Mexican Eats

This summer I grew banana peppers and put them on everything. After using the last one by Oct. I thought my love affair was over. Then I saw a display of glass jars in Giant Eagle: Bell View Mild Pepper Rings. I've had them for a week and finally used them tonight in the BEST OMELET I EVER MADE! Here's the recipe:2 eggs, 1T milk, Kraft shredded Taco Cheese, onions, tomatoes, green pepper, and Bell View Mild Pepper Rings. I use a mini whisk to whip the eggs and milk and then add the other items. When the omelet is cooked top with Pace mild picante salsa and a dollop of sour cream.
I've been in such a Mexican mood lately. Too bad the rest of my family never cares to visit this foreign cuisine. Last week I made Chicken Tortilla Soup. If interested go to www.recipezaar.com and type in #4627 in the search box. After having this for dinner I had it for lunch everyday for a week. It's that good. The recipe ingredients are at the bottom of this blog. I'm not sure the 12oz. of cheese is necessary. The soup tasted good before that was added.

I've decided salsa makes a good occasional dinner. I think Peach Mango salsa is my favorite but Roasted black bean and corn salsa is VERY good, too. AND black beans are one of Women's Day's 52 Superfoods. I just tried Pinapple Mango Chipotle Salsa. It had a taste that was more like a BBQ sauce than salsa sauce. I think it's the chipotle-I just looked it up on dictionary.com- a pungent red pepper, often pickled and eaten as an appetizer or added to meat stews, sauces, etc. I think this was what was throwing the taste off.

Ingredients

• 1 cup carrot, diced
• 1 cup celery
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, diced or 1 fresh garlic clove, diced
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons corn oil
• 4 (15 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomatoes, diced (optional)
• 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel tomatoes & chilies, diced
• 1 (1.25-1 1/2 ounce) packet taco seasoning, I use McCormicks
• 1 (10 count) package corn tortillas (broken or cut into small pieces)
• 12 ounces chicken meat, poached, diced
• 1 cup milk
• 12 ounces monterey jack cheese or Mexican blend cheese, shredded
• corn tortilla chips, broken into small pieces

Pets

It amazes me sometimes how attached I've become to our pets. We used to have a beautiful cocker spaniel, Biff. Biff was about 15 years old when I had to put him to sleep. The last several months of his life were difficult. But it was still very emotional when the time came to do it. Then our cat died a year later of unknown causes. We did not replace Biff, but we did replace Newman the cat with two more kittens from the Humane Society: Jax and Jinx. We thoroughly enjoy our felines but Hunley the Hamster has just stolen my affection.

Hunley was given to us after his family, who lived across the street from us, sold their home and could not take Hunley, then known as Arnold, with them. We were told Hunley had just recently resurfaced after being missing for months and was living on cat food. Hunley looked very odd, cute, but weird. He has the strangest fur. We don't know if it's because of his previous adventures or if this is a trait of this type of hamster. He doesn't have thick fur just LONG fur. But the long fur is not all over his body: it only grows long in patches! For example, it was long just below his neck. Then that area looked normal but it was long on his back. Then his neck and back were normal and it was only long around his buttock area- making it look like he was wearing a grass/fur skirt.

Hunley came with a cage and an exercise ball. He loves that ball and goes all over the house. Since hamsters are nocturnal we usually put him in the ball after our kids go to bed. We close the child gate at the top of the stairs and let him roll. He almost always ends up in my daughter's bedroom. We always know where he is because the cats follow at a distance. That's the other thing that delights me about Hunley: he is NOT afraid of those cats!

A few times he has somehow opened the ball and ran free. We always know where he is because the cats are on high-alert! They don't get closer than two feet to the hamster, but they always know where his is- which has been lucky for us a few times.

Hunley got a fenced-in play-yard for Christmas. He also got some playground equipment. The cats sit, mesmerized, watching Hunley scamper around his "yard." Invariably, Hunley will scale the fence and escape. He ALWAYS escapes in the direction where the cats sit and the cats seem frightened and run away a few feet and sit and watch again. Hunley approaches again and the show repeats.

We like cutting up carrots and seeing how many he can stuff in his little cheeks. It's amazing how big those cheeks can stretch!

Hunley is a pretty good sport, too. We had a train to put around our Christmas tree and we had Hunley ride in the box car and freight car. He would ride in a circle then plot the best place to jump. He also rides well in Jake's dump truck.

Our cats are pretty good sports, too.

January Thoughts

It occurred to me yesterday how lovely it is to have children.

The past month has been such a busy time between decorating, cooking, and shopping. If I said, 'I hope Santa's not watching,' one more time I was going to explode. So it's wonderful when all the excitement has waned and it's back to normal life. Saturdays my husband, Tim, plays basketball at the local YMCA. So it's just the kids and I. After dinner it was bath time. For whatever reason my kids find bathtime great fun. Especially if I step out of the room. I needed to flat iron my hair, ("Need" probably isn't the right word but I'd taken a shower before Tim left and I looked a fright.) so I went to my bathroom to do it. I warned the kids I could hear them. Our bathrooms are back-to-back. I could hear the noise and splash level increasing so I pounded on the wall and yelled, "I hear you." My daughter pounds on her wall and yells back, "Who said that?" It's just the three of us in the house. I'm not sure if she was joking or serious. She's 7. But the real joy is at bedtime when we're sitting all together on the bed reading a book and they slip an arm through mine and lay their head against me. All stress and worry no longer exist. It's pure love like I never understood before children.


That said, someone needs to write a book for new parents of all the unforeseen, not-so-pleasant incidents that will probably happen with your children. Some examples should include:

1. You will not believe how concerned you become about your child's bowel movements.


2. The enormous amount of blood that flows from a small cut to the back of the head


3. Have kleenex available at all times.


4. Exercises to help control your heave reflex when cleaning up your child's vomit/poop.


5. Sometimes adult teeth come in BEFORE the baby teeth fall out. This happens ALL the time
according to my dentist.


6. How to get medicine in children who refuse to take medicine or throw it up once it gets in! (I was like this as a child. I sure miss my mom. I'm sure she would appreciate this.)


7. Don't forget to tell your child before that first restaurant visit NOT TO EAT ANY FOOD THAT FALLS ON THE FLOOR!


8. Just because YOU think the outfit you selected for your daughter is fabulous doesn't mean SHE will.


9. Your child will get some some strange illness that turns out to be "common" for babies, but you and anyone else you know has never heard of it.

10.



I have to comment on some movies we watched/rented this weekend. First, the kids wanted to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks. Tim bought Dr. Demento presents THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS NOVELTY CD OF ALL TIME. Of course The Chipmunk Song was first on it so we've been singing, "...me I want a hula hoop..." at the top of our lungs for weeks. This is the cutest movie I've seen in a long time. (And Jacob's been obsessed with Kung Fu Panda since he got it for Christmas.) It is funny and endearing without being overdone with the chipmunks. They are cute, but obnoxious in a good way. We're definitely going to need to purchase this one.

We also watched WALL*E. We all liked that, too. The end of the year Entertainment Weekly magazine had two writers (?) select their top 10 movies of the year. WALL*E was on both lists. On one list was Tropic Thunder. I'd heard about this movie and I think Tom Cruise was nominated for a Golden Globe. (I may be wrong.) This was supposed to be hilarious. I did laugh out loud in the first 5 minutes then, nothing. I like Ben Stiller. I like him on talk shows. His movies are all the same. And HE is the problem: he is the same character in every show with a different name and problem. He just never brings anything new to his roles! I'm very partial to Robert Downey, Jr. after seeing Iron Man and was impressed with his black man role. But then he was infected with the Ben Stiller acting disease near the end and the show was almost unwatchable. It BECAME unwatchable at the end with Tom Cruise (in the role of a nerdy-looking studio head) dancing/flopping around at the end of the movie. I kept hoping this movie would improve. Or at least let me in on the secret why anyone would put this on a top-ten list! I've seen Barbie movies I've liked better! (Barbie Princess and the Pauper has a great villain in it.) I'm off to watch Mamma Mia. It's bound to be fantastic because so many critics have trashed it! I still know a few ABBA songs by heart!

Mamma Mia- I LOVED it. Watching/listening to Pierce Brosnan sing was a hilarious! None of the major male characters were particularly good at singing. Meryl Streep's a very good singer! I was pleasantly surprised.

things that bug me

There have been so many things I would like to blog about but haven't been able to force myself to sit down and do it. So I'm resorting to a list. This is sometimes harder than actually writing in essay form. My friend and I tried to keep in touch by emailing news in headline form. Here are some samples from my 1/22/07 email. (Yes, I keep my sent emails!)

MOTHER OF TWO BACKS INTO MOTHER-IN-LAW'S CAR TWICE IN 10 DAYS

BABY BRUSHES HAIR WITH TOILET BRUSH

UNIDENTIFIED ITEMS IN BABY POOP

Plus, once I sit down I've forgotten all those things that irk me. But along those lines I must say that I'm learning from the things that bother me. For example I sent an email survey out to a group of people (no one on my regular email contact list!) and it was ONE question and very easy to answer. Out of 14 replies I had 2 that were snippy. I was a little miffed about it but decided that was something I might have done during a hard day at work. So now I have to forgiiiivvveee those people and make sure I never do that to someone else. I guess it's kind of my "pay it forward." My husband gets very angry when people pull out in front of him. He makes all sorts of ridiculous threats. I know I've pulled out when I shouldn't have and it wasn't a personal attack on the other driver! What I'm trying to say is I understand we ALL do things that are irritating. I'm just making a list for therapeutic purposes.

1. People who complain that groups/individuals who make unorthodox statements should be silenced for being Un-American!!! (I could go on and on about Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly!)

2. And mentioning Rush Limbaugh. He was one of Barbara Walters most fascinating persons of 2008. I didn't watch the whole show but did catch this snippet: Limbaugh's salary as a radio personality is in the millions! I think she even mentioned $100 million!!!!!!! Howard Stern is another personality that puzzles me! I tried to watch his show a few times when it was on E!, but I found it to be unwatchable! This is another example of things that irk me. How on earth would these men ever warrant that amount of pay! I feel the same way about sports figures, entertainers, and public figures! If there is that much money to pay the few then it needs to be divvied out more equitably!

3. It bugs me when my computer screen shows one thing but when I print or publish it LOOKS DIFFERENT! It's happening NOW!

4. I can't stand it when there are misspellings in our newspaper. You can find them daily in our local paper. In an obit the other day the word was supposed to be "spirit" the newspaper printed "spitit." Honestly. (Our paper goofs the headlines even! Sometimes the same article appears twice in the same paper.) Along those same lines I can't stand it when things come home from school and there are obvious misspellings in these notes for parents!

5. Mentioning our local paper, I cannot stand the fact that all important world events are relegated to a short blurby paragraph! The Mumbai attack was a total of 7 sentences while the big story was something about our health that you would read in Woman's Day!

6. Why did it take so long for someone in the news media (because I was watching the story as it was happening on CNN) to mention that Mumbai used to be Bombay! I finally read it in our Erie Sunday Times paper. I wondered why I'd never heard of this city of 19 MILLION people!

7. Restaurants who occasionally slip out substandard food. I ate at Wendy's on Fri. and ordered a Southwest Taco Salad. They did not have the special dressing that went with it so I just used Ranch. Good gravy I was half done and my salad was more like soup! I don't know if they'd run the dish through a spray for good measure or what. It was really disgusting. The weirdest thing was the time I ran down to Arby's to pick up dinner and I went in and they told me they were out of ROAST BEEF! I said, "Are you serious? You're ARBY'S!" I turned and left.

8. Someone is attempting to prevent fast food restaurants from airing advertisements to prevent obesity. Maybe it's me but I don't eat because of what I see on TV. I eat because of what I see in my kitchen. And I don't keep a lot of McStuff in there. This irks me the way that anyone who refuses to take responsibility for their own welfare and actions irritates me.

9. I saw a preview for a new show called Momma's Boys (?). It's three handsome men AND THEIR MOTHERS shopping for a mate. What kind of terrible self-esteem must you have to allow yourself to be exploited in such an embarrassing manner?!?!? I mean that for all involved! Are there that many desperate young women out there who are so shallow being on TV is their only goal? Yikes. Unfortunately there must be an audience for these shows. They keep coming out with them.

10. Speaking of embarrassing, Hugh Hefner. (You can tell I watch E!) The man is an octogenarian and seems to think he's hip. And the women make me so mad! Why would you strive to be a playmate? What, exactly, does it get you? Maybe a date/husband. But you must always wonder will they be around when the goods start to spoil? Those "Girls Next Door" are the MOST annoying. The one that mentioned parents with their little girls mobbing them to get autographs because she's a role model!!!!! And I think she was the one that practiced popping out of a cake in the buff IN FRONT OF HER PARENTS!!! It's all sad.

Well, I've spent a lot more time on my catharsis than I intended to. That's the reason I don't sit down to write too often. Although it's not like I'm going to do anything else at this time of night. Tim and I were up last night shopping online at 2:35am. He purchased my Christmas present: A GPS system with a BACKUP CAMERA! (See first "headline" in email at beginning of blog.)

A Political Rant

Sometimes I wake up at night to worry about things I have absolutely no control over. And I have no control over the worrying part, either. In the past few weeks the 700 billion dollar bailout has kept me concerned about my dad's retirement accounts and Tim and my own 401Ks. I'm afraid to open the statement from Fidelity. I felt better when the bailout bill passed. Surely, if our legislative branch felt this was the way to save us from a repeat of the Great Depression then we should do it. Since then I see our bank, National City, is floundering and may be bought. AND I read today they're not sure the bailout will save Wall Street! Anyway, I think my fear of a Great Depression has me thinking of the parallels in our society today compared to that period of our history.

In The Derrick today was an article about Sarah Palin's inflammatory speeches. She has repeatedly made a link between Obama pal-ing around with a domestic terrorist (from the 60s). People at these rallies are being stoked into a rage about Obama. Here are some things that have been shouted by the crowds, "traitor"; "terrorist"; "treason"; "liar"; "off with his head". I think the last one made me wake up and see the potential danger we are in as a country. In a quaint European country called, Germany, another inflammatory speaker aroused the ire of his countryman by blaming his country's ills on a group of people about 70 years ago. Germany was still trying to recover from an unsuccessful war and their economy was terribly weak. This charismatic speaker was able to convince MILLIONS of people that Germany could once again be a great and powerful nation. He, of course, became the dictator responsible for millions of lives lost from many countries throughout the course of World War 2.

I do not think Sarah Palin is another Adolf Hitler. I don't think she is that smart. BUT the people who are running the show for the Republicans are putting her face on their ideology. I'm going to quantify a moment: I REALLY like John McCain. I think he is a man of honor and experience and had planned to vote for him. I'm registered as a non-partisan voter. But the more I read about Palin's background, lack-thereof and her interviews and speeches I can only surmise she is simply a pretty face/empty slate who can be controlled by those in her political party who have agendas they want to achieve. (If McCain should pass on.) I've read some on-the street interviews and there are women who think Palin is just like them: female; working mom; idiot husband. (I'm not referring to any husbands I know.) Honestly, she is not the one to break the gender barrier to the White House!!! When asked by Katie Couric to name magazines/periodicals she reads to keep up with world affairs Palin could not name one! Instead she said, "everything"!!!!! Whatever they put in front of her. She may read it but it's not sticking to the gray matter. It's like bringing one of "The Girls Next Door" to a high school assembly to talk about career opportunities!!!!! Please don't let Sarah Palin destroy what so many wonderful, intelligent, determined women have done so women have more rights and opportunities. I swear Palin was selected by the Entertainment industry moguls as 4 years of fodder for comedy sketch shows and comedians!

I'm still not done: One of Palin's speeches said Obama sees America as imperfect/ differently from the way you and I see it. I would love to know the yokels she is referring to when she says "you". OF COURSE AMERICA IS IMPERFECT! WE JUST SPENT $700 BILLION TRYING TO SAVE OUR ECONOMY. WE HAVE BEEN IN AN UNWINNABLE WAR FOR YEARS WITH NO END IN SIGHT. HALF THE COUNTRY HAS NO HEALTH INSURANCE. UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUES TO RISE. I want to know WHO thinks this country is perfect! I love America but it definitely needs some repairs.

It's been said that Palin was brought in to pull in the evangelical vote. I'm not sure who or what the "evangelical vote" is, but if they are the people attending her rallies, I hope they get so fired up they forget to register. I'm going to get really radical here: If evangelicals are the ones who see America as perfect with no wrongs to correct then they are the "Islamics" of our country. The Islamic terrorists see no evil in bombing and killing innocent people. They do heinous things to their enemies and their own people. They believe in the infallibility of their leader/s and an extreme version of their religion. I'm afraid there is a core group of people in our country who are so fixated on the view America is right in whatever America does. Here's the kicker; to them America is only a country of people like them. To them minorities are the illegal immigrants of past generations. All our country's ills are blamed on them. I really think a large block of Americans can't see the WHOLE picture and want a government that caters only to them. Again, I'm seeing a parallel to that European country mentioned earlier!
People who shout"off with his head" and are not renounced immediately display a level of hate that, until now, has been kept status quo. I plan to vote for Obama. There is no other option for me. I don't think he is ready and I think there are Americans who are not ready for a black president. I fear for his life and that of his family if he is elected. It takes some brave people to make the presidency their life's quest. I wish instead of shouting racial epitaphs or incendiary remarks people would shout out some ideas for making our government a better system. That would be helpful. The former is just plain scary.

Now for another metaphor: I took the photo of Hunley and Jackson this morning. And as I was contemplating my "parallels" that picture made me think of my life and a lot of middle-class folk like us. We are the hamster in the cage. We have everything we need. Every so often we get out and take a walk to see new things. The way other people live. Sometimes we have events that stress us out. Or toxic bedding that makes us sick. But we recover and plow on doing what needs to be done to maintain our lovely way of life. But wait, there is evil waiting to swallow us whole. It's there, watching. Patiently waiting. Who is the cat? The government? The evangelicals? The suffering lower class? I feel like I should do something to protect myself but what could I do? Pet the cat and make sure he is fed so he doesn't try to eat me. What if I run out of food? HMMM what's that a metaphor for?

Am I using "metaphor" correctly? I just looked it up at dictionary.com and am still not positive.

Good Eats

(Try and find two eggplants in the photo.)

I read somewhere that as we age our taste buds become less sensitive. As a kid I would've stuck a salamander up my nose before eating brussels sprouts. Yet, I had brussels sprouts at a China Buffet recently and loved them. I think about that as my children make the 'I'm going to vomit face' when presented with a vegetable. (I remember making that face as a kid.) And hope at least one of them develops my passion for veggies. I say "one of them" because my husband's taste buds must still be sensitive because he won't eat most of the veggies I've come to relish.

And speaking of relish, a friend introduced me to Refrigerator Pickles. They are fantastic! And very simple to make. Cucumbers, vinegar, sugar (Splenda), and spices combined to make an eat- alone delight.

I've also discovered the Joy of Banana Peppers. I had an abundant yield from my garden this year and put them on anything and everything...subs, pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches, turkey wrap sandwiches, eggs, hot dogs, salads (of course). Banana peppers on pizza is just divine.

And in the divine category-I had a small crop of eggplant this year. I made eggplant parmesan and thought it was the best meal I ever made. I was already to make this a staple on our monthly menu when I looked up the nutritional value of eggplant: ZILCH. I have a book, Reader's Digest Foods that Harm/ Foods that Heal An A-Z Guide to Safe and Healthy Eating, and it says eggplant has no mentionable nutritional value! What a rip!!! And cucumbers are 95% water! But my book says they (cucumbers) are a good source of fiber. And banana peppers are the best of all three, "Ounce for ounce, peppers are a better source of vitamin C than citrus fruits."

And speaking of citrus fruits, pineapple has become our fruit of choice! This is the first year I've ever purchased a whole pineapple. I think it's odd, now, that in 43 years I've never purchased a fresh one. I always thought they were too hard to cut. They're not. And once I start eating those juicy chunks I can't stop! And it's the one food we ALL consume.

I want to mention my title for this blog: It's the name of a show on the Food Network hosted by Alton Brown. I REALLY like this show. It gives great cooking info and background on foods. Of course I can't remember the details when I finally purchase a food that was highlighted on the show. I've never tried to find episodes online. When I have more time I may do that. But it is a good show.
These little guys were at the China Buffet I mentioned in the first paragraph. My friend had a ziploc bag so they came home to greet Sarah and Jacob. I had tried eating them at an earlier visit and found them just repulsive. I wasn't even sure exactly WHAT to eat. I really wanted to sneak them to a friend's pond, but they smelled so bad after a day I just couldn't do that to them.


Finally, I recently finished Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth. It takes place in the 11th-12th century in England. Talk about Terrible Eats. They would boil water and add turnips and some herbs and spices and that was a meal. Yikes. I can't imagine any children being picky eaters. You ate what was served or starved!

Feeling Self-Satisfied

It's funny how doing something successfully on a computer can make you feel so self-satisfied. I just spent the last 45 minutes determined to add a visitor counter to my blog. I had to visit a different website to "copy" the code for a counter and THEN had to figure out where to put it on my blog site. Honestly, determination always triumphs. I kept getting an error message but when I finally decided to READ the message I tried a few simple tweaks and low an behold I have a lovely counter at the bottom of my blog.

Now to some important stuff: I had my 3-year old son to the doctor on Tues because he hasn't eaten any solid food for 6 days now. He has an instant breakfast in the morning and two Pediasure drinks during the day and that is it. He told the doctor he had a stomachache and when they listened to his belly they did hear some grumbling indicating some intestinal disturbance. We (Tim & I) thought it was a dental problem because for three days, he'd try and chew his food and spit it out! And this is stuff he loves: cookies, StarBursts, and other goodies. I did make some pudding which he will pick at. He insists he is not hungry, but will ask for something (like gummies) put one in his mouth and spit it back out. He will open the door to the refrigerator and just look longingly for something acceptable to put in his mouth. (The doctor did not see anything unusual in his mouth indicating a cavity or other tooth problem.) I think Jake has a strange-looking white tongue. I Googled white tongue. It is a sign of thrush- which I guess is always possible. The doctor felt he may be recovering from hand-foot-and mouth disease. There are so many possible symptoms for H-F-M disease everyone must be suffering from it! BUT Jake doesn't seem to be slowed by his lack of nourishment. I just don't know how long he can survive on liquids! It's a conundrum.

I attended my 25th class reunion this past weekend. It will definitely be a blog, but not until I've had enough time to let it make several laps around my cerebrum. I DID have a very enjoyable time.