A is for Artichokes

Welcome! To my new and "old" readers alike, I'm glad you're here. I have joined the A to Z Blogging Challenge.   In short, that means posting every day except Sunday during April, beginning with A on April 1st, and ending with Z on  April 30th.

Some of the 1800+ bloggers have chosen a theme to guide their posts. I'm a theme gal, so I "bit" into that wisdom myself.










To provide structure, I have chosen three criteria: 

1) my theme will be memoirs based on food and drinks in my life, 

2) my posts will be limited to 26 sentences, and

3)  the memory I have of each food (or drink) taught me something about  people, life, God, or myself.



My one hope is that you will enjoy each post like a good meal, walk away satisfied, and come back for more.

So, there it is: 26 days in April, 26 letters of the alphabet, 26 foods or drinks I've got memories about, each one written in a maximum of 26 sentences.

Here we go.








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A is for Artichokes



It was Spring Break 1984 when I met my first artichoke. Strange looking creature, that artichoke, but captivating with its green spiky armor. Normally I would have been skeptical to try it, except I trusted the cook.

My Aunt Linda, quite arguably the world’s best chef, prepared a meal of orange roughy, spinach salad, baked potatoes, and steamed artichokes with lemon butter.

I remember the care she took to strip away the toughest outer leaves of each artichoke before steaming it.

I remember the oak table, with its thick, shiny brown beams, set with thick, brown cotton napkins, sturdy earthenware plates, wine glasses, and water goblets.

I remember thinking what a double luxury this was to get away from cafeteria food and have food served as art, with love and candles.

I remember that Aunt Linda put on a  Joan Baez record, and then we sat down to eat.

We talked, ate, talked, drank, talked, laughed, talked, cried. Being with her, a person who cherished me, who accepted me as I was, who created a soft place for me to land--there was nothing quite like it.

Aunt Linda had to show and tell me how to eat artichokes; peel, dip, eat, savor. Peel, dip--"don't be afraid to get messy!"--eat, savor. "The best part is the heart," she said.

Artichokes, that night nearly 30 years ago, became my personal metaphor for how to get to know people.

Peel their rough edges away carefully.
Dip yourself into their world and don't be afraid of the mess.
Eat up experiences with the people you love.
Savor time with the people who love you.

And always remember, the best part is their heart.

Meal Plan for Two Weeks

I've been intending to be a bit more creative in the kitchen, and so I'm taking time over the next two weeks to try a few new things. I wish all my children would be here every night. The upside to a nest getting emptier is that the food budget is stretching farther. The downside? Too many to list, including that it was more exciting to feed six than three or four.

Anyway, I am attempting some recipes I found in Food Network magazine (Jan/Feb 2012), Cooking Light (March 2012), Facebook Friends, and adding some classic standby favorites of ours.

Monday -- Lowfat Veggie Quiche
Tuesday-- Spaghetti and Meatballs w/ Foccacia Bread
Wednesday-- Guy Fieri's Ginger-Carrot Soup, artichoke & pea salad, whole grain bread
Thursday--Chicken Marsala, flat spiral pasta, garlicky roasted green beans
Friday--leftovers
Saturday- Stuffed Peppers w/ Long Grain Rice
Sunday--Pisolo Rojo
Monday--Fish and Yukon Golds
Tuesday-- date night?? :)O
Weds--Ground Beef Curly Noodles (Beth, per Fb)
Thursday--Cranberry Pork Tenderloin in crock pot
Friday--BLTs
Saturday--leftovers
Sunday--out

Cookies Galore

Thanks to my daughter, son, and son's girlfriend, our kitchen produced many yummerful cookies. My favorites are the strawberry-blackberry thumbprints. Second favorite: peanut butter blossoms (which do not photograph well up close. They look like nipples. Just sayin'.) The fudge crinkles are delish. And see the cute little red and green things? They are simple: one little pretzel, a Hershey Kiss partially melted in the oven, and then a green or red M&M on top. In the back are some good coconut-oatmeal cookies.





Honk if you love Christmas cookies!

Hodgepodge: Charity, Compar-ity and Hilarity

Joyce has put out quite a spread of questions. for this Thanksgiving edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Hope you enjoy the feast of answers.

1. Let's start with something controversial...dressing or stuffing? What's it called at your house and what's included in your recipe...cornbread? oysters? sausage? chestnuts?

We call it stuffing, but growing up it was dressing because my folks are from the Midwest.
What's in it depends on who brings it. My recipe includes finely chopped carrots, onion, and celery. My parents are vegetarian, so there's never meat in the stuffing/dressing.

2. Who do you sometimes compare yourself to?

Usually my sisters, and usually unfavorably. I'm not as smart or as organized as my older sister Rachel, not as upbeat or as industrious as my sister Andrea , and not as forgiving or as loving as my sister Jill. But when I'm being kind to myself, I realize that I can appreciate their good qualities and try to learn from them.

3. When were you last inside an airport?

January of this year, after celebrating New Year's Eve in Texas with aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and a sister. On the way out, I stood outside in 22 degree weather while inching myself and my two zippered pigs forward while chatting with other passengers in queue. The worst part? I missed my flight from BWI to Houston by 10 minutes! I had never missed a flight in my life, nor had I ever seen a line that was--no lie--a quarter mile long outside, and about 3/4 of a mile long inside. I will not travel again by air at Christmas if I can possibly avoid it. I don't mind lines, but that sickening feeling of missing a flight is just horrible.

4. What is one side dish that absolutely must be included in a turkey dinner?

Just one? Well, I would say sweet potatoes. And yes, I like the marshmallows on top that make the dish pretty much a dessert.

5. What Christmas song do you dread hearing?

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.

6. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money 'in a tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round?

It really depends. I almost never drop money in a bucket of charities at intersections, but I try to always drop money in the Salvation Army can. If a stranger approaches me for money directly, usually not. It creeps me out, and I have been "taken" one too many times by supposed down-and-outers when I was naive city slicker working at the crisis pregnancy center many moons ago.

I actually bought the girl a train ticket AND stopped AT NIGHT in Baltimore City at the ATM for $40 to give her, plus some diapers from the center. My director wisely sent another counselor with me for safety's sake, and informed me later, that while I had a compassionate heart, that girl probably sold the diapers for drugs and--if I hadn't seen her get on the train--she probably didn't board it. I felt so stupid.

But my director said, "Is your conscience clean before God?" I answered yes. She said, "Then it wasn't stupid. She has to answer to Him as well. You did what your heart told you was right, and I wouldn't stop you from being generous again if God prompts you. But now you know a little more about the world. And that baby probably wasn't her baby. Girls "borrow" babies to get diapers to exchange for drugs. " I was furious at the exploitation. Furious!

So now I'm more likely to ask questions like a journalist on steroids: the 5 W's and and a H and a few more besides.

As for charities, my husband and I, as well as all our adult children, sponsor Compassion kids. Compassion International's track record for using funds wisely, as well has how they keep us informed, is wonderful. At Christmas we support Samaritan's Purse (see my previous post), and year round we support missions through our church.

7. Share a favorite Thanksgiving memory. If you live in a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving share a favorite memory associated with food.

How about a gross, funny one? One year (probably 1989 or 90 because Paul's dad was still alive and we were still living in our first house) it was my turn among the local daughters-in-law, to host Thanksgiving. His dad came over with a fresh turkey on Thanksgiving morning for me to fix. For some reason I hadn't put my glasses on. (Probably because I was too busy of a mom or hadn't had coffee yet??) Without glasses, I can make out forms and colors, but don't see texture or detail so well.

Dad went to the living room to play with the grandbabies. Paul was upstairs and I began to prep the bird.

I rinsed the turkey and then proceeded to pull out the neck from the cavity. Well, I saw something round, dark, small, and shiny attached to a hooked end on the neck. I squinted. "Ew. That looks like a head." I squinted harder and leaned in closer. "ACK!" It WAS the head! The turkey still had his head attached!!

I screamed so loud and ran to the living room where I leaned against the wall, shaking uncontrollably and sobbing, "Oh, Paul, oh, Paul, Oh ,Paul!" My husband came running down the steps to me, asking "What? What's wrong?!" He was checking for blood, as if maybe I'd butchered my finger. "The head...he's got a head." He asked, "Who has a head?" and all I could do was point to the kitchen.

Well, he and Dad had to finish the turkey themselves (both good cooks in their own right) and I couldn't eat it. In fact, I couldn't eat turkey for about three years after that, and to this day
make someone else clean out the innerds and let me know when the coast is clear.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Two jokes from our corny school chaplain today:

Q: What's the key to a great Thanksgiving meal?
A. Tur-key.

Q: Why doesn't the turkey eat anything on Thanksgiving?
A: Because he's already stuffed.


Enjoy your holiday as best you can. My thoughts go out to those who are missing loved ones this year, especially for the first time. I remember how hard it was to enjoy holidays after losing my father-in-law. He always brought the kielbasa (Polish sausage) and made sauerkraut with the trinity of celery, carrots ,and onions. He also generously bought the turkey (without heads) and many of the groceries, so we started our married life holidays with a lot of financial help, for which we were truly thankful.

Victual Rituals

Just got back from the grocery expedition, which in this house is sometimes a divide-and-conquer mission. I went to a food warehouse called Chesapeake Quality Traders for meats, bulk veggies, restaurant quality soups, bread, Naked smoothies ($1 apiece) and frozen pizzas. Meanwhile two other family members took their beloved father-daughter road trip to PA for drinks and breakfast items and glass-bottle milk in Amish country.

I ask you, is it not a ritual in feeding oneself and family that starts long before the fork is picked up? Indeed, I submit that it is. Plotting and planning, hunting and gathering, paying and grimacing, loading and unloading, organizing and storing, preparing and serving, setting up and cleaning up. No wonder that actually putting the food in one's mouth feels so rewarding.

Surely I can make a meal plan out of these victuals.

For 11/19 and following:

19 Saturday: Potato Cheese soup, oven rolls, pepperoni-veggie pizza
20 Sunday: Lunch: Chicken Broc in the Wok (recipe Paul and I made)
Dinner: Chicken Caribbean Salad
21 Monday:chili and cornbread
22 Tues:chicken marsala,linguine,salad, garlic bread
23 Weds: leftovers
24 Thurs: THANKSGIVING HERE!!!turkey,stuffing,green beans,edamame,sweet potatoes,mashed potatoes,rolls,gravy,sauerkraut, kielbasa, fake meat for M,D,J; olives, coconut creme pie, pumpkin pie, apple crisp, vanilla ice cream
25 Friday: leftovers
26 Saturday: Spaghetti
27 Sunday: leftovers
28 Monday: Lemon-Pepper Chicken, peas, baked potatoes
20 Tuesday: date night
30 Wednesday: Cream of Crab soup, salad,bread

Dec
1 Thurs: Seasoned Cod, mashed potatoes, salad
2 Friday: pizza
3 Saturday: C.O.R.N. (Clean out Refrigerator Night)
4 Sunday: Venison Sloppy Zo's, cole slaw, applesauce
5 Monday: Caribbean Chicken Salad
6 Tuesday : date night
7 Weds: Sweet 'n Sour Beef, pierogies, salad (double portion--Michelle's family)*
8 Chicken 'n Dumplings
9 Spaghetti Pie


*Please keep my friend Michelle in your prayers. She is expecting her 11th child and
was recently hospitalized with compherlications. Doctors would like her to remain there until at least her 34th week when she can safely deliver. That means she'll be in the hospital all through the holidays. Our church family is providing meals five days a week for as long as it takes.

Her situation gives me fresh appreciation for being able to do for my family what I couldn't do for about six weeks postpartum in 2002. I feel grateful today for the strength and wherewithal to provide a service that seems often unappreciated...until it's divinely interrupted.

Here's to the rituals of victuals!

Twelve Thumbs Up: Sweet and Sour Beef Cubes

This recipe was sure a hit with my family of six. I bought the beef already in cubes ("in-cube-ated?) which--believe it or not--happened to be cheaper than buying it whole. Works for me! I put this meal together in literally SIX minutes because I had to run out the door at 3:30.

The meat takes three hours to cook at 250 degrees. I used a Dutch oven and covered it. It was ready and "tender yummy" at 6:30. When my famished son walked in the door from college, he exclaimed, "Man! What smells so good?!" Gotta love hearing that. What's more, when my other son, who claims not to like "sweet with meat" liked this meal so much he took leftovers to work.

I used two onions instead of three, but everything else I made according to the recipe except that I "eyeballed" the measurements in my haste. That's a big reason I prefer cooking over baking. Eyeballing is just fine!

FYI: I read a review of this and the author said it's not nearly as good in the crock pot as in the oven. Good to know.

I love trying new recipes, especially when they turn out to so tasty the family asks for it again--soon!

Good Life & More (Meal Plan)

I'm in the mood to try a few new recipes. Many of the following come from Pam Smith's The Good Life cookbook, which is one of my favorites. Fresh, wholesome ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and plenty of sauces and dressings from scratch which I love. (I don't like bottled ones as a general rule.) Full-color photos on every other page just make me drool. They also make me want to go buy an assortment of eye-popping plates, which one day I will. It'll be the great undoing of all my successful dish-purging episodes thus far. But I digress.




The meals I've chosen to make for the next couple of weeks begin tonight. I organized my pantry and took inventory of my freezer, made a list, and sent my daughter and hubby off (actually they volunteered) to go grocery shopping.

October 1-15

Saturday: Clam Chowder, Veal Cutlets, fried okra
Sunday: Steak, Twice-Baked Potatoes, roasted asparagus with parm (Wegman's menu book)
Monday: Chicken Curry over Rice, Tropical fruit-spinach salad (GL)
Tuesday: Chili & Cornbread
Wednesday: Sandy S's Tortellini with Pesto
Thursday: Morningstar Sausage and Veggie Quiche
Friday: Chicken & Pasta Salad with Greek Vinaigrette (GL)
Saturday: Tacos
Sunday: Out / leftovers
Monday: Seared Pork Tenderloin & Tricolor Coleslaw (GL), risotto, green beans almondine
Tuesday: Crab Mac 'n Cheese, steamed broccoli
Weds: Turkey Carbonara and Bow-tie Pasta, baby green salad
Thurs: Reuben sandwiches
Friday: pizza
Saturday: tilapia with sauteed veggies, baked potatoes

12- Day Meal Plan

If you're looking for my Hodgepodge answers, scroll down. Today is a two-post day!

-------------

This meal-plan post is a frame of reference for me and I thought others might like to glean
ideas from it if you're stuck in a culinary rut like I was until today.

We are now well stocked with a variety of foods, thanks to some great specials I found and my daughter who did a bang-up job organizing and inventorying the stuff we already had
on hand and the things we shopped for together. She's a gem. My diamond girl--really,
her April birthstone is diamond. If that's not precious, I don't know what it is.

Anyway, back to the meal plan:

Weds: chicken fajitas & fresh fruit salad
Thursday: Combat Training Wraps *
Friday: Spaghetti w/ meat sauce, garlic bread, green beans
Saturday: California Pizza
Sunday: Burgers on the grill - refill propane tank
Monday: crab cakes, baked potatoes, broc/cauli medley
Tuesday: Don't Invite the Rabbi, Just the Pasta*
Weds: venison chili & cheese wraps
Thurs: Scavenger Special (leftovers)
Friday: Brazilian steak salad (need fresh asparagus, baby greens), mashed potatoes
Saturday: shrimp linguine, roasted brussels sprouts, bread
Sunday: Chinese out

*Recipe here in one of my old blog posts.

While I have your attention, I am seeking recipes that are family hits with you. We are trying to slim down and prefer fresh meats and produce or frozen veggies (not canned). Got suggestions? My family members (5 adults and a kid whose favorite food is sushi) will eat (or try) almost anything. I am especially keen on trying veggies fixed as yummy side dishes. I tend to get stuck with the same old, same old, veg-wise. Again, looking for recipes you've made, not links to things that look good but haven't passed your own taste test! Thank you in advance.

Miscellany Monday with Gratitude

Linking up at a blog called "lowercase letters" for Miscellany Monday. I am not only listing 8 randoms today, I am also grateful for all of them. (I'm having trouble getting the cute button to work. Sorry, Carissa.)


One. Going Green in a Smoothie Kind of Way.
I made this one today from things that had to be used up: Peach-Ginger Smoothie
1 cup canned peaches
1 fresh peach
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
1 handful of ice
2 handfuls of fresh spinach
1 slice of cucumber & 1 slice of nectarine for garnish, because I just love garnishes.
Two. New-to-Us Patio Furniture. Free.
My husband has a wonderful, kind, friendly, and generous friend named Curtis. When Curtis and his wife bought a new table and chairs for themselves, Curtis offered us the old set. Can I tell you it's an answer to prayer? Not only is it classy and in good shape, it has an umbrella and doubles the amount of seating on our deck. Now we can have a large group over without dragging camp chairs and kitchen chairs from hither and yon. THREE. Fresh herbs.
I simply marvel that God makes so many different gorgeous variations on the shape and shade of leaves. The beauty of basil.
FOUR. Having my whole family--everyone--finally, on board with better eating resolve. For health. For taste. For wedding. It's a joy to make things like this Caribbean Chicken Salad and have everyone appreciate it.

FIVE. Bright red petunias that ask for a little water and lots of sunshine and return the favor with daily cheer.

SIX. Almost 33 child-free hours, just my silver-haired sweetie and me.
From noon on Saturday when Sarah took Joel to camp, while Steve was in PA and Ben was in NJ,
we had a glorious, wonderfully quiet, relaxed nest. He cut the grass and called it a day. I washed about 347 dishes and utensils by hand because the dishwasher wasn't acting right and all the "clean" dishes came out with dried-on gunk, so I scrubbed them manually, and called it a day. We just chilled, and for dinner brought home a Maryland crab cake platter and a cheesesteak sub. (Okay, so the better-eating resolve is kind of evolving! Sometimes an indulgence is merited, as in the name of celebrating a no-kids-home weekend.)

SEVEN. Cake Balls. I'd never heard of them until Kelly at Through the Water, wrote a "controversial" post. So cute that her choice of a "controversial post" was about cake mixes vs. made-from-scratch cakes, and how some people get cranky at the mere mention of cake mixes!

I was going to make a 13x9 of Steve's favorite yellow cake with chocolate frosting so he could enjoy a mini-birthday party with friends at camp. But, since I had other things also baking (I was in a mood) the cake got a bit overdone. Not badly, but it turned out "not pretty." While it cooled, I read blogs. Lo and behold, the solution to my problem was literally at my fingertips! Cake Balls are simple, messy, and the perfect way to delishify a flop.

Cake Balls:
-Crumble up a baked boxed cake
-Add a can of frosting.
-Mash it all up together in your hands and form balls.
-Freeze the balls. I read you can freeze them for 15 minutes to six hours. I froze them for four while I did other things. They were perfect to work with--no crumbling.
-Melt 3 large Hershey bars in the microwave with a little bit of milk. The milk gives you a good sheen.
-Roll each ball in melted chocolate. (Work quickly. The chocolate hardens fast.)
-Refrigerate on a tray for 15 minutes. Serve or seal as you desire.
-Enjoy the taste and the compliments!


( Did I mention these are messy? At first I felt like quitting, but then I realized there was no turning back and just declared it an adventure. I can get through almost anything if it's called an adventure.) Besides, Joel was having a blast with the camera.

I didn't get a shot of the finished product. But I can say that they passed the test kitchen's approval! And they were a big hit with the counselors.

EIGHT. My son (the supposedly wise camp counselor) spent his time off Saturday jumping off a 30-foot cliff into water below! I found out from his Facebook status, and let me tell you, it made my palms sweat and my heart race. Had he told me ahead of time, I probably would've retched. I thank God He didn't let Steve die or be paralyzed for life.

Baby Bear Brownies

I am not a natural-born baker. All I've learned has been by trial and error. Mostly error. I am, however, my parents' daughter. My papa taught me by example to keep my word and he valiantly modeled contributing to the necessity of the saints, especially if that necessity involved some sort of pot-luck (or as he chided, "pot-blessing because we don't believe in luck"). My mama taught me life lessons as well. Among the most useful was an art lesson: the art of making do.

You never know as a kid how those life lessons might come into play when you're all grown up and begin making huge life decisions such as where to live, how to handle money, and what munchies to sign up to make for meetings of the PTA variety.

So you sign up to take a tray of brownies to the new Christian school's first all-parent prayer meeting because you know that you have a box of brownie mix on hand and everyone likes brownies.

Besides, it's pretty hard to mess up brownies. Right? Easy "A" in Baking 101.

So here comes the day of the prayer meeting. You open the box of Betty Crocker Ultimate Fudge Brownie mix and begin prepping your 9x13 pan and, in a matter of about 90 seconds, have the batter made and poured. Then you realize the mix is only supposed to be for an 8x8 or 9x9. Nowhere on the front of the box does it say that. Nowhere. It's only on the baking chart that you're consulting after spreading the chocolate blanket over the glass bed.

Making do, you spread it out anyway and shorten the bake time to compensate. Ergh! Your first batch comes out too moist. Underbaked, shall we say, in the middle, but pulling away from the sides. These are your Papa Bear brownies.


















So you pull out the Ghirardelli cocoa, the flour, the sugar, the baking powder, the salt, the oil, the chocolate chips, the walnuts, and a second 9x13 pan which you have to grease (and wash later) and you proceed to do a batch from scratch. You hope that all your efforts at homemade goodness won't backfire when all these new school acquaintances bite in.

The Ghirardelli batch disappoints. Too dry, and a bit grainy. These are your Mama Bear brownies.

















Then, because it's in your DNA and your upbringing, you say to yourself, "Hey! I've got an idea! Why don't I combine the two? And make it look like that was my intention from the get-go?"

So you scrape some Papa Bear brownie with your right hand hand, and scoop some Mama Bear brownie with your left hand, and you pronounce them married. The two become one.

Then, as fast as you can say "Goldilocks," you have Baby Bear brownies. Lots of them.
I think Mama and Papa Bear have been watching too many episodes of "19 Kids and Counting."

Meet the new arrivals.

Bearly out of the oven.

Fixed

The word "fix" is a peculiar one, isn't it? It has so many different meanings.

1. My dog has been fixed for a while now. (Actually, my husband likes to say, "He was fixed when he was born. Now he's broken.") One day recently my youngest child was having such a great time with our one and only dog, that he asked me, "Mom, Reilly is so cute. What does it take to make puppies?" Oh, my. Why do they always ask you that when you're unprepared? I repeated the question (an old parental stall tactic) and then said, "Well....you need a male and a female--." Then he asked, "and food and water, right?" I said, "Right," and he replied, "That's what I thought." And off he went. Shooey!!! Close call.

2. Today my daughter fixed a green smoothie. She declared it " a fail." She attempted to combine two different good-sounding recipes, and so in went a head of celery, two cups of spinach leaves, some lime juice, an apple, and cilantro. What she wished she'd used was parsley.
Let me tell you, it was very green. And very cilantro-ey. The faces we made trying to get it down should have been on youtube. The video would go viral, just like our guts. I told her it needed something else for sweetness, so she added berries. Do you know what happens when you mix red with green in a blender? I told her not to worry about it; it'd look the same coming out as going down. But I couldn't handle the tanginess, let alone the texture, so we added chunks of banana to our cup and poured smoothie over it. Then I added honey. Lots of honey. I wish I could say it fixed the problem.

3. And speaking of fixing problems, for your viewing pleasure (and ability), I fixed the link to the post called "Jimpressions." Have you ever heard such a funny pastor? I love impressions and I love to hear Shakespeare quoted. Combine the two and you've got some great comedy. Take a look and enjoy your Thursday.

4. What was last thing you "fixed"? A meal, a situation, your hair, a dog? Tell me. I'm fixin' to hear all about it.

Huli Huli Chicken in the Crock Pot

I had never heard of Huli Huli Chicken until two weeks ago when I picked up a copy of Cook's Country. The name is so cute, and the ingredients sounded unique and delicious, but the cooking thereof as written? Huh-uh, huh-uh. Complicated, time-consuming, and calling for mesquite coals for the grill. I don't do coals, thank you.

As the article which accompanied the recipe explains, "huli" means "turn" in Hawaiian. In Honolulu, there are literally dozens of parking lots dotted with huli-huli grills. Home cooks buy huli chicken, they don't make it. (I don't feel like such a cheater after all.) Besides, who wants to be caught flipping the bird?

All right, that was bad. Here's how I adapted the magazine version of Huli Huli Chicken to suit my style and ingredients on hand. Keep in mind, I don't measure--I estimate.

8 chicken breast halves (I had boneless, skinless)
3 cups pineapple juice
1 cup water
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 or 2 teaspoons garlic powder (or 4 garlic cloves, minced)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 small whole jalepeno (mine was frozen to start)

pinch of mace (for last step only)
fresh herbs for garnish

Put all ingredients into Crock Pot. Cook at least 5 hours, depending on thickness of meat. I also added halved baking potatoes. Every hour or so, huli the chicken around in the crock. When meat is tender, preheat oven to 420. (While oven heats--if you think you want thicker sauce like a glaze, remove as much "broth" as you can from Crock Pot and boil it on the stove to reduce it. At this point, I added a teeny pinch of mace because I didn't have ginger.)

Spread chicken and potatoes out on a large, foil-covered, sprayed baking sheet. Ladel the sauce or "glaze" over the chicken, broil for 5 minutes. Turn. Repeat. (Huli, I mean. Huli the chicken so both sides gets glazed and broiled.)

I served this dish with sauteed sugar snap peas, and garnished with fresh (barely grown) herbs to gussy-up my photo:). Oh, and I thought the dish needed a kiss of red, and I was out of tomatoes. So I made a strawberry daiquiri and set it close to the plate. Works for me!

Joel was not even halfway into into his serving of chicken when I heard him say, "I definitely want Samoa." (Okay, he didn't actually say that, but with his mouth full, it sure sounded like a pun!)

Meal Plan with Cowboy Caviar

Not exactly low-fat, but I know from having done Weight Watchers (way back when) how to watch my portions. If I find I'm unsuccessful without accountability, I'll rejoin by March 12th. Here's what we ate/plan to eat this week. Some meals, obviously, have already been consumed. Maybe you'll find something on the menu to put on yours in the near future.

Sunday: Chicken Marsala & 7-Layer Salad
Salad: fresh spinach, cauliflower, grape tomatoes, carrots, hard boiled egg, peas, bacon (usually, but this time I omitted bacon from the salad and Sarah made a bacon vinaigrette dressing because I don't like bottled dressings except for T. Marzetti's brand )

Monday: Crab Strata Casserole (Steppingstone cookbook), lemon-pepper broccoli

Tuesday: Beef Tacos with Texas Cowboy Caviar (my sister's recipe)



Wednesday: Crock-pot Chicken with red potatoes & green beans

Thursday: Tortellini Alfredo

Friday: DATE NIGHT /pizza

Saturday:3-Way Wings, mac 'n cheese, baked apples

Sunday: Scavenger Special (aka leftovers)

I'm Back and it's My New Year's Day

No bruises to report. I'm actually in much better spirits than I was. Today is my personal New Year's Day. I didn't settle all my issues, nor did the sky collapse. I'm just in a much more peaceful place than I was in my heart last week.

Having done some praying, thinking, and planning about changes, this upcoming season should be a growing one (or shrinking one, at least physically).

For my New Year I have three main goals that came from wrestling with God. (Truly, it was more like a pleasant retreat.)

1. Spiritually-- to journal again. I got out of this excellent habit little by little, until I got to the place I realized I no longer even wanted to journal what I was hearing from God. And then it seemed He wasn't speaking. Well, you know, wise people know when their audience isn't listening. The solution? They either shout, whisper, or stop talking. This time God whispered, "Write down what I'm saying." So today I began that again.

2. Physically- Get moving! I knew that walking the dog would do double duty. (Well, I do mean duty and not doody. I myself use indoor plumbing, thank you very much. Reilly prefers the camping style.) Anyway, I took him out for 20 agonizing minutes. He is so strong and has no concept of how NOT to pull on a leash. I was ready to call Cesar Milan before I had gotten 30 yards from my front door.

So that's the get-moving part. About the eating: while starting to take better care of my health, I have devoted breakfast, lunch, and snacks today and tomorrow to only fruits, veggies, and legumes. This functions as a mini-fast/"clean-out" phase of my long-term better-eating plan. I want to lose 8 pounds in March. I'm still devising a plan for the long haul.

3. Mentally--to regain what memory I lost through anaesthesia (the ability to recall some common nouns) by not settling for "hoojie-bobs" and "whatchacallits," but to strive until I think of the word. For example, I was remembering "co" but couldn't get "coffee pot" to come out. Or
"pa" but not "pajamas." It was scary. Seriously. Made me wonder if I had early-onset Alzheimer's, and I'm not being funny. It made me wonder what it's like to really have memory loss. This is so frustrating! Simple words just GONE! Thankfully words come more easily when I'm writing. I don't usually say hoojie-bobs when I write.

And I've started memorizing Romans 5. If you're going to sharpen your memory, you might as well sharpen it on scripture, right?

Happy New Year to you. Have you got any new goals, hopes, dreams, or other whatchallits?

Valentine's "Day" in Pictures

I put "day" in quotations because it started Friday and ended the following Wednesday .


On Friday evening Sarah, Steve, and Ambrey cooked Chicken Marsala for their parents. We had Cheryl and Marion over and just let the kids serve us. What a blast! They had done everything from scratch--the marsala, twisted breadsticks, Olive Garden style salad, linguine (from a box), and banana pudding. Everything was delicious and we loved getting to know Ambrey's folks. I regret not getting pictures of our special occasion, but things were a bit hectic!

So many good memories I have stored up in my mind and heart this year! Here's a montage...


MONDAY


Steve had this vignette ready for his sister and mama on Valentine's morning. How
sweet. (Ben was in New Jersey with his girlfriend, spoiling her.) Joel got the day off
because Feb 14th is his birthday. He put this 1,000 pc Lego battleship station together in
7 and 1/2 hours . I helped him for 45 minutes for starters, to help organize pieces.
The necklace from my kids...
Can you see the image? Mother dancing with her four children. Perfect.

I'll leave out the part where I had a doctor's appointment. Doesn't every woman want to see her
gynecologist on Valentine's Day?


TUESDAY, after we'd all gone to bed...

Steve set the table and prepped the waffle iron and ingredients for the next day's brunch.

WEDNESDAY

He and Ambrey made Belgian waffles, and she gave Joel a gift --a huge Hershey's kiss
and his choice of little gifts . He chose a plastic frog that he says looks like a Democrat.
But then he said, "No, actually, he looks John McCain.Seriously! Look at his mouth!"

We laughed at ourselves for being such fashionistas. I was so stylin' I couldn't be seen
in pictures. Don't wanna make someone jealous. Ask me how to put together a man's white turtleneck brown ankle-length skirt, grey socks, and furry slippers.



Sneaky me, I snapped a shot of Steve & Ambrey warming up for a run.



Flowers for Sarah .We love her so much.


The ring on top was my ultimate, uber romantic gift from my generous husband.





Stunning tulips from my daddy. I'll plant them somewhere special as soon as I can.

Woops--more MONDAY memories!

Found all this at my place on Valentine's morning when I came downstairs.







I made each child a big pancake.






I highly recommend what Paul did: bought a dozen plain red balloons.
We were able to personalize them with a blue Sharpie--Steve to Ambrey, and
me to my folks.



Steve heading out, bearing many gifts for his lovely girl, Ambrey. He put
together a veritable treasure chest of her favorite things: an aquamarine
necklace, a polka-dotted puppy, Swedish fish, Lindor truffles, pink Gerbera
daisies, a Wawa cappuccino, and a card picturing two Golden Retrievers snuggling.
(She has a female Golden and we're getting a male Golden in 2 days!)

Man on a mission. Made my heart sing.


I gave my parents a few little gifts to remind them of when their love was new.
After all, their love is the reason I'm here.




Daddy looking forward to opening the KU loot bag with Mama at home. (She was in bed with
a bad chest cold. He was just getting over it.) The bag itself was a thoughtful gift from
Laurie, my blogging friend in Kansas. I was painfully aware that Laurie and her family were,
on Valentine's Day, at her mom's funeral. My heart was breaking for them.


Daddy gave Sarah a box of chocolates, and both of us got a sweet card. The
boy is being his usual photogenic self. UGH! You can pick out a 9 year-old boy in any picture, can't you?





Pappaw (Lyle Dauber) and Joel Lyle (or as Joel said, "the two Lyles")


I finally got a new 'do at the end of the week.

For so many reasons, this year's Valentine's celebrations made me rejoice. How great the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure!

Meal Plan

Mostly for my records, but perhaps to inspire anyone in a rut, here's what we've had this week and my plans for the coming one.

Sunday: Brazilian Steak Salad @ Manhattan Grille (to celebrate Ben's new job!)
Monday: Venison chili
Tuesday: Sloppy Zo's, macaroni salad
Weds: Chicken Diane (an Alpha recipe) because, in dealing with dog rescue people this week, there have been 3 different Dianes. ;) One of them came for our home visit and approved us! With the main dish I put a rice-and-peas side dish I created, plus baby spinach & romaine salad w/ pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, cheddar cheese and croutons, w/ balsamic & honey dijon dressing.
Thurs: Lemon Pepper Roughy, asparagus, and Yukon golds
Friday: something Steve & Ambrey want to fix :)
Saturday: steak fajitas
Sunday: ?? Valentine dinner out???
Monday: Beef Burgundy over mashed potatoes and whatever Joel wants for dessert--it's his birthday
Tuesday: Tortellini & Pesto w/ Portabella 'shrooms (S.Steward's recipe)
Weds: Pork tenderloin in crock
Thursday: pizza (first day back at co-op, I'm sure I'll be whooped!)
Friday: Beanies and Weanies (S.Steward's recipe)
Saturday: Joel's Party/ Get Murphy Day --TBD

Boy, it's funny what you notice about yourself when you actually write down your meal plan.
1. We eat a lot of green beans. I need to get more creative w/ the veggies.
2. As the week winds down, so does my "umph" in the head and the kitchen.
3. I think a lot about my kids' likes (which are many) and dislikes (few)-- and who will be here to eat.
4. Nights when we'll be singing/breathing/co-existing with church family, I think harder about What Not to Eat.

A Baker's Dozen of Meals Planned

Some of the things on here sound fancy or gourmet. If so, they are probably from my favorite grocery place which is a food warehouse that gets restaurant grade food for below-grocery store prices. So I figure, why buy plain Jane when I don't have to?

3-Way Wings (BBQ, Old Bay, hot)-two nights ago
Lasagna (last night, from scratch)
Leftovers (tonight)
"Perfect Pulled Pork" sammies-(Sat)from Food Network mag
Steak w/ Roasted Veggies (Sun)
2-Alarm Chili (Mon)
Chicken Broccoli Bake (Tues)
Leftovers (Weds)
Shrimp w/ Tempura Veggies (Thurs)
Barb's Ham Loaf (Fri)
Out-(Sat)
Grilled Salmon w/ Dill rub (Sun)
Veggie Quiche (Mon)

Gettin' outta the (Cooking) Rut I'm In

Coming back a tad early from my blog vacation.

I've decided that life is way too short to keep eating the same old stuff. I watch creative cooks all the time on TV and so does Paul. We "ooh" and "ahh" and say, "We gotta try that sometime." He checks out cooking magazines from the library and we peruse them for three weeks, but I can't remember the last time I actually used one recipe from there. Occasionally I use a fellow blogger's recipe, or go to my stand-by "older" recipes, but usually I don't plan well enough and end up using whatever is on hand. Not bad in and of itself, but I could do so much better with a bit more forethought. Besides, when all you have in the pantry to throw together is a can of tuna, some stale Fritos, and the wax paper lining from a box of granola, you gotta be creative. And not everyone appreciates it, ya know?

(Truth told, the summer heat kills off most of my creative brain matter in the square footage of the house known as the kitchen.)

So I've been hankering for pulled pork ever since I saw it being cooked on Food Network. Paul kindly checked out the FN issue (read: "Food Network" not "f'in'" !) that says "Perfect Pulled Pork" on the front cover. Contrary to the actual directions given, I don't think I'll be babysitting a grill of wood chips for six hours, but I will adapt the recipe. Whatcha think?

Foodies, help me decide: Slow-cooked in the oven or do the Crock Pot? It calls for a 10-12 pound pork shoulder or Boston butt. I think I should throw a party.

Monday Meal Plan

Monday: chicken broccoli bake
Tuesday: venison/bacon burgers
Wednesday: crab cakes with asparagus
Thursday: Mexican OR Karen's pork tenderloin in the Crock Pot
Friday--out to celebrate Sarah's b'day
Saturday-chicken Tandoori
Sunday: leftovers

Fastest Meal Planning for a Month I've Ever Done

Check this out. I may never go back to old ways. Took me all of ten minutes to fill in the calendar with general meal ideas. And I got 100 points for it. Very cool.