dear readers, i know you are just bubbling with excitement at the prospect of a new mysetery melon.  behold!

what will she be?  a watermelon, perhaps?

1. pepperoni pizza from the old sir pizza in winter park
2. orange dole whip from sunshine tree terrace in adventureland
3. baby aspirin
4. the last tender, buttery piece of lobster i ate, after which i discovered my shellfish allergy
5. iced original tropical paradise tea, sweet
6. jell-o pudding pops, chocolate
7. cheese pizza from mannino’s in davenport
8. the first sip from a freshly opened pepsi can
9. egg and cheese on a kaiser from any deli in new jersey
10. pepperidge farm’s mint milano cookies
11. côte d’or milk chocolate, which my sister and i affectionately refer to as “elephant chocolate”
12. strawberries dipped in powdered sugar
13. crushed tylenol mixed into in strawberry kool-aid (gross, mom), because of which i learned how to swallow tablets at a really, really young age
14. root beer sticks swizzled to a fine point while riding the train
15. traditional swiss fondue and bûche de noël on christmas eve
16. grape powerade in the tomorrowland stage trailer and warm cans of original from the parade shed
17. cinnamon toast (cinnamon & powdered sugar broiled on white bread)
18. bisquick pancakes
19. frusen glädjé ice cream
20. communion wafers dissolving, stuck to the roof of my mouth
21. fish-shaped red bean bun from japan at epcot
22. watermelon jolly rancher matinis (a super dag daddy) at sapphire supper club in orlando
23. jfk fried chicken in east harlem
24. as much wasabi as i can slather on a piece of tuna sashimi
25. tempura chicken from the sukiyaki house
26. blt, toasted with miracle whip
27. screwballs and atomic fireballs from the ice cream man
28. the original daiquiri ice flavor from baskin-robbins
29. mcdonald’s shamrock shakes
30. french onion soup at the old 94th aerosquadron restaurant in central florida
31. pillsbury cinnamon rolls on saturday mornings
32. crêpes with brown sugar

what are your 32 flavors?

no, seriously, consider yourself tagged.   i want to see your list on your blog.  happy weekend!

yellow cake with chocolate fudge frosting

i like tomatoes to taste like tomatoes.  wintertime tomatoes are always risky.  will they taste like summer?  no.  will they taste like cardboard?  i sure hope not.  these at least smell like tomatoes.  they were the best i could find, so they’ll really just have to do.  they’ll be making their way into tomato, mozzarella and basil paninis.

in addition to these little beauties, i have six pounds of plum tomatoes that tomorrow will magically transform into a lovely pappa pomodoro.  we’ll be celebrating nugget’s birthday and i have so much to do.  at least i’ve managed to bake the cupcakes and make the “baby party mix,” which nugget declared most acceptable.

wordless wednesday

endosulfan is acutely toxic and easily absorbed by the human body.  low levels of exposure in the womb have been linked to autism, male reproductive harm and other birth defects.  the lethal chemical has been linked to dozens of accidental deaths.  it is an organochlorine–which means it persists in our environment long after it has killed the target pests–thus leaving a deadly legacy for people and wildlife.  in the u.s., this toxic pesticide is used on tomatoes, cotton and other crops.

the european union and several other countries have already banned endosulfan.  less dangerous alternatives are available.  it’s time the u.s. does its part to protect communities and the environment at home and around the world from this persistent organic pollutant.

there is a short opportunity to make a difference.  the epa is currently looking for public comment, so please act immediately and let them know continued use of this dangerous pesticide is unacceptable.  demand an end to endosulfan by adding your name to the petition today.  please forward this petition to your friends and family and encourage them to sign no later than february 15th.

to sign the petition go to:
http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/endosulfan?rk=A7xv3gs1OlyNE

 

ingredients

2 lb. organic ground beef
3 organic garlic cloves, minced
1 organic yellow onion, diced
1 can (28 oz.) organic crushed tomatoes with juices
2 cans (15 oz.) organic red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2T organic tomato paste
4 t chili powder
1 t dried oregano or 2 large sprigs fresh
1 t ground cumin
3 t cornmeal
1 cup organic beef or chicken stock
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
organic sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese and chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

directions

in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, brown the beef, about 10 minutes. using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a slow cooker.

in a small bowl, combine spices, salt, pepper and cornmeal.  add the garlic, onion, tomatoes with juices, beans, tomato paste, cornmeal-spice blend and stock to the slow cooker and stir to blend.

cover and cook for 6 hours.  ladle the chili into warmed bowls and garnish with sour cream, cheese and/or cilantro.

adapted from williams-sonoma’s 6-hour chili