How wise is this wisdom

Yes this sign was taken at the world famous Crab Cooker in Newport Beach.  I have since adopted it as my motto...and I have also adopted the Crab Cooker as my new favorite 'must stop'.  My love of seafood must be growing because one shrimp skewer was just not enough.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

My green is in the form of a hat today.  A beautiful...not so spring...big yarn fedora, that has been scrunched in a suitcase and looks nothing like a fedora anymore.  However, I bought this at Nordstroms last month and absolutely loved it and wondered when I could sport it in southern California oh so sunny weather.  But today is cloudy and it is Saint Patrick's Day.  Out comes the fedora and voile!  I still love it.  Though Zoom and I have no big plans, and I'm not making cornbeef and cabbage because of my diet, we will probably venture out to find GREEN food. We're already had a green protein shake (thanks to Spinach and not food coloring :) 

..and I will always think of my nephew Seth Patrick today.  So beautiful and precious you were.  Your family loves you tremendously. 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Rose Bowl Flea Market

Oh how I love the Rose Bowl Flea Market!  Utter joy is what I experienced yesterday as I walked aisles, dodged people and meandered among mid-century furniture and vintage dishtowels.  My favorite seller had this for sale and I absolutely went ballistic.  SOLD!

I also found a vintage industrial dolly that I could not walk past and will post pictures as soon as I find a big buff man to help me lift it from my car (I'm hoping to keep the big buff man when I do find him!)

My heart skipped a beat when Zoom tripped over these antique hand carved panels.  I apologized to the Chinese man as I gathered as many as I could while admiring their individuality and floral motifs. I'm keeping some as is and others will be sanded to the more natural wood color.  These as well will be listed on my shop site and my etsy store. 

It was indeed a good day at market. Pasadena in March makes you realize that spring has indeed sprung or at least is on its way

Akro Agate (and yes that's English)

The unearthing continues at my parents house and how I feel I've just found gold!  I came across a beautiful child's tea set stored with my mothers vintage dolls.  I have no recollection of them (translation - I wasn't allowed to play with them as a child) but my heart raced with excitement. Could this be love? A quick image search of brightly colored glass identified them as Akro Agate Depression Era Glass.  The colors are majestic and vivid and of course are highly coveted among collectors.  The question now is.......Do I sell or keep?  If I keep I'm having a tea party with all my mothers dolls this afternoon. 

A quick trip to the market

It's 6:42 am and my little boy comes to find and tell me that's he's hungry. A new constant in his vocabulary and he's not even a teenager yet.  With swimsuit season approaching and the mounting desire to get back in shape, I realize that french toast, sausage and eggs are way too tempting to be cooking him for breakfast.  Thank goodness he LOVES cheerios! 

With the realization that there is no milk in the house, I grab my keys and take off for the store.  It's raining out and as I hop in the car I realize my ankles are cold and wet.  The sudden understanding that I'm in my strawberry fields cropped pajama bottoms makes me ponder I need to be more self aware of time and place, style and fashion, and how I'll never be Audrey Hepburn with grace and style oozing out of my character. Comfort is comfort folks and there is no turning back.  I rush into the store, grab the milk and dodge all customers and employees stalking the shelves.  Of course with my luck it happens to be the pastry aisle I choose to scurry down until I get a marvelous idea.  How great of a mother would I be if I bring my son home a luscious something stacked with carbs and sugar?  Apple turners or cream cheese filled danishes! We don'tt have these very often so it's no big deal.  Of course they are cheaper wrapped in four packs......and my dad would appreciate this act of morning kindness too....and did I mention they are cheaper in eight packs?

Do I need to tell you the rest of the story or can you piece together the diet dilemma I just experienced?  My motivational Monday might start on Tuesday this week.  But since my record is already tainted..........I might just wait another week.  A tragic beginning to the same old story.  Spring is coming and I need to be reminded before these types of events occur.

The Best Chocolate Cupcake Recipe

My love affair with watching America's Test Kitchen (otherwise known as ATK) has significantly increased my waistline and taken 30 minutes out of each of my Saturday mornings.  Only because I now distinguish between the run of the mill products, methods and recipes and the superb, life changing, scream for more goodness than I ever have before.  Maybe I've been forced into public television (it's on PBS folks) and there are better shows on cable networks but I can without a doubt say I subscribe to ATK and some of the recipes I've tried have put me over the top in my convictions.  Below is one you must try.  I repeat, YOU MUST TRY.  If not, come over to my house and I'll whip up a batch.  I need someone there so that I don't devour all 12 of these little devils in one sitting. 

CHOCOLATE CREAM CUPCAKES

(click here for complete instructions)

CUPCAKES

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/2 cup boiling water
1/3 cup cocoa powder

(don't use Hersheys!  Go for the good stuff.  It makes a tremendous difference)

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon instant espresso

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FILLING

3 tablespoons water

3/4 teaspoon unflavored gelatin

4 tablespoon (1/2 stick) unsalted butter , softened
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups marshmallow créme

GLAZE

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons unsalted butter

The complete recipe and Instructions can be found online here (email registration) and in Cooks Country  and the Best of Cooks Illustrated Magazines.