Red Writes......

Like a flower...

The sun sends it's beams down upon my day. I'm grateful for every single shining ray. The birds chitter and chat and I wonder just where they are at. They flitter and they flit among the branches of the trees. Every single one of my cats they tease!The freshest of Spring petals tempt and tickle my nose. Soon I find myself wondering just where the dandelion fluff really goes?

I've nothing better to do you see, than to sit and appreciate what wonders are brought to me.

...how Spring can roar in on a wind storm and trail off with a bleat at sunset... how it drives my Daddy and his fishing pole to the bug infested inlet, how it wraps us up so tightly in awe and yet we still feel the chill of Winter's reluctant thaw....how everything is brighter and the clouds are whiter -just like the mountain peaks still capped with snow. I wonder how wonderful it would be to share this bliss everywhere I go.

Oh to be a flower- on a sturdy stem or vine. Plucked from a scenic garden, and trucked to a mansion so fine... or a lovely corsage or boutonniere on someone's biggest day. Perhaps the first attempt to say 'I love you' when he could find no other way.

Would I be a sweet Honeysuckle or a perky Plumeria blossom? Perhaps I'd choose to be the perfect red rose... now wouldn't that be awesome?

How could one choose from such a vast array? Spring flowers have sprung and I discover a new one each day. But in the end nothing can really compare- for we are our own variety so precious and rare.

Go forth like a flower- be bold or sweet. Be exotic and chaotic, or quiet and neat. Be intoxicating or demure, coy or meek. Even a weed is persistent and never ever weak. Plant seed in your wake, of deeds and good will. Hold out against the fickle frost and you will blossom still.

Because flowers are we who make the world smile. Go forth like a flower in true Spring style!

-Red 05-22-08

Get Creative and Win Contest

I need a creative description to describe this candle scent. The scent is Plumeria. ( An uplifting floral fragrance )

The person with the winning description will win this soy blend candle.



You can email me or post your comment below and I will choose the winning creative scent description on June 1.

Ahhhh......Morels

I recently got my hands on some of these beauties, and made the following recipe with them.

A total thumbs up!

Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna Roll-ups with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

16 cremini caps, (I used my morels) cleaned with a damp towel and finely chopped in food processor

1 small yellow-skinned onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry

Salt and pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or the equivalent of freshly grated

2 cups part skim ricotta

8 curly edge lasagna noodles, cooked to al dente

1 cup fat free chicken broth

8 ounces Gorgonzola, crumbled

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella

In a medium skillet over moderate heat, saute mushrooms, chopped onions, and garlic in oil until mushrooms give off their juices and darken and onions are tender, about 7 or 8 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper; the salt will help draw water out of the vegetables as they cook.
Add dry chopped spinach to the pan and heat through for 1 minute.
Adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and a little nutmeg.

Add ricotta and stir into mixture to heat cheese through, 1 minute longer.

Remove pan from heat but leave in the warm skillet.

Heat broth in a small pan over moderate heat.

Melt Gorgonzola into broth and bring liquid to a bubble.

Stir in cream and thicken sauce 2 minutes.

Place cooked lasagna noodles on a large work surface or cutting board. Spread lasagna noodles with a layer of spinach-mushroom filling.

Roll up pasta and arrange the 8 bundles in a shallow casserole dish.

Pour warm sauce over roll-ups and top with mozzarella.

Place casserole under broiler to melt cheese.

*In my case I made this up ahead of time, and warmed it in the oven with loosely wrapped tin foil over the top.

Picture above is from Food TV

Private Label - Springcart

I am honored and pleased to work with Myisha from Springcart. Together with her help, her vision for her new line of candle tins has become a reality. Inspired by gemstones, each candle reflects the personality of materials Myisha works with in creating her beautiful one of a kind jewelry.

You can purchase her candles separately, or in a lovely cigar box gift set along with her awesome jewelry and other lush goodies in her Runaway Cart.

I wish Myisha much success. Please visit Springcart at http://springcart.com/ for gorgeous one of a kind jewelry, candles, jewelry catchers, and more.

For more information on having your own candle line, please contact Karyn at Moodwax Candle. Email moodwaxcandle@msn.com