Secrets To Creamy & Delicious Mashed Potatoes

My family loves potatoes.  Baked, mashed, fried, or even raw…yes, I said raw.  That would be my husband.  I’ll be in the kitchen peeling potatoes and the next thing I know he grabs a potato and salts it and then he’s chompin’ down.  Weird, right??  (I think it’s because he’s a crazy Irishman…)

But this is not about raw potatoes, is it?  And it’s certainly not about crazy Irishmen!

This is about the best form of potatoes, bar none….MASHED.  So, here are some secrets to make those spuds really shine!

1)  Boil those little guys in chicken broth!  Yep, it adds a ton of flavor without taking away that yummy potato taste.

2)  Whip those spuds with an electric mixer instead of just smashing them with the potato masher!  Makes for a beautiful creamy mountain of taters!  IMPORTANT: Do not over-mix!  Just a minute at the most or they will be gummy!

3)  Use heavy cream instead of boring milk!  Adds rich flavor and velvety texture that is so good!

4)  And last but not least…you gotta use a whole lotta butta!!  Mmm…

Triple Good Bars

I got this recipe from a new friend of mine!  She is one of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet!  You feel like you’ve known her your whole life!  I’m so glad I met her and hope to be as sweet as her someday!  Maybe if I eat these bars all the time I will be!!

These are very yummy!  Triple the yummy to be exact.  Easy, delicious, and they have chocolate…what could be better?!

 Triple Good Bars

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)

1/2 cup sugar

Mix and spread in cake pan.  Bake 10 minutes at 375 degrees.  Then cool.

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 small package coconut (2/3 cup)

Mix and spread on cooled crust.  Bake 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

1 1/2 cups butterscotch chips

1 cup chocolate chips

6 tablespoons peanut butter

Melt then spread on cooled coconut crust.  Refrigerate to set.

Then ENJOY!  But not all of them at the same time!  Leave some for everyone else!

How To Get Into The Habit Of Drinking Water

Water.  It’s what you need.  Literally.

So, you’re thirsty.  What do you grab out of the refrigerator?  Anything but water.  Why, oh, why do we hate to drink water?  Because it has no taste.  Because it’s boring.

Because the cold ice & mountaintops on cans of soda and beer can be so irritatingly inviting.  (Especially when they turn colors!)

It’s gonna be okay.  I’m here for you.  Together we’ll learn how to start drinking water.  And hopefully come to really love it.  All while quenching that thirst, supplying the liquid to keep our bodies alive, curing our headaches, and cleaning out those toxins…well, that’s what they say anyway.

Where to start?  It takes 30 days to make or break a habit.  So, consider your next 30 days the start of a new life!  Little over-dramatic there…but you get my drift.

1)  Drink a glass of water right when you get up in the morning.

 

2)  Carry around a bottle of water during the day.  This will keep you from forgetting to drink water while you’re at work, etc.

 

3)  Put that cell phone to good use and set a reminder for every hour on the hour. Doesn’t have to be a lot at one time…but this will get you into the habit of drinking throughout the day.

 

4)  Get off your butt & exercise.  This is the best way because you will be very thirsty afterwards.

 

5)  Add limes or lemons to make it taste better.  Also, make sure to keep it cold.

 

6)  Drink a glass at every meal.

 

7)  Track it.  Have a daily goal of how much you want to drink and keep track.  This is very helpful for me because I’m a freak about reaching personal goals I set for myself…another issue for another day…

Now get off your butt and go drink a glass of water!

Dark Circles & Puffy Eyes–Result

This was definitely interesting!

The brewed tea bags were cold and smelled like fish!! It was also quite runny!  In fact the green juice ended up stinging my eyes just a little bit.  So, maybe wringing them out should be a one of the steps!

But I have to say that the puffiness was greatly reduced and I felt quite invigorated after the 10 minute experience. So, doing this often would certainly keep the problem at bay.

Not sure if I want to though…

I did do it at night…which was probably not smart…because I stayed up till 1:00 in the morning…which might have been why I had puffy eyes the next day…hmm…?

Crazy Experimental Chick-Results

This really worked!

My hands were definitely soft afterwards.  Soft as a baby’s butt!  It was really messy…but that could be because I decided to try it on my elbows, feet, and knees as well as my hands!  I love soft feet…well, not other people’s soft feet…just my own…

My 5 yr old daughter wanted to try it with me and she was also very pleased with the results.  🙂

The only thing I noticed was that the next day my hands were a little bit dry.  So, I’m guessing you need to do it often, especially in the winter months to keep your hands and feet continually soft.

 

Dark Circles & Puffy Eyes?

Well, don’t let it get you down!  Occasionally I wake up and experience a puffy eye day and decided to try this tea bag thing.  Which is supposed to get rid of both dark eyes and puffiness.

Should be interesting.  I like to drink green tea…not wear it.  Isn’t it going to steep right into my eyes? Hopefully I still like green tea after this.

Well, I’ll try it and let you know if it works.

Green Tea Bags For Dark Circles & Puffy Eyes

(from livestrong.com)

Placing brewed tea bags on the eyes for a short time period allows the tannins in the tea to treats puffy eyes and dark circles. Green tea bags reduce swelling and tighten the skin around the eyes. The caffeine reduces puffiness by shrinking the blood vessels. Green tea works on dark circles by decreasing the dilation of the blood vessels under the eyes. The astringent nature of the tannins constricts the blood vessels and capillaries under the eyes.

Prevention

Some of the causes of eye puffiness and dark circles can be avoided or reduced. Alcohol and tobacco use lead to fluid retention around the eyes, causing swelling. Getting a good night’s sleep and eating a healthy diet can play a big part in skin health. Using green tea bags under the eyes regularly, drinking plenty of fluids and using a good moisturizer will keep the skin under the eyes fresh

 

 

Shouldn’t there be honey somewhere here?  I NEVER have green tea without it!

Crazy Experimental Chick

I’m all into home remedies for certain issues.  The problem is who wants to go around all the websites trying to figure out what the heck works??!

Me, apparently.  That’s right.  On this blog is where you will find the crazy chick who actually tries all the funky home remedies.  Sometimes it ain’t pretty, folks.

Going completely off on a bunny trial here…one time my husband had this horrible cough and sore throat.  So, the resourceful pioneer woman that I am (I’m not those things at all, actually) I got to looking on the internet for a home remedy.  You know, some sort of throaty cure-all.

After much searching, I happened upon an obscure Indian remedy for sore throats.

You know where I’m going with this.

It was sad and yet slightly funny.  Not really funny…just slightly.  I realized after my Indian concoction-making that the combination of chili powder and red pepper flakes probably was a red flag…but again, that was after I gave it to my poor husband.

He said…and I quote him on this…”My throat became as meat.”

Nevertheless, my search for good home remedies continues…and you get the tales of my adventures that await.

This is my next experiment.  I know, it’s a bit safe.  But you have no idea the effects of the Indian tragedy.  Bear with me.

Oil and Sugar for Baby Soft Hands 

(This is from livestrong.com)  I have dry hands…hopefully this works.  I’ll let you know either way.

Step 1

Mix 3 tsp. of baby oil and 2 tsp. of sugar, then apply the mixture to your hands. Use the pads of your fingertips in a brisk circular motion to massage the mixture into your skin.

Step 2

Allow the mixture to remain on your hands after massage. Fatfreekitchen.com advises leaving the mixture on your hands for 10 to 15 minutes. The sugar has a mild abrasive and exfoliative effect, removing dead skin cells to reveal softer skin underneath, while the baby oil has a moisturizing quality.

Step 3

Apply a commercial moisturizer you have used with good results in the past. Alternately, you can use olive oil, vegetable oil or petroleum jelly. According to Howard Donsky, M.D., associate professor at the University of Toronto, these natural moisturizers may even be superior to store-bought products

 

So, I don’t have baby oil…I’m gonna try a different oil.  I know, I should just go get some.  Nope, not gonna.Next time we talk…I should be typing with soft, supple, gorgeous hands.  Even though you won’t see them…they’ll be soft.

I Like Your Jiggly Bits.

Yep.  That’s what he said to me.  “I like your jiggly bits.”

I used to really pride myself on keeping those certain bits from moving at all.  In fact, if they so much as moved an iota…I was all over those Richard Simmons’ tapes.  (No, I am not old.  I just have a large amount of old workout videos.  I can’t do the downward facing dog thing.  I need to sweat…to oldies apparently.)  Not to mention the Jane Fonda ones…OOH…or my favorite: Denise Austin.  She’s awesome.  (I’ve called her a few choice words, though, in the heat of passionate exercising.)

Moving on to how the bits became jiggly…

I’m not sure how it happened.  It just did.  I decided to spend more time doing what I love to do and less time keeping my bits in line.  I also decided that in my day to day cleaning, cooking, and gardening, I would be burning off enough calories.  You know, do it the old fashioned way.  Come to find out, that’s why they had girdles.

Needless to say, the bits have become somewhat jiggly.

And my husband loves it.  Don’t ask me why.  I do not know.  He says because it’s womanly.  That women are supposed to be soft and a bit jiggly.  He loves curves and can’t keep his hands to himself now!  I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I am overjoyed because I don’t have to stair-step & hammer punch my way to a lean fighting machine.  I get to spend more time playing with my kids and cooking up a storm.  I do keep in shape by walking and the occasional ab workout.  I also love hiking, tennis, swimming, volleyball, etc.  My goals are different now, though.

To love life and enjoy it to the fullest.

So, you might have some jiggly bits…have no fear.  Your man might actually like them!  (Apparently that’s why they call them love handles…?)

Cranberry Pear Relish

This is the bomb.  Forget that jellied cranberry stuff in a can!  This is your new turkey accompaniment!  You have to try this!  It’s easy, quick, and you can make it ahead!

In fact I’d make it just for the aroma it leaves in the house!  My daughter makes it with me and she loves the popping noise from the cranberries!  Delish!

Cranberry Pear Relish

• 4 cups fresh cranberries

• 2 cups sugar

• 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

• 1 tbsp grated orange zest

• 2 slightly under-ripe pears peeled & diced

Combine all ingredients.  Low boil till all cranberries pop open (about 10-15 min).

Skim off foam.  Let cool.  Refrigerate.

 

 

After-Thanksgiving Day Soup

So, it’s day 3 of turkey extravaganza and you are tired of cold turkey sandwiches, turkey tetrazzini, turkey pot pie, turkey a la mode, etc.

That means it’s time for…my After-Thanksgiving Day Soup!

It’s a really yummy soup that uses everything leftover from Thanksgiving!  Just throw your whole darn table in there and let it simmer!  I’m serious!  Try this even before all those other turkey experiments!

Think out of the box and put those leftovers to good use!

After-Thanksgiving Day Soup

Ingredients: Umm, there really isn’t a set amount of the ingredients…so play with it!  Whatever you got goes in the freakin’ pot!! Bring turkey with carcass (that’s hilarious) to boil.  Simmer & skim off fat around 4 hours.  Remove bones & strain.

Add celery, onions, & carrots-equal parts.  Add leftover stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, etc!  Seriously.

Add parsley, garlic, poultry seasoning, sage, thyme, marjoram, & bouillon cubes.

Bare simmer till veggies are tender.  Add noodles or rice and cook till done (obviously).

ENJOY!  And of course, hopefully you have some leftover pie as well!  But DON’T put that in the soup! LOL!