The Lost Post: Homemade Tortellini Minestrone #Recipe

Momma Told Me: Life seldom goes as planned.

Growing up, Momma often told me "Life seldom goes as planned-" Now, this may seem like a bleak sentiment for a child, but I've come to learn it doesn't always have to carry a sense of the foreboding. Life is full of surprises, good and bad. It's one of the things that makes life worth living. And, while we are just in the 5th month of 2018, this year has proven an exemplary case.

Naturally, the true value in these unscheduled twists and turns is how we choose to view the circumstances. I'll be the first to admit the cacophony of events that have unraveled this first quarter have had me looking and feeling quite glum. I strive myself on being a very vibrant, positive, person- but even Piglet puts on Eeyore's clothes for a day when the scenery begins to look glum.

For example- when I was rear ended, at a dead stop, and my car was totaled on St. Patrick's Day I was devastated. Everyone I ran into insisted the experience should be positive, "Well, hey, you get to buy a new car!" they'd exclaim with a smile. But my back was a mess, and the insurance wasn't about to give me enough to replace my car with one of equal value, I now had no transportation to go and shop for a car, and there was the fact that my car was my baby- where was I going to find another Purple Turbo PT Cruiser? For weeks I let the negativity stack- January had been black mold, February was the great hard drive crash of 2016, March my car was totaled, and in April my grandfather was hospitalized in a stay he still continues. When will life stop raining on me?

For weeks I was very solemn. I slept strange hours or not at all. I felt no inspiration to create or write. And the lack of transportation had me feeling completely isolated and helpless.

But life seldom goes as planned-

And then I opened my laptop, to sort through the recovered files from my hard-drive back for family photos I could print and send to my father as a sign of support. And I found this folder of recipe shots from February 2nd. A post I had originally planned to share for Tortellini Day (February 13th,) edited and just sitting in a file in a subfolder on an external drive.

I can't claim that I had en epiphany over soup photos, I mean, they are nice photos- but something inside me kicked up that old phrase from my mother. The second half of her advice. "Life seldom goes as planned- the only thing you can control is how you choose to deal with it." Ironically, this goes hand in hand with one of her other favorite phrases- "It is what it is." A phrase I've come to adopt more recently. Sure, I could sit around feeling sorry for myself, or brewing negative thoughts in my head- but the only thing I'm really doing is punishing myself.

So, if you happen to be having a tough day, week, month, or year (like me) maybe Momma's advice can help. After all, you never know when the next very pleasant surprise is just around the corner....

And, without further ado- I present to you the 'Lost' Tortellini post-

I've never made pasta before.

In fact, it's something I can confidently say I felt rather secure in saying I never wanted to. I watch plenty of foodie shows, from professional cooking to home cook competitions and I know all to well, much like a soufflé, one tiny error in timing or measurement can be the difference between a hot mess or a hot success.

So, naturally, it was a silly national holiday- Tortellini Day that inspired me to try 2 things I'd never done before- homemade pasta (stuffed pasta at that) AND a homemade minestrone.

If you're like me and you've lived a life intimidated by the prospect of fresh made pasta, I'm here to say it is entirely doable. I did it on the first attempt.

Granted, I did cover my entire kitchen counter with flour and egg on my first attempt to 'hand mix' the dough. But, hey, I sure felt authentic pouring that egg into the center of a volcano of flour! Yes, your fingers will get impossibly sticky- keep at it, the mess will turn into a lump of dough. And, with proper kneading, you will actually be able to roll it out by hand.

If you're feeling a bit unsure just make sure to don an apron, and watch an Alton Brown video or two- you'll be rolling out fresh pasta in no time.

Of course you can choose to stuff your tortellini with a variety of things- In my world a stuffed pasta without cheese is no pasta at all- So I went with a delicious ricotta-parmesan spinach variation that will perfectly compliment the minestrone soup recipe I've paired with them. This makes the perfectly soft, creamy, tortellini texture really pop in the hearty vegetable soup broth.

I was again intimidated by the prospect of folding my pasta- First I decided on the proper size round cookie cutter and cut a few test circles out. I quickly learned I was not rolling the pasta thin enough- and my circles were not big enough to properly make the seams required to keep my filling from bubbling out when cooking.

A word to the wise- if you let your pasta sit out it will begin to dry and get 'scaly'- it's still edible, but might cook tougher or be hard to fold. To avoid this I cover my pasta dough/cutouts/sheets in a bowl with a damp towel.

To fold a tortellini is actually quite simple. 

Place your filling in the center of your pasta disc leaving about 1/2" from filling to edge. Dip your finger in egg wash and run it along the exposed edge of pasta. Fold your pasta in half to form a semi circle, pressing the seam together, using the egg wash as a binder. Next, pinching the two corners fold the corners in towards each other to form a crescent. Tuch the corners into the very middle- the outer edges should have naturally curled up to form a 'lip'.

The rest is pretty easy-

Whether you choose to cook your minestrone in a pot or a slow cooker, you'll want to store your tortellini in the fridge until about 5-10 minutes before serving. Since minestrone is a slow simmer soup- I enjoy making this recipe on a lazy afternoon, when I can take my time and really fill my home with amazing smells.

Here in Southern California, we've already had several "Summer" days, where the temperatures have kissed 100F. So it might seem odd that I'm sharing this Fall soup recipe- remember, this was supposed to go live in February. No worries though, it turns out the winds have been unusually cold here on the SoCal coast and I'll actually be making this recipe again this week. I'm sure plenty of my readers are wishing they had Summer weather- and this soup will come as the perfect cold weather comfort.

I do wish I'd made the broth a little thicker- and think I might add more tomato next time to really simmer down my stock base- thankfully there were plenty of fresh farmer's market veggies in the pot to really give this dish a  hearty, comfort food, feel without the weighing down of other dishes. Best of all, you can really customize the veggies to your family's personal preference, or simply what's freshest in season. The tortellini may seem like the star, but the flavors pop so much, every spoon really is a treat!

So there you have it- my first try at homemade pasta, ever.
 
It didn't turn out bad at all, I'd say. And the minestrone made more than enough to share with some family and friends- that's true comfort cooking at it's finest!

What Daughter Says: When life gets messy, make pasta!

Homemade Tortellini Minestrone

***Click here for printable Tortellini Minestrone recipe

A Woman Of Many Hats: Panda Love

Momma Told Me: Life's short, make cookies.

There's something about having a group of looming deadlines over my head that makes me want to rebel and spend the entire day in bed. Naturally, the subconscious part of me would never allow me to do such; my mind is always whispering in the back of my thoughts going over a never-ending checklist of goals and dates. My social life seems to have picked up a little this year, which I am thankful for, but with more social endeavors means a wider pocketbook, and so I have set out in search of a part time job (outside the home) to help get me out of the house and bring in a small amount of guaranteed income each month. It's something I've wrestled with for quite a while, since leaving customer service management when I got married some 4 years back. I miss the day to day interaction with others, working toward a common goal, and helping one another grow. I wear many hats, yes, even Panda hats, but a big portion of what I am passionate about is leading others and helping them be their own very best.

As anyone who has sought employment through the past few years knows, the job market isn't exactly clamoring for new employees. Most of the people who are actually hiring only have a single position, and a few have even told me I am over-qualified for a job. How's that for a polite let-down? When I used to hire we'd fight over applicants with a background, in hopes they'd eventually grow with the company and make a return on all of the training hours and money put into hiring them. But I digress, it will happen in it's own time, and in the interim I continue to comb the internet for a similar coaching position online with the various companies I already love and work for. Naturally, I will have to cut down on daily posts if I get a part time job outside the home, but rest assured I will not compromise my commitment to quality content that is engaging and fun to consume!

I mentioned earlier in the month I'd participated in a Secret Santa gift swap through a forum I participate in. The box I'd received had a delightful smattering of Panda themed gifts, including Panda glasses, and the 4-D cookie cutters I used to make the little sugar cookies above. I have the hardest time coloring sugar cookie dough to black, even adding the coloring to my liquid ingredients (anyone know a trick), so these are more Seafoam Green than anything, but cute none-the-less, right? Well, tomorrow I am off to the ISSE (International Salon and Spa Expo) in Long Beach with my brand new Karina dress. I hope to rock it like a #Frockstar and bring back some great sneak peeks at the hottest beauty products for 2014. Wish me luck!

What Daughter Says: Make cookies, but be sure to stop and enjoy them too!

10 Things You May Or May Not Know About The Writer Of This Blog- ME!

10.) I am obsessed with Pandas. I own 4 Panda hats, a full panda wardrobe including mittens, slippers, pants, and more, 3-D Panda cookie cutters, Panda glasses, and go by the nickname 'Panda' to friends and family. When I was a little girl I was obsessed with dolphins, circa 90's Flipper. Shortly before I met Jay I acquired a Panda Pillow Pet and the obsession began; ironically enough Jay has his own Black and White obsession, penguins.

9.) When my parents moved from the condo into our first 'house' I had frequent and vivid dreams of a glowing light coming through the vent in my bedroom. For a solid year I was convinced I was being visited by aliens on a regular basis. I no longer believe this to be true, but you also won't see me looking in any vents at night either.

8.) In the 3rd grade I was featured in the local paper within an article about 'bullies'. Sadly, I was the 'bully' in this text- something I do not recall in the slightest, but Momma was happy to send in an email late last year. I suppose parents really do keep 'everything'!

7.) My best friend from high school, whom I have known for 13 years now, lives just 4 miles away from my home. Unfortunately, I see her once a year if I'm lucky. I run into my old principal more often at the super market! When we were teenagers we would often communicate in animals. We would say nothing but animal names in front of my parents, just to really mess with them. It drove my father nuts.

6.) I graduated high school at the early age of 16 with an honorable dream in my heart of becoming a Video Game Arts and Design major. I promptly completed one year of schooling and dropped out. I'd decided that, while I loved creating, I didn't like being told what to create very much. I had a perfect attendance and grade standing. I often desire to go back to school simply to learn and grow more, with no specified direction of focus.

5.) When I was 2 I loved peas. Momma has told this to nearly any male I have ever brought before her. This sentiment is promptly followed by an explanation that I loved them 'so much' because I apparently did not chew them, as they came out quite in tact on the other end. Try looking your date in the eyes after that!

4.) The strangest food I have ever eaten was Shark Fin soup. I was a teenager and the Chinese mother next door had spent days simmering the broth from scratch. I quickly learned that this delicacy has a base composed of hundreds of dried shark fin dorsal needles that easily also make this the most interesting dish I have ever tried, texturally.

3.) My hair has been every color of the rainbow, and some shades together, all at once. When I was 13 I first dyed my hair blonde, then hot pink, with Momma's approval. Since then I have only seen my natural color in roots. I speculate it is close to an auburn hue, though I was bright blonde for the first 4 years of my life.

2.) I have 7 tattoos, the first of which inked at 18, and a full back piece of angel wings that were hand drawn by the artist, on my back, directly before inking. It took 6 straight hours, on a stool topless, in a tattoo parlor, with no pauses or breaks. My back piece, at age 18, the day after completion, is actually for sale in photograph form on a fine arts website.

1.) I was born just minutes before Momma's birthday, in New York. Her obstetrician was, at the time, in the same hospital giving birth to twins. Momma's only concern in that moment was that she did not have to share birthdays with me. I have since, shared my birthday with 2 others in my family, and 3 friends. Thanks Momma!

Our Holidays, Puppy Pajama Cuddles, + Gift Exchanges

Momma Told Me: Do the holiday hustle.

This year our holidays were very quiet. Most of our friends and family were scheduled to be out of state for Christmas, so we had made alternative plans, and even held our great Omaha Steaks feast of 2013 in November to compensate. As it turns out, life is often unpredictable, and everyone ended up right at home this week. Of course all of the gifts had been exchanged and unwrapped, and the tidings given, so Jay and I hunkered down for a simple holiday. The days leading up to Christmas we had chilling mid 70F degree weather with torrential, warm, Santa Ana winds. I got up early, as Jay left for work and began putting my house back together from 2013- there is much cleaning to be done. This resulted in a rather large donation of a new scooter, dozens of coats and blankets, and several large boxes of shelf stable food (couponer, remember) to the local church outreach program. In between I took turns napping with Truffles and Nora, and got my fair share of 'Winter' snuggles.

On Christmas Eve we trekked over to my father's house where the three of us opened gifts from family on the other side of the coast, and enjoyed a nice 'traditional' meal of Ribeye and Baby Back Ribs. We retired early so Jay could get enough sleep for his morning shift on Christmas Day. I woke up and completed my work, clean, cycle again. That evening we went across the street to enjoy a home cooked meal with Sabrina and her family, which involved watching the entire first 3 Disney 'Pirates' movies on cable television. All and all, fairly routine.

Of course, this year I was part of the Social Fabric, Collective Bias, blogger community (this month marking my year anniversary), so I also had the chance to participate in a few unique holiday events. The first, the Virtual Gift Exchange, allowed me to take a closer look at Cristi of Motherhood Unadorned. In my virtual gift post I explored the person behind the blog, and the causes that motivate Cristi to curate such a uniquely candid forum of acceptance and support, her blog. Needless to say, I've since become a reader, and highly suggest you check her out too!

I also participated in an Ornament Exchange through Social Fabric, in which I was paired up with fellow blogger Kim, of Mommie...Again and tasked with sending her a secret ornament. I was told her tree would be decorated in a burlap theme, with lots of black, beige, and white hues. I also learned, with a quick visit to her blog, that she lived in Texas and was very much into nature and crafting. After much deliberation I decided to send her a Snow Doe ornament I had found at Cost Plus World Market; it seemed to match a 'burlap' theme perfectly, while keeping with the rustic, handmade style Kim loved. I hope I did good!

On Christmas Eve day, I received a curious parcel in the mail from a holiday website; and quickly knew my ornament had arrived. It didn't take much sleuth work to determine this parcel was from Janet Krugel of Going Crazy!! Wanna Go??!!, her name was on the return address label. I think I'd told the 'form' when signing up for this swap that I loved animal prints, bright colors, and things that sparkled. Janet managed to find a set of ornaments that fulfilled all three, with these beautiful, slightly loud, Zebra Print, Hot Pink, Sparkle Globes. I also love the antiquing detail put into the top of these!

So, there you have it. All the wrapping paper is on the curb in the bin, and the thank you notes about to be written. 2014 is almost here and I have a lot to do to start the year off right. With BlogHer on my agenda, my first blogging conference, I'm certain the new year will mean big things for me. What are you looking forward to in 2014?

What Daughter Says: This morning, while laying in bed I thought, "I should start preparing for Valentine's." Is there, really, such thing as a holiday 'season'?

How A $7 Tan Lost A $55/Month Customer- Let's Talk Customer Service

**** All screen captures or photos below are property of Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

Momma Told Me: Consumer beware.

Sometimes I feel like I just may be the only sane one left.

Thankfully, the definition of 'sanity' and what is 'normal' vacillates widely between cultures and those defining. One particular topic, where I feel the perceived lunacy to be strongest, is in the field of customer service. We are a long ways away from 'The Customer Is Always Right,' Batman. In fact, I get the distinct sense that some companies and services actually take joy in aggravating the customer, especially in cases where the brand/service has already received the money/patronage of the customer. These companies, or those representing them, almost make it feel like they are entitled to our hard earned money, and to relinquish any part already surrendered would be wholly unfair under any circumstance. When did the practice of receiving quality customer service become equal to pulling teeth?

I'd like to consider myself a fairly happy consumer. I do my bit to help the economy through venues big and small, and patronize a wide range of establishments (from handmade to conglomerate). Sadly, I feel my customer service theory spreads from organizations of 1 to 1 million. The size of the business does not necessarily equal the quality of the commitment or presence of care. And brands seem much more eager to soothe potential customers concerns rather than those of the customers who have already paid and returned with a qualm or issue. There is one industry where this does not always ring true; where the customer can often be helplessly trapped in a downward spiraling experience, and have little control over the speed of remedy; food service.

Just last week I decided to swing into a fast service style, very well known, Asian food chain for lunch. It was 12:50, so I'd anticipated a rush, and anxiously waited my place in line for 18 minutes to place my order. This particular restaurant prepares all of their dishes in advance and serves them via heat trays. Now, mind you, I was on board with waiting nearly 20 minutes for my piping hot lunch under the conditions that my food would be promptly scooped into a Styrofoam container and handed to me at the end of my wait in line. Unfortunately, I had noticed the rice I order had been sitting, empty, since my arrival on the premises, and the server did not mind to call in for a fresh batch until it was ordered; by me. I stood there, perplexed, the employee with a bemused smile on her face,

"How long until the white rice is ready?" I asked, still hopeful there was a magic Panda in the back burping up large portions of steamed rice;

"5 minutes, what else do you want?" the server barked.

My mouth hung open, about to vent the past 20 minutes of frustration, only to snap shut. Clearly this employee did not understand the nature of her job, in the middle of a lunch rush; what good would me reiterating the situation do?

"What else do you want?" she barked again.

And, with a sharp turn on my heel I gave her an equally detached smile, "Nothing." and left the establishment.

Now, I realize that the average consumer might have grumbled under their breath and shuffled off to the side to wait for the hot food they'd already invested 20 minutes of their life towards. I know some think it crazy to have committed so much time already, only to walk away over another 5 minute wait. I understand the business was busy, but the tray did not run out while I was waiting, it ran out before I'd even entered the building. And the fact that I was quoted 5 minutes for a fresh batch, just calls, tells me there could have been piping hot rice waiting for me at the end of my wait. For me, it was the principle of not rewarding a business that so clearly demonstrated a lack of concern for the customer's time.

Flash forward to this past weekend.

I haven't tanned since my teens, and am in need of a simple base tan to even out my legs, to the rest of my body tone, for some upcoming formal events. I do some research (time on the consumer's part most businesses don't place value on), and discover the closest salon with a leg only tanning bed is in the town over (a 20 minute drive). On their website, under promotions, a sentence reads "Please fill out the form below, and as a new customer you will receive a FREE TAN, or the current Endless Summer PROMOTIONAL OFFER!" I proceed to fill out the form and promptly receive an email (text only), telling me to take my 'coupon' in for a FREE TAN.

So I mosey myself over to the next town and walk into the new salon to present the email (the only physical proof I have of my owed FREE tan for 'new customers.' The girl behind the counter looks perplexed. After a moment she explains that she will have to put a note on my account for the owner to add a free tan credit. I'm not pleased with this solution, as I understood my first tan was to be free, but agree and proceed to buy a $45 tanning lotion and $7 leg tan session.

Flash forward 2 days. I return to the salon and inquire about using the credit on my account. The girl behind the counter looks perplexed, "FREE tan?" I explain the situation again, and show the email on my phone once more.

She proceeds to pull up my account and call another associate over (both younger than me). They consult the screen as though it is a physics dissertation then the second looks at me and matter-of-factly barks, "Oh, you have to spend $100 to get a free Level 6 tan!"

"Excuse me?" I respond, voice cracking and almost in shock, "There was no mention of having to spend any money on your website, or in the email. Is that your 'current promotional offer,' because I read that to be a choice of free tan, or promotional offer?"

The associate furrows her brown and sighs, clearly annoyed that I am questioning this further, "No, we simply don't give out free tans, you have to spend $100 to get a level 6 tan!"

Biting my lip I feel my blood beginning to pump. Not only had there been no specification of a 'level 6' tan, or any designated type of tan, but there certainly had been no mention of spending $100 when I decided to drive 20 minutes from home to frequent a salon in the next town over. Not to mention, their had been no confusion over my 'free' tan on my first visit. To top it off, I had initially been quoted $55 a month for a regular membership, a full $22 more than the nearest competitor with the same equipment. I attempted to explain that, by honoring their advertised offer (the free tan for new customers), it would cost them nothing (after all the machines do all the work), and they would keep their new customer happy and returning.

Both girls seemed confused by this explanation, and proceeded to ask me what service I would like to pay for, today.  Biting my lip once more, I proceeded to leave the salon and drive to the next closest one with applicable equipment. There I paid $22 less/month for the same service AND was offered a free tan. Not only did the first tanning salon lose out on an over-priced $55/month customer, but my word of mouth in our county will not be good. I am also debating reporting them to the Better Business Bureau, over a $7 tan that would have cost them nothing to provide me, as promised!

Do you walk away from poor service, or do you think some bad service is simply 'inevitable'?

What Daughter Says: Consumers are empowered with instant price matching and visual shopping, thanks to modern mobile technology. Why would anyone settle for less than great prices and great service?

Saturday State of The Woof: Family Update

Momma Told Me: Live like there's only one shoe left to chew on.

Do you ever just have one of those weeks? Months? Years? Sometimes life can get a little tricky to navigate, but I honestly feel like it's just another challenge- double dog dare obstacles meant to be conquered and triumphed over. I've never really turned away from something simply because it's hard, if anything, setbacks and unforeseen circumstances only drive me more determined towards my goal. I never minded work, back when I pulled a regular 9-5, and even my schooling was just another hurdle I was eager to tackle. Such enthusiasm for life, however, does tend to bring it's own lulls. And it's the times in my life where I feel least challenged that I get mopey and bored. I shouldn't ever, really. I have a great life, with a great family, and I make money doing what I love best. However, as much as I may complain when the going get's tough, I find myself yearning for that opposition when things settle back down.

June was a whirlwind for our family. I went all out for my Pop's birthday, and Father's Day, celebrating both twice. I made 4 cakes in total, and organized a few secret surprises; including the coordination of several family members paying his entire Summer (bowling) league fees in full. It was exhausting, but entirely worth it to me; I receive an immense amount of gratification doing unexpected things for others. I haven't quite learned how to indulge myself yet- so this is an even compromise.

My father's birthday is just before my grandfather's (his dad), and Father's Day follows less than a week later. As it turns out Momma's pop had a heart attack on Father's Day, but was walking around unaware for almost 24 hours! Thankfully my Aunt lives across the street and finally convinced him to go into the ER after a day of unrelenting back and chest pain. Don't worry, all is well now- he was discharged 72 hours later after a thorough cleaning of his valves (which revealed a scar tissue blockage from an injury some 20 years earlier). We, the family, simply left it at "Grandpa must've partied too hard on father's day," And, in fact, that's not too far from the truth, as this boisterous German man is never seen without a good glass of wine, a full plate of food, and a crowd of loving family and friends!

Most of my regular readers know I don't have any (human) kids of my own. I got married in my early 20s on the back of a childhood full of dreams of being a Momma, and it just didn't work out (thankfully, for the best, seeing as we are now divorced). I've come to terms that I may not have my own children anytime soon, or at all, and frequently borrow the children of others to get my 'fix'. Jay and I watch Sabrina (10) after school Monday-Friday during the school year and during most vacations, while her single Momma works to pay the bills. Well, as it turns out, her steady boyfriend has won Summer custody of his 2 children (a boy of 3, and a girl of 8), and we have happily added to our child-care group for the month of July. I will not lie, it is a full time job that is completely exhausting (caring for kids), but so, so worth it. I may not have children of my own, but these kids are like family, and we have a blast in between tantrums and jealous fights for affection. I will try to keep up a post a day, as usual, but if I miss one it's likely because we're out on some sort of epic adventure.

Speaking of kids, as a stay-at-home (disabled) Mom, Momma was always great at finding activities (And frugal activities at that) to keep me entertained. I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to Summer. I'm hoping to get together a Lemonade Stand with the eldest (10) in August, and have found a slew of local FREE perks for kids nearby. The county library offers free story-time, daily, 3 times a day. Our local theaters offer early morning movies free (Lorax, Happy Feet 2, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, etc), and I've managed to find a daily calendar for 'Kids Eat Free' deals, listed by location. Monday we will be taking the whole clan to the Pick-Your-Own farm (while I have Jay's help, on his day off), and Tuesday we will be going to a night show of the interactive Pirates! Dinner Adventure. I've also stocked up on $1 store kites, clearance craft kits, and some easy paint wood frames to make a little memento for the parents. Because there is a 3 year old boy in the mix, we eagerly await nap-time every afternoon for some treasured gal time :)

Nora's been enjoying the transition as well; this means more time outside for the typically condo bound pup. Speaking of which, it's about time for a haircut for Missy.....But that is for another day- sometime before Jay and I trek up to Oregon to see Momma in August. Phew, this 'Summer' bit has me exhausted just thinking about all of the shenanigans and adventures. But life's too short not to make memories at every chance- and you can be assured I'll have my camera along for the ride to share with you all! P.S. Everybody be careful with the bugs out there this Summer, I've already shelled out $111 for an infected mosquito bite and antibiotics- blah!

What are your plans this Summer?

What Daughter Says: I happily wag my proverbial tail at every chance for adventure, no matter how messy.