Thank you! ... and a Question

I want to thank you all for your kind comments and words of affirmation on the new blog design. I have to admit I had a moment of panic the minute I hit that button and applied the changes to my blog. I've never been much good at change, and part of me missed that riot of noxious pink the moment it was gone.

For the sake of posterity, I'm preserving a bit of "Diva Pink" in the banner - at least for now. Or until I finally get off my ass and make a real header ... but don't hold your breath for that ... unless you've got 911 on speed-dial.

I've added a recent comments link in the column at right. I think it helps to foster a sense of community and I hope it will help you to more easily visit your fellow "Beach-goers" and discover some cool new blogs in the process.

Speaking of comments, I've had a spate of spam lately ... and a most insidious form of spam it is, too. Cloaked in the guise of semi-constructive / negative comments, this new form of spammer seeks to promote whatever it is they are promoting by pretending to be a person and leaving provocative comments - in hopes that readers will click on their name and be directed to their site. If you do, you'll be directed to any number of commercial websites. Its maddening!

I've been deleting them, but its happening with greater frequency.

I'm debating moving to comment moderation mode, but I'm not wild about the idea. I'm frequently away and I think it would be frustrating for you to post a comment in good faith, yet not have it appear for a few days. In particular, I'm concerned about weekends, when I'm rarely near a computer. Which leads me to my question of the day:

How do you feel about comment moderation? Would it frustrate you to leave a comment on a Friday and not have it appear until Monday? Would that inhibit you from commenting?

Please feel free to state your honest opinion in the comments. I want you to enjoy your experience here on Beach Eats and I appreciate your input.

Meanwhile, its pouring today and I couldn't be happier about it. The skies are gray, the temp is a shocking, and most welcome, 68 degrees at present and I am loving every minute of it. Such a relief after the relentless heat we've had this summer. I'd say its a perfect day for baking, but I'm consumed with more mundane and less tasty chores today.

I hope to have one or two yummy bites for you later on in the week, but for now, its back to the chores.

Happy Monday, and thanks again!

New Look!

I've been meaning to change the look of this blog for ages now. I think I'm over the pepto-bismol pink, and maybe you are too. So here we are.

I'm guessing this will be a work in progress and I fiddle and futz with it, tweaking to get the colors and the layout just right. Please be patient if the blog looks a little wonky over the next few days. It may take some time to work out the kinks.

I suppose at some point I'll get around to designing a header ... all in due time. Rome wasn't built in a day.

It seems I've somehow lost my print-fast button in the change over, so I'll be working on that as well. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, Diva Cat Lucy and I wish you all a beautiful weekend!

Cheers!

Off-line Update ...

Life in Divaland has been a crazy ordeal of computer hijinks this past week. Its a long story and I'll not bore you with it now. Suffice it to say that my beloved Toshiba laptop is dead ... and she was only 3 months shy of her 4th birthday. Le sigh. Does anyone ever get more than 4 years out of a computer? I never have.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be made, though I did observe a moment, er make that 3 days, of silence. Woe is me.

In short, I will not be back in business here on the blog until Monday, October 19th. That, too, is a long story and I will tell it to you then. I've missed you all and will look forward to catching up on the 19th.

Happy weekend and happy cooking!

~Diva

AFB

Greetings, Kittens! As it turns out, I've been Away From Blog for the latter part of this week. And, sadly, I left you all very thirsty this Thursday. So sorry about that!

We'll return to our regularly scheduled Thirsty Thursdays next week and I'll be back with a new post on Monday. Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers!

Happy Spring!

Just a quick post to wish everyone a very Happy Spring holiday ... whichever one you are celebrating ... or even if you're not celebrating! The Diva family is preparing to celebrate and one of my tasks today is to recreate the demented little lambie cake I made last year. He may look fluffy and white ... but he's a black sheep on the inside ... dark chocolate to be exact. Yum!

Will post a round-up of our Easter dining festivities on Monday. Until then, I wish you a joyous and wonderful weekend.

Bon appetit!

Housekeeping: Weekend Edition

My stove is missing me again. With the hockey game on Tuesday and Book Club on Wednesday, I haven't had a chance to create much in the way of culinary greatness. I had intended to write about our Book Club meal today ... but as it turns out, there wasn't much to recommend. The discussion was great, but the food unremarkable. Also, the husband has surprised me by taking the afternoon off - a much needed break for him.

We're going to pump some dollars into the economy, check out the recently opened Museum of Arts & Design at Columbus Circle and possibly a new wine bar. I'll be toting my camera along and if there's anything to report or recommend, I'll post it next week.

I expect to be reunited with the stove over the weekend, so stay tuned for a new recipe on Monday.

So, what's on the agenda for your weekend? Curious Diva wants to know.

Bon appetit!

Housekeeping: Linkage Edition

First off, a belated and truly heartfelt thanks to The Vintage Kitten for bestowing her Fabblog award on me! Quite chic, isn't it? This means a lot coming from The Vintage Kitten because for my money she has one of the most interesting and stylish blogs around. If you've not been to her site, do have a look - she's funny, talented and altogether delicious. Her photography is quite something too. Kitten and I are of the same ilk ... we're both rule breakers of a sort ... so I'm not going to post any rules about this here either. I will, however, pass my award along to the following individuals:

Food for Laughter, Life, Lightly Salted, Jamjarsuperstar, Uncommon Artistic Endeavors and The Duo Dishes. Enjoy your award and feel free to pass it on, or not, as you see fit. I could have given this to literally all the blogs on my read list ... but that could take days! Frankly I think you're all fabulous. Really!

Earlier in the week, The Duo Dishes tagged me with the Luck and Resolutions Meme, in which you're supposed to list four things that you wish for in the new year and four resolutions. Well, you all know how I feel about resolutions ... but I'll make an exception in this case and offer four food related resolutions for the New Year.

Four Things I Wish for in 2009:

• Health and happiness for my family, my friends, myself and all my readers.
  

• That the economy will make a miraculous recovery and all those who lost jobs in 2008 will find even better jobs in 2009.

• Peace on Earth - yes, its a bit Polly Anna, but I'm sincere in my wish.

• More travel, more vacations. This one is contingent upon the husband, of course, but a girl can dream!

Four Food Resolutions for 2009:

• Form a better relationship with my crock pot. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

• Continue my exploration of chickpea flour.
  

• To try more new restaurants, to branch out instead of sticking with the tried and true.

• Continue to eat well with an eye toward health, and continue to create new, healthier versions of old favorites.

And there you have it, my slightly off-beat resolutions for 2009. Once again, I'm going to break the rules ... if you're reading this and would like to use it on your own blog - consider yourself tagged and resolve away! No need to make them food related either - that was my change.

So, what are your food resolutions for 2009? Hungry Diva wants to know.

Bon appetite!

Housekeeping: Extended Version

Its been awhile since we've seen the virtual housekeeper - and, unfortunately, she'll be here for a few days. While I'd normally be getting a jump start on the Thanksgiving prep this weekend, instead I'm packing up my bags and heading off to the parental units for a bit.

Mama Diva - a.k.a. "pixelgal" - is having knee replacement surgery on Monday and, worrywart that I am, I need to be there to monitor her progress. If all goes as expected, I should be back in the city and ready to cook again on Wednesday.

I'll check in from the road with an update on Mama Diva sometime on Monday. In the meanwhile, tell me what you've got planned for Thanksgiving. Hungry Diva want to know!

Have a great weekend and make it ... Divalicious!

Confessions ...

I admit it, I have a deep personal commitment to black pepper ... well, all pepper really, but especially black. I put it on and in everything - I even like it in sweet things sometimes. I cannot and will not eat any soup without black pepper and I prefer it freshly ground. Needless to say, pepper mills are important to me. And, sadly, I have yet to find one I truly love.

Above you can see my (over-exposed) current pepper mills. Neither is exactly right. The small one is part of a salt and pepper set - and really, its kind of useless. It needs to be refilled every five minutes. I bought it because I was enticed by the brushed stainless steel exterior. I like shiny things! Its cute, but very high maintenance. (Not unlike myself.) On the plus side, it does a great job offering a variety of textures. It can grind the pepper very fine and also works well for course grinding. That's essential. If only it were larger, I might have found my ideal ... but, no.

On the right is my sexy Peugeot mill. I bought it when I finally got tired of filling the little guy. I adore the color and its nicely sized - it has yet to need refilling - but the grind is somewhat disappointing. For finely ground pepper its outstanding; perfect for use at table. As for course grinds, well its largely ineffective. Between the two, I'm covered, but the search continues.

The little guy is filled with standard black pepper and the Peugeot is currently full of an interesting mix: Swissmar's Connoisseur Peppercorn Blend which contains black, white, green and pink peppercorns from India, Brazil and Madagascar. I like it! Typically, I'm not a fan of pink peppercorns, but there are very few in this mix and their flavor doesn't stand out. The mixture is warm and spicy and perfect for at table finishing.

I'm happy with the peppercorn mix, but still on the hunt for my ideal pepper mill. Do you have a favorite that does it all? Shout it out in the comments and help a spicy Diva out!

Lastly, have you guessed my second confession? Perhaps you've been tipped off by my lack of response in the comments or on your own blog? Indeed, I am away from keyboard. I will respond to everything when I return and will be back to regular cooking and posting next Monday. Meanwhile, I've got some posts in the queue that are sure to keep you entertained. They will appear throughout the rest of this week, so stay tuned.

Have a great week and make it Divalicious!

A Fond Farewell ...

As you may or may not know, last night marked the final home game at Yankee Stadium. I was fortunate enough to be in attendance ... sort of ... we were seated in the bleachers, much to my absolute horror. I haven't been relegated to the bleachers since the 1980s. It was the best they had to offer when I was fighting for tickets online last winter. Eh, we were lucky just to be in the building because this was the hottest ticket in town last night. Period.

I've been to more games at the stadium than I could even begin to count and last night was certainly the most emotional. Such a strange, almost subdued, feeling overhung the crowd. It was certainly a bittersweet event. So many glorious memories held in that building, such a rich and storied past. As difficult as it is to leave that all behind, there's no denying the fact that the venue itself is in decline and that the move to a new stadium is needed. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also sad to say goodbye to this old field of dreams.

I snapped this photo as we arrived at the Yankee Stadium subway platform - I think it captures the wistful spirit of the night. Every person who got off that train stopped for a moment to drink in the sight of the stadium one last time.

In other news, the husband and I have just returned from a brief trip to Huntsville, Alabama. He was there for a business conference and I was riding shot-gun and soaking up the southern sun. This is why I've been separated from my stove.

We did have some tasty food while we were there and I will have a full report as soon as I unearth myself from the pile of virtual mail that accumulated while I was gone. Look for some Alabama photos and a mini-vacation food round up late tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned!

Housekeeping: Another Extended Edition

I'm afraid the virtual maid is here early this week ... I'll be AFK ... away from keyboard for a few days. Much like my lack of preparedness for emergency, I haven't managed to squirrel away a ready supply of posts to be published while I'm gone either. Will have to remedy that in the future.

I'll be back to posting normally on Monday - though there'll be precious little going on in my own kitchen until then. Fear not though, I'm sure I'll have a tasty morsel for you come Monday afternoon.

In the meanwhile, have a great weekend - and make it Divalicious!

House Keeping: Weekend Update

You already know that I'll be dining out and about for the next three nights. Tonight we'll be at Landmarc, prior to taking in Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed at the Rose Theater. I already know what I'll be having: chicken burger, no bun, extra greens on the side, hold the fries. I love Landmarc's menu, and I especially love the chicken burger. Its so savory and delicious ... really!

Saturday night's venue has yet to be determined, but on Sunday we're dining at Perry Street, with a friend who shares a July birthday. Its a belated celebration of sorts and I can't think of a better place to have it. We dined at Perry Street last year and I'm still thinking about the insanely good dessert I had - a luscious chocolate pudding with a hint of violet flavor. Interesting combination to be sure - but boy does it work! I'm kind of hoping it won't be on the menu this summer ... because I'd be hard pressed to resist its siren's song.

Look for my restaurant wrap-up on Monday - I'll have details from the weekend's dining indulgences and will be back to cooking at home on Monday night for sure.

Meanwhile, if you're surfing about this weekend, be sure to check out my updated blogroll on the right hand side under "The Diva's Favorites ..." I've added some new bloggers to the list, many of whom have been kind enough to stop in here and leave a comment. I'd like to return the favor, so hit them up when you're ready to leave.

Have a great weekend and, as always, make it Divalicious!

The Heat is On

I'm not sure about the weather where you are ... but here in NYC it is HOT. We're having a bit of a heat wave and its getting pretty steamy. The room in which I write is the only un-air conditioned one in my apartment ... so needless to say, I'm not spending much time in here today. Why, oh why have I failed to go wireless?!? I'll have to remedy that because, blog-wise, its a problem.

Diet-wise, things are just peachy. I'm down 17.5 pounds, and last night I fit into a zippy little denim skirt I bought years ago and have never worn. Sweet! I'm still loving the South Beach thang and still getting results. I'm working this diet like the girls on Chapel and Howe! (Yo, 1980's New Haven reference ... holla!)

Fresh veggies and little to no-cook meals are in the plans for the weekend, so look for some new recipes come Monday ... and hope for a break in the weather (and entertaining) so I can get back to posting as usual.

Have a great weekend all and make it Divalicious!

Blogging for Mutes

Last Wednesday marked the one month anniversary of this blog. I'm not expecting a parade or anything ... though sparkly gifts are always graciously accepted. My address is: ... kidding. I am, however, a bit surprised. I'm a great one for starting new projects and let's just say that my will to sustain them is something less than remarkable. Some of you may remember my 5 minute stint in pastry school, or the 3 months I decided to have a wedding cake business, or the one month I considered getting an M.P.A. ... and the list goes on and on. What can I say, everything interests me - but not for long. I've never been the sort of person who keeps a journal, so the fact that I've written consistently for a month is sort of a wonder to me. Dieting aside, its been a great exercise in technology learning and the regular practice of putting thoughts into words has been an unexpected pleasure. I see no reason to stop.

Apart from the personal milestone, the one month mark is also significant in that I can now begin to apply for inclusion in various search engines and blogrolls and that's pretty neat. I'm about to hit the big time! Or not. Stay tuned.

And yet, the big time was never really the point. I began this with a will to share some recipes and my (hopefully) humorous look at dieting and my life in general. Based on the positive response I've received from so many of you, I think I'm achieving my goals here. I have only one question ... am I blogging for mutes?

Um, ... the thing is ... I kinda, sorta hoped the comments section would be a little more lively. Have you all lost your fingers in some tragic Slinky accident? Are you too busy playing Cat's Cradle? Or have aliens abducted your keyboard? Got your thumbs stuck in one of those ghastly Chinese finger traps? Are you wearing mittens? (If so, may I suggest fingerless gloves?) Do I need to do another poll?

Obviously I'm kidding in the above paragraph. This is my way of asking you to be less shy. One of the things that makes the blog medium so great is the possibility for give and take. A lively comment section is part of what makes a good blog ... well, good for lack of a snappier term. Take a look at Project Rungay, one of my favorite blogs ever, for example. Click on the "comments" button after any of the posts and you will find content as funny and interesting as the blog itself. Its a hoot! Now, Rungay fans are devoted to be sure, and I'm not expecting that level of commitment from anyone here ... but throw me a bone people. Let me know you're out there!

I've mentioned this to some friends recently, when asked about Beach Eats, and a few of them have offered that they don't know how to post a comment. Shocked as I was by this suggestion, it dawned on me that now might be a good time to give some instructions.

At the bottom of each posts there is a line of text that says: "Posted by The Diva on a Diet at ___PM 0 comments", or something to that effect. Click the word "comments" and you will be taken to a new screen. On the right of this screen there will be a box under the heading: "Leave Your Comment." Type your comment into the box, type the verification word, and then hit "Publish Your Comment." I've adjusted the setting so that you do not have to be a Blogger member to post, you can post anonymously and, if you wish, leave your name at the bottom of your comment. That's all there is to it.

In closing, I want to thank all of you who've reached out to me via email, or phone, or in person to compliment me on the blog. I genuinely appreciate it. I'm thrilled to see the traffic increasing and even more thrilled when I see that there are repeat visitors. Your support is truly gratifying. Thanks to those who have commented and to all who are reading. If I can keep it going for another month I really might call for a parade!

House Keeping: Independence Day Edition

The maid's here, just in time to spiff the place up for our great national holiday. I will be contemplating the wisdom of our founding fathers from Yankee Stadium tomorrow. Its another day game - oh joy, not - and its Yanks v. Red Sox. I hope it won't get ugly, but you know it will ... in this weather there's no doubt that I'll have Brillo Head. Let's just hope my hair will fit in the seat. On the other hand, the last time I was in Yankee Stadium on July 4th Dave Righetti threw a no-hitter, so anything's possible.

Whatever you're doing this weekend, I wish you barrels of fun and bright shiny fireworks ... professional of course, you may need your limbs after the weekend.

Stay safe, eat well, and have a wonderful holiday. See you on Monday.

p.s. - Here are last week's poll results:

I'm here for the recipes. 30%

I'm on a weight-loss program and misery loves company. 30%

I'm a Diva and I prefer to be among my own kind. 30%

I have Brillo Head and can't leave the house. 20%

I'm related to this Diva so its required reading. 1 vote

I don't know how I got here. 30%

Thank you, voters!

Housekeeping: Sporting Edition

I'll be roasting in the heat at the Yanks v. Mets game this afternoon so you're on your own in the kitchen today ... make something fabulous! The balance of the weekend will be spent grillin' and chillin' chez Mama & Papa Diva and I'm hoping to bring back some fresh produce from my bro's garden. Sweet!

As regards the blog, I've added a widget for my Shelfari "favorites" at the bottom right, below the sitemeter. Hover your cursor over the book jackets and you'll see my review, etc. If you're a reader and haven't heard of Shelfari, check it out. Its a virtual bookshelf - perfect for apartment dwellers and no need for dusting.

Enjoy the weekend and see you on Monday. Ciao!

Housekeeping: Extended Version

Boy do I love that apron. I don't really wear one but if I did, you know it would look like this.

Just a few details about the blog. I've moved the "labels" feature so its shown beneath the blog archive. You can use the labels to find recipes or certain posts. If you're looking for chicken, click on chicken, etc. Its just another way to navigate the blog.

Similarly, you may notice that some of the older posts are no longer visible on the front page. There's a link beneath the last entry, "Older Posts" which will take you to them, should you wish to re-read, etc. You can also navigate via the "blog archive", where the entries are listed by date and title.

Some words about the comments: keep making 'em and keep checking 'em. I'd hate to think I'm talking to myself here ... as I'm already privy to my inner monologue. I may have responded to you or a new reader may have left a valuable tip. People are coming to the blog at different times. They may read an older post and respond to it, so when you get a chance breeze through them from time to time. Don't be shy, feel free to join in, particularly if you're a new reader or someone unknown to me. I promise I'll be gentle.

Finally, this is the extended version as I'll be away for a few days. Family calls and the Diva must make a command appearance.

See you on Monday. Ciao!

Housekeeping

Scared ya with that one, didn't I? Fear not, no actual housework required here. If you want to live in a hovel that's entirely your choice. In this case it refers to blog logistics.

The Diva is away from her computer on weekends - and you should be too. Put on your tiara, get out there, and be fabulous! You can tell me all about it on Monday.

Ciao.