Hello people, welcome back! This week Mary Ellen has asked me to help her throw a birthday party. It's a bit cheeky of her and you'll find out why in the vidcast.

• 2/4/09
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On this week's episode Mary Ellen, Delta and I went on a little shopping trip.

• 2/4/09
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Hello people!

• 2/4/09
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Hi people, this week I have a lovely family recipe for you: date nut cake. It was my grandmother's recipe and I made it for Mary Ellen's birthday. It's just delicious.

• 2/4/09
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Organizing is the subject of this week's vidcast, and cleaning and organizing are kissin' cousins. Straightening up a room doesn't have to be a daunting task. Organize the chore with these tips: Start by picking a place in the room to deposit all the things that need to be put away. It's best to pick a spot that will inconvenience you if you stop before finishing

• 2/4/09
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Cheese. It's one of nature's wonders, and one of my favorite foods. This week on the show we're making toasted sesame cheese wafers. It's a very tasty recipe that was originally featured in an episode devoted to the wonders of this delightful food. For the wafers you'll need: 5 oz processed cheese spread 3 Tbs. butter 3/4

• 2/4/09
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What topsy turvy tips Verena has! I like my tips a little more on the practical side. Here are a few of my favorites:

• 2/4/09
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Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday

• 2/4/09
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Now that we're so firmly entrenched in fall it's lovely to cuddle up next to a nice warm fire. This week's episode was taped at a lovely home on Fire Island with a real fireplace. If you don't have the luxury of a genuine hearth you can create a facsimile with a product called sunjel. The little cans of jel will give off a flame that looks like wood flame but doesn't give off smoke so there's no need for a flue. You can also get log and grate sets that have boxes to hold the cans of jel that create the effect of a traditional fireplace. On this week's NPR podcast I expand on my fire setting advice and give you my recipe for hot cocoa. Here it is: You'll need: 1/4 cup Cocoa powder 1/2 cup Sugar Dash Salt 1/3

• 2/4/09
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Hello people, This week on the show it's all about gifts we make ourselves. I'm making two different gifts on this week's episode -

• 2/4/09
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Hello people, and Merry Christmas... It's just around the corner! On the show this week I have a few last minute holiday ideas. In a quandary about what to give a girlfriend? How about making a pair of matching aprons from an old vintage tablecloth and giving her one? You'll have matching aprons!

• 2/4/09
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Here's a little hangover cure for those of you who indulged a little last night...

• 2/4/09
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It's all about bread today. On the show I'm making a delicious Italian bread and tasty herbed butter to go with it. These can be combined as a delightful gift from you kitchen.

• 2/4/09
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Hearty fare is the subject of today's show. This week I'm making Janet Leigh's meatloaf. It's just delicious and so simple! Here's how it's done:

• 2/4/09
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Hi people. This week weâre revisiting an episode from season 1. It features a lovely family recipe for date nut cake. It was my grandmotherâs recipe and I made it for Mary Ellenâs birthday. Itâs just delicious.

• 2/4/09
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Hi people, Brini here. And this week on the show we have an encore of the organizing episode from season 1. There are so many useful tips in this one folks. Be sure and watch!

• 2/4/09
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On this weekâs episode weâre revisiting a delicious recipe using one of my favorite foods - cheese. Itâs milkâs leap to immortality and one of natureâs wonders. Weâre making toasted sesame cheese wafers. This segment is from an episode devoted to the wonders of this dairy delight.

• 2/4/09
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This week weâre revisiting an old friend from season 1 â Verena Birdsong! Sheâs a lot of fun, if a bit quirky. As odd as Verenaâs tips were her chocolate cake recipe was just delightful! As promised, here it is: Grandma Beaâs Chocolate CakeYou'll need:1/4 pound (1 stick) butter1 3/4 cups sugar2 cups flour 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa 1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon baking soda3 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla1 cup sour cream1/4 cup hot waterPreheat the oven to 350ÂF. In a mixing bowl, cream together your butter and sugar. (Baking recipes always seem to begin with this step, donât they?) Sift all the dry ingredients together in another bowl and set them aside. Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture one at a time, and then add the vanilla. Alternate adding dry ingredients and sour cream in three parts, mixing well after each, then add the hot water and mix well. Pour into two greased and floured 9-inch round pans. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Julie says the cake needs no icing, but we like to gild the lily, donât we? I suggest cream cheese or butter cream icing. Remember if youâre icing the cake with white icing, coat it with a thin layer and then chill it in the fridge until the layer has set, then ice the cake again and you wonât have little chocolate flecks in the top layer! Donât forget to listen to my NPR podcast this week. Iâm interviewing a wonderful designer â Trina Turk. Her fashions are so chic and she has such good ideas about style. Iâm sure youâll enjoy it. Drop by FelixPopuli.com this week for a fun Valentines Day idea â grown up Valentines Day cards! Theyâre perfect for sharing the spirit of the season without delving into bigamy. Donât forget to drop by the Brini Maxwell auctions!

• 2/4/09
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