Menu Monday

Life and I are friends yet again. We are one.  I finally have a clean house again.  I have a decent menu for this week.  My pantry is stocked, and dare I say it?  Yes, I must.  I am finished with Christmas shopping.  Wooooo-weeeee!

Here's the menu for the week...

Monday-Tortilla Soup (Heather S. style) and Mexican Cornbread
Tuesday-Marlboro Man's Second Favorite Sandwich and Sweet Potato Fries
Wednesday-Roast Beef Dippers, Baked Potato, Garden Salad
Thursday-Spinach Stuffing Stuffed Chicken Breast, Strawberry Spinach Salad, Homemade Parker Rolls
Friday-Bacon Chicken Roll Ups, Roasted Veggies, Rice Pilaf
Saturday-Balsamic Chicken Pasta with Honey Butter Bread
Sunday-Sausage Spinach Pockets with Broccoli & Cheese

Be sure to check back later this week.  I'll be posting Christmas goodies!!!

Who Done It?

"L'Escargot at 6:30pm sharp".  That was what the invitation had said.  Brief and to the point.  Being the owner of the restaurant, I was a bit perturbed.  How dare someone invite a group to MY restaurant and not give me the details.  At first I was relieved to have at least received a guest list, but after further review I was agitated.  People like this showed up...

Mr. Jerry Barton, a former military man (I suspect he is with the CIA), and his wife, Mrs. Nicole Barton.  She only married Jerry as a ticket to the United States.  Being a fellow French woman, I like her.  However, I know she's informing Jerry of my personal matters.

And then there's my brother and his girlfriend, the nude model.  I really don't care for her too much.  She's always pressuring him to marry her.  I mean, just look at her trying to be all sweet...

And then there's Derrick Worthington.  He's such a sweetie, but I heard he killed a man in South America.  You'll notice Mercedes Morales is always by him.  She's trying to win him back by making sure he sees her flirting with the other guest.  What a hussy!

See what I mean.  There are appetizers to be served, Arnold!

Of course I (Yvonne) was there.  This is one of my waiters, Arnold Cohen, working for the night.  Unfortunately, I suspect he and his brother are not the Boston College students they claim to be, but I like to keep him around.  He's great eye candy.

Here's the other waiter, Benjamin Cohen.  I should have fired him for being out of uniform.  He's also pictured with the town socialite and front desk worker.

I also should have fired his brother, Arnold.  He was getting a little too cozy with Jerry Barton.  I don't like that man.  Not one bit.  Arnold, get back to work!

Other guests were in attendance, but the pictures took a backseat to the murder.  During dinner a guest at my restaurant dropped dead.  Funny how the wait staff, the Cohen Brothers, were absent during dinner.  Yes, boys we suspect you killed Roger Worthington!  What we didn't know was why...

That's just a brief synopsis of our Murder Mystery weekend in Guthrie, OK.  We had a lot of fun. Something completely different and out of our element. It was wonderful to get to experience this with so many different people.  Here's the group...

The only element I was disappointed with was the return home.  I completely expected the next picture to carry on once we returned to the casa...

Unfortunately, Steven said his 'acting' time was over!!!

Happy Birthday Boys!

Today is the day that Steven, Rene (Steven's twin), and Jaime (S & R's uncle) turn 32.  THIRTY TWO!  That's old.  I remember when they were 18.  I have to say they have all grown up fairly well.  Found good jobs.  Got themselves excellent wives, and have some beautiful children.  Pretty good accomplishments so far.  I say so far, because SO FAR no one has become a millionaire.  One of these days boys. One of these days.  So happy birthday Steven, Rene, and Jaime.  I'm proud to be associated with each one of you, but I super duper proud to be associated with one in particular...

My husband of almost 8 years, Steven Rene Torres.

If you don't know my husband, I strongly suggest you get to know him.  He's the best man I know.  He's given me so many wonderful memories over all the years I've known him.  Men don't get better than this.  Yes, I know you have a good man ladies.  Unfortunately, you don't have one this good ;)  It's okay, we can't all be lucky.  I just happen to sink my teeth in this fellow back in the 90's.  To prove he's the best man ever, I'm going to leave you with the Top 10 List of Steven Torres.

1. He's a strong leader for our family.  If you know me at all, you know I NEED a strong leader.  Otherwise I think I'm the chief.
2. He sacrifices what he would like to do personally to be with our family.  He always tells me, "There will be a time to do that, but the time is not now."
3. He works hard, but rarely brings work home.  Work is at work and home is at home.
4. He plays and plays and plays with the kids.
5. He's the most mentally tough person I know.  There's nothing he can't do physically.  He's a machine.
6. He's hot!  (just had to throw that in)
7. He's willing to change and admit he's wrong.  I could learn something from him ;)
8. He's humble.
9. He's got a great sense of humor, especially around his brother.
10. Besides his relationship with God, family is his #1.  Our family, his family, my family.  They're all #1.

Happy Birthday, Steven!   I love and appreciate you very much!





Parenthood

Have you ever seen the movie Parenthood?  Not the show, but the actual movie.  It paints such a clear picture about what parenthood is all about.  Working our tails off to bring up our kids the best way we know how.  Despite doing our best we know parenthood is hard.  We know parenthood is fun. We know parenthood is agonizing.  We know parenthood is hilarious.  We know parenthood is irritating.  We know parenthood is rewarding.  And we definitely know parenthood is challenging. 

If you're a parent you know exactly what I'm talking about.  It's a job raising these monkeys kids.  Some days I'm pleased with the job I'm doing, and other days I'm just mad at myself.  A while back Steven and I made a list of traits we wanted to instill in our kids before they leave home.  We wrote them on an index card and stuck them to the side of the fridge.  You're curious what our words are, aren't you?  Well, I'm not gonna share.  Kidding.  Here they are...

• joyful
• successful
• blessed
• wealthy
• righteous
• influential
• gracious
• compassionate
• generous
• just
• secure
• triumphant

If you're curious where we came up with these crazy ideas, it's from the Bible.  Psalm 112 to be exact.  It's the picture of a Godly family.  Having these visible keeps me accountable throughout the day.  It reminds me that what I do daily affects them greatly.  I have to be intentional to teach them to how to be the above words.  It's a hard job.  I look forward to the day when I can put little check marks by the trait they've mastered.  Like really, really look forward to it.

Corn Saute

Poor Alice asked about this recipe months ago.  At the time I told her I would get it up 'soon'. Well 'soon' never came.  More like later.  Much later.  So in this situation I'm going to use the phrase 'Better late than never'. 

Here's the long awaited Corn Saute modified from the Aug/Sept 2010 Simple & Delicious cooking magazine...

Corn Saute
1 large zucchini, thinly sliced
1/3 cup sliced onion
1-1/2 tsp olive oil
3/4 cup whole kernel corn
2 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp lemon-pepper seasoning

• In a large skillet, saute zucchini and onion in oil until crisp/tender. 
• Add corn and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes longer until vegetables are tender.
• Sprinkle with sugar, salt, and lemon-pepper.

Really easy and really yummy.  The sugar combines well with the flavors.  A little sweetness.  Like Walter Payton. Complete Sweetness.

Happy Cooking

Menu Monday

Have you ever had one of those weeks were you feel you're chasing your own tail?  The previous week was it for me.  The return from an 8 day trip, only to prepare for a weekend trip did me in.  Did me in good.  I'm hoping today is the day I get caught up on life.  Since I'm a little behind on life, very little effort went into the menu.  I basically looked at what was in the pantry, fridge, and freezer, skipped the grocery store, and made the menu.  My mantra to the family will be the same mantra I used with elementary kids, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit."  You either eat it, or you make yourself a PB&J.  Very loving.

Monday-Parmesan Pork Chops, Corn Saute, and Homemade Parker Rolls (dough recipe)
Tuesday-Bubble and Squeak (google it), Green Beans
Wednesday-Soup and Sandwiches
Thursday-Hamburgers with Pineapple Salsa
Friday-Broccoli Rice Casserole and Honey Butter Bread
Saturday-Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce and Grilled Chicken, The Bread, and salad
Sunday-Steven and Rene's 32nd birthday dinner out

Well, that's all folks.  I'm off to catch up on life.  Wish me luck!

The Expense of Christmas

We usually do pretty well at Christmas as far as our expeditures go.  I try to buy presents for others early to spread the cost out a little more, but this year I'm trying something new.  After having a successful go with the envelope spending in Chicago, we decided to do the same for Christmas.  We knew exactly how much money we wanted to spend on everyone we buy for, so we took that amount in cash and divided among the various envelopes.  

On the front each envelope is the amount of $ inside (covered up for this post), and on the back lists the items we would like to purchase.  Inside the envelope is the cash and coupons for any items we plan to purchase.  If items are purchased online, that amount of money is taken out of the envelope and designated to the credit card payment. 

So far this is working better than I thought it would.  Since I actually SEE the money, I am much more careful to look for deals and coupons.  We have most items already purchased for the kids and family with only half of the designated money spent.  Any leftover money is going to the vacation fund!  Holla!