Excuses, excuses.

Thoughts and Quotes: I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as which direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.   Oliver Wendell Holmes

As he did not capitalize heaven, I assume he means our personal heaven, as in the perfect place we want to reach here on earth.

Well, I've been drifting at times and anchored in place at other times, so I've not made much headway. This MUST stop - places to go, things to see, food to photograph, recipes to try, tablescapes to design, theme meals to create.

I made a goal to rid myself of my VHS tapes (I could possibly be the only person left who can actually play them), so I made a start. Then I was hooked. I watched some tapes I bought at a library book sale which were either discarded by the library or donated by a former teacher. They're about Finding Missouri, and they were created for use in the schools. I was so excited about sharing them, I started searching to see if they might have been converted to DVDs. As it turns out, you can watch them on YouTube. If you want to finally understand the Dred Scott decision and the Missouri Compromise, learn about Laura Ingalls Wilder (author of Little House on the Prairie), Jesse James, Lewis and Clark, Mark Twain, and see actual videos of the St. Louis World's Fair from 1904, and on and on and on, Click Here. Skip Unit  1, because it's just talking about how the series was developed. There are 19 units total, so you can watch it a little each day. I know this will be more interesting to Missourians than others, but it's my home state, so I have to share. 

And this lead to watching Untold History of the United States, which is a real eye opener, and I've only watched one of four DVDs and Aerial America which is about each state and recorded on U-Verse. Now you know why I've been drifting or anchored.

So I have a short post this week, and a promise to do better next week.

The Weather: We've had very cold temperatures this week, and even a dusting of snow on the 27th, but it disappeared by noon.

Tasting: I made Salad Nicoise (almost) for the Salad book. Not exactly warming comfort food in the middle of winter, but I felt like making something colorful.

                                       SALAD NICOISE (almost)

Anchovies eliminated and white beans added. Make one giant salad to pass, or smaller ones for each person. A meal salad; just add rolls and butter.

Vinaigrette (Make as much as you need for amount of salad)

1-1/2 cups oil

2/3 cup white or rice wine vinegar

1 Tbs + 1 tsp sugar

1-1/2 tsps salt

1/2 tsp pepper

OR purchased Italian salad dressing or vinaigrette of your choice

 

Marinate in vinaigrette for a few hours in the refrigerator:

Cooked and sliced potatoes (Yukon Gold in the photo, but use any kind)

Cooked green beans, whole if small or cut

15-1/2 oz can white beans, drained and rinsed. Marinate all – use leftovers in other tossed salads. 

To serve:

Line your plate(s) with lettuce. Arrange the above, plus the following on the lettuce.

Sliced or chopped red onion

Ripe olives

Cherry or grape tomatoes

Canned tuna, drained, your choice of white or light, oil or water packed

Boiled eggs, chopped or quartered.

Drizzle the tuna with vinaigrette, if you wish. Serve any leftover vinaigrette at the table.

Togs: I'm working on organizing a winter collection and discarding "orphan" pieces (nothing to match it) or things I just don't want. As a result, I've discarded all this:

But I bought three more coats, so I'm not making a lot of headway. I bought this in two more shades of brown, plus navy.

Two Fat Ladies: If you need a smile, check in with Jennifer and Clarissa, as they cook in unusual settings in England. Click HERE. Be sure to slide the bar at the bottom to the left to see them careening around with a motorcycle and sidecard.

Tasting: Friend Mim and I went to Archie's Italian Eatery for lunch, as per my goal of one new restaurant each week this year. I missed last week, so I'm already one behind. Guess I was anchored that week (to the couch).

First comes a basket of warm bread.

 Mim drinks hot water with lemon instead of ice water, and they brought extra in a metal carafe.

We each had a garden salad which was supposed to be a side salad, but not skimpy by any means. It was very fresh, mixed greens, cucumber, tomato, red onion, and I forgot to take a photo. We both ordered the dinner-size Baked Ziti, so we'd have leftovers for dinner.

Not the conventional Baked Ziti where bulk sausage and/or ground beef is in the sauce; this one had Italian sausage meatballs, and slices of deli beef. And the sauce wasn't a marinara style, but a bolagnese style where milk is included in the tomato-based sauce.

You can order a dinner entree in lunch size, and it comes with soup or salad, bread, and a soft drink for a very reasonable price.

And then they brought Mim a piece of complimentary cake because it was her birthday. 

The interior hasn't changed much from when the restaurant was Frida Kalos and prior to that, Argentine Steakhouse. The bar is still there, and they've added a window where you can see the pizza being made. Still rather dark, and due to the high ceilings, it seems more cave-like than cozy. My camera adjusted the light; it's much darker.

The service was very good, and the music was excellent - mostly male vocalists with golden oldies and just the right volume.

Time to Celebrate: Coming up this week on February 1 is Chinese or Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Tiger. As I'm a Tiger, I got all excited about the good fortune headed my way until I read further. The year of your Chinese astrological sign is when some god is angry with you. However, there are ways to counter his bad temper (and bad luck). After reading further, I've decided that I'll be wearing lots of red, doing good deeds, and trying to figure out where I can get an amulet. Interesting reading - Click Here. If you want to celebrate, everything you need to know is HERE. Or just go out for Chinese food (if restaurants are open).

And another holiday -  February 2 is Groundhog Day. You can learn the history of Groundhog Day and also Candlemas Day, which is also on February 2, by clicking HERE. Fun reading.

Brother Sonny celebrated Ground Hog Day each year by preparing a Bean Feed for everyone at work: Ham and beans, fried potatoes, and cornbread. I don't know how he came up with the idea, but the people loved it. I really miss him.

LET'S CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR TO SEE IF IT WILL PUT AN END TO THE CHINA VIRUS

WEAR RED ON TUESDAY

CLEAN THE HOUSE

EAT APPLES

AND STRAWBERRIES

AND TOMATOES

DO NOT EAT GROUNDHOGS

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

 Click Here