I LOVE

my new Ellie Krieger cookbook, *The Foods You Crave*. I've made 3 recipes so far and they have all been terrific! I love when that happens with a cookbook!

Today, I made a Mushroom Barley "Risotto" with chicken. The risotto is in quotation marks, because this wasn't a true risotto since it was made with barley. I've never cooked with barley before. It was easy. This lunch was so good, hearty and filling! How will I ever have room for dinner?! Ha ha -- I'm sure that won't be a problem for me! Oh on tonight's menu, I making Ellie Krieger's Sloppy Joes. Only I'm subsituting ground chicken for beef. I'll be sure to report back the results from that recipe.

Well ever since the trade shows have ended (we don't show at MAGIC --sorry) I've not had a moment to breathe! I told myself today that I would take it easy. I truly worked until 8:00pm last night. I'm dog tired today -- and this is the weekend for crying out loud! I hope all of you out there in NECKTIE land who has received their shipments from us...well I'm hoping to hear that you need more ties and soon! Or pocket squares, or bowties --- or our new 9 FOLD collection! Come on now, don't be shy we LOVE re-orders!

This week ... oh Gary is going to NYC to do the spring magazine shoot. Just to fill you in, I won't be going as the models this photoshoot are drop dead -- but don't I say this all the time? I'm really not going as I must hold down the TIE fort here actually.

Our Emily is coming home next weekend for a few short days. We plan on doing our regular Wegmans food shop and there is a new CHICK FLICK coming out that we must see together. As for other things to do -- well we're open to most anything.

OK then, write me back - post a COMMENT so I know you are alive and well out there! PLEASE!

Best,

Jane