Still Computer Challenged, After All These Years!

I am technically challenged and up until recently, I thought it was a bad thing, but not anymore.  Because now, every time I learn something new on the computer, I am so excited.  Look I learned how to save a picture to a computer and insert it in this blog!  I couldn't have done this 3 months ago! When I ask people for help, they try and explain everything to me, but I am kind of a "fall into kind of girl" and I learn at my own pace.  The above example, friends have been trying to show me to how to cut and paste for the last 5 years.  And then one day recently, I figured out how to do it.

My latest challenge is uploading iPhone pictures into my Toshiba laptop.  I plug it in (I do have the correct wires and plugs), turn on my camera and photos and in my mind, it should just upload the photos.  But obviously, I am missing the big picture here, because nothing happens.  I am assuming there is some kind of upload button and I am missing the symbol for it.

Also, I recently bought a selfie camera in Thailand for $6.00 and I love it.  So far, none of my selfie photos are for BlogSpot publications, but there will come a time.

Also (a lot of also's in here), I recently read the book "I Must Say" by Martin Short and I loved it.  I couldn't put it down.  A who's who of comedy in the 70's & 80's.  I am a huge fan of Martin Short & his comedy skits.

Remember Art Linkletter?  He hosted many TV shows, but most people remember "Kids, Say the Darndest Things".  This was one of his soups and I thought this can't work, but it does.  Try it sometime.

Tomato Mix-Up

Several cans of stewed tomatoes

A lot of torn-up bread pieces

Butter to taste

Sugar to tase.

Open stewed tomatoes and transfer to a large pot or saucepan (not iron).  Add a lot of torn-up bread pieces or rolls, plus sugar and butter to taste.  Heat, stirring, untl the bread has absorbed the juices into big marshmallow-sized chunks, all a beautiful tomato red.  Serve.

So here are a few more books from my cookbook library for sale on Amazon.com or you can send me an email to crazyvalbrown@yahoo.com and then payment to paypal at the same email address.  I use media mail from the USPS, which is cheaper and books are heavy, but takes longer-usually 9 days, so be patient. 

I have to say that this cover certainly gets your attention.  The photography is tremendous.  Ever since Marc Antony first fed Cleopatra grapes, sensual foods have been intertwined with romance.   With more than 85 heart-melting dishes, the bed or wherever one might be entertaining.  Each chapter delves into the history of aphrodisiacs, alongside results and hints from participating testing couples.  To help the love-hungry integrate these sensual foods into their lives (I'm getting hot just reading this).  But the cherry on top (so to speak), is the array of full-color photographs that reveal a new side to seemingly normal food.  New-$14.99 plus $3.99 shipping & handling.

Remember the James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever", well here is Bond girl "Tiffany Case",  Jill St. John is also married to the legendary Robert Wagner.  Our author presents dozens upon dozens of mouth-watering delicacies with an International accent and universal appeal.  Ranging from earthy to elegant, classic to contemporary.  And for you Jill St. John fans, this book was autographed by the author.  Now out of print, this book is considered a collectible, but a brand-new collectible and sells for $29.99 plus $3.99 shipping & handling.

Hawaii's local cuisine is a smorgasbord of flavors with influences from Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese and Hawaiian.  This book has more than 140 favorite island recipes, passed on from friends, coworkers,  relatives-local favorites that can be found at potlucks and beach barbecues throughout the islands.  Many of these recipes can be cooked in 30 minutes or less.  New-$8.23 plus $3.99 shipping & handling.

A sumptuous array of the ultimate finger foods-tapas from Mexico and Spain.  When the Spanish conquered Mexico more than 400 years ago, they not only found gold, but also corn, beans, chillies, tomatoes, avocados, potatoes, squash, zucchinis and a wealth of new fruits and spices.

Tapas, or "little dishes", are now a tradition in both Mexico and Spain.  They are usually eaten late in the afternoon or early evening, in a social setting such as a bar, cafe or party, making them the center of social occasions and festivities.  New-$6.48 plus $3.99 shipping and handling.

All this talking of food is making me hungry.  I hear my Caesar salad calling my name for lunch.

Happy Cooking.









The Miracle Worker

Many of you know, I am having feet issues.  They are bad right now and I even had to call in sick for my last trip, but they will get better sooner or later.  The feet issues are a result of my walk changing over the years-pelvis twisted, etc.  The orthopedic surgeon (nameless quack) was of the opinion that the only thing to do was break them both, re-build them and start over-again what a quack.

 

Another friend of mind suggested losing 15 pounds and then I wouldn't have any more foot problems.  So if my friend loses 15 pounds, does that mean that her back problems will go away.  Or I have another friend who has bad knee problems, if she loses 15 pounds, does that mean she will no longer need a knee operation.

 

People can be so cruel when you are overweight.  It starts when you are young, continues through middle ages and onto being a senior.  If I can accept the weight and live with myself, then why can't you.

 

So for my Miracle worker friend-here is the Guide to Calorie Burning.  Maybe she can use this to lose 15 pounds, so her back will stop hurting.

 

Beating around the bush                                    75

Jumping to Conclusions                                    100

Climbing the walls                                            150

Swallowing your pride                                      50

Passing the buck                                                25

Throwing your weight around

     (depending on your weight)                         50-300

Dragging your heels                                          100

Pushing your luck                                              250

Making mountains of molehills                         500

Hitting the nail on the head                                50

Wading through paperwork                               300

Bending over backwards                                    75

Jumping on the bandwagon                               25

Balancing the books                                          25

Running around in circles                                 350

Eating crow                                                       225

Climbing the ladder of success                         750

Pulling out the stops                                          75

Adding fuel to the fire                                       150

Wrapping it up at the day's end                         12

 

 

 

 

 

Today's cookbooks:  For kids of all ages, but mostly little kids, just learning about cooking.  If you are interested in any of these, please send me an email to crazyvalbrown@yahoo.com or go to my amazon.com account-one of a kind cookbooks.  If  the sale is going directly through me, please use paypal with the above email account.  I use media mail for shipping, which takes up to 9 days.  Books are heavy and this makes postal rates cheaper.

 

 

 

 

Be a pig for a day, no worries in the world, no Angry Birds trying to knock you down.  The kitchen is your pigpen and life's good!  So go ahead, crack an egg or two and fling your awesome self to new levels of egg-cellence with these easy and fuss-free (for the most part) recipes, addictively fun activities and impressive party moves.  From the classics to off the wall, these top-secret egg recipes will fill your tummy and tickle your brain!  New-$4.99 plus $3.99 shipping & handling.

 

 

 

 

The only kid's party book you'll ever need.  It is the ultimate guide to throwing fantatic and memorable kid's birthday parties.  Brimming with original ideas, this book also provides pratical and helpful tips for making the day a success.  Used-$6.99 plus $3.99 shipping & handling.

 

 

 

 

In 1988, Paul Newman and A.E. Hotchner established the first Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for children with cancerand  other life-threatening diseases, using the profits from their food company, Newman's Own,  Today, over 7,000 children attend the camp each year. 

 

The spirit of sharing and good times fills The Hole in the Wall Gang Cookbook.  Letters and poems from the campers, candid photographs and a preface from Paul Newman make using the book a treat.  So tie on an apron, roll up your sleeves and get ready for some good eating.  New-$17.95 plus $3.99 shipping & handling.

 

 

 

 

 

With over 127 pages and photographs of cooking for kids.  Get those little motors revved up with great tasting fun foods.  You've go to provide enough fuel for the day, so make breakfast a high-octane meal.  When your kids' tummies start grumbling and it's not quite mealtime, try some of the snacks offered to bridge the gap between meals.  Midday Munchies-Lunchtime doesn't have to be a battle.  With fun recipes like chili dogs, monster sandwiches and Chunky Joes, it's easy to  make midday meals fun for everyone.  This is a used book, and the first inside cover page was ripped, but otherwise in new condition-$4.99 plus $3.99 shipping & handling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kid's Cooking, A Very Slightly Messy Manual  is a cookbook for kids and their grown-up assistants.  45 savory samples of kid-do-able kitchen crafts and cuisine, including:  Giant Soap Bubbles, Frozen Bananoids, Not-So-Sloppy Joes, and Buried Treasure Muffins.  This has a hardback cover, similar to what you give very young kids that can be wiped off later, without damaging the book.  This is used and considered a collector's item in the kids cookbook world-$29.99 plus $3.99 shipping & handling.

 

 

Happy Cooking!









Grilling Time

I can't wait for summer and then it's time to start grilling.  And unfortunately, my condo does not allow me to grill on my porch due to fire laws.  I always have to do my grilling with friends and family at their place.

I have so many grilling cookbooks, but here is a small sampling of what I have:

George Forman's Lean Mean Grilling Recipes are one of my best sellers.  People love this machine and the recipes that have been created for it.  This is brand new and priced at $8.99, plus $3.99 shipping and handling.

This is a specialty cookbook no longer in print, but perfect for the smoker/griller in your family.  Priced at $29.99 as a collectible with shipping & handling for $3.99.  Ultimate Smoked Turkey, Smoked Glazed Ham and Sweet Spareribs are just three of many appetizing recipes that are inside the Water Smoker Cookbook. 

You know when you have a great cookbook, if it's by Sunset Magazine.  This cookbook will help you master the basics of grilling food, whether you use charcoal or gas to fuel your barbecue.  This is a new cookbook, priced at $6.99 plus $3.99 shipping & handling.

Most of you know about my "One of A Kind Cookbooks" and I only have one of each book.  So if you decide you want one of these cookbooks, let me know by email at crazyvalbrown@yahoo.com or by it on Amazon-same price.  Payment can be made through Paypal with my email address.

Working all the time these days-long days and short overnights, so not much time for cooking.  But I am about to start cooking again real soon.  You know I am in a good mood, when I'm cooking.

My one day off is busy today.  Off to the chiropractor, Happy Hour with friends  and then a much needed facial (the desert heat is destroying my skin with dryness).

You all have a good day now, you hear. 

Happy Cooking!

New thoughts on cookbooks

Still selling cookbooks on Amazon, when I'm not travelling.  Just back from 2 weeks in Thailand.  I I am temple'd out and Thai food out.  And thank goodness the mosquito bites that cover almost half of my body are finally starting to heal.  My friends told me that I looked like I had leprosy with all those bites-some friends! 

This is the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.

Tut Tut's, as we tour Burma (Mynmar).

Final dinner in traditional dress in Thailand.

I'm not sure where my next trip is.

The cookbook website did not turn out.  After 5 months of struggling, we gave up.  So now, I am going to put some of these cookbooks, info, photos and descriptions up on my blog.  For sale and though I don't have a shopping cart set up at this time.  If you are interested in any of these cookbooks, we can do a sale via paypal.  Or you can find my cookbook on Amazon and buy it that way.  I have over 1800 cookbooks for sale, so I'm sure there is something for everyone in there.

Valerie Brown, Comedian

Peaches & Cream Pie-Success

So yesterday, I finally got around to filling my un-baked pie shell that I made the other day.  I finally decided on a Peaches & Cream filling with a lemon-crumble crust from my book, Farm Journal's Pie Cookbook.  Published in 1965, this small little paper back is worn and yellow and considered a collectible, all still intact-in fact I may even consider keeping this for my own.  Wonderful recipes.  But for the moment, it is for sale at Amazon.com, under my One of a Kind Cookbooks-semi website.

 

I was going to take a picture of the pie, but by the time I got to making the filling and getting ready for my afternoon card group meeting.  I ran out of time.  And by the end of the afternoon, there were no pie slices left.  That is always a good sign.  The only thing that could have made this pie better, was some vanilla ice cream on top, but all of us agreed, the last thing we needed was pie and ice cream.

 

We played a card game named Harvey Bunco, which is a rummy type of game.  I came out as the "biggest loser", but I still made some money-got my buy-in back, plus a couple of extra dollars.

 

PEACH CREAM PIE

 

Unbaked 9" pie shell

1 qt. sliced peeled peaches (I used two 16 oz, cans of peaches in light syrup, drained)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 egg

2 tbsp. cream

Lemon Crumb Topping

 

Arrange peaches in pastry-lined pie pan; sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.  Beat together egg and cream; pour over peaches.  Sprinkle Lemon Crumb Topping over peaches.

 

Bake in hot oven (425), until lightly browned, 35 to 40 minutes.

 

Lemon Crumb Topping

Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour and 1 tsp. grated lemon peel.  Cut in 1/4 cup butter until mixture is crumbly.

 

My thoughts:  The pie crust was great (previous blog), I would definitely use this recipe again.  See how I cheated on the canned peach slices-no one even knew the difference.  The sugar and cinnamon I mixed together and when placing it on the peaches, I realized it was way too much sugar for this day and age.  So I sprinkled all of the peaches and then ended up throwing about 1/3 of the mixture away.  I think with all that sugar, it would have been too sweet.  This way it was just a subtle taste of sugar.

 

Happy Cooking!

The Pie Crust is Back!

Well... It's been awhile since I've written my blog.  I have been patiently and impatiently waiting for my website to be up and running.  Since April 15th as a matter of fact.  So I had postponed any new blogs, not knowing what problems it might create with this new invisible website.

 

Now, my website creator is working very hard on this website.  It has been a challenge for Kristin, but I am confident it will be finished soon. And then my cookbooks will be easier to find.

 

Right now, they can still be found at Amazon.com.  One of a Kind Cookbooks.

 

I have been very busy, becoming a stand-up comedian in my spare time.  I have so been enjoying this.  I am still waiting for the paid experience, but I am performing weekly at The Crepe Restaurant in Las Vegas.  In fact-tonight.  Look out world-here I come!

 

But now, I am back to a new project, making the lightest, fluffiest pie crust I can.  Today I experimented with a single 8 or 9" pie crust from my Better Homes and Gardens Pies and Cakes cookbook.  It was very quick to make and once I remembered to add the cold water, it even stuck together.  They say cold water is an essential ingredient.  The crust is fluted and made, sitting in the refrigerator until I decide what to fill it with.

 

With the leftover pie dough, I filled a small tart pan and baked a bacon & cheese quiche.  Just the basics, 1 egg,  a little milk, salt, pepper, dried mustard, mozzarella cheese (that's all I had in the house) and some bacon bits.  Baked at 375 for 35 minutes.  That will be re-heated tomorrow at work and eaten for breakfast.

 

So for you timid pie makers at home, here's my first crust for you to try:

 

PLAIN PASTRY

 

1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup shortening

4 to 5 tbsp. cold water

 

Sift together flour and salt; cut in shortening with pastry blender or fork till pieces are the size of small peas.  Sprinkle 1 tbsp. water over part of the mixture.  Gently toss with fork; push to side of bowl.  Sprinkle next tbsp. water over dry part; mix lightly, push to moistened, part at side.  Repeat until all is moistened.  Flatten ball on lightly floured surface.  Roll from center to edge till dough is 1/8 inch thick.

 

Fit pastry into pie plate, trim 1/2 to 1 inch beyond edge; fold under and flute. 

 

If baking right now, prick bottom and sides well with fork.  Bake in a very hot oven (450) for 10 to 12 minutes or till golden.

 

I placed mine in a plastic Ziploc bag in the refrigerator for the time being.  I'm not sure if it will be pre-baked or not, depending on the filling.

 

My thoughts:  getting it from the floured surface to the pie tin was not as easy as it looked.  Finally, I took this really huge spatula that I have, folded the pie crust over and then placed it carefully in the pie tin.

 

Happy Cooking!