Stalking Pacino…the official drink for my parents’ pool this summer….

I got this from Food52.com among many other recipes that I get from there.

large cucumber, peeled

pitcher water

1 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

large stalks celery, plus an inner stalk with leaves for garnishASK THE

juice from 1/2 large lime

zest from 1/2 of the lime – using a bartender’s zester if possible

peel from the other half of the lime

basil leaf, finely chiffonaded

seltzer as needed

  1. Prepare the cucumber water: Slice 1/2 of the cucumber and add a pitcher of water to the cuke slices. Place in the refrigerator and allow to sit while all the other ingredients are being prepared.
  2. Pour 1 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar into a saucepan over low heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add 3 stalks of chopped celery and the lime peel to the syrup. Simmer lightly for 15 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature. Place in the refrigerator. Strain the syrup, pressing the celery pieces to get the flavor, and reserve the syrup.
  3. Using an electric juicer, juice enough celery (3 to 4 stalks) to make 6 oz. Add the lime juice to the celery juice.
  4. Quarter, deseed, and chop enough remaining cucumber to make 1/4 cup. Set aside.
  5. Assemble the Stalking Pacino: Fill a 12 oz. glass 1/2 full with ice. Add 1 1/2 oz. gin, then 1 oz. celery simple syrup, then 1 1/2 oz. celery and lime juice, then 1/4 cup cucumber water. Shake very well, using a bartender’s shaker. Taste and decide if you want to add more of any of the above components. Then, add the chopped cucumber, the basil, and the lime zest. Shake again. Pour everything back into the glass and top with seltzer.
  6. Garnish with a celery stalk, a cucumber slice, and a slice of lime.
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Thoughts on Bikram Yoga

So, basically you sweat unmercifully for an hour and a half while you are trying to hold nearly impossible poses.  It’s not the same as regular yoga or even power yoga.  It does seem to be helping my feet and my back, though.  I have an argument with myself every time I go.  I don’t want to go, the awkward poses and the standing head to knee thing are almost impossible for me to do.  But, I go and I feel so much better afterward.  The last two times I have been I am so drained for hours afterward that I almost decided to stop going.  However, I think it’s electrolytes that I am in desperate need of after having gone almost every day for two weeks.  So, I purchased some electrolytes today and am looking forward to tomorrow.  I am still wearing my tshirts and long yoga pants.  Almost everyone else is in these cute shorts and sports tops..but I just can’t do it.

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I want to see this movie!

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2012

I’m excited about this new year.  I have a kick bag with which I can restore myself, or at least come close, to what I once was.  Still need the Bikram yoga but I’m adding the kickboxing to it…I think this is my fit…I found it.  Do both.  My son’s response to watching me workout on the bag at home, “Is that all you’ve got mom?”.  In that moment, it occurred to me that he does not know that side of me.  The woman made of steel.  Maybe he does, just not in this sense and maybe it’s time he was introduced to her.  Maybe it’s time I re-introduced myself to her.

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Santa Tracker…No child should be without it!

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/

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‘Twas two days before Christmas..

‘Twas two days before Christmas and underneath the tree

The presents were all wrapped very carefully.

There was this one that he shook and he shook

He just knew it was legos but maybe a book?

After eating more cookies and fudge than allowed,

He went back to that present and decided out loud

It’s legos…I know it….or maybe not.

 

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Christmas Day Breakfast….

I found this on Food52.com.  It will be our new Christmas Day breakfast….replacing a Giadia Laurentia(or however you spell her name)Egg and Spinach Strata…I think it is going to be divine!  It’s from aargersi on Food52.com…I cannot wait!!!!!  It’s called “Don’t Hold the Anything Breakfast Pudding”.

Serves One 9×9 behemoth

  1. The night before – cook the pork sausage until it is nicely browned (if it’s in links, remove the casing)
  2. Mince the sage and toss it with your torn up bread in a large bowl.
  3. Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper, then pour it over the bread. Stir it around several times, let it sit, stir       again. Butter a 9×9 baking dish. Stir the bread again. Most of the liquid should be absorbed. Spread half of the bread mixture in the bottom of the baking dish. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage from its pan and spread it over the bread. Now dot the cream cheese in with the sausage. Top with the remaining bread and pour any unabsorbed custard over the top. Cover and stick it in the fridge.
  4. Go to bed. Wake up. Pull the pudding out of the fridge and drizzle the maple syrup over it, then sprinkle the maple sugar. Put it into the oven and turn the heat to 350. Go do stuff (see head note) because this is gonna take awhile – it will turn dark golden brown and crunchy on top and puff up into a nice dome (buxom, remember?) mine took an hour and 20 minutes.
  5. Let it rest for a little bit – then dig in!
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The BEST peanut butter candy ever

This is my Grandmother’s recipe and my son’s class named it “Heaven in a Container”.

  • 1 1/8 cup Karo syrup(white)
  • 1 1/8 cup sugar
  • 28oz jar of smooth peanut butter
  • 6 3/4 cup of Corn Flakes

Boil the Karo syrup and sugar for one minute.  Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and corn flakes.  Stir to combine.  Spread on wax paper and cover with another piece of wax paper.  Roll it out to about 1/4 inch thickness.  Let it cool and cut into squares.

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TWCOTW Divorce Guide-Pause

Take a moment before you speak or act to breathe in and breathe out. This very simple practice can be the springboard for seeing things as they really are and change that conversation or argument that you keep having over and over again

This very simple, unassuming act-pausing-can make a huge difference in allowing you to actually “see” what kind of person you were married to as well as teach you a great deal about how YOU react to people and situations.

 

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OMG these are good!-Almond Cream Filled Strawberries

8oz. cream cheese, softened

½ cup sifted confectioners sugar
1 tsp. almond extract
1 quart fresh strawberries-capped

Beat the cream cheese, confectioners sugar and almond extract in a bowl until smooth. Spoon into a pastry bag fitted with a medium tip.(A Ziploc freezer bag will work here as well if you cut off a corner when you are ready to use) Quarter each strawberry from tip to stem without cutting all the way through the strawberry. Pipe cream cheese mixture into each strawberry. Chill until ready to serve.

This is another one from No Fork. No Knife. No Problem available on Amazon ebooks!

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