Too Many Kathy Moments - Day 25

Unfortunately today was not a banner foodie day. It was filled with very little food and far too many "Kathy Moments". A "Kathy Moment" is a term that was coined by my husband Mike to describe my financial panic attack that I have from time to time. A few weeks ago Mike said he had a "Kathy Moment" the day before. At the time I did not know what it meant. Did he suddenly crave something really decadent to eat? Feel like going shopping at Marshall's? No, he explained he had a panic moment about his finances and then he came to his senses...he said one Kathy having "Kathy Moments" is enough in this family. I agree.

Lunch today was a bowl of "Clean Out the Fridge" soup and crackers eaten quickly in the car on the way back to work. It was actually quite good. So good in fact, that dinner was an instant replay. This time I served the soup with a grilled prosciutto, provolone and turkey sandwich.

Since the "Kathy Moments" stretched into a "Kathy Day", I am actually quite tired. Tomorrow will be a better day with some good food moments to share.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Sub for Breakfast - Day 24

This morning I woke up with a hankering for something savory. I looked in the fridge and spied the half sub left over from last night. Who said you can't have a somewhat soggy Italian sub for breakfast?! Not me.

Since I promised my Costco co-workers White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan Cookies, baking was next on the agenda. I didn't want to taste them, but they passed the "over a bazillion made eyeball test" with flying colors. They looked perfect.

I love playing cookie fairy to my friends at Costco. They seem to love the treats I leave them and often stop by to talk during their breaks.

Today I met a fun assortment of customers...John, the jack of all trades jewelry salesman from Australia; the woman and her daughter with tales of an 8th grade trip to Italy; Beverly,a medical transcriber that moonlights selling healthy chocolate, Xocai.

People are so much fun to watch. That is one of the best parts of my Costco job. I watch the way families interact, their buying habits, the way they react to a smile. My (2) 5 hour blocks at Costco are probably the only times during the week I actually sit, relax and observe. It is actually quite serene.

Today I felt so relaxed, I had a difficult time staying awake. That is when I knew it was time to visit Nellie, the Manatee Coffee Company demonstrator. She is an elderly German woman with a warm heart who always has a big cup of coffee and a smile for me. I had stopped to see her earlier to drop off a cookie. When I came back for my coffee, she told me she also loves to bake and we should start a bakery together. Oh...if I wasn't so cash starved! I love German baked goods.

Somewhat Relevant Note: If you ever get up to the Howey-in-the-Hills area of Central Florida, just a little north of Orlando, be sure to visit Yalaha Country Bakery. It is a wonderful German bakery off the beaten path. The Almond Horns are to die for - moist and chewy, full of almond goodness, with the tips dipped in deep, dark chocolate. Mmmmmm, I have a huge craving for one right now.

This afternoon I met a woman who is becoming a certified wine educator through the Society of Wine Educators. She said it costs about $300 for the course including the certification test. The course is taught on line. Maybe I can save up my pennies to do this.

Gladys, one of the Costco employees visited by the cookie fairy, came by my demo area to get the recipe. She told me I HAD to start a business. Even though she was a diabetic and would pay for it tomorrow, she had to have another cookie. This is why I do what I do. The smile on her face made me feel so good. Never, ever underestimate the power of a cookie. Watch out...that cookie rock star feeling is coming back.

Nancy, a CDS demo person I missed, came by to get a cookie because she heard they were so awesome. I was out! Next week I will have to bring more.

Today kept getting better. I ran in to Patti Griffin, one of the artists I used to work with when I first started in the printing business. We hadn't seen each other in over 15 years and it was great to get caught up.

Tonight I was on my own for dinner and decided Pei Wei Asian Diner was just the ticket. I ordered Shrimp Pad Thai to go, a good value at $7.95 since the portion size is definitely enough for two. Then it was on to feed Kenda's girls, Kiley and Samantha. Kiley greeted me with a friendly meow and Samantha with a "get back in the garage" hiss. I fed them, told them goodbye and ate my take out while taking the scenic way home through the back roads of Winter Park and Maitland.

When I got home I cleaned out the fridge and made "Clean Out the Fridge Soup". It is made with whatever veggies, pasta or rice I have left over from the week before along with leftover rotisserie chicken and fresh and dried herbs. This week's soup included fresh okra from Kat's garden, fresh corn cut off the cob, a leftover half onion, leftover peas, leftover rice, fresh thyme, cilantro, parsley, sage, dried herbs and leftover chicken - all added to Swanson's Chicken broth. It is easy and always turns out a little different, but surprisingly good.

Today was a really good day filled with good people, good cookies and lots of smiles.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Garage Sale Day - Day 23

This morning I finally had the garage sale. What a zoo! I could not have pulled it off if it weren't for the help of my husband, mom and brother. Hard as I try to get organized, the morning of the sale is utter chaos. Putting the signs out, displaying and pricing everything, answering questions, negotiating...all a complete nightmare. The neighbors come in waves. I think they plan it that way to get better prices. We were so overwhelmed, any price would do. And in the midst of all the craziness, I went upstairs to shower for work at Costco, abandoning them all.

No time to eat this morning. This is a statement you will rarely see in my blog. Costco tastings will have to be my breakfast and lunch.

Today was a tough day at work because I was feeling a little funky. It could be because I didn't eat or that I live my life in perpetual motion. Customer traffic was fairly steady today. I certainly get to meet some interesting people at this job. One woman and her husband came shopping to avoid the Ted Kennedy coverage. She proceeded to vent about the horrible health care bill that is being forced on us. Somehow I think she would be very upset to find out I am a bleeding heart liberal. One redeeming fact...she loves the wine I sell and bought a bottle. I think my liberal leanings are best kept to myself.

After work, I went to visit Kenda's "girls", Kiley and Samantha. This visit was uneventful and they both seemed moderately glad to see me.

Dinner needed to be fast, cheap and not prepared by me. Mike suggested Jersey Mike's subs to redeem another BOGO coupon. The subs were great and with the coupon, the meals came to $11.00. I still have half a sub left for lunch tomorrow.

As you can tell by my lack of blog creativity, I am pretty well spent. I promise to make it up to you in the near future.

Followup Irrelevant Note: The inexpensive dry cleaner I tried on Thursday did a good job cleaning the items I dropped off and had them ready yesterday as promised. It is called Capri Cleaners (also $2.25 Cleaners) in Maitland at the intersection of Kennedy Blvd. and 17-92. The current special they are running is 10 items for $1.75 each.

Many hugs and zzzzzzzzz,

Kathy

How I Spent My Summer Vacation- Day 22

Whew, what a day! I feel like I just ran two marathons in one day...well at least a 5 K.

The day began with breakfast at Perkins with another coupon from the newspaper. Mike and I decided that beginning a "vacation" day with a big breakfast was the way to go. That way we didn't have to waste any time with lunch. Mike had a Granny's Omelet with hash browns and pancakes for $5.99 (saved $2.70 with coupon). I had the Classic Egg Favorites with 2 eggs, Canadian bacon, hash browns and pancakes for $5.99 (saved $1.50 with coupon). We saved $4.20 total on the bill.

After breakfast I was off to work to write up a quote. Yes work...doesn't everyone spend their vacation day at work?!

Then on to meet my friends Rita and Mary Helen at the cancer center in Altamonte. Mary Helen is going through clinical trials for her cancer battle and could use a little company. I shared my blog info and recipe cards. We laughed, pondered world problems and enjoyed each others' company. I don't think Mary Helen realized how much this time spent together meant to me in this crazy day. She is my hero.

From the cancer center it was on to the next leg of this road race, errands to buy price tags for tomorrow's garage sale and spackling for Jim's room. Then I headed home to multi task...finish gathering items for the garage sale and finish Jim's room. Just as I finished, Jim arrived with some of his stuff and seemed content with the way the room turned out.

I took a moment to look over my handiwork, smiled and took off to pick up my dry cleaning and feed Kenda's cats. The cat feeding was an adventure in itself. The new key Kenda gave me didn't work in the door. Thank goodness she mentioned the hidden key. It worked fine. Then I locked myself in the garage with the good key on the table and the bad key in my pocket. Luckily some jiggling made it work on the garage door. Aaaagh! Kiley the cat, seemed genuinely glad I figured everything out. Samantha, on the other hand, wished I had stayed locked in the garage.

Kenda graciously left me her final BOGO coupon for Tijuana Flats. I was going to cook, but the pace of the day got the best of me. I called Mike and we decided to go for it. After all, I am the newly ordained Coupon Queen and damn proud of it. We realized over $8.00 in coupon savings on dinner alone, both feasting on combo plates.

While I am writing this blog Chef vs. City from Food Network is on in the background. I think the concept for this show is kind of silly, but I can't help watching when they mention they are going to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. This is one of my favorite places on earth. Especially on Saturday mornings when they have the most amazing farmer's market. The smells are intoxicating and the views are incredible. I want to live there...not just in San Francisco, but on a bench on the pier looking over the market. It is truly heaven on earth.

Good night!

Many hugs,

Kathy

Taking the Time to Smell the Coffee - Day 21

Since today and tomorrow are vacation days to get ready for my garage sale this weekend, I decided to start it off right. Breakfast at Athena Cafe with my husband Mike and a BOGO coupon was the perfect start. We are creatures of habit. We order the same thing every time. Mike gets his favorite cheese steak omelet, no mushrooms. I order the "Athena Special" with eggs over hard, corned beef hash and a cup of the best creamy grits. The food was delicious, the coffee kept coming and the bill was $11.00...a very good thing.

Cash Friendly Irrelevant Note: A dry cleaner in Maitland is offering a special 10 items for $1.75 each. With 90% of my wardrobe requiring dry cleaning and most of it sitting in a big pile in my closet, I decided to give it a try. The staff was friendly, the facility clean and they promised it tomorrow - definitely a good start. I will let you know tomorrow if it is worth recommending.

I finally remembered why I love to go out to eat. My best conversations seem to be over food that I haven't prepared. Mike and I had a great conversation about "the power of good" over breakfast. We talked about nurturing potential, lending a hand, having a conscience, giving a hug...how they all seem to be out of style in society today. If the power of hate with the Rush Limbaugh's and the Glenn Beck's of the world can rise up, why can't the power of good? Mike and I vowed to make an effort to change this...to somehow be heard.

I love my husband. Today I took the time to stop and smell the coffee.

Many hugs,

Kathy

New Blog Discovery - Day 20

My friend Carolyn just sent me the link to a blog that I think is pretty cool - www.thethinchef.com. It is the creation of her husband's partners' daughter (man, that is a mouthful) and is very well done. Maybe I should change the name of my heartsong blog to www.theroundbaker.com or maybe www.therubenuesquebaker.com?!

I am proud to say I finally began a day with something other than a cookie. Greek yogurt with honey and fresh raspberries was the grab and go of choice this morning.

Lunch was the ultimate comfort food...the turkey and dressing lunch special with cabbage and black eyed peas from Bubbalou's Bodacious Barbecue. Each day a different comfort food is featured for $6.99.

Dinner continued the budget stretching theme from yesterday with barbecued pork sandwiches with shredded slaw. My friend Karen posted a recipe for homemade barbecue sauce that I have to try this weekend, but tonight was KC Masterpiece from the bottle.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Budget Stretchers - Day 19

I have got to stop eating cookies for breakfast. This is getting a little ridiculous. Today it was two of the Cherry Walnut Chip Cookies. No wonder I am so round!

Another coupon was redeemed at lunch with my friend Beatriz. We both are extremely cash starved so the $5.00 savings was greatly appreciated. We dined at Athena Cafe in the Altamonte/Casselberry area. Diner-like in decor and menu, but with a Greek touch, this restaurant offers great options at a reasonable price. I had the homemade lemon chicken soup and Greek salad, Beatriz had the grilled chicken Greek salad. Both were delicious and with our coupon savings the bill for two came to $15.00.

When I got back to work I packed the cookies I baked last night to send to my son in Raleigh. His co-workers made a special request for my White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan cookies and I included a bonus package of my new Cherry Walnut Chip cookies. Of course, me being me...I stressed over whether they were good enough to send. I wish I could just relax and be confident. My cookie rock star feeling only lasted a day.

For dinner I finally roasted the pork tenderloin I thawed on Saturday. I served it with wild rice and roasted asparagus drizzled with macadamia oil and chopped macadamia nuts. It was easy to prepare and I have enough pork left over for at least two more meals. I like meat, but not a lot of it. A pork tenderloin or roasted chicken is actually a great budget stretcher for multiple meals throughout the week. I am going to make homemade chicken gnocchi soup with the leftover roasted chicken from Sunday (only $5.00 at Costco). The leftover pork will be used for pork fried rice one night and barbecued pork sandwiches another.

Eating healthy has not been my strong suit lately. My friend Bree shared a list of healthy seldom used foods that I want to incorporate into my diet. Just thought I might share. Bree recommended the amaranth available at Whole Foods. I think she said she served it with grilled chicken and a watercress salad. Yum! Of course knowing me I would follow the healthy meal with a cookie.

Amaranth - High in protein, fiber and amino acids that are not frequently found in grains. Contains calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and C. The fiber content of amaranth is three times that of wheat and its iron content, five times more than wheat. It contains two times more calcium than milk. Using amaranth in combination with wheat, corn or brown rice results in a complete protein as high in food value as fish, red meat or poultry. Cooking tip: Boil 1 cup amaranth with 2.5 cups water until tender, about 18-20 minutes. Toss with grilled veggies, use as a bed for chicken or fish or toss with goat cheese and greens for a salad.

Goldenberries – High in protein, fiber and Vitamin A. Snack on dried berries or toss in a salad.

Hemp Seed – Contains more protein than beef or fish. Hemp seed granola mixtures are available at Whole Foods and you can also look for hemp seed nuts, which can be eaten right from the bag like sunflower seeds.

Kamut – Known as “King Tut’s Wheat,” kamut was the food of the pharaohs. It is high in Vitamin E and healthy fatty acids. It also contains 40% more protein than wheat and can typically be consumed by people who are otherwise wheat intolerant. Cooking tip: Boil for 1 hour, drain and toss with sautéed veggies, a dash of soy and lemon.

Mung Beans – High in potassium, iron, fiber and are 24% protein. The beans retain a high Vitamin C content even after boiling. Cooking tip: Mung beans can be eaten on their own, or combined with rice to make khichari, or combined with vegetables and greens to make hearty soups or ground into flour to be used to make crepes or added to breads. Turmeric, cumin, dried ginger and coriander are some spices that work very well with mung beans.

Rooibos Tea – Pronounced “roy-bos” is high in antioxidants, has no caffeine, is low in tannins and is naturally sweetened. Rooibos is purported to assist with nervous tension, allergies, digestive problems and has been shown to boost the immune system. Look for Celestial Seasonings Vanilla Red.

Sunflower Greens - Contain much of the heart-healthy fat, fiber, and plant protein found in sunflower seeds, but with fewer calories. Locate the greens in your local farmers’ market or in the produce section of some higher-end grocery stores. Cooking tip: Wash the greens thoroughly, then drizzle olive oil and sprinkle sea salt on them for a simple and crunchy side dish, salad, or bed for grilled chicken. They’re also great on sandwiches.

Sweet Potato Leaves - One of the world’s richest sources of disease-fighting antioxidants, according to a new report. They’re packed with at least 15 different types of healthy compounds that help fight diabetes, heart disease, bacterial infections, and various forms of cancer. You’ll have the best shot at finding them in an Asian or specialty grocery store, or you could request them from a vendor at your local farmers’ market. Cooking tip: Sauté a handful of the thoroughly washed leaves with onions, garlic, and ginger to create a superhealthy stir-fry base. Then add other vegetables, along with beef, chicken, or shrimp.

Watercress - One cup of watercress has just 4 calories, but it’s loaded with vitamins A, C, and K. It also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that are beneficial for eye health. Cooking tip: Swap watercress for the lettuce on your next sandwich, or toss a bowl of the leaves with goat cheese, toasted pistachios, and your favorite vinaigrette.

Yerba Mate - It’s like green tea on steroids, with up to 90 percent more powerful cancer-fighting antioxidants, B vitamins, and plenty of chromium, which helps stabilize blood-sugar levels. Plus, its bolstering effect on metabolism is so valued that many diet pills list maté as an ingredient. For the strongest dose of maté’s medicine, buy loose-leaf bags. Bottled maté products are becoming more commonplace in large supermarkets. Look for flavored varieties from Bombilla Gourd at your local Whole Foods Market.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Cookie Rock Star - Day 18

Last night I baked White Chocolate Pecan Cookies while under the duress of my first live fantasy football draft. This morning I felt compelled to try them to make sure they turned out better than my draft picks. After two, I decided they passed the test.

Lunch was grabbed on the run. I stopped at the Super Target deli and picked up a California Chicken Salad for $3.49. Once again I was surprised by how good it was. Romaine and spinach topped with grilled chicken, dried cherries, walnuts, goat cheese and poppy seed dressing made for a great alternative to typical fast food.

This afternoon I dropped off a proof and a basket of cookies to my client friends in Tampa. They made me feel like a cookie rock star when I arrived...all coming out of their cubicles to greet me. Kim told me about an intern survey that specifically mentioned my cookies as one of the things they liked about the intern experience. Carolyn told me my homemade cookies were the best she had ever had and I needed to start a business. I love this feeling, but had a hard time getting my big head back out the door!

Dinner was a nice surprise. I planned to roast a pork tenderloin thawed and waiting for me in the fridge. But I also needed to make two kinds of cookies to send to my son and paint a border in my new roommate's room. To help with my time crunch dilemma, my husband Mike suggested we go to a Darden restaurant with a $25 gift card he just got in the mail. Bahama Breeze was the choice so we could also use the $5.00 off coupon I cut from the newspaper to complete out cash starved dinner out. We ordered cocktails, their awesome spinach dip and shared an entree of shrimp and lobster pasta. The bill including tip came to $15.00 by the time we redeemed our gift card and coupon. Sharing an entree is a great way to have the dining out experience without the big expense or excessive calories.

Tonight I made another batch of White Chocolate Blueberry cookies. Then I created a new cookie taste combo inspired by the cherries and walnuts in my Target salad...Cherry Walnut Chip. Bittersweet chocolate chips, dried cherries and toasted walnuts were added to my favorite base cookie recipe to create a very rich and tasty cookie. Tomorrow I will post it on my HeartSong blog, but now I am going to relax for at least a moment.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Another Cookie Day - Day 17

A day without Sweet Tomatoes BOGO coupons is like a day without sunshine.

This morning's question of the day to my husband was met with the answer - "I will treat you to breakfast at Sweet Tomatoes". Yea! It has been at least 3-4 days since I ate there...far too long. I am honestly considering trying to eat everyday for a full week at Sweet Tomatoes and documenting how much I spend versus grocery shopping.

I was unhappy with the consistency of the cookies I made last night. I let the butter get too soft and they spread too much. They tasted OK, but I couldn't use them to impress my Costco co-workers. I asked Mike to bear with me while I whipped up a quick batch. Mmmmmmm. They were perfect.

Sunday morning between 9-11 is the perfect time to visit Sweet Tomatoes. The restaurant is not overly crowded, so you can actually relax and enjoy good conversation without screaming kids. A real plus for my husband Mike. Our meal for two came to a little shy of $14.00 and was filling enough to last us until dinner.

At work, customer traffic was a little slow again, but I had a great day. I ran into an old friend, Rick, that I hadn't seen in probably 18-19 years. Very cool to get caught up. But the best part of the day was playing HeartSong Cookie fairy to all the CDS demo ladies and some of the Costco employees. I dropped off individually wrapped Toasted Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies to each of them to thank them for being so good to me with the tastings. Their smiles told me I had accomplished my mission...saving the world from unhappiness one cookie at a time.

It is always amazing to me how the simplest gestures can have the most amazing impact. Give of yourself and you will get back ten fold.

Many hugs,

Kathy

"Gentleman" With No Taste - Day 16

Today I worked at Costco from 12-5, which left little time to indulge my foodiness.

Breakfast was another couple of Toasted Walnut Fig Cookies and a cup of Starbucks coffee on the run.

Lunch was grabbed from the Costco tasting smorgasbord. A little salmon with mango salsa, London broil, coffee and butter pound cake tied me over until dinner.

Today was my first really horrific wine selling experience. A "gentleman" (I use the term loosely) came up to me while I was speaking with another customer to tell me how terrible the wine was. He had bought two bottles and thought they were horrible, watered down and so bad he wanted to return them. I was dumbfounded. The feedback I get is overwhelmingly positive. It is the best selling red wine at Costco. Never have I had someone go out of their way to humiliate me. It almost took my breath away and not in a good way. I guess this proves one thing - taste is very subjective and a certain "gentleman" just doesn't have any. At least he gave me something other than heartburn...a story. And after all, life is all about the stories.

On the way out the door from work I picked up a Take and Bake pepperoni pizza, strawberries and butter pound cake for dinner tonight with my soon-to-be roommate, Jim, his daughter, Brenna and my husband, Mike. I cut up the strawberries as soon as I got home and sprinkled them with sugar to macerate. As soon as Jim and Brenna arrived, I popped the pizza in the oven. The pizza was very good. If you haven't tried a Costco pizza...you should. They are actually quite good and come in three varieties - pepperoni, five cheese or margarita. For $9.99 you can feed a family of four.

Dessert was actually quite fun. Jim's daughter Brenna helped me assemble the strawberry shortcakes. I sliced and toasted the butter pound cake while Brenna decorated the dessert plates with Hershey's syrup. We placed the pound cake on top and mounded fresh strawberries with all their sweet juices on top. Another drizzle of chocolate syrup and a generous squirt of whipped cream completed the yummy dessert.

After dinner Brenna and I made chocolate chip cookies for my Costco co-workers and talked girl talk. It was a great chance to get to know Brenna a little better and make her feel at home in her new surroundings. Food has a wonderful way of bringing people together and that is a very good thing.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Mexican Pantry Fiesta - Day 15

Breakfast was a couple of Toasted Walnut Fig Cookies and hot blackberry tea on the run.

Lunch was another coupon cash in...this time at TooJay's with my friend Dennis. He was good-hearted enough to listen to me whine while we ate tasty, buy one get one 1/2 off sandwiches. The coupon saved us $4.25. I have definitely become the coupon queen.

Dinner didn't require a trip to the grocery store, instead I raided the pantry and fridge. Several weeks ago I bought tostada salad shells at Costco and completely forgot about them. They were rediscovered tonight in the pantry along with a can of black beans and a package of yellow rice. From the fridge I grabbed a thawed package of hamburger meat, a partial bag of shredded cheddar cheese and fresh jalapenos from Kat's garden.

While I browned the meat with taco seasoning and chopped jalapenos, I put the beans and the rice on to cook, made fresh salsa and warmed the tostada shells. The whole process took less than 1/2 hour. The result was really good - warm tostada shells filled with yellow rice, black beans, taco meat, cheese, fresh cilantro, diced onions and homemade salsa...a Mexican pantry fiesta with two thumbs up from this cash challenged couple.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Tranquility - Day 14

Yesterday was a tough day filled with angst over my financial situation. All the comfort food in the world couldn't soothe my anxiety. But today is another day and the theme of the day is tranquility.

Once again I spritzed on my lavender mist to set the soothing tone...an extra spritz for good measure. I brewed some green tea with honey for my travel mug and headed out the door for my tranquil day. The drive to work was taken the long way through my favorite parts of Maitland and Winter Park.

My work day took me to Ocala and Gainesville and I decided to continue taking the long way. I meandered through Mt. Dora, Leesburg, the Villages, Belleview and Ocala to save the tolls and smell the roses (well maybe the horse manure). Driving gives me time to come up with new cookie ideas. Tonight I think I will make Toasted Walnut Fig Cookies or Apricot Walnut Chip.

At one of my client stops in Ocala, I received some print projects and something even better...great hugs from Diana and Dave. They went a long way toward continuing the tranquil theme and making my day a little better.

I stopped for lunch in Gainesville with my husband Mike at one of our favorite spots from our college days - Leonardo's Pizza. The slice of Greek thin crust pizza and garden salad was amazing, as usual, and reasonably priced at $7.25.

Dinner will be an adventure...whatever I can create from the fridge and pantry. It will be kind of like Gordon Elliot's Door Knock Dinners on Food Network years ago.

I decided to make pork hash with potatoes, garlic, onions, fresh corn and cubed pork. I seasoned it with hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, pepper, chopped fresh jalapeno, a squeeze of lime and a splash of red wine. I cooked it covered for about 10 minutes and topped it with chopped fresh cilantro. While it cooked I made a glass of Sangria, lit the candles and plopped down on the sofa to watch Top Chef reruns from last night. I am Mikeless tonight, but that doesn't mean I can't make things special. The hash turned out to be one of my best ever and it was the perfect ending to a tranquil day.

After dinner I made the Toasted Walnut Fig Cookies that I concocted on my drive earlier today. They were awesome. I am going to post the recipe on the HeartSong Cookies blog tomorrow.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Diary of a Povo Foodie? - Day 13

My friend Dennis was doing research for marketing trends to teenagers and ran across this new recession-inspired slang term. I thought I would share. May even change the name of my blog to Diary of a Povo Foodie.

RECESSION-INSPIRED SLANG
Povo (po-vo)adj. Spawned from the increasing popularity of new HBO series Summer Heights High, the Aussie slang for poor has infiltrated the vocabulary of recessionistas everywhere"Caroline, I can't go out to dinner tonight: My pay cut has left me totally povo."

Lunch today was coupon filled at of all places...Sweet Tomatoes with my friends, Bree and Michelle. We enjoyed great conversation and soups and salads inspired by Mexico.

Dinner is going to be another pantry raid. I am in the mood for and in need of comfort food and am somewhat embarrassed by my menu choice...tuna noodle casserole with a side of green peas. This was always one of my favorites early in my foodie life and fits the bill tonight. It's easy...cheap...comforting and will leave me plenty of time for Top Chef viewing tonight.

Today I posted a picture of my good friend Kenda and her cat Samantha. It doesn't have much of anything to do with food, except for the fact that my HeartSong Cookies recipe cards are strategically placed on her desk, but I thought the photo was really cool and I wanted to share.

Many hugs,

Kathy

HeartSong Cookie Fairy - Day 12

This morning I indulged one of my favorite past times, playing HeartSong Cookie Fairy to my clients and friends. I dropped off the basket (shown at right) to one of my clients as a thank you for their business. It was filled with individually wrapped oatmeal cookies and recipe card bundles tucked in the back. Then I met Kenda in the Publix parking lot for a cookie drop off and a hug.

Lunch was a quick stop through the drive thru of Green Day Cafe on Lee Road. They specialize in healthy alternatives to fast food. I ordered a Holy Guacamole Wrap - a whole wheat wrap filled with hummus, guac, veggies and spring mix served with your choice of Terra Chips (I love them!) or broccoli crunch. A little pricey at $6.89, but good. The wrap was quite large and very filling and was packaged in a pressed paper container. My ice water came in a compostable plastic cup made of corn by Eco-Products. I really don't mind paying a little premium to help Planet Earth. A sticker on the window identified the restaurant as a Certified Green Kitchen. I need to do a little more research as to what that means. Florida franchises are available and the restaurant web site is www.greendaycafe.com .

Note to self: Tell Kenda about Eco-Products to see if it is an American company she can feature on her blog - supportamericanmade.blogspot.com.

Tonight's dinner was an improv for one. I filled a casserole dish with leftover whole wheat rotini pasta, topped with matchstick cut salami, fresh mozzarella cubes, chopped fresh basil, tomato sauce, provolone cheese slices and grated Parmesan. I baked it at 375 F. for 25 minutes and served with pesto crostini. While it cooked, I made a sangria with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (the wine I sell at Costco), Grand Marnier, ginger ale, fresh apple and lime slices. Everything was delicious, especially the sangria.

Tomorrow night is the premier of this season's Top Chef Las Vegas at 9:00 p.m. on Bravo. Immediately following at 10:00 p.m., the season of Top Chef Masters comes to an end. I am a huge fan of the Top Chef concept of cooking reality shows. It is a must see for all foodies.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Vicky's Best Ever Oatmeal Cookies - Day 11

It has been several weeks since I posted a new recipe on my HeartSong Cookie blog. Tonight is the night I break the recipe drought with my friend Vicky's recipe for the Best Ever Oatmeal Cookies.

When I got home for work, I gathered together all the ingredients for Vicky's cookie recipe. Unfortunately I did not have any Apple Pie Spice. Instead I substituted 1/4 tsp. allspice and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon. I think it turned out just fine.

Vicky's Best Ever Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup Crisco
1/2 cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal (rolled oats)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. apple pie spice
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Combine dry ingredients and set aside.

3. Beat Crisco, butter and both sugars until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla.

4. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

5. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls about 3 inches apart onto prepared baking sheet.

6. Bake for 12 minutes or until done. Rotate pan midway through cooking time.

7. Allow to cool on pan for 1-2 minutes. Then transfer to wire rack to finish cooling.


While baking I fixed a very easy vegetarian meal I picked up at Costco - Madras Lentils. This tasty Indian dish is a combination of lentils, red beans and spices in a creamy tomato sauce. It kind resembles an Indian chili and is sure to be a big hit with cash starved foodies everywhere. For $6.69 you get (4) two serving pouches that heat in the microwave in 90 seconds. I served it over some leftover yellow rice from this weekend and it was delicious. You would never guess that it came out of a pouch.

After dinner I passed the time in between baking with a glass of Sterling Vintner's Collection 2007 Chardonnay. At Costco it is currently priced at $7.35 per bottle - another great value for the cash deprived.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Costco Serenade - Day 10

Sunday morning began with the question of the day to my husband - "What would you like for breakfast"? Usually he gives me some smart ass remark, like "food", but the answer today was definitive..."chocolate chip pancakes with bacon on the side". Mmmmmmm, that actually sounded pretty good.

Usually I take the easy road with pancakes - Aunt Jemima's Buttermilk Complete, but I was pretty sure I didn't have any mix in the house. I pulled out my trusty Good Housekeeping Cookbook and found the recipe for pancakes. Because I bake on a weekly basis, I had all the ingredients including some toasted pecans and mini chocolate chips to throw in the batter. The result was like a warm, chocolate chip cookie drizzled with butter pecan syrup. Balanced with the saltiness of the bacon, it was divine.

Chocolate Chip Toasted Pecan Pancakes

1/1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 T. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
salad oil
1 cup milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
butter
syrup

In large bowl, mix first 4 ingredients; add 3 T. salad oil, milk and egg and stir until flour is moistened. Add pecans and chocolate chips.

Preheat electric griddle or skillet. Coat lightly with oil. Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto hot griddle, making a few pancakes at a time. Cook until bubbly and edges look dry. Turn and cook until the underside is golden. Serve with butter and syrup.

Today was actually a pretty cool day at Costco. It was a little slow at the beginning. Mid afternoon I snacked on Shrimp and Scallop Pasta Bake and Mini Ham and Cheese Sandwiches while being serenaded on the key board by the cutest 9 year old little girl. She was amazing! To say she was good was an understatement. People actually gathered around her just to listen. I can't imagine being blessed with such talent at an early age.

One of the CDS food demo employees, Bonnie, came by to talk on her break. She shared the challenges of her cash starved life and I realized I have no worries. You should have seen her eyes light up when I told her I would bake her some cookies...chocolate chip, her favorite.

Dinner with my husband Mike was simple, but good. I picked up some creamy tomato basil soup from Costco and made paninis. Mike's was filled with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, turkey and pesto. Mine was filled with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, grilled asparagus and pesto. Easy and yummy.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Tasty Smorgasbord - Day 9

Today started with a glance at the alarm clock and a bolt out of bed. Oh my goodness, it was 11:00 a.m. and I had to be at work by noon. No time to eat. I grabbed the leftovers from last night, a fork and jumped in my roving dining room for work at Costco.

A big advantage to my job at Costco is the tasting stations. When I get a little hungry mid afternoon, Vera, Bev, Shawn and the others are more than willing to accommodate with generous samples of whatever they are featuring that day.

Tip: Many cash starved Costco members come in for a free lunch or dinner made up of the tasting smorgasbord of the day. Today's menu included ham and cheese mini sandwiches, 7-layer dip with pita chips, couscous salad, Angus burgers, apple strudel and coffee.

After work I picked up some more shrimp, prosciutto and asparagus to make an instant replay of the previous night. Since our friend Jim was arriving at 6:00 for dinner and consolation, I needed something that didn't require any thought. The dinner was good and provided the comfort Jim so desperately needed. My brother stopped by for dessert - Costco apple strudel warmed in the oven and served with whipped cream.

Tomorrow I hope to make something that actually requires a recipe for posting. Until then...

Many hugs,

Kathy

Herbaceous Day - Day 8

This morning began with the realization that I still had nothing in the house for breakfast, much less dinner. No bread, no milk for cereal, not even any PopTarts (my several times a year guilty pleasure). I got ready for work, spritzed on my lavender mist and headed out the door. Then it hit me...the theme of today's foodie adventure would be herbs.

It is strange how powerful a scent can be in triggering memories. For me, the smell of lavender immediately conjures up thoughts of my life buddy, Victoria in California...my first trip to Mantanzas Creek Winery with the amazingly fragrant lavender fields...lunch at the Garden Cafe in the midst of a botanical garden with floral and herbal scents filling the air...oh, and fresh, warm oallieberry cobbler.

I made a bee line for Einstein's Bagels for a toasted everything bagel with onion and chive cream cheese and coffee. I MUST go grocery shopping tonight. The $4.48 I handed the cashier put a big dent in my already cash-deprived wallet.

While eating the bagel in my "roving dining room" (my CR-V), I was already planning the next leg of my herbaceous day - lunch! Where could I find a good, cheap caprese salad with fresh basil, tomatoes and mozzarella?

My caprese salad quest just took a detour to Sweet Tomatoes with my friend Jim for a lunch of salad and encouragement. I did manage to sneak in the herbs in an antipasto salad with fresh basil. As much as I enjoy Sweet Tomatoes, visiting three times in less than a week is a little ridiculous. Thank goodness I am finally out of BOGO coupons. Maybe I should shoot them an e-mail to see if they would like to advertise on my site.

Damn Kat's chocolate drawer! It called and I answered with two more Dove chocolates.

FINALLY a home cooked meal was made by this cash starved foodie. On my way home I picked up a pound of shrimp at Costco, along with fresh asparagus and basil pesto. When I got home, I shelled the shrimp and wrapped them in prosciutto, fired up the gas grill and grilled them while the asparagus roasted in the oven and the whole wheat rotini pasta boiled on the stove. In about 20 minutes I assembled a simple, delicious meal - grilled shrimp, roasted asparagus and whole wheat pasta tossed is fresh basil pesto. Yum! It may have taken over a week, but it was worth the wait!

Many hugs,

Kathy

Will I Ever Cook Again? - Day 7

This morning I found a wonderful sounding recipe for a vegetarian pasta in my Cooking Light magazine. Zucchini, grape tomatoes and parmesan cheese combined with linguini sounded like the perfect combination for dinner tonight. All I would have to pick up on my way home were the fresh vegetables. Finally my blog will include a recipe! Wrong.

It totally slipped my mind that Christine, my son's girl friend, was coming to town late this afternoon to say goodbye to me before she returned home to Pennsylvania. I didn't have time to buy the groceries to fix dinner, so I opted to meet at our favorite inexpensive spot - Sweet Tomatoes, BOGO coupon in hand. It was the perfect spot to get together to catch up on life and talk about one of my favorite subjects, my son. I walked away with a full tummy and a sad heart. Christine will be missed.

I can't believe I have made it through seven days of blogging. It is definitely a work in progress, void of the recipes I had hoped to post, but full of me.

Will I ever cook again? Yes, I promise.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Relax and Do Nothing Night - Day 6

Since my life has been proceeding at a frantic pace, my husband declared tonight "Relax and Do Nothing Night". He was going to be staying in Gainesville, so I was on my own to implement his declaration. On the way home from work, I tried to plan my dinner. The only thing that appealed to me was pistachio ice cream from Bruster's Ice Cream. They make the best! It is rich and creamy, green (a theme for me lately) and filled with more whole, slightly salty pistachios than you can possibly imagine. What the hell, I am on my own and no one will know except for the couple of people reading my blog. For this cash starved foodie, the added bonus was the price - $2.94 for pure happiness. Whoever came up with the idea of ice cream for dinner was a genius! Wait... it was the same wonderful man that declared tonight "Relax and Do Nothing Night"...my husband, Mike. He knows the perfect prescription to put a smile on my face.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Sleep Deprived - Day 5

Today's posting will be brief. I am barely hanging on after 3 1/2 hours sleep. If nothing makes sense, please bare with me. Food is the reason for this sleep deprivation. I stayed up until 1:30 baking cookies for my meeting in Boca Raton today and now cannot string two sentences together that make any sense. The Boca Raton Resort where I am staying in amazingly beautiful, so instead of sharing food musings, I will share pictures instead.

Many hugs and yawns,

Kathy

Another Crazy Day - Day 4

I am always late in the morning! Today was no different. I grabbed the last two Eggo waffles and stuck them in the toaster while I loaded the car, drizzled them with PURE maple syrup (the only kind!) and ran out the door.

If you are getting the idea that I live my life in perpetual motion, you would be correct. Today is especially crazy because I am tying up all loose ends for my speaking engagement in Boca Raton tomorrow. I stopped by Super Target to pick up "stuff" and ended up with lunch as well. The deli had several quick grab items that actually looked good. I opted for the four quadrant package with carrots, grapes, a scoop of chicken salad (Archer Farms "Signature" Chicken Salad, no less) and crackers. Everything was surprisingly fresh and tasty and a good value at $3.49. I think I may have found another new alternative to the fast food I dislike so much.

I just succumbed to Kat's chocolate drawer again. A Dove Dark Chocolate and a Milk Chocolate with Caramel disappeared into my happy mouth. Damn, why did they have to make those chocolates so silky smooth?!

I honestly hope that at some point during the evolution of my blog I will actually be embarrassed by the type and amount of food I eat and attempt to be more healthy.

Tonight Mike and I had another BOGO coupon dinner. This time we ate at the new Jersey Mike's sub shop in Altamonte Springs. The Philly Cheesesteaks were actually quite good and we were in and out in no time. Great news since I still have to bake the Dark Chocolate Cookies with Sour Cherries to take to tomorrow's presentation...at least 75 of them!

I promise at some point to actually cook at home and post some recipes, but for now my musings will have to do. The timer just went off on the oven.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Trough Feeding at its Best - Day 3

This morning Mike and I woke up ravenous with nothing in the house to eat. We found the BOGO breakfast coupon from our Club Veg membership and headed for Sweet Tomatoes.

Sweet Tomatoes is trough feeding (unlimited buffet) at its best. The salad fixings are fresh, the soups and breads are homemade and they offer quite a variety. Every Sunday from 9-11 a.m. they offer breakfast. The salads are still available, soups are more limited, but they add fixings to make your own breakfast burritos, oatmeal, breakfast potatoes, biscuits, sausage gravy, even a breakfast pasta. With the BOGO coupon, for $13.77 we were happy little piggies.

Tip: You can join Club Veg by filling out at a form at the restaurant or by going online to www.sweettomatoes.com. Several times a month they e-mail BOGO coupons. The coupon requires purchase of two beverages. At dinner, the total bill for dinner is a little over $15.00.

Back to Costco, this time at the store near Kissimmee. My table is set up across from the Tonka trucks and boy's Halloween costumes. Suddenly I have a desire to don Buzz Lightyear gear. Damn...they don't have my size.

There is something very calming and relaxing about my time at Costco. I have the opportunity to indulge two of my passions - people watching and talking. Since traffic is light today, I may have to strike up a conversation with the little Tonka truck guys staring at me across the aisle...or maybe the giant Mr. Potato Heads.

Just ran into an old friend at Costco - Patty, a fellow printing sales rep wanting to re-invent herself. We talked about blogging, wine, pets and printing. Something she said struck me...even in a bad economy, people still enjoy good food and wine, only more often at home rather than a restaurant. To pamper herself during these difficult times, she makes dinner at home an event. The table is set, wine is poured and dinner is served in the dining room rather than in front of the TV. Meals include conversation rather than zombie stares at the TV. This is something we all should try. I always say the best insights are born from life's challenges. Good things are just around the corner.

Dinner with Mike was a Costco Take and Bake Margarita Pizza. For $9.99 it is a cash starved foodie's best friend. Unfortunately dinner was eaten with zombie stares in front of the TV. Tomorrow I need to follow my own advice.

Many hugs,

Kathy

More Than I Can Chew - Day 2

After only one day, I am concerned I have bitten off more than I can chew with a daily blog. This is not surprising since I have always been a "more on my plate than I can possibly handle" kind of girl...both literally and figuratively.

Since I am currently working two jobs a total of seven days a week to curb the cash starvation, little time is left to spend with my husband, family and friends. Even less time is left for me and my guilty pleasures of baking and blogging. Somehow I vow to make it work. This is too much fun!

This morning began early gathering together the ingredients for my Tropical Escape Cookies. I took the butter out of the fridge to soften, jumped in the car to run errands and picked up breakfast at Panera. The next hour was spent running up and down the stairs between tweaking my blog and baking the cookies for tonight's luau party at my niece's home. Mmmmm, the cookies smell so good. The combo of macadamia nuts, dried tropical fruit and lime zest mixed into the buttery cookie base is amazing. The recipe is posted on my cookie blog at heartsongcookies.blogspot.com

Off to the next leg of my crazy day relay. Every Saturday and Sunday I work from 12-5 at Costco as a wine demonstrator for Orvino Imports. The wine I "demonstrate" is a wonderful Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Italian red reserve wine. Unfortunately Costco does not allow tastings, so my demonstration consists of a lot of talking. Talking is something I am very good at and always have been. At an early age, my grandmother would pay me a nickel to keep quiet for five minutes. I don't know what I was blabbering about, but somehow I think it must have involved food. Many nickels exchanged hands for a little peace and quiet.

Today wine sales were a little sluggish, but I did get a very nice compliment from one of my customers. He told me I sold so much wine because I had blue eyes and was so pretty. My eyes are hazel and he didn't buy the wine, but I can live off the compliment for the rest of the weekend. At 51, compliments are few and far between.

Every Saturday at Costco my wine table is set up directly across from the Seafood Road Show. I stare at huge king crab legs, Dungeness crabs, shrimp the size of my hand, fresh clams and mussels. I sit and dream of all the wonderful things I could make with this bounty. A few week's ago I bought a bag of fresh clams and tried a Bon Appetit recipe for grilled clams with grilled bread for dipping. If I can find the magazine, I will post the recipe in tomorrow's blog.

After work, Mike and I headed to the luau party at my niece, Melissa's home. She did a great job with the decor and food. We feasted on pulled pork, caprese salad, broccoli salad and an awesome rum punch complete with umbrellas. I love catching up with that part of my family. It was a perfect ending to a whirlwind day.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Diary of a Poor Foodie - Day 1

The idea for this blog came to me in a very inappropriate place. A detail that would be best kept to myself. I was reading the editor's letter from Barbara Fairchild in my latest edition of Bon Appetit. She was describing all of the wonderful meals she experienced during the magazine's annual "Vegas Uncork'd" event and mentioned keeping a food diary.

The light bulb came on. After months...no, years of searching for a way to fuel my passion for food, friends and the desire to talk about anything foodie...I have found the answer. I will create a daily blog to talk about anything and everything food that comes my way during the course of a day. From recipes, restaurant reviews and magazine and television program recommendations to what I ate that day...a foodie "stream of consciousness".

This morning I shared my blog epiphany with my friends, Rita and Gary. Gary was trying to understand the concept and made a suggestion to carry the "poor" aspect a little further. He suggested - why not pop in on friends for dinner?! It would definitely stretch my foodie dollar and give me some great stories to tell. After all, life is all about the stories. Of course, I may not have any friends left at the end of my "pop-in" adventures. I can just imagine the look of terror and confusion on my friends' faces when they open the door and find me on their doorstep - fork in hand!

My friend Kenda is the unfortunate sounding board for my frequent light bulb moments. Earlier today I shared my blog idea with her. She liked the concept, but hated the name. Poor, she said, I am not. She suggested I name the blog "Diary of a Cash Starved Foodie" instead. I like it! Cash starved, I am.

Lunch today was pure friend and foodie bliss. One of my good friends, Vicky and I met at Cheesecake Factory. Being cash starved, we ordered off the small plate and appetizer portion of the menu. We feasted on great conversation, beet and goat cheese salad, Vietnamese Shrimp Summer Rolls and Fried Zucchini. After lunch we sat in Vicky's car, looking at her scrapbook of photos from a recent trip to Wisconsin. Listening to her describe the cabin, the s'mores at the bonfire, the buttermilk donuts (from Paul Bunyan's Restaurant) was pure fun.

Vicky describes herself as a "trekkie" - one whose joy of life is turned on by travel and adventure. She describes me as a "foodie" - one whose joy of life is turned on by food. After hearing her almost go orgasmic over the description of the warm, freshly fried, buttermilk donuts dusted with sugar, I think she is best described as a "foodie trekkie". Vicky is an amazing photographer and adventurer. I hope to periodically include her photos and travel logs in my blog.

This afternoon I snuck a couple of Dove chocolates from my co-worker, Kat's drawer. Now you know the secret to my Rubenesque figure.

Day 1 ended with a visit to a car dealership to trade in my car for a new more fuel efficient CR-V and a trip to Cracker Barrel for comfort food with my husband, Mike. Everyone deserves a little comfort after buying a car. Warm biscuits with apple butter, chicken and dumplings, carrots and green beans were just the tonic for a stressful week. As usual, Mike was extremely encouraging about my blog idea.

From the moment the light bulb went off this morning, I have been smiling or giggling. My joy of life has definitely been turned on as I embark on my foodie journey.

Many hugs and giggles,

Kathy