Month: February 2014

Daily Prompt: We Got the Beat

I do come from a musical family on both sides.

My mother’s side it’s mostly piano and organ.  My Aunt Ruth used to be the church organist for a while back in the 1940’s in Detroit.

My father’s side is mostly string, guitar and banjo.  I remember some really awesome hootenannies with my dad’s relatives when we went “down south.”  Back in the day, most people did play some kind of instrument.  My parents were beatniks and while most of his relatives were country, my dad favored folk music and used to play some of the clubs in metro Detroit in the 1960’s.

I have never been great at any musical instrument and only sang with a few people back in the day in reviews, festivals and on stage with Ron Coden for some teen happening before he starting hosting the children’s program “Hot Fudge.”

My instrument of choice was always the guitar but I also used to play the banjo and mandolin as well as the piano.

I have no photos of me entertaining as a musician.

So I’m posting a retro picture my hubby took of me practicing sometime in the 1970’s.  Love my go-go boots!

PoGirlPlayingGuitar

 

Federal Income Tax Tips

I wanted to devote this post to general Federal income tax information of a nature that many may not be aware of.

  1. First of all you need to verify if you are even liable to file this year.  Find out.
  2. If you are liable, you need to know that the IRS has links from its website for many that qualify for free filing.  Verify if you qualify.
  3. You need to know if you are in an area the Federal Government has deemed an official Disaster Area.  This may effect your filing requirements.  To verify.
  4. You need to be VERY careful in selecting and working with any tax preparer if you go that route.  Many are not who they claim to be.  For more information.
  5. Never work with someone claiming they can get you a larger tax refund unless they can fully explain how they plan to do this.  YOU will answer to anything fraudulent your preparer does.  For more information.
  6. Don’t even dream of trying to pull one over on the IRS because there is nothing you can do they won’t catch you at.  I used to work for them.
  7. Self employed individuals, don’t allow any tax preparer to write things off that you don’t have receipts for because they have started auditing small business / self-employed regularly and if you don’t have documentation, you will end up having to pay back taxes with additional penalties and interest.  Small business & self-employed information.
  8. Also be aware that if you currently owe back taxes or are in arrears with child support or other payments, any refund will be typically offset to pay these debts.  For more information.
  9. If you are planning on filing for an extension, please remember that the extension is for the forms only.  All tax due must be paid no later than April 15th or risk penalties.

If you already find yourself in the ACS Collection area of the IRS there is something you can do to help resolve your current or future tax problems.

“Don’t Mess With The IRS An Unauthorized Customer Service Guide to Resolving Your ACS Collection Issues” was written to walk any taxpayer through the most common IRS tax problems from first contact to final resolution. DntMsWIRS5

You do not need to hire a professional that will charge you thousands of dollars that you could be applying to the tax you have due.  They are not able to do anything legally that you cannot do for yourself with a little knowledge.

This self-help book walks you through your initial contact with ACS, if and how you should select legal representation if you should want or need it, how to resolve the basic problems of Failure to File, any Balance Due situations and what your rights are as a taxpayer.

For the time being, I can no longer offer “Don’t Mess With The IRS An Unauthorized Customer Service Guide to Resolving Your ACS Collection Issues.”

Enough With The Comfort Food Already!

This has been a long, hard winter for all of us.  I am sick of the severe cold and all the shoveling and I’m sure most of you agree.

I lost my job, again, right before the holidays and my only sister soon after.  It looks like I will be losing my home by the end of this year unless I find another job soon and I have to say I have not had the time nor the inclination to look under the circumstances.

Being snowed in and being depressed does not make for a healthy person mentally or physically when you decide to self-medicate with food.  I do not drink or have any other vices and have found through the years what a great comfort food can really be.  One of my overweight friends once explained to me “You cannot eat and cry at the same time.”  I see what she is talking about now because for most of my life, I would lose my appetite if I was upset about anything.  Now I become ravenous!

I am still working out regularly, but not happy with the fact that I had managed to lose over 20lbs last year and have now found myself putting that weight right back on again.

I have tried to take walks on several occasions only to start slipping and sliding on the mess that has continued for the last two months in my area so about the only time I am out is when I have to get supplies.  I dig out if the snow is deep enough.  For a couple of inches of snow I just drive right over it all.  The unfortunate result of this is that snow becomes so compacted down that I am not able to shovel it at a later date because of the severely cold temperatures.

This comfort food actually comforts my stomach as well.

Po’ Girl’s Rice Pudding

Combine 2 cups cooked rice with 2 cups milk and 1/4 cup sugar.  Cook on medium-low heat stirring regularly for approximately 20 minutes until thickened.  Then add an additional 1/2 cup warm milk with one beaten egg (to temper egg), one teaspoon vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder stirring continuously for an additional 10 minutes or so.  I slowly added a few spoonfuls of the cooked pudding to the 1/2 cup with the egg before adding this to the hot pudding to prevent the egg from curdling.

This makes a very delicious, but not super sweet rice pudding that I much prefer to store-bought.  Much better for your sugar levels.  The following video gives you an idea of how thick the pudding becomes when it is almost done.  Please stir enough to prevent scorching keeping your eye on the heat, adjusting as needed.

http://youtu.be/tZISpHkvSoM

Weekly Photo Challenge: Treasure

Po’ Girl’s Pudding Treasures!

Quick and delicious these cookies are hard to resist and just too easy to make!

pogirlspudtreasure

Mix all ingredients together dry to wet. Completely incorporate all and drop in teaspoon size balls, flatten and bake at 350 for approximately 8-10 minutes.  Use any flavor instant pudding of your choice.  You don’t really need the chips at all.  Makes a very tender and delicious cookie.

Chinese Eight-Treasure Rice Pudding.

 

Hearty Vegetarian Soup

With no sign of a thaw in sight
With no sign of a thaw in sight
craving comfort food that sticks to the ribs!
craving comfort food that sticks to the ribs!

hearty vegan soup
Place the onion, carrots, turnip, potato and squash in the pot of water that covers the vegetables at least a couple inches and bring to a boil, turning down to a simmer for approximately 30 minutes.  Add the remaining ingredients bringing back to a boil.  Turn heat to the lowest setting to simmer an additional 30 minutes or until the pasta gets soft which should only take an additional 15 minutes.  Don’t be afraid to experiment with the ingredients and seasoning to your taste but this soup was delicious!  The amount of the vegan bouillon or soup base depends on the amount of water you use and soup you end up with.  This soup did not need any thickening due to some of the vegetables breaking down and the small amount of tomato paste.

Please see the following slide gallery for dessert!

Po’ Girl’s Peanut Butter Cookies

 

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Daily Prompt: Isn’t Your Face Red

A few years ago I decided to be silly and send a fake email response to a departmental “prompt” at work of what was your most embarrassing moment.  It was April 1st so I decided to answer with a doozy that was embarrassing but totally fiction.  I thought it was very obvious and funny and my plan was to wait until almost the end of the day before I sent the follow-up “APRIL FOOLS!”

I was so shocked that a co-worker in another department that I did not know, sent me an email with an “Oh you poor kid, what a terrible thing to have happen” type of response because she obviously thought that it was real, even though I made it so over the top!  I was sure anyone would be able to figure out it couldn’t possibly be for real.

I was embarrassed due to the fact that I decided against the follow-up “APRIL FOOLS” because I didn’t want to make that really sweet woman feel like a fool.  So naturally it gave the appearance that this really embarrassing thing happened to me, which I absolutely didn’t want anyone to think was true.  So that was very embarrassing to me!

Carol62
My face actually does look red!