Dinner Tonight: Fortune Cooking

I can understand why black-eyed peas bring good luck: they are low in calories and rich with a number of nutrients including fiber, calcium, folate, vitamin A, zinc, iron, and potassium. Southern culture may not have been the author of the new year superstition but they certainly have perfected the culinary sentiment. Those of us native to the region enjoy them with greens, cornbread, or other vegetables--and feel as proud as Paula Deen.

January's edition of Woman's Day clued me into local author (he's from our neighbor North Carolina) Rick McDaniel who celebrates this very dish in his book An Irresistible History of Southern Food: Four Centuries of Black-Eyed Peas, Collard Greens and Whole Hog Barbecue. His "Hoppin' John" recipe suggests salt pork and rice for the new year. I decided to go the healthier route with turkey bacon (which does not crumble as well by the way) and spinach:

Ingredients:

4 slices of bacon

2 cloves garlic

15 oz can black-eyed peas

1/4 cup water

10 oz cup spinach (stems discarded)

salt and pepper to taste


Cook 4 slices bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes; transfer to a plate. Break into pieces. Add 2 cloves garlic (sliced) to skillet and cook until golden brown, 2 minutes. Add a  15-oz can black-eyed peas (rinsed) and 1/4 cup water and cook until heated through. Add one 10-oz pkg spinach, season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper and cook, tossing, until beginning to wilt, 2 minutes. Toss with bacon.

This dish went well with my New Year's Day family meal which included pork chops with roasted carrots and oranges (pg 110 Woman's Day January--Easy Every Day Meals). This particular meal came out to a little more than $2.45 a serving because we made it for 6 and purchased additive and hormone free pork from Bedford Avenue Meat Market. The fillets were tender and juicy, only simply seasoned with salt and pepper:

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoon(s) honey
• ½ teaspoon(s) ground cumin
• 2 tablespoon(s) olive oil
• Kosher salt and pepper
• 1½ pound(s) medium carrots, cut into 2-in. pieces (halved lengthwise if large)
• 1  navel orange, cut into wedges
• 3  scallions, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup(s) fresh dill, roughly chopped (optional)
• 4  1-in.-thick pork chops, trimmed (about 1¼ lb total)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, cumin, 1 Tbsp oil, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper.
2. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the carrots with the honey mixture and arrange in an even layer. Nestle the oranges among the carrots and roast until the carrots are tender and beginning to turn golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Toss with the scallions and dill (if using).
3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the pork with ½ tsp each salt and pepper and cook until browned and nearly cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Serve with the carrots and roasted orange wedges for squeezing.

You'll remember my special dishes from Kemper Street Flea Market. I love using them for special occasions like this.

I don't usually like cooked orange vegetables (the only thing I will consistently refuse is fennel) but the roasted oranges and honey added a unique, distinct flavor to the experience. 

I hope good luck and quality food will find you in the new year.

Money: Just Call Me Flo

I don't know the exact number of miles I've required of my car this year, but it's up there. Way up there. I commute 45 minutes to work each day and this year I've replaced a transmission and we won't talk about what the car dealership did to me during inspection time (picture me walking as if I've just ridden a very bitter horse for two hours). So when I read the Woman's Day article about enjoying a stress free holiday, I wanted to add to the list of tips and adages by penciling in a reminder for those with similar issues:

Remember to take care of your car. Enduring 25 degree weather in the driver's seat while waiting for a tow truck, is no festive holiday celebration.

Thankfully, since a very reasonable mechanic fixed my transmission (and my broken door handle for free) things have been pretty smooth sailing, with the exception of a windshield wiper that won't work (and that was AFTER the lovely dealership inspection--on a rainy day).

I checked my credit card statement this month, however, to discover that my auto insurance payment had not processed. Concerned about forgetting later on, I quickly wrote a message to my insurance agent through Facebook to determine whether or not I had automatic withdrawal (the Facebook option is prime,s since picking up a phone has always caused  anxiety--I love my text messaging and social networking).

The next day, my agent--Tracy Sprouse--responded that I did not have the automatic withdrawal service, but he would be pleased to assist me with setting it up. He then proceeded to tell me that he could save me a considerable amount of money each month if I would be interested in switching to another company. The savings would be around $25 a month.

So of course, I was totally all about that.

It's around this time of year you'll read a lot about the spirit of giving and charity and family and friends. Anyone can give a gift once a year: I'm reminded this time of year what a blessing it is to benefit from those who make honesty, quality, and generosity a staple throughout the entire year. Isn't it even more of a blessing to conduct business with an establishment whose standard reflects these types of values?

Tracy Sprouse has been my agent for over 4 years and I can't think of a single circumstance in which he has been less than gracious, cooperative, and pleasant. Customer service being so rare in general, I don't think it's a stretch to note this experience as outstanding. Not only did he answer my question promptly and thoroughly, but he also went above and beyond by agreeing to meet with me to sign the paperwork for my service on his day off--during the holidays no less--and proactively recommended a  benefit that would result in a profit to me, his customer.

A life long resident of Amherst County, Tracy is an independent insurance agent with the ability to sort through multiple companies and select the unique plan that works best for his client's needs. He and his staff have been courteous and available without fail.

In light of the holiday season Sprouse Insurance would like to extend my savings this month to the local community by sponsoring a giveaway for a $25 Visa gift card.

Here are the guidelines:

To make yourself elligible you must:

1. Be a friend of Scrw Lucy on Facebook.

2. "LIKE" Sprouse Insurance Agency on Facebook

3. Be able to pick up your Visa Gift Card at Sprouse Insurance Agency in Madison Heights, VA.

In order to win:

1. Link me to this status on Facebook:

"Sprouse Agency gave Scrw Lucy a 30% savings plus better coverage and I want to win her savings!" 

2. Be the person with the most shares on the status above by Sunday, December 19th, 12 a.m. If your privacy settings don't permit shares, then I will accept "likes." 

I hope you use your gift card to buy local--it's the gift that keeps on giving to your community.


(I have not received any compensation monetary or material for this review. All opinions are my own and are solely for the benefit of those who read them.)

5068 S Amherst Hwy, #110, Madison Heights, VA 24572 (434) 847-4340

Holiday: White Chocolate Mocha Wreath

I am no Martha Stewart. When someone says "craft" images of 2nd grade VBS or Oriental Trading catalog manifest rather than origami, wood working, or anything that involves any level of skill or craftsmanship. I am a wordsmith--a lazy one that requires bouts of mania to produce anything reminiscent of brilliance.

But Woman's Day always has a craft. And I'll be darned if I don't venture outside my inability to produce something that doesn't look....bad. The holiday season is about hope and redemption so I started to work on my first wreath.

I do have to preface the rest of this blog, however, by saying I stopped by one of our fabulous, locally owned home decor stores this Friday night to discover in dismay that the owner--Stephanie Humphries--had also fashioned several of the same type of wreath I had planned to make this weekend. Stephanie is naturally talented in the art of crafts, to say the least. Her furniture pieces have been the subject of prior blogs and I thought to myself,"How do I go about writing a blog about my pitiful wreath when she has done such a fabulous job?"

I told myself to suck it up, make the wreath, and produce a giveaway that would rid myself of the results.

My first attempt of craft and I would like to call it,"Grounds for Holiday Spirit."

Materials

Two 200-count packs of 8 to 12 cup basket-style coffee filters

Red acrylic paint

small paint brush

12" Styrofoam wreath form

hot glue gun and glue sticks

ribbon scrap

1. Starting with a stack of about 25 coffee filters, paint the top edges of the filters. Gently blow on stack to separate them. Let dry. Repeat with rest of filters.

2. Fold one filter in half, then twist it at the middle to make a cone shape with the red edges on the outside. Repeat with rest of filters.

3. Starting from the center front of wreath form, glue on coffee filters (so that the red edge points toward you) tightly next to each other and at a uniform height in a row around the ring. Continue filling in rows toward the inside of the form, then in rows toward the outside of the form.

4. Loop a piece of scrap ribbon and glue it to the back of the wreath for hanging.

Where are they Now?

"Born unto you this day, in the city of David...a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." --Luke 2:11


In the December edition of Woman's Day I read the Scripture I have read (and heard every year on the Peanut's Christmas special) for so many years. It's a Scripture easily quoted, like so many known by the general public, but there is so much about the Nativity story we don't know--or that we don't recognize.

Challenge yourself to look deeper this Christmas season. Consider a few points from the Christmas story that may seem obvious and simple but may be complex in their reality:

1. Who were the Wise Men?

2. What did the star mean?

3. What is the significance of the shepherds?

As the Christmas season jingles along, I look forward to you sharing your discoveries.

Now: The Good Earth Lends Itself to Asian Day in Lynchburg

I could not bring myself to read Danielle Steele's favorite reads from the standard November version of Woman's Day (there was the standard and Holiday edition) because she mentioned Jane Eyre (I have to be honest--I have no idea what it's about but I think my subconscious has picked up enough to say,"No."), The Bible (I'm fine with the Bible but I can't read the entire thing in a month), and one of Joel Osteen's books (I don't care for him) so I was hoping Debbie Macomber would offer something a little more of interest to a cynical, literary snob such as myself.

I was happier with her picks, which included A Christmas Carol, my second favorite Christmas movie of all time (my first, and favorite movie period, is It's a Wonderful Life), and Christy (do you remember that tv show from back in the day?). I also used to watch Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman which  is kind of embarrassing.

I had never heard of her pick, The Good Earth, so I picked it up at Campbell County Library (they don't have a lot of Woman's Day picks, unfortunately).

I posted my review on Goodreads and I will repeat it here:


I'm sure that others have written an accurate, commending review of this book so I'll just document my reaction to the book.


Around an eighth of the way through I thought to myself,"Man I really like this book."


I would contribute my affinity for the book to my voyeuristic taste (I really enjoyed the movie,"The Death of Mr. Lazarescu") but it's well written, interesting, and it was awarded a Pulizter Prize so I don't really feel like I should have to explain myself or defend myself, especially if the best piece of literature you've read in a long time is The Twilight Saga. 


That said (with sprinkling of elitist garble noted), I was ashamed of myself when I eagerly researched the author only to learn she attended college in the city I was born and raised in (and still live here). 


I watched the movie and it was just wrong. 


I plan to read more about Pearl S. Buck because she seems to be the kind of woman who falls under the category of  personal heroine. It's kind of a shame that Randolph College doesn't have a lot available in her honor and what little it says on the web site is so muddled and overlapping you can't hardly read it. The "Where is Pearl?" program sounds really cool but it's hard to understand how to participate or if it's still something they have kept going.

In honor of this book I would like to discuss what you can do if you would like to read the book and declare an "Asian Day" in Lynchburg. I have categorize suggestions according to cost:

The Chopstick Package (under $20):

You can start your Saturday morning by attending a glorious Tai Chi class at Mind Body Studio. Tai Chi is beneficial on many levels (balance, relaxation, joints and muscles) and the classes are free, with donations welcome. You may also take classes on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Then mosey on over to King House so that you may ruin your work out with cheap, yet tasty Asian cuisine. There are easily items that range in price from $1-$3 and the portions are large AND they bring it to your table on real plates. You could totally eat well (well...) here for $5.

Then to re-rejuvenate your body. Walk over to the Korean Market and buy a bottle of Aloe Juice. It's like edible lotion for your gizzards.

The Karate Kid Package ($25-$50)

The first thing you want to do is enjoy sushi at King's Island restaurant on Old Forest Road. I recommend the Eastern Roll and the Sake Roll with hot tea.

Then head on over to The Jamerson YMCA where Andy Henson and his staff will set up your 3 free appointments of Shaolin Kempo. I suggest waiting until your fish settles because this routine is no joke and nowhere near the lower impact Tai Chi. This is a workout that could result in any number of bodily functions ranging from sweat to tears (blood is also a distinct possibility when you've become a seasoned veteran) but can result in a long life of health, fitness, and self discipline.

After that, you'll need down time so drive all the way across Lynchburg to enjoy a pedicure at Zen salon. A classic manicure is only $25.

The Jade Pacakge ($60 and up)

My recommendation for lunch on the "and up" package is Thai 99, one of my favorite restaurants. Start off with chicken satay, then progress to any number of dishes, served at your request either, mild, medium, hot, or Thai hot. I suggest having dessert as well, either the Thai custard or fried banana.

Following lunch you can get a shiatsu massage at A Matter of Touch spa. Shiatsu is Japanese for "finger pressure" and it considered a type of alternative medicine.

Another recommendation is acupuncture. Acupuncture originated in China and has been known to help alleviate pain and aid people in quitting smoking. East West Acupuncture boasts testimonials from some of Lynchburg's most tenured doctors and may be a last resort for people with constant pain or other continual issues.

Acupuncture requires more than one visit and can be expensive. This is why it's under the "and up" heading. But you can try it one time and the experience is worth it.

Advertisement: What's Wrong with this Picture?

I found my first photo shop disaster in Woman's Day's November edition. I was proud. Erik takes great joy in finding his own but I have never been able to do it.

But thanks to American Tourister, I can now feel proud of my poor photo shop skills. I took the time to submit it to www.photoshopdisasters.com:

Bet you can't spot it.

Advertisement: The Andy Warhol Diet

I've been seeing a lot of Campbell Soup ads lately, in Woman's Day and otherwise. Since I'm always looking for interesting diets (and waiting for the miracle) I wondered how many calories you could save if, instead of eating out, you chose to take Campbell's soup as a meal. I selected their Healthy Choice line for the comparison. For the fast food, I chose what might pass as low fat options:

Campbell's Healthy Request Cheddar Cheese Soup

Calories--210

Fat--4.5


Wendy's Grilled Chicken Go Wrap


Calories--260

Fat--10


McDonald's Cheeseburger

Calories--300

Fat--12



Subway 6" Steak and Cheese Standard Toppings

Calories--380

Fat--9.8



Campbell's Healthy Request Mexican-Style Chicken Tortilla Soup

Calories--165

Fat--3


Taco Bell's Crunchy Taco (2)

Calories--340

Fat--20



Taco Bell's Gordita Nacho Cheese-Chicken

 Calories--270

Fat--10


Taco Bell's Cheesy Nachos

Calories--280

Fat--17


Campbell's Healthy Request Italian-Style Wedding Soup

Calories--150

Fat--4


Pizza Hut Thin and Crispy Cheese Pizza Medium (1 Slice) 


Calories--190

Fat--8



Subway's 6" Chicken Marinara Melt

Calories--410

Fat--10


KFC Grilled Chicken Breast


Calories--220

Fat--7



Other advantages to buying Campbell's Soup:

1. You can cook with it.

2. There are frequently coupons for it.

3. You can use the cans for target practice.