HAWAIIAN ROLY POLY (meatballs)

Anyone who knows me knows I love sweets.  However, it doesn't have to be a dessert!  I love hawaiian food because it's predominantly sweet and sour.  Here's a recipe for Hawaiian Turkey Meatballs I lovingly call roly poly because it's cuter to say!!! :)  Also, it's sweet and playful with the tangy taste of barbeque sauce.  If you don't slather your rice with the sauce, this meal is very low in calories!  Indulge and delight in this party in your mouth food!!!!

Ingredients:

Ground turkey (regular package)

Salt and pepper to taste (I use garlic salt to add that zing)

Red bell pepper slices skinny

1 8oz can of pineapple slices in juice

3/4 c. barbeque sauce - Sweet Baby Ray's is awesome!

1) Season ground turkey with salt and pepper.  Form 1 inch balls and set aside

2) In a deep frying pan, heat the pan for about 2 minutes before you add the olive oil.

3)  Fry the roly polees until brown on all sides

4)  Remove from pan and drain in paper towels

5)  In a separate medium sized pot, mix the barbeque sauce and the juice from the pinapple slices

6) Stir and bring to a bubbling boil, then add the roly polees.  Turn your heat to medium and let simmer.

7)  After it has simmered for about 5 minutes, add the red bell peppers and the pineapple slices. 

8)  Let simmer another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Best served with a little brown rice and lots of fresh veggies!!!

Mangia!!! Bon Appetit!!!  But most of all, share it and LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!!

UNITED? STATES

A week after the novelty of the vacation has worn off, I analyze the difference in the feel of their culture against ours here in the states.  I wonder what has happened to us and why it is that our human relationship with each other is almost non-existent.  It seems we all pretty much treat each other with ire most of the time, separated and standoffish. 

 

In Barcelona alone, besides the fame of the great Gaudi, this city is peppered with churches that are still open all day to the public and surprisingly well attended whether there is service or not.  Sadly, in California, churches are closed unless there is an event, so it shuts itself off from someone who would maybe just want to sit in God’s house and have a conversation with him and His aura surrounding him/her. 

I was educated about these churches.  The guide said that the wealthy Spanish families showed their wealth by building elaborate churches, the more money one had, the more intricate the church was.  The Sagrada Familia is one of them.  Gaudi was its architect.  This church is phenomenal with its intricate, ornate and very detailed depiction of every phase of Jesus’ life.  Its adornment is something one cannot possibly absorb all in one day.  The next time I visit this church, I will certainly bring a chair and sit in front every section and marvel every detail.  Not to mention I have not even entered it and I was told that the interior is already completed.

I didn’t know a soul in Barcelona, but yet, there was a feel of unity.  I am not sure if it was their siesta (mid day nap hours) that makes them more relaxed as a culture and that despite the supposed economic crisis they face, life goes on, maybe because in their culture, they are not defined by how much money they make.  Again, it is my keen observation.  People are soft spoken, much more approachable.

What have we done to our culture?  That is, if we can even call it a culture?  Somehow, it seems we have forgotten where we came from.  To boot, take the heads of our churches, the catholic priests and their reputation.  A number of Christian churches whose leaders commit the worse crimes against humanity.  I am not one to lose hope but the realization is overwhelming.

Ask yourself this question, what could one person do (YOU) to make a change within him/her to at least get us back to basics?

So on that important question and until my next rant, please…. LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

LAST STOP -- MESSINA AND TAORMINA, SICILY

(to see all the photos, visit my facebook page My Happy Cocoon, and while you're at it, please "like"!  Thanks!!)

Physically back in America but my heart still in Europe, I bring you my insights about our last stop, Messina and Taormina in Sicily, Italy.  This last island is in a shape of a slice of pizza perched beside its mainland where the scenes of The Godfather Part 1 and 2 were filmed.  Messina is an old town that we unfortunately were not able to fully discover due to the short time we were afforded.

On the way to Taormina, we were given a brief tour of the city center.   There is a statue that sits solo by the port surrounded by water with and around its base are the last words in Mary’s (the mother of God) letter to the city after Jesus’ death telling them that it will always be blessed.  How humbling it was to be in the same place where Mary was!  Suddenly, it all became real.

The view of Messina’s shores was breathtaking.  The blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea were alluring.  Arriving in Taormina, you feel the town’s mystery.  Not because of the Godfather, but just the feel of its history, the friendliness of the people forced to entertain the sometime unruly tourists but without a choice in the matter, feeling a tinge of just wanting to be left alone to enjoy their unspoiled land.  Who can blame them?  However, fate endures and we should feel lucky enough that they are able to share their graces with us.

This little town was the home of the cannoli.  It is the place where I tasted the best éclair my whole life!  If you ever get a chance to go, I got it from Etna Pasticceria Corso Umberto, 112.  No, this is not a plug, I just want to share with you the place where you can get the best éclair of your life!

The local artists are full of whimsy and elaborate in their art.  It is not surprising as the inspiration surrounding them daily is plentiful!

Mount Etna is an active volcano.  You can still see smoke billowing out of its mouth all day.  In the morning I saw puffs, but by the afternoon, it was full on smoking, as if to say Prego! (welcome) to all its visitors.  The guide informed us that because they didn’t have plains to plant their harvest, they had to plant them on the slopes of the mountains.

At a local bar and ristorante, we had bruschetta and all it was is a piece of large white bread with marinara sauce, turkey, cheese and thousand island dressing!  Who woulda thunk?  It was delisioso!

I even saw a balcony with a grapevine… yes it was alive with grapes!  It was sad to leave this beautiful city.

CATWOMAN AT MY PARTY

Ok, so it's no secret that I love Catwoman (secret identity -- Selina Kyle).  For my birthday party, I wanted to have a Catwoman theme.  Besides having black gumballs, candy and chocolates, I wanted to have a life-sized Catwoman as well.  I have always been Catwoman for Halloween but it's not halloween so it would be creepy to show up at my own party in a full Catwoman suit.  So without further ado, I wanted to personalize a blow-up mannequin and suit it up as Catwoman.  For that I ordered a black colored plastic blow up mannequin online.  Here are the steps to personalize her face and suit her up.

I was pretty happy with her face and of course it wouldn't be Catwoman without her ruby red lips!  Here she is in all her glory!

She is now ready to meet the guests and pose for their photos!

Watch how she was created on YouTube.  Click this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mExGk-ziUag&feature=g-upl

Here she posed for everyone!

Day 10 - VENICE

Venice

So Venice beautiful but I don't think I would be able to live in a sinking city where you have to take a boat ride to get everywhere.  It's a touristy town and it is what we know Italy to be when we think of it.  Well, the flavor is much different here.  I noticed the business owners are all about business and serious.  Too bad they don't realize that customer relationship has more possibilities of repeating business than not.  Oh well, se la vie, right?  

The gondola ride was awesome, exactly what I had expected however, the guy didn't sing to us even though I asked him twice and even started singing, o so le mia... To get him started.  He just said people from California should Bay Watch, whatever that meant?  After the ride we had lunch at a Bistro.  Wow!  The meat plate had 4 types of sliced pork but the funny thing is, it tasted so fresh and lean.  Then the gorgonzola cheese was yummy!!!  

We got lost, there were so many channels and bridges we passed and crossed over, but about an hour and a half walk in 90 degree humid heat, we finally got to the ship but had to go through two security gates, hehhh???

Oh well back on the ship and on the last leg of this vacay!  I am excited to see my babies back home, the fam and english speaking people lol!  I love em all but ready for home.  Tomorrow is another sea day then Messina blah blah blah...  Hey can someone update me on whats going on with Big Brother?

Till my next rant... LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!

FUN DAY AT SEA?

Oh and our day at sea.  Turns out people love the sun like one loves an abusive spouse.  Tanning all  day even though they are well aware that it could kill them someday!  So very early in the morning they save their lounge chairs with books or shoes so that no one can take them.  I saw one lady dragging hers into her cabin.  

As imperfect as we Americans are, at least most of us are not rude to one another and that is what I miss about home.  Here,  people push their way through if you're not moving fast enough.  There is no moral compass or human filter.  It is all about them. How sad. I think you know who you are!  You are the ones who take more food than you can eat, you have no consideration for people when you talk so loudly walking through the halls of the staterooms, the ones who don't discipline your kids when they run around like crazy knocking people over.   The ones who cut in line without even asking if others were there first, just to name a few.  It's not even about what country you are from it's realizing that you share the world you live in with others and it really isn't all about you.  Being polite goes a long way, why not try it on for size?

One thing I would never do is go on another Carnival cruise.  I don't know if it is just this one but there are way too many kids!  I have nothing against kids, its just majority of them are unruly!  Also, the cruise catered more to them that most of the entertainment and activities were geared toward kids, even the food was really substandard.  The staff was great except for guest services, ironic isn't it? Just a note to self, no offense to the good parents with good kids.

Biggest peeve... Wait for it... Big Gutty men on speedos! There ought to be a law against that! As a matter of fact.. Ban speedos period! I didn't even see one buff guy with it on.  Just saying... 

Don't ever think you can do your laundry on the ship, everyone has the same idea to wash clothes on days at sea, what a mistake.  The laundy system was miraculously "down" so desperate people have to use their laundry services for a 15x12 paper bag that costs$15 per bag.  Bring movies because there is nothing at all on tv.  Plus on days at sea everyone is everywhere!

There are some good points, the gym is not crowded on days with ports but suddenly people work out on sea days.  There is an endless supply of frozen yogurt, omelettes are good, the staff is friendly, there are towel animals that may or may not remind you of your pets.

Over all it was nice to get away for a fraction of what you would normally pay if you went to a hotel, nothing beats a good cruise! Thank the Lord for this opportunity, experience and knowledge!  Till my next rant... LOVE ONE ANOTHER... For real!

WATCH YOUR TONGUE -- PART 2

The bible says that the sting of the tongue is more lethal than any venomous animal in this world.  It mentions the word “tongue” 93 times.  “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is a schoolyard phrase that is a bunch of “bull”oney! 

People wound each other with their words.  Our words have an overly destructive power.  The bible does not compliment us about the words we say.  It warns us what will happen if we don’t measure and watch the words that we speak.

What comes out of our mouth is a reflection of what actually goes on inside our hearts.  Our speech reveals us and it is an indication of what type of people we are.

Monks took vows of silence because they knew that their silence, the likelihood of sin will be minimal.  Less talk, less trouble.

How do we tame our tongue?  Those who teach will be judged more strictly.  We all stumble in many ways but if one is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his body in check, but no one in this world is perfect.

Much like the bit in a horse’s mouth and the rudder that stirs a big ship, the tongue is a small part of the body but it makes great boasts.  Consider a forest fire starts off from a small spark.  A tongue is a fire, an evil part of the body that corrupts the whole person.  It sets the whole course of the life on fire and is itself set on fire by hell. 

All kinds of animals are being tamed by man but no man can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil full of deadly poison.  With the tongue we praise our father and curse men who had been made of God’s same likeness.  Out of the same mouth our tongues and our words have unbelievable power to do harm. 

It’s in our nature to have tongue problems.  We all have a problem with our tongue. But progress is realizing we are not perfect people.

God knows we need help to tame our tongues.  To do that we should lead with our ears and then follow up with our tongue and let anger straggle along in the rear.  Another way to say that is STOP, LOOK and LISTEN.  If you do that it will improve your communication whether it is in your family, business, or relationship.