What did Sam Seaborn and Garrison Starr ALMOST Have in Common?

Crab puffs!
I almost made crab puffs to serve at Garrison Starr's performance this coming Thursday night. 
Unfortunately, time isn't on my side.
Instead, I'll make a seafood spread and serve with assorted crackers.
When I spoke to my friend, Dan, this morning and mention the crab puffs, he immediately knew where I got my inspiration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUKy7emtjzA

The Fresh Loaf

Yesterday, someone hopped to this site when they were searching for beef on weck  (http://bataviablogmistress.blogspot.com/2011/01/beef-on-weck.html).  While doing some searching on my own, I discovered The Fresh Loaf site. 
If you like to bake, bread in particular, this is a wonderful resource.  I highly recommend it.  I've added it to sites I follow and will certainly be checking back there often.
http://www.thefreshloaf.com/

A Story in a Story

Things can get convoluted. 
A story breaks about a local guy who is running for Chris Lee's seat.  It is a story about a person who has values and backbone.  It has the drama of a 1930s detective film.  Back room politics at it's best.
Dave Bellavia is running against some pretty heavy hitters.  Hochul is a popular and capable woman who is the Erie County Clerk.  Corwin comes to the table ladened with family money and an agressive team of advisors who believe that negative ads are the way to go.
But, I'll let you read the stories yourself. 

http://wnymedia.net/buffalopundit/2011/03/collins-paladino-met-with-david-bellavia/
http://wnymedia.net/ccharvella/2011/03/was-david-bellavia-offered-steve-hawleys-assembly-seat-to-back-out-of-the-ny26-race/

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley
My great nephew, Anthony, had a fun class project. Each child cut out a paper figure, dressed it, added embellishments, then chose a friend or relative for their figure to visit for a month. Anthony, who lives just outside of Washington, D.C., nominated my sister Judy as the recipient of this houseguest.


Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley had a wonderful month. He went to the post office (they stamped him); the liqour store; the grocery store; the library; the local school where he and Judy read a story to first graders; church; a clay modeling class; and finally he and Judy boarded a plane for Florida where he collected seashells before going back home with souveniers of his visit and a story book of his adventures written and illustrated by my sister.

Great Aunt Judy

My niece, Melissa, helped the class pack their figures for mailing. She was concerned that Flat Stanley would be bored in Honeoye in comparison to the other figures who were visiting Europe and Asia. It certainly sounds like Flat Stanley had a great visit and will have many tales to tell of his adventures right here in the U.S.

Anthony and Take Home Chef, Curtis Stone.  My niece received a surprise visit by Stone during a cooking episode on Oprah.

From the "Life is Never Dull" File

 Life is Never Dull File

Every once in a while, one has to look back to see how far one has traveled.  Today is one of those days.  Yesterday we had our annual corned beef and cabbage dinner.  It was delicious.  The kitchen staff did an excellent job. 

That dinner marked the year's anniversary of the beginning of a very traumatic time for me.  I would like to report that, in looking back, I've learned from that experience and have moved on.  

So, what is happening in the future.

The Snack Shop is taking on a new challenge. We will be serving a breakfast and a lunch once a week from May through August.  We will, also, serve a picnic once a month during the summer.

Don't be surprised to learn that Shop and Stock, the person I rely upon to supply the shop, was totally against the idea. 

"It's too much work"

"It's too hard"

"You'll never get the people to work it."

"I'm not doing the bull work."

The list of negatives was endless.

The idea of doing any cooking on the grill seemed to be beyond his comprehension. 

"We might do an outdoor breakfast.", I mentioned.

"You can't have eggs.  Eggs are hard to cook on the grill.  How would you do it?", he countered.

I had to think about that.  Eggs really aren't hard to do on an outdoor grill.  The grill has a side burner, just the right size for a big skillet.  Eggs would be easy. 

It wasn't until later that I had the image of what he was thinking.  I think he thought you cracked the eggs directly on the grill and, by some quick hand action, managed to keep the egg from falling through the grates.  I keep forgetting that his entire expertise in the kitchen involves opening the fridge for the next cold one.

That conversation ended with Shop and Stock harumphing, "Do whatever you want!"

So, the mission began. 

The theme for the Summer Diner is retro 1950.  I found a perky waitress for the menu's cover.

We will offer a choice of three breakfast meals on Monday morning.  Three lunch selections on Thursday.  One of the lunch selections will be from the outdoor grill.  Meal suggestions are coming in.

So far, we know we'll offer turkey clubs; soup in a bread bowl; reuben sandwiches; grilled cheese; and the usual hamburgers and hot dogs. 

For the breakfasts we'll be doing a lot of the breakfast bakes; chipped beef on toast points; toast, eggs, and bacon, etc.

The diner will offer ice cream floats and iced tea to go along with the lunches.

So, as I continue making lists and determining what we need, I run into the expected stone wall.

"I really would like to have a lunches be portable.  What size paper bags does our vendor carry?", I asked.

"You aren't going to put lunch in a paper bag.  They are too expensive.", he shot back.

"...and I need cocktail swords for the club sandwiches.", I mused as I added to my list.

"Cocktail swords!  Way too expensive."

My thought was that people could take their lunch out to the picnic tables in nice weather.  I was thinking of the lack of mobility of some of older residents.  While Shop and Stock's answer was to just plop the lunch on a paper plate, I was afraid some of them couldn't balance the plate and a drink while navagating through two doors to get outside.

I checked on the price of the size paper bag I want, less than a penny each.

The cocktail swords are less than two cents each.

I factored in the cost of disposable products per serving.  I think we can afford paper bags and cocktail swords.

So, the battle wages.  I say something is white, then he insists it is black.  Perhaps it is a control thing.

Whatever it is, it makes life interesting.  

But, I have a solution.

I think I'll start using reverse psychology.  Give him an idea that I don't like and let him come up with the opposite.  That way, I'll get what I want and he'll think it was his idea.  It will certainly make things a lot easier all the way around.

 

Weiner Mocks GOP For Defund NPR Bill

My Alaska son sent this along.  I think it is well worth the few minutes it takes to watch it.  I also think it is well worth more than a few minutes to let it sink in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJFivQYjC-Q&feature=player_embedded

Friends' Night Out March 31

Here we go again.  It is so hard to get our group together for a Friends' Night Out, but Loren had a super idea.  Why not the Garrison Starr performance at Harvester 56?
http://bataviablogmistress.blogspot.com/2011/02/garrison-starr-to-perform-in-batavia.html

I think it will be too difficult to get us all together for a supper and the performance.  I'd rather see us all meet at the theater.  We can munch on the goodies and have a few glasses of the bubbly too.
I'm making something, but I haven't decided what yet.  It will be a surprise.

Thursday, March 31
Harvester 56
Garrison Starr
Tickets; $20
This event supports City Democrats, Batavia Players, AND  (Loren reminds us) independent musicians.
It's also the end of Music in Our Schools Month, which Garrison is supporting BIG TIME through her appearance at the March 30th Youth Recognition Dinner and a high school workshop for music students the afternoon of March 31st.
Interested?  Please email me bmcmanis3@gmail.com