Cooking Single in the City

So I tried to share today's posting of Daily Candy Los Angeles, but for some reason, the link posted isn't quite pulling up the article...so back to the good old fashioned way! "Count down to a very good time. 10. Assemble all elements of this miraculous hangover cure . You’re gonna need it. 9. Turn leftover wrapping paper and tape into a pile of festive toppers . 8. Hit up the Joan’s on Third freezer for mini meat pies and tiny cheese puffs and Trader Joe’s for buckets of meringues, big and small. 7. Put your hands together and make some noisemakers . 6. Give three cheers for Empire City punch , cinnamon caipirinhas , and the Cuzco fizz . 5. Consult the white porcelain god of a different kind: Fill the tub with water and fortune-telling fish . 4. To really let your hair down, you’ ve got to put it up . 3. Cue the music (hello, Miami , Chicago , SF , Dallas , Philadelphia , and London megamixes ). 2. Show off your new moves . 1. Happy New Year!" http://www.dailyca

Although there are many sweet things life has to offer, none are as sweet as reconnecting with an old friend for the first time. Elizabeth and I met in Tulsa during our first year of grad school almost twelve years ago (we were in seminary, actually) and from the first time we met, it was on! She was fair-skinned, quiet and from Nashville. I was olive, loud and from L.A.. They say opposites attract and in our case, this couldn't be more true! Although we both were living in our places when we met, we'd just end up staying over each-other's places as many evenings usually turned into a slumber party with friends, so we just decided to become roomies, which is what we ended up calling each other, "roomie" (which later turned into "vroomie"...long story). In those three years of school, we had way too much fun! Of course we shared in the normal girlie things that college girlfriends do--late-night studying-n-snacking, all-night prayer (we were in seminary,

Now that I'm stuffed from eating Maxine's tamales (recipe and pix to be posted at a later time), I thought I'd pop online as I've been surfing the net now for about an hour. Still not married at 39 and with my immediate family all of state, this Christmas season was bound to be a little bit different. I do have to say however, that singlehood during the holidays definitely has it's pluses (although I haven't always felt that way). This year took me to more intimate settings with friends, who like me, are solo-ing it up for the holidays! Yesterday's morn took me to a lovely champagne brunch with my girlfriend, Brynn, on the Marina in Long Beach--cute little diner--Schooner or Later, where I ended up stuffing myself with a short stack of pancakes, hash browns and turkey sausage (I am a firm believer in having both the sweet and salt to balance out a meal!) So now I sit here all alone in raining off-and-on-again Anaheim. Because I'm not much in the mood f

I don't know about you but I have love, love, loved the rain that has finally kissed us with it's sweet lips. Surprisingly, this morning's rain came with some pretty fierce wind, which having just moved here from Oklahoma (where the winds come crashing through the plains), it somewhat threw me for a loop. After enjoying the sounds of rain from inside the house while working in the garage, I decided I wanted nothing more than to eat something warm and somewhat soupish. Unfortunately I have not done a whole lot of shopping since my move back, leaving with me no choice but to doll up an organic can of beans. This week was kinda tough in that I had a whole lot going on! I had to relinquish the love of my life, Luke, to an adoptive parent who could give him a home, as I am still looking for mine and I staying with friends. My other Beagle, Tulsa, is staying at a bachelor pad with some friends of mine who I've known for a very long time. The plan is for Tulsa and I to move in

Not quite recovered from my cross-country move back to Cali a little over a week ago, I opted to not start singing in the choir until January. Because I was free, I was able to babysit for The Bates--Is it really even babysitting when the kids are four and older? Oh well, it seemed that the cooking duties would be easy enough as Missy was boiling some water for their Kraft Mac-n-cheese--an oldie but goodie--as I was entering their kitchen! "Easy enough," I thought. Confidently...I might add. This easy task was however, no small job. After being told that the mac needed to be "extra" cheesey, I thought "Well, cheese is my speciality...that should be a breeze!" I was wrong, however, when not one, but all three winced at the sight of my freshly-grated cheese melted in with the regular mac-n-cheese. Convinced that they would change their minds after tasting what I thought was the perfect bite of mac-n-cheese, I prodded them to at least taste it. This pic says

Well...on a whim, I decided to finally visit the Culver City Farmer's Market after being in Culver City for three+ years. I went with no intentions, but I came across this bag of lovely organic lentils. It happened to have a recipe, so I decided to see what ingredients I could buy there at the local market. Turns out I was able to buy almost everything, minus the watercress, chicken broth and the crushed-red pepper. It was very easy to make. Took me just about a half-hour...mmm...maybe a little bit more. It didn't take me very long to cut everything...that's for sure. It was fun trying a new recipe using all local and organic ingredients . What's more is that I was able to share this yummy new "comfy" dish with my girlfriends (who were in their p.j.'s of course). I hung a wreath on my door and enjoyed this hearty soup with my girlfriends to kick off this Christmas season! The kitchen smelled sooo good! Savory Lentil Soup : 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil 1 Fennel bulb,

So nearly three weeks later I am finally posting the pix-n-a video from the night my nephew, Micah, and I baked sugar cookies. I cannot tell you how many times I hear single friends of mine complaining about how they can't (or don't) get to do fun things with little ones since they're not yet parents. What do I say to that? That I'm sure there are plenty of little ones in or around your life some way or another to shoot that theory right out of the water! Now granted I do tend to lean on the complaining side of not being married for laborings sake, but even that has it's place. Now I realize that some may not be as blessed as I have to a handful of nieces and a nephew to enjoy such things with, but if you have no friends in your life with kids, feel free go out of your way to spend time with those who may need you in their lives. There are tons of programs through communities, local churches and various organizations (Big Brother, etc.) where you can invest into a