Agoosa - Funny Name, Sound Advice: June 2007

Summer is a wonderful time to plant an herb garden. Whether you have a nice bit of land for planting or a simple window box, herbs can be grown quite easily.

Once you have fresh herbs on hand, you will be surprised at how many creative ways you begin to use these wonderful meal enhancers.

Basil – One of our all-time favorite herbs. Basil can be used on fresh tomatoes, in sauces, cooked with anything garlic or even added to rice dishes. But remember what my Italian mother taught me – cutting basil might bring you bad luck. A good Italian cook will only tear the leaves. Or so she said!

Cilantro – This herb is what you generally taste in pre-made salsas and other Mexican dishes. It is excellent served with tomatoes, avocados, sour cream and other foods with a Mexican edge. Cilantro is also used in many Latin American, Indian and Asian dishes. Try adding a bit of cilantro to your tuna and mayo sandwich for a special yet simple change of pace.

Dill Weed – Dill has a light flavor with hints of fennel, lime and parsley. It is excellent sprinkled on to fish, poultry or added to rice and pasta salads. Add dill toward the end of your meal’s cooking time, or sprinkle on top for a fresh summer taste.

Mint – There are many kinds of mint available, from the common mint flavor to chocolate or lemon mint. Any of these are good washed and placed in iced tea or over ice cream dishes. Try mint in rice with a bit of vinegar dressing, or place a bit in your lemonade for a new summer flavor. Mint can also be used in a marinade for fish or chicken, and is especially wonderful if these foods are grilled.

Rosemary – Rosemary is an easy plant to grow, whether in a garden or window. It is fairly hardy and can be used for most of the year. This herb is strong and is especially delicious on grilled poultry, fish and meats. When grilling, use the rosemary branches as skewers for a wonderful flavor boost to your meal. Remember, rosemary is strong – so use carefully to be sure you do not overwhelm the food’s flavor with this magnificent herb.

Thyme – This herb is used in many French dishes, as well as in slow cooked meals. Try making a mayonnaise or yogurt based pasta salad with shredded chicken and fresh thyme – you won’t be sorry!

So you are the proud owner of Windows Vista, but can’t seem to get the sound working? Join the crowd! After working for over two hours on the issue, we found a fix that is to say the least, embarrassingly easy!

First of all, for those of you who have a cross over the sound icon, go to your device manager, remove the audio device and find a new driver from your manufacturer’s website. It may take three or more tries to find the right driver, but they are out there as long as you hunt.

Now, for those of you whose machines look like the sound should be working normally - look at the bottom right hand of your screen, near the time. Find the icon for sound and right click it. Then click on “playback devices.” If there are two devices shown, highlight the device that is currently not the default and then make it the default. The one that worked for us was labeled, “Sigmatel High Definition Audio Codec.” Quick, easy and ready for sound!

June 2007 Archives

June 11, 2007

Summer Thyme!

June 22, 2007

No Sound with Windows Vista?

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