Sounds lovely, DeVeria, and here we are looking at over a foot of ‘light flurries’, tho it’s melted off the roads enough to drive safely now. Hope you have a nice Valentine’s Day dinner, no doubt heart shaped pizzas? sorry, I keep seeing ads for them and gag. Chocolates are de rigueur, imho.

Morning DeVeria!

Love IS in the air.
How about breakfast in bed? That would start the day off right.

G’morning. Yes, I heard about your “dusting”. No heart shaped pizzas here…he actually put in a request for his menu…MEN…oops, sorry guys!

G’morning Ellie. That would be nice but not sure when the day will start…might be a nice ending though, huh?

Morning. I’m planning a dinner too but have no idea yet what it will be. Dessert will be strawberry shortcake. That, I know.

I’m thinking, maybe, macaroni and brocolli.

G’morning. Well I have to have a birthday cake, but I am doing strawberries dipped in chocolate.

That sounds good, very festive.

Anyone want the Mac & Brocolli recipe:
Saute sliced mushrooms in a bit of oil and throw in a can of anchovies. Let it simmer while the anchovies break up.
At the same time, boil your brocolli till tender (reserve some of the water)
At the same time, cook your pasta.
Mix it all together and add a cup (or so) of grated romano cheese. If it’s too dry, add a little of your brocolli water.
Delish.

You probably shouldn’t do the mushrooms till the pasta goes into the pot.

Where is everyone?

That sounds delicious!

Dunno…everybody seems a little slow signing on this morning…maybe they are wanting to sleep a little longer today.

Well, I’m happy to look outside and it is snowing. We have a nice snow cover here in MI and I’m going x-country skiing today.

I just saw a bumper sticker, I thought it said “Palin is temporary, Pride is forever”. It was one of those jingoistic stickers with flags all over it. But I thought about it for a minute and it must have said “Pain”, not “Palin”.

Good reading the first time, tho.

Sorry I’m a bit slow too, we have fog here with a dusting of snow. Very nice.

That’s a lovely menu/recipe, solai. How did you know I was trying to think of how best to use some anchovies?

Well you keep it out there. Interesting…

that was the one thing I would leave out…

I am breaking up with my partner today. In many ways it is sad/happy. He is a nice person and quite extraordinary, but we are not for each other. I just want him to go on and find something that brings him joy. He is not a happy man, and while I am quite ready to own whatever I am doing “wrong” I do not think it is about me …it is about being driven to “produce” in his work but little to do with “create” in his life, except something for himself. This is all good, I do not see him as selfish, but I am thinking it means there is little there for me. I think it is a fitting Valentine’s day gift to let him go and find whatever it is he needs. We have never lived together and I do not think I could bear that anyway ~ he needs someone to dedicate themselves to him and him alone. He has never had kids and does not like family, whereas I have kids and cannot forsake my family for him, something he desires and which I just cannot give.

Just go out there and love some more!

Cat In Seattle

If you try the recipe, don’t leave it out, it adds a lot of flavor. But, you can use anchovy paste instead. OTOH, it just might not be something you’d like.

Sorry, you remind me of Kahlil Gibran, “If you love them, let them go” – showing my age, aren’t I? Sounds like you’ve worked this out and opened a door that may be the best.

Best wishes to you; your descision is thoughtful. I hope you get through this without too much indignation on his part.

karen

Republican polling a la Rasmussen being touted in the local morning paper. Dire, dire, run for your lives, Dems /s.

Much more pleasant to think foodie goodies. The visiting grandson and I will make donuts today. Ran across this recipe which uses mashed potatoes. Potatoes. That makes it healthy, right?

Meanwhile: Rasmussen is to polling as Fox is to Republican-agenda pushing media…. spread the word like butter….

North Georgia is gridlocked from 4 inches of snow and bad ice.

I’m sorry to hear that, but you must do what you think is best for you. Just make sure you think it through before doing it. Love is still out there.

just not sure if I could do the anchovies…the paste might work

Valentines is so focused on couples and romance and pushing the buy, buy, buy. For singles by choice [vous] or by destiny [moi] it can be a challenging time reflecting bye, bye, bye. Be gentle to yourself, and look forward.

Here ya go!

potatoes…seriously?

Good morning all !

wow…and I know GA is not used to that at all. We are supposed to be getting more Monday evening, unreal.

Good morning!

10 inches of snow in north Texas , bare grass here in New England
Go figure !

some input from a thoughtful, sensitive man?

He sounds like an asshole.

Well I guess with all the snow , global warming and climate change have ended

The NYT and WaPo polls both are showing that the voters are not exactly fooled -
’70 percent of respondents are either “dissatisfied” or “angry” with the way Congress conducts business…Only 13 percent believe that Congress represents the interests of the people.”’
http://washingtonindependent.com/76569/poll-everyone-hates-congress

Leaving sounds like the right thing to me. My mother is married for the 3rd time (widowed twice). To say her husband is difficult is understating it. He really wants no part of family. He’s one of those who believes it’s a husband and wife…period.
All my life we gathered for Sunday dinner with the whole gang…not anymore. That’s just one thing. He really wants my mother and no one else (not even his own children). This is very difficult for her and difficult for the rest of us, too because we can see her become nervous when we visit. One example, her sister was dying. We all knew it but the husband had planned a vacation and could not see any reason to postpone it. My heart aches for my mother….so w/o knowing your SO, I’m inclined to say you’re making the right choice.

just the way it seems to be going right now…

Amazing the MSM would have us believe that most Americans know or care very little about the workings of Washington

Kahlil Gibran is my hero! But living free has its price. It is not something many understand about those of us who want to be truly free, because love usually means ownership, exclusiveness. Thanks to The Prophet, I have spent a great deal of my life learning I can be exclusive for someone, but I cannot be owned and at my age, few want to own me anyway, lol, I am 57. Being truly free is scary as hell, but worth it to me. This means nobody is obligated to me ~ nor I to them. Doing something without a price has its price because it means they never owe you and it is hard to do at first. I think this is the most puzzling to many people as ownership is a “sign” of love, when it fact ownership after awhile becomes chains. Giving my heart is easy, it is taking it back that is the hard part. I prefer sharing my heart, and perhaps “borrow” someone else’s for awhile.

Been there…with both of my parents and it is not fun at all.

I’m not in a relationship right now, but I still like chocolate. Going to treat myself to some delicious dark chocolate with exotic fillings or mixings today or tomorrow. My favorite is Neuhaus, one of the best Belgian brands. They have a small shop in DC’s Union Station. I go for the most exotic kinds, like sea salt caramels or lavender petals. I don’t do truffles.

Have you ever been to Belgium? In Brussels they must have 100 chocolate shops, one right next to the other. It’s hard to choose one vendor, and I picked three from a list in my Fodor’s. The big global brands like Neuhaus and Leonidas have flagships there, and there are many mom-and-pop chocolate boutiques as well. If you are into chocolate, this is the place to go for vacation.

Non-belgian faves are: Vosges (available in the more expensive supermarkets), MarieBelle (shop in NYC that is super-cozy), Richart (an old stand-by of mine), Dagoba, and Lake Champlain.

When my mother and stepfather started going together ,they wanted nothing to do with their kids. The situation became so unbearable I finally lost my temper punched my stepfather in the nose and got thrown out of the house in the process. I was 18 years old and have been on my own ever since

Yes I agree. I can almost “feel” you mother’s dilemma. To me love should never be a choice and “If I love you, I cannot love them …” cannot be in my repertoire. I need to be free to love ALL!

When my wife and I married , her family became mine , and my family became hers

Great tune. Thanks.

Sounds like you have thought this through, and I wish you well. I’m some one who has found that I’m too independent for most, so it’s fortunate that I’ve always liked my own company, and been able to support myself. Will be having lunch in a bit with a friend who clung too long to some one, just to be a couple, and had a hard time getting back on her feet again, but is doing well now. Each has to find out the right way and it’s never easy, and never the same for anyone else as it is for you.

Chocolates help!

G’morning Michelle. I love chocolate, but it doesn’t love me right now. I am going to try to be careful with the chocolate this weekend. This snow has already put about 5 lbs on me.

Thank-you for sharing that experience ~ it helps me to know I am making the right choice. This is something I want to avoid with my family. It causes so much pain. I just have a hard time understanding that exclusiveness. I saw much the same as you experienced with an aunt whose husband would not allow her to raise her son, who was not his. My grandmother raised him instead. While all seemed to accept this, I felt it was a tragedy as a child to know he never had his mother. When she died, I was there along with her son and others ~ but worse when her husband died NOBODY was there. Nobody cared when he was gone. I know I have to leave this life alone, but it would be nice to have those at my bedside to bid me goodbye with love to help me step over to The Other Side.

wow…well my stepmother and I do not see eye to eye to say the least. I was done wrong as a child and now that I’m grown won’t stand for it. My stepfather was all about “his” new family…but, we eventually got to a good point (after I got out of the house).

Good Morning, Pups. And thanks to DeVeria for the easy wake-up missive. And the photo is very tasteful, also. And you know what this means? Another cuppa…

definitely

very nice…might add a nice touch

If you’re looking for really good chocolate made by a small businessman (well, he’s probably at least 5’8″), check this out:

http://www.roguechocolatier.com

For 99.9% of you, it will be the best chocolate you’ve ever tasted.

that is how it should be

Everything has come to a standstill here in Myrtle Beach with 4 inches of snow.
Wait a second,with Rethug stranglehold in SC,every day is a standstill day!!

When was the last time GA had snow anywhere near that amount?

Mornin’, DeVeria, pups

Cold but we’re still gathering at 1pm for Hands Across the Sand, an offshore drilling protest.

Tigers don’t know anything about Valentine’s Day so it’ll be Caturday as usual and stir fry for din din. I did make contact with a cousin I hadn’t heard from in almost 50 years.

Stick with the dark stuff — at least 70% cacao — and eat only a few ounces of it a day. You’ll be fine.

oh boy, you are making it hard for me. I think chocolate is my worst weakness!

For Valentine’s Day….”Diamonds……that’ll shut her up”
“Chocolate…..that’ll make her fat”
“Expensive THINGS…that’ll get you lucky”

Myrtle Beach has snow…when was the last time?

Chocolate. Nature’s most perfect food.

You’re from MB? I’ll be heading there in April. Hope the weather becomes normal.

Unfortunately, I haven’t found a dark chocolate that I like…something about dark and white chocolate…

Go out and shovel a neighbor’s driveway — that’ll take care of the guilt!

now that’s special…

Yeah and it will take care of me too!

Hoo Boy …isn’t the weather doing strange things? Here in Seattle it is rainy as usual, but unusually warm. Just 100 miles up the way North in Vancouver BC they are desperate for snow, something they usually have little problem with ~ and there you are down South with more of it that you can handle.

Global warming rearing its ugly head methinks.

A friend of mine is on his way to MB for a golf vacation ,hope the snow melts on the course

Sorry…was watching a comedian…sometimes a break from political BS is as easy as laughing once in awhile. Sorry. Back to food topics and the evils of Sarah Palin on your regularly scheduled programme.

That’s because you need to try artisan darks — I used to think I didn’t like dark chocolate, too, because it was so bitter. But that’s because I’d only tasted darks offered by big companies. Rogue’s stuff does not taste like that at all — its 70% bars are all very fruity and luscious!

Good for you! Keep hearing the total lie, that there were no oil spills caused by Katrina, and that proves offshore drilling doesn’t pollute.
Not So.

pictures here; http://blog.skytruth.org/2007/12/hurricane-katrina-gulf-of-mexico-oil.html

BO’s answer to “drill baby drill.”

I hear the waste makes an excellent tea. Jeez, Louise…

What is it you would have me do,
My Countrymen? Shall I purr like
The kitten to satisfy you, or roar
Like the lion to please myself? I
Have sung for you, but you did not
Dance; I have wept before you, but
You did not cry. Shall I sing and
Weep at the same time?

From My Countrymen
The Secrets of the Heart, Kahlil Gibran

Oil comes from the ground, so therefore when spilled, is just going back into the ground for future use /s

I did eventually patch things up with my stepfather and worked for him for a few years before buying his business.
He has since passed away but I am glad we were able to work things out , he was a pretty decent guy after all

Whew! That’s a relief.

During storms we still get oil balls washed ashore from a tanker collision years ago. All platforms leak oil. Even the drilling process puts oil in the water.

Offshore drilling. Not no, but hell no.

Obama can take his loan guarantees and put ‘em where the sun doesn’t shine.

I’ll try this Rogue. Yes, you’re right about artisan darks. It’s very hard to find a big brand dark that’s not very chalky. Ghiradelli, IMO is too chalky (brittle because it doesn’t incorporate enough butterfat).

If you’re looking to save money, there’s always the option of buying a big hunk of dark chocolate by the pound. They carry it at Whole Foods and many other specialty markets in the cheese section. You can just chip away at it with a knife! It’s not usually as good as the artisan kinds, but it’s not Hersheys either.

Yup.

Any brand recommendations? I likes me a big ol’ chunk o’ dark chocolate.

And strychnine is a natural ingredient. Have all you like.

SD, thanks for the bit of poetry, have always enjoyed but still laugh when I hear Gibran referred to as the Mystic Holistic Profit.

I’ve still got all his books on my bookshelf. Fun to read again and again. Kids today don’t know who he was. *sigh*

The words written next to Gibran’s grave are “a word I want to see written on my grave: I am alive like you, and I am standing beside you. Close your eyes and look around, you will see me in front of you ….”
From Wiki

SD electric vehicles are right around the corner. Once the manufacturers work the bugs out and extend the range of these cars, they will catch on like wildfire. Once the public sees just how simple an EV is to own they will wonder why they didn’t come out sooner.
I know this won’t lead to an end to offshore drilling but it will decrease the amount of oil we use overall

We will always have the sixties (and Paris)!

Thanks for the good conversation, all, I have to go do things.

Do visit my post at the Seminal in slightly under an hour, about the fraud that TX insurance industry used to justify hiking its rates after big dot.com losses.

imagine your EV being charged with electricity you produced with the solar panels on the roof of your house !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQB83__ONuo

i think you just sold me!

yeah, I worked things out with mine too…I’m still praying on the other one…some things are better left alone

And make them affordable.

on to the next thread

I have been here 6 years and this is the first time for me

Yep, mashed potatoes. I’m not making this recipe this weekend, found it because I needed to clarify something in a recipe for Maandazi, a Tanzanian donut I’m making for a program next week.

But doesn’t that seem like something that could be really interesting with sweet potatoes mashed rather than white potatoes? And maybe with a cream cheesey glaze [actually, neufchatel...into the lowfat these days]

well I have been in DC 10 years and this is the most snow they have ever had in a winter…and more coming…I’m not happy

Well definitely let me know how it turns out

Shoulda been there for the 1961 inauguration.

LOL..I wasn’t even thought about then…and glad I wasn’t!

I think a very romantic breakfast (served in bed either in the morning or for dinner at night) is:
- scrambled eggs slowly whisked in olive oil and butter over a low flame (throw in some truffle oil if you’ve got it)
- bacon!
- champagne or that sparkling grape juice in a bottle
- pomegranate seeds
- dark chocolate

The big hunks of dark chocolate are sold in the cheese areas of gourmet or health food stores and Whole Foods. Some are branded, but I can’t remember any names right now. Pick something imported and at 70% cacao content or above and you’ll be fine.

Good morning to you!

sounds delicious

Very late, but this sounds wonderful!

They have something like this at Trader Joe’s as well, if that helps anyone.

And good morning, DeVeria–I’m west coast, so don’t get here usually in time to talk with everyone, but I read PUAC every week–so thank you for writing and being here!

I don’t want to rub it in, but in SW Washington state where I live, I have baby salad greens started under plastic outside already–it’s quite warm here for this time of year. But rainy as always.

Here’s a picture of crocus in my garden! It’s the second entry. I’m Minerva over there!

Nice! I’m poring over my flower catalogs now, seeing which peonies and other flowers I will pick this year. Also need to get started on the vegetable garden seedlings.