Tonsil free is the way to be

Hello everyone. Thanks for your thoughts & prayers. They must be working, because I am doing well. I can't really talk or ingest solid foods yet, but for an adult tonsillectomy, it's going fine. Luckily I've got Neil the wonder-nurse to take care of me, so I'll be back on my feet soon. Perhaps Neil is enjoying the silence. ;)

Neil Ransom is Brilliant!

Kuddos to Neil for being brilliant and for doing good in the world!

Neil presented at an "International Field Studies Inquiry Conference" yesterday at BYU. He did his presentation on research he did in India in 2005.

His study was about the effect of private ownership on small farmers in rural India. (as opposed to just leasing). It was so fun to go and hear him speak. And great power point, too.

Way to go Neil!!!

PRAY FOR KATIE

Katie is having surgery this Friday, March 7th, and the doctors are telling her she will be completely down for at least two weeks.

Anything we can do to help cheer her up and relieve Neil on his nursing duties, let's all pitch in and help.

Also, please remember her in your prayers - let's all pray for a quick and full recovery.

We love you, Kate!!!

Anne Tegtmeier, Food Network Star

OK, I have officially passed the "novice" level of blogger-dom. I actually copied this photo from the Food Network site and posted it here!!!!
You can read about the Ultimate Recipe Showdown on foodnetwork.com - Anne's recipe is posted there too.
Who will win the $25,000 Grand Prize!?!?
STAY TUNED SUNDAY NITE TO SEE!!!!

Anne Tegtmeier, Superstar

This article ran in the Hartford (Conn) Advocate today 2-26-08
I couldn't get the photo to post - sorry You can view the whole article with picture at :
www.hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=6101



The Comfort Food Queen Windsor resident Anne Tegtmeier battles for victory

Ultimate Recipe Showdown
"Comfort Food" airs March 2 on
the Food Network
Home cooks have always been fiercely competitive about their kitchen creations. Before the Food Network served up Iron Chef America and Bravo dished Top Chef, yuppies competed with each other to serve the most authentic tuna sushi with wasabi-encrusted smugness and mothers yearned to hear neighborhood children say their chocolate-coated play-dates were the best on the block. Even Marge Simpson entered her recipe for dessert hotdogs in Springfield's Oven Fresh Bakeoff, narrowly edging out Ralph Wiggum's "grilled crayon sandwich."

Ultimate Recipe Showdown, which premiered Feb. 17 on the Food Network, solicited thousands of recipes from amateur cooks for categories such as burgers, pasta, cakes and cookies. Each episode showcases the best recipes by nine contestants who compete in a kitchen arena to win $25,000 and prove their dish reigns supreme in each class. The show is hosted by FN's "food dude" Guy Fieri and Marc Summers (from Unwrapped), and judged by a panel of food professionals led by Katherine Alford, director of FN's Test Kitchen.

"Comfort Food," airing March 2, features Windsor resident Anne Tegtmeier, a trained dancer and licensed massage therapist working in West Hartford. Tegtmeier submitted just one recipe, "Ultimate Vegetarian Chili," to the contest. "It was one of those classic cliché things where I'd almost forgotten that I submitted it. Out of thousands of recipes across the country, to be one of three in the chili category, those are crazy odds," Tegtmeier said.

In 1999, Tegtmeier reconnected with her birth mother, Donna Kelly, 27 years after her adoption. She credits cooking as being a key element to building their relationship. Kelly, a child-abuse prosecutor and cooking fanatic, also had experience in food competitions. "One of the first things early on that we exchanged was a recipe for her original cheesecake that she'd won a blue ribbon for in a fair," Tegtmeier said.

The two later went on to co-author 101 Things to Do with Tofu. Tofu is a favorite ingredient of Tegtmeier, who explained, "People hear how healthy it is, how good it is for you, how versatile it is, and then they buy this bland white block, take it home, and they don't know what to do with it." Kelly was cheering from the audience during the taping of Ultimate Recipe Showdown and, unknown to either woman at the time, Tegtmeier was a week pregnant while competing on stage; she is expecting her first child in early May.

"My vegetarian chili comes from trying lots of different recipes at home and in restaurants over the years and taking different elements that I liked the most out of each of them," Tegtmeier said. This includes a surprising ingredient: cashews, an item she collected from Trident Booksellers & Cafe in Boston. "The recipe is idiot proof. I think what makes it good is that I've come upon a really good combination of textures and flavors and a good combination of ingredients."

Regardless of the contest's outcome, Tegtmeier's recipe will be featured on the Food Network's Web site. "Who cares about the money? Who cares about winning? It's amazing to be on the Food Network, period," Tegtmeier said. "I will cherish my Food Network apron with my name on it forever."

ULTIMATE RECIPE SHOWDOWN

Tune in on Sunday, March 2nd (yes, THIS Sunday) to watch Anne on the food network with Donna standing by supportively.

The show is "Ultimate Recipe Showdown", and Anne will be making the "Ultimate Veggie Chili" from our "101 Tofu" book. Out of 4,000 recipes submitted, hers made it to the top NINE. I am so proud of her!!!

Better yet, make the chili to much on while watching the show!!!

Here's the recipe:

ULTIMATE VEGGIE CHILI

1 each yellow onion and green bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
14 ounces extra firm tofu, frozen, thawed and drained
1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes in puree
2 cans (14 ounces each) black beans, drained
1 can (14 ounces) kidney beans, drained
1 cup fresh or frozen corn
1 cup diced roasted cashews
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large stockpot over medium high heat, sauté onion, bell
pepper and garlic in oil until softened. Stir in spices. Crumble in the
tofu and cook 5 minutes more. Stir in remaining ingredients. Reduce
heat to low and cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Serve hot garnished with sour cream, cheese, cilantro, etc., if desired.

DON'T YOU FEEL HEALTHIER ALREADY???

Zippety Doo Dah!!

 

Ok, sorry about being the last to post. It's been an insane week.

This was the Kelly Family's 10th trip to the Magic kingdom - and it was magical, as always.

It was so fun to have JP and Kristina, now seasoned Disney park veterans, with us.

And, so fun to have, on the other end of the spectrum, Derrick who had never been to The Happiest Place on Earth.

Here's to Micky and Friends and to making many more great memories in the years to come!!!!

Next trip: Cancun May 2008!!!! Stay tuned, bloggers, for great pics from the Yucatan!!!