Monthly Archives: July 2015

Artichoke Pasta Sauce

Recipe,

Artichoke Pasta Sauce
I love to find easy recipes that I can whip up in a short period of time, especially after a long day at work. You can’t get much easier than this Artichoke Pasta Sauce recipe and it is always a hit. If you don’t like mushrooms, just leave them out. If you like capers add a bunch, if you don’t like capers just add a few.

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup butter
2 T. flour
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cloves minced garlic
1 cup sauteed good quality sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Capers and finely chopped parsley
2 cans artichoke hearts – chopped
Linguini noodles

Cook oil, butter, flour and chicken broth until it thickens. Add garlic, artichoke hearts, lemon juice and cheese.  Continue cooking until flavors blend. Add capers and chopped parsley. Cook linguini, drain and mix with sauce. Garnish with a sprig of basil.

 

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I Just Don’t Get It

Walkabouts, ,

Scan_Pic0002I was listening to the radio the other day and caught a conversation about why women should not use the word just. I thought about it for a moment. I use this word all the time. Apparently, this trend began with an article by Ellen Leanse, former Google executive. The gist of what bothers Leanse about the word is, “it is a “permission” word – a warm-up to a request, an apology for interrupting.” Women tend to use the word far more than men. This post has received over 3 million views.

I write a few blog posts and I am quite positive I have over-used the word just; If not on my blog posts, certainly in my email correspondence. That is until I heard the radio spot and read some blogs posts about the use of the word. Now I catch myself deleting the word. I don’t know if there is a bit of validity to the negative connotation, but there may be. I looked the word up in the dictionary and it is synonymous to exactly and precisely. Another definition: to an exact degree or in an exact manner. That doesn’t sound apologetic to me. But that is just me. You can find a tremendous number of articles about the use of the word just; both praising the article and condemning it. You can come to your own conclusion. I certainly find it entertaining.

4th Street Chronicle – The Next Phase

Loveland, , , ,

4th Street Chronicle Newspaper

When I read the latest issue of the 4th Street Chronicle, at first I was sad to see that the founding members (Erin Borsdorf and Jenna Gronberg) were turning the newspaper over to Robbyn Wood. But then I saw a full page article written by Erin Borsdorf about her recent trip to Homer, Alaska. Erin will be writing the travel column for the 4th Street Chronicle. I know that Erin’s plate is quite full, running her successful restaurant/bar – Generations Wine and Martini Bar. I hold Erin in high regard; she has worked diligently in her business since opening in January 2012. You can find an article that I wrote about Erin at: LCBD Rising Star.  I am happy to see that Erin will be squeezing in time to be a contributing writer for the newspaper and that Lauren Stevens will continue to proof the paper.

Robbyn Wood has several years experience publishing local community newspapers and is a former resident of Loveland, CO. It is heart-warming for me to look through the 4th Street Chronicle, as I always see Loveland Center for Business Development (LCBD) clients in the articles and advertisements. It thrills me to see the businesses get recognition and exposure.

The cost of print advertising is so high that most small businesses can’t afford to enter that area of marketing. The 4th Street Chronicle has reasonable rates and those ads encourage people to get out and spend their money in Downtown Loveland.

I believe in having multiple sources for getting local news. We tread on dangerous ground when there is only one voice being heard. The first issue of the 4th Street Chronicle was distributed in November, 2013. I hope to see the paper thrive and continue to exist for many years to come.

Aspiring to Win

Sports, , ,

2015 Women's World CupMy grandson has a saying, “If you think you can do it, you can do it.” That was certainly the attitude of the U.S. team during the final game of the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

I don’t normally enjoy watching televised sports. That was the case until I watched the Women’s World Cup final on July 5, 2015. I was mesmerized by the incredible athletic skill of the players; the footwork seemed to be a magical dance. I will now be a fan of anything related to this tournament. The United States Women’s National Team won their third Women’s World Cup title on Sunday by defeating Japan 5-2. Soccer is a team sport and it takes a team to win, but this World Cup was clearly Carli Lloyd’s tournament. Lloyd will go down in sports history as the first woman to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final and the cherry on the Sunday, receiving the Golden Ball and the Silver Boot trophies. After the game, the coach of the U.S. team said to a reporter, (talking about Lloyd) “She is my beast.”

The discussions regarding the 2015 Women’s World Cup being played on artificial turf will most likely continue for years. The U.S. Team should be commended for conquering the difficulties and dangers of playing on artificial turf. I have a hard time understanding why a tournament location wasn’t picked that offered natural grass, since this is the first time in either men’s or women’s World Cup history that an artificial turf arena has been chosen.

A Nike television commercial aired after the World Cup to the tune of “American Woman” by The Guess Who. The commercial showcased the ardent training of female soccer players; featuring Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, Carli Lloyd, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe. This commercial was a perfect ending to an amazing tournament. The phrase, “Strong Alone. Champions Together.” was the last shot in the commercial.