Creepy Elf on a Shelf

It doesn't matter if you've been naughty or nice...that creepy elf on a shelf is going to kill you one night while you are sleeping. 

Stop Stressing.

I love it when people add their own flair to signs. And who doesn't need this one? Generally I find that if I find it, I need it. Let's all stop stressing. Even if only for a few moments. 

#stopstressing #flair #stopsign #shareslo #sanluisobispo #itsasign

I'm baaaaaaackkkkkkkkk.....

I know, I know. I got sidetracked, then got into Facebook, then sort of forgot to keep posting here. Thing is, Facebook is getting obnoxious. Or should I say, friends and acquaintances are getting obnoxious. I understand we don't all think alike, talk alike, look alike or sound alike, but isn't that the beauty of this world? So, I'll see what I can do to be better about posting stuff. What kind of stuff? You know, the usual. Sarcastic. Snarky. Funny. Bookmark me, subscribe, comment, come back and see what's happening. In the meantime, here's a photo of a buffalo for your enjoyment.

Buffalo. 

Dishes Men Like. It's All About the Worcestershire.

I love this. My friends Mom, NORMA, was cleaning out her house, and thought I would love this.  These recipes are awesome. And all include one of my favorite kitchen staples:  Worcertershire Sauce. I'm not sure if women like these too, because that is not what this is about! 

DISHES MEN LIKE. 

Copyright 1952
Lea & Perrins, Inc.
241 West St
New York 13, N.Y. 

So–to please a man–what easier way than to season his food at home the way he likes it! In this collection recipes, some of the dishes may be new to you, some old. But all are seasoned with the zesty flavor of Lea & Perrins Sauce. As you find your own favorites along the pages of this book, we hope you'll get into a habit the men in your life are sure to like, that of keeping Lea & Perrins handy in the kitchen as well as in the dining room.

If you're curious about the story of this zesty easy-to-use Lea & Perrins Sauce men seem to prefer above all others–here's how it started...

Over a hundred years ago an English nobleman, who had been Governor of the province of Bengal, returned from the Orient with a treasure. Not gold, but a recipe: the recipe for a rare sauce, a secret blend of spices and seasonings that lend to food new savor and delight. Well worth it's weight in gold for the thrilling flavor it seemed to release from almost every dish!

From this recipe, Lea & Perrins of Worcester, England, compounded a sauce. The sauce became popular at once, fist locally, then from continent to continent.

Today Lea & Perrins is an institution; a symbol for good dining and good hospitality. You will find it in the world's most famous cafes and hotels...in London, Vienna, Paris, the Orient...wherever fine flavor in food is appreciated.

And the quality of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce has remained supreme for over a century...unmatched by ago of its many imitators. Be certain you enjoy the genuine...insist on the label identifying the sole possession of the original formula - Lea & Perrins.

IN YOUR KITCHEN
Salt and pepper are not enough. Keep a bottle of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce right alongside your kitchen set of salt and pepper shakers. Use Lea & Perrins as freely and as often as you do your salt and pepper to flavor steaks, chops, roasts, and fish. See what a difference a touch of Worcestershire makes in egg, cheese and macaroni dishes–in salads and salad dressings. Here in one handy bottle is a blend of rare seasonings and spices so versatile, so captivating, you'll never want to be without it.

YOUR TABLE TRIO
Don't wait for your man to ask for the Worcestershire. Iclude it with the salt and pepper shakers when you set the table. You'll save extra trips by keeping a bottle of Lea & Perrins on the dinner table as well as in the kitchen. And make it easier for each individual to season his food just as he likes it best.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And don't worry. I won't tell anybody what the main ingredient is in this sauce. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself. I'll wait here while you go check your bottle of Worcestershire Sauce. Prepare to be dumbfounded. 

XOXO,
  Hayley 

Five Minutes of My Life I Will Never Get Back!

I generally turn my cell phone off about 8pm and leave it in my office. Because I am hooked on technology, I still have my ipad with me at all times. After 8pm usually means it's on my lap while I am sitting in front of the TV (usually playing candy crush). I also have my text messaging set up on my ipad, so as long as somebody else has registered with imessage, I receive those messages on said ipad. 

It's 11:13 on Monday night. 

I've just completed my final round on Level 181 of Candy Crush. My screen notifies me I have a text message. Expecting it to be my niece, I switch over and read this from one of my tenants: 

"The fire department is here. We can't find the fuse box."

I can assure you that no matter how tired I was at that time, this was like slamming a double espresso directly into my veins. I typed quickly back on my ipad WHAT? 

Then I ran into my office to get my phone, where I had missed three messages from said tenant. 

Apparently, one of her plugs started to "spark and spew". 

Luckily, she is a smart one, so she called the fire department who came and shut off the power to that portion of the house. I was able to get an electrician out to fix it yesterday morning, fairly inexpensively. It was nothing but a short in the wire which, had the tenant not been home, would have been disastrous. 

On a side note, the house will be mostly vacant this summer, as they are all moving back home this weekend. I am SO thankful they were at home! 

But that is seriously five minutes of my life I will never get back. 

I love property management! 

Happy February 98th!

RECIPE: African Peanut Chicken Soup

I love Christmas. When I was growing up, my Mom used to make her famous Oaxacan Spicy Peanuts and deliver them to neighbors in a container with a big red bow. I stayed close watching how she did it, and would sneak them by the handfuls. I’m pretty sure that is how my taste for spicy food started. 

Now it’s a tradition. I make spicy peanuts** for Christmas for those that live close enough to receive them! If you don’t have any in your pantry, Planter’s is now making spicy peanuts, you can go to your favorite Mexican food market or you can make them yourself from this blog here. The longer they sit in their container, the hotter they get! 

This African Peanut Chicken Soup is one of my favorite recipes, incorporates the spicy peanuts and is a “go-to” supper at our house. This serves 4-6 people (it’s really great leftover). Serve it with some crusty French bread and a salad and you are good to go! 

NOTE: This can also be made vegetarian by using veggie broth and omitting chicken. 

African Peanut Chicken Soup

from the kitchen of Hayley Townley

INGREDIENTS

1 onion, chopped fine (about 1 cup)
1 large bell pepper, chopped
1-2 pkg mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2-3 TBS oil
1-14oz can Italian stewed tomatoes, chopped coarse (or you can use diced)
4-5 cups chicken broth (2-3 cans Swanson’s) - more for soupy soup, less for stewy soup
¼ tsp dried red pepper flakes (additional to taste)
¼ tsp white pepper (or black pepper)
¼ cup long grain OR brown rice
1-½ cups diced cooked chicken (I use leftover chicken)
½ cup peanut butter
** spicy peanuts
lime wedges
cilantro, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. In a heavy pot, cook onions, mushrooms, pepper and garlic in oil over moderate heat, stirring until onions just begin to brown. 

2. Add tomatoes with their juice, chicken broth, rice red and white pepper.

3. Simmer soup uncovered for 45-60 minutes.

4. Add chicken and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until rice is tender.

5. Add peanut butter, stirring until soup is smooth.

6. Garnish with chopped cilantro, spicy peanuts and lime wedges.

7. Enjoy!