Witches Knickers

While striving to improve my family's "shade of green," I have stumbled upon several blogs which mention the whole plastic shopping bag issue, and I've come to realize that there is a now a controversy about a certain re-usable bag. I've also learned a new term, witches knickers, referring to plastic bags that end up hanging from trees! Such a cute expression for an annoying and potentially harmful situation.

I always knew about the dangers to sea turtles but this story just broke my heart!

In light of all this, I am filling my car trunk with the dozen or so tote bags we have lying around the house and am going to do the same with Lily's car. Kali and her boyfriend are very earth-conscious so I bet she has already eschewed those wretched plastic bags. I am determined to cut down severely on my use of such things, doing my small part to cut down on clutter both in my home and at my local landfill.

Does anyone else want to join me in the Prevention of Witches Knickers Project? I'm being playful about it but I'm truly dead serious; it's just one more tiny little thing we can to do help the healing of Mother Earth.

On My Hearth: Zesty Southern Pasta and Bean Salad

It's definitely warming up here and I'm starting to focus on some cool meals that can be enjoyed at poolside barbeques as well as toted to the beach for picnics. This pasta salad from allrecipes sounds like a winner, the tex-mex flavors really appeal to me. I can see serving this as a side dish with simple bean tacos which require little prep, allowing more time for fun in the sun!

My Notes: I used canned Ro-tel tomatoes,light Ranch dressing and a packet of taco seasoning mix as substitutions because that's what I had on hand. Also used farfalle pasta instead of seashells. With the remaining box of pasta I whipped up a little baked pasta by adding pasta sauce, 15 oz of ricotta and a couple handfuls of mozzarella, topped with another handful of mozzarella and a sprinkle of Parmesan, it's baking now. When I have time, I love to make a few meals at once, saves time later in the week if things get hectic.


Zesty Southern Pasta and Bean Salad

Submitted by: Aria
Rated: 4 out of 5 by 19 members
Prep Time: 1 Minute
Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 15 Minutes
Yields: 8 servings

"A zesty pasta salad with pinto beans, black beans, corn and tomatoes."

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups small seashell pasta
1/3 cup Italian-style salad
dressing
salt to taste
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse pasta in cold water. Place in a large mixing bowl and add dressing and salt; mix well.

2. Combine pinto beans and black beans in a colander; rinse with cold water and add to pasta. Add corn, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dried red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste; toss lightly.

3. Chill salad in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Happiness Is....

*finding a car for Lily that is both affordable and adorable!

*dinner at Tijuana Flats afterward to celebrate; that Corona Light was much appreciated after a day of dealing with used car salesmen!

*spending a Sunday afternoon on the waverunner, picnic-ing on a deserted island, enjoying some alone time with my sweetie

*meeting my brother-the-doctor for delicious Chicago-style pizza, catching up as best I can after not seeing him for a year. I wish he lived closer!

*a big ol' thunder & lightning storm last night, producing some much-needed rain. I love cuddling up on the couch in my nightie, watching the light show outside the window, happy that my family is home safe & sound.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Earth Day seemed "bigger" to me this year, perhaps due to the whole Invonvenient Truth thing combined with Planet Earth. (I've started watching the latter, am terrified to view the former). My family has always been earth-conscious but, like this post by John Mayer, I imagine us to be "light green", choosing our battles and making changes that mean the most to us.

We eat a mostly-vegetarian, organic-whenever-possible diet, take full advantage of our city's recycling program, bring re-usable tote bags to the grocery store..when we remember. Lately there's been a lot of talk about the hazards of plastic, something I've been very concerned with for years. We have very little plastic in our kitchen, and I replace more & more of it with glass each year. Other than the Tupperware containers I bought years ago that hold dry pantry items, the majority of my food is stored in glass. I scour thrift stores for Pyrex casseroles and other storage containers that house leftovers, etc., my refrigerator is filled with them. I never, ever re-heat in plastic.

Now it's come to my attention that even the plastic water bottles aren't good for you. I've been toting my own for a while now, choosing to use my own filtered water instead of consuming dozens of bottles each week, but after some research I've decided to switch over to aluminum. Though I would love to have the cool Sigg bottles they are a bit out of my price range at the moment so I've found a comparable model on Amazon.

So that's where I am right now, a bit of minty green but aiming for kelly or perhaps even forest some day. One step at a time, we do what we can.

Wish Me Luck

Today Beren and I have dedicated the whole day to car shopping with Lily. She wants a Ford focus so we are..well, focusing on that model. I'm completely prepared, have printed out several ads posted on the internet, complete with dealers phone numbers, addresses and maps. I have my insurance information on hand, a pre-approved draft from my credit union for the maximum amount we want to spend. I got a good night's sleep, am dressed in my most comfortable yet attractive attire, have made breakfast plans with my car-hunting teammembers and am ready to head out the door.

Now, somebody should call the used car sharks..I mean dealers..and warn them that a PMS-ing momma is on the way. Fill them in on the week I've had, the trauma of the crash, etc. Please suggest that the salesman show us cars in our price range, not thousands higher. When I get there to see a specific car that was posted on the internet site, don't tell us that that auto is "not sellable" because it has "bullet holes and blood inside." Puh-lease! (yes, that really happened) We are not stupid, we know all about bait & switch. Oh, and kindly send us someone who knows what the hell they're talking about, ok? I'm not asking too much, just litle things, really. I'm not implying that I expect any trouble or anything, just thinking ahead, that's all.

As an added precaution I'm filling my flask with chardonnay and my pocketbook with Hersheys. Just in case. Always be prepared, that's my motto.

Today's Inspiration: Slow Food

"The founding father of the Slow Food Movement, Carlo Petrini, recognized in 1986 that the industrialization of food was standardizing taste and leading to the annihilation of thousands of food varieties and flavors. Concerned that the world was quickly reaching a point of no return, he wanted to reach out to consumers and demonstrate to them that they have choices over fast food and supermarket homogenization. He rallied his friends and began to speak out at every available opportunity and soon the movement was born and Slow Food was created. Today the organization is active in 50 countries and has a worldwide membership of over 80,000.

People have responded to the growing movement, because they have become tired of buying the same things, eating the same foods and living the same lives. With these interests in mind, our mission is to create a robust, active movement that protects taste, culture and the environment as universal social values. Slow Food programs are dedicated to the mingling of taste, culture and the environment."

I have recently learned of this Slow Food Movement and have been receiving the local newsletter from My Kingdom. Here at the castle we've always tried to sit down and share meals together, enjoy our food slowly in the company of family & friends. When the girls were younger we ate together every single night at the dining room table, complete meals with cloth napkins, candlelight, etc. Not only did they learn how to behave at a formal table, they also learned how to truly enjoy their food, not just rush through it while doing something else. I believe that this mindful eating has helped them stay fit & healthy with good eating habits. Dessert was always part of the meal, even if it was just a simple bowl of fruit or a scoop of ice cream. Since it was never forbidden or "bad," they learned moderation and that chocolate and goodies were a part of life, to be enjoyed along with tasty veggies and healthy meals. It's all good.

Now that they are older and have jobs, school activities, etc., those opportunities for leisurely meals are fewer, but we try to dine together at least once a week, even just for a simple lunch or breakfast. It's important, it nurtures both body & soul.

Cupcake Love

Cupcakes are suddenly the rage, aren't they? Cookbooks, blogs and specialty stores are filled with them! I have always loved cupcakes, both baking and eating 'em, and have fond memories of making cupcakes for my children and their classmates. When Kali was in high school she became the president of a "feminist club" which met monthly. My contribution to her efforts came from my kitchen. For each meeting I'd bake cookies, brownies, etc.; I was told that some of the kids joined just because of that, apparently word spread that Kali's club had the best goodies at their meetings. I'll be forever-known for my famous "boob cupcakes" which I made in October to celebrate Breast Cancer month as well as Halloween. They were simply cupcakes with candy pumpkins on the top but they did indeed resesmble breasts! Yep, those were a real hit, probably ranking up there with the male-genitalia project that Kali did for her biology class. Let's just say that donuts never looked so good. But, I digress..I have signed up for this really cool Taste of Home Weekly Cupcake newsletter which I am really enjoying! These adorable little bees were featured a couple of weeks ago; I have yet to make them but am feeling inspired and creative today.

Bumblebee Banana Cupcakes

Sweet lovers are sure to make a beeline to the kitchen when you bake a batch of these cute-as-a-bug cupcakes. "These treats are perfect to serve for kids' parties or your next garden party," shares Beatrice Richard from Posen, Michigan.

INGREDIENTS:

1 package (14 ounces) banana quick bread and muffin mix
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
5 drops yellow food coloring
12 large yellow gumdrops
1/2 cup chocolate frosting
12 semisweet chocolate chips
24 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
12 large white gumdrops
Black shoestring licorice, cut into 1-inch pieces


DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine the muffin mix, milk, oil and eggs. Fill 12 greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

In a mixing bowl, combine vanilla frosting and food coloring. Frost cupcakes. Cut yellow gumdrops in half widthwise. Use the rounded tops for heads. Flatten remaining portions into ovals for bodies. Place one head and one body on each cupcake.

Place chocolate frosting in a resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of the bag. Pipe stripes on gumdrop bodies to resemble a bumblebee. For the stinger, place one chocolate chip at the end of body with pointed end facing out. Position two mini chocolate chips in front of head for eyes. Cut white gumdrops in half lengthwise; position next to bodies for wings. Insert two licorice pieces for antennae.

Happiness Is...

...the library. When I was a little girl, I was a voracious reader. We lived about 5 blocks from the library so once I got to a certain age my Mom would let me walk there by myself. Our local library was so tiny, just a double wide trailer with the adult section on one end, children's on the other. I would start at the letter "A" and read my way all the way through the alphabet then start all over again. I was constantly bugging the grouchy librarian with requests for inter-library loans, spent hours pouring over the card catalog. We had a 10-book limit back then, and I always checked out the maximum allowed. I'd pile my books into a tote bag and head home, breathless with the exercise as well as the anticipation of my new tomes. I'd curl up in my bed and devour each page, in absolute heaven. I never had a late fee because I read the books too fast, couldn't wait to return them and start the process all over again. Books were my friends when I was lonely, they helped me escape when I was worried or scared, they made me laugh and cry and learn about life.

I continued to read throughout adulthood and fostered the passion in my children. I visited the library so often that I became on first name basis with all of the librarians. Something shifted, though, when I started going through the divorce. I found myself unable to focus as well, my mind wouldn't settle down and follow the plot. For once my beloved books did not provide the respite from daily life that they once had, so I took a hiatus from reading. For about 3 years I only read a couple of novels, focusing instead on magazines which catered to my short attention span. Beren mentioned this to me the other day, was surprised to hear what a huge reader I had been he never saw me with an actual book in my hand. Huh. He was right, and it bothered me. I realized that I was missing my favorite authors, my literary life. There is am empty spot that only reading can fill.

So tonight I grabbed my pink fuzzy Emily Strange tote bag and headed to the library, greeted my librarian friends and gathered up some treasures from the New Fiction section. As I drove home with a smile on my face I once again felt just like that little girl, anxious to get home to meet some new friends in the pages of a book. Happiness indeed.

Give Me the Chocolate and No One Will Get Hurt!

When I was married and/or dating someone seriously, there was one rule that absolutely had to be followed during PMS time: Bring me chocolate and a Cosmo magazine, leave me alone and we'll be fine. One man tried to deviate from that pattern, he hasn't been seen since. I'm a very nice girl usually, really I am, but those couple of days a month I transform into some kind of beast that can only be soothed with the aforementioned formula.

Since Beren has to work very late tonight and therefore can't be expected to adhere to the rule this time, I'm going to take matters into my own hands and whip up this lovely little treat. He'll just have to buy me double next month.

Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes with Cookie Crusts

POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 0 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Individual chocolate cheesecakes on top of chocolate cookie crusts - who can resist? A fine finish to any holiday meal.

Ingredients

* 12 items chocolate wafer(s), about 2 1/2 oz
* 8 oz Neufchatel cheese, softened
* 1 cup 2% reduced fat milk
* 2/3 cup sugar
* 2 envelope unflavored gelatin
* 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
* 1 cup water, boiling

Instructions

* Line 12 muffin tins with paper muffin liners. Place a wafer in the bottom of each of 12 muffin tins (or custard cups); set aside. (If the wafer doesn’t fit in bottom of muffin liners, break into pieces to cover bottom.)

* Place cheese in bowl of a food processor and process until loose. With food processor running, pour milk down feed tube.

* In a separate medium bowl, mix together sugar, gelatin and cocoa with a fork or spoon. Slowly add boiling water, mixing as you go; mix quickly until gelatin has completely dissolved.

* With food processor running, slowly add cocoa mixture through feed tube; process thoroughly, about 1 minute.

* Fill each muffin liner (or custard cup) with about 1/3 cup of cheese mixture. (Muffin tins will be filled up to the top; custard cups should be about 2/3 full.) Chill for a minimum of 2 hours. Yields 1 per serving.

Notes

* These easy-to-make cheesecakes can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. If you’re a coffee lover, add a teaspoon of instant espresso to the cocoa mixture for an extra kick.


© 2007 Weight Watchers International, Inc.

Spanx Me!

Now that I have your attention, I'm not talking about anything naughty (this time), I'm just referring to those undergarments that everyone is raving about. As I mentioned last week, I was clothes shopping when the Crash happened and had just paid for a little pair of Spanx Power Panties. I didn't have high expectations but, hey, if Oprah loves 'em and says she doesn't wear panties anymore (just about TMI for me), they have to be good, right?

Well, let me tell you, the hype is true! No, they don't make your body suddenly look like Angelina's but they certainly hold in the pudge a bit, flatten your tummy and keep everything just a little bit tighter. My clothes fit nicer and I feel more "finished," if that makes any sense.

The only caveat: do not, I repeat do not, wear them with short skirts or if you are plannning any sort of..um....romantic liasons as they are far from sexy. For workdays, though, when there's no chance of a rendezvous, I say go for it! I'll be buying myself another pair very soon.