Friday Music Blog-All Star Edition

Welcome to the Friday Music Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.

This week NASCAR descends on Charlotte, North Carolina for the NASCAR Sprint Cup All Star Race. This grandiose display of NASCAR muscle is a spectacle to behold and gets me revved up for some dynamic Saturday Night Racing from Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Music seeps into every aspect of my life. Marrying my Friday Music Blog with NASCAR venues to create topics has opened fantastic discussions and prompts. This week is no exception.

This week’s focus is song’s that contain the word “all” or “star” in their title or lyrics. The topics are broad so there are endless choices for everyone. Please be sure to include the song title and the artist.

As I always do, I ask you to check back to this blog throughout the day and weekend as selections are added often. The conversations that have been sparked over the years have been fantastic! Let's keep that tradition going!

Weekends are indeed a fabulous time to explore the pages of Chief 187™Chatter. Whether looking for a delicious and easy-to-prepare recipe that is decidedly pleasing or a movie that sounds perfect for your taste, the archived articles here are all easily accessible. This past week I posted about “Romance” and gave tips on how to achieve this often elusive state. There really is so much so please take some time to browse.

If you will be shopping on Amazon I do ask that you use my link located on the right hand sideboard of this page. By simply entering through my link, browsing, adding items to your cart, and checking out in one fell swoop, you are helping me immensely with no extra cost to you.

If you are looking to sport some Chief 187™ gear, shop my online store located at http://cafepress.com/Chief187. There are over 60 items from which to choose with a clever logo, the Chief 187™ website, or my image! From apparel to mugs, water bottles to stickers there is something for everyone at nearly every price point. Again, all purchases help keep me afloat.

Thank you to each and every one of my readers for your consistency in returning to read my work. You greatly honor me and encourage me to continue with this project. We have grown so much in the 20 months since I began this journey. It is a pleasure for me to write, share, and open myself up to you all.

Please join me on Monday as I begin another week of fresh, new, and original posts on Chief 187™Chatter.

Tantalizing Thursday-All Star Edition

Welcome to Tantalizing Thursday on Chief 187™Chatter.

As NASCAR prepares to run their All Star events at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, I wanted to pull out all of the stops for some All Star recipes.

A friend and longtime NASCAR fan as well as resident of Charlotte offered up a recipe for some classic Carolina Barbeque and I couldn’t resist.


Here is this authentic recipe just in time for the activities at CMS.



Slow Cooker Carolina Barbeque
Recipe provided by Scott Roberson

Ingredients:

3 lb. lean pork roast
2 cups chopped onion
3 medium green bell peppers chopped
8 ounce can tomato sauce
¼ cup vinegar
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
¼ cup chili powder
2 teaspoons Worchestershire sauce

Directions:

Take the 3 lb. lean pork roast and trim the fat. Add chopped onion, 3 chopped green bell peppers, tomato sauce, vinegar, light brown sugar, salt, dry mustard, chili powder and Worchestershire sauce. Cook on low setting for 12 to 14 hours. Stir with wire whisk to shred the meat.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.



At the risk of repeating myself, a great coleslaw and fresh cornbread goes swimmingly with barbeque.

Here is a trusty cornbread recipe to try.



Grandmother's Buttermilk Cornbread
Recipe found on http://allrecipes.com/recipe/grandmothers-buttermilk-cornbread/detail.aspx
Provided by: BETHANYWEATHERSBY
She writes, "This is my grandmother's cornbread recipe and it's the best - sweet and moist!"

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square pan.
2. Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.



Scott is a true gentleman. Without being asked he sent me a fantastic dessert to complement this meal.



Layered Banana-Pineapple Dessert
Recipe provided by Scott Roberson

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup margarine
3 bananas sliced
1( 8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups cold milk
2 (3 3/4 ounce )packages instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (20 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (8 ounce) carton frozen whipped topping, thawed


Directions:

Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and margarine. Press crumbs evenly in bottom of 13X9X2 -inch baking dish. Arrange banana slices on crust. Whip cream cheese with wire whisk until smooth. Gradually add milk, beating until smooth. Blend in pudding mix. Pour mixture evenly over bananas. Spoon pineapple on pudding layer and spread whipped topping over pineapple. Chill until ready to serve.
Makes 12 to 16 servings.



Scott instructed, “Add sweet tea with lemon and you got the entire meal.”

Enjoy the NASCAR Sprint Cup All Star events and let me know if you used any of these All Star recipes!


Please join me tomorrow for the week ending and ever popular Friday Music Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.

Romance

Romance.

The connotations run deeply and are varied.

The definitions are as different as the snowflakes that fall from the sky.











Many long for it, others feel they have a distaste for it as it’s “too much work”. Some just miss the boat about what it means to their partner.

There is no one size fits all brand of romance, yet it is vital to figure out a way to keep it in one’s romantic life or the romantic life will cease to exist.

So if flowers and candy are your only go to for romance, stick around to get another perspective on what Romance could be.

Let’s begin at the beginning. Flowers and candy can be romantic, nice, and appreciated. Same goes with wine, champagne, satin sheets, and jewelry. But real romance has little to do with things.






Intimacy is the key to Romance.

And to achieve intimacy there is work to do. But I think the "work" is fun and richly rewarding.

Respect is vital to intimacy.

If we, and by “we” I mean both men and women, don’t feel valued, heard, and important then we cannot get in tune with the romantic advances being served to us.

When in a monogamous relationship and trying to hold on to intimacy and romance, there are things to remember from both sides of the relationship.

Here is a list I have compiled in no particular order:


Remember the needs of your partner.

Help with household chores.

Take turns keeping the children while the other enjoys “me time”.

Insist on "date night" with one another.

Share interests in common.

Share interests apart.

Touch, often. Not all touch is sexual. Some is just soothing, pleasing, and relaxing.

Kissing. Never underestimate the power of kissing.

Loving. Speak lovingly. Act lovingly. Touch lovingly. Kiss lovingly. Get it?

Asking. Ask your partner questions and…

Listen. Listen to their response with your UNDIVIDED attention. I struggle with this, but I’m working on it.

Remember. Important date in your partner’s life? Need to pick up milk or dinner? Your turn to call the sitter so date night can happen? Mail the card to his/her mother? Remembering what is important to your partner makes you a better partner.

Offering. Can I pour you a cup of coffee? Do you need me to fill the gas tank? Shall I make your favorite dinner? Would you like a back massage? Even if the answer is no, you are still offering and that goes a long way. And if they say, “Yes, thank you!” be thrilled not put out.

Complimentary. You are truly as sexy as the day I met you. You are becoming far more distinguished and HOT as you age. Your new hairstyle looks fantastic! Is that a new outfit? You look fabulous! This isn’t rocket science; who doesn’t want to hear they look better than ever and are still valued?

Dressing well. Remember flirting and dating? You wouldn’t dare leave the house in pajama pants, slippers, and a t-shirt three sizes too big when you were young and dating. Wear make-up, adjust your waistline, and wear great foundations, ladies. Men, wear something beyond jeans and a t-shirt once in a while. Ladies, skirts and dresses are always sexy!

Converse. You know, talk to your partner. The way you used to… about your dreams, movies, television, books, and music you like or have just discovered. Talk about what you have in common and listen to what they love.



Romance is truly accessible in your relationship with a modicum of effort. By staying ensconced in the relationship, valuing the person you are in the relationship with, and keeping the both of you as the core priority, romance follows easily.

Am I any kind of expert? Heck no. But I keep trying… I am the hopeless romantic that understands Romance takes work, but the work is so very worth it.

Wishing you all a healthy dose of Romance from here forward.


Please join me tomorrow for delectable recipes on Tantalizing Thursday on Chief 187™Chatter.

Simple Joys

Welcome to Simple Joys on Chief 187™Chatter.

Simple Joys are the moments throughout your day that bring a smile, a feeling of goodness, a moment of peace, a hearty laugh, or an overwhelming burst of love.

Simple Joys are different for everybody but available to anybody. No matter how bad your day, week, month, or even year, there are Simple Joys all around.

To identify Simple Joys you just need to open your heart and mind to their existence in your life. Next to the negative that exists in life, the positive is there as well. All too often we forget to seek it out, but it is out there.

Once you open yourself to finding the Simple Joys that are all around, you will find them. Think of it as a leap of faith… believe and you will be surrounded by Simple Joys.

Trust me, I practice what I write daily!

And now, without further ado, is this week’s Simple Joys.

New Sandwich Bread. Yes, you read that correctly. While at the market last week I saw a sale on some circular sandwich bread (think pita-shaped) that came in 8-Grain and Italian Herb. Both seemed delicious to me so I tried them.

My middle child is a bit finicky and always wants pre-packaged lunches that are marketed to kids but are overly expensive for what you get. I chided the child to trust me and I purchased this bread.

When I presented the sandwich to my son for lunch he was very good about trying it… and he loved it!

Pocket Thins by Arnold will now be in my cart and in my breadbox weekly! I also thought they were tasty, satisfied my lust for bread, and were thin thus less caloric. Win win all around!

Cub Scout Graduation. Pack 88 holds their annual Cub Scout Pack Graduation in May. As it is the time the Scout Dens are promoted to the next rank, it is a very special time.

My oldest son is now in his fifth and final year of Cub Scouts; he is a WEBELOS II. In February he and his Den mates will cross over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. Thus, this is his last May to attend the Pack 88 graduation and, as Den Leader, mine as well.

My middle son just became eligible to join Cub Scouts and attended the Pack graduation as an incoming Tiger Scout along with other eager little boys who were signed up at the recruitment earlier in the week. Standing by my son in a Den Leader’s uniform was my husband who, now that his schooling is over, is able to happily commit to the five years it will take to steer our son and his peers through the Cub Scout path.

Having at least the one year for the boys to overlap in Cub Scouts is a Simple Joy that we all relish!

Game Day. The boys are in Little League for the first time and are both enjoying their individual experiences.

My middle boy is in T-ball and, although they do not keep score as everyone gets to hit and run the bases, he is learning valuable skills and getting total pleasure out of the practices and games.

My oldest son has a more intense practice and game schedule being that his team is a Minor one. He tries very hard, pays attention, and wants to do well.

On Saturday, Game Day in our home as we’re at the fields for some six hours, my oldest and his team played a particularly close game. His first at bat of the day the pitcher hit him (by accident) so my son took his base. Through the course of play he kept advancing bases and finally made it home – he scored a run!

After a long game that ended with a 14-13 loss for our team, Coach took a moment when we had packed up to leave to tell my boy what a good job he did; that although we'd lost the game he had a personal best and he was steadily improving. His words of encouragement meant so much to my boy and me!

Game Day continues to be a source of endless Simple Joys for our family and this one in particular will stand out for a lifetime!

National Anthem. My children have grown up in a home where the "Star Spangled Banner" gets played and properly respected. From baseball games to Cub Scout events and from public venues to our television set, my children know the proper way to listen and honor this song.

My youngest child, my daughter, was watching the start of the Bojangles’ Southern 500 from Darlington Raceway on Saturday night with the rest of us. My husband and the boys were talking about something when the Anthem came on air. I turned the sound up to get their attention. When my husband looked up he saw our 2 ½ year old daughter standing at attention with her tiny, precious little hand over her heart.

No one had staged her that way, she just now instinctively knows that that is how to conduct herself for the playing of our National Anthem.

We were not only bursting with pride, but the tears of welled up emotion that sprang forth added to our immense and powerful Simple Joy.

He did it! After two undergraduate degrees earned as an adult, my husband realized he still needed to continue his education to earn his Master’s Degree. In his field and the need to remain highly marketable, it was the right thing to do.

The sacrifice of time was enormous, but my husband always made himself available to the children and me.

After literally his entire adult life in school, my husband graduates with his Master’s in Environmental Engineering today.

Congratulations! We, your family, are so very thankful for and proud of you, Honey!

Having this chapter of his life successfully completed and knowing he is free to pursue other interests (Cub Scouts for one) is a life-altering Simple Joy!

Whether huge and transcendent like scoring a run or finishing formal schooling or totally just pleasant like finding a new sandwich bread, Simple Joys come in all shapes and sizes.

Each one gets deposited into the happiness bank that keeps us running when times are not as easy.

I wish you all a day and week filled with Simple Joys!

Please join me back here tomorrow as I wax poetic on yet another topic on Chief 187™Chatter.

Monday Media Blog-Prom

Welcome to the Monday Media Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.

As the days grow ever longer, the mercury rises, and the school year winds down, Prom is on the mind of millions of teenagers across the country.

A rite of passage, a delineation of underclassman to upperclassman and a formal that is the pinnacle of the high school experience, Prom is still an event to remember for a lifetime for many.

Whether you attended your Prom(s) or made a decision to not attend for various reasons, it is still a memory either way.

I grew up in the 1980s when teen movies were mainstays in the theaters.












I begged my mother to buy me the Seventeen Magazine Prom Edition, a tome that had a rainbow of prom fashions amongst its pages.

Since I was a pre-teen I poured over each year’s issue, day-dreamed about the “perfect” dress, date, and experience.

I was lucky enough to attend two proms, one as a freshmen and one for my last year in high school.









I definitely did well with the dresses and actually did score the “perfect” date both times, but the experience itself was never like the movies!

Regardless, the movies captured my imagination, stoked my passionate fires, and forever romanticized high school prom to me.

This week’s focus, if it wasn’t obvious enough, is favorite movie(s) featuring prom. Prom need not be the only plot, but prom must be featured or mentioned in the movie to qualify for this prompt.

Can you identify the young man in each of my prom pictures? Leave your answer in the comments section!

Please join me tomorrow for the ever-popular and mood lightening Simple Joys on Chief 187™Chatter.

Friday Music Blog-South Carolina & More

Welcome to the Friday Music Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.

As NASCAR descends on South Carolina to “The Track Too Tough to Tame”, Darlington Raceway, there are myriad music topics flitting about my brain.

The obvious start for this week’s focus is songs about South Carolina, that have (South) Carolina in the title or lyric, or are performed by South Carolinians.

Another topic eligible for this Friday Music Blog is songs that have the word “Lady” or “Black” or “Tough”.

I eagerly await your responses!

My hope is that you will continuously check up on this blog throughout the day and weekend as people add their selections all along. In fact, as I’ve stated often on Fridays, weekends are an ideal time to catch up on the week’s posts at Chief 187™Chatter, or peruse the archived articles here.

Tantalizing Thursday posts supply great ideas for dinner, entertaining, or weeknight ease. Each recipe has easy-to-find ingredients, is rather simple to prepare, and yields a pleasing finished product that should be well received by most taste buds.

By typing “Monday Movie Blog” or “Monday Media Blog” in the search feature located in the upper left hand side of the page you will find a plethora of movie, television, and video game titles to inspire you for choice watching/playing.

And by scouring my Simple Joys, Wednesday free-style posts, and Friday Music Blogs you can laugh, cry, reminisce, remember great tunes or find brand new ones to add to your collection.

Each day at Chief 187™Chatter offers a tiny gem to behold.

Wishing all of the Moms a very Happy Mother’s Day including my mom and my mother-in-law!

I invite you to join me again on Monday for the start of another week of fresh, new, and original posts at Chief 187™Chatter.

Tantalizing Thursday-South Carolina

Welcome to Tantalizing Thursday on Chief 187™Chatter.

NASCAR is entering South Carolina to race at “The Track Too Tough to Tame”, Darlington Raceway.

In honor of racing in this great state, I’m pulling out all of the stops and calling for my good friend Chef Eddie’s most devastatingly delicious dish yet with the main ingredient being shrimp.

On the coast South Carolina is known for their low country cuisine and shrimp is the main ingredient.

Chef Eddie insists this recipe for shrimp is potent enough to dazzle your date and net you dessert afterwards…

He suggests this for your “Lady in Black”.

Slam Bam Shrimp
Recipe by Chef Eddie

Ingredients:

16 Medium Shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
6 tsp. Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
3 tsp. Sriracha sauce (This can light ya up, reduce to 1 or 2 tsp. if you prefer less heat)
1 tsp. Rice vinegar
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1/2 Cup Corn Starch


Directions:

In a bowl combine mayonnaise, sweet Thai chili sauce, Sriracha chili sauce and rice vinegar. Whisk together until well combined, set aside.

Soak shrimp in bowl with milk. Prepare a bowl with panko bread crumbs and another with corn starch. Dredge the shrimp in the corn starch, then again in the milk and finally in the panko bread crumbs, set aside.

Heat a large skillet of oil until it reaches 300 degrees. Drop shrimp in and fry until golden brown. Remove from oil with a slotted spoon. Drain fried shrimp on plate lined with paper towels.

In a large bowl combine fried shrimp with prepared sauce until evenly coated. I usually serve it over rice or any kind of pasta.

Feel free to alter any way you like according to your taste.



Since I’ve met Chef Eddie he’s been telling me about this dish that is so dang tasty that it rivals life’s greatest pleasure! You be the judge!


An excellent starter for Chef Eddie’s amazing shrimp entrée would be a version of South Carolina’s renowned She Crab soup.



South Carolina She-Crab Soup
Recipe found on http://allrecipes.com/recipe/south-carolina-she-crab-soup/detail.aspx
Provided By: SOWEN
"This soup is a staple for all of us living on the South Carolina coast. Here is my take on the soup that I think is outstanding! Enjoy!"

Ingredients:

• 5 tablespoons butter
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 small white onion, grated
• 1 stalk celery, grated
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 quarts half-and-half cream
• 1 pint heavy cream
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 1 pound lump crabmeat
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1/2 cup sherry wine


Directions:

1. Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Stir in flour to make a smooth paste, and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Mix in the onion, celery, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook and stir for about 4 minutes.
2. Gradually whisk in the half and half cream so that no lumps form. Stir in chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, and pour in half of the sherry. Season with dill, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until soup has reduced by 1/3. Add crabmeat, and simmer for another 10 minutes.
3. Ladle soup into bowls, and top off with a splash of the remaining sherry and a sprinkle of fresh chives.


Excellent to begin a meal or a great main course with some oyster crackers and a tossed salad, She Crab soup is versatile and sinfully delicious.



We’ve explored the South’s staple libation once before, but it seems every southern state claims a recipe. Here’s the one I found for South Carolina.

South Carolina Sweet Tea
Recipe found on http://allrecipes.com/recipe/south-carolina-sweet-tea/detail.aspx
Provided By: Deanna Ross
"Remember, this is the south where simplicity is the secret to most recipes. Follow this to the 'T' and you will have sweet tea, Sand Lapper (South Carolina) style."

Ingredients:

• 3 family size tea bags
• 2 cups white sugar


Directions:

1. Using an electric coffee maker, Place the 3 tea bags in the strainer basket (not in the pot). Brew the tea as you would coffee. Pour the sugar in a gallon pitcher. Pour in the hot tea. Continue to run coffee maker with the tea bags until you have enough tea to fill the pitcher. Allow to cool completely at room temperature, and then refrigerate.



Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13th so I’d be remiss if I didn’t remember Moms specifically.

For dessert, treat Mom to a favorite treat – ice cream! I’ve found a “recipe” that dresses the ice cream up for this special occasion!


Ice Cream Tartlets
Recipe found on http://busycooks.about.com/od/frozendessertrecipes/r/icecreamtartlet.htm
By Linda Larsen, About.com Guide

Ingredients:

• 2 (6-count) packages graham cracker tartlet shells
• 6 cups various flavors of ice cream
• Ice cream toppings
• Chopped nuts, fruit, sprinkles

Preparation:

Spoon about 2 teaspoons ice cream topping in the bottom of each tartlet shell. Top with ice cream, pressing slightly so the topping is visible around the edges of the ice cream. Freeze until firm, then serve with remaining toppings.

Serves 12

Some favorite combinations include:
• Marshmallow sauce (not marshmallow creme) topped with strawberry ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce.
• Hot fudge sauce topped with mint ice cream, drizzled with more hot fudge sauce.
• Hot fudge sauce and peanut butter, topped with chocolate chunk ice cream.
• Caramel sauce topped with caramel fudge ice cream, topped with chocolate sauce.



Now that is a very sweet way to honor Mom on her special day!


Wishing all of my fellow NASCAR fans a fun-filled Darlington Weekend!

Wishing all the Moms a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Please join me tomorrow for the week-ending and ever-popular Friday Music Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.