Category Archives: Uncategorized

OK, I admit I’m straying from blog concept but then I’m the blogger and often you like my going out of bounds.

Two major banks announced major losses today, WaMu and Wachovia. All because they were supremely greedy in the sub-prime glory days.

Do you think all the big banks got together and said “Let’s announce all our major losses in Q2?” First, because the media would lump them all together and forget who did what; and second, so that the Feds (meaning our wallets) would bail them out to the tune of $25 billion.

I’d rather the Feds, after bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and putting them on a tight leash, have them take over these delinquent loans providing homeowners some security from these banks’ collective avarice. Then leave the banks to manage their own troubles, sink or swim.

Whatever gets us out of this debacle before full-scale recession. Helping the banks will in no way help these homeowners who’ve been taken advantage of by slick salespeople.

You might know that my background is way more than cooking. Righty-O.

Note: This message was approved by no one, not even the dog. It is not an endorsement for any banking product, subprime loan et al.

The chapel was amazing. We had to take a train, two buses and walk by

The apprentice pillar

They used to get 3,000 people a year but now get at least 100,000 and it’s a very small place. All due to the Da Vinci Code book and movie, of course.

If you look behind the altar there are three pillars. Behind those pillars on the left is the master artist’s pillar with vertical columns and to the right is the apprentice pillar with a diagonal design.

Story is the master went touring Europe to see how to craft this great pillar and while he was away his apprentice carved his own. Once he returned he saw the greatness in his apprentice and killed him.

The Chapel is incredible, begun by a historic French family including Knights Templar. Masons carved nearly every inch of the structure with pagan, Christian, Jewish and Latin enscriptions.

If you do go and want to enjoy viewing it, please go in the winter when crowds are sparse. The restaurant in the hotel on the corner made a great soup and sandwich so that was a bonus. The cow pasture had just been manured and 1/2 hour of walking was an assault to the nostrils.

But if you don’t mind driving on the wrong side of a car on the wrong side of the street through multiple “roundabouts” that go the wrong way, go ahead and drive.

Check out the Rosslyn Motet online. Researchers looked for clues in the carvings and wrote a Motet based on them. Our friends from Scotland went to see a performance at Rosslyn Chapel.

Boneless pork chops (on sale), boiled or roasted red potatoes and fresh corn from the market. I’ll add a bit of John Henry’s TX BBQ rub to the pork. Potatoes in 400 degree oven with olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper for 30 minutes, turning at 10 and 20 minute mark.

Check out David Rosengarten’s Tastings (Google it?) for new info on fresh corn on the cob.

Looks like another storm is brewing here, as everything went dark. Thanks for visiting! D

While unloading the car (two of us, two trips) from a three-day trip I heard my cell phone ringing on the kitchen counter. Missed it. Rang again. Missed it.

It was my friend and neighbor telling me to go outside right away. Turns out a bunch of neighbors were interviewed for a story in the local paper that is supposed to come out tomorrow.

We’ll see how it turns out. It’s all about this park that recently opened and there is some controversy as the park was planned well but no-one accounted for simple things like trash and parking before opening it. So a bunch of us were asked questions by the reporter.

Jim’s in a suit and tie today on interviews. He looks great, after his haircut yesterday. Normally in his line of work dress slacks and pressed dress shirt work, with solid leather shoes. But interviewing, it helps to wear a suit.

Things are looking up. It’s a tough market out there job-wise. So all you kids out there get a good education, major in the hard stuff (math and science) and then the world’s your oyster.

Me, I majored in the soft stuff and did OK. Twenty years after graduating I married Jim, who is worlds smarter than me but doesn’t write as well. He can do calculus in his head but doesn’t know his shirt size, and the furthest he’s come in cooking is a grilled cheese sandwich!

Hope you’re having a great summer. Dee

Click once for a larger view. Click twice on photo for full page. D

It’s very difficult and I’ve been a bad mood much of today (unusual for me). Forms and more forms and other difficulties that need to be ironed out.

I’ve enjoyed our “vacation” for the past few weeks with no real vacation, and Jim’s driving me nuts at home but I’ll miss him when he’s back in the rat race. It’s been good to spend some time together.

Today I bought him peonies, light pink (very fragrant) and hot pink. And I am making him roast chicken with stuffing, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, cold and raw sugar snap peas and sliced on-the-vine tomatoes (because of the tomato scare).

I usually stuff a chicken with toasted wheat bread, cubed. Onion, celery and the liver are sauteed. Add salt and pepper, thyme and sage. Season inside the chicken and stuff, right before going into the oven.  Mom always added a bit of beef consomme (canned) to the stuffing to give it moisture and save the rest for gravy.

I don’t have time right now to detail my trussing technique – use your own until I write this or figure out how to do a video.

Top the chicken with softened unsalted butter, hit it with your master recipe of herbs and spices and place it in the oven at 375 degrees for 20 minutes per pound.

When done (poke a knife under the leg and if the liquid comes out clear it’s done) let it sit for 10-15 minutes and take out the stuffing, cover under loose foil, carve and serve.

I’m about to serve this culinary treasure to my love, right about now. It was good, he liked it.

All for now, best wishes from Dee