Leaving for the Beach w/Lemon Pudding

What is it that lures us back to our favorite ocean spot each year? For me, it is all about the senses - the smell and the feel of that warm ocean salt air on my face - the wind blowing through my hair - the feel of the warm sand squishing through my toes. Ahhhh. There is simply nothing like it, and lucky me, I leave today. I will spend the weekend with my daughter and husband in Rehoboth, and then bid them goodbye for the rest of the week, as I continue to enjoy the ocean in solitude and reflection. I have a lot to reflect about this week because upon my return, I will graduate with my AA Degree from CCBC of MD. This may not sound like a very big deal to some of you, but for me, it is a very big stepping stone towards my future. You see, I decided to go to college at the ripe old age of 45. It was not easy to step into a classroom with kids younger than my own, and take orders. I had just sold a car-dealership with my husband where I served as CFO and GM. The experience was truly humbling. But, what a journey I have had! Now I am on my way to starting my BA at UMBC with scholarships in hand, and I could not be happier about my decision to begin again. Remember those comfort zones I talked about a few days ago? Yeah, well this was WAY out of my comfort zone! Anyway, before I leave for my retreat to the beach, I will gobble up the last of the wonderful dessert I made last night. The recipe follows:
Take 3 lemons and finely grate rind into large bowl
add 1 cup of sugar
2 tblsp of lemon juice
3 tblsp of flour
1 egg yolk
1 cup of milk
Beat 2 egg whites at high speed until peaks form.
Fold into bowl
Butter 6 small ramkins
Pour in and bake on 350 in water bath 1/2 full to rim for 30 min. YUMMY :)

Glorious Summer and Fresh Basil w/Mozzerella

One of the many things that I love about the warmer weather, is the ability to go just outside my door, pick something, and then make a dish that is simple and spendid. Fresh Basil is simply the best. Pestos, Salads, Tomatoe Sauce, Pizza, and countless other dishes can be made quickly for a perfect evening meal. Tonight the In-Laws are coming. Home for the summer and fresh from DelRay Beach, FL, they will spend the evening with us and share a fresh meal from the garden. Luckily for me, they are not too hard too please when it comes to the dinner menu. So the object here, is to keep it simple. I am looking forward to serving a simple Italian meal with a nice bottle of red, and you can too:

Fresh Tomatoes w/Basil and Fresh Mozzerella - Just like it sounds. Slice the tomatoes, slice the cheese and lay on top. Place one fresh leaf of basil on each. Drizzle w/Balsamic Vinegar and a little olive oil. Salt and Pepper to taste.

Fresh Tomatoe Basil Sauce w/Meat Balls - Chop 1/2 lg. yellow onion and 2 garlic cloves and place in large pot w/1/4 cup olive oil. Saute on med heat. Pulse 2 lg cans of organic tomatoes and pour into pan. Add fresh Basil. Add 2 tsp Sugar. Cover and put on simmer. That is your sauce.

Meat Balls - Mix 1 lb of organic ground beef (or turkey), 1 egg, other half of chopped onion, 1 clove of garlic, 1/4 cup Organic Italian Bread Crumbs, salt and pepper. Make 1 1/2 inch meat balls. Saute in a little olive oil, turning until brown on all sides. Place in sauce. Let simmer all day if you like (I do).
Serve w/ Garlic Bread and Enjoy your dinner!!!!!!!

Friends, Laughter, and Lemon Margaritas

May 26, 2010 - Sometimes the best laid plans just get better. I went Kayaking on the river yesterday with a very old friend. This girl and I met in the seventh grade when she decided to "beat me up". She didn't and we became fast friends instead. We have had countless hysterical times together and have weathered the best and the worst of those times. On this day, the sky was blue, the water was clean, the sun was shining and all seemed perfect for a lovely kayak ride. We would get our exercise and catch-up with our girl talk, however, fate had other plans. Once we were positioned in our boats, my friend noticed that her rudder was not working properly. No problem, I fixed it by tying it back on - problem was...there was a hole, and the boat was taking on water. Thankfully, one of us, (the smarter one), had brought along her life jacket, even though she was given that look. You know the one. The "boy are you a little sissy girl" look. Anyway, it took us a while to notice that her boat was sinking - because of the girl talk and all. Once she fell in, we noticed. A flip-flop was left floating, but the boat and my friend were kind of sinking, and I was kind of laughing (maybe a little too much). After my friend sent me on a wild goose chase looking for her other flip-flop, which ended up being under her bottom the whole time, we both were safely at the pier and began to emerge from the boats. I stepped on the ladder and began to climb up the pier, when it collapsed and landed me back into the river! Now who do you think was lauging (maybe a little too much)?
We then did what any good friends would do, we went back to her house to make Margaritas and sit by the pool. No Margarita mix. Do you really think this was going to stop us? The finished product was a success and the recipe is here for you to enjoy:
Mix 1/4 cup of sugar into 1 1/2 cups of warm water and place in Microwave for 1 min. Get your shaker and put in some ice. Add 3 shots of Really good Tequilia
2 shots of Triple Sec and 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Pour in your simple syrup. Now shake it like you are in your 20's and on the dance floor. Drink and Laugh with your friend. :)

Going Outside Your Comfort Zone w/Fish Tacos

May 25,2005 - Yesterday I read an article about our comfort zones, and more importantly, what can happen when we step outside of them. Let's face it, we all love our comfort zones, and as we get older - it gets harder to take that brave step forward, but when we get pass the fear, and dare to go where we have never gone before, the magic happens. We can be transformed by the process and introduced to a part of ourselves that has never existed before. This, my friends, is what life is all about. So take yourself to that edge. Dare to do, create and become what you have only imagined in your dreams. You can start by making my fabulously easy Fish Tacos. This recipe is so easy (thought you might need one after that duck) and healthy. First turn on your grill and place two ears of freshly shucked organic corn on high heat. Then take any kind of mild white fish (I used sole) and brush with a little olive oil. Sprinkle on some blackening seasoning and place on grill. Meanwhile, cut up one ripe avacado, 1/2 small onion, 1 jalepeno pepper and 1 large tomatoe. Place in a large bowl and add 1 drained can of organic black beans. Go get your corn. It should be a little blackened by now. Cut off kernels and place in your bowl. Squeeze in 1/2 fresh lime and add some cilantro from that herb garden. Go get your fish and assemble your tacos. I used soft flour-tortillas. No need for cheese because of all the wonderfully fresh flavors, but add if you like. Have a happy, healthy day!

Going Green w/Roasted Rasberry Duck

May 24, 2010 - Hi again. So, I will admit that I have taken my own sweet time to get aboard the organic train! I started out like most people, and began to purchase some organic items - like fresh fruit and such, but that just added to my grocery bill. Here is the thing...when you really get on board, organic becomes cheaper. I know what you are thinking, but it is true. After reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle By Barbara Kingsolver, my thoughts began to change about what going green really means. I started to take a mindful look at the way I purchase, why I purchase, my daily habits and rituals, and realized that a lot of what I spent money on could be eliminated or greatly reduced. Last week, I am proud to say, there was no reason to cart the trash can down to the street. It only had one small bag of trash thanks to my new composte pile! My cleaning products all smell like lavendar! I washed my windows with vinegar, water, and lemon oil! Best of all my grocery bill has gone WAY down. There is simply less waste! Anyway, I am rattling on and on and you probably just want a recipe...so here it is. A wonderful Roasted Rasberry Duck with absolutely NO waste!

1 organic free-range duck - Remove all scrap meats inside and salt cavity with sea-salt. Score the top (I take a sharp knife and make a diamond pattern across the breasts), but you can make any design you like. The object here is to allow the fat to drip off the duck as it bakes, so cut through the fat and skin, but not the meat. Put on rack in baking pan in 300 degree oven. Bake for one hour and then pull out, prick duck skin with fork all over and rotate, turning the duck upside down. Bake for another hour and then repeat 2 more times. Pull out duck after 4 hours and drain duck fat into bowl. Baste with 1/2 cup organic rasberry fruit spread and 1/2 cup organic red wine (boil this to reduce to about 3/4 cup). Put back in oven and change temperature to 425. Bake for 20 min. Pull out duck again, re-glaze duck and put back in oven at 450 degrees. Roast for 10 more minutes. Pull out duck and let rest for 10 min. before serving.
Okay - so about the waste. I saute the Liver in a little butter, chopped onion and a tablespoon of sherry. Process in food-processor and serve on crackers or sliced cucumber. The other gizzards are boiled and fed as a treat for my dogs. The duck fat is saved and used for making the most amazing roasted potatoes EVER! Just cut up some organic potatoes with skins on and steam for a few minutes. Place in a roasting pan with about 1/4 cup of the fat, sea-salt and roast until crispy brown. I put them in with my duck after basting with the rasberry glaze. Be sure to turn them a few times so they can get crispy on all sides. Save the rest of your duck fat to use again later in the fridge.

Lovely Organic Pizza Sauce

May 23, 2010 - Hi! I am so glad that you are visiting my blog. My intention is to share my recipes for healthy living each day in this space. On some days, it may just be a thought or two, and on others you may find organic recipes or some sage advice that I have found helpful, but whatever you find, please know that I welcome your comments and look forward to sharing my daily inspirations with you. Today, on this beautiful, misty Sunday morning, I picked some fresh oregano and basil from my organic herb garden and returned to my kitchen to make some organic pizza sauce. The result was amazing! Place the following in a food processor: 1 can of drained organic tomatoes (save juice for another recipe), a bunch of fresh basil, a bunch of fresh oregano, 2 lg. cloves of garlic, sea-salt, ground-pepper and 1 tsp. of raw sugar. Pulse for 1-2 min. That is it! This recipe is good for at least 3 lg pizzas. I will serve it tonight with a nice salad and a glass of merlot. If you have never attempted to grow your own herbs, please do so! You can purchase an organic plant of basil or oregano at your local Whole Foods store for the same amount of money that it costs for a fresh bunch. Herbs are very hardy and really do not need a lot of mothering, so even if you live in the city, all you need is a sunny window to have fresh herbs always!