NO DIRECT FLIGHT??

There is no direct flight from Dallas to DC. Can you believe that? I can fly from Dulles airport direct to ITALY or Reagan direct to FRANCE and you can not fly direct from Dallas. Incredible.

I just got word that Daniel is stuck in San Antonio until 5pm and will not get into DC until 11:30pm.

So here is what is so amazing: THE ROUTE that began at 1pm.

Dallas to San Antonio

San Antonio to Charlotte NC

Charlotte to DC

I would go crazy, he has so much patience (and not much of a choice), I hope he has a good sudoku or crossword.

I miss you!

to debate or not to debate...

That is zeee question! I can not believe that during this crucial time in the polls and being so close to election day that McCain would even consider NOT debating.

Sounds like a cop out to me...we should call him the 700billion bailout man. That can be his new circus name...since bailing is his act. I mean really... doesn't that smell fishy, all the seals in the circus are following him around right now.

CNN's Dana Bash reported "McCain has made some progress with the GOP leadership, but not with others in the House and Senate, she said.
Some fellow lawmakers said McCain hasn't contributed much to the financial debate, and senior campaign advisers told CNN they believed it was politically crucial that McCain show up at the debate in Oxford, Mississippi. Watch Sen. Reid say McCain got in the way »
Bash said a senior adviser to McCain agreed that McCain seemed to be hindering the negotiating process rather than helping it."

She also reported "sources inside McCain's campaign understand he was "political dynamite."
I can not wait to see the explosives tonight!


This election year if anything has certainly encouraged folks to be active in their role as a US citizen, myself included. I just hope that their excitement and opinions will lead them to the polls this November 4th (my birthday in case you were wondering, yes back in 197_ I was born on a Tuesday, election day).


Well it seems that the debate is on! I will not miss a minute of this unless of course I am picking up my DD at the airport!

He sent me flowers yesterday...isn't he sweet! One of my co-workers said "smart man, keeping you thinking of him!"

Now if only our politicians could be as good as my DD!!

Plano outta Plano...

Daniel had to leave the beach trip early last weekend for a business trip to Dallas, Texas. I have never been there but Daniel has testified everything truly is BIGGER in Texas! He is actually in Plano where he says the people are very nice and most everything is less expensive than home.

According to Daniel the days of bouffant, bee hives, rhinestones and hot pink still exist in Dallas.

Thankfully his project has gone well and hopefully he will be returning to DC on Friday night. I just hope when I pick him up at the airport I am not retrieving a RHINESTONE COWBOY!

Stanco=I am tired

So it was the beginning of summer when I completed the first level of Italian and I am actually retaining some of it! I am pooped today.

Yesterday we returned from the family beach weekend. We were in South Bethany What a wonderful time! The weather could not have been more perfect for us, it was a cool sunny weekend. Some were braver than others and went for a swim or a dip but not I, only my feet were brave enough to kiss the ocean. The water was not too terribly cold but the cool air was enough to make you shiver! We were in South Bethany beach, a beautiful location in between Rehoboth and Ocean City.

It was on this lovely family vacation where I had my first experience with the WII!!!
I am an addict after only 2 days, so sad but true. Apparently Daniel and Cathy had it all planned out. Daniel had mentioned this game before and I just kind of shrugged it off but they succeeded and I will be officially disappointed if Santa Clause does not bring me this new toy! AND of course I will share it with all! Because I am just that kind of girl!

Well it was a weekend of good food, fun and great news! Dan and I are going to be an Aunt and Uncle again, his sister Brenda is pregnant! Hooray!

EL TREN

At least once a month I rant about the train or 'metro' which is what we Washingtonians call it!

So this morning the train looked like this...

I really thought some wanted to do this...

but I just bullied my way through the sea of people who just refused to get off the train.

Then I met Gucci girl. OMG....Please do us all a favor flip flopped wearing pants dragging on the ground with coffee in one hand and the over stuffed Gucci tote over her shoulder swinging around to blast everyone approximately 5'1" (that would be me) in the face, put your bag on the floor

We were packed like spring rolls in a takeout box and she all of size 2 could not move to let anyone on the train. Needless to say, my polka dot tote got caught around my shoulder and cut off the circulation for about 15 minutes.

Thanks Gucci girl.

And just so you know you did not look like this...

or this...

And I am sure your fancy bag was not designed for you make it appear as if it were throwing up.

Lorenzo has a great day and then he met...

DYSON!

Designer Flipper?

What will they think of next?

Why with the hurricane season on fire we all may need to get a pair of these!

Beach Weekend

It seems that Daniel and I have been traveling a lot lately! First Skyline Drive then Lancaster and Philadelphia and this weekend we are headed to the beach! We really enjoy road trips, it is a great way to see this beautiful area we live in. It has come up many times in conversation, we really would like to plan a cross country road trip. But that is for a later date! This time it is a family weekend at Bethany beach in Delaware. I know summer is over but better late than never! We will be leaving on Friday. It has turned into a cooler week so far high 70's I wonder if the water will be warm enough for a swim? Oh but if it is too chilly to hit the beach I hear there are great outlets!!

We are responsible for some good eats...I must get crackin' on a menu!

What to do with 5lbs of tomatoes?

Make homemade tomato sauce, that's what!
Just about two weekends ago (Sept 6th-ish) Daniel and I went to Pennsylvania (yes in a tropical storm!) to help his Mom with wedding flowers for a relative. We ended up coming home with a trunk full of delicious corn and tomato's from Lancaster! Compliments of his Aunt! Thank you!
I have never made sauce from scratch using fresh whole tomatoes, so here goes!

Step one, 5lbs of beautiful red roma tomatoes in a Italian Deruta bowl, my favorite!

Step two, call Mom and ask how to make fresh sauce! When you don't know ask Momma!
Step three, boil the tomatoes until the skin cracks open, cool and peel.

Step four, half each tomato and remove seeds.
Step five, thank God for the Cuisinart 14 cup food processor. I love this piece of machinery, if it were not for the person who invented this I would be sitting at the kitchen counter with a sieve pureeing by hand. Really, how did all those Italian Mommas and Nonna's do it??

Zap the tomatoes a few times or just let it blend and crush them to your liking.
Step six, use your favorite sauce pot, saute onions and garlic until clear and the aroma makes Daniel salivate.
Step seven, add pureed tomatoes and all the herbs, salt and pepper and allow sauce to bubble.

Step eight, cover reduce to a simmer and allow sauce to cook down for one to three hours. Time depends on how much water the tomatoes contain and of course what your grandmother told you to do!
And Wallah! Fresh from tomatoes no cans involved!

This was very time consuming but not too terribly difficult. I am sure it will taste fresh and delicious. Give it a try!

Now I just have to find my taste tester...

Guess who!?

"It is not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity." -----Francis Bacon

Ahhhh but which one?

The Omnivore’s Hundred

The omnivore's hundred has been bouncing around many foodie blogs of late.

I am giving it a go!

ANDREW'S note:

Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.
Here’s what I want you to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.3) Cross out any items (mine are in RED) that you would never consider eating.4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison

2. Nettle tea

3. Huevos rancheros

4. Steak tartare

5. Crocodile

6. Black pudding

7. Cheese fondue

8. Carp

9. Borscht

10. Baba ghanoush

11. Calamari

12. Pho

13. PB&J sandwich

14. Aloo gobi

15. Hot dog from a street cart

16. Epoisses

17. Black truffle

18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes

19. Steamed pork buns

20. Pistachio ice cream

21. Heirloom tomatoes

22. Fresh wild berries

23. Foie gras

24. Rice and beans

25. Brawn, or head cheese

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper

27. Dulce de leche

28. Oysters

29. Baklava

30. Bagna cauda

31. Wasabi peas

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl

33. Salted lassi

34. Sauerkraut

35. Root beer float

36. Cognac with a fat cigar

37. Clotted cream tea

38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O

39. Gumbo

40. Oxtail

41. Curried goat

42. Whole insects

43. Phaal

44. Goat’s milk

45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more

46. Fugu

47. Chicken tikka masala

48. Eel

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut

50. Sea urchin

51. Prickly pear

52. Umeboshi

53. Abalone

54. Paneer

55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal

56. Spaetzle

57. Dirty gin martini

58. Beer above 8% ABV

59. Poutine

60. Carob chips

61. S’mores

62. Sweetbreads

63. Kaolin

64. Currywurst

65. Durian

66. Frogs’ legs

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake

68. Haggis

69. Fried plantain

70. Chitterlings, or andouillette

71. Gazpacho

72. Caviar and blini

73. Louche absinthe

74. Gjetost, or brunost

75. Roadkill

76. Baijiu

77. Hostess Fruit Pie

78. Snail

79. Lapsang souchong

80. Bellini

81. Tom yum

82. Eggs Benedict

83. Pocky

84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.

85. Kobe beef

86. Hare

87. Goulash

88. Flowers

89. Horse

90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam

92. Soft shell crab

93. Rose harissa

94. Catfish

95. Mole poblano

96. Bagel and lox

97. Lobster Thermidor

98. Polenta

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

100. Snake

We have all eaten some strange dishes...and there are some pretty icky ones on this list. Sweetbreads are not what you think they are! Check it out!

I can not believe all of the things I have tried But hey!! Where is PASTA on this list???

Panda Party

Thank God it's Friday! These Pandas definitely know how to start the weekend! Sometimes 4 day work weeks feel like so much longer!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Better Late Than Never

At the urging of my lovely wife, I have joined the blogging bandwagon. Initially, I wanted to document our Skyline Drive/Bambi exploits from last weekend but in light of the Palin's 'lipstick hockey mom' speech last night: I have an itchy trigger finger.

Of course, the buildup to the 'speech' was laced with lowered expectations from the RNC and she came out with guns a blazing. I am not too concerned about her sardonic tone, which ultimately will play well to the rust-belt crowd and die-hard Republicans--this is more of the usual from the last eight years of Bush II.

What is more disturbing to me is the process and decision-making that went into selecting Palin. McCain essentially chose her after one face-to-face meeting; adds new meaning to the term 'Maverick'. Aside from her lack of international relations experience, Palin must deal with Troopergate and her 17 year-old daughter's after-school activities. The pregnancy is rightly a 'personal family issue'; Obama had the foresight to distance himself from the fray (albeit there will be plenty of people willing to lambast the governess). The irony is: where was this 'hands-off' approach during the Lewinksy days?

Finally, in the spirit of fairness the Palin photo is as funny as it is fake. Photoshop, gotta love it.
And wouldn't you know, of course she's a hockey mom; her daughter got knocked up by a hockey player. Adds new meaning the phrase: "Slipped one past the goalie!"

Manhattan Special

Where has this been hiding all my life? I finally took the time to sit down and read my most recent issue of Saveur magazine and discovered Manhattan Special. I spent the first years of my life in Staten Island, NY, grew up with New Yorkers and have never seen this! I have been a supporter of all coffee drinks and by far there is nothing better than a piping hot and frothy espresso from a bar in Italy! This is a family recipe of Italian immigrants espresso sweetened with pure cane sugar said to be the best of coffee drinks. Unfortunately this is not sold in Virginia but I think I know someone who could find this for me! My very good friends Rachel and her husband Rusty are new residents of Brooklyn, how fortunate!!

4:58 and counting...

This morning I was rested and ready to go, not quite but almost excited about returning to work today! I am serious, it was full speed ahead but now I am counting down the last half hour.

Pitiful! It does not help that it is absolutely gorgeous outside, it is probably just me but the sun feels different like the seasons are about to change. I know they are but labor day was only yesterday!! We are approaching my favorite time of the year, crisp cool air and gorgeous colors everywhere, I can not help but be excited.

For now I will continue to watch the cookoo and dream of those beautiful autumn days.