KCHOME and Lifestyle : November 27, 2013

New Blog Friend : Sadie + Stella

Meet Lindsay at Sadie + Stella
On Fridays, she posts a column of "Kansas City's Finest".
I love how she introduces her readers to talented artists, designers and unique products of Kansas City!

A French Influence ...

Through the French Door: Romantic Interiors Inspired by Classic French Style

~ Carolyn Westbrook

French Flair: Modern Vintage Interiors

~ Sebastien Siraudeau

French Essence: Ambience, Beauty, and Style in Provence

~ Vicki Archer

Summers in France

~ Kathryn Ireland

Establish Rules #5: Thou shalt not BITE

The first step to solving your problems is to admit you have one... Right? Not for me, I accept that I am a nail biter. For brief interludes throughout my forty years, I pamper my nails with beautiful products. I replace the teeth with nail files and force myself to use every time the urge hit to do some gnawing. For a couple of months, I refrain from the habit; However, I hit a stress point and the chewing begins.

Spying some alluring colors of nail polish at Bijin Salon & Spa, I investigate the display. At first the colors call me but the words "3 Free" speak to my inner eco child. Butter London contains no formaldehyde, no toluene and no DBP. Why wait until the New Year to shed those habits... I pronounce today, "Stop biting thou nails." I arm myself with a beautiful array of nail polish and a nail recipe.

Here's my plan:

1. Clip, not bite, and file those finger nails. 
2. Make my nail recipe to hydrate and remove dry skin: Combine 2 cups Sugar and 1 cup Olive Oil and then rub concoction all over hands, especially your nails and cuticles. Relax for 15 minutes listening to your favorite music playlist. Finally, rinse off your hands with warm water. You may want to use a warm washcloth to remove excess oil.
3. Since splurging on Butter's "Nail Fertilizer", coat my nails with this strengthener.
4. Gaze at the metamorphosis while painting with rosy sparkles.

My phone rings... I believe Steinbeck aptly describes my new situation: “The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.” (aka: "The best laid plans, often go awry"). I hope I can complete my plan before the New Year !

Blessings Counted !

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Establish Rules #3: Dishes

Lots of dishes accumulate during the Thanksgiving Feast week. In our household, it's the same piles and same whines as any other week. My monkish chant, "dishes in the kitchen," seems to cause giggles amongst the kids instead of inducing action. Choosing my battles wisely, I decide to break with tradition of using the fine china and silver and present my table with paper products. The New Dime Store in Brookside and Tiffany Town in the Village may have just what I need to keep me from losing my voice from all those chants. After the holidays, I will begin my dish campaign.

Establish Rules #2: Fight

Tension and anxiety raises during the next two months. Title Boxing Club at 7600 State Line, PV, KS can help you alleviate the grumpies plus help keep the holiday foods building up in those thighs! Let's keep in mind the rules of fighting fair:

• No Insults
• No Blaming
• No Yelling
• No Force
• No Divorce Talk
• No Past Talk
• Just saw this quote on a FB friend's status and thought so apropos:
  

  "Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you'll ever regret."

  "Play fair. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody" ~Robert Fulghum

Establish Rules #1 Shoes

Begin the no shoes rule: Leave shoes at the door. This will keep the dirt at bay from all the weather elements entering your home !

My own horror inside the frig...

With so many kids opening the refrigerator for the last couple of months, I’m not sure I want to clean this beast before Thanksgiving Dinner preparations. I thought Halloween passed but not at our house. Inside our frig looks like a miniature haunted house with red goop running down one side of the white interior and dark brown sticky globs on the shelf.

It’s time to instill rules about the refrigerator :

1. Wipe up spills immediately
2. Wipe rims of condiments before placing inside
3. Check for spoilage to throw out items past their prime
4. Drip prone items, berries & defrosting meats, place on a rimmed plate
5. Wipe with moist soaped cloth the Front doors and handles

What do my QR codes say ...

Love food ? Love Kansas City ? A blog for you !

Introducing my new favorite blog ... A Kansas Citian Foodie!

http://www.whatyouremissingkc.blogspot.com/

No need for me to write anything about this blog because you can easily visit it and get wrapped up in all things food in the Kansas City area!

Sharmin's recent posts :

• Five Teens and a Babycakes Cupcake Maker (includes a cupcake recipe with chocolate frosting ) 
• Seasons 52 Announces Plan to Open New Restaurant on the Plaza
• Portfolio Kitchen and Home Flagship Store

Comments on Basil from my fb buddies...

I have some feisty friends and wanted to share their responses about their favorite use of Basil:

"Rathbone"
"A leaf under each armpit"
"My rabbit loves it :-)"

 My culinary friends truly enjoyed sharing their Basil loves:

Caprese Salad *

Tomato Pasta Sauce
Fresh Veggie pink Vodka Sauce

Pesto using Grana Padana Cheese

Tomato Basil Soup **

* Caprese Salad, aka Insalata Caprese, combines the simple flavors of mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil with a drizzles of olive oil and salt. 

** LL's Tomato Basil Cream Soup Recipe

• 4 c. canned whole tomatoes: crushed (maybe a 28 or 32 oz. can)
•  4 c. tomato juice or a mix of juice/vegetable or other stock
• 12-14 basil fresh leaves
• 1 c. heavy cream
• 1/4 lb butter
• cracked black pepper
• salt to taste

Combine crushed tomatoes (I squeeze them in my hands to crush) and juice/stock in a saucepan, simmer for 30 min. Puree in smaller batches with basil leaves in a blender/food processor. Return to pan adding cream, butter, salt and pepper. Simmer another 15 minutes or so over low heat. Yummy with french bread! Sometimes I saute the onions and blend them in too. Enjoy! 

Beautiful Basil ...

The only plant that never fails me from seed to flowering plant !
My uses for basil in 2011 :

• Gifts of harvested basil to many friends
• Chopped leaves thrown into a salad
• Many bags of frozen Pesto
• 5 bars of soap
• Leaves scattered on Pizza

Wikipedia reports that "A study of the essential oil showed antifungal and insect-repelling properties. A similar study reported in 2009 has confirmed that extracts from the plant are very toxic to mosquitos. However, the plant is not toxic to rats. Nevertheless, further scientific researches should be warranted, since there are no equivalent reports of its use against humans."

More basil uses...

Orzo with Parmesan and Basil : Melt 2 tbsp butter in a saucepan, add 1 cup dry orzo and stir, then add 1 14-oz. can chicken or vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, then simmer 15 mins. until liquid is absorbed. Then remove cover and stir in 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup coarse chopped basil. Serves 2-3.

Martha Stewart's Strawberry Basil Ice Tea :

• black-tea bags
• 1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved (quartered if large)
• 1 cup water, plus more for steeping
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup fresh basil, plus more for serving
• Ice, for serving
• 1. Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add tea bags, and let steep for 5 minutes.
  2. Place strawberries in a bowl. Bring water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add basil, and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain over strawberries; discard basil. Toss to coat. Let stand until cool, about 25 minutes. Combine strawberries (with syrup) and tea in a pitcher. Refrigerate until chilled. Serve over ice, and garnish with basil.

Where is my Snow White ...

While Luke and I huff and puff throughout the neighborhood, we stop at a perfectly manicured lawn. While gazing, my mind wonders to Disney's Snow White in which she tidies the Seven Dwarf's abode. My catty brain also screams "compulsive"! I regain mental composure and long for my Snow White to visit my home riddled with nut grass, weeds and sad, spindly shrubs.
We continue meandering down the side walk and I smile with pride of my neighborhood with those folks that take great care of their yards !

Misnomer ...

Today, I planned to blog about helping out those money blues of today's economics. However, an article at nbcactionnews.com raised my ire :

"The Kansas Humane Society has so many volunteers that it's starting to charge people for giving their time. The society says the $15 charge to volunteers helps cover costs associated with the program." read more of this story

Pros of trees …

“He plants trees to benefit another generation”, by Caecilius Statius.

Absorbs Carbon Dioxide and releases 

Oxygen into our air
Prevents or reduces soil erosion & water pollution

Helps recharge ground water in turn improves water quality

Decrease noise pollution

Trees add beauty and grace. They make life more enjoyable, peaceful, relaxing & offer a  rich inheritence for future generations. Call to preview this home for sale… Sue Tinnen with Tinnen Real Estate (816-930-3600) (4 bedroom, 2 baths and under $100K in Plattsburg.)

Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values.

Trees help cool your home and neighborhood, break the cold winds to lower your heating costs, and provide food for wildlife. This home presented by Lynn Gambrell of RE/MAX of k.c. (816-405-5442/816-453-7400) (3 bedroom,  1.5 baths and a large wooded lot… $95,000 in Gladstone. )

Creating Your Very Own "Man Cave" {Dan Vick's Tips}

It wasn't so long ago that many men chose the garage as a place of personal sanctuary-at-home, regardless of their interest in anything automotive. Often cramped and dimly lit, these makeshift hideaways were the stuff of folding-table poker and football games on the spare TV. Today the need for guys to carve out their own space at home is more widely acknowledged. As a result, more and more homeowners are converting their finished basements, attic spaces or spare rooms into masculine refuges. With a little bit of planning (and some savvy negotiation with the lady of the house), you too can create your own customized "man cave".

The Many Styles of Dude Dens... While man caves often revolve around the time-honored rite of male bonding that is spectator sports, there is no single blueprint to a successful male refuge. Some guys turn their basements into full scale game rooms where pool, air hockey and arcade games rule the day. Movie buffs have been known to turn spare rooms into home theaters replete with surround sound and recliners on stadium risers. And a good many men aim to convert their extra space at home into their very own pub, outfitted in their own image.

Getting Started... The last thing you want is a room overly crammed full of anything and everything you can jam into it. Before you begin, start thinking exactly what kind of activities you want to plan around. Is your main goal to have a perfect place to watch the big game? Looking for a permanent home to poker night? Perhaps you want a place to work out in comfort, or even a workshop space. By figuring out the focus of your man cave, you'll be able to tailor furniture, décor and space to match. It may help to pick one element (home theater system, a pool table, jukebox, etc.) as both the centerpiece and inspiration for your man cave.

Space it Out... Carefully measure all dimensions of the space you have available, and do the same when considering the purchase of any furniture, hardware or stand-alone game systems. Maintain open walking paths throughout the room. If you're centering the room around a home theater system, keep in mind that you'll want to keep clear sightlines for the main seating areas in the room.

Durable Materials... Chances are your man sanctuary is going to go through its share of bumps, spills and accidents during game days, poker parties and guy's nights. Choose granite, sturdy laminate or durable wood surfaces for bar countertops, end tables and coffee tables. Pick thicker commercial-grade carpet to withstand tough treatment, and stick with darker colors that won't show every little spill. Thicker carpeting also helps with soundproofing, which will help keep the rest of the household happy.

Essentials... Most man caves will in some way involve three key elements - comfortable seating, a big TV and refreshments just a few steps away.

1. Seating - Wrap-around couches are a great way to welcome your buddies in style. And there's no going wrong with the classic man cave throne: the recliner.
2. Theater-Style TV's - Large flat screen televisions have become much more affordable in recent years, and with the expansion of HD sports broadcasts, blue ray and high def gaming systems, the technology is tailor-made for a guy's paradise.
3. Beverages - With refreshments nearby, you won't be forced to step away from the big game or fold that hand just to get another beverage or grab some more snacks. If you're not able to swing a full enclosed bar, you can purchase smaller portable bars in a variety of styles, or just go with shelving or built-in cabinets to store snacks. Either way, you'll absolutely want to include a small refrigerator in the plans.

Finishing Touches... While you're dreaming big, why not consider a few extras to put your man cave over the top:

• Sports Memorabilia
• Big Screen TV
• Couches
• Recliner
• Bar area
• Neon signs
• Bar games: Pool, Darts, Air hockey, Shuffleboard, Foosball
• Vintage signs
• Poker table
• Humidor

Article provided by Dan Vick of Re/Max of kc, 816-453-7400

Invite Butterflies to your backyard...

Planting host plants provide a smorgasbord for the butterfly larvae...

• Bloodflower
• Dutchman's Pipevine
• Toadflax
• False Indigo
• Butterfly Weed
• Thistle, Sunflower
• Black-eyed Susan
• Columbine

Once the larvae hatch, their butterfly bodies need nectar plants to continue to thrive...

• Joe Pye Weed
• Penta
• New England Aster
• Butterfly Bush
• Lilac species
• Verbena
• Caryopteris
• Coreopsis
• Coneflower
• Sedum
• Daisies
• Garden Phlox
• Zinnia
• Bee Balm