Thursday, May 28, 2009

Archie and Veronica - NO!!!

Funny, last night I was looking for an Archie watch for my almost 8 yr old. She is addicted to Archie's and loves the stories, the jokes and the characters. We probably have like 25 of the comics floating around - the whole family is into them in fact. So I figure out where to find the watch and I go to bed happy knowing that my Archie-aholic daughter will have a super cook b-day gift at the end of June.

Well, this morning I discovered that Archie is going to take over my day today! I found out that Archie proposed to... gasp... Veronica. What the???? Has he lost his marbles? I never thought I would see the day that the jalopy driving red-head would fall to his knees and ask the rich b%#ch to marry him. Shocked, I say, shocked!

Here is what I see for the future...

I see a nasty divorce, lots of mediation and counselling and I think she will cheat on Archie with Reggie... Archie will turn to drink and try to rebound with Betty - Betty will have left Riverdale and found a life beyond the soda shoppe and does not need him in her life and kicks the boob to the curb! Veronica indeed!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Camping - the Ultimate Budget-Friendly Family Get Away. Tips from outdoors expert and flyfish fanatic, Rick Passek


Many people are thinking about summer holiday plans, but because of economics, the big budget holidays are going the way of the dodo bird. Rick Passek, avid outdoors man and author of The Freshman Flyfisher: A Beginners Guide for a New Generation and brand-spanking new, The Freshman Flyfisher's Insect Guide has a solution for those families looking for a great get-away that is cost effective - Camping. Camping is also a great Father's Day plan too!

Many people have not tried camping or some have not been since they were kids - Rick has some tried and true tips to help families get out in the great outdoors, connect and have some fun! Check out the press release and we have compiled a couple camping friendly recipes that are a must for the camp-out game plan - they follow the press release and a recipe or two (one from the new Bon Appetit Cookbook).

Rick is available for interview now and throughout May and June - he is fun and can get people enthused about camping, flyfishing and even bugs! For more information and/or to arrange an interview, please contact Kimberly Plumley at Publicity Mavens at 250-390-9285 or via email at kim@publicitymavens.com. You can also check outwww.Rp3FlyFishing.com.


Camping - the Ultimate Budget-Friendly Family Get Away


Vancouver, B.C. – The Freshman Flyfisher
author Rick Passek is also a great outdoorsman who sees nature’s playground as the best, cost-effective, family-friendly alternative to the “big, expensive holiday.” During these trying economic times, Passek suggests, “family camping is a great way to get to know each other. I have found the camping experience has brought me closer to my parents, and has brought me closer to my son. Camping is in my opinion the best family bonding experience there is.” And for those looking to stretch their beleaguered dollar, it’s good to know that for as little as $50, you can take a family of four away comfortably for three days/nights.

Passek gained a healthy respect and love for the outdoors as a young boy (he was in fact 2 when he started camping with his parents). It was these countless hours spent with his father Karl outdoors that eventually lead to Passek writing his
entirely accessible The Freshman Flyfisher book as a helpful guide. From this experience, Passek has been able to learn first-hand how to successfully prepare a family for outdoor fun.

Passek’s Handy Tips for Family Camping:

· As a beginner/novice camper, start by going to a Provincial or State campground. They are equipped with outhouses, most have firewood for campfires, and there are other people around in case you need help.

· For the first few times, stay close to home (0-1.5 hours away). Once you have become comfortable, you can then start venturing further afield.

· On the opposite end (and for more advanced campers) you can go into the middle of nowhere and camp - this is a much more rugged experience and will challenge you and your family to work together for the good of the group.

· If you are going to stay in a cabin, you will need: bedding, food, clothing, insect repellent and entertainment (cards, balls, frisbee, etc…) as well as, dishes, pots, pans, cutlery.

· If you’re planning to go deeper in the bush, you will need a place to sleep (i.e. a tent, Camper, RV, etc…) a tarp (in case of rain), an ax, and a cooking stove.

· Know Before You Go: know how to start a fire, (even with matches MANY people that don’t know how to start one). Learn some First Aid, how to set up camp (Tent, Stove, etc…) and know what kind of wildlife you can expect to see and how to handle the situation if you do.

Passek says that a family that camps together stays together. And of course when this includes fishing, hiking, swimming, playing sports and preparing meals as a family, you’re spending quality time with those you love. “And where better to spend quality time together than in the wild, away from the TV, Video Games, and hustle and bustle of our daily lives?” asks Passek?

-30-

Rick is available for interview - he is fun and can get people enthused about camping and the options available to people. For more information and/or to arrange an interview, please contact Kimberly Plumley at Publicity Mavens at 250-390-9285 or via email at kim@publicitymavens.com. You can also check out www.Rp3FlyFishing.com.

Sure-fire campout recipes

Fish and Vegetables with Pesto Baked in Foil Packets

4 Servings

On your next camping trip, bring along this recipe – the foil packets can easily be cooked on the grill. This tasty recipe has been kindly provided by John Wiley and Sons and is featured in the Bon Appetit Fast, Easy, Fresh Cookbook – page 336.

2/3 cup purchased pesto
2
tablespoons fresh lemon juice
¼
teaspoon hot pepper sauce
4
5- to 6 – ounce tilapia or black cod fillets
16
asparagus spears, each trimmed to 4-inch length
2
large plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
2
yellow crookneck squash, thinly sliced on diagonal

Mix pesto, lemon juice and hot pepper sauce in a small bowl or baggy. Arrange four 12x12 inch pieces of heavy-duty foil on work surface. Place 1 fish fillet in centre of each. Sprinkle fish lightly with salt and pepper. Spread each fillet with 1 tablespoon pesto mixture. Top each fillet with asparagus, tomatoes, and squash, then dollop with remaining pesto mixture. Fold sides of foil over fish and vegetables, covering completely; seal packets closed.

Transfer foil packets to large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until fish is just opaque in center and vegetables are crisp-tender, about 20 minutes.

To prepare the fire;

-Start your fire and allow it to really get going, add wood so that you have a good coal base. Once you have a really good coal base (few to no Flames)
you are ready to cook.
-Hint:
I always have an old oven grate with me, this way I can set it on the rock that I have used to make the surround around the fire. Try to have the oven
grate 6-8" from the coal base, this will ensure that you do not burn through the foil bag and will keep all the juices inside throughout the cooking process.

Kicked up Smores

You will need the following;
-Marshmallows
-Graham Crackers
-Chocolate Bars (a good one to try is Hershey's milk Chocolate)
-Chili/Parkika/or another hot pepper powder (like Chili). Chocolate and Chili goes GREAT together!!!

Make your Smores like normal by setting a piece of chocolate on the Graham cracker and by cooking your marshmallow. Once the marshmallow is fully cooked (nice and gooey) set it on the chocolate then take your chili powder and give the Marshmallow a little sprinkle (More if you like the heat. ENJOY!!!!

For a few added twists try these (Instead of the Hersey"s) with the Chili;
-Caramilk Bar
-Peanut butter Cup

Use you imagination and kick up your smores more with ingredients like:
-Coconut flakes
-Slivered Almonds
-Nerds (For the kids)
-By a bag of those sours and add just the powder on the bottom of the bag.

Me, myself and blog...

I am awaiting my husband to move my website to Wordpress - but he is writing a book about Wordpress and I have to wait. What's the old saying? The cobbler's wife has no shoes...

I have some questions, insights and opinions that I think would be fun to blog about. I am a mom, so I will surely write about the kidlets, I am a publicist based in British Columbia, so will talk about projects, I am an avid reader, so will talk about books and it looks like I have Parathyroid Disease which causes brutal kidney stones, so I will certainly be whining about that!

That's it for now.