Life Changes

I grew up in an abundant family.  On my mother's side alone, 4 aunts, a mother, and a grandmother.  A brother, grandfather, a few uncles and several great aunts and great uncles and a ton of cousins.  My aunts were part of my immediate family, they were part of raising me.  Growing up in this family of Altevogt's and the maiden Traylor was a blessing.  A few changes to the family had happened overtime had happened, some sad and some positive but nothing we couldn't handle.  

Between the ages of 15 and 27 one typically doesn't really understand the placement or meaning of what is around them.  It is a natural phase of life, one that is experienced during the "finding yourself" moment.  Going to college, moving to a new location, getting a job, struggling to make ends meet....yada yada yada.  It's natural.  You love what you have but you don't fully grasp and understand, yet.

Then it happens, you get it.  You cherish every moment that you get to spend with your family and when you look back at those limited times that you visited home your heart is joyous and aching all in one beat.  You realize that you never want those moments to change.  That is when the lightbulb has gone on.  You come to the realization that you understand, you get it.

Finally, I got to that point around the age of 28.  After moving multiple times and starting new paths and completing the obstacle courses that were laid before me my light bulb turned on.  It was at 28, when things became possible.  Taking trips (because now one was at the age were they could used their hard earned funds) to visit those you missed.  Solely because you missed spending time with them.  Planning to just do things because you should experience it.  

Well, it had all just began to come together for that third phase in life.  The enjoyment part.  Two trips under my belt home.  Both short, we were playing catch up.  But both very quality.  Somehow in a 6 month period, I had managed to make it home twice and got to spend time with extremely important people in my life.  However, prior to that I had only been able to complete one trip in a 7 year period.  And that was in phase two of my life, so not great quality because it was in the "finding yourself" stage.  But the next phase was here and it was great.

Just when I got comfortable parking my mind, body and soul in phase three it fell apart.  Starting in November, just 2.5 months after I turned 30 my baby Aunt passed away.  The entire family was heartbroken.  And heartbreak was exactly what it was.  Exactly two and a half months later the apple of my eye, the center of our family, the rock and the peace maker, the one with the best smile and the best heart left us too.  Gramma, also known as Mom.  Our hearts were no longer just broken, they were stabbed, squashed, twisted, chewed and spit out.

My days will never be the same.

With Angela O'





Multi G-H Nut Cheerios??

So last May I completely swore of cereal.  I have loved cereal since I was a newborn, okay if you want to get picky then a toddler.  I loved it all and my love set in hardcore on those days I would stay at Gramma's house.  She would give me my very favorite of all Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch.  Her favorite was Kellogg's Frosted Flakes.  Over the years it became nothing but comfort food.  In high school and college who didn't want to sit and eat cereal all day.  Especially when it was served in those all-for-the-world-to-see-and-your-mouth-to-drool clear pour mass bins.  Forget the other food. 

In my twenties, I had moved on to Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats.  Somehow, I determined it was healthier than the full-on sugary stuff.  Over the course of nine years, I became a mini-wheat connoisseur determining who made the best frosted mini wheats.  Eventually, I believed that the generic and competing national brands were better at it than Kellogg's themselves!

During my last few months before my 30th birthday I was chatting with a personal trainer friend and we got into conversation as to how cereal is one of the worst things that you could consume.  All junk, just eating candy.  I secretly knew this all along but did not want to admit it.  So to ween myself off, I started eating organic cereal.  Puffins was pretty good.  Then by June I had gone cold turkey.  After a few weeks I didn't miss it.  Then on my 30th birthday I visited my two best friends in Florida.  One of which had a cereal junky family like me.  Oh dear.  I was in trouble.  

So by the end of August I was back on the wagon.  But this time it was a better choice.  My friends had taught me something new...mix cereals.  Well, I used to love Honey Nut Cheerios but they were just so syrupy sweet for me now.  Yuck.  So I thought, why don't I mix them with Multi-Grain Cheerios.  Lots of multi grain, little honey nut.  There you go, that is how I made the perfect cereal.  

Today I am finishing up the last of my double-box pack of Multi-Grain and double-box pack of Honey Nut Cheerios.  It has lasted me since the end of August when I determined I had to load up on my new find at Costco.  It is January of the new year and that is the present me.  If it had been the twenties me four boxes wouldn't have lasted one month.  As I am finishing up this last box I am done.  Not completely done, but just done.  Now that Cheerios has sided with us health-conscious Americans and deemed that their original Cheerios will no longer be made with genetically modified organisms I am going to keep one (only one) box of original Cheerios in the cabinet.  Those will be for those occasions of a quick breakfast or a pre-dinner snack since my husband gets home from work a few hours later than I.  But no longer do I gorge myself on cereal.

~with Angela O'

Photo Credit: www.honeynutcheerios.com

Photo Credit: www.honeynutcheerios.com

What Do You Do When the Adult is the Bully?

This past year the Bullying campaign really took off to protect all those children that had really been bullied by other young kids.  I think that is fabulous, bullying is terrible and those children can grow up to be something completely different than they hoped because of it.  But here's the deal...

What do you do when child is being bullied by an adult??  And the child has grown up and through their adult life still continues to be bullied by the adult?  Someone who is more than 20 years their age, someone who is part of the family, school or prominent society?  Someone who the child has depended on to be sheltered, fed, and schooled?

It is a terrible, scary and sickening combination.  A child who was bullied into thinking that there would be no other place to go even though they had a very rough childhood.  An adult who had tricked them into thinking that they would never see their grandparents, aunts, uncles or friends again.  An adult who teased them and taunted them at a moments notice for any situation.  An adult who did not want you to have friends unless they could benefit.  An adult who would do anything at the expense of a child.  An adult who let them know they were stupid for wanting to attend college or evening looking to attend the pre-college seminars.  An adult who physically threw things at the child when they were mad.  An adult who used their 200 plus pounds of weight to sit on the child to control 'it'.  An adult who never shared the loving thoughts or emotions to the child unless it was beneficial to themselves.

My heart goes out to those children who were bullied by an adult.  In so many cases there are not professionals to step in like there are in urban areas.  In rural areas, you got what you got.  You are stuck and from the 1980's to the 2000's in those rural areas you were more than stuck, you were a permanent fixture.

Compared to the above this story is minor, extremely minor.  BUT, I have always been haunted by it so it is time to get it in my journal and be done with it.  I do remember being bullied by my second grade teacher but not to the extent of the above.  For the most part, I loved my elementary school Beckemeyer.  I knew no different.  However, my second grade teacher would just attempt to humiliate me in front of the classroom every chance she got.  I remember one day she handed back our spelling tests.  In her class, if someone got an A-plus on their test then they got to stamp their paper with a pretty turquoise blue unicorn and star stamper stamp pad.  Well the day I received my spelling test she very strongly looked at me in front of the entire class and directly said "Angela, I am so very disappointed in you" and continued to scold me.  Now there were other students in this class that did not do well either but I was the only one who was picked out.  This is not the only scene I vividly remember in second grade but one of the only scenes that I will share.  Another time was when we had achievement testing and she had assigned parents to bring us a snack during mid-day.  Prior to the tests she had us all sign up for the type of snack we would/could eat.  It was peanut butter and jelly day and I hated jelly so I knew that I signed up for the peanut butter only list.  Well Melissa, the student whose mom had made the snacks was enlisted to pass out the PB & J sandwiches while another student was given the PB sandwiches.  As Melissa put the PB & J sandwich on my desk (and she was completely innocent, because why in the heck would this second grader know) I politely said "Oh, I signed up for the peanut butter only" in my meek voice.  Yes, I was meek....quite the introvert growing up.  A very much of a scaredy cat because I didn't know that it was OKAY to be myself or to speak up at that age.  Instantly, the second grade teacher went ballistic.  I mean absolutely ballistic screaming at me and carrying on as to how I should not be so selfish and picky.  It was absolutely awful.  It was because of my second grade experiences that my class saw me in a whole new light.  I was no longer the popular kid which was in fact the case in both kindergarten and 1st grade, the one on top.  In second grade this bully of a teacher made sure she changed everything.

~with Angela O'

Weddings and Funerals, Both I Did Not Understand

Hmmm, today it dawned on me.  For the very first time.  I am not sure that many people could say this or even choose to say they did one of these.  Well, I've done both, actually three.

In 2008, I attended a funeral in a Muslim mosque.  I was not in any special dress but those who practiced Muslim (99.7% of everyone there) as their religion and culture did.  I got to experience the premade lined textiles that were manufacturered into carpets for prayer and the walking the casket around the building multiple times, I think it was 5.  And something that is extremely rare in the United States, I got to experience going to a funeral the same afternoon as the morning the man passed away.  Because of the religion, the services were excused of certain mandatory practices that have to be performed in the United States typically causing the day of passing to be several days apart from the service.

In, 2012 I went to a wedding.  Well, I should first start by saying I was invited to the wedding by formal invitation.  That's right, an absolutely beautiful invitation sealed by cellophane and tied by ribbon.  I opened the invitation to see only a different language.  So that was that.  The last Saturday of December 2012 I sat through a catholic wedding ceremony that was spoken in an entirely different language!

You Have No Right To Meddle

I've come across a lot of discussions regarding individuals or couples trying to meddle in someone else's birthing practices.  Specifically, the naming of the child.  Let's set the record straight.  Unless you are the parent who is physically giving birth or the other parent who physically conceived the kid that will be born you have absolutely zero right to meddle or get mad about the identification title of the child.

This goes for mothers and fathers of the carrying couple or individual, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or anyone on the street.  Now, everyone has an opinion and one should learn how to politely offer their opinion to the carrying couple/individual in a non-aggressive way so that it is on the table.  This includes hostile or passive aggressive.  And be done.  Period.  Don't excessively complain to another soul about what that couple/individual is naming their child.  It is sick and annoying and just darn disrespectful to the two who will be responsible for raising their child.  

Some of you may say, "well what if that name has been in our family for years??  Well then that should be an exception??"  NOT!  Zero exception.  Unless you are carrying that child in your abdomen or have conceived that child you have zero say.  Period.  Now I will be up front and tell you that I have married into a family where the Irish bloodline is strong and the names are stronger.  The men share not only the first, last and suffix but the middle name as well.  The only, and I mean thee absolutely ONLY way that it is acceptable to chose the carrying on of the name is if that the carrying or conceiving parent desires to pass it on.  If both of them say "over my dead body" then you better believe it and back down because it is not your child.  I am absolutely positive that individuals in my family are reading this post, and are moments away from fainting or blowing a gasket.  Well you can rest assured that my husband and I have chosen to continue the male succession when the time comes for the fourth to reign.  But regardless, it doesn't change the facts at hand.  If we had chosen to be done with the naming game then everyone else would have no choice but to respect that. Period.

It is the same principal if one gets irritated that a child did not get named after their mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, or any other member of their extended family.  If you did not conceive or carry the child then you have zero right to meddle.  Please be respectful of the parent-to-be and learn to support them rather than be a negative-being.

This has happened so many times in front of my eyes that it is sickening.  It's not like you have an indirect relationship with the people and will never meet their creation so think before you speak.

P.S.  If there is one parent who wants to carry on a family name and parent two does not, then they have to work it out for themselves.  In an ideal world, parent two would honor the wishes of parent one and just be respectful and caring of the sentiment.  However, if it is not resolved and parent two wins the situation....Leave it Alone! Unless you are: Parent One or Parent Two!

Breadcrumbs Are No Longer a Pain In The Ass



That's right home cooks.  Making homemade breadcrumbs have never been so simple and quick till now! I don't even know why I never thought of it till now. Just grab a few slightly stale (just not so fresh) slices a bread and drop them into your food processor.  Blend from a few seconds to 20 seconds depending on how fine you want the crumbs.  TaDa!  No more crumbing by hand.  Good riddance to that.

~With Angela O'








Epic

This is so true.  I found this somewhere online one day when using my smartphone.  I think the conversation began with my husband because I told him that I hate when people use the word epic, he did not agree.  He is one lucky person who rarely hears the overused word here in Austin. Me, on the other hand have heard the word non-stop since first setting foot in this city in 2010.  It is used by everyone, hipster or not and even businesses!!  If you are standing near me and wondering why I'm gagging....well it may be because I just heard this word used as a one-word description again!


Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and fun 2014.  This last year went out with a bang, so much so that I never found the time to blog the last month of 2013.  We traveled to Houston for a long weekend and enjoyed watching the New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans, visited the Beer Can House, the absolutely terrible Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Museum of Fine Art, NASA where we met very official people and took a small stroll in the underground tunnels of Houston.  The middle of the month our dear and beautiful friend and our amazing 23 month old niece came to visit us in Austin.  It was a blast and a moment that we will cherish forever.  Then Christmas, well the plans that I had for my husband, friends, and adopted family of dogs didn't go over so well as I was struck with the full-blown flu.  Next year!  

A very fond memory I have for celebrating New Year's is the many years that we celebrated at my Gramma and Paw-Paw's house in Illinois.  Every year Gramma and Paw-Paw made a very big deal of the New Year for us by getting Pizza, Mountain Dew, board games and puzzles to celebrate the occasion.  We had so much fun that even my Aunts would come from time to time to enjoy it with us.  Now I know, that in 2014 that may not sound to some like a blast of a celebration but from 1983 to 1997 it was amazing.  I believe that they had a bit of a similar celebration again this New Year's Eve at my 80 year old grandmother's house.



Beer Can House created by John Milkovisch

At the NASA Natural Buoyancy Laboratory
Sitting in the Historic Mission Control Room with David L. Cisco
xoxo,
With Angela O'
 



The Truth About Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout cookies go by different names in different parts of the United States.  Caramel deLites cookies are also known as Samoas.  Peanut Butter Patties are known as Tagalongs.  Peanut Butter Sandwiches are known as Do-si-dos.  Shortbreads are known as Trefoils.  The name Thin Mints are shared among the entire United States.


Girl Scout cookies are baked by two companies.  One is ABC Bakers, a subsidiary of Interbake Foods (The same family as Hostess) and the second is Little Brownie Bakers, a subsidiary of Keebler (which happens to be owned by Kelloggs).
So if you do the math, then it is obvious the formula will equal Girl Scout cookies all year long.  Just head to the grocery store and purchase Keebler's Grasshoppers which are a replica of the GS Thin Mints and Coconut Dreams are the GS Samoas/Caramel deLites.


ABC Bakers Girl Scout Cookie options, notice they are different from LBB

Photo Credit: ABC Bakers @ www.abcsmartcookies.com
Little Brownie Bakers Girl Scout Cookie options, notice they are different from ABC

Photo Credit: Little Brownie Bakers @ www.littlebrowniebakers.com

Both ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers makes their own caramel recipe from scratch for to put in their Samoas & Caramel deLights.

Here is some great information from the Girl Scout Cookie website regarding the history and how the cookies first got started.

Early Years

Girl Scout Cookies had their earliest beginnings in the kitchens and ovens of our girl members, with moms volunteering as technical advisers. The sale of cookies as a way to finance troop activities began as early as 1917, five years after Juliette Gordon Low started Girl Scouting in the United States, when the Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma, baked cookies and sold them in its high school cafeteria as a service project.
In July 1922, The American Girl magazine, published by Girl Scout national headquarters, featured an article by Florence E. Neil, a local director in Chicago, Illinois. Miss Neil provided a cookie recipe that had been given to the council's 2,000 Girl Scouts. She estimated the approximate cost of ingredients for six- to seven-dozen cookies to be 26 to 36 cents. The cookies, she suggested, could be sold by troops for 25 or 30 cents per dozen.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Girl Scouts in different parts of the country continued to bake their own simple sugar cookies with their mothers. These cookies were packaged in wax paper bags, sealed with a sticker, and sold door to door for 25 to 35 cents per dozen.


Oh You Would Be Surprised That These Get Overlooked

The holidays are upon us!  Here are a few things that you would be surprised that get overlooked from hosts and hostesses.  It happens.  I've done the research and here are some of the situations.  Don't get caught for one of them this holiday season.

  • If you are offering bottled water then either have them in the fridge or offer ice as well.  Don't act like it is a burden when someone asks for a way to make their water cold.
  • If you are offering a beer with a glass, then make sure the glasses in your cabinet are clean.
  • Clean up that nasty facial hair and any other hair from the sink where other people have to get close enough to wash there hands. UGH! BARF!
  • Put out a hand drying towel.  Nothing is worse than being the guest who can't decide what to dry their hands on.  No one wants to get stuck using someone else's bath towel.  ICK!
Has anyone else had any experiences that they would like to share??

~ With Angela O'


Aunt Peggy's Girls Just Want to Have Fun

At the beginning of November something terrible happened and since that time I have taken a break from my blog.  My dearest Aunt Peggy was taken from us very unexpectedly.  We were not prepared to let her go.  She was only 47 years old and from what the world knew, healthy.  I am thankful that she went painless in her sleep.  Aunt Peggy was one of my biggest blog supporters and before I can continue to post blogs I want to post something in honor of her.

Please pretend that Cyndi Lauper is singing "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" in the background.

Before I go on, it is necessary that I share the importance of cardio health.  There have been many unfortunate instances that babies to elderly have been taken from us do to heart attacks, blocked arteries, strokes, etc, etc.  No matter your age, but especially if you are 27 years old and up it is time to start taking measures be in good heart health.  I'm not going to give you the speech about limit your butter (cholesterol) or only eat salads with steamed fish because you know I don't believe in that.  I am a cream and butter girl, but it must be from scratch and not from the box.  What I have to say about cardio health is that you need to have regular doctor check ups regarding any blockages that can come up and randomly cause a stroke or heart attack.  You need to practice cardio excercises for the fun and joyment of your life.  Now is the time to start running (for me) if one has been saying repeatedly over time that they want to work on that project (that is so me :-| ).  

I'm done. No more technical stuff.  Time to enjoy our moments together and to find a way to now share with Aunt Peggy the moments we planned to have together but did not yet get to.

I would love for you to share your comments about Peggy Portwood on this blog.  Please remember to sign your name with your comment.  She deserves it!

Aunt Peggy taught me about:

~MTV (That's right, she was 1980's loving)
~Purple nail polish
~Blue nail polish
~Black nail polish
~That it was okay to only paint the big toe with a fun nail polish shade
~Nintendo and Mario, Princess, and Yoshi
~Domino's Pizza along with Aunt Shirley in the 1980's
~Shopping trips to the mall along with Aunt Shirley in the 1980's
~Caviar (but she wouldn't tell me what it was! Just "something salty")

Aunt Peggy and I have in common:

~We were young and fun and just darn cool
~Our favorite color is purple (she had two favorites: Purple & Green; I'm not going to lie, I'm partial)
~We both liked Care Bears
~Our ink pen priority was and is always purple
~We both liked the Domino's Philly Steak & Cheese Pizza (tho she like the green peppers more than me)

Things I had planned to share with Aunt Peggy but did not get the chance too:

~Casino El Camino (bar with the best burgers on 6th Street in Austin, TX)
~Alamo Drafthouse (An Austin Original)
~Tubing on Canyon Lake (We talked about this a lot)
~2013 Christmas card "Duck Dynasty O'Mahony Style"
~Our portraits from September 2013 (It wasn't about showing off the pic, it was just about being able to share it with her)
~Co-hosting a RAVE (invite only! For u weirdos out there) in her private bar and basement.
~Homemade crepes
~The Highball in Austin, TX
~P.Terry's burger stand (Another Austin Original)
~Vert's (In good Ole Austin!)

UH-Oh!
~Aunt Peggy got my ears pierced as an early birthday present when I was 7 years old.  Mother was NOT there!  I'll always be thankful for my first set of holes in my ears.
~I puked in front of Michael's craft store when I was maybe 9? years old and embarrassed the crap out of her.
~Peggy tried a shot of pure aloe vera juice just for me last November.  Yuck! She has been the only brave soul since that day to try it for me.


Supporter
~She was the biggest supporter of my education.  She went to ALL of my graduations. Both college graduations, which others did not 'bother' with.  She even drove me to my first college to make sure that I was comfortable with the area and so that I could pick up my first semester books.
~ She was a huge supporter for my anonymous writings.
~ She was the best supporter of my blog, With Angela O'

Aunt Peggy Liked:
~1980's music
~Animals and the proper care for them
Aunt Peggy's Personal Enjoyments Included:
~Being in a pool league
~Visiting the animal shelter regularly.  She would take the animals fans in the summer and blankets in the winter.

At work Aunt Peggy was:
~ Reliable
~Kind
~Patient
~Caring
~Was known for smiling at at everybody
~She made everyone feel good

At School
~Former Illinois Judge John Coady was one of Aunt Peggy's college instructors.  I heard that he said she was a great student and that he wished more students were like Peggy.
~She had 2 more classes to complete after this fall.  Then she planned to graduate with her associates.

Thoughts at Random
~She got me my first trapper keeper!  I think I was 8 years old. 
~She got me my Velcro catch ball  game in pink and green.

Her favorite car

Aunt Peggy and Angela at the zoo in 1986

Enjoying time with her favorite band, Theory of a Dead Man


Aunt Peggy, Angela O', Aunt Shirley

Aunt Peggy and Angela O'




Enjoying herself at Anhueser-Busch, November 9th 2012

Over time I will add more pictures as I find them.  Please check back.

~ With Angela O'

Pumpkin Cake & Cream Cheese Frosting

Everyone loves a great pumpkin recipe.  This one is pretty darn good!  Thanks Aunt Shirley for sharing.





Cake:

2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger
½ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon nutmeg
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil  (I prefer corn oil)
2 cups sugar
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
1 cup chopped English walnuts


Preheat oven to 350° . Sift flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and spices into a bowl. Add nuts.
In another bowl, combine eggs, oil, sugar and pumpkin. Mix and blend well until smooth. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. Then spread evenly into a lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes. (In reality, you are going to have to bake for more than 30 minutes.  Mine took 47 minutes to be exact.)



Frosting:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
1/3 cup butter
1 Tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar  (If you want more of a cream cheese flavor use only 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar)


Combine cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla into a bowl. Mix well; add powdered sugar gradually, beating after each addition. After mixed well spread on slightly warm cake. Cool and cut.

Boomerang's

Lance McInnes, Angela O' & Jack Fennel
I do love Boomerang's.  It is especially good on a cold or rainy day.  The food is so comforting and delicious and there is just something about that little basement building that is slightly underground.  It kind of reminds me of Ghostwriter, the old PBS show from the nineties.  Boomerang's is very well known for their Steak & Potato pie a.k.a. Stout Pie that is made with Guinness beer.  It is great.  That darn crust is so flaky that you don't regret eating it one-handed, even when driving down the street.  Every time I stop in there I find a UPS truck stopped and loading up on pie fuel.  

Lucky Me!  One day while shopping at my favorite Whole Foods and I happened to run into Jack and Lance.  The 'Pie Guys'.  Jack & Lance, the Boomerang's Founders.  Thank you for making Austin a better and more rounded place.  Literally.

Chalkboard Sign right outside the store


The best mashed potatoes.  You should try a Pie Floater.




Lance McInnes, Angela O' & Jack Fennel at my favorite downtown Whole Foods





Sandwich History



Last month, I made Sandwich History.  For the first time in 30 years I was able to eat a tomato on a sandwich and enjoy it.  Actually, it was Double Sandwich History as for the first time in 30 years was I able to eat a tomato on a BLT and enjoy it.  I have always hated raw tomatoes as they taste so bitter and chemical to me.  I exclaimed to my husband that I never understood why no-one uses cooked tomato on a regular or basic sandwich.  I love cooked tomatoes, they are so yummy.  It is beyond me as to why I never liked raw tomatoes.  One evening we decided to head to one of our favorite tea shops for dinner.  I decided to try the B.A.T. (bacon, arugula, and tomato),their version of a B.L.T. but told them to hold the tomato.  Sweet John, reminded me to ask the server to have the chef pan-fry the tomato.  Oh it was amazing!  My dreams came true that night!


hugs and quiches,
xoxo
Angela O'

Damn, Toilet Seat Cover!

It is true that one would say they have a love-hate relationship with toilet seat covers.  You are angry when you go into a retail establishment that does not provide them for their customer.  You are exasperated with establishments that have a container in the stall pretending that they do provide them are out. You are relieved when you can grab one, as you rush in trying not to pee your pants. BUT, then you RIP it!  Dang.  Grab another, trying to not to rip it again.  OH NO! Again.  Oh gosh, you are squeezing your legs now. Yikes! 

Well, ladies I am here to tell you there is a very specific way to get that cover out, un-ripped.  In fact, it is written right on the toilet seat cover cardboard boxes but 99% of the time the instruction is covered up by the holding equipment in the stall.  I have only seen it exposed two times.  EVER!  And this is how I learned not to rip my seat cover.  

Step 1:  Gently, Pull Up

Step 2:  Gently, Pull Down

The trick is to pull up till the crease is exposed, then pull down.  Gently, of course.


Pie Challenge # 2: Peach Pie

Now that's a Peach Pie
Of course it is from scratch.  Now I did mess up the pie crust layout, but the flavor was not affected.  That teaches me not to leave my balls of dough sitting out!  Whoops!  Better next time.  Oh I love my Gramma's pie crust and I will never alter it's recipe for anyone or anything.  No matter who tells me what I should do instead...FORGET IT!  Gramma's pie crust is GRAMMA's pie crust.  I love Gramma and I love her pies.  Hehe.

 Bon Apetit!
Step 1: Get the real deal ingredients
Mixing up the ingredients for the filling

Gramma best kept secret....butter

Sprinkled with cinnamon

~Angela O'






Lighter Three-Cheese Mac

Here is a recipe for you all to try.  It is a yummy dish, but best ate fresh.  Try it for a small dinner party sometime.  I apologize that I didn't take any pictures this time!  So to make up for it I am typing in this cheesy looking font!  Bon Apetit.

Recipe by Martha Stewart's Food Magazine
Ingredients:

Salt
Pepper
1/2 lb short tubular pasta, such as cavatappi
2 cups broccoli, cut into florets, stalks peeled and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 ounces Neufchatel cheese
3 cups 1% milk
1 1/4 cups grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (5 ounces)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs, toasted

Instructions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 3 minutes less than package instructions.  Add broccoli and cook 3 minutes more.  Drain.

2.  Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pan over medium-high.  Add onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and ground mustard.  Saute until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes.  Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute.  Add Neufchatel, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until incorporated.  Gradually whisk in milk, then bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer, about 3 minutes, stirring constantly.  Stir in cheddar and Parmesan, then add pasta and broccoli.  Season with salt and pepper.

3.  Transfer to an 8-inch square baking dish and bake until bubbling in center, about 25 minutes.  Sprinkle with panko, and serve.
Per Serving: 453 cal; 20 g fat (11 g sat fat); 21  g protein; 45 g car; 2 g fiber

Serves 6

Active Time: 20 min

Total Time: 45 min

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Apparently I did take pictures!  I just could not find them at the time of this post.  Well, here they are!!
1/15/14
~ Angela O'