Recipe Reveal: Crostini with Roasted Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella

With a glass of chilled white wine, crunchy crostini topped with fresh mozzarella and roasted tomatoes makes a perfect summer lunch.

Technically, it’s not too hot to cook right now. The massive heat wave is over. So I have no excuse for not heating up the oven. Except I don’t feel like it.

I’ve been enjoying salads with chicken cooked on the grill, and cold soups like gazpacho. My husband is happy with stir fried meats and veggies, so we’re not missing the oven too much.

Raging Bullsh*t: David Ortiz, anatomy of poor sportsmanship

David Ortiz, an out of control raging bull.

Anyone who follows this blog or is in the least way acquainted with me knows I am a fan of the Boston Red Sox — bigtime.

I have been going to their games since I was a kid and in the past few years I’ve planned road trips to see them play across the U.S. and Canada.

But what Sox player David “Big Papi” Ortiz did last night was indefensible and Sox fans need to be the first to rally and call for harsh penalties against him.

Open Birthday Card to Mick Jagger

Happy Birthday to one of my heroes, Sir Michael Philip Jagger!

You turn 70 today. Wow.

I wonder how you’re spending the day?

Maybe you’ll play hooky from work and catch a baseball game, then take Keef and the boys to TK’s American Cafe sports bar in Danbury, Connecticut. At TK’s when it’s your birthday (ID required) they give you a free chicken wing for every year you were born. Man, that’s nearly six dozen wings! Mick, party of 12, right this way.

Another reason to love Nathan Lane

Actor Nathan Lane injured himself last night during a performance of The Nance on Broadway.

An accident occurred during the first act when he was stepping off a spinning turntable as a scene changed. He misjudged what he was doing and injured his foot and leg, and had to be replaced by his understudy Stephen DeRosa.

But the Broadway vet isn’t missing a beat. He got medical treatment and will be back on stage tonight according to a report on BroadwayWorld.com.

What a trouper and professional.

Remembering Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald

Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, one of America’s greatest literary muses, was born on this day, July 24, in 1900. Her husband F. Scott Fitzgerald dubbed her “The First American Flapper.”

The couple became a symbol of America, the Jazz Age, and the Roaring 20’s. A southern belle from a wealthy family, Zelda was the model for the elusive Daisy that Jay Gatsby ever so longed for and could never quite grasp.

Recipe Reveal: Cheers to the Royal Baby, Summer Berry Pudding

Thanks to the British for inventing Summer Berry Pudding.

Congratulations to Prince William and Duchess Kate on the birth of their baby boy. In their honor, I’d like to make something British. Berries are plentiful right now and it’s still too hot to bake, so how about a Summer Berry Pudding aka English Summer Pudding, which requires no baking.

The basic concept for Summer Berry Pudding is pretty straightforward. The traditional British version calls for fresh black currants and other berries sweetened with sugar then poured over sliced white bread in a bowl. The mixture is refrigerated and then unmolded to serve. It’s kind of like a lazy shortcake that does nothing but sit around and soak up juices. I know some guys like this. But say no more.

Despite scandals, Stew Leonard’s rings up the business

It’s hard to argue with the Stew Leonard’s customer service policy.

It’s the world’s largest dairy store according to Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and Fortune magazine calls it one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.”

You gotta hand it to Stew Leonard’s. When it comes to surviving a major tax evasion scandal, overcharging customers, and delaying a wrongful death lawsuit, the Leonard family has mastered the ability to live long and prosper. Paula Deen could learn a thing or two from them.

An Open Letter to Rolling Stone Magazine

Reblogged from A Glorious Mind.

Dear Rolling Stone,

I’m writing this open letter in response to your article this month, specifically the accompanying cover featuring a self-portrait of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, otherwise known as the “Boston Bomber.” I live in Boston, as do many of my family members and friends.

Boston is a truly incredible city. This was made even more clear by the aftermath of the horrific bombing on Marathon Monday. On the day that will live on in infamy for many years to come, I was safely ensconced in my office in Needham, a good distance outside the city.

You can go home again, but…

Former New Fairfield First Selectmen, me, Peggy, and Cheryl.

Thomas Wolfe said, “You can’t go home again.” Jay Gatsby didn’t get it. “Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can,” he said naively.

I tend to agree with Mr. Wolfe. You can’t go home again or repeat the past, and why would you want to? 

Jinkx Monsoon: A star is born

Jinkx Monsoon (Jerick Hoffer) and Major Scales (Richard Andriessen) following a performance of The Vaudevillians at the Laurie Beechman Theater in New York. —Patricia Gay photo

Every now and then you have an “Ah Ha” moment.

One came to me the other night in New York City while I was at the midnight show of The Vaudevillians, a musical-comedy cabaret act starring Jinkx Monsoon (Jerick Hoffer), winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season five.