Blind Dates….

February 5, 2011 by 7 Comments

I started blogging to share my experiences in caring for a dementia-stricken parent; a lot of what I write is from my book project, “Another cookie, please!”.  

Since becoming part of a wonderful blogging community called….For The Love Of Blogs, I’ve been able to think beyond past sadness and enjoy contributing writings that are fun and creative.

Well, at least I try….

                                           

Sometimes, my thinking cap manages to get twisted but, what the hell, maybe someone will smile when they read my posts. 

                  
Had a brain fart while driving to work this morning about…Blind Dates; the good, bad and even horrors of such encounters.  I now ask you to share your stories, don’t spare any sordid details either!  I want to read about how you were overtaken by numbness when Mr. Groady knocked on your door, his appearance bringing on instant nausea.

                                                 

Me?  Well, I had the brief misfortune of meeting only one creature during my dating years; all it took was one whiff of something coming from his mouth that smelled like rotting chicken and it took me about a half hour to come up with some malady and I ran home…and hid.

That’s it…short and not-so-sweet for today but I look forward to hearing your most awful, yucky, disgusting, Blind Date stories.

                                           

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When tears fell from the clouds…

January 28, 2011 by 9 Comments

                                                   

I’ve witnessed quite a few tragedies over my years, standing as a tearful observer as the world came tumbling down on the lives of others.  Twenty five years ago, I joined millions of television viewers who watched in silent horror as the Challenger and its crew disappeared into billowing clouds of smoke; I watched the agonized faces of Christa McAuliffe’s family as they stared towards the heavens in shocked disbelief.  And I cried along with them for their loss. 

The images still haunt 25 years later. – So do the words of NASA public affairs officer Steve Nesbitt during the live CNN broadcast: “Flight controllers here looking very carefully at the situation. Obviously, a major malfunction.” – The explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, just 73 seconds after liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center, is an iconic freeze-frame of forked smoke plumes that a generation will never forget.

It was the world’s first high-tech catastrophe to unfold on live television. Adding to the anguish was the young audience: School children everywhere tuned in that morning to watch the launch of the first schoolteacher and ordinary citizen bound for space, Christa McAuliffe.

She never made it. 

McAuliffe and six others on board perished as the cameras rolled, victims of stiff O-ring seals and feeble bureaucratic decisions. 

That damned “malfunction,” due to a faulty, inexpensive, O-ring in one of two solid-fuel rocket boosters, brought tears and shattered the notion that NASA — which put men on the moon — could do no wrong. Seventeen years later, a second space shuttle, the Columbia, disintegrated during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere over Texas, killing all seven crew members.
                                              


But it’s the Challenger that prompts the question: Where were you when the space shuttle disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean at 11:39 a.m. on Jan. 28, 1986?

I’d like to read your comments.

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Pasta…plus imagination!

January 25, 2011 by 5 Comments

Recently, I joined a fabulous website called…For the Love of Blogs (FTLOB) and marvel daily at their wonderful features.  Each day carries its own label, Magical Mondays, Thirsty Thursdays, Fab Friends Fridays; each feature gives members a chance to put their best blogging-foot forward and share thoughts, crafts and…recipes. 

That feature is today….Tasty Tuesdays!

                                                                   
Although my writings jump around from Alzheimer’s-related stories, to other topics, I realized that, hey, I’m a cook and a pretty dang good one if I say so myself; as such, I’m taking the plunge and sharing a favorite, quick, and fun pasta recipe which is perfect for a last-minute dinner or can be dressed-up for company.   There is always something hiding in the back of your pantry, or fridge, that works perfectly with any pasta dish, especially when you’re in a mad rush!

The trick here is…imagination; use it and enjoy!

Last-minute, In a dinner-hurry Pasta

  • 1 lb. (your choice) Pasta (Rotini, Bow Ties, Orrichette, Rigatoni, Gemelli)
  • 1 lb. (your choice) Frozen Veggies (Broccoli, Mixed Veggies)
  • 1 Family-Size Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 2 Tbsp. Fresh, chopped Basil (or dried Italian Seasoning)…..extra for garnish
  • 1 Cup Shaved (or grated) Parmesean…extra for garnish
  • Optional: Cooked Cubed Chicken or..Ham or..Chopped Cooked Bacon, Seafood or..can of Tuna
  • Optional: Can of Sliced Mushrooms
  • Optional: Garlic Powder

Cook Pasta in large pot of lightly salted water, bring to boil and allow to cook for 3/4 minutes.
Add bag of Frozen Veggies to boiling water, return to boil and simmer until Pasta is al dente.  The beauty of this dish is that the veggies cook in perfect harmony with the Pasta!
Drain but leave a small amount of pasta water in pot; return Pasta and Veggies to pot over Low heat, drizzle with Olive Oil, (add Garlic Powder if desired) and add full can of Mushroom Soup, stirring mixture until blended. 
Add small amount of Milk, to thin, if necessary.
Add your choice of Chicken, Ham and/or Bacon, Seafood and can of Mushrooms.
Add 1 cup of  Parmesan
Trim with a few Basil Leaves and sprinkle extra Parmesan on top……Serve and Enjoy!

                                                     
Now…for a fancier version of the same, you can saute Chicken Sausage that comes stuffed with sun dried tomatoes or other delish additions; use Shrimp, Scallops or seafood of your choice and set aside.  Use fresh, washed and chopped, Broccoli Rape instead of frozen veggies to cook with the pasta and eliminate the mushroom soup, adding just a good quality Olive Oil and sliced Garlic to the mixture when you return it to the heat.  Toss in sliced sausage (or other), sliced sun-dried tomatoes, basil and cheese.  Serve with a warm loaf of Ciabatta bread.

                                                         
                              Tutti a tavola a mangiare!

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