Cookie Palooza

St. Patrick's Day, Easter & March Madness Cookie Palooza

A couple of times a year our office holds a "Cookie Palooza." Basically, it's a reason to have sweets and provide them for free to the office by having employees do the baking. Usually, at least 10-15 baker/employees participate. It's a nice break in the day for everyone. Sometimes there is judging and prizes. This time there were copious compliments and much lip-smacking...no prizes.

I contributed my "Brown Sugar Chippies" which are really just the classic Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe using all brown sugar, no white sugar.

Ellen's Brown Sugar Chippies

Judy's Thumbprint Shortbread Cookies

Ginny's Chocolate Chip Cookies were, by far, the best of the bunch!

Colorful Shamrock Cookies by Ron

Cookie Lovers

Of course, EVERYONE in the office with a sweet tooth comes downstairs to have cookies. It's a nice event.

Cookie Committee

Do you have events like this at your office?

Cecconi

I visited Cecconi in West Hollywood two Sundays in a row. Last Sunday was Rhoda's b-day party...private room, decorated with flowers and candy...divine menu. This past Sunday a much smaller group celebrated Lori's B-Day in the main dining room. Both meals were lovely. The service was good. The place is beautiful and there's no valet parking fee on the weekends! Woo Hoo!

Bar Area @ Cecconi's

Cecconi is on Melrose and Robertson in the former Morton's and Trump's space. It's a spacious restaurant, all marble and velvet, with a big patio and a lovely atmosphere. The food is excellent.

Rhoda's Private Dining Room, decorated by Linda

Rhoda, celebrating!

At Rhoda's party we had our choice of Burrata with cherry tomatoes or Chopped Vegie Salad for an appetizer. For the main course we had a gorgeous hunk o' Salmon w/ asparagus or Butternut Squash Tortellini.

Chopped Vegie Salad

Burrata w/ Cherry Tomatoes

Salmon & Asparagus

On Sunday for Lori's b-day, Lori and Carol each had a salad, Beth had the Fritatta and I had Eggs Benedict. All were delicious. We shared two desserts: A mountain of chopped fruit and honey w/Grapefruit Sorbet and a fresh Apple Tarte with Vanilla Bean Ice-cream.

Beth, Carol, Lori

Fritatta

Salad

Eggs Benedict

Apple Tart

Honeyed Fruit & Sorbet

Lori & The Poem Shawlette

Beth brought out her IPhone with the "Hipstamatic" photo application and took some really cool filtered photos (see below).

Photos by Beth

I will definitely return to Cecconi.

Happy Passover

Tonight at sundown begins the observance of Passover. We had our big family Seder this past Saturday so that all of our out-of-town family members could attend. There were 27 of us in attendance!
I hope everyone has a wonderful spring celebration!

Vintage Photo Friday - Passover Prep

Jay Bartels' Family Passover Seder, 1964

I found this photo online of a family Passover Seder from 1964. This is the typical huge family gathering. Notice the folding tables and mismatched chairs set up in the living room. It's crowded, people are holding their heads in pain. The overly sweet Passover wine is giving everyone a headache. It's always warm on Jewish holidays....Oy! Too much fatty and carb-laden food has been eaten. Pass the seltzer!!!

This coming Monday night at sundown, Passover begins. We're having our big family Seder early this year so that all of the out-of-town relatives can attend. We're meeting at my cousins Carolyn's and John's house in Valencia Saturday evening for the big event.

I've cobbled together a "script" of sorts of the traditional Passover Haggadah or service. It includes all the highlights of the story of how Moses led the Jews out of Egypt, away from the evil Pharoahs, songs and more. We take turns reading. It's a super family effort. We come from all corners of California to spend this special night together. Tomorrow there should be almost 30 people in attendance! That's a lotta matzoh!

Our traditional Seder Plate and Hollywood-Style Haggadah

Basically, my cousins, Carolyn, Marilyn and I cook the meal. Others contribute to the decor, table settings and to the service. It's a family ritual. Our menu has stayed about the same for the past 15 years or so. We have gefilte fish, matzoh ball soup, matzoh with charoses and bitter herbs, lokshen kugel, fruit compote, spinach/corn casserole, chicken Marbella and an assortment of macaroons and other Passover desserts. Of course, the traditional Manischevitz Wine is served too....grape juice for the kids.

I hope you have a joyous weekend and a wonderful Passover and Easter.

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Cracks Me Up

I saw this photo on the Knit It Up blog. I do LOVE this image. What do you imagine is happening here? Is it a circus bus on a yarn crawl? Is it a group of yarny clowns on their way to a party? Looks like the clowny clown is knitting Grandma's Favorite Washcloth. Perhaps they're on their way to a spa and this clown is knitting up spa cloths for the rest of the gang?

Freeway Photos

I saw a very curious bus on the westbound Santa Monica Freeway, this morning. This did not look like a studio-sanctioned paint job. Some wild and wacky artist did his own take on the wonderful "Alice in Wonderland" adventure. Does anybody know this guy or what the bus is used for? The bus was empty, except for the driver, who appeared to be an ordinary, everyday bus driver, dressed appropriately.

I know, I know, I should probably be watching the road and my driving, but this was just too crazy!

Alice the Wonder Bus, Santa Monica Freeway

Grinning like a Cheshire Cat in My Rear View Mirror!

Birthday Breakfast

Audrey Nautilus Creatures

Last week was Audrey's birthday. We're all so busy, that we didn't have a chance to meet up until this past Saturday for a mini-celebration. We really like Jinky's Cafe on the Sunset Strip for breakfast. Their food is good, healthy-ish, reasonable and the service is great. Audrey and Jeff live close by, so they can walk to Jinky's.

Audrey has been knitting these wonderful nautilus creatures. She brought a couple to show to us. I really love them!

Jeff, describing the "takeover of the Nauti Creatures"

This was the BEST dish...potato pancakes with onion jelly & guacamole

Egg & Bacon Scramble

Wheat Waffle

Vegies & Eggs

We must go to Jinky's more often, it's so good. Happy B-Day, once again, Audrey!

Allergies?

I'm a bit sneezy and sniffly today....don't feel like posting. Maybe I overdid it this weekend! See you tomorrow.

Vintage Photo Friday

Baby Larry @ the Beach, 1953

It's springtime. It's warm in Los Angeles. People are headed outside. I was at the Santa Monica Pier on Saint Patrick's Day for a quick lunch. It was just too beautiful of a day to stay inside. There were plenty of people on the beach, Pier, Boardwalk and just enjoying our beautiful California weather!

Santa Monica Beach, March 17, 2010

Carousel on the SM Pier

Lunch

Have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy Spring!

Santa Monica Pier, 1920's