My sister and her husband had business in Manhattan, KS, and they stayed at The Morning Star Bed and Breakfast. Jane was mightily impressed by owner Laurie Pieper's decorating taste and... the breakfasts. She bought a copy of Pieper's breakfast recipes and sent it to me.
The book is full of pastry items - some of them quite elaborate. Maple-glazed cranberry ginger muffin? How about a coconut date scone?
To cater to "the compleat family" the last chapter in this book is devoted to home-made dog treats! All pet recipes were approved by Karel Carnoham, DVM.
ATTA GIRL TREATS
1/2 cup rice flour
1/2 cup cooked, cold, plain white rice
1.2 cup boiled carrot slices, drained and cooled
1 large egg
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 T chopped parsley
2 T cold water as needed.
Mix well, adding water as need to make it stick together. Arrange by the spoon full on a parchment-lined baking sheet and put in a 375 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes. You want "lightly browned and dried out." Makes about 35 individual treats.
BEST BUDDY BITES
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup rice flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 medium banana, peeled
1/2 cup natural (no sugar) panut butter
1/4 cup cold water
Mix and drop by spoon fulls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Treats should be about 1 in. wide by 1/3 in thick. Bake 15 - 20 minutes on one side, then flip them over and bake the other side for 15-20 minutes. Makes about 35 individual treats.
The Morning Star Bed and Breakfast, 617 Houston Street, Manhatta, KS 66502
moringstaronthepark.com
Friday, June 8, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
"Mah Fellow Lobster Lovers..."
Marmaduke Cafe is again doing their Lobster Fest on Tuesdays only.
The specials are:
Lobster Bisque - $7
Lobster and Shrimp Linguini - $19
Surf & Turf - $28
1 1/2 lb. Live Main Lobster - $26
Palos Verdes - 550 Deep Valley Drive
El Segundo - 2014 Park Place
Reservations are advised...
The specials are:
Lobster Bisque - $7
Lobster and Shrimp Linguini - $19
Surf & Turf - $28
1 1/2 lb. Live Main Lobster - $26
Palos Verdes - 550 Deep Valley Drive
El Segundo - 2014 Park Place
Reservations are advised...
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
"Here Clumps the Bride"
The June 11th issue of TIME magazine reports in the "Pop Chart" section that Ugg, the beloved of surfers and others who like toasty-warm feet in the winter, has a new product.
The "Bailey Button" comes in white only and is intended "to pamper the bridal party before and after the wedding." However, a reader wrote that she wore hers all during the wedding and the reception! I looked to see if she was from Anchorage, Alaska, but no -- New York, New York.
It is the short boot model, slit down the outside seam to show a tasteful ruffle of sheepskin and closed by a large hook over a Swarovsky crystal. $225.
The "Bailey Button" comes in white only and is intended "to pamper the bridal party before and after the wedding." However, a reader wrote that she wore hers all during the wedding and the reception! I looked to see if she was from Anchorage, Alaska, but no -- New York, New York.
It is the short boot model, slit down the outside seam to show a tasteful ruffle of sheepskin and closed by a large hook over a Swarovsky crystal. $225.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Pomp and Circumstance and the Costs Thereof
Today is the last day of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. It's her third Jubilee as they are celebrated at the 25, 50, 60 and 75 years of a monarch's reign. 25 = Silver Jubilee; 50 is Golden, 60 is Diamond and 75 is Platinum.
Tourism is estimated to bring in $15.8 billion, but $157 million will be spent on security. Another $11 million will spent on medals awarded to troops, police, firefighters, paramedics and prison guards who've been on the job a minimum of five years.
A stained glass window that will be installed in Westminster, commemorating this event. $155,249 but it's to be paid for by some MPs and peers.
What a tourist will spend, if he goes hog wild:
$15,787 for a collector's bottle of John Walker & Sons Diamond Jubilee whisky.
$74 for a family pass to the BBC's Jubilee concert, Buckingham Palace.
$29 Admission fee to Buckingham Palace. When Prince William and the Missus married, 600,000 well-wishers tromped through.
$67.93 for the British Street Party Ultimate Party Kit from Party Pieces, the firm owned by the Middleton family. Pippa! Start shopping! Your fortune's are about to improve!
$155 seating in the Queen's Stand at the Epsom Derby on June 2nd.
And last, but not least, Good Health, Prince Phillip.
Tourism is estimated to bring in $15.8 billion, but $157 million will be spent on security. Another $11 million will spent on medals awarded to troops, police, firefighters, paramedics and prison guards who've been on the job a minimum of five years.
A stained glass window that will be installed in Westminster, commemorating this event. $155,249 but it's to be paid for by some MPs and peers.
What a tourist will spend, if he goes hog wild:
$15,787 for a collector's bottle of John Walker & Sons Diamond Jubilee whisky.
$74 for a family pass to the BBC's Jubilee concert, Buckingham Palace.
$29 Admission fee to Buckingham Palace. When Prince William and the Missus married, 600,000 well-wishers tromped through.
$67.93 for the British Street Party Ultimate Party Kit from Party Pieces, the firm owned by the Middleton family. Pippa! Start shopping! Your fortune's are about to improve!
$155 seating in the Queen's Stand at the Epsom Derby on June 2nd.
And last, but not least, Good Health, Prince Phillip.
Monday, June 4, 2012
The Thames
It's overcast, cold and generally gray here today which reminded me of the scenes we saw yesterday during the BBC's broadcast of the massive river parade for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. I loved the guy who remarked that it made the parade "more English" to have a cold rain coming down.
Never having been to London (other than a plane change at Heathrow) I was astounded at the breadth of the Thames. That is one wide river!
The Thames is the longest river contained wholly in England and is 215 miles long. It begins as a kind of trickle near the village of Kemble, which is near Cirencester, and goes south, widening perceptibly as it does. Underneath the Tower Bridge, it is 871 feet wide. Of note: only 61 seconds are required to open Tower Bridge which is done, on average, 1,000 times a year.
The Thames travels under these main bridges -- Tower, London, Westminster and Millennium plus another 29 and over four tunnels, not including the London Underground.
The Thames actually froze over once but that was in the 12th century. The current is now too swift for that to happen again.
The name "Thames" is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word "tamas" which means "dark." The Thames is not a gentle river and its waters are usually described as "dark and turbulent."
I admire and enjoy rivers and wondered idly how much to live beside the Thames? I Googled "Thames-side housing prices." The most expensive - six bedrooms, - was 2,250,000 pounds, a two-bedroom semi-detached was 335,000 pounds and a one bedroom flat was 225,000 pounds. I just checked and today the rate of exchange is $1 US = 0.0.6505 pounds as of June 4, 2012.
Never having been to London (other than a plane change at Heathrow) I was astounded at the breadth of the Thames. That is one wide river!
The Thames is the longest river contained wholly in England and is 215 miles long. It begins as a kind of trickle near the village of Kemble, which is near Cirencester, and goes south, widening perceptibly as it does. Underneath the Tower Bridge, it is 871 feet wide. Of note: only 61 seconds are required to open Tower Bridge which is done, on average, 1,000 times a year.
The Thames travels under these main bridges -- Tower, London, Westminster and Millennium plus another 29 and over four tunnels, not including the London Underground.
The Thames actually froze over once but that was in the 12th century. The current is now too swift for that to happen again.
The name "Thames" is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word "tamas" which means "dark." The Thames is not a gentle river and its waters are usually described as "dark and turbulent."
I admire and enjoy rivers and wondered idly how much to live beside the Thames? I Googled "Thames-side housing prices." The most expensive - six bedrooms, - was 2,250,000 pounds, a two-bedroom semi-detached was 335,000 pounds and a one bedroom flat was 225,000 pounds. I just checked and today the rate of exchange is $1 US = 0.0.6505 pounds as of June 4, 2012.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Mexican Ninja Waiters in a French Restaurant
This was different! Most of the servers were male, many of them were Hispanic, all of them were clad in black from head to toe -- pants, shirts, aprons, all topped off with a bandanna over their hair!
Where is this interesting, international brew? L'Amande Bakery, in the Rolling Hills Plaza, 2553 PCH, Torrance. 310-326-8980 lamandebakery.com
Richie had read a glowing review and he is a Francophile. Naturally, we must go there tout de suite. We did yesterday. I 've been taking Celebrex for an L5 problem and my stomach really doesn't care for it. I wanted something bland, home-y and thought, "Quiche Lorraine."
They serve a "quiche breakfast," your choice Lorraine or Tomato-Goat Cheese which comes with a salad of mesclun, and toasted almonds in a citrus vinaigrette, bread, butter and a house fruit compote. $8.50 'Way too much of a good thing, although certainly value for money spent.
We ordered Croque Monsieurs. $9.50. Theirs is the "classic" Black Forest ham, gruyere (Swiss cheese to us) and cheese sauce topping on pain de mie (honey bread) which would not be my first bread choice. It was a "true" sandwich - two slices of thick-cut bread. In France, it's served open faced which I much prefer. I thought about flipping the whole thing over onto its creamy top, lifting off and discarding the bottom slice and use my knife and fork, but I was too lazy. The sandwices came with the house salad, as well.
Other dishes looked interesting for a future visit. Not your usual grilled cheese - Cheddar, Mozzarella, blue cheese and mayonnaise on a raisin-walnut bread. $9.50
You might like Smoked Salmon on a bed of ricotta with a classic side of onion, capers, lemon and sour cream. $13.50 For vegetarians, ricotta with parmesan shavings, topped with toasted pine nuts and Mission figs on a baguettine. $9.50
They offer a choice of five different salads including Caesar Royale with the usual ingredients plus hard-boiled eggs and their own house-made dressing. $8.95, so you can bet it would be enough for four people. They are not French in their portion sizes here.
A light lunch for four would work if you ordered the Cheese Platter (various cheeses served with toasted almonds, diced dates, walnuts and fresh bread - $12.50) and a Ham Platter (prosciutto, Black Forest ham, salame, cornichons and bread - $14.50) Around $7 per person and it would leave room for dessert, hint, hint. The Shopper's Special!
L'Amande (The Almond) has a booming bakery business, too. All kinds and cuts of bread, rolls and dessert tarts. Helas, we were too full for dessert....Next time...
Where is this interesting, international brew? L'Amande Bakery, in the Rolling Hills Plaza, 2553 PCH, Torrance. 310-326-8980 lamandebakery.com
Richie had read a glowing review and he is a Francophile. Naturally, we must go there tout de suite. We did yesterday. I 've been taking Celebrex for an L5 problem and my stomach really doesn't care for it. I wanted something bland, home-y and thought, "Quiche Lorraine."
They serve a "quiche breakfast," your choice Lorraine or Tomato-Goat Cheese which comes with a salad of mesclun, and toasted almonds in a citrus vinaigrette, bread, butter and a house fruit compote. $8.50 'Way too much of a good thing, although certainly value for money spent.
We ordered Croque Monsieurs. $9.50. Theirs is the "classic" Black Forest ham, gruyere (Swiss cheese to us) and cheese sauce topping on pain de mie (honey bread) which would not be my first bread choice. It was a "true" sandwich - two slices of thick-cut bread. In France, it's served open faced which I much prefer. I thought about flipping the whole thing over onto its creamy top, lifting off and discarding the bottom slice and use my knife and fork, but I was too lazy. The sandwices came with the house salad, as well.
Other dishes looked interesting for a future visit. Not your usual grilled cheese - Cheddar, Mozzarella, blue cheese and mayonnaise on a raisin-walnut bread. $9.50
You might like Smoked Salmon on a bed of ricotta with a classic side of onion, capers, lemon and sour cream. $13.50 For vegetarians, ricotta with parmesan shavings, topped with toasted pine nuts and Mission figs on a baguettine. $9.50
They offer a choice of five different salads including Caesar Royale with the usual ingredients plus hard-boiled eggs and their own house-made dressing. $8.95, so you can bet it would be enough for four people. They are not French in their portion sizes here.
A light lunch for four would work if you ordered the Cheese Platter (various cheeses served with toasted almonds, diced dates, walnuts and fresh bread - $12.50) and a Ham Platter (prosciutto, Black Forest ham, salame, cornichons and bread - $14.50) Around $7 per person and it would leave room for dessert, hint, hint. The Shopper's Special!
L'Amande (The Almond) has a booming bakery business, too. All kinds and cuts of bread, rolls and dessert tarts. Helas, we were too full for dessert....Next time...
Saturday, June 2, 2012
A Day Late and a Dollar Short
Richie advised me on Thursday that Friday was the start of National Donut Weekend. Accordingly, he went to our local mom 'n pop shop and bought a pair of apple crisps. "Here's to the police!" he said as he bit in.
Had he read his information a little more carefully, he would have known to go to a Dunkin' Donuts or Krispy Kream where he had a shot at a free donut on Friday. It's National Donut Day (first Friday in June) not Weekend.
I thought it was an unlikely holiday, so I looked it up. In 1917, during WW1, the Salvation Army took an interest in "our boys" and sent a fact-finding group to France to see how the Army could be of help. Consensus was to establish canteens and serve baked goods, hot coffee and writing supplies and stamps.
Trying to bake in a "hut" near an Army base was not practical, so they turned to donuts. Margaret Sheldon, a volunteer, wrote home, "Today I baked 22 pies, made 300 donuts and served 700 cups of coffee." They certainly weren't sitting around on their hands!
Today, donuts are a nearly $700 million business in the United States. The average donut shop sells $757 worth of donuts per week. This is a 5.1% increase from 2010 to 2011. Projections are that donuts will become an $11.6 billion (billion) dollar industry in 2012. So much for cutting back! The trend now, in a modest nod to good nutrition, is for smaller donuts with fewer calories and less fat, but despite the smaller size, donut prices will go up -- the cost of the yeast necessry to manufacture donuts is rising.
So we all don't miss a chance at a freebie, Krispy Kreme celebrates its 75th birthday in July, 2012. Keep an eye peeled for the exact date.
Had he read his information a little more carefully, he would have known to go to a Dunkin' Donuts or Krispy Kream where he had a shot at a free donut on Friday. It's National Donut Day (first Friday in June) not Weekend.
I thought it was an unlikely holiday, so I looked it up. In 1917, during WW1, the Salvation Army took an interest in "our boys" and sent a fact-finding group to France to see how the Army could be of help. Consensus was to establish canteens and serve baked goods, hot coffee and writing supplies and stamps.
Trying to bake in a "hut" near an Army base was not practical, so they turned to donuts. Margaret Sheldon, a volunteer, wrote home, "Today I baked 22 pies, made 300 donuts and served 700 cups of coffee." They certainly weren't sitting around on their hands!
Today, donuts are a nearly $700 million business in the United States. The average donut shop sells $757 worth of donuts per week. This is a 5.1% increase from 2010 to 2011. Projections are that donuts will become an $11.6 billion (billion) dollar industry in 2012. So much for cutting back! The trend now, in a modest nod to good nutrition, is for smaller donuts with fewer calories and less fat, but despite the smaller size, donut prices will go up -- the cost of the yeast necessry to manufacture donuts is rising.
So we all don't miss a chance at a freebie, Krispy Kreme celebrates its 75th birthday in July, 2012. Keep an eye peeled for the exact date.
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