A Dinner Worthy of 14 Anniversaries

Call me Ishmael.  Ooops- nevermind.

So- my wonderful, glorious, Adonis-like husband and I celebrated our 14th anniversary yesterday.  Did you hear me?  14 YEARS!  Given the times we live in, I'd say that's something to be mighty proud of!

Unfortunately the business of our every day lives prevents us from having our own private celebration- somewhere quiet, candlelit,and free of children.  Instead we settled for a quiet dinner at home; moderately quiet (meaning we turned the TV volume down), candlelit with an LED centerpiece, and definitely NOT child-free.  We've decided that the result of our Great American Love Story  should be permitted to join us for our celebration dinner, anyway.  More on the Great American Love Story comment in a minute.

Our Anniversary allows me reflect on the years Todd and I have been together and allow myself a moment or so to relive some of the spectacular times we've shared.  I love my husband.  There isn't a shadow of a doubt in my mind that we were destined to marry from the time we both were conceived ourselves.  Almost daily I am amazed by our identical thought process when it comes to anything, really- from business decisions to finances to raising our son and even political perspectives.   It's like we share part of the same brain. 

And there is the opposite side of this brain-sharing thing, too.  Like he fills in the parts of my missing brain with his and vice versa.  Only I think I might have a few more missing parts than he does.

Usually for our anniversary, I write up a top-ten list of certain things, like why I love him and funniest moments in our marriage and so on.  I think I've posted one of them a few years back.  This year I didn't do that (yet).  I blame Moby Dick.

But I did take the time to recreate the first meal I ever made for Todd when we started to date.  Todd has always been a meat and potatoes kind of guy.  I, on the other hand, didn't eat meat when we met, but I did eat fish and chicken occasionally.  I knew two things about what he liked then, back in 1997.  He liked spice, and shrimp.

I personally was going through a weird stage in my life where (prior to meeting Todd) I had myself convinced I was going to move to Brazil and marry Christian Fittipaldi.  I immersed myself in Brazilian culture- studying Portuguese and learning the geography and history of the country.  I had a Brazilian cookbook and a recipe for something called Brazilian Shrimp and Corn Moqueca seemed simple and yummy enough.

So I made it, and Todd seemed to like it a lot.  The only problem was, due to my skill limitations in the kitchen then, any time Todd came over for dinner all I would ever make was this dish because it was the one thing I always got right.  (You should have seen my disastrous attempts at homemade garlic toast or grilled chicken that tasted slightly of lighter fluid.)  Needless to say, he ate this more in the first few months of us dating than any one man should be subjected to.  Finally I learned to cook different things and this recipe was forgotten about in my "Favorite Recipes" collection of my index-card recipe box.

So, in honor of our 14 years of wedded-bliss, last night I came home from work and made some delicious Shrimp and Corn Moqueca, along with some baby DelMonico's and some bacon-ey and cheesy twice-baked potatoes.  (The man needs his meat and potatoes and I respect that.  I need my bacon and cheese and he respects that)

So- In honor of November 13th, which was Friday the 13th in 1997 and the happiest day of my life until our son was born, I share with you my well-guarded secret to a happy marriage:  Brazilian Shrimp and Corn Moqueca!

INGREDIENTS

1 pound medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 small jalapeno, chopped and seeded (or 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper)
1/2 cup tomato sauce
Tabasco sauce, your preference
1/2 cup fresh, chopped parsley
1 tablespoons flour
1 cup of milk, or 1 cup of coconut milk (not sweetened) if you want to be authentic
1 can creamed corn
3/4 to 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese   (Please do not use that nasty stuff in the green can.  Buy yourself a good hunk of Parm and grate it by hand or in the food processor.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Using a cast iron or oven-proof skillet, soften onion and jalapeno in olive oil for a minute.  Stir in shrimp, tomato sauce, parsley and Tabasco sauce (to taste) .  Allow to simmer for a few minutes until the shrimp is warmed through.  Sprinkle in flour, stir.  Gradually add in milk, bringing to a slow boil until the sauce is thickened.

Remove from heat.  Spread can of creamed corn over shrimp mixture.  Do not stir in!  Spread cheese over the top of skillet.  Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes. 

Allow to cool slightly before scooping into shallow bowls.  You can put a spoonful of cooked rice in the middle of the stew or on the side before serving.

OK.  And to further explain the Great American Love Story reference from above, it was an answer to a question that my son asked recently.  I knew this day would come. 

TJ:  "Mom- you are white and Daddy is black.  But I'm brown." 

ME:  "We are not colors.  You are not defined by the color of your skin.  You are the result of a Great American Love Story." 

The End.

I Lied To You.

My preceding post is a lie.  I am not "falling" back into blog mode.  Instead I'm falling into a catastrophic rut with regular blog posts because my professor is making me read, reread, and obsess over Moby Dick.

I used to like this book.  Now it is etched deep into the once-creative recesses of my brain and any time I even start to write something for this blog, the first sentence I automatically write is "Call me Ishmael."

FALLing Back Into Blog Mode

It would be safe to say we had a busy, if not exhausting summer.  I will post pictures, soon.  I'm getting back in the mood to write, to blog, to create.  Anything.  Fall weather itself inspires me.  I took a day off work last week just so that I could stay home and decorate the house for fall.

I find that if I stay up with reading regularly and organizing a time just for my own learning and enrichment, I'm more motivated.  I'm starting with some online lectures at NYU.  I'm sitting in on lectures about early American literature.  It's a start.

I plan on taking advantage of the fall weather as much as possible, visiting every farmers market, fall festival or historical landmark that I can, squeezed in between my son's football practices and games.  And thrift stores...  I think the fall is the best time for thrifting!

I get back into the kitchen a lot more as the weather cools, too.  I hardly bake in the summer, and dinners are pretty much whatever is thrown on the grill -or- a lot of baseball tailgate type foods.  (Hot dogs and macaroni salad, anyone?)

So yes- recipes will hopefully be making a comeback!

Happy fall...

Oh, my blog, you are not

something that I just forgot.

Summer is busy, free time so rare.

No time for updates, but I really do care!

When I have a quiet hour or two

there is much to share with you.

A trip that found us far away,

(in another country) for several days!

Baseball games, picnics, and the drive-in,

then squeezing in a relaxing swim;

Day time trips to near and far,

netted some great bargains loaded into my car.

When I can I promise that soon,

I will fill you in on our exciting June!

I see the sun setting on our July,

but I'll tell you all about this month, too- so do not cry!

August approaches and brings a smiling friend,

and then I will write about the summer's end.

Until then, enjoy the heat and warm summer nights,

and for Pete's sake get off your computer and on with your life!

I'll blog later- enjoying myself too much worry about it now!



My Most Recent Whine About Technology

I'm not very tech-savvy.  In fact, this blog is the extent of my venture into anything in the cyber-universe, except my Yahoo email that I've had since 1999.

I-Phones, Smart Phones, whatever-phones are what all the cool kids are using these days.  I had a basic phone that I could use to make calls and text from that, in comparison to all of the new gadgets around, should be displayed in a museum along with the brick phone my husband had in the early 90's,

In fact, someone actually asked my husband recently about his phone which was the exact same as mine "Is that a pager?"  So offended was he that he insisted that we look at the new phones with all the data and funky apps and all of that.  Hesitantly I agreed to look- but seriously I was okay with what I had.  I spend so little of my time online anymore (evident by my sporadic postings and unfinished blog posts in my drafts folder) that having internet access at my fingertips 24/7 seemed so unnecessary.  All I want to do is make my calls, send the occasional text, and snap some pictures if I felt so inclined. 

So, at our visit to the AT & T store, salesman Corey promised us that once we go Smart phone we'll wonder how we could have ever lived without it.  He rambled off feature after feature, suggested some must-have apps, and assured us that we will be so happy with our new phones we will recommend them to everyone we know.

Corey is full of shit.  I hate this phone.  I even have an assistant app that can speak texts so I no longer need to actually type them myself, and I made sure that I reiterated that very fact to my husband after I had figured out how to work the stupid thing.  I REALLY DO HATE THIS PHONE. 

This is the phone we were suckered into buying.  I haven't sent a regular text in days because my fat fingers mess up on the touch-screen keyboard.  I haven't even tried to get on the internet, much less figure out how to download different ring tones or try to take a picture.

I need a Smart phones For Dummies app. 

So, while my husband is all in love with his new phone, I want to smash mine against a brick wall, only I can't because I bought the $40 case that promised to make the phone virtually indestructible. I want my old phone back.  Call me old school, but I was a lot less tense and more likely to use my phone then.  Today it rang and I couldn't even figure out how to answer it.  It was stuck in some mode that had no meaning.

I'm so glad I'm paying more for a phone that I will use so much less.  Thank you Corey.  If I could figure out how to call you, I'd be chewing you out right now instead of taping out my frustrations on my blog.

Satan Uses Infomercials to Pay His Bills

I believe Americans get duped into buying hordes of crap they see on TV infomercials through Satan's own subliminal messages. The inventors/marketers of these products use their wealth to finance Hell.  I mean, the heating bill there must be outrageous. 

Well, in my own way I've invested in some Hell stock.

I, too was once duped.  I was coerced into spending $50 for a product on TV that was only supposed to be $19.95 plus shipping and handling.  It was one of those battery-operated tweezer thingies.  I mean, it works okay, but no different from the manual pair of tweezers I got at the 99 Cents store years ago.  My husband still whines about "another one of my pointless purchases" every time he sees it.

And I've been eyeing Chaz Dean's Wen shampoo for months, but my thrifty-self just can't part with the $39.95 required for one bottle of shampoo. I don't have Alyssa Milano's bank account, so I guess I'll never have her hair.  When will he realize that budget-conscious housewives and middle-class Moms would be more likely to try his shampoo if was available at the local Target for around $10?

But I gotta tell you, recently my investment in Hell stock doubled.  I bought Perfect Tortilla Bowls.  The commercial really grabbed my attention- you can make your own perfect little tortilla bowls at home for a fraction of the cost of what they are in the supermarket.  Any they are baked, not fried so there is little guilt in eating one.  I mean, I love my taco salads!

And the price- way less than the Emjoi Tweeze.  It's true what the commercial says- they double your order, you get a recipe guide, and the Cut 'n Cup gadget!  All for under $20!

I'm sure that at some point they'll be for sale at Wal-mart in the As Seen On TV  isle.  That's where I found my Swivel Store spice rack.  Which I also love, by the way.  An item well worth the $19.95 plus tax, even my grumbling husband agrees as he ever-so-easily finds his barbecue dry rub.

But the Perfect Tortilla Bowls-  I just couldn't wait.  I had my credit card in one hand and the phone in the other so fast... and within a week they were waiting by my front door!

They work fabulously.  The recipe guides have some good ideas, too.  So don't be afraid to buy them!  You get four- that's right, four!- non-stick Perfect Tortilla bowls, 2 recipe guides and the Cut 'n Cup, for $10 plus tax, shipping and handling. 

I love them so much, I'm going to share one of my favorite recipes in the next post!

But I wonder, do people in Hell have perfect Alyssa Milano-like hair?

Move Ya Jag-Off

  A true 'burgher can't stop laughing...  I just had to share this with all of my non-PA peeps.

Bored with Toile and Annoyed With Sentence Starters

You might remember a couple years ago I showed you my garage sale table that I repainted.  I covered the seat cushions with a lovely tea-stained toile. 

Well, I'm in the process of a table make-over.  I'll post pictures soon.  After a few years of wear, the toile is boring and unattractive, and the tabletop itself was a victim of a nasty Sharpie attack.

My uber-talented husband built a new table with his big, masculine hands, and I'm keeping the chairs but freshening them up with some new paint and new seat covers.  I've been browsing for fabrics, but so far nothing has caught my eye.  I'm opting for a sagey-green colored heavy upholstery fabric with some sort of pattern.  I just can't do a solid color.  Spots show too easily, and Lord knows we can be a messy family.  (Like I said, Sharpie attack....)

Well, hopefully over the long Memorial Day weekend between my son's birthday business, Pirate games and picnics 'll get my table finished.

On a totally unrelated matter, I have a tenant that has been irritating the ever-loving snot out of me with her constant repeating of "Well, the thing of it is..."   As in:  "Well, the thing of it is, I have a doctors appointment and I won't be home."  And, "Well, the thing of it is, I never really liked vegetables."  And, "Well, the thing of it is, my car is in the garage and I can't make it to your office today".

To which I must say in the total anonymity of the world wide web:  "The thing of it is, you need to stop starting every sentence this way.  The thing of it is, more often than not it makes absolutely no sense and a group of sentences that should take you 5 second to say ends up taking 15, and in all honesty talking to you for any length of time is about as fun as a pap smear, so make your point and leave me alone."

I'm not bitter or anything.

The Circle of Life

I was born in western Pennsylvania during the 70's, when disco and bell bottoms were in.  I was born the year my beloved America celebrated it's bicentennial. 

I grew up in the 80's.  In the early part of the 80's I watched my Mom jazzercize to her Thriller album and I collected Garbage Pal cards.  I broke my brothers General Lee model car and to this day he hasn't forgiven me. 

I would visit my Grandmother in West Orange, New Jersy and I was scared to death of the big city.

In the late eighties my hair stood up about 4 inches at the top and I listened to Def Leppard and Guns 'N Roses.  I rolled my jeans up at the ankles and wore brightly colored slouch socks.  I answered the phone by saying "Talk to me, Goose".

In the early 90's my hair was still pretty high.  I thought I was going to marry Kip Winger and travel with his band.  I didn't miss an episode of 90210.  I made fun of a classmate who wore a Huey Lewis and the News World Tour '86 tee shirt to school. 

During the mid-90's, I decided to move to New Mexico to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher on the Navajo reservation.  I became a vegetarian and voted for Bill Clinton's re-election.   I considered myself a serious humanitarian.  I thought I was going to marry a handsome Native American that looked like Wind In His Hair with a washboard stomach.  I wanted to move into a traditional hogan and live off the land.

Instead I met Todd.  Todd was an eccentric black cowboy from a town bordered by the Navajo reservation who spoke fluent Spanish and drove a pick-up truck.  He listened to Def Leppard and George Strait and Al Green.  He didn't have long, flowing black hair.  In fact, he hardly had any hair.  But he had somewhat of a washboard stomach.

He collected Star Wars memorabilia from the 70's and 80's.

Todd made me a steak.  After going for nearly 4 years without eating beef, I'd forgotten how good it was.  He convinced me to get cable.  I made him his first pirogi.

In the late 90's, Todd asked me to marry him.  We flew out to Pennsylvania so he could meet my family.  He met my jazzercizing mother and Bill Clinton-hating father.  I gave my brother a replica General Lee model car that I found at Toys R Us. 

We had an impromptu wedding service with no rings to exchange.  I wore blue.  Afterwards we drove to Las Vegas in his pick up truck for a quick honeymoon and listened George Strait CD's most of the way there.  I was madly in love and felt all giddy.

We moved to Phoenix, Arizona and I decided I loved living in the big city.

On September 11th, 2001 Todd and I held hands and cried together because we thought our beloved America was going to be destroyed by evil terrorists.

In 2004, we decided to have a child.  We named him Todd Jr.  Again I fell madly in love. 

Around 2007, I began missing Pennsylvania and my family and we decided that our son should be around his grandparents and family here.  We packed up the Uhaul and headed east.  We listened to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 on the satellite radio most of the way.  We heard several HLATN songs, and sang along with every one of them. 

Fast forward a few years.  Our son is approaching 8.  He listens to Thriller at least once a week.  He collects Star Wars memorabilia from any  decade.  He tries to speak Spanish, and he thinks his Dad's steaks are the best in the world, as long as they are served right along with a pirogi.  Last year we took him to see HLATN in concert after a baseball game.  He thinks Huey Lewis is the epitome of coolness.

My Dad has eased up on Bill Clinton.  My Mom prefers Zumba these days.  My brother still has that General Lee model car.  I eat meat almost daily.  I live in a suburban townhouse and I couldn't live off the land if I tried.

Just the other day Todd and I held hands and cried together because we think our beloved America is going to be destroyed by evil Americans.

I suppose the point I'm trying to make is simply this.  For me my entire life has been one continuing circle, with several repeating factors applicable in different ways.  It doesn't matter how much society and culture changes, it's all one redundant cycle of the same stuff at different times in our lives. 

And just be careful who you make fun of in high school.  That former classmate is a now mega-millionaire software designer.  The last time I saw him be made fun of me because I still haven't fully let go of my high hair.

Larry the Cable Guy Makes Whaaaaat?

Probably one of the last people on this planet whose product I might endorse would be Larry the Cable Guy.  I don't understand why a man whose whole mantra "Git'r Done" is funny. 

This man actually, and quite descriptively, explains without pause how to make a poop lasagna.

There are so very few people I just can't handle hearing on my TV or radio.  He is one of them.

The other day I came across a box of Larry's Beer bread mix.  I am a huge fan of beer bread.  I buy it by the truck loads from Tastefully Simple.  For about $6 a box.  Larry's brand of beer bread was in the Dollar Tree.  That in itself should have said something.  But, being the insanely adventurous girl that I am, I thought I give it a whirl.  I mean, in comparing the ingredient list to that of Tastefully Simple, there is not much difference. 

Can I tell you something?  It wasn't half bad.  I didn't even think of the word "poop" when I tried it.  OK Larry, you got me.  For a dollar.  But I still won't watch your movies.

This Is a Cattle Guard, Mr. Vice-President

Recently I heard a funny story, that you may or may not have heard.  Also, this story may or may not be true, but it is funny nonetheless.

But first, let's clear something up.  This is a cattle guard.  We don't have them in Pennsylvania, I guess here it doesn't matter if cows are running rampant across roads or into our neighbors property.  Of course, here in the big city, we don't have many cows, much less a need for cattle guards.

When I lived in New Mexico and Arizona, we had cattle guards all over.  There was one about 500 yards from the end of our driveway that separated public land from the reservation.  The cattle guard didn't keep the cows out of our yard or from totally destroying my son's favorite plastic rake.  But that's another story for another day.

Recently it has been brought to my attention that our Vice President thought that cattle guards were actually people guarding cattle.  Now, Mr. Biden is from Pennsylvania, so I can understand.  Had I not lived out west, I probably wouldn't have known either.

However, when reviewing grazing policies for western states it was discussed that several cattle guards were to be removed.  Thinking about all of soon-to-be-unemployed, Mr. Biden replied "Before any one is fired, why don't we consider six months of re-training?"

Again, this could likely be just a joke, hopefully our vice-president knows what a cattle guard really is. 

One more totally unrelated thing I'd like to address.  I've been away from blogger for a few weeks.  Every time I have some sort of extended absence they seem to change things around on the blog author's end of things.  They claim it's more maneuverable and easier to set up.  I've been on blogger for four years.  I don't find it easier.  I realize I'm not the most computer savvy yahoo out there.  But I do know what a cattle guard is.

Farm House Wares

My new source for decorating inspiration.  I'm convincing my husband to build boxes just like these-  then I will "age" them with some sandpaper.  Stay tuned.

Go to farmhousewares.com to check them out!

The Most Disorganized Two Days of My Life

I'm sitting at work right now.  There is not much I can do.  My office looks like a tornado has blown through.  I have contractors swearing.  I'd laugh if my head didn't hurt so much from the noise.

You see, they are installing a new HVAC.  A desperately needed HVAC, as I've been making do for two years with a small space heater in the winter and only a box fan in the humid summer months.  I can't blame the lack of sufficient heat/cooling on government cutbacks.  Only ridiculously cheap ownership.  Finally, since the property has sold we have some capital to play with and my new HVAC was my absolute first priority.

Only now, they've been working on this for going on TWO DAYS.  I can't organize.  I can't hear my phone when in rings through the sound of drilling into concrete blocks.  It's quite an ordeal.  I wish I had my camera handy so that I could snap a picture to post.

I'd like to just leave, but sadly I'm working on quarterly budgets which are due in T-Minus 24 hours.  And I've completed about, uh, none of it.

OK- so contractor Brad just informed me that "For sure we'll be done today, man."  Meanwhile, his partner Jim has just left the chaos to make a trip to Lowes, for conduit or something.  I think Jim just wanted a coke and some fresh air.  And to get away from Brad's foul mouth. 

You know, I kind of enjoy days that totally interrupt my rigid daily routine.  I like that I can tell people "well, I can't meet with you today because I'm having work done in my office (and there is no where to sit), so let's reschedule."  I like that I can totally call the schlups in New York and tell them that the quarterly budget will be delayed because I was offline due to the temporary disconnection of power and phone lines.

Yay, HVAC.  You've made my week fun.  And totally unproductive.

Top Ten Signs 'O Spring

It's spring- YAY!  The first sniff of fresh spring air means:

1.  Daffodils.
2.  Spring cleaning!  Take down those heavy curtains and replace with lighter, free-flowing ones.
3.  BASEBALL.  Let's Go Bucs!  Man, do I LOVE hearing the crack of of bat!
4.  Break out the lawnmower!  (Oh, wait, we have a guy that does that for us.)  Love that smell of fresh cut grass!
5.  The drive-in is officially opened.
6.  Time to GRILL.  Got steak marinating as I write this.
7.  Plan that summer mini-vacation and arrange for time away from work!  Hooray!
8.  My son totally gets uninterested in school. 
9.  My husband is seen less and less around the house.  Warm weather = lots of concrete work.

And finally:
10. Warmer weekends mean more thrifting, less baking and lots of evenings outdoors.  Okay, that's three in one.  But I wanted a top-10 list. 

"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."  ~William Shakespeare

Happy Spring and Other Well Wishes

Hope you celebrated your own Mardi Gras!
Happy Belated St. Patricks Day!
Today is the first official day of spring!  And near 80 degrees in Western Pennsylvania!
I've had this terrible interruption to my days lately called Work.  It's been preventing me from blogging. 
Only 16 days until the Pirates first home game for the season!  Let's Go Bucs!

Mimi's Spice Muffins

Know what I miss most about living in Arizona?  Not the year-round warm weather.  Not the Dodge Theatre, the Diamondbacks, or Firebird Raceway.  Not the pretty cacti, desert landscape or an invigorating hike up Camelback mountain.  Not even the indoor Swap Mart or Glendale's Catlin Court (although it runs a very close second.)

I miss Mimi's Cafe.  Corny, I realize.  But here in PA, the closest one is in Ohio, and I ain't going to Columbus for anything. 

Mimi's, like so much else, holds a certain sentimental value.  Mimi's reminds me of late dinners with my friend Kevin after an evening of theatre.  Mimi's was the typical lunch spot for my pal Remy and I during a busy work day.  I insisted that Todd go with me once, and he hated it.  Too "fru-fru", he says. 

I took my Dad and Nancy there after a morning hike during their first visit.  My Dad swears his lettuce attacked his face.  I don't think he was too impressed, either. 

Maybe I like Mimi's because it's as close to an authentic French Bistro as we'll ever find stateside.  Maybe I like Mimi's for the atmosphere and comfortable surroundings, especially sitting on the outdoor patio.  I think I really like Mimi's because the food was always great, my favorite being their chopped Cobb salad.

I know, a Cobb salad.  What's so great about that?  Chopped up veggies, bacon, egg and bleu cheese.  No magic there, I suppose. 

My husband brought home some avocados the other day, and they gave me some serious Mimi's Cobb salad cravings.   I was trying to remember exactly what was in theirs (as you know, each chef has their own additions).  I decided to look up Mimi's online, and see if their menu had a breakdown of ingredients.  It did.

But they also had recipes for some of Mimi's specialties.  I remember their muffins with a certain fondness.  They have a recipe on their website, but to save you the trouble of going there to look it up-  here it is!

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

3 eggs

2 & 1/2 cups flour 

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon buttermilk

Nut Topping:

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup walnuts, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 375.  In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and the butter together with an electric mixer.  When they are thoroughly mixed, add eggs and beat one more minute.

Sift the flour into a separate bowl, together with the baking soda, nutmeg and the cinnamon.

Add the flour and the buttermilk to the first mixture, mix at low speed until smooth.  To avoid lumps in the batter and the wet and dry ingredients alternately, in small amounts.

Make nut topping; Mix all ingredients in a separate small bowl.

Grease muffin tins with butter or margarine.  You can also use paper baking cups.  Fill each cup 3/4 full of batter.  Add a full, rounded tablespoon of nut topping on top of each muffin cup of batter.  Bake immediately or the topping will sink to the bottom of the muffin.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.  A toothpick inserted in the middle of the muffin should come out dry.  Home ovens heat differently from commercial ovens so you may need to adjust the temperature or the baking time accordingly.

Norm's Shrimp Ceviche

Many years ago I knew a guy named Norm.  Norm was a tall, lanky white man in his mid-50's with bowed legs, silver hair, and a handlebar mustache.  He wore heavy duster coats and cowboy hats all the time, even in Phoenix's 100 degree heat. 

Norm was a boyfriend of a friend of ours.  He was hilarious.  He went to a college bar with us once to hear a death metal band, and was totally moshing on the dance floor in his coat, hat, and silver-tipped boots.  The college kids loved him.

When Norm wasn't moshing or helping his irresponsible daughter move for the 1, 546th time (that's another story for another day) he was making Shrimp Ceviche.  And for that I will always be thankful.

Recently I've been thinking about Norm.  Sometimes you will cross paths with a person, and then you'll never see them or hear from them again.  I wonder what ever happened to good old Norm.  I wonder if he's still living in Phoenix, or if his daughter ever stopped moving around so much.  Maybe he's on Facebook.  I'll never know.  But Norm-  thank you for the good times.  Thank you for loaning me that George Strait CD. (I never did return it.)  And thanks for the Ceviche.

2 lbs. small, cooked shrimp* (tails off)
1 small red onion, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely minced (add more if you like the heat!)
1 English cucumber, peeled and diced
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, plus a few sprigs for garnish
2 lemons or limes, juiced
1/2 to 2/3 cup Clamato juice
hot sauce, dash or so
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and cubed
1 to 2 Roma tomatoes, small dice (optional, Norm didn't always add tomatoes)
chopped scallion, for garnish (optional)

*You can use fresh shrimp for this recipe, simply do a quick boil in salted water until the shrimp are white.  You can add a little lemon juice to the water.  Allow shrimp to cool completely before mixing the Ceviche.

In a large mixing bowl, combine shrimp, onion, jalapeno, cucumber, avocado, tomatoes (if using) and cilantro.  Add hot sauce, lemon/lime juice and Clamato juice.  Gently toss to avoid smashing the avocados.  Cover with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator 20-30 minutes.  Garnish with cilantro sprigs and scallions.  Serve cold with tortilla chips.  Norm was particularly fond of the Tostitos scoops with this Ceviche.

Vintage Valentine Greetings!

Remember when Valentine's Day cards had personality?  (Back before Spongebob took over the Valentine universe?)

 My 2nd-grade son picked out the most incredibly ugly, non-Valentine-y cards imaginable to pass out to his class today.  They don't even come with envelopes anymore.  His were Extreme Sports Valentine's Day Cards.  They have pictures of skateboards and motorcycles and jet skis.  They say dumb things like "You've got MAD skills, Valentine!"  and "Dude, you are AWESOME". 

It was depressing, sitting at the kitchen table last evening helping him address these silly little, well, I guess you can call them cards.  I wanted to rush out and by some cute little pink and red doilies and glitter and stickers and have him make his own.  But he would have suddenly had a sore throat when he woke up this morning and begged me to let him stay home.  I mean, really- who takes the time to actually make their own cards nowadays?

Reminisce with me for a minute- I'm about to get all Dick and Jane.  And if you have a colored printer, click on the images and print these REAL Valentine's Day cards off on some card stock and glue them to heart-shaped paper doilies, and pass them on for some nostalgic Valentine's Day fun!

Why, Oh Why?

Common sense is no longer relevant, I suppose. 

Take, for instance-  the man wielding a "will work for food" sign I passed on my way into work this morning.  While that in itself isn't any longer an act looked upon with raised eyebrows (I mean, going into a business, saying "hi, are you hiring?" after all does seem so unreasonable when one can simply hold a sign looking for handouts and sympathy...)  Apparently now it is required for such sign-wielding persons to don an orange safety vest.  A vest worn like those who actually have a job, because they went into a business and said "hi, are you hiring?". 

(Who pays for these vests distributed to the sign-wielders?)

God forbid one of these poor sign-wielding people accidentally get hit by a car because we couldn't see them clearly on that street corner.

And Braille, on a drive through ATM-  excuse my French, but WTF??

Shameless Plug For My New Favorite Show

I'm behind the times, seriously.  Thank goodness for Comcast's On Demand.  I mean, we're already halfway through season two.  I have some catching up to do!

This anti-TV watcher has fallen in LOVE with the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.  It's my guilty pleasure, late at night long after the boy has been put to bed.  Who knew Steve Buscemi could be so sexy?

UPDATE!  1/30/2012

The season finale made me mad.  But I'll still watch next season. 

An Ode To Onions

Lately I've been finding onions to be quite "a-peeling". (oh, ha ha)  But not big Spanish or sweet Vidalias.  No, I'm all a flutter about cute, little Pearls.

The new found love started with my first attempt at making Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon. Which, is surprisingly not in any way that difficult, even for someone who's no culinary master.  Present company included.

The original recipe of Boeuf Bourguignon calls for the accompaniment for Braised Onions.  They are so tasty, I prefer to just make them to serve along side a grilled steak, or even Sunday's roasted chicken.  Thank you, Julia.  Naturally, I'll include my own notes along the way, but Julia's recipe is so on-point there's really no need for my tweaking.  Bon Appetit!  (In my best shrill Julia voice.)

BRAISED ONIONS, a La Julia Child

Do Note:  The blanching and peeling process can be tedious, but the results are worth the work.  I don't mind throwing a bag of frozen Pearls in a crock-pot roast or soup, however since these are the main ingredient in this dish, I recommend using fresh.  Also, Julia of course used her own homemade beef stock.  I used the boxed stock and they were still delicious, but I imagine a homemade stock would have made them a little richer.



1 lb. white Pearl onions, peeled

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup beef stock (strained of fat, if using homemade)

salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste

1 fresh bay leaf

1 sprig thyme

2 sprigs parsley

Blanch onions in boiling water for about 30 seconds, remove to an ice bath until they are cool enough to handle peeling.  The skins should come off with ease.

Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet, add the onions.  Saute over medium heat for about ten minutes, rolling onions as they cook to have them brown evenly without breaking apart.

Pour in the stock and herbs, cover.  Simmer over low heat for about 30 to 40 minutes until the onions are perfectly tender, but still retaining their shape.  The liquid should be mostly evaporated.

Remove the herbs, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

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CREAMED ONIONS a La Miss Toni

Another fabulous Pearl onion side dish is creamed onions.  This style of onion dish seems to go exceptionally well in the winter months, along side perhaps a meatloaf.

1 lb. Pearl onions

1 1/4 cup heavy cream

2 fresh bay leaves

2 tablespoons chopped, flat-leaf parsley

1 large garlic clove, smashed

1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

salt and pepper, to taste

1 cup chicken stock

Blanch onions, as described in previous recipe.

Place onions in a 3-quart saucepan on medium-low heat.  Add cream, bay leaves, parsley, garlic and nutmeg.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cover and let simmer for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.  Remove lid and add stock.  Season again, allow to cook down for 5 minutes to lighten the cream sauce.  Remove garlic clove before serving.



Finding Meaning In Monotony

Oh no.  Here it comes again.  That dubious season when I get itchy.  Not the kind of itchy that requires Gold Bond, but kind of itchy that is warning me of complacency.

I have a huge problem with feelings of ineffectiveness.  I'm one of those who think that life should have some grand meaning.  That I'm put on this earth to matter, and that I shouldn't let one day go by without leaving an impression of some kind.

I dread blandness. In anything- food, books, decorating, life...  you get the idea.  Unfortunately there are times where the well seems to have run dry and there is only stillness.  Stillness is what makes me itchy.

Women my age are at a crossroads.  We've reached a point where if we haven't picked a destination by now, time could be running out.  I worry that my time might be getting too short to seriously be able to do certain things I've always dreamed of doing.  Why do we have to feel as if our life has to have some grand meaning, I ask you?  Maybe not everyone does, but I certainly do and it can cause me to loose sleep.  I refuse to accept that my life is just this existence with no purpose. 

I am mortified by the sting of monotony.  Not that I'm discontent.  If anything, I'm quite comfortable with the life I'm living now.  It just in need of some sort of shake-up.  A change, or a goal.  But not a reprieve. 

I try to remind myself that "It's Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been".  I love this quote by George Eliot, and I especially love the print I have from Mary Englebreit.  I keep it framed and hanging in my bedroom so that I can draw inspiration from it daily.  It's encouraging, and a way to remember that I can still do anything I decide I want to.

As I settle into my mid-thirties, I begin to understand the expression "Youth is Wasted on the Young."  It couldn't be more true!  When I was younger, I took so much for granted.  (Skin elasticity, for starters)  But also, I possessed a certain naivety.  I just assumed everything I always wanted would come to pass. 

Well, I still don't own a Victorian Bed and Breakfast.  I can check so many things off my list, but still.  There are others that I can see within reach.  Can't call it "finding myself", I'm not necessarily lost.

Oh, I don't know.  I suppose I'm just bored.  And I'm searching, as always.  Looking for the next new thing.

Cafe Brulot

"Noir comme le Diable;
Fort comme la Mort;
Doux comme l'Amour;
Et chaud comme l'Enfer."

Translation:
"Black as the Devil;
Strong as Death;
Sweet as Love;
And Hot as Hell."

And no, I'm not speaking about my husband this time. Though oddly it fits.

I'm talking about a strong cup of cafe chaud. For those who do not speak French, I'm referring to hot coffee. I don't speak French, either. But I know how to look up French translations online.
As usual, mid-to-late January into early February gets me in the mood for Mardi Gras. For po' boys and beignets. For crawfish etouffee and pralines. And naturally, a strong cup of French roast coffee.

You won't need to go to New Orleans to enjoy a cup or two of this wonderful and aromatic brew, but it's highly recommended that if you can, please do. Je te/vous remercie.

Cafe Brulot

1 orange
12 whole cloves
1/3 cup brandy
1/3 cup orange liqueur
3- 2-inch long strips of lemon zest
2 cinnamon sticks
3 cups hot, very strong, brewed French Roast coffee, or chicory if you prefer

Remove the orange zest from the orange with a peeler, keeping it in one long, single spiral. Stud the orange with the cloves. Add to a heavy-bottomed saucepan with brandy, liqueur, lemon zest, cinnamon and sugar. Warm through over medium heat, stirring. Tilt pan over gas burner (or use a long match) to ignite carefully!! Use extreme caution, the flames will shoot up! While the flame subsides, slowly pour in hot coffee. Ladle into small cups (demitasse).

The Resolutions That I Don't Make

Yes, I know I've already talked about the New Year. To be fair, I was reflecting on the year that's passed.

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. I DO NOT MAKE RESOLUTIONS. Because, well- why? It's setting myself up for failure.


But this year, my dear husband and I are doing something different, and experiment of sorts. We're make resolutions... for each other. We had a pretty comical discussion about this last evening, and we even set some ground rules. Like, no being judgie. Resolutions can't be something that is a fix for an everyday pet peeve we may have. (So "fluffing the couch cushions after you get up so they don't look so squished" can't be a resolution.)

And they have to be resolutions that truly are something that is beneficial, such as mine for him that states:

     - NO paying monthly for a gym membership that doesn't get used at least 4 times in a month.

See how I did that? I'm not saying he can't have the membership. But $36 a month for something he doesn't even use? Total waste! And this might encourage him to actually use it, which would be a good thing.

Today we are to draft our resolutions and we will go over them with each other. So will it be easier to follow through with something that wasn't our own? We shall see.

New Year, New Reflections

As I do every year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, I reflect briefly about the year I'm leaving behind. What changes have occurred since the year prior? Am I better off than where I was? Am I restless, unfulfilled, or discontent? Were there any big events that have altered the path I walk on each day?

This year, my answers were all gleefully positive. Sure, there is always room for improvement or stronger commitment to something I've started (perhaps like this blog). I like to judge the outgoing year by comparing it to the one before it. If I've not gone backwards in anyway, or even stayed exactly the same, then by my judgement it was a successful year! I strive to move forward. Apathy and inactivity scare me. As does monotony.

You know, I heard from someone that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results each time, or something like that. That cannot be more true when comparing the last 5 or 6 years of my life. We aren't known for making subtle changes in my little family. (Eight moves over thirteen years of marriage, three of which were state-to-state!) Maybe it's the thrill of a new place, the anticipation of how things will turn out or even the joy of learning and growing along the way that make change such an appealing option for us. I don't know.


But each year has progressively gotten better. To compare with even just one year ago to this very day- we're better. A year older, a year wiser. 2011 was a year that I can look back upon with a smile. I can say the same thing about 2010, 2009, and 2008. We've accomplished some goals we've set for ourselves, and it feels great.

There is a flip side to this, however. Such as- what can I do even better? How can I commit to certain things this year that I've let slide previously? (like keeping up with exercise or cutting back on my meat consumption) I've reached a point where I'm content in my work. I do not have any desire to move on, or move forward with that. Truth be told, I'll never find a better job right now. So looking to change that wouldn't be such a great idea. However, we have felt the walls of our little dollhouse closing in around us, slowly suffocating us as our son grows and we've decided that maybe it's time to get serious about owning a home of our own once again. While we've decided quite some time ago that this is where we'll be planting our roots, we've never been certain on how deeply we'd want them to go. The last couple years have pretty much decided that for us.

I've noticed, too, that if I stick to a regular schedule with blogging, it's easier to keep up with. I'm going to try. I enjoy writing my blog, sharing recipes and complaining to unknown cyber friends about all of the ridiculous things that bother me. A weekly post shouldn't be that hard, so right now that's my goal.

I do wish everyone the best for the upcoming year. I hope for redirection in our country's leadership, and peace and unity among mankind.

And no matter what, I still will absolutely NOT join Facebook in 2012.