Cooking: Cool Cooking Tool - Recipe Matcher

Being a computer person and a less than average cook, I find this website very interesting. Recipe Matcher, www.recipematcher.com is a new website that helps you figure out what to make based on the ingredients you have on hand.

You first enter a list of items from your pantry and fridge into the "What's in Your Pantry" box. When you click the "What Can I Make" button, a list of recipes appears that use a combination of items from your list. Some of the recipes may require a trip to the store for a couple items, but, a majority of the ingredients will be pantry items. Each recipe will also print you a shopping list for the items that are missing.

I gave it a try and had mixed results. Sometimes it gave me some good recipes with few extra items needed, but, it would throw some real bizarre ones in with the batch. In one test I got "steamed lobster" as a recipe and of course my shopping list had "lobster" on it. No ingredients from my list were used because, steamed lobster consist of LOBSTER and WATER. Pudding comes up a lot for me as well. This inconsistancies will probably lessen as more recipes are added into their database. I still think its a interesting tool for finding new recipes and if you have a lobster laying around in your pantry, this website has a recipe for you!

PSST! - Our spring cooking program will be on the web Friday February 29th. Click here on the 29th for a complete list of our new cooking classes.

Community: Do Not Call List Now Permanent

Did you hear the news? In mid-February, Congress voted to make the Do Not Call Registry permanent. This means that people who have registered phone numbers on the list, will not have to keep re-registering every three years. It's waiting for a Presidential signature which Bush said is forthcoming.

That's going to be a relief to the owners of the 150+ registered numbers on the list. Many numbers were set to fall off the list in September 2008, meaning those phones would have started ringing like mad. Even with your number on the list, non-profits, political organizations, and businesses you have had a relationship with in the last six months can still call you.

Don't have your numbers registered yet? go to www.donotcall.gov and "gett'r done!"

Community: Our Classes are the 2nd Best Matchmaker

. . . according to the latest edition of The Bellingham Herald, that is. The newspaper rated Community Education classes as the Number Two spot for singles to meet, behind book groups. We were both honored and tickled to get this designation, and it sparked a conversation about how our classes are a great place to make new friends who share a common interest.

So, if you have those post-Valentines Day blues, or if you just feel like socializing while learning, we're the place. And if you do end up with an engagement ring because you took a class, we want to hear about it!

To read the full list of places to meet singles, click here.

Digital Life: Starbuck Ditches T-Mobile... Yeah for Us!

Looks like free internet at Starbucks could be happening as soon as spring. Starbucks announced Monday that it was ending it's partnership deal with T-mobile and going with AT&T.

Currently, with T-mobile, you have to pay $6 for an hour or $9.99 for a day-pass to use the 'net under the agreement with T-mobile. Under the new AT&T agreement it looks like Starbucks will give you two hours a day FREE and a cost of $3.99 per hour after that. You will be able to get a monthly pass for $20.00

One of my favorite activities, and one of the only times I go into Starbucks, is to work on my laptop. This deal makes it much more likely that I would spend more time (and money buying coffee) in their coffee shops.

Starbucks went on to say they hope to have it rolled out to most of their 7,000 domestic locations by the end of the year. I can't wait!
Photo by Etai (Flicker)

ART: Pottery on Display

Good Earth Pottery on Harris St. in Fairhaven is hosting a display of Whatcom student ceramic work. The display runs through the month of February and features the ceramic work of credit students in art programs at the college.

This is a great chance to look at the amazing creative abilities of our students and the great teaching that comes out of Roe Studio here on campus.