Here’s hoping you each had a wonderful Labor Day weekend—whether it was peaceful and quiet—a trip to an exciting event or place or a visit with friends and or family.  Our weekend was wonderful and a bit sad to say goodby to Lou’s two really fun and accomplished granddaughters who are off to exciting adventures.  Eliza is off to a quick trip to New York City to pack and leave for Italy, Denmark, France and other countries to study wine as she is a Sommelier formerly with a very upscale restaurant in NYC.  Louisa, the younger daughter is studying at Georgetown University in Washington DC  and is on an exchange program with the London School of Economics and Political Science, so she will spend this year in London .  They are indeed two intelligent, beautiful and fun young women!!

We started Saturday with a beautiful horseback ride to the bosque or woods  trails by the Rio Grande river.  Then mostly relaxing, hot tubbing  and enjoying grilled, barbecued baby back ribs and grilled corn with lime and caribe chile and a Caesar Salad with a homemade anchovy laden garlicky dressing—very yummy and finger-lickin’!     We used a barbecue sauce from my newly published Barbecue cookbook, which was very easy to make and the rest that is left will keep in the refrigerator until we barbecue the next time.

I got to tell you—I never used to ever get stiff from horseback riding, but I do now.  I haven’t ridden a long trail ride for years and my thighs really feel it!  I now really know I need to exercise a great deal more.

In between everything, I tucked in time to give a final edit to my Freezer Book which is coming out this next month.  Every time I review it, I am reminded at what a thorough job I did originally including every possible food you can freeze, my very favorite recipes that make multiple quantities-- great for freezing as well as a myriad of special uses.  Some are how a freezer can help you diet to loose weight, be a help for meals for singles and offers many very special uses such as de-mothing, keeping grains  you seldom use fresh and free of bugs, etc.

And, for you who are near Albuquerque on Sunday,  September 10—I am doing a book signing complete with goodies and a talk on the “History of Culinary and Chiles in the Rio Grande Valley” from 3 to 5 PM at the Bookworks on Rio Grande NW at Griegos Rd….next to the Flying Star.  I hope to see you there and show you  my newest cookbook collection from Turner Publishing.