Wish List

Thinking about ...

Expresso/Cappucino

Being a Mermaid and all , the SIRENA really calls to me ....

for your own cold weather test-drive go to : Sirena

Need inspiration ?

The City of lights is always a good place to start.
Here is what it looks like in Paris right now via the Eiffel Tower...


Why not add this to your homepage and fly to Paris on a whim ?
Paris Live

A Late Winter Sizzler

Here we are at the tail-end of Winter ( the beginning of the tail for many) and if you are anything like me you are feeling a bit down and out with the cold-weather doldrums. What to do ? Well , make soup , of course.

This is not a novel idea , i know . Many bloggers and foodies turn to their favorite soup recipes at this time of year . Check out a good and hearty one at Frangible Pie , while you are at it. My friend Fleur inspired me with her enthusiasm and soup-making skills to put forth an old stand-by from my childhood- a simple , but delicious Tomato Rice soup that can also be transformed into a Chinese classic - Sizzling Rice Soup .
Here are both recipes - adapted from memory by me.
Stir up some goodness tonight !

Tomato Rice Soup with Onions

1 large can of crushed tomatoes
3 cups of chicken stock
3 large sweet onions or a bunch of pearl onions
1 clove of garlic
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
1 cup of rice , cooked or quick cook is fine for this
salt & pepper to taste

Saute onions first , in butter if you want to add them chopped-
my mother always added them whole and let them cook in the soup-
(i always liked breaking apart the softened whole onions in my bowl,
it was part of the fun ! )
add garlic , basil and tomatoes , saute slightly and then add chicken stock.
Stir and season as needed.
I let this simmer at a lowish heat until the onions are cooked , then i add the cooked rice
just before serving , making sure to heat through. This way the rice doesn't absorb all of the liquid in the pot . Of course if you use quick cook rice you must cook it longer .
Thick or thin , this is a tasty , comforting soup with a bright flavor.

now for it's exotic transformation ....

Chinese Sizzling Rice Soup

Cook above recipe as is but do not add the rice - add the following;

Additional ingredients may include :

1/2-1 cup small shrimp and/or chicken
1/2 cup thinly chopped (julienned) bamboo shoots or water chestnuts
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped mushrooms
1/2 cup carrots , coined (or peas or snow peas ,julienned)
1/8 cup julienned ginger root (peeled)
1 tablespoon peanut oil

Stir-fry above ingredients and add to soup base.
Form cooked rice into thin patties and fry quickly in remaining oil, adding more if necessary. Don't let them get too brown - very lightly colored is what you are aiming for.
Drain on towels and ladle soup into bowls adding rice immediately to bowls when serving for the 'sizzle' effect.

There you have it -two great soups from a simple base .
Don't you feel warm and fuzzy all over already ?
; )

More fun with Food

This artist's name is Nicole Gastonguay and you can find more cool stuff at her website nicolegastonhuay.com

For more crafty foodies see the Flickr group below...

Christmas Cheer

Since i am still recovering from a fairly recent surgery , i won't be putting on much of a holiday party this year . In lieu of my own fanfare i decided to post some pictures i took the other night at a Christmas party we attended. The hosts had an incredible array of vintage and collectible holiday decorations set out . The effect was truly magical and did wonders for my spirit.

I did not have my digital camera with me ,unfortunately so i had to use my iPhone camera . It did a surprisingly good job considering the lowlight and no flash situation. I am just glad that i got to capture some of the twinkling beauty to share here with you.

Happy Holidays to all !

All Photos Copyright Sunday Dinner 2007 - Not to be reprinted without permission -All rights reserved

Looking Ahead ...

Want to reward yourself ( or a loved one ) with something they will truly use and appreciate this year ? Well , i love the idea being spread by one of my loved ones , Fleur at Frangible Pie.

There are many worthy charities out there in need of your help.

The true meaning of Christmas is to give of oneself and true self-less giving is the most loving and generous evidence of this spirit. I am extremely attached to wordly goods and worldly pleasures - my true inner Buddhist recoils at the reality of my oh-so-desirous soul . I try to temper that side of me with a good dose of abstinence ( no shopping for at least 48 hours ) - I know it SOUNDS ridiculous but think of how many times we mark things off in a magazine , or browse online , or even when we enter the grocery store - popping things into the cart because we WANT them - not really needing them . I shop in my head - all the time.
Desire breeds desire, after all.
Like rabbits .
God knows , i have failed the rabbit test many, many times.

The good news is i purchased bunnies ( and chickens and goats and bees) this year from Heifer International for all of the children in my family in lieu of the 'fancy' gifts. There are still fun stocking stuffers and such of course but this is the big gift that really counts this year.

Heifer Intl. is my new favorite charity - it is more of a gift than a hand-out to families in need around the world. Agriculture and farming helps produce food, raw materials and income for communities in need. What better way for a foodie to help spread the wealth at this time of year ?

I urge anyone reading this blog to check out the website above (click on Heifer International) and donate a few dollars towards improving someone's life in a meaningful and sustainable way. If you are a veg- you can donate a sheep or another wool producing animal to help. There are even Honeybees and since they have been hard hit by disease and disaster too, they could use replenishing everywhere and anywhere. Spread the bees !

Making Merry

I have been feeling so Humbug that i needed something cheery and holiday red to get me in the mood for the approaching season.

So , I poached this recipe from one of my favorite friends and fellow foodies , Fleur .
Her blog is wonderful and always an interesting way to pass the time and learn something useful , chic, or fun.

This recipe for Cranberry Relish is all of the above. Bursting with exotic flavors , it still retains a true and bright cranberry flavor . I could eat this stuff all day ...
I served it with poached chicken and a nice green salad with warm goat cheese .
It worked for me .


Fa la la la la, la la la la...