I had the distinct privilege of working with Nellie King from 1987 – 1992.  We were with the Athletic Dept. of Duquesne University.  Nellie was the kind of co-worker y’all have dreamed of.  He was intelligent, honorable, truthful and delightful.  He  had so many wonderful baseball and sports stories that he kept us all entertained.  He was the consumate family man who recognized the achievements of his wife and exolled the talents of his daughters.  He always had time to explain a new concept or a new computer program.  His work was flawless and his office manners impeccable.  He will be missed and remembered fondly.   He once said that he knew it would be a good day if he didn’t see his name in the obit columns.  Well, we saw it and it’s not such a good day for us.  But the memories he provided will keep us thinking of him.  Rest In Peace, Nellie.

     We are in the middle of “camp” season.  So far, everything has gone perfectly.  The campers really have liked all the food we’ve made and have eaten everything they’ve prepared.  Salmon seems to be the BIG hit!  We roast our whole salmon filet with cherry tomatoes and the kids devour it!  Still have some citrus chickens and some chocolate swirl cheesecakes to make. Oh my!  What fun!   I just I’m having the time of my life.  These campers are so focused and excited about new foods that their enthusiasm is contagious.  Have got to do this more often!  Toodles.

      What is it about this standard peanut peanut-butter cookie that pulls memories of childhood from the deepest corners of our minds?  They are such a simple cookie to make (okay, maybe I embellish them a bit) that every time I make them I wonder why I don’t make them more often.  Perfectly satisfying, they have protein in the peanuts and a taste and texture that’s really hard to beat.  The snap and the crunch melt into creaminess on  your palate.  There’s saltiness from the peanuts and sweet from the combination of sugars wedged into the crevices of the fork marks.  Golly!   This is a great, hot, humid, summer day!  Air conditioning and peanut peanut-butter cookies.  YUM!   Toodles!

    Can you believe we are almost half way through July?  We still have our red, white and blue all over the place.

     Visited the D.C. area this past weekend and had a great time watching Peter walking!  He’s quite a trooper and definiely going to make his place in his family!  He may be the youngest but so far, he has the strongest will – especially when it comes to food.

    Betsy and Greg had a nce dinner out – BY THEMSELVES – and we had dinner with the kids.  Stopped on our way down at Moio’s for an almond and cherry cake.  Peter decided he didn’t like anything we were having for dinner so he drank some milk and fiddled with the stuff on his plate.  But, being grandparents, we offred him a small piece of cake and he licked the platter clean.  Oh yes, and he had a little more milk.  Hey, we can do that, as grandparents, and a little goodie now and again is never going to hurt him.  Right?  Bang on straight!    Toodles.

    What a great summer so far.  We’ve had summer weather – and lots of it.  Too bad many of us work indoors.  Not To Worry!  We will be making some homemade vanilla bean ice cream today to be ready for our homemade ice cream and cookie sandwiches tomorrow.  Oh,yeah!   That’s what we need in this heat.

   There is something about ice cream sandwiches.  I never liked them as a kid.  I always preferred the orange and vanilla confection of a stick.  But now that i am grown-up and enjoying wonderful foods those sandwiches are such a treat.  I still find them intimidating .  They are just SO big!    But even if it takes two sittings to finish one I enjoy every bite and fill quite sated.  The ice cream is so rich when it is homemade that to eat store-bought seems like it’s not what it should be.  I don’t care what brand it is, it still isn’t homemade. 

    Just a few thoughts on the lovliness of homemade ice cream.  What  a wonderful respite.   Now I must lick my lips and get back to work.   Toodles!

   July is such a great month.  There are blueberries galore and blackberries are coming to their peak.  Everything is decked out in red, white and blue and the wamness of the day fades into a delightful night’s sleep.  Bands keep us aware of our patriotism and parades happen, often at a moment’s notice, when children just happen to all be on bikes at the same time.  Gotta love it!

    June birthdays have passed for Mark, Rita and Rosalie.  Now come the July babies.  Hope you all have cake and friends and fireworks, if only in your own hearts.  July begins the second half of the year, of course, and with this month starts our countdown to THE holidays.  Just don’t start too soon.  Take time to enoy the “now.”   There is great weather with friends and cookouts to be had.  Make summer last a long time with blueberry jam and blackberry cobbler and have a great one.  Toodles.

     What a great day.  Did lots of work today getting ready for folks to pick up on their way to their weekend retreats, Jersey Shore and Michigan.   It’s just such a good idea to pick up food ready to cook and take it with you to your get-a-away!   One woman told me all she wanted to purchase once at her desitination was milk and fresh produce.  She is set up with meals for six family members for six days.  Am quite sure she will have a great vacation with no meal worries.

     If you are getting ready for vacation let us know.  We can help you really have a vacation—– from meal preparation.   It just keeps getting better.  Toodles.

   I had a great mother-in-law.  No, I’m not kidding.  Dorothy was one of the most gracious people I had ever met.  She welcomed me into her family with open arms.  Hey, if her son loved me how could anything be worng?  One thing I loved about her was that she was always so practical.  I have never eaten an egg without hearing her say, “You know, there is only one food that tastes good after an egg:  CHOCOLATE.”   Had she liked tuna salad sandwiches she would have made the same comment, I am sure.

   I had a tuna salad sandwich today for lunch on a sweet little wheat pita bread.  I chopped a teeny shallot into the tuna and mixed in a bit of real mayo.  No salt.  No pepper.  Just straight up tuna, shallot and mayo.  Gotta tell ya’ that was one of the best lunches I’ve had in a while.  Why don’t I do that more often?  Don’t know.  Maybe unconsciously I keep it for a special occasion.  Not that today is anything special.  I just saw that cute little can up on the shelf and thought “hmmm, today’s the day!”  Did I wash it all down with chocolate?  You bettcha!  Found a Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with White Mint Square  and swished that around on my palate.  Yes. It works as well with tuna as eggs.

   It’s a good day for me.  Hope you are doing something wonderful also.  Is tuna salad and chocolate something wonderful?  For me it was!  Off I go to make the most of the rest of today.   You do the same.   Toodles.

My mother always referred to Memorial Day as Decoration Day.  They must have had some pretty sweet deocrations from the sound of  it.  This was  never the “beginning” of Summer.  It was a day to remember all those soldiers who fought for our country, died for our country and loved our country.  The decorations were in their honor.  My mom’s family celebrated our country by flying the colors.  That’ s how we were brought up.  There was a certain gratitude, a respect if you will, towards all those brave young men and women.   Several uncles fought in Europe and came home to tell about it.  That was, indeed, cause for celebration and decoration.  However, they never much talked about their time over there.  They are mostly gone now, or too infirm to tell us stories.  I can’t tell you how much I think of them during this holiday and thank  them again and again for their time and sacrifice away from family.  I hope you took the time for thank a veteran.  Even if they didn’t fight in a war they spent time in the service to their country defending our rights.  Thank you again, veterans.

    We had the best weekend!  Not only was it sunny and warm(er) but we had three wonderful parties here.  Friday we had 25 children for a six year old’s birthday.  Yes, that’s a lot of children but, for the nubmers, the party went off with very few hitches.  Everyone had a great time and they all took home their self-decorated cupcakes. 

     One little girl at Saturday’s birthday party was so caught up in the moment that she asked me if I am on television, too.  Alas, I had to tell her that I was a full one-thousand years ago when WQED first started but recently, NO!  She said it was a shame because she was having so much fun.  Gotta love the imagination of a 9 year old.  This group was great and a little easier managed since there were only 9 of them.

     Sunday we had a small contingent from a Girl Scout Troop (others were in a dance recital, I believe).  Two of the mothers joined us since we had all the elements at the ready.  They had a great time making their pizzas and cupcakes.  And we all loved eating the homemade vanilla bean ice cream.

    Yes, we were busy but these parties are SO MUCH FUN!!!  The kids amaze me with their creativity. (Have YOU ever had a pizza shaped like a heart?  Like a snow man?  Like the state of Pennsylvania?)  They love to sing “Happy Birthday” with the “cha-cha-cha ending.”

   And yes, I may have the most wonderful job in the world – helping folks with their meals and parties with kids.  Gotta love what you do otherwise it’s work.

    Tooddles.