Stacie has communicated with me several times privately. She has a lot on her plate personally now. I've promised confidentiality but I believe she'd feel it OK if I just said that she's strong, doing what needs doing, & will be back when she's able. To the best of my knowledge, the family & kids are OK. Stacie needs our continued prayers but I know this group has never stopped holding her hand. /tricia

Well, I thought I had better post here since I was asked to join this swap after-the-fact because someone "had" to drop out after they already had their partner. Sorry, Ann, for the horrible bind that that put you in. First of all, I do want the person I am sending to to know that I am delighted to send to him/her. I haven't done a swap in some time, and I think this one will be fun. Now, a little about me for my new swap partner. I love kitchen gadgets. My kitchen and dining room are yellow, red, blue. I love wine. I really love and need serving bowls. I love eclectic but I hate polka dots. I love aprons, and can't get enough of them. I love regional stuff, including foods. My wish book is the King Arthur flour catalog. I am on Weight Watchers, but I still love to make (and eat) breads. I love to cook, but love to bake even more. I love to look at jams and jellies, although I seldom eat them, but I don't really need any more. I have enough to last 10 years or more. I love dark chocolate, hate milk chocolate. Oh wait, I forgot! The theme for this swap is stuff that YOU love. Well, I guarantee that I will love what you send me. I am like a kid in a candy store when a swap package arrives! I will be easy to buy for, I promise. Sherry

Stacie, I love that your kids are such good eaters. Ilene, I could be wrong, but I thought that it was best to avoid peanuts and peanut butter during pregnancy. There is some connection to Asthma and peanuts, peanut butter and other nuts as well as causing an allergy to peanuts. I think there are a number of ways to add vegetables to baked goods, but i don't think it is ever okay to sneak them in and lie about them being in there. If I know someone hates zucchini or carrots, or squash, I would never serve them something with those ingredients with out first telling them. Here are a couple of recipes to use up some zucchini. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table ======================================================= Adapted from: Krinos Foods (The original recipe called for a large can of tomatoes and did not include garlic or oregano.) Green Bean, Zucchini and Potato Stew (Fassolakia Iadera)This is a traditional vegetable mixture that is often eaten cold, accompanied by hunks of country bread and feta cheese . 1/4 cup olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 clove of garlic, minced 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed, halved crosswise 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 8 ounces zucchini, cut into 1-inch-thick slices 8 ounces russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes 3/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh oregano chopped (or dried) 1 14 ounce can of Italian-style tomatoes, chopped. 1/2 cup chicken broth . Heat oil in heavy large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saut5 minutes.Add Garlic and green beans and sauté until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add zucchini, potatoes, cayenne pepper, parsley and oregano. Pour tomatoes and their juices over vegetables. Add chicken broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, stirring frequently, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Can be prepared 1 day ahead -- cover and refrigerate. Serve warm or at room temperature. 6 To 8 Servings Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table ============================ These can be made earlier in the day and heated for dinner. Tomato and Zucchini Tambourines 2 zucchini 2 Tablespoon butter 1 garlic clove, finely minced 4 teaspoons finely minced shallots 1 tomato diced salt and pepper 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese . Preheat oven to 400 degrees Slice zucchini into 1 1/2 to 2inch chunks (little logs) In a saucepan filled with lightly salted boiling water, cook zucchini pieces for 5 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain Scoop out pulp, but not too deeply,leave 1/4 to 1/2 inch bottom. Chop pulp and set aside. In a skillet, melt butter and cook zucchini pulp along with garlic, shallots and diced tomatoes until liquid has completely evaporated. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Stuff each zucchini tambourine with filling and heat in oven for 5 minutes and serve.

Stick to your guns Susie. I can feel your tension and hope you take good care of yourself. You will never be there for mom if you don't attend to your needs first. Being healthy and strong allows you to give more with less effort. Sounds like your mom is throwing a guilt trip at you so shrug it off. So hard when you want to help someone and they turn good intentions against you. Moms good luck with all those children... hope the sicky ones recover, those to be come healthy, and those that hope find their dreams. I didn't post yesterday as I was on the road for hours. My alma matter had invited me to attend a lunch/lecture/ and what was probably a wake. A dear departed "sociological technologist" was appreciated with a presentation of his final study given by one of his associates. Lunch was steak strips with a fancy peppery sauce. My table was joined by three beautiful current students happy to enjoy a free lunch. I couldn't hear those across the table from me but the young lady next to me was excited about pursuing a career in enviromental law. We had an alumni at the table currently working in that field so the talk was hot and heavy about what law school might be a good choice. The study was presented after lunch and was about the Internet habits of young people. It looked at the integration of technology into the social lives of high school students... facebook, my space, and creative outlets. Later we met in a quiet room of mostly faculty and memories of the late 60's and 70's and the school's founding were shared by those who were at the scene of the crime. Then we got down to business with cocktails and a connection time. I was a bit of an oddity because most students are fairly wealthy and go on to graduate programs and fancy careers. The college has some intest in using me as an example of what can be done with a liberal arts education without law school. They like that I was able to reinvent myself over and over to meet the challenges of my life. For awhile I sat with the Dean and drunkenly bent his ear about skills I've found critical but aquired after school. I stopped for a burger at a the Harrison Roadhouse which is just off campus and sobered up for the long drive home. For me drunk is about three drinks these days so an hour and food was plenty to get me on my way. I so needed that touching back with a place and people that gave me my adult life. Back to work today. A pocket full of business cards and head full of projects. : ) lyra