Thank You Alma Mater…..

This is an easy weekly must.  It is quick and everything can be ordered from Safeway.com (or something similar).  You don't have to visit your local Asian market for any of the ingredients, but you get all of the great Asian flavors.

Minced Chicken in Lettuce Cups
-Compliments of my girlfriend, Farina Kingsley, a great female chef

Ingredients
1 large head iceberg lettuce
6 dried Chinese black mushrooms
2 tbl oyster sauce
2 tbl soy sauce
1 tsp Asian Sesame Oil

In walks my hunter (normally an investment banker) Saturday afternoon, after a long night with the boys drinking and playing dominoes in Napa at some duck club.  I was okay that Charles abandoned our standing, friday family night dinner.  I was okay that Charles HAD to come home and take a nap because he was up at 4:30 in the morning getting ready for his hunt.  I was okay spending the entire Saturday ALONE with my wonderful children.  I was NOT okay that Charles brought home a duck that was NOT CLEANED and looked like it was still alive!!!

I am all for technology. Google is amazing. It has changed the way we search and access information. Any dispute over an answer to a question, Google it. Your son wants to know how and why Mosquitos suck your blood, Google it. Even my 80 year old mother in law uses Google. Now that is amazing! But is there a limit to what they should offer? Or how much information they give out, especially if it could impact the safety of your children?

Yesterday I received a great email with some tips on getting back in.  I know they may seem pretty straight forward but they are good and are something to think about.  Try them and share with others your thoughts and suggestions.  We all have so many great ideas and can learn from each other.  Re-entering the workforce can be hard, but it helps having a support group.  Use our network!  Let me know what works for you.

Computers are Fun!!!  They are not just for businesses....

Simply The Best Crab Salad

This recipe is from Jean-Georges, New York.  It is a favorite of mine as I can use it in so many different ways.  I serve it for our family dinner, as an appetizer at dinner parties, or on little passed crisps.  I put it in a martini glass, on a plate, or use a metal ring to form a shape of a tower.  It takes 20 minutes max to make and plate.  Enjoy!

1 garlic clove
1 shallot

It is classic.....When I got married in 1994, my husband was THE TECH guy.  At least that is what I thought.  He kept saying, "Hey look. How cool is this?"  It was American Online, at its beginning, and the start of email and content on the web, at least for us.  I thought it was neat, but I didn't really use it.  It was a little too slow for me and I didn't know what to look for on the web.  Somehow, someway and somewhere along the lines our roles reversed. 

I don't know where to begin.....My mother in law, describing her, or to the event itself?  In short my mother in law is the most selfless, giving person.  For her 80th birthday, instead of doing something fancy in the town in which she grew up, Winnetka, Chicago, she decided to get our whole family, 18 people, together to build a house for Habitat for Humanity in San Diego.

My true passion in life is cooking and helping others to cook by making things extremely simple.  For my first edition of Cooking Made Simple, I want to teach you a fool proof way of making pizza.  This pizza recipe is a classic and will make 4 7-8" pizzas.  If you have any problems or questions, ASK ME!   Do it once and the next time will be even easier.  What ever you don't use refrigerate and use it later in the week.  Be sure to bring the dough to room temperature before rolling out.  I always keep yeast in the refrigerator so when I have NO CLU