The winner is Algae

Oh, winter, your power is waning. You have but 3 more days to strut around as the king of the hill. You couldn't drop but a puny inch upon my fair meadow and that after hours of crying at the realization of your imminent demise. I curse you maven of white and ice, and condemn you to another long wait before I consent to cast my eyes your way.

Your wildly whipping winds do not deter my assuredness of final success. Green, in a thousand different pigments, sneaks with barely audible tiptoe into place, poised to erupt on Saturday that blessed of all days. Green, green, how green is my valley, sleeves or gables? I love you with an ardent need to escape this whirling madness of white. I have become quite mad in this blizzard of whiteout. But ah, in mind's eye, green winks at me, and I rejoice, chewing the parsley with renewed vigor. I am green!

Well hello there, didn't hear you come in. Me? Oh that wasn't me. Just a phantom or phantasm of the wood lurking near. I am come to give you linkages to lands not yet discovered and wonders that will amaze and shock and raise you from the doldrums of your winter sadness. Come, follow me.
___________________
If you have never had this treat, trust me. So good you could just die. What are I referring to? Caramelized onions! and here is a recipe that combines them with broccoli, another favorite of mine. Add some pasta and ya gotta meal, ya know what I mean? Try Broccoli with Caramelized Onions and Pasta at Coconut & Lime.
___________________
___________________
Pioneer Woman tells us a bit about ranches versus farms, as well as enlightening us on hair color. This is one talented woman who can talk probably about anything at all and remain interesting and funny.
___________________
___________________
I adore pancakes and make them often. And never from a box with pancakes written on it. The fallacy that these boxed creations are fast is silly, they save at best 5 minutes and most of us can spare that to make it from real food. Why our mothers gave into that "new" product back in the 50-60's and stopped cooking real food is beyond me. The taste difference is obvious. I never liked biscuits until I made my own. Now, I make them a couple a times a month. Epicurious gives us a recipe from Bon Apetit for "Whole grain pancakes with wild bluberry maple sauce."
___________________
___________________
Today seems to be my day. I love love love hummus, and have eaten a good deal of it in authentic Greek restaurants. Here's a very good recipe that I am sure going to try. Just give me some pita bread and I can eat this until its gone! Family Style Food checks in with this recipe:
"Chickpea and sun dried tomato hummus.
___________________
___________________
Free Sample Forager has some info on cat food and and a number of other freebies, mostly I think for Walmart. Check to be sure. Hey It's Free has a link to a free Mario game download from the internet.
___________________
___________________
I make jams and jellies since I can't eat the commercial ones. A watermelon jelly is over at Homemade Jam and Jelly Recipes. Of course, I'll not be making this until the late summer, but wow, I am going to give this one a try for sure. This will go nicely with the crab apple jelly I'm planning to make also this late summer.
___________________
___________________
We got dinosaurs in IOWA! Wow, Jeannelle says so. I'm excited and ready to go out lookin. I was all excited from reading the feed, and went to her site, and its, well, not a very imposing dinosaur. I'm disappointed. Well go and see it. It's another mystery photo...I think it looks like a lot of beetles lined up in a row.
___________________
___________________
I've been running into marmalade recipes lately, and well, I get more and more intrigued with them for some reason. Elegance perhaps. I think they would work nicely with chicken dishes. This is a lemon marmalade, and calls for Meyer lemons. I don't think Walmart is that fussy, so you may have to use just regular ones. Still the recipe looks good. The directions are superb and the pictures are very helpful. Don't be afraid to try this one.
___________________
___________________
Need an appetizer for a fancy smansy type gathering? I have just the one for you, and not a toughie either. "Golden Statue Bruschetta" is offered at the The Inadvertent Gardener." This could be nice as an Easter dinner starter!
___________________
___________________
If you love Applebee's "Garlic Mashed Potatoes" here is the recipe stolen by The Secret Recipe Blog. Well I'm sure they didn't steal it. I've tried a few of these "stolen" recipes and they are perfect as far as I can tell. I make "cinnabuns" several times a year. And I always make Outbacks's blue-cheese dressing.
___________________
___________________
On the other hand if marinades is what you are seeking, and you knew you were, here's an interesting one that I think I'll keep in mind for the summer grilling season. Called "Spiedie Marinade" (they will explain), it's worth a try.
___________________
___________________
Over at the Yarn Harlot, she'll tell you all about her escapades in hooking. :) Okay, so I stole it from her, sue me! But be sure to read her post. I'm starting to wonder who her psychiatrist is, and when the book is coming out. I love this girl's blog! And by the way, she has a very useful tip about this subject.
___________________
___________________
Since this blog is always so somber, I will include a joke so the trip is worthwhile. Ta Ta until tomorrow or the guys in the white coats and butterfly nets arrive by snowmobile. It could happen. I'm not crazy, nope, I'm quite sure of that.
___
Two blondes were flying to Miami from Cleveland. Fifteen minutes into the flight, the captain announced "One of the engines has failed and the flight will be an hour longer. But don't worry we have three engines left".
Thirty minutes later, the captain announced "One more engine has failed and the flight will be two hours longer. But don't worry we have two engines left".
An hour later the captain announced "One more engine has failed and the flight will be three hours longer. But don't worry we have one engine left".
One blonde looked at the other the other blonde and said "If we lose one more engine, we'll be up here all day"