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Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012
Slow cooker cake -- a sweet solution (01/08/12)
Not much of a baker? No worries. Dessert does not have to be daunting. But a little creativity will go a long way. Mary Pitner of Shelbyville recently served a fun yet very simple dessert for her friends and coworkers to enjoy during a holiday get together, and it's likely a dish her friends won't soon forget....
Old recipes get a new lease on life (12/18/11)
Food is one of those things that transcends all boundaries, including that of time. One of the coolest parts of working at a community newspaper is that you really and truly never know what the day will bring. Good news, breaking news, an invitation to a great luncheon -- a chance to meet a new face, each day brings with it something new...
Pork roast's got the right stuff (12/11/11)
We all seem to get our fill of chicken and dressing, ham and turkey during the cold winter months, especially around the holidays. Pork is another one of my favorite things to eat this time of year, especially because of its diversity. As my brother continues to test out his skills in the kitchen, I have been reaping the benefits of some pretty fantastic meals. ...
Shopping: Someone has to do it (12/04/11)
This Christmas, I'm not going anywhere. In fact, a big red bow wrapped around my couch would be the best present ever. Then again, we are just off the heels of Thanksgiving and, better yet, Black Friday. I've had my fill for at least 360 days of meeting family members' latest new boyfriends, small talk, driving, rushing and even mashed potatoes...
Get the party started! (11/20/11)
We're all focused on the main course this time of year; turkey, ham, potatoes, casseroles and plenty of pie to boot. In planning for holidays, however, it's important to remember the first course. The right appetizers turn a good meal into a great evening, but that doesn't mean you have to spend a whole lot of time and effort on your mission to warm up your dinner crowd...
Simple is best for holiday cooking (11/20/11)
There's so much hype when it comes to Thanksgiving, so many decisions, so much prep work. Who's hosting this year? Who's bringing the green bean casserole? My family for the main course, your family for dessert, okay honey? Personally, it's my favorite holiday of the year, and growing up my family had plenty of annual traditions. ...
Never stop trying for a victory (10/09/11)
When I was in elementary school, my favorite day of the year was Field Days. Field Days took place the last couple of days of school before we broke for summer. Students partnered up for three-legged races; classes went head to head for Tug o' War. My favorite part of the day was always the 500-yard dash...
As one life passes, a new life arrives (10/02/11)
It was a surreal Friday; one of those bittersweet days when the circle of life becomes crystal clear. A close friend of mine called to let me know about the passing of her mother-in-law. I didn't know her too well, but I knew her enough to feel both sad about her passing and relieved at the same time. She'd been sick, had been in pain and was ready to go home...
Taco Ring looks great, tastes fantastic (09/18/11)
In my next life I'd like to learn to be a food stylist. Can you imagine having wonderful food prepared for you; food you get to arrange nicely and photograph before indulging in? And getting paid for all that? Of course, writing an occasional and very much amateur food column (in my case) doesn't qualify me as a professional food writer or photographer; it does allow me to daydream every now and then. ...
Looks great, tastes fantastic (09/18/11)
In my next life I'd like to learn to be a food stylist. Can you imagine having wonderful food prepared for you; food you get to arrange nicely and photograph before indulging in? And getting paid for all that? Of course, writing an occasional and very much amateur food column (in my case) doesn't qualify me as a professional food writer or photographer; it does allow me to daydream every now and then. ...
Moments never to be forgotten (09/11/11)
New York City might as well have been Paris as far as I was concerned. Living in a rural setting just a couple hundred miles north of the Big Apple, you wouldn't find an environment any more opposite from the Big Apple. I had recently finished my senior year at Syracuse when I decided to take a class at a local community college that was a necessary prerequisite for a graduate program in which I was planning to participate...
You can save a dog's life (09/04/11)
I was pulling up to a gas station a few days ago to get my usual morning necessities -- watermelon gum and coffee -- when I noticed something new to the scene. I was greeted by the cutest little dog I'd seen since I left my house early that morning...
Chicken cordon bleu is 'good stuff' from the heart (08/28/11)
In his song, "The Good Stuff," Kenny Chesney makes reference to a husband who eats burnt suppers and asks for seconds, to keep from hurting his new wife's feelings, during the couple's first year of marriage. Remember your wife's or husband's burnt corn bread and lumpy mashed potatoes? I bet you do...
Horse show brings life to Shelbyville (08/28/11)
What a great time of year it is for Shelbyville and Bedford County! With horse show fans filling up our town and school in session, August is always undoubtedly a busy time of year for us at the paper. For me, this August has been particularly busy, yet fun and rewarding too...
Kids turn down the good stuff (08/21/11)
"As a child, my family's menu consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it." This quote, by the late comedian Buddy Hackett, has been ringing over and over in my head these days like a really bad song sung by William Hung. I bravely made my way to Walmart last weekend with my new little buddy, my nephew Joey, in tow (he recently moved to Tennessee). ...
Treat worth a scare (07/17/11)
What's better than a big dish of homemade vanilla ice cream on a hot day in July, particularly today -- National Ice Cream Sunday? Probably not much, but the laugh I likely gave my neighbors -- perhaps anyone who lives within a 50-mile radius -- might have come close. Chill bumps run up my arms as I think about the scenario...
It's good to be back home (07/17/11)
Driving the countryside of Normandy is always lovely and peaceful, but my drive down Normandy Road and into Shelbyville last Monday was particularly relaxing. I was headed away from home, but, at the very same time, I knew I was also coming home. A few months ago, I made a tough decision to try something new with my life when I joined the communications team at The Webb School in Bell Buckle. ...
I'm just moving down the road (03/27/11)
I began my tenure with the Times-Gazette four years ago, and it has been nothing short of enjoyable. I have grown, learned, laughed and gotten to know the community I now call home. It has been a remarkable four years for me, with life's ups and downs weaving their way in and out my life, and my column...
Piece 'o pizza, please! (03/20/11)
Growing up in my house, Friday night was pizza night. As far as I was concerned, though, pizza night could have been Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Crab legs and filet? Nah ... my last meal will be a giant, bubbly, hot, gooey, thin slice of N.Y. style pizza. Blue cheese on the side, please...
Luck o' the Irish to you! (03/13/11)
One of my favorite aunt's nickname is "Irish." Fairly close in age, she and I used to hang around together all of the time -- so much so, our circle of friends started calling me "Little Irish." In one of the most memorable winters of my life, she and I made trips to New York City and Los Angeles together, snuck away for long leisure lunches every Monday, ran, laughed and cried together as we covered the ground of life that bitter season...
Get hooked on potato chip fish (03/06/11)
You don't have to go to a pub to get your fix. Next time your taste buds are calling for the crispy, tangy combination of fried cod and fried potato chips, try "salt-and-vinegar potato chip fish," from Relishmag.com (recipe by Laraine Perri). Prepared and baked in less than 20 minutes, it's a far better choice no matter how you look at it than its deep fried sister...
Relay for Life needs your help (03/06/11)
Usually when we're involved with something such as a fundraiser or non-profit, the more, deeper or longer we're involved, the more passionate we become. There are so many wonderful fundraisers I have been able to witness as a result of my role with the Times-Gazette and I'm very honored to expose the mounds and mounds of good a community of this size does. The way people care and contribute here is remarkable...
From now on, it will be my way (02/27/11)
On the home front, close analyzation has revealed I'm a much better martyr than a nag. Maybe that's because my father, once a year, would go on a trip with his fellow nine brothers-in-law, and they would call their getaway, "No Nag Weekend." I never wanted to become "that wife," the annoying, bossy one whose husband's honey-do list was longer than Route 66...
Rosemary Potato Frittata (02/20/11)
Similar in composition to an omelet, the frittata is elegant enough for a spot on the brunch menu yet simple enough for a quick weeknight dinner for the person on the go. "The frittata is like an open omelet," said Whitney Danhof, University of Tennessee Extension Agent...
A quick run back to days on the farm (02/18/11)
I have always been a light sleeper. Even on good nights, I usually wake up around 4 a.m. When I was growing up, every morning at 4 a.m. I would wake up for just a minute to the sound of my father's footsteps frantically pounding down the stairs. He was always running late (or so he thought), even though he was always first to arrive to work in the morning. I never quite figured that out...
Ray of sunshine from wonderful young Maddie (02/13/11)
It had been a few years since I had seen my friend's daughter, Maddie. The quiet and somewhat bashful little blonde had changed quite a bit over the last few years. Smart kids always make me feel so refreshed about the world in which we live. Smart kids who are also thoughtful? Great. Interviewing smart and thoughtful kids who are so unfiltered about their thoughts, unlike adults? Priceless...
Deeply thinking, not deeply sleeping (02/06/11)
Ever wonder why we have our most profound thoughts smack in the middle of the night? Why is it easier to plan out the weekly meals, analyze our mate's psychological profile, and figure out why our third cousin twice removed made that snappy remark to us two years ago at our other third cousin's wedding -- all at 3:27 a.m.?...
Status of Facebook is...silly (01/30/11)
There are plenty of obvious benefits to social networking sites. I'm too busy for most of that stuff, but I admit I enjoy Facebook for catching up with old friends. I also love how easy Facebook makes sharing photos with friends and family who live far away...
Parenting can be hard -- no lie (01/23/11)
We really never know what kind of reaction we're going to get to our personal columns around here. Sometimes, we might aim for one reaction, and get something totally different. A few weeks ago, Column Queen Mary Reeves, my co-worker, wrote something that was hilarious. But one person didn't quite get the humor and actually called here to chew us out...
'Mama' is actually... daddy??? (01/16/11)
When we got hammered with snow last weekend, I bet I wasn't the only working mom who jumped for joy alongside all the youngsters about the chance to play hooky. For working moms, a snow day is a free day, a day with nothing on the agenda but "make up for time lost throughout the work week."...
King Turnip reigns (01/09/11)
Isn't it wonderful that just when the cold season comes around, all the wonderful fruits and vegetables that help us fight those colds come in season? Oranges, tangerines and grapefruits are fresh and vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower and of course root veggies like leeks, potatoes, carrots, onions, sweet potatoes -- turnips -- are great this time of year, just in time for making a big pot of soup to fight that cold...
Coupons: As for me, I'll toss 'em (01/09/11)
Sometimes I'm a little slow to catch on, so I'm not surprised it so me so long to give "couponing" a try since the new trend toward cutting and clipping began some time back. Actually, being the oh so not patient person that I am, I'm surprised I gave it a try at all...
Little plans make a big difference (01/02/11)
The year 2010 was overall an excellent year for me; a year of highs regarding the things in life that matter most. Personally, I credit the black eyed peas and turnip greens, which I tried for my first time in 2010. Normally, I don't make New Year's resolutions. ...
Christmas was fun, but I'm glad it's finally over (12/26/10)
Dear Santa, I hope you made it home safe this morning. I hope you were able to read all of the letters that we ran in our newspaper and hence were able to grant lots of kids' wishes ... Reading those letters must have been a job in and of itself. I love Christmas, but personally, I'm sort of glad it's behind us...
Mafia: Chicken? Yes, if it's in the kitchen (12/19/10)
Mom's Mafia Chicken is a super simple Italian dish that is featured in American Profile's "Hometown Cookbook." When I stumbled upon the recipe, it reminded me of my brother and I couldn't resist giving it a try. With capers, sun dried tomatoes, and artichokes, the pasta dish has tons of flavor and the creamy finish atop angel hair pasta adds the perfect amount of comfort to the elegant dish...
A dog, a brother and the Mafia (12/19/10)
About eight years ago, while attending a horse show in Lexington, Ky., I fell in love with an 8-week-old pure bred boxer pup. Not so much of a surprise, since I adore all dogs. A friend of mine traveling with me at the time also fell in love. We were both only about 22 at the time and didn't have the sense to think things through...
Sun Drop as a food (12/12/10)
Over the years, I have been confused once or twice over soft drinks -- Southern style. The dialogue goes something like this: Southerner: "Do you want a Coke with that?" Me: "Why, sure, that sounds great!" Southerner: "What kind?" Me: "What kind of what? Hmmm, hello, I said, yes, I'll have a Coke."...
Really memorable gifts don't involve the latest trends (12/12/10)
One of my first memories as a child was when I was five years old, visiting my mom's sister in Buffalo, N.Y. This was back when Upstate New York, and especially Buffalo, got hammered with snow, seemingly week after week, from October to May. I don't remember seeing much of Buffalo during this visit because we were stuck inside, cozied up inside Aunt Marjie's little apartment...
Thanks, Mom, for knowing just what to do (12/05/10)
My mom, sort like a peach, is firm enough on the outside, but mostly soft and sweet. We were reminiscing recently about Christmas memories and she had me laughing hysterically when she reminded me of the Christmas Tree Incident. Living on a farm, my mom was the first to host field trips to the dairy or help out at school however she could. ...
Peachy keen chops (12/05/10)
There's no need for summer weather to get your fix for luscious peaches. In fact, Peachy Pork Chops call for the canned version, but when you taste the sauce you won't care. I have no idea where my mom came up with her recipe for Peachy Pork Chops, but they have been a staple in my family for years -- and we love them. ...
Pom appétit! (11/28/10)
Isn't it great when you stumble upon a wonderful recipe that turns out to be fabulous? This is especially wonderful when it's not even a recipe, but rather, just a quick concoction you've thrown together at the last minute. My co-worker Mandy Flynn is also a good friend of mine. Our babies are only six months apart in age, and both of our partners travel a lot during the week, and so we usually get together for dinner at least once a week...
The house is gone, but years worth of memories live on (11/21/10)
I was thrilled last week when Miranda Lambert shined during the CMA awards. Not only was it refreshing, but she had captured my heart and attention over the last year with some great songs -- one, in particular, that I (and millions of others, probably) felt was written for me. ...
New businesses make it easier to buy locally (11/07/10)
This time of year is jam packed with things to do. If you didn't get out last weekend you missed out on beautiful weather, and activities galore. Shelbyville came alive not with horses, but with block parties, kiddies making stops at all the merchants that stayed open all day and runners spooking their way through a 5K...
Gone Green: Granny Smith apples key to this easy dessert (11/07/10)
I'm not a baker -- it requires too much precision for my chaotic mind. When I have a sweet tooth I would just assume order dessert at a restaurant than bake it myself, only to waste half the batch once the sweet tooth is trumped by the guilty conscience...
It's not in the looks (10/31/10)
I can still today, years after her death, hear my grandmother setting one of her bratty 12 children or 25 grandchildren straight by telling one of us: "You are no better than anyone else and no one else is better than you." She was an angel sent from above, truly a remarkable woman who showed us all the true meaning of grace...
The day from ... well, it just has to get better (10/31/10)
It's been a while since I've had a bad day. I am sure you can imagine how easy it is for a newspaper reporter to tick someone off; but with my particular role at the paper, writing mostly features, it's actually quite rare that I get a call from someone who has a major problem with something I've written...
Filling fall food (10/24/10)
Fall is my favorite time of year for food. I came in Monday morning, excited to put together a recipe this week that featured apples, pumpkins, squash or maybe even a harvest soup of sorts. I called my mom looking for her amazing chicken and apples recipe. ...
Another miracle: Mom and babies build new family (10/24/10)
A few weeks ago, I decided I wanted to track down a few subjects whom I've written about over the last few years. I have always felt like I need to do a better job following up with folks. Writing a story about someone who's going through a hard time or perhaps has defeated the odds and then simply moving on and never looking back isn't good enough for me. ...
A dog named Hope mends broken heart (10/17/10)
It's been quite a while since I've written about my best friend, Lizzie. She rode with me to work this morning, sitting in the car while I ran inside to grab my camera. Since I would be going out of town the next day, I dropped my shih-tzu at her babysitter's house on my way out to Normandy for an assignment...
Drama, humor: Real life as heard on the telephone (10/10/10)
A few weeks ago, later in the work day, my co-worker received a call from a disgruntled Bedford County citizen who felt like we needed to close down the borders to stop illegal immigration. I was sitting about 25 feet away from the person who got the call, yet I could hear the woman's rage coming through the phone line...
My refrigerator is haunted (10/03/10)
My father always had a funny obsession with his refrigerator. He's been gone almost a year now, and though his smiling face will never fade in my memory, that darn refrigerator continues to haunt me. My mother and father divorced several years before my father became ill a little more than a year ago, and so he became pretty accustomed to eating out most nights of the week. ...
Words make a world of difference (09/26/10)
As human beings, our ability to communicate is our single most powerful tool. Having studied communications in college, I have gone through the courses -- speech, communication ethics, communications and society, and several, several more as they relate to journalism...
Have a ball...then some more (09/26/10)
I have the privilege of working with a fabulous group of individuals at the Times-Gazette, including the spirited duo best known as "The Sisters." In between the singing, laughing, and teasing, Carol Spray and Mary Cook manage to dedicate a tremendous amount of effort each day toward the construction of the Times-Gazette through their work as page designers...
Scalloped tomatoes a late-season treat (09/19/10)
Within the next few weeks, we will offer up some -- hopefully -- unique fall recipes, probably featuring pears, pumpkins and apples. I'd like to venture beyond the apple pie and pumpkin cake this year, and cook some new dishes with the classic fall staples...
Jack hits bullseye with suggestion for shared hobby (09/19/10)
Last week, I made reference to a favorite quote of mine about setting good examples for our children. I by no means plan to bombard you each week with famous quotes that touch me -- although I could -- but there is one more that I have to cite today...
Role models make lasting impacts in children's lives (09/12/10)
Each day, my very special aunt Jane sends out a little note of encouragement to me, and about 12 others in my extended family. It's been a tough couple of years for my family, with both of my grandparents dying, followed by the premature death of my father (their son) and my uncle, who also fiercely battled lung cancer...
ORZO-LICIOUS! (09/12/10)
Summer is winding down and soon enough we'll be craving those hearty foods that keep us warm through the winter. So until that time comes, why not eat a little lighter and healthier, perhaps banking some calories for the comfort food to come? Actually, nowadays, there are so many interesting salads at restaurants and even fast food establishments, that you could eat salads every day and not get bored. ...
How to stay calm when child care is overwhelming (09/05/10)
My role as a stay-at-home mom lasted 7 months, and I applaud you moms who can survive this job at any length of time. We all love our babies, but this career choice (and don't be mistaken -- it is a full-time job) is the most challenging of any I know...
I'm back - and waiting to hear from you (08/29/10)
David Melson had me for a quick second Monday morning, shortly after I made a strangely familiar entrance into the newsroom, when he said, "Sadie, I didn't see you Friday. Did you take the day off?" I was a bit tired from waking up at 4:30 a.m. (to ensure I could get myself and the baby ready on time), and so I didn't quite have all my wits about me -- and I actually asked myself, for that quick second, was I here Friday? It seemed like I had been into the office about every day last for one reason or another -- anticipation of Aug. ...
Some things about babies can't be learned from books (02/07/10)
Since returning from the hospital where my first child was delivered by cesarean section two weeks ago, I have learned so much -- mainly that I really knew nothing before having a child. I thought I had a pretty good grip on life, but it's amazing how a hundred pounds of fury in a six-pound body frame will prove you wrong!...
Oatmeal Scotchies make mouthfuls of memories (01/17/10)
With new recipes landing in my hands on a daily basis, I often forget about the classics -- and my favorites. When I learned that January is National Oatmeal Month, I knew exactly what I'd be making. Oatmeal Scotchies are certainly nothing new or fancy, but they are one of my favorite cookies of all time. And they remind me of home, and of my mom. It was always such a treat when she'd make these, and they never seemed to last more than five minutes in our house...
A year of being inspired by area's amazing people (01/17/10)
It's the time of year for us in the newsroom to prepare for the upcoming press awards. This means, for me, part of the next couple weeks will be reserved for sifting through old papers and deciding if and what feature stories I've written may be worthy of contest submission...
Hamburger soup: a shortcut to comfort (01/10/10)
Come January, everyone seems to want to eat healthier. The problem, however, is when cold weather comes our way our desire to shed the extra holiday pounds is often trumped by our stronger desire for comfort foods. I posted a quick blog last week to find out what folks crave this time of year, when temperatures fall below 20 degrees. ...
I had it tough...but washing diapers? (01/10/10)
There's nothing like reader mail to keep a lifestyles editor in check every now and then. Nope, I'm not referring to my anonymous fan (or not) who likes to point out my errors -- yes, anonymously -- claiming I don't pay attention to my work. I am referring to a friend of mine who so graciously made gave me a new perspective on parenthood. ...
Simply Delish: Delightful Peasant Soup is fit for royalty (01/03/10)
It's that time of year again ... we've spent too much money on Christmas and we've also gained too much weight as a result of the overindulging that began back in November. How about a solution for both problems? You might find one in Peasant Soup, a recipe I came across by way of my friend, Mary Ann Davis. ...
Grocery clerk's help is a true blessing (01/03/10)
Pam White Martin's words continued to run through my head for days after I interviewed her a couple of weeks ago. "In order to be blessed, you have to be a blessing," she said. Pam, a local nail technician, tries to live by this philosophy, but specifically, she was referring to a service project with which she got her students involved. ...
Bruschetta: Easy and 'yummy' (12/27/09)
My co-worker John Carney forwarded me an e-mail last week with the word, "yummy" in the subject line. That got me curious and after opening the e-mail and reading the ingredients of the recipe, which included artichokes and goat cheese, I knew I had to give it a try...
Up in the air over flight booking woes (12/27/09)
For the first time since I can remember, there will be no flights involved with my holiday and New Year's plans this year, and after the most recent snowstorm hit the east coast, boy, am I glad the farthest place I have to travel this week is to Murfreesboro...
Sweet treat adds to the holiday, alcohol or not (12/20/09)
Every family has special holiday traditions. Each Christmas, my mother's side of the family gathers on Christmas Day for a full day of festivities. Of course, everything is surrounded by food. Many dishes are family favorites that we all look forward to each year while each year new dishes bring freshness to the table...
Words from the heart for an amazing man (12/20/09)
As some of you probably know by now, my father lost his battle with lung cancer Dec. 6, 2009. He was 53. It's strange to use the word "lost" when referring to my father's death. I'm not sure he ever lost a fight in his life and he certainly fought cancer up until his very last breath. Sixty percent of patients diagnosed with his type of lung cancer die within the first year, yet I have a hard time admitting that the man I saw as invincible lost this fight nine months after being diagnosed...
Pep(per) up the holidays: Stuffed jalapenos sure to be a hit at any gathering (12/06/09)
I was in New York for Christmas for the first time in several years. My brother, who has really become the cook of our family, asked me if I wanted to help him host Thanksgiving dinner. I jumped at the opportunity to host a small group, hoping to pick up a few tips from Joe along the way...
Gifts from the heart -- and the bank account (11/22/09)
Catalogs are great, especially for busy folks this time of year who need to do some one stop shopping. I received a catalog on my desk a few days ago, and I have managed to do all my Christmas shopping as well as make my very own Christmas wish list...
Warm feeling results from hospital visits (11/15/09)
Over the past few months I have become well acquainted with hospitals -- but it's all good! Most of the time when I'm in New York I spend some time in the Charlie Wood Cancer Center, where my father receives treatments for cancer, and as much as being there stinks, I think my dad has wonderful doctors and nurses on his side. Last weekend, my husband and I got to know some different departments in Middle Tennessee hospitals...
Everything you wanted to know about Sadie but were (not) afraid to ask (11/08/09)
One of the things I think we need to improve on here at the paper is doing follow-up articles on folks we have chosen to feature in the past. It's something I'm working on, and am proud to say I have a few calls out to contacts trying to get updates on individuals who served as focal points in some of our most popular features...
Potato soup a perfect winter warm-up (11/08/09)
About a month ago, I had a message on my phone at work from an anonymous caller asking me if I knew of any great recipes for potato soup. She had a craving. I know all about those and, though I had plans for the food page already in place for the next couple of weeks, I knew I wanted to help this nice lady feed her craving...
Move over, stuffing: panade is an upscale alternative (11/01/09)
"Having reached age 30, it's not often that I find a food so amazingly delicious that it forces me to wonder why I've never had it before. Sure, I'll sometimes have new variations on pasta or risotto or veggies that are so good they're worth remembering. But rarely do I find a dish that is both unlike anything I've had before and so, so scrumptious that I want to eat all five servings of it in one sitting."...
One short ride, many years of memories (11/01/09)
It's funny how we get sentimentally attached to things ... even the most materialistic things. We know we're not supposed to get attached -- most of us have been told since we were children that things don't matter. It's the people and relationships in life, and how we treat others, that count the most...
Sweet taste of success follows cooking show (10/25/09)
If burning, red eyes with dark circles under them are indicators of success, I'm OK with that -- today. That's how most of my friends at the Times-Gazette, including myself, look and feel this morning, which happens to be the day after our sold-out relish® Cooking School and Expo...
It's look-out-for-deer season (10/18/09)
It's that time of year again where my fear of driving on the back roads increases 10 fold. Last weekend, my husband and I hit a deer while driving home from town. I am surprised this was just my first time hitting one, too, because they're everywhere, it seems...
Remembering what I forgot to remember (10/11/09)
I was watching a touching movie last night about a couple coping with the harsh realities of Alzheimer's Disease when it dawned upon me. I started to panic and realized I had hit my rock bottom. I may be slightly scatterbrained normally, but lately things have gone over the top and it's scaring me!...
Salmon cakes with glazed sweet potatoes make dinner delightful (10/04/09)
I've been in the kitchen a lot these days, and I've got a few Band-Aids on my left hand to prove it. I don't know what my problem is, but when I cook during the work week I tend to rush; hence, I burn myself. You'd think I'd learn by now, but the oven rack and me just don't get along well...
On-the-job training in preparation for the new arrival (10/04/09)
I learned something new last Thursday. Well, actually, I learned two new things. And guess what, they're related to babies and motherhood. (Sorry, folks, that is all that seems to be on my mind these days.) The first thing I learned is that mothers must have really, really strong back muscles. ...
Good will loses to Goodwill in yard sale struggle (09/27/09)
Call it nesting if you wish, but I am using my pregnancy as a wonderful excuse to light a fire underneath my husband's "laid back, we'll get to it later" little behind. He might not clean out his messy office for me, but for our daughter, well, she's already starting to pull at his pinky...
Delicious, filling dinners are easy and quick (09/20/09)
Months back, I received an e-mail from Andrea Bolden of Unionville. Having been a field editor for Taste of Home magazine for 10 years, Andrea loves to cook. She has contributed to several cookbooks -- regional, local and family -- and has also earned awards for her cooking...
The results are in, and the baby's gender is .... (09/20/09)
"You have a 42 percent chance of having a boy .... And you have a 57 percent chance of having a girl." This is what the latest results of an online survey told me this morning. I have taken one survey a week for the past 10 weeks or so. And here, according to feedback I received from the survey after answering a bunch of questions, are some of the reasons why I have a 57 percent chance of having a girl:...
The story of my life, written in a (pocket)book (09/13/09)
Like many women, I collect purses. But I'm not sure why. Probably unlike most women, I rarely change purses. Even though I might have a cuter purse for today's outfit, it's easier to just pick up the one that has my stash of, well, everything, than taking time to switch my stash to a prettier purse for a day...
Fabulous French toast is stuffed, and you will be too (09/13/09)
Crunchy, creamy, zesty and sweet ... all at the same time? Yep, that's what you'll taste if you try this week's Simply Delish recipe. If you take a bite without knowing the ingredients in crunchy bran French toast, I'd bet you'd never guess you were eating something healthy...
Quick spinach salad is tasty and nutritious (09/06/09)
I am really not much of a salad person, so it's sort of odd that I have featured a few salads in this column this summer. If you notice, however, the salads came from sources other than myself (Whitney Danhof made a chicken caesar recently and another friend of mine had me over for jicama salad)...
Everybody needs a Jane (09/06/09)
Everybody needs somebody. Those striking words came from a special woman I know named Jane, a frank but caring mother, wife, sister, daughter, teacher, friend, aunt -- and caregiver. Over the past several months, Jane has sacrificed many of her and her immediate family's own needs to care for her brother, a terminally ill cancer patient. Her brother is divorced and his daughter and son are unable to take care of him full-time...
Unlikely incidents often make the best memories (08/23/09)
Despite my terrible memory, I remember as if it were yesterday a trip I took to Boston as a child. I was probably about nine, and my mother and I traveled to Boston with her best friend and her daughter, and a few others, for a little history lesson about the Boston Tea Party...
Fear, loneliness as pregnancy's terrors increase (08/16/09)
There are two things that scare me most about being pregnant, and last weekend confirmed my fears are justified. First of all, I am terrified that I will lose my mind as a mother. With my family 1,200 miles away and my husband a three-hour drive south, I fear I will have no one to help me, support me, encourage me -- babysit ­-- when I'm ready to pull my hair out...
Relish Review: Zucchini bread (08/12/09)
There's nothing that says summer sweet treat like zucchini bread, so when I saw a recipe for the versatile bread in Relish Magazine I knew exactly what I'd be making over the weekend. Each month, a few days before you receive Relish inside the Times-Gazette, expect to see a column previewing one of the recipes included in the upcoming insert...
Grumpy service workers need to meet Grandma L (08/09/09)
Folks who work in the service industry seem to have all the power to make or break ordinary days for people like you and me. Frustrated by bellowing bloggers in an uproar over a school dress code (one that's likely not going away) and marathon meetings that conclude without solution, I had to take a step back...
Amazing pregnancy journey continues (08/02/09)
As of a few days ago, I was 14 weeks pregnant. According to my weekly updates from an online baby center, that means my miracle baby is now anywhere between 3 and 4 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce, and is starting to grow quite rapidly. His length is catching up with his slightly larger head, and his (or her) ears have started their move to the sides of the head, and the eyes continue to get closer and closer together...
A miracle occurs, and a life-changing experience begins (07/26/09)
A few weeks ago, I experienced a miracle. What I discovered was shocking, and I could only credit the miracle maker himself for the panic, joy, and confusion that zipped through my body. Hint: My miracle has to do with plus signs and baby doll shirts...
Hot cucumber number (07/19/09)
With summer heat in full force, I wanted to follow up last week's refreshing jicama salad with another unique summer salad. In all honesty, I really wanted to make a creamy cucumber salad, the kind with sour cream, vinegar, and dill (Yummy!) but I figured that just about everyone has tried cucumber salad and has their own version of how to make it....
Think twice about our animal friends (07/12/09)
We get so much junk e-mails these days that often times, if the e-mail is not from someone I know, someone local, or about a topic relevant to my duties at the paper, I delete it. If I didn't, I would spend half the day reading e-mails, which are mostly mass e-mails from company PR departments trying to sell the next best thing or what have you...
Simply Delish: Refresh with jicama salad (07/12/09)
A couple of years ago, I was assigned to take a photo for a local business' donation to the Habitat for Humanity Ball. Angelica Wortham, whom I'd never met until then, represented Habitat in the photo. Angelica was so friendly and I remember once we got talking that day we had quite a bit in common. Neither of us were from here. We had both moved here from out of state during the same month of the same year. And we had both met southern men, with strong ties to this area, and gotten married...
Celebrating in slow motion (07/12/09)
Five years ago, Jack and I flew to Las Vegas and got married. At the time, it just seemed like the easiest way to do it, considering our families live far from us -- and in opposite directions. Now, looking back, getting married in Sin City couldn't have been more fitting for Jack and me. We really are not your average couple...
Deeper thinking: Answers to my own questions (07/05/09)
One of the questions I ask my interviewee each week in Sunday Conversation is, "What do you like best about Bedford County and, if you could change one thing, what would it be?" (Sunday Conversation appears on 1B every Sunday. Contact me if you'd like to nominate a person for this fun Q&A.)...
Sadie Fowler
Sadie Says... / Simply Delish
Sadie Fowler is lifestyles editor of the Times-Gazette.