A beautiful weekend......

My daughter and I had a staycation using my aunt and uncle's apartment as home base. We walked the city, visited a museum, shopped and had high tea. It was an awesome belated Mother's Day gift to have this time my girl. Some days I feel she is growing up fast and it was just yesterday I was changing her diapers. Yet, she heads to middle school next fall. My mom and I had several mother/daughter trips that hold a special place in my heart. I hope this weekend will remain in my daughter's heart.

An early's mother's day gift....

This morning at a local farmer's market, I pointed out the mother's day cookies at a bakery stall and my daughter said, "I would by you one, but I know you want to lose weight, so it wouldn't be good."

(Thanks, Sweetie.)

Tuesday's tip: Mailing packages

The plastic "bag" mailers that some retailers use can be turned inside out to hide the writing and/or logo from the USPS and used again. (I just did it, so I know.)

Wednesday's words: Live in the moment

"Best to take the moment present, as a present for the moment." —Stephen Sondheim

To gift or not to gift, that is what I ponder

I have noticed that gifts I give some family members sit unused and wonder if I should gift them in the future and decided that cooking lessons, dinner and movie was better than feeling hurt over an unused gift.

(On, a side note, many years ago we found gifts still in their boxes in my great uncle's apartment so for his upcoming birthday he is getting his usual grocery store gift card)

This just in...a cook book for FREE

All the recipes from the blog last year are available in one Pdf, so you can make them throughout the year (healthy waffles, sweet sugar cookies, baked tofu and Bok Choy, etc.) and store on your bookshelf. I have one on my shelf despite it being over crowded with books from my antique cookbook collection (I have one from 1851).

So click the link below.....
http://www.scribd.com/doc/197791528/From-My-Blog-In-the-Kitchen-on-Thursday-Recipes-2013

Happy cooking and eat-up!

Tuesday's Tip: An easy hostess/host gift, for next year's New Year's Eve party....

Fresh herbs and citrus zest can be steeped in small bottles of olive oil for 2-3 weeks to flavor it (I buy small bottles of olive oil for this purpose).

What's in a number?....Age

I had coffee with a friend this morning who told me it was her birthday and I couldn't believe how old she was and that is when I truly realized that age is number by which we need not define ourselves and while as adults we should not act like kids all the time, we should be young at heart (and in mind).

Happy Birthday Linda!

In the kitchen on Thursday: A good gift....Homemade Hot Sauce

Hot Sauce

6 oz. hot peppers (any kind or a mix)
2 oz. garlic cloves
1 Tbsp. Kosher salt
3/4 C. distilled white vinegar

Wash and cut the tops of the peppers. Peel the the garlic. Roast both on a cookie sheet on broil for 3-5 minutes until pepper skin begins to blister. Pulse in food processor with salt. Scrape into jar and add vinegar. Let sit for two weeks and then strain out the pepper seeds. Makes a great gift for a spice loving family member or friend.