Champagne is for cheer, for formality. Champagne, and only champagne, is an adequate potable for the Special Occasion when an engagement is announced, or a marriage culminated-when you have sold your first book, been made a partner in the firm, or written a successful play, broken par, or own a Derby winner-or been granted a divorce, or become a father. It is drunk because you desire to usher in the New Year properly, or when you drink a toast to the sainted Robert Burns or Guy Fawkes. An ingenious citizen can manufacture a reason for tippling champagne at the drop of a magnum, but the drinking thereof should be delightfully formal, spiced with a little spurious dignity, predicated on traditional formulae.-Esquire Drink Book, edited by F.A. Birmingham, 1957.
'You know my way with the women; champagne's the thing; make 'em drink, make 'em talk;-make 'em talk, make 'em do anything.'-The Paris Sketch Gook, William Shakespeare Thackeray, 1840.
I should write more in the daytime. In the nighttime, I am tired or cranky and writing doesn't come as easy. I think I'm about to write and finish my first novel now. Twenty pages a day, that's what they say you should aim for-double spaced. All my un-finished novels will remain un-finished for now, I'll come back to them. All my cookbooks will remain the same-un-finished for now. This is at the perfect time for me in life now-no real responsibilities, except to work 3 or 4 days a week and to work on selling my cookbooks on EBay.
Speaking of which, I am going to focus on Pasta today, because I am the only one that likes Pastas cooking I think. It doesn't seem to be in fashion right now and yet, it is the perfect accompanient to a main dish or by itself. Today, I made a pasta dish, that I found on the back of pasta carton, but I added a few things extra to it:
Pasta with Tomatoes & Corn
1 box mini pasta, 1 can (15.5 oz) diced tomatoes (drain any juice), 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp chopped onion 1 can (15.5 oz) drained corn, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, 4 leaves basisl, chopped, salt and pepper to taste
In a medium skillet, saute onion in olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Cook pasta according to package directions. Add tomatoes to skillet and simmer for 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add corn and simmer for 2 minutes. Drain pasta and toss with sauce. Stir in cheese and basil before serving.
Nice, light, & tasty!
As I said before, I am selling cookbooks on Ebay-Valerie2901 or you can find me under cookbooks. I have three pasta books available: Better Homes & Gardens Italian Cook Book-a good primer for the beginning cook; Italian Cooking by Poppy Cannon that focuses more on the vegetables and sauces in different regions in Italy, but does offer traditional pastas, I also found a unique recipe with a different twist for Fettuccine Alfredo, that I'm going to try; Great Meals in Minutes by Time-Life Books, that has traditional pastas, but also things like Mozzarella Tart in it.
These books have not been selling and they should, for anyone that loves pasta.
In the last week, I have seen the movie "All About Steve" with Sandra Bullock-was supposed to be funny, lost my mother's diamond engagement ring (first I lost it down the sink of my hotel, was retrieved later that morning, now supposedly in transit with Federal Express), now Federal Express has lost it, threw out my blood pressure medicine by mistake (but it turns out after 5 days, my blood pressure is normal-so the doctor is going to keep me off it and monitoring the situation & I'm being audited by the GA Department of Revenue on Monday. Though I only was given notice of the letter today, to show up Monday morning at their office. I don't think they know I live in Las Vegas right now.
Next week, Lets Make A Deal with Wayne Brady starts filming in Las Vegas and I have tickets. I am going as "Gaudie Gertie", my persona in my chicken wings cookbook. Will post a chicken of me in a funky chicken suit, in the next few days. Actually, I have 2 tickets for the taping, but there is only me going at this time. If there is anyone in Internet land in Las Vegas for next Thursday for the 12 pm taping, that wants to go with me, let me know. I want to win a wonderful exciting trip somewhere or a new car or a new house or just about anything!
Cookbook Val
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