Black-Eyed Pea Soup

Photo: Lisa's Kitchen

On New Year's Day I went to the supermarket to buy a can of black-eyed peas. But when you first think of it on New Year's Day, you will find a huge empty space where cans of black-eyed peas should be. Therefore, I returned home with a 16-ounce bag of dried black-eyed peas, one of only four left! It was more servings of black-eyed peas than I needed to ensure good luck.

Sooo. I began making a new soup, and I learned something else from my procrastination: Unlike pinto, black, pink or navy beans, there is no need to soak black eyed peas beforehand. (Ignore the directive to do so on the package.) After simmering on a stove top for 1.5 hours, they get tender enough to eat. Here is my quick and dirty recipe for 2 servings of tasty black-eyed soup:

Black Eyed Pea Soup

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dried black-eyed peas

2 carrots, sliced (I cut the vegetables into big chunks.)
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 small plum tomato, chopped (or any tomato you have)
1 medium potato, cubed
a cup of green vegetable: Select one of the following - green beans, kale, spinach, collard greens or peas (i.e., whatever you find in your freezer or refrigerator)
1 large bouillon cube (or 2 small)
2 1/2 cups of water
dried garlic powder to taste
dried onion powder to taste
a sprinkle of nutmeg
a sprinkle of Italian seasoning
a bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
a sprinkle of Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: 1/4 cup of quinoa

Directions:

1) Dump all the ingredients into a pot. Two exceptions: 1} Hold the salt until the end so it won't increase the cooking time of the black-eyed peas. 2} If you use spinach or peas, hold them until the soup is nearly done so as not to overcook. Spinach or peas cook in under 5 minutes, so simply lay either on top of the pot of soup near the end of the cooking time.

2) Bring to a boil, lower the heat and let the soup simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Certainly, a 16-ounce bag of dried black eyed peas makes lots of soup! Make one big pot and freeze the leftovers, or 8 (2 serving size pots (which is what I'm doing to avoid leftovers). The choice is yours!

I've been making my soup vegetarian on nights I want to prepare a no fuss, quick meal, then pairing it with a protein. Quinoa is a complete protein grain. A ham sandwich is good too.

Feel free to toss grilled sausage into the soup, if you wish. Fresh or frozen vegetables are fine too. Soup is so adaptable ... a mish-mosh pot of deliciousness! Bon appétité!

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Pretty Oscar Dresses 2017

Nicole Kidman in Armani Prive and Ruth Negga in Valentino Haute Couture

Tracy Pollan (with Michael J Fox) in an unknown designer and Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton

I'm not going to lie. I'm having trouble picking out favorite dresses at this year's Academy Awards. I'm not a fan of the full skirted, antebeullum-que styles I'm seeing, and I don't like the slits down to an actress' belly button. (Can't a designer give a client a whole dress?😎) And ... with the big puff ball gown, are you wearing the dress, or is the dress wearing you? Nor am I seeing showstopper dresses this year. So with these remarks said, above are 4 of my favorites. What are yours?

A Zac Posen gown.

Nonetheless if you do go full skirted antibellum, have fun with it like Leslie Mann. She looks adorable in her Disney inspired princess gown! You still notice her lovely waist.

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New Hair Tools: Crimpers, Curlers and Making Waves

In life there are many things a person has little control over, somethings it's your adult children, a stubborn parent, or even the daily happenings in an anxious country. To make up for the many annoyances, every day should be a good hair day. Right? At least give us that!

1) In the 1990's I crimped my long straight hair a few times a month. I still like the look and still have the crimper, but as an older model, it takes about 5 minutes to heat up. The Bed Head Little Tease Crimper is light, slim, ultra fast and easy-to-use. It gets hot in 30 seconds. Do you have 30 seconds of patience? Why ... yes!!

The crimper has toumaline/cermamic plates to protect the hair against heat damage. Using the tool adds volume to straight hair, which can go flat at the end of a long day.

2) The Kiss Instawave Automatic Hair Curler heats in seconds to create beautiful soft curls without tangling. The ceramic ionic technology delivers shiny, frizz-free hair. With it, you can also control the direction of the curl.

3) For natural beach waves, wrap sections of hair around the double barrels of the above Remington hair CI52FO Wrap to Wave Styler in a figure 8 shape. It has 30 different heat settings, so the fork-shaped gizmo works on any hair type.

4) The Revlon Shine Enchancing Hot Air Kit is a 2-in-1 hair dryer and styler with ionic technology to dry hair faster, reduce frizz and add volume and shine. This model comes with 3 heat settings and 2 brush sizes to create waves and curls.

Frankly, in styling my hair straight sans frizzies, a blow dryer (with an attached comb), plus a flat iron to curl the ends under is faster. How the Revlon Enchancer helps is by adding volume to the hair when used at the end of the blow dry. Place the roller-brush under your hair to finish drying, and it lifts the hair up, as well as, smooths flyaways.

Not only do customers give these 4 hair tools high ratings, they are priced between $18 and $35. Because ... it shouldn't take much time, effort or money to have a good hair day. So at least a gal can be in control of her locks!

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Bed Toppers ... Slurge Or Save?

Years ago I bought a feather bed topper from Land's End. Since I prefer down-feather pillows to foam, it would be logical to assume I loved it, but it wasn't as comfortable as I hoped. One issue ... it forever slid out of place. 

Finally after using it for a while, it needed to be machine washed and dried, and some idiot put it away in a clear plastic bag without realizing it was still damp. (Ok, the idiot was me, and I learned my lesson. Even after down feels dry to the touch, wait several more days before enclosing it!) The topper got mold and had to be trashed.

For several years now, I've been without a topper. I have a firm mattress, and recently I decided to try sleeping on my stomach less ... and more on my back and sides. After a night on my stomach, I sometimes wake up with railroad-track-like-marks on my face, so perhaps sleeping in other positions is a better habit. Having a bed topper is ideal for back sleepers. 

Deciding against another feather topper, I bought the Comfort 2-Inch Orthopedic 5-Zone Form Mattress Topper (about $20 bucks on sale at Walmart. I selected two of the 2-inch thick size and stack them -- one under a cotton therapeutic mattress pad and the 2nd one directly under the fitted sheet. A bit of an experiment, but it works! The toppers are plush and comfortable: supportive with combined 4-inches of cushion.

The 5-zone contoured design feels nice! The foam is enhanced with plant-based materials, that are reported to be eco-friendly; and treated to stay cool and odor-free, i.e. selling points for me. (Probably an egg-crate design is equally pressure-relieving comfortable.) 

Surprisingly, I find the $20 toppers more comfortable than the $100+ feather topper was. You can also replace the inexpensive foam toppers often without feeling the pain!

This is one time when cheap-and-good-enough is better than expensive. Sometimes you don't need to buy top of the line.

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It's Valentine's Day

Hearts by Handdofbelapeck

On Valentine's Day, we feature the color red. It is an intense hue that symbolizes passion. So get in the spirit by wearing something bright red today.

Celebrate with a heart pastry and red ribbons.

Treat yourself to a piece of fine dark chocolate ... or two, or three, or more!

Dress yourself with a bit of glitter, and enjoy a delicious dinner with someone special. Love, kisses and roses to all my readers.🌹🌹🌹

Happy Valentine's Day!

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Queen Victoia & Prince Albert: Books & Series

Queen Victoria & Prince Albert: Books & Series

Painting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter - 1846

I enjoy history and will read nearly anyone's biography. 

On a trip to Barnes and Noble I tried to buy Queen Victoria by Lytton Strachey. I found the book on a shelf, read about 10 pages, but desiring to read the best bio on the subject, I waited a beat before heading to the cash register; instead, I went home to google some book reviews. After reading favorable reviews (one by The New York Times), I returned  to the store 3 hours later to buy it.

Surprise, somebody else bought my book! What are the odds? A manuscript published in 1921 about a 19th century British monarch, who died in 1901! Are those flying off the shelves? I couldn't believe my eyes. So I returned home empty handed. 

Not to be defeated, I looked online to find it as a free audiobook -- the publication is in the public domain. Nice! You can listen to it here.

A photograph of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, age 23 (1842). He eventually became  Prince Consort. Victoria wanted to make him King Consort, but the British Parliament said no.

Interesting bio on several levels. Queen Victoria was 3/4 German, born in England; Albert was her first cousin. Marriage is challenging, including happy ones. Ambition and power are fascinating, even if people who desire and acquire it, are virtuous and well-intended. Emigrating from Saxe-Coburg, Germany to England came with issues. Moreover, I can tell you this from a lifetime of personal experience: Germans are complicated, if seldom dull. You must be strong, well-informed and laser-focused to stand up to them!

Queen Victoria, age 25 with her oldest child, Vicky (Victoria, the Princess Royal)  in 1844

How fortunate to find the above, age-twenty-something photos of Albert and Victoria. We get to see the handsome face that won Victoria's heart, and have a glimpse of them as a young couple.

1854 - Married 14 years

Here they are in their mid-30s. I am fond of Victoria's directness and candor in manner. She was bright, a passionate person, who loved deeply ... hard with her whole heart. She recognized her husband's intellect and supported him in his efforts to champion the Industrial Revolution, public housing, the arts, anti-slavery and eventually politics in his adoptive country. Contrary to belief, she had a great sense of humor and laughed often. What's more, she had to function in a man's world. In her day women couldn't vote (nor own property!), yet prime ministers reported to her.

1861

What I like about Albert was his desire to do good and live a life of purpose. He was high-minded and principled. No doubt, Albert was a man of the 19th century; but progressive for his time. He was somewhat of a Renaissance man, with multi-interests and talents. And naturally, I like that Albert was a hands-on, if demanding father, who was faithful to his wife and children. Unlike his own philandering father and brother, the Prince Consort famously did not flirt with the ladies, ever!

After marriage, Victoria lost a bit of her independence and perhaps herself. As Albert was a 19th century man, she was a 19th century woman, who deferred to her husband over their 21 years of marriage. They had nine children. But, the bottom line is: Queen Victoria adored Albert throughout her life; and despite the tensions and compromises of their marriage, they were in sync, and he made her happy. Overall, they seemed right for each other. It was a love match.

Victoria & Albert with their 9 children in 1961

Sadly, Prince Albert died at just 42 years of age, and as we all know, Victoria mourned him for the next 40 years of her life. No matter who you are, life is bittersweet.

After Albert's untimely death (the true cause perhaps from overwork, but recently said to be Crohn's disease), she did go on to have a life as Queen, mother, grandmother of Europe's dynasties and Empress of India. She was a friend to Highlander John Brown and Abdul Karim (the Munshi) from India; and her determination of character endured.

Prince Albert died on December 14, 1861 and Queen Victoria on January 22, 1901.

I recommend watching Queen Victoria, the miniseries. Season one was faithful to history; and the charismatic cast is brilliant at fleshing out the historical figures. 

By the way, I adore their plush, royal bed (below), where they have their talks and come to love and understand each other. 

The miniseries starring Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes.

Next I'm reading: Victoria: The Queen by Julia Baird and Uncrowned King: The Life of Prince Albert by Stanley Weintraub, while I wait for the television series to resume later this year. After these books I will probably have my literary fill of strong-willed Germans.😊

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The Cute Dress Round-Up

Topshop Block Lace Dress

Let's go dress shopping again! Retailers are running their annual sales, which make it an ideal time to add to your wardrobe. Sequins and lace, polka-dots and florals, smooth vs textured, belted or loose, v-neck or crew ... the possiblities are endless. 

In lieu of one-of-a-kind, I'm featuring several dresses, which are classic enough to wear time and again, yet also have some eye-catching embellishments. Because nobody wants to wear plain and boring! Let's call it classic-plus-swank style. The following dresses are understated with a wow-factor.

Adrianna Papell Pokla-Dot Dress	Ellen Tracy Satin Fit & Flare Dress
Maggy London Burnout Velvet Dress	Maggy London Shadow Floral Jackquard Dress
Tadashi Shoji Illusion Yoke Lace Sheath Dress	Taylor Dresses Black & White Floral Dress
Eliza J Lace Dress	Taylor Dresses Applique Fit & Flare Dress
Chetta B Sparkle Lace Dress	Komarov Embellished A-Line Dress

So how did I do in my selection? What makes you feel pretty? Do you have a favorite length, color, or style of dress?

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Soothing Chamomile

Photo: Bigstockphoto.com

Since I wrote about the benefits of peppermint last week, I will now feature chamomile (a/k/a camomile), another tea in my mother's arsenal of heath remedies. Not only was I given a cup to cure the flu, Mom sometimes used a chamomile tea wash to soothe skin conditions like a winter's rash.

Chamomile is an aromatic European herb of the daisy family. The white and yellow daisy-like flowers are dried and often infused into a tea. Two types of chamomile are used to promote health: German chamomile (Matricaria retutica) and Roman (or English) chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). German chamomile is the more popular and studied of the two.

Chamomile tea is used to calm maladies, such as an upset stomach, hay fever, migraines, inflammation, menstrual cramps, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, muscle spasms and insomnia.

Medical studies suggest, chamomile boosts immunities. It has properties to ward off colds, as well as, breast and thyroid cancers. Rubbed topically on minor scrapes and burns seems to speed up healing. 

Chamomile is also added to skin serum and moisturizers. Reportedly, its anti-inflammatory properties slow down the aging process and brightens the skin.

Like essential oils, the chamomile flower has antioxides and anti-fungal properties. As an essential oil, chamomile can be diluted with water to kill germs on household surfaces.

Chamomile has a subtle pleasent scent and a mild, slightly sweet taste when brewed as a tea. Worth its space in the pantry!

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A Boost of Peppermint

Photo: Shutterstock

Peppermint is a member of the Lamiaceae family. A hybrid mint, it's a cross between watermint and spearmint. It has been used in a myriad of ways for centuries.

My mom made me drink peppermint (also chamomile) tea whenever I stayed home from school with the flu. She said, "I bet you don't know I'm a doctor, do you? Listen to me!" When I felt sooo very baddd, she had the advantage, so I drank up.

As it turns out, peppermint tea does have proprieties that give it a few medical benefits: It seems to soothe an upset stomach, nausea, irritable bowel and bloating. Some studies (lead by Dr. Mark Moss, Robert Jones and Lucy Moss from Northumbria University in the U.K.) also suggest drinking peppermint tea boosts alertness and long term memory.*

Peppermint oil kills bacteria and fungus and can be mixed with a carrier oil (like grapeseed, almond, olive or avocado for skin); or diluted with water to kill germs on household surfaces.

Photo: thepositivespirit.com

Peppermint's high menthol, menthone and menthyl acetate chemical constituents are responsible for its cooling and anti-flammatory powers. Externally, peppermint oil has been used to relieve muscle and nerve pain. Apply it (diluted) to your temples and forehead to treat a tension headache.

Peppermint is also popular as a flavor in toothpaste, mouthwash and chewing gum. Peppermint oil is often an ingredient in shampoo, soap and skin products. It makes your scalp and skin tingle. A few drops in your shampoo can be used to treat dandruff. 

Not only is peppermint a refreshing tea, it is the oldest known flavor of candy: peppermints. Furthermore, it is a popular ice cream favor; can be added to hot chocolate and mixed drinks; and the fresh leaves can be tossed into green or fruit salads to kick up the flavor.

Peppermint is easy to grow indoors in pots, but like any mint, it will take over a garden, so even outdoors, you may want to pot it. Reportedly, insects are repelled by pots of peppermint. They don't like the scent.

Growing peppermint in a windowsill is very doable! You will have a room with pretty green leaves that smell fresh and clean to humans!

*(source) The Epoch Times, September 23-29, 2016

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Soulmates High Heeler

Carrie Underwood is wearing a pair.

Soulmates are designed to save an expensive pair of high heels from ruin. How? By fitting snugly onto the heels to prevent them from being destroyed on concrete, cobblestone and subway grates, as well as, stop you from sinking into grass at outdoor events, such as a wedding. 

Nearly invisible when attached, Soulmates are available in 4 colors: clear, black, gold and silver. There are also 3 sizes: classic, narrow and wide to fit different heel widths. Eventually, the protectors stretch out, but for a fair amount of time, they are removable, washable and reusable. Cost: $10 a pair.

Sellers on ebay offer knowoffs for a dollar. Is it worth a $1 risk to pocket $9 on a copy-cat tool? Be sure to read the reviews before taking a chance. 

Whether you pay a buck or a Hamilton, it's a practical way of keeping your expensive heels looking new.

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Smallflower Apothecary ... A Web Shop Find

Ahhhhh, a well stocked drugstore. There are a myriad of practical things laying in its aisles, ranging from medicine, makeup, snacks, cleaners, office supplies and housewares, etc.

Am I the only person who thinks perusing inside a drugstore is a must-stop-and-do in a foreign country? Nowadays I don't have to wait for a vacation. There is an online international apothecary that offers 14,000+ European and world products on the web. I'm in apothecary heaven!

Smallflower.com opened in 1875 in Chicago, Illinois as Mertz Apothecary. Back-in-the-day, the shop's clientele consisted mainly of European immigrants who lived in the neighborhood. Therefore in addition to modern (allopathic) medicine, the drugstore also offered the herbal medicines and formulas, which were already familiar to its international customers. In the old days, a pharmacist advised and hand mixed remedies for each customer's specific ailments. Today customers can order health and personal care items from around the world, including Great Britain, Germany, Asia, South America, Africa, or Australia.

When looking for an item, you can shop by brand, country or scent. Featured in the blog are two German products my Mamma favors: 

4711 Original Eau de Cologne is a unisex scent containing notes of citrus, basil, lily, Bulgarian rose and jasmine. It smells refreshing and clean, as opposed to, overpowering and perfumey. Although not created for headache relief, my Oma (grandma) treated her headaches by spraying the cologne on a moist towelette and rubbing it on her temples.

Penaten Cream - Mom swears by Panaten Cream to treat winter's dry, broken skin and rashes. It contains zinc oxide, Panthenol, Hamamelis Virginiana extract and Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil among its healing ingredients. Mom calls it cream with medicine.

With over 140 years of experience and a focus on internal and external health, as well as, affordable prices, Smallflower Apothecary is a terrific find! Cost-wise, it's international inventory is very competitive with the corner drugstore. 

Thankfully, now we don't have to fly oversees to pick up a few personal care items!

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