I happen to be an amateur connoisseur of not only wine but also iced tea. After my last visit to a California PF Changs; I gathered up the courage to ask who made their tea and where I could get it. At present they serve a Blackberry Ginger Tea but at the time of my last visit they served a Passion Fruit Iced Tea.
China Mist was the maker of all of PF Changs Tea but they are no longer their suppliers. However, we are very lucky indeed and we can buy it for ourselves!
Check out this website!
http://www.chinamist.com/
Also, if you happen to be searching for a delicious wine for the after dinner party; may I suggest a light and refreshing Chenin Blanc from Messina Hoff. http://www.messinahof.com/ This is much better than other Texas wines and it is under $10.00.….
OR…..
If you have extra cash and you want to spoil or even make your guests envious may I suggest a bottle from the prestigious Napa Valley? Cakebread Cellars offers a lovely Sauvignon Blanc. http://www.cakebread.com/ It may be $25.00 a bottle but it is well worth it. It’s still cheaper than there Chardonnay which is priced at $37.00 but in my opinion if you prefer a lighter white over a dry than the Sauvignon Blanc is your girl.
Remember…. If you are going to cook with a wine make sure it is something that you would drink too, if not than your food will take on the taste of a wine that you would not drink.
Happy drinking!
I have drink recipes from when I used to tend bar. I promise to post up some soon along with my own recipes. :)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Do you remember?
Do you remember the restaurant that you used to find on every college town corner? It was filled with smoke, frat boys and chicken wings. When I lived in North Richland Hills, Texas I had a favorite restaurant down the road and on the corner by the name of Bennigan's. Contrary to what everyone believes you can still find some franchise locations just not any close to you. Sorry.
On any given Tuesday night after a long day at work all I really wanted was a tall glass of unsweetened iced tea with a perfectly shaped lemon wedge perched on my glass, a fresh crisp garden salad and a big bowl of hot steaming baked potato soup. Now that I live in Mississippi it is hard to find any restaurant that serves my favorite bowl of soup, I haven't even found a single soul out here that has even had the pleasure of this Irish classic.
Without further ado I present to you.......
BAKED POTATO SOUP
12 slices bacon
2/3 cup margarine
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
7 cups milk
4 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 green onions, chopped
1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.
Happy eating!
On any given Tuesday night after a long day at work all I really wanted was a tall glass of unsweetened iced tea with a perfectly shaped lemon wedge perched on my glass, a fresh crisp garden salad and a big bowl of hot steaming baked potato soup. Now that I live in Mississippi it is hard to find any restaurant that serves my favorite bowl of soup, I haven't even found a single soul out here that has even had the pleasure of this Irish classic.
Without further ado I present to you.......
BAKED POTATO SOUP
12 slices bacon
2/3 cup margarine
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
7 cups milk
4 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 green onions, chopped
1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.
Happy eating!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Easy Meatloaf Recipe W/ Montreal Potatoes
2 lb Ground Beef
1 Egg
1 Large White Onion Chopped
1 Cup of Milk
1 Cup Smashed Saltine Crackers
Salt, Pepper and Garlic to taste
1 Cup of Ketchup
Preheat oven to 350
In a large bowl bring ground beef, egg, onion, milk, crackers, seasonings for taste and ketchup together. Work together with very clean and dry hands. Place meatloaf mixture together in a 5x9 slightly greased pan. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes. At ten minutes before the meatloaf is to come out drizzle to top of the loaf with Ketchup, as much as you desire. Let the ketchup bake in for at least ten minutes to brown and form the right consistency.
Montreal Potatoes (YUMMY, YUMMY)
6 Large Potatoes Diced or cubed
1/2 cup to 1 cup of melted butter
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of Montreal seasoning
Preheat oven to 375. In a large baking dish add diced potatoes. make sure that the potatoes do not overlap each other too much. You want the potatoes to cook evenly and having a whole bunch of potatoes on top of each other will cause the potatoes not to brown evenly. Add melted butter to dish, cover the bottom of the dish evenly. The bottom of the pan needs to be coated very well in the dish but too much butter will cause mushy potatoes. Next, cover the top of the potatoes with Montreal seasoning. It depends on how much spice you want but remember that a little bit of Montreal goes a long way. So, I would sprinkle the whole top moderately with the seasoning. Bake for 45 minutes or until the potatoes look nice and roasted and almost all of the butter has been cooked out. The perfect Montreal Potato is buttery, spicy crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside! ENJOY!
I serve vegetables with every meal. Personally I would serve this up with Brussels Sprouts or Asparagus and White Hominy or Corn. There are wonderful recipes for vegetables but that is another posting.
Happy Eating!
1 Egg
1 Large White Onion Chopped
1 Cup of Milk
1 Cup Smashed Saltine Crackers
Salt, Pepper and Garlic to taste
1 Cup of Ketchup
Preheat oven to 350
In a large bowl bring ground beef, egg, onion, milk, crackers, seasonings for taste and ketchup together. Work together with very clean and dry hands. Place meatloaf mixture together in a 5x9 slightly greased pan. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes. At ten minutes before the meatloaf is to come out drizzle to top of the loaf with Ketchup, as much as you desire. Let the ketchup bake in for at least ten minutes to brown and form the right consistency.
Montreal Potatoes (YUMMY, YUMMY)
6 Large Potatoes Diced or cubed
1/2 cup to 1 cup of melted butter
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of Montreal seasoning
Preheat oven to 375. In a large baking dish add diced potatoes. make sure that the potatoes do not overlap each other too much. You want the potatoes to cook evenly and having a whole bunch of potatoes on top of each other will cause the potatoes not to brown evenly. Add melted butter to dish, cover the bottom of the dish evenly. The bottom of the pan needs to be coated very well in the dish but too much butter will cause mushy potatoes. Next, cover the top of the potatoes with Montreal seasoning. It depends on how much spice you want but remember that a little bit of Montreal goes a long way. So, I would sprinkle the whole top moderately with the seasoning. Bake for 45 minutes or until the potatoes look nice and roasted and almost all of the butter has been cooked out. The perfect Montreal Potato is buttery, spicy crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside! ENJOY!
I serve vegetables with every meal. Personally I would serve this up with Brussels Sprouts or Asparagus and White Hominy or Corn. There are wonderful recipes for vegetables but that is another posting.
Happy Eating!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Is America helping people that deserve it? I don't think so.
I found this as a News Feed on my Aunt Donna's facebook.
Dear Mr. President:
During my shift in the Emergency Room last night, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient whose smile revealed an expensive shiny gold tooth, whose body was adorned with a wide assortment of elaborate and costly tattoos, who wore a very expensive brand of tennis shoes and who chatted on a new cellular telephone equipped with a popular R&B ringtone.
While glancing over her patient chart, I happened to notice that her payer status was listed as "Medicaid"! During my examination of her, the patient informed me that she smokes more than one pack of cigarettes every day, eats only at fast-food take-outs, and somehow still has money to buy pretzels and beer. And, you and our Congress expect me to pay for this woman's health care? I contend that our nation's "health care crisis" is not the result of a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. Rather, it is the result of a "crisis of culture" a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to spend money on luxuries and vices while refusing to take care of one's self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance. It is a culture based in the irresponsible credo that "I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me". Once you fix this "culture crisis" that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care difficulties will disappear.
Respectfully,
ROGER STARNER JONES, MD
If you agree...pass it on.See More
By: Richard Meckstroth
Here is my comment to this letter.
I don't know if any of you know this but when I had to have intestine removed and I was very ill, I had to have surgery to save my life. Of course, I was 22 years old at the time and worked for 6.75 an hour at Fat Dog Beverage Company and ...was trying my best to make it on my own. It was not easy and it was even harder when my ex-husband decided to finish college right around the same time. Anyway, before my ADD kicks in; I had no health insurance and was turned down for Medicaid because I made 6.75 an hour and drove a 1986 Volvo. I was told to sell my car, give up my little 20 year old trailer home, move in with my parents and then file for Medicaid. Okay, I was not asking for Medicaid "FOREVER" I just really needed help with this one surgery so I could keep living. Do you understand, I just wanted to live. I was a young mother, who worked her ass off, I had holes in my shoes and I even went to work when I should have been on bed rest. What pisses me off is that the government could have helped me; I was not a mooch, I was not unwilling to help myself, I just wanted to have surgery to stay alive. Well, thank you, America. I got lucky and the surgeon did the surgery out of human kindness and I am alive to tell you about it. Medicaid and the government only helps those who refuse to help themselves and the "little people" end up dying at home without a shred of dignity. I believe people should be helped that need it, not those that take it for granted.
Dear Mr. President:
During my shift in the Emergency Room last night, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient whose smile revealed an expensive shiny gold tooth, whose body was adorned with a wide assortment of elaborate and costly tattoos, who wore a very expensive brand of tennis shoes and who chatted on a new cellular telephone equipped with a popular R&B ringtone.
While glancing over her patient chart, I happened to notice that her payer status was listed as "Medicaid"! During my examination of her, the patient informed me that she smokes more than one pack of cigarettes every day, eats only at fast-food take-outs, and somehow still has money to buy pretzels and beer. And, you and our Congress expect me to pay for this woman's health care? I contend that our nation's "health care crisis" is not the result of a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. Rather, it is the result of a "crisis of culture" a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to spend money on luxuries and vices while refusing to take care of one's self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance. It is a culture based in the irresponsible credo that "I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me". Once you fix this "culture crisis" that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care difficulties will disappear.
Respectfully,
ROGER STARNER JONES, MD
If you agree...pass it on.See More
By: Richard Meckstroth
Here is my comment to this letter.
I don't know if any of you know this but when I had to have intestine removed and I was very ill, I had to have surgery to save my life. Of course, I was 22 years old at the time and worked for 6.75 an hour at Fat Dog Beverage Company and ...was trying my best to make it on my own. It was not easy and it was even harder when my ex-husband decided to finish college right around the same time. Anyway, before my ADD kicks in; I had no health insurance and was turned down for Medicaid because I made 6.75 an hour and drove a 1986 Volvo. I was told to sell my car, give up my little 20 year old trailer home, move in with my parents and then file for Medicaid. Okay, I was not asking for Medicaid "FOREVER" I just really needed help with this one surgery so I could keep living. Do you understand, I just wanted to live. I was a young mother, who worked her ass off, I had holes in my shoes and I even went to work when I should have been on bed rest. What pisses me off is that the government could have helped me; I was not a mooch, I was not unwilling to help myself, I just wanted to have surgery to stay alive. Well, thank you, America. I got lucky and the surgeon did the surgery out of human kindness and I am alive to tell you about it. Medicaid and the government only helps those who refuse to help themselves and the "little people" end up dying at home without a shred of dignity. I believe people should be helped that need it, not those that take it for granted.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Southern cooking with an Asian flair
Smothered Pork Chops and Cabbage
¼ cup cooking oil
5 to 6 pork chops
2 medium heads of cabbage cut up
2 cups of water
Pepper to taste
¼ cup of soy sauce
Brown the pork chops in oil in a large pot. Add cabbage salt and pepper, garlic and soy sauce to taste. Continue cooking until cabbage wilts. Stir, add butter and ½ cup of water. Cover tightly, reduce heat, and steam until water is absorbed and then add remaining water. Cover tightly again and simmer approximately 10 minutes. Serve cabbage and pork over bed of white rice, sprinkle with La Choy Chow Mein noodles and a few dashes of Kikkoman soy sauce, salt and pepper to taste and ENJOY!
¼ cup cooking oil
5 to 6 pork chops
2 medium heads of cabbage cut up
2 cups of water
Pepper to taste
¼ cup of soy sauce
Brown the pork chops in oil in a large pot. Add cabbage salt and pepper, garlic and soy sauce to taste. Continue cooking until cabbage wilts. Stir, add butter and ½ cup of water. Cover tightly, reduce heat, and steam until water is absorbed and then add remaining water. Cover tightly again and simmer approximately 10 minutes. Serve cabbage and pork over bed of white rice, sprinkle with La Choy Chow Mein noodles and a few dashes of Kikkoman soy sauce, salt and pepper to taste and ENJOY!
I want to be a cook! I do, I really do!
So, I want to cook and I want to learn how to cook everything. Asian, Czech, German, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Seafood, EVERYTHING! So, with out further ado; I will start posting some of my favorite recipes that I myself have cooked and love. I ask you to please STOP buying fast food and give cooking a try. I promise to not post anything that is not Stacy proof. If you are not sure what I mean then read my husbands BLOG "Daily Blah Blah". Put down your ketchup packets and back away from the burger and fries. Pick up fresh ingredients and start enjoying yourself in the kitchen. Don't be afraid!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The study of sociopathy and how it can save your life
The face of a sociopath is a charming face but deadly evil at another glance. There was a book that I read not too long ago and not only did it change the way I perceived ordinary people but even changed my mindset about old friends and even family members.
I could remember innocence before I read the book and now I name every single one of my exes and say without a doubt that not only were they sociopaths but that I may have had “SUCKER” written on my forehead for the future Mr. wrongs that were to come into my life. I have written a whole book about Mr. wrongs and how to fight back. Please, check out my book, Memoirs of a Stupid Girl.
Polite society has now been warned by the likes of these beautiful, deadly people. No longer will we fall prey to their traps! Ha, we now fight back! One day with permission I will tell you what occurred between my husband and I when he stepped over the lines. Unfortunately, I was taught by sociopaths. The best in the business. Thank God, he still loves me.
Okay, no more joking. On a serious note, has anyone been following the news lately? This guy takes the cake. Joran Van Der Sloot is a Dutchman but resided in the utopia paradise that is Aruba since early childhood. I don’t know all the details but I believe that his father may or may not be a diplomat, not sure on that fact.
At any case, he and he alone no matter what the little worm says is responsible for the disappearance of an Alabama teenager, Natalee Holloway. I for one believe that she is passed on and Mr. Van Der Sloot is to blame although he gave authorities the fucking run around and never fully admitted to it. He got away with taking her life and I blame the Aruba police for not doing their jobs. Natalee was visiting Aruba with her girlfriends when she took a detour with Mr. Van Der Sloot after this fact is where it becomes difficult. Only Joran knows the truth and he refuses to tell the real story. Seriously, if you want all the facts I suggest you Google his name and do a little bit of your own research.
The point is this, Joran was a good kid at a first glance. He came from a good family attended a good school, had many friends and even a long term girlfriend at one time. No one in their right mind would have ever accused him of being a cold blooded killer.
This is where the story gets interesting. Joran leaves Aruba and travels to Peru and guess what he does in Peru? You got it. He killed another young beautiful woman. Why? What’s the point? Because people, he is a sociopath. He has no conscience and has no sign of any human emotion. He simply fakes it. He fakes sadness, he fakes guilt and he fakes anything he must fake in order to get what he wants.
Joran is not the first nor will he be the last. I implore you, educate yourself. Joran is the most dangerous of a sociopath but lesser degrees do exist and blend into society very well. They are small time scam artists, co-workers, local politician, physician, your son, your daughter, your mother, your sister. Be prepared to walk away from these people and not be caught in their web.
God Bless you all. Forgive my mouth I am simply trying to make a point and I am very angry that this kid was given a chance to kill after Natalee. God Bless all the family’s involved even Joran’s family. I feel so bad for Joran’s mother. I can’t imagine the shock of finding out that a child that you raised is a ruthless monster. Sleep well tonight my pretties!
Please, check out the following links. Copy and paste the links into your web browser. :)
http://books.google.com/books?id=EJLSnbvDD9sC&dq=the+sociopath+next+door&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=qO6GTJW_J8m88gb1zbHPDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&sqi=2&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joran_van_der_Sloot
I could remember innocence before I read the book and now I name every single one of my exes and say without a doubt that not only were they sociopaths but that I may have had “SUCKER” written on my forehead for the future Mr. wrongs that were to come into my life. I have written a whole book about Mr. wrongs and how to fight back. Please, check out my book, Memoirs of a Stupid Girl.
Polite society has now been warned by the likes of these beautiful, deadly people. No longer will we fall prey to their traps! Ha, we now fight back! One day with permission I will tell you what occurred between my husband and I when he stepped over the lines. Unfortunately, I was taught by sociopaths. The best in the business. Thank God, he still loves me.
Okay, no more joking. On a serious note, has anyone been following the news lately? This guy takes the cake. Joran Van Der Sloot is a Dutchman but resided in the utopia paradise that is Aruba since early childhood. I don’t know all the details but I believe that his father may or may not be a diplomat, not sure on that fact.
At any case, he and he alone no matter what the little worm says is responsible for the disappearance of an Alabama teenager, Natalee Holloway. I for one believe that she is passed on and Mr. Van Der Sloot is to blame although he gave authorities the fucking run around and never fully admitted to it. He got away with taking her life and I blame the Aruba police for not doing their jobs. Natalee was visiting Aruba with her girlfriends when she took a detour with Mr. Van Der Sloot after this fact is where it becomes difficult. Only Joran knows the truth and he refuses to tell the real story. Seriously, if you want all the facts I suggest you Google his name and do a little bit of your own research.
The point is this, Joran was a good kid at a first glance. He came from a good family attended a good school, had many friends and even a long term girlfriend at one time. No one in their right mind would have ever accused him of being a cold blooded killer.
This is where the story gets interesting. Joran leaves Aruba and travels to Peru and guess what he does in Peru? You got it. He killed another young beautiful woman. Why? What’s the point? Because people, he is a sociopath. He has no conscience and has no sign of any human emotion. He simply fakes it. He fakes sadness, he fakes guilt and he fakes anything he must fake in order to get what he wants.
Joran is not the first nor will he be the last. I implore you, educate yourself. Joran is the most dangerous of a sociopath but lesser degrees do exist and blend into society very well. They are small time scam artists, co-workers, local politician, physician, your son, your daughter, your mother, your sister. Be prepared to walk away from these people and not be caught in their web.
God Bless you all. Forgive my mouth I am simply trying to make a point and I am very angry that this kid was given a chance to kill after Natalee. God Bless all the family’s involved even Joran’s family. I feel so bad for Joran’s mother. I can’t imagine the shock of finding out that a child that you raised is a ruthless monster. Sleep well tonight my pretties!
Please, check out the following links. Copy and paste the links into your web browser. :)
http://books.google.com/books?id=EJLSnbvDD9sC&dq=the+sociopath+next+door&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=qO6GTJW_J8m88gb1zbHPDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&sqi=2&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joran_van_der_Sloot
Thursday, March 18, 2010
GOLD DUST
sights and sounds pull me back down another year - i was here i was here - whipping past the reflecting pool me and you, skipping school. And we make it up as we go along - we make it up we
go along. You said - you raced from langley - pulling me underneath a cherry blossom canopy. Do i have- of course i have, beneath my raincoat, i have your photographs.
And the sun on your face i'm freezing that frame and somewhere alfie cries and says "enjoy his every smile You can see in the dark through the eyes of laura mars" .
How did it go so fast you'll say as we are looking back and then we'll understand we held gold dust
in our hands
Sights and sounds pull me back down another year i was here - i was here. Gaslights glow in the street (flickering past) twilight held us in her palm as we walked along and we make it up as we go along - we make it up as we go along letting names hang in the air what color hair (auburn crimson)
autumn knowingly stared and the day that she came i'm freezing that frame i'm freezing that frame
And somewhere alfie smiles and says "enjoy her every cry you can see in the dark through the eyes
of laura mars" .
How did it go so fast you'll say as we are looking back and then we'll understand we held gold dust
in our hands - in our hands
Sometimes you're nothing but meat (BLOOD ROSES)
Blood roses
Blood roses
Back on the street now
Blood roses
Blood roses
Back on the street now
Can't forget the things you never said
On days like these starts me thinking
When chickens get a taste of your meat girl
Chickens get a taste of your meat yes
You gave him you blood
And your warm little diamond
He likes killing you after you're dead
You think I'm a queer
I think you're a queer
Said I think you're a queer
I think you're a queer
I shaved every place where you been boy
I said I shaved every place where you been yes
God knows I know
I've thrown away those graces
God knows I've thrown away
Those graces
God knows I know
I've thrown away those graces
The Belle of New Orleans tried to show me
Once how to tango
Wrapped around you feet
Wrapped around like good little roses
Blood Roses
Blood Roses
Back on the street now
Blood Roses
Blood Roses
Back on the street now
Now, Now
Now you've cut out the flute
From the throat of the loon
At least when you cry now
He can't even hear you
When chickens get a taste of your meat girl
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
When he sucks you deep
Sometimes you're nothing but meat
Sometimes a song just makes it all better! :)
Maybe I didn't like to hear
But I still can't believe
Speed Racer is dead
So then I thought I'd make some plans
But fire thought
She'd really rather be water instead
And Peggy got a message for me
From Jesus
And I've heard every word
That you have said
And I know I have been
Driven like the snow
But
This is cooling
Faster than I can
This is cooling
Faster than I...
But do I hate what she is
Or do I want to be her?
And don't we love something fresh
Anything new; virgin
Woman, you got too many brambles
Hiding under these bushes
Woman, you got too many brambles
But I always liked a good storm and
Always good for a storm
So then love walked up to like
And said I know that you don't like me much
Let's go for a ride
This ocean is wrapped around that pineapple tree
And is your place in heaven worth giving up
These kisses
These, yes
These kisses
And Peggy got a message for me
From Jesus
And I've heard every word
That you have said
And I know I have been
Driven like the snow
But
This is cooling
Faster than I can
Hey, yes
Faster than I can
Cooling
Hey...
This is cooling
This is cooling
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