This blog is meant for food, and I try to keep it on topic; I may mention my personal life, but it's all about gathering around for dinner, especially with working parents, I want to start at least, with a Sunday dinner together - dinner that can be put together with ease, good fresh food and within your budget.
But today, oh my gravy, today was just something else. So I am going to give you the details of my day. It was a new experience for this po-dunk mom in Kentucky.
I've not mentioned this to anyone because I try not to let it define my family; but in November, after almost 10 years with a company, my husband was laid off. It was a shock. We've been through this before, but it was years ago. To put it in perspective, we've been through this in our late 20's; but we've never been through this in our mid 40's. We are blessed but it's been stressful. We've never ever been without insurance. And we have a chronically ill child, so it's extra stressful.
The insurance we had, health, dental & vision insurance was good insurance. We paid our Cobra but it's a difficult process, and the 3rd party benefit company who collects every one's money (ours, the company and the government) only updates once a week. We have a dental emergency, and my husband needs to be seen right away but since it appears our insurance lapsed, we are in a loop of red tape. This morning, I called the benefit company, the insurance company, and one passed me on to the other. I was frustrated, I was almost in tears from"they have to call us" and "no, we don't call them, it's up to them...."
The insurance company (who will remain unnamed, because they are really a great company) has a voice operated system; after four calls to them today, I was pretty well versed in the "customer....eligibility.....dental...." so I quickly dialed the number for the fourth time.
But I didn't get the insurance company.
I dialed one wrong number at the end.
And this po-dunk mom in KY got a sex line. Not just any sex line, a racist, stereotype sex line.
I soon realized saying my script I had been saying all morning, "customer.....eligibility..." would take on a whole new meaning. I passed the phone quickly to my husband who hung up. Upon redial, I saw my mistake so a little worse for wear, I dialed carefully. After getting the information I needed, I felt the need to at least mention the one number difference. So the well meaning, yet awkward conversation went like this:
Insurance Company: Is there anything else we can do for you today?
Po-Dunk-Me: Actually, yes, I just want to mention in case anyone else goes through what I did, do you know if you misdial the last number of your 800 number, you get a very racist, dirty sex line?
IC: Uh..........no.
PDM: No one has ever mentioned that to you?
IC: Uh.....no, no they haven't.
PDM: Well, it's really bad. Terrible, insulting.
IC: So....you like, listened to it?
PDM: Well......yeah, because I was....shocked, confused.
IC: But....you listened to it?
PDM: I......yeah.....didn't mean to.
IC: I see......and it's a.....what? Sex line?
PDM: Oh not JUST a sex line, a horrible stereotypical sex line!
IC: And you know this because you listened to the whole thing?
PDM: Uh.....wait....you don't understand what I've been through this morning. I was taken off guard.....I......didn't understand.
IC: Ok........we.....we will certainly note the account.....
PDM: No, no, don't note my account. I was just warning you!
IC: Yes ma'am, we......understand.
PDM: I was just warning you in case someone else goes through what I did...I mean, it's not like I thought you all diversified or anything and branched out, I just.....misdialed. Really, I misdialed.....I did....
IC: Yes, you mentioned that. We'll note.....we'll......tell someone.
PDM: Okay....you don't have to. Never mind. Forget I mentioned it.
IC: Oh, I don't think.......we won't forget it. Thanks.......for.....uh....have a great day!
I can, with every ounce of conviction, assure you there is a big sign at the insurance company, of me with a big slash through it that says "this woman is a pervert."
What a day. I'm going to go eat a dozen of hot doughnuts from Krispy Kreme and pass out in a sugar coma. It will be the best part of my day. I could lose a limb, and it would make it a better day.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
This Is Not A Recipe- Potato Soup
Stuck in the house and want a pot of soup? Just don't have time or living out of your pantry or freezer?
I always keep a bag of the southern style hash brown potatoes in my freezer, and a jar of chicken base in the refrigerator. This is what I do if I need something in 20 minutes for my teenage sons.
Put the potatoes in a stock pot; cover with just enough water to cook them, and keep track of how many cups you use. Add a teaspoon of base for every cup of water you used. Add some pepper, maybe 1/2 a teaspoon of dried minced onion, bring to a simmer and cook about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Taste and add enough salt to taste (don't do it before you taste, some of the bases are salty enough.) Turn off the heat, add about a cup of cheddar cheese (or whatever you have on hand) and stir, put a lid on it and wait about 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
Homemade potato soup is wonderful; but don't let that keep you from throwing this together for a quick meal. With a piece of crusty bread, it's warm and filling. And it's ready in the time it would take you to order pizza, or go through the drive-thru. If you don't use chicken base, you can use chicken bullion, or canned chicken broth - I have to say, I probably don't use my good chicken stock in the freezer for this, I save that for my 'from scratch' foods. This is what my grandmother would affectionately call 'speed scratch.'
Enjoy!
I always keep a bag of the southern style hash brown potatoes in my freezer, and a jar of chicken base in the refrigerator. This is what I do if I need something in 20 minutes for my teenage sons.
Put the potatoes in a stock pot; cover with just enough water to cook them, and keep track of how many cups you use. Add a teaspoon of base for every cup of water you used. Add some pepper, maybe 1/2 a teaspoon of dried minced onion, bring to a simmer and cook about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Taste and add enough salt to taste (don't do it before you taste, some of the bases are salty enough.) Turn off the heat, add about a cup of cheddar cheese (or whatever you have on hand) and stir, put a lid on it and wait about 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
Homemade potato soup is wonderful; but don't let that keep you from throwing this together for a quick meal. With a piece of crusty bread, it's warm and filling. And it's ready in the time it would take you to order pizza, or go through the drive-thru. If you don't use chicken base, you can use chicken bullion, or canned chicken broth - I have to say, I probably don't use my good chicken stock in the freezer for this, I save that for my 'from scratch' foods. This is what my grandmother would affectionately call 'speed scratch.'
Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Only Punch Recipe You'll Ever Need
When I catered bridal, baby, or wedding showers this punch was a hit. The next day, I got so many calls asking for the recipe. It is so easy. Once you make this, you'll be the hit of the party.
1/2 gallon sherbet (or two of the smaller containers) of your favorite flavor
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 two liter of cold lemon-lime soda or ginger ale + another two liter because you might need about half to get the right consistency
Remove the sherbet and ice cream from the freezer about 20 minutes before you plan to assemble the punch. When you put the sherbet and ice cream in the punch bowl, use a spoon and chop it into smaller pieces. Slowly add the first two liter - gently stir. You'll want to do this about 45 minutes before you need it. You might need to add part of the second two liter before serving, just to brighten it up a bit.
Here is where it gets good - I color coordinated the punch to the event: a baby shower meant either raspberry sherbet making it pink for a girl; I used pineapple sherbet with a little blue food coloring for a boy, but sometimes you can find a blue sorbet to use in place of sherbet which is a perfectly good substitution. And of course, if you didn't know the sex of the baby, I used lime sherbet.
If I was making it for a bridal shower, I tried to use the colors of the bridesmaid dresses - orange sherbet was a hit. And if it was OK to spike the punch, the absolute favorite was pineapple sherbet with rum to taste and a few maraschino cherries floating in the punch. Overall, the pineapple sherbet punch - with or without rum - was the most popular.
Enjoy, play around with the flavors - but the vanilla ice cream makes it the best!
1/2 gallon sherbet (or two of the smaller containers) of your favorite flavor
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 two liter of cold lemon-lime soda or ginger ale + another two liter because you might need about half to get the right consistency
Remove the sherbet and ice cream from the freezer about 20 minutes before you plan to assemble the punch. When you put the sherbet and ice cream in the punch bowl, use a spoon and chop it into smaller pieces. Slowly add the first two liter - gently stir. You'll want to do this about 45 minutes before you need it. You might need to add part of the second two liter before serving, just to brighten it up a bit.
Here is where it gets good - I color coordinated the punch to the event: a baby shower meant either raspberry sherbet making it pink for a girl; I used pineapple sherbet with a little blue food coloring for a boy, but sometimes you can find a blue sorbet to use in place of sherbet which is a perfectly good substitution. And of course, if you didn't know the sex of the baby, I used lime sherbet.
If I was making it for a bridal shower, I tried to use the colors of the bridesmaid dresses - orange sherbet was a hit. And if it was OK to spike the punch, the absolute favorite was pineapple sherbet with rum to taste and a few maraschino cherries floating in the punch. Overall, the pineapple sherbet punch - with or without rum - was the most popular.
Enjoy, play around with the flavors - but the vanilla ice cream makes it the best!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
