recipe

Double-Chocolate Hot Chocolate

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Alright, I know spring is around the corner, but it’s still officially winter.  So, a cup of hot chocolate, no,make that a  Double-Chocolate Hot Chocolate, sounds just about right.

This recipe reminded me of when Liz and I were into making hot chocolate.  Hot chocolate was very important to us, it helped keep us warm when we would go camping in the woods.  No, we never camped in a tent, we owned an RV, a home away from home.

The evenings were always chilly, up in the mountains, and a nice cup of hot chocolate , with a shot of brandy, always hit the spot, for Liz and I.  Warm and delicious.

So like I said, spring is around the corner, but winter is still here, and maybe your a camper and need something to get the chill out, or just want something warm and cozy to drink, until winter fades away.

Here’s to winter!  Not sorry you have to go.

Ingredients

  • 5 ounce(s) bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 2 ounce(s) milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup(s) boiling water
  • 3/4 cup(s) whole milk
  • 1/4 cup(s) heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoon(s) Jack Daniel’s whiskey, optional
  • Marshmallows, for serving

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the bittersweet chocolate with the milk chocolate. Add the boiling water and let stand for 1 minute. Whisk the chocolate mixture until it is smooth.
  2. In a small saucepan, bring the milk and heavy cream just to a simmer. Add the chocolate mixture and whisk over moderate heat until hot. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the whiskey. Pour the hot chocolate into demitasse cups or small mugs, garnish with marshmallows, and serve.

MB

Fashion and Beauty

Strut – The Fashionable Mom Show

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Last month my daughter Vera sent me a invitation to the first  Strut – The Fashionionable Mom Show.  Vera and her partner the beautiful  Audrey (Getting Gorgeous), worked so hard and were so happy  to be involved with  this ground breaking project and the best part was they were going to model the clothes themselves along with other super mom bloggers.  Supermodel Iman delivered the introductions for Strut. It was very exciting and I was so happy to be there.  The most amazing thing about this fashion show is that all the fashions are available today, right now.  You can go to Marshalls, TJ Maxx or Coldwater Creek and get your favorite outfit!

 Vera and her husband Bill after the show.

What an amazing time I had at Lincoln Center and I got to take home a goody bag too.
Vera whipped out her phone and taped her own walk down the runway – the girl just can’t help it.

http://thefashionablemomshow.com/

 

Family

Pet Cemetery

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Remember the movie Pet Cemetery?   A movie adapted from a Stephen King novel.  Did I see the movie?  Yes, but very recently on cable TV.  The movie reminded me of all the pets my children had such as,  hamster, parakeet, rabbit, cat and dog.  Yet,  some of these pets never lived to a ripe old age, at least as old as a pet can get.  So my home became known as Pet Cemetery.

Now, please don’t think that my children harmed any of these creatures. No, quit the opposite.  As a matter of fact the kids always made sure the pets were being taken care of.

O.K., let me tell you exactly what happened to some of our pets, and why my home became known as Pet Cemetery.

Our first pet for the kids was a parakeet.  

What a beautiful parakeet he was and this bird was one of the smart ones.

Baby was his name. Baby would open his cage and fly around the house and when he tired go back home.  I would call him and Baby would just go right back into his little bird cage.  Then one day, and this was totally my fault, I accidentally let our cat get his cat paws on Baby.  It was horrible when I found Rocky, that was the cat’s name, cupping his paws around Baby.  Now I had to tell the kids that Rocky killed Baby.  But I did not have the heart, I did not want them to blame the cat for doing what was instinctual, so I told the children that the bird just flew away.

Then came the hamster.  This little pet hamster was called, Hammy, he was more my son’s pet.  Another smart little guy.  Hammy always managed to get out of his tank, he would use his little wheel and climb right out.  We were always looking for Hammy.  My son kept him in his room, took such care of him, till one day he decided that Hammy needs to get some fresh air and sun, so he put Hammy outside on our deck with his little hamster tank.  The problem here is our deck gets the full afternoon sun.    Hammy expired due to overexposure, poor Hammy, he got more than a sunburn.

 One Easter we bought the kids a rabbit, and once again it was my son who kept Mr. Rabbit, in a box, right by his bed.  Until one day the rabbit found himself in the hands of a two year old, my daughter.  SQUEEZE!  Yes, she squeezed  him with love.  Bye, bye, Mr. Rabbit.

So having my home named Pet Cemetery was not a wild call.  It just seemed that every pet the children got never managed to survive.  Oh, in case you are wondering about Rocky, the cat.  Well, Rocky lived to be 19 years old and as the Vet made mention, for an outdoor cat Rocky lived to be pretty old.   I guess Rocky helped break the curse, if there was one.

Did we ever regret giving these pets to our children?  No.  See Baby, Hammy and  Mr. Rabbit taught my children something about life.  Something that we learn as we grow older. They learned that  life is fragile.  They learned to appreciate the moments you have with your pets, and most of all the people in your life.

My children also learned that  Pet Cemetery turns into  Pet Heaven… Baby, Hammy and  Mr. Rabbit are right now having the time of their animal lives, singing, spinning and hopping with all the other pets who have made children happy.

mb

recipe, Video

Shiitake Hot & Sour Soup – Ming Told Oz

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Ming Tsai is another favorite chef I watch whenever I get a chance. I caught him on Dr Oz a couple of weeks ago.  He was saying how good mushrooms were for our general health.  Ming told Dr Oz that he believes this soup is the reason, he does not get many or any colds.  That sounded like good news to me.  The recipe is really easy – I could not find shiitake mushrooms, so I used white button and baby portebellos.  According to Ming and Dr. Oz – Alice In Wonderland had it right – mushrooms are key.

 

 

Shiitake Hot & Sour Soup – Ming Tsai
serves 4-6

1 tbsp grapeseed oil

1 jalapeño, minced with seeds

1 tbsp minced ginger

1 tbsp minced garlic

2 bunches scallions, green and white parts sliced, 2 tbsp greens reserved

1 lb shiitakes, stems removed and tops 1/4-in sliced

2 1/2 quarts chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth

2 tbsp naturally brewed soy sauce

Juice and zest of 2 lemons

1 block silken tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 cups shredded carrots

Freshly cracked black pepper

 Directions

In a stockpot over medium-high heat, add oil and swirl to coat the bottom. Add jalapeño, ginger, garlic and scallions. Sauté until aromatic, about a minute. Add shiitakes and sauté 2 minutes, until softened.

 Add stock and soy sauce, bring to a simmer and reduce by 20%, about 5 minutes. Add lemon juice, tofu and carrots and cook gently for 2 more minutes to heat tofu through. Season with black pepper.

 Ladle soup into serving bowls and garnish with reserved scallion greens and lemon zest.

 ls

Family

Grandma’s Little Helper

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When my son was a little person he always kept his room tidy.  I never had a problem getting him to put away his toys and keeping his room clean.  Of course my son is an adult now and he still keeps a tidy home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, my grandson is beginning to show some of those same traits.

Christian is always ready to lend a helping hand…As I vacuum the rug, he uses a duster to help his Grandma.

We still don’t know why he keeps his hat on.


In any case I do hope he keeps his cleaning habits up.

  Thanks Christian you can help grandma any  time.