Shameless Plug: I have entered the Ile de France 2009 Spring Recipe Contest and I need your votes! Please visit the Ile de France website and rate my entries:

Brunch Brie Strata by Renee (okay, they wrote Rennee):

and Spring Brie Mini-Sub by Renee (it really irks me to have to type “Rennee” – it’s unnatural).

Here’s the link: http://www.iledefrancecheese.com/blog/

Voting is points-based (rating 1-5), with the top 3 point totals, winning. The contest runs all through the month of May, so vote early and often! I would love to Walk away with some cheese!

I’d give you the individual page links, but they keep moving. Dammit. Anyway, there are only 39 entries and these are 2 of them.

I’d also like you to vote for my partner in crime, or cheese in this case, Miz Shoes. Her recipe is titled “Chicken Chevre by Lynne”. She was the one who was originally approached to participate in this contest, and, well, my competitive cooking nature possessed me, and well, here we are…

I will flesh out this post tonight – I might even make it coherent – and will add photos…. provided I don’t get caught doing this right now and get my ass fired!

Okay, I’ve kept this promise. And they haven’t fired me. Yet.

Anyway, please go vote!

With apologies to Crystal Gayle, et.al., here’s a little ditty I just whipped up in honor of the Blue Wave that’s coming:

Don’t It Make Those Red States Blue
(Sung to the tune of “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue”)

How long since the map’s so blue?
I know what’s come over you
We finally got a clue
And don’t it make those Red States Blue

Republicans can pack their bags
Forgive us if we’re none too sad
A new day dawns a brilliant hue
And don’t it make those Red States Blue

Eight years of secrets, Eight years of lies
Gave us no reasons, gave us alibis
Held us hostage to fear, then laughed while we cried
Gutted our freedoms, said God’s on your side

We’ll be fine when Bushy’s gone
We’ll just party all night long
America can Hope anew
And don’t it make those Red States
Don’t it make those Red States
Got to make those Red States Blue!

Don’t it make those Red States
Don’t it make those Red States
Got to make those Red States Blue!

Don’t it make those Red States
Come on all you Red States
Got to make those Red States Blue!

Just a little something to hum while you’re standing in line to VOTE this Tuesday.

Am I getting a little ahead of myself? Of course, I am. I want this change so badly, I can taste it. But to make this vision a reality, you must VOTE on Tuesday (if you haven’t already done early voting). I’m serious, people. We can’t stand another 4 years like the last 8. We can’t let the dream slip away because of a little rain or snow, or a few cops standing around the polling places. White, black, and every color in between, we’re all in this together!

Ooo! Ooo! What do you think of “I Can’t Stand McCain”, sung to the tune of “I Can’t Stand The Rain”?