Lemonade

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A friend of mine posted this on his blog not too long ago. After seeing it, I had to post it forward. I absolutely love this! So many people these days can relate. I myself can relate, because just before the big crash, I decided to quit my job, and pursue my ultimate dream of my own design company. Of course the timing could not have been worse. But, I still have no regrets! I've never been happier, and never been more true to myself. Dare to dream!

Celebrating 10,000!!!

You peeps are so cool! So kind! So supportive! Today I noticed that the visit counter has now rolled over 10,000!

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Words cannot truly express my gratitude!

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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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-robert petril

I'm lovin' the frogfish!

The frogfish is a short, fat, globular species confined to the tropical western part of the Atlantic ocean. Its skin is thick and covered in highly modified scales called dermal spicules. These spicules are prickly in appearance and resemble the warts of a toad. The frogfish has small eyes, a very large mouth that is directed upwards, and its pectoral fins are situated on stalks. The gill openings are very small and located behind the pectoral fins. The illicium is the first spine of the dorsal fin, highly modified into a long rod with a lure at the end. The second and third dorsal spines are separate from the others and covered in thick skin.
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When I first went looking for a software system to run our newly formed design business, I could not find one system that we could could apply to every process in one affordable package. I learned that I would have to buy several (some VERY expensive) applications to cover all the processes in the company. Then I found the Frogfish!

Frogfish is the most exciting software company I could find anywhere! They have an out-of-the-box product that automates the entire process for your company from the product design sketch to the company's financial statement! Seriously!!

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It's web based, so I can work from anywhere in the world. It works on a monthly subscription basis, so I don't have to invest tens of thousands of dollars, and later hundreds of thousands as our business grows. They started as a typical I.T. company 25 years ago, and made the switch to a SAAS Web based product company over six years ago. They cut their villiforms with the extremely demanding apparel industry. An industry that needs for example to automate and link designers in New York, with headquarters in Chicago, and manufacturing in Asia. It's so amazing, that I have agreed to join their team, and help them expand Frogfish into a global company.'

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Please don't worry, I will continue my design work. In fact, this company will help my team and I do so. Our planned personnel expansion, and new facility in Shanghai will be powered by Frogfish. I will give you more details on the plan as we go. In the meantime, check out the overview below by clicking on the diagram, and you can check out the website too by clicking on the logo...

If you're interested, I can arrange an online demo for you. Just leave me your preferred contact information in the comments, or drop me an email directly at robertpetril@gmail.com

a quote to remember...

"If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood, and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."

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-Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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Baked Turkey Spring Rolls

Baked Chicken Spring Rolls (modified using turkey)
From: Cooking Etcetera

Ingredients:
* 3 cloves crushed garlic
* 2 cm grated fresh ginger
* 2 cups shredded cabbage
* 1 carrot, grated
* 2 cups bean sprouts
* 1 cup chopped turkey breast
* 1 tsp fish sauce
* 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
* 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves
* 1 package spring roll wrappers
* 2 boiled eggs, cubed

Directions:
1.) Cook garlic & ginger until fragrant. Add Turkey.
2.) Add carrots & cabbage. Stir in oyster sauce
3.) Close to finishing, toss in bean sprouts, dash of fish sauce.
4.) Remove from heat. Toss in coriander leaves
5.) Lay spring roll wrapper on a flat surface on an angle so it looks like a diamond.
6.) Spoon 2 tbs of the filling at the bottom corner of the wrapper
7.) Fold in the 2 sides. Seal the top of the wrapper with egg white
8.) Continue rolling up to form a tight cylinder
9.) Bake in an oven 200C until crispy or turn golden brown

Turkey Curry

Diana Rattray: Use leftover turkey to make this tasty turkey dish...

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons curry powder
4 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups chicken broth
1 can (8 to 9 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
3 cups cooked diced turkey
2 tablespoons lemon juice
hot cooked rice

Preparation:

In a large skillet, heat curry powder in butter, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in onions; continue cooking, stirring frequently, until onions are softened. Blend in flour and ginger; add chicken broth and pineapple. Heat to boiling; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes.
Stir in turkey. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes longer, or until heated through. Stir in lemon juice. Serve with hot cooked rice.Serves 4.

Turkey and Mashed Potato Croquettes

Got Leftovers? Here's one of the yummiest recipe's I could find for leftover turkey. Please feel free to leave any other wonferful nuggets in the comments...

Turkey and Mashed Potato Croquettes
Diana Rattray

Make these turkey croquettes for a post-holiday meal or make smaller ones and serve as appetizers. Freeze these croquettes before breading, then complete with coating ingredients and instructions after thawing. These are delicious served with leftover or store-bought gravy and cranberry sauce.

Ingredients:

* 2 cups finely minced leftover turkey
* 1 cup leftover seasoned mashed potatoes
* 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* ***Sauce***
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 6 green onions, with a few inches of green, thinly sliced
* 1 clove garlic, finely minced (omit if using garlic mashed potatoes)
* 4 tablespoons flour
* 1/4 cup chicken broth
* 1/4 cup milk
* 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
* ***Coating***
* 1/2 cup all Coating-purpose flour
* 2 large eggs, lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
* 2 cups finely ground fresh bread crumbs

Preparation:

Combine the turkey, mashed potatoes, parsley, and black pepper.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add green onions and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the flour and stir until well blended. Stir in chicken broth and milk. continue cooking, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add salt, to taste. Combine with the turkey mixture, blending well. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 1 to 2 hours. Put 1/2 cup of flour in a plate. Beat eggs in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of water. Put the finely ground bread crumbs in another bowl.

Shape croquette mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls (a little smaller if you're making appetizers). Roll gently in the flour to coat, then in the egg until coated. Coat with the bread crumbs. Place on a waxed paper or foil-lined cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining turkey mixture and crumbs. I keep plenty of paper towels and a bowl of water handy to keep my hands relatively clean.

Let the croquettes stand for about 30 to 45 minutes to dry a bit.

Heat oil to about 360°. Fry the croquettes in small batches for about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, depending on size, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve with hot turkey gravy and cranberry sauce as part of a post-holiday meal or as appetizers for guests.Makes about 16 to 18 1 1/2-inch croquettes.

Yum!!! I love this time of year!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday! I hope your day is filled with warm smiles, and joy filled times to cherish and remember with loved ones and friends!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

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-robert

Pizza Petril's...

This is my cousin's pizza shop. It's called City Pizza, and it's located at 16th & Oregon Ave in Philly. You can claim my bias here, so I invite you to ask anyone within range in South Philly, and they will tell you it's one of the best pizza shops in all of Philadelphia. And, it's completely full of Petril Peeps! Let me introduce them to you...

This is Robert Petril. He's the owner, and he's jammin' on the main ovens.

And then there's another Robert Petril, and he's jammin' the back ovens...

Then we have Anthony Petril rockin' cheesesteaks on the grill...

And then another Anthony Lebo Petril wheelin' the pies all over South Philly...

Ok, then we have Nick Petril laying down sauce, cheese, and toppings on the fresh dough that Bruce was just tossing...

The list goes on. Some more Petrils just had the night off. Like this mug here named Dio Petril. He was probably home sleeping...

And, Gianna Petril upstairs rockin' the tanning salon...

City Pizza is SO busy! The phones downstairs are always off the chain crazy!

Here's a clip of what City Pizza "Rush Hour" looks like. It's a well choreographed pizza ballet...



If you're in South Philly, you just gotta stop here and grab a pie!

Seriously! How lucky am I to have a pizza army like this in the family!?

City Pizza, 16 & Oregon, South Philadelphia, 215-755-8888

dream girl...

Dave Matthews Band, Live 8 Philadelphia, July 2, 2005

More Fancy Gap Photos

I can never be in North Carolina without having a scratch-made sausage biscuit for breakfast. OK, so these things are not on the top of the healthy foods list, but they are soooo good!!!

It was a great week spent with my client Metro Home Furnishings. But now it's time to go back to Philly...

furniture, mountains, and shooting stars

This week in North Carolina is all about doing the final tweaks to our new furniture designs at Metro Home Furnishings. We're going over every inch of the new modular concept, and we'll be applying some great new fabrics that I've totally fallen in love with. I may even be proud enough to post some photos soon.

While I'm here, Robert Thomas the Sales Manager for Metro, is graciously hosting me at his mountain top cabin home in Fancy Gap, Virginia. It's just over the state line from Mount Airy, NC, and it's a magnificent place! His property borders the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The luckiest part is the meteor shower. Last night I woke at 3AM to see it, but it had become cloudy. I was so bummed I was missing it. But tonight I went outside and the sky was completely clear! Pitch black! The stars are so vivid up here at 3,000 feet with no light polution. You can see dense clusters of stars. It's totally awesome! And I've seen 4 shooting stars so far tonight :-)

I wish I had a really good camera with me, but here's some decent photos I took with my sony phone. Oh! Did I mention there's a horse out back too?!

I had to stop and photograph this old house on the way down the mountain this morning. It just makes my imagination wander to the history it must have sheltered over the many years. I really love this photo.

And finally, tonight's dinner was pork tenderloin in the oven with peaches, ginger, garlic, and other spices, with baby red potatoes and a Caesar salad. It was SO good!