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