PROCEED O' PARTY!.........

WOW--what a weekend this has been! And for a girl who isn't even .000001 percent Irish, well, I'd say I whooped it up, pretty darned good!

The festivities started on Friday afternoon for the Green Afro girls--we come up with a different theme every single year for the annual Old Forge St. Patrick's Day parade. This year, we went with "Leprechaun Pong--Proceed O' Party"--a takeoff on the Toby Keith song, "Red Solo Cup"....guess you had to go to college to truly understand the significance of red Solo cups and the game of Beer Pong. Anyways, just heard through the grapevine that, once again, we took FIRST PLACE in the parade! Way to go, girls!

I didn't actually take any photos DURING the parade, as I didn't want to try juggling my camera along with the carnations and ping pong balls we were handing out to the crowd, so all of my photos are of us actually getting ready to Proceed O' Party.....As always, a big thanks to Beth T. for letting us use/mess up her home, getting ready!....

If you would like to see some photos of the actual parade, you can always go to the Adirondack Express's website, anytime after this Tuesday.  To check it out--you can get there by clicking right HERE....

We all got to wear these darling O'booties....



Some of our Red Solo cups, waiting for us to put them on.....(oops, and one stand-out GREEN solo cup)....

One of our "secret weapons"--Mason of the O' Green Man Group.....

And our other "secret weapon"--our friend Diane--this was her first year with our group, and she's just so popular, we were sure steal the O'Judge's hearts!..........

Pretty Loretta, always smiling.....

Darling Denise, who for some reason was a bit blurry (and I had only had ONE glass of Sangria at this point--shhhh, don't tell!)......



Sharon and Beth.....always our Ring Leaders....



Our 20's age-group representatives, Renee and Megan, flanking Megan's Aunt O'Sharon.....

Four of us girls....I had to borrow this light green top from O' Sharon, because I don't have ONE green thing in my closet--so strange, for a redhead, no?........and I really don't know what in the heck I was doing with my mouth, here.....

Always lots and lots O' food and drink.........

And where there is lots of food and drink, there will always be teenage boys, snarfing it down!.......



Pretty soon, it was time to start piling out onto the street for the walk to Keyes Pancake House, where everyone lines up for the parade.....you can tell what kind of a day, weather-wise, that we were having: cold and gray and drippy, but at least it wasn't pouring rain, like earlier in the day! Here's the Jeep that cranked our theme song, super loud....(the girls driving were SAINTS, and will never, ever want to hear the song, "Red Solo Cup", ever again, I do suspect!).........

Almost forgot my favorite Pillar Of The Community, Pam, and her sweet daughter Kaylin, home from school on Spring break.....

Check out Kaylin's cute nails.....

Okay ladies...time to get organized for that group photo.........

And here we all are, ready to Proceed O' Partaaaaaay..............

I think a really great time was truly had by all!

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As if Friday's parade wasn't enough, Wink and I were invited, BRIGHT and O'early Saturday marnin', down to Utica to take in their annual parade, from the warmth and comfort of the grand old Fort Schyler Club--a gorgeous old city club run by our friend, Jim Day......here's the only photo I could find, of just one of their many grand old spaces).........

(photo compliments of Gaetano Construction)

I am not kidding when I say that Utica's parade is almost two hours long! Which seemed REALLY long, after our tiny Old Forge parade, which I think lasts about 15 minutes...........

(photo compliments of the Utica Observer Dispatch)

We were so thankful to be inside watching most of the parade, as it was pretty chilly out that morning, and were even more thankful to be invited to stay for the Fort Schyler Club's incredible St. Patrick's Day brunch---a spread fit for a KING!

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See you back in a few days...trying out a few new recipies in anticipation of our sorta-vegetarian, sorta-not daughter's return home for summer. Which should be around May 15th. Believe it or not, we got pretty darned sick of tofu and salmon last year!

Love, Kitten O' Willard

COOKIE-PALOOZA 2011, AND MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS PRESENT!

First things first........

There's been a lot of changing up of hair-doos going on around here recently....first up, Mr. B.A. is growing a beard, and I think it's damned sexy.....(I think he's just cold, due to his receeding hairline).....

 Little Miss Thing stole my car the other day (we sold hers this Fall), and she and her Besties Jenny and Allison went down to the "big city" to do some shopping (Not NYC, but Utica!). Then my little darling went to our hair salon and did something really brave, because she's feeling pretty brave these days, going off to Europe all on her own and everything....check out this sweet haircut!............

She loves it, and we love it....I think it really shows off her pretty eyes....here's a "before", when her hair was moderately long.....

And another "after" (by the way, she donated her super-thick, chopped off hair to Locks Of Love).......

Tres chic! Doncha think?

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So, yesterday I received the best Christmas present of all....a house FULL of happy, laughing college students! I think I was supposed to have about 12 children....this empty nest stuff is for the BIRDS, I tell you..................

If you've followed this blog for awhile, you know I've been baking for weeks and weeks for our annual Cookie Party--these kids seriously look forward to it every single year!

Why? Because there's nothing that college students love more than SUGAR (well, besides beer)....too bad they didn't have enough to eat!......

Mugs lined up for homemade Hot Chocolate, with candy canes for swizzling.....

Remember Laura Bush's Texas Cowboy Cookies, Sweet and Salty Caramel Rolls and Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Mocha Cream from earlier December posts? Oh, and of course Leslie B's Best Ever Gingersnaps.........

The kids had so much fun watching a funny movie and catching up with one another......

Seeing all of these boots and shoes in our entryway just makes my heart happy.....

Don't you think I should ask them all to just drop out of college, so I can have them around our little town for my daily amusement?

I really don't think that's an unreasonable request.........

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I'll be taking a short break from blogging, probably until sometime in early January, when I get my house all cleaned up and organized (ha ha--dream on!) for 2012....and SPEAKING of 2012, I think it's going to be a fantastic year....I have some wonderful trips planned, so of course you'll be coming along for the ride!

I must confess I'm happy to see 2011 go....it hasn't been my best year ever, probably due mostly to my stupid, on-going health issues. BUT hey, ever the optimist, I have high hopes for my future!

I would like wish all of my bloggie friends a very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy Hannukah, and I will see you all, back here, next year!!!

All my love,

Leslie XXX000

FRUITED WILD RICE SALAD AND SOME BAD GIRLS ON A ROAD TRIP!

Took off on a fun day out with one of my favorite homies today.....do you remember this girl from earlier posts?.................

She's my former boss, and her name is M. Lisa Monroe (SWEAR on a stack of bibles, the "M" stands for Marilyn!). And no, she doesn't always have a gin and tonic in her hand, but she prolly should, as she has a very high pressure job as the editor in chief of our local newspaper, The New York Times. Not really--The Adirondack Express. That's the paper I used to write a weekly food column for, before Lisa fired me. Not really--I "retired", and she does everything in her power on a daily basis to get me to return, but alas, her efforts are, tragically, always in vain. ANYWAYS, I love this woman--she is one of the wittiest, prettiest and snittiest chicks I know. Just perfect to have an adventure with--like today's. We took in a fabulous wedding gown exhibit at the Munson Williams Proctor museum in Utica, had lunch at my favorite cafe in Clinton called Nola's (Here comes that stack o' bibles again- RIGHT before a small reported tornado touched down!), and then went deep into the Amish New York countryside, hunting  charming old farmhouses and barns. Because I soooooo wanna be a farmer chick, but I digress......

At lunch, Lisa and I had an interesting conversation about people who LIVE to EAT (like me!), and people who EAT to LIVE, like my dear old dad. Don't know what I mean? Well see, most of my family just adores food--it's so much more than sustainence to us. It's art. It's joy. It's IT, on a STICK! And then there's my dad, who seriously never thinks about food, ever, until he's really hungry. And then he's content with maybe a banana or a sliver of cheese. Just enough to silence his growling stomach. And that's probably why he has never weighed more than about 170 in his entire life (he's 6 feet tall). Anyways, sometimes I'm envious of that lack of foodie desire, and well, other times I kinda pity people like that. People who don't even salivate a little looking at a piece of peanut butter pie slathered in chocolate ganache, like Lisa and I did today at lunch. Ah well, the grass is always greener, I guess.

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I have a recipe for you today that is just gonna knock your socks off--my Fruited Wild Rice Salad. The perfect summertime side salad (or you can add grilled chicken to it and call it a meal). We love this recipe at my house--it's very pretty and super nutritious. Start by preparing a box of a wild rice mix. Set the cooked rice aside to cool a little....this is my favorite brand.....

I add the seasonings that come in the box, but you don't have to--just add your own to suit your taste. While the rice is cooking, peel and chop up 2 Golden Delicious apples, and toss with lemon juice to keep from browning......

To the apples, add golden raisins............

halved red grapes..............

fresh parsley (I have this growing on my patio)........

Then add the cooked wild rice and stir to mix...............

For the dressing, whisk together olive oil, orange juice and honey..............

Add dressing to rice mixture and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill for several hours. Right before serving, add roughly chopped pecans and lightly toss......

I hope you love this salad as much as we do!..........

Here's the recipe......

FRUITED WILD RICE SALAD

1 cup uncooked wild rice (or, 1 box wild rice mix with seasonings)
2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled and chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
2 tblsp. ea. chopped parsley (you can also add fresh mint and/or chives to this)
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup pecan halves, roughly chopped

Dressing:
1 / 4 cup olive oil
1 / 3 cup orange juice
2 tblsp. honey

Cook rice according to package directions; let cool slightly. Combine dressing ingredients; set aside. In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Add raisins, grapes, parsley and rice. Add dressing and toss. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover and chill for several hours or overnight. Just before serving, add pecans and lightly toss.

TODAY I'M SO THANKFUL FOR......

*Great girlfriends. Priceless--and such cheap therapy!

*Tonite's celebration: we just found out that our daughter landed the part-time position at her campus bookstore she really really wanted for next semester. So now she won't have to be the dirt poor American in Paris next spring!

*Our incredibly beautiful New York state countryside--the corn truly IS as high as an elephant's eye!

LEMON JAM DROP COOKIES AND THE SIMPLE THINGS!

Growing up, my all-time favorite author was Laura Ingalls Wilder. I mean, I soooo wanted to BE her! Some of my close friends know that about me, already. Seriously, my interest in her writing and her life became sort of an obsession with me, sort of like how some kids these days are so into Harry Potter. Anyways, the older I get, the more I appreciate Laura's wisdom, and the hardships she and her family faced just trying to survive. Here's one of my favorite Laura Ingalls Wilder quotes:

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones, after all"

Which got me thinking about all of the sweet, simple things in my life that bring me such joy...here's my summertime list.......

***a flower snipped from my garden, displayed in a jelly jar on my kitchen sink

***watering the garden on the morning of a soon to be hot day, and feeling the cool water from the hose refresh my feet and legs

***sitting on my front porch with my family, just enjoying each other's company

***having lunch with girlfriends who make me laugh--priceless. (Amish-Rhubarb mystery SOLVED, Pam!)

***talking to my mom on the phone about movies we've seen, books we've read and recipies we want to try

***driving around town with the air conditioning just CRANKING in my car, just to cool off!

***Friday night movies with Big Daddy

***giving the dog a bath, just to cool off his little hot dog body, and getting a big thank you with his slobbery "kisses"

***our town's sweet little farmer's market, each and every friday! Today I took my camera, so that you can share in the bounty of upstate New York farms.....

Aren't tomatoes and berries works of art?.........

I know, I know, MORE peaches!.................

Farm chicks, working hard...........

My friend Sharon LUSTED after these cookies.....said she wanted one as big as her head!....................

Here's the little sugar addict, herself......

These Mennonite (or Amish? I can never get them straight) folks are here each week with their wonderful baked goods............

I just love the daughter's sweet homemade dress...and the whoopie pies ain't bad, either..........

Okay, think I've died and gone to heaven each and every time I see these herbed goat cheeses, from a local farm in Herkimer.......AND she gives samples!.........

Another favorite simple thing? Why, simple cookie recipies to prepare for when your daughter is bringing friends home for dinner and you want a little sumpin' sumpin' for dessert! These Lemon Jam Drop Cookies just taste like summer to me...lots of lemon juice and zest in the dough.

First thing to do is beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, then add almond extract, egg, lemon juice and zest........

Mix in baking powder and flour......

Here's how your dough will look when well mixed......if you sneak a bite, I won't tell.....

 Chill dough in the fridge for about an hour, then shape into balls and place on parchment or silicone lined baking sheets........

Make an indentation in each with your foxy little thumb..........

Fill each indentation with your favorite jam---I had this in the fridge, so strawberry it was!...............(lemon curd or blueberry would also be terrific).............

Bake and cool on a rack. Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar and serve.....

Here's the recipe......

LEMON JAM DROP COOKIES

Makes about 30 cookies

3 / 4 cup butter, softened

2 / 3 cup powdered sugar

1 / 3 cup sugar

1 egg

zest and juice of 1 lemon

1 tsp. almond extract

2 cups flour

1 1 / 4 tsp. baking powder

Additional powdered sugar, for dusting

Your favorite jam

Using a mixer, beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Add egg, lemon zest and juice and almond extract and beat until combined. Mix in baking powder and flour. Cover and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Shape dough into balls and place on a parchment or silicone lined baking sheet. Make an indentation in each cookie and fill with jam. Bake at 350 degrees for 17-19 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on rack, then sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

TODAY I'M SO THANKFUL FOR.....

*Farmer's markets, everywhere!

*Ceiling fans---they have been lifesavers in this heat wave we're experiencing...especially with no air conditioning in our homes!

*The love of reading that my daughter and I share....we are NEVER bored!