Grape Chicken Salad

Author: CGPin it

Grape Chicken Salad

prep time: 15 MINScook time: total time: 15 mins

It sounds odd but the Grapes add a refreshing twist.

Ingredients:

3 cups chicken, cooked and chopped about 16 oz

1 1/8 cup mayo

3/4 cup celery -  chopped 

1/2 cup chopped sweet onion

1 1/2 cups grapes, cut in half

1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon salt and ground pepper medley

Romaine lettuce

8-10 rolls or croissants.

Instructions:

In a large bowl combine the chopped chicken, mayo, celery, onion, smoked paprika. Stir to combine. 

Gently fold in grapes.

Cut rolls or croissants in half lengthwise, and fill each roll with the chicken salad filling. 

Add lettuce to the sandwich if you desire.

OnLine Feedback from sales

When you sell handcrafted items online it's sometimes very hard to please people. Let's face it they are buying an item on faith, on the pictures we post, and the descriptions. More importantly, the reviews or feedback have an impact on future sales. What I have learned through almost 15 years is most people don't give praise - easily.  I've actually had to close shops on Etsy and eBay due to nasty - I'm talking disgusting feedback. Neither company removes feedback unless there is something threatening. And yes, I have even received threats via email.

My policies are easy - 100% satisfaction guaranteed - if you don't like the item - return it. I'm also not Walmart so there will be a restocking fee and you pay for return shipping. If I made an error I will refund all costs just ship the item back and I'll pay the return shipping.

A few months ago I sold 3 lamps to someone in France, and he had a complaint about everything. The shipping charges were high - they were actual costs no markup but I decided to cut him a discount. I figure 3 lamps why not? I supplied tracking - and then he complained the post office was to slow. Then he didn't like the packing material I used. Standard bubble wrap. It didn't end there. He complained about the color of the lamps - I had 12 pictures of each lamp. He complained about the electrical cords, about the size on and on. I answered each email and tried to be helpful. Finally, after 3 months I said enough. Send the lamps back if you're that unhappy. Nope, not good enough! I refunded him half the cost - still not good enough. I had to contact Etsy because now the treats came. He was scamming me. Etsy provides no protection for sellers. I fully refunded him and took a big loss. Again, I contacted Etsy and this time they blocked him from contacting me.

I'm okay with people that don't leave feedback. People are angry about everything so I would expect that to reflect in feedback. I can't control shipping and I can't control the weather. Yup, back to back blizzards, road closures or even loss of electricity do not matter to most buyers.

When I received this positive feedback the other day - well it made my year!

This reminded me - there are good people out there.

When you leave negative feedback without trying to work things out with a seller - you are essentially killing future sales for that seller. I have found that most sellers are very willing to fix any problems. Give them that chance.

Be kind - it cost you nothing.

Hand strung Beaded Necklaces

I love one-of-a-kind jewelry. Which is why I started making my own jewelry.
I'm excited to share these unique necklaces with you. This necklace is a combination of denim blue and black glass beads with fancy silver beads for a little bling.  This one is for sale in my Esty shop. Click this link Black and Blue Beaded necklace if you'de like to purchase.

Just a few pictures of necklaces that will be available for sale.

Spinach and Artichoke Chicken

Author: CGPin it

Spinach and Artichoke Chicken

prep time: 30 MINScook time: 20 MINStotal time: 50 mins

Fresh baby spinach, roasted peppers with artichoke hearts for chicken lovers.

ingredients:

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

6 chicken breasts - boneless and skinless

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. each dried oregano, basil, and parsley

3 tbsp. butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups. baby spinach

1 can artichoke hearts, chopped in half

1 large sliced roasted red pepper

3/4 cup shredded mozzarella

instructions:

Season chicken all over with salt, pepper, and herbs. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 3 tbsp. olive oil. Add chicken and cook until golden. About 6 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from skillet.
Melt butter in skillet then stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in baby spinach, artichokes, and red peppers and cook until spinach starts to wilt. Add the remaining olive oil and bring mixture to a simmer. Return chicken to skillet making sure the chicken is completely cooked. About 5 minutes more. Remove from heat.

Top with shredded mozzarella and serve with white rice.

Tuscan Butter Shrimp

Author: CGPin it

Tuscan Butter Shrimp

prep time: 10 MINScook time: 15 MINStotal time: 25 mins

Quick and easy skillet meal

ingredients:

2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 pound shrimp peeled, deveined, and tails removed
Kosher Salt
Freshly ground pepper medley
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic - minced
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes - cut in half
2 cups baby spinach
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup basil - thin sliced

instructions:

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Add shrimp and sear until underside is golden. (about 2 minutes.) Flip until opaque. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Reduce heat to medium and add butter.  When the butter has melted. sit in garlic and cook until fragrant - about 1 minute.

Add cherry tomatoes, season with salt and pepper. Cook tomatoes until they are beginning to burst.

Add spinach and cook until spinach is beginning to wilt.

Stir in heavy cream,  parmesan cheese, and basil - bring mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce is slightly reduced - about 3 minutes.

Return shrimp to skillet and stir in to combine. Cook until shrimp is heated through.

Optional: Squeeze lemon on top before serving  

I'm Fasting - No Facebook for 30 Days

I'm logging out of Facebook for awhile - maybe I'll quite altogether. I actually deactivated my personal account.

I'm going to concentrate on my business page which I just opened  https://www.facebook.com/CityChatterGal/?modal=admin_todo_tour and my fun page https://www.facebook.com/ccghappenings/

I'm doing this for several reasons.

I work outside my home and I sell online. I need time to do what I need and want to do. I find the everyday hate we have come to accept is not acceptable for me. Everyone seems bitching or complaining in every post. Every post has a nasty political comment and I'm tired of defending my opinion.

I find the "friends" on my personal are pretty judgmental (HA! maybe I need new friends) not supportive as I hoped they would be. Apparently I'm bragging when I post my items and I'm a shitty person. I'm just trying to make a living. I love to see others shine and I get inspired by those that work hard and post about it. I don't consider it bragging - at all.

Facebook has become a chore and a time killer. So my goal is to find new friends that will inspire me and I hope I can inspire them. I actually started to dread going on my personal page and I stopped posting about what I love to do.

I sell online, which means I market my items online. After reviewing my stats on ALL my social media sites for the last YEAR  - I received just 1 sale from Facebook, shares and likes are just not there. There is no support.

I was at the point where I thought no one like my items - except me! But then my sales increased when I started posting on Instagram and Twitter - and the stats are pretty darn good. This blog shoots up - and that let me know that people do like what I post.

So - I'm going to change my habits - no personal facebook and I'm going to post what makes my soul happy.  I hope you come along and have some fun.

American Chop Suey

Author: CGPin it

American Chop Suey

prep time: 15 MINScook time: 30 MINStotal time: 45 mins

ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 pound ground beef

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Kosher salt

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

1 (14.5-ounce) can tomato sauce

Pinch of sugar

1 pound elbow macaroni

instructions:

1.  Heat the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook, stirring for about 1 minute. Then add the ground beef and continue to cook, stirring and breaking up the chunks of meat with a spoon.  Cook until the meat is no longer pink, about 7 minutes.  Sprinkle the herbs and pepper over the meat, add salt to taste, and mix in well. 

2.  Add the canned tomatoes with their juices, the tomato sauce, paste, and juice.  Add sugar to taste. Simmer while you cook the pasta. 

3.  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.  Add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain.  Mix the macaroni into the chop suey. 

Serve hot. Garnish with parmesan cheese.

French Country Serving Tray

Sometimes things don't work out a planned.

It all started out good. I had my image transfer on the tray. But once I remove the paper I found the transfer was to light and didn't have the French Country look I was going for.

I used this image. I did a mirror image on my computer before printing. 

And this is the result. 

I was not happy with the results.

So I started all over again.  I sanded everything off. Used a white chalk paint.

And now I'm happy.

And I used a satin cream wax finish to protect all my hard work!