Winter - anxiety and added dough to our paychecks; is this a nightmare or a dream come true?

Food - The "New Year" has begun and with it brings a new year of exploring things we love - Food.Dish.Embellish. I hope you will join me in this journey, and even add a comment, recipe or simply enjoy the view. Speaking of views, here is a salad recipe that is beautiful to look at and refreshing to enjoy.

Spinach Salad with Roasted Tomatoes, & Warm Bacon Dressing.

Ingredients:

12 cherry tomatoes

1-2 T. olive oil

6 slices bacon, diced

1/4 c. red wine vinegar

1/2 c. olive oil

1 tsp. dijon mustard

1/2 T. sugar

6 c. fresh spinach, rinsed and dried

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Lightly toss the cherry tomatoes in 1-2 T. olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in a glass pie plate and roast for about 30 minutes or until soft.

Make dressing: cook the diced bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels. Reserve 2 T. bacon grease. Keep bacon warm.

Whisk the vinegar, olive oil, mustard, mustard seed, and sugar into the reserved bacon grease - mix well. Stir in half of the cooked bacon and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Tear the spinach into bite-size pieces and toss with warm dressing. Divide the spinach onto 4 salad plates, or place in salad serving bowl. Top with roasted tomatoes and the remaining bacon. Serve and enjoy!

Dish - The 93-year-old owner of the Minnesota Twins, who died Monday, never retired, even after making a fortune. He fulfilled his prediction of never retiring because business and deals were as critical to him as breathing.

The community has lost one of its great leaders. Carl Pohlad demonstrated that the "American Dream" is alive in Minnesota! He told the story of a man who loved his wife of 56 years, his family and his community. Not everyone agreed with his decisions, but he put Minnesota on the map with The Minnesota Twins, and for that, we thank you! My condolences are with the Pohlad family at this, thier time of loss. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/37106499.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUycaEacyU

Dan achieved and excelled in the family-run business of Genz-Ryan Plumbing and Heating and as founder of DPR Motorsports http:/Ryan, Dan P. 48, of Farmington, died Friday, January 2, 2009, surrounded by family and friends./ Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

Pinch me! Am I dreaming? No, they were both awake when each of these two Minneostans won a million dollars (they have no relationship to each other.) http://www.startribune.com/local/37101039.html

Looks like we maybe getting fatter, but we won't mind this extra dough. "Obama plan would mean fatter paychecks." http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/37120769.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUX

Duluth recovery center plans imperiled by Petters scheme
A foundation lost funds with which to it hoped to turn a former nursing home near Duluth into a haven for addicts and ex-cons. http://www.startribune.com/business/37123829.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciaec8O7EyUsr

----Winter and anxiety. Do they go together? For some people, yes. If you have ever suffered from anxiety you will know that it is not much fun. It is often dealt with by feeling of dread and something very unpleasant that must be endured. These emotions are also descriptive of the way many people look at, and feel, about winter. (However, there are usually a few expletives thrown in there too.)

People become quite anxious with the mere thought of the winter months that are to come. The majority of residents who live in "the land of snow," don't participate in many, if any, outdoor winter sports such as: skiing, ice skating or sliding. The type of outside activity most common is: picking up of a shovel and shoveling the driveway, or the action of running to your car before your nostrils fill with icicles. (Of course there is always the exercise of discussing the weather.)

But I have found when dealing with anxiety, and winter, that if you "jump in," take action - just simply get involved, the feeling of anxiety, dread, gloom and doom soon vanishes. I have found that while I may never love the freezing cold weather, the way I choose to react to it can make the difference of a winter dreaded and endured (which can then feel much colder and seem to last forever,) or the simple act of taking a brisk walk on a cold winter day, can and does, make the winter months tolerable; even beautiful. The sunshine brightly shinning on your face, the fresh crispness in the air replenishes the staleness in your lungs, and the wind blowing ever so gently revitalizes you and fills your body and mind with energy.

Explore Minnesota! -----

Embellish - "When life hands you lemons, you don't make limeade, you make lemonade." -Ms. Foodie