Tagliatelle with Turkey Bolognese Sauce and a Double Cookbook Contest!

Before I get to both the contest and the wonderfulness of this recipe, I have to tell you why this particular one has such a fond place in my heart. I'll give you a hint.

BAM!

Yes, it comes from Emeril LaGasse, who I have had the grand good luck to know and work with on his children's cookbooks. Along with being an amazing chef, he is one Very Nice Guy. We had a terrific time with the kids cookbooks, not the least of which came out of one very fun day when the teenager was just a tyke. Emeril thought it would be great if the cover of his kids cookbook featured some kids we all knew and loved, and conveniently I happened to have one of those around. So one day we trucked into New York City for the photo shoot. This being an Emeril book, there was a lot of laughing and jumping around and silliness as we took the pictures. Check out the picture below and see if you can guess which one is the now very sophisticated teenager...

Here's a hint. I really, really miss those pigtails.

Anyway, I can tell you that this particular cookbook is not just for kids...it's for anyone who wants to make a really rocking macaroni and cheese, Emeril-style...along with a load of other fabulous recipes. I have yet to meet an Emeril recipe I didn't love...which is why when I spotted this bolognese recipe in Everyday Food magazine, I tried it out pronto, and have since made it over and over again. It is a departure from the usual beef-based bolognese sauce in that it uses ground turkey breast, along with the usual mix of chopped carrots, celery and onions. Some white wine, some chicken broth, some garlic, a little half and half, some tomato paste -- you get the picture. The turkey makes it a little lighter than a beef sauce, which in my book means you can have MORE.

So in celebration of all things Emeril, I am delighted to say that three lucky people are going to get a copy of both the kid's cookbook, THERE'S A CHEF IN MY SOUP...and a copy of Emeril's equallly fabulous grown-up title, EMERIL'S TV DINNERS. Although I promise you, the kid's book is pretty great for grown-up cooks as well. Just leave me a comment below telling me who your favorite celebrity chef is. In addition to Emeril, of course. I will announce the lucky winners on Saturday, February 6. And as always, my wonderful email subscribers can play by clicking on the title of this post in the email -- it will take you to the actual post where you can comment.

One more thing before we get to the recipe...

BAM!

(I love that.)

TURKEY BOLOGNESE, by Emeril LaGasse for Everyday Food

• 10 slices turkey bacon (6 ounces), finely chopped
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 carrots, finely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 pounds ground turkey (97 percent lean)
• 3/4 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup half-and-half

1. In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot, cook bacon over medium until crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Add onion, carrots, and celery; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Add turkey; cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, 8 to 9 minutes. Add wine and garlic; cook until wine has almost evaporated, 10 to 15 minutes. Add tomato paste; cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 7 to 10 minutes.
3. Add broth and half-and-half; bring to a boil over high. Reduce to a simmer, and cook until sauce is thick and creamy, about 30 minutes more. Serve over your favorite pasta.

Click here for printable recipe

Sheep Tricks with Funny Knits

Sweaters. On a cold winter day, they warm us... Comfort us... And-- if the thrifted knitting instruction books we discuss today are any indication-- they can also make us look like giant psychedelic sheep in heat.

Join me today, as we examine the groovily 60s "Bernat Book of Irish Knits" and the awesomely 80s "Fashion Knitting."

...Because nothing says true sex appeal like being completely encased in a field of yarn livestock.

We'll start here, with the Rainbow Mills "Dolman Bomber Jacket"...

What exactly we're bombing with this jacket, I don't know-- one of Willy Wonka's cotton candy vats maybe...

If you thought the Augustus Gloop Chocolate Assault was a horror, imagine trying to get 100 gallons of spun pink sugar out of your fleecy outerwear.

Oh, and speaking of films, here we have the little-known prequel to Goldie Hawn's Overboard...

This was done when Goldie was still in Laugh-In, and her Overboard character Joanna was trying to get a sense of how good she might look in a yacht.

"Just hold this steering wheel up, darling, like we're traveling somewhere exotic and pretend you see something exciting off the starboard. Like a place we can stop for caviar."

Then we have these fine fellows. "Every detail is genuine, and every look is right," the book tells us...

So right, apparently, that they each wanted to try it on the same day. A bold move for their era, really-- coordinating matching outfits for themselves like this. And right down to the identical mock turtlenecks, too! I wonder what the folks down the pub think?...

Of course, in Knitland, you never know-- maybe no one will notice...

"Pssst, look at those lads wearing matching outfits, Siobhan. Who'd do a daft thing like that?"

"Um, well-- us, Meg?"

"Ah, right so... But... well... Let's laugh at 'em anyway. They look like big eejits."

Meanwhile, across the field...

"Pssst, Kate, all those people are wearing matching outfits over there, but even they're laughing at us. I know your mam made these hats for us, but I've had mine on for four hours now, and my forehead's starting to bleed. Can I not take it off?"

"Not yet, Sean, wait until mother's had a few more pints. Her observational skills won't be so keen then."

Clearly, the Mike Nesmith Monkees wool-hat look isn't quite suitable for everyone. Especially not, if you've just gotten a totally awesome homeperm, and you want a sweater to really show it off...

One just as soft... just as gravity-defying... just as frizzy as a pink-dyed poodle in a Miami Beach hurricane...

Yep, that's when you whip up this this Reynolds' Taboo sweater... As modeled by Art Garfunkel's long-lost daughter...
I bet Art was grateful for "A Hazy Shade of Winter" after seeing her sporting this colorful little number. Anything to block out that so-special "Yeti in a Punk Band" styling.

Well, that's all I have for you today, folks. I hope you'll join me again Wednesday when we take a peek at a couple of fun thrifted finds.

And I promise you-- there's absolutely no yarn involved. Stay warm!

Sheep Tricks with Funny Knits

Sweaters. On a cold winter day, they warm us... Comfort us... And-- if the thrifted knitting instruction books we discuss today are any indication-- they can also make us look like giant psychedelic sheep in heat.

Join me today, as we examine the groovily 60s "Bernat Book of Irish Knits" and the awesomely 80s "Fashion Knitting."

...Because nothing says true sex appeal like being completely encased in a field of yarn livestock.

We'll start here, with the Rainbow Mills "Dolman Bomber Jacket"...

What exactly we're bombing with this jacket, I don't know-- one of Willy Wonka's cotton candy vats maybe...

If you thought the Augustus Gloop Chocolate Assault was a horror, imagine trying to get 100 gallons of spun pink sugar out of your fleecy outerwear.

Oh, and speaking of films, here we have the little-known prequel to Goldie Hawn's Overboard...

This was done when Goldie was still in Laugh-In, and her Overboard character Joanna was trying to get a sense of how good she might look in a yacht.

"Just hold this steering wheel up, darling, like we're traveling somewhere exotic and pretend you see something exciting off the starboard. Like a place we can stop for caviar."

Then we have these fine fellows. "Every detail is genuine, and every look is right," the book tells us...

So right, apparently, that they each wanted to try it on the same day. A bold move for their era, really-- coordinating matching outfits for themselves like this. And right down to the identical mock turtlenecks, too! I wonder what the folks down the pub think?...

Of course, in Knitland, you never know-- maybe no one will notice...

"Pssst, look at those lads wearing matching outfits, Siobhan. Who'd do a daft thing like that?"

"Um, well-- us, Meg?"

"Ah, right so... But... well... Let's laugh at 'em anyway. They look like big eejits."

Meanwhile, across the field...

"Pssst, Kate, all those people are wearing matching outfits over there, but even they're laughing at us. I know your mam made these hats for us, but I've had mine on for four hours now, and my forehead's starting to bleed. Can I not take it off?"

"Not yet, Sean, wait until mother's had a few more pints. Her observational skills won't be so keen then."

Clearly, the Mike Nesmith Monkees wool-hat look isn't quite suitable for everyone. Especially not, if you've just gotten a totally awesome homeperm, and you want a sweater to really show it off...

One just as soft... just as gravity-defying... just as frizzy as a pink-dyed poodle in a Miami Beach hurricane...

Yep, that's when you whip up this this Reynolds' Taboo sweater... As modeled by Art Garfunkel's long-lost daughter...
I bet Art was grateful for "A Hazy Shade of Winter" after seeing her sporting this colorful little number. Anything to block out that so-special "Yeti in a Punk Band" styling.

Well, that's all I have for you today, folks. I hope you'll join me again Wednesday when we take a peek at a couple of fun thrifted finds.

And I promise you-- there's absolutely no yarn involved. Stay warm!

Stargate Props For Sale!

If you liked Jack O´Neill´s zat gun in Stargate SG1, you can buy it on eBay when they go up for auction along with a lot of other props from Stagate SG1 and Stagate Atlantis. Since I am more of a fan of Atlantis, I might go for Ronan´s Wraith gun or even a ZPM ( too bad it really doesn´t work!) Anyway, I am sure there are plenty of fans who will want to buy these props and what a smart way to make money because as I have understood, the Stargate Franchise has always been very budget oriented and has tried to make the most out of each set for the least amount of money. I like that because it forces more creativity when you have limited money to work with.
Too bad the zat doesn´t work either, it would make a great deterrent to pick pockets and thieves.
Here is a link to the list of items for SALE.

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• Stargate Props Going Up For Auction (entertainment.slashdot.org)

Pictures and Pondering

My next written post will be most probably of epic proportions, due to the nature of its contents. So in the meantime please gaze upon my latest photographic offerings. I have picked the best from each new Flickr set and then provided the link to the rest of the sets for your enjoyment.

From the Parkgate set

From the New Brighton set

From Local Churchyard set

From Door with a view set

Please remember if you are desperately missing more regular blogging from me, I am blogging daily on my photo a day blog, which is linked in the sidebar! I am currently on Day 91! Time certainly does fly.
So that should explain why I am taking so many ruddy photographs at the moment, if you didn't know that already. The main motivation for the photo a day project is preparation for the wedding of the year in May. Not my wedding, but the big little sisters, who is letting me take the photographs.. poor girl!

new product photos.

its cold out, i'm inside and shooting some new filzfelt product photos. and we have a new laptop pocket color... 378 oliv - olive green!

new product photos.

its cold out, i'm inside and shooting some new filzfelt product photos. and we have a new laptop pocket color... 378 oliv - olive green!

brrr.

its über-cold in boston right now and i'm thinking that i'll stay inside for a while.

brrr.

its über-cold in boston right now and i'm thinking that i'll stay inside for a while.

Excellent Dumpling

For the best scallion pancakes go to Excellent Dumpling

on Lafayette Street near Canal.

Totally no frills. You are in and out in about 15 minutes.

Wonderful.

My main blog is now here

Sci Fi Remakes, Why?

I found a video that talks about Hollywood remakes of classic science fiction movies, specifically for the year 2009. I think the studios do remakes because of budget constraints and the idea that if it worked once it will be good again with new technology applied into it. I hope that since most movies are being made with lower budgets due to the economic times, being made outside Hollywood, and in other countries, just maybe there will be original scripts written or movies made from current science fiction literature. I hope so because sometimes the original is the best and no matter how fancy the new version, the original cannot be beat, besides, I would like some fresh stories that make me think, I guess I want too much!

An Internet Free Weekend

I will be attempting an

I've had my laptop set up at home for less than a month now, and I find myself on it almost continuously when I'm at home. It would be one thing if I actually got things accomplished, but I find myself just randomly searching the net for hours on end - that is not why I wanted a computer.

So this weekend I am going to do my best to let my email go unchecked and my favorite blogs go unread (it is only two days after all), and I'm going to try to actually, you now, do stuff!

(oh, and Twitter doesn't count, cause I can use my phone for that)

Hopefully I'll be back on Monday having accomplished something other than eye strain.

Again with the Sofas

My Great Sofa Search of 2009 has been over for a while, but all my looking must have warn off on my mother, all of a sudden I found myself looking at sofas all over again - this time for her living room. Having a lot more space to fill than I do she ended up with three pieces from Rooms To Go -

The fact that she ended up with Rooms To Go furniture is quite funny, because for years she hated the idea of Rooms To Go. My mom was a strong believer in 30 year furniture, but after she saw this set she changed her tune - maybe it was okay to purchase cheaper furniture every ten years or so, and not have to be stuck with a sofa you bought in the 1970's (said sofa went off with me to college and eventually died in my college apartment's living room).

Heck, with four cats she'll be lucky if any sofa lasts 5 years in her house. So after a few week of debating, and pondering, and all kinds of other nonsense, she finally bit the bullet and purchased her new living room set.

And guess what? She loves it! She loves it so much that she is now debating and pondering buying a new console for the television my dad bought her for Christmas (yeah, he really bought the 52 inch plasma for her "wink,wink")

Cincinnati Chili

So, those of you who follow me on Facebook know that pretty much every morning I post what I am making for dinner as my Facebook status. (This started when I first got my Facebook page and I wasn't posting any status at all. The teenager was aghast, and told me I HAD to post my status and change it every day, and dinner was the only thing I could think of that changed radically every day. That, my friends, is the scintillating life that I lead. Not that I am complaining.)

Anyway. Most days the Dinner Status gets a comment or two, or someone hits the "Like" button, especially if there is bacon involved. Then came the day that I changed my status to "making three-way Cincinnati Chili."

Oh my goodness. I think it is currently up to 19 comments and STILL going on, and that was a week ago. Everyone from my friend H, who is an AMAZING food writer and editor (and if you are looking for one of those, click here), to my friends C and D who are from or who are married to Ohio natives and so have first-hand knowledge of Cincinnati chili, to various folks just want to know what it IS. It was a Facebook/Chili free-for-all, and I loved it. Who knew chili was such a conversation-starter? But obviously this one is, so let me break it down for you.

1. Cincinnati chili is served on spaghetti. Not rice, spaghetti, and very well-cooked spaghetti. This is not the time for al dente.

2. Cincinnati chili does NOT have beans in it, unless you are having Five-Way chili. More on that later. It's complicated.

3. Cincinnati chili includes, among various other flavors and seasonings: CHOCOLATE. (I'm starting to understand the passion now.)

Now that we have covered that, let me explain the various ways you can have this particular chili.

THREE WAY: Chili, shredded cheese, spaghetti.
FOUR WAY: Chili, shredded cheese, spaghetti, chopped onions
FIVE WAY: Chili, shredded cheese, spaghetti, chopped onions, beans

My Ohio sources tell me that there is a variation on the FOUR WAY where you can swap out the beans for the onions. And that it is often served with oyster crackers. That is the sum total of what I know about this variation of chili, other that the fact that it is flat-out scrumptious, and if you let it mellow in the fridge overnight and have some the next day, it is even better.

So there you have it, Cincinnati chili, and all you Ohioans out there? Let me know if I got anything wrong, okay?

January 29 ADDENDUM!!

In my first-ever correction to a post, thanks to everyone who in various ways told me I was a big old skimper on the CHEESE. Here is a link to a chili advertisement that shows the correct amount of cheese. I promise to never, ever be a cheese miser again...

Skyline Chili

It takes a village...thanks, guys. :--)

CINCINNATI CHILI, from allrecipes.com

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 pounds ground beef 1/4 cup chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 bay leaf 1/2 (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate 2 (10.5 ounce) cans beef broth 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1.	Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 6 minutes.
2.	Add beef, in batches if necessary, and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned.
3.	Add chili powder, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, cloves, bay leaf, chocolate, beef broth, tomato sauce, cider vinegar, and red pepper. Stir to mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
4.	It is the best if you now refrigerate overnight.
5.	Remove the bay leaf. Reheat gently over medium heat. Serve over hot, drained spaghetti. Top with shredded cheddar cheese for three way, add some chopped onions for four way, add some drained heated kidney beans for five way. Click here for printable recipe

Some Magical Light

This little tree resides in the community park near my house, where I walk most days near sunset after hard hours at the computer. Normally, this would be nothing to even turn my head for, but one day a few weeks ago, for a few fleeting moments as I was walking by, this beautiful light from the setting sun illuminated the tree against the colorful, wintery sky. This also was caught with my phone.. I truly regret I didn't have a "real" camera with me.. but hey, I think this is a lot better than nothing, even though it will be forever relegated to greeting card size prints.

Funny how it works.. sometimes you can travel a long distance, wait for hours for something to happen and then maybe it does, maybe it doesn't; other times you're just walking by and see something really incredible.. how often have YOU been in that situation and wanted to kick yourself for being unprepared?

Check out other beautiful skies from around the world or post your own at the SkyWatch home page.

Star Trek First Contact and WW3

As I was writing about the end of the current space shuttle program, some thoughtful commenters were aware that political and financial times may impede any progress in the manned space program and private enterprise may be the next phase in space travel advancement. These thoughts reminded me of the movie Star Trek: First Contact (1996), in which the crew of the Enterprise travels back through time at the point when humans are about to make first contact. As described in the film, Earth had suffered through world war three which managed to wipe out a majority of the Earth´s population and world governments. This was in the year of 2063, according to the movie, the humans were living in encampment-like buildings, it all looked very humble, yet they had superior technological skills and Zefram Cochrane was the character who had the skills and ability to make the first warp spacecraft. He said his reasons were for money, not some noble cause to better humaity. From that point on, first contact is made and thus we have the beginning of the Federation.

The point in the summary of the movie is that society had to reach a point were people were on their own without the direction of government and doing things in a private and capitalistic manner that ends up being good for humans. The few people who remained had to cooperate, think for themselves, and find a way to survive and go on with life without depending on daddy government. When true capitalism is applied, you rise and fall on your own merit, there is no bail-out. I wish we could get to that point without going through all the pain and destruction, but if you listen to economists such as Marc Faber, Jim Rogers, and Max Keiser, you will see that the world is headed for very tough times. They all have videos on YouTube that are worth listening to, and yes we must have hope for a better future, but we must also be realists as well.

Spotted

Seen on the Behr paint home page, these super cute stools/side tables -

I love unpainted wood - it's just so pretty!