Celebrations of Houston - The Woodlands, TX

Celebrations of Houston is a very unique business located in The Woodlands, TX.  Originally opened as an event planning company, the owner decided to step back and change gears to make the business compliment her other business - Flamingos 2 Go (The Woodlands).  Flamingos 2 Go is a lawn decoration delivery company.  They deliver fun lawn displays for anniversaries, birthdays, new babies and more.  Here are some samples of the displays available:

Celebrations of Houston is adding homemade cookies and brownies for delivery or pick up! 
They will start out with the following flavors:
Cookies:  Traditional Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, M&M Sugar cookies, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Kisses Sugar Cookies,
Brownies:  Traditional Chocolate Fudge, Blondie Chocolate Chip, and  Peanut Butter and Chocolate.

They are also adding custom made decorative wreaths.  They will offer holiday wreaths, Texas sports teams (Texas A&M, Texas Longhorns and The Texans for fall and winter!), seasonal wreaths, and keepsake birthday and baby wreaths. 

Pictures will be popping up on Taste Magazines blog and on Celebrations of Houston's Facebook page over the next few weeks.  You can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/celebrationsofhouston  

Some new things to watch!!!

From the Food Network --- make sure you check out Restaurant Stakeout.  It is on Wednesday nights at 9:00 PM.  Hidden cameras are placed in restuarants to observe the staff.  It is amazing to see what  people wil do when they think no one is watching!!!

Also On Food Network $24 in 24 with Jeff Mauro - The Sandwich King.  Premieres September 24th at 9:30 PM. 

Here is a little about the show from Foodnetwork.com:
Each week, he’ll hit a new locale with a budget of just $24 to find the tastiest breakfast, lunch and dinner in town.
From unexpected mom and pop shops to globally inspired spots, Jeff’s coast-to-coast journey proves great food doesn’t have to break the bank. But can you really find good food for just $24? You absolutely can: “The beauty of this great country is that you can always find plenty of great food for a great price. There are so many interesting and affordable unearthed joints strewn about the ethnic enclaves that are so common in even the smallest of American cities,” Jeff added. He continued to say that showcasing great, family-run establishments that haven’t had much publicity and celebrating their food is one of his favorite things about this new show. “That, and watching myself eat on camera, which is always ultra-sexy!”

You Go Girls!!!!!

 

 

I think this is great!!!    Go Pink!!

 

 

'All Girls' Tire Shop Thriving in Texas

By CHRISTINA NG | Good Morning America

 

 

 

  Photo courtesy of Good Morning America

 

 

At first look, Treds Tire and Wheel in San Antonio seems familiar. Stacks of tires surround busy workers doing repairs, rotations and fixing flats. But a closer look reveals some unusual details.

The tire jack is pink, the tools have polka dots, and all of the employees are women.

"I'm a strong believer that women can do things that men can do," Andrea Rodriguez, the manager, told ABCNews.com. "I have four brothers so I was raised with that mentality. I can do things that my brothers could do."

Rodriguez is 19. When her family told her they wanted to open a tire shop in a building where several consecutive tire businesses had failed, she asked her mother, "Why not make it different and make it all girls?"

"She started getting on Facebook to recruit some people and put in ads and there was a lot of female applicants that wanted to do it and didn't mind the work," said Rodriguez's mother, Margaret.

"We didn't paint a pretty picture," she said. "It's a man's job -- dirty, tiring. There's nothing easy about it."

The applications poured in and the shop now employs six women and a female intern from a local college. Margaret Rodriguez said that the clients are a good mix of men and women. She said most people are excited about the shop and supportive, but there are some detractors. She said some have said the women should not be doing a man's job and that they should be in the kitchen "making sandwiches," but the negativity makes the women work harder.

"We just think it's funny, but, actually, it gives us more willpower and incentive to keep going."

One of Andrea Rodriguez's brothers trained her and she now runs the business. She plans on going to school to become a dentist, but is working at the shop full-time for now.

She said she does not aim to be a role model, but hopes that she can help change people's stereotypes about women. "Everyone has their own opinions about women doing a man's job -- if it's even a man's job," she said. "We have women doing it."

The shop has been open for seven months and Margaret Rodriguez said that business is thriving.

"For us, it was like a miracle," she said. "We're very fortunate."

 

 

Love women doing something good!!!



All About September!

Who knew so many things are celebrated in September.  Check out this long list from About.com!!!!

Month Long Observances

• Baby Safety Month
  
• Better Breakfast Month
  Cable TV Month


• Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
  
• Classical Music Month
  
• Library Card Sign-Up Month
  National Chicken Month


• National Courtesy Month
  
• National Honey Month
  
• National Pediculosis Prevention Month
  
• National Piano Month
  
• National Rice Month
  
• National School Success Month
  
• National Sewing Month
  
• Read-A-New-Book Month
  
• Women of Achievement Month

Week Long Observances

• 1st Week - Child Injury Prevention Week
  Every September 1st - 7th.
  
• 2nd Week - International Housekeepers Week
  
• 3rd Week - National Child Care Week
  
• 3rd Week - National Farm Animals Awareness Week
  
• 3rd Week - National Flower Week
  
• 4th Week - Equal Parents' Week
  
• 4th Week - National Dog Week
  4th Week - National Roller Skating Week

September 1st

• Mary Had A Little Lamb Published
  Published in 1830.

September 2nd

• Father's Day in Australia
  Celebrated on the first Sunday in September.
  
• National Blueberry Popsicle Day

September 3rd

• Barkley the Dog's Birthday
  Sesame Street Character.
  
• Labor Day
  First Monday in September. Check out my page for this special day!
  
• Skyscraper Day
  
• Uncle Sam's Birthday
  Uncle Sam's image was first used on this day in 1813.

September 4th

• Newspaper Carrier Day

September 5th

• National Cheese Pizza Day

September 6th

• Read a Book Day

September 7th

• Neither Rain Nor Snow Day

September 8th

• International Literacy Day

September 9th

• National Grandparents Day
  First Sunday after Labor Day in September. Check out my page for this special day!
  
• Teddy Bear Day
  Check out my page for this special day!

September 10th

• Swap Ideas Day
  
• T.V. Dinner Day
  On this day, in 1954, Swanson sells it's first T.V. Dinner.

September 11th

• Make Your Bed Day
  
• Patriot Day
  World Trade Center Remembrance Day.

September 12th

• National Chocolate Milk Shake Day

September 13th

• National Peanut Day
  
• Positive Thinking Day
  
• Scooby Doo's Birthday
  First cartoon debuted.

September 14th

• First Department Store Opens
  Opened in 1848 by Alexander Stewart.

September 15th

• Make A Hat Day
  
• National Hispanic Heritage Month
  Begins September 15 and ends October 15.

September 16th

• El Grito de Independencia
  Mexican Independence Day.


• Mayflower Day
  
• National Working Parents Day
  
• Rosh Hashanah
  Begins at Sundown.
  
• Stepfamily Day

September 17th

• Citizenship Day
  Also known as Constitution Day.
  
• National Apple Dumpling Day

September 18th

• First Edition of the New York Times Published
  In 1851.
  
• Lance Armstrong's Birthday
  Born in 1971.
  
• Mushroom Picking Day
  
• National Play-Doh Day

September 19th

• Talk Like a Pirate Day

September 20th

• First Railroad Station Opened

September 21st

• International Day of Peace
  
• Miniature Golf Day
  
• POW/MIA Recognition Day
  Observed on the third Friday of September.
  
• World Gratitude Day

September 22nd

• Band-Aid Invented
  In 1920.
  
• Dear Diary Day
  
• Elephant Appreciation Day
  
• First Day of Autumn
  Check out my page for this special day!
  
• Ice Cream Cone Invented
  In 1903. Check out my page for this special day!
  
• U.S. Post Office Opened
  In 1789.

September 23rd

• Checkers Day
  
• Great American Pot Pie Day
  Sponsored by Marie Callender.

September 24th

• First Toy Store Opened
  
• National Bluebird of Happiness Day
  
• National Punctuation Day

September 25th

• Barbara Walters' Birthday
  Born in Boston in 1931.
  
• Christopher Reeve's Birthday
  Born in 1952.
  
• Mary Poppins Debuted
  In 1964.
  
• National Comic Book Day
  
• Will Smith's Birthday
  The 'Fresh Prince' was born in 1965.
  
• Yom Kippur
  Begins at sundown.

September 26th

• Johnny Appleseed's Birthday
  John Chapman born in 1774. Check out my page for this special day!

September 27th

• Crush A Can Day

September 28th

• Good Neighbor Day
  
• Native American Day
  Fourth Friday in September.
  
• First Airport Opened

September 29th

• Scotland Yard Formed
  In London in 1829.

September 30th

• Safety Pin Invented

 

Sweet and Sassy - Girls Night Out September 28th!

 

Girls Night Out at Sweet and Sassy - Market Street

September 28th from 6 -8 pm

It's all about the 80's.  My favorite!!!

 

 

$25  -  What a deal!!!

Dress to impress!

*Limo Ride

*Pizza

*Hair and Nails

*80's Dancing on the stage

Costume Contest- Winner gets a Free Glittery Glam

Must call to reserve your spot. 281.292.9090

 

So much fun!!!

 

 

 

New Show coming to Bravotv - Life After Top Chef

Life After Top Chef is a new show coming to Bravotv.  It will premiere on October 3rd at 9:00 PM.  Set your DVR's if you are a true follower of Top Chef.

Life After Top Chef will follow four previous contestants on the show including:

My Favorite:   Richard Blaise from Atlanta, Ga

Fabio Viviani from Los Angeles, CA

 

 

Spike Mendelsohn from Washington, DC

 

 

 

 

And Jen Carroll from Philadelphia, PA

 



It looks like a very interesting perspective into these chef's lives.   Can't wait.

 

 







Getting ready for Pie Season!!!

Here are some great tips for pies from Kitchen Daily.  Their website is:  http://kitchendaily.com

Tip #1     Not the prettiest pie on the table? Try brushing the top of your crust with egg wash to create a glossy glow. To make egg wash, combine a beaten egg with water, cream or milk.

Tip #2   Does your pie have air space between the filling and the crust? Precook or cut the fruit you use for filling into smaller pieces to help eliminate the gap.

Tip #3   When slicing your pie, make sure it is completely cooled first. If not, the pie may start to run ruining all of your hard work!

Tip #4  For fruit filled pies, make sure to choose firm fruit to avoid a mushy slice. Choose fruit in season for an even better and richer taste!

Tip #5  There's a crack in my pie! Avoid cracks by baking certain types of by at a lower degrees. Try 375 degrees F to ensure a smooth top layer.

Tip #6  Soggy on the bottom? To avoid a soggy crust, make sure you are using the correct pan and and avoid underbaking.


Top Five Pies for the Holidays compiled by Taste Magazines!!!

Pumpkin
Sweet Potato
Apple
Cherry
Pecan

Celebrity Owned Restaurants

Locanda Verde -  New York City, New York

One of the owners is:  Robert DeNiro

From their website: 
Locanda Verde is a casual, energetic, affordable neighborhood Italian taverna in TriBeCa serving celebrated chef Andrew Carmellini’s soul-satisfying riffs on Italian cooking. It's airy, bustling, and easy-going: a comfortable, light-flooded place open from dawn to late night; the food and service are as casual, as easygoing and as well-conceived as the space.
Claim a spot in the cafe for a great cappuccino and one of pastry chef Karen DeMasco's irresistible pastries, or order up a serious breakfast or brunch feast; relax over lunch at a sunny table by the window, or in our outdoor cafe seating; meet friends for a house cocktail or a specialty Italian beer and a snack or two at our generous, convivial bar; or settle into the banquets and kick back with a leisurely dinner, perhaps with a bottle of wine from our reasonably priced, wide-ranging Italian list.
The website is:  http://locandaverdenyc.com/

Southern Hospitality BBQ and Bar - Located in New York City, New York

One of the owners is:  Justin Timberlake

From their website:

The phrase "Southern Hospitality" has always had the idea that people of the South are particularly warm and welcoming and use proper local etiquette - calling one "Sir" or "Ma'am," opening doors for ladies, inviting one to their home, and the like.
At our restaurant "Southern Hospitality" takes on that philosophy and more. At Southern Hospitality BBQ, you'll find everyone from Hollywood stars to locals, a menu of fine pulled pork sandwiches, baby back ribs, BBQ chicken, Southern fried catfish and many other southern favorites. All of this is topped off with a true New York setting, marked by flat screen TVs. And it's all the vision of one gentleman dedicated to bringing sexy back - Justin Timberlake, along with friends Eytan Sugarman and Trace Ayala.

The website is:  http://www.southernhospitalitybbq.com/

Wahlburgers - Hingham. Massachusetts

Owners:  Mark and Donny Wahlberg

From their website: 

Growing up in Dorchester, MA with 9 kids in a triple decker house, we didn’t have much, but we had each other and that’s what mattered most.

In the toughest of times we always made the best of times. For us, there was no better time than sitting around the table together, sharing good food, a few laughs and lots of love.
At Wahlburgers we hope to share a little bit of those times with you and we hope you create some of your own special memories around our tables. Sure our family had some humble beginnings and some amazing success, but now it’s all about the food. We want our high quality, simple down home burgers to speak for themselves.

The website is:  http://wahlburgers.com/


Zoom - Park City, Utah

Owned by:  Robert Reford

 

 

 

From their website: 

Welcome to Zoom. Zoom is a warm casual dining experience, uniquely located at the foot of Main Street in Park City.
Opened in 1995 by Robert Redford, Zoom exudes a vibrant communal atmosphere where good food and conversation are celebrated as art forms. This casually elegant setting, originally a Union Pacific Depot, preserves and pays homage to Park City's pioneering roots.
A part of the Sundance Resort family of fine restaurants, Zoom serves a hearty yet sophisticated American menu along with a hand-selected list of fine wines to complement any meal.


The website is:  http://www.zoomparkcity.com/



to be continued....  

Remembering 9/11

Cotton Candy at Sweet and Sassy - The Woodlands

Sweet and Sassy located on Market Street in The Woodlands has two new great packages!

Cotton Candy Princess Package      $25
Includes:  Cotton Candy Updo, Swirl facepaint design, Pink or Blue just-a-polish, cotton candy hair scent, princess candy necklace and cotton candy sweet treat.


Cotton Candy Spa Package   $35
Includes:  Cotton candy pedicure, cotton candy manicure, cotton candy nail art design, sweet pink mini facial, cotton cady hair scent, cotton candy sweet treat. rong and toe ring.


Book a spot for your little cotton candy princess today-   Call:  281-292-9090

Food World Records

Here are some interesting records concerning food from The Guiness World Book of Records.

Most Big Macs consumed:

Donald Gorske of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA consumed his 23,000th McDonald's Big Mac on 17 August 2008. He is now in his 37th consecutive year of eating Big Macs on a daily basis.

Largest bubblegum bubble blown:

Chad Fell (USA) blew a bubblegum bubble with a diameter of 50.8 cm (20 in) without using his hands at the Double Springs High School, Winston County, Alabama, USA on 24 April 2004.

Largest pizza base spun in 2 minutes:

Tony Gemignani (USA, left) spun 500 g (17.6 oz) of dough for two minutes to form a pizza base measuring 84.33 cm (33.2 in) wide at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, on 20 April 2006 during the filming of Guinness World Records Week for the Food Network channel.

Most expensive pizza:

The most expensive pizza, commercially available, is a thin-crust, wood fire-baked pizza topped with onion puree, white truffle paste, fontina cheese, baby mozzarella, pancetta, cep mushrooms, freshly picked wild mizuna lettuce and garnished with fresh shavings of a rare Italian white truffle, itself worth £1,400 (then $2,500) per 1 kg (2 lb 3 oz). Depending upon the amount of truffles available each season, the pizza is regularly sold at £100 (then $178) each to customers of Gordon Ramsey's Maze restaurant, London, UK.

World's Largest burger:

Over the weekend Minnesota's Black Bear Casino broke the Guinness record for world's biggest hamburger. Local publication the Duluth News Tribune reported yesterday that the burger clocks in at just over one ton (2,014 pounds), has a diamater of ten feet, and contains "60 pounds of bacon, 50 pounds of lettuce, 50 pounds of sliced onions, 40 pounds of pickles and 40 pounds of cheese."
It took four hours to cook the burger and the patty was flipped using a crane. It took seven hours to bake the bun. The casino flew in a Guinness official, Philip Robertson, who said of the stunt, "What I saw today was a feat of remarkable teamwork that resulted in a world record burger that actually tastes really good." The previous record was at 881 pounds.

Interesting.... stay tuned for more!!!

Dinner Party scheduled for September 13th!

The dinner party is September 13th at 3510 Reed Rd Houston, Texas 77051.  It is being given by:

Rainey's Creole Lunchroom and Catering

 

Join Rainey and the gang as we bring our private dinner parties to a public location for a few of our friends. Enjoy mingling and listening to our special guest artist to be announced later, as we learn more about the field of fine arts. grab a friend, or come solo and meet a friend for an endless meal and a dining experience you wont forget. This is an invite where foodies can engage in a gastronomical adventure. closed door. private

We've discounted the prices greatly for this one so please dont check ...

attending until after you donation has been paid.this is to ensure an accurate head count. there are only 30 seats available

OUR MENU

Creole Stuffed Mushrooms
( stuffed with crab meat)
Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp
Rainey's Shrimp Joy Salad
( home made salad dressing with shrimp/boiled eggs on the side)
Crawfish Pasta w/ creamy butter sauce
Blackened Catfish
( made with our house blend blackening seasonings)
Corn maque choux
Roasted vegetable medley
Rice dressing
Chocolate/raspberry mousse

It is very possible to customize a menu for anyone with dietary restrictions or who may be allergic to shellfish. let me know and i will try my best to accommodate

$17.00 per person

make payments thru paypal at decaturcooks@yahoo.com
if anyone needs an invoice, let me know.

Wine will be available or you can BYOW

 

Here is the link to the Facebook event:  http://www.facebook.com/events/261821393937740/

 

 

Food In The News!!!

Here are some links to some interesting food articles and videos!!


Video From Yahoo:

Most Creative Burger in America

Mon, Sep 3, 2012 5:00 AM EDT - Blue Ribbon Hunter 4:28

We traveled to the National Hamburger Festival in Akron, Ohio where fifteen chefs battled it out for America's most creative burger. We saw everything from a Korean BBQ burger to an Over-Easy burger, but the winner will really blow you away.

 

http://screen.yahoo.com/most-creative-burger-in-america-30456033.html?pb_list=809f7f41-46e5-4104-9eba-e0702551faaf

 

 

Video from Yahoo:

 

Outrageously Priced Foods

Mon, Aug 20, 2012 5:00 AM EDT - Blue Ribbon Hunter 3:27

Would you pay $666.00 for a burger? Or $1,000.00 for an ice cream sundae? Check out some of the most outrageously priced foods in the country.

 

http://screen.yahoo.com/outrageously-priced-foods-30296772.html;_ylt=Av4AlZLrQHEVsZwz2ccraa1Zc0Iv;_ylu=X3oDMTJkdDQ0ajlrBG1pdANVUFAgUmVsYXRlZCBWaWRlbzIgV2l0aCBWaWV3IENvdW50cwRwa2cDaWQtMzAyOTY3NzIEcG9zAzQEc2VjA3ZjX25hdgR2ZXID;_ylg=X3oDMTFoOTlpZTNlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDdmlkLWdhbGxlcnk-;_ylv=3

 

From Consumerreports.org

 

Chicken Fingers Taste Test

 

http://shopping.yahoo.com/news/chicken-fingers-taste-test.html

 

 

 

Video from Yahoo:

 

 

The Great Garlic Cook-Off

Mon, Aug 6, 2012 5:00 AM EDT - Blue Ribbon Hunter 4:55

Come along to America's stinkiest festival as host Allison Fishman samples everything from garlic ice cream, to garlic cheesecake, to a savory garlic and pistachio baklava. 

 

http://screen.yahoo.com/the-great-garlic-cook-off-30167715.html;_ylt=AjV9oobDoNkwlcDuZXFGYqBZc0Iv;_ylu=X3oDMTIyazBqc2I2BG1pdANDaG93IENpYW8gUGxheWxpc3QgQmFyBHBrZwMzMDE2NzcxNQRwb3MDNQRzZWMDTWVkaWFQbGF5bGlzdEJhcg--;_ylg=X3oDMTA1bmkzZDc4BHRlc3QD;_ylv=3?pb_list=809f7f41-46e5-4104-9eba-e0702551faaf