Fried Green Tomatoes

(I loved that movie - think about it every time I make these...)

My parents cultivate tomato plants every Summer. I managed to pillage a few tomatoes from them when I can and have twice so far this season. I love Fried Green Tomatoes. I slice them thin, coat with milk and flour (or cornmeal - mixed with salt and pepper) and toss them into my good old Krups Deep-Fryer. They're great straight but we like them in a sandwich - on bread with mayonnaise and more salt and pepper. Yumm.

The Celebrity In You

Interesting website! I signed up and uploaded a recent picture. The program scans the picture provided and 'face detection technology' is used to detect human faces in its database with similar charicteristics. For me, it spit out:

Tyra Banks
Christy Turlington
Cate Blanchett
Carole Lombard
Bebe Neuwirth
Calista Flockhart
Martina McBride
Holly Hunter
Leonardo DiCaprio

Could've been worse!

Buttery Nipple

This was our drink of the night tonight - yumm! Great recipe - what's not to like? I doubled (ahem - tripled) mine, though, and had it on the rocks instead of in a shot glass. Cheers!

One Month From Today

Where has the Summer gone? Seven weeks down - four to go... School for my precious little 1st graders starts one month from today - August 21. We've been pretty busy with Vacation Bible School and Summer Reading Camp. The next few weeks, though, will be all about lazy days, relaxing and sleeping in.

Both kids seem excited about getting back to school - neither is showing much apprehension, thank goodness. Kindergarten was only a 3.5 hour day and 1st grade will be a full 6 hours. Mom worries about how they'll handle that.

On the morning of the 18th, we'll go to school for a "meet the teacher" gathering. It is then that we will find out which classes they're going to be in.

Camera-Ready

Wow - the taping of Rock Star Supernova was even more fun than I imagined it'd be. I've been on numerous sets before having worked as an extra for a few years. Nothing I'd ever done was as enjoyable as this, though. My girlfriend and her husband were late getting here and, on the way into the city, we wasted some time in traffic and stopping for food. We still arrived an hour before the actual call-time but were shocked to find the parking garage totally full once we got there. We made a few circles and ended up at valet parking before jogging towards the studio - worrying the entire time that we might be too late to get in. We did, though - and were asked immediately to follow a P.A. to the pit next to the stage. A total treat! I was very pleased - we had an excellent spot for watching the rockers as well as the House Band. (What an incredible bunch of guys, by the way - Paul Mirkovich, Sasha Krivstov, Jim McGorman, Rafael Moreira and Nate Morton - amazing musicians and not hard on the eyes either!) We stood on set for over an hour before the actual taping started. The performers were great - I thoroughly enjoyed all but maybe two of them and I stand by my picks for a winner - I just have a feeling that either Dilana or Lukas will front Supernova come September. The songlist:

Patrice – Helter Skelter (The Beatles)
Josh – Come As You Are (Nirvana)
Storm – Just What I Needed (The Cars)
Lukas – Let’s Spend the Night Together (The Rolling Stones)
Jill – All Right Now (Free)
Ryan – Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Phil – White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane)
Dana – It’s My Life (Bon Jovi)
Toby – Runaway Train (Soul Asylum)
Magni – Plush (Stone Temple Pilots)
Zayra – Everybody Hurts (R.E.M.)
Jenny – Drive (Incubus)
Dilana – Zombie (The Cranberries)

Brooke Burke was adorable - tiny little thing. If I had to work, I think I'd want her job! Dave Navarro was a trip. Tommy Lee... Wow... The dude is definitely - uh - charismatic. I think he has ADD or something, though - he never stopped moving, bouncing around or fidgeting. We were clear across the floor from him but stories circulated constantly about his antics - hands-down-his-pants, boob-grabbing etc... Wild. Gilby Clarke seemed cool enough and I really really like Jason Newstead. I've found him to be the most enjoyable of the judges - always honest but kind and he gives reasonable, constructive criticism and not just Simon Cowell-esque put-downs. Being able to watch him (stop reading if you don't want a spoiler) perform with Phil during White Rabbit was the best.

We were given guaranty tickets for Wednesday's taping of the results show but I don't think we'll be able to make it... I do hope to make at least a few more performance shows this summer!

Oh yeah - J.D. - no sight or mention of him at all! Odd... They announced that Slash would be a guest the week before and then the same thing happened - no appearance and no explanation. I can't help but wonder if this is part of some MBP plan to get people to attend tapings and/or watch the show...

Rock Star Supernova

Last night, I secured tickets for my girlfriend, her husband and I to attend a taping of the show, Rock Star : Supernova on Sunday July 16. (My husband - bless his heart - has volunteered to stay home with the kids. He is leaving to play in a 4-day golf tournament in Carlsbad at the crack of dawn Monday morning so he doesn't want to be out all night Sunday.) It'll be a performance show which will air on CBS Tuesday July 18 and they're going to have a special guest - J.D. Fortune! I'm beyond excited - should be a blast!

Jam-ba-LAY-a

(Can't you just hear the soup Nazi from Seinfeld say that?!)

I've never been to New Orleans. I've been obsessed with its cuisine for weeks, though - ever since we attended a dinner cooked by 2 New Orleans natives (he's a financial planner and she's an attorney/judge) - Shrimp Remoulade, Chicken & Sausage Gumbo, Fried Catfish, Crawfish Pie, Bananas Foster... The food was incredible!

I contemplated, for a little while, a New Orleans themed 4th of July party this year but went for the Backyard BBQ instead. Tonight, however, I made my first Jambalaya. It was a simple recipe - not 100% "authentic" perhaps - but fantastic (and embarassingly simple) nonetheless.

Jambalaya
Courtesy of: Paula Deen (FoodTV)
Serves 4-6

2.5 c. water
1-14 ounce can diced tomatoes
1-8 ounce can tomato sauce
1/2 pound fully cooked smoked sausage, cut into 1/4" slices
1 c. long grain rice3 T. dried minced onion
1 T. dried parsley flakes
1 T. beef bouillon granules
1/2 t. dried thyme leaves
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. ground black pepper
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1/4 t. salt
1 bay leaf
1/2-3/4 pounds of medium fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

In large pot, mix all ingredients but shrimp. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Cover and reduce heat - simmering for 20 minutes. Add shrimp (make sure tails have been removed) and cook for additional 5-7 minutes or until shrmp are pink.

Enjoy! (We sure did!)

Starla

I get my nails done twice/month (I have pink and white acrylics - have for about a year - can't believe I didn't get them sooner as they're awesome!). During one of those appointments each month, I have a pedicure too. Today was my fill/pedi day. I'm a fan of OPI polish ordinarily but today I opted for "Starla" - a new Summer color from Zoya. So pretty. My 6 year old daughter (who is very "girlie" and likes to do everything her Mommy does) is begging me to go too. I've told her she can start when she's 16 - I have no idea how I'm going to stave her off for 10 more years!

Happy 4th!

In the United States, Independence Day, also called the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Enjoy the day and time with your families.

Be safe!

Busy Weekend

Saturday, we took the kids to see the new Pixar movie, Cars, at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. (My daughter and I saw Princess Diaries 2 there a few years ago and loved it - we've wanted to go back ever since.) What a great movie! The kids had a fantastic time - definitely a fun day.

On Sunday, we left the kids home with my parents and drove over to Santa Barbara for 2 days to participate in a golf tournament fundraiser for Cure Autism Now. It was put on by Athletes Against Autism. We stayed at the beautiful Bacara Resort. There was a wonderful dinner/program Sunday night and my husband golfed at Sandpiper with Curt Warner this morning while I enjoyed a (heavenly!) Citrus Avacado Body Scrub/Massage at the spa.

In attendance was:

Olie Kolzig/Washington Capitals
Byron Dafoe/former Atlanta Thrasher
Scott Mellanby/former Atlanta Thrasher
Ryan Nece/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Billy Volek/Tennesee Titans
Travis Hall/Atlanta Falcons
Stu Barnes/Dallas Stars
Brent Johnson/Washington Capitals
Jeb Terry/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bill Krueger/former MLB pitcher
Fox NW broadcaster
Curt Warner/former Seattle Seahawk
Jim Gott/former Los Angeles Dodger
Ron Cey/former Los Angeles Dodger
Greg Swindell/former Arizona Diamondback
Darwin Cook/former New Jersey Net, LA Legend of Basketball
Randy Smith/former Buffalo Brave, Legend of Basketball
M. Campy Russell/former Cleveland Cavalier, Legend of Basketball
Fred Brown/former Seattle Supersonic, Legend of Basketball
John Egan/former Houston Rockets coach, Legend of Basketball
Don Ford/former Los Angeles Laker, LA Legend of Basketball
LaMar Green/former Phoenix Sun, Legend of Basketball
Marques Johnson/former Milwaukee Buck, UCLA star, LA Legend of Basketball
Ed Ratleff/former Houston Rocket, LA Legend of Basketball
Robert Smith/Legend of Basketball
Don Felder/former guitarist, The Eagles
Marc Blucas/actor
Jason Olive/actor
AVP volleyball player
Bruce Greenwood/actor

It was the inaugural event - we hope to be involved next year at the 2nd annual!

Birthday Trip

It's hard to believe that my "babies" are now 6 and 7 years old. I can remember every minute of the days each of them were born - like they were just last week.

For their birthdays, they decided that they wanted to celebrate with Mickey at Disneyland. Again. (We were just there over Spring Break in April.) We agreed and invited my parents and sister to go along with us. What a great weekend! We went down mid-day on Friday the 16th and had their birthday dinner at The Rainforest Cafe before spending Saturday and Disneyland and Sunday at California Adventure Park. The weather was great and everyone had an excellent time. The kids loved the "birthday fuss" the park employees made over them!

Progress!

I'm getting there - slowly but surely. I feel really good about everything and have learned a lot about my body and what helps/hinders my weight loss efforts. I'm currently weighing about 3 pounds more than I did the day I married my husband (11 years ago) - less than I have in 8 years! I'm not 100% certain I'll meet my goal weight by August 18 like I'd hoped to but I do feel confident that I'll get there eventually.

INXS

In the late 1980's, I was a huge INXS fan. Last Summer, when the Rock Star: INXS show debuted, I was all over it. I loved Michael Hutchence, of course, but missed the bands' music and was excited that they were looking to start performing/recording again with someone new at the helm. From the very first episode, I knew who I thought was going to give them the best chance at succeeding with their "comeback". My husband and I watched religiously all Summer long and were thrilled on September 20, 2005 when J.D. Fortune was chosen to be the bands' new lead singer.

Last night, we drove up to the Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore, California - a 90-minute drive - but the show they put on was well worth the trip! Scott Stapp (former lead singer of Creed) opened for them and was good - we had dinner and caught his last 3 songs. The INXS show was incredible - exciting, full of energy, sexy... They did a lot of classic INXS stuff but played some songs from their new album Switch as well. The set-list was as follows:

• Suicide Blonde
  
• Devil's Party
  
• Mystify Me
  
• Hot Girls
  
• By My Side
  
• Afterglow
  
• Taste it
  
• Original Sin
  
• Hungry
  
• Never Let You Go
  
• What You Need
  
• Kick
  
• Devil Inside
  
• Pretty Vegas
  
• Spoken Word (Encore)
  
• New Sensation (Encore)
  
• Amazing Grace (Encore)
  
• Never Tear Us Apart (Encore)
  
• Don't Change (Encore)
  

They look and sound incredible. What a night - I wish it didn't have to end! I'm so thrilled that they are back. They just make me so... happy.

Al-Zarqawi Dead

We awoke to big news this morning. I, personally, will not mourn for Al-Zarqawi. He was an animal - sub-human - and I can't help but feel that the world will be a better place without him in it. Back in the Spring of 2004, I managed to come across the actual videotaped footage of Nick Berg's be-heading (which CIA leaks have said was pulled off by Al-Zarqawi personally). It was the most horrendous, hideous, savage thing I've ever seen.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

My Dad celebrated his 60th birthday yesterday. We had his BBQ birthday party at my house on Sunday the 29th and I used the Betty Crocker Bake N' Fill set my Mom gave me for my birthday last year to make him a golf ball cake. I made a chocolate fudge cake with Haagen Daazs chocolate ice cream for filling - it was delicious (if I do say so myself!) and looked adorable!

In The Zone

I haven't been very good about diet updates recently, have I? I became extremely frustrated with South Beach. I was on it hard-core for 4 weeks and lost 5.5 pounds. It was hard - I was often hungry, lacked energy and felt constantly deprived of things that I wanted. Too - the weight loss was so wacky and unpredictable - I'd be up 5 pounds in one day, down 3 the next - a total roller coaster. I began more research and, for a few weeks now have been doing something similar to The Zone Diet. In general, I don't believe in "elimination diets" - I never have. I believe that moderation is key. I gave in, though, to the "no/low carbs" hype before trying South Beach but just didn't feel like it was for me. I am using FitDay to keep track of my food intake and am trying to keep my percentages (of calories consumed daily) to 40% carbohydrates, 40% protein and 20% fat. I think The Zone Diet is actually 40/30/30 but I have definitely found that the 40/40/20 works better for me. (The less fat in my diet, the better.) I've lost a few pounds on it already but, more importantly, I am happy and feel great. I never feel left out or hungry and, after 7+ years of maternity clothes and sizes 10-12, my 8's are now falling off of me!

I hope to reach my goal weight (which is about 5 pounds less than where I was 11 years ago when I married my husband) by my 36th birthday on August 18th. I'm confident that I have a chance at succeeding!

Seriously... Wow.

I'm exhausted - emotionally spent after last nights' 2-hour Grey's Anatomy season finale. Sundays' show was good. Mondays' was excellent. God I love that show. I can't believe I have to wait until - what - August? September? - to see what will happen next. (Have I mentioned that I love that show?)

A few things to note... I'm not sure I'm thrilled that the writers made Izzie do what she did. I understand that sometimes love makes you desperate - but that was so wrong. She's gone through so much to get where she is and I can't imagine how her career can be saved now. I adored Denny's character and hate that he had to die. (God forbid, of course, that you have a happy couple!) I love that Alex finally put on a human-being hat and that he was there for Izzie. The scene where he coaxed her from the bed of her dead boyfriend was fantastic. Sandra Oh's Christina made me want to pull out my hair. She is the most emotionally constipated person I've ever seen! I kept begging for her to give Preston a little bit of what he needed but she just could not do it - not until the last second, anyway. I was bothered by her distance - was it because she was upset by his injuries and couldn't handle seeing him in pain/turmoil? Or was it because an injured man - a man who might not again be the brilliant surgeon he once was - not attractive to her?

Being the tortured Mer/Der fan that I am, I, of course, hope that she chooses (chose) to go home with Derek after the "prom". I've heard, however, that Chris O'Donnell (Finn) is going to be back next season so it doesn't look terribly likely...

I read that the show is moving from Sunday night to Thursday in the Fall (not sure what time). I have no doubt that it will do well and that loyal followers of the show will move with it!

Thank you Shonda Rhimes for creating the show that is Grey's Anatomy!

Flowers For Mom

ProFlowers announced that it will donate $10.00 to Autism Speaks for every bouquet ordered for Mother's Day or any occasion. Click here to shop!

End of Phase 1

While I haven't lost anywhere near the 8-13 pounds the South Beach Diet promises is possible during Phase 1, I'm calling my official weight loss 5 1/2 pounds over 2 weeks. Not stellar or inspiring - but a start, I suppose. I am going to try to move into Phase 2 (slowly adding certain carbs back into my diet) but am not looking forward to the fact that it will probably slow the already-painfully-slow weight loss progress. I was hoping to reach my goal by this Summer - long way to go still, though!

For dinner tonight:

Ginger Salad

1 T. dijon mustard
1 T. fresh lemon juice
2 T. rice wine vinegar
1 T. fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
3/4 c. canola oil
kosher salt
18 t. fresh ground black pepper
1/2 head iceburg lettuce, shredded
2 T. chopped fresh parsley leaves
lemon slices for garnish

In a blender on high speed, combine mustard, lemon juice, vinegar and ginger for just a few seconds until smooth. Then turn the blender to a lower speed and slowly pour the oil in a continuous stream. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place shredded lettuce piled high in the center of a bowl with edges. Add dressing to lettuce and toss. Sprinkle parsley around the edges of the bowl and garnish with a lemon slice.

(I haven't tried the salad recipe but it sounded good and should go well with the other things I'm making (tried and true family recipes!)

Egg Fu Yung

5 eggs
1 c. bean sprouts
1/2 c. shredded celery
1/4 c. shreded onions
1 t. salt
1/4 t. MSG
4 oz. can drained mushrooms
1/2 c. canned crab, shrimp or chicken (I'm using fresh baby shrimp)
1 t. dry sherry
dash of pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl just enough to break yolks. Do not beat. Cook in hot fat (pancake shape) until browned, turning once. Keep warm and serve with sauce.

Egg Fu Yung Sauce

2 c. chicken broth
1/4 t. MSG
1/2 t. salt
1 T. soy sauce
1 T. catsup
1 T. sugar
3 1/2 T. flour
1/4 c. cold water

Mix first 6 ingredients together in sauce pan. Add flour to water and mix into broth. Cook over medium high heat stirring constantly until thickened. Cover and keep warm.

Harder than I thought...

I was prepared to give this whole diet crap up yesterday. I awoke this morning, though, to a 2 1/2 pound loss - in 24 hours! Crazy. I suppose that is what I get for weighing myself every day - I wish I'd started keeping track of my "success" via measurements instead of weight. I've definitely noticed a change in my waist and lower abdomen.