Life Goes On

As I have mentioned, we lost my mother-in-law on the 12th of October after a long battle with ALS.  We held her internment service this past Saturday with just the family and her public memorial service the following day. It wasn't an easy task - it never is - but closure is good and the healing process can now begin.  The past year has been really difficult, but the past few months and especially the last six weeks have been brutal.

What really filled my heart was having the whole family together.  My son doesn't often get to see the family members who live out of state which include his half-brother and sister, two paternal cousins - one with a wife and new baby - his paternal aunt, and one maternal uncle (also his godfather). For this occasion, the only member of the family who was missing was my sister, which couldn't be helped.  Even my oldest brother's son and his very pregnant wife came to pay their respects.  It really helped my son - who, at 16, is the youngest of the group - to be surrounded by his entire family as he struggled through his first experience with losing someone close to him. While it was a blessing that he was the only grandchild who could see his grandmother at any time, it was also a curse because he had to witness her daily struggles and eventual decline.

I must take a "Proud Mom Moment" and announce some good news from the weekend!  Our youngest son has been acting in school productions for about 5 years and on Saturday went to the district drama competition and scored a superior status (the highest available) for his portrayal as Marc Antony agonizing over the death of Julius Caesar, and for his performance in his school's group comedy presentation.  This kid really has some chops!  He was concerned about missing his grandmother's internment service, but we all assured him that one of her great pleasures was watching him perform on stage and she wouldn't have wanted him to miss that opportunity.  Obviously, she was at his side the whole time.  He's the first Thespian in his school's history to earn a superior rating and he will now move on to the state competition in February.

So the days prior to the whole family's arrival were spent getting the house ready for everyone; figuring out who was sleeping where, putting clean sheets on the beds, making sure there were plenty of clean towels, and laying in supplies.... a lot of them!  We made a trip to Sam's Club and basically spent our children's inheritance.  You know me, when I don't know what else to do I start feeding people. I planned on menu items that would last us through the weekend since I knew that my house would become the central
gathering place.  I made a big pot of chili for when everyone arrived on Friday night, which also made a quick go-to lunch or snack and eventually got turned into chili cheese dip. We also had spiral ham(s), baked beans, potato salad, tons of fruits & veggies, etc. The list just goes on and on!  The most important items I had to pick up were the ingredients my sister-in-law needed to make her homemade mac & cheese.  It's the simplest thing to make but it's the best I've ever had.  Here's how we did it but the ingredient amounts will vary depending on the amount of people being served.  This is one of those "non-recipe" recipes that I'm always just winging.  You can make the quantities of cheese & butter as heavy or light as you like them. Take this and make it your own.

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese

Elbow macaroni, 1 cup dry per person

Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

Whole milk

Butter

Salt & Pepper to taste

Boil the macaroni in salted water for about 8 minutes, or until it's al dente. Remember it will finish cooking in the oven.  Drain the macaroni and put 1/3 of it into a buttered casserole dish and add some salt & pepper then top it with 1/3 of the cheese and dot it with butter. Repeat the process until you have 3 layers, making sure you end with a nice layer of cheese on top.  Pour the milk over the layers until it reaches the top of the dish.  It may seem like too much, but it will absorb and keep the layers from drying out.  Bake at 350 until all the milk has absorbed and appears curdled, about an hour depending on how many servings you've prepared.  It won't hurt it if you have to poke at it every once in awhile to check for doneness.  Let it set for 15-20 minutes before serving then enjoy!

I must admit that we got a bit carried away and made about 20 pounds of the stuff!  No worries...it freezes well!

And so, with my house now empty and quiet upon everyone leaving to make their way safely back home, it's time to cherish our memories and carry on.  Life goes on...

Pizza and Pumpkin Bread

Another busy day comes to a satisfying end.  Took the son to school, hit the gym, spent our children's inheritance at Sam's Club, follow-up visit with the oral surgeon, finally some lunch, home, unload the car from aforementioned trip to Sam's, son stays after school to work on a project, pick him up, home for 45 minutes and back out the door to take him to driver's ed class.  Whew...breathe!  In the meantime we're waiting for my sister-in-law to get back into town with the hopes of meeting her and the father-in-law for dinner.  It's a no go as she was getting in too late and we still needed to pick our son up from his class so he could come home and start on his homework.  Off to a local Italian eatery we went.  Bizzarros!  Any of my local friends will appreciate this one.  Best pizza in town...hands down!

We pick our son up and head back home (with a small pizza in hand for him) and settle in for the evening.  This feels like the calm before the storm. I wash my hair and shave my legs while I can because the whole family rolls into town tomorrow and my house seems to be home-base. On the menu tomorrow; homemade pumpkin bread!  Have to balance out the fruit I'll also be serving for breakfast.

Workouts and Lockouts

I dragged myself back to the gym yesterday after having missed it for about three weeks and was hoping that my muscle memory didn't have amnesia.  It didn't - I'm being reminded of it with every move today!  So after the gym we went over to my father-in-law's house to meet with the minister and plan out my mother-in-law's service then took dad to lunch aftrerwards.  Got home and took the dog out back with me while I pulled some weeds.  The hubby comes out to say goodbye and takes off for the office but not before locking me out of the house!  Thank goodness I had my iPhone in my pocket so I call him and he turns it around.  In the meantime I'm pacing the patio after having downed about a gallon of water after my workout and had to...well, you know.  The sound of water splashing over from the spa into the pool certainly didn't help the situation!

Mind you, this is not the first time he's done that.  The first time was when my now 16-year old son was just a baby.  He and our older son decided to go on a bike ride to the beach on our tandem bike (yes, we have a bicycle built for two, but it's a kicked-up version!) while the baby was napping and I was catching some sun.  They were great and brought me some water, the phone, and the baby monitor before they took off on their ride and locking me out of the house!  Do you sense a theme here?  Let's just say that I got revenge without even making an effort.  The baby continued sleeping peacefully, I continued my sunning, and they got the workout of their lives beating it back to the house!  That part still makes me smile.

So as I cooled my heels yesterday waiting for him to get back my thoughts, of course, turned to dinner.  We have a joke between us that if he ever comes home and finds tuna casserole on the table for dinner, he'll know that there will be a serving of divorce papers for dessert.  When he first got married he asked that I never cook two things; Tuna Casserole and Hamburger Helper.  He said he'd eaten enough of that as a poor college student and could certainly afford to eat better now.  Like I would ever serve that hideous stuff anyway!  But, with the advent of Tuna Helper (gag) I was seriously considering serving it up and adding extra peas, which he hates.  Did I?  Of course not.  What I made instead was Spicy Seared Tuna with Sauteed Baby Bok Choy, Soy Butter and Wasabi Sauce.  Lucky man!



Comfort Food

Since much of my time lately has been spent on trying to comfort others through my food, I put this question out there on my Facebook and Twitter accounts: What is your "go to" comfort food?  Without a doubt, most people tend to revert back to their childhood food memories: Homemade chicken and dumplin's, homemade mac & cheese, momma's biscuits and gravy, grandma's stuffing, rigatoni made the same way dad and pop-pop did it. etc.  What I found very interesting were the regional offerings, those items not necessarily based upon childhood recall but built upon where they are currently based.  I like the idea of adopting the area one now lives in and embracing the comforts it has to offer.  Living in Florida?  You're all about the seafood. Living in the Cincinnati area?  It's Skyline Chili for you; however many "ways" you want it.  Of course, there were the shout outs for chocolate, ice cream, and cookie dough!

As for me?  Peanut butter comes into play as I plowed through a whole jar of it when my first "love" broke my heart about 30 (!) years ago.  Oh, the tragedy!  Ah, young love/ignorance.  When I need comfort food these days, I guess I turn to my mom's fried chicken.  Again, we're all running back home to childhood memories...guilty!  That would taste really good right now!

Thank goodness I'm heading back to visit our trainer tomorrow after about a 3-week hiatus.  Oral surgery, shaking off a "bug," and losing my mother-in-law has really put a downer on my workout schedule. Ugh, I feel like a slug!  It's time to get back on track.  Enough comfort food!

Beef (and Broccoli)...It's What's for Dinner



On Friday I broke down and laid out the cash to replace the arsenal of cookware in my kitchen.  It was a move that was well overdue since what I'd been using was approaching the twenty-year mark.  Man, good cookware is very expensive!  You can imagine my excitement at the prospect of breaking it in!  So, with family in town for the weekend, I invited everyone over for dinner the next night.  My sister-in-law agreed as long as I didn't cook any of that "fancy stuff."  I said I'd cook whatever they wanted.  My goodness, they started tossing suggestions my way so fast I felt like I was watching a Wimbledon match with my head swiveling back and forth to catch every volley!  Mashed potatoes & gravy!  Turkey and dressing!  Corn!  Biscuits! Cranberries??  Okay, okay, I get it!  You want a Thanksgiving dinner about 6-weeks in advance.  I finally talked them around to chicken stuffed with rosemary, garlic, and lemon and cooked on the rotisserie spit either in my oven or on my grill. 

I awoke yesterday morning to a beautiful and cool beginning of my day.  I grabbed the newspaper, made myself a cappuccino, and ventured out to the backyard with the dog in tow.  I hook the dog up on her very long lead, take a seat in my chaise lounge with caffeine in hand and prepare to spoil my mind with the day's news.  Ah, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the breeze is refreshingly cool, and the damn dog has wrapped herself around not one, but two chairs in about five minutes!  It must have been hilarious to watch me try to use hand signals to get her to unwrap herself.  Okay, Casey...focus!  Go around ..no, not that way, the other way!  Back up and try again!  Over and over...ad nauseum.  I love her but that dog really needs a helmet!

With the morning a wash, I figured I'd go ahead and visit the grocery store and pick up the "few" items I'd need for dinner.  Oooh, buy one - get one free (BOGO) on wine!  Load me up!  All was well until I strolled confidently over to the meat department looking for a sizable roasting chicken.  They had nothing but Calista Flockhart-looking offerings when I was looking more for a Dolly Parton-type.  No worries, I had a Plan B in mind.  I head over to my local gourmet/butcher shop, grab a number and pour myself a free beer.  Hey, don't judge me, there were ten other people ahead of me!  Finally, my number comes up and I ask if they have any plump roasting chickens.  Sadly, no, they do not.  Switch to Plan C...steaks!  I'll take five of the natural rib-eyes, please.  We won't even talk about the cost difference here.  One nice surprise that came out of this was my favorite guy behind the meat counter called me over and said he had a gift for me. I walk over and he hands me a huge package of ham ends and asks if I can make pea and ham soup.  Oh, now I get it!  I get free meat if I'll make him some soup.  Deal!  Since he's British, I may ask my British chef friend if there's a particular way they like their pea soup "across the pond."

I got home and decided that the only change from the "requested" menu was the protein. Why eat chicken when you can eat steak instead?  I certainly got no complaints!  Rib-eyes seasoned and seared to perfection, cheesy mashed potatoes, steamed corn, and broccoli casserole. Years ago I introduced this broccoli casserole recipe into my repertoire of side dishes and it was an instant hit with the ladies in the family who insisted it be included in every holiday dinner.  I thought it would be a good idea to make it for my sister-in-law, even though it wasn't a holiday.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear that when she pulled out of the driveway this morning to drive back to Georgia, she had the leftovers I gave her safely strapped in with a seat belt!

In honor of all the women in my family, I happily share the recipe with you!  It's simply one of those "back of the box" recipes that really work.  Enjoy!

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

2 packages frozen chopped broccoli

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 eggs

1 can cream of mushroom soup

2 tablespoons chopped onions

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Salt & pepper to taste

1 cup VIGO golden toasted breadcrumbs

1/2 stick butter

Broil frozen broccoli for 5 minutes and drain well. Beat eggs, stir in mayonnaise, soup, onions, cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. Fold in cooked broccoli. Place entire mixture in casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.

Breadcrumb topping: in small skillet melt butter; add breadcrumbs and stir until golden. After removing casserole from oven cover with bread crumb topping and serve.

Spent most of today bouncing between staying busy by bringing order to the house and moping.  No, I'm not bipolar...we lost my mother-in-law on Tuesday.  My husband was having a particularly difficult day so when the opportunity presented itself to get out of the house and take our son to see his girlfriend, we decided this was a good time to shake off the doldrums and, since we had to eat anyway, check out a Cuban restaurant we pass on our journeys to and from Cocoa Beach. 

I'm a big fan of Cuban tamales and use them as my culinary litmus test when it comes to Cuban cuisine, so I had to start with one.  It didn't disappoint - light and fluffy with a little bit of Chorizo sausage in the filling, steamed (and presented) in a corn husk, drizzled with a vinegary Mojo, and topped with Ropa Vieja.  From there I moved on to the Pollo Enchilado, a Cuban representation of a Creole Chicken.  The chicken was a bit dry but the sauce was fantastic.  I found myself bidding adios to the chicken and filling in the empty places with yellow rice, letting it soak up all that spicy goodness.  The sweet plantains or, maduros, added a great balance of sweetness to offset the spice of the pollo sauce.  Yet, the winner of the night was the flan. Delicate and delicious with a great caramel sauce!  Okay, my next mission is to learn how to make Cuban tamales and then put my own twist on them.

A funny thing happened on the way home...

I stopped at the store on the way home from dinner and picked up some Visine and a bottle of wine.  In retrospect, I realize how that might have looked.  The checkout girl must have been thinking, "Man, that chick is really planning ahead!"  Well, I've always been a multi-tasker!  Came home, took a hot bath, put on my jammies that say, "Fatigued" across the...um, front, popped the cork on that wine, and started blogging. 

So I leave you tonight with a sweet treat...

Buenas Noches!

I'm Bringing Funny Back!

I'm done with the morose theme of my last few posts.  Yes, our family is going through a very difficult time right now, but I need to pull myself up by the bootstraps and carry on.  I'm not easily defeated, but I do have my moments.

So last night was not a great one for me but, thankfully, I can see the humor in the whole fiasco.  While still recovering from oral surgery, I woke up at 3:15 AM with my jaw throbbing, my throat on fire, and a headache that took up residence behind my left eye.  By that time the hubby was well immersed into "lumberjack-land" and sawing logs like he was on a mission to mow down a forest. The Greenpeace people should be up in arms!  He also managed to steal all the covers and the dog escaped her kennel and decided that my side of the bed looked pretty comfy to her and did her best to take over all the space. I tend to pick my battles and admitted defeat.  Off to the guest room I went where I knew it would be quiet and I wouldn't have a dog breathing in my face.

Great...the carriage lights on the outside of our house glare right into our guest room.  I now offer an apology to anyone who has ever spent a night there.  Toss & turn, toss & turn, ouch, ouch, ouch!  Okay, that's enough!   I break down and take a couple of Advil at around 5:45.  I seriously considered taking the prescribed Hydrocodone but didn't want to find myself clinging to the ceiling like a cat on fire or completely passed out. Wonderful options, right?

Hey, tomorrow is a new day and I get to pack for some time away with friends.  A very casual next few days are on the agenda.  Much needed and much appreciated.