So now I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with - we are picking one of these full every other day. Here is another family favorite tomato recipe.

Mom's Tomatoes & Mozzarella

4 large tomatoes

1 clove garlic

1 tblsp wine vinegar

1/2 tsp salt

3 tblsp olive oil

scallions

1/2 cup chopped parsley

pepper

fresh mozzarella

Mix together garlic, vinegar, salt. Add olive oil and mix. Pour 2/3 mixture over tomatoes. Scatter onions, parsley and pepper. Slice fresh mozzarella and place on top of tomatoes and pour rest of dressing over. Enjoy!

FINALLY! We have red tomatoes! For a while, I was doubting whether or not we'd be able to use any of the hundreds of tomatoes we have....they've been green forever, and it seemed like more just kept growing without any turning. But alas, they have started to turn. We actually went out and picked enough last night to make some Herbed Tomatoes with dinner. This is my grandmother's recipe and it is so yummy:

Memere's Herbed Tomatoes

6 Ripe tomatoes, peeled and sliced (I do not peel mine, just slice 'em)

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 cup snipped parsley

1/4 cup snipped chives

2/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup vinegar

Place tomatoes in bowl, sprinkle seasoning and herbs. Combine oil & vinegar, pour over. Cover and chill for 3 hours, spooning dressing over a few times. Enjoy!

We all know the story of Alice in Wonderland...delightfull young girl falls down a rabbit hole and meets all kinds of outlandish and nonsensical creatures and characters.  A few would include the Caterpillar, Mad Hatter, White Rabbit and of course who could forget the Red Queen..."Off with their Heads!"

I was lucky enough to be cast as the Dormouse in Albany's ACT Theatre version of this marvelous play.  There is a huge cast and crew of about 30 that have been working on lines, costumes, sets, lighting and more.  It has been a great experience since I hadn't been on stage in what I would call "many moons".

Alice, The Cook, Frog Footman & March Hare

I went into the auditions as any "green" actor would.  No script, no plan, just winging it by the seat of my pants.  I had no particular part in mind...just something fun to start out with.  I was surprised at the huge turnout..about 60-70 for just 18 parts.  It was fun to get on stage again.  It was even better to do something that people only knew me for me and not as the kids mom or my husbands wife.  I was just "me"!  I got called back for 2nd auditions the following night and by the next morning I knew I got a part.

Mock Turtle, White Rabbit, Alice & The Duchess

I have to admit my part isn't large...and that was ok with me and my busy schedule, especially my first time out.  But I have to admit I LOVE my character.  The dormouse is the sleepy little creature that the Mad Hatter and March Hare find in the teapot at their Tea Party.  In this rendition the mouse is also in other scenes as well.  At first I wasn't sure how to play the character...until I saw my youngest daughter acting silly one day with an adorable little voice.  I have since mimicked her voice and created a funny little 4 year old mouse who doesn't like to work but loves to be center stage.  In fact, I even get to have a temper tantrum or 2!  All I had to do was look back at my early mom days to help with that... :)

Yep...that's me!

I am really glad I stepped out and tried my hand at acting again.  It has been a lot of fun.  I have met a lot of new people and learned a lot of new things...I even got a new recipe from our cast potluck that all 3 of my kids loved...(wasn't that lucky).

I encourage all you moms to try something that you have putting on the back burner..something that is just for you!  It has made me feel good about myself that I have accomplished this and gives my kids a mom they can be really proud of.  (Besides, how many concerts and plays of theirs have we sat through..I figure turnabout is fair play!)

Alice In Wonderland opens this Friday. Tickets are still available, but they're going fast. If interested, contact Sid Stevens Jewelers ((541) 967-8140, 140 SW 1st Avenue, Albany) or Rice's Pharmacy ((541) 752-7760, 910 NW Kings Blvd. , Corvallis). Performances are the 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 19th,23r...d, 24th, and 25th of this month.

For more info on this and other productions:  http://albanycivic.org/10-11-alice-in-wonderland.html

Hope to see you there! :)

Melissa