Brunettes and Burgers

Okay, so I know it isn't a good idea to color my own hair. This is one of those lessons I thought I had already learned a few years when I had a bad outcome. However, my friend Jeanine had some snappy looking highlights from a box and I thought, that would cheap and easy. They came out okay several months ago so I did a repeat performance - on the morning my family was coming over for Christmas (as in this past one). Bad idea. My mom said, "That seems kind of crazy to do now." What does she know? Apparently a lot. It came out brassy and with more than a tinge of cooper. I think I was a tad hurried and distracted.

This past weekend I went to have a much needed haircut and decided to throw in some highlights to disguise my mistake with the bleach bottle. After some consultation with the hairdresser, I decided to dye it all one color to get rid of all the crazy streaks and start with a fresh slate. Again, bad idea. I swear I looked like Grace as in Will and- it was bright red at the roots and brown at the bottom. I went home, didn't cry which was a huge improvement, and called the hairdresser. I went back a few hours later for a re-do. What did I get besides coarse, damaged feeling hair? Now I am a brunette. Full on. Like, people don't recognize me. Seriously. I've had people tell me it doesn't look bad and I appreciate the attempts but I really despise it. Maybe I'll have the guts to post a photo. Ella told me the next morning, "Your hair looks nice Momma." I think Sandi put her up to this. "Really? Do you like it better brown or blond?" Without missing a beat, "Oh, blonde. Can you color it blue or purple next time?" Apparently even Ella could see there would be a need for a next time.

This is a hard situation to remedy. Do I just go somewhere else and spend $80 to have it fixed. Dare I go back? Or do I just settle into a life free of blond jokes and dark roots?

The story is no where near over since I am still a brunette, but I have made a plan. After a long conversation with the manager at the salon I decided to go the route of no further expenditure and I am going back tomorrow to have it fixed. The reason this plan has some potential is that I am going to a different stylist, one the manager recommended. God, I hope this works. Otherwise, as one friend said, it will all fall out from all the chemicals and I can just start over. I am hoping for the former.

And as Part II, I have a really scrumptious burger recipe to post. (sorry vegetarians)

Moroccan Turkey Burgers

3/4 c. drained canned chickpeas
1/2 c. dried apricots, chopped
1/3 c. minced shallots
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1 1/2 lb. ground turkey

1. Place chickpeas in a food processor; pulse 3 times or until chopped. Combine chickpeas with the other ingredients. Divide into 6 equal 1/2 inch thick patties.

2. Cook burgers on grill or in a pan. Serve on multi-grain buns, on flatbread, or Naan (that was really yummy).

3. These are really good served with Tzatziki sauce- combine 3/4 c. plain yogurt (or sour cream) 2 TBSP grated, peeled, seeded cucumber, 1 1/2 tsp. minced red onion, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper.

I love to cook new things so I think I will post some recipes from time to time. Okay, face it, I'm trying to get people to check the blog and listen to my stories!