I still remember how much trouble I had installing WeatherPixie.  Weatherpixie, for God's sake!  It's supposed to be impossible to screw up something like that!

To celebrate my anniversary, I decided to make meatballs, rather than something sweet.  I love them, and I'm tired of sweet things just now.  While these meatballs aren't as good as my favorite recipe, I did enjoy them quite a bit. They're stuffed with dried currents and pine nuts, easy to make, and (drum roll) they're a Staff Favorite at Food & Wine magazine, which usually means a sure thing.

WHB Anniversary: Potato Fritters With Sweet Pepper Relish (Cilantro)

Well, here it is--the second anniversary of Weekend Herb Blogging at Kalyn's Kitchen!  My, how it has grown since Kalyn first started it.   She's done a splendid job, and it's been so much fun to see how this event, and her blog, has evolved in such a short period of time.  I wanted to make something special for the celebration, and spent several days looking at my favorite cookbooks and magazines. This year Kalyn suggested we do something with an herb and at least one vegetable, a Double Delish recipe.  Finally, it came down to Deborah Madison's recipe for Potato Fritters and Sweet Pepper Relish. It was the perfect way for me to celebrate WHB, as I haven't had potatoes in quite a while, and my Irish genes were suffering. The recipe also includes my favorite herb, cilantro, as well as quite a few vegetables.  The fritters contain scallions and the confetti cut relish is full of sweet yellow and red peppers.  I think this fulfills the Double Delish requirement, it was certainly delicious.

We Have Cake!

Mission Control, we have cake!  Yes, it arrived all the way from Springfield, Mo.   As you may remember, my wonderful friend Glenna of A Fridge Full Of Food...But Nothing To Eat baked a cake and sent it overnight delivery to moi.  The picture doesn't do it justice, and it's really tragic that you can't taste the tender white cake and lucious coconut buttercream. Glenna always tells me that she learned from her mother how to cook a proper white cake, so that it's light as a cloud. Now I understand what she was talking about. It's the best white cake I've ever tasted. And coconut cake is not something I ever make, but I will now.  This recipe will become a standard for me.

Feel free to sign me up for the Cake Of The Month Club, Glenna.  Thanks a million times over. By the way folks, go see Glenna's cake shaped like a a loaf of bread.   People at her party thought it really was a loaf of bread--until they discovered it was a dreamy coconut cake.

Massive Happiness!!!!!! Huge Impatience!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm very impatient!  Imagine my shock and delight when I read my great friend Glenna's post today at A Fridge Full Of Food .....But Nothing To Eat.   Just how great a friend is Glenna?  Well, she made this fabulous cake for me, and sent it next day delivery!!!! Holy cow!  Read her post and be amazed. But, don't anyone think you can take her away from me, so that you can get fancy cakes sent to you!  HA!  You'd be looking for a fight.

The cake hasn't arrived and I'm bouncing off the walls with impatience. I'll let you know as soon as it's delivered!  I really appreciate this from Glenna because I've been feeling down lately.  I just discovered that a specially made fancy cake that you would expect to buy from the likes of Dean & Delucca picks up your spirits amazingly fast. 

I guess I don't have any more excuses for not making that jam I promised to send her?