Under the Tuscan Sun

Hmmm...wow--I can't believe that Christmas is just around the corner and what a day today has been!

Let's see. It's now Thursday...and although I had planned on doing nothing today but slightly prepping for a two-day shoot my company will be filming, that is exactly what I didn't end up doing. I actually spent the ENTIRE day preparing for our shoot.

Before I realized it, it was already almost 8:00 p.m. and I still hadn't eaten yet. No bueno. How do you say "quickie"?

I say spinach, tossed with shredded carrots and Persian cucumbers drowning in Trader Joe's Goddess Dressing; Only to be followed with Pasta Primavera made with shallots, mushrooms, squash and you guessed it...Tofurkey Italian Sausage. Mmmm good!

Because the night's a little cold and soon-to-be wet, nothing warmed me up more than this steaming hot melting pot of Italy! The perfect answer to a day drowned in trying to locate all but two cables, putting together production schedules and call sheets while texting my director all day due to him being on-set. Ahhh...sit back, inhale and indulge.

Until next time...and I hope it's before the end of the year...

Bon Appetit!

Cyndi, 40
Anaheim Hills, CA

Grease, Greece...and More Gris

So yes it's true! A little music goes a L-O-N-G way! Meaning to be up to good, I threw on a little Grecian music early in the a.m. to get my artistic juices flowin'! It did a little more than just that, in that somehow the Mexican breakfast bug hit me...hard. The problem is that first-off, there was nothing Mediterranean about my meal, and secondly, I wasn't even at home. Not to worry. Sure sign of a true girlfriend? Having the ingredients needed to cook the meal you are craving! LoL. Okay so that's not a definition of a true friend...but it sure helps, none-the-less.

The wonderful thing about this particular morning is that there were not one, but a group of three of us all in the mood to dance, eat and chatter over Donut Shop Coffee (thanks Coffee People!), homemade tortilla chips, guacamole spread (yes, spread), tortillas and papitas! This meal was enough to throw anyone over...over their waistband, anyways. :)

So outdo ourselves we did! All through my 20's I never quite understood the joy of making something you were gonna polish off in less then 20...now, it's a totally different story! When the two of us making brunchfast were done, the three of us served ourselves our portions, sat ourselves at the granite counter, let out a sigh as we took our seat on the barstools and ate 'til our hearts were full of love, joy and the slight feeling of remorse that's just enough to let you know you ought not eat this way at least for the remainder of the day...or what entire day of Gray that would turn out to be. Even with the sun shining in all of her glory!

So glad we did it--I think we even shared a little with Nikki.! Good thing, too. Looks like she may be put down to sleep next week...Cancer. She will be missed. Tremendously.

Until next time...let your dogs enjoy what they smell you cookin...give those sweet babies a little meal-lovin'!

Bon Appetite!

~Cyndi, 40

Guacamole Spread (Serves 2 - 3)

Two just-ripe avocados
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Salt
Trader Joe's Salsa Verde
1 Tsp. Mayo
1 lime or 1/2 lemon

Mash avocados until it is soft/spread-like
Dash in the salts and pepper to your tasting
Add Trader Joe's Salsa Verde (or La Victoria's Green Salsa) to your liking
Add your Mayonnaise, then squeeze in your lime for the finishing touches

This gauc spread is so good, you'll never want to go "chain" again!

Enjoy...

Link to "Donut Shop Coffee" (to be used with Keurig Brewing Systems):
http://www.coffeepeople.com/

media-match this!

Lights! Camera! Action! Always wanted to work in the media-industry but just too afraid to step out and try? Maybe like thousands, you've been laid-off? Worked as a gaffer now ready to embark on DP? A production coordinator ready to produce? How about having never worked in the industry but yet you're ready for something with a little more of a "buzz" in your day? Perhaps media-match is just what you've been looking for! Posting everything from a p.a. to animator or producer, this website might have more for your money.

http://www.media-match.com/jobsboard.php

In their own words media-match is..."Your one stop resource for television and film production jobs! The following openings have either been posted directly by one of our 20,000+ employers, or pulled from various sites around the web (and remember, many employers contact our users directly without advertising their positions at all)."


I'm actually gonna give it a whirl, myself. We'll see what (if anything) we can conjure up. And if not, it was always fun building yet another online profile!

Feel free to spread the word...If I have my info all in order, I think you might even be able to sign up for a free account at the freelancer registration page to get started!

http://www.media-match.com/jobsboard.php

In the meantime, I've got some cooking to do! LoL...

Until next time enjoy a walk in the rain and forget about the coiffeur!

~Cyndi, 40
Madison, WI

Shake, Rattle and Roll...

So many questions after our most recent rolling earthquake. I hear things like "Why would you want to live in California?" "Aren't you afraid of earthquakes?" "I'd rather live somewhere where we at least have tornado-warnings, unlike where you live and it just starts to shake." Well, truth be told, we live where we want to live. Some of us live where we do because of comfort. Others because of cost. Some live where they do because they want to be close to family. Others? For work. Me? I'm here because I'm called to live here...at least for now. So until I hear different, Southern California'll just have to the good times roll!

On this particular Thursday where at least two earthquakes hit us (though I only felt one), I should have known there was something in the air when I woke up craving a shake! Not an ordinary shake--but one made up of a splash of apple juice, a banana, frozen strawberries and other assorted berries. I did manage to pull out the honey, but it was so sweet, there was no need. I know myself well enough to know that when I wake up with that kind of hankering, I gotta make it work! Thursday's shake sent me to another world--at least where my tastebuds were concerned.

It was actually the perfect way to start my day, waking up to a view of greenery brushing the outside windows, french doors inviting me to the pool-in-view. Michael Buble and the like was swooning to me as I looked down to not one, but two
tails-wagging...both apparently ready for their breakfast, besides!

This was a day to be remembered.--it may have even been perfect, though this day took me to Irvine, Tustin Hills, Anaheim and then home to Fullerton, all in one day. There were meetings, plans, prayers, exhorting, sharing...all of which was a joy to be a part of...all of which are of the utmost importance in my life. Of the many treats life has to offer, this day was special in that I was right where I was supposed to be every minute of that day, earthquake included. You just can't put a price on a day like that...it tastes too good to be true, and yet I know that for me, this is only the beginning.

Until next time, look into a nearby estate sale, you never know what jewels you might find!

Bon Appetit!

~Cyndi, 39
Fullerton, CA

Berry-N-Banana Shake
1/4 cup of apple juice
1 banana
1/4 cup of frozen strawberries
1/8 cup of frozen assorted berries
(Although I didn't use any ice, if it's too sweet, added ice suggested)

Lemon and Oranges and Lime...Oh My!

Ever just have one of those days where although you had "other" things planned, every thing turned out exactly the way you know they were meant to turn out? W-o-w. Well today that was my day and the only thing I can say is...amazing.

In all my 40 years of living I can honestly say that there have been days, weeks, years even where I have toiled and spun my wheels only with NOTHING (of importance) to show for it. LoL. Sad, but oh so true. Lately, my life has been anything BUT that, and for that, I'm grateful. My hands are to the right plow and not building in vain--who has time for to labor for that which profits nothing? Not me. At least, not any more. :)

Today was incredible, and as I made my way through Fullerton's chaos of today's heartbreaking news, I wound up home right when I was supposed to be. With fifteen minutes to eat, I quickly pulled out the extra-firm tofu, a carrot-broccoli mix a lemon and some evo. Much to my delight, an avocado was not too far away, so this managed to make the cut, as well! Stumbling upon my only bottle of Perrier with Lemon, this lunch was sure to be a citrine-extraordinaire...and delish it was! Not bad for a grocery-purchase costing me a little under $7...and guess what? I've got at least two more meals to get out of it (today's was actually my second)!

Hitting the mark on time, the dishes were a cinch and so out the door went I...a day like this is truly one to not be forgotten. And now I prepare for night-night...as we will be filming all day. I have a feeling tomorrow's meal-preparation may not fare out to today's...but do not be mistaken, tomorrow will be a great day, indeed!

Ingredients:
1/4 of Extra Firm Tofu (Fresh & Easy)
1/4 bag of Brocolli-Carrot Mix
EVO to tasting
Garlic Salt and/or Lemon Pepper
1 Lemon

Until next time...love the person you want to be mad at...you never know what tomorrow holds. My condolences to the Adenhart family and friends who tragically lost their O.C. loved ones with such a bright future ahead of them...truly candles in the wind. (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4055343)

As I sit here writing in a building looking at the intersection where this tragedy occurred, Bon Appetit is not fitting...so tonight I only bid you a Good Night, sweet friends.

~Cyndi, 39
Fullerton, CA
(Corner of Lemon and Orangethorpe Ave.)

Dinner and a Movie?

There's nothing I dislike more than biting into a potato that is still somewhat hard at the core of the bite. Well, there may be things I dislike even slightly more than that in the eating arena, but tonight, this was the case. After a long week of writing, phone calls, emails, meetings, casting calls and more meetings, I finally plunged into the sofa this evening realizing that it was Friday night and that Ms. Thing had no plans! Much to my joy, I decided to get all dressed up with nowhere to go. Well, nowhere to go, anyways.

Managing to scrunch my long-fro into a frenzy with the only mousse I believe in (Schwarzkopf), I threw on some dressy jeans, boots, a vintage sweater, topped off with a scarf, sweet fragrance and huge earrings before darting out the door and down the street bouncing to Fred Hammond! After my one-stop in preparation for tomorrow's night's post-Iglesia event, I was actually looking forward to the $1 salad from El Pollo Loco, when much to my delight...Panda Express. Easy there--I know this is not a favorite for many, but tonight it hit the spot served fresh, hot and tasty! Did you know you can order an a la carte item for $3? Now that's what I'm talking about...it's all in the "know"! If you haven't tried their Eggplant Tofu, I would urge you to do so. Also, another treat I saw steaming through their glass window was their Potato Chicken--a specialty apparently served to honor the Chinese Holidays...so when you see it, eat up!

So now, here I sit. Relaxed. Happy. Content (Gone are the days where my pants know that I am finished with my meal before I do!). The only thing missing? (You might ask--or maybe you didn't...) Regardless, the answer to that question would be candlelight. I struggled between the joy and the sad reality I'd be enjoying dindin a la solo with them lit, so I opted on some Hillsong, Eartha Kitt and Dinah Washington to make the difference for the lack of my lighting ambiance. What a different a day makes...and the difference is you.

Until next time, take the time to schedule absolutely NOTHING on a weekend night. But you better hurry...you never know--it might be the only time in a long time a treat like this comes your way!

Bon Appetit!

~Cyndi, 39
Long Beach, CA

Since there's no recipe, per se, tonight I thought I'd include a silly video from me
to you (You can relax, it's only 45 seconds long) LoL! Warning: Please note that I had Laryngitis for almost a week and am still on Amoxicillin and therefore do not look camera-ready. :)




My fave mousse can be found: http://www.schwarzkopf-professional.com/

Tonight's dinner prepared by: http://www.pandaexpress.com/

Artists found on: www.itunes.com, www.pandora.com and/or www.amazon.com

Perhaps you can still try out an online-recipe of either dishes mentioned above and let me know if it worked for you!

Try a Little Tenderness

Leading a very busy life has it's disadvantages, but let's face it--it has some perks, too! The last month has been extremely busy. We'll just leave it at that. Attending meetings for everything from curriculum to songwriting, production and worship, about the only thing I had extra time to do was to catch a cold--not once but twice. :) What perks? You ask. Well, in the middle of all the business is just the wonderful sense of peace. A quiet that can only come from being in the presence of One. And this is what keeps me going, keeps me creative, keeps me whole.

One of these days, in particular, I had fifteen minutes to rush home, make dinner, eat and head back out. Thank God for good and faithful--Trader Joe's. I managed to grab a four bags--one from the freezer and three from the fridge--and voila, dinner was served! A huge fan of frozen and plastic-bagged items due to cooking for one, I had Tofurkey Italian Sausage, shredded carrots, melange trois and a bag of ready-made salad. Not only did I make killer time, the meal I ate was so delicious it had me begging for more...only to be denied.

Next time you're in a crunch, see what goodies you have in your fridge. Until then, take inventory of your cupboard...you'd be surprised at what a little investigating does.

Bon Appetit!

~Cyndi, 39

Fullerton, CA

Tenderness in Ten

1/3 bag of Ready-Made lettuce

A few pinches of shredded lettuce

Tofurkey (grilled in EVO)

1/8 cup of Melange Trois Peppers (Includes Red, Yellow and Green Bell Peppers)

Heat EVO in pan, adding Melange Trois mix. Once mix has been half-way grilled, add Italian Sausage Tofurkey. This should take a total of four minutes. When finished, add grilled items to salad-combo. Serve and enjoy!