Bailey's Irish Cream

Bailey's launched its Irish Cream Liqueur in 1974, after years of development. The cream liqueur is based on an old Irish recipe using all-natural ingredients, including cream that is produced just for the Bailey's company. In fact, becasue the product line has become so successful, Bailey's accounts for one-third of Ireland's entire milk prodcution. More than 4,000 farmers supply the 40 million gallons of milk used annually in prodcuing cream for the liqueur. For recipes using Bailey's, go to www.baileys.com

Again, thanks to everyone who continues to purchased books from me on my EBay site-Valerie2901 or under the general heading of cookbooks. Also, remind me to do feedback for you.

A couple of interesting books listed this week are a new diet book (not new-from the 70's, but new to me)-Martini's & Whipped Cream & The Allergy Cookbook-recipes within this cookbook include no wheat, corn, milk or eggs.

On Wednesday, I went to the local Premier of the movie Sex and the City2. I actually liked this movie better than the first one. Thousands of twenty-somethings dressed like Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda showed up. And quite a few women came looking like Jennifer Hudson in the first movie. My friends and I missed out on the appetizers, but there were plenty of Cosmpolitans for everyone and a chocolate fountain that never stopped.

May 22, forever I know-I will do better!

Well, I was going to add some pictures of Chichen Itza, but somehow I erased them from my pictures on my computer, as well on digital camera. I am so technically challenged.

Thanks again for everyone's support and purchase of books on EBay website-Valerie2901. Again, if feedback is important to you, please let me know-otherwise I probably won't leave it. Some of my books listed in the last week or so have had a 7-day, 5-day and 3-day listing. I have done this to accommodate my work schedule when I am out of town. I needed to leave adequate paypal time for you to pay and me to ship out. So don't miss out on any of my book listings. They will come around again soon, but I'm still working on my June work schedule, so it may be awhile yet. Some good books to look at are: The Book on Champagne-quite a comprehensive book on the subject. Though written ten years ago, it is still used a great reference guide. For you grilling enthusiasts, The Great American Grilling by Omaha Steaks is a very special book. Also, one I have seen before-Healing with Chinese Herbs-not a cookbook by any means, but certainly interesting to read.

In my last post, I mentioned how much I love the Mr. Food Cookbook series and received a comment back from them. They do have autographed cookbooks available for sale, if you are interested. Also, a website worth looking at- http://www.mrfood.com/ .

Many of you are familiar with Morton's Steakhouse. This is a pretty pricey steakhouse, great steaks, but pricey. But now....they have Happy Hour prices with food and drinks that I love. Locations all over the U.S. with bar drinks starting at $4 and Bar Bites at $5. I have been to the one in Las Vegas twice in the last 3 weeks. Very nice settings, great service & great food at a price I can afford. Check out for a Morton's near you at http://www.morton/ .

I would never have thought of dining at a Culinary School, but this is actually a big thing with a low price menu. Recently some friends of mine had lunch at the Culinary Art Institute in Henderson-a complete set menu, from appetizers to dessert for $9.95. While looking up information on this, I found other culinary schools that offer student trained meals-Le Corden Bleu-Las Vegas, Western Culinary Institute-Portland, OR, CA Culinary Academy-San Francisco, CA, Maui Culinary Academy-Kahului, HI, American River College-Sacramento, CA, Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts Restaurant-Vancouver, BC & the Art Institute of Seattle-Seattle, WA. Now these are only a few on the west coast. I would never have thought of looking at Culinary Schools for a new dining option.

Food Lore-Hard Rock Cafe: When the first Hard Rock Cafe opened in 1971 on Old Park Lane in London, England, not one guitar or gold record decorated the walls. The burger joint was the inspiration of two Americans Peter Morton and Issac Tigrett, who couldn't find a decent American-style hamburger anywhere in London and decided to do something about it. The restaurant soon became famous only for its food, until along came Eric Clapton, who donated his guitar as a joke. Up on the wall it went. Not wanting to be outdone, Pete Townsend of The Who soon offered up a guitar of his own to be hung on the wall next to Clapton's with a note: "Mine's as good as his". That started a wave of donations from rock and rollers through the decades and thus was born the world's first theme restaurant.

Now, I am not a senior citizen (yet). But I found out recently that many states allow senior citizens to attend/return to college for "free-completely free". Ages vary by state and various universities and colleges within the state. So maybe you know someone who would like to return to college-pass this along.

I have a BBQ competition that I am going to tonight. My brisket is wonderful, the barbecue sauce-three different trys and is probably not prize winning, but at least I'm trying.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

May 4, 2010

Yes, it's been a long time since my last blog. Between work, vacation and life in Las Vegas, I have been very busy. I just got back from a week in Cancun, where we stayed at the Mayan Palace in Rivieria Maya. Beautiful facility, great pools. We did a driving tour of Cozumel, saw the Pyramids at Chitzen Itza, & went shopping in Cancun.

I'm off on a work trip tomorrow and won't be back until late Sunday night. Hard flight trip, so I won't be on the computer much.

For all of you who have bought cookbooks from me on my Ebay website-Valerie2901-thanks again. But let me vent for a moment. I don't see what the big deal is about the feedback. People get all upset with me if I don't leave feedback. I list about 300 books per week, ship out another 40-100 and this is just a part-time hobby. You buy a cookbook from me, you like it-great, you don't-you complain. What does the feedback really do for you-a pat on the back for buying something on EBay? Do you contact every store you shop at and leave feedback? No, of course you don't. I read an email yesterday that said I was a terrible seller on EBay, because I didn't leave feedback. Now, if someone specifically asks me to leave feedback, I will. And once in a while (very infrequently), if I have some spare time I will leave some feedback until I get bored. So I'm through venting and if you want feedback, remind me to do it for you.

New in Las Vegas-at least new to me-I went to Changs Hong Kong Restaurant on Decatur for Dim Sum. They brought out so many dishes (there were 9 of us), we all thought the bill would be $100 per person. Actually, it was only $16 with gratuity-not bad and very good food. I even ate duck-that is until I knew it was duck-it was very good, but I won't eat duck knowingly. Just a phobia I have.

Went with a friend today and saw the "Back-Up Plan" with Jennifer Lopez. She doesn't have much luck with movies does she. It was okay, just not great and not really funny-I was in the mood for a comedy.

I have about 200 books still to list, it never seems to end. So many great cookbooks, so little time. My personal favorite these days is the "Mr. Food" series-I'm saving all of his, so unless I get duplicates, you won't see any for sale.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val