15-Bean Soup

Wash and pick over 1 (16-oz) pkg. of 15-bean soup mix, discarding the seasoning packet.  Soak beans in water overnight.  Drain beans, put in a large soup pot with a ham bone or ham hocks.  Add 10-cups water and 4 cloves garlic, minced.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, skimming [...]

Web Search Fails Me

Disappointment reigns.  Granted, a minor disappointment, but a burning question (to me, and obviously to me alone since no answer can be found) none-the-less has failed to be resolved after 15 minutes (!!) or searching.  In web-search land, not finding the answer to something after 15 minutes is practically admitting there is no definitive answer [...]

Attention Grabber

Whether writing a title for a blog entry, writing the headline for a newspaper article or designing the cover of a monthly magazine, the headline is often what catches the reader’s attention.  The catchiness of the phrase can draw you in, immediately giving a sense of what is in the article.  Your choice as the reader is to jump [...]

Busy Day

Today was the perfect day to do a yard work blitz.  Man-of-my-dreams worked until 3:00 pm, then left for a weekend charity golf tournament.  That meant that my time was totally mine for the whole day.  Stopping to cook or even get presentable to go out for the evening was completely off the agenda.  With no one but myself to [...]

Public Probiscus Probing

Public Probiscus Probing is apparently more prevalent than any mother would permit.  Public Probiscus Probing is possibly premeditated, potentially pathogenic and permanently past the point of polite persuasion.  
Purge the urge to Publicly Probe your Probiscus.  Please.

Smoking Ban Goes into Effect

A smoking ban went into effect statewide about two weeks ago.  In this state, it is now illegal to smoke inside public buildings.  There are exceptions, like bars that gross less than 20% of their sales from food, but most places do not fit the parameters. 
Smokers are upset and angry.  From their perspective, their rights [...]

Sausage and Bean Chowder

In a large skillet, brown 1 pound bulk hot port sausage.  Drain excess fat.  Transfer sausage to a large kettle.  Add 2 (two) 16-oz. cans kidney beans, drained, 2 (two) 14-oz. cans stewed tomatoes, undrained, 2 cups tomato juice, 1 large onion, chopped, 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, 1/2 teaspoon [...]

At Last

“At Last”  Lyrics sung by Etta James:

At last
my love has come along
my lonely days over
and life is like a song
Ooh, yeah, yeah

At last
the skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clover
the night I looked at you
I found a dream
that I could speak to
A dream that I
can call my own
I found a thrill
to press [...]

Homemade Applesauce

As a child, the apple orchard that had been planted long before we ever lived there, provided a spot for swings, tree-climbing, pies, applesauce and spur-of-the moment snacks.  Climbing the various apple trees were one of my favorite past times.  There were times that I would go outside, scrambling to the tippy top branches, as high as I could go.  My [...]

Sweet, Sweet Potato Vines

Sweet potato vines are common additions to any gardeners toolbox.  This delicately colored light green variety with soft brushstrokes of white and pink on the tips is my personal favorite. 
A bright green variety is planted in my vacated outdoor fireplace.  See a pic at: 
http://coco724.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/fireplace-frenzy/