Hodgepodging with Recipes

Hello and welcome to my blog -- the final Hodgepodge of September 2015!  Thank you, Joyce! 

1. Something on your October calendar that makes you smile?

I'm a big fan of Halloween.  Other than Christmas, I have more Halloween decorations than anything else.  I do the front door, the yard, a tablescape in the dining room, the den and more.  We always give out TONS of candy -- more than 1,000 pieces -- one or two at a time.

I'm sure you are wondering if I wear a costume.  No.  Being in Dallas we have to dress up in western/cowboy attire several times a year for events and that is enough dressing up for me.  I own three pairs of cowboy boots.

2. Food for the soul or music for the soul...which camp are you in? Tell us why.

Food -- life is not worth living without my favorites.  Symphonic music is a close second -- it really fills up the soul.

3. What are two or three things you've learned recently as the result of an online search?

This morning I was looking to find out about a potential candidate for a job we have open at Community Partners of Dallas.  Linked-In to the rescue, but I prefer FaceBook for this.  

Yesterday I searched party invite text -- planning one for Christmas.  

Monday, I searched the phone number of a new florist that was recommended to me -- called and ordered flowers for someone.

4. Share your favorite game day recipe. You can describe it, post the how-to, or add a link to the actual recipe. 

Ths is my favorite and it came from my friend Jill, BUT you will notice that it is called Paige's Jalapeno Popper Dip.  That is not because I made any changes to it -- the stuff doesn't need any changes, people -- but because my mom taught me to put my name on stuff so you remember who gave it to YOU, not who gave it to your friend who gave it to you.  And I am unanimous in that.  Mrs. Slocum reference for those in the know.

** Paige's JALAPENO POPPER DIP**
Ingredients:

2 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup mayo
1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese (half Monterrey Jack, half Cheddar)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 (7 1/2) can chopped green chilies 
1 (4 ounce) can diced jalapenos
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (yes another 1/2 cup)
1/2 stick of butter, melted

Directions:

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a mixer or food processor and blend until smooth.  You do NOT need to drain the cans of chilies or jalapenos.  Pour into a large quiche dish or pie plate.

In a bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and melted butter.

Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over the dip and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes. 

You want the top to get browned and the dip to be heated through and bubble gently on the edges.  Serve with Tostitos (Restaurant Style) Tortilla Chips.  Enjoy!

5. What are your five essential steps for creating the perfect morning routine?

1. Up without alarm.  
2. Drink 32 ounces of filtered water.
3. The Today Show.
4. Shower and hair wash -- no styling.
5. Drive to work and pray.

6. What small thing have you taken note of today?

Ben Rett -- the 4-month-old baby at the office.

7. Sum up your September in seven words or less.

Good deal closed.  Shocks and surprises. Normal.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Gosh, I love sushi.

The Best and the Not-So-Great

I actually love almost all food, including food from other countries.  My favorite is Asian -- all types -- big fan of Japanese, Chinese, Thai.  Yum.

BTW, my favorite spots in town for this genre are Shinsei, The Mint, Sushi Kyoto, PakPao Thai, and Royal China.  Maria keeps saying I need to try Saucy Thai, but so far, no go.

Anyway, I recently spent a few days in Santa Fe and had many great meals while there --lots of green and red chili sauces, of course -- and all were great, except for one -- the Asian meal we had at 10,000 Waves' restaurant.

The massage was the best one I've ever had there -- the masseuse could tell my jaw was tight and she put on a rubber glove and actually massaged my jaw from inside and out.  Dentists need to start doing this -- I might go more than twice a year if they did!

But the lunch after was just ok -- except for the edamame, and it was the best I've ever had.  We questioned the server about it and they use a spice called Togarashi.  The server described it as kind of an Asian 5 spice.  They also used sesame oil, garlic, etc., so this was not your run-of-the-mill edamame steamed with salt, but I'm telling you it was amazing.  Jill and I bought a bag of Togarashi, split it and I made my own version the other night.  Delish.

So, my question is, how can a business give me the best ever something as well as the not too great or bad something?

I hope we do better at Community Partners of Dallas.  I'm sure that we aren't the absolute best at everything we do, but I sure hope we are the best at most things.

Our Volunteer Program is one of those things we do best.

When you take the time out of your busy schedule to volunteer your time here, we make sure that you are welcomed, appreciated, and that your time was spent wisely -- even if all you were doing was counting and sorting thousands of pencils.  We need you!

Now as a little extra thank you, here is my edamame recipe.  Enjoy!

Paige's Spiced Edamame

1 C frozen edamame beans (You could use pods too, but might need more dressing -- definitely add more sesame oil)

Dressing:
1 T vegetable oil
1 T sesame oil
1 clove finely chopped garlic
1 t finely chopped pickled ginger (this would be better with fresh, but I had left over from take out Sushi Kyoto)
1 t togarashi
1 t toasted sesame seeds
Salt & Pepper -- I also added soy sauce because I love it.  Delish!

Cook edamame to package directions.  Mix dressing ingredients together in a bowl.  Add edamame to dressing and mix.  Good to let it sit in fridge overnight, but fine immediately too.

This is a photo of the art in the bathroom at the restaurant.  I love it.

Four Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 19

I cannot believe that it's been this long since I've done a four faves post -- the most recent one was in July.  Check it out here http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2014/07/four-favorite-things-i-love-right-now.html and follow the links each time to see the rest if you are new to my blog.  I often find new favorites, but I pretty much never turn against an old one -- just like friends, I dance with the ones that "brung" me (or least the ones who flung me around the dance floor at Dick Chaplin).

Anyway, it's Halloween, so enjoy it and the faves today:

1. I LOVE my personalized cups from Paper Affair -- and since they are on the Partners Card (a fundraiser for The Family Place -- a fantastic cause), you can get 20% off if you buy them this weekend using your Partners Card.  My set before this were orange and had a chevron pattern, but I've long been a fan of a polka dot too. 
   
2. What a gift it is to drive up to my office building and see the wonderful Meadows Foundation staff planting pansy after pansy in our flower beds!  Community Partners of Dallas is truly blessed to have been given this building for the past 6 years.  Four more to go, so plan to hear from us soon about our future building to come #CapitalCampaignStarts2015  #Yikes!  #Win4TheKids! 
   
3. My latest breakfast is the easiest thing ever and I love it!  Enjoy my receipe for Paige's Bit of Canadian Bacon with Parmesan:  First, put your skillet on medium heat and put just a tiny bit of butter in it.  Let the butter melt and then put 1 piece of Canadian bacon on top of the melted butter and let it cook a couple of minutes.  Turn and cook a couple of minutes more.  You should see a bit of grill marking, but doesn't matter -- you're just trying to heat it.  Turn it back over, turn off heat and sprinkle a pinch of shredded parm over the top and just let it sit on the stove another minute.  Remove and add black pepper.  Enjoy with a slice of apple on the side.  Probably only about 50 calories and keeps me filled until lunch.
   
   
4. Holiday decorating is what separates us from the animals and I like to prove I'm human every single holiday of the year!  Halloween is second only to Christmas at my house.  Here's my dining table.  Love! 
   
   

What are your four faves?

Four Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 13

It's that time again -- a new list of my Four Favs!

NOTE:  I know it's Tuesday, but it's Wednesday somewhere -- plus my hair looks so good that I want it to last longer, thus the loss of Tuesday.

NOTE for the NOTE:  I do realize that this logic makes no sense.  Sometimes I amuse myself alone.  Back off.

NOTE for the NOTE for the NOTE:  And since you were so rude to think about my non-logic, make a donation to Community Partners of Dallas right now at www.CommunityPartnersDallas.org.  I forgive you.

In case you've missed my other Favorites posts, you can view the most recent one here:  http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2013/09/four-favorite-things-i-love-right-now.html

Now, on to what you came for -- the list...

1. My brand new Neiman Marcus Calendar for 2014 -- I've been using these since my friend Lynn McBee took me to a TACA dinner in 2006 and it was the party favor.  The paper is so nice and damn-it, I am not going to leave paper, people.  I'm old.  You can buy them online with NM too, but then it doesn't have the Neiman Marcus lining.  The lining is only available in the store.  But you can get it monogrammed if you order online, so make your choice.  I like the lining because I'm old and like to be fancy.
2. Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus -- I cannot get enough of this song.  It is on super-high rotation in my car (just like Katy Perry's Firework was when it came out).  Maybe I'm not so old?
3. The novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is coming out as a film later this month, but I encourage you to read the novel first.  It is amazing.  I promise you that tears will shoot out of your eyes.  What?  That isn't what you want out of a novel?  You're wrong.
4. Cynthia's Yum Potatoes -- I haven't had these in awhile, but damn, they're good.  My friend Cynthia O'Kelly gave me the recipe and it's so easy that everyone needs to have this in your arsenal.  Make them tonight!

• 4 or 6 small potatoes, scrubbed and cut in half
• 1/4 cup butter
• grated parmesan cheese
• garlic powder

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter and pour into a 9x13 pyrex and spread evenly across the bottom (I usually just put the butter in the pyrex and put it in the oven while it's preheating.). Generously sprinkle parmesan cheese and lightly sprinkle other seasonings all over the butter. Place potato halves face down on the butter and seasonings. Place in preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool for at least a FULL 5 minutes before removing from the pan, otherwise the parmesan crust won't stick to the potato. Optional:  Serve with a side of sour cream for dipping (I don't do this -- love them just the way they are).

What are your four favs?