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Birthday Resolutions I don't make New Year's resolutions. For the last 15 years or so I have spent the 2 weeks before my birthday thinking about the last year - what I feel I did well, where I need improvement, what I could do differently. Most of the time I try to take on something positive. That is how I started going to the gym on a regular basis. This year, at the age of 53, I have now outlived my grandmother. Only 11 more years and it will be my mother. This year I am going to try to change a behavior I have had forever. I am going to try to stop biting my fingernails. As an incentive I designed and had made a right hand ring for myself At work I also received from Diane something that speaks to two of my passions. Here are the garlic geese, the newest additon to my kitchen. When I opened this up I laughed myself silly. Deanna, another coworker, just gave me a box of mixed vegetables from her garden. Time to create.

Birthday Dinner atZoe's by the Lake , our favorite, local special dinner or lunch spot. This also is supposed to be a former speakeasy and I believe it because if you would not, in a hundred years, find this place on your own. It truly is in the back of beyond. The second set of pictures shows Seneca Lake. It is remarkable that this Lake is back. On August 16, 2000 a thunderstorm cell settled over the Sparta/Lake Hopatcong border. We had already had 7" of rain but in the next 8 hours we had 16" of rain for total of 23" in 24 hours. The dam in the bottom picture burst wiping out the lake. The dam was rebuilt and the lake refilled about 1 1/2 years ago. Dinner always begins with the bread basket. Rosemary rolls, roasted garlic bread, French country white and both herbed and regular butter. The amuse was a chicken salad. John ordered from the bistro menu and I chose the a la carte. John had a mixed baby green salad, cod and fresh fruit with sorbet. I had the pork loin with carmelized apples and a potato blue cheese croquette. The cheese board was dessert. A margarita for John and a glass of wine for each of us completed the evening.

The difference between the Fredonia and Buffalo weck is this: Buffalo - hot roast beef with au jus Fredonia - cold roast beef, swiss cheese, lettuce and Thousand Island dressing Which style did you get in Olean?

Living in Morristown (formerly in Sparta by way of Australia) here's a few places for you: Stonefire Grill on Rte 10W in Randolph http://www.stonefire1.homestead.com/menu.html East Tokyo on Rte 10E in Randolph (almost directly across from Stonefire) An American Grill even though Lou's no longer there There's just some to get you going Tom ← I was goint to say Tom would be a good choice to pm. Unless Stonefire has moved as of today it is gohn and an Italian - American plece in it's stead. You could also head to Chester if you're on the Mount Olive end of town. Redwoods is very reliable and I've heard some good things about several places in Hackettstown. About the only time I ventue into Morristown is every 5 years to be sworn in a Notary Public. I am a country girl and that is too much city for me. PM me which side of Randolph you are moving to and I may be able to come up with some other suggestions.

Binghamton? Spiedies, perhaps? MelissaH ← DING! DING! DING! WE HAVE A WINNER!!

I hope my posting in bursts isn't bothering anyone but with the antiquated cow right now I have to upload pictures at work and do any photo manipulation here. My day off and I'm sitting among the crowd waiting to get dressed and go to dinner. In the meantime sometimes a recipe box isn't Whenever I am reading - period- if I see something interesting I fill out a form for myself and file it by subject. Food, Clothing and Jewelry, Wine, History, Biography, Birds... Every few weeks or so I pull an assortment out that appeal to me and give to Nancy, our Inter-Librarian Loan person. Here is writing from 3 of the 4 generations of women in my family. On top is the inscription my great-grandmother did in the cookbook she copied for my grandmother in 1934. The second one is the 2nd grade teacher's perfect printing of the family white fruitcake recipe. The third is the recipe I still use till this day.

susan, if you cover it, it probably won't rust out like mine did. See the picture of the back of the house? See that huge tan bulk? THAT is the monstrosity John picked up at the Home Depot. His rational was that with propane we could cook on a moment's notice. I do use it, occasionally, especially in hot weather and I do both hot and cold smoke on it. Last year, one of the hottest, most humid days, my neighbors could have seen me out there at 6 am in my baby doll pjs hot smoking some salmon for john's lunch.

korbel brut rose? NICE! ← Thought you might like THAT, Tommy. 10.99 at my local Bottle King.

Absolutely. Notice the lovely blue covered Tupperware on the right side of the table.

Jen mentioned the book Road Food, one of the books you could see in my teaser photo. That one is very special to me. I, like my mother, am a graduate of The State University College at Fredonia. Unlike her, I am a theatre graduate, not a zippy(music major). Going to school in western New York we used to avail ourselves of the advantages such as visiting Niagra Falls at least every other month(if you have never seen the Falls in the winter do go. It is spectacular), hitting up the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, rock shows at Rich Stadium or the Aud, performing at Kleinhans Music Hall with the Buffalo Philharmoic(Harry John Brown conducting), Schwabl's and Anchor Bar. The recipes of course are for Unlike the Buffalo version of Beef on Weck I make it Fredonia style like they used to serve it at the late Dickinson's Restaurnt. Cold with thin roast beef, swiss cheese, lettuce and Thousand Island dressing. Another favorite from the book will make it's appearance Friday. Road food of the best kind from Binghampton.

This was an interesting summer for us. The 47 year old septic system original to the house died. Behold my $12,000.00 USD new front yard. 95% of that front lawn is new. John rebuilt the front wall and put in a second rows of stones so we could do some plantings. We also had two trees removed earlier in the year so now we get sun and can grow something other than moss in the front yard. I lied about killing everything I plant. These seem to be doing well in the whiskey barrel. Can't say as much about the back porch plants but if you look closely you can see one Juliet tomato. The patio out back where we eat. And watch the stars - from the hot tub. The future perennial garden with a pink and white scheme. Oh and there on the lower left is what is left of my beloved Weber kettle grill. When the legs fell off I buried the bottom half there, filled it with good dirt and those are John's mint plants. The work on our small rooms is at an end for this summer but ... to be continued next spring.

Eating at the Bar Due to slightly limited funds and a limited amount of time due to work I won't get to show you all the places I visit on a semi-rotating basis. I love to eat out with my husband, I truly enjoy eating out with my friend, Michelle aka Dangerous Dining Companion but I also enjoy eating alone, many times while running errands. At those times I prefer to eat at the bar. Here are a few of the places I enjoy around the area. In Wharton, NJ is Hot Rod's BBQ. Even before you open the door you can smell the wood smoke. This is a hybrid BBQ but I will take the brisket wrap with wasabi mayo any day. Closer to home - oh, maybe 1/2 mile as the crow flies - is the Warehouse Grille here in Lake Hopatcong. For me this is like Cheers, the neighborhood joint you can walk home from if you have one too many - though I never have. Steaks and martinis are their specialties but if they have the Buffalo chicken wrap on the menu that is what I go for - along with a good pulled pint of something interesting. Since I am not heading down into Morris County as much as I did, I'm less of a fixture at this bar. An American Grill. I like the relaxed atmosphere here for lunch when I can order an appetizer and a salad and not feel like a stuffed sausage. If you're in the area look me up and I'll meet you for lunch.

Well, sometimes I just wake up hungry and nothing else will do pb& lingonberry jam on whole wheat. Sent John off with the rest of the leftover steak as a salad and the last of the blueberry peach kuken so I won't bother you with those pictures. Then it was errand time. I had fudgy bourbon brownies and a recommended reading list to deliver to the ladies at our post office, recycling to drop off, get to the gym then off to Bed, Bath and Beyond to replace the old toaster using the gift card from my mother-in-law. I was only half done and had to get back to bake off the bread from the final rise so hit Rt. 10 and An American Grill for a light lunch. Lou Reda, the owner, wasn't there but his day manager remembered me from a wine dinner we did several years ago there. We had a lovely talk while I had iced tea and the Wild Mushroom, Fresh Mozzarella and Hot Sausage Puff with brandied cream sauce. Thus fortified it was on to buy bird seed(hey you didn't think the humans were the only ones I fed around here, did you?, drop off a pan of the brownies at the liquor store I freqently use and get stuck in traffic for half an hour to get to the butcher's for 2 pounds of lovely lamb for Friday's dinner. Along the way I ran across something you still find on the back roads of Morris and Sussex Counties.

I had to get the bread made today and, since it was supposed to - and did- get humid, I wanted to get it made early so it would take less flour and give me a better rise. It's not as bad as when I was working in the bakery part of a restaurant, The Cook, on Shelter Island. Then I would be rolling in just about an hour after the cleanup crew left. This will take a bit more research. Most of the people I work with have never heard the ordering referred to that way. Course about half of them are originally from near Chicago.

Taboni, yes. The Windlassand the Jefferson Houseare still there but the food is a little tired. The service is also sooooooo sloooooooowwww but the reason you're there really is so you can sit lakeside and drink. Then take your boat and motor to the next place. For those who have never been around waterside restaurants those like the Windlass and the Jeff House have valet boat service. Also just opened is a boat side food delivery service by one of the pizza places that is lakeside. You can order your pizza to really go.

This is so true. The steak from Sunday was last night's steak salad. Since I grew up without air conditioning (and still don't have it) I tend to get up and do my cooking very early. Chicken breasts for chicken salad or tacos with a side of coffee cake for John's breakfasts along side. Cold soups and as someone said - keep that iced tea coming. I brew at least one pot a day in the summer. Know anyone in the restaurant business? When it got too bad behind the line we would take our 5 minute break and head for the walk-in.

Greeting to you in Europe and Asia. It's almost 0500 here and the bread has been set to rise for baking later in the day. Please let me know if there is anything in particular you would be interested in seeing or talking about since I have been fascinated to read about your customs....oh, and there is a pocky shot coming if I can sneak my camera into a large food store here.

Voted #1 burger in Morris County in the Daily Record pole. Now the burgers are ok. I was going to take all of you to a little place called the Circle Grill but unfortunately they have closed. They had the BEST onion rings according to New Jersey Monthly magazine and I would agree. Some of the best coleslaw around and the Circle Burger with bacon was what I crave.

Stay tuned and you will see a Greek inspired dish on Friday when John goes up to Poughkeepsie to visit his family. And it comes out of the Road Food book.

As I was leaving the doctor's office on my way to breakfast I decided to introduce you to some of the interesting places around here. While you can't get to the Ringling Mansion itself anymore since it is a Friary you can see some of the outbuildings. The elephant house This was supposedly the monkey house. It now is an artist's gallery/workshop. The story goes that this place that is now Sonny's nee Labi D nee something else nee The Water's Edge was a speakeasy and the upstairs was a brothel. It was where Max Schmeling trained for at least one of his fights. On the way home some of the wee houses on islands in the main lake. One of the float up establishments on the lake.

Someone admired my market basket. This is the story about the lady who surprised me with it one day. Her name is Maria Weingrad. She said that the picture here is better. She is a patron at our library and about three years ago she began borrowing everything we had on baking and making use of our Inter-Library Loan service. Two years ago she began selling her baking at the Lafayette Farmer's Market. She also became the library's baker when we needed cakes or cookies for a function. Sour cream pound cakes with chocolate frosting, apple cakes, chocolate blackout cakes with chocolate frosting... Earlier this year she was approached by the management at Lafayette Village to see if she was interested in taking over the cafe. She said yes and the new, physical location of Everything HomeMade came into existance this summer. They are on the ground floor and there is outdoor seating. Seating inside as well. This week's menu. Savory and sweets I hope you enjoyed the tour. As for me I think I'll have the tomato cheddar pie.

I'm so sorry. We were so busy at work that I didn't get a chance to post. Yes, I could have stayed after work to feed the ravenous maw that is th Blog but... it was MONDAY night. That means only two things: History Detectives and No Reservations. Date night TV. Anyway...Sunday supper was fresh bicolor corn, grilled steak and sauteed zucchini and onions. Last night's supper at work was - eh-ok. Golumpki from Schwind's Pig Store and a salad. Today I had an early doctor's appointment and wasn't that hungry just had my usual morning beverage. I also called my friend, Michelle, who I was supposed to visit but she was just leaving to take her husband to Urgent Care since he was running a 102+ temperature. Not a good thing for a heart patient. I pulled together John's breakfast and lunch and sent him off to work. Blueberry peach kuken, chicken salad pita with carrot sticks and a small container of peaches. Since I unexpectedly had a freeish day I decided to treat myself to breakfast then go home and make several pans of fudgy bourbon brownies. Since this is Jersey I went to Jefferson Diner The food here is pretty good diner food. I decided to try something other than my usual corned beef hash and two eggs scrambled dry. It was the Ranchero Omelette. It was packed with nicely sauteed veges and the potatoes were crispy like I like them but I can't eat that much food. I do wish that they could make these specialty items in half portions.

I did it the old fasioned hot water/ice water way and had the hardest time. Maybe it's just the way for me. I say I live in the back of beyond. Will hopefully get some pictures tomorrow. I'm going to visit a friend who had surgery in PA. High Point here I come.

Toliver, I'll ask snowangel about that. I had the same problem with another recipe.

I just looked at your Green Goddess dressing recipe. It looks really tasty, and - hooray! I grow those herbs in my garden! I'll remember that about adding more vinegar, though. I tend toward the tart/sour end of the taste spectrum myself. One question, though: I've never heard of Dijon vinegar. What's it like? Is there a good substitute for it, if I can't find it? Edited to add: your chicken Waldorf salad is beautiful, and it's making me hungry although I just finished lunch. ←