Happy FRIDAY!!!!

Happy Friday everyone!!

I have a long time theory that Friday is the best day of the week!
Friday, for those of you still working a "normal job," is the day of the week to wrap things up.

People are more relaxed today. You might have time to read or forward some funny emails, there's chatter in the office about weekend plans and maybe even a bit of "hey! drinks tonight with everyone...are you in?"

People are ready for the weekend. Ready to spend time with family, the kids, work on the house, get outside, sleep in a little, exercise, go to a movie, go on a date, so on and so on.

Friday is even fantastic for those AAA personalities... sending emails, finishing up by noon, sneaking on to Facebook, updating friends, see what's going on and busily making productive and fun weekend plans. (They never slow down! Lol)

No matter which of these you do on a Friday we all have one thing in common.
It marks the end of a busy work week! 

Enjoy today! Reflect on this week!

Do a few things a little different this Friday.

It's the first Friday of spring.
A season of renewal, rebirth, growth. Nature does it normally and right on time, for itself, every year. Nature recreates itself, creates new growth, changes its form. If you really think about it, makes changes and adapts better to its environment than the year before. (Like for instance a tree)

What will you do with your first Friday of spring???

Spend time with important people in your life?
Clean out that closet or garage that's been sitting there cluttered forever?
Start something for YOU?


Just a few things to get the old gray matter sloshing around up there in your brain but don't think too hard today!

Whatever you do, create new space, new thoughts, new room for something bigger and better to come in to your life.

So get out there!

Just do it!

It doesn't have to be perfect or right... But it's gotta be something that puts a smile on your face, keeps your spirit up and keeps ya moving forward!

Good luck!

Have an amazing Friday!!!

Adventure: Family / Friends Celebrations: Baby Shower! "Rosette" Cookies!

Adult Adventure - ANNOUNCEMENT!

Another Confession from the Life Designing1 Team!


WE LOVE TO HAVE FUN!


Yes! We are social beasts! We love to laugh!



A Recent Celebration with Friends…..
a Baby Shower!
Friends! Food! Gifts for Baby! How can you not love it!




In preparation of the fun…. to share with friends….

we made some "Rosette" Cookies and they were a hit!
(Made them for a "Marathon" race at Jackson's school this fall and a local chef loved them!)


So…..

 

We thought you may want the recipe!

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Rosette Cookies - A "Generation" Family Recipe*

1 cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg (2 - if a flakier pastry is desired)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour, sifted


oil for frying
Rosette iron
paper towels


Mix the first five ingredients together and then slowly add the flour until the batter is smooth.
Heat enough oil (in a wide pan) to be able to deep fry.


For each rosette follow these instructions:
Dip "batterless" (rosette) iron into the hot oil until the iron is hot.
Dab the iron onto a paper towel - then dip into the batter.
Make certain you --- do not -- go over the top of the iron! It will run the entire batter.
Dip the "battered" iron into the hot oil --- the batter will loosen itself - if you need to, nudge it off with a fork.


When it looks light brown… Turn the Rosette cookie to brown the other side.
When that side is light brown…. remove and drain on paper towels until cool.



Sprinkle with confectioners' / powdered sugar.
Serve! and Enjoy!



We always know when people sample our cookies…….. by the powdered sugar on their shirts! :) Enjoy!




*This family "generation" recipe was submitted to a local cookbook:


1992 - Ethnic Recipes, Traditions and Customs -- St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Compiled by Mary Ann Lipsky
Illustrations and Narrative by Janet Kovalchick (a local artist and dear friend)
Small Drawings Assistant - Robin Gwen Lipsky (age 18)




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Adventure FOOD: True Caesar Salad: Cookbook Submissions "Over the Years" - Workplace: The Swain School - 1989

I was the Preschool and Lower School Director at The Swain School from September, 1987 - June, 2008


Food / Cooking being a Passion of mine…..
For the School's 60th Anniversary, I volunteered my time to compiling an Anniversary Cookbook!

To this day…. People still comment to me about how they refer to it for some favorites!

The cookbook is out-of-print so….

I will be sharing some of the recipes on this blog that I / our family submitted and...
some of our favorites from our Swain friends!

Submitted by The Lipsky Family: "TRUE" CAESAR SALAD*

created by Caesar Cardini at Caesar's Hotel in Tijuana, Mexico in 1924

• 2 heads of romaine, washed, dried
• and refrigerated at least 8 hours
• 3/4 cup garlic flavored oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper, freshly ground
• 1 large lemon, halved
• 6 - 8 drops Worcestershire sauce
• 2 coddled eggs
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup croutons
• wooden salad bowl

GARLIC FLAVORED OLIVE OIL

• put 4-5 cloves of garlic in mixture of 1 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• cover and let set 4 -5 days - remove garlic.

CODDLED EGGS

• bring water to a boil, add eggs.
• Remove pan from heat - after 1 minute remove eggs from water and set aside.

CROUTONS

• take 2 day old bread - remove crusts - cut into 25 squares.
• Place in roasting pan and dribble with 3/4 cup garlic flavored oil, flip to coat.
• Bake at 350 (degree oven) for 30 minutes, flipping cubes every 5 minutes.

SALAD

• Place romaine in salad bowl and toss with 1/2 cup oil (using a waving motion).
• Add salt and pepper, toss again.
• Add lemons, Worcestershire sauce, break eggs over salad, add remaining 1/4 cup oil and cheese and toss again.
• Add croutons last and toss lightly.

After gathering ingredients, make this in front of your guests at the table.
Arrange leaves on a dinner plate stem side out - this makes it easier to eat with fingers!!



*Submitted by The Lipsky Family to The Swain School - 60 Years of Traditions and Family Recipes in 1989

Foodies 101: A Favorite TV Show! A Favorite Candy Store!

Dolce Patisserie

Location: The Shoppes at 23 Main Street, Hellertown, Pennsylvania 484-851-3652

Did you know?

Right here in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania….

We have a "Sweet Genius!"

 

Click on Alan's picture for the rest of the gallery ;)

Foodie Bob read this in the paper recently:

Owner of Hellertown pastry shop wins 'Sweet Genius'

Alan Pitotti wins $10,000 on popular Food Network show.

January 18, 2013|By Diane W. Stoneback, Of The Morning Call

Pastry Chef Alan Pitotti, owner of Dolce Patisserie, was back at work in his Hellertown shop less than nine hours after his family, friends and customers watched him win $10,000 on the Food Network's "Sweet Genius."


Although the 36-year-old chef had just won the equivalent of a Super Bowl for pastry chefs, he already was focused on figuring out how to give his daredevil fans a chance to taste the cake that clinched his victory -- It was a meringue-covered, spicy pink peppercorn and wasabi pea cake, with spicy chocolate ganache…..

I was really excited about this announcement and it gave me a great excuse to visit Dolce Patisserie again to purchase some chocolates!


I so enjoy his "beautiful"…. and I do mean "beautiful" candy creations…. that are equally as delicious!


And…. Alan was there! Which is not a surprise…. he loves his work! :)

We had a wonderful chat about the competition and his wonderful experience with the show and host of "Sweet Genius," Ron Ben-Israel.



P.S.
I've postponed blogging about this due to Billboards in the Lehigh Valley not posting that Alan is a "Sweet Genius!"

They show him attending the local community college, but nothing about Sweet Genius!

So…..

the Billboards remain the same (to date, now early March, 2013)

and…
I wanted you to know…..

Congratulations! Alan Pitotti….. Sweet Genius!

from the LifeDesigning1 Team! :) So Proud!

Links to more info on Alan Pitotti: Sweet Genius! :

Dolce Patisserie website

Dolce Patisserie's toffee is golden article

NEWSMAKER Q&A: ALAN PITOTTI article

LifeDesigning 1 Team Confesses….

Foodies 101!

LifeDesigning1 is Admitting:  WE ARE FOODIES!

There comes a time when one has to confess… and the time is now!

 

We are……. FOODIES!

We are……. foodies from way back!  It's actually generational!  

My Grandparents (mom's) came to the United States from Austria, Hungary & Yugoslavia (specifically, in an area which is now Slovenia) with many wonderful hopes, dreams and passions!  The United States was a promise of opportunity, freedom… starting a new, abundant, prosperous life!

With them they brought many skills and talents… compassion, a strong work ethic, cooking, baking, farming…. and love!  The love of family, children, friends & community! 

What we will venture into here is the extension of their passion --- ours now  --- for Food!  

 

In the early 1900's, my grandparents were Growing and Nurturing their food, initially, on their farm and then, on small plots of land.  

And…. 

 

They were Cooking and Baking It!  Surrounded by family, friends and community… they cooked and baked often and they did it with Passion and Love! 

Being Foodies… we will be posting about our favorites here:  

• Our Favorite Foods
• Recipes
• Cookbooks
• TV programs
• Classes
• Places we've explored, munched / dined at & purchase some of our favorite foods 
• And... of course, Restaurants!  Where we've dined and dine, some rather frequently!

This is our Adventure --- Food!  :)  

Good Times Ahead! 

A little example of what's to come ;)