A Tale of Two Nail Spas

All nail spas are not created equal.  Two years ago when I first began my blog, I wrote about my first experience with a gel manicure. It was called "The Newest In Nails." I usually frequent the same spa in Green Hills. However, I enjoy a bargain as much as anyone. Recently Living Social ran a half-price deal on a gel manicure at a place nearby my home. I had to try it for that outlandish price. Unfortunately, it was a bust. The very night of the manicure, the polish bubbled off one nail completely. By the next morning, the tips of my fingernails were all showing through. The old me would have gone back to that salon for a redo. I am not returning there because I think they are ill-trained, incompetent, and poorly managed. I have returned to my salon of choice, Venetian. Tina has done a superb redo. Lesson learned: stick with what you know.

Mardi Gras Po' Boys, Honeystyle

With a little leftover chicken, celery, and Tabasco, I have created a new favorite sandwich: Roasted Chicken Po' Boys. I am a little particular about my Ranch dressing... don't like the premade in the bottle. My mother-in-law has ALWAYS made hers using the Hidden Valley Ranch Dry Mix, so that is what I do as well. It is better, I think, and I always have the mayo and buttermilk. Less preservatives than the bottled stuff. I buy the large container of Ranch at Sam's, then I always have it on hand. When my children were little, they might not eat the cooked veggies I prepared, but they would always eat the raw carrots, celery, & bell pepper with a little dip cup of Ranch. A little fresh garlic added to the dressing really takes it up a notch, too. Happy Fat Tuesday!

Mardi Gras Po Boys, Honeystyle 

roasted chicken, skinned, boned, chopped

1 to 1 1/2 cups celery, diced fine

several shots of Tabasco

2-3 Tbsp. Ranch dressing 

hoagie buns,brushed lightly with butter which has been melted with Ital. seas. & Lawry's Seasoning Salt

cheese slices

1.You will have plenty of chicken leftover for another meal. For 2 nice sandwiches, I used probably a cup or so of chopped chicken to which I added the Ranch dressing. Toss to coat.
2.To the diced celery, add several shots of Tabasco and coat well. Coated celery can sit for several hours as well for more absorption.  
3. In 400 degree oven, toast the buttered hoagie buns for about 5 min. Then place cheese slices on bread. Watch carefully, leaving in only a couple more min.
4. Layer on toasted, cheese rolls the celery, then the chicken mixture. Serve asap.

The Perfect Pink Cocktail For Valentine's

Easy as can be, this twist on the traditional margarita is a crowd pleaser for sure. Great to do ahead and enjoy in the upcoming days as you celebrate Valentine's Day with loved ones. Be forewarned: the Raspberry Chambord is not cheap, but it only takes a litte. It is also great to add a splash to champagne for a Kir Royale.

Raspberry Margaritas

12 oz. can raspberry lemonade concentrate (Kroger has)                       

juice of 2 limes                                                                                   

1/2 can tequila                                                                                   

2 Tbsp. Raspberry Chambord

1/4 can Triple Sec

lots of ice

Use lemonade can for measuring when noted. Put all in blender, then fill blender with ice. Blend to slush. Garnish with lime wedge or raspberries on a skewer. Beautiful shade of pink.

Mr. Happy

Recently my two preschool-aged grandchildren were visiting and both were dealing with coughs. In an attempt to contain the germs, I was trying to encourage them to aim their coughs into their elbows. They are way too young to understand that covering a cough with a hand does nothing but spread more germs with everything that they touch. It occurred to me that perhaps they needed a visual. Voila! Sharpee marker and Mr. Happy to the rescue. Both of them responded positively for the rest of the morning, coughing into their Mr. Happy marks and correcting each other when procedure was not followed. One of them, however, did end up in Vanderbilt ER because his situation was accelerating. While being examined, the attending physician asked the little guy about the mark on his arm. My grandson promptly responded, "That's Mr. Happy. That's where I cough." The physician remarked very positively about the visual, so I am passing along the information to you during this intense flu season. 

The Belt: Low on Style, High on Function

If you have a housekeeper, this blogpost will not interest you. If you do not, you may find some helpful information. I apologize ahead of time for the length of this post. A couple of years ago I took back the cleaning of my house. It has been a good thing for sure, but I have had to make some modifications in my procedure since I am not as young as I once was. As I began to study the situation, I broke it down into 2 blocks: 1) bathrooms and all floors, and 2) all other surfaces. What I observed about my own behavior was that the bathrooms and floors got done often, the "all other surfaces" not so much. After scrubbing 4 bathrooms and doing all of my floors consuming more than a couple of hours, I was spent. When I would do the "all other surfaces," I left products all over creation. The bucket-carrying was not working. So, after further study as to why was this making me crazy, I realized that in my house (and probably yours) there are 4 different types of non-bathroom surfaces to be cleaned: 1) glass which needs Windex; 2) hardwood which needs a little orange oil especially in the dry heat of winter; 3) stone, marble, painted surfaces, etc. which need only a damp wipe; and 4) ceiling fans and other hard to reach dusty spots which need Swiffers. No wonder the #2 Block was making me crazy. So, back to the 2-block theory. By breaking the chores down into the 2 categories, perhaps I could manage them better. One session for #1 Block, another session for #2 Block. The #2 Block is the part I dislike most. It is not gratifying like mowing grass. I know that I am weird, but the immediate gratification of a mower or blower along with being outside motivates me more. The dust still accumulates. To make my time more efficient, I decided that a tool belt might help me keep up with my varying products and get me moving efficiently from room to room, leaving no stone unturned. Pockets... that's what I need... several pockets, big & strong. I went to Lowe's and studied their selection of tool belts. I purchased one for $15.00. Now I have plenty of pockets and even an empty one for collecting evidences of little people visits (joy). Pockets for paper towels/Windex, 2 different cloths- one oiled - one damp with water, 2 different Swiffers- long and short handle, pocket for crevice attachments for vacuum, and cell phone in front pocket. Large carabeener hooks are also helpful. And not to belabor a point, but my eyesight is one of those "not as young as I once was" issues. Enter hubby's headlamp. Wow. Now that's a fullsize dustbunny I would have missed otherwise. Not a very good photo opportunity when I am all suited up, but so far the tool belt and headlamp have really helped me get the job done. Happy cleaning!

Cowboy Cookies By Request

This blogpost is in response to a request from the lovely ladies where I have had my hair done for almost 3 decades. The Cowboy Cookies recipe was given to me by a cookfriend long ago, and I took them to the salon during the holidays. They have not stopped talking about them! Thrills my heart. I thought the cookies spread on the pan a little too much, so next time I might use the procedure I use for Toll House Cookies which is half butter, half Crisco. However, the salon ladies wanted the recipe for exactly what I brought them. Those gals are adorable. Here's to the Ladies at The Ritz!

Cowboy Cookies

1 cup butter                                                                                                           

1 cup brown sugar                                                                                               

1 cup white sugar                                                                                               

2 eggs                                                                                               

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2tsp. baking powder

2 cups rolled oats

1 sm. pkg. chocolate chips

1/2 cup nuts

Cream sugars, butter, eggs, & vanilla until fluffy. Mix dry ingredients & stir into creamed mixture. Add oats, choc. chips, & nuts. Bake 350° for 12 minutes.

Kiss Konundrum

Do you have leftover seasonal Hershey kisses like I do? Don't let the delicious morsels go stale. Since Christmas season came before all of our autumn kisses were consumed, I had an overstock situation of gold, orange and brown foil-wrapped kisses. So I drew on a favorite peanut butter cookie recipe which can only be enhanced with the addition of chocolate. If you are on your January starvation plan, give the cookies away... someone you know may need cheering up with a little delivery. Or maybe it is someone's birthday - I would love these for a gift! This recipe is a cherished one which a longtime cookfriend baked when we were mere teenagers. I have not altered one thing about the ingredients, and I never make less than the 4 times quantity since they store beautifully in zip bags in the freezer (not with the kisses, though). Truly the perfect peanut butter cookie.

Peanut Butter Cookies

                                                          recipe x4

1/2 cup butter                                     2c

1/2 cup peanut butter                          2c

1/2 cup sugar                                       2c

1/2 cup brown sugar                             2c

1 egg                                                   4

1 tsp. vanilla                                        1 Tbsp.

1 1/4 cups self-rise flour                       5c

1. Combine & scoop with 1" cookie scoop, flatten slightly with a fork or my personal favorite, the Pampered Chef wooden tart shaper which has been dipped in sugar. Bake 375° 10-12 minutes.

2. Amounts to the right are for large batch.           

Notes from 11/5/10: Baked with seasonal M&Ms which did great. Made 45 XL cookies (4" diameter) using my large scoop (1/4 cup batter per cookie). Baked 13 min. & left on cookie sheet several minutes to cool and set up.           

3. Great cookie to add leftover seasonal Hershey kisses. Bake cookies, then immediately press on kiss while cooling on cookie sheet.