Just Some Thoughts........

My mother always instilled in us, values, good manners, boundaries, respect of all things and people from all walks of life.  I have taught my children the same and so have my sister and brothers  We set them out into the world, knowing right from wrong, and standing up for it.  Children need and want attention, crave discipline, want to be told no.  If we teach them that way, they will become upstanding citizens of our society.  My husband always says to me "Your children fear you" my response is "They need to fear someone!".  I always told them if you think you are going to do something wrong, remember my face because it's the face you are going to see when you get home after I have found out what you did".  I have a few scenarios to share, of life in the gritty town where I have lived my whole life, and have a front row seat of how it has changed over decades of time.  It's sad our world has come to this, I know all people are not bad, but the bad ones sure do make it uneasy for the rest of us.

  "Teach your children what you believe in, make a world that we can live in" - CSNY

Story 1

I was driving home around 10:00 on a Sunday morning along our main street, and saw a young man beating a young woman with his fists.  He had her by the hair, punching her, screaming at her and cursing, she seemed terrified and was crying (wouldn't you). I was in a line of traffic stopped at a red light, and thought surely there has to be someone, in one of the cars that were already stopped at the light, to get out and stop him (silly me).  Over the few minutes of the light being red, I am sad to say no one stopped to help her, they looked the other way.  I pulled over, scared, yes I was scared, but couldn't not watch him do this, WHO does this to another human being.  I rolled my window down and shouted if he didn't stop, I was calling the police.  His verbal anger turned towards me, as HE continued to beat her. The traffic in front of me moved along.  I rolled my window up, sat there and dialed 911.  Before the police came they both walked to a nearby gas station.  I followed them with my eyes to see where they went.  When the police arrived they asked me where they went and to follow them to point him out.  I was still scared, but knew I had to do the right thing.  She was on a pay phone, still crying, was red, black and blue from the beating she endured.  The police grabbed him and I told them yes it was him.  They took him away, and she denied that he was beating her! The policeman told me "Ma'am it was very honorable what you did, but she will bail him out of jail tomorrow and HE will do it again.  I looked at her, asked her why she would let anyone do that to her, told her there were many local shelters to get help, the next time she may not be so lucky.  SHE told ME to mind my own business.  I was shaking driving my car home, it rattled me to my bones to think that she would ever let another person treat her that way.  Then I thought, she was never taught that people should not treat her that way, she had no self respect.  Would I do it again if I saw that same scene today - You betcha I would! No one has the right to put their hands on you, NO ONE.

Story 2

My daughter purchased our old house from us, it's on the same street as our new house. We have lived on the same street for over 25 years.  She came home from work and decided she was going to write bills out, so took her wallet/checkbook upstairs to her computer room and her phone rang.  She answered it, talked for awhile then fell asleep in her bed.  She woke up because the phone rang again, had a conversation and then went for her wallet. It wasn't where she thought she put it.  After looking around upstairs she went downstairs.  She thought she forgot to close her garage door, so she checked it, it was closed.  But when she turned around to go back inside the house, she noticed her back door frame on top of her car.  Then she looked outside and saw footprints in the snow.  Now she was awake!  She called 911 and the police came.  She was robbed in her own house while she was sleeping in her bed.  She later found out through his confession, that he picked her house because it was the only one that didn't have inside or outside lights on. This person broke through her back door, hinges, frame, double lock, dead bolt and all, and she never heard it. This in home robbery could have went really, really bad in so many ways, he walked through her whole house and saw her sleeping in bed, she never woke up.  He proceeded to use her credit cards (no one asked for ID) and her SS card was missing.  He not only stole those things, but her sense of security in her own home.  NO ONE has the right to do that!  The irony was he was the same age as her.  She leads a productive life, works for everything she has.  HE, on the other hand, robs people and steals to get the things he has. He was caught the very same night, about 2 hours later with our help. My daughter was on the phone calling the credit card companies asking them about his transactions on her cards, and then cancelling them, and I was relaying that information to the police.  After he was caught, her anger set in.  She told the court system she wanted restitution, every penny he made in jail, she wanted.  He has children, and leads a life of crime! This wasn't the first time he did what he did. HE was never taught you don't take what doesn't belong to you, you will get caught and there are consequences.  

A Girl and Her Shoes Can Never Part

What girl doesn't like shoes?  None that I know! Here are a few more pairs of colorful shoes to wear all year round or just for Spring and Summer.

Navy with Patent Toe Flat and Tartan Plaid with Ruffle Trim Flat

Gold Open Weave Flat and Black/Champagne Lace with Velvet Bow Flat

Black Velvet Studded Flat and Turquoise and Lime Flat

Linen Open Toe Wedge with Bow and Blue and White Ticking Linen Flat with Red, White and Blue Bow

Blue and White Linen Flat with Bow and Blue and White Plaid Open Toe Wedge

Weiners, Kraut and Beans

Here is a quick dinner for you, hot dogs, sauerkraut and baked beans, all done on top of the stove.  This is such a fast meal to make, don't blink, because it will be done before you know it.  I start with a package of Ball Park Angus Beef Bun Size Hot Dogs and grill them in a dry grill pan on medium heat.  They get really nice grill marks on them so your family will think you did them on the outside grill! (pat yourself on the back).  These dogs took about 20 minutes to make.

All grilled up and cozy in the bun

Now for the sauerkraut. I make a kind of sweet and sour sauerkraut (my own concoction). Start with a can of sauerkraut and pour into a medium size saucepan.  Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of white sugar and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.  Stir all together and heat until the sugar is melted, about 20 minutes. I learned to really like sauerkraut after coming up with this recipe.

Beans, Beans the musical fruit!  I love beans and make them a couple of different ways.  This is the recipe my mom always used and it is fast.  While the hot dogs are grilling and the sauerkraut is cooking, empty a can of vegetarian baked beans into a medium size saucepan.  Add 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup ketchup and 2 tablespoons of prepared mustard.  Stir and cook over medium heat for 25 minutes.

Sunday Roast Beef Dinner

One of the best meals my mother use to make on a Sunday was a roast beef dinner, and it was so good.  She taught my sister and I how to make a juicy, tender meat roast of beef, with browned potatoes, onions, and carrots.  I add celery to the mix for more flavor.  The aroma of this cooking in the oven was wonderful, and I could never wait to eat it.  This is my "little bit of an update" on my mother's Sunday Roast Beef Dinner.

My mother's first tip - She taught us how to sear the meat in the roasting pan/Dutch oven in a little bit of oil.  Searing the meat locks in the juices and gives your beef a nice browning base for the gravy.  Now here is the update - I also add Kitchen Bouquet Browning Sauce for flavor, it adds extra color to the gravy too.

 This is my mother's second tip - Dried Vegetable Flakes.  After searing add to the pan. These give the beef a really nice flavor.

 Everything in the Dutch Oven, put a lid on it, and wait for the awesomeness of this beef!

Sunday Roast Beef Dinner

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

3 - 4 lb. Beef Eye Roast
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup of vegetable flakes
1 large onion, quartered
2 cups of bagged of baby carrots, I use them because they are easy and save time
4 large potatoes, washed and cut
2 stalks of celery, washed and cut on the diagonal
1 Tbsp Kitchen Bouquet Browning and Seasoning Sauce
1/2 cup of water

Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large Dutch oven or roasting pan with a lid, heat the olive oil over medium high heat.  Season the beef with the salt, pepper.  When the oil is hot, put the beef into the pan and sear on all four sides until nicely browned with a little bit of caramelizing.  Turn the heat off, add the vegetable flakes, garlic powder, Kitchen Bouquet and water.  Cover with a lid and bake in the oven for 2 hours.  Take out of the oven and add the onion, carrots, celery and potatoes.  Stir/mix the vegetables into the juices.  Put the lid back on, return to the oven and bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  Remove the roast from the pan to a cutting board and cover with foil to let it rest.  Put the vegetables into a serving bowl.  Make the gravy.  Serves 6.

Gravy:
Pan drippings from the beef
2 Tbsp of  Gold Medal Wondra Quick Mixing Flour
1/2 cup of water

On medium high heat, heat pan drippings in a medium pan or just use the roasting pan.  Mix the flour with the water, until the flour dissolves, and slowly stir into the pan drippings.  Cook and stir until the gravy thickens.

Sparkle And Shine For The Holidays

Holiday party time is near, so throw open your closet and see what's inside to wear, hmmm.... something sparkly, shiny.  I love sparkle and shine all throughout the year, but especially during the holidays. Whether it be a top or a pair of shoes, bedazzle yourself, its fun this time of year! I put all these outfits together with a pair of darkwash skinny jeans.

Gunmetal Ombre Sequined Tank, Olive Shrug Wrap, Olive, Grey and Ivory Scarf

Red Sweater with Rhinestone Zipper Pull

 Gold Metallic Woven Jacket with Plum Ruffled Top

Silver Metallic Woven Swing Jacket with Back Pleat with Red Drape Top

 Blush Pink and Silver Sequined Cardigan with Silver Shimmer Tank

Cheesesteak Pizza

Pizza is a favorite in our house, my kids could eat it everyday of the week.  I make my own, instead of buying it because it's cheaper, and they love it!  There are many different toppings for pizza, ham, chicken and pineapple to name a few, my new favorite topping is cheese steak.  I made this pizza just with steak sandwich meat and mozzarella cheese, I also make it with sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions - Goooood! Recipe below for pizza dough.

The dough mixed and rolled out.

 Fry up the steak meat and drain fat off in a colander.  Top the pizza with a small amount of sauce, if desired and then with steak and mozzarella cheese.  Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 - 30 minutes.

PIZZA DOUGH

INGREDIENTS

2 packages of active dry yeast

1 Tbsp sugar

3 Tbsp canola oil (I use olive oil because I like the fruity taste of it)

1 1/4 cups of very warm water

3 1/2 cups of unbleached flour (plus additional flour for kneading)

2 tsp salt (I like the flavor of  kosher salt that's why I use it but you can use regular table salt)

DIRECTIONS

Attach dough hook to mixer. Combine the yeast, sugar, oil  and water in the bowl of the mixer.  Stir it up until the yeast and sugar are dissolved. Add 3 cups of the flour and the salt and turn the mixer on medium speed.  As the ingredients combine, the dough should start pulling from the sides of the bowl.  As this happens add up to the 1/2 cup of flour that is left.  Let the mixer knead the dough for about 5 minutes.  Turn mixer off.  The dough will be a tiny bit sticky. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it by hand about 10 - 12 times. It should be very smooth.  Roll it into a ball, seam side down.  Oil a large bowl with about 2 Tbsp of oil.  Put the dough in the bowl seam side up and roll the top in the bottom of the bowl.  Turn the dough right side up.  Cover the bowl with a linen towel and set in a cool dry place.  Let it rise for 1/2 hour.

When the dough has risen, dump it out of the bowl onto a floured surface and cut into 4 even pieces (8")  for a larger personal pizza, or 6 even pieces for smaller pizzas (6").  Roll the dough into a round shape and place on parchment lined cookie sheets (2 on each sheet).  Let them rest for about 5 minutes. If using right away add sauce and toppings and bake at 375 degrees for about 25 - 30 minutes (depending on your oven). When pizzas are baked remove from oven and cool on a cooling rack to keep the crust crispy. If you are not using the dough right away cover with a damp linen towel and put them in the refrigerator for up to 3 hours. Take out of the refrigerator and let the dough come to room temperature before adding topping and then bake.

Shoes Frenzy!

Cute shoes are always fun to wear.  Everyone will notice when you have funky colorful shoes, especially ones with details, on your feet.  They light up your whole outfit, just like a bright scarf around your neck would do.  Shoes are an accessory and don't have to match everything you are wearing, they just have to go with what you are wearing. Pair your shoes with jeans or dress pants for eye catching attention.

Satin leopard print with top bow flat.  Royal blue suede metal studded flat.

 Satin blue and black plaid with side bow flat.  Pewter top knot sequined toe flat.

 Fuchsia satin rhinestone studded flat.  Black suede star studded flat

 Copper metallic and black patent toe flat. Black, grey, tan chevron woven flat.

 Black buckle toe flat.  Black sequined flat.

 Brown, orange, tan chevron woven flat. Gold suede beaded moccasins.

 Brown suede ruffle flat.  Red patent with white buckle flat.

Red and white polka dot flat with penny detail on the heel.