Pinterest Button

My newest obsession is Pinterest. I could literally spend 12 hours a day on there looking at all the things I will never cook, wear or create. I am a great cook, but I suck at crafting. I've even been called a "craft klutz". I was not a bit offended, believe it or not--that's how bad I am. But a girl can dream!
I just installed the "Pinit" button on here and am trying to figure out how/where to install the "Follow Me on Pinterest" button in the HTML code. You will want to follow me because I pin some kick*** stuff!! I don't really want it coming out of The Diva's mouth or something equally hideous, so I will have to ask my trusty media analyst, Kalee "Rachel Rage" Wombacher.
This is a delicious dish I discovered on Pinterest. In the future I promise I will cite the page/source of the recipe-this person deserves some recognition!

Pesto Ranch Pasta

16 oz, penne pasta, cooked
1/2 C Ranch dressing
1/4 C prepared pesto sauce
16 oz. fresh asparagus (woody stem parts snapped off), cut into bite sized pieces
2 C mozzerella cheese, shredded and divided

Stir pasta, dressing, pesto sauce and 1/2 C mozzarella together and place in a greased
9" x 13" casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until heated through. Turn oven to "Broil" and continue cooking 3-4 minutes (until the cheese is golden brown)

Enjoy!

'

The University of Kansas

 

Tonight, my beloved Jayhawks are playing for the National Championship. I feel such a strong attachment to that school, sometimes I feel as if no one on the planet could ever love the Jayhawks as much as I do. Then I remember there were thousands of people who graduated before and after me and I relent....a bit. I don't paint my face crimson and blue and believe it or not I have never owned a KU t-shirt (Hey-- they were hokey back in the 70's!), but ask my family, you will travel far and wide to find a more loyal fan. Especially when it comes to KU basketball. Why just the other night Calvin texted Amy telling her we were leaving the bar where we were watching the game, and she said "Why, is Mom getting too rowdy?" LOLOL!

 

I am a 3rd generation Jayhawk-my grandfather Bob was an SAE (I believe), my mom was a DG and I was a GDI :) (I pledged GPB @ WSU in '80) and when my daughter decided to attend, she became the 4th generation Jayhawk in our family. I have never been so proud of anything in my life.

 

I will never forget a fall day when I couldn't have been more than 8 or 9 years old, sitting by Potter's Lake with my family (my brother was a Figi) having a picnic and deciding right then and there I would go to college at KU. There was never ever any doubt in my mind I would go anywhere else.

Then in 1978, I packed all my stuff and headed up the highway with my parents and my (then)boyfriend-who btw cried the entire time--I knew that relationship was doomed. I was crying for different reasons. I knew I had always planned on going away, I just didn't know I was going to do it alone. Most of my friends were going to school elsewhere, and I was, for the first time in my life, going to be on my own. I was thrilled and scared beyond belief at the same time--emotions I had never experienced. And I was going to share a room with 3 strangers -shoot-- I'd never even had to really live with siblings!

When I arrived at Corbin Hall, unpacked, settled in and everyone had gone home, I stared out my window at all the girls moving in, wondering if anyone was feeling as lonely as I did. Then, of course, the hustle and bustle of dorm life kicked in and the 4 of us decided we needed to get out of that room and scout out our new surroundings.

For the first time in my life I was Nancy Bell. Not any one's daughter, or sister, or whatever. Not expected to act any certain way, or say the "right" thing, just me. It was a feeling of exhilaration that was new as well. (lot's of 1sts that day!) 

KU saved my life. For reasons only some of you know, I had to get away from Wichita and had it not been for college, who knows what might have happened to me. Lawrence became my home--I "visited" Wichita on breaks, glad to see my family and friends, but always eager to get back. 

I will be forever grateful to KU for helping me find Nancy Bell and for that reason alone, I will always believe I am the biggest fan ever. 

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK GO KU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I received a notification that I had  new follower....someone who's opinion/view I value....and I realized I hadn't posted anything since December.....Thanks Jennifer for inadvertently giving me that kick in the a** I needed!
What's been happening since December? <-----I mulled over that statement for 15 minutes and realized  my life desperately needs some za za zoo! let's see if i can recap:

We went on a cruise to the Bahamas--had a FABULOUS time!
Writing a new cookbook!! Will be out in October~~can't wait!
Son went to college--yeah!
Adjusting to "Empty Nest syndrome"--not so well
MIL passed away--:((

I am putting a reminder on my calendar to post once a week.....hopefully it will be more often, but if my life doesn't get any more interesting, I may have to assume my secret identity and stir up some real excitement!

TTFN

The last post from 2010

Allright I admit it-I am a bad blogger! My last post was November 9th~~I think I am hesitant to post more often because I foolishly believe I have to be fricking hilarious every time I write. I know, I know.....(banging head againt wall).....
Things will be different in 2011~My daughter and I are going to attempt to blaze a new trail for ourselves and I am going to blog about it .Can't reveal the all details quite yet....just suffice it to say there will be 2 ultra foxxxxy chicks in Doo-dah soon! AND Yes Virginia...there will be a Dish Diva 2 :)
Don't know details, theme or focus yet--but (hopefully) it will be out in time for the holidays next year.
I had a fabulous Christmas this year! My parents are ailing, and my siblings were sick, so it was mostly just us Ringers. This is the first time I can remember in my 50 years that we haven't gotten together with my parents for dinner. New traditions are in the making.
My hopes for 2011 are simple-continued good health and mental well-being.
My dream for 2011-a call from Paula Dean/Ina Garten/Ree Drummond --they've seen The Dish Diva and need an executive assistant!

I wish for all of you a Happy and Healthy 2011...xoxox

TTFN

Christmas Cookie Rules

1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.

2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.

3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calories free, (rule #1) yours is also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone and, being the friend that you are, that makes your cookie calorie free.

4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.


5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have three and green ones have five - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!


7. Cookies eaten while watching "Miracle on 34th Street" have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage


9. Any cookies consumed from someone elses plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!


I found this on a recipe site and thought is was HIGH-larious! It reminds me of my grandmother (the one who taught me how to cook) who always said: "Any food scraped out of a dish/bowl with your first two fingers doesn't count"...My mom said she could scrape about a fist full of food with those two fingers!
 
TTFN

FunkyTown is now without a Mayor!

The Mayor of Funkytown has resigned~I do not know what has been going on with me the past few weeks, but today it's O-fficial--I was so funked I didn't feel like baking cookies to sell at the Holy Cross Bazaar yesterday. And I will do almost anything for a buck !  :))
The bazaar was a great success~they had some competition from the Magdalen holiday market, but for only their second year in existence, it seemed to be well received. I sold lots of  cookbooks and saw some people I haven't seen for years. The vendors at these markets are always sooo nice and helpful...
I am making Chicken Chili for dinner tonight--let's hope it gets cold enough to eat it--we may have to go outside to get "chilly"!
This week I am going on a marketing spree for The Diva. I tried to get a couple of store in Buhler to carry it-Adrian's said she would, but her cookbook is coming out this fall and.....I totally understand. Then I went into a salon/gift shop that was cute and funky, but they said they weren't interested...Bah Humbug....but this will not get me down. Even if no other cities than Wichita and Winfield carry my book, I have conquered my biggest fear: Approaching strangers and trying to sell them something. Joke 'em if they can't take a _ _ _ _ (you fill in the lines)
Speaking of Buhler, my new bff Tara (a/k/a Louise--or Thelma depending on the day) and I went to this thriving metropolis on Friday and had a blast!! We ate at Lavonns and I'm telling you it was the best lunch I've had in a long time~veronikas with ham gravy (yummy!) , sausage (yummy!) ,bierock (yummy!) , party potatoes (yummy!) and 3...YES 3 kinds of pie (chocolate cream, coconut cream and berry) YUM YUM and YUM
I had to bring 3/4 of it home but it was divine!!! And as soon as we entered the restaurant, the cook started giving us attitude--it just added more spice to the meal. :) They were very gracious hosts and were delightful to talk to.
For the rest of the day we drove around Doodah looking for fabulous estate sales (there were none) and belting out disco tunes from Syrius radio. I said I would NEVER pay for radio, but Friday almost changed my mind. The tunes were amazing~

I'm off to tend the chili....oh how I love fall

TTFN

October mania

I cannot believe it's been over a month since I posted something! Alot has happened in a month~~I turned 50....No big whoop except had a kick ass party @ El Rodeo with alot of good friends(and the little short one didn't lick my neck!!--trust me that's good news:)
Well, maybe not so much has happened, but it seems like I've been busy.
Baking a sh*&load of Halloween cookies.......
Starting an exercise regime.....
Well crap--my life has been pretty boring these past few weeks.

Maybe I should rename this post "Yawn"

Hopefully my funk will pass and I will be inspired to write something clever/interesting soon.....

Sorry folks....that's 2 minutes you will never get back....:))

TTFN