Archive for the 'Eats' CategoryPage 2 of 5

I have no idea.

Lately, it has been rare for me to have nothin’ stored up in this self-obsessed mind of mine to write about. It seems the more I write, the more I have to write about. However, due to the impending 20th anniversary of my 16th birthday, I am all a-flutter with party prep. I have been dusting and behaving in other odd ways (like actually putting laundry AWAY), and folks - that “cleaning” stuff - TOTALLY messes with my creativity! 

Now, I could write all about my errands, dinner prep, and how I fold socks… but when I committed to Blog 365 I made a pact with myself. Kerryonthespot would NOT become my online list-keeper on my less creative days. No one wants to read a list - except for the list of keyphrase searches… those are always good for a laugh, or chills down one’s spine, or a reminder there are some real creeps out there. I digress.

So, for the love of Blog 365 and getting something posted on this, the 22nd day of October *ahem5daysbeforemybirthday* — and for the love of not boring you to death — I post 2 pictures… 

How is Nosie you ask? You will be happy to know she is doing very well. Recently, she made a new friend:

But Julie was jealous of Nosie’s new friend and threatened to eat said friend. 

**No bug was harmed in the making of these pictures… merely traumatized by halitosis**

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Confession - I am a Scarfaholic.

I LUV ME MAH SCARVES.

As I pulled out my winter scarves, I felt like a magician pulling scarves from a top hat. I just kept going and going and going… My Scarfaholism is not due to an irrational fear of Vampires - nor is my neck the coldest part on my body. My butt and my feet are my coldest “parts”. And while I will wear thick socks to keep the tootsies warm… I will not wear socks on my butt. That is just not a good look for me… 

I wear scarves because they add a smidge more warmth - like a blanket for your neck! They are also a nice little “accessory”… A little pop of color to brighten up a dreary Fall or Winter day… I might even say, “the scarf” was my original “confidence prop“. 

A scarf can also double as a noose - when one’s young children tug on it to get attention. Good times. But like my Grandma used to tell me in the 80’s when I’d complain about the stinging pain on my scalp from the activator in the perm treatment, “Pain for beauty, Kerry… Pain for beauty…” I love my Gramma. Maybe I’ll give her a scarf for Christmas…

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I met an very angry hot dog today. It seems he was not so “hot” about the idea of being microwaved to death for lunch.

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As political as I can get.

My political platform??? See above.

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What does one get when ones combines:

One steak + 3 servings of mashed potatoes + 2 glasses of wine + 3 servings of salad + one game of Imaginiff + a brisk evening walk + 2 margaritas with extra “ita”, and 1 chocolate-fondue-awesome-aluza???

One gets a spot in the bean bag chair while one rubs her distended belly and moans: “OH. MAH. BELLEE!!! OH. MAH. ACHIN’ BELLEE!!! That was AWSOME!” Yup. True that.

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I am more confident in the kitchen than ever…

now that I have a new Confidence Apron

When my husband came home Monday night, one of the first things out of his mouth was, “I have a confession… … … I bought an album.” I said, “Before you go any further, it’s O.K. with me as long as it’s as cool as this… *saunters toward husband from behind the counter and twirls* … My new CONFIDENCE APRON!”

It’s amazing what a Confidence Apron will do for a timid stirrer… (and it’s amazing what Picnik can do for one’s complexion when editing one’s photos…I *heart* Picnik!)

And the finished product… Oh how a girl can rock the stove in the right kind of apron…

Are you wondering what “Confidence Apron” and I made for dinner??? Only the World’s Best Baked Potato Soup! That’s all! Potatoes… milk… bacon… celery… green onions… bacon… garlic… bacon… chicken… topped with cheddar cheese… My husband realized what was on the menu and asked, “Oh. Is that Baked Potato Soup, baby?” With a velvet whisper I baited him, “Yes it is baby…” Even just TALKIN’ ’bout food changes when “Confidence Apron” has my back.

I would like to give a shout-out to my very talented photographer and photo-shoot designer - my lovely 6 year-old daughter Cole. I was just going to have her take a full-apron shot. But then she said, “Hey Mom, what if I take a picture of you COOOKING!” My. Gosh. My daughter is a flippin’ genius!

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Friday - A Fridge Friday post and a little about last Friday not about my fridge.

My fridge has been a mess for awhile. As a result I have been tapping into the “stacking” skills I learned in preschool. However, one can only stack and maneuver so much (plus, eggs are not so fond of being at the bottom of the stack…) before the inevitable needs to happen… cleaning.  Look at my poor fridge, she’s begging for a little TLC:

Being the good fridge-keeper I know I can be, I dug in my heels and began emptying the fridge. My rubric: 1) Anything with fuzz must go. 2) If it’s original color wasn’t green, it must also go. 3) If it slimed, gone. 4) Curdled? Also, GONE.

Now, a little problem that I have is… what’s the word? Oooh, shiny… What? Oh, yes. I lack FOCUS. So in the midst of behaving in a manner suited to a responsible grown-up, I got distracted. I was distracted by thyme… 

This was not the first time thyme and I have done a photo shoot

Continue reading ‘Friday - A Fridge Friday post and a little about last Friday not about my fridge.’

Note to self:

Eat more of this:

‘Nuf said.

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Confidence “Props”

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, then success is sure.

Mark Twain

I got to thinking about confidence today. As far as ignorance goes - I got that covered. That “thinking” all started as I crafted a fine bowl of tasty mashed potatoes for dinner. Only the very best for my family.

I revved up that hand mixer while wearing black pants that I intended to wear out in public later in the evening… to my son’s soccer practice, but in public nonetheless. Despite my best efforts I found I was flinging chunks of mashed taters all over the kitchen and the aforementioned black pants destined for public viewing. I assessed the situation and dug out my apron.

In the moments between donning my 10 year-old, under-utilized apron and returning to tater-flinging (largely due the fact that the bowl I chose was far too shallow… but she was a favorite - a very attractive, delightful porcelain white bowl with a chunky rim… like you care…) I became someone else. “Jenny, the Wonder Cook”…. or “Jenny, Tater Beater Extraordinaire”… or “Jenny, Master of Food Stuffs”… or “Jenny - Butch, Baker, Fabulous Mashed Potato Maker.” 

Continue reading ‘Confidence “Props”’

09.05.08 - (Guest) Fridge Friday

I have a very special friend - who moved very far away. She moved to a desert land that locals call, “Aridzona”. Why did she move away from me? Was is poor hygiene on my part? Was my halitosis just too much to bear?  I know! She was jealous. Jealous of… uh… very jealous of the fact that I… uhm… hm. Hmmm… Anyway, I’m sure that the reason she moved was all about Me. Everything is should always be about Me.

Except for this post, it is all about the fridge of the friend who moved away from Me. *crosses arms*

I have written about my friend Casey many times before. She is smart and pretty and kind and fun and dances and gives good solid advice and and dances. She is the kind of friend who will comfort you if you need it, but will point out the fact that you might be acting a little ridiculous. She has one of the best smiles and… golly can some please come give me a hug because I wish she didn’t move away! 

We met when Cole and her daughter were just weeks old. Our sons were playing in the 3-year-old soccer program. Yeah, I know. Ridiculous. My son just ran all over the field, like a chicken-sans-head. I remember thinking she’d never like me because she was obviously so cool and I was such a dweeb. It seems Casey makes friends with dweebs. Yet, another endearing quality of Casey.

I suppose I should get on with her fridge. Here is a picture to start… And in Casey’s words “Well, I’m a little bit fanatical on my fridge…” Casey, honey… you are just fanatical :)

I have a spot for things and am a bit annoyed when things don’t find their way back where they belong (upside down doesn’t bother me - like the great ketchup creation for easy pouring which always finds its way upside down), just as long as they get to the general area: shelf for salad dressing and marinades, shelf for sauces.

We have a veggie drawer and a fruit drawer, meat and cheese on the bottom tray drawer. The middle shelves are leftovers and overflow -like melons just don’t ever fit in a drawer! Beverage shelf and door spots - lots of fruit and beverages since it’s so dry here we need to drink so much more. We go through a lot of beverages!

The ice maker on the top left is so cold that it will actually freeze the fraps - found that
out the hard way with the eggs up there for a month or so and thought it was so odd that twice almost the entire dozen was broken … Of course I thought I was the too-busy-in-the-store-to-check-eggs Mama so I thought I bought them that way!!!I I finally realized that eggs
explode when they freeze … so there you go. Now we have a freezing cold chillin section for the fraps.

The bottom drawer is full of lazy mom lunch … the $1 lunchables … kids happy, mom happy, we’re all happy about those (although of course full of salt and not very healthy but saves the morning frenzy)…(not sure if those even qualify for the meat and cheese drawer but that’s where they end up.)

Let’s see, what else about the fridge … mmm, unique blue box in the bottom - pool kit for testing the water every week - it’s so HOT here that we have to keep it in the fridge so the testing chemicals don’t go bad!!! Crazy.

Oh the life of living where people should never live! I’m just teasing you again, Casey. I miss you and love you and thank you for opening wide the hallowed doors of your refrigerator. It is lovely, and I learned something new - about pool chemicals and frozen eggs :) I’m glad you started your blog… Oh, for cryin’ out loud. I just read your post for today. Good golly, where’s my box of tissue??? Happy anniversary you two!!!

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Tired of Making Lunches … Make Your Kids Do It!

School starts here tomorrow. I thought a school-related post would be appropriate. It is made possible by my dear friend Casey. Her name may sound familiar because I have mentioned her name before here and here and it is her fridge that will be featured this coming Friday!

Now. I know Casey, and she has earned a position of esteem in my life as a woman who can organize (and also dance… but that’s not the point here…)! But you may not know that about her, so I’m here to tell you… “Casey is an organizational Wizard!” That is why when she shared about her 4-drawer lunch packing system, I thot: “I want to bring this to My Public! I want the lives of My Public to be better each day, and this is something that must be shared.” And Casey, being the dependable (and organized!) friend that she is - got right on my request for pictures and information. 

So. If you have kids in school, who eat lunch, here a great idea… straight from my friend Casey!

I love these drawers!!! I’ve used this system for two years. I just make the sandwich and the kids do the rest by picking one item from each drawer …

Drawers:

  • Juice boxes or milk (in fridge)
  • Fruit roll-ups/snacks/cups &/or fresh fruit (in fridge)
  • Chips/Snacks (I even do baggies of gold fish or crackers so they are individual servings - only takes a half hour or so and saves $$)
  • Treats - cookies or granola bars (This can be a reward if they do all of their morning preparation without being reminded 100x)

They also learn that they don’t get to have more than one item in their lunch… you don’t get to have an entire lunch of fruit stuff. I’ve made Mondays and Fridays “Lunchable” days - it’s a reward for all of us… I don’t even have to make the sandwich :)

Preparation:

  • One trip to Costco,
  • open box
  • pour contents in drawer
  • :)
Give kids a month to get the system down. I tell my kids that if they don’t get their stuff put in their lunch in time, that I’ll make their lunch… and that they won’t get a dessert and maybe they won’t get the chips they like so they are motivated to get to making their lunches!  I still “check” their lunches occasionally to make sure that they aren’t double-dipping (especially at the beginning of the year when the drawers are at their “prime-pickin’”).

I am going to set this system up ASAP! Last year I had 1 in school, and I just let Cole get school lunches most days. It was easier… not healthier or cheaper, but easier. Anyway. This year I have 2 kids that will need lunches AND the lunch price has gone up… and income has gone down… I don’t need Einstein to help me do the math. So… the best way for me to get my kids a lunch each day (I know, I am such a good mom) - without me turning into a stressed-out monster is to have a plan. What I love about this plan is it requires the kids to play an active part in feeding themselves… and taking responsibility. My kids love independence and this gives them that - with boundaries. A big “WOOT!” to Casey for being a proactive problem solver and making my life easier :) *wipes tear* I miss you Casey…

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