STEPHANIE’S CHIC
ON THE CHEAP

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

I included this last year in Daymaker – and I love the fun of it so much, thought it worthy of a do-over!

So the story goes:

A young man, John, received a parrot as an early Christmas gift.  The parrot had a very bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.  Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

John tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to ‘clean up’ the bird’s vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and yelled at the parrot.  The parrot yelled back.

John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder.

John, in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer.  For a few minutes, the parrot squawked, kicked and screamed.

Then suddenly it was total quiet.  Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arm and said, “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions.

“I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.”

John was stunned at the changes in the bird’s attitude.

As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke very softly, “May I ask what the turkey did?”

~ Courtesy and with permission poeticexpressions.co.uk
Thanks Mike and the Team!

CHRISTMAS GIFTS
OF GOOD TASTE
FABULOUS-FLAVOR BUTTERS

These 3 become 1 impressive gift!  Garlic Butter and Chili Butter slices are excellent on pasta, rice, baked potatoes, veggies, on top of a steak or fried eggs in the morning.  Place the 3 with “Tootsie Roll” twists with a piece of colorful ribbon on both sides and tuck all inside a pretty little bag – (think treat bags) from a local artsy-hobby store.

HERE’S HOW WE MAKE THEM:

ROASTED GARLIC BUTTER

• 2 sticks salted butter, room temperature
• 3 large, whole heads of garlic
• 1 TBSP olive oil
• dash of salt and pepper on each head

PREHEAT OVEN TO 375*

1.  Peel away any excess outer papery skin from garlic heads
2.  Slice a thin layer of the “crown” off so fresh garlic cloves are exposed
3.  Place individual garlic heads on pieces of foil (enough foil so you can wrap them up tightly)
4.  Drizzle 1 tsp olive oil on the top of each garlic head
5. Wrap heads tightly with foil and bake 30-45 minutes
6. Remove from oven, open foil and let cool slightly
7.  Gently squeeze roasted garlic cloves out of their peeling onto a plate.  Mash with a fork
8.  In a medium mixing bowl, blend butter, mashed garlic, salt and pepper with a hand mixer until well combined
9. Place enough of butter mix on a length of foil, roll into a 1 1/2″ cylinder, squeezing to gently remove air pockets.  Twist foil ends like a “Tootsie Roll”
10.  Refrigerate until ready to gift.  And let the recipient know to keep in fridge as well

CHILE BUTTER

1.  2 sticks of butter, room temperature
2.  1 TBSP each, dark chile powder and smoked paprika
3.  Blend butter and chile powders in medium mixing bowl with a hand mixer
4.  see steps #9 and #10 from above

CINNAMON VANILLA BUTTER

Excellent on waffles, pancakes, toast, biscuits

1.  2 sticks butter, room temperature
2.  2 TBSP powdered sugar
3.  2 tsp cinnamon
4. 1/2 tsp good quality vanilla
5.  Blend butter with sugar, cinnamon and vanilla in medium bowl with a hand mixer
6.  Add 2 TBSP festive colored sugar sprinkles and mix with a fork
7.  See steps #9 & #10 from above