Wild Garlic Potato Egg Bake

If you are a business traveler then you know all too well what eating out night after night can do to your health, or even waistline. Well my well seasoned traveler hubby likes to get back to a normal eating routine once he hits the house. One of his assignments in a hot hot dessert state involves only a few dining choices, and I am sure he does not eat as healthy as he does in my kitchen.

Keeping it simple the first few days he is back, and remembering a wonderful breakfast at Tomato-On-The-Vines house in Florida- Herbed Baked Eggs by Ina Garten, I decided to play with the idea and make it an early dinner dish.

The night before bake up at least six red bliss or white potatoes, smaller in size, with olive oil and some course Fleur De Sel (sea salt) for flavor and coating, all wrapped up in some foil or a well covered dish. Bake for 350 degrees for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until fork tender. Sure it seems like a long time, but when food is pushed together it takes longer. The skins should still be intact and a bit crisp.

Follow the recipe for the herb'ed baked eggs (I used some of my wild garlic in the freezer in place of herbs), but place the potato (cut open) into a larger ramekin, and add the other ingredients the recipes calls for- bake for the same amount of time. Oh, and make sure you add the water to the pan with the ramekins, or it might burn the cream and eggs. Remember you want the egg mixture to jiggle, do not over cook; it keeps cooking after you remove it and it sits warm in the water bath.

I then spoon on some Shallot Confit (yep, one use of this recipe), and serve; it was a wonderful and a light meal for us both!

A shout out to 'Food Whore' and 'Figtree Appetizer', who has gone walking with me...what a great time we have talking which helps make the time fly! Hope your wearing your WAMPP Tee around this hot summer!

Lifes A Beach

I spent my birthday at the Jersey Shore yesterday. Ahhh, what a wonderful time I am having in life at 49. Friends took me out for my birthday Tuesday- see, they just inspire me to be the real me!

Alisandra came to the party- She is the Art Curator for The Straube Center, where Wine Art Music Poetry Project is being held August 21st, in Pennington, NJ. She is a sweetie, so young, but in many ways we have a lot in common. The WAMPP website is up, so come take a look! Have a few kinks to work out...

Would have helped if I thought of taking a photo before people started leaving, and Yes! I am being silly with our cardboard friend (Flora, my guitar teacher and friend joined in with me). Many of these are my poet and musician friends from my open mic. All wonderful friends indeed!

This is very hard for me to do this, but I wanted to let the world know that I am serious about losing weight. I did not grow up with a weight problem, I began the journey into self destructiveness after Anelisa died, and honestly, after all I have been through in my own family life growing up, being attacked in college, and her death, its a wonder anyone survives. I know there is so many others out there who maybe have gone through a lot worse, but we all have our battles. My life had changed so much this past year after my cafe closed, and the economy, even now I am starting more consulting jobs, and going with the flow in cooking classes- I am a survivor.

So this is the 'Before' photo- just wait till the 'After'! Brian my trainer is funny and loves to talk about cooking, so we make a great team-

This is my dear friend Pasqualle Varalo- he is a poet, a vet, and has been like a father to me the past two years. We spent my birthday at the Jersey shore reading poetry, walking; it was raining some, so I did not get great photos. Was a wonderful day; it all starts again tonight with Adrienne, and then with hubby this weekend. A week of birthday time.

Hubby is on software engineer 'military' duty out of town, so we will spend time together when he returns. He will get some good news besides a big hug and kiss- I was published, a new poem, 'Food Passion' in Referential Magazine-

A great gift, and lots of hard work over the past year honing my writing voice- Thanks everyone for keeping up with me, I adore you all!

Food post will resume Monday...

Deep Dark Brownie Cake Commitment

Not to jinx myself- I am now working with a trainer, Brian, a great guy, and its been two weeks. He and I have a lot in common, and he sees my enthusiasm to get my life as a whole balance. Lots of vegetarian eating, meat on weekend, walking on the Jersey Shore twice, swimming three times a week, water aerobics twice a week, weights, and my bike will be ready Wednesday. Sore is an understatement.

I feel good and have a goal- I turn 50 next year, and there is a Harley and a Cruise with my name on them! No, do not call me crazy, I love to live life! Last year I did complete an eating makeover for our household, but when it came down to it, I was not exercising on a regular basis, eventually I quite any kind of routine.

Having WAMPP- Wine Art Music Poetry Projects booked around New Jersey, freelance writing for local and on-line food and wine publications (on my rear), open mics, now in guitar and music lessons, cooking classes, a trip to Spain (El Bulli) in September, and lots of new friends asking me to get out and about the area- I realized I was extremely out of shape and needed to do something about it. Standing on your feet in one place in a kitchen just never was 'real' exercise.

Staying busy keeps me out of trouble, and out of the sweets. I do not buy them at all, only high cocao (75-95%) bars and break off a piece now and then. No way am I giving up my wine or martini habit, so its exercise do or do, no choice! Foodies like us have to balance things, right?

I made this sugar and gluten free brownie cake above. All of you out there that are going 'YUCK', well when you get your taste buds in check, you would be glad to have a piece of that cake! Chocolate Goodness is what it felt like to me. I did whip up some cream one night (with no sugar), it did fall after a few minutes, but it felt like a decadent indulgence.

Many of you who have met me in person, well you know I am a big girl- NOT FOR LONG!