The four people you have in your life....

You hear about peer pressure when you are the sixth grade, but no one talks about it once you've graduated, have a job, and especially once you're mature enough to find a husband and have children.


But the kind of folks you hang with influence you more than you think.
Peer pressure never goes away.

Multiple studies show that human beings unconsciously and consciously mimic the behaviors of those around them. Folks hanging out with optimists become optimists themselves. Women who cheat on their husbands dally with other cheaters.

In his insightful book, "Bounce: Living the Resilient Life," psychology professor Robert Wicks recommends that we invite into our circle of friends four types of people: the prophet, the cheerleader, the harasser, and guides. By including these different voices and friends into our life, he argues, we can become more resilient to life's blows.

I can't imagine thinking 'well I need one of these kinds of people' and then going out and trying to find them...kind of like a date...one thing I do know....everyone needs a 'person'....there very own person...I can't imagine going through life without having one...

so lets take the test!
1. The Prophet

The prophet is the type of person that calls us on any misguided attempts at something, makes us accountable for our behavior, and prompts us to be honest, even when that is not easy. The prophet challenges us, and can be a royal pain at times, but ultimately helps us to find freedom. Says Wicks, "Prophets point! They point to the fact that it doesn't matter whether pleasure or pain is involved, the only thing that matters is that we seek to see and live 'the truth' because only it will set us free."

(yep I got one of those)

2. The Cheerleader
To balance out the provocation and questioning of a prophet, a person also must have a few cheerleader friends: folks who offer unconditional love, support, and acceptance. Wicks says we need the encouragement of the cheerleader as much as the criticism and feedback of the prophet because "burnout is always around the corner when we don't have people who are ready to encourage us, see our gifts clearly, and be there for us when our involvement with people, their sometimes unrealistic demands, and our own crazy expectations for ourselves threaten to pull us down."

(oh yeah I got this one)

3. The Harasser
After we've been criticized and loved, we need to laugh. That's why we need harassers, the third kind of friend, who helps us to see the humor in life's frustrations and calamities. They help us to mock our unrealistic expectations, of ourselves and of others. Says Wicks, "This type of friend helps us regain and maintain perspective."

(yeppers this one too)
4. Guides

And finally, we need guides. Listeners. People who will, according to Wicks, "search and look for nuances in what we share with them to help us to uncover some of the 'voices' that are unconsciously guiding our lives, especially the ones that make us hesitant, anxious, fearful, and willful."

( yes to this one too)

Now really this could be 'any one, of my persons' for me, or it could be my gang of people, who is it for you?

the sweetest people on earth.......

"everythings broke"

Today I watched on the news,  a woman who was rescued from the rubble of a grocery store....she had been trapped their for 6 days and her husband was frantically trying to dig her out....he knew she was in there and went around the building yelling her name, for 6 days he did this  (would any of my gang do this for me?) he found her and he and his fellow citizens helped him with their meager tools, try to dig her out....they had cleared enough for a very small hole and a newsman who was filming this dropped a microphone down in the gap and she spoke that her hands were crushed and her eyes were filled with dirt, she could not move...she spoke of her love for her husband, as they tried futilely to get her out, a group of firemen from California came upon them and started helping...talk about the cavalry coming....they had equipment and skills to administer to her and carefully get her out, without causing more damage....as they pulling her out, with her eyes still squeezed shut and having no idea what had gone on in her country while she lay trapped,  she first thanked God and then started to sing a beautiful church song.........The stories that are coming out of Haiti about the sweet spirits in this devastated country, leave me in humble awe.....

Brian Williams who does the nightly news for NBC went for a few days to Haiti, on the link below is his blog and he tells a little bit about his thoughts on his experience and of the people he found there...
http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/01/18/2177052.aspx?gt1=43001

Cheers to Haiti  !!

Our hearts are with the Haitians....

Many of my fellow food bloggers are raising money and donating it to Haiti....with some of them all you have to do is enter a contest or make a comment and they will donate....so please visit and help them raise the money to donate to either your favorite charity or theirs.....


to choose an authentic and worthwhile site of your own you can check....
http://www.charitynavigator.org/
 this will lead you through choosing an organization to donate to...it is a site, to see if a charity is legitimate and to research what exactly the Haitians need at this time....

and also please..........
visit The Pioneer Woman “A Different Type of Giveaway”

or this great site...she has many links and also will donate $1 just for a comment...
http://savorysweetlife.com/2010/01/haiti-relief-support-a-call-to-compassion-giveaway/

or.......this is so easy..
text 'Haiti' to 90999 and $10 will be donated to the Red Cross and charged to your phone bill..

I have heard many people comment....what can I do? My little contribution will not be enough....I know it is like putting out an inferno with a water pistol....or spitting in the ocean............

There is a story about a starfish that many                    

of you might have already heard, but it bears repeating..     

The Starfish Story

by Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977)              

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

We may not be able to help every single person....but the ones we do help, 'it will make a difference to them' and make a difference in their lives.....

I SAY "CHEERS TO HAPPY" TODAY FOR ALL OF US.

WE CARE BECAUSE WE CAN  !!

Thai Spring Rolls with dipping sauce

Thai Spring rolls are as fun to make as they are to eat.....it is something I always order when I go to a Thai restaurant. You can order ones with different filling....the most common are the ones with shrimp in them. They are low calorie and low fat....all of the items can be prepped ahead of time and then assembled when you are ready to eat...

Thai Spring roll dipping sauce...

1/2 cup of water

1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lime

1/4 cup of rice wine vinegar

1/2 cup of white sugar

1/3 cup of fish sauce

1 chopped clove of garlic

1 teaspoon of dried crushed red pepper

add all of the ingredients together and whisk...store leftovers in a container with a lid in the refrigerator...

this can keep for a long time...it is good served with a few sliced green onions on top and a little bit of finely chopped peanuts.....this sauce is sweet and salty and tart all at the same time...

Thai Spring rolls

rice papers

shrimp, crab, bbq pork, chicken

fresh basil

cilantro (optional)

mint (optional)

shredded carrots

shredded cabbage and or lettuce

green onions chopped

rice noodles, cooked

cucumber sliced julienne

daikon radish, shredded

as you can see, anything goes....go with what is fresh and in season and what you like, certain things go together...but always use fresh basil...it makes the roll...

here is what I used, cabbage, carrots, daikon radish, shredded lettuce, green onions, basil, slivered pork and Krab....yes the Crab with a 'K'......

                                and bean thread noodles.....

            you cook them in boiling water until soft.....about 5 minutes...

these are rice papers....you can buy them at Asian stores and at some grocery stores..don't you just love the 3 ladies on the front of this one?

you need to wet a flour sack towel.... lay flat on the counter...then have a cake pan or pie plate with warm water in it.....get everything ready and you are set to go....

you put a rice paper in the water for 10-15 seconds until partially soft and then lay on the towel..

they are easy to work with, although tender, they are still sturdy.... now we start filling.......

don't over fill. So add the items you like...this one has Krab, radish, carrot...

basil...cabbage

and a little lettuce....now we are ready to roll......

first one side in, like this.....

next turn in the other side......

flip up the bottom....

rise it up over the filling stretching tight, for a tight roll....then roll, roll, roll...

set them aside and roll again...it is fun if everyone makes their own, putting on the things you like...

and serve with the dipping sauce....so good! Serve with your favorite side dishes....We had Thai sticky rice and Miso soup.....this is fun party food or for children to make their own....the rice paper wrappers taste like well, rice....and who doesn't like rice.?..

Cheers to Happy  !!

Basghetti or Vodka Sauce....

This is basghetti....this is what my children called it anyway....I made it tonight for my grandaughter..so simple and I dare anyone to tell the difference with this or any great italian restaurant Vodka Sauce...seriously...It is so flavorful and good...

first you brown a small onion and 2 cloves of garlic...then add any meat....I used italian sausage,  but regular bacon is so delicious, and so is hamburger....I put in sliced mushrooms and sauteed them as well., then a couple of dashes of dried basil and dried oregano....then added the secret indredient, one that is in every cupboard in the United States...are you ready?????a can of Campbells tomato soup....I know it just doesn't get any better....I know what you are thinking, but you will thank me for this later, next I put in cooked angel hair pasta as soon as the sauce was done, but penne would be just as good, add some shredded hard cheese on top and it is finished.

It taste's like you went to one of those fancy schmancy restaurants....of course you want to add a salad and some great french bread....and maybe a bottle of  great red wine....unless it is for the children...then give them cold milk....of course...

Cheers to Happy  !!

Thermometers.....

This is one of those 'good things' or 'good practices'. I know I am a little bossy on here and I am eternally sorry for that, really...but this is one of those safe food practices that I want everyone to do.....it is a cheap way to insure safe meat for our families and isn't that your goal in life? I knew it was.....

Buy a thermometer that looks like this, at almost any kitchen section of a department store, like Target or Fred Meyer....they are about 6.00 dollars and worth every penny, they make an expensive one, but it is not necessary...it takes all the guess work out of turkey, chicken and pork., and can be used to test the temp on beef...most people overcook meat, trying to make sure it is done...when you own a thermometer, there is no more guess work.....Now sometimes, the thermometer needs adjusting....simple and fun...you put ice in a glass and fill with water, wait a few minutes check it...if it is calibrated correctly it will be 32 degrees.(ice water is 32 degrees)..then the temps you take will be so accurate, you will never have overcooked meat again...

if it is not 32 degrees, you will need to adjust it...again easy...see the nut on the under side of the dial? you turn it slightly with pliers, place it back in the ice until the dial says 32 degrees...

pork, chicken, and turkey should all be at least 165...to make sure it is in the 'safe' zone.

Always temp in the fullest part of the meat....and move the thermometer around to check different areas...

also when meat rests, (and you should always rest your meat for up to 20 minutes,)

 it continues to cook and also resting helps the meat retain the juice...

When cooking steaks

120 .....................rare               very red

130......................medium rare   red

140 ....................medium           pink

150.....................medium well    pinkish brown

160......................well done       brown, no pink

Chicken and Turkey

180 is a good and done temperature

but make sure it is at least 165....

For 6 dollars you can have perfectly cooked meat every-time...taking all the guess work out of it...

Cheers to Happy  !!

Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Balsamic Vinegar Sauce...

This recipe is more of a procedure than a recipe, it is wonderfully flavorful...It is low fat and lean....a fast everyday dish and nice enough for company! Let's get started....

purchase the pork tenderloin that is not already seasoned.(some are)...it usually comes with 2 in a package...cut off anything weird on the meat like sinew stuff ...(raw meat looks kinda gross anyway)  generously sprinkle with garlic powder, fresh cracked pepper and a good salt....

like this, do both sides and the ends......then...

place a couple tablespoons of olive oil in the bottom of a heavy deep pan....and turn on a medium high heat...

place the tenderloin in the hot pan and sear on both sides...about 3 minutes, turn and 3 minutes on the other side.....

put in a 475 degree oven for about 45 minutes....or until your meat thermometer reaches 165....

nope not done yet.....

ok blurry, steamy but 165....your meat will be done but still very juicy and moist....I might not of mentioned that I went outside and picked a sprig of rosemary and tossed it in the pan as the pork was roasting...

let rest on the cutting board while you make the sauce....

place a half a cup of balsamic vinegar in a sauce pan....put the burner on medium high heat...

stay right there and watch this come to a boil and boil until reduced by half...it is a quick process...

this sauce is as thick as chocolate syrup and as sweet and savory as dessert....

slice your pork into medallions and pour the sauce across the top....

this really looks like you did something special and really takes just an hour...

be sure to cook both the tenderloins...I usually put one in the freezer....it is so nice to have something so great on hand...Once I read an article about having leftovers in the freezer and the gal said "it is like someone nice cooked and brought dinner to you!" that about sums it up!

Cheers to Happy  !!