One-Tray Baked Cod Provençal

Loved this! We used snapper in place of cod. Otherwise, exactly the same. Delicious. And super easy.

Note: if fish is particularly thick, additional cooking or resting time (oven turned off but dish left inside) may be necessary.

recipe

Perfect Your Salad Game

Whether or not this concept is based on science really doesn't matter. What does matter is that there are so many excellent combinations listed that salads should be a cinch to make!

Be sure to see the rest of the chart included in this article. It's terrific.

Thank you, Anne!

Wedding Photographer's Routine

Laugh out loud material. Thank you, Joan.

How To Cope With Stress: 18 Expert Tips That REALLY Work

Read the rest.

Seven Things You Didn't Know You Could Waffle!

What fun is this! I'm bringing my waffle iron out of storage.

This isn’t so much about how to make macaroni and cheese as it is about what to do with leftovers. Waffling the next day allows the outside to develop a nice crunch in the iron’s high, double-sided heat while the inside melts into perfection.

more ideas

Must Read: The Woman's Heart Attack

Read the rest of this excellent article.

Thank you, Beppy!

A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM!

Dear Diary, 
For my birthday this year, my Husband (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. 

Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. 

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. 

My husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress. 

________________________________ 
MONDAY: 
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! 

Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! 

Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!! 

________________________________ 
TUESDAY: 
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me. 

_______________________________ 
WEDNESDAY: 
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. 

Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. 

My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too. 

_______________________________ 
THURSDAY: 
A$$hole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late - it took me that long to tie my shoes. 

He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me. 

Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank. 

_________________________________ 
FRIDAY: 
I hate that bastard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. 

Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. 

The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher . Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director? 

________________________________ 
SATURDAY: 
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel. 

________________________________ 
SUNDAY: 
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!! 

Send this to a friend who needs to laugh. We all need a good laugh

LOVE THIS! Thank you, Jan!!!

Graveyard Taco Appetizer

Made even easier with ready-made Costco layered bean dip.

Recipe 

Scary Halloween Hand Pies!

Are these darling?

Don't have a hand pie press? Amazon link. Wilton eyes, as well.

source and recipe

Brilliant Autumn Breads

How easy could this be?!!! Really, no recipe necessary.

• Stop at Trader Joe's for one of their healthier breakfast breads.
• Find a few leaves to drop on top.
• Dust loaves with powdered sugar.
• Slice and serve.
• Brilliant. 

source

It's a Cinch: Spiderweb Cookies!

Clever and SIMPLE variation on a familiar theme. How easy could this be? Particularly if you start with Costco cookies/Florentines!

recipe

For Fighters and Survivors, Part 2

What can you say? There are no words.

For Fighters and Survivors, Part 1

And for the rest of us who could use a little inspiration periodically.

I adore this story. Such a brilliant idea.

Mouse over the clip for "full screen" option. 

The completed song tomorrow.

Whoa. And WOW, Hoda.

What a Wonderful World, Indeed.

Life has been rich/busy/crazy. Pictures soon.

What a wonderful way to come back home. Thank you, Joan!

The American Flag

Here's a timely Robin Williams 1982 performance as the American flag. Such talent.

Thank you, Barb.

Unplug and Stow That Electronic Device?

This will make you think twice about storing your GPS or other lithium battery powered device in your car!

And while Snopes says not possible, they do share some valuable info on this topic. It's worth a read.

Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice

What prompted our recent trip to Iceland? The ahhhhhh-mazing images I've been collecting on Pinterest. And the fact that National Geographic photographers were on board and on shore with tutorials during the 8-day circumnavigation of the island. Next year's trip was already fully booked. So, at the last moment, when we were taken off this year's wait list, we jumped.

Though, at that point, "jumping" would have been a stretch. Several months earlier I had taken a bad hop climbing out of the chicken coop late at night. I caught my sandal on the threshold, fell on stone pavers and have been in daily rehab for the past three months. Good news! I saved most of the eggs I had been collecting AND, as a friend pointed out, there's no reason for a bone scan this year! I've learned so much and met The Most Wonderful People during the process. Lesson learned.

Below, bits of a Shutterfly book I'm working on of our time in Iceland, an amazingly varied and stunning country. 

Though more treacherous during winter, February would be the time to enjoy the Northern Lights, frozen waterfalls, lots of snow and frigid temperatures. BRRRRRR. We enjoyed weather in the 50's. OH, and we missed the latest eruption by days. Instead, we were in CA for the earthquake.

Life. Continuuing to love it.

Robin Williams

So, so sad. Such a loss.

"I Don't Want My Brother to Grow Up"

OMGOSH. Why do I love this so much?

I laughing sooooooo hard each time I watch.

I, too, want to be 100+.

Who IS this darlilng child?

Apple Pear Strudel With Dried Fruit and Almonds

You, too, may have pears and apples in your garden. If so, this is a perfect recipe for the combination. And, of course, your local Farmer's Market will carry whatever's ripe and ready to harvest. Here's a super simple way to enjoy Nature's Bounty.

Here's the recipe!