MLK - Day of Service

_

_
I hope everyone is enjoying this moment in history as much as I am!!
_
2009 King Day of Service Will Be Largest Ever – 12,100 Projects and Counting!

Millions of Americans are expected to honor Dr. King and answer President-elect Obama’s call to service by volunteering on the January 19 King Holiday. More than 12,100 service projects are taking place across the country, more than double last year. Americans will make it “a day on, not a day off” by delivering meals, refurbishing schools, reading to children, signing up mentors, and much, much more.
_
MLKDay.gov
_

Fridays Photos - White House and Decorator To the President

_

_

_

For two years Laura Bush worked with funds from the White House Historical Association (no tax money involved) to return the Lincoln Room to some sort of historical authenticity. So far critics are approving and from all that I have read and seen I have to agree.

_

Lincoln's Room was actually his office during his Presidency and he never slept in the bed but his son Willie Lincoln, 11, died there from typhoid fever in 1862. Harry Truman is most responsible for the creation of what has become America's most revered bedroom.

_

You don't want to get me started about the White House - it's history - decor and how each family impacted it. I could go on for hours on this subject, and know far more than the average person -- as my family painfully knows. Although my husband, who's main interests have always been History/Politics, appreciates this little known fact about me. Thank you Mark! So when I read the article at domino online entitled - Meet the New White House Decorator - I was all over it.

_

_

"I would love to redecorate the White House!" Michael Smith told domino magazine in April 2008, foreshadowing the January 12 news that the Los Angeles-based interior designer has been selected to do exactly that for the Obama family. "The family's casual style, their interest in featuring 20th century American artists and utilizing affordable brands and products will serve as our guiding principles as we make the residence feel like their home," Smith says. Michelle Obama says that "Michael shares my vision for creating a family-friendly feel for our new home and incorporating some new perspectives from some of America's greatest artists and designers."

__

_

_

__

_

If your interested in an online tour of the White House click on this link:

Historical Tour of the White House

_

See Jane (Sabina) Work

_

I love desk items - freshly sharpened pencils - a container full of pens (in all colors) lots of beautiful stationary - cute post-its - I guess I'm just easily amused.

_

All above items can be found at See Jane Work.

_

The Omnivore’s Hundred

_
_

_

The blog Very Good Taste has come up with a list of 100 items that every omnivore should try in his or her life. Basically, you copy the list from Very Good Taste's The Omnivore's 100 and post it to your blog, bolding the items you've tried and striking through any you would never try.

_

Here is mine. I've tried 44 out of 100. I don't think (never say never) I would object to trying most everything on this list once - under the right circumstances - even though I'd had no idea what some of these things were until I hit the link.

_
1. Venison

2. Nettle tea

3. Huevos rancheros

4. Steak tartare

5. Crocodile

6. Black pudding

7. Cheese fondue

8. Carp

9. Borscht

10. Baba ghanoush

11. Calamari

12. Pho

13. PB&J sandwich

14. Aloo gobi

15. Hot dog from a street cart

16. Epoisses

17. Black truffle

18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes

19. Steamed pork buns

20. Pistachio ice cream

21. Heirloom tomatoes

22. Fresh wild berries

23. Foie gras

24. Rice and beans

25. Brawn, or head cheese

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper

27. Dulce de leche

28. Oysters

29. Baklava

30. Bagna cauda

31. Wasabi peas

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl

33. Salted lassi

34. Sauerkraut

35. Root beer float

36. Cognac with a fat cigar

37. Clotted cream tea

38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O

39. Gumbo

40. Oxtail

41. Curried goat

42. Whole insects

43. Phaal

44. Goat’s milk

45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more

46. Fugu

47. Chicken tikka masala

48. Eel

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut

50. Sea urchin

51. Prickly pear

52. Umeboshi

53. Abalone

54. Paneer

55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal

56. Spaetzle

57. Dirty gin martini

58. Beer above 8% ABV

59. Poutine

60. Carob chips

61. S’mores

62. Sweetbreads

63. Kaolin

64. Currywurst

65. Durian

66. Frogs’ legs

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake

68. Haggis

69. Fried plantain

70. Chitterlings, or andouillette

71. Gazpacho

72. Caviar

73. Louche absinthe

74. Gjetost, or brunost

75. Roadkill

76. Baijiu

77. Hostess Fruit Pie

78. Snail

79. Lapsang souchong

80. Bellini

81. Tom yum

82. Eggs Benedict

83. Pocky

84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.

85. Kobe beef

86. Hare

87. Goulash

88. Flowers

89. Horse

90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam

92. Soft shell crab

93. Rose harissa

94. Catfish

95. Mole poblano

96. Bagel and lox

97. Lobster Thermidor

98. Polenta

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

100. Snake

Best Actress - Laura Linney

_
_

_

Laura Linney is one of my all-time favorite actors - so I was happy to see her win a Golden Globe for Best Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television for her role as Abigale Adams in HBO's John Adams. If you haven't seen this Mini-series go out now and rent it - you won't be disappointed.

_

Friday's Photos - HGTV Dream Home Giveaway

_

_

HGTV's Dream Home Giveaway is located in Sonoma, California this time around. I've been watching them slowly build it over the last 6 months. It sits in an exclusive neighborhood just a short walk from the historic downtown. Modeled after a Victorian/Farmhouse - complete with furnishings, and a GMC vehicle already waiting in the two-car garage. They've even planted a small vineyard on one side of the house. It really is a "Dream Home"!!

_

The television network will give away the entire $2 million package through a random drawing in March. For 12 years, HGTV has given away dream homes in locations from Florida to Colorado to Texas, drawing 41 million entries last year.

_

Happy Friday!!

_
_
_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

On The Lighter Side - What's In Your Bag

_

___

_

I committed to this challenge a while back and decided to finally make good on it. I will pass it on to those brave enough to let the world know - What's In Your Bag!!

_

1 wallet - containing various items - license, medical and bank cards, photos, money, etc.

_

2 cloth bags that I can use instead of plastic.

_

1 cell phone.

_

1 brand new iPod Nano (thank you Mark).

_

1 Nikon digital camera and extra batteries.

_

Tissues and disinfectant wipes - no self respecting mother would be caught dead without these.

_

A small first aide kit - Band-Aids, Motrin, etc.

_

1 checkbook.

_

1 pair of green wool (Army) gloves - my old favorites.

_

Lip balm, and lip stick.

_

Notebook/journal with a pencil and pen.

_

Various restaurant menus (Pasta Bella, Simply Vietnam, East West, etc.). Yum!!

_

Small LED flashlight, and Swiss Army Knife.

_

Extra house key on compass key chain.

_

Various plastic utensils - forks, spoons and one straw.

_

Ball and jacks (my kids love these) and small sewing kit.

_

A 3x5 index card with "Tim Gunn's Essential Wardrobe List" - just in case I feel like shopping.

_

Oops, I forgot the front pocket - breath mints and stamps.

_

Body and Soul Challenge 2009

_

___
_

This looks interesting. While I'm not into quick fixes or fads - a few new tips and healthy changes couldn't hurt.

_

35 Days to a New You!
Each week Body and Soul gives you the tools you need to lead a healthier life.

_

Example:

_

MON Scale Back
TUE Tune Out
WED Get Moving
THU Purify
FRI Brush & Steam
SAT Reflect
SUN Ease Back In

_
Detox Example: What to Eat

_

Wake-Up

Drink a cup of warm water with the juice of 1/4 lemon, which stimulates the liver and helps release digestive enzymes.

_
Breakfast

Have a cup of hot oatmeal with a cup of fruit and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon. Drink a cup of green or black tea, if you wish.

_
Midmorning Snack

If you're hungry, eat an organic apple or pear and 10 unsalted raw almonds.

_
Lunch

Eat a cup of legumes (lentils, split peas, beans, chickpeas), a cup of cooked brown rice or quinoa, and a cup of steamed vegetables (include the Brassica family, such as broccoli). For flavor, saute onion, garlic, ginger, and turmeric in a teaspoon of olive oil and add to food, but avoid salt. Drink a cup of digestion-boosting ginger or spice tea.

_

Midafternoon Snack
If you're hungry, eat celery and carrot sticks with 2 tablespoons of hummus.

_
Dinner

Steam 2 cups of mixed vegetables; eat with a cup of brown rice. Use the same flavorings as lunch. Drink a cup of ginger tea.

_
Before Bed

Drink a cup of warm water with lemon. Be in bed by 10 p.m.

_

Chef Alice Waters on

I find her such an inspiration!!

What's In Season - January + Recipe

_

-

_

Northern California

_

While many fruits and vegetables are available year-round, we enjoy some only briefly and eagerly anticipate their return to market from year to year. To find out what items you can get during which seasons search out your local area.

_

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!! I feel re-energized and ready to take on 2009!! Happy New Year!!

_

_

Vegetables
_

•asian greens

•avocados
•beans

•beets

•bok choy

•broccoli

•brussels sprouts

•cabbage
•cardoons

•carrots

•cauliflower

•chard

•collards

•cress

•dandelion/chicory

•endive

•fennel

•garlic

•gourds
•herbs

•horseradish

•kale

•leeks

•lettuces

•mushrooms

•olives

•onions

•parsnips

•potatoes

•radish

•rapini

•rutabaga

•scallions

•spinach

•squash, winter

•sunchokes

•turnips

_

_

Fruit and Nuts

_
•almonds

•apples

•asian pears

•avocados

•cherimoyas

•dates

•dried fruit

•grapefruit

•guavas

•kiwi

•kumquats

•lemons

•limes

•mandarins

•oranges

•pears

•persimmons

•pomelos

•tangerines

•walnuts

_

Recipe

_

Yellow or Green Split-Pea Soup with Red Onion and Lemon

from Joyce Goldstein, from the book Cooking with Les Dames D’Escoffier

Serves 12

_
INGREDIENTS:

_
2 teaspoons ground cumin

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

2 cups coarsely diced onion

One 16 ounce bag (2 ¼ cups yellow split peas or green split peas, I sometimes substitute organic frozen peas)

6 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1 to 2 lemons, zested for 1 teaspoon grated zest and squeezed for 2 tablespoons juice

¾ teaspoon salt plus additional as needed

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper plus additional as needed

3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

_
PREPARATION:

_
Start by toasting the cumin to give it a richer, rounder flavor. Place a small skillet over moderate heat and when hot, add the cumin. Stir about a minute or until the spice gives off a roasty aroma. Immediately remove from heat and reserve.

_

Warm 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the cumin and stir for a few minutes.

_

Add the split peas and broth and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the peas are falling apart, about an hour (less time if frozen). Puree the pea mixture in a blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender. Thin it with water or broth if too thick.

_

Season with the lemon zest and juice, salt, and pepper.

_

To serve, ladle into bowls. Top with the red onion, pepper, and oil.

_