HAPPY JULY 4, 2009 HAPPY JULY 4, 2009

Just in time for our nation's birthday, the tiara of the Statue of Liberty has been re-opened. If you've never made the climb to the top of Lady Liberty, I say...Go for it. To be able to climb inside an iconic statue for 354 stairs and then get that view...AMAZING! You will never see New York Harbor's magnificence anywhere like this.

Ever wonder why her crown has those spikes? The Statue of Liberty tiara or crown actually consists of seven spikes that represent the seven continents and oceans that we have on this planet.

Not going to Lady Liberty for this July 4th? Me neither. My plans are to hope we don't have any more rain so the grill can be fired-up.


Hamburgers, chicken, kabobs, hot dogs, brats...whatever you choose it's always tastier on the grill. July 4th seems to be a time for neighbors and friends to gather together and celebrate. But remember what we are celebrating and let's hope the rain holds off so we can watch some nice fireworks tonight.







Rain or shine, Cambridge, NY will be celebrating our collective Birthday!

Happy July 4, 2009.....

Cambridge Cooks: Buttermilk Pound Cake Cambridge Cooks: Buttermilk Pound Cake

Thanks to the folks at Cooking Light, here's an alternative to Christmas cookies. It's simple to make and tastes amazing. Best of all, it's low calorie and only 3 Weight Watcher points per slice.

VANILLA BUTTERMILK POUND CAKE

13.5 ounces all purpose flour (about 3.5 cups)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1.5 cups low-fat buttermilk
Cooking spray (Pam Baking works great)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Weight or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir with a whisk.
3. Combine sugar, butter and vanilla in a large bowl; beat with mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and buttermilk to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
4. Spoon batter into 5 (5-3/4 x 3- 1/4 inch)pans, coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center coms out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove from pans. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Yield: 5 loaves, 6 servings/loaf.

You can also prepare cakes in two (8 x 4-inch) loaf pans. Bake for one hour or until done.

Serving size: 1 slice

Calories : 144
Fat: 5.1g
Protein: 2.2g
Carb: 22.3g
Fiber: 0.3g

10 Days Before Christmas 10 Days Before Christmas

Living just 5 miles from the Vermont border , winter comes early to Cambridge, NY. We almost always have a white Christmas, but this year we're having an Ice Christmas. 1.5 inches coated the area on Friday as temperatures dropped into the single digits. I'm sure it sounds awful to all the Californians, but the ice and light combine to make a magical kingdom outside my office door.

This apple tree is the waiting area of the miriad of birds that come to my various feeders. All the usual suspects are in attendance, black capped chickadees, titmouse, cardinals, nuthatches, finches (purple and house) but nothing can match the wonder and variety of woodpeckers that stop by.

Bird watching entertains both me and my two cats. After local skiing and being able to snow shoeing right out my back door, watching the birds is one of the reasons I love living in Cambridge (especially in the winter).

One of the visiting woodpeckers is this male downy. He usually comes in the morning and afternoon. In between, a hairy woodpecker, northern flicker, and on occasion a redheaded stop in. The large pileated stays away, but I hear his pecking in the woods.

What sort of wildlife roams in your neck of the woods?

Cambridge Life 11/14/08 Cambridge Life 11/14/08

Last week I attended the Agricultural and Tourism Showcase at Christ the King Center. I found some wonderful shops and services that can be found right here in the Battenkill Valley. As I get ready for the holidays, I thought it would be good to start with a gift from me to me.

I love giving myself a spa day but usually travel down to my sister's in Maryland or indulge when out in California to have a true spa experience, but no more!
Erica and Sharon Butto opened The Spa Studio at 11 Broad Street, Glens Falls in 2006. This mother/daughter team have put together a wonderful full service spa right here in our area. They do more than the usual facial or mani/peddi (that's manicure and pedicure for the uninitiated).

Erica is a licensed massage therapist who provides everything from Craniosacral to Tandem Zen. You can enjoy a relaxing Sweedish massage or something more new age like this:

While at the Showcase, I picked up one of their lip balms and, let me tell you, my chapped lips feel great! So treat yourself to some downtime by calling The Spa Studio at 518.745.6909 or visit their website to download an Online Coupon for services. I'm thinking that after a day at the Lake George Outlets, a nice relaxing massage may just be the best holiday gift I get.