Santa Barbara Intl Orchid Show

Cym. Sycamore Peek

I've written before about the group LA People Connection. This weekend I did a daytrip with them to Santa Barbara for the SB Intl. Orchid Show. We had such a great time! I met two new friends, very interesting, funny gals that I have a lot in common with. A high school friend of mine came with us also, so it was a great marriage of people I was comfortable with and new relationships. The drive alone was beautiful. The show was really interesting--all the different varieties. It was a great chance to learn about my camera, so I came back with a ton of pictures. Now I'll have to make some cards and list them for sale on Zazzle! They had a small sale tent where I bought two orchids for fifteen bucks and a handful of amaryllis bulbs for about ten dollars. I'd totally recommend this as a relaxing get-away outing for next year.

A really cool aspect of the show was the arranging competition. One arrangement was displayed on an old iron grate from a heater or some such. I photographed a couple of the arrangements so I'd remember the ideas.

The Arrangement section of the competition

How are you welcoming spring? Let me know in a comment.

Cym. Iowanium Pitts

Paph. Lefty Kel

Nov. Sym. 'Royale Harvest'

SLC Jewel Box

Lc. Gold Digger


Cym. Via Loch Resposo 'Pixie Gold'


Cym. Procul Harum 'Afterglow'

Cym. Kiri te Kanawa 'Princess'

Cym. Vidar 'Harlequin'


Cym. Coraki Smoke 'Orange Squash'
Cym. Fifi

Ep. Wedding Valley



Paph. Deperle

Zygo

Slc. Mango Spice

Cym. Alexanderii 'Westonbirt'

Patient Assistance Programs for Medications

Found a couple of nifty websites that I think is important to know about, given the state of health care today. They're an invaluable tool that helps you to be your own health advocate. One site, RxAssist.org, offers a comprehensive database of patient assistance programs. Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. The database at RxAssist is searchable by name of the medication or by manufacturer. Bookmark this site and use it as a reference tool the next time your insurance lapses.

Another, similar site is Needymeds.org. I read about this one in O Magazine, and it sounds like the above.

Lastly, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together pharmeceutical companies, doctors/health care providers/patient advocacy organizations, and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage to get the medicines they need through the public or private program that is right for them. Look them up at helpingpatients.org.

What are some ways that you have found to manage health care costs? Let me know in a comment below.

Doggy Treat Jars

I made a little present for the doggies today. Getting a picture of it without a little chihuahua snout attached actually became an issue. I had to put the jar on doggy steps on the table to get an unobstructed view.

Since my dogs are tinys at only six lbs. apiece, I can fit lots of their cookies into a small jar. But I like to have them all over the house. My Claire is known to jump onto the coffee table and other surfaces in search of good things, so I like the containers to be airtight.

This craft was really easy. I took a regular wide-mouth canning jar, and picked some cute fabric. Then I used the flat from the jar lid to trace circles onto the fabric which I cut out. Next I took a jar of Mod-Podge and painted the fabric onto the lid with the glue. Let dry, trim if needed, and you're done. Just remember to keep the dogs out of the room until the lid's back onto the jar!












And, not to forget the cats....

Caramelizing Onions

A food writer caught a cold. My luck, as the day stuck at home led him to make a big pot of caramelized onions. He wrote about it in the LA Times food section at the end of January, and it sounded so simple I decided to give it a try. Now I'm addicted. I eat them on pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and sometimes just straight, on crackers. I made another big pot yesterday, so I decided to put the recipe up here.

I use my 5 Qt cast iron enameled pot. When I'm done, I bottle into 8 oz jars, keeping one in the fridge and freezing the rest to use as needed.

The recipe calls for 5 pounds brown onions (about 6 large). I use about a bag, or two, depending how much chopping I wish to do.
1/2 cup oil
1 tbsp salt (this I never measure)

1. Cut off the stem and root ends of the onions, then halve them lengthwise and peel away the dried brown skin. Cut the onions lengthwise into one-fourth inch thick slices. As you finish, gather the onions in a large, heavy bottomed pot. A 7-quart pot will work just about perfectly.


2. When all of the onions have been sliced, pour over the oil and the salt and stir to combine. Set over medium heat and cover. Cook until the onions begin to wilt, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes to keep from sticking. As the onions soften, they will reduce in size quite dramatically.

3. After 20 to 30 minutes, the onions will begin to stick to the bottom. Reduce the heat tto low and continue cooking with the pot covered, stirring ever 10 to 15 minutes to keep from sticking.


4. After 45 to 50 minutes, the onions will be silky and will be swimming in moisture. Remove the lid and increase the heat back to medium. Cook, stirring frequently, until the moisture has mostly evaporated and the onions have begun to turn golden, about 25 to 30 more minutes.


5. Once again, reduce the heat to low and continue cooking, stirring every 15 to 20 minutes, until the onions really begin to brown more deeply, about 2 more hours (this will make 2 1/2 to 3 hours total).

6. At this point, you'll need to watch the onions very carefully, stirring every couple of minutes or so. Cook until the onions have been reduced to a deep, reddish-brown marmalade, watching that they do not dry out, about 1 more hour, making 3 to 4 hours total.


Makes about 2 1/2 cups. These onions will keep tightly covered in the refrigerator for at least a week. Each one-quarter cup: 182 calories; 2 grams protein; 21 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams fiber; 12 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 704 mg sodium.

My Culinary Repertoir

As the Adult Who Eats Like a Five-Year-Old, I tend to go on binges, eating the same thing at every meal for days or weeks at a time, due to lack of creativity, convenience or just because it's there. Dozing off last night, I decided I need a List to remind myself of the things I can make basically from scratch, when I think the only option is to resort to expensive frozen convenience meals. These items are occasionally by recipe, often improvised, but always things that I know will work, and do not have to be questioned in case of a special meal. The List will be revised and updated periodically.

Postscript: I've now updated this list to include most of the recipes I've posted on the blog, whether simple or difficult. It's a great, handy index of quick links.

So, here goes:

Beverages
Soy-Blackberry Smoothie
Strawberry Lemonade

Alchoholic Beverages
Tim's Hard Lemonade
Raspberry Cordial
Peppermint Liquor

Breakfast
Cut Fruit
Pancakes
Omelettes
Egg, Corn, "Sausage" Casserole
Grandma Walker's Coffee Cake
Pineapple Casserole
Make-Ahead Spinach Mushroom Breakfast Casserole

Appetizers
Kumquat Chutney
Caramelized Onions
Infused Olive Dipping Oil
Cheddar Twists
Guacamole
Salsa
Cheese Ball
Ann's Artichoke Dip
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip with Gingersnaps 
Roasted Eggplant Dip 
Goat Cheese Wrapped in Apricot, Figs, and Rosemary

Snacks
Aunt Pauline Schupmann's Popcorn Balls
Nut Spice Mix
Puppy Chow

Breads
English Muffin Bread
Whole Wheat Bread
Cheese Bread
Pumpkin Bread
Zucchini Bread
Hawiian Bread
Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
Choc Chip Scones
Grandma Walker's Coffee Cake

Salads
Banana Salad
Spinach Salad with Hard Boiled Eggs, Mandarin Oranges, Caramelized Onions, & Cheese
Couscous with Pineapple, Mango & Maraschino Cherries
Couscous with Pineapple & Roasted Chestnuts
Quinoa & Corn Salad with Cucumber and Cashews
Rachel Walker Baker's Grape Salad
Jicama, Mint, & Grapefruit Salad
Caputo's Bread Salad
Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing and Croutons 
Gemischter Salat (German Mixed Salad)
Macedoine of Vegetables Mayonnaise
Wild Rice Salad

Dressings & Condiments
Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing
Red Wine Vinaigrette
Caesar Dressing
Mayonnaise
Sun-dried Tomato-Basil Aioli
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry-Orange Compote

Sandwiches
Grilled Caramelized Onion-Cheddar Cheese Sandwich
Egg Salad Sandwich
Fake Bacon & Peanut Butter Sandwich

Soups
Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Soup
Ramen Soup
Lentil Bean-Alphabet Soup
Sweet Potato Soup
Cream of Mushroom Soup w/Sherry & Parmesan Cheese
"Soup Kitchen" Tomato Soup
Pumpkin Mushroom Quinoa Stew 
Ratatouille 
Butternut Squash Soup with Caramelized Apples 

Sauces
Good Canned Sauces
Rum Sauce

Entrees
Tapioca Cheese Souffle
Broccoli & Cheese Souffle
Cheddar, Mushroom, Tomato Quiche
Balsalmic Portobello Mushroom with Tomatoes, Cheddar, & Breadcrumbs
Marinated Blue Cheese Portobello
Spaghetti with Tomato-Basil Marinara
Homemade Mac N Cheese
Three-Pepper Linguini
Baked Potatoes
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Baked Acorn Squash #1
Squash Casserole
Scalloped Apples
Cauliflower-Burger Casserole with Sundried Tomato Alfredo Sauce
Steamed Artichokes with Lemon Butter
Mrs. Danbom's Cheeseburger Pie
Homemade Pizza
Eggplant Parmesean
MorningStar Farms Meatless Loaf
Pumpkin Mushroom Quinoa Casserole
Baked Acorn Squash with Cranberry-Orange Compote

Spices
Pumpkin Pie Spice

Desserts
Cream Cheese Icing with Ricotta
Audrey's Chocolate Cream Pie
Black Rose Pie
Impossible Pie
Peanut Butter Custard Pie with Apricot Glaze
Macadamia Bars with Eggnog Drizzle
Peanut Butter Cookies
Oatmeal Bar Cookie (Valentine Cookie w/Cherry M&Ms)
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Chocolate Marbled Cheesecake
Curry Cookies
Potato Chip Cookies
Dutch Caramel Cashew Cookies
English Toffee Bars
Salted Caramel Chocolate Bliss Bars
Black Bottom Cupcakes
Monster Cookies
Marbled Banana Bars
Weight Watchers Cake Doctor Pumpkin Recipe
Paula Deen's Bayou Banana Pudding
Aunt Pauline Schupmann's Popcorn Balls
Figgy Bread Pudding with Brandy Hard Sauce
Smores Brownies
Peanut Butter Brownies
Pudding
Blackberry Cobbler
Pistachio Cake
Ina Garten's Carrot Cake 

Culinary Technique
Knife Cuts

For Canine Family

Parsley-Cornmeal Dog Cookies

What do you like to cook? Leave me a recipe in a comment!

Make Do & Mend

If I put the "Keep Calm" poster in my living room, this one would have to go into my bedroom. It's available from Bold & Noble.com. Course, I'll probably go the frugal route and look at it on my blog whenever I need a push.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Here's my motto for today. It's sold as a poster on etsy.

Homemade Laundry Soap

Living on a tight budget in LA for so long, I've trimmed basically every extraneous category from my finances. The next level possible for me will be simplifying my groceries and especially cleaning products used in my home. I've been following some eco-listservs lately, and one thing that's intrigued me is making your own laundry soap.

The main components to most recipes are washing soda, borax, and a soap such as Fels Naptha. Not knowing where to find these items in my local store, that's usually the first question asked. It's funny how much one passes by daily without really "seeing." Washing soda, for instance, is found in your regular grocery store on the same aisle as other laundry products. The washing soda comes in a box slightly smaller than borax. Here's what you're looking for:

It seemed most of the recipes I saw recommended a 1:1 ratio of washing soda and borax, but I found it simpler to pour the full box of each into a big tupperware, and add a bar of grated Fels Naptha. That's it. The end texture was somewhat like cornmeal. Here's what my finished product looked like:

I used a quarter cup per load this afternoon, and my clothes came out sparkling clean and smelling fresh. I'll let you know how it works out long term, but for now, I can survive my budget crunch with this, for pennies per load.

Here's a link to another site with ten different homemade laundry soap detergent recipes, from tipnut.com.

What's your best money-saving cleaning strategy? Let me know in a comment below.

Rock Hound

I lost a treasured item this week. See the necklace in the picture above? That was custom made, 14K gold, designed by me, the stone from a period in my life when I worked in Southern Utah, where the only thing to do was haunt rock shops. I had it set as a way to tell myself I could do nice things for myself, once in a while have the better things in life, even though as a single person I'm on my own. This week the necklace got caught on something, one prong was ripped off, and the stone lost, who knows where.

My love of rocks actually goes much further back than my stint in St. George, Utah. I'd collected rocks everywhere I went as a child, and for my sixth grade science project I did a display of my rock collection. I won an honorable mention for it.
So when I lost that stone this week, I really wanted to replace it. I did a google search, and found a really great rock club in my area called Culver City Rocks.

Their 2009 Fiesta of Gems Show will be held Saturday July 11 & Sunday July 12, 2009 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 4117 Overland Ave in Culver City. For more info about the club or the show, check their website here.

What's your most treasured piece of jewelry, and how was it made? Let me know in a comment below.

Bridal Shower Games--With a Twist

(Ellen & Kate on a paddleboat on the Mississippi c. 1984)

I remember standing outside elementary school with my box-of-crayons backpack on my back early one first-grade morning before the doors had even been unlocked, waiting. I had gotten there so soon because I had a new baby cousin and I was so excited I couldn't wait to tell everyone.

Now my cousin Kate is getting married in May. Her aunts and cousins wanted to throw her a bridal shower. We're spread all over the country though, and not likely to reunite until the actual event. So we're throwing her a shower by mail. My sister and aunt are assembling boxes to go out, containing an invitation put together by my mom, party favors and decorations by my sister, and games--you guessed it--courtesy of me.

I found this to be the most challenging aspect of our gathering to put together. Has to be mailable, meaning written, able to be judged by the bride, so that prizes can be given out. What I came up with was one custom created word search or puzzle with answers specific to the couple and event, and a separate game with general "bride" or "wedding" words.

For the second game, after a lot of searching, here are the best sites I found with printable or downloadable games:

PartySuppliesHut.com had a couple very simple but easily readable and instantly printable puzzles. It was a bit confusing figuring out how to print without all the ads and extranneous stuff on the web page, but only took about ten minutes to find a solution.

ClueSearchPuzzles.com had a more challenging puzzle, which made it more fun, and it still was easily solvable. They also offered the puzzle as a downloadable pdf, which was really convenient.

Another idea we used for a different shower was to include an index card in each invitation, with instructions to write down a favorite recipe for the bride. At the shower, the first gift she opened was a recipe box for all the cards. The family recipes that came out of this will be treasured.

Do you have any tips for a great bridal shower? Let me know in a comment.

The Great Scan Initiative

(me in ice skating shows circa 1983)

I have only one friend I can think of who is actually an L.A. native, born and raised here. Last November her mother lost her house in a fire. Since home prices are so exorbitant here, my friend, like me, rents an apartment. This works out for her as she does have family nearby where she can store unneeded items. Until the fire. My friend lost every treasured item from her childhood. All her barbie dolls, childhood toys, all her photos. The devastation to her mother's life was obvious, but I was struck by how much my friend, who didn't even live in the home, was affected by this fire. So she's inspired me to start scanning my old photos, and spread copies around my family, so that if any one of us lose data, we can use each other as backups.

Thus the Great Scan Initiative. I have opened one of my six three inch binders of photos on the floor of my office, and I'm scanning four or five pictures, about a page of the book, each day. It will make an incrementally slow dent in my collection, but over time I know this effort will add up. And it's been a great way to start my day with a smile, taking strolls down "memory lane." More often than not, I email a picture to a family member for identification, and I hope they'll begin to look forward to finding my name in their in-box.

I talked to my parents today, and my dad mentioned that their computer "exploded" this afternoon in a puff of smoke and smell of melting wires. Guess we'll need those back-ups sooner than expected.