• It is hot and humid here like we are living in the South even though we are in the desert. I am tired of it and it needs to stop now. I don't mind the dry heat, but the humidity sucks! It makes my hair frizzy.


• Funny story...last week I had some friends over for dinner and decided to make a new garlic-tomato pasta sauce. I made a grocery list and of the things I needed at the store. Before I went to the store, I decided to go to the Farmer's Market and get my produce. I didn't bring my list with me, but I knew what I needed and that included 2 pounds of plum tomatoes for my sauce. I took the things home and took my list back out to cross of the things I didn't need. When I crossed off the tomatoes I realized that it said 5 pounds of tomatoes. "Oh, great!" I thought. The Farmer's Market was across town and was probably closed. After being mad at myself for a minute I decided to just pick some more up at the store. So, I bought 3 more pounds. Fast forward to later that day when I started the sauce. No, I didn't need 5 pounds of tomatoes, I need 5 cups of tomatoes or 2 pounds. After all that, I had 3 extra pounds, ugh! But here is the pasta and boy was it good! (The recipe is below...super easy and super good. Just remember, only 2 pounds of tomatoes.)

• A Green Bag Update...Well, the Green Bags met their match this week and that would be the 3 extra pounds of tomatoes. They were put in the bag on Sunday while I figured out what to do with them. Today (Thursday) I threw all the tomatoes out because they were wet and moldy, blech! Granted, I left them on the counter rather than refrigerate them, but still.
• This weekend I watched a mini-series that I got from NetFlix called State of Play. It's British and really, really good. I would highly recommend it.
• Bad News Everyone...Manuela left me a note on Friday that she is making her annual summer trip to Mexico effective immediately. She's usually gone 4-6 weeks. {Cries} What am I going to do?

Garlicky Tomato Pasta

1 Tbsp – EVOO
3 – chopped garlic cloves (I used 4)
2-3 lbs – chopped plum tomatoes
½ cup – white wine (pinot grigio)
1 package – cooked pasta (farfalle)
¼ cup – grated parmigiano-reggiano
½ cup – chopped basil

1. Heat EVOO in Dutch oven over med-high heat. Add garlic. Sautee for 30 seconds.
2. Add tomatoes and wine. Cook over med-high heat for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
3. Add cooked pasta, cheese, and basil to tomatoes. Mix together. Add salt and pepper to taste.

As Seen On TV

A few weeks ago, some work friends and I had a conversation about buying products from infomercials. It all started when "The Magic Bullet" (which to me sounds like something dirty) was mentioned for an upcoming get together. I was amazed when more than one of the 4 people had one in their home. As the talk went on, these people had watched themselves an infomercial or twelve on several occasions and even, more surprisingly, had bought numerous products including something like a dog barking collar that you strap to your stomach it hopes that its electric shocks (which hurt) might make you skinny. Anyways, it was very eye opening because I always thought the infomercial buying type was a bit losery. Well, today, I became that loser.

Minding my own business up in my art room, I worked while I watched some TV shows that I had recorded. During one of them a short, mini if you will, infomercial came on the air. It was for these...

I hadn't planned on doing any shopping today, but my ears perked up when I heard that these bags would keep my fruit and vegetables fresher longer. Since I am a single gal, my fruits and vegetables always seem to go bad before I get a chance to eat them all. I usually shop for the week on Saturday or Sunday so by the middle of the week, my produce is mushy, brown, or moldy, BLECH! In fact yesterday at the store I was just thinking about how many bananas I should buy. By Wednesday or Thursday my bananas are gross and I end up just throwing them away. So I ended up buying 3 yellow bananas and 3 green ones, hoping that they would turn yellow by the end of the week and I could get to them before they turned brown.

Anyhow, these bags are supposed to absorb and remove dangerous ethylene gases which are emitted during the riping process of fruits and vegetables. (I sound like I know what I'm talking about there don't I?) I don't really understand that, but the proof was in the pictures.

These tomatoes were bought on the same day, some put in the green bag and the rest left out on the counter on a plate. Which ones would you rather eat.

Look at this! After 14 days, this lettuce is as crisp as can be.

Summer is just around the corner and I hate to see all that good fruit go bad. The bags kept those strawberries fresh, while the other ones got moldy.

What sold it for me was the bananas. Come on people, yellow bananas after 9 days? NINE DAYS! That's a miracle bag I tell you.

So, I have jumped on the infomercial train and placed my first order. $9.95 for 20 bags (10 large, 10 medium) plus shipping and handling and tax since I live in California. The bags are supposed to be reusable, so I think I am well on my way to healthy and appetizing produce in the near future. What do you think, will they work? I will keep you posted.