QVC: TV For One

Hello!

I seldom watch live TV anymore, who has time to sit down, channel surf, and watch daily for extended periods of time?  I sure don't.  Plus, I'd rather be on Pinterest vigorously pinning recipes I'll never make, but I digress.  With the advent of Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, I'm not sure people are even flipping through channels on their television anymore.  But a few weeks ago I found myself doing that very thing.  When skimming the channel line up, I saw a familiar friend, er, a familiar channel rather: QVC.  This stands for "quality, value, convenience", if you didn't know.  QVC is a channel that sells products 24/7, it's shopping via your television.  If it's a KitchenAid you fancy or facial products to preserve your youth, chocolate from Harry David, a Dyson, a trinket to cut potatoes, or Christmas in July, all being served to you by someone disguised as your friend, then QVC is where you need to be. 

QVC is the comfort food of television.  It's warm, it's familiar, it's inviting, and it ultimately makes you feel good.  While I have never purchased anything from the company, it sure reeled me in with its bright-lit sets and well-placed displays.  When I moved a few years ago, there were times when I was nervous about my new surroundings and needed something to comfort me.  Enter QVC.  When I stumbled upon this channel back in the day, I could not stop watching.  There are no commercials to speak of, so there's no real need to ever stop.  I assume this is a tactic to keep you watching (and buying), the continuity of it all.  And continue I did.  It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside having QVC playing in the background.  If there's no one with you, it provides good background noise, as if you are a fly on the wall at a party overhearing a conversation of happy, slightly demented, simpletons.  I often fell asleep on the couch to the sounds of a Dooney & Bourke purse being sold to a 57 year old woman in the Midwest at three in the morning.  Said woman might sometimes say its her 3rd or 4th acquisition and she has them in several colors, so she has to get just one more to complete her collection.  This typically results in a rush of feigned enthusiasm from the host or hostess.  What else did we expect though?  Despite being fully aware of the ridiculousness of it all, there I was, fully engrossed and fascinated by every minute of this fake exchange.  The people just seemed so nice and happy, that in turn made me happy.

Clocking numerous hours than I care to admit watching QVC did lead me to conclude that QVC is good for filling a void and making its audience feel like they have a friend that's accessible 24/7 and who is always just there.  In my mind I have to believe that if a person truly has a need for a product, they are going to the internet (or Costco) to get that item.  There's no need to watch hours of this channel, why would anyone?  So QVC can tell you what you think you need?  It can't always be the affordability factor, because it's not always the lowest price.  I think that is what's happening there, in addition to products, they are selling an aura, an environment, a feeling - which in turn drives some folks to actually stop to watch the channel and ultimately buy their wares.  Many may say this is marketing done very well.  At the end of the day, this is not TV you have to think about, its mindless in every sense of the word and makes you feel good, and I think that's a large part of its appeal. 

It has been some time since I've given up QVC, but on the rare occasion when I pass the channel on the guide, I can't help but stop for a minute to visit my old friend (or friends as it may be) and see what they are peddling that day on their sparkling, precisely manicured set.  While I will likely never purchase anything from there (I think most things are a scam on QVC), I have to thank QVC for making me feel content and at ease at a time when I needed it most.        

Sincerely,

Carrie     

Song of the Day:  "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora  

Costco Find: Salmon Milano With Basil Pesto Butter

Hello!

Although you wouldn't guess it based on my previous discussions of fries and pies, I am making real efforts to eat healthy.  This of course makes me sad.  Very, very, sad.  Healthy eating means I can't have my favorite food, French fries, or its not so distant relation, the chili cheese fry, all the time; so I have to find other things to eat that are both nutritious and have good flavor.  This is where Costco saves the day (doesn't it always?). 

My love for Costco runs DEEP.  As far as I'm concerned, they can do no wrong or very little wrong.  I have only tasted one food item from that establishment which I did not like, it was the Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad.  Nope.  I couldn't stomach it.  One product out of a million fantastic other ones is hardly a reason to stop patronizing the joint.   

In my quest for a healthy meal I do not have to prepare myself (since I seldom bother with cooking) I decided to try out the Salmon Milano with Basil Pesto Butter.  You can see the photo below of what the uncooked product looks like.  That's right, it looks like portions of salmon that have ice cream scoops of a green butter on top along with some dill weed.  You will find this in the open refrigerated section of Costco.  It looked appetizing to me, so I grabbed one to bake at home.  Here is how it turned out.  Looks yummy, doesn't it? 

This product did not disappoint.  It was filling, the salmon was soft, and the basil pesto butter added wonderful flavor to the fish.  Taking bites with the dill actually tasted the best.  Yummy.  Ultimately, it was nice to have something to pop in the oven and eat within 20 minutes that is healthier and wouldn't disappoint the ol' taste buds.  If you are looking for an already prepared food item from Costco that is easy to make, I strongly recommend this product.  Pair it with a baked potato, maybe some asparagus, and you will look like the next Food Network star.

Next up, I want to try the crab stuffed salmon from Costco.  While I'm not the biggest fan of crab, it keeps calling my name when I walk by, so I must succumb to its cries and sample it one day.  When I try that, I will be sure to let you all know what I think.

Sincerely,

Carrie

Song of the Day:  "Dirty Laundry" by Don Henley

Recipe: Coconut Cream Pie

Hello!

Listen, I am no Chef Boyardee, but like everybody else, I gotta get by.  So when it comes to cooking or baking I try to find recipes that 1. minimize ingredients 2. use simple/reusable ingredients (what am I really gonna do with those leftover bay leaves?  That's right- nothing)  3. require minimal effort and time 4. utilize simple tools and 5. are highly rated.  I'll tell ya, in regards to #5, if I'm taking time out of my day to make something, I need some assurance that at least some of the people out there who tried it, liked it. 

I wanted to make a pie the other day for a friend, so opted for a Coconut Cream Pie.  It's summer, coconut is great and tasty, and I like the way these pies taste and hoped my friend would as well.  Following my five point criteria noted above, I found a recipe that fits the bill.  Since this recipe worked for me. I will share it with you. 

The recipe was taken from a company I know you are all familiar: Kraft.  Here's the recipe, taken from the Kraft website:

-2 packages JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding (I used Coconut Crème flavored instant pudding instead for an extra coco-nutty flavor)

-2 cups cold milk

-2 cups thawed COOL Whip

-1 cup coconut flakes

-1 ready to use graham cracker crust

Mix the pudding packages with the milk.  Add one cup of the cool whip to the mixture in addition to 3/4 of the coconut flakes, pour into the crust.  Let that set in the fridge for four hours, or longer.  Toast the remaining coconut (I did this in a toaster oven) and when the pie has set, cover with the remaining cool whip and sprinkle the toasted coconut on top.  Wa-la!  So easy.  Believe me, if I'm saying it's easy, it.is.easy.  I have neither the skills nor wherewithal to make anything difficult. 

We tasted it and it tastes great.  So if you need a quick dessert and are a fan of the coconut, I encourage you to check this out.  I would definitely make this again.  I have some pictures, so you know what it looks like. 

I have only one request, if you make this pie, you let me know how it turns out.  Happy baking!

Sincerely,

Carrie

Song of the Day:  "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo

I'm Lovin' It....Or Am I?

Hello!

The other night I was reading the news when something caught my eye:  McDonald's is working to offer customers more real food.  More real food?  Was this an admission that the food served prior to this point was somehow fraudulent? What does this even mean? - I clicked on it immediately; they had captured my interest.  Now, I will admit, I do like the way McDonald's food tastes.  I can see some of you already, looking down on me.  That's okay, but you are the one missing out (on great taste and chronic illnesses).  I'm cognizant that this isn't a health food restaurant but I'm hoping at this point in the game, no one is thinking that.   

After clicking on the link, it took me to the actual article which was titled: McDonald's Tweaks Its Recipes: Now, Real Butter in the McMuffin.  Then my world came crashing down around me and I don't even eat their breakfast foods.  REAL BUTTER?  What impact was this to have on the taste?  What was I eating before, not that it mattered in the scheme of things?  McDonald's has never been real anything, why would they start now?  So many, many, questions.    

It seems the ever forward-thinking executive team at McDonald's is listening to the public (why?) and removing artificial preservatives, antibiotics, and high fructose corn syrup from many of its offerings.  All I can say is, I hope they don't do anything that alters the one food item they have perfected: the French fry.  My god do they make a killer French fry.  Few things in the world are as perfect as those golden sticks of salty goodness.  I was disheartened to initially read that McDonald's move to offer breakfast round the clock resulted in an increase in sales, but the article noted that that too has started to slow.  Good.  As a McDonald's French fry supporter, I move to eliminate all day breakfast.  Who needs that anyway?!  What they should be doing is offering French fries all day.  I feel almost certain this will permanently boost sales.  Wouldn't you capitalize on the one thing you do extremely well?  Why the executive team has not considered this is beyond me.  If you are deep frying a hash brown in the A.M. why is it such a leap to throw some fries in there too?  These are the thoughts of a French fry enthusiast. 

From my read of the article, I did not find anything that suggests the beloved French fry would be altered.  And for good reason I'm sure.  Wouldn't this result in anarchy and pandemonium?  Doesn't that qualify as a crime against humanity?  I feel like it would.  Perhaps the executive team has not lost all its sense. 

So go out there, get yourself some delicious French fries from the golden arches and whatever else tickles your fancy.  Also, write to your local ombudsman or congressman/woman to appeal to McDonald's that they never alter the sacred fry.

Sincerely,

Carrie

Song of the Day:  "I Can't Wait" by Nu Shooz

The Beginning

Hello!

Welcome to my blog and thank you for stopping by.  I feel corny saying that as I feel every blog starts out that way, but I do mean it - I am happy you are here!  I hope this blog is the start of something great, or at least something mediocre that keeps your attention (and mine) for a while.  I like to write.  I'm not particularly good at it, nevertheless, I find it's a comforting expressive outlet so I thought it best to keep this online journal that will give all of you a window into my soul.  No, it's not that serious, so don't worry.  This is a fun venture and I truly hope you will enjoy stopping by to read. 

You might be wondering about two things.  One: why the "I Can't Cook" title and Two: why the "open barn door" in the URL - good questions.  It's not easy coming up with a blog title.  There's a lot of pressure to have a witty, creative, fun, cool, title and one that sums up your entire being.  I actually don't know if other people feel that, but I did.  Then I thought to myself, you are overthinking this, start at the basics and keep it simple.  So I immediately thought of a skill I lacked: COOKING.  I do not know how to cook, so why not?  It's easy to think of a blog title when it's dependent on an assessment of your shortcomings.  However, I hope people don't get the impression this is a cooking blog for the culinarily challenged, because it's not.  Disclaimer: you will not learn how to cook here; that is what the other corners of the internet are for.  Very sorry! 

As far as the "open barn door", every other phrase or word I could think of, that was of interest to me, was taken.  In the real estate of the URL world, the prime spots are already occupied.  After many frustrating attempts to find something I like that was available, I got inspiration from the farm.  I like barns, I like doors, this blog is an open place, so open barn door.  There you have it. 

Some of the things I plan to discuss in the barn are thoughts about things (that's not a general statement, is it?), observations - funny or otherwise, anecdotes, things I feel the world should know about Costco, news, and sometimes, cooking matters.  This is a blog about anything and nothing.  I hope you delight in what you find here and continue to come back!

Sincerely,

Carrie

Song of the Day:  "The Warrior" by Scandal