December 26, 2009

Just a few more days, before the beginning of the New Year. Have you started making any new goals or resolutions. I have many short goals & some long-term goals. I have finally given up on one of my long-term goals. After six years, without going into details-it's time to call it quits. I hate to give up, but sometimes enough is enough. So today, I realize that I am a very lucky woman, but I am also a failure. I have always achieved all of my goals in life, until now.

So now, I have to figure out a new long-term goal. One of my goals in the long-term, at least 10-15 years from now will be a cruise-around-the-world. Unfortunately, my budget and work won't allow it any sooner. A short term goal that I have is to lose some weight-one pound at a time. Actually, I have been doing the starvation type diet for the last week, even with being sick. I have grown to enjoy turkey sandwiches with mustard on diet bread, as well as twenty-five calorie scrambled egg whites.

I have many weight loss books under Valerie2901-on my EBay listing-too many too list, if this is one of your New Year's resolutions-to lose weight or to take control of your body.

Yesterday's blog was about eating more often at home and bringing the casserole dish back. Recession type eating. Look under the general cookbooks heading on EBay or Valerie2901. Here are some more books to pursue with lots of casseroles to make:

Around the Kitchen with Club Mad-for a group at Northeastern State Univ., OK-published 1994

Vintage Recipes of the Northwest-Rose City Historical Society, Portland, OR-published 1992

Cooking With OCEAn-OnslowCounty Emp Assn, Jacksonville, NC-published 1996

30 Minutes or Less-from Home Economics Teachers-published 1999

Miracle Blender Cookbook-Tested Recipe Publishers-published 1967

I have to tell you I'm impressed-already some of the casserole cookbooks I have recommended have been bid on. Remember casseroles are not just about ground beef!

The Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas, attached to the Mandalay Hotel had 20 gingerbread houses displayed with a working carousel in the middle. Done by the chefs at the Four Seasons, these gingerbread houses were sold to benefit the American Cancer Society in Las Vegas. An impressive display, so well done, they didn't look real. They raised over $6,000-kudos to the Four Seasons.

The applications for the National Pie Championships are now in. Visit www.piecouncil.org/Events/NationalPieChampionships/ for information and applications. There are 4 categories: Commercial NPC/Independent Baker NPC/Amateur NPC (my category)/Professional NPC & Junior Chef NPC.

It's probably a little late to enter the competition, but there a NY Cake Convention scheduled for January 2-5, 2010 at the Hotel Pennsylvania in Manhattan, NY. Go to www.cakeconvention.com. Actually there is still time to enter if you're ready with that great recipe, but if you're in the area, it would certainly be fun to attend and plan for next year.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas to All!

New day, new excuses. I have been home for the last 4 days, but I have had a miserable cold and only now starting to feels better. Since this cold started last week at work, I have barely have had energy to do anything. But today, I am starting to feel better.

Unfortunately, this meant I didn't jet off to my son's in Savannah, GA for Christmas. So here I am by my lonesome on Christmas Day. With no presents surrounding me, but I have had many friends and family calling me today and I feel better, so Christmas is not a total loss after all. My son woke me up at 7:30 am today to find out what his Christmas presents were (they were only mailed yesterday-when I decided I was to sick to fly out). Waking me up at 7:30 am-you would think he was 6 years old and not 26 years old. We spent an hour and a half talking, just like any other Christmas morning and a couple of times since. So today has been pretty good after all. My son's Christmas present to me was a much needed GPS-I get lost all the time-I wander the streets, until I finally find a main road-not too bad during the day, but at night it's kind of scary sometimes. He said he will do all the computer installations for me, set it up and then send it me-what a good son.

Lots and lots of new & used cookbooks on my EBay listing-Valerie2901. I have been busy during my cold, trying to get cookbooks uploaded and for sale. Today's push is going to be based on today's economy. Where are the one-dish meals and casseroles of the 70's & 80's. Trying to save money on food, try this kind of food-combining. You don't have to used ground meat for every casserole dish, there are lots of new and old and exotic recipes out there that you can try. Most casserole dishes are meant to feed a family of six. Not that many in your family, then use those freezer dishes in your cupboard or those seal-a-meal bags and start making freezer portions. First I try the casserole, then if I like it, I will portion my food into freezer bags for later meals. So what if you eat it once a week for the next 4 weeks-it was good the first time. And if it doesn't taste good, then toss it. You live and learn which foods work for you/and your family.

One of my co-workers made a comment recently on eating out. In my business, you bring your own food and eat in your hotel room or you eat out. She had been eating out alot recently and was on a tight budget, what with going to school full-time and working full-time at the airline and her mother said "What are you a celebrity? Only celebrities eat out all the time. Start saving money and bring your food from home" These days, everyone it seems wants to be a celebrity-eating out all the time. Yes, we are working alot more, but if you really want to save money in this depressed economy-then maybe eating at home a little more will help to save money.

So these are some of my one-dish casserole cookbooks for sale. I wouldn't be surprised to see some restaurants go back to this type of food servings. We love our big portions when we eat out and this with a salad, would save restaurants more money too. Everybody, every business is suffering in this recession.

Casserole Treasury by Lousene Rousseau Brunner-published 1964

30-Minute Meals by Ortho Books-published 1982

Great American Menus Cookbook by Pillsbury-published 1984

Sunset Potluck Cookbook by Sunset-published 1988

Incredibly Easy One Dish by Favorite Brand Name-published 2006

Classic Recipes for Everyday Cooking by Better Homes & Gardens-published 2005

The Complete Main Course Cookbook by Johna Blinn-published unknown

Casserole Cook Book by Better Homes & Gardens-published 1968

Healthy Favorites from America's Community Cookbooks-published 1996

Chili Madness by Jane Butel-published 1980

Easy as 1-2-3 Family Favorites Cookbook by Ladies' Home Journal-published 1985

I will try and put out more on my next blog, because there are so many. This is a good start: to a healthy nutritious money saving budget.

I saw the movie "Did You Hear About The Morgans?". Really bad, just one bad comic line after another. No real continuity to this movie. They did a good job on advertising it though, because the theater I was in was packed. I'm surprised it didn't go straight to video.

So everyone have a happy, safe and Merry Christmas!

Cookbook Val

I have lots of things to promote today that can be found under my EBay listing-Valerie2901. Usually, I do just cookbooks, but when I'm finished reading other books, I include those as well. I'm a big autobiography fan-so here a few, I've recently finished:

Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli-a Jenny Craig Superstar
Still Hungry-After All These Years by Richard Simmons-a Weight Loss Giant Superstar
Knee Deep in Paradise by Brett Butler-a Comedian Superstar
Lots of superstars today.

Like I said there's lots to promote today. First up is the Old Sturbridge Village Cookbook-a very unique cookbook-featuring Authentic Early American Recipes for the Modern Kitchen. Recipes come from 1829 and are adapted to modern measurements, ingredients & techniques. As well as a fascinating history of early cookbooks.

Next is a book called Carefree Cooking by Jacquelyn Reinach. For anyone, who has a summer or winter home- in reality 2 residences, an easier carefree way to survive the extra work involved. Lots of charming stories, great food plans & fun ideas. I remember my summers on the Muskokoa River in Ontario, Canada and the opening & closing of our cottage each summer.

I am promoting these books, because they are different from the norm, something new or interesting. Saucepans & the Single Girl by Jinx Kragen & Judy Perry. Reprinted in 1996, but this is the original book for the gal on the go-and on her own for the single girl in the big city. Lots of fun recipes, menu plans to hook the millionaire, plan a picnic or just comfort food. Well worth buying just for the entertaining stories included.

And my last promotion for the day: The Lean Rotisserie Cookbook by Ron Popeil. You remember Ron Popeil, he does those infomercials late at night. Actually this book sells fine all on its own, but I have included it because Rotisserie cooking is so in, right now and so healthy for you.

So lots of promotions. Book sales are up-thank goodness.

I love Las Vegas! Got to gamble at 2 casinos today, spent no money of my own, won at Bingo and had a deluxe Prime Rib dinner, courtesy of one of the casinos. It doesn't get any better than this!

I haven't done much cooking this week-other than baking chicken wings in my toaster oven. My toaster oven has a 30 minute timer on it, so they baked all day off and on when I was home and are so tender and much better for me. I slipped the finished chicken wings into a plastic bag, threw in some hot wing sauce and coated them. Hmm...

Christmas is coming-back to Savannah to be with my son and his friends. This time he has planned a Ham with all the accompaniments. I'm still not ready, who is-who has any money either.

I love Wolfgang Puck, not much in his website-other than promoting his restaurants, but here it his- www.wolfgangpuck.com. But he does have some great restaurants and great food. Lots to use from.

Not much going on otherwise. That's it for now.

Cookbook Val

Did I tell you, my son the new cook, said that cookbooks are obsolete. Everything you need is on the Internet. To my son: there are still cookbooks out there worth buying, owning, reading and re-reading like a novel. An adventure to dream about and then to experiment with food and recipes. I will say, that I have copied recipes off the Internet-it is a new world out there, but there is no adventure in it. They are just recipes, the authors are unknown, contributed for the most part with no kitchen testing. Even on the Food Network, you watch the chefs make different foods and you enjoy watching them-otherwise they wouldn't be there. And these chefs enjoying working with food. Discovering new and old recipes, tweaking them for their public. Also, each birthday & Christmas, I contribute a new cookbook to my son's collection, based on his current skills in the kitchen. I think he would be very disappointed if I stopped this ritual, we've had going on for the last couple of years.

I am still reading "The Lazy Lady's Easy Diet" by Sidney Petrie. I will say it has caught my attention. The diet is all over the place-1st, Mr. Petrie wants you on a modified low-carb diet, that allows you up to 250-300 carbs per day, and has you losing 40-50 pounds over a 6-month period. This part is actually pretty interesting, with the case studies indicated throughout the book. But then, if you want to lose weight fast, then you need to do 800 calories per day. Like I said, the book is interesting. He also believes in that you need to believe in the beauty within you, if you're going to see the new beauty on the outside, once you lose the weight. He has lots of special "me" weekends, planned completely-with food, home spa tips and solutions. Lots of old-fashioned remedies to bring the youth and beauty to the front. Did you know that strawberries (mash them up), can be used as toothpaste and to help reduce discoloration of the teeth (whitening them) . Lots of tips for home facials, fading skin discolorations and lots of info on important vitamins that your body needs, whether from food or over the counter. It's alot to take in, but I'm half way through it.

I still want to be famous for doing nothing. I'm not working hard on it, but I'm thinking about it.

I wanted to let you know that the Sour Cream/Sherry Chicken dish, is even better when it's reheated. Richer-so lovely to taste. I guess the flavors really need the time to combine, to get this new taste.

And the pomegranate dip I made with the plain yogurt. A little tangy and tart. I don't think I will make this again.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

I'm sorry that I've been out of touch lately, but so many things going on since Thanksgiving.

I went to the Mega Bingo at the Gold Coast with my sister-total value of prizes over two days-$500,000. My sister and I didn't win anything, but it was alot of fun.

I went to the Pahrump Winery in Pahrump, NV. Only 45 minutes outside of Las Vegas, but it took going over two mountains to get there. I bought a bottle of there Cream Sherry, which is excellent, but I'm using it for cooking mostly-more about that later. The winery is small, compact and surrounded on two sides by homes & though their grapes come mostly from CA, they are doing a very good job on their wines.

Also, we went to Bootlegger Bistro on Las Vegas Blvd. I was trying to talk my sister into going to the bar, so she could meet some men. But she thwarted me and insisted on the dining room, where I had an excellent Pollo di Saltimbocca. Which translates to chicken stuffed with cheese and Genoa salami, rolled in egg batter and sauteed with mushrooms & wine. I'm going to say the cheese was cream cheese and I'm looking for the recipe. It took forever to cook, but it was well worth the wait-the best.

Plus, I've been working on my EBay website-Valerie 2901 and now have 156 books listed. It's taken alot of time and is great. Lots of really good books listed, more than to come. I have at least 100 more great books to list. And back to media mail, with .99 listing. The sales are back-thank goodness and I may start making money again.

I have two books listed, worth looking into. They've already been bid on-so you need to be quick. The 1st book is Edible Wild Plants in Eastern North America. Actually, I got the book for a friend of mine, but she's in Idaho, where she works in a gardening place. I thought this book was for edible wild plants all over America-my mistake, but lots of people are watching this book.

Also, Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin. This book is a memoir of a New York hostess, who remembers recipes from the 60's & 70's with charming stories of past dinner parties. Look under EBay-Valerie2901 or general heading of cookbooks.

My picture on this website, is couple of years old & about 20 pounds heavier (but it does show my smile). I still need to lose more weight & I'm searching for the diet for me. I looked into Skinny Bitches, which is really a book that wants to turn you into a pure vegan-not for me. Now, I'm reading The Lazy Lady's Easy Diet, published in 1969, to see if this is the right fit. Anyway I need your support-everyone's support to make this diet work. I only need to lose weight for me, not for anyone else & that's the best reason to diet! My health is great, but I hate exercise, but may succumb to it-we'll see. Pictures will be published eventually. You know what diet works if you like fruit, including alot of mango & papaya-The Beverly Hills Diet-the original one. I've done this diet before & I can eat fruit, just not alot of mango & papaya. But this diet does work.

So I decided that I want to be famous like Paris Hilton and Khloe Kardashian-famous for doing nothing. I may be middle-aged, but I can do this. So if anyone knows anyone, who can put me on a morning TV show or anything. I'm going to be famous too, for doing nothing.. This is my new goal in live.

So my first recipe, using Cream Sherry: Cream Sherry Chicken

So wonderful, very rich, worth trying.

1 cup sour cream, 1 can cream of mushroom, 1/2 cup dry sherry, chicken pieces, salt, pepper, garlic powder, 1 can whole mushrooms, mild paprika

Combine sour cream, soup and sherry. Arrange chicken in baking pan and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Pour sauces over chicken. Pour canned mushrooms over top. Sprinkle lots of paprika on to top to give it color (otherwise it will look kind of gray looking). Bake in a 325 to 350 oven for about 1 hour. This sauce as stated above is for about 6-8 servings-I served it with rice. Also, I only planned about for 4 servings-way too much sauce for 4, but oh so... good.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val