Hungry Food Love

Flourless Mud Pie Cookies

Passion Fruit Mousse Napoleon

Pork Empanadas

Apple Pie Pancakes with Caramel Marscapone

Have I made you hungry yet?

These are just a few of the recipes you will find in Melissa's Blog, Hungry Food Love.

Melissa loves food and finds that she is always hungry! Her favorite past times are cooking and eating, and she enjoys demonstrating love through food and sharing her recipes with her followers. Along with her passion for cooking she, also, has a goal of raising awareness and money for the kids who suffer from hunger in her home country of the Dominican Republic.

Her recipes are easy to follow and she includes many photos to help if you are uncertain about what to do next. Her pictures make my mouth water as I read them. I definitely have to try some of these out!

Visit www.hungryfoodlove.com to see this Top 100 Food Blogger's creations and challenge yourself to make some of these delicious dishes!

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We are ready for Saturday's craft show at Rensselaer High School! New designs, and a new display await customers. Take a few minutes to visit the show and help the class of 2014 as they try to offset some of the costs of their prom and banquet. Visiting the show is a sure cure for cabin fever which we are all suffering from this winter!

The show runs from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. Mention this blog post and receive 15% off your purchase at Cruisin' Creations booth!

25 Van Rensselaer Drive

Rensselaer, NY 12144

Until next time...

Diane

Raising Minimum Wage

So, I've been listening to and reading the arguments, both pro and con about raising the minimum wage, and have decided that we are looking at the wrong issue. Since the 1960s we have been spending vast amounts of money to bring people out of poverty and our poverty rate, today, is higher than ever! So, I ask, is that approach working? It doesn't look like it to me.

In all my years, and there have been a lot of them, I have never seen minimum wage succeed in raising people out of poverty. It seems that whenever minimum wage is raised so is the price of staples like milk, eggs, bread, gas, etc.; no one ever gets ahead. So, let's look at this a different way.

Instead of raising the minimum wage to raise people out of poverty why don't we encourage people to get the education and training they need to work at a job that will pay them a living wage? Having a good job can be a means for elevating oneself out of poverty. How does one get a good job? By having a strong work ethic and having the necessary skills to perform the tasks of the job. How does one learn those skills? Education, apprenticeships, technical schools, etc. People need training to be hired for good paying jobs!

It seems lately everyone wants to give everything to people who are in need. The old saying, "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime." holds true here. Lets put the emphasis on education to help people improve their economic situation.

I'm not saying that we should throw more money at education, but I do believe we, as a society, and families individually need to put more importance on education so that individuals will develop the skills they need to enjoy a better quality of life.

Thanks for reading my point of view!

Until next time...

Diane

So Much Local Talent!

Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christy, have you seen it? It's currently playing at Home Made Theater at the Spa Little Theater in Saratoga Springs, NY. Wonderful performance!!! Not being too familiar with Agatha Christy I was totally stunned by the ending! The set was very cleverly designed and easily changed for each scene.

We spent Sunday afternoon enjoying Witness for the Prosecution with friends. As I was watching this group of talented performers I couldn't help but ask myself, "Why don't we do this more often?" There are so many amateur performance venues in the area where we could support the local arts and enjoy a good plot line while spending time away from home and the TV. 

Of course, Saratoga is a gem of a city on its own so I must mention that after the performance we enjoyed delicious burgers at Druthers, and participated in Sunday night trivia at Circus Cafe. What a busy and fun day!

If you can't make this performance of Witness for the Prosecution which ends on February 23 perhaps you would be interested in their next play, Boeing Boeing. The information below on Boeing, Boeing is from the Home Made Theater website.

“This latest edition of a play named for an aircraft soars right out of its time zone and into some unpolluted stratosphere of classic physical comedy.” – The New York Times

It’s the 1960s, and swinging bachelor Bernard couldn’t be happier: a flat in Paris and three gorgeous stewardesses all engaged to him without knowing about each other. But Bernard’s perfect life gets bumpy when a new and speedier Boeing jet throws off all of his careful planning. Soon all three stewardesses are in town simultaneously and catastrophe looms. A riotous farce is now set to arrive in Jet City—fasten your seat belts!

April 18, 19, 25, 26, & May 2, 3 – 8:00pm
April 27 & May 4 – 2:00pm
Tickets $26/$23

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Don't miss our first event of 2014 and rid yourself of some cabin fever while you shop the more that 45 crafters who will be selling their creations at this show!

Rensselaer High School Craft Fair

9 am - 2 pm

25 Van Rensselaer Drive

Rensselaer, NY

This event is sponsored by and benefits the Class of 2014!

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Looking for a way to help others while you shop for yourself? By purchasing different colored items at Cruisin' Creations you are helping a variety of organizations.

Purchase these colors and 10% will be donated to:

Red - American Heart Association

Pink - American Cancer Society

Purple - Alzheimer's Association

Visit our website www.cruisincreations.etsy.com to view our full line and make your purchase.

Until next time...

Diane

A Gem In Buffalo

Finding a good Italian restaurant in other parts of this country that matches the flavor and ambiance of our favorite, Canali's in Rotterdam, NY, is difficult, but I think we have finally found one in Buffalo! While there are many in the Buffalo area with decent food the owners of this restaurant go out of their way to make you feel like you are part of the family. And perhaps we are as the owner, Rick, and I discussed the parts of Italy that our families are from.

The restaurant? Caramici's Bistro and Bakery at 1501-1503 Hertel Avenue. The owners Diane and Rick Serra are so friendly and accommodating that if you are dissatisfied in any way they will fix it immediately! We had a very pleasant and tasty meal so we didn't experience this first hand but could see by how they treated their customers that they are there to please.

Before the meal we snacked on warm Italian bread dipped in an olive oil and herb mixture. Very tasty! I ordered the pasta and broccoli. It's a dish I love but never prepare at home. Usually when I order it out it comes swimming in a dish of olive oil and loaded with way too much garlic. Not this time! The sauce was flavorful, but not overwhelming. There was just enough in the bottom of the dish to soak up with more of that warm bread! For dessert I ordered a chocolate cannoli. Delicious! And the plate was beautifully garnished!

Their motto is "Where 'dear friends' meet". We definitely made friends Saturday night.

If you're ever in Buffalo, NY I highly recommend that you check them out! 
www.caramicis.com.
www.facebook.com/caramicis

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As many of your know, Cruisin' Creations likes to give back to the community. Starting this month I will donate 10% from the purchase of any red items to the American Heart Association. This program will continue throughout the year and is in addition to the donations made to the American Cancer Society for pink purchases and the Alzheimer's Association for purple purchases. Why not treat yourself to something special and help out these worthy organizations?

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The first show of the year has been booked! Join Cruisin' Creations on March 1, 2014 at the Rensselaer High School Craft Fair, 25 Van Rensselaer Drive, Rensselaer, NY. There will be at least 45 crafters at this show. The show benefits the Rensselear High School Class of 2014.

Bed Head, Legalizing Marijuana, and Other Musings

So, this week's post is on several things that have confounded me lately. While I don't want to get into a debate on each, I simply want to point out these observations.

Have you noticed the epidemic of bed head lately? I've noticed this for the past couple of years. It does not discriminate and can be observed on anyone. Because of this observation I make sure the back of my head has been combed before I leave the house.

Lately there is so much news about legalizing marijuana. Now, I'm not going to get into all of the legal and addictive arguments about this issue. I have one simple question. If smoking cigarettes is so dangerous for us and many are going after big corporations who have, supposedly, made cigarettes so addictive then why would anyone be advocating for the legalization of marijuana? Don't you have to inhale? Isn't that bad for your lungs? What about second hand smoke? Hmmmm???

So, I've registered all of our phones with the Do Not Call Registry at least twice since the first of the year and am still getting annoying calls from charities, magazines, credit card services, senior services, and power companies. Why are they not honoring the Do Not Call Registry? I found out they don't have to because the calls are not coming from the United States. Guess I have to spend money and get caller ID so I can screen these annoying calls...

So, I'm selling my designs at a craft show this past fall and have a brief conversation with a heavily tattooed gentleman. It is my understanding that tattoos can be very expensive so I can only imagine the hundreds of dollars he has spent for this body art. At some point during the conversation he mentions that he is on Medicaid. So, I start thinking...he can afford all these tattoos, but has to have taxpayers pay for his medical benefits. Hmmm? 

OK, I'll stop now...

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February is here and with that a new birthstone necklace is being unveiled. 

Actually, there are two necklaces this month. 

One is knitted with amethyst Swarovski crystals; 

the other with amethyst Czech beads.

Amethyst Swarovski Crystals are knitted into this soft white nylon yarn.
So light and airy, you won't even know you are wearing it, but  others will!

Amethyst Czech beads in different sizes and colors add such interest to this piece.
Click on Sets to view this necklace and bracelet set at Cruisin' Creations.
I recently wore a necklace like this to a doctor's appointment. 
It created such a stir with those working in the office! They loved it and placed orders!

Mother's and Grandmother's necklaces and bracelets are also available.
Simply visit my website, www.cruisincreations.etsy.com, and tell me the months you want included when you place your order and I will design a special piece for you!

Until next time...

Diane