For the Love of Good Health!

So happy to be back! Spent much of 2010 getting back on a healthy track. Would have loved to have taken an "Eat, Pray, Love" journey, but instead spent a lot of time reading (visiting many cities, towns, countries and interesting characters), working in the garden, testing out new recipes (something of an international journey itself!), and working on our radio show. We have been working on some fun projects and are about to launch our podcast - "One Pete in a Pod & Brenda Too," based on our daily Pete & Brenda radio show. It's powered by Zubeo. Lots of fun anecdotes, stories, observations and guests.

As I sit down to write this post, I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving! In fact, I'm determined that the night before Thanksgiving I will be able to flip a switch and light up the house. My reasoning is that from that point forward I will then be able to enjoy the season because the preparation and decorating will be done! Call me crazy, but at the end of this week I am lining up the boxed Christmas decorations (many with priceless memories) and taking my time previewing them. Then I'm putting up the Christmas tree so I can decorate at my leisure. Obviously that means it's an artificial tree. I love to decorate the tree. It can take me almost three days because I like to "build" the look of the tree with an array of trimmings - garland, candle lights, silk sunflowers (very French Provence), grape vines, sugared fruits, pine cones and treasured ornaments.

In fact, over the next several weeks I'll be sharing some great tips from award-winning interior designer, Ragan Corliss - fashion expert, Kara Birkenstock - noted nutritionist and "Lady of the Refrigerator," on the Alton Brown "Good Eats" show on the Food Network, Carolyn O'Neil, the one and only Mrs. Fixit, Terri McGraw and Julie Sweet, the "Green Fitness Mom." These talented ladies are part of our "Team Get It Done Girls," and they know how to get it done fast, simple and on a budget!

Until we chat again, round up some mini pumpkins (as small as you can find before they're all gone), pine cones, acorns, glass holders and/or apothecary glass or mercury glass. And, if it's in your budget, visit QVC and take a look at some of the flameless candles they offer (I like the ones you get as a set of three that are in glass jars - they flicker and look like the real thing!) We'll put all of those items to good use in about a week. Also, please note that the festive Thanksgiving table is courtesy of http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/

Enjoy your day! Again, happy to be back!

For the Love of Roasted Peppers

After a stretch of spectacular weather we had a rainy, "nice to chill out at home" kind of day. Most times Sundays are a day for reflection and some sort of mini-project. The sort of activity that makes you happy, makes you laugh and brings back memories. I'm not suggesting that we set aside time to do things that make us happy, rather it's an opportunity to steal some extra time for your own happiness. I had seen a cooking show that brought back memories of my mother and how she and my grandmother used to roast peppers on an open flame over the stove-top. It was messy and time-consuming but the sweetness from the peppers was to die for. And once you do it this way, even the best jarred roasted peppers won't measure up!

As a kid growing up Italian I didn't crave cake and ice cream. As far as my sister, brother and cousins were concerned it was all about who could dig the most olives out of the salad bowl and then there were those roasted peppers. We would get them out of the fridge where my Mom kept them stored and get a nice hunk of Italian bread and sharp provolone and a glass of fresh-brewed iced tea and we were transported to food heaven.

So, today I set aside time to roast the peppers on an open flame, about 7 minutes on each side. I just kept an eye on them and turned them every few minutes. Don't leave the stove unattended for even a second if you do it this way! After they were charred to perfection the roasted peppers were placed inside a paper bag with the top closed tightly. Place the bag inside a large bowl, so it will catch any juices that spill out, for about 10-15 minutes. The steam will help the skins peel off more easily. When the peppers have finished steaming remove one pepper at a time. Place the pepper on a cutting board, and split them open. Remove the stem and the seeds. I use a paper towel to gently rub the skins off.

Once the roasted peppers were ready I put them on a plate with pecorino cheese, lettuce, olives (of course), fresh basil & oregano, a couple of drizzles of olive oil, Panetini Italian toast with a healthy olive oil butter spread and a glass of red wine. Standing over the stove and cleaning up the mess, not the most fun part...extra time for happy memories and a delicious healthy light Sunday dinner - PRICELESS!

For the Love of Pete & Another Happy Anniversary

Today Pete and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. We have known each other for 25 years. I knew who Pete was before I met him in 1984. We both hosted radio shows on different stations in Baltimore. I was born in Bermuda but grew up in Baltimore. Pete had arrived in Baltimore from Houston via Philadelphia. The market was buzzing about this high energy, "Hot Hits" radio format that was about to debut. But what really got people's attention was this guy who was on 6-10pm named the" Night Wolf." We had never heard a radio personality sound quite that way. He did not sound like Wolfman Jack. There was just this crazy, over-the-top energy and dialogue coming out of the radio with more personality in 10 seconds than some people can deliver in 5 minutes. That was Pete!

The day I met Pete, it was a sweltering day in Baltimore. It was June 1984 and we were both volunteering to help raise money for the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Pete showed up in shorts that day, his socks pulled up straight to his knees with a wallet stuffed in one of the socks. Have you ever tried to pretend that you did not notice the obvious? My pupils dilated immediately and I did a double take, afraid to blink and feeling like my eyes were stuck sideways, as my gaze slowly fell to and then fixated on those white socks and conspicuous wallet. I remember thinking, "Wow! I wonder where he stored his keys?"

A few weeks after our initial meeting we met up again and Pete made me laugh, but not because his wallet was stuffed in his socks this time! I invited Pete to a cookout with a few other friends and he turned me down. He told me he had to head home for the weekend to suburban Philadelphia to visit his family (a place I would later discover had the coolest shopping mall in the country; even better than Mall of America) so his mother could do his laundry! What is it about some guys and their laundry? Maybe if there was a remote for that too! But, I would discover that the reason his Mom did his wash was because after working a full week Pete traveled from Baltimore to suburban Philadelphia to volunteer as an ambulance driver in his hometown. The more I got to know Pete the more it was obvious that he had a big heart and an even bigger sense of humor. Pete's a pretty funny guy and his humor has helped to get us through some of the toughest moments in our lives. We were married June 27, 1987 on a beautiful sunny day. There was a brief afternoon shower and then a double rainbow. The expression “For the Love of Pete,” has had many meanings over the years and has filled our lives with countless memories as we embarked on a journey of love, friendship, faith, laughs, triumphs and heartaches - with never a dull moment. I love you Pete!

For the Love of Cheering for Someone Else

It's another beautiful summer day. I love the sounds of the mower and hearing the kids laugh and play through the open windows. It's a lazy kind of Saturday (not too lazy - I believe it will take us a lifetime to learn how to disengage completely!). Pete and our dog Beemer have gone for a ride to run some errands. So, I am just doing a little organizing. I am in what you call a "floating" or "wandering" mode, where there is no structure, you just simply move from room to room doing "a little of this and a little of that" when the mood strikes you. So, I am in the family room where the TV is and I dust the bookshelf and go through some old magazines and catalogs. Do we ever retire from de-cluttering? I decide to pour another cup of coffee and take a break. Since Pete isn't home, rather than news and sports channels blaring in the background, I have been switching between two of my favorite networks, HGTV and the Food Network. Two of my favorites on the Food Network, Giada and Ina Garten (the Barefoot Contessa) have offered up a couple of delicious recipes. I make note of the Turkey Meatloaf and Ina's Cinnamon Buns and tuck them away as something I want to try. One is healthy, the other, not so much! But that's the balance we strive for, for Pete's sake! So, I switch to HGTV and they are running an ad for the upcoming fourth season of "HGTV Design Star," which premieres Sunday, July 19th. "Design Star" pares down thousands of hopeful contestants from around the country to ten finalists and one semi-finalist who is voted on to join the other ten finalists. The contestants compete in a design challenge each week for the ultimate prize - their own design show on HGTV. During the ad I noticed a contestant from Portland, Oregon. His name is Dan Vickery (click on photo at top left) and he grew up on a farm in Eastern Oregon. He seems like a really nice, down-to-earth, confident, but humble kind of guy. So, out of the shoot, I'm rooting for Dan. It will be fun to see his design ideas! Dan is 6'3" with a wingspan of 6'8", so with a "classic 8' ceiling in most homes," to quote Dan, he can do a handstand and plant his feet on the ceiling!

For the Love of Music, Open Windows & Nathaniel Ayers

At the moment I am listening to Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F Major, the Pastoral Symphony, his ode to nature. I am loving the first movement: Allegro ma non troppo. It is a tranquil and cheery movement that compliments the gorgeous day we are having. I am sitting at my computer looking out the window enjoying this sunny, breezy early summer day daydreaming about a place where life can be easy and serene. I am listening to this beautiful music thank you to Nathaniel Ayers, whom I read about in the book "The Soloist." After reading the book I wanted to rediscover the music, and especially the composer, that Nathaniel loves with his whole being and his entire soul, so much so that this former musical prodigy, who is schizophrenic, would rather risk remaining on the street in a world where there are no commitments or rules, just so he can close his eyes and play his instrument at any time of the day, every day. The music he once knew and played so beautifully often eludes him now, so he plays and plays and plays so as to never lose what he fights to remember and hold close. As Steve Lopez said about Nathaniel, "He had something that few of us ever find: a passion for something that he really believed in. He’d been faithful to it through the worst part of a horrible disease. And I found great inspiration in that."

So, as I sit listening to Beethoven and thinking about Nathaniel and wondering where life takes us next and wondering how to recapture the love and passion for what we do, I realize that it's never left; it's just been re-directed. Just keep the faith. As I write this, Beethoven's No. 6 segues into the movement entitled "By the Brook." The strings imitate flowing water and I look out the window at the pond and watch the trees sway to the music, catching rays of sunshine that brighten all the flowers that grace our gardens in this beautiful part of the country. I am grateful. From my vantage point all is right with the world and that window of opportunity looks good. There is no other place I would rather be. Thank you Nathaniel Ayers.

For the Love of My Sister & Sunday Dinners

When I visit my sister I am not allowed to cook in her kitchen and any idea I have to contribute to the menu gets me a raised eyebrow and a “whatever.” It’s usually followed by, “Colin won’t like that.” Colin is my sister’s only child and my beloved nephew and godson. Of course I’d like to get a hold of his room one day and work my cleanliness is next to Godliness magic on his artfully arranged, “everything is on the floor” décor. During a recent visit, Pete made his way up to the “kid’s” room. It's like hiking into an abyss. When he came back downstairs he said to me, “Don’t go up there, it will just stress you out.” And then he said, with a grin on his face, “It makes me look like I’m neat!” “That’s great honey,” I sighed, as if an 18-year old boy who is in college, hold’s down a part-time job at the “Disney” of grocery stores called Wegman’s, volunteers at the local Fire department, and is moony eyed for a girl named Kate, is a fair comparison. My attention turns back to the "doyenne of the kitchen and all that is prepared for human consumption," my sister, and ask, “How do you know Colin won’t like it?” “Because,” she says. “Well that explains everything,” I retort. Usually "that" means it’s because I suggested it. Don’t get me wrong, my sister and I love each other. But in my sister’s memory of emotion she remembers a big sister growing up who burned boiled potatoes, turned the oven on broil to defrost a roast, and boiled an egg when she couldn’t find the “egg white,” the recipe called for. Guess you can’t blame her for being suspicious of my expanding culinary expertise!

When my mother passed away 3 months after my father I wanted to be in the kitchen and cook up those memories of Sunday dinners all those years ago. We always ate in the dining room rather than the kitchen on Sundays. Dinner was served earlier on Sundays, around 3 or 4. My mom always had a pot of sauce on the stove, made from scratch. The surprise in the sauce was something different every week; meatballs, chicken, pork chops, or brasciole. She made a big salad and the ultimate treat in that salad was a whole can of black olives. My sister and I had our eyes on the prize and we would slyly attempt to pluck a delicious olive (those fleshy little salt bomb prizes better than the prizes in the Cracker Jacks box - at least for two kids growing up Italian) from among the fresh tomatoes in the salad before dinner! But, my mom had eyes in the back of her head and inevitably we would hear from clear across the other side of the room, "Keep your fingers out of the salad bowl!" We also had a loaf of fresh, hot Italian bread from Mr. Steve’s Italian store down the street. It was the happiest day of the week for me. My mom would sing and my dad would snore in his chair. It made my sister and I giggle (my brother was still a baby). The house smelled delicious, and the breeze off the back patio into the dining room and the tinkling of the ice we loaded into the “glass” glasses (used only on Sundays) for refills of fresh-brewed iced tea, made us feel content and happy.

That's the same feeling I have strived to re-create all my life, especially for Pete. In the months after my mother’s death I wanted to cook meatballs for everybody. I have this meatball thing down pretty good now. Last year, two of my supervisors requested my homemade meatballs. One even asked if I could make a tray of meatballs for his birthday. I happily obliged more than once. Pete says we should sell "Brenda's Meatballs." Maybe we will!

For the Love of Summer & Refreshing Beverages

REFRESHING SUMMER DRINKS:

One of the things we love to do is stock up on an array of sparkling and effervescent no-alcoholic drinks to make colorful fruity concoctions for summertime. Whether it’s a backyard barbecue, the Fourth of July, or family pizza night or burgers on the grill, these delicious drinks are always a hit!

We stock up on things like World Market’s all-natural Italian sodas in Pomegranate, Lemon, and Blood Orange Flavors. We also stock up on Sanfaustino Natural Mineral Water, Martinelli’s Sparkling Ciders, RW Knudsen’s sparkling beverages like Sparkling Blueberry, and various nectars and juices. Plus, we always have a bottle of Simple Syrup in the refrigerator. You can buy it at the grocery store, but I like to make my own.

We also visit the food sections of the Home Goods store and TJ Maxx for treats like Efferve Sparkling Petillante Pomegranate-Blueberry Lemonade and other flavors that are not so easy to find. We also keep lots of fresh fruit and frozen fruit in the fridge and freezer. Our Pete & Brenda nutritionist specialist extraordinaire, Heidi Diller of Albertson’s, who offers us healthy tips on a weekly basis often recommends frozen fruit because it’s easier on the wallet and these fruits are flash-frozen to retain their nutrients. Plus, it makes it easier to buy out-of-season fruits at a more affordable price.

Family and friends always rave about these concoctions and they are always a hit. Below are some delicious recipes.
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1. Sparkling Apricot Fruit Sensation:
2 cups of diced fruit like peaches, nectarines, and plums or use frozen fruit.
2 cups of apricot juice/nectar (My favorite is Bionaturae Organic Apricot Fruit Nectar)
2 cups of sparkling cider
1 cup of seltzer
Mix all the ingredients together in a clear pitcher (the fruit looks inviting), chill, and serve!
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2. Juicy Peach Tea:
Peach tea or Orange Pekoe tea
Simple Syrup***
Peach Nectar
Fresh or frozen peaches
***Simple Syrup Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
Preparation
Stir together sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and let it cool for about 30 minutes. Pour liquid through a wire-mesh strainer into an airtight container. Cover and chill in the refrigerator. The syrup can be stored in refrigerator up to 1 month.
Steep 3 tea bags in 4 cups of boiling water for 5 minutes and then chill tea in the refrigerator for about an hour.
Add 3 1/3 cups of peach nectar, ¼ cup of simple syrup and stir.
Add fresh or frozen fruit and serve.
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3. Italian Basil Lemonade: (Don't let the mention of basil in lemonade be a turn-off for those of you with a less adventurous palate, it's delicious!)
2 cups of chilled Italian Lemon Soda (World Market & Whole Foods have great selections)
2 cups of fresh-squeezed lemon juice (about 12 lemons)
2 cups of chilled Sparkling Water
2 cups of Basil Simple Syrup***(see below)
2 lemons sliced
Mix Italian Lemon Soda, lemon juice, sparkling water and Basil Simple Syrup. Stir and add lemon slices. Chill and serve.
***Basil Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup fresh basil (make sure it's stemmed and washed)
Preparation
Stir together sugar, water and basil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and let it cool for about 30 minutes. Pour liquid through a wire-mesh strainer into an airtight container, discarding basil. Cover and chill in the refrigerator. The syrup can be stored in refrigerator up to 1 month.
***For Basil-Lemon Simple Syrup add 4 one-inch strips of fresh lemon zest (make sure you get more of the yellow skin and not the white part of the lemon which is bitter tasting).
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4. White Non-alcoholic Sangria:
1 Bottle of Italian Orange Soda
1 Bottle of Sparkling Cider
½ cup lemon juice
1 cup of frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup of water
½ cup Simple Syrup
1 ½ cups of green grapes
1 ½ cups of sliced kiwi
Mix together orange soda, sparkling cider, lemon juice, orange juice concentrate, water, and Simple Syrup and stir. Add fruit and chill. Serve over ice.
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5. Tuscan Lemon-Blueberry Bliss:
1 Bottle of RW Knudsen’s Sparkling Blueberry
1/2 Bottle of Italian Blueberry Soda
1/2 Bottle of Italian Lemon Soda
2 cups of Lemon Sparkling Water
¼ cup of Simple Syrup
1 cup of frozen blueberries
Mix all of the ingredients, stir, and add blueberries. Chill and serve over ice.
There are countless combinations of these refreshing summertime beverages. Experiment and enjoy your own recipes. It’s simple, fun, and the whole family will enjoy!

For the Love of My Friend JoAnne

Just the other day I had coffee with my friend JoAnne. We had seen each other at various events and emailed each other, but it was the first time we had a chance to sit down and have one of those wonderful kinds of conversations that flows in and out of thoughts effortlessly and inspires smiles, laughter, tears and sighs. It's the kind of conversation that doubles back, sprints ahead, looses it's place, moves on to another thought, and eventually ends at a place that we bookmark for another time.

JoAnne is an inspiration to all who meet her. She is a wonderful writer. We featured her blog in our June Book Club Newsletter (storiesbyjb.com). JoAnne has been married for 34 years and has 3 beautiful daughters. Her love and devotion as a mother is born from a hurt so deep it can take your breath away. JoAnne was adopted and she writes very openly and honestly about her experiences. Most of us have known the unconditional love of our parents or a single parent, or the loving family who adopted us. We may not have been aware of just how deep and unwavering that love was growing up because that's how kids sometimes tend to think until they become a parent or lose a parent. JoAnne never received that parental unconditional love from her birth parents or her adopted family. It's hard to imagine someone deciding to take a child home like she's a try out or a hobby that you get bored with and then move on to something else.

If I had the power to remove the pain of that experience for JoAnne, I would. But, I also realize it's not my call and that the handprint she will leave on this world is of a love so great and everlasting, it's not to be questioned. Her gift is now. Her future husband and children were seeds of something wonderful to come and her wonderful talent was a special delivery the night she was born. Her life has bloomed to amazing heights with dazzling colors after what must seem like a lifetime of rainy seasons. May you flourish in happiness and excellence, my friend, and never struggle for a fresh idea. http://storiesbyjb.com/

For the Love of Doing Something Just for Fun

For fun I am part of the Power Reviews team at Lamps Plus and from time to time review lighting products, home furnishings, decorative items and other design decor. My review team nickname is "Candle Girl" for my love of soft washes of color and all things that glow. I love to decorate my home and be creative about re-purposing items and hunting for vinatge pieces. So, it's fun to do and it's always a compliment to have your reviews published. Below is one of my reviews.

My Review

Lamps Plus

Beautiful Scroll Tray for Any Decor

Candle Girl Happy Valley, OR 6/22/2009

 

5 5

Pros: Perfect for serving, Sturdy for serving, Fits into my Tuscan decor, Compliments all styles, Very Versatile, Accent on any table, Love mix of wood and iron, Love the mix of textures, Multi-functional, Great in any room

Cons: no cons

Best Uses: Mercury glass and candles, Display books, Kitchen gourmet items, Display liquers, Artisan oils and spices, Great wine mini bar, Tea and sandwiches, Serve dessert and coffee

Versatile scroll tray. Great for displaying everything from artisan oils, liquers, specialty spices, wine and other mini-bar necessities, candles, flowers and cookbooks. It fits perfectly with so many styles of decor - Tuscan, French Country, Napa Valley style, Traditional and lends unexpected variety to Modern Traditional . It's an easy way to display unique cooking items plus have easy access while cooking. You can change things up according to the season and use it as a server in other rooms especially during holidays and get togethers. It's incredibly sturdy and easy to carry a multitude of things. Stack china and cups in any room for holiday celebrations or use on your sun porch in the summer to keep a pitcher of iced tea or lemonade handy to quench your thirst. The possibilities for this lovely tray are endless.

Beautiful Display and VeryFunctional

: Perfect for serving

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