Monday, February 24, 2014

potato and corn chowder

2 sl of Morningstar Farms bacon strips diced
½ c diced onion
½ c diced carrot
½ c diced celery
3 T minced garlic
5 diced potatoes
1 c corn
salt, pepper, thyme, parsley (to taste)
½ c milk
Vegetable oil
water

In deep pan, sauté the first four items in a few tablespoons of vegetable oil until translucent. Season to taste. Peel and cube potatoes. Add them to sauté. Add garlic and corn. Deglaze, using a cup of water. Season to taste. Add milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce, and leave uncovered for 20-30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Ladle into bowls or ramekins. Serve with grilled cheese!

Sunday, February 23, 2014

peach cobbler



Peach Cobbler
2-3 15 oz. cans yellow sliced peaches
1/8 t. cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg
1/4 brown sugar
1 t. corn starch

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Separate peaches from juice except one can. Pour juice into saucepot. Whisk in corn starch. Bring to a boil. Add sugar, and half of other spices. Reduce to low. Add peaches.




for the crust:
3/4 stick butter
1 c. ap flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. milk

Melt butter in baking dish. Allow to cool. Whisk ingredients together and the remainder of the spices. Cover with saran and allow to aerate. Spoon batter into baking dish on top of butter. Do not mix. Ladle peaches onto batter. Do not stir. Place into oven on center rack. Back for 30-45 minutes or until cake is brown, moist but not wet.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

new product...review to follow

 
Palmer's co-wash Cleansing Conditioner
Nearing the end of my trusty [conditioner-wash/spray leave-in mix/"cream" (L.O.C.)] exclusively sold at Sally's (although it can be found randomly after-market online stores), only to realize that Sally's Beauty no longer stocks it on line. I live near several stores, but  unwilling to waste the trip to find that just as the online store the store front shop has discontinued it as well.

What does a girl on a healthy hair journey do? She shops on line for a friendly version. I ran across this product Palmer's Olive Oil Formula co-wash Cleaning Conditioner on many sites. Although I have yet to encounter a single blogger or YouTube journey-man handing out details on this. I am totally familiar with Palmer's products and since it boasts 'no sulfates' and 'no parabens' I was willing to take the plunge. It retails at $9.99.

Walgreens.com offered it along with it's regular free shipping on orders over $25. Although I have yet to try it, I am certain I could find a use for it. Going on fumes, I decided to purchase three 16 oz. bottles and fortunately found a conditioner pack for $1, which allowed me to utilize a limited time 20% off coupon code. Yes. That coupon was expiring within hours! Talk about favor!

In a few weeks...I'll be back to post its results! Stay tuned!

Friday, February 21, 2014

peppered cabbage


Peppered Cabbage with Smart Bacon
1 head of cabbage
3 T cooking oil
1 T brown sugar
coarse black pepper, red pepper flakes, thyme
2 T chopped garlic
2 slices (cut into small squares) Light Life Bacon

Peel the dark leaves from the head if present. Wash and bag for later use. Wash cabbage. Cut into quarters. Remove root stump. Finely shred. Wash in cold water. Heat oil in wok. Add cabbage. Do not over fill. Allow it to cook down, while stir frying it. Add any remaining. Season to taste. Continue to cook cabbage until brown or to your desired color and texture. Turn off heat. Add Light Life Bacon pieces, toss throughout, and cover for 10-15 minutes. 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

pound cake loaf


Ingredients
1 ¼ sticks Butter
1 ¼ cups sugar
2 large eggs
¼ t. butter flavoring
Lemon Zest
1 t. lemon juice
1 t. vanilla flavoring
1 c. all-purpose flour
¼ c. corn starch
3/4 t. baking powder
¼ c. Sprite, 7-UP, Or Sierra Mist (lemon-lime)
¼ c. milk

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

With a blender, cream butter. Add sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing after each addition. Add butter and vanilla flavoring, zest, and juice, and mix well. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add milk and soda, and then mix together until combined. Scrape sides of bowl, then mix briefly.

Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until the cake is firm and tooth pick inserted in the center, comes out clean.

Remove cake from oven, place on cooling rack for 10-15 minutes. Remove from loaf pan. Keep/wrap in saran. Slice, and enjoy!

*For bundt cake, double recipe and round up 1.

Friday, February 14, 2014

stretching your tex-laxer

My relaxer of choice is Creme of Nature Argan Oil no-lye regular relaxer, under-processed...of course!

It’s never a good thing to go too long between touch-ups, and to never over-process your hair by scheduling your touch-ups too close together.

Everyone’s hair will grow at a difference rate, and often this varies personally through the year. Certain events challenge our growth, as others promote a rich thriving atmosphere. My hair used to grow mostly in the summer, and now because I keep it in great protective styles and treat it more carefully, consume a vegetarian diet, and drink plenty of water, my hair grows…and grows!

Growing hair has never been a challenge, but retaining volume is another thing. This brings me to the challenge of stretching my relaxers. I do not like that thin, fine, super-bone straight look of a fresh relaxer which is why when I returned to relaxers, I opted for tex-laxing. I wanted texture, manageability, and what was most healthy.

Stretching the relaxer continues to serve my need to have lots of texture…and boy do I have texture once the roots start pushing. The first year, I had a schedule of touch-ups every three months: March, June, Sept, and Dec (anniversary).  Last November, I realized I couldn't make it until mid-December, so I went for it at the very end of November. As a result, my schedule is slightly off. I feel the need for touch up now. I will likely not make it out of February. 

Sometimes my hair pushes me to want to break that schedule; however this is where the stretching event takes root. Moisturize and take extra care of the line of demarcation: point where the new growth and texlax portion meet. Without extra moisture and care, this is where the hair can potentially snap off and you lose hair.

a little shedding is good, breaking is bad

Although I work out most days of the week, I am still very cautious of the drying effect of the perspiration as well as the season. As long as I feel my hair and there is moisture, I’m good. The LOC (liquid, oil, cream) method on sealing my hair prevents the salts of sweat from penetrating the follicle. Weekly washes will reduce the amount of salty build ups.

I have a month at least before my retouch. I am feeling loads of new growth. Instead of reaching for the product, it’s TLC time! Stretch…stretch…stretch! My goal is to go one to two weeks past February 15th…we’ll see! Fingers crossed!