Martha, Martha, Martha!

M and I went to a book sale a few weeks ago. It was a warehouse sale where paperbacks were $2 and hardcover books were $5. All of the proceeds went to charity - which was pretty cool.

The books were in order by ISBN # which when you are looking at a warehouse full of books does not help you if you are trying to find something specific. So we took our time and just browsed through the covers looking for authors we knew or titles that seemed interesting. It was a bit overwhelming but fun as well.


I found a few photography books and some fiction to read. M found a few thrillers I think, but the gem of the bunch was this:

Is Martha Stuart Living? is a parody on Martha Stewart Living and it's hilarious.

As you can see by the cover there are articles for "Making water from scratch" or "collecting glue guns".

Neetzy got the most joy from an article about making your own condoms out of sheep intestines! I don't think I've heard my sister laugh so hard in my entire life!!! She seemed to get the most enjoyment when Martha wrote about "stalking, slaying, bleeding and eviscerating the animal". And if you have any leftover membrane you can use it for a nice lamb kielbasa!!!

There are even some wonderful illustrations showing Martha with the sheep intestine and a zucchini. She even adds a nice romantic touch by stenciling a winged cupid on the side.

How sweet!

We have a weird sense of humor in our family!!!

The magazine has many helpful tips and recipes, but one recipe Neetzy and I decided that it just had to be posted for our mighty blighty buddy Dive over at Small Glass Planet.

I myself am culinarily challenged and my apologies to both Dive and Scout over at Just Sayin' to inform you that although I do like "real' cheese I made mac and cheese for Easter dinner using...you guessed it...VELVEETA!!!

It was delicious!

Anyway - I digress.

Inspired by Dives famous "What's cooking with Dive?" series I wanted to share this recipe with you all.

If you haven't read any of his cooking posts, check out: Tentacular Shenigans or Οκταποδι Κρασατο .

He's an adventurous gent our Dive is and loves all things squishy and rubbery.

Here is one dish that I think would be even too adventurous for you my friend!

Bon appetit!

(check out the garnish on this dish - is it not gorgeous or what?)

So don't delay! Run out and get your copy of "Is Martha Stuart Living?" today!

Beautiful weekend

We had a little warm spell here in the northeast this weekend. Today it was like spring outside. All of the snow has melted and everyone was outside enjoying the break from the typical winter doldrums.

After our little jaunt to visit farms yesterday we decided to have a lazy day today. So we slept in a little, took the pups for their walk, ran a few errands that just needed to be done and then I lit a nice fire in the chiminea on the back deck and we proceeded to sip wine, dream about our little farm and relax.

I love days like this!

I love weekends like this!

Later I fired up the grill and cooked some tender and juicy london broil and marinated asparagus . mmmmmmmmmmm...mmmmmmmmmmmm....good stuff.

Now M and I are on our nicely padded middle aged asses...each armed with a lap top and a cute little dog sleeping by our sides and enjoying the quiet.

Life is fucking awesome sometimes!

I hope where ever you are you had a similar weekend!

Peace all.

Garbanzo Greatness

On Sunday I made a very nummy garbanzo bean salad with fresh home grown Jersey tomatoes, fresh home grown basil, red onions and drizzled on some balsamic vinaigrette.

I chopped up some leftover chicken threw it in there and brought it in for lunch. It was a nice change from the usual salad.

While munching on my luscious legumes I decided to look up the nutritional information just because...I had nothing better to do.

These little beans pack some good stuff in there!

Stolen from Wikipedia:

One hundred grams of mature boiled chickpeas contains 164 calories, 2.6 grams of fat (of which only 0.27 grams is saturated), 7.6 grams of dietary fiber and 8.9 grams of protein.

And this I did not know: "Chickpeas also provide dietary calcium (49-53 mg/100 g), with some sources citing the garbanzo's calcium content as about the same as yogurt and close to milk."

So...eat more Garbanzo's!

They do a body good!

Fun with food

Here's a weird custom -

Take a beloved pet...like...the Guinea pig for example:

Take them out shopping...buy them some new clothes.

Here...Carmen and Inez show off their little buddies: Pedro and Julio's new summer fashions!

Don't they look so cute?

Next up...Beatriz shows off Carmelita's new summer frock....ohhhh...aaaaaahhhh...beautiful!

Guineau pigs are part of the family here in Peru...they even take them out to dinner with them!

Hmmmm...let's see what the specials are tonight....ohhh...look...it's ....

"I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti......ssspppsssspppsssspppsssssss......"

Sunday Cookin'

I like to cook.

I don't LOVE it, but I really, REALLY enjoy enjoy it.

The only thing I don't like about cooking is when it becomes more of a chore.

Routine.

When it feels like you are eating the same recipes every week.

When I do have the time to cook the way I want to...I always have to have theme music playing behind me to motivate me.

If you have ever seen the movie Bandits, there is a great scene when Cate Blanchet is cooking while singing "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler.

While I'm not that animated...I definitely need a "cooking soundtrack" playing in the background.

I also dance when I'm cooking...sometimes you just gotta!

Tonight I decided to cook one of my favorite shrimp recipes. It's quick....and easy and damn it's good:

Spicy Grilled Shrimp

INGREDIENTS
1 large clove garlic
1 tablespoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined

I let them soak for about 1/2 hour in this stuff to make sure they've soaked up that flavor.

They are cooked for about 2-3 minutes on each side...just until they are pink...and still juicy. You do not want to over cook shrimp.

This was served over linguine which I drizzled some sauteed garlic, butter, a bit of basil, oregano, and parsley.

The "Cooking Soundtrack" for this evening was: Peggy Lee



M and I were doin' a little "bumpin' and grindin'" while things were gettin' hot in the kitchen.

mmmmmmmmm...mmmmmmmmm....good stuff!

Evil Cookies

The receptionist at work is selling Girl Scout Cookies on behalf of her granddaughter.

I have a weakness when it comes to Girl Scout Cookies - especially Thin Mints.

I can eat a whole sleeve of these evil cookies in one sitting if I am not too careful.

Knowing I have this weakness, you would think that I would be smart and not buy them in the first place.

Why tempt fate?

I convinced myself that I bought them for my daughter C. She loves them and she's only 20 and is skinny and has that fabulous 20 year old metabolism that dissolves everything she eats instantaneously.

They are upstairs right now, calling me...beckoning me to taste their chocolaty/minty goodness.

I .... must ... resist.

Or at least convince my daughter to take them to work with her!



Maybe I'll just have 2 more before she takes them away.

mmmmm, mmmmm

It's baaaaaaaaaaaaaack! The pumpkin spice donut from Dunkin' Donuts! Nothin's says lovin' like a cup o' Dunkin Donuts coffee and one of these puppies!

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!