Just get started...

Well, I've been thinking for a few months about starting this blog and my sweet husband (who is in charge of all computer issues) set this up for me about a month ago but I've been feeling lazy and haven't taken the time to do my first post. I'm not even sure where to start - my original 1st blog idea was to report on my recent trip to Prather Ranch for a slaughter (I promise to go back to this, but I just wanted to get something down and this story is too intense for my first foray into the blogisphere) Anyway, I guess I should start with my purpose for this site. I just wanted to share my thoughts, recipes and party ideas - not sure who all is interested but hopefully you will be inspired to cook for yourself and others. Luckily I have Richard to continually appreciate my cooking but besides that we usually have somebody over for dinner at least one night a week. Oh, and let me just apologize now for any grammatical errors and run on sentences, spelling and irritating exclamation marks!!! - I type kind of like I talk (I'll try to keep the f word to a minimum for those of you who know me!)

So - saturday night I decided to make Chicken and Andoille Sausage Gumbo (it has been a cold week here in SF) for our good friends and neighbors John & Rey. I don't really have a recipe - I kind of just add as I go - if you are interested I could try writing one - and I don't add okra, whic

h is not to say that I don't like okra - in fact I love it but only fried

(I will try to post the recipe for my favorite Fried Okra Sal

ad at a later date) John's been really into baking lately so he brought a beautiful and delicious Peach Pie for dessert and Rey shared with us a lovely white wine from Spain. It was a early evening as Rich was feeling poorly with a cold and we had canceled earlier in the day (which is why I didn't make my Shrimp Romelade (sp? I so don't feel like looking this up) Salad) but later he felt good enough for a quickie dinner party! In by 6 out by 8! Anyway - we've been eating it for 3 days now and can I say it just keeps getting better - today for lunch my other neighbors Ruth & Floyd came over for Gumbo as they are both working from home now - so at least now it's

done! I also canned 4 quarts of whole peeled Striped Roma tomatoes for "The closet" - my "cellar" downstairs.