Fifty Before 50

I think this one was the scariest task I had on my list. Why? Well, I sound like a drowning chipmunk when I sing and since I am well aware of this fact, have only done Karaoke in a group and lubricated with adult beverages.This list item required me to have not one drop of anything alcoholic prior to singing.Instead I downed that other drug: caffeine. I decided to tackle this one on a night and in a location where the least amount of people would 1) know who I was 2) ever see me again  and 3) were actually good singers themselves. Enter South Jetty Lounge in Hammond, Oregon. Population approx 23. I had to choose a song I could rock from a performance standpoint so no one would really care that my voice was flat and in the wrong key. (Yes, I can hear how bad I am thanks to years of piano and ear training <sigh> sadly, not much I can do about it). Unfortunately, the KJ didn't have any Hole (aka Courtney Love aka Kurt Cobian's widow) because her voice is about as bad as...

Ok, this one sucked. Hands down. It may have been user error however, because the masses said it tasted good and they didn't mind the clumps <sigh>. Made it Christmas Eve morning as part of our early celebration and I was heartily disappointed. Can't quite remember where I got the recipe... online somewhere maybe?

Done for 2012. Holiday Half .  It sucked and was cold and I got super sick afterwards. Needless to say, this is the last time I do a winter race in this part of the country. Before the race. I was still optimistic. I was only smiling on the outside.

I decided to host Thanksgiving at my house this year. I have participated in several at other people's houses over the years in both the U.S. and Canada (where the holiday is the same , but on the second Monday in October) but have never cooked a turkey or made stuffing. Below is a pictorial of the experience. I ordered a fresh turkey from New Seasons Market, a locally owned mostly organic grocer. My "humanly raised" turkey. Insert ironic comment here. The savory bits for the stuffing. This was always the "boy" job in my house growing up.  Two loaves of crustless buttermilk bread added to the onions, butter, celery and spices.  Yes, I am a traditionalist when it comes to stuffing the turkey. It just doesn't taste the  same if you don't. All buttered up and ready to go. I added my secret ingredient into the recipe my co-worker gave me for cranberry sauce. Bubble, bubble. Toil and trouble. Totally mis-quoting ...

Sorry Betty Crocker , but Julia Child could totally kick your butt in a celebrity cage match if your only weapon was your H ollandaise sauce recipe. Thanksgiving morning I decided to make Eggs Benny for me and the kids because, hey, who doesn't want to make an elaborate breakfast on a day full of elaborate cooking? So started Hollandaise attempt #2. ( read about my first ever attempt ) I pulled out my trusty bright orange, 1986 edition of the Betty Crocker cookbook and thumbed to the proper page.   Strangely, it was nestled up against the asparagus section. Please note, there is a microwave option. I made it per Betty's somewhat vague instructions. Topped my eggs, ham and English muffin. Dug in. Asked the kids their opinion. The foodie kids that they are, they had many: too lemony, good consistency, too salty Apparently, this one is to be struck from the book.

Catch 22 Just got this Saturday from my fav bookstore ( Powell's ) and am starting it today on my lunch break. Look for updates along the way. 26Sept12 On chapter 2 and it is an odd book so far and not what I expected. Hopefully, the critics and other book lovers are right and it is as great a book as everyone says.

Add caption I found To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee a novel that appears very forward thinking and modern considering when it was written and where it takes place. I loved Atticus, Calpurnia and Miss Maudie but felt others (like Dill and Uncle Jack) were left hanging. I know Scout is young, but I was irritated by her several times throughout the story. Was it what I was expecting? Well, in a way yes. I had a faint idea it was about race relations. However, I did not know it took place during the Depression , nor that it was from the POV of a young girl. Although some of the racism is difficult to read about, because it was written in 1960 and when takes place in the mid-1930s, it needs to be in the story. Atticus' view on life, fairness and equality make the book a must read. I can't believe it took me this long. Nearly everyone who knew it was on my list was 1) shocked I hadn't read it and 2) more than happy to let me know it was one of their favourite book...

This one was a bit scary to complete. $100 is no small amount and the possibility of losing it is, well, 50/50. I headed to Las Vegas this past weekend for my friend's bachelourette weekend and decided it was as good a time as any to check this item off the List. I went to the ATM and withdrew a crisp Ben Franklin, stuck it in my purse and waited for inspiration to hit. Inspiration came at around 4:30 a.m. at Bill's Gambling Hall . Fueled by a couple dirty martini's I scanned the floor looking for a "lucky" table. Now, I know random is random and really the odds on the wheel are even, but this did not stop me from choosing the table where the last six spins were red, red, black, black, black, red. After three black in a row followed by a red, I figured the odds were good. Even if, in truth, the odds were the same. I walked up as people were placing bets, drew out my C-spot, put in on the table and told the croupier, "$100 on red." Did I mention I...

2012's Road Trip meandered from Portland to Crater Lake along the I-5, Hwy 58, Hwy 97, Hwy138 with stops in Eugene, Baker Bay, Oakridge, Diamond Lake & Roseburg. More pix can be found at my gallery . Want to expand the image? Just click on it.

It was a quiet Father's Day Sunday after a busy week and I was craving eggs benny. I decided it was a perfect opportunity to attempt my first pass on making good Hollandaise sauce. I walked to the market and picked up eggs, english muffins, ham and potatoes and it wasn't until I was partway home and read a Facebook comment from my friend that I realised I had forgotten the butter. Doh! “First hollandaise attempt?? It’s easy…All you need is butter. Lots and lots of butter” So finally after nearly two hours of prep I was ready. I decided to start with an easy recipe [1] and chose Julia Child’s classic take on this saucy staple (recipe follows). The ingredients. Please note the packaged hollandaise sauce. It was purchased as a back-up incase I totally destroyed the one I was making. Wisking water and lemon juice into the eggs. I used my Grandma's double boiler for this and put the pot on the simmer element. Starting to thicken over the bath just th...