Mamacita

Yes, it did! Very funny scene, but horribly, horribly embarrassing... When my daughter and her dh arrived in the Dominican Republic for their honeymoon, they were chosen for random bag inspections...and some "toys" were found. DD wanted a hole to open up in the floor and swallow her. Yes, I know waaaay too much, but she thinks nothing of sharing TMI stuff with her mom! :oops:

Just finished, "Seven Sunny Days". Thanks, Michelle! I enjoyed the book. Chris Manby is getting really good at characterization. I do wish she'd been able to give us more setting, though. In my mind, it was set at your generic beach resort, and I couldn't really "see" Turkey. I liked the fact that the characters weren't your typcial "ditzy" girls acting in a capricious, ditzy way. I liked how, with each character, there was great motivation for acting how they did, except for Sally, she was just a %itch-on-wheels and didn't deserve the happy ending she got. If I had to rate it on a scale of 1-10, I'd give it an 8. It's a great, light summer read, but not exactly a keeper. But I'm keeping this copy b/c it was a birthday present!

OMG, how hideous...how funny!! IKWYM about having to kill and process...not the most fun part of fishing. I could NEVER, never, never not EVER deal with dispatching something like a chicken, or anything else warm-blooded. The markets in Mexico traumatized me good and proper, let me tell you! :shock:

Sarah, I envy you living on the coast! I grew up in San Diego, and my mom was an avid angler. Dad would go, but not often... So, I grew up fishing. I don't ever remember my mom going to the grocers and actually buying fish. We'd go out and throw our lines in at the reservoirs, or surf fish or as an occasional treat, we'd go out on one of the "sport fishing" boats. It was fun, and we filled our freezer at the same time! Maybe you could do that...I don't know if you enjoy fishing or not, but it would definitely be a way to get some ethically acquired fish on your table!

I made an easy peach cobbler last night... I drained two large cans of peaches (fresh ones aren't quite in season yet). Reserved the juice of one can, added a generous amount of freshly grated cinnamon, some nutmeg, and a dash of sea salt, then thickened it over med heat with cornstarch dissolved in a bit of water. Once the sauce was thickened, I added the drained peaches. I made a sweet scone dough, patted it out into a round almost as large as the baking dish and about 1/4" thick, put the peaches in the dish, topped it with strips of the dough, sprinkled demerara sugar on top and baked until it was bubbly and the dough golden brown. Here's the result: [/img]

Kell, did you see any more of those elusive Aberdeen butterflies?

Leftover roast lamb on whole wheat bread w/ mayo, salt and pepper. It's not ofen I get such yummy sandwiches!

I found this recipe on Giada De Laurentiis' website. I think it could easily be adapted to take advantage of just about any summer fruit, including peaches, apricots, & strawberries. RASPBERRY TIRAMISU by Giada De Laurentiis The great thing about this dessert is that you actually have to prepare it ahead of time. The longer it sits, the better it tastes. 1 cup seedless raspberry jam 6 tablespoons Grand Marnier 1 pound mascarpone cheese, at room temperature 1 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 48 soft ladyfingers (2 3-ounce packages) or 40 dry Italian ladyfingers (2 packages) 3 baskets fresh raspberries ( _ dry pint, about 3 _ cups total) confectioners' sugar, for dusting Stir together the jam and 4 tablespoons of the Grand Marnier in a small bowl to blend. Stir together the mascarpone and remaining 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier in a large bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Using a large rubber spatula, stir a fourth of the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture to lighten. Fold the remaining whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture. Line the bottom of a trifle bowl or other decorative serving dish with a third of the ladyfingers. Spread a third of the jam mixture over the ladyfingers. Spread a third of the mascarpone mixture over the jam mixture, then cover with a third of the fresh raspberries. Repeat layering with the remaining ladyfingers, jam mixture, mascarpone mixture, and raspberries. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight. Dust the confectioners' sugar over the top and serve.

Michelle, isn't it funny you find that article right when we were discussing the Globe theater??? I've never seen Titus Andronicus and I don't believe I will any time in the future, either. Yick! But I adore Shakespeare. I grew up in San Diego, California which built a replica of the original Globe theater in 1935 for the Pacific International Exposition. When I was in high school, I took a Shakespeare as Literature class and we went to see several productions, including Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth, & Midsummer Night's Dream. When my drama class presented some famous scenes from Shakespeare's plays, I got to play Lady Macbeth and Puck (the soliloquy at the end of the play). It was great fun and I learned a lot. In February, 1983, on a trip to California, Queen Elizabeth visited the Old Globe and unveiled a statue of William Shakespeare. For my next trip over your way, I have two goals. 1) Visit Statford Upon Avon and 2) see a performance at the Globe. As far as my favorite, I think it would be Twelfth Night. Such a fun mix up!!

I'm just starting the 4th book in a series by Vicki Lewis Thompson..."Talk Nerdy To Me". The first book, "Nerd In Shining Armor" was a real departure from the usual romantic comedies that have been out on the market. The heroine is Tennesse hillbilly living in Hawaii. The hero is the computer nerd who works in her office. The two of them get stranded on a deserted island after their small plane is hijacked. Her "live off the land" skills help them to not only survive, but they manage to have a pretty good time playing Robinson Carusoe until they're rescued. In this newest installment, the heroine is a nerdy inventor who accidentally blows up her home lab and is "rescued" by a Harley-riding engineer, even though she insists she does NOT need rescuing. Hubby just finished reading it...yes, he LOVES women's fiction b/c he says it helps him understand the female mind a little better! LOL!...and he said it was a great read from start to finish.

I should have some cayenne and jalapeno peppers this summer...wonder if there's any way I can ship the excess to you all!

Oh, I love hot food too, but this went beyond hot...this was concrete melting, pig-iron forge hot. I don't like it when something is so hot you can't taste the flavor b/c your tastebuds are paralyzed. And five minutes after you eat, you feel your stomach roiling like Vesuvius just before it erupted. I like a nice bite to my spicy food...I want it to slap me in the face and say "notice me!!" then once it's been appreciated, it mellows out...

Oh, this was interesting, all right...and not in a good way. At least I can laugh about it...now....

I had a kitchen disaster not that long ago... My evil twin decided that chicken tikka masala would be a nice change from our ordinary meals. She bought the sauce, the chicken, the yogurt--and made the dish exactly as the recipe on the jar of sauce said. It was so blazingly, hellfire HOT that none of us could eat it!! My BIL, the undeserving relative who lives with us, shot me a look all but accusing me of attempted assassination, while hubby gamely tried suggesting some sour cream might help. We all ended up dumping our dinner in the garbage. Cheerios makes a nice dinner for a change, too!

You could always say you're members of a super secret religious sect and were in the middle of making an offering to the Goddess of the Sea. ...Just a suggestion. BTW, after talking about the fideo, I went ahead and made some for dinner last night. YUM! There isn't a scrap left.

Ahh, yes, I've met the divine Ms. H...she's actually a dear friend! Sadly, she's now a displaced Belle, living in--horrors!! The belt buckle of yankeedom--Boston! I'll get to see her in a few weeks, though. Favorite WF authors...well, Haywood, obviously, but I have several others I like, as well. Deborah Smith Susan Elizabeth Phillips Jill Marie Landis Jennifer Cruisie Patricia Gaffney Vicki Lewis Thompson are a few that come to mind just now. For me, endings don't necessarily *have* to be happy...just satisfying. If I can finish the book and feel like I've just sat through a movie, then I consider it well written. When the characters, the setting and the plot just leap off the page at me, yeah, that's what I like. I'm in the middle of reading "Undomestic Goddess" right now, and finding it a bit slow-going. So far, it's had its funny moments, but I'm having a bit of trouble suspending my disbelief that a lawyer could just happen to stumble upon probably the stupidest, blindest rich couple in the country...and is able to convince them she's a Cordon Bleu chef. I'll keep reading, then let you know my final verdict.

I haven't read the book...but I've seen many, many reviews and they varied from one end of the spectrum to the other. Any of you who've read and seen it, what do you think? Is the book better than the movie? or vice versa? In the movie, as creepy as he was, I liked Silas. I could see that he honestly believed in what he was doing...he wasn't being mean, just for the sake of it. Aringarosa was the truly villainous character! LOL! You just knew he had another agenda than the one he showed to his fellow Opus Dei members. The movie was a little predictable in that I knew from early on that ******* was the rose. But that didn't spoil my enjoyment of it in the least. Langdon was a great character...this poor guy who was dragged unwillingly into a situation. I could "feel" his terror when confronted with closed in spaces. All in all, I would give the movie a 8 out of a 10 rating.

Hey Maureen-- Refried beans are super easy...just get canned (tinned, I think is the term you all use) pink,black or pinto beans. Heat a saucepan, add some olive oil, then throw in some diced onion. Add a clove of minced garlic, (careful not to let the garlic brown), then dump in the beans. Smash with a potato masher. Some people like them very smooshed, like a puree, and some (ME!) like them with some of the beans left whole. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and let it simmer for a while, til it thickens. I usually serve the fideo and beans with a salad. Enjoy!

Fideo or

Tanjaha-- Like anything else, cooking is something that takes practice. Don't get too upset over a failed experiment...failing is actually never trying again...as long as you keep trying, you haven't failed! IMO, cooking IS chemistry, but as well as being a science, it's also an art. If this is something you really want to do, then start reading cookery books. I'd highly recommend Alton Brown's "I'm Only Here For The Food". He explains the hows and whys of cooking...as well as giving lots of yummy recipes that aren't hideously difficult to make. Tofu isn't my favorite ingredient on the planet, but it has its uses. You can substitute very firm tofu for cooked chicken breast meat in quite a few recipes, with only minor alterations. Happy Cooking!

Very good points, Liz! I, too, enjoy reading certain books more than once. Mainly b/c revisiting the characters or where the book takes place is like visiting an old friend. And after reading this thread from the beginning, I find it rather disheartening to see how snippy some of the comments have been...which is the main reason why I've avoided coming here for so long. No one should have to defend their choice of reading material...(the exception being kiddie porn or something equally icky.) Just because you choose to read "genre fiction" doesn't mean you're lacking in gray matter. And reading "highbrow" books, searching for "the deeper meaning of life" doesn't make you better than anyone else. Michelle has tried to make this "the friendliest book forum on the net", and I applaud her efforts...it's very sad when she and the other admins have to play "Playground monitor".

It takes a very very skillful writer to come up with a biography that keeps my interest for long. I think that's why I don't often read them. But I do enjoy watching the Biography series on A&E. Some have been excellent and you get a lot of visuals that you wouldn't get in print. One of the best was Mary Todd Lincoln. She was a real piece of work!

Have you ever seen a picture of Nora? She's anything BUT a bespectacled gray-haired granny! LOL! She's about 5'-5" tall (more or less), slender, I've seen her blonde, brunette and red-headed, and she has a husky voice. She's been very cordial every time I've spoken with her, but she most definitely has that "celebrity" aura about her. I've never seen her alone...always has an entourage of admirers and fans. Even at book signings, she has an assistant with her. Oh, and don't knock those "slushy romances"! They are what helped catapult Nora to the top of the heap! And they command over 50% of the total number of books purchased every year.

There are three books by NR that I enjoyed and would recommend to anyone. Montana Sky- (older title, may be out of print, but since it's Nora, who knows?) It's about 3 sisters who discover each other at their father's funeral. In order to claim their inheritance they must all live on his ranch for a specified length of time. Sanctuary- A photojournalist is stalked via email by some weirdo who keeps sending her pictures of herself that he's taken. She runs away to a place where she believes she'll be safe. Birthright-An archeologist heads a dig and has to deal with her ex husband, a woman who insists she's her long lost daughter and the murder of the site's owner.

Good for Beth! Pretty soon she'll be writing reviews!