SWEET YELLOW CORNBREAD

 I am so thankful for my Neutrogena® Rainbath® Shower and Bath Gel after a stressful day at work.   Thanks to @Neutrogena for sending me these products #GotItForFree.  The wonderful bath and shower gel help relax me as it is smoothing my skin.  It forms a rich lather to cleanse and condition without that heavy residue film.

Neutrogena® Rainbath® Shower and Bath Gel are available in five amazing scents.  It is nice to be able to pick from either Original, Pear & Green Tea, Pomegranate, Ocean Mist or Fresh Plum.  I love to use the Pomegranate in the morning and it keeps me fresh throughout the day.  I relaxed with a long bath at night with the Ocean Mist and I felt like I was on the beach.  Honestly, all the scents are just simply wonderful.

You will want to try these products. Neutrogena® products are recommended by dermatologists and are safe for your skin.  #RelaxwithRainbath after a long hard day or use these gels for shaving your legs.  These gels will keep your legs silky smooth and refreshing.

P.S.  These wonderful gels would make a great stocking gift for your friends, family, co-worker’s.   You can find them at your local #Walgreens.  Just look for the Neutrogena® Rainbath® Shower and Bath Gel in the bath and body section.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Today Greg and I had a blast attending the 2018 Arkansas Cornbread Festival benefiting the wonderful local district - SOMA.  South On Main is a wonderful area filled with great local shops, art, music and some great food!  The weather was perfect for this year's Festival!

We visited all the local booths to sample some of the best cornbread around!  From Sweet Yellow Cornbread, Jalapeno Cornbread, Spicy, Buttermilk and believe it or not...Crawl Fish Cornbread was on hand to try and win the prize.

The Root Cafe had the best cornbread to offer for both Greg and I.   In fact, they took first place for the Professional Cornbread and side item.   I hope that it is offered at the cafe on a daily basis.

The Festival had some wonderful vendors that showcased their artwork, jewelry, crafts and treats to purchase.  There were also many food trucks throughout Main Street offering some great food choices.   Of course, you have to grab a wonderful cone from Loblolly Creamery.  I decided to try the pumpkin cheesecake with dark chocolate sorbet as the top dip.  It was amazing!

As we ventured down the street sampling all the variety of cornbread and fixins' we stumbled upon the Walgreen's Booth located right outside their corner store.   I hadn't had the chance to get my flu shot yet, so we went inside and within 10 minutes I received my flu vaccine.   

This Festival was well organized and is a great local community event!   If you didn't make it this year, be on the lookout for next year's event.   

We get tired of making the fast food runs at lunch at our office.  We also get tired of the same 'ole thing over and over.

I am so glad that we have our oven (Betsy) here at work.  I also have brought in a crock-pot, griddle and lots of kitchen gadgets throughout the years to use when cooking or baking for my co-worker's.

Brandi (our new admin/front desk) says she isn't much of a cook.  I am trying to find things that I can teach her to make that would be easy for her.   She has a little three year old girl so teaching her to make some great little food items will help them both out.

Today's menu I called French Bread Bruschetta Pizza Appetizers.   These were delicious and didn't take long to make.   I made 21 of these and they were inexpensive to make for our crowd.

I started out with purchasing fresh French Bread from the Walmart Bakery.   They make bread loaves hot and fresh each morning and are only $1.00 a loaf!  This time I added a little mild sausage crumbs and bacon to each one.  If you have been following my recipes and blog you know that I always pre-soak the roma tomatoes in avocado olive oil, garlic pepper, salt & pepper.   While you are slicing the french bread you can let the tomatoes soak.   This makes a big difference and really brings out the flavor.

Here's the Recipe:

Ingredients:

2 Loaves French Bread
2-3 Roma Tomatoes
1/4 cup Wishbone Avocado Olive Oil
Lowry's Garlic Pepper
Salt/Pepper
1 pkg Jimmy Dean Pre-cooked Sausage Crumbles
10-12 slices Oscar Mayer Pre-Cooked Bacon
1/2 cup - 1 cup of Pasta Sauce (I use Bertolli)
Chopped white onion (just about a half cup)
1 cup Kraft Mozzarella Cheese
1 cup Kraft Parmesan Cheese
Margarine 

To Make:

Preheat Oven to 400 Degrees

Spray Large Cookie Sheets with Pam Spray  - (It took 2 large sheets for the 21 pieces I made)

Put 8-10 slices of the Jimmy Dean -Pre cooked Bacon in Microwave for approx. 30 seconds and then pat off grease.  Crumble into bits.

Slice Tomatoes and chop - Put in bowl and put the white onion, a few pinches of the Lowry's Garlic Pepper, salt/pepper (a pinch of each) and 1/4 cup of Wishbone Avocado Olive Oil and let soak.

Slice French Bread into quarter slices (not to thin or not too thick) and lay about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
Spread a little margarine over each slice of bread
Spread a teaspoon of your Pasta Sauce on top of the Butter Bread 
Sprinkle a pinch of Mozzarella Cheese on each slice
Top with a half of Teaspoon of the pre-soak tomatoes on each one 
Top with A Teaspoon of the pre-cooked Sausage Crumbles on each one
Top with a few pinches of the Oscar Mayer Bacon Bits
Add a few more pinches of the Mozzarella Cheese
Add a few pinches of Parmesan Cheese to each

Bake at 400 Degrees until cheese is melted and bread is toasted.   Approximately 10-12 minutes.    

These were delicious and we had them as our lunch meal.   However, these would make great party appetizers for your upcoming Holiday Parties!    I will post this recipe under the Appetizer section of the Blog so it will stay up.

Enjoy!

One of my favorite morning breakfast sandwiches is without a doubt the Egg & Cheese Croissant from Panera Bread.  There is no need for any meat on this beautiful sandwich.  I have been stopping in the Panera on my morning drive down Cantrell for 10+ years.   Located at Pleasant Ridge this location is where I am known the most.

I am greeted by wonderful smiles and laughter each morning.   If these awesome folks won't jump start your morning out right, "then Houston you have a problem."

When I stopped in one morning last week to get my favorite croissant, I got a surprise.  I jumped about ten feet.   It seems that the General Manager saw me coming and decided to give me a pre-Halloween scare.   

Meet Travis Moser

This photo says it all.   Travis has been with Panera for over ten years.   I think he has rotated throughout the Little Rock/North Little Rock area a few times.   He is fun and brings me lots of laughter.

I met Travis when I had to show him how to make the best sweet tea.   That is, when Panera use to make sweet tea.   I have no idea why they decided to drop good 'ole southern sweet tea.  I use to make sure that it is stirred and the sugar didn't settle to the bottom.  Also, it is important to wash out that large container so that it doesn't become sour.   The tea needs to be switched out every couple of hours so that it remains fresh at all times.   Maybe that is why they decided to bring in those "froo froo" teas and drop the sweet tea.   I forgave them and still stop in to get my egg and cheese croissant.   Be sure and grab one of those delicious pastries shown for only .99 cents with a purchase of a meal.

Panera Bread - Pleasant Ridge is located at:  11525 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR 72212

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 I stopped in this morning to the brand new Starbucks in Little Rock for their Grand Opening.  This is a fresh new look for the Starbucks.   The modern design is spacious and has beautiful wall graphics among other features.   There is plenty of working room for the Barista's to make our custom drinks.

Crystal (my friend and favorite Barista) has moved to this location so I want to make sure she felt welcomed to the neighborhood.   Our office is just down the street from this wonderful new design. I had my favorite custom "Patty" smoothie.   

Gabe was there from the Kavanaugh location to lend a helping hand for their first opening.  I was introduced to Tracy, the Store Manager.   Tracy has been with Starbucks' for a little over two years.   Tracy moved to the new location from the Little Rock Cantrell & Mississippi store.  Tracy is full of smiles and is top-notch when it comes to Customer Service.  ​

Sitting on my TV stand in my bedroom is the original release of A Star is Born with Kristofferson and Streisand.  That it is utmost favorite movie of all time. Not only was the music just absolutely perfect the chemistry between the two was perfection.

When I starting season the previews of the new release I absolutely couldn't wait.   I was already a fan of both  Bradley Cooper and Gaga, so I was so excited to see them make my favorite movie of all time!

​I pre-ordered the tickets via Fandango a month ahead.  AMC at Chenal Promenade premiered the movie on Thursday Night @ 7:00.  This was the first showing in Little Rock.  I wasn't surprised that the Premier night wasn't full due to the fact that I didn't hear any ads for the movie.

Greg and I both love movies and music so off we went.  The movie reached beyond any expectations that we both had.   The chemistry between Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga will give you chill bumps.  Bradley Cooper's voice is perfect for the character.  I don't think that any other actor could have pulled it off in this modern age.  Ladies..........he can sing!   Those baby blue eyes will give you chills.   Lady Gaga is so genuine in this movie.   I imagine she is much like Alli, the character she plays.   The song choices for the movie and breathtaking.  

The scenes are familiar as the one with Streisand and Kristoferrson.  I am glad they left the similarities.  This is what made the movie perfect to me.   This movie will make you laugh, cry and you will leave with chill bumps.   The last song in the movie is spectacular with the full orchestra coming into the song.   I am quite certain this movie will have Oscar and Grammy nominations.

Friday at the office, I couldn't stop talking about the movie.  I rushed to download the soundtrack and I think I have played it 20-30 times.  When I got home from work last night I told Greg that I am going back to see it again tomorrow,  if I go myself, I am going again.   And again, I did go.  In fact, he decided to go with me the second go around.   We both enjoyed it as much as the first night.   I probably will see it again a few times before it goes to DVD. 

P.S.  I might be a little obsessed.
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