IT'S NOW OR NEVER

Funny how quickly time passes by .. when we are busy with the every-day stuff of life.. going to work ... doing chores... cooking .. dealing with family and friends .. we don't think about time .. but if a slow minute comes upon us .. when things quiet down .. we have time to pause and look at our life .. then we can see that time just goes on it's merry way .. ticking by we get older ... our life gets shorter .. the things we want to do or plans we may have day dreamed about get pushed towards the back burner ....

How many times have you heard the expression " Life is not a dress rehearsal ".. if you stop to think about that saying you will realize that it rings true ...

Hey ! it's now or never ! take a look at your life .. your dreams .. your passion .. where did they go .. are you making time in your life for what you really want ? do you know what it is that you really want ?

Those answers don't come too easily .. you need to make space for your dreams .. you need to think about them plan them take steps towards them ..
you need to DO something !

I once overheard a conversation in a quiet little restaurant on the coast of Oregon .. a gentleman and his companion were sitting behind .. out of sight but not out of earshot .. they were talking about INTENTION & ACTION .. all of us at some point in our lives have INTENTION .. good intentions but do we always take action on those thoughts? .. if we don't .. if we don't make a effort to take a step towards our intention .. take some ACTION .. our intention becomes nothing .. just a dream .. never a reality
We can't sit and wait for a present to drop in our lap .. we need to start to make it happen .. show the universe and our selves that we are serious about what it is that we want in our life .
That is how things happen .. first you dream, then you think, then you do something and guess what .. then it happens ..
Our thoughts are real .. what we think of manifests itself in our lives ..
think good thoughts... think about what you want .. take the time to day dream in your daily life .. make plans .. then take steps to make those plans become a reality
the time is now .. your life is right now .. it's now or never .. make your life the best it can be .. everyday.. every minute ..
Be happy .. don't worry .. all good things will come to you !

"Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music."
Ronald Reagan
(1911-2004)

SUMMMER IS HERE

Well it's July ... how did that happen ? I know time goes by fast but sometimes it still amazes me just how quickly my life is going !

My Spring & Summer season of classes& day trips have come to an end .

Last night was "Be Good To Yourself Class" I cooked lots of fresh vegetables .. the food was vibrant and colorful .. Marilyn Firchow , a personal trainer came and did a presentation on simple things you could do to make your body stronger , healthier and incorporate fitness in you daily life .

It was a great class and it got me to thinking back on this season of classes and trips ... we have been to Chester County tasting the abundance that is at our doorstep .. we ventured into South Philadelphia on a Day "Shopping with Susan" tasting our way through family owned businesses and stocking our kitchens with all the good food to prepare a wonderful meal .. we went to Chinatown on a whirlwind tour .. learning the culture and enjoying the fascinating sights & sounds of Downtown Chinatown . We cooked our way through Tuscany with hands on classes and enjoyed the company of women at the Mother's Day Luncheon . We learned how to incorporate the Art of Fung Shui in our daily life adding passion & abundance and just plain good common sense to make our lives flow more smoothly.

It was a very busy , fun & informative season full of laughter and learning and meeting new Friends and spending time with others who have a passion for food and life!

The summer months of July & August are quieter as everyone is in a summer mood of relaxation and vacation .. but for me it is a time to start planning my fall & winter season .
I have lots of new ideas for the upcoming Autumn .. it is a favorite time of year for me .. a time for renewal and learning .. a time for entertaining and being with family & friends and a great time to go back to school .. so I hope you will check the web site & join me a an upcoming class or local adventure !

Have a great Summer !

Gavin Nicholas Martino

Great Grand~ Pop Armando
Dom & Carrie (Momma & Papa)
Nonna & Pop Pop


The baby was all smiles ... dressed in a beautiful Irish Linen Christening Gown and ready for the big day .
We arrived bearing food for the party afterwords .. some great antipasti and a few items for nibbling.. .the Prosecco was chilling as so apparently was Gavin... not a peep out of him as we passed him around for hugs and kisses and lots of pictures. His big brother Finn was very excited too ! lots of people in his house and a big party was in the making !
We drove to the beautiful church of St. Thomas in Glen Mills and gathered around Father Pete as he talked and joked with us .. it was a wonderful ceremony ... a ceremony that celebrated a new life and a new beginning . As Father Pete held up the baby and sang .. little Gavin smiled .. not one bit afraid !
We were all so proud & happy to be together for this very special day !

OUTDOOR CELEBRATIONS

Outdoor Celebrations

Summer is here and with the warmer weather comes outdoor entertaining. Here are some great recipes to make your parties fun and delicious. Great do ahead recipes for a colorful and flavorful way to entertain !


Blue cheese Coleslaw

2 cups coleslaw mix } combine in a bowl & toss with dressing
1 cup shredded carrots }
1 cup shredded purple cabbage }

1 cup Hellman mayo } whisk together & gently toss with cabbage
2 Tbsp grain mustard } mixture and crumbled blue cheese
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar }
1 tsp celery seeds }
Salt & pepper }
1 cup crumbled blue cheese


Greek Pasta Salad

1 LB of pasta cooked , drained & cool
1 cup grape tomatoes
3 cucumbers , peel , seed & dice
1 red onion diced
1/2 cup feta crumbles
1/2 cup imported black olives

Dressing

6 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt & pepper

~combine ingredients for dressing and toss with pasta & veggies

T~Ball

My life is a little different now that I have 5 grandsons ...my house is full of baskets and boxes of toys.. Tractor Trailers.. Dump Trucks... Firetrucks .. Monster Trucks .. Race Cars .. small cars .big cars .. you name it- any type of transportation there is ~ I have .My past interest in sports has been only that .. an interest in passing .. but now we watch Hockey ,Baseball, Basketball, Nascar~ ( always loved that ) I now know the names & scores of all of these teams ..

Hundreds of wiffle balls litter my back yard .. I have about 8 plastic bats along with a orange cone that we use as a batting T... so we can practice when the weather is nice .. with the arrival of spring comes softball or T-Ball season .. so we are off to watch these little guys play T- ball .. it is so much fun .. some of these kids are no higher than my hip and the bat is bigger than them ! they hit the ball and run to 3rd instead of 1st .. they are in the field playing with the dirt instead of watching the ball .. but not Christopher ... he is Ryan Howard at bat .. pointing to the sky where he wants to hit the ball .. nodding his head at us when we wave and shout .. he is serious .. and he is all business on the field .. 5 years old and he plays like a professional on the Phillies Team !
The Defenders !!! we shout and wave .. scream encouragement and buy $1 hot dogs for dinner !
Sports are a wonderful way for kids & parents to enjoy themselves .. .. there are about 5 playing fields where we go and everyone of them is full with kids .. playing ball , laughing and having fun .. along with their parents and grandparents .. it is a fun place to be ! For the whole family !!

MOTHERS DAY LUNCH

Every year we celebrate Mother's Day in my garden ! with mouthwatering food .. great music and the company of someone special .. we get together to enjoy this special occasion. This has been an on~ going tradition for the past 10 years ..Family , neighbors ,friends & clients gather together to celebrate that someone special in their lives .. After almost two weeks of rain the sun was shining and the breeze was blowing .. it was a fabulous sunny day .. tables set with wild flowers filled the yard ..The promise of a delicious lunch shared with friends , laughter and happiness for a beautiful day .. it was a day to celebrate.. a day to relax and enjoy.. a day to be in the company of loving and caring women ! I hope you enjoyed your Mother's day too !

SHOPPING WITH SUSAN

This is a trip we take every Spring .. when the weather is warming and our thoughts turn to cooking and family celebrations .." Shopping with Susan" .. that's me ! is a fun day !

We start off here at my house around 9 in the morning .. we climb into a roomy van .. with my husband Clint as our driver and we're off !! We make several stops and they are all place where I buy my ingredients for catering and for my cooking classes as well as food for my family .. you get to shop where I shop .. small family owned businesses where everyone is friendly and the food is phenomenal .. service is above and beyond and freshness is a requirement .

These wonderful shop owners are waiting for us.. Prosciutto .. cheeses , olives breads .. in our first stop with just filled cannolis ready for us to taste .. on to the pasta store .. we get a tour of how fresh pasta is made ... filling ravioli right before our eyes and we buy them right off the press ! Then onto the butcher .. a small store run by a father and son .. they do so much business that it is double park heaven .. a South Philly thing ! .. meats cut and trimmed right before your eyes .. ground meat to die for and steaks to make your mouth water ! Laughing and joking along with compliments to all the beautiful women put us all in a good mood as we head to our last stop .. a small little Italian import grocery store .. tucked away on a corner .. you would not even know it was there .. we are welcomed with a platter of cut imported Italian cheese and home made supersaudes& salami, fragrant olive oils and crusty Italian bread for dipping .. luscious olives and imported cakes and cookies from Italy .. Italian music plays in the background as we sample all the Goodies and load up the van with our purchases ..

We are off to Lunch .. a typical red gravy restaurant ..complete with Frank Sinatra pictures . The food is fresh and good and we relax with a glass of wine and enjoy a wonderful lunch .. reliving our day ..planing our dinners and laughing and sharing stories ..

It is a wonderful day filled with fun, food and lots of laughter .. join me in one of my day trips .. it will be an experience yo won't easily forget !