I am strongly considering selling my pepper jelly. It's made with only hot peppers...so it's super spicy. I have quite a few fans of it. It's all natural. Come up with a good name and I'll give you a few jars on me.
Thanks for the input!
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Friday, November 27, 2015
Wow it's been a while
I didn't realize how long it had been since I wrote last. I have had quite a bit go on in my personal life.
I had gotten accepted to two branches of Charis Bible College, to start this fall, back in September. One in Colorado and one in the south. But my husband didn't want to move yet, even though the rest of us were excited and ready to go to Colorado. I prayed about it and decided to stay, because there was supposed to be a second option of going to a more local extension school.
But a couple of days before classes were to start the Dean of the students at the head in Atlanta decided to cancel our classes stating that, "I have conceded to drop the class from 5 people to 4. I will not, I refuse to concede to 3 students." Even though we "3" had all paid in full. There are no teachers, as it's all on video. So no overhead there. He even said it was not a financial decision, that it would affect our learning environment. I asked how one more or less student would effect the environment and he gave no answer. He had NO answers to any of my questions. He didn't explain anything with any real answers. Except the fact that he had NOT prayed over the decision to cancel our classes. I had worked 3 years to get to that point and the man didn't even talk to God about cancelling us 3 ladies classes. I get the feeling if it had been all men in the class it would have been different. He was very rude to me. He said I could go and drop in on first year classes anytime. Well no, that's stupid to me...I did my first year. Why do that? Why drive an hour and a half one way to redo my classes? How ignorant of him.
He had a bad attitude. So much so that I called the main campus in Colorado but they never contacted me back. Strike two in my book. I really don't understand how you can run a bible college extension based on God's love...and a relationship with God and yet at the same time you do not consult God about what decisions you are making in this school! How hypocritical and how wrong for you to run things on your own because that is unbiblical! Completely against what the bible teaches, which is for people to rely SOLELY on GOD and NOT ON OUR OWN WAYS.
I stopped supporting the school's ministry after all of this occurred. When I called crying and asking to talk to someone and no one calls me back...well I'm not going to give you money if you can't be responsible with the little things...like calling me back.
I am having to seek God in this so that I do not have any bitterness towards that mess of a man and that ministry. I have learned a lot from them. But maybe this is where our paths diverge and I am meant to have a different path in my spiritual walk from here on. I am cool with that. I am. I do not want to have ill will towards that man. But he really could have been kind and had at least a tad of compassion about squashing our dreams. Geeze.
Then after all of that I have had some ups and downs with my husband. Our relationship has been tedious. I have been quite stressed and have had to put up more boundaries while seeking God's help in healing my hurts. Hubby has been changing, letting God change him, which is wonderful. Though, I still feel pressure to change and do things his way, instead of being myself. I still feel pressure to act a certain way...to provide the things he feels he "needs" from me. I do not like that co dependency vibe at all. I do not like expectations on me when I am wanting to step back and breathe and heal. It makes things more difficult and takes away precious time...I could be using enjoying life and healing at the same time.
I had not had the courage to write again because after years of never reading my blogs or my poetry, through this recent period of time and struggle, hubby suddenly wanted to read my writing. Unfortunately, some of it was misunderstood and thrown up later on in discussions. That got things heated and the standby of fear crept in. You don't want to make him mad. So you quit doing the things you love...the things that help you...so you won't upset someone else. It reminds me of my childhood relationship with my dad. So, I decided to kick fear to the curb and write anyways. It's been long enough and writing really is a good medicine for me.
I had gotten accepted to two branches of Charis Bible College, to start this fall, back in September. One in Colorado and one in the south. But my husband didn't want to move yet, even though the rest of us were excited and ready to go to Colorado. I prayed about it and decided to stay, because there was supposed to be a second option of going to a more local extension school.
But a couple of days before classes were to start the Dean of the students at the head in Atlanta decided to cancel our classes stating that, "I have conceded to drop the class from 5 people to 4. I will not, I refuse to concede to 3 students." Even though we "3" had all paid in full. There are no teachers, as it's all on video. So no overhead there. He even said it was not a financial decision, that it would affect our learning environment. I asked how one more or less student would effect the environment and he gave no answer. He had NO answers to any of my questions. He didn't explain anything with any real answers. Except the fact that he had NOT prayed over the decision to cancel our classes. I had worked 3 years to get to that point and the man didn't even talk to God about cancelling us 3 ladies classes. I get the feeling if it had been all men in the class it would have been different. He was very rude to me. He said I could go and drop in on first year classes anytime. Well no, that's stupid to me...I did my first year. Why do that? Why drive an hour and a half one way to redo my classes? How ignorant of him.
He had a bad attitude. So much so that I called the main campus in Colorado but they never contacted me back. Strike two in my book. I really don't understand how you can run a bible college extension based on God's love...and a relationship with God and yet at the same time you do not consult God about what decisions you are making in this school! How hypocritical and how wrong for you to run things on your own because that is unbiblical! Completely against what the bible teaches, which is for people to rely SOLELY on GOD and NOT ON OUR OWN WAYS.
I stopped supporting the school's ministry after all of this occurred. When I called crying and asking to talk to someone and no one calls me back...well I'm not going to give you money if you can't be responsible with the little things...like calling me back.
I am having to seek God in this so that I do not have any bitterness towards that mess of a man and that ministry. I have learned a lot from them. But maybe this is where our paths diverge and I am meant to have a different path in my spiritual walk from here on. I am cool with that. I am. I do not want to have ill will towards that man. But he really could have been kind and had at least a tad of compassion about squashing our dreams. Geeze.
Then after all of that I have had some ups and downs with my husband. Our relationship has been tedious. I have been quite stressed and have had to put up more boundaries while seeking God's help in healing my hurts. Hubby has been changing, letting God change him, which is wonderful. Though, I still feel pressure to change and do things his way, instead of being myself. I still feel pressure to act a certain way...to provide the things he feels he "needs" from me. I do not like that co dependency vibe at all. I do not like expectations on me when I am wanting to step back and breathe and heal. It makes things more difficult and takes away precious time...I could be using enjoying life and healing at the same time.
I had not had the courage to write again because after years of never reading my blogs or my poetry, through this recent period of time and struggle, hubby suddenly wanted to read my writing. Unfortunately, some of it was misunderstood and thrown up later on in discussions. That got things heated and the standby of fear crept in. You don't want to make him mad. So you quit doing the things you love...the things that help you...so you won't upset someone else. It reminds me of my childhood relationship with my dad. So, I decided to kick fear to the curb and write anyways. It's been long enough and writing really is a good medicine for me.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Food Trucks
My daughter and I were downtown today for lunch…at a local place that is very tasty, of good value and quality, and which has excellent service, City Cafe. Get the fried chicken breast and cauliflower with cheese (if available that day) and fried okra….to die for..just sayin'. Afterwards, my daughter wanted to go window shopping so we did until it started to rain. On the way we stopped in a local shop that sells lots of candles and things to put on top of your tables….like 75 dollar fake flowers. Woah. Lol. That was a doozie to look at. But I digress.
One of the ladies who works there, maybe an owner, was talking with a customer about the city's festivities that happen in downtown and how the city is going to allow food trucks to come and park in the festivities. She was opposed to the idea because she said they will not be paying city taxes. She also said that the food trucks will take away from the downtown restaurants business. She said that one near her is going out of business. She did not say which restaurant. There are two near her. Back Alley Bistro and Jefferson's. I could not disagree with her statement more. Here is why.
First, if you have a good product that people in that area like, they will buy it regardless. But you do have to have good service. Back Alley Bistro does not have any of those in my opinion. I took my daughter there over a year ago, for a special night out, just the two of us. It was alright. Her food was as described. But my chicken dish's green beans were dried out beyond belief! As a waitress, I would never have served such poor quality food to someone…especially at those prices. My daughter's sandwich came with a ton of these homemade chips. Which for the price, you want something more than potato chips…there is nothing gourmet about chips. My daughter and I both disliked the seasoning on the chips. The waitress obviously had not bee taught how to handle issues, because she didn't offer to get us anything instead of the chips…nor did she offer to give me properly cooked green beans or a substitute.
We gave Back Alley Bistro a third chance (second was for a snack for our son while we were out on the town…it was again poor service..the waitresses seem to be stoned and not fully aware of what's going on.) when someone had given us a gift certificate to them. But after having sat there with my husband for over five minutes and no one waited on us, we left and re-gifted the gift certificate. A total joke. When I have contacted the establishment about some of the original issues, they apologized but never made an effort to fix the issues. So I totally understand if they are going out of business. The food is not consistent. The menu changes frequently (different every time we went), and not for the better…the prices are high and the service sucks. You see the cooks with facial hair and nothing covering it while they are preparing your food…um no, that's gross.
My second argument with the lady and food trucks is that she might be just jealous, because it is a lot less expensive to start a business up in a truck and who doesn't like to save money. She invested way too much money in a brick and mortar store and wishes she'd had the option like these people do? I personally think it's a brave and really cool way to do business for food…and there are a lot of other people branching out and bringing things like fashion and jewelry to you via trucks now, too! She claimed that the restaurants would have less pricey food if their rent wasn't so high. Eh, I doubt that. Mellow Mushroom a block over from her charges a ridiculous 20 dollars for a tiny medium pizza and morons in town flock to that place…getting raped by that chain store. The pizzas are mediocre because they give you a 4 inch crust…and very few toppings. I prefer to go to Earth Fare in Huntsville, ask for Corey to make you a pie…it's less expensive, all natural, 3 times the size and way better. But I digress again.
I think food trucks are ingenious. I would love to run one myself. The problem with our town is not that there is not enough people to shop…like this lady was proclaiming…quite the contrary. It's that you have not done your research to see what the people of the town want to buy. Same thing with restaurants. People are not researching to see what people like. That is why the City Cafe does so well…superb southern fare…meat and 2 veggies with cornbread or roll….and why our favorite chinese place, New China, does so well, also…they have freshly made chinese food and offer lunch specials all day long! These both are family owned and do really well. Why? Because they know their customers and adapt. If you don't adapt you will perish. Bye bye over priced "gourmet" slop and hello good value quality tasty fare!
I'm all for a food truck invasion this weekend at Ingalls Harbor. But I advise you to stay clear of the Chris and Monte's if they are there. We ate there one night in Huntsville. They charged my poor husband 5 dollars for beans and rice and it was in a small paper container that one would put a corn dog in!! Crazy! Their dessert that I got was not good at all Not good at all. It was a total rip off. I just found out they sold their trailer to Back Alley Bistro…OMGoodness! That won't help the bistro.
Do try On On Tacos! They are very tasty and very flavorful! We love them! We have eaten from them many times. I only wish they had more cold toppings to add to your food…like lettuce.
One of the ladies who works there, maybe an owner, was talking with a customer about the city's festivities that happen in downtown and how the city is going to allow food trucks to come and park in the festivities. She was opposed to the idea because she said they will not be paying city taxes. She also said that the food trucks will take away from the downtown restaurants business. She said that one near her is going out of business. She did not say which restaurant. There are two near her. Back Alley Bistro and Jefferson's. I could not disagree with her statement more. Here is why.
First, if you have a good product that people in that area like, they will buy it regardless. But you do have to have good service. Back Alley Bistro does not have any of those in my opinion. I took my daughter there over a year ago, for a special night out, just the two of us. It was alright. Her food was as described. But my chicken dish's green beans were dried out beyond belief! As a waitress, I would never have served such poor quality food to someone…especially at those prices. My daughter's sandwich came with a ton of these homemade chips. Which for the price, you want something more than potato chips…there is nothing gourmet about chips. My daughter and I both disliked the seasoning on the chips. The waitress obviously had not bee taught how to handle issues, because she didn't offer to get us anything instead of the chips…nor did she offer to give me properly cooked green beans or a substitute.
We gave Back Alley Bistro a third chance (second was for a snack for our son while we were out on the town…it was again poor service..the waitresses seem to be stoned and not fully aware of what's going on.) when someone had given us a gift certificate to them. But after having sat there with my husband for over five minutes and no one waited on us, we left and re-gifted the gift certificate. A total joke. When I have contacted the establishment about some of the original issues, they apologized but never made an effort to fix the issues. So I totally understand if they are going out of business. The food is not consistent. The menu changes frequently (different every time we went), and not for the better…the prices are high and the service sucks. You see the cooks with facial hair and nothing covering it while they are preparing your food…um no, that's gross.
My second argument with the lady and food trucks is that she might be just jealous, because it is a lot less expensive to start a business up in a truck and who doesn't like to save money. She invested way too much money in a brick and mortar store and wishes she'd had the option like these people do? I personally think it's a brave and really cool way to do business for food…and there are a lot of other people branching out and bringing things like fashion and jewelry to you via trucks now, too! She claimed that the restaurants would have less pricey food if their rent wasn't so high. Eh, I doubt that. Mellow Mushroom a block over from her charges a ridiculous 20 dollars for a tiny medium pizza and morons in town flock to that place…getting raped by that chain store. The pizzas are mediocre because they give you a 4 inch crust…and very few toppings. I prefer to go to Earth Fare in Huntsville, ask for Corey to make you a pie…it's less expensive, all natural, 3 times the size and way better. But I digress again.
I think food trucks are ingenious. I would love to run one myself. The problem with our town is not that there is not enough people to shop…like this lady was proclaiming…quite the contrary. It's that you have not done your research to see what the people of the town want to buy. Same thing with restaurants. People are not researching to see what people like. That is why the City Cafe does so well…superb southern fare…meat and 2 veggies with cornbread or roll….and why our favorite chinese place, New China, does so well, also…they have freshly made chinese food and offer lunch specials all day long! These both are family owned and do really well. Why? Because they know their customers and adapt. If you don't adapt you will perish. Bye bye over priced "gourmet" slop and hello good value quality tasty fare!
I'm all for a food truck invasion this weekend at Ingalls Harbor. But I advise you to stay clear of the Chris and Monte's if they are there. We ate there one night in Huntsville. They charged my poor husband 5 dollars for beans and rice and it was in a small paper container that one would put a corn dog in!! Crazy! Their dessert that I got was not good at all Not good at all. It was a total rip off. I just found out they sold their trailer to Back Alley Bistro…OMGoodness! That won't help the bistro.
Do try On On Tacos! They are very tasty and very flavorful! We love them! We have eaten from them many times. I only wish they had more cold toppings to add to your food…like lettuce.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Fantabulous Super Quick and Easy Cheesy Crackers
These are adaptations from a recipe I got from a link from SouleMama's blog. The original recipe for Parmasean Cream Crackers is here.
We made two different variations of the recipe. One is using Asiago cheese and the other recipe uses sharp cheddar and a little asiago with some good spices.
We made two different variations of the recipe. One is using Asiago cheese and the other recipe uses sharp cheddar and a little asiago with some good spices.
1 cup all-purpose flour, more as needed
1/2 teaspoon salt
Spices…like we added a couple of dashes of paprika and garlic powder to the sharp cheddar batch. Fresh nutmeg would taste nice with some coriander and swiss cheese. Cayenne and a hint of mustard maybe with monterey jack cheese. Just a few ideas. Go with what you know or experiment. It's not a lot to waste is it tastes less than expected…plus your pets will probably eat them if you don't. ;)
1/2-3/4 + cup finely grated cheese/s (the original recipe said 1/2 a cup, but we used about a whole cup on the second batch and the crackers were still awesome)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (can be room temp. or cold)
1/4 cup cream, more as needed
Coarse salt, pepper, sesame or poppy seeds, minced garlic or whatever you like for sprinkling (optional).
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly dust with flour. Put flour, salt, cheese and butter in bowl of a food processor. Pulse until flour and butter are combined. Add about 1/4 cup cream and let machine run for a bit; continue to add liquid a teaspoon at a time, until mixture holds together but is not sticky. (We added just a 1/4 a cup…slowly…and it worked without ever adding any extra.)
2. Roll out dough, to 1/4 of an inch to 1/3 an inch, on the parchment you are going to use on the baking sheet. Transfer the parchment sheet of dough to prepared baking sheet. Score lightly with a sharp knife, pizza cutter or a pastry wheel if you want to break crackers into squares or rectangles later on. Sprinkle with salt or other topping if you like.
(cut the crackers completely and separate them some…this will allow for more even cooking of the crackers)
3. Bake until lightly browned, about 10-14 minutes. Cool on a rack; serve warm or at room temperature or store in a tin for more than a few days. (as of the posting, ours have been in the cabinet for 4 days and are still awesome) The crackers around the edge cooked faster, so we removed those then cooked the ones left a couple of minutes more.
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| These are the ones we added cheddar cheese and spices to…our second batch |
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| The asiago crackers with some everything bagel topping my son added to a section. Tasty. |
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| Do a variety of shapes…let your kids or self go crazy…after all they all end up in the same place. |
Thursday, December 18, 2014
So True! Quote of the week?
This really caught my attention the other day at Books a Million. I love this mug!
Yesh! Lol.
So I heard this song today on my am radio in my car. Yes, my car only has an am radio. But like my son says..."Your car plays the good songs.". Lmao.
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