January 2014 – Loving Food, Fashion, & Life

Let's Clean The Frig

Posted on January 29, 2014 by LFFL

Need I say more? There’s nothing like a spotless white refrigerator that is totally CLEAN! Every once in a long while, you just gotta take everything out and go to town on it.

A few days ago, I decided I had the energy to tackle this project. There really wasn’t much work involved since I already tend to keep it quite clean on a day-to-day basis anyway. But, oh, what a beauty! And she’ll be even more beautiful once she’s stocked to the hilt with food again.

Oh, what a happy day! As I always say—it’s the little things in life.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, clean out your refrigerator until it’s spotless and like brand new again.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Oh, what a sight for sore eyes to see the beauty of food inside a thoroughly clean refrigerator.

I'm On The Case In Hot Pursuit!

Posted on January 25, 2014 by LFFL

Sooooo, I was out gallivanting early this morning and had to make a pit stop at someone’s residence before heading to another. Just a couple of quick errands is all.

I park my car on the street, put my hazards on, run into a building, and just happened to look out the window of the building as I was leaving it two minutes later when a car pulls up alongside my car very slowly.

Now—I thought this was very suspicious behavior because there was a vast amount of parking directly behind my vehicle. So why pull parallel to my car????? Hmmmmm? That’s odd.

Someone jumps out on the passenger side, proceeds to try to open my driver’s side door with no luck since it was locked, and hops back into the car and they leave as if nothing happened.

And, I myself, being Nancy Drew and all was on the case! The Sherlock Holmes was itching to come out in me. Though I probably shouldn’t have been on the case in the first place.

These so-called thugs never saw me at all when they did this dastardly act. So I sprinted down the stairs out the door and hopped into the car with detective hat on.

Naturally, I turn down the side street that I saw them turn down and I followed with cell phone in hand. I finally caught up to the thugs and was directly behind them when I tried to take a picture of their license plate—but my cell phone did not focus clearly in time before they made another turn. (Dumb blurry cell phone!)

How could I completely forget about my brand new camera I had on me which would have done wonders with its zoom factor and all?! Dang it! Well I followed the heathens just a couple blocks before they realized I was the same car that they just tried to pry open.

Now the chase was on! They started driving like maniacs trying to dodge me as best they could. It wasn’t the smartest thing for me to do and I probably won’t do it again—but in this instance, at least I scared the dickens out of them. After a few blocks, I gave up. My life wasn’t worth all that.

What a couple of lowlife thugs. I mean—how pathetically sad is your life that you choose to attempt to break into cars early on Saturday mornings with your time. I really should feel sorry for the bloody blokes that their lives have come to this. Poor souls.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, be on the lookout for bad guys. Make sure your car doors are always locked and the inside of your car clean, spotless, and empty—and maybe don’t chase after the bad guys when you do see them. Leave that to our lovely officers. (Unless there’s a child involved in a snatching, of course—then IT’S ON AND POPPIN’ till you run out of gas!!)

Take-Away Life Lesson: Always have your local emergency services on speed-dial on your celly for situations such as these.

I Think I'll Have A Spot Of Tea

Posted on January 20, 2014 by LFFL

I just love my new tea cup! I discovered a lovely little tea store the other day. I have to say, I’m not much of a tea drinker but I’m trying to be. I know it’s supposed to be good for you.

The organic teas this store sells are loose leaf and come straight from the hills of China. The owner personally goes to China two months out of the year to oversee production. I love stores like this.

Anyway—there were various tea cups, tea-on-the-go mugs, teapots, and accessories as well as all the various types of teas all about the store. I spotted this particular tea cup and fell in love. There were 16 different designs to choose from and I chose the plain white one.

Inside the tea cup.

Insert removed from tea cup.

Look at how neat it is! The tea leaves go inside the cup insert, you pour hot water over the leaves, put the lid on, and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then you remove the lid and turn it upside down, then remove the insert and set it on the lid while you drink your tea straight from the cup.

Since the same leaves can be used for 2-3 cups of tea, you can just re-insert the insert back into the cup when you’re done drinking the first cup and repeat. How exciting!

So, if you have nothing else to do today, see if you can find and visit a local store that sells nothing but teas and tea-related objects.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Who knew a tea store could be a whirl of fun.

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A New Mexican Hot Spot

Posted on January 18, 2014 by LFFL

Chicken Taquitos and Carnitas made with braised pork shoulder, adobo, grilled pineapple, cilantro, onion, and lime.

So I went to a new Mexican joint in town—well, it’s fairly new. It’s actually been around about 18 months but this was my first time there. Here you have good authentic Mexican cuisine being delivered right to your table.

There was a bit of spice to my dishes, but I was able to muster it down. I don’t like spicy foods with a lot of heat—or any heat really. I really don’t like the idea of my mouth burning full of flames while I’m trying to enjoy a meal.

I spend most of the time drinking large amounts of cold water just to put the fire out of my mouth. Where’s the fun in that?! This makes eating less enjoyable for me. But despite the heat the food had, the food was REALLY good.

Chimichanga

Queso Fundido

Colored ceiling lights

Pork Chimichanga and Queso Fundido made with chorizo rojo, Chihuahua cheese, poblano rajas, and oregano.

I just love when I can find a new hometown restaurant to try. It’s always fun finding new things to add to your repertoire of knowledge of life.

Horchata made with rice, almond, canela, and vanilla.

Ahhh, this was a lovely drink. I had never had a horchata before. You know what it tasted like? It tasted just like the rice, sugar, cinnamon, and milk I used to eat as a kid.

Now that I’m reminiscing about it, I think I shall like to make a bowl of it again soon.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, find a Mexican joint you’ve never tried before in your hometown and enjoy the lovely cuisine they have to offer.

Take-Away Life Lesson: It’s always good to have the fire department on speed-dial should you encounter a mouth full of spicy hot foods again.

Digging Deep Into The Feet

Posted on January 17, 2014 by LFFL

Can I just say—I think I’ve found my home away from home. I’m just so in LOVE with this place! I heard of this place through word-of-mouth. You could only hear of this by word-of-mouth because it’s tucked away in a little corner in the city. Who knew?!

I’ve never seen any advertising about this place and no one I know has ever heard of it. And maybe it should stay the city’s best kept secret so I can have it all to myself. Then again, I am learning to share the great things I experience in life with the less fortunate souls who are missing out on all this goodness.

Foot Spa entrance

I took one of my sisters here a couple of days ago for a bit of girls’ pampering—and OH MY! We walked right into heaven.

It’s a foot spa/foot care reflexology place—but they do more than just feet as well. When you first walk in the door, be very quiet because the room is right there!

What I really love about the place is how inexpensive they are compared to an actual spa.

The 30-minute reflexology foot massage session is only $15.
The 60-minute full body massage and reflexology treatment session is $28.

Get outta town with those prices!! I think I’ve found my new hangout straight away after work to de-stress. Oh, yeeaaaaahhhhh!

It’s a little different from an actual spa in that they don’t use oils or lotions and everyone is in the same dark room together rather than having your own private room. Fine by me with those prices!

We went inside, told the girl at the front what service we wanted, she took us to the big comfy chairs, we took our shoes off and rolled up our pant legs, then leaned back and closed our eyes. Ahhhhhh, the good life.

We decided on the 30-minute foot massage. The room is real quiet with relaxing music playing. The guy that I had started with my head and—oh wow. I’m loving life! Then he massaged my legs and worked on those pressure points on my feet.

My sister fell asleep and I was halfway into my state of slumber. These people are SO good at what they do. I was saddened that this, too, would eventually come to an end.

Afterwards, we went up front and I paid for our services and tipped (don’t forget to tip 20%, people, if it applies in your town), grabbed a business card, and planned my next visit as I was driving home.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, find yourself an inexpensive reflexology foot spa and enjoy your time of melting all your stresses away while you snore yourself to sleep.

Take-Away Life Lesson: It’s really not fair that the good things in life have to come to an end 30 minutes later.

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The Leftovers Are Just As Amazing

Posted on January 15, 2014 by LFFL

This mac & cheese was SO good even several days later. I decided this would be my lunch for work every day this week. I just love when I can make a big dish of something and have it last all week.

Oh, I wish you could have just smelled the wonderful smells permeating from this bowl when I pulled it from the microwave, walked back to my desk, and slowly lifted that lid for all the steam to swoop out and travel around the office. Who am I to deny my fellow co-workers the lovely smells of life?

Of course, all those around me were wondering where that glorious smell was coming from. That smoked cheddar really does wonders in the smell and the taste department. Someone even thought there was bacon in it even though there’s not. No—it was probably the smoked cheddar they were smelling. Just keep your distance from my desk and stay away from my food!

I oooo’ed and ahhhh’ed my way through lunch and couldn’t wait for a second helping at home for dinner.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, enjoy your leftovers at home, at work, or wherever. Let others get a chance to whiff those glorious smells coming from your lovely leftovers.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Guard your food with your life as others are walking past trying to discover where those delicious food smells are coming from. You never know when you’ll have to fight to the death.

I Can't Get Enough Of Macaroni & Cheese

Posted on January 12, 2014 by LFFL

Made with Cavatappi pasta, sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, smoked white cheddar cheese, Gouda cheese, milk, salt & pepper, red pepper flakes, Cheez-Its, and Parmesan cheese.

Well, Miss Nancy of “Feasting With Friends” had to go showing off macaroni and cheese in my face as if I haven’t had enough of it already. And it looked marvelously good. It’s all I could think about since she posted it to her blog.

So I had no other choice but to hop my way to the grocery store to get said ingredients.

Because Nancy suggests NOT using pre-packaged cheeses, my right arm is now 10 times the size of my left arm with all the grating I had to do. Yeah, there were lashings of cheeses all over the place once the shredding was done—but I’m not complaining.

Cheesy sauce

Cheesy sauce over the pasta

Once all the cheeses melted into the milk, it was drenched all over the pasta.

Now it’s ready for baking in the oven. I didn’t make mines quite as soupy as Nancy did and I had much bigger hunks of Cheez-Its for the topping. It turned out OH SO DELICIOUS!

Thank you, Miss Nancy for shoving mac & cheese in my face! It made my day.

Recipe for—Nancy’s Macaroni & Cheese

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try either making or eating some homemade macaroni and cheese—or both. If for no other reason than the love of cheese.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Apparently grating lots of cheese for a long period of time can give your one arm that Incredible Hulk look—which basically puts weights/dumbbells out of business. Don’t forget to switch off arms lest you walk around with one skinny arm and one bulky arm.

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