Just a quick HI ....and a recipe for nut brittle

Hi there!  What are y'all up to today?  Me?  I'm taking a short break from being the monkey in the middle so I can pop on and say HI.  Things are winding down for Xmas aren't they!  K and I aren't really doing much, just getting a few things for the kids so we don't seem like total losers as parents/grandparents.  We aren't doing Xmas otherwise.  I had to make a double car payment this month, UGH.  I told him I will hurt him physically if he fails to pay it just one more time.  That and I told him I will open my own fucking account and handle it.  I think I got through.

Would you believe that Time Warner Cable cut me off over a past due $15.00 bill?  YUP.  15 lousy bucks.  After more than a year of timely payments they cut me off over 15 bucks that was due on the 4th.  I paid it this morning before I came to work so I don't miss my soaps, they record on the DVR.  But still.  I know I owe but that seems damned petty to me.

Well I've gotta get back to work, I am leaving you with a recipe for easy nut brittle!  It's fast and it is good! 

Nut Brittle

TIP- immediately soak dishes in hot water after making or you will need a chisel to get the sticky stuck stuff off!

Ingredients


1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light-color corn syrup
1/2 cup salted mixed nuts or peanuts
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

1. Grease a small baking sheet; set aside. In a microwave-safe 4-cup glass measure, combine sugar and corn syrup. Microwave mixture, uncovered, in a 900- to 1200-watt microwave oven on 100% power (high) for 5 minutes, stirring twice.
 
2. Stir in nuts and butter. Microwave mixture, uncovered, on 100% power (high) for 1 to 2 minutes more or just until mixture turns golden (mixture continues to cook and becomes more golden when removed from the microwave).
 
3. Stir in vanilla and baking soda. Immediately pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet. Use two forks to lift and pull candy into a thin sheet as it cools (this helps make the brittle crisp).
 
4. Cool brittle completely. Break into irregular pieces. Makes about 1/2 pound.
 
5. To Store: Layer pieces between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Busy weekend

Wow I had such a great weekend!  It started out perfectly.  I woke up early enough to sit and watch a little HGTV and fiddle fart around before I had to get ready and go wait tables.  I had a few things for my boss and said so when I walked in and he gave me a big smile and said "follow me I have something for you too!" and turns out I had $170 in paychecks I hadn't collected!  Just 5 dollars shy of my Marshall's layaway!  My day was made and it was only 7:30 in the morning LOL.  Anyway I drew a decent station and worked it and worked through all of the floor cuts until it was just me and G on the floor at 1.  We got a bit of a run but managed to keep it running smoothly and I walked out at 5:05 pm with just a few bucks shy of $100 in my pocket plus the paychecks. 

Sunday I drew a good station but the morning dragged by slowly.  I decided not to worry about it since technically I had my quota for the weekend already made.  So when the old folks, a party of 10 who were doted upon and wanted for nothing due to my excellant service left me $4 tip on the total bill of $90+ I just shook it off.  Old dude, Mr. Give Me the Check rounded the check to an even $100 and that's all the tip that was left.  Oh well.   I still walked out of there at 5:30 pm with $113 in my pocket.  At 1:30 it was just me and G and I had about $40 in my pocket.  At 2:30, G wasn't taking any tables because she was about to leave and a bunch of tables walked in back to back to back.  A total of 27 heads divided up in various booths and tables. I did it all.  Greeted, sat, delivered drinks, took food orders, delivered apps, salads and soups, delivered entrees, gave refills, served desserts (to some),  pre-bussed, cashed out and then bussed all of the tables.  At one point my boss just stood there watching me roll, reminding me of things I knew and had done LOL, he was trying to be helpful.

Interesting customers:

**a man who spent the entire 40 minutes he was there drinking coffee bragging about everything he could think of in his life to anyone who walked by.  He's just returned to the US after having spent time in 65 countries and he had a lot of ideas.  Telling me how he spent thousands of his own money to research schools so he knew where his kid would be educated the best, among other things. I responded positively to things he said and he tipped me $5 and handed me his card offering me a position.  Turns out, he's a real estate appraiser LOL.  How funny!  I told my boss this morning that a competitor tried to hire me over the weekend.

**a woman who started off our transaction by asking me if I thought one woman could be right and everyone else in the world, judges, lawyers, the police, the news people could be wrong.  I remembered her instantly.  We've had this conversation before.  So I told her what she wanted to hear, agreed that she was right like I did last time and she left happy as a clam.

**a woman who insisted on moving to an entirely different side of the restaurant.  I watched her walk out of the restroom with a look of sheer horror on her face.  She said she'd never smelled something so foul and suggested we had a leak.  Mind you, they weren't seated near the bathrooms but still wanted to move.  So I re-sat them and then headed to the bathrooms and noticed nothing.  I don't know what the hell smelled so bad but I can only assume it came from her.

**another woman who came in to eat but wanted a glass of still boiling hot water so she could put her silverware in it.  I wanted to tell her that the silverware would be the least of her worries but I just brought her the water and watched as she fed her kid directly off of the table surface.

**annoying campers- I swear, I just want to cry when I see people coming in carrying a briefcase and laptop and asking for a booth.  These people sat for a fucking HOUR on 1 cup of hot tea and a cup of coffee.  I circled the booth.  I threw salt at them (don't ask) hoping they would leave.  I lingered, hoovered, and tried to bother them as much as possible once there was a wait at the door and they were playing oblivious.  Finally, I took the cup and pot away, bringing fresh and when they responded I said " I figured after an hour you'd like something hot" and yep it was rude and yep they caught the not so subtle hint but I don't care.  They got the hell out of there.

**the table I wanted to kick the hardest- family of 5.  All come in and order the fucking Santa Cocoa.  They complained it took too long.  They were my only complaint.  Boss came around the corner and asked me what was taking so long with the drinks because they had complained and I told him 'Santa Cocoa times 5' and he was like Oh...nuff said.

Santa cocoa= 3-4 scoops of chocolate ice cream.  Melt completely in microwave.  Stir in a sprinkle of cinnamon and 1 oz half and half and 3 squirts of peppermint syrup.  Microwave again till good and hot, pour into cup, top with whipped cream and another sprinkle of cinnamon and serve with white chocolate dipped peppermint stick.  Yeah.  That takes a few minutes!!! 

The biggest issue for me right now is they want me to take a day off from work HERE so I can attend a 4 hour meeting THERE.  I told her no-can-do.  She said it is mandatory, no exemptions.  I told her again no-can-do.  I am the only person in this office who does what I do and I keep this place going.  I am the official monkey in the middle on every order.  I can't take a day off.  I don't even know how to ask for 1/2 a day next week on my birthday (yes that is a hint Dec 14 I turn 42) unless it is a holiday or near a holiday my boss isn't very flexible.  I understand that though.  If I'm not here who will answer the clients questions?  I'm the only one who knows who has what and how to work the system LOL.  I have to be here!  She said "take a vacation day" and I said "what vacations?  Did you just hear the words that were coming out of my mouth?"  As far as my boss is concerned my vacation days are weekends and: Labor day, Memorial day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day and there is one more day but I can't remember which right now LOL.  Vacation days.  Hah. That's a laugh.  So all I know is if they want to "no exceptions if you don't show you will be fired" fire me then I my only reply will be to ask if I am eligible for re-hire.  LOL.

Anyway, now it's almost 1pm.  K's schedule changed.   Now there are days I won't get here till 9 and some I will be at work at 5 am, he has Monday and Tuesday off and his hours are varied and crazy and pretty much suck...but we'll work it out. 

I've got to get some stuff done and hopefully stop by to visit a few or all of y'all!

xoxoxoxoxo's!!!!

Just a quickie

Good Morning!  I figured I'd better get on here and say hi while I have the chance because soon, I will be up to my elbows in work.  I'm NOT enjoying or appreciating this new task being shoved on my plate, either.   Now, instead of them contacting their clients on their orders I have to keep track of who has what, track down the information from the appraiser and then call the client.  I'm the official monkey in the middle on each and every single G'damned order that comes through this place and I am not even trying to pretend I don't think they are all lazy, incapable assholes. 

I wanted to share this yummy but easy little recipe with you today.  I have to bring something to work with me tomorrow for a little party we are having and this is what I bring to things like that.  Last time I made it for a neighbors church thingamajig and she said she was bombarded for the recipe afterwards.

Easy French Pastry

Ingredients:

2 cans Pillsbury Crescent rolls
2 8oz pkg. cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup chopped pecans


Directions:


Press one can of Crescent rolls into bottom of greased 13x9 baking dish. Seal perforations. Cream sugar, cheese and vanilla; spread over dough. Top with another layer of Crescent roll dough. Brush with egg yolk, sprinkle with sugar and chopped pecans. Bake 30 minutes in 350-degree oven. Cool before cutting. Makes 24 pastries.

A post of cuteness

New duties at work. Ugh. I am now in charge of keeping track of every single order, status, appointments, eta's, revisions, corrections, submissions. I am to gather daily updates on every single file until they are complete AND communicate the daily updates with their prospective clients.

It's confusing and a bunch of other big words my brain can't put together at the moment because it has been melted by cuteness...and so I came to share...

Click it...you know you wanna....

Catching up...

Wow, it seems like it's been a lot longer than 6 days since I've posted!  But I think the blog world slows down around the holidays anyway, right?  No matter, everyone can release a deep sigh of relief as I am here now.

Thanksgiving day was a dud at Denny's.  They needed no where near the 12 servers they forced  scheduled to be there.  I had to get dropped off at 5:30 because K  had to work, I wasn't scheduled till 8 so I ate and read the shopping ads until then.  I worked till 10 and was sent home because they didn't need me at all.  I had made just enough in tips to pay for my meal.  Fun!  Luckily (depending on how you look at it) K was sent home early too and so I didn't have to wait around for him to get off and come get me.  This weekend we were slow, but that's expected because it's the beginning of the month and it seems we are always slow then.  I hope the rest of the months weekends are fruitfull!

Since I got off early, I made Thanksgiving Dinner rather than wait till Friday like I had planned.  It was delish.  Later that night, I whipped up my much dreamed upon turkey croquettes using yet another new recipe.  I plan to keep trying recipes till I find one that tastes JUST like my Mommas.  Anyway...I'm sad to say...they were a bust.  Tasted TERRIBLE.  I'm SO BUMMED.  You just can't even imagine how bummed either.  OK, I may have teared up a bit just now...the recipe called for adding breadcrumbs to the turkey meat mixture, similar to what you would do with meatloaf.  It made them very easy to form into patties.  They looked delicious, all crispy and golden brown, they smelled good too.  But, with the combination of the white sauce and the breadcrumbs to the turkey  meat plus breading them with more flour and breadcrumbs, well, they tasted like fried breadcrumbs with a hint of turkey.  BLAH BLAH BLAH- now I need another turkey.

Last night we watched probably the funniest thing we have watched in a while.  A couple years ago we were very into this show called Tribal something or other.  It featured real-life natives from some far off place.  Anyway, we loved them and the show and now it seems a few members of the tribe will be visiting America as Ambassadors and living and experiencing all sorts of things.    This link will tell you about the show better than I will.... we recorded the 1st 2 shows last night and I am looking forward to them even more than watching my soaps!  They showed a preview on Saturday and we loved the idea of the show.

Ok.  Well. Hell.  I KNOW there was something else I wanted to tell you but the brain cell sucking drama llama got me 1st.