Archive | July 2012

Perfume

Jul27

I have never been much of a perfume wearer….
I don’t like the alcohol smell most of the have…
And I really haven’t found any that I could do without.

Body sprays are ok and I use them occasionally…
But again you have the alcohol smell.

I have been keeping my eye on Sweet Anthem’s website and finally broke down and ordered a few samples.
After reading each and every scent description I picked out five.
I don’t usually like to comment on the smell or scent of something simply because smelling fragrances is subjective and very personal.
What is strong to one person will be weak or non existant to another.

However I am very happy with the perfume oils and would love the share them here!

I strongly suggest if you order samples get several.
I know for me what fragrance I like depends on many things..
So if I have several to choose from I am pretty much guaranteed I will like one of them on any given day!

This is what I have:

Caroline (love this!)
Always got a dime for the record machine, never lets the music die. Celebrate every day with this bubbles-and-fizz chypre perfume.
Notes: Ambergris, Bergamot, Champagne, Jasmine, Lemon, Oakmoss, Sarsaparilla, Vanilla Sugar

Miho
Is this a mirage? Just a tiny drop will cure any summertime visions with this sweet and fruity floral perfume.
Notes: Coconut, Egyptian Musk, Lotus, Sweet Orange, Violet

Cordelia
Be the sweetest of all the petulas. Woodsy & fall-fresh top notes of plum and fir needle make way for lavender, black pepper, and a sultry coriander – all are thrown asunder by the most marine of all musks.
Notes: Ambergris, Black Pepper, Civet, Coriander, Fir Needle, Lavender, Plum, Sandalwood

Annebelle
Sweltering jasmine flowers cling to a cloud of osmanthus, and the spray of sea air and salty musk will surely keep you oceanside even though the summer respite has left us.
Notes: Jasmine, Osmanthus, Sea Salt, White Amber

Juliet
A starcross’d love – balmy jasmine sambac flowers and orange blossoms are encircled in enchanting spices. Nips of fresh mango and a faintly glimmering sea shore lay the scene in fair Verona.
Notes: Clove, Jasmine Sambac, Mango, Muskwood, Neroli, Pink Pepper, Tobacco

And I received a solid perfume sample of Elliot..which I also like!

I chose the above fragrances because it is summer and I wanted something that would fit with the season.

I can tell you they all do!

The scents are soft, subtle and last for most of the day.
I will be picking a couple of my favorites out of this batch and when ordering full size products I will also add a few more samples!

Rebecca

Rebecca

Goodbye J.P. Patches

Jul23

J.P. Patches was an icon of our time.
The only sadness I feel is that there has never been anyone or any show that ever came close.
Kids now a day have no idea what they missed.
Oh the good old days.

J.P. Patches

SEATTLE – Chris Wedes, known and loved throughout the greater Seattle area as TV clown “J.P. Patches,” died Sunday morning, his wife said. He was 84

Wedes, who had battled cancer for several years, made his final public appearance at the Fishermen’s Fall Festival in September. Hundreds of “Patches Pals” – many wearing red clown noses – turned out to wish him well.

The Emmy-winning J.P. Patches Show was a fixture on local television for 23 years, from 1958 to 1981. It was the longest-running local children’s show in the country.

“J.P. gave us our daily dose of common sense and encouragement, helped support our parents’ messages about cleaning our plates, washing behind our ears, being nice to your siblings and friends… a spoonful of sugar helped us consume those life lessons,” said Jerri Zimmerman Wood of Renton.

The J.P. Patches Show, set in a ramshackle house at the “city dump,” was all ad-libbed, and featured fun characters and slapstick humor for kids, as well as more sophisticated humor that only mom and dad would understand.

At the height of its popularity, the show was on twice each weekday – kids had breakfast with J.P. in the morning, and he was there again when they got home from school.

“I watched J.P. every morning, and I remember he would let us know when the old clock on the wall said it was time to go to school, and what the weather would be like that day,” said Libby Monuteaux of Renton. “He was always there in the afternoon too, and got me through many days when my mom was at work.”

J.P. was joined by sidekick Gertrude and more than a dozen other characters, from Ketchikan the Animal Man to Boris S. Wort, the “second meanest man in the world,” all played by Bob Newman.

Kids growing up near Puget Sound in the ’60s and ’70s were thrilled when J.P. switched on the I.C.U.2 TV and wished them a happy birthday.

“On my 4th birthday (in 1965) he said on air, ‘Happy birthday to Jeffrey, who is turning four today. Don’t forget to look in the clothes dryer.’ I didn’t believe that he meant me until I looked in the dryer and found a new G.I. Joe toy. I’m still on that cloud,” said Jeff Berland of Lacey.

When the show ended in 1981, Wedes continued on with the J.P. character, appearing at fairs, festivals and private parties.

On Nov. 5, 2007, the Seattle City Council proclaimed it “J.P. Patches Day.”

A statue of J.P. and Gertrude was erected in the Fremont neighborhood in 2008. The bronze statue named “Late for the Interurban,” by Kevin Pettelle, depicts J.P. and Gertrude rushing in opposite directions, arms locked.

Wedes, the son of Greek immigrants, grew up in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. He appeared in school plays in high school and college, and his involvement with the campus radio station helped him land a job in radio. After serving in Korea, he went back to work at the station before accepting a position as director for a St. Paul TV station.

He worked behind the scenes but eventually ended up in front of the camera. He soon became “Captain 11,” hosting science fiction serials. Then every Saturday morning, he was “Chuckwagon Chuck” to host Wild West movies. He played various characters on childrens’ shows, but it was the popularity of “Joe the Cook” that got him his own show, “Joe’s Popcorn Party.”

The station’s most popular show was “Carnival Clown” hosted by a clown by the name of J.P. Patches. When the actor that played J.P. left the station, Wedes took over.

In 1958, WCTN director Fred Kauffman accepted a position with a new Seattle television station, KIRO-TV. He needed someone to do the children’s programs and he asked Wedes, who accepted.

The show debuted in Seattle on February 8, 1958 and was a hit, dominating local children’s programming for 23 years.

Rebecca

Rebecca

Roasted Garlic Guacamole

Jul17

This looks sooooooo good!

Roasted Garlic Guacamole

Active Time: 30 Minutes
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Yield: 4 cups guacamole, for 16 servings

Rick Bayless’s new book is all about how to throw a great fiesta, or party, and a key part of any great fiesta is the food. “I like to welcome guests with this guacamole bar,” he says. “I start off with a basic guacamole made with roasted garlic and set out bowls of toppings so everyone can customize each bite.” (Recipe from “Fiesta at Rick’s” by Rick Bayless; W.W. Norton and Company, July 2010.)

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate the guacamole (Step 1) up to 1 day.

Ingredients

For Guacamole:

6 large cloves garlic, unpeeled
6 ripe medium avocados
1/2  cup  coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, loosely packed
2  tablespoons  fresh lime juice, plus more if desired
1 teaspoon salt

For Garnishes:

3/4  cup  Mexican queso fresco, queso añejo, salted pressed farmer’s  cheese, firm goat cheese, mild feta or Romano, finely crumbled or grated
3/4  cup  toasted pumpkin seeds (see Tip)
3/4  cup  sliced pickled jalapeños
1/2  cup  crumbled crisp-fried bacon or 3/4 cup coarsely crumbled  chicharrón (Mexican crisp-fried pork rind)
1  16-ounce bag  large, sturdy tortilla chips

Tip: To toast pumpkin seeds, place in a small dry skillet and cook over  medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4  minutes.

Directions:

To prepare guacamole: Place unpeeled garlic in a small dry skillet over medium heat; cook, turning occasionally, until soft and blackened in spots, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool, then slip off the skins; finely chop. Scoop avocado flesh into a large bowl. Add the garlic, cilantro and lime juice to taste. Coarsely mash everything together. Season with salt. Transfer to a serving bowl and place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

To set up the guacamole bar: Scoop garnishes into small serving bowls and put the chips in a large basket or bowl. Encourage guests to spoon a little guacamole on a chip and top with garnishes that appeal.

Rebecca

Rebecca

Frozen Vodka Slushies

Jul7

We are now into summer and have the heat to prove it!

I have been waiting for the right time to make a lemon vodka slushy and the time is now!

Notes:
I didn’t have lemons or oranges so I didn’t use those
I couldn’t find frozen grapefruit juice anywhere so I used raspberry lemonade
This makes a lot but it goes fast cause it’s just so damned good especially on a hot day.
Embarrasing note: I just reread the directions and you are supposed to fill glass with slushy mix then top off with 7up….
Um….I’ve been eating it straight!
(The slushy would melt too damned fast if I were to add 7up!)

Today I purchased peach vodka and will develop my own peach vodka slushy before summer is over!

Frozen Vodka Slush
Recipe Notes: Prepare this recipe a day or two in advance so the slush can freeze and be extra delicious when served. You also may want to double the recipe -yes, it’s that tasty- so pick up 2x’s the ingredients when you’re at the market!

Ingredients:
8 cups water
3 cups white sugar
juice of 2 lemons
juice of 2 oranges
one 48oz can of pineapple juice
one 12oz can frozen Minute Maid grapefruit juice
one 12oz can of frozen Minute Maid lemonade
26oz Vodka – I bought a lemon flavored vodka

Method:
First, make a simple syrup. Boil 8 cups water and stir in 3 cups white sugar. Continue to stir until the sugar incorporates with the water, for about 15 minutes. Let cool.

In a separate bowl, combine the juice of 2 lemons, 2 oranges, 1 48oz can of pineapple juice, 1 12oz can frozen Minute Maid grapefruit juice, 1 12oz can of frozen Minute Maid lemonade and 26oz Vodka.

Once the simple syrup is cooled, add the juice/vodka mix to the syrup. Stir and transfer into an air-tight tupperware container(s) with lid(s). Freeze.

When your guests arrive, stir the slush and fill the glass half-full with frozen vodka slush. Fill the rest of the glass with diet 7-Up. Enjoy!

Rebecca

Rebecca