April 5, 2010-Happy Easter a day late.

For Easter I met friends at the Brio Tuscan Grille in the Town Square in Las Vegas, NV. We had a wonderful brunch-there were 18-21 of us (the numbers varied on who showed up at different times). They gave us a private dining room, because our group was so big and it was marvelous.

On Friday, I met friends and we had tapas and Sangria at the Barcelona in Southern Highlands (a golfing community in Las Vegas). Again, we had a big group and this was a little harder to accommodate us, but we had wonderful tapas. I tried for the first time Figs wrapped in Bacon in a wine sauce-to die for.

This past Thursday (I have been very busy), I went and saw Luke Jermay, Mind Reader-at O'Sheas on Las Vegas Blvd. He is featured quite a bit on the Mentalist TV show. Amazing show, he truly has a gift and enjoys what he's doing. Alot of it is a carnival act, but surprisingly he brought out many things in the audience from their childhood. If you don't laugh at his jokes(British humor), he just laughs anyway. Now, his assistant Kathleen took a dislike to me for whatever reason. She had every person in the audience, but me, fill out information for Luke Jermay to think about (though honestly, he never used it), but that's besides the point.

And the other day I had a massage at the European Massage School with Kelly. Now when Kelly started the school massage program-she had a gift. A gift for massaging, now she has a technique. Take away the gift-it is so sad.

What else-on my Ebay website, starting today and every day through April 11th, I will have over 100 new books listed. This is in addition to the other 350 I will have listed. Lots of gems in here. Please look under Valerie2901 on EBay or under the general heading of cookbooks. And for you cake decorators out there-there are four older Wilton Cake Decorating Annuals, still in top condition. Did you know that Wilton Cake Decorating has been in business since 1929? I would never have guessed. Look for new seafood cookbooks on the 7th. And new Christmas books; Christmas books sell for 10 months out of every year-I'm amazed by this.

That's all for now.

CookbookVal

The Next Chapter

As I said earlier, I'm back and since I won't be selling as many cookbooks in the next few days, I will be busy with my blog. Cookbooks will be back selling on April 6th. Please visit my website on EBay at Valerie2901 for new, different & fun books.

On the 6th, I've decided to start with Diet and Dessert Cookbooks. I know opposite ends of the universe, but I'm quirky that way. I have so many new books now, you'll just have to keep checking back each day for what's newly listed. All my prices still start at $.99, so there are some real bargains out there, if you pay attention.

For those of you trying to lose weight (arn't we all), there is a new website that will give you information of other websites that will pay you to lose weight. Actually 5,000 people have already signed up for this. Go to: www.livelighter.org/get-paid-to-lose-weight-in-2010/ . Getting paid to lose weight-that may be the motivation that will work for me!

Another one is where the top 10 weight loss winners win a vacation for two to an exotic destination: www.uweightloss.com/contests.aspx .

For you dessert lovers and chefs out there, here are some new contests for you to enter:

Your Signature Dessert Recipe Contest-$1,000. Go to: www.mixingbowl.com/group/contest/rules.castle?g=1728985

The Great American Cake and Wedding Show Competition, May 1-2, 2010

www.greatamericancakeshow.com

Did I ever tell you that I joined Houseseats.com in Las Vegas. They also offer it in Reno and Phoenix. Well, for a yearly fee of $89. I can 2 tickets to so many available shows in Las Vegas. I have been a member about a month and I have already paid for my membership. I'm not sure if you have to live in Las Vegas to participate in this, but it doesn't hurt to check it out, next time you're in town. Tonight, I'm going to see Luke Jermay, Mind Reader. Maybe the not the show for you, but they have usually 3 children's shows listed daily, lots of comedy shows, magic shows, variety shows and today I could have gotten tickets to see Melissa Etheridge on Saturday, but I have another commitment. Something to think about.

I'm in my pasta stage right now and I'm going to share a recipe with you.

Ziti with Three Cheeses

1 pound ziti, 1 (15ounce) container ricotta cheese, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 egg, lightly beaten, 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley, 1 clove garlic, minced, salt and pepper to taste, 1/2 tsp. basil, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

Cook ziti in boiling, salted water following package directions, drain. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, egg, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper and basil together in mixing bowl. Place in greased casserole dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and grated Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and serve.

Hmm. Good. I've been craving Baked Ziti for about a week now. Enjoy!

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

Quick Note Only

I will blog later today, but I wanted to send off this quick note. No, I am not out of business on my EBay website, I just don't have any books listed right now. New books will come out again on April 7th. Because I pushed all my work dates together this month, I knew I couldn't ship out the cookbooks in a timely manner. So I'm taking a break, until books start again on April 7th.

Please be patient, new information, lots of fun contests & much more-later today.

That's all for now.
Cookbook Val