EATING ROSES

One of the most beautiful and memorable desserts I ever had was a tiny scoop of rose flavored ice cream nestled in the heart of a perfect, pale pink rose. It was presented simply, with no cookie or cake to steal the limelight. There were hundreds of guests at the event, and yet every petal was perfect and the ice cream was seemingly suspended in that fleeting, meltingly-spoonable-but-still-firm stage. To pull off such an ambitious feat was a staggering achievment for the restaurant staff. I can't remember exactly where or when it happened, but I'll never forget the night we ate roses.

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Rose and lemon were the most common flavors in the Old World until the discovery of the Americas introduced vanilla and chocolate. If you've ever eaten Turkish delight, you've tasted roses.

This article by Judy Walker from the Times Picayune features rose-flavored and rose-scented drinks and desserts and gorgeous photos. It even has directions for making your own rose powder from pesticide-free rose petals. It may inspire you to create a rose-themed Valentine's Day repast, but in any case, it provides a feast for the senses. Enjoy. http://blog.nola.com/judywalker/2009/02/the_flavor_of_flowers_1/print.html

Photo from http://www.freenaturepictures.com/

(C)2009, Judy Barnes Baker

LOW CARB CRUISE TO MEXICO

Here I am in beautiful Cozumel, Mexico! (I picked the right shirt to wear, didn't I?)

Low-carb cookbook author, Dana Carpender and "that nice boy she married," enjoying dinner in the Windstar restaurant on board the Carnival Ecstasy.

Shopping in Cozumel with Jackie and Conrad Eberstein.

Dr. Carlson sings "Fire and Rain." How can a guy from New York sound exactly like James Taylor?

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Dr. Westman singing his original composition, " I wish they all could be carbohydrate free." Jimmy Moore posted the lyrics at: http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/?p=3408.

Others from our group join Jakob on stage for a lively rendition of "At the YMCA."

Here are the three ladies who first dreamed up a low-carb cruise as a way to meet each other. Becky, Debbie, and Ailsa (from the UK) singing Dancing Queen.
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The date has been set for next year's cruise from Jacksonville, Florida on March 15, 2010. Hope you can join the party.

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Leaving in Style!

For any of you on the cruise who may have wondered what celebrity was on board who got picked up by a stretch limo--it was me!! My husband, who thinks I'm helpless without him, hired a car to take me back to the airport after the cruise. (I have no sense of direction--my dad used to say he could get lost in an onion sack, so it's probably genetic.) Much to my chagrin, all their sedans were in use so they sent a limo to meet me at the port. I was probably the only passenger flying coach who got delivered in such style!

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(C) 2009, Judy Barnes Baker