Apple a Day

Do you know where your food is coming from? The other day I was in Lucky's grocery store. I was looking for tomatoes. I checked the crates and boxes to see where the tomatoes came from. I noticed All the tomatoes that Luckys had come from Canada or Mexico. That is outrages. Why would I eat a tomato from Canada or Mexico. What the heck! California is tomato growing country. I said to the produce guy, why don't you have any tomatoes from California? He did not know, but he agreed that it was a bad policy to buy tomatoes from other countries when we have perfect tomatoes here . I left Luckys and went to Safeway.

Safeway had big signs with bold letters that said
"GROWN LOCALLY" at the tomatoes bin. So I inquired about where "locally" was. The produce guy said Reeding California. Reeding is in the other half of the state. So I guess Safeway figures local means California. I am ok with that.

I have a hard time understanding why people don't care where their food comes from. I am not just saying fruit and veggies. Don't you want to know where your beef, chicken or fish came from? Do you know about the conditions your food is raised in. Do you even care? Do you care if your meat and fish are full of hormones ? Do you care if your fruits and vegetable are sprayed with pesticides? People wonder why is the cancer rate so high? or why do girls develop so early now. I say take a look at your food source.

Concerning pesticides on fruits and veggies: Most people I know say they would rather eat pesticide then find a worm in their apple. Americans are squeamish over little worms or bugs. For many people around the world worms and bugs are a food source. Spoiled whining Americans.

In the last few days we have been hearing about a Listeria outbreak coming from cantaloupe. The Center for Disease control says that 72 people are ill and 13 have died.
http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/index.html

If people knew their cantaloupe came from Colorado they would throw it away, so they don't get sick. Many worry that there will be more illness and death because people do not know where there food comes from.

The poor farmer of the cantaloupe has no idea how the bacteria invaded his cantaloupe. The Food and Drug Administration can't figure it out either.

Today I am hearing that a bag lettuce company from California is recalling lettuce. The pre package lettuce has been shipped to other states like Oregon, Washington and Idaho. They are concerned about Listeria.

Do you remember when pre packaged lettuce started showing up in local grocery stores? Do you remember how exciting and amazed we were with this new product that would save so much time, and it is already washed to boot! How convenient. I don't buy pre packaged lettuce anymore. I have come to love the smell of fresh romaine lettuce that I wash and cut myself. Cutting and chopping is a great stress reliever!

My gig a low says he knows his food source, it's me. :)

10 4

It's Saturday night...I am board...just sitting here in front of my computer and listening to the police scanner. I have had the flu. It keeps hang on, I want it to stop it now, stop it now.. it keeps hanging on..

I wonder about my readers, like how did you hear about my blog? Why do you read it? (I am happy you do, I am just perplexed ) What is your religious beliefs, what kind of food do you like? No matter, what food is something we all have in common with one another.

Speaking of food, I just tried water buffalo mozzarella cheese. I am gaining a new appreciation for mozzarella. It is yummy.

I hate it when the cops use their cell phones. You cant hear what is going on. Transient compliant.
Even the police scanner is boring tonight.

This morning I was talking to a catholic friend. My friend admitted that she had not been to confession for years. I teased her about it, she said she confessed without a priests. I told her it was good enough, she did not have to see the priest. I felt convicted about teasing my friend, when was the last time I confessed any sin??? I have plenty to confess.

Bacon Grease

My gig a low has gone bonkers. Yes thats right, recently. It all started the other day when I made BLT's for dinner. I used brandy wine tomato, heritage bacon, fresh romaine lettuce, and whole wheat bread. I fried the bacon crisp. We also had corn on the cob, and watermelon. Perfect for a hot September evening. ( Not sure if the weather was my own or it really was hot outside. I digress. )

Anyways my gig a lows job is to do the dishes. Later that evening I went out to the kitchen and noticed a glass jar full of bacon grease. I said to my gig a low, why did you put that bacon grease in the jar? He said I thought you might like to save it . I knew than my gig a low had forgotten this is 2011, he had drifted back to 1960 something. Why would I want to save it I said? Well I thought you might want to make something out of it because the bacon was so good. (I was right) What do you think I should make out of the bacon grease? I like it on toast he said, with a little butter. Bacon grease and butter.. What do you think I should tell the cardiologist, I asked him. 

All this bacon grease talk took me on a trip down memory lane when my mother used to use grease/fat to cook everything. When she was done cooking bacon or anything greasy she would put it in a coffee can, put the lid on it and keep it under the sink until she was ready to re use it. Recycling at it's best. We thought nothing of it.

Did your mother have "bad grease" and "good grease"?  I don't remember how they were different. I think in the year 2011 all grease is bad grease.

Today I bought a old cookbook. "The Presley Family Cookbook" By Uncle Vester (Elvis's uncle) and the long time maid and cook Nancy Rooks. Signed by Uncle Vester himself. I love this cookbook! One recipe title "Country Rabbit with Sweet Potatoes" says first boil the rabbit, than pour the juice over the opossum. Ooopps!! This cookbook could have a section just on bacon grease. Perfect!

Do I really want to get started cooking with bacon grease? No, because I might just like it.

Harvest Festival Art and Crafts Show

Today I went with S-quilter and The Neighborhood Hero to the "Harvest Festival Art and Crafts Show." It cost $8.00 to park and $9.00 to get in. I only had to pay $7.00 because I brought a can of food for the food bank. Still, I don't feel you should have to pay to get into a crafts fair.

The truth is I go for the food and not the crafts. I spent most of my time drinking and tasting olive oils and vinegars. I like to drink it straight, not mess around with bread that will distract my taste buds. I ask the vendors 3 simple questions before I will even consider buying from them.

1. Where do you get your balsamic vinegar? 
2. How long is it aged?
3. Where do you get your olives for your olive oil?

Today I was shocked to hear a vendor get insulted and said he had no idea how long the vinegar was aged. Shouldn't you know the product your selling??

One vendor had chocolate balsamic vinegar. EWWWWWW.

I like balsamic vinegar that has aged from 15 to 25 years.  The Balsamic's from the craft show averaged 11 to 12 years. Thats ok.

This is what I bought:

• Lemon Splash Vinaigrette
• Valencia Splash Vinaigrette

I bought these two vinaigrette's because they had this cute 20 something cowboy with a 10 gallon cowboy hat selling them. How could I resist? 

http://www.tresclassique.com/index.html

• Very Berry Ginger Balsamic 

 http://www.tresclassique.com/index.html

• Pomegranate Grenadine
• Pomegranate Fruit Spread
• Pomegranate Balsamic Grill Sauce 

http://www.skylakeranch.com/

• Garlic Garni 

http://www.garlicfestival.com/detail.php?prodid=GS-GA2.8

I loved hanging out with S-quilter and the Neighborhood Hero! Anyways, when I got home the first thing I did was make a pomegranate"mixed" drink. I used 7-up, pomegranate grenadine and ice. Put it in the blender and make it into a slushy! YUM YUM GOOD!

I enjoyed my day!

Rhymes with Bucket

The other day I was talking to my big brother. He said that he was watching the comedy channel show with a stand up comedian.  The comedian said he does not have a bucket list, he has a F*** it list. Things he will never ever do in his lifetime. I found this hilarious. I started thinking, one could have a F*** it daily list, and a F*** it life time list. My F*** it list might look like this:

Today on my F*** it list :

• The laundry
• Making the bed
• Water the plants
• Making dinner
• Worrying about the stock market

My life time F*** it list would be something like this:

• Jumping out of an airplane for fun
• Bungee jumping of any kind
• Go to a nudist beach
• Going under water to see Great White sharks in a shark cage
• Trying to make another quilt

What would be on your F*** list ?

Beach Bliss 5 Tea Time (last in the series)

Our last day in Aptos, how sad. Time to go home and back to reality. The only thing that could possibly make me feel better would be to have tea! Me and my gig a low stopped by Bloomsbury Tearoom in Capitola.

http://www.bloomsburytearoom.com/

This tea room is a gem.

I could not believe they sat us in the Alice in Wonderland room. Could they just tell by looking at me,  that me and Alice go way back ?

Other rooms in the tea house

They let you pick out a tea cup and a hat to ware.

The cup I picked

The cup my gig a low picked

I must say my gig a low looked very dapper in is trilby plaid hat. I looked like I was ready to go to Churchill Downs in my black wide brimmed hat with a  big red rose on the front.

We orderd our tea first. I had "Mothers Bouquet Tea," my gig a low had "Irish Breakfast Tea"

I ordered the "Full Tea"

Tea, artichoke soup, tea sandwiches (cucumber, tomato, chicken, egg) fresh fruit, scones
Lemon Curd & Clotted Cream, Desserts (caramelized bread pudding, strawberry pie cup, key lime cheesecake.)
I think the photos speak for themselves. 

My gig a low had "Bloomsbury Tea"

Crab quiche, two tea sandwiches, scones, lemon curd & clotted cream
Marilee’s strawberry delight, fresh fruit garnish

This was the best teahouse I have ever been to. My gig a low says it was "exceptional." He even admitted it was a fun experience (although he does not want to do it again! LOL)

I give Bloomsbury Tearoom 5 out of 5 tea cups!

Beach Biss 4 Dahlia's Rental Condo

This is Dehlia's beach condo in Aptos, Ca. Dehlia has very good taste, it shows in her decorations. Unfortunately my photos do not do justice to the beautiful colors. The condo is relaxing and charming! This is a great place for couples, girls weekend, family vacations!

Location, Location, Location! Aptos is next to Capitola and Santa Cruz. It is close enough to Monterey that you could go down there for a day trip.

Here is a look at Dehlia's the cozy beach condo.

 Dehlia's condo is on the top right. In this photo her condo looks like it is under the tall trees.
                                                                                                          

Upstairs bedroom

The bed was very comfortable!

This sliding door leads to a street view balcony
Great place to sunbath, or hang out.
My photo of the bathroom upstairs did not turn out.

Looking from the upstairs bedroom to the living room.
For my quilting friends Dahlia made a quilt curtain that is beautiful.
In this photo it is blowing in the sea breeze.

Living room

Balcony off the living room - You can see all the way to the ends of the earth.
I could of stayed here all day just watching the pelicans and the ocean. Dehlia
says whales and dolphins are common in the area.

Cute kitchen

I loved sitting at this table. 

Downstairs bedroom 1

Downstairs bedroom 2

Bathroom between the downstairs bedrooms
This bathroom has great light for putting on makeup.

Me and my gig a low sat on the ocean side balcony and watched the fog roll in. We brain stormed on how to come up our first 5 million so we could move down there permanently. For 5 million you could get a decent house, housekeeper and gardener. Do you think I could sell 5 million $$ worth of dog treats? Or maybe my gig a low could make 5 million on commentary style Utube videos. We hated to leave.

I give this place 5 out of 5 starfish on the location, view, comfort of the bed and emulating the colors of the ocean and sky. Highly recommended!

You can read more on this condo, or maybe you would like to rent it, see below link. 

http://www.vrbo.com/274752

Or you can contact me!