What is Facebook good for? Well, you know, it’s a “social networking” site. Which basically means that you look up old acquaintances from high school and college to see what they’ve done with their lives in the decades since you last saw them in their jelly bracelets, tight-rolled jeans and Motley Crue hair.

I’m guilty of the same thing. I have bunches and bunches of friends on Facebook who used to be old schoolmates. It’s really quite fascinating and nostalgic, and occasionally you come across a real gem, like some “Most Likely to Succeed” cheerleader who is working a Denny’s or the quietest, most dorky kid in class who is now a billionaire.

I got a real gem the other day, in a different way. One year in high school, we had four Brazilian exchange students come to Alleghany High School. There were three boys and a girl, a quite dazzling and beautiful girl, in fact, whose name was Raquel. All the boys were dizzy for this exotic girl with the sexy accent and flowing dark hair.

Raquel was more than pretty, she was sweet, too. So I was very excited when she asked to be my friend on Facebook, all the way from Brazil! When she told me that she, too, loved food and cooking and would send me a Brazilian recipe sometime, I nearly fell out of my chair. So much for what Raquel’s been doing since high school, I just wanted the darn recipe — STAT!!

Nah, I really do care about Raquel, but I sure was excited when she sent me one of her very favorite Brazilian recipes. It’s for a shrimp or fish stew seasoned with tomato, coconut milk, cilantro and garlic. It’s called Moqueca, which I swear I’ve seen on the menu at Carlos’ before and absolutely loved.

Enjoy! And thanks, Raquel!

Read more »

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such compelling and convincing entries in the Cookbook Giveaway contest.

Apparently, “Eat, Shrink and be Merry” by Janet & Greta Podleski has struck a chord with everyone from nursing mothers wanting to lose weight and stay healthy to military wives who are trying to stay in shape and maybe slim down for when hubby returns.

I’m guessing the big attraction is probably that the Podleski sisters manage to pass along healthful cooking practices with a big sense of humor. Who needs another dry, discouraging diet book?

Let’s keep the entries coming until Wednesday. Since the book sounds so popular, I’m going to share another recipe, this time for a chicken salad with pecans and cranberries in a creamy orange dressing.

Keep those entries coming!!

Read more »

The Washington Post recently did an interesting story about the burgeoning food scene in Charlottesville.

If you haven’t had a chance to read it, click here.

After seeing the article, I can’t wait to check out Mas, a Spanish restaurant that supposedly serves up great tapas.

Anyone else have a favorite restaurant in Charlottesville? Or any thoughts on what makes the dining scene better than Roanoke’s, if anything?

While I’m sharing random tidbits, I’ll share a random recipe. I found this recipe for Mango Chicken Curry on Simply Recipes. Yellow curry…golden raisins…mangoes…heavy cream…what more could you want?

Since Swagat, one of downtown Roanoke’s Indian restaurants, has apparently closed down, maybe it’s time to perfect some Indian food at home. Enjoy!

Before I go, I wanted to let you all know that I’ll be in Florida this weekend and the first part of next week visiting my grandmother for Mother’s Day. When I get back, we can dish about grouper sandwiches and conch fritters and key lime pie.

Until then, please enjoy the guest blog entries on Monday and Tuesday by my colleague Nona Nelson, who can typically be found over at Happy Wag, the Roanoke Times pet blog.

Thanks, Nona!

Read more »