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Eat Like Ralph --
Now I know that going out to eat is fun and relaxing, and it's really nice to have someone wait on you for a change. But it also costs money -- money that maybe isn't quite as plentiful as it was six months ago. But every now and then, if we make up our minds to spend a little time and effort in the kitchen, we would be truly amazed at the possibilities... When I first started to cook (and it really was trial by fire: I burned myself every day for the first six weeks!), I thought that it was one thing that I would never learn how to do. But I did. And although I may never be a Jacques Pepin or a Rick Bayless, I know that Joseph Insalago would be proud and smiling. And perhaps the very best part of cooking is the time that Lauren and I have together in the Kitchen; we talk about a lot of things. And that is in large part what life, love and family is all about. What follows will likely be a sort of rambling, almost blog-ish sort of cookbook/menu for a number of meals that Lauren and I prepare -- complete with shopping list and cost per meal, so that you can compare what it costs to prepare the meal at home with what it would cost you at a restaurant. Just keep one thing in mind: anything that is worth doing well takes practice...
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Times are tough everywhere -- with no
real sign of getting any better in the near future. And in general,
that's not good news. But all things will pass; the crummy stock
market and rough financial waters are no exception. A little patience
-- OK, maybe a lot of patience -- and some faith, coupled with a
desire to trim budgets a bit and we can get through this. 