Slow Cooker Sunday - Potato Soup (a quickie)

Okay, I didn't use my slow cooker today. Instead I made potato soup on the stove for the family and went out to a late afternoon movie and then to dinner with some girlfriends. So, sue me. We saw 'Nine'. I liked it. this was all that was left when I got home Spicy Potato Cheese Soup ("It's amazing!" -Chloe) 4 large baking potatoes bunch of green onions 1/2 block of Mexican Velveeta (small block) Tablespoon of chicken bouillion Hot Sauce (I used Cholula) Cayenne Pepper Black Pepper Salt Milk or Land O Lakes Fat Free Half and Half Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes (size of a pair of dice). Slice onions (both white and green part) and put onions and potatoes in a large pot, add just enough water to cover. Add chicken bouillon and some salt and black pepper. Boil until potatoes are good and soft then turn heat down to low/medium. DO NOT DRAIN! Use a potato masher to mash up a little (this will thicken the soup) about 25 good mashes. Cut up and add Velveeta. Stir until it's melted. Seasoning time! Add salt, black pepper, hot sauce and cayenne to taste. I use several different types of 'heat' and I think this gives a dish a certain 'depth'. It has good flavor from many different peppers without being too spicy. (Just a theory of mine). Make it a tad bit spicier than you want, because you're going to dilute it with milk later. Let soup simmer for at least 15 minutes so the spices soak into the potatoes. Add a big healthy dash of milk or half and half until it's the right thickness. Serve with breadsticks or crackers.

Slow Cooker Sunday - BBQ Pulled Pork

I've been blogging a lot lately, I know. Not sure if it's because it's too cold to do anything else or that after the holiday rush I finally have time to do some things that I like. Anyway... I am desperately in love with my Slow Cooker. Especially in the winter. There is just no other way to say it other than just a full out confession, so there ya have it. I am also quite enamored of a blog called 'A Year of Slow Cooking'. Lots of good recipes and easy to follow. http://crockpot365.blogspot.com That said, let's get onto the Meal du Jour: BBQ Pulled Pork (my version but the basic one is from the Slow Cooking Blog) 4 pounds boneless pork shoulder (I bought one with a bone and it was a little over four pounds because after being a semi-vegetarian for twenty years, I am still a bit clueless at the meat counter) 1 yellow onion 24 ounce bottle of ketchup 1/2 c apple cider vinegar handful of brown sugar couple of good squeezes of Worcestershire Sauce few good dashes of hot sauce (I use Cholula because it's what I have right now) 1/4 c Bronco Bob's Raspberry Chipotle Sauce 1/2 t salt Trim the fat from the meat and place in your LARGE slow cooker. ALWAYS use slow cooker liners. If you haven't heard of these, they are the greatest invention of the last ten years - they're like the cooking bags that you put a whole chicken it and are sold in the same area at the grocery store. Add onion, sliced into rings. Squeeze in entire bottle of ketchup. Put about 1/3 c water into empty ketchup bottle and swirl around. Put that in the slow cooker, too. Add vinegar, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, chipotle sauce and salt. Cook on HIGH for 4 - 5 hours. (Be sure to turn the slow cooker ON, as it doesn't give the same desired effect if you don't. I know this from experience and the residual teasing from this much publicized blonde moment has scarred me for life) Then turn down to low and cook for another hour or until the meat just falls off the bone. If you have a bone. If not, it should be fully cooked and easily shredded with a fork. Shred it up with a couple of forks and serve on rolls as a sandwich or over rice. I served it as sandwiches with cole slaw on the side. The family LOVED it. I added a little more Cholula hot sauce to my sandwich to give it a little more heat. It was really good!

Adventures in Aging ~ Exodus from the Land of Denial

So, I took a huge step this morning and went in for my annual eye exam...well, not really annual but I don't know what the word is for 'once every ten years'. Let me start from the beginning... When I was in first grade, I got my first pair of glasses. Wow! I could see! The problem was, everyone could see me, too. Let's just say that glasses in 1971 weren't all that attractive so there I was. A skinny little awkward kid with stringy brown hair and big nerdy tortoise shell glasses. (Cue downward spiral of self esteem) In junior high, I just went on strike and quit wearing them (Cue downward spiral of grades) and then I got contacts at about the same time that I got boobs and things literally began looking up. Ten years ago I popped for LASIK surgery. Lo and behold! I could see without the mess and fuss of contacts! (Wow, my shower is dirty). I was beyond thrilled to go to the beach with no contacts and be able to read. Over the last couple of years I've been noticing that the writing on Tylenol bottles has gotten much smaller and kinda fuzzy (damn Tylenol) and recently a client walked in my office and commented about me squinting at my computer screen, which is relatively the size of an IMAX screen. Hmmm...driving at night is bad, too. Sigh. I called my eye doctor (remember me?) and made an appointment. The lady on the phone mentioned the word 'bifocals'! GASP! "I am not THAT far out of denial", I told her. Turns out I did get away without bifocals, but only because 'we have options'. God, I love options. By Wednesday I will be the proud owner of a new pair of reading/computer glasses and a pair of distance glasses (for night driving, theater, tv). IN YOUR FACE BIFOCALS!!! Neither of which are big clunky tortoise shell. I have this theory though, that age related eye degeneration is some cosmic attempt at kindness. I mean, have you ever looked at the wrinkles around your eyes in full and direct sunlight? Exactly, me neither. So, I'm not sure what other exciting things I'll find when I get my new glasses, but at least I did it and I'll be a safer night driver. One way ticket out of the Land of Denial? $500. Which is kind of sad, because I really enjoyed my stay there.

Who's Ready for a $10 Tropical Getaway??

$10 buys you not one, but two chances to win a free (yes, FREE) three night stay at one of two glorious beachfront condos on Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico! Proceeds from the raffle benefit La Gloria English School, a school owned by a friend of mine on the island that teaches English to the Mayan children (and adults, too!) to help them get better jobs. More on the school here, http://www.folges.org/ We stayed at the Ixchel Penthouse last Spring and here is my review and a couple of pics If you’ve ever wondered what Isla Mujeres looks like from a Goddess’s perspective, check into Ixchel Penthouse #709. Situated on the furthest Northern tip of the East tower of condos, #709 boasts the most breathtaking view on the island. You feel as if you’re up in the clouds on the 7th floor, the tallest accommodation in Isla Mujeres. The condo itself is roomy for a one bedroom floor plan (fold out sofa in the living room) with a bath and a half. It’s beautifully, but comfortably decorated with thoughtful amenities such as flat screen televisions in both the living and bed room, coffee maker, hair dryer, ipod docking station and dvd players. The water cooler was a wonderful convenience, as we could make coffee easily and refill our water bottles, thus saving on bottled water expense. The memory foam topper makes the bed possibly the most comfortable in the Yucatan and having an in room electronic safe was a must for us. Now…let’s talk about that balcony. First of all, I’ve lived in places smaller than the balcony, which is furnished with comfortable chairs, chaise lounges, settee and bistro table. The unobstructed view makes you feel like royalty. Imagine climbing into the hot tub with a cocktail while the sun sets! I’ve seen many sunsets in Isla Mujeres, but being seven floors up takes it to a whole new level. It’s a lovely spot to read and relax in the afternoons, with a pergola providing shade and the cool breeze supplying natural air conditioning. We spent a lot of time on the balcony and enjoyed every moment in our own romantic paradise. Mayan legend tells that the goddess Ixchel was almost too beautiful, this girl with opalescent skin who sat in the skies brushing her shimmering hair for hours on end. All the gods were captivated by her. No doubt she was on the penthouse balcony. More here: http://moongrl722.blogspot.com/2009/05/isla-mujeres-april-2009.html Details, details:Email my friend Donna (owner of one condo) at txlankford@yahoo.com and she will send you information on how to send a check. Once your payment is received, Maggie (owner of La Gloria English School) will email you your lucky ticket number. The drawing will be in April or when they sell out. A total of 800 tickets will be sold. Links to mas pictures of the penthouse can be found here: http://www.picturetrail.com/gid18740305 and pictures of 610 can be found here: http://www.ixchelgetaway.com/ Book the condo directly through the owner, if you are interested at http://www.vrbo.com/166077 It's a great cause and a good excuse to go on vacation!!! Email em with any questions you have. If you win and aren't familiar with the island, I will be happy to recommend restaurants and things to do, or better yet, you can take me as your personal guide. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Happy New Year!

How can it possibly be 2010 already?! Chloe threw a party last night, I let her plan the menu and decide on the guest list. It was a lot of fun! David was still dressed for Christmas Some of the eats: Big Bowl O Cheetos! Mr Wonderful and me Chloe and Mallory Rockin' out with Rock Band! Dorian Rocks out Doug and Tyra Tavish loved Chloe's ribbon scarf Will aka Slash in the green hat Chloe and Finley Cameron Payton Shawn Mark, Dale, Jessica and Erin joined us, but I took more pics of the kids than the adults! At midnight we all went out front and screamed "HAPPY NEW YEAR" and set off poppers, streamers and silly string. It was cold!! The boys lasted quite a while out there, tho. Today is the first day of 2010 and the kids went over to their Dad's to visit with him and his parents, who are in town for the weekend. Gerald and I get to celebrate today and tonight with just the two of us. We started off with a New Years Brunch of eggs, biscuits and gravy and I had a mimosa. Yum! Tonight will be a bit healthier fare with salmon, blackeyed peas (for luck) and wine in front of the fireplace. Ahhhh. Happy New Year to you all. I wish you a year filled with love, good health and prosperity.

Bathroom Etiquette - Really?

I know, I know, who died and made me Queen of the Universe...well, luckily nobody died and I get to be Queen simply because it's my blog. Live with it. I work on the 10th floor of a highrise office building in North Dallas. It's a really pretty building with big banks of elevators and a concierge/security desk. It's full of professional people. However, the Ladies' bathroom on my floor is horrifying! I used think that women were cleaner than men, but if this is a sample of normal women, then I take back what I said about men or alternatively...I just don't wanna know. So (ahem) here are the new Bathroom Rules:(and if you think I won't post them in there, you don't know me very well!) 1. Flush. Really, I would think that you might have mastered this in kindergarten, if not before, but apparantly not, and that's just gross. 2. Wash your hands! Seriously. I am in the bathroom and I can hear you go out of your stall and just leave without even pretending to make a stop at the sink! No wonder I use a paper towel to open the door so I don't have to touch anything. I want to go wash my hands now just thinking of it. 3. Don't talk on your cell phone. Whether or not you're actively peeing (yes, people talk on the phone while peeing!) or just loitering in the bathroom (toiloitering?) this is unacceptable behavior. Not only is it just plain weird, but I generally dislike the sound of my peeing being broadcast God knows where. Call me crazy. 4. Eating - Yes, I said eating. I was in the bathroom once and a girl walked in, eating a giant cookie and proceeded into the stall, did her business and left. All (of course) without washing her hands. Eww Eww Eww!! She might as well have gone in there and licked something. Now, really, I don't think that this is asking too much, but obviously it is. The worst offenders are the ladies from the Accounting firm across the hall from us. Think about that next time someone does your taxes. No, don't. Eww.

Bitchmas 2009 Party Like a Rock Star

Been dazed and confused for so long it's not true... This year's Bitchmas theme was "Bitchmas 2009 - Party Like a Rock Star" and was held at the Hard Rock Tulsa. The Unholy Trinity - the Tulsa Girls, Gambling, and vodka was enough to entice Pam to fly up with me. Me and Pam Pam and I flew in together from Dallas and Toni picked us up at the airport. We had lunch at Te Kei's with Laurie and Angie. The food was good and the company better. After that we ran over to Utica Square to canoodle with a giant pink penguin, shop for new boots (Pam's boot zipper broke at the airport, a likely story) and purchase party supplies. I entertained myself by reading aloud from a romance novel that I found in Toni's car - "...she desperately....shamelessly begged...for more." (yeah...I'm easily amused) Pam, Angie and Toni By the time we got out to the Hard Rock, we barely had time to get set up, change and receive our guests. The suite was fabulous. Two queen beds, a bar, kitchen, a big red fainting couch and several extra chairs brought in. We were stocked on munchies, a big chocolate cake from Queenie's and beverages. Our signature party drink - a 'North Pole Dancer', Absolut vodka and cranberry juice with a splash of Sprite and a candy cane garnish. Angie and Toni The party was divalicious fun. We played the Dirty Santa game (whatever you call it, the one where you steal each other's gifts) Renee had created a Michael Jackson gift basket that was extremely popular. All the gifts were wonderful, most contained wine. Renee and her 'tattoo sleeves' Laura, Me, Pam and Angie Scotty T and Toni After Dirty Santa we decended upon the Casino and ran around. The saying goes, it's not what you know, but who you know and that was true...Jimmie got us the VIP treatment at the nightclub as we were able to enter from some secret entrance with no cover charge or waiting in line. It was a cool bar with the band on top of the bar. Scott T and I did some faux dirty dancing. Nobody puts Scotty T in a corner. Scott, Laura and Jimmie We met back up in the room. Pam had won some $$, no surprise. We hung out there for a while and then went back downstairs and to the Center Bar, which somehow is made of ice. I got to pet a bartender's big red mohawk and put a $5 tip in it. Unfortunately the pic of that didn't come out. Pam and Angie "Burt" and Lazina (Burt comes out of the closet for our parties, both literally and figuratively speaking) Mr Peanut? Willie Wonka? The world may never know.. Pam and Laurie Angie shut down the bar with us and headed home. Pam and Jimmie and I hung out until after 4:00, then Pam and I got a few hours sleep, awoke, whined, gambled, lunched and coerced Jimmie into taking us to the airport. Exhausted and punch drunk as boarded the plane, Pam commented "I'm going to order the opposite of coffee". This struck me as hilarious and I wondered for a while - What IS the opposite of coffee? I figure it's Bailey's, but it's really anyone's guess. Ozzy and Gerald were really happy to see me when I got home.