Step Aside, Phil Liggett!

Click here to see my debut as a cycling color analyst on the Versus network with my new co-anchor, Paul Sherwen!

The rest of the day's photos are here:  Shutterfly Shared Picture Detail

My Newest Favorite Thing

I've been wanting to replicate a dish that I had at a new restaurant we tried in South Beach (Nemo, at 1st and Collins). But I was set back because I didn't know how to reduce balsamic --and really didn't want to learn, for that matter. Because I don't really cook.

Then, as I was poking my way through the little IGA in Trumbull Center, the waters parted, a ray of light streamed downward, and there it was: Blaze Balsamic Reduction in a bottle!!!

Next task was to assemble the dish, which was a play on Insalata Caprese, but instead of tomato and mozzarella, the ingredients were watermelon and feta cheese slices, alternating, over a bed of arugula and drizzled with balsamic reduction. mmm...

Of course, because of the early influences of Martha Stewart (she ruined me), I couldn't just "slice and stack" like they did in the restaurant. I had to invent my own presentation, after all.

One of my favorite appetizers is half a cherry tomato with a basil leaf and half a mini-mozzarella ball on a toothpick. So, I thought, why not try the same thing with the new ingredients? I cubed the watermelon and I cubed the feta. I had intended to skewer them with a leaf of arugula in between -- a one-for-one copy of their Caprese-skewered cousins -- except for one small problem: Have you ever tried to put feta on a toothpick? Impossible.

Now, there I sit with fifty watermelon cubes and an equal number of very fragile feta cubes. Then inspiration struck (thank you Martha)! I lightly (and I mean lightly...the cheese is fragile) tossed them together then served them over a bed of arugula with a drizzle of my new favorite condiment. Took this to a party and the hosts wouldn't let me take the leftovers home -- including my bottle of Blaze!

Pretty yummy for someone who doesn't cook.

REMISSION!!!

Last night, over a fabulous dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in South Beach (DeVito's), I looked at Todd and said, "It's been a long year." In the last 12 months, we've had so much bad news. Cancer, cancer, cancer. Blah, blah, blah. We both agreed, it's time to move forward.

So, earlier in the day, mom and dad called after a check-up at Cleveland Clinic. The word for the day: REMISSION! It's the best news we've had in over 12 months. The heart is good, the blood cancer is in control. Life is back on track. Theirs and ours!

We ordered an extra glass of wine and raised a glass: "L'chaim!" ...to life!

Hello Spring!

I took advantage of the gorgeous Spring day and decided to shoot some photos for my 121 Collection website (yes, I do all the photography myself). I set myself up under the magnolia tree that's in full and glorious bloom at the end of the driveway. It wasn't long before I had an audience, and I couldn't resist his cuteness, so I snapped a couple of quick ones. Here's the best of the bunch!

Happy, happy Spring!