Thursday, January 28, 2016

TASTY BAKED BUFFALO WINGS & STUFF






Ingredients & Directions


 
  • Prep
  • Cook
  • Ready In
  1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and lightly grease with cooking spray. Place the flour, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and salt into a resealable plastic bag, and shake to mix. Add the chicken wings, seal, and toss until well coated with the flour mixture. Place the wings onto the prepared baking sheet, and place into the refrigerator. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  3. Whisk together the melted butter and hot sauce in a small bowl. Dip the wings into the butter mixture, and place back on the baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and crispy on the outside, about 45 minutes. Turn the wings over halfway during cooking so they cook evenly. Allrecipes Magazine



















I love any recipe that includes cayenne, so if you want your wings a little spicier, feel free to add more, or even throw in some hot sauce to keep those tongues tinglin'.  This is a great treat for a Superbowl or Puppy Bowl Party.


ON-LINE DATING

I'll be the first to admit to being nervous about on-line dating.  I just don't have the courage to exchange pictures and talk to perfect strangers with the intent of eventually hooking up.  However, just about everyone I know has done it, or is thinking about doing it.  My son met his fiance via the Internet and so did his best friend.  A close friend of mine, almost exclusively dates the people she meets on various dating sites and she loves it.  If you have been reading my blog, you already know that I look for the funny things that happen in life to entertain myself, and my friend has lots of funny stories to tell when it comes to Internet hook-ups.  Mostly they relate to her "rules".  Before you get mad at me, she knows I write about her, so she's cool, as long as I don't use her name. *heh*.  

1.  No, she does not want to meet any professors, because she says they will be too obnoxious and focused on talking about education all day long.


2.  No, she does not want to be wined and dined at McDonald's or Burger King to "get to know one another". 


3.  Short men need not apply.  She'll just feel like she's walking with one of her grandkids.


4.  No pic, no conversation.


5.  Don't meet on the date, then expect her to loan you some cash because you're a little low.


I haven't met any of her dates, but I've heard all about them, seen photos, and offered my often unwanted opinion. (lol)  'Nuff said.


TV STUFF YOU MAY NOT KNOW
If you have a fave tv show, now is the time to find out if it's coming back.  A few of my faves will be around for another season, but sadly, some may be gone, gone, gone.
Renewed

“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
“The Blacklist” (NBC)
“Blindspot” (NBC)
“Bob’s Burgers” (FOX)
“Chicago Fire” (NBC)
“Chicago PD” (NBC)
“The Simpsons” (FOX)“Agents of SHIELD” (ABC)
“Arrow” (The CW)
“Chicago Med” (NBC)  Not nearly as good as Code Black
“Empire” (FOX)
“The Flash” (The CW)
“The Goldbergs” (ABC)
“Gotham” (FOX)
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
“How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
“Modern Family” (ABC)“NCIS” (CBS)
“The Originals” (The CW)
“Scandal” (ABC)

Canceled
“Blood & Oil” (ABC)
“CSI: Cyber” (CBS)  Didn't think this would make it!
“Minority Report” (FOX)
“The Player” (NBC)
“Truth Be Told” (NBC)
“Wicked City” (ABC)
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/



GAME SHOWS
The other day while getting gas, two of the clerks were discussing The Price is Right, and they happened to be in their 20's.  They must have figured  I was pretty old, because they asked me if I preferred Bob Barker or Drew Carey as the host.  For those who care to know, The Price is Right actually debuted in 1972. All the years I watched Mr. Barker, I was impressed with his professionalism and ability to draw in his guests, but every day I see Drew Carey, I totally love his crazy sense of humor and funny comments.  So I told the kids I enjoyed Bob Barker when he was the host, but now that Drew is in charge, he's my fave, too. By the way, watching everyone win those prizes is very cool, but no one actually gets to leave with them after the show.  Basically, there's a ton of paperwork to sign, agreeing to pay the taxes, so it may be better to win cash.  Do you watch?


SEX EDUCATION
When I was a kid, the only thing my mom drilled in my head over and over again, was to not have sex prior to marriage.  She told me "Why buy the cow, when you can get the milk for free", more times than I care to admit.  Fast forward to present day, and sex education is being taught to kids who are 5.  Some say it's a good way to help them recognize abuse, and others think that's way too young to be talking about the birds and the bees.  What are your thoughts?

Saturday, January 23, 2016

SATURDAY STUFF AND CRAZY LAWS

If you've been reading this blog, you may notice that twice a year, I'll post about dumb laws for a particular state. Today, Pennsylvania hit the lottery, with a focus on certain cities.  I'm sure you'll be scratching your head like I did. (lol)

Carlisle
In the middle of town, one must pay a fee of $50 dollars a year to park on a particular block.
Connellsville
One’s pants may be worn no lower than five inches below the waist.
Danville
All fire hydrants must be checked one hour before all fires.
Millville
The sale of alcohol is prohibited.
One may not shoot any dog that is found wandering the streets.
Morrisville
It is required that a woman have a permit to wear cosmetics.
Newtown
Every outlet or switch (which can be purchased for 59 cents) that is installed requires an electrical inspection fee of 1 dollar and 33 cents.
Pittsburgh
No one is allowed to sleep on a refrigerator.
It is still illegal to bring a donkey or a mule onto a trolley car.
Thanks to www.dumblaws.com


HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A  VICTIM OF GOSSIP?
As a kid, I gossiped and talked about people all the time.  I thought it was cute and funny. Never mind that it got me into all kinds of trouble.  Then it happened to me, and the shoe was on the other foot.  Once I got older, I realized that if something was going on, it made much more sense to address it directly with that person, rather than stabbing him or her in the back.  If we've pissed you off or offended you in some manner, let's just get it out in the open so it can be addressed.  No one wants to see their name plastered across the world of social media, or to hear something they've said come up at the company water cooler, or on the phone.  It hurts feelings, ruins work relationships, breaks up friendships or divides families. Sometimes the things being shared aren't even true, making it even worse!
Let's resolve it and move on.We know this in our head, yet, for some reason we still keep doing it, forgetting about the circle of kindness, and the wisdom of watching our tongues.


SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS 
You would be simply amazed at all of the class action suits out there, ranging from Dentyne Gum you've chewed, mouthwash you've gargled, or diet pills you've ingested.  Sometimes you may find a one page posting in a magazine letting you know about the product in question, but if you want to know in real time about any open claims, and how you can be paid, sign up for FREE at http://www.topclassactions.com/.  

FOOTBALL MANIA
Once upon a time during Superbowl 20, I was a football ninja, winning pools, discussing point spreads and knowing all the players by name.  Fast forward to 2016, and I have literally no clue what in the heck is going on.  What I do know is that there are football thingys are over the place to eat, purchase or look at.  Here's a few:
























Thursday, January 21, 2016

GARTH BROOKS' TACO PIZZA

Trisha Yearwood says that people ask her all the time if Garth Brooks does any of the cooking at home, and yes he does!  In 2015 she published a cookbook entitled "Trisha's Table" and this recipe is his idea of how to whip up a taco pizza. It's super simple to make.

INGREDIENTS
1(13.8 ounce) Can Pre-made Pizza Crust Dough
1 (16 Ounce) Can Refried Beans
1/2 Cup Picante Sauce (Your choice of mild, medium or hot)
3/4 Cup Sliced Green or Black Olives
8 Ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded (About 2 Cups)
Salt and Pepper to Taste
1 Cup Finely Diced Tomatoes (1 Large or 30 grape tomatoes)
1 Large head (12 Ounces Shredded Lettuce) - or you can get the bag that's already shredded
1/4 Cup Sour Cream
DIRECTIONS
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees, then roll out the dough and fit onto a 15-in pizza pan or baking sheet.  In a medium bowl, mix together the beans and picante sauce until combined.  Spread the mixture onto the crust, leaving a 1/4 border.  Scatter the olives over the crust, then top with the shredded cheese.   Bake for 20 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned.

While the crust is baking, lightly salt the tomatoes, then in a medium bowl, toss them with the lettuce and sour cream.  Once the pizza is out of the oven, top it with the lettuce mixture.
If you like, feel free to add crumbled cooked ground beef or shredded chicken with taco seasoning to give it that yummy taco flavor.

OPERATION PAPERBACK
There are many things we can do to help our friends in the military, and what better way to show some love by sending lots and lots of books!  If you have new/gently used books, check out www.operationpaperback.org/ 


TRIP AROUND THE WORLD
Harry Potter fans unite!  Visit my Contest page for your chance to win a trip around the world worth $34,500!    http://bit.ly/1ZRsJIF












Monday, January 18, 2016

MIX IT UP MONDAY

Whew!  It's been a whirlwind of craziness going on, but we're ready to hit the ground running for a brand new week.


Has anyone visited an IHOP lately?  I haven't been to one in years, but a friend took me out to breakfast this afternoon and boy did I get a surprise.  While walking in, the hostess loudly called out "Beauty and the Beast, your table is ready", so you know I was looking around to see who decided to replace the use of their last name with something so catchy. When standing in line to ask for a table for two, we received a bright neon green card with the name Hulk on it -  then it hit me, that you randomly get the card you get, which could be the Dallas Mavericks, Sleeping Beauty, or even Jason Bourne while waiting patiently in the lobby.  Cool!
There were probably about 17 people standing around, but I was the only one giggling when new names were called for seating, but I sorta wish we would have received something fun like The Little Mermaid, or The Transporter.
It only got better as we ended up with someone else's pancakes, and three people came over to find out how it happened.  Then one of the managers had a huge crush on my friend and kept coming over to the table to ask her specifically if she was enjoying her food, while she kept rolling her eyes. Yet another reason for me to chuckle.  Yikes!  Add to that her frustration over not getting the extra butter she wanted, THEN having $ .60 tacked on the check once she did get her extra order.  


Has someone ever requested to be your friend on Facebook, and almost immediately, there are questions of if you're married, and what's the possibility of a hookup?  WTF!!!  Uh...no, I'm not trying to go down that path, and something about that is very creepy to say the least.  This is particularly true, when your status of "married" is clearly visible.



Lately, I haven't been able to cook as much as I'd like to, but I'm still fascinated with the Foodie world.  There are literally tons of places to visit on-line to get great recipes, find out about phenomenal restaurants and get your food groove on, and here are 2 of my faves.


www.eater.com - I don't know how they do it, but they literally know just about everything in the world of food. Gossip, recipes, restaurant news, television info - you name it and it's all there on their website.

www.yummly.com - Wow!  If you're looking for a special recipe to make a drink, something chocolate, or gluten free, you can find it by visiting this site, and you'll save precious time.  You can literally find new things to cool for every day of the week!


How many times have you seen the Wizard of Oz?  I can't even count 'em all.  The book came first, and the very famous Samuel Goldwyn bought the rights in 1934 to make the movie we all know and love.  But did you know that Shirley Temple was his 1st choice to play the role of Dorothy instead of Judy Garland?


As a kid, I was the practical joker you hated who would leave soap in the bathroom that would turn your hands black when you washed them, or put Vaseline on your handset causing your ear to stick to the earpiece when you answered the phone. (lol)


This is a great deal if you're looking to earn some extra cash, or get rid of some unwanted items around the house.  Sign up with the Amazon Trade-In Program where you can trade in things like phones, DVDs, books, video games and other electronics to receive an Amazon Gift Card!  Even better, the shipping is FREE!               http://www.amazon.com/Trade-In/b?ie=UTF8&node=9187220011

VINEGAR MAGIC
If you add 1 Tbs of white vinegar in the water while you're boiling eggs, no egg whites will sneak out of any cracks, AND peeling them will be so much easier.Woman's World

Also, adding 1 Tsp of Vinegar( nope you won't taste it at all!) to your boiling water, will help to dissolve all that excess starch so your rice will be fluffier.



Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex in the City fame gave a great quote. "Don't ever let other people's opinion of you, be your opinion of yourself".  Wonderful words of wisdom...

Thursday, January 7, 2016

CHOCOLATE & SOME MORE CHOCOLATE



Yes, I'm still obsessed with chocolate despite this being the month where everyone is supposed to be focused on  eating more healthy or stepping up those weight loss goals.
You may have also noticed that all that Christmas candy has been marked down to 75% off !(lol)  Indulge at your own risk, but if you decide to taste just one, I promise it will be fantastic! Thanks to Real Simple for these cool recipes.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

  1. 1/2cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  2. 1/2cup granulated sugar
  3. 1/2cup brown sugar
  4. 1large egg
  5. 1teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  6. 1 1/2cups all-purpose flour
  7. 1/4cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  8. 1/2teaspoon baking soda
  9. 1/2teaspoon baking powder
  10. 1/2teaspoon salt
  11. 1/2cup milk-chocolate chips
  12. 1/2cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Cream the butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed. Lower to medium speed and add the egg and vanilla. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. On low speed, add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  2. Form the dough into approximately 1 1/2-inch balls. Place on parchment- or foil-lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart.
  3. Bake until the centers are just set, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

  4. Chocolate Topped Crispy Bars

INGREDIENTS

    1. 2tablespoons unsalted butter
    2. 110-ounce bag marshmallows
    3. 6cups rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies)
    4. 12ounces chocolate

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a large saucepan, over medium-low heat, melt the butter and marshmallows, stirring until smooth, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the cereal and stir until coated and combined. Press into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  2. Roughly chop the chocolate and place it in a heatproof bowl set over (but not in) a saucepan of gently simmering water. Spread the chocolate evenly over the rice mixture.
  3. Cover and refrigerate 45 minutes. Cut into 24 squares.

CARRYING ON A CONVERSATION ALL BY YOURSELF
Those who know me will tell you I'm a talker, and have a tendency to talk to strangers in the supermarket, at DMV, in the bookstore, etc.  But I also really love to listen because there's a lot to be learned from others.  What I don't like is the person who speaks non-stop and there's never a spot to jump in.
 When you do, it seems as if the person's eyes gloss over and isn't paying attention before jumping back in with his or her own conversation.  There's just no nice way to say this, but dang it, that's just plain rude and a little obnoxious to say the least.  That tells me the person is self absorbed, and your opinions and comments, (or anyone else's for that matter) are simply not valued.  
Yet in another conversation, this same person will tell someone else that you "talk too much". (lol)  What's up with that blogosphere?