“O Tomatoes, Where Art Thou?”

We're not having very good luck this summer with our garden.

Our tomatoes never really grew or took off and I lost interest very quickly when my expected results weren’t happening.

Even the zucchini isn't showing the love. Or maybe it’s me.

Perhaps it started when we realized the yellow squash was mislabeled and were really gourds. Of course we found this out at dinner one night. What does one do with a gourd anyway besides letting it dry and making a birdhouse out of it?

I've been wanting to make Buddy the Cake Boss's Zucchini and Yellow Squash Casserole so I stopped by a farmer's market on Friday to supplement. It's my shame - actually having to buy zucchini in the summer and truth be told it was painful but it’ll be on the dinner table tonight for a small soirée.

Let me live vicariously through you. What’s your bounty this summer?
Do you have glorious pictures to share that we’d want to dive right into with a knife and fork?

If you have posted photos, leave a link in the comment section and I'll edit this post with your information for others to link over to your site so we can see your summer gardening successes! Some day I’ll learn how to do a proper link up but until I so I think this will work out fine.

Happy gardening!

The Best-Ever Chocolate Malts

What's your favorite childhood summertime memory?

Mine was of nights spent on our street playing kickball, roller skating, playing handball against the side of the house and riding our bikes. We'd sing "Leader of The Pack" as we imagined our bikes turning into motorcycles- “Vroom, vroom, vroom!”

One by one we'd hear our respective moms calling our names from the front porch and we knew it was time to come in. I don't think moms do this anymore. It would be against the CC&Rs nowadays. I remember staying out until 9 PM one night!

A summer's night ritual was my mom getting out the Osterizer to make chocolate malts. We didn't have them often so when we did they were special. What was also special were the "malt glasses" that only appeared at the sound of the purring blender. When we saw the crackled green glasses we knew we were in for a treat.

I learned by watching. A dash of milk, a couple quick pours of the chocolate syrup from the can and a few big spoons of malt powder provided the base of the concoction.

The ice cream would be so hard it would bend the silver spoon upon scooping.

When I came home from college one summer I decided to take physics at our local junior college, as community colleges were called back then. Four of us from USC thought it we would take the summer course and save some money from the regular year’s tuition. I needed help from the start and one of the SC guys offered to tutor me… nightly…. since he first tasted my mom’s malts. I think perhaps he wished his malt would be accompanied with a chance for a date. I decided to keep our relationship at the malted level.

Making a chocolate malt isn’t rocket science and thankfully doesn’t take knowledge in physics.

Here’s a basic recipe to get your engines started or at least a summer tutorial underway. :)

The Best-Ever Chocolate Malts

• 1 quart to a half gallon of vanilla ice cream
• 1/3 c. milk
• 1/4 c. Hersey's chocolate syrup (or a couple long squeezes)
• 3 heaping Tbls. malted powder

To a blender add milk, chocolate syrup, and malt powder. Blend.

After the mixture is blended, add scoops of vanilla ice cream and blend again. If you want more malts and want them thicker, add more ice cream or you can add more milk for a thinner consistency, more chocolate and/or more malt powder to intensify the flavor.

Tip: After some time in your pantry, the malt powder might harden up a little but it is still good. Blending the powder with the milk and syrup will break up any lumps.

Also, using regular vanilla ice cream allows the true malt flavor to come through. Vanilla bean ice cream competes with the malt flavor and I don’t recommend it. Of course you could always make a “shake” which is the above recipe without the malt, but why would you?

Serves – 2-3 or 4 depending on summer college course taken and tutorial needs.

"And We Have A Winner!"

I've been a little busy picking up some blue ribbons ...


... and so has my college boy2.

A chip off the ol' cookie, if you will, and I couldn't be more proud!


I'll tell you all about it soon!



Have a blue ribbon - divisional winning - Best of Show, kind of day!

We are! :)

Another Round of Margarita Cookies

A sweet gal emailed me after seeing my margarita cookies and wondered if I would make them for a party she was giving to honor her mom on her 50th birthday. I thought her thoughtfulness and love for her mom was so sweet that I told her I’d be happy to RSVP with my cookies.

The regular and strawberry margarita cookies would be served.

I wrote a post on how to decorate margarita cookies but this time I made the cookie charms a little different and I already have an idea to try something new next time.

That’s what I love about cookie decorating – coming up with new ideas to try.

Because there are two dominant colors of cookies for one party I wanted to unite them with ribbon. I thought orange would be the perfect choice for both of the colors and I loved the shiny polka dots ribbon I found at Michaels. Polka dots always say “happy”, “fun” and “party” to me.

I always package in what my helpful UPS friend, Judy, calls a tabbed pizza box lined with big bubble wrap. (Thank you, Judy, for all your help and the discounts! You were super!)

I then pack the pizza boxes in an outer box packed with peanuts, say a prayer to the cookie shipping angles (I really do) and off they go!

Happy birthday to your mom, Mindi and thank you for inviting my cookies to your party!

Meeting William & Catherine

Today is a guest post by my BBF who met William and Kate in Hancock Park last week at the British Consulate ~

Friday, July 8, 2011 Los Angeles British Consulate, Hancock Park

The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge

My sincerest apologies for not giving you any pictures...phones and cameras were forbidden and I was not going to be the one to break protocol. But you can find pictures of the Royal Couple on plenty of websites, she, in her "maja" green Diane Von Furstenburg dress. And did you see any TV coverage, a helicopter view of the Consulate garden perhaps?

Where do I start, except to say I was a giddy little school girl anticipating meeting the future King & Queen of England!

After two checks of ID on the cordoned off street, and being held back by police while the motorcade brought the Royal Couple to the Consulate, we were introduced to the Consulate General, Dame Barbara Hay, then ushered into the garden.

The garden, full of roses and bougainvillea, had about 12 high cocktail tables with white linens and small, elegant rose centerpieces. Champagne was offered and people were assigned to the different tables to which the Royals would come over but not necessarily both of them. The tables were named like they were at their wedding reception except with LA names as “Hollywood” and “Wilshire”. Appetizer plates were passed all evening with British delights, listed in the LA Times: "cheese, leek and onion mini quiche; chicken and mushroom bouchees; chipolata sausages; "devils on horseback" (bacon-wrapped prunes); endive with smoke salmon tartare; figs with goat cheese and prosciutto; Parmesan scallion crostini with pear; Stilton tartlets with apricot chutney; Welsh rarebit; and Yorkshire puddings with roast beef and horseradish sauce."

The British Ambassador introduced and welcomed the couple, where I noticed the Duke and Duchess stood very close to each other with their arms touching. Governor Brown also gave a welcome, followed by some words from Dame Barbara Hay.

The dignitaries, which my husband and I were fortunate to be included, were lined up in what I call a reverse reception line, where the Duke and Duchess walked down the line together to meet those guests.

How warm, personable and confident they both were! The Duke looks to have gotten a bit sunburned as his cheeks were quite red. Taller even in person and more handsome than pictured, he greeted us with genuine warmth. The Duke, of course, has been groomed for this sort of life from day one but the Duchess, though probably schooled the last year or so, seemed to have a knack for greetings, small talk, business talk and conviviality. The warm smile, expressive eyes and confidence are even more prominent in person. Her Royal Highness is definitely tall and thin, and carries herself like a, well, like a queen. How is it that she looks so comfortable in such high heels and her heels don't seem to sink into the grass like so many of us were having trouble with? She was wearing the simple but elegant gold charm bracelet that Camilla gave her, and had a small clutch purse that she carried the whole time. I was able to get a quick glimpse of the engagement ring that was Diana's, which I have admired ever since Diana wore it! I said that I hoped she would see some of the Hollywood stars that were on her list of must sees. She told us that she really hadn't watched too many "films" and that it wasn't until she was going with the Duke that she started to watch "films."

Unfortunately, there were some people who didn't get to meet either of the Royals, as at a precise time, they were whisked upstairs so that they could have some rest and dinner. And then, on to another hectic day for them in Santa Barbara and back to Hollywood.

With the guests of honor gone, it was time to leave, with a warm farewell from Dame Barbara.

Long live the Duke & Duchess, and long live the good relations between the US and the UK!

That night, I was still a giddy little girl who fell asleep, dreaming of Dukes and Duchesses. I will be beaming for days...

Remembering the 4th of July on the 8th

We gathered for a happy, relaxed time together.

The lanterns and bunting were hung in place.

Party favors for everyone!

The vintage mid-century bottle opener was also invited to the party. It was tied onto the drink tub with a festive ribbon.

Several croquet games ensued. There were some very impressive wicked wicket shots and who knew croquet could become a contact sport!

And of course there were plenty of frozen red, white and blue daiquiris.

I thank my lucky stars (and stripes) for such loving, giving and wonderful women in our lives.

There was even reason to celebrate in the garden. As they say, corn should be “knee high by the 4th of July.”

The night before we were busy making 4 types of ice cream. Pistachio, peach, vanilla and to honor Pop whose memorial service was on the 1st, his famous pineapple sherbet. It’s unforgettable. Like him. :)

Hope you had a star-spangled day!

My Tickled Pink and Green With Envy Thursday

Green with envy ~

My bestie is meeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tomorrow in LA.
Although she has met the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh it doesn't compare to the excitement she's feeling to meet the newlyweds.
She was given her "instructions" as to how to greet William and Kate ~

"...when you first meet the Duke and Duchess you should refer to each as “your royal highness” or if they are both together “your royal highnesses.” If you are then talking to them a second time that evening, you would refer each as Sir or Ma’am."

In my American way, I do believe calling someone almost young enough to be my child "Sir" or "Ma'am" would prove challenging but I wouldn't be surprised if William and Kate would say, "Just call us William and Catherine."

Being the bracelet lover I am, I told my friend to be on the lookout for this little number ~


The charm bracelet reportedly given to her by Camilla with Kate's script "C" wearing a crown and Camilla's "C" monogram on the flip side encased in a circle also wearing a crown.
Perfect on all fronts ~a charm bracelet, a monogram and a crown.

Tickled Pink ~

I am thrilled for my friend and I can't wait for the recap!
She'll be writing a guest post so we can all know what is was like meeting William and Kate.

You are cordially invited this 4th of July weekend (and every day) to go over to RSM Patch. It's a community online news site that I contribute to but you can also find a link to your community. There, in the RSM Patch, you'll find my recipe for the The Best BBQ Burgers Ever which is always a highlight on the menu for our July 4th party.

Just a couple of updates ~ I want to thank so many for your thoughtful inquiries on my recovery. I am doing very well. I still have bruising and some neck problems but I do believe taking a break from being on the computer has helped but I look forward to catching up in the next couple of weeks and visiting you on your blogs.

I have also been in the Pasadena area a few times this week to be with my sister-in-law and our 'triplet sisters' in support of the passing of their father. To say the simple statement that he was completely devoted to his wife, children and grandchildren would be an understatement. I've known no other like him. To witness how his love touched so many was emotionally overwhelming. My husband and I both agreed it was the most emotional service we had ever been to. There was sadness for ourselves, of course, but he had lived a full life at 89 having been a fighter pilot in WWII, a retired Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, an engineer and avid photographer but the tears were from all the love and attention he had given to others. As the minister said, with great love comes great emotion. Everyone's hearts were so full. It was a beautiful service, day and week with thoughts and prayers devoted to this man and his family. I'm grateful to have been included and considered a part of this giving family and to have known "Pop".

Wishing you all a safe and fun 4th.