Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A Foodie’s Guide to Dinner-Part 2!!


Greetings Family!
Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful weather!! During my last blog I shared some foodie short cuts that I find helpful in my cooking life. I promised to share my favorite kitchen tools that I can’t live without. These tools make me feel like all of the next top chefs rolled into one lol! They help me feel like I am doing a live demonstration right in my kitchen. You can’t tell me I’m not cooking!!

Tongs-Let me tell you. These are THE best cooking utensil to have in your kitchen. (Thanks to my brother Douglas who gave them to me one Christmas!!) It is actually time for a new pair. They are just fabulous!! You don’t have to touch meat or fish with your hands and you don’t have to worry about getting burned because the long handle can go into the pan so your fingers don’t have to. You can easily pick up your food to transfer from pan to plate. You can use them when breading anything and no messy hands. Can you feel my love of the tong!! Most of all they make me feel like Chef Lynn lol!

Plastic sandwich and freezer bags-I honestly can’t live without these. They are the best storage solution for everything! I put leftover cut veggies from my salad in the sandwich bags. More convenient (and cheaper) than foil and seal keeps them fresh. Next salad all my veggies are together in the same bag. Veggies, onions, garlic, cut fruit; everything goes in a bag until next time. When I wash my fresh herbs I wrap them loosely in paper towel and then store in larger freezer bags in the fridge. I put salad dressing in them when bringing salad to work or anything with a dressing. Seal holds tight and I don’t have mushy food for lunch! Get the bags on sale family and I promise you will use them all the time. Oh yeah, I use them for sandwiches and snack foods too!

Glass and ceramic containers-Ok, are you noticing a “storage” theme here. I never met a leftover I didn’t like!! We shouldn’t really use the microwave people, (that’s a whole other blog!) but if you do you should never microwave plastic. Very bad for you. Toxins from the plastic containers go into your food. So…if you must, always use a glass container. I have some great round glass bowls with lids (Crate and Barrel only on sale or Target or Walmart!!) My other favorite storage would be from QVC!!!! The line is called Temptations and they are fab! This discovery is thanks to my wonderful Mother who has her own phone number for QVC lol! (Hope my Dad doesn’t read this!) Anyway, my Mom gave me a set when I got married and I have been adding to my collection ever since. They come in a variety of sizes and beautiful patterns and go from freezer, to oven, to table, to fridge. Can’t beat that.

Mini chopper-I have had my chopper for so long and surprised it still chops!! I am not taking about a Cuisinart I am taking about a mini chopper with two speeds that you can get in Walgreens for $19.99! Perfect for garlic, onions and celery or herbs!!

Well family these are just some of my kitchen favs. Hope you find them helpful and happy cooking!!

Donna

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Spring Season



Happy Spring Pooka Family! Ahhhhh...Springtime for me means going to the Cherry Blossom Festival at Branch Brook park, getting my first pedicure of the season, preparing for the Pooka Spa Foot Soak Workshop (save the date its going to be the first Saturday in May) and it also means going to the theater in New York. This season I dragged my husband over to the City to see a new play on Broadway starring Chris Rock, Bobby Cannavale (Will & Grace and Third Watch) and Annabella Sciorra (Jungle Fever). The name of the play is called, "The Motherf**ker with the Hat" Yea.crazy name, right? Well, let me tell you, the play was really good. At first I wasn't sure how good it would be. I mean of course you have Chris Rock and yes, he's hilarious, but the subject matter these characters take on is very serious. Well, I must say I really enjoyed the play! It was funny and serious when it needed to be. If you get a chance go and check it out.

Happy Spring Pooka Family!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Wagon Trail

Okay this was funny to me and I had to share it! Recently I started working part-time for a national retailer, the company seeing my natural enthusiasm placed me in a customer service position. So today I'm at work and a woman called saying that she couldn't walk and that she would need the "wagon". The "wagon" is a motorized cart that a person can ride in comfortably while shopping. Of course I was asked to go and retrieve the woman by riding in the cart to her car. Okay so I'm having fun zipping through the store (it only goes about 2mph) and out into the parking lot. I find the woman in her car and proceed to help her into the wagon and into the store. She shops and when shes ready to leave I have to go with her to get the wagon back. I go back with her to her car and it starts to rain, so of course in my head I'm like " Come on lady!" while she keeps moving slowly getting off of the wagon. I jump back into the wagon just as the skies open up and a tsunami hits. Wind, rain and I'm hunched over trying to make the wagon go faster which of course it can't! As I round the corner going straight for the door, I hear a horn beeping and its the woman I just left almost running me over! She may not of been able to walk, but she doggone it was able to put the pedal to the medal! I was able to maneuver out of the way (it was a crazy slow motion turn)and she rolls down the window to ask me if I'm okay. AM I OK? REALLY? Nah Lady!
This may not be the job for me.....



Monday, April 11, 2011

New Pooka Wholesale Locations












We'd like to welcome our newest wholesalers to the Pooka Family!

1129 Oak Grove Road, Suite G
FOrt Worth, TX 76134
Mon - Thurs: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Fri - Sat: 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
1-817-568-8463

5145 Lake Ridge Pkwy,
Suite 115
Grand Prarie, Tx 75052

377 Marcus Garvey Blvd.
Brooklyn, NY 11221
Phone: (347) 770-8870


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Getting to know the Pookalitas! What is your favorite midnight snack?



What's your favourite midnight snack?





Peanuts and Raisins! When you eat them together its like a little peanut butter and jelly sandwich!







My favorite midnight snack is probably a cup of peppermint tea and a sweet treat!






My favorite has to be Goldfish, I can eat them all night and day long! Just don't tell the kids, because I tell them I buy the Goldfish for them!






Although I am a sweets person my favorite midnight snack is usually a bowl of cereal.





Whats your favorite midnight snack? (yes, we know you aren't
supposed to eat that late but sometimes ya need a little somethin)