Food processor, how do I love thee.... Let me count the ways.

For Christmas my husband bought me a food processor, but not just any food processor. It's the top of the line kitchen-aid food processor. In an effort to save money and actually use all of the food that we buy on a weekly basis, I've been putting the kitchen-aid to the test. I took old stale bread and made bread crumbs. The beauty with bread crumbs is that they freeze beautifully in an old sour cream container (or the like) and when you're ready to use they don't have to thaw - just sprinkle.

On Sunday, however, I experienced the piece de resistance. I was craving hash browns, the really good kind, the kind that are pan fried with just a little cheese. Suddenly, I had an epiphany. I took the fingerling potatoes that we had stashed in the pantry, put them through the grater attachment in the food processor and VOILA.... The world's best hash browns. And, the best part? We used up what we already had AND we didn't spend money on going out to breakfast.

My husband just bought me a vacuum sealer this past weekend. I've sealed everything I can get my grubby paws on. Then I thought! What about those hash browns? I can vacuum seal the grated potatoes, freeze them and use them whenever we feel like it.

It was a slightly liberating feeling to know that fingerling potato hash browns would be at my fingertips, 24/7. The possibilities are endless...

God Bless...

I just had to share this funny tidbit.

I was driving along the highway, as they call it here (apparently, only those from the West Coast call it a “freeway”). I was minding my own business, getting down to a little Justin Timberlake, bringing my sexy back, when I notice someone in my rear view mirror. This woman (who BADLY needed one of those makeovers from “What not to wear”) was on the edge of her seat, leaning over the steering wheel and looked like she had a massive case of road rage.

Coming from the LA area, I’m used to this sort of behavior. I smiled slightly as took my foot off the gas. They would eventually go around. The woman swerved to the right and then cut off a semi. As she passed me I saw a sticker on her car that said “JESUS” in big gold type.

I just thought to myself “Well, God Bless, you too!”

Yea, spring is here… sort of

Now I understand spring fever. After months of scurrying from the car to the building, and donning grandma and mom’s furs, it has finally started to warm up a bit. My new sister-in-law explained to me that here in the Midwest when spring arrives, people are more than enthusiastic (and frequently take the day off from work in celebration).

I decided to have my own spring celebration over the weekend. Scott put together a planter box for me out of lumber. We filled it with soil and planted spring veggies under the deck (so the mid day sun doesn’t wilt my lettuce). During the "growing up" years, I always remember my Mom having a garden. Not only is an economical way to get your fresh fruits and vegetables, but she would use her 2 day laborers (my brother and myself) to help maintain the garden. The garden also gave us an opportunity to learn how things grow and what different fruits and vegetables are called. She would hand me a pair of scissors and ask me to get a handful of parsley. I would dutifully walk back to the garden and promptly forget what parsley looked like. She would have to show me again before cutting her a handful.

What's amazing to me is in the age of video games and razor scooters, my step son is just as intrigued about the garden as I once was. This weekend he was more than happy to help with the yard work. He even insisted on using his own children's garden tools and gloves. I'll admit that I felt nostalgic when he asked me how it was that I knew how to plant lettuce. I just smiled and showed him, as my Mom showed me, exactly how to dig, plant, and cover up the tender baby lettuce. Now I just hope that it grows.

Great Wedding Day... and Great Hair

Amazingly enough, I got married. I think it’s amazing, anyway. I never really thought about getting married or even finding someone who understands me, for that matter. I was busy. I was too busy. I went to graduate school, opened my own (failed) business, I had things to do.

BOOM! Then I met Scott and everything changed. We were getting married.

I had a few problems with the whole planning process; the first problem being my deceased mother. Every place I went to, some snotty sales girl asked about my mother. What would she be wearing, what does she think. It’s enough to drive you crazy. I knew she was absent. I went alone to pick out my wedding dress. I was aware of the void and didn’t need to be reminded of it. I just had no idea that a wedding was so much about a mother and daughter.

Regardless, I found a dress, a venue, a minister, blah, blah, blah. Everything was set. Two weeks before the wedding, I realized that I had no idea how I would wear my hair. Of course, my tried and true hair dresser had already been schedule but what the heck would we do for that day? Every bridal picture showed some girl with long flowing hair or up in a French twist. But, I have short hair! Should I be denied cute hair just because I’m a low maintenance hair girl? I finally, FINALLY found a picture online and we worked from there. For those of you who need a special hair do and have short hair like me, check this out. My hair stylist rocked and it looked incredible – even the back of my hair looked great! Everything went smoothly. The flowers were incredible, the food was great, and the venue was perfect. And… I had great hair.

For great wedding hair, or every day hair you can see Chelsea DeVere at Salon Pop in Long Beach. Call 562-987-9200 for an apt.

If you do get married in the Orange County area, I highly recommend using Lavender Hill as your florist. Dawn is great and the flowers were beautiful.
http://www.lavenderhilloc.com/

Also, our minister was AWESOME. Really, he helped me more on that day than the event coordinator from the hotel. I highly recommend Rev. Clint Hufft.
http://www.reverendclint.com/

Spa Day Turned Home Treatment

Like many people, I spent the holidays sick in bed. I had several facial appointments previously scheduled so that I could look glowing and beautifully radiant for my late Jan wedding. The last two appointments that I made I just could not attend. When I called to cancel the last reservation, I received a rude response from some spa girl stating “well, I GUESS it’s alright”. I thought about telling her she two choices; she could graciously accept my cancellation or kissing my ***. I hung up instead.

After realizing that I have been paying $150 each visit to the spa just to deal with the rude spa bitch, I thought that there HAD to be an alternative.

I’ve always been a fan of Arbonne products. They all natural, yadda, yadda, yadda… and your skin looks great. I noticed online that they have an enzyme peel that you can do at home. What a brilliant thought! The peel is roughly 30 bucks and is applied the way you would apply a normal night cream. You wake up in the morning and wash your face. I’m not joking when I say that your skin looks fantastic.

https://arbonne.com/shop_online/showitem.asp?ProductId=6326&menuId=217&withLinks=1

Of course, you have to purchase Arbonne products through a rep. I’m sure if you go on their web site you can search for one.

I must admit that I do feel smart doing my own at home spa treatments. I know, it’s not as fun as going to the spa but, at least I have some cash left in my pocket. And, best of all, I can have a glass of wine while I pretend I'm at the spa... and I don't even have far to drive home.

Happy Spa-ing!

Great thrifty holiday gifts

Let’s face it. It’s a shit time for the economy. There are some of us who maybe have dropped a bunch of money on something frivolous like shoes, clothes or an extravagant night are now sucking wind, saving money, paying off our credit cards. Others, like myself, are wondering when getting a home loan will not longer require a blood sample and my first born. Either way, everyone is thinking of the economy and their now nonexistent retirement accounts. Merry Christmas, right?

Well, here are a few ideas on how to get you through the holidays without excessively drinking egg nogg.

1) Make something. My mother always made almond brittle during the holiday season. It’s less common than peanut brittle and much tastier, if you ask me. You might need a little inspiration so here’s my mother’s recipe. I place several pieces in a decorative Chinese food to-go container or maybe a pretty tin.

Mom’s almond brittle

1 C. whole raw almonds (unsalted)
½ C. granulated sugar
2 tsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
Salt

Combine almonds, butter and sugar in a heavy 10 inch skillet. Cook, stirring fairly constantly, over medium heat until the almonds are toasted and the sugar is melted and golden brown (about 15 mins). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.

Spread the nuts on a sheet of aluminum (make sure you have sprayed the foil with no stick cooking spray). Try to place the almonds in clusters of 2 or 3. Lightly sprinkle with salt.

2) Tone down the festivities
You do not need to serve a 5 course meal in order to enjoy time with family and friends. My friend Robert has a saying. It’s something like “my guests don’t have a better time if I spend 4 more hours on dinner”.

Sometimes just have hours d’ouvres is much more fun then just dinner. Some of my favorite parties have been those that I've asked my guests to bring their favorite appetizer.

3) Try unconventional gifts
One of my favorite gift suggestions this year has been Tastebook. www.tastebook.com is a web site where you can upload your recipes and have them bound in a binder that can be opened. The fabulous thing about Tastebook is that you can put a few recipes in the book and then add more later. They start at $20 so, you could can add your favorite recipe and give it to a friend to complete with their favorites.

4) Bring a hostess gift, not an enormous present
A hostess gift is just that. It’s not meant to be a present that will bust the bank. It’s a gesture to your host. Pick a nice bottle of wine. Places like Trader Joe’s and World Market have really good wines for around $10.

5) Just send cards
My family agreed this year to just send Christmas cards. Since all of us “kids” are grown, we’re not broken up about not getting a gift.

Regardless of your financial situation, simplifying the holidays always seems to make them less stressful, as well.

Christmas Chaos

Growing up Christmas was always my favorite time of year. My mother dusted off her recipes for the seasonal family favorites. The house always looked like Santa threw up in it but, it was a magical time, none the less. For many this is a time of stress. Having to deal with unruly family members can make you feel like you’re in Christmas Vacation.

As much as I try to lead a stress free life, it doesn’t always turn out that way.

The tree is not finished. There are still presents to be purchased and the stores are mayhem (Did you hear about that Wal-Mart worker who got trampled the day after Thanksgiving? What the hell, people?)

What’s a girl to do with all this holiday stress? Just for you, my dear friends, I’m including my famous lemon drop martini recipe. Please feel free to change it and make it your own. CHEERS! And let’s not stress; the holidays are almost over.

Tart Lemon Drop Martini

This is a very tart martini. For those of you who will only drink sweet booze, I suggest you add sugar and maybe leave out some lemon. I know it's tart. It's supposed to be tart.

1 Meyer lemon (squeezed into the shaker)
Approx 6-8 ice cubes
1 Tbsp of sugar (not the hippie raw brown sugar – regular white sugar)
6 oz good vodka (don’t be cheap – there’s nothing worse than a bad hang over)

Put all of the ingredients into the cocktail shaker. If you’re a light weight (and you know who you are) add some water. Shake the cocktail shaker with your index finger on the lid. Shake until the cocktail shaker becomes too cold to hold (AKA: shake it ‘til it hurts).

And VOILA! Family? What family? What turkey? Oh, look I have a fabulous cocktail in front of me. Cheers.