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

Marlboro Country Cookbook

No, I am not a smoker and I am not advocating smoking, but this is a good looking cookbook-Morning Fires, Evening Lights. As I said before, I sell cookbooks, new and used on EBay-look for me at Valerie2901. When I picked up this book, I was very impressed with the photography and recipes in it. I placed it for sale on EBay, but then decided to save it for myself. For my 26 year-old son for Christmas-it was basic enough for him-a fledgling cook ,but by the time I got back to my website, the bids were already in. I wasn't quick enough and now have lost out on what could have been a great Christmas present! Again, it is a basic cookbook, but the pictures are beautiful and if you can run across another one, I would grab it.

One recipe I did snag, bef0re mailing this off was for a Rum Fruit Jar:

In a clean, sterilized jar, place leftover fruit in season(sliced, diced, etc), 1-4 cups of sugar (I had alot of seasonal fruit leftover, so this allowed for less sugar) and fill the rest of the space with rum or brandy. Keep filling with rum or brandy as needed to keep the fruit covered. Place in a cool, dark spot for at least 6 weeks. Use on pound cake, french toast, pancakes or waffles.

What a great way to use fruit that was going to be uneaten anyway.

Today, I was talking with my TV Producer friend and he told me what a great cook I was. To which I replied, I am not a great cook, but I am a "enthusiastic cook". When I make mistakes, I just keeping trying. Some things work, some things fail. But my friend only remembers the things that work (thank goodness) and he tells me that I make him so hungry all the time, describing flavors and different ingredients that I work with. That's how I feel about Rachel Ray and Paula Deen-they are "enthusiastic cooks" and they bring that across when they are cooking. Especially Paula Deen, she makes me laugh when she tastes her own food and expresses them to the audience. I know just how she feels. So we did talk again about a cooking show for me and I said I was willing to have a stationary show, if I could be the Queen of Pies-only making pies. Once again, me trying to control things, my way only, but I do love making pies. Maybe next season.

In the meanwhile, I have bought some kiwi to make a pie with and can't find a recipe that interests me. Why, kiwi-again the price was right-6 kiwi fruits for $.99. And did you know, you can keep kiwi in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for up to 6 months! So my quest for a baked kiwi pie continues. Most of the recipes I have come across are either tarts, or just placing kiwi on top of a cream pie. Not too exciting.

Cookbook Val