Whether you’re team Glinda or rooting for Elphaba, these Wicked-inspired cocktails are Oz-worthy toasts to any of your magical festivities. So grab your broom and gather your friends and stir up these enchanting elixirs. These magical drinks will lift your spirits as you levitate a glass to the Wonderful World of Oz.
Wicked Dip
¼ cup of chopped watercress
1 Tablespoon of chopped chives
½ teaspoon of dried tarragon leaves
2 teaspoons of capers (drained)
2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 teaspoon of mustard (preferred Dijon-style)
1 Tablespoon of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of lime juice
⅛ teaspoon of granulated salt or a large pinch of sea salt
1 small-medium sized egg
1 ¼ cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (may substitute vegetable oil or canola oil)
*optional 3 flat anchovy fillets, finely chopped
Jicama slices
Carrot sticks
Celery sticks
Radishes
Directions: In either a blender or a food processor, add chives, watercress, tarragon, capers and optional anchovy fillets. Pulse or process until finely minced, next add the 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, mustard, lemon, lime juice and a pinch of salt and the egg. Process until your mixture thickens. This will take about 30 seconds. For about ten seconds, slowly add the additional olive oil until the mixture is thickened. *May use vegetable or canola oil as well. Serve with radishes, celery sticks, carrot sticks and jicama slices. Can pour the mixture in half of an avocado, just slice the avocado in half lengthwise and take pit out. (You will surprise guests as there is no avocado in the recipe. The green color for the wicked dip comes from watercress and chives.
Potluck for Saint Patrick's Day
Top o' the morning or evening to you. In this one day class, we will be making many Irish inspired dishes such as Corned Beef and Cabbage, Chocolate Trifle, Shepherd's Pie, Sausage and Potato Hot Pot, Irish coffee and we will be making some shenanigans in the kitchen. We might even make a leprechaun trap.
Simply Salads
In this one day class, you will be green with envy over the nutritional value of salads. Simply Salads will unload a variety of salads, from tossed to vegetable and pasta salads, fruit and seafood salads.
Let Them Eat Cake
We will be baking up a revolution. Creating A Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake, Luscious Lemon Cake, Tiramisu, Chocolate Torte Caprese, Polenta Cake, Love at first Bite Red Velvet Cake and so much more.
Let them eat sugarless cake
One day cooking classes.
These one day courses are designed to satisfy your tastes while enjoying the company of other with similar interests. Gina is an internationally recognized author of several best selling cookbooks, most notably, Love at First Bite, The Unofficial Twilight Cookbook. Gina will make you feel at home with her talents and friendly, outgoing personality.
Treat yourself to a day of fun, relaxing, delectable delights by joining one of these themed classes.
Soup Sampler
In this one day seminar, you will learn the fundamentals of soup making. The instructor will teach you the basics and you will learn how to make your own soup with love using fresh, local ingredients. Enjoy a warm, cozy evening of delightful tastes and learn something new.
Muffins Made Easy
Making muffins is as easy as one, two, three. The range of ingredients is a wide as your imagination and the baking techniques are simple, Enjoy making Apple Cinnamon Muffins, Homemade Blueberry Muffins, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, Banana Nut Muffins, Colorful Carrot Muffins and much more.
Valentine's Day Date
Join us for an evening of romance in the kitchen. Working alongside your Valentine, our instructor will walk you through a culinary celebration of Saint Valentine's Day. We will be making Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, Chicken Piccata, Salmon with Capers, a variety of tasty salads, and a few cocktails and cocktails.
Quick and Easy Meals
Looking for a few good meals? Look no further. Add some really great dishes to your cooking routine. Learn to make quick and easy home-cooked meals ready in 45 minutes or less. We will prepare healthy and delicious meals. Class discussion and participation is highly encouraged. We will be discussing basic cooking skills, techniques for cutting down on the prep time. But you gotta be quick, we want time for eating, enjoying our quick meals in minutes.
Ideas for a Bewitched inspired screenplay
Beginning stages of a Bewitched screenplay.
Darrin is having a midlife crisis. He isn’t ready to retire but Tabitha and Johnathan are taking over the business. Mc Mann has retired and his children did not want to be involved in the business so his position as a main partner was not replaced, but his moniker was left on the Mc Mann, Tate, & Stephens Advertising Agency.
Tabitha is her dad’s boss at Mc Mann, Tate, & Stephens.
Jonathan Tate is like his dad, but he has hidden this from Tabitha.
Darrin is having a midlife crisis because he never got his promotion. It is Tabitha
That received the name recognition on the outside placard for the
Mc Mann, Tate, & Stephens.
There has been a mini discussion with Johnathan about hyphenating their names after they marry.
Samantha promised the witches council that after the kids were grown she’d become Queen
Of the Witches or she’d be stripped of her powers because Tabitha and Adam are half mortal, giving the prejudiced world a glimpse into the magical world, there is a fear of the Salem Witch Trials all over again.
Adam is in college, he has his mom and dad, he resembles his dad Darrin and is a chip off block.
Tabitha graduated from Witches U. Gladys Kravitz writes a cookbook about her paranormal experiences, but no one would publish it however a cookbook publisher agreed that her borrowing all those cups of sugar at the Stephens House.
In August of 2022, my thyroid went temporarily wonky after developing a short Covid experience and/or the prescribed meds I took to help elevate the covid symptoms caused the high thyroid. Vigilant over my health, I decided that the best way to handle the situation was to go gluten-free.
I am happy over my decision and though in recent years going gluten-free has gotten easier, it still is a difficult road especially at restaurants.
Whatever the case, regardless of the reason why people choose to eliminate certain foods from their diets, it was the right choice for me.
Gratefully, my thyroid is back on track and loving baking, I decided to add gluten-free goodies to my website.
Currently, I have a gluten-free biscotti cookie for sale, they are the twice-baked softer biscotti than the traditional. Anise flavored goodness with the rainbow sprinkles my noni used to add. https://ginameyers.com/shop/ols/categories/biscotti-cookies
Ever try to elevate your mood?
Well, I've found the perfect way. The Christmas movie. The traditional rom-com of mystery, adventure, love, and passion are all wrapped up into a lovely Christmas movie.
Here are a few that I have recently watched with pure bliss and joy.
Okay so there is a lot. I thought I would share my very brief Halloween movie picks.
Pick #1: All Bewitched Halloween episodes, especially Darrin as a werewolf now that I recently heard the behind the scenes story from Chris York, Dick York's son.
The Little Vampires
The Wizard of Oz
...and Young Frankenstein
Thursday, October 17th, 2024
Waiting over 25 minutes for my luggage.
Waiting for one's luggage at the airport, especially an international flight is akin to waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle. The big attraction. I think most people feel you can't have a trip without your luggage. It's like the start of the trip when you pick up your suitcase.
I just said a small prayer to Saint Anthony. How could an entire flights luggage be delayed?
Did they not put it on the plane?
Did the bride change her mind?
the circus needs the clown. The wedding needs a bride and I need my luggage for this trip to start.
Have you ever seen a really good movie that sticks with you long after you've watched it? Maybe one that is ingrained in your memory like a good coleslaw and mashed potatoes. Sticks to your ribs and on occasion you get the need to indulge in it again?
Well food analogies aside, here are my three top out of the ordinary or slightly off-wall movies that are truly are unique as the movie titles imply.
Peggy Sue Got Married
Crazy People
Defending Your Life
What About Bob?
Start your own list and for the holidays let one family member choose a unique movie that they enjoy and preview it before you suggest for the whole family.
One Favorite Read
by Gina Meyers
As a writer, I love books that inspire and inform. As a cookbook author, I too enjoy this approach of finding books that are a treasure trove of great ideas and helpful information.
Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life is the how-to guide on our emotions and how these can be changed by our outlook and attitude. One thing I love about her books is that she says that every disease of our body we have manifested. This is a profound statement of wisdom.
Please check out my 3 Favorite Reads of 2023 and maybe you can get in a couple of reads before 2025 comes.
https://shepherd.com/bboy/2023/f/gina-meyers
Looking for a unique gift for your loved ones? Check out https://ginameyers.com
A Saw The Light From a Cardboard Sign
By Gina Meyers
This evening, while driving home, I took a turn off of the freeway and waited at the intersection light.
What I saw however was beyond ordinary.
What I saw this evening was life changing. And I don’t exaggerate that often. So, I really mean it when I say it, and I’ll say it again for full effect, “life changing.”
If I weren’t to exaggerate, I would say it rather eye opening.
I saw a disheveled looking homeless man, no big surprise there, we see many beggars at the street corners these days. It has become a normal yet grim reality of hard times.
But this man made me laugh. Not just a chuckle, he made me laugh out loud. A downright Jolly Santa belly laugh.
Why you may ask….???
Well, before I get to the hook, writers like to put the bait on the hook before we cast the fishing rod into the water.
So…..
The man looked to be in his mid-to late sixties, semi-stylish hairstyle akin to John Bon Jovi’s hair, long, wavy, but more gray. The man wore black sunglasses, a brownish colored tee-shirt, black shorts, flip flops and he was pacing back and forth in the medium. In the distance, I heard the train whistle and saw the rails go down on the train tracks, whistle blows louder and the lights were illuminating on those rail crossings as it was dusk. The man seemed to kind of shimmy his body and attention to the oncoming train and this scared me slightly.
But he repositioned himself quickly, like a wound-up toy soldier and all of a sudden, we were his target market for his rather large sign made out of cardboard, worn on the edges, but the man was still able to hold and walk from car to car soliciting for money.
The sign itself was larger than the average signs I see the homeless holding. It looked to be about three feet tall, like three or so cardboard box pieces tapped together.
The sign the man held in my humble opinion was eye opening and also made me laugh.
In handwritten BIG BOLD Letters it said:
EX WIFE HAD A BETTER ATTORNEY
Yes it made me laugh so hard, and then I took a sip of sobering reality from that sign.
How often do we play the blame game?
If only…. If only….
If only I were born into the Rockefeller Family, I would have wealth beyond measure.
If only I would have said yes to the date from the computer geek in high school that turned into a successful rocket scientist who won the nobel prize. I’d be married by now with three brilliant children visiting the sunny coast of Tahiti on our summer breaks. If only I played the lottery and used the numbers my Great Aunt Louise said were the lucky albeit holy grail of all lotto numbers, I’d be a millionaire by now. If only I would have invested in Apple stock when I had the chance, I’d be financially fit.
The list goes on and on. Not all blame games involve money, but this one sure did!
In the moments preceding seeing the sign, it brought to my mind a flood stream of bad life experiences that I’ve had, that I’ve simply sterilized in my life.
Isn’t flood stream oxymoronic? Yes, and so was the sign.
Homeless man came too close for comfort to me while sitting in my car.
Why is this lesson so important? It is because we can all relate. We’ve all had bad days where things didn’t go our way, we’ve all had unpleasant experiences, and some of us like Pig-pen, the character in the Charles Schultz Charlie Brown Comic, we all starting living our lives under a perpetual dust cloud. . But I think we are missing the point, some of us mistake a bad day for a bad life.
But how many of us throw daily pity parties? The late Dr. Wayne Dyer, motivational speaker, so eloquently stated: “ Stop looking for occasions to be offended.”
If we live our lives in the relatable realm that my: EX HUSBAND or EX WIFE HAD A BETTER ATTORNEY. Then we miss the point of why we were put on this planet to begin with.
PEACE, LOVE, KINDNESS, as Actor Mike Myers says, “Yeah Baby!”
A relatable bum with a sense of humor. Afterall, I saw the light on a cardboard sign at dusk.
So what does your cardboard sign say?
If you aren’t sure, check out my book, Dream It Alive Dream Board Kit.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dream-it-alive-dream-board-kit-gina-meyers/1142903341
https://ginameyers.com/shop/ols/products/dream-it-alive-dream-board-kit-audio-book
Fall Reads
Fall is almost upon us and it’s the perfect time to read and relax and do some reading.
Here’s what I’ve read so far this year in no particular order. Because I am a new realtor, but a longtime author and publisher-- I get the opportunity to read upcoming books and unique indie books. I have reread my late friend Richard Parenti’s, Emotional Sobriety: Feel-Good Secrets for Everyone, a semi-autobiographical account of his recovering alcoholic status and how he implemented steps from Alcoholic Annonomous and re-worded them to change his outlook and prognosis. I also reread my cousin Marie Lavin’s, MFCC book, An Invitation To Change, a small book chalked full of wisdom and how energy healing can be effective in changing one’s outlook. I also read Don Miguels, The Four Agreements. I read and listened to his book on tape and also watched you tube videos that further dive into the agreements we make with ourselves and others.
For a more in depth explanation to the book, In The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.
Don Miguel Ruiz has dedicated his life to sharing the wisdom of the ancient Toltec.
A book I am listening to that is an eye opener is called, The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy, by Thomas Stanley.
Magical Singing Cake
Make sure you time this so that your guests are present during the baking. Once the cake is baked, the effect is over and it only “sings” while baking.
1 cup of butter
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
3 eggs, separated
2 squares bitter chocolate melted
1 cup of raisins
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
4 cups sifted flour
1 cup of strawberry jam
1 cup of chopped nuts
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 cup of buttermilk
Directions: In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Next add egg yolks one at a time and stir. (Reserve egg whites and beat on high with an electric mixture until the egg whites form stiff peaks.) Add the melted chocolate and stir into the concoction. (In a microwave safe bowl, place chocolate and melt for one minute and with a spatula check. If it hasn’t melted, place in the microwave for another thirty seconds.) Then add raisins, cinnamon, cloves and flour, nuts and jam, stir. Quickly add in the baking powder and buttermilk as well as folding in the stiffly-formed egg whites into the cake batter. Pour the cake batter mixture into a greased and floured angel food cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees until the cake stops singing, about forty five minutes. Check with a toothpick to see if batter is fully cooked.
Looking for a lower in sugar coconut macaroon recipe, here it is!
2/3 cup all purpose Gluten Free Flour, such as White Gold Brand
14 oz package unsweetened flaked coconut (if you use sweetened coconut, you will be adding 5 grams of sugar)
1/4 teaspoon salt
14 oz fat free sweetened condensed milk (contains 24 grams sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional: 6-8oz chocolate chips such as Lily’s milk chocolate style baking chips, with 32% cocoa, stevia sweetened.
Preheat the oven to 350°F and place cupcake liners in a cupcake pan. You may also use silicone cupcake liners. If lining a baking sheet use parchment paper or cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix together gluten-free flour, coconut and salt until the coconut is coated in the other ingredients
Stir in condensed milk, vanilla extract. Keep stirring until well combined. Next, add chocolate chips.
Using a cookie scoop, place in mounds of the coconut chocolate chip mixture in the cupcake tin liners or on the prepared baking sheets.
For large (3 Tablespoon) cookies, bake in a preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until the tops are golden. For smaller (1 1/2 tablespoons) cookies, bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown the tops.
Cool for five minutes and enjoy. Makes about 1 ½ dozen medium sized macaroons.
My mom always said that San Francisco is such a beautiful city that you could fall in LOVE anywhere there.
San Francisco the city by the bay was my home. Me, Gina Marie, born June the 8th, 1971 in San Francisco, California at Saint Luke’s Hospital.
I’m third generation Native San Franciscan and proud of it. No matter how much the city landscape changes, it always remains a vibrant, fun, picturesque city.
My grandparents met at a big band dance while my grandpa chig’s naval ship was docked at Pier 39 back in the 1940’s.
It was a night like no other. My Sicilian grandma Rose, who resembled the movie star Rosalind Russell, dressed up in her latest black tight knit dress from I Magnins.
Red lipstick, her jet black hair upturned on the ends, high heels, click clack, headed with her sister Mary to the short walk from their parents’ flat on the corner of Mason and Lombard.
Mare and Roe what a sight. Both lookers for their day, and as they stopped by their father’s crab stand to have a bottle of coke a cola-- before the dance, they ran into their Uncle Nunzio who was working the six to midnight shift, “up the wharf.”
“Hey Mare”, Rose cried. “Wouldn’t it be neat if they played Artie Shaw’s in the mood and we danced all night with a naval officer?”
“Get your heads outta the clouds Roe,” Mare said.
Rose ever the dreamer, was dreaming that night of finding her love and sure enough, a tall and lanky fellow by the name of Harold E. Hill, just like the main character in the play, The Music Man asked Rosalind to dance.
North Beach is home to Saints Peter and Pauls where Joe Dimaggio and his first wife wed. You hear the church bells chime every hour. Weird part is the address: 666 Filbert Street, sounds more like the devil’s calling card then an address for a cathedral.
Mason and Lombard is one block from the crookest street in the world, also known as zig zag Hill, and you can hear the cables from the cable cars running all night long. With no air conditioning, the flat was equipped with wooden framed, single paned windows which rattled in the night, followed by fog horns which sounded and resounded like clock work.
Cue in the rain.
God cues in the rain.
We were lost and we needed to be found. It was May 2020 Covid abounded but no one could take away our time on the beach in San Francisco, as we climbed the steep sand encrusted mountain we reached a peak so high it was as if we could touch the sky. Lucas and I, excited that we’d reached the top, were astounded to find a virtual rainforest of adventure, green grass with little white daisies in the grass, people, lots of people walking their dogs, smiling in the sunshine. It was as if we’d reached heaven and down below where we could hear the waves crashing onto the shore, see the seagulls flying above the ocean floor, we had reached some sort of heavenly realm at the top of that monstrous sand mountain. We both simultaneously said, “it’s as if God has cued everyone.”
Then we started making sense of the scenes as if we were the assistant directors in the play of life. I shouted “cue in the rain.” Lucas shouted, “cue in the dogs.” There were so many dogs that day walking their owners.
The writing on the wall.
With the farllon islands in the background. My parents took me for a walk on the beach. Gina get your tennis. As we walked the sand cave, my dad said, “I’ve been to this beach before.” As I looked on the sand wall, the writing was literally on the wall, Emblazoned it read: “Life is not a dress rehearsal.”
It got me thinking about the way I was living. A newborn, a teenage stepdaughter and a young eight year old daughter. And husband.
It got me thinking quite a bit of my happiness.
A few more clicks for you for apricots.
Soar to new heights with these assorted Papagni Flights
Papagni Tricolore Flight
A magical combination of White, Rosé, and Red for when you are not sure of what you’d like, or want to taste it all!
2018 Chardonnay 2016 Grenache Rosé 2018 Alicante Bouchet
Dolce Flight
For all sweet wine lovers! This flight explores the sweeter side of the Italian Papagni Wines.
2016 Muscat Papagni Red Sangria
Alicante Fight
Take flight and indulge in our flagship brand Alicante. See how we got on the map.
2013 Alicante Bouchet 2015 Alicante Bouchet 2018 Alicante Bouchet
Halloween Caramel Corn
½ cup of dark caro syrup
1 cup of light or dark brown sugar
1 cube of butter
½ teaspoon of baking soda
1 Tablespoon of Torani Flavored Pumpkin Pie Spice
½ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 quarts or 8 cups of popped popcorn
Optional: nuts and candy corns candies
Directions in a large pot, melt, butter, add salt, brown sugar and caro syrup, pumpkin pie spice (liquid) and stir till it bowls, stir. Turn off heat and add baking soda and vanilla extract, stir again. Next, add popcorn to the large pot and coat the popcorn. Next, have a cookie sheet sprayed with butter flavored spray and add the popcorn to the cookie sheet and press flat. Bake in a 250 degree oven, stirring occasionally, every ten minutes for thirty minutes. Allow to cool, and walla, Halloween Caramel Corn. Enjoy!
Bow-Tie Pasta with creamy walnut and garlic sauce
1 pound of bow-tie pasta
1 ½ cups of heavy cream
1 cup of walnuts, shelled
¾ cup of shredded Romano Cheese
2 Garlic cloves, peeled
1 teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of black pepper
Directions: In a food processor, blend cream, walnuts, cheese, salt and pepper, and garlic, blend until smooth. Cook pasta according to package directions. In a pan, add drained cooked pasta, add the cream mixture and cook until the sauce is warm. May garnish with extra romano cheese as well as additional garlic.
Gina Ferrari’s recipes can be found at: http://www.ginameyers.com or http://www.nonijuliesbiscotti.com
Pairs well with Papagni Pinot Grigio. http://www.papagniwines.com
"This wine is light, fruity and refreshing with aromas of orange blossom, pineapple and papaya that evolve in the glass and lead to a palate of poached pear and melons. A perfect complement to halibut, salmon, chicken and Asian cuisine, as well as lightly sauced pasta dishes." ~ Demetrio Papagni 750 ML ALC 12% BY VOL
Examples of Biographies
Born in San Francisco, California, (Name) is a graduate of California State University, Fresno. Early in her career, working with renowned actress Kasey Rogers, she produced and directed a series of animated films on the television show Bewitched.
Josephine McDonald has a rare ability to evoke the power of myth through simple language and brilliant art which has earned her many honors. Her fascination with the trickster motif in folklore led her to the wondrous Native American tales about Raven.
Ms. McDonald is a consultant on education. She was born in San Jose, California, and presently lives in California.
(Name) is the author of numerous books of folktales, and stories about Jewish holidays. He learned about this story while working with Native American children in the Pacific Northwest. Alan lives with his cat, Wakalope in Pleasanton, California.
(Insert name here) has illustrated a number of books for young people, including, The Delightful Old Apple Tree (Serendipity Press, 2017). He researched this book extensively and found a lot of information about the people who told the Sioux tales. (Name) lives with his wife (name) and son and daughter in Tuscany, Italy.
Gina Meyers loves cooking, popular culture and traveling. As the featured television Bewitched fan on the popular Canadian television show Fanatical, and the host of various book signings, summer fun trivia contests, and as the hostess for, The Twitch Is Right (Bewitched Fan Fare 2008, Burbank, California, Victory Theatre), Gina’s dreams magically come true on a daily basis. Her passion for traveling has also taken her on a around the world search for the best places to live (she is still looking). She is married with three children.
Gina Meyers is the author of Take A Bite, Vampires, Forks, and Knives, is a novelist, marketer, and founder of Serendipity Press Inc.
The themes of respect for and protection of our world are an essential part of all her works.
(Name) received a master of arts in painting from American University and a bachelor of arts in art history from the University of Chicago. His paintings have been exhibited in London, LA, and New York.
