Fried Pickles

Fried Pickles.....sounds a bit discussting!? 

 or as my 5 Year Old Nephew would say..Nasty!

Tonight I saw them on the menu and thought...Hmmm, Why Not?!

The cucumber dip sounded good even if the pickles didn't make the grade:)

To my surprise...the darn things were good! 

Actually burned my mouth and dripped pickle juice on my self...

This picture was actually taken and sent to my dear long time friend who lives in Virginia...

she LOVES Fried Pickles...

Her response was confirmation of her love for the things..!

As usual, I brought home over half of my meal...

Which gives me my lunch for tomorrow:))

I'm actually looking forward to eating the rest of them with the other half of my Chicken Quesadilla..

Here is a recipe I would try to make my own.

Fried Pickles

Ingredients

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (32 ounce) jar sliced dill pickles, drained
• 1 quart vegetable oil for deep-frying

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix together the egg, milk, 1 tablespoon of flour, and Worcestershire sauce. In a separate bowl, stir together the remaining flour, salt, and pepper.
2. Heat oil to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) in a deep-fryer or heavy deep skillet. Dip pickle slices into the milk mixture, then into the flour mixture. Repeat dipping.
3. Place the pickles carefully into the hot oil. Avoid over crowding by frying in several batches. Fry until pickles float to the surface, and are golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels.

 I would fry some to eat with a cook out during the summer months..

Cucumber Dip

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cucumbers - peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Directions

1. Place cream cheese in a medium bowl. Beat until smooth. Stir in cucumbers, mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, dill weed and hot pepper sauce. 

Enjoy..!

Hello Friends....!!  What a beautiful Month March turned out to be..!  I am constantly having to remind myself it is only March.  My Tulips and Daffodils have bloomed and look spectacular!  A large patch of them were given to me in a huge planter from friends when my Mother passed 15 years ago.  I planted them in an area that when they bloom, I can see their beauty from my kitchen window.  It's so unbelievably hard to think it has been 15 years for my Mother, time passes way too quickly...But I have my little patch of bright beautiful flowers to remind me of my Parents Love.   A few days ago, my brother (who lives in TX) and I had about a two hour phone conversation leaving no area or topic uncovered....!!  I can't ever imagine not having him to converse and bounce back and forth our lives past and present....!  A few months back, a couple became clients at the Salon.  I finally had a chance to chat with them a few weeks ago, only to discover they had graduated with my brother.  We shared much about acquaintances during the conversation and my brother was beyond thrilled when I shared the conversation we had after realizing the connection.  June will be two years since I saw my brother and his family, as his 10 year old son frequently reminds me in his letters he writes to me.  If all goes well, a trip is planned for later this year. 

This weekend was a more seasonal one as far as temperatures for Saturday and today.  Friday was a very warm day with temperatures over 80.  After an early dinner on Friday with my BFF, dessert and coffee were enjoyed sitting outside while we chatted away enjoying the evening.  Today the sun finally showed later in the afternoon, to which I was then treated to some Ice Cream...!!  

Tomorrow will be the start of a busy week.  I will be starting my swimming sessions tomorrow at an indoor heated pool through the YMCA.  The "Y" has a contract with this outstanding facility for indoor swimming.  The facility had been recently renovated, so during that time I tried other facilities which have indoor heated pools and I was not impressed.  The temperatures of the pools were just not warm enough for me.  I need warm water, any indoor pool that gives me chills during my swim time is not a winner in my book....  So, I am very excited to get back to where I feel warmth and comfort.....until my own pool is open for the summer season, it's indoors for me..!!

Have a safe and fantastic week, my friends..!  Getting the out door furniture set up this week and firing up the grill..!  The season has begun:))

Hugs....K

Crispy Peanut Butter Cups

 My two favorite flavors...

Chocolate & Peanut Butter

 Place several chocolate chips (Milk or Semi Sweet) into a small muffin pan.

Place in Oven for 5 mins at 350

The chocolate will be melted enough to slightly smash them together with your finger or fork

Mix up top layer following recipe below

You can see the Peanut Butter Top Before and After they were smoothed and leveled

I used a fork to gently smooth and level the tops

Place in Refrigerator for 15 mins or longer

Store in air tight container, no refrigeration needed...

I guarantee, these will not last long once they are found and tasted..!

Recipe

1 1/4 cups smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
1 3/4 cups milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease mini muffin cups with non-stick spray and add a scant Tablespoon chocolate chips into each cup. Melt in the oven for 5 minutes. With the back of a spoon, smooth out the top of the chocolate chips while they’re still warm. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together peanut butter and butter until smooth. Add in powdered sugar and vanilla, then mix until combined. Pour in crispy rice cereal and mix again until combined.
3. Drop heaping Tablespoons of the peanut butter mixture into each mini muffin cup. Smooth with the back of a spoon and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before eating. Store in an airtight container.

The best thing about life is,

it moves forward!

The past two weeks have been hectic

Year end taxes

Busy with appointments at the Salon and Personal

And dealing with people to correct incorrect billing...grrr

this last one just really hits a nerve with me and can be a full time job!

I guess because my past positions have required me to code accordingly for medical treatment,

over seeing the submission of correct billing with the diagnosis...

My tolerance has become less to none when I see the denial for payment...!

Understanding the billing and coding of any medical treatment has become very crucial with todays

health care and insurance companies. 

Let's face it, insurance companies will try to not pay a claim if they

 find the slightest infraction with the coding that is attached to the claim..!!!

My words of advice are:

• Know what your being treated for and why..!

•  Read your bill with diagnosis(usually at the bottom of bill) before leaving office..

• Read all forms sent to you from your insurance company and what the reasoning may be for denial of payment if there is one

• Look at adjustments of payment made from insurance company 

and what was paid to provider or facility

• Know what your deductible is

• Have you meet your deductible for the year

• Does your deductible coincide with the calendar year of time of first treatment

If your in treatment and during your treatment your required to meet a new deductible for the new year, your treatment will then start back to day one of allotment time for that treatment. (in other words, say you started a treatment in November and your deductible had been met for 12 weeks of treatment, the new calendar year on January 1 comes around and  requires you to meet your deductible again for the new calendar year, but the insurance company claims after the initial 12 weeks of  treatment time has been exhausted into the new year your not approved by the insurance company to have another 12 weeks of treatment, NOT so if your required to meet a new deductible at the new calendar year. Your treatment would start over at day ONE..insurance companies will try to talk their way around it, but fight for what is owed to you..)

you will win!!

 And lastly, the most important...if your insurance company is participating with the provider or facility your having treatment with, make sure your not being billed for the difference of the amount not paid by the insurance company.  This is illegal...! 

And if your having to pay out of pocket for the treatment, ask if they give discounts for self pay. 

Most providers/facilities do, take advantage of it...!

And don't ever be afraid to questions,

Its your right and helps you to understand why...or if your being ripped off!!

I hope this bit of information is helpful should you ever need it...

The week ended with taxes being filed 

Spending time with friends and running into old neighbor hood friends from my youth

and just enjoying this awesome early Spring weather!!

Have a Fantastic Weekend My Friends...!!

K

Today I came home to find cream cheese and a jar of peanut butter
 on the kitchen block...

My heart actually did a little pitter patter when I saw the ingredients.

What was my son planning to make..!?

The only ingredient missing from the line up was chocolate:/

  

Dare I Ask..?!

After all, it was Spring Break!  Which allows more time for some yummmness..

Well Blogger Friends...

I was just treated to
 a warm Chocolate Brownie with PB and Cream Cheese Icing

Dare I say more...!?

OK....It Was Delicious.!

Have a great week, my friends

K

 

French Vanilla with Raspberry Cupcakes

French Vanilla Cuppies with Raspberry Filling and Icing

Cake Recipe...

Any White Cake recipe can be made into a French Vanilla Cake recipe...

Add at least 3 eggs and Buttermilk

Wahala..!!

The Icing..

Add seedless Raspberry Jam to a Butter Icing

I made the cupcakes in my muffin pan using Jumbo Liners.
After the cupcakes were cool,
I used a large piping tip and filled the center with the raspberry icing,
then piped the tops with the remaining icing.

That's It

Way too simple

Have a great weekend and Happy March!