Friday, March 27, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Screwed Again!
Okay, most of you who follow me on twitter know I'm financially broke. This incident absolutely disgusted me and I felt screwed by another Big Bank!
I have a checking account with a large bank. I am never overdrawn on my account and always very careful to balance it. Last week while in Florida I accidently overdrew my account by $1.00 (yes, one dollar). The bank charged me an overdraft fee of $25.00 when the charge went as "pending", then charged me $33.00 the Next Day when the charge "Posted", then charged me $6.00 per day for 4 days until I deposited money into my account.
Because of $1.00 being overdrawn, the bank screwed my $82.00. Now if that's not screwing the American consumer I don't know what is. It's an outrage.
I have been unemployed for months. To me $82.00 is a lot of money. The money that was deposited into my account to cover the overdraft comes as residual income from an insurance job I used to have, but that is only $583.00. So you can image my outrage.
what do you think? Is this fair? Have you ever heard of being charged so many fees?
Sam Naba
I have a checking account with a large bank. I am never overdrawn on my account and always very careful to balance it. Last week while in Florida I accidently overdrew my account by $1.00 (yes, one dollar). The bank charged me an overdraft fee of $25.00 when the charge went as "pending", then charged me $33.00 the Next Day when the charge "Posted", then charged me $6.00 per day for 4 days until I deposited money into my account.
Because of $1.00 being overdrawn, the bank screwed my $82.00. Now if that's not screwing the American consumer I don't know what is. It's an outrage.
I have been unemployed for months. To me $82.00 is a lot of money. The money that was deposited into my account to cover the overdraft comes as residual income from an insurance job I used to have, but that is only $583.00. So you can image my outrage.
what do you think? Is this fair? Have you ever heard of being charged so many fees?
Sam Naba
Monday, November 17, 2008
Bowtie pasta with chicken and white cream sauce
This recipe is simple to make and has always been a family favorite. But, you must follow the instructions carefully or the end result may end up being "Yuck" instead of "Yum". I make the meal to feed a family of 5, and there's enough to feed a couple of guests or as leftovers. You may want to read these instructions before you begin.
Before you begin, a note about the seasonings and butter. I add enough seasoning to taste. I estimate that I use about 1 tablespoon of the Italian seasoning mix, however once you start adding the mix to your chicken you may end up using a little more or less. The Italian season mix is pre-made and can be found in the seasonings section at your grocer.
What you'll need:
1 box of Bowtie Pasta - Cooked and drained
2 large chicken breasts
1 Pint whipping cream
1 bag of Parmesan cheese (1 1/2 - 2 cup size)
1- 6 OZ package fresh mushrooms (you must use fresh mushrooms) - Slice them julienne style.
1- Red or Yellow bell pepper - Sliced julienne style
2 cloves garlic - Chopped in small pieces.
1 - Tbsp Italian seasonings (oregano,thyme, etc.)
2 Tbsp butter (I use a butter stick)
Olive oil or olive oil pan spray
Cook the bowtie pasta according to package directions. While the pasta is cooking, place chicken in a skillet pan with about a small amount of olive oil (just enough so that the chicken does not stick) and cook until done, but do not overcook otherwise they end up being dry. Just before the chicken is completely cooked, add the Italian seasoning mix, and stir in. Once the chicken is done, remove from heat, place in a bowl and set aside.
In the same skillet as you cooked the chicken (make sure you removed the chicken), place the bell pepper, garlic and mushrooms with about 1/2 teaspoon of butter and saute them together. Once the mushrooms and pepper are a little bit tender, remove from heat and place in a bowl. Placing them in the bowl for a couple of minutes will help some of the excess juices drain.
Turn off heat to the skillet, return the chicken, and spoon the vegetables back into the pan and mix with the chicken. Do not turn the heat back on, the heat from the vegetables be enough.
In the same pot as you cooked the bowtie pasta (which should have been cooked according to package direction), place about 1 1/2 TBSP of butter to the bottom of the pan and turn the heat to medium. Stir in enough whipping cream to mix in with the butter (not too much, you only want to mix a little bit, enough to make sure the butter does not start to burn. Add the cooked bowtie pasta to the pan and stir. Add some more of the whipping cream and stir, then add the chicken and vegetable mixture and stir.
Slowly add the whipping cream, and stir frequently, add the Parmesan cheese ( a little at a time or it may clump up on you) and keep stirring. Once all the whipping cream has been added, and you added the Parmesan cheese, remove from heat and pour the contents into a deep bowl to serve at the table or serve onto individual plates.
When adding the Parmesan, although the recipe calls for 1 1/2 - 2 cups, feel free to add as little or as much as you want. I sometimes will only use about 1 cup of cheese, and use the remaining for topping on bread.
We eat the meal with bread sticks and salad (olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing). If you plan on eating salad and bread with the meal, you may want to have them ready to be fixed before you start the chicken dish because once you start mixing the whipping cream and Parmesan cheese in the pan, there will not be time do anything else until they are removed from the heat.
Enjoy the meal and let me know how it comes out.
Before you begin, a note about the seasonings and butter. I add enough seasoning to taste. I estimate that I use about 1 tablespoon of the Italian seasoning mix, however once you start adding the mix to your chicken you may end up using a little more or less. The Italian season mix is pre-made and can be found in the seasonings section at your grocer.
What you'll need:
1 box of Bowtie Pasta - Cooked and drained
2 large chicken breasts
1 Pint whipping cream
1 bag of Parmesan cheese (1 1/2 - 2 cup size)
1- 6 OZ package fresh mushrooms (you must use fresh mushrooms) - Slice them julienne style.
1- Red or Yellow bell pepper - Sliced julienne style
2 cloves garlic - Chopped in small pieces.
1 - Tbsp Italian seasonings (oregano,thyme, etc.)
2 Tbsp butter (I use a butter stick)
Olive oil or olive oil pan spray
Cook the bowtie pasta according to package directions. While the pasta is cooking, place chicken in a skillet pan with about a small amount of olive oil (just enough so that the chicken does not stick) and cook until done, but do not overcook otherwise they end up being dry. Just before the chicken is completely cooked, add the Italian seasoning mix, and stir in. Once the chicken is done, remove from heat, place in a bowl and set aside.
In the same skillet as you cooked the chicken (make sure you removed the chicken), place the bell pepper, garlic and mushrooms with about 1/2 teaspoon of butter and saute them together. Once the mushrooms and pepper are a little bit tender, remove from heat and place in a bowl. Placing them in the bowl for a couple of minutes will help some of the excess juices drain.
Turn off heat to the skillet, return the chicken, and spoon the vegetables back into the pan and mix with the chicken. Do not turn the heat back on, the heat from the vegetables be enough.
In the same pot as you cooked the bowtie pasta (which should have been cooked according to package direction), place about 1 1/2 TBSP of butter to the bottom of the pan and turn the heat to medium. Stir in enough whipping cream to mix in with the butter (not too much, you only want to mix a little bit, enough to make sure the butter does not start to burn. Add the cooked bowtie pasta to the pan and stir. Add some more of the whipping cream and stir, then add the chicken and vegetable mixture and stir.
Slowly add the whipping cream, and stir frequently, add the Parmesan cheese ( a little at a time or it may clump up on you) and keep stirring. Once all the whipping cream has been added, and you added the Parmesan cheese, remove from heat and pour the contents into a deep bowl to serve at the table or serve onto individual plates.
When adding the Parmesan, although the recipe calls for 1 1/2 - 2 cups, feel free to add as little or as much as you want. I sometimes will only use about 1 cup of cheese, and use the remaining for topping on bread.
We eat the meal with bread sticks and salad (olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing). If you plan on eating salad and bread with the meal, you may want to have them ready to be fixed before you start the chicken dish because once you start mixing the whipping cream and Parmesan cheese in the pan, there will not be time do anything else until they are removed from the heat.
Enjoy the meal and let me know how it comes out.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Help us Mr. President
With all the talk about the economy, bailing out large corporations that for years many of them have overcharged consumers for their products or services, and helping other countries that have for years hated the USA, I began to wonder whether there is hope for America, and the citizens.
Take for example my family. I am a father of 3 (Triplets), age 9. In May I had to quit my job as a sales insurance agent because the expense of going to the appointments were more than the income. I did not quit becauseI was lazy, far from it, I like to work. However, last year I began to notice that many people could not afford the health insurance plan I was offering, and in fact I started noticing that many business owners were suffering huge declines in business. Are you one of those business owners? I have a wife who works five days a week. Since May I have tried to find a job with no luck.
So I ask, Mr. President, are you the President of the United States or Iraq, maybe Afghanistan? American families are hurting. I have not had a job since May. Many of our friends have cut back on many things trying to make ends meet because everything around us is increasing. I'm late on a credit card, not because I am socially irresponsible, but because my 9 year old kids need to eat. We sold out house to move to a rental to save money. We don't eat out as much to, my wife spends no more than about $120 a week on groceries (that's to feed a family of 5), and even the fish in the fish bowl are being asked to cut back.
So again, Mr. President, have you taken a hard look at the people who make this country great. I'm not talking about the politicians, I am talking about the men and women who work hard to fight the wars you sent them to, the men and women who build the cars you drive, work at the restaurants you eat at, and pray with you at church. Mr. President, I am asking for you to help the American people.
The plans to stop the flood of foreclosures is a good start. How about asking credit card companies to not ruin people's credit. Does it not register into anyone's mind that even though you are reducing the foreclosures to help the economy, the banks are still reporting to credit bureaus and here in the USA, bad credit is taboo?
I'm not packing my bags and moving out of the country. I still believe in the USA. I believe that Americans work hard, and bless the soldiers who fight to protect the country, but right now I am having a hard time in believing in Mr. President Bush and our leaders. I hope the new administrations plan for "Change" is true, for the sake of my children, and yours.
Submitted by: Sam N. (Orlando, FL)
Take for example my family. I am a father of 3 (Triplets), age 9. In May I had to quit my job as a sales insurance agent because the expense of going to the appointments were more than the income. I did not quit becauseI was lazy, far from it, I like to work. However, last year I began to notice that many people could not afford the health insurance plan I was offering, and in fact I started noticing that many business owners were suffering huge declines in business. Are you one of those business owners? I have a wife who works five days a week. Since May I have tried to find a job with no luck.
So I ask, Mr. President, are you the President of the United States or Iraq, maybe Afghanistan? American families are hurting. I have not had a job since May. Many of our friends have cut back on many things trying to make ends meet because everything around us is increasing. I'm late on a credit card, not because I am socially irresponsible, but because my 9 year old kids need to eat. We sold out house to move to a rental to save money. We don't eat out as much to, my wife spends no more than about $120 a week on groceries (that's to feed a family of 5), and even the fish in the fish bowl are being asked to cut back.
So again, Mr. President, have you taken a hard look at the people who make this country great. I'm not talking about the politicians, I am talking about the men and women who work hard to fight the wars you sent them to, the men and women who build the cars you drive, work at the restaurants you eat at, and pray with you at church. Mr. President, I am asking for you to help the American people.
The plans to stop the flood of foreclosures is a good start. How about asking credit card companies to not ruin people's credit. Does it not register into anyone's mind that even though you are reducing the foreclosures to help the economy, the banks are still reporting to credit bureaus and here in the USA, bad credit is taboo?
I'm not packing my bags and moving out of the country. I still believe in the USA. I believe that Americans work hard, and bless the soldiers who fight to protect the country, but right now I am having a hard time in believing in Mr. President Bush and our leaders. I hope the new administrations plan for "Change" is true, for the sake of my children, and yours.
Submitted by: Sam N. (Orlando, FL)
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