I've only been home for 3 days and I'm back to work again. I over booked myself this weekend, so no rest for me. Got home mid-day Friday, ran errands and went to bed. My body is all out of wack right now. Not usually a problem for me, but up at 6am each morning now. I did volunteer work at HOPE-a homeless shelter for Teens in Henderson, NV and then did volunteer work at the Opportunity Village-The Magical Forest.

The next day was filming two more baking pie videos with my camera crew (sounds good, doesn't it). Still not on u-tube. Spelled my name wrong on videos and so now new editing takes place. More baking pie videos scheduled to be filmed next Sunday. Then I was off to a Big Fat Greek Dinner at my friend's Barbara and Duane. There were about 20 of us-the food was tremendous. I brought Shish Kebab, both chicken and beef. Good friends, good wine, good food.

Now, I'm off to work-flight in two hours so I better get moving.

That's all for now.
Cookbook Val
Valerie Brown of Las Vegas, NV

EBay cookbooks is done for the next couple of months. With a holiday work schedule-not enough time off and the stress of the holidays, I have decided not to sell cookbooks until after the holidays. I'm sorry about this and appreciate everyone's business, but my other "real" job is what pays the bills. Besides with the holidays coming, media mail which I ship by USPS takes forever and then people get mad at me. Too much stress. But I am going to continue with my blog.

I will continue to report on new books that I find. Then maybe you can find them locally or put them on your wish list until after the holidays.

About 5 years ago, my son developed an interest in cooking. So each birthday and Christmas now, he gets one cookbook for whatever level of cooking he is at. This has turned out to be his favorite present. He so looks forward to what I get him. Now, I have a new daughter-in-law and she wants her cookbook too! She has heard so much about Nicky's cookbooks that she wants in as well. So consider this idea for Christmas presents for your family members. One of my sisters is really into low-carb cooking, so I have her Christmas present too!

I have two Pillsbury Crescent Rolls burning a spot in my refrigerator, so I need to do something with them. I had the big book on Pillsbury Dough Magic in my EBay listing-Valerie2901, that nobody bought, so it's now mine. Hundreds of recipes to try with their products: Biscuits, Crescent Dinner Rolls, Breadsticks, Pie Crusts, Pizza Crusts, Cookies & more. I'm sure to find something to make. Last time I had some, I made the crescent rolls, stuffed them with cooked scrambled eggs & cheese and served them to a breakfast brunch with friends. All 24 disappeared in minutes!

Martha White products is having a big recipe contest for any of you that want to enter. Go to: www.marthawhite.com. I actually made a wonderful recipe for this contest only to find that cornbread recipes are not allowed for this contest. But I will share it with you.

Sweet Cornbread-Five Pepper Cheese Miniature Muffins

1 7oz. Martha White Sweet Cornbread Mix

1 egg

1/4 cup evaporated milk

1/4 cup sour cream

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/4 cup chopped finely jalapeno, red, orange, yellow pepper

1/8 tsp. black pepper

Heat the oven to 375F. Prepare the miniature muffin pans by greasing with garlic powder (1 tbsp butter with 1/8 tsp garlic powder-I used leftover Papa John's garlic butter). Set in hot oven for 5 minutes.

Combine the cornbread mix, egg, milk & sour cream, mix until smooth. Add the cheddar cheese, peppers, black pepper-blend all together. Fill muffin tins about 3/4 full. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Best served warm. Makes 24 miniature muffins.

Yesterday, I went to my friend's home-Vernalisa who had a big soup gathering. She made Italian Meatball Soup for 30 of us and everyone else brought something else. My contribution was the above cornbread muffins-they also disappeared very quickly. (So also did my beautiful white bowl that it was presented in, but I found it hidden away eventually in the dishwasher).

The cooking videos are coming along, still not out on U-Tube. You know the bottom line is that I want to be a food sponsor for someone in the future. So keep my name in mind if you know anyone in the food business.

That's all for now.

CookbookVal

aka: Valerie Brown of Las Vegas, NV

I am almost finished reading COOK OFF by Amy Sutherland. Though published in 2003, it is a little out of date (will explain in a minute), but well worth reading. It is a story of those who enter food recipe contests. It follows the lives of the some of the truly big contesters (that's what they call themselves), their big prizes and some of their secrets. One of the interesting things I read was that people create recipes on their computers, submit them to recipe contests and actually win big prizes without every making them. Can you imagine.
This book will not go on sale, but I recommend you try and find it and read it-you will be inspired. This book is going to a friend of mine, Marsha White in Dallas, TX, who has suffered in the recession, like many of us and thinks that maybe entering cooking contests is a way to make some extra money.
It has inspired me, when I get home from this trip, I'm going to start dabbling in some of these food recipes contests and maybe win some good prizes.
Many of the big name/big cash prizes written about in the book have fallen away to the nation's economy, including The National Chicken Cook-Off, The National Beef-Off (though they may re-open this in 2012) and Pillsbury is still having their bake-off, but recipes are to be submitted Jan-April 2011, but the Bake-off, will not be until sometime in 2012.
There are still some big prizes out there, but because of the computer age, they now receive tens of thousands of entries, instead of hundreds.
When the book listings stop in the next few days, they will re-start on October 15-I have to time everything, so that I'm home when the EBay sales come in, because I know you want your books right away. Look for Valerie2901 for lots of new listings of cookbooks on EBay. Again thanks for your sales and remind me about feedback.
That's all for now.
Cookbook Val

Yahoo! I'm finally getting somewhere with my cooking videos. There "should" be one out on U-Tube on Tuesday night. Please send to all your family and friends, I need lots of support with this.

On my EBay-Valerie2901, I have lots of new cookbooks out. I have a lot of International Cookbooks that won't last long-Irish Cooking, African (from 7 African Nations), Singapore, Israel and more. Thanks again for your support and purchases. Please remind me if you want feedback.

Finally things are moving and so must I.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

JAM TARTS

Last Sunday I went to a friend for Sunday Brunch. There about thirty of us and we all had to contribute some food item. I contributed two items: Jam Tarts & Scrambled Eggs & Cheese in Crossaint Rolls. The egg dish was a last minute dish. The hostess was afraid she would not have breakfast dishes so I offered to make something else-scrambled eggs & cheese in a butter crossaint. This was a hot item and went quickly,

The jam tarts were enjoyed and appreciated, but it's hard to tell people the kind of effort that went into making them. It took making three different batches to get the tarts I wanted. I used miniature muffin pans-the first time greased, the next two times, not greased. I made miniature pie crusts three times. The first batch fell apart; the second batch was too much pie crust and the third batch was just right.

JAM TARTS

Take 3 ounces of cream cheese and mix together with 1/2 cup butter or margarine. Add 1 cup flour and 1/8 tsp salt. Mix together, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Take less than a tablespoon, but more than a teaspoon of dough, flatten out with floured hand and place gently in minature muffin pan.

Fill each pie crust with less than half of a teaspoon of jam or preserves. Too much and the jam overflows the muffin cup and makes it impossible to get tart out of tin. Any type of preser works. I happened to have on hand: apple jam, raspberry preserves, strawberry preserves and orange marmalade.

Bake at 400F for 16 minutes or until the pie crust is golden. Move to a cooling rack and get tarts out as fast as you can onto a plate. If you leave them to cool off, they will fall apart later.

Nobody appreciated the effort I made in making these tarts-3 days worth of learning and re-doing my work. Buying triple the amount of ingredients orginally needed. All they saw, was what looked like a simple pastry filled with jam. It was so much more....

Cookbook Review:
The Spice Necklace by Ann Vanderhoof

I'm at work on a trip, so I probably won't have a lot of cookbook reviews this week. In the meanwhile, I'm entertaining you with The Spice Necklace. The Spice Necklace was sent to me by a New York publisher, in hopes for maybe a review and passing it on to a local book group.

If you can swing a 7-year Caribbean adventure on a sailboat, than this book may be a primer for you. The Author & her husband lead us through adventures with Caribbean cooking, eating and island life. It was a little slow at first, it is still an inside look at life on the various Caribbean Islands. Grenada is the author's most memorable stop. With lots of history in the foods of Grenada and it's chief export-nutmeg. Grenada's export of nutmeg is only to Indonesia ( nutmeg's world largest producer and exporter). In Chapter One, she has included two recipes-one for Ginger Spice Cookies and Grenadian Banana Bread with Chocolate, Nutmeg & Rum. Both have too many ingredients for my cooking, but the 2nd recipe does sound intriguing.

More to come....

I have been gone for 3 days, but now I'm back. At least for a couple of days.

Cookbook Review:
Weight Watchers Shortcut Cookbook

This was printed in 2003 by the Oxmoor House. Based on Weight Watchers Current Point System, there are 141 recipes to choose from. Beautiful color photographs of some of the finished recipes are included.

For 5 points in the No Cook section, you can prepare a Grilled Chicken Greek Salad in 6 minutes. Or in the No Mess section, for 6 points, you can prepare and serve Cheese Ravioli in Pesto & Tomato Broth in 14 minutes. Or in the Last Minute Supper Section for 4 points, you can prepare and serve Polenta with Mushrooms, Zucchini & Mozzarella in 21 minutes. You get the picture. Other sections of recipes include: Make Ahead Meals, Dinners for Two, Family Favorite Recipes, Easy Sides, Sweets & Treats & Beverages & Snacks. You know what! These recipes are so good & easy to prepare-you don't even need to to be on a diet to enjoy them.

Spent the last 3 days in Kingston, NV. This town is divided into two sections-Kingston 1 and Kingston 2. Neither is very big-maybe a couple of hundred people in each, but definitely divided. We stayed in Kingston 1 at my friend Patty's retreat. She bought this place 5 years ago, because she is a big fisherman/woman and the lake is five minutes away is stocked yearly with trout.

The big draw in the surrounding towns is the Gold Mine. They just found a new gold vein and more workers than ever are being employed to work it.

We passed through Goldfield, coming and going to Patty's place. This was the original capital of NV, now a small but thriving town.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

Hi! I'm back again tonight, but I will be gone for two nights. I'm driving up with friends to Northern Nevada for some fishing on the river.

New picture update! My hair is not short, just pinned up. Remember when I told you I was shooting cooking videos for U-Tube. Well, I've shot four so far and they're still not on U-Tube . Now there is an editing process. I think I'm just going to them on my own with my little web-camera and tripod.

Tonight I went to a friend's house, where there were 16 of us for Desserts & Cocktails. I brought a Coconut Pie. Along, with 3 different types of Lemon Cakes, Rum Cupcakes, Texas Sheet Cake, Chocolate Mousse and more. Too many sweets to try!

Cookbook Review: Betty Crocker's Cookie Book

Though printed in 1987, cookie recipes do not go out of fashion or style. Adjustments are rarely needed. Christmas is coming and it's not to early to start planning your Cookie Exchange Party. It's only the first part of September and I'm already invited to two Christmas Cookie Parties in December. I'd say there are about 150 recipes for cookies in this book, including Bar Cookies, Rolled Cookies, Drop Cookies, Molded Cookies, Refrigerator Cookies & Pressed & Fried Cookies. My favorite cookies to make & eat are Russian Teacakes.

Look for this cookbook and all my cookbooks on EBay-Valerie2901.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

Here I am back again. "Trying" to post every day. This morning, I attempted to hit garage sales in Las Vegas. Today, I hit Central Las Vegas, on the west side and was very disappointed. Clearly, the recession has hit this area hard and the yard sales I went to-well, not very much and what there was, overpriced. I'll try again next week in a different area.

Today, I went to a Luau party at Barry and Jacqueline's. They host a monthly meetup group focused on Wine in their home. Finally, an affordable wine group, that I can afford to taste new wines. Each month is a different criteria and prices for wines. Today, it was wines over $10. The food was so good, always grilled and healthy and the wines were wonderful.

Cookbook Review:

House & Garden New Cook Book: At first glance, looking through this cookbook, I found some good recipes, but mostly I saw a cookbook published 43 years ago! But then, I started seeing other things, cooking history, food lore and techniques; like rolling & stuffing hams, making puff pastry from scratch, homemade pasta & how to prepare truites farches parisienne (stuffed trout in pastry), challahs & so much more. Over 400 recipes! I have bought & sold this book at least 4 times. The next one I find, I'm keeping for my cookbook library (I have already exceeded my personal cookbook quota for this week). Of course, if it doesn't sell quickly (but I know it will), then I will get to keep it. Please note that this cookbook has been well used, but is still completely intact & still in very good condition.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

I am back from an easy trip to Wichita, KS and a few days in Savannah with my son, Nick, his fiancee, Jen & her three boys, Ethan-8, Clayton-6 & Trevor-5. This was my first time meeting the boys & I forgot how active little boys are. Great kids.

Dining experiences: Ate at the Green Mill Restaurant in the Holiday Inn in Wichita. Their dinner special was a half of a turkey club with fries for $5.99. What made this sandwich so special, the bread used was cranberry-Wonderful. In Savannah, we ate at a Longhorn Steak House-your average great meal and at Fiddler's Crab House down on the River Walk. I had a Caesar's Salad with blackened, grilled shrimp (lots of them, not the usual 4-6, I get in other restaurants) and Jen had fried oysters & fries. We sat outdoors on the 2nd floor patio overlooking the river, as a gentle breeze caressed us & most importantly-NO Humidity!

New within my blog: I am going to "try" and write a book review on at least one cookbook a day that I am currently selling on EBay on my listing-Valerie2901. So keep checking my blog everyday!

Cookbook Review: Samantha's Cookbook from The American Girls Collection. Activities from the past for girls of today. This is a peek at dining in the past with meals you can cook today. Enjoy the same gingerbread, ice cream snowballs and other treats Samantha loved in 1904. This cookbook is filled with full-color photographs, simple-to-follow recipes and elegant party plans. This book has been used, but it is in very good condition. Besides the great recipes, there are four different ideas for tea parties. I don't have a little girl, but it sounds like something I might want to do.

Remember to tell me if feed back on your EBay sales are important to you, because I am very bad about doing this otherwise.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

I know it's been forever, but getting these U-tube videos done is taking longer than I thought. And my baking pies and "bringing back the pie" segment is being professionally done. Originally, I was just going to have some friends shoot and present it on U-tube, but other options came up.

Videos will be shown on U-tube, new, once a week-at least that's the plan. I will hook them as they come up to this blog as they come in.

Sales are slow on EBay, but what sales I have, thank you very much. Please look for my EBay listing-Valerie2901. Lots of new books listed-so keep your eyes out for them.

That's all for now.
Cookbook Val

New topic: How do you pack a pie for shipping? There are lots of books that tell you how to ship cookies, cheesecakes, brownies & more, but I have never seen one on how to ship pies. Any suggestions?

When selling my cookbooks on my EBay listing-Valerie2901, I always include a number of diet books, because most include recipes for this particular diet. One of the diet books I have listed is Numbers by Jean Simpson. The idea is that to lose weight quickly and safely using numerological principals. A different idea for diets. The author lost 30 pounds doing this diet.

Favorite foods of Celebrities: Angeliana Jolie-Cherrios & McDonalds, George Clooney-Steak, Britney Spears-Pasta, Tom Cruise-anything Italian, Barry Manilow-Baloney Sandwich.

Something to think about. When I travel I place q-tips in a small plastic bag. About every two weeks, I have replace the bag because the bottom of the bag has opened up. I also store band-aids in a separate plastic bag which wears out after about six months. Makes you wonder what is placed on the q-tips to have them eat through a plastic bag.

For those of you who want to shoot videos for You-Tube & such-look at the Sony Webbie MHS-CM1. This is what it's specifically been designed for. I have been trying to get one on EBay for about a week. New in package is $129, but I want a deal, so I'm still bidding.

I'm surprised no one has picked up my "Boston Cooking School Cookbook on my EBay listing-Valerie2901. Should be in everyone's kitchen library.

That's all for now.

CookbookVal

I am going to try and write more in my cookbook blog. I know I've said this before, so I just keep trying to do better.

While in Columbus, OH the other day, the nearby Holiday Inn was doing an antique showcase for the Antique Roadshow on PBS. Viewing and appraising antiques, they appraised and helped sell a guitar for $28,000. Lucky person.

Remember to remind me to do feedback for you on my EBay listing at Valerie2901. A total of 226 c00kbooks are listed-75 never listed before.

I had a new salad from Wendy's, which was excellent. It was a chicken-apple-candied pecans on mixed greens with feta cheese and a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Hmmm.

My you-tube video on baking pies has not been started yet, but soon. My friends have spent alot of time discouraging me from doing this. They're afraid I'm going to become famous and move away from Las Vegas. But, I'm more determined than ever to do this now. Hopefully, in this next week.

My first video will be focusing on the crust, which is made out of chopped peanuts, butter and a little sugar, with a dark chocolate pudding as the filling. The peanuts though are what sells the pie.

Funny story. I in Tampa last week and blamed the Hilton for food poisoning. I was so sick. Then I got sick from Dim Sum & a chicken biscuit in Las Vegas. Turns out I had a stomach virus-my face was red. I had done a lot of complaining.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

Happy Father's Day-one day too late!

Happy Father's Day to all of you fathers out there! I was mother and father to my son, so yesterday I spent Father's Day with my son and his fiance in Savannah, GA. I had told them, I would take them to a nice brunch anywhere in the city. I figured this would be one expensive bill. Instead they chose a small family owned restaurant called Clary's Cafe in downtown, Savannah. Remember the movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil-this was the restaurant that was frequented by John Cusack & the infamous Lady Chablis. I had the Hoppel Poppel, which was about 4-5 scrambled eggs with green peppers, onions, potatoes & chopped Kosher Salami served along with homemade biscuits, real butter and breakfast potatoes. For a full reading on this great cafe, go to: www.frommers.com/destinations/savannah/D35846.html

Since this was a quick visit only, I then attempted to get home from Savannah to Las Vegas on a stand-by visit. I started at 3pm, Eastern time and ended up back in Las Vegas at 11:30pm, Pacific time-one long day. Standing by with Delta to Atlanta, I missed 4 four flights, due to the numerous number of stand-by passengers. Finally, I gave up and headed over to American to try and go to Las Vegas through Dallas. Made the 1st flight with American Eagle-my 1st 45 psgr aircraft (wasn't scary at all) and then managed to snag first class on the leg from Dallas to Las Vegas. I was the last stand by passenger boarded, but life is good and I made it. Sat next to a beautiful young woman, named Jaxie (6'2"-wow, tall or what), who told me all about her romantic commuting relationship, she had with her boyfriend who lives in Jacksonville, FL while she lives in Las Vegas, NV. Go Jaxie!

My first you-tube cooking video will be postponed for a few days, because I am not prepared. Preparation is everything and I want this to work. For those of you who know me out there-I am not postponing this video, because I have stage fright! But I do want to put my best foot forward and I am not ready-for many reasons, but not because of stage-fright (I have been known to have stage fright in the past when performing for different reasons).

Again, please let me know if feedback is important to you on my EBay website-Valerie2901. New books, include a group on Baking Bread & Barbecues so far. I have so many cookbooks to list, I'm trying to do them in groups.

All of you people from Louisiana last week were sleeping, when I sold a cookbook by Chef Paul Prudhomme. Someone from New Orleans on Toulouse St got a terrific buy on this book-$.99. You never know what will come onto my listing area, so keep looking and shopping!

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

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

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

Another day, a week later

Well, I'm changing things up again in my blog. Still finding my voice. Right now, I am home sick with either a head cold or sinus infection (can't tell). So, I'm living on Dayquill right now. I'm getting all caught up with the couple of hundred cookbooks that I still need to list for my EBay website-Valerie2901. Lots of new/used cookbooks. Good cookbooks-just keep checking back. Hopefully, I will have all of the new books listed by Tuesday night and then I'm taking to take a break and sit back for awhile.

I've pushed (or will be pushing) all my trips together in April, so I only have to commute once back and forth from Las Vegas to April-probaly be gone for 13 days. During this time, you may not see alot of books listed. I just don't want to promise I can mail books, when I can't-if I'm not in Las Vegas. Friends keep telling me to get an assistant for when I'm out of town, but I'm not doing that good selling cookbooks. Maybe some day, I'll have an assistant.

Then I'm off to Cancun, Mexico for a week with friends, at the end of April. Sun, fun and hopefully no drama. I also have one trip (as a flight attendant) to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. And maybe some fun San Juan, Puerto Rico layovers coming up.

The sun is definitely shining in my life. Las Vegas weather is perfect right now. I've even had a few days of my convertible top down.

I've picked easier trips for next month and while I'm away for 13 days, I'm going to concentrate on my dieting and some exercise. (I can only carry so many books with me-so I might as well exercise and my time to good use). I also have my laptop with me, so you can follow me on this new journey. Maybe someone will pay me $1000. every time I lose a pound, like they did for that woman on the Biggest Loser.

A Star Studded Foodie Event: April 8-11, 2010-Pebble Beach, CA Third Annual Food & Wine Festival. Featuring 250 wineries and a lineup of 60 chefs, including Wolfgang Puck, Jacques Pepin, Hubert Keller, Thomas Keller, Alex Stratta and many, many more. For more information go to www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com

Noted Las Vegas Chef and show favorite, Les Kincaid is leading food and wine tours to Italy June 16-29 and Napa Valley, October 8-10, 2010

Blacksburg, VA-May 1, 2010 will have their 2nd Annual Blacksburg Fork and Cork, Food, Wine and Art Festival, featuring more than a dozen local wineries, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment. For more information go to www.blacksburg.org/fork

That's all for now.

CookbookVal

Another day and it's raining in Las Vegas. I've been very busy in the last week and a half. Last night I want to "Maria's" Tamale Party, where I had tamales for the 1st time in my life. Maria made 100 chicken tamales from scratch. Wonderful tamales, about 30 of us at the party enjoying drink and food. My contributions were a fruit salad and a grilled chicken salad-no one ever brings anything healthy. My salad with the grilled chicken was a big hit, because I made it for only $3.50 to serve 20 people. Shopping at my favorite $.99 America store, I bought 3 heads of lettuce for .99, a package of 5 ripe tomatoes for .99, and 2 chicken breasts that I grilled and I bought for $1.99 a pound (from Smith's)-bought 3 pounds worth, 8 chicken breasts later. Anyway, I used a huge oval platter (that was a casino gift), tore up all the romaine lettuce, placed quarter tomatoes around the outside rim, then I had leftover mushrooms, that I sliced up and placed around the platters, next to tomatoes, some leftover onions, sliced and placed next on top of lettuce and then the grilled chicken, grilled and shredded on top. I added a few croutons on top that I had in stock and 1/2 cup shredded jack/cheddar cheese. I paid $1.50 for 2 cups of grated cheese-it was just to make it look pretty. And then I made a vinaigrette dressing of leftover olive oil, spices & red wine vinegar. People wanted to know how I could afford to make it for a party, so I told them my secret.

Up next-Who wants to own their own restaurant? NBC is casting for innovative ideas for a new reality show. Go to www.NBC.com/casting. or 213-630-6530 ext 295

How about Seeking the Best Bakers for a new reality TV Show. This is an on-going Best Baker Search. Go to www.bestbaking.wordpress.com.

I also went to McCormick and Schmick's on Wednesday for their happy hour. Not like it used to be. There was a group of twenty of us and the only way they could serve us was if it was all on the same bill. First problem-there is always someone who doesn't pay the tax and tip and others get stuck with extra fees. Second problem-if you didn't ask for happy hour drink prices, you got charged double the price-many people got stuck with very high liquor tabs. Me, I always ask for happy hour prices, but that's just me. The menu has changed too. It used to be $1.99 for all happy hour foods, but now, it has a sliding scale-up to $4.95. I had the cheeseburger platter for $2.95 which is still a great deal and it was very good. But overall the experience could have been handled a little better. McCormick and Schmick's is a nationwide seafood house, that does happy hours Monday-Fridays-3:30pm-6:30pm.

I also went to a timeshare experience last Monday. The woman who spoke with me, sounded like if she didn't get people there, she would lose her job. So I gave up two hours of my life and left the timeshare experience feeling very bad. The sales pitch was very good, but I had no intention of buying-I was told no problem, by this voice on the phone, plus you'll get great gifts. Like I said the sales pitch was very good. The timeshare program started at $25,000 and many sales people later, it was down to $4,900-how can this be? Plus their gifts all had strings attached and I was told there were no strings attached for these gifts. I guess timeshares are a good value for their money for some people, but the maintenance fees have gotten so high-do people really take expensive vacations every year? I think if you had bought a timeshare years ago, you were locked into the maintenance fees and even if you didn't use the timeshare one year, it wasn't such a great deal, but now....

I made weiner schitzel yesterday with chicken instead of veal and it was wonderful. I didn't realize it was so easy. Basically, dredge the chickens in flour, egg wash, bread crumbs and fry in peanut oil-I can do that over and over again.

Lots of new cookbooks on my EBay listing-Valerie2901. Some great buys, lots of new and unusual cookbooks.

That's all for now.

CookbookVal

Thank you Donna from NH. Donna has purchased close to 100 cookbooks from me. Which means I make some money and now I need to list a lot more books to make up for those sales. Actually thank you everyone for supporting my blog and my EBay website-Valerie2901. I appreciate all sales, not just the big ones.

So lots of new cookbooks being listed, keep your eyes out for some special ones. I only have a few minutes today, because I need to get ready to meet some friends for Mexican dinner.

I think I said I was going to take a TransAtlantic Cruise in May, but that has been postponed, because a friend is taking me to Cancun in April-all expenses paid. Can't refuse that-maybe I'll take that TransAtlantic in the fall-starting from Europe.

I have put a Twelve Volume Set on EBay-Contemporary Cooking, selling it one volume at a time. I would have liked to sell it all together, but EBay won't let me add the shipping in that I need for twelve books. So if you are interested in a complete cooking series-look at my website-Valerie2901.

I went to a Fat Tuesday party the other night and we all had to bring a Cajun/Creole dish. I brought Baked Shrimp Cajun style (was very good, but still not a keeper) and a Southern Homemade Pecan Pie. Remember those pecans I shelled for hours and hours. Well that pie as always was wonderful.

Not brand new, but worth considering, a new cookbook being listed: "The view from Grandma's Kitchen". Written by Janet Beyer and Phyllis Higgins, both from Vermont. Each chapter is based on recipes and stories given to them by their grandmothers. Or maybe it's a book you should be looking for in a brand new condition to give as a gift. Definitely something to look into.

Last, but not least, I saw the movie last week: With Love From Paris, with a bald John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys-Myers. Action packed, a little gory, but funny too. After the movie we went to the Blue Martini at the Town Center. With your ticket stub, you get any free drink you want. I had a very expensive merlot.

That's all for now.

CookbookVal

Here I sit, the night before Valentine's Day, Saturday night sitting at the computer with no date before me. Oh well, sigh... I did have a date for Valentine's Day, but alas, no more. Sigh....

In the meanwhile, I have some great cookbooks being listed under Valerie2901 on EBay or under the general heading of cookbooks. I have an original printing-1960 of the Ladies' Home Journal Cookbook (792 pages later-minus the dust cover) & a Good Housekeeping Cookbook, 1973 with a dust cover (but the dust cover is in bad shape). Somebody who is paying attention, is going to get some good buys on these collector items (starting price .99).

I also have an exotic cookbook listed: The Czech National Cookbook by Hana Gajdostikova, I have never seen a cookbook before from this country printed in English.

I also have two gift books in brand new condition for someone in your life: Food by Ogden Nash and illustrations by Etienne Delessert & The Pleasures of Wine & Sprirts by Ambercrombie & Fitch.

On other topics, I went to the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino for lunch the other day and ended up at the Top Of The World Restaurant. This is a fine dining revolving restaurant that takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to revolve completely giving you views of all of Las Vegas-wonderful lunch. I was actually looking for Roxy's Diner-didn't know the name at the time, but a diner, where the waiters and waitresses sing throughout your meal. Another time.

I need some what I thought was major dental work. Very expensive, most of which is not covered by my dental plan (a piss-poor plan anyhow), but it's all I've got. Anyway, I had been told to search out the Dental Schools in this region and found the highly respected, University of Nevada Dental School here in Las Vegas. I am now a patient and eventually after the crowns are done, the fillings are filled, there will be either an implant or bridge in my life or in my mouth at half-the normal price. In fact, all of the services are half or less than half of the regular price of dentists. When I lived in GA, my friends told me they were going to the big dental school in Alabama. I didn't believe it was worth it, but now I have seen the error of my ways. So if you have great dental insurance, than visit your local dentist, but if you have a poor dental plan or none, I would recommend researching the dental schools in your area or nearby state.

I'm on vacation now, taking care of many things, including dental work and listing probably 200 more cookbooks in the next few days. Business is good, thank you very much.

That's all for now.

CookbookVal

I try and keep my starting prices low on EBay-Valerie2901 or under the general heading of cookbooks. And sometimes, my customers get some real bargains for $.99. Thank you to those of you who have actually emailed me and told me they appreciate the low prices. I make a little, I make alot-it's all the same, as long as you enjoy the cookbooks that I'm selling. They also appreciate the media mail which sometimes takes a little longer, but it sure is a lot cheaper than first class and priority mail.

Speaking of media mail, I scored one for me. I go to the same small post office here in Las Vegas 2-3 times a week to mail out my cookbooks. Same people every time. And every week they threaten to open my packages of cookbooks. Go ahead and open them, I tell them, as long as you re-package everything properly. This postal facility finds it hard to believe, that I ship out 40 or more cookbooks a week. Obviously these people don't cook. So after a year of this abuse, I contacted the US Post Office in Wash D.C. and explained my problem here. And the problem has stopped. I still tell them that I am shipping media mail, but no threats now-though they do touch each envelope or parcel to make sure there is a book inside. Media mail for those of you not familiar with it applies to any printed matter, sheet music, DVD's, CD's-anything to do with media. My local post office has told me it doesn't include magazines, but I looked up the definition of media mail and there is no statement saying you can't ship magazines as well at a reduced media mail price.

Every once in awhile, I get in a corn tortilla frenzy, but then when I'm finished with it, I have the problem of what do I do with the other 25 corn tortillas in the package. You get a lot for your money with corn tortillas. I now have my answer found in Joan Lunden's Healthy Choices Cookbook (look under Valerie2901 on EBay). "My Cracker". I am forever trying new crackers, because most of the crackers on the food shelves now have so much starch in them. I can actually taste the carbs and preservatives. Though this recipe is titled "Tortilla Chips", this will be my new "Cracker" for awhile. It's great with salsa, cheese, dips.

Tortilla Chips

8 corn tortillas, non-stick vegetable oil spray, sea salt to taste.

Spray the tortillas lightly on both sides with the vegetable oil spray. Cut each one into 8 wedges and sprinkle with sea salt (not too heavy) and then bake them in a preheated 350F oven for 8-10 minutes or until lightly toasted and crispy. Try other seasonings too.

Only 67 calories for 8 tortilla chips-that's not bad and very tasty.

I know this isn't unique, but I have always only made tortilla chips out of flour tortillas. So it's new to me.

Another book I'm promoting to today (again listed under Valerie2901 on EBay) is Vintage Feasting by Joy Sterling. The author's story is a vintner's year of fine wines, good times and gifts from Nature's Gardens. Listen to this entry from the book:

February 14. The vineyards are asleep. Daphne, a flowering shrub, is blooming, and our Valentine's Day feast is fresh, cracked Dungeness crab soup cooked with Fume' Blanc, served with garlic mayonnaise and bubbly...

Charming. The book is a little dry sometimes, but overall worth reading.

One other thing I'm promoting today. I have a meet-up group for women who enjoy cruising together. Men can come as well of course. I'm not making any money on this, but I enjoy cruises and if someone wants to come along, then come along-you'll at least know me on the cruise. The website is www.meetup.com/WomenTravelingTogetherOnCruises . I have a cruise scheduled for July 23-Alaska Inside Passage and a Southern Caribbean Cruise on Oct 11th. If you would like me to email you some info on it, let me know at crazyvalbrown@yahoo.com. I started this group, because I have traveled all over the world by myself-it's not hard for me, but it is hard for other women to do this. For whatever reasons.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

My Internet Connection Has Been Down Forever!!!!

Another day without Internet. Here I am on the Public Library system, while I wait for my Internet to be repaired in my apartment building. It has been down for a week now-modems,lines, etc. But supposedly, it will be up and running and I can get caught up on business.

Sorry there's not much listed under my EBay books-Valerie2901 or under the general heading of cookbooks. Again, it has been hard with only one hour per day on the library computer to do all the work I need. I have about 200 books to be re-listed and at least 100 new ones to list. So keep checking back and they will be listed and re-listed soon.

I have a new recipe to list, that you might want to try. It is from a book that is not listed yet-Cape Cod Kitchen Secrets by the Monomoy Branch Cape Cod Hospital Aid Association. I had fresh cranberries that needed to be used up soon and this fit the bill. Easy, took only a few minutes to throw together. Just the sweet I needed:

Cranberry Apple Crunch

6 tbsp sugar, 1/2 cup water, 3/4 cup raw cranberries, 2 medium apples (peeled and sliced)

Boil the sugar and water together for one minute. Add the cranberries and boil two minutes more. Add apples. Put everything into a baking dish.

Topping:

1/2 cup rolled oats,3 tbsp melted butter or margarine, 1/4 cup flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 tsp salt.

Combine dry ingredients. Add melted butter and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over fruit mixture. Bake at 350 F for 40 minutes. Serves four. Can be topped with ice cream or whipped topping.

When I was making this, I didn't think there would be enough topping, because it only covered about 3/4 of the dish-but I was wrong. The topping is just a taste with to be included with the simple fruits included.

On Friday night, I went to a Chili/Macaroni and Cheese Bake-Off at a friend's house. I was impressed. About 50 people showed up and there a dozen chili entries and 6 macaroni & cheese entrees. Alas, I didn't get to have an entry this time. A specific size was required for the macaroni and cheese and my oven was too small to accommodate the dish required. Maybe next time. In the meanwhile, the food was great and I met many new people. Lots of fun.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

I was a very lucky woman last night. My musician friend arranged for me to go see Barry Manilow and I had a front row seat. What a wonderful musician and singer. Last night was a promotion with QVC the shopping network, to plug his latest CD-Romantic Love Songs. Barr will soon be starting at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas (March 5th). Hopefully more comp seats will come my way.

It's tax time and I did my taxes-how about you? Taxes put the fear of God in me when I do them and truly I have nothing to every worry about, but I still worry. So it's done and now behind me. Prior to moving to Las Vegas, I was living in GA, where I didn't do my state taxes for many years, but they caught up with me. Honestly, it was enough each year just to get my federal taxes done. So now I'm being audited by the State of GA, but we (State of GA Revenue Dept. & me) agreed, that by the time we're done, they will owe me a nice check.

I've also started my own Meetup group www.meetup.com/WomenTravelingTogetherOnCruises

I have joined some other meet-up groups, this is the new thing now. Look in your city for meet-up groups for things that you enjoy. It's been a wonderful opportunity for me to meet new people here in Las Vegas. My meet-up groups are the Romance Writing Group, Magicians (I'm not a magician, but I love magic), The Chef's Table (meeting in different homes & restaurants, sharing food) and the a Travel & Social Club (does day-trips, cruises & meets at different restaurants for socializing). So I decided to start up my own group. I love cruising and I know alot of women are intimidated by traveling alone-so "men" and women-if you want to join me on my cruises, come along. At least you'll know one person-me!

Now for my plug for my EBay listing-Valerie2901 or under the general heading of cookbooks on EBay:

2 books that haven't sold, but should have:

From Sunrise to Sunset, a hardback book down as a fundraiser for the Sunrise Children's Hospital Foundation in Las Vegas. It is such a well-presented book with original art and sketch's of children. For you bread makers out there, there are over thirty original bread recipes. Over 200 great recipes can be found in this book-unique, new, clever and very tasty.

Casual Entertaining by Good Seasons (the salad dressing people)-this is not a big book, but it does have 59 fresh and super simple recipes, with beautiful color photographs. If this one doesn't sell soon, it's going to go in my personal collection.

A new festival to attend: Alabama Chicken & Egg Festival-April 10-11, 2010. They will have wing eating contests, clucking contests, chicken motorcycle run, and much more. www.chickenandeggfestival.com It sounds like alot of fun.

So do you think you make a great barbecue sauce. In just two weeks, applications will be online for the 2010 American Royal Barbecue Contest. This is an invitational contest where individuals are able to secure applications on Feb. 10th and team applications on March 8th. www.arbbq.com

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

I'm On A Roll With Blogging!

Almost 3 days in a row, that I have been blogging-this is almost a new record for me.

Lots to talk about today. I've been busy-running errands, picking up new cookbooks to list, etc. I will also be listing music books I picked up from an estate sale today. I have quite a few song books for vocal, guitar and piano, but it will take me awhile to get it all sorted out. My musician friend was upset to hear I was selling these on EBay. I explained to him, that actually I was sharing the music, in my way. Most of the people that purchase my song books when I have them are from Montana, North Dakota or Alaska-in areas where they probably don't have access to purchase them . I make very little money off these and I do like to think that I'm sharing these with someone else. Probably some collectibles in here for music buffs.

Remember when I told you yesterday about the Romance Writers' Conference I went to. A fact I forgot to mention, but I find interesting-most of the published writers there, are with Mensa (the super smart group of people). Unfortunately, I don't fit in that catalog-hopefully I can still write mynovel, finish it and then get it published.

Today, I finally got to a free art exhibit that is being offered at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Right off the hotel lobby, as you come into the Casino. Celebrate with Harlequin. You know those romance novels. This exhibit featured 60 years of Harlequin Cover Art, 1949-2009. It was very well done. I don't know how long the exhibit is going to last, but more information can be found at http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/.

I am going to share three cookbooks, that are worth looking at on my EBay listing-Valerie2901 or general heading of cookbooks: Cool Cooking-Recipes of Your Favorite Rock Stars by Roberta Ashley. Many rock stars of the 70's included personal favorite recipes. A few of them are: Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Helen Reddy and many, many more. Impressive list.

Also today, I listed a book Middle Eastern Cookery-Foods of the World/Time/Life series. There are very few books on Middle Eastern Recipes-so this may be one for your collection. Beautiful photographs and travel stories are also included.

And lastly German Cookery by Hans Karl Adam. This cookbook was translated from German to English in 1970 and includes recipes for foods from Berlin, North & East Germany, Hesse, Westphalia, Thuringin, A Silesian Childhood, Bavaria, Swabia. Also included are stories and legends about eating and drinking in Germany.

Something to consider if you are in the Detroit area, Feb 20, 2010-the 3rd Annual Glass Slipper Ball. The Zonta Club features the best of Detroit Metro Chefs. For more information, go to http://www.zontasouthfield.org/.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

Happy Saturday!

I have had a long tiring day and I'm glad to be home. Nothing to do with cookbooks though. I went to a Romance Novel Writers' Conference here in Las Vegas, put on by the Cactus Rose, the Las Vegas Chapter of Romance Writers of America. Sometime in this lifetime, I will write my romantic adventure. Actually this was a large group and there were wannabe writers and published romance writers, but also a children's writer and male mystery author. Looking for new ideas to write their next book. I was pleased at all the workshops included and I have learned a lot. Now I have to just write the book. I won one of the door prizes and I received a basket full of writers' type prizes: books on writing, chocolate, wine, pens, notebooks, etc. Actually I did get a very good book, Breaking Into Fiction-it gives you a template to show you exactly what publishers want. One of the published authors in the room, said this is how she finally got her first book published by Penguin (one of the big ones)-by using that darned template.

The other night I went with friends to the Boulevard Bar & Grill on Las Vegas Blvd S near the South Point Casino. I had this wonderful dinner-Chicken Francois. Chefs, you should pay attention. They had their regular dinner menu and then they had a 24-hour/7 days a week special menu. Approximately 10 items on this special menu-all for $7.95 each. Mine-Lightly breaded chicken breast (huge chicken breast) sauteed in a wine sauce over linguine. I will be back to this restaurant to try this dinner again and maybe some of the others. My wine bill was bigger than my food tab. Maybe chefs you can't offer 24/7-but in this recession, maybe a few simple dishes offered for less, will bring the customers back to your restaurant. After all, what did my dish cost, maybe $1.37-1.50-maybe.

For those of you wondering, I'm still on my starvation diet, but you only live once. I was with friends and that alone is a reason to enjoy a good dinner, in the company of others. Plus I had only had 150 calories earlier in the day-I was saving up for dinner calories.

A new contest to enter on July 23, 24 & 25, 2010, make it with Garlic. The Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, CA is in it's 32nd year , with attendance over 108,000 in 2009. I'm sure the area smells heavenly for weeks after the festival. The money prize is not big$1,000 to the top prize winner, but amateurs from all over the U.S. compete for an opportunity to win in this contest. Lots of publicity for those wishing to surpass their amateur standing.

And a plug for my EBay listing-Valerie2901 or under a general heading of cookbooks. I am going to feature a cookbook from my listing that hasn't sold and should have: Great American Menus Cookbook from Pillsbury. This book features Regional American Foods and their menus. In fact, I tried one of their low-calorie recipe and I loved it: Iowa Corn Stuffed Tomatoes.

1 1/2 cups Green Giant Niblets frozen corn, 4 medium tomatoes, Pepper, 4 oz (1cup) shredded cheddar cheese, 2 tbsp dry bread crumbs, 1/4 cup diced green pepper, 1 green onion, thinly sliced, 3 tbsp butter, melted

Heat oven to 350F. Cook corn as directed on package. Cut tomatoes in half crosswise. Spoon out seeds; discard. Sprinkle cut surface of tomatoes with pepper. In small bowl combine cooked corn and remaining ingredients. Fill tomato halves with corn mixture. Place stuffed tomatoes in 15x9 inch baking dish. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until center is hot. 8 servings. 150 calories per tomato half.

This was a special treat for me on my starvation diet of 1250 calories per day. I am not a true lover of baked tomatoes, but I do love anything with cheese in it.

And one of my favorite chefs from the Food Network: Giada De Laurentis. You may or not be aware that her grandfather is the well-know film producer Dino De Laurentis. I enjoy her show, but don't watch too often, because she makes me hungry (for food). I do have her cookbooks-love her cookbooks. www.giadadelaurentis.com Check her out, easy, great Italian recipes.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

Hi! Busy today, shipping off the many cookbooks that have sold this week on my EBay listing-Valerie2901. Thanks again for the sales! Many new cookbooks to be listed, as soon as I find the time.

Yesterday, my first day back from my trip and I booked an amazing massage with Christa at the Las Vegas Hilton Spa. There are not many masseuses that can relax me enough to make me fall asleep, but Christa did and I am totally relaxed from it. The mysterious aches and pains in my knees and calves are gone.

I was reading something forwarded to me today that I found interesting and wanted to pass it along. If you know any women receiving Chemotherapy, there is a cleaning service that provides free housecleaning for 4 months. You're required to get a note from your doctor faxed to Cleaning For a Reason and they will contact the cleaning service in the zip code of the woman.

www.cleaningforareason.org. Honestly, I can't believe it doesn't, but this group does not include men in this free house cleaning, though I am sure there are exceptions allowed. It's part of the breast cancer group and is offered nationwide.

The starvation diet seems to be working-I lost 5 pounds last week. I'm not really starving myself, but it is limited calories to 1250 per day and to me that's starving myself. I have found a new sandwich bread that travels so well. Orowheat Sandwich Thins is the name, stays fresh longer than most breads, try not to refrigerate-dries it out, but for people who travel, this is a great little bread to carry around. It's hard to find in the grocery stores,-so keep checking back-100 calories per sandwich bread (2 slices). And I don't know if turkeys cluck, but I have eaten so much turkey breast, that I feel like clucking!

Always looking for new ideas to heat up in a coffee pot in the hotel or on the plane-one of my friends brought a can of french onion soup, poured it in a plastic bag, added some croutons and a slice of provolone cheese and re-heated/cooked in the coffee pot water-amazingly good!

A new chef website you may not be aware of www.chefjeffcooked.com. He is on Sunday afternoons on the Food Network and has a new cookbook out.

A food event you may or may not want to attend-August 4-8, 2010 Testicle Festival in Clinton, MT. The Rocky Mountain Oyster festival, serving deep-fried bull testicles. I think I will skip this one!

This food event sounds a little better: March 6-7, 2010, The Festival of Chocolate in Orlando, FL. Be a kid in the candy store and enjoy two days of chocolate treats at the Orlando Science Center. The event will have competitions, demos by awarding winning pastry chefs, & a Kids-4-Chocolate area.

I sell a lot of biography's (not just cookbooks) on my EBay listing that I have already read. Not read yet, but I'm looking forward to reading is an early book done by Louie Anderson, the comedian. Titled Dear Dad-Letters From An Adult Child. Once finished, I'm hoping to get this autographed by Mr. Anderson at the Excalibur Hotel, where he performs nightly. Look for this in the next week or two if you are interested in purchasing it on my EBay listing-Valerie2901.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val

January 8, 2010

Last night, I met a group of people and we went to the new City Center in Las Vegas. This complex is supposed to be a city within a city. We parked at the Bellagio and took the tram over to Crystals (which is the first stop of the City Center). The Crystals is a giant shopping center with very, very expensive designer stores, few customers, but very pretty to look at. No restaurants open yet either. It is multi-level and circular, which leads you back to the tram. Next we moved on to Aria which is the hotel and casino. The entrance to the Aria on one side is a wall of water convulsing down over and over-very impressive. The hotel does have restaurants, I don't think they have the ventilation system quite fixed yet, because we could smell fish or sushi everywhere. The casino, very nice, nothing special-another casino with lots of high dollar machines. There is an impressive Fine Arts exhibit that is free and worth seeing, starting with a sculpture by Henry Moore, as you enter the Aria from the Crystals level. Comdex was in town (biggest consumer computer/gadget convention of the year), so there were lots of people staying at the Aria. But I think this new City Center is going to take about 2 years or a heck of lot more advertising, before they see any business.

Living in Las Vegas has been interesting to me. The recession has been good to me. I say this because now that the City Center is complete, there is no new construction of any kind here in Las Vegas-no housing, no hotels, no casinos. Where are these people with all of the others going to find work? Even McDonald's can hire only so many people.

Sales are still up on my EBay listing Valerie2901. And now the van is here to take me to the airport, so I will try and blog more later.
That's all for now.
Cookbook Val

Happy New Years!

I know I'm a few days late, but I have been flying the friendly skies for many days now-spent New Year's Eve in West Palm Beach at the City Place at the BB Kings Blues Club. Music and fine wine-what a wonderful combination. The City Place in West Palm Beach, FL is an all-inclusive little town on its own, with numerous restaurants, night clubs, comedy clubs, music venues & boutiques. All within an easy walk. Plus we were staying at the Marriott, though a 15-minute walk away, they were kind enough to drop us off and pick us up.

I still have the horrible cold or at least the chest congestion, that never gives up.

My EBay business is going great. Over 50 cookbooks sold last week! Please look under the general listing of cookbooks or Valerie2901 at EBay. Still over 200 great cookbooks listed for you to buy. Lots of great finds, celebrity cookbooks, collectibles, specialized cooking.

Today, I will promote vegetables and vegetarians. I don't have a lot of vegetarian cookbooks right now-they go as quickly as I get them in. The vegetable cookbooks, well, so many of them can be used for the vegan-not everything is prepared with chicken or beef broth or pork lard. Some very good recipes-each unique in its own way. I liver a vegetarian lifestyle for weeks at a time, but I still love my steak, chicken and shrimp. Have you read the book "Skinny Bitch"? Supposedly it's a diet guide, but really the book is to convince you to become a vegan. Nothing wrong with that. Promotes the Morningstar and other Vegan products. I love Morningstar products-when they are on sale. Otherwise they are a little pricey for me on a regular basis.

But back to my cookbooks for sale on EBay:

The Vegetarian Guide to Diet & Salad by Dr. N.W. Walker-publishing date unknown

Of These Ye May Freely Eat-A Vegetarian Cookbook by JoAnn Rachor, Pub 1999

Favorite Salad Recipes by Publications Intl, pub 1986

The Art of Salad Making by Carol Truax, pub 1968

Classic Potato Dishes, edited by Lisa Dyer, pub 1996

Sunset Ideas for Cooking Vegetables by Sunset/Lane Pub, pub 1974

Better Homes & Gardens All-Time Favorite Vegetable Recipes by BHG, pub 1977

Great Taste, Low-Fat Vegetables by Time/Life Series, publishing date unknown

Simple Foods for the Pack by Vikki Kinmont & Claudia Axcell, by Sierra Club Books, pub 1976

Vegetable Cookbook by Nitty Gritty Publications, pub 1975

Zucchini Cookbook by Nancy Ralston & Marynor Jordan, Garden Way's Pub, pub 1977

The Carrot Cookbook by Audra & Jack Hendrickson, Garden Way's Pub, pub 1987

Cookinb with Herbs by Patricia Lousada by Bloomsbury Books, pub 1987

Totally Chile Pepper Cookbook by Helene Siegel and Karen Gillingham, Celestial Arts,pub 1994

Hot & Spicy Recipes by Cookbook Publishers, pub. 1998

Have you seen the advertising by Taco Bell? They are advertising their DriveThruDiet. Their Jarrett of Subway fame is now Christine who lost 54 lbs by eating the Fresco food items offered by Taco bell. Interesting, maybe there is something to this. www.DriveThruDiet.com

I've spoken before about my favorite food at El Pollo Loco-the Taco Al Carbon (flame grilled chicken on corn tortillas with cilantro & onion) is only $.79 each! It won't fill up the average guy, but for me, 2 of these are perfect for lunch, 307 total calories and no fat.

Next time you're in Tunica, MS for a little gambling, make your way over to Harrah's for Paula Deen's Buffet. This buffet features many Southern favorites, including hoecakes and biscuits to fried chicken and collard greens. I can't go there too often or I will never get my weight off.

That's all for now.

Cookbook Val