Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Sandwiches) - GF and Paleo Versions

by Michelle

   My first encounter with Bánh Mì was at a corner market in downtown San Jose, California.  The small store featured a tiny counter where the thinly layered sandwiches were made to order. What makes Bánh Mì special and crave-worthy is the lightly pickled vegetables that top the choice of savory filling. The sandwiches were inexpensive and it wasn't uncommon for my male work colleagues to order more than one for lunch.
   Bánh Mì can be difficult to source in my stretch of the Sonoran desert so I went about creating a recipe that I could make easily at home. Traditionally, the sandwich bun is very light in consistency and texture. When I'm too lazy to make baguettes, I buy hoagie rolls. I've been known to slice the rolls open and remove some of the inner crumb to make the bread lighter.
   The rolls in San Jose weren't toasted, but I like to toast the buns, then slather a bit of pâté across the bottom bun. Unless you absolutely despise pâté, don't skip it. The pâté adds a special flavor that you're not going to add in any other way. I've made Tartine Bakery's quick chicken liver pate, and I've also used a tasty vegetarian mushroom pâté from Trader Joe's. Layer on thin slices of protein, top with the pickled vegetables and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves or arugula. If I had to choose between the cilantro or arugula, I'd choose arugula.
  Everyone I have served this sandwich to loves it. This is a great make ahead meal and I wouldn't hesitate serving Bánh Mì buffet-style for a party. You can grill the meat a day or two ahead of time. Then all you need to do is make the pickled vegetables on the day your serving and thinly slice the cold meat. The vegetables will hold beautifully in the brine for many hours in the refrigerator. If you have leftover vegetables, they'll still be tasty the next day but they do lose a little crunch with aging.
   If you make this recipe, let me know if you love it as much as I do. Also, I'd appreciate reading about your favorite sandwich in the comments.

Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Sandwiches) - GF and Paleo Versions

Cantonese Spicy Chicken Salad and Happy Chinese New Year!

by Michelle

"May your life be free of worry and fear

Instead, may you have happiness,

Good health and success all year!"

   Living in San Jose, California was a boon for a girl who loved food but had lived a pretty sheltered food lifestyle. When I transferred from Phoenix to San Jose in 1995 with my employer at the time, a multi-billion dollar global distributor of electronic components, I did not know that the big tech boom was about to be a tidal wave. I surfed that Big Kahuna until the market crashed in early 2001.

   To illustrate how quickly the joy ride came to an end, based upon my sales performance for the prior year, I won a coveted all-expense-paid trip for my husband and me. We vacationed in Lanahi, Hawaii, at the very same secluded hotel where Bill and Melinda Gates were married. The trip took place in mid-March. Linda, newly relocated to San Jose from the Santa Ynez Valley, stayed with our daughter, Maddie, for a few days, while Jay and I took a luxury trip of a lifetime to Maui.

Linda and Maddie playing around in 2001.

   A few short weeks after that, the market fell so fast and so hard that I was part of a second round lay-off three months after the rewards trip. Major companies in the Silicon Valley followed suit and it seemed as if more people were out of jobs than there were working. The people that stayed employed, I was to find out later, often wished that they had been laid-off early on because they were working horrendous hours and were under constant pressure to perform even better.


 
   After a long summer of contemplating our options and hoping that the market would recover and the people of the Silicon Valley would get back to work, the next blow was devastating and would alter the course of lives. On September 11th, my husband awoke me in the morning. Through my waking haze, I heard him say that something was happening in New York, probably a terrorist attack. I recall putting my robe on over my nightgown and sleepily walking down the hall and into the living room where I proceeded to watch the TV for the rest of the day, intermittently weeping and trying to wrap my head around the fact that in those hours of the twin towers falling—life as we knew it, was no more. Not regular churchgoers, I still remember that Jay and I, along with Linda and Maddie went to a local chapel to pray that evening.
   Everything about my life shifted and changed. No one needed a crystal ball to foresee that there would be no tech recovery in the short term. The blinding reality is that my husband and I were carrying too much debt and too many monthly expenses, including a mortgage, car payments, private pre-school tuition and a nanny we could no longer afford. Thankfully, about a month later—by the hair on our chiny-chin-chins—we sold our four bedroom ranch-style house with the big grassy yard, two apricot trees and a gigantic cherry tree. We returned to Arizona, albeit not Phoenix, but Tucson, which made all our Bay Area friends scratch their heads in confusion and wonder what we were thinking. When you live in Silicon Valley, one develops flat world thinking. To even consider leaving is to believe you'll fall off the edge of the world if you drive too far east, south or north. I might as well have said we were moving to Tijuana. It would have elicited the same reaction most likely.


 
   In the end we ditched the mortgage, a car payment, and private school, but kept Barbara, our nanny, because we loved her and she helped keep our environment stable for my daughter during the transition from one state to another. Barbara is from Germany and she was in the United States for a one year stint as an au pair. (Barbara is a reader of this blog, so if you are reading this right now, my dear, know that our family holds you in our hearts, and we will continue to love you for evermore). Linda opted to stay on in San Jose and try to make a go of her new and promising career at Whole Foods Market.
   Upon arriving in Tucson, I took my time settling in to our temporary home that we rented for one year. Four months passed before I found a new job in software sales. We located a Montessori school for our daughter and discovered that a charter school is free, as in no charge. My husband and I felt like we hit the lottery. The private Montessori school in California was nearly $800 a month for preschoo-aged children! Our Arizona rent was a quarter of our California mortgage. Honestly, everything is cheaper in Arizona, including groceries, gasoline, and entertainment. We slashed our expenses and started over. We learned to appreciate the beauty of the desert once again, in more ways than one, beyond the aesthetics of the land.


 
   However, living in Northern California, had opened my palate to a world of food. In the melting pot of the diverse region, I could dine on any type of global cuisine within a ten minute drive of home. And I did. I still recall that when I made the transition initially from Arizona to California in 1995, I went from an office of 35 people, to a huge building with hundreds of people. There were multiple sales teams and I happened to report to a woman, the only female manager. The rest of my team were all men. On the first day I arrived at the office, the guys offered to take me to lunch. We drove a quick couple of minutes down the street and parked in front of a dingy white shack of a building. A rickety screen door was the gateway into a smokey dining room with faux wood tables and cheap chairs that didn't look so new anymore. A lone ceiling fan was slowly spinning to keep the air moving in a room absent of air conditioning. Surely, I am being hazed, I thought to myself. Ever the good sport, I gamely sat down on the minimally padded chair at a round table that featured a lazy Susan to help a party to eat family-style. I calmly waited for the guys to laugh and say, "Just kidding". But, alas, they weren't joking. Menus were produced and the guys started excitedly talking about what to order. It slowly occurred to me that we were staying, and I dumbly scanned the menu. My co-worker Rob turned to me and with a big smile plastered on his face asked me to trust him. Sure, why not, I thought. I've known you for about an hour. Game on. The food is awesome, he said. This place will be one of your favorite places to eat, the others chimed in. The team collectively ordered for the table. When the plates and steaming bowls of food began to arrive, I started by timidly tasting the various dishes and then quickly transitioned into full on pleasure eating, gulping down the tamarind noodles, vegetable curry with fried tofu and chicken satay. In the span of about five minutes, I became a true believer. Sure enough, the guys told me no lies, eating at Chez Sovan was a regular destination, and we'd arrive early before the daily crowds descended upon the place to devour the restaurant's Cambodian specialties.

   Not long after the experience at Chez Sovan, I was introduced to sushi. I felt like a country bumpkin eating raw fish for the first time and having the guys gauge my expressions to see how well I was liking the unfamiliar fare. It took awhile to get the hang of chop sticks and learn the menus. Practice makes perfect though. I probably ate sushi once, if not twice, a week. Spicy tuna rolls went down the hatch just fine and there are times when I crave wasabi ever since. On a particularly cold day, it was collectively decided by the group that soup was in order, which would typically mean Vietnamese Phở at a no frills bustling place in Fremont. Instead, I was introduced to Komatsu, where we ordered Udon soup that featured a poached egg nestled in with the vegetables, protein and noodles. I was utterly surprised and delighted by the egg and began dropping an egg into my servings of soup at home. 


   
   We also ate at Indian buffets for lunch where I'd scoop up extra helpings of the mint sauce. When in Sunnyvale, we'd head to Tao Tao Cafe to order the famous Chicken Salad tossed in a Chinese hot mustard vinaigrette. In the early evening, if we met at Tao Tao's for happy hour, we'd order the rather stiff Mai Tais that are served in a wide-mouth rocks glass with a whole wedge of pineapple and a speared slice of orange topped with a maraschino cherry. I've fashioned my own Mai Tais after their more traditional recipe which doesn't even remotely compare to the awfulness created when purchasing a store bought mix. I consumed Cuban, Mediterranean, German, and Thai along the familiar cuisines of Italian, Mexican and French. There is so much I miss about living in the Bay Area—especially all the varied restaurants for differentiated eating experiences.

   I retain a fair amount of nostalgia for my Silicon Valley days. As much as I love Arizona, there are times I would love to pack up and move back to Northern California where I could be close to my sister and the ocean and also be within an easy driving distance of San Francisco. Almost every time I visit Linda, who ended up staying in the North Bay, but just moving even farther north to Sonoma County—we visit Chinatown whether the sun is shining or the sky is pouring down rain, or we are feeling rich or poor. And even though many of the shops carry similar merchandise and tourists clog the main artery of Grant Avenue, we always manage to have a great time and find unique items that fit our budgets. And while I can't replicate the Chinatown experience at home, I can whip up some of my favorite Chinese food using pans and utensils that I purchased at my favorite kitchen store, The Wok Shop and carried home, one way or another. While I can no longer call California home, at least I am always welcome to visit my sister. She is the thread that pulls me back. When we are together we remember the good old days wandering the old familiar places while making new happy memories.

Cantonese Spicy Chicken Salad

Tao Tao menu description:
Shredded chicken
green onion
crushed almonds
cashew nuts
shredded lettuce
fried rice vermicelli
spices
herbs

   My husband could not recall ever dining at Tao Tao Cafe, so he had no preconceived ideas on how the salad should taste. And, my how the time does slip by—when I did the math in my head—I realized 14 years have passed since I last ate at Tao Tao Cafe. Undoubtedly, I remember taking bites of delicious, salad while intermittently sipping a kick ass Mai Tai made from good rums and freshly squeezed tropical fruit juices. When I asked Jay what he thought about my interpretation of the salad, his feedback was that he'd like a sweet component thrown in, such as chunks of pineapple or mango. (Or, a Mai Tai on the side for me, I thought.)
   If you are strictly Paleo, you'll want to substitute the rice noodles with something crunchy. Thinly sliced almonds would probably do the trick. Otherwise, if you are gluten-free, or anyone else, frying the rice noodles is worth the time and effort. It's nice having that bit of subtle texture in every bite.

Ingredients:
2 cups coconut oil
2 ounces rice stick noodles, such as vermicelli or celophane

1 whole roasted chicken, shredded

Mustard Vinaigrette:
2 Tbsp dry Chinese mustard
3 Tbsps water
2 Tbsps coconut aminos (Paleo), or Tamari (Gluten-Free), or soy sauce
2 Tbsps rice vinegar
2 Tbsps roasted sesame oil
1/2 cup olive oil or avocado oil
1 to 2 tsps honey syrup, or to taste
a few grinds of black pepper
sea salt, to taste (I only needed 1/4 tsp when combined with coconut aminos)

Salad:
6 cups shredded napa cabbage, or iceberg lettuce, or romaine, or a combination
4 scallions, white and green
1 bunch fresh cilantro leaves (stems removed and discarded) or Italian Parsley leaves
2 Tbsps toasted sesame seeds, white or black
1 cup roasted cashews, added at last minute

Procedure:
1. Prepare the greens and toss in a bowl. Refrigerate until needed.
2. In a wok, heat coconut oil to 375°F. Separate noodles so that you can work with small batches. I had to use a serrated bread knife to cut the slab of noodles into fourths. Add the noodles to the hot oil. I didn't want to play the guessing game so I used my instant thermometer to verify the temperature. If you do not have a thermometer, you can gauge the heat through a little trial and error- the noodles will puff within a few seconds, if not, the oil needs to be hotter. Flip the noodles over an lightly fry. This procedure takes no longer than 60 seconds, or less, for each 1/2 ounce of noodles. Drain the noodles on paper towels. Repeat with remaining noodles. Crumble noodles with your fingers.

Add 2 cups coconut oil to a wok and heat to 375°F.

The noodles cook very quickly; only about 30 seconds per "side".

3. Blend together the dry mustard and water. Add the tamari or coconut aminos, rice vinegar and toasted sesame oil. Whisk in the olive oil or avocado oil. Sweeten to taste with honey syrup. Grind some black pepper over the dressing and whisk again. Taste. Add a little sea salt, if needed.
4. Toss together the chicken and half the vinaigrette.
5. Just before serving, toss the chicken together with the salad greens,scallions, herbs, and sesame seeds. Lightly mix in the fried rice stick noodles. Garnish with cashews.

Mighty Tasty Thai Shrimp Bisque

by Michelle

   "Advice from the ocean: be shore of yourself, come out of your shell, take time to coast, avoid pier pressure, sea life's beauty, don't get tide down, and make waves."  ~Unknown

   I tell myself often that I should make more Thai food. I love the flavors of Thai cuisine but rarely do I make it at home. To make matters worse, we haven't found a great Thai place in Tucson. When Linda posted last week's recipe for her favorite Tom Khai Gai, it spurred me to think about a Thai inspired thick soup that I made many years ago that would be perfect to prepare for dinner in the heart of winter. Yes, it's even occasionally cold here in the old Pueblo. I suspected that I kept the recipe because it seems at times as if I throw nothing away. Locating the printed recipe simply became a matter of time and determination. Like the fictional character Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep in the film The Devil Wears Prada, I wish I had a secretary to "...find that paper I had in my hand yesterday." In my case, the time frame would be ten years ago.

I simultaneously made dinner and kept a watch towards the west and the rapidly setting sun.

One of the perks of living in Arizona are deeply hued sunsets.
Fortunately for we "Zonies" brilliantly tinged skies are not an unusual sight at the end of a day.

   When I finally locate the recipe I notice that it was published nearly 16 years ago. I quickly read through the recipe and it occurs to me how eating habits have changed since then. A low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet was all the rage at that time. Now gluten-free has taken hold across the USA and Europe. Paleo is on the rise. People across the nation are learning how to cure chronic diseases by omitting refined sugar, cereal grains (except rice), legumes, and "bad fats" such as seed oils. Pasteurized milk should be avoided, but as long as you can tolerate dairy, fermented items such as butter, cheese and yogurt are healthy choices.
   My life has definitely come full circle when I'm taking a recipe from Cooking Light Magazine and revising it to use full fat ingredients. I never thought I'd see that day, and yet here I am once again eating heavy cream and non-sugar cured bacon. Life is good. And, mighty tasty!

Thai Shrimp Bisque

   You will need to purchase unshelled shrimp for this recipe because the shells are used to make a shrimp stock. I ended up using one pound of shrimp that had the shells on, which I removed. I also used one pound of shrimp that was peeled, but still had tails attached. I removed the tails and added them to the heap of shells for the stock. This recipe is adapted from Cooking Light Magazine, circa 1999.
   I quickly defrosted the shrimp under running water and removed the shells while the shrimp were still mostly frozen. I tossed the shrimp into a brine and let them rest until fully defrosted, about 45 minutes. Afterwards, the shrimp were drained and then immediately tossed with the marinade.
 
Marinade:
2 pounds raw unshelled shrimp, I used the 26-30 count of shrimp per pound
1-1/2 Tbsps grated lime rind (about 1 to 2 limes)
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 3 limes)
1-1/2 Tbsps ground coriander
1 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp minced peeled fresh ginger
1-1/2 tsps coconut sugar or granulated sugar or 1 Tbsp honey syrup
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced

Shrimp Stock:
2 cups filtered water
1/2 cup drinkable dry white wine
1 Tbsp tomato paste

Bisque:
2 Tbsps coconut oil
1 small yellow onion, minced
2 medium celery stocks, diced
1 large carrot, quartered and diced
1 14-ounce can coconut milk
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1/4 cup rice flour or all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk or additional coconut milk
1 Tbsp grated lime rind (one lime), plus juice
1 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro
1 to 2 tsps fish sauce, preferably Red Boat Fish Sauce 40°N

Garnish:
finely shredded fresh basil

Procedure:
1. To prepare the marinade, peel shrimp, reserving shells. Combine shrimp and all ingredients for marinade in a bowl. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

2. To prepare the shrimp stock, combine the reserved shrimp shells, water, wine and 1 tablespoon tomato paste in a sauce pan. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until the liquid is reduced to 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Strain mixture through a sieve over a bowl, and discard solids.

3. To prepare the soup, heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and sauté 8 minutes or until wilted. Add 1 cup shrimp stock, coconut milk, and 1 tablespoon tomato paste, scraping pan to loosen any stuck vegetable bits. Bring to a boil. Lightly spoon rice flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Combine flour and milk (or coconut milk) in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add to pan; reduce heat, and simmer until thick, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the shrimp and marinade, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon lime rind, 1 tablespoon cilantro, and season with fish sauce, to taste. Garnish with chiffonade of basil, if desired.
Yield: 6 servings (serving size 1-1/2 cups).

   "I make some of my best recipes with a simple homemade stock. Keep shrimp shells stored in a plastic bag in the freezer. When you have almost a gallon-bag full, you can make a stock in 30 minutes that you can use in soups and sauces. You can then freeze the stock in ice-cube trays."
                ~Emerille Lagasse, Chef

The Accidental Thrifter and Michelle's Chicken Teriyaki

The Memory Keepers by Juliette

Looking through a jeweler's loop helps to magnify and identify a manufacturer's mark.

What you know about rocking a wolf on your noggin?

What you knowing about wearing a fur fox skin?

I'm digging, I'm digging, I'm searching right through that luggage

One man's trash, that's another man's come up

Thank your granddad for donating that plaid button-up shirt

Cause right now, I'm up in here stuntin'

I'm at the Goodwill, you can find me in the bins

I'm not, I'm not stuck on searchin' in that section (Mens)

Your grammy, your aunty, your momma, your mammy

I'll take those flannel zebra jammies, second hand and I'll rock that.

~Thrift Shop by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Island inspired fashion is always in style.

My son Paul grew up going to thrift stores with me. Paul is all grown up now and has two little boys of his own, but back when Paul was a kid of about 10, he wrote this less than enthusiastic account of a typical outing for salvage finds with his "thrifty mom". This salvaging relates directly to why we call ourselves the Salvation Sisters. What follows is Paul's hilarious description (minus a 10-year-old's misspellings) of the seemingly endless day spent with me that he wrote for a school assignment:

   I was in paradise nothing but blue skies and shady palm trees. The sand nice and toasty against my stomach. A gentle breeze blowing overhead through my hair. Strangers having a conversation with me while I am wondering who they are and how they know my name. Then while I am listening to them in the middle of the sentence they just start saying, "Paul. Paul." I say back to them "What?" Then my voice gets louder and angrier. Then one of them says very harsh, "Paul!!!" I instantly wake from the paradise I've been in for the last nine hours. I find out it is my mom saying, "It's time to get up now, Paul."
   "But why mom? It's the weekend, " I say in a tired and whiney voice. She says back to me, "Because we're going to Sierra Vista today."
   I'm so depressed I cannot get back to sleep. Because when my Mom says Sierra Vista it's a code word used around my house meaning going to the thrift shops. My sisters are familiar with the code word Sierra Vista also. When they hear it they hide in fear.

The daily deal at the Salvation Army on Oracle in Tucson.

I have "Spidey-Senses" for fine wools from Scotland.

   As we get pulled in our brown '88 Aerostar my sisters and I begin to pray. I ask my mother about halfway to Sierra Vista, "Where are we going first?" But in the back of my head I know she's going to say the speech I hate the most. "Paul... you know this is my job. This is what puts the food on the table." Then in a whiney voice I say, "Then why can't you get a different one?"
   "There are not many jobs in Bisbee," she says. I try to beg her to not stay long. She says, "I'll try, Paul, I really will."



Vavoom! My daughter Sonora has me to thank for finding this hidden gem.

   As we park in the middle of the Salvation Army parking lot I take a glance at the hours "9 to 5". I say the hours out loud, in again a whiney voice. As we walk in through the glass windowed door the thrift shop smell washes over my body and enters my nose. Thrift shops all have the same smell it seems like. As I walk over to the TV, which is the only entertainment, my sisters zoom past me to take control of the TV. The station that catches their eye is of course the Disney channel. As they sit on the floor sucked in the TV I can see that they enjoy coming. When I try to sit down on a chair by the TV a worker comes up to me and says, "You can't sit on the furniture." As if my day has not gone bad enough now I can't sit on the furniture. Soon I find myself sitting on the floor along side my sisters.



The condiment set was scrutinized under the loop and underwent the sniff test.
We liked the insect motif, but it was a pass due to a small chip.

I suspect that this working mini spinning wheel is worth some money.

   Since I am not into Timon and Pumbaa, I start to watch my mom. She has not even gone through one row and it's been an hour. She mostly looks out for the flashy clothes that catches her eye. Once she finds a dress or shirt she looks at it very closely looking for the tiniest stains or holes. If she doesn't find it at the time she will when she double checks before she pays. When three hours have gone by she is almost done. I can see her in the last row arms and shoulders filled with brightly colored vintage clothing. She looks like a peacock.
   Finally she says, "Ok kids, time to go." I am so bored. I am not happy. Then as I walk through the door she says, "Paul, I could use some help here." When I turn around I see five big black trash bags laying at her feet. My mom picks up one of them, her purse and walks out the door. As I stand there looking at the four garbage bags laying beside my feet begin thinking should I carry all four on the same trip or take two. I'm standing there thinking like a zombie. I see my mom walking back in to  the store. But she didn't come back to help me with the bags but to get her receipt. So I am stuck there with the bags. As I walked through the parking lot with the bags all over me like I'm dressed up for Halloween as a black ghost, I notice the sun is going down. I throw the bags into the back of the car.


No more Disney Channel for Sonora and Avalon. They love "thrifting" 
now… stretches those college dollars.

   While we pull out of the parking lot we stop because of a red light. She says, "What do you want to do now?" Since being in the thrift shops for so long I worked up an appetite so we go to Taco Bell. After I order a number one with an extra soft taco, my mom says, "Paul, find a seat." Quickly my sisters race off to find a seat. When I look at the seat they found it is covered with beans, cheese, salsa and tomatoes. I say to my sisters, "Why don't you find one without food already on the table!" They run around Taco Bell trying to find a clean one. Finally they find one in the corner. When my mom comes to the table with the food she sits down and takes a look at the receipt.
   She asks me, "How many tacos do we have?"
   "Five."
   "They charged us for six."
   "It's only a sixty-five cents difference." But she is already at the counter trying to get a taco or her money back.

My daughters Avalon and Sonora in pursuit of  fashionable finds at an affordable price.



The girls follow my quick measuring tip - if the waist fits around the neck, go ahead and try them on.

   Once we are done eating we go over to Big 5 to get me some shoes. When we walk in I say, "Finally." When we walk to the back of the store where the shoes are kept I see the shoes I saw in the ad in the paper that I've been wanting to get. Quickly I grab them and ask the clerk if they have the shoes in a size ten. Then the clerk went into the back room and came out about thirty seconds later and said, "No. I'm sorry we don't have it in that size." Then my mom butts into the conversation with the clerk and I, and says to him, "Are you sure?"
   The clerk says he'll try again. This time he spent around two minutes in the back room and still came out with nothing. My mom asks me if there is any other shoe I would like. At this point I'm mad since I came up here for nothing but since I was there I would take a look at the shoes. So I strolled up and down the aisle looking for anything that catches my eye with bright colors. But the only shoes that did were for girls. I look to my mom and say, "There are no shoes here that I'm interested in."

Casa de los Niños is a department-style thrift store located at Mountain and Prince in Tucson.

   As we begin to leave the store my mom says, "Well I guess it's not your day, Paul."
   "I guess it's not," I mumble back.
   By now the time is around 8:30 and my mom says to me, "Paul the girls are getting cranky and sleepy. We should go home. I say, "OK."
   So me and my mom hop in the front while my sisters crowd into the back of the old brown van which is now trashed because of the fast food and snacks we had eaten in it through the boring day in beautiful Sierra Vista.

The End

P.S.: Paul received an "A" from his teacher.



It seemed as if this maker's marked violin should be priced for more than $80.00.

When flicked on its rim crystal will ring like a clear bell whereas glass does not.

The inertia of objects is deceptive. The inanimate world appears static, "dead," to humans only because of our neuromuscular chauvinism. We are so enamored of our own activity range that we blind ourselves to the fact that most of the action in the universe is unfolding outside our range, occurring at speeds so much slower or faster than our own that it is hidden from us as if by a... a veil. We regard the objects that polka-dot our daily lives as if they were rigid, totally predictable solids, frozen inferiorly in time and space. Yet, how can we be so sure that we know what things are doing when we aren't looking at them? When our eyesight is inadequate to truly look at them?
       ~ Tom Robbins, Skinny Legs And All

   I have a strange relationship with inanimate objects. I can feel them calling to me sometimes. I know this sounds crazy, but it has played out often enough to not be only coincidence. One morning I was drinking my coffee and felt the sudden need to go to the thrift shop in Douglas, which is nearly a thirty mile drive. I had other things on my agenda that day so I didn't pay it much attention. It persisted. Go to Douglas! Go to Douglas! So, since making a good part of my living at that time was dependent on things I bought and resold, I rescheduled my day and decided to follow my inner voice and make a quick trip to Douglas.

   I found a few things, but nothing to justify the Son of Sam voices in my head. I walked toward the front of the store to buy my goodies, a bit disappointed that I hadn't found anything to justify the trip. Then, I could almost hear something say, "Wait! I'm over here!"

   I decided to make another loop around the store to see if there was something I missed. I found them, in a corner, on a shelf, hidden behind a horrible fluffy prom gown: a pair of women's Tony Lama extra fancy cowboy boots. Two tone beauties with elaborate designs in black and white leather, red accents, and some fancy stitching. Some slight scuffing on the soles was the only evidence that they had ever been worn. They were a jaw dropping $15.00 dollars. I sold them three days later for $175.00, which was still a smoking deal for the buyer since these kick ass boots would have retailed new for around $800.00. Definitely worth the trip!  



We can probably all agree that sheep skin is more appropriate 
for a floor covering than a Yeti-inspired coat.

My niece Maddie searching for "appropriate attire" for her part-time hosting gig.

    Another day I was driving home and there was a yard sale sign in front of a little shack of a house. I normally stop at all yard sales and thrift shops, but this day I was tired and hungry. I drove past even though a little bell started ding-donging in my head. By the time I had turned the corner and was a few blocks from my house that bell in my head started sounding like an alarm. I'm here, I'm here, come find me!!! I do what I always do. I turned the van around and went back. Walking into the carport I was greeted by piles of well worn Rustler jeans, Tupperware that had seen better days, children's toys (dirty and broken), dollar store jewelry piled in a basket, plastic planters, and every other kind of undesirable junk imaginable.

Don't overlook the book section; you never know what 
author signed first edition might be hiding in the mix.

   I walked through slowly, but did not see anything I could to resell in my wildest dreams. I walked out but before I could get to the car it came upon me again... I'm here! I'm here! I turned around and went back through. This time I stopped to inspect the basket of dollar store jewelry more closely. There was a plastic bag of necklaces sitting on top of more junky looking jewelry that was loose on the bottom of the basket. I moved the bag to the side and there it was. A heavy, old, hand wrought sterling watchband set with Bisbee Blue turquoise. "How much?" I asked, trying to conceal my delight.

"Is two dollars too much?" the woman replied. "No, two dollars is great", I answered. I wore that watch band for many, many years but since I stopped wearing a watch several years ago, I recently sold it for $400.00.

   I can tell you a lot of stories like that. I sometimes just "feel" it when there is something good waiting to be discovered. Thank heaven for the gift, wherever it comes from, because it has helped me support my family over the past 20 years.

I have a myriad of uses for knitting needles including 
employing one as a makeshift hair pick.

    My thrift sop addiction started in the mid nineties after birthing two baby girls in less than one year. I lacked the energy, time, space and inspiration to create the art work that had supported me and my son Paul for years. I started shopping at the area thrift shops and yard sales because I could no longer afford even discount retailers such as Ross and Marshall's. While shopping for clothes I would often come across wonderful vintage clothing pieces that were too small for me. I would pull them off the rack, admire the tailoring, put them back reluctantly, and move on in search of something I could actually wear.
   When we became a bit more financially stable I started buying some of the gowns, gloves, scarves, hats, jewelry and other unique vintage pieces I cam across thinking that some day my girls might be able to wear them to a future prom or formal event. I stored everything in a large antique trunk. A few years later when the trunk was packed full to overflowing, a friend of mine suggested that we host a "beautiful clothing" sale at her home. She was an avid thrift shopper as well, but drawn to more contemporary clothing in linen, cotton, and silk.
   My friend thought our items would work well together. By then it was obvious that my girls, even at their tender ages, had their own ideas about fashion, and there was no guarantee that the clothes I had been saving would fit their future sizes of sensibilities. We had the sale and we made close to $4,000.00 in one afternoon. As Oprah would say, it was my "ah-ha" moment. I realized that there were not only money to be saved by shopping second-hand, but more importantly, there was money to be made.

In to the cart go favorite clothes hangers along with a hand 
painted plate made in Mexico.

Yes, I love my Dansko clogs, but no, I don't recognize a need for one wooden 
Heineken clog.... but wait... perhaps Michelle could use it to make a flower 
arrangement in it for the annual Oktoberfest party?

   I loved thrifting because I could take the children along with me while I searched for treasures. They did not share my enthusiasm. Understanding that a good defense requires a good offense I would often bribe my offspring with a trip to Dairy Queen or McDonald's in exchange for good behavior. Around this time I got a job working at a local antique store on the weekends when my then husband could be home with the children. My purchases rapidly expanded from clothing to any and all items antique, collectible, or vintage. I soon had a booth in the antique store and worked in exchange for my rent. It was fun, interesting, got me out of the house and more importantly it helped pay the bills.
   I was certain that my children would never set foot in a thrift shop after all their years of involuntary attendance. I am pleased to report that is not the case. I stopped into the local thrift shop a few weeks ago and turned a corner to see Paul and both of his boys sorting through the toy section. You could have knocked me over with a feather! Sonora and Avalon now shop for their clothes almost exclusively at the many thrift shops in Tucson, and we often go together when I am visiting. They have a good eye and look fabulous in their finds. You would never know their clothes, shoes, jewelry are second-hand, but when complimented, they are proud to point that out. Everything comes full circle.

Hmmmmm... the only use that sprang to mind was trying to incorporate into a Halloween costume.

Additional Tips:
   Feel free to negotiate the price of the item if it is damaged, or the price seems ridiculously high. The worst that can happen is that they will say no. Ask for a manager. Be polite. Smile. Use your kindest voice, and ask if it might be possible to get a discount on the item, and state why you feel that might be justified. This works about half the time.

   Inspect any item you might be interested in BRIEFLY for cracks, tears, or damage. Put it in your cart and move along. You can always put it back but chances are if you decide it is something that you want and go back for it, it will be gone. You snooze, you lose!


   At the end of my shopping I find a table or sofa near a window or in a well lit place where I can inspect all items more closely at leisure. For glassware and ceramics I visually inspect the items for cracks and nicks. Your fingers are more reliable than your eyes, so also run a finger around rims and bases. If you feel a rough place it usually indicates a chip or a place that has been repaired.


Really? Someone donated this collector's item? Quick check the value on Google.

   For clothing, I hold the item open to a window or a light. Holes and tears will show up much easier this way. Inspect wool items with extra care as they often have moth damage that can be hard to spot. I find many stains on the clothing are easy to remove. For oil and greasy stains I use Original Goop Hand Cleaner. For other stains a simple washing with a Mexican soap such as Corona, which has a higher lye content will do the trick! There are many web-sites devoted to stain removal if you have a stubborn one.



Record aficionados are able to search for great finds in vinyl at thrift stores.

   On vintage clothing check the seams for dry rot. I once had a vintage dress split wide open down my back side while I was wearing it... embarrassing. Yup, I'm pretty sure I know where that word originated from now!

   I do not like to use the dressing rooms as they are sometimes disgusting, and heaven knows what goes on in there. Goodwill dressing rooms (at least here) are generally clean, well lit, and have a nice mirror that does not distort to make me appear as Andre The Giant. Bring a tape measure - and know what the size of your clothing looks like on a hanger. Ask what the return policy is prior to purchase if you think you might need to bring it back.


Although this hand beaded sweater from the 1940s is adorable, it was 
begrudgingly rejected due to small moth holes.

  Watch your cart! Unfortunately in most thrift shops the isles are set-up ridiculously close together. There is barely room for two people to pass, let alone a cart so I usually leave it at the end of the isle. Because of this I have had items taken from my cart and after having to hot foot it after the thief I have learned the best way to deter this is to find a really awful piece of clothing and drape it across the top of the cart so the good stuff is concealed! One time, even though I had the "camouflage" item on top, I found a woman dumping the entire contents of my cart onto the floor under a rack of robes because she needed a cart and didn't want to be bothered with walking across the store to get her own. Sheesh! It bears repeating: watch your cart!


These items were a yes and a yes. The black embroidered 
sheer jacket was probably the find of the day.

Michelle and I both adored the 60's inspired handmade linen wedding dress with detachable train.

    Resist the temptation to buy something just because it is really inexpensive. I ask myself: is this something I actually need? Where will I put it? Will I actually wear it? Is there someone I know that can use it? I often find pristine children sized clothes (my favorite is Oshkosh overalls which I often find for $1 or less) or shoes that I will often buy for my friends with small children. Although I have reached maximum capacity at home with cast iron pans of all shapes and sizes, I still buy them for my children's growing collection. It helps to watch an episode of Hoarder's occasionally.... there is great stuff out there, but just because it is great doesn't mean you actually need it.

Whaddya know? Genuine Wedgewood made in England for the low, 
low price of five dollars. But, do I need it?

    As you wander through the thrift shop, try not to look at the big picture. Thrift shops can be daunting because there is so much junk everywhere. Usually there are only a few real gems hiding among the mountains of crap. Just take it one shelf, or rack at a time. It sometimes takes time to develop "the eye" as we in the trade call it, but practice makes perfect. I usually do my best to avoid eye contact with other shoppers as muttering screwballs abound. It is a good time to pop in the ear buds and listen to your iPod.


Additional Notes:

   Most thrift shops offer some sort of sale or discount on miscellaneous items each day. For example,    Goodwill offers half off on a certain tag color every day. There is a sign posted with the color of the day and if you can't find it then ask one of the clerks. A senior citizen discount applies one day a week. It is Tuesday in Southern Arizona but may vary in different areas.

   Salvation Army has a date on the tag of each item. Usually at two weeks past the date on the tag all items are 50% off. The discount date will be posted on a dry erase board as you enter. The stores usually offer other items that have been discounted for that day: linens, bric-à-brac , shoes, etc.

   The good news is senior citizens and military personnel receive discounts. The bad news is the half-off discount cannot be combined with the senior citizen or military discounts. It is a very good idea to sort your items by discount before check-out or it can really slow things down. For some reason the Salvation Army stores do not have the ability to sort items by discount in one transaction, at least not at my local store. Therefore, I have to pay twice. Once for items that are half off and again for items where a senior citizen discount is applied. I should note that I am not technically a senior citizen yet, but if they assume by my rapidly graying hair that I am, I do not correct them. Discount always supersedes vanity in my book!


Juliette gave this $150.00 Persian-style rug due consideration but determined, 
ruefully, that it's too big for her living room.

   One of the women who is regularly working the register at one of my regular haunts asked me once if I was a senior citizen and I said no. When I checked my receipt later I found that she gave me the discount anyway and continues to do so to this day. Being nice to the help is always a good idea! For those of you who can't make it to the store before the 5 p.m. closing, they have midnight sales once every couple of months with great discounts. Ask to be put on their e-mail list to get notifications of special sales and weekly discounts.
   St. Vincent de Paul also has selected discounts available on a daily basis, as do most of the other thrift shops. If there is no sign posted, just ask what discounts are available.

Reuniting with my puppy Val at the end of the day. Yes, that is a tongue slurping my nose.

At the end of the day, it is time for dinner with the family at Michelle's house...

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce keeps for nearly a month in the refrigerator.

Chicken Teriyaki (Traditional and Gluten-Free)