Recipe For Spring

1 Cup Sunshine
2 Cups White Daisy's
3 Cups Red Impatients
1 1/2 Cups Yellow Daffodils

Mix into soil and sprinkle with some light rain.

DO THESE JEANS MAKE ME LOOK FAT?

Remember those days, superficial and shallow. Couldn't leave the house without checking all sides, "How do I look?" In my early 60's I was still trying to hold on to "Does Loreal 8 G make my hair look too brassy" or "how is this color with my skin tone" or do I look fat in this outfit?". Oh, I am so much deeper now, wiser and aware of more important issues. Once you reach your 60's and up your body takes on a different view. Just had a bone scan, colonoscopy and blood test. Now I am very concerned about the deeper issues. Do my bones really look like Swiss Cheese? Is my cholesterol blocking my arteries. I have now joined the Sally Fields club, the Boniva Bunch! We more mature ladies lose so much bone mass that you need to be very careful when approaching us. Don't give me a bear hug, I might break, I am very delicate. The technician so kindly showed me a picture of my spine. Scary! Sally Fields promised me this is reversible, by next year I'll be as good as new. Sure!

Pesto with a Twist

It's really easy to grow your own basil in the yard, I have it planted in my flower garden.

The word Pesto simply means paste, any ingredients in the blender becomes a paste. Be creative, next time I think I will use Green Olives instead of the Black ones and add some home grown parsley.

Basil Pesto is quick a easy to make in the blender only we added a can for Black Olives. Adding the olives makes this a Greek recipe.

2 c fresh basil
1/2 c fresh Parmesan
1/2 c olive oil
1/3 c pine nuts
3 cloves garlic
1 can black olives drained
(olives have a high salt content, if salt is an issue for you leave out olives)


Blend ingredient together in the blender and spread on Trader Joe's Whole Grain Bread

Fritata

Sunday Morning Brunch

Potato and Egg Fritata


4 Small Yukon Gold Potatoes slices very thin
5-6 mushrooms sliced thin
4 eggs
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2 slices Prosciutto---optional
1/4 cup Pizza Sauce
Thinly sliced Mozzarella
Parmesan
Olive Oil
t oregano


Using a 10 inch skillet heat 2 T olive oil,
line bottom of skillet with potatoes and onion slices.
Cook on stove top 10 minutes.
Place skillet with potatoes under a broiler 5 additional minutes.
Remove skillet from broiler and add 4 beaten eggs, top with sauce,
Prosciutto, mushrooms, and Mozzarella.
Sprinkle with olive oil and oregano.

Bake at 375for 20 minutes.

Finish under broiler for 5 minutes.

Rolled Pizza

This recipe is adapted from Giada's Venetian Rolled Pizza. We just changed it a little.

Roll out Pizza Dough very thin.
Top with layers:
Prosciutto
Sun Dried Tomatoes
Spinach
Saute Mushrooms
Mozzarella Cheese


Roll Pizza

Brush the top with Olive Oil
Top with Parmesan Cheese and Sun Dried Tomatoes


Bake 425 for 30 minutes.

Slice and serve with a Green Salad

It's all about the Gold !

I am in awe of the Olympics, the dedication, the concentration, the perseverance. These men and women have prepared for their whole life for this very moment in time. The parade of athletes entering the stadium, country by country, sport by sport, ready to compete with the worlds best. There was tension on their faces, determination in their heart, as they were eager to let the games begin. As we watched the opening ceremonies there was one young man always smiling, looking relaxed and enjoying the entertainment. Last night Shaun White wowed the world with another spectacular double double twist. My daughter discovered the secret to his joy and why he was the only one smiling. All the rest of the athletes have been training, sacrificing and practicing for hours daily for most of their lives. Not Shaun, he was just a kid who liked to go outside and play, now he goes outside and plays in the snow a couple of hours a day. He isn't smiling, he is laughing, laughing at all the other athletes who worked so hard for what just seems easy for him.

I am an old lady, I am lazy and selfish and occasionally slightly cranky, I spent my life being noble and self sacrificing, now it's my turn. The one thing I know for sure is I don't want any more responsibility than I already have, the bare minimum thank you very much. Over the years we have had dogs and cats, birds and guinea pigs, fish and turtles, all through, never again! If it poops and eats, whines in the night or needs to go to the vet, the answer is very clearly NO.

Well at 7:30 yesterday morning Scout and Johnny found a little lost Boston Terrier wandering the streets, no collar, no tags, just the cutest little face you have seen all day. They felt hopelessly needed, however, they did have to get school by 8:00, so they dropped him off at my house.

I did the right thing, I put signs up on the light posts, on my mail box, and on my gate. Well it wasn't my fault, I tried really hard not to like this dumb dog. He only wanted to cuddle up and lick my face, and he looked at me with those big puppy dog eyes. By the time I left for the office it was too late, I was smitten. I named him Dusty and I was sure he loved me too. I left the office a little late last night and I didn't get out until almost 8:00 p.m. and I was eager to get home, after all he would be cold by now and hungry, and I am sure he was lonely. So when I pulled around the corner I was very concerned, the signs on the lamp post were gone, the one on my mail box gone, and the one on the gate gone! And my worst fear of all was realized, Dusty was gone.

Why am I grieving, I don't want a pet.

Maybe I'll stop by the shelter this afternoon.

Tonight we are hungry, need a hearty meal.

Anduilli Sausage 1 lb, or Polish Sausage
3 boneless chicken thighs
cup onions chopped
cup chopped celery
cup diced green peppers
28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup orzo

cayenne pepper
t0basco
chili powder


Brown chicken in olive oil, add sausage, onions, celery and gr peppers, saute 8 minutes
Add can cut tomatos
Add chicken broth

add spices to taste

simmer 45 minutes

add orzo the last 15 minutes

Johnny stopped by and he loved it, we passed the teenage test, it must be good. He took the left overs home.

My dentist of the last 28 years retired, you wouldn't think it would be a major event to find a new dentist. Joined a Dental Group for Seniors and tried my new dentist today. She was much younger than my kids, had a nose ring and purple hair! I think I'll keep looking. My teeth feel like they have been through the drive through car wash, and the high pressure sales nurse tried to tell me I need a whitening, replace my crown and gum treatment. Maybe I should call 1 800 Dentist.

Breakfast of Steel Cut Oatmeal

Drop your cholesterol in less than a year, it really works.

BREAKFAST OF STEEL

Steel Cut Oatmeal

You may cook it overnight on low in a slow cooker or on the stove top for 30 minutes, the key is to make a large serving, make enough for a week at one time, then reheat small amounts in the microwave every morning.

2 Cup Steel Cut Oatmeal
6 Cups Water

Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer 30 minutes.
Toppings are endless:
Cranberries, apples and cinnamon, walnuts, raisins, and low fat milk.

Valentine's Day Breakfast: Creme Brulee and Cranberry Juice

2 cups low fat milk

1 t vanilla

3 egg yolks (save the whites for an omelet)

1 whole egg

1/4 cup sugar or substitute

Heat milk , remove from heat and beat in sugar and eggs slowly so the eggs do n0t scramble.

Pour into Heart Shaped Ramekins sprayed with Pam and bake in a water bath at 325 for 50 minutes.

After they have cooled, sprinkle brown sugar on the top and carmamelize with a torch or under the broiled for a few minutes.

Menu Planning for Seniors

Pizza Dough with out salt or sugar:

1 cup warm water
1 pkg Active Dry Years

Dissolve yeast in warm water
2 T Olive Oil

1 T Honey

Add 3 cups flour

Make dough and let rise.


Pre Heat Oven to 475


Sauce: Be creative, use fresh tomatoes diced, grilled onions, garlic and basil, stay away from canned product they are filled with salt and sugar.

Options for Toppings:

Clams, Salmon, roasted red peppers, grilled onions, saute portable mushrooms , basil, try sliced pears for a sweet taste, sliced green peppers, zucchini or yellow squash.

Top with a small amount of cheese: Mozzarella, Feta, Asiago, Parmesan, or Swiss

Bake on a Pizza Stone at 425 until crisp. Sprinkle a little corn meal on the Stone for better cooking.


Green Salad topped with:

No Sugar no salt Dressing:

One cup plus 3 T veg. oil, 1 t dry mustard, juice of one lemon, 4-6 gloves of garlic, 3 T Olive Oil, 1 T Parmesan 1 t Tabasco 1 t Worcestershire, 3 eggs. Blend for two minutes.