Anyone been to the new place in the galleria?? I beleive its called chester's? Is it worth going??

Eating cloned meat is not a sweet and savory thought in my opinion, even though the FDA has stated that meat and milk from cloned cattle is safe. Here's the LA Times article, "FDA declares cloned meat, milk safe":  

"Meat and milk from clones of cattle, swine and goats and their offspring are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals," said Randall Lutter, the FDA's deputy commissioner for policy.

Government scientists said they did not have enough information on cloned sheep or other species to rule that they were safe to eat.

Initially, only a small amount of steaks, pork and dairy products derived from clones will become available in grocery stores, industry executives said. But over the next three to five years -- after ranchers have time to clone their most prized animals and those clones are able to breed -- the products will become routine on store shelves, they said...

...Even with the FDA's endorsement, producers face an uphill battle persuading consumers to accept the new technology.

A survey last year by the International Food Information Council, which is supported by the food, beverage and agricultural industries, found that 22% of U.S. consumers had a favorable view of animal cloning, compared with 50% who were opposed. If deemed safe by the FDA, support for using cloned animals as food rose to 46% -- a substantial increase, but still a minority of consumers.

Link to story: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-clone16jan16,1,5765043.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-health&ctrack=1&cset=true

This is a specially-formulated diet designed to help people cope with the stress that builds during the day.

Breakfast
1 grapefruit
1 slice whole wheat toast
1 cup skim milk

Lunch
1 small portion lean, steamed chicken
1 cup spinach
1 cup herbal tea
1 Hershey's kiss

Afternoon Tea
The rest of the Hershey Kisses in the bag
1 tub of Hagen-Daaz ice cream with chocolate chips

Dinner
4 glasses of wine (red or white)
2 loaves garlic bread
1 family size supreme pizza
3 Snickers Bars

Late Night Snack
1 whole Sarah Lee cheesecake (eaten directly from the freezer)

Remember: Stressed spelled backward is desserts.

HAPPY STRESS RELIEF!!!!

I found this cookie recipe on christmas-cookies.com. Being Minnesotan, the title caught my eye, so I tried baking these a couple weeks ago. My new favorite cookie recipe, I'm going to make another batch this weekend!

note: I chose to make some without nuts since not everyone in my family is a fan. Also, I used a full cup of toffee and less chocolate chips.  

Minnesota Munchers

Makes about 48

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup toffee bits
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease two cookie sheets. In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; stir into creamed mixture. Fold in milk chocolate and semisweet chips, toffee bits and pecans. Drop by tablespoons onto cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in preheated oven. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely on wire racks.

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across a food tip embedded in a chain e-mail. It said that celery will keep longer in your fridge if you store it in tinfoil. The tip was attributed to Martha Stewart, but given the context (which you can see below), I didn't know whether to take it seriously or not. However, since I have thrown away many a half-used package of rubbery celery, I decided to give it a try. It works! I've done it twice now. The stalks have stayed crisp long enough for me to eat all of it, which is a week at minimum. 

Here's the entire e-mail. Maxine, as you probably know, is that crabby old lady in slippers who has made Hallmark gobs of money.

*Martha's Way*
Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips. 
 
*Maxine's Way *
Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it, anyway! 
 
MARTHA: To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes. 
MAXINE: Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix! Keep it in the pantry for up to a year. 
 
MARTHA: When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake. 
MAXINE: Go to the bakery! They'll even decorate it for you. 
 
MARTHA: If you accidentally oversalt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix-me-up." 
MAXINE: If you oversalt a dish while you are cooking, that's too bad. Please recite with me the real woman's motto: "I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes!" 
 
MARTHA: Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks. 
MAXINE: Celery? Never heard of it!
 
MARTHA: Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish. 
MAXINE: The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust so I don't. 
 
MARTHA: Cure for headaches: take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away. 
MAXINE: Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink! 
 
MARTHA: If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy. 
MAXINE: Go ask that very cute neighbor if he can open it for you. 
 
MARTHA: Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. 
MAXINE: Leftover wine???????????  HELLO !!!!!!!

Check out daily happy hour specials at area bars (they are finally all in ONE place)!

Go to DO: BAR HAPPY HOURS!!

Please let me know if you know of happy hour specials I forgot to include. What is your favorite bar for happy hour??

I'm a busy person; I work two jobs.  I volunteer.  I'm busy!  So when I come home and am asked "what's for dinner?" it is so satisfying to have the answer, what a relief to have one less thing to worry about. 

I make a month's worth of meals at Let's Dish.  It's just my boyfriend and I at home so I make the meals "splits", which means they serve 3 (or in my case, me and my big eater).  You prepare them in the store, they are uncooked, then you take them home, stuff your freezer full with them, and throw them in the oven or crock pot when you're ready for dinner.  It makes me feel like a star on the food network!

Some of the meals I have in my freezer right now are: pork tenderloin with corn bread stuffing, chicken with rosemary dumplings, shrimp scampi, raspberry chipotle pork tenderloin and roasted barely pilaf. 

If you're busy, and "what's for dinner?" is a tough question to answer, give Let's Dish a try.  I think you'll like it.