The Chase by Clive Cussler

I'm a big fan of Clive Cussler and have read most of his books. This is his latest and when I saw it at Barnes & Nobles yesterday I grabbed it up and got to dive into yesterday afternoon. I love Cussler books like others love Harry Potter books. I wait for them with anticipation and can't wait to crack it open and hate to finish them.

This one is about a vicious bank robber and mass murderer in 1906 who uses a disguised railroad car for his getaways. Wealthy private detective Isaac Bell is put on the case.

Cranberry Pear Relish

Cranberry Pear Relish

Source: Better Homes & Gardens, November 2007, Glad ad between pg 256-257

1 small navel orange

1 (12 oz) bag fresh cranberries

1/2 cup light brown sugar

pinch kosher salt

3 Tbsp pecans, chopped

Wash and dry the orange, cut into wedges and put in food processor. Add the other ingredients and pulse until coarsely chopped. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Tapioca Pudding

Tapioca Pudding

In the Mixed Berry Crumble recipe below, I had some left over tapioca. So I made up the tapioca pudding and added some cinnamon and a dash of cardamom. Absolutely delish!

Mixed Berry Crumble

Mixed Berry Crumble
Source: Better Homes and Gardens, November 2007, Pg 257

Berry Mixture

24 oz of frozen mixed berries (keep in mind that the cranberries can add all the tart you need so don't do other tart berries like raspberries)
1/2 cup dried or fresh cranberries
1/3 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1/4 cup quick cooking tapioca
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup sugar

In a crock pot, stir together everything. Cover and cook on high for 2-4 hours.




Cumble Topping

1/2 cup baking mix (like a biscuit mix)
3/4 cup Kashi cereal
1 cup almond biscotti, crushed
2 Tbsp butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil. I used my Vitamix Blender to crush the Almond Biscottis. Mix everything else together and spread on the aluminum foil. Place in oven to bak for 12-18 minutes until crisp and golden.

Place the Berry Mixture in dessert bowl and top with Crumble Topping. Add some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if you want.

Pesto

Last night we were suppose to have a freeze. Our first freeze. So I snipped all my basil off and washed it. I'm going to run to the grocery store to get what I need to make Pesto and freeze it!

Pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Process in food processor and serve over pasta.

*Note* For freezing a pesto base, use about 5 cups of leaves, and enough olive oil to make it process well. Freeze this flat in freezer bags. Then when you want it, just take it out, break it up into a bowl and defrost. Add garlic, oregano, and enough cheese to turn the color pea green. Then add a ladleful of the pasta water just before serving. Taste before you add salt

Vintage Kitchen

Notice the old refrigerator in this old magazine ad as compared to the modern refrigerator below. We think the pull out shelves and bottom drawer freezer is so new and modern! But it's not is it!?!

Pet Poisoning

Last night Stan let the dogs out of my bedroom while I was still in the study working on my computer, getting my bills paid, etc. I don't like to let them loose in the house without supervision because they get into stuff or tear up something. Stan didn't realize I was so deep into what I was doing.

I finally stopped after about 20 mins and went to put them back up in my bedroom. I noticed Capodimonte had something in his mouth. And he didn't want to give it up! But I was able to pry open his mouth and see he had a piece of chocolate candy from the leftover Halloween stuff. I thought it was stored far enough up to be out of their way but it wasn't. Chocolate is toxic to dogs. It was a chocolate Krackel bar, one of the minis that is about 2". Since he didn't get that one I was relieved and glanced around the house to see if I saw any other wrappers indicating that he had already had one. I didn't see any so I put them back in the bedroom and went back to work.

As I finished and retired towards the bedroom I happened to see a mangled wrapper on the floor. I don't know how I missed it the first time but I did and it was about an hour later! Which meant, if it was dangerous, it had been in his system for an hour!

Panicking, I tried to call my sisters who know more about this stuff! I was pacing the floor holding a sleepy Capo when I got Melinda. She said he was probably going to be alright but to call the Emergency Vet to double check. She said candy bars are usually milk chocolate and not dark chocolate (which is poisonous to them) and he only had that one little piece instead of a half a bag full. So I called the Emergency Vet and they said to just keep an eye on him. Fortunately he is bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning!

I pretty much know what poisons a dog, but do you?

Do you know the symptoms of poisoning? There are a lot of things that aren't harmful to humans but are harmful to dogs such as onions.

Do you know what to do? Did you know there is a Pet Poison Control hotline?

Please go to this website and read up. Print out a list of poisonous things and make sure you and your family know what is bad for your dog to ingest. This is a good project to do with your children.

http://www.mspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=poisoncontrolhotline_pagewrapperlanding

Keep this Pet Poison Control hotline phone number handy. 1-877-2ANGELL

Uncle Glenn Introduces Barack Obama

Persephone Today

This is Persephone in one of her new coats. She doesn't like to go outside so while the others are outside, she snuggled in a dog bed I have in my study. It's a big white rabbit in a plastic box. It's right by the atrium doors where she can look outside and watch the other dogs, but she'd rather stare at me or sleep.

Isn't she cute? She's so feminine and demure.

Letters From A World War I Soldier

I found this intriguing blog that is simply the letters of a WWI British soldier. He wrote to his family and the letters are his account of life in the trenches. There is his photo and a short bio. He would be 120 yrs old now. I was really fascinated.

http://wwar1.blogspot.com/