Greetings Earthlings!!

Okay, if I said that aliens had uploaded/downloaded information into and out of my brain, everyone would think I'm batshit crazy and my husband would probably take me to Terrell. Sammy Hagar says it and he's going to sell tons of books and make millions of dollars. WTF is wrong with this picture?!?!?!?!?!

Every time I hear the song "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, I think of Paige. She is fascinated with being crazy. Thing is...she equates crazy to silly/funny....not, you know...crazy! She loves to tell me how fun it is to be crazy. How she was "born to be crazy." One day when she's old enough to understand, I'll have to tell her how "crazy" runs in the family and oh by the way, here's the warning signs. We had our joint dentist appointments this morning and she's got one more bad tooth to take care of. Unfortunately, I have to take her back to the pediatric dentist who has the worst front desk in the universe. The dentist is wonderful - her front desk people suck ass. I begged our regular dentist to please, please, please do this last crown, but he said, "hell no!" I guess I'll call the other place here in a bit. I'm wired on coffee this morning. I feel like the redheaded kid in Talladega Nights when he says, "I'm all jacked up on Mountain Dew." I'm all jacked up on caffeine!! I should probably eat something soon....my stomach is starting to boil from no food and copious amounts of caffeine....

Speaking of food....I'm sort of burned out on cooking. WHAT???? Yeah...I'm kind of not feeling like making dinner every swingin night of the week! I made tuna salad last night and we made sandwiches out of it and I'm really not sure what I'll feed my husband and child tonight. I am, however, trying out a new cheese enchilada recipe tomorrow night that looks like it will be the cheese enchiladas to end all cheese enchiladas!!!! mmmmmm.....Messican food.....I love it. I'm ready for the weather to figure out what it's going to do; I'd like to start cooking outside in my dutch oven!

Fred and Wyatt are out to get one another. They keep barking at each other through the fence at the house. I guess Wyatt wants to exact revenge on Fred. Gary secured the fence and gate yesterday and we're going to lay concrete and/or brick so that Fred can't continue digging to get to Wyatt. WTF is up with my animals? I mean, seriously? I guess they both need to go on anti-depressants. Jesus.....

On the other end of the dog spectrum...you know...the Lov-ah side....no word yet on whether or not Eddie spread his seed. He was really, really worn out after his tryst with Molly. He slept for like, two days! He and Waylon are back at it again, humping uncontrollably no matter where they are or who might be in the house. They have no couth whatsoever. I was trying to put them out Saturday morning and it took, like, five minutes or something to get them out because Waylon rode Eddie all the way from the bedroom to the kitchen. Lord help us. They were soooo happy to see their Daddy, though. Eddie's such a little princess. He slept on Gary's pillow...cried for him....disgusting....but hey, it's our damn fault, we spoil them!!

This was Gary and Eddie's reunion. What this picture doesn't show is that Gary is actually asleep, not only with Eddie in his lap, but an empty wine glass in his hand. Classy.....(yeah, yeah, I know...but I don't have any pics of me passed out with a wine glass in my hand....LOL)



Our truck driver is back at the shop now. I hope it's because it's raining and the landfills are closed. That would make my day. I hate landfills. They're money sucking rackets. I equate them to TXU....or trashbags...stuff you have to have, they know it, so they rape you.

I guess I'll go for now. I'm waiting on my CPA to check my work before I can proceed. As soon as she does that, the difficult portion of my job is over and that just gets me one step closer to being out of here and operating Mild Bill's Spices!!!

Be sure and check out our Facebook page and Twitter. I sent page suggestions out to a bunch of people today...so be kind and "like" our page....and follow us on Twitter. I promise to be nice :)

Spreading my own special brand of joy and happiness to the masses......

Kelly

Monday, Monday.....

I'm enacting my special force field in hopes that the stupidity and ignorance of Mondays will bounce off of me as it gets close :)

Congrats to all of the chili winners this weekend! Joe Trigo is our new Men's State Champion! Gary got 13th and Mark got 19th - I'm proud of both of them for making final table out of 144 chilis!

I had a fantastic weekend. I sold two of my trailers, I had a wonderful time relaxing at One Fine Day and I enjoyed delicious sushi Saturday night. I even squeezed in a little retail therapy this weekend, too! I didn't get around to cleaning Paige's room, but I at least got what I needed to load up movies and toys and reorganize her room. She had a great time at Gammy's....of course! She made sopapilla cheesecake squares for Daddy for his birthday. We also bought him a red velvet cake. We were all so tired last night so after dinner, we got in bed and watched a little TV and were asleep by 8:30. Actually, Paige and I were tired....Lord Brignon was hungover :)

I've always wanted to try Pasta Carbonara...the tradition Italian comfort food dish. Because of my egg allergy, I've stayed away from it because I didn't want to have the asthma attack from hell. Well, I bit the bullet and made it last night and while I had to take two Benadryl, I was sooo not impressed with the dish! I made it according to the recipe (which was a good one), but I just didn't care for it at all. Gary loved it, but I wasn't feeling it. I don't know if I'm going to try it again, maybe use a different recipe, or modify it a little...but I was so disappointed. I wanted to love it. Damnit......

I bought shrimp last night (I was going to add it to the Carbonara, but forget), so I'm going to do something with it tonight for dinner. Not sure what I'll come up with, but I hope it's better than last night's meal!!

Have a great day. I'm going to finish up on some things for our tax return and try and survive Monday. Good luck with that, right?!?!?

Kelly

Hurray for Friday!!!!

Good Morning! Thank God for Friday, right? I'm so over this week. Gary and the boys are on the road to Johnson City this morning. After announcements tomorrow, they'll head to Luckenbach to see Charlie Robison. How about that for a Happy Birthday! Gary turns 39 tomorrow :) He doesn't look a day over sexy...right?!?!?!?!?! Okay, okay....don't vomit in your mouth.

My weekend is going to consist of a massage, facial and hair appointment. Then I'll go get sushi. Upon my return home, the boys and I will have lots of couch time as I'll be watching a marathon of Kelly approved movies!! Paige will be with Gammy this weekend, so I'm going to take it easy tomorrow and then work on her room Sunday before she comes home. She has a ton of movies and toys that we need to take to the school for use up there. Right now they're just taking up space in her room - space she could use!

Jeannie isn't here this morning, so I've got to get up and make coffee. I don't mean that as a spoiled brat....I'm just not a good coffee maker. No matter how careful I am, the filter always falls over and the coffee grounds end up in the coffee. Gary normally makes the coffee at home. I guess I just sort of suck at it!

One thing I don't suck at - making Spicy Tuna Salad and Breakfast Casseroles :) I hooked the boys up with both for their weekend excursion! They're going to need something to soak up all that alcohol....nice.....LOL!!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!! I'll be back on Monday spreading my own special brand of kindness, joy and passive aggressiveness since Gary won't let me be just plain aggressive anymore ;0)!! I'm kind of worried....apparently Burger King is moving down the street from McDonalds in Irving. Huh....I wonder if they'll be enough people in Irving to eat at both???? I wonder if McDonalds sent them a letter????

Kelly

Conversations with Paige.....

Good Evening,

I'm not sure if these qualify as actual conversations or just Paige being Paige at the most inopportune times. You be the judge!!

We went inside the bank this afternoon and when we were finished, I took her to the bathroom. You walk by the safety deposit room and vault to go to the bathroom and she noticed it on the way out. While we are walking through the lobby, (it was almost closing time, so a few of the girls were by the door to lock it behind us) Paige says, loudly:

"Mommy, that was the money vault. That's where I'd lock people up if I was going to rob our bank."

I swear to God...that came out of my seven year old's mouth. I was MORTIFIED!!! I looked at one of the tellers I know fairly well and I just shook my head and apologized. Thankfully she was laughing pretty hard, so at least I don't have to worry about the FBI showing up at my house later. Jesus!!

We leave the bank and head home. Paige requests Chicken Express for her snack and I figured what the hell. We're in line and Paige asks me if her daddy is at home. I told her no, that he was at work. I then asked her why she was asking and she replies:

"Well, I just wanted to know if I was going to go home and find him passed out in my floor and snoring like I did when I woke up this morning."

I laughed....and laughed....and laughed. Apparently, Gary had a little too much wine last night and when he went in to check on Paige and talk to Gilbert (uh yeah, I don't get that, either), he decided that the floor looked pretty good. So, this morning when Gary's alarm went off at 4 am and woke me up, I couldn't find him. Anywhere. Imagine my amusement when I found him sprawled out on Paige's floor snoring. Just think people, my kid is going to be in therapy one of these days and one of her most vivid memories will be the morning she woke up for school and had to step over her snoring, passed out daddy to get to her closet. Fun times, people, fun times. I look at it like this; a certain therapist is going to be in business for a loooooong time :)

I had BBQ Chicken on the agenda for tonight's meal. So far, I'm on a laundry mission and I don't really see that happening. Paige ate, and I have stuff to snack on. Lord Brignon may be on his own this evening.

Have a wonderful Wednesday...we're getting closer to the weekend. I've got a gift certificate for a massage, so I thought that would be a great excuse to get not only a massage, but also a facial and my hair done on Saturday. I plan on spending most of my day at One Fine Day in Waxahachie....and I don't feel the least bit guilty. People, I was crying and having a nervous breakdown on the side of I20 yesterday. If that isn't grounds for a day at the spa, I don't know what is!!

Kelly

Cadillac Cowgirl Tilapia in Green Chile Sauce

This was DELICIOUS! It took about 30 minutes to make and that made me even happier! Below is the recipe:

Cadillac Cowgirl Tilapia in Green Chile Sauce

4 Tilapia Filets (I used small ones...but you can use any size)
1 Can Hatch Roasted Garlic Green Chile Sauce
1/4 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Grated Monterrey Jack Cheese, divided
2 Tbsp Butter
6 Oz Peeled and Deveined Shrimp (I used the salad size and thawed out what I needed)
Crumbled Cotija or Queso Fresco Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rinse the Tilapia filets and pat dry. Salt and pepper the Tilapia filets; you can also season them with onion, garlic and/or lemon pepper as well. (I used onion and garlic granules...from Mild Bill's of course!) Melt the butter in a large non stick skillet and when bubbling, add the Tilapia. Brown on each side for 2-3 minutes over medium high heat. (You're going to finish these in the oven, so don't be concerned if they aren't completely done.) Set aside in a baking dish large enough for all four filets. In a saucepan, combine the green chile sauce, sour cream, 1/4 cup of the Monterrey cheese and shrimp over medium heat. Once heated through, pour over the fish in the baking dish, add the rest of the Monterrey Jack cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and the cheese is melted. Top with crumbled Cotija or Queso Fresco Cheese. I served this with refried black beans and sliced avocados. A Jicama slaw would also be delicious with the Tilapia!

My goal today is to make it the entire day without popping a Xanax. I'll let you know how I do....or don't do :)

Spreading joy and kindness in all that I do.....

Kelly

Xanax Tuesday......

Yeah...I'm serious. It's already been one of those days. I've already popped a Xanax and I think I may pop another one before the day is over.

On a brighter note, Bluebonnets are already coming up! Gary and I took the back way home last night from my sister's house and they are already blooming on FM 660 between Bristol and Crisp. We also stopped at The Bristol General Store and met the famous Mr. and Mrs. Han that so many people have been telling us about. From what we hear, they make incredible sushi! I know! Sushi from Bristol?!?!?!?! Well, we're going back Thursday evening and trying it out. We took one of their menus and they have a great selection of rolls. I'm kind of excited. I can't believe it. I'm just days away from finding Sushi literally five minutes from my house in the thriving metropolis of Crisp, Texas. Hell Yeah!

In case anyone is wondering, I got sort of chewed out by my husband over my blog yesterday. But - I stand by what I said. I don't think I was being ugly; I wasn't pointing fingers at a particular person and I was just stating my opinion.....which is what he flipped out about. Seriously....I'm wondering if Gray would get so bent out of shape??? :)

So, yeah....I'm being told once again to shut my trap and that just doesn't sit well with me and maybe if I was just going batshit crazy on people, then I'd see his point. And he really did have some valid points - I just don't agree with him. I've certainly learned to stay away from the seriously inflammatory and prickly issues and other than just offering suggestions from time to time, I feel that the criticism that I used to pour on every day has more or less stopped. And why can't I voice any type of suggestions and ideas? People who can't handle alternative views, suggestions and constructive criticism are always going to be on the defensive. I can't help that and I'm certainly not going to shy away from voicing my feelings because of it. I have two kids that cook; that's why I feel the way I do about how junior cooks are treated. I wasn't singling out anyone....I was just stating my opinion about how those divisions are advertised and how I feel that they should be. It's kind of like beverages on the judging table. Beer and/or water. No sodas, no mixed drinks. Beer and water are neutral palate cleansers that don't leave a heavy aftertaste. Sodas, mixed drinks and even wines have a strong taste and they're going to alter your palate. Again....just my opinion. And we all know that if the world ran the way I wanted it to.....LOL.....I'm kidding!

Gary and the Ellis Co. boys are headed to Mens State this weekend. I'm sticking close to home and hanging out with my girl Vicki Sanders Friday night. I think I'm going to perform a Paige Brignon bedroom intervention and go through all of that juicy baby's stuff. She's got so many movies and toys we could take up to school for the pre-k and aftercare kids.

I hope everyone enjoys their day! I am preparing tilapia tonight and I'm really excited about what I'm trying out. I look forward to sharing my recipe tomorrow.

Have a great day...I'll be back tomorrow, spreading my own special brand of kindness and joy!

K

Another Monday, Not Just Conversations, But LIFE with Paige and Other Ramblings

WARNING: THIS POST MAY OFFEND CASI APOLOGISTS....AND MY HUSBAND WHO IS ALWAYS PUCKERING HIS ASS OVER MY BLOG!!!!!

Okay....I was warned...but I just can't help myself. One of the most inflammatory areas of chili cook offs seems to be the Junior division. I love how so many of the ads in the Trails state "CASI Rules Apply" immediately following the advertisement for the Junior cooks. I know this is mainly to stress the importance of the junior cooking his/her own chili, but if you are going to put "CASI Rules Apply" in the ad, then ALL CASI rules must be adhered to...not just the ones the Pod (cause really...how many promoters are going to put that in there) want followed.

So, you know what that means? If you DO NOT advertise an age requirement, then you DO NOT get to enforce it at the cook off. If the juniors must be a certain age to cook, then you DO NOT get to turn away or disqualify chilis from kids that do not fall in the "supposed" age requirement. That sets SUCH a bad example on so many levels. First of all, you really aren't following CASI rules if you are enforcing a requirement you did not advertise. Second of all, how can you in good conscious turn away someone who's brought their 6 year old to cook and didn't know there was an age requirement. And lastly, and really most importantly, THEY'RE FREAKIN KIDS FOR GODS SAKE! Seriously? Is it really that friggin important that these kids not be allowed to cook over a rule they had no idea they had to abide by? If you are going to enforce CASI Rules for junior cooks, then play by all of the CASI rules and go by the advertisement in the Trails. Period.

So, now that I've pissed off a bunch of people, I'll move on to less polarizing subjects, such as my child :)

I know alot of you read my blog for "Conversations with Paige" and I can't say I blame you. I love talking to Paige...she's a hoot. There are a several conversations I don't get to share because I forget all the particulars before I can post them; or, they border on CPS inappropriate....LOL!!! The Juicy of Love and Deliciousness was on her game this weekend. She bowled with Daddy and Sissy Friday afternoon, debated the subject of meatless Fridays during Lent with her Daddy and myself Friday evening at Outback. (Yes, we went to Outback for a meatless meal...WTF?) and rode 4 wheelers and the golf cart with her Bubba and his four friends Friday night. She was holding one of their phones as a flashlight because they didn't have lights on the golf cart. Every couple of minutes or so, I'd hear this loud giggling and screaming coming from the back of the compound. She was having so much fun and by the time she came in she was FILTHY! I wouldn't let her go back out and large tears started rolling down her face and cutting through the dirt. That baby was dirty!!! Then she got upset because I wouldn't let her stay with her Bubba and his friends on Saturday. She ended up going to Denton with me. I had to bribe her with a frappaccinno from Starbucks :). So, off we go to Denton and in a matter of minutes, she was inside the Antique store and ticking off items for purchase. She found a vintage pink rotary phone. Cute, huh? Not a cute price....$135.00!!! I told her NO WAY! We were not spending $135 on a phone that I could buy at Target or Wal Mart. She kept wearing me out. Asking me why I didn't have any money (because Daddy always does), and why I couldn't afford a phone for her! WTF?? I told her that I could afford a $135 phone, but I wasn't going to pay for a $135 phone. So we looked around at some other stuff to see if she could find something else to take the place of the phone and she found a dollhouse. It was $60 and had quite a few pieces inside it. She fell in love and told me she wanted the dollhouse instead of the phone, so we shook on it. And then....perfection:



I almost wet my pants and cried tears of joy. I couldn't believe it. A three stone turquoise bracelet so similar to the one I lost that I went batshit crazy in the Antique store. And...at a FANTASTIC price! So in addition to my 2nd place finish, winning the inaugural El Guerrero Renegado trophy and our side bet, I was so excited about my bracelet. What an awesome Saturday! Speaking of 2nd place chili, below are the results from Saturday's cook off:

Denton CCO
23 Chilis

1. Regina Petros
2. Kelly Brignon
3. Tom Dozier
4. Alan Fennell
5. Debbie Longabaugh
6. Susan Spencer
7. Sam Roberts
8. Doodie Johnson
9. Don Walker
10. Jason Clark

Beans
1. Budda Manske
2. Debbie Longabaugh
3. Frances Sullivan

The folks running the cook off, in addition to the CUT Pod, did a great job Saturday. The public came out and we had lots of judges! Congrats to all of the winners!

Paige and I went to get MommyBaby pedicures yesterday to end Spring Break on a "private time" note. I was washing her hair last night and I sat by the bathtub and shot the shit with her while she was soaking in the bubbles when she decided she wanted me to count how long she could stay under water. Well, when she went under water, her butt would go up in the air, so I'd pinch it. Or, I'd tickle her under her arm and distract her. She'd come up for air and just laugh, but the best was when I just put my hand by her face in the water and shook it:

Paige: Aaahhh! Don't do that, it creeps me out!
Me: How does it creep you out?
Paige: It's like when strangers touch me.
Me: (WTF all over my face) When the hell have strangers touched you?
Paige: They haven't, I just think that's what it would be like and I'd be creeped out.
Me: Soo...what you're saying is that you equate me shaking my hand in your face under the water to a stranger touching me?
Paige: Yeah, but you're a stranger I know.....
Me: Thanks....I feel so much better!

I made double stuffed baked potatoes last night. They were bad ass, from what the carb eaters in my home told me. Below is the recipe:

2 Baked Potatoes, cut length wise
1/2 Cup Diced Ham
1/2 Cup Diced Velveeta
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
Milk as needed to make mixture creamy
2 Tbsp Butter
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray it with non stick spray. Remove the potato portion out of the baked potatoes leaving the shell intact. Add the ham, Velveeta, sour cream, butter and salt and pepper to taste to the potatoes in a large bowl. Combine and add a little milk at a time in order to mash the potatoes to a creamy consistency. Add the potato mixture back to the shells and sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the top of each one. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. These looked and smelled delicious and I will be consuming one as soon as Lent is over with!

Have a great day, everyone. I doubt I will as it is Monday and Mondays historically suck ass for me. I wish that someone in my immediate family would win the lottery and rescue me from T & B Demolition.

Keepin it real.......

K

Interesting Tidbit on Wine....

Below is an interview from CNN's Eatocracy site. Joe Campanale is a Sommelier and he has some good advice regarding purchasing wine when you're at dinner. As a wine lover, I had to overcome my fear of looking like a jackass in front of people smarter than myself to find wines that I really loved drinking! It always seems so daunting when you are in a nice restaurant and you don't want to drink the "house wine", but you also don't want to order not only an extremely expensive bottle of wine, but a crappy one at that. Not so long ago, most Sommeliers were akin to serious wine snobs - not so much anymore. There are so many boutique wineries, upstart wines and really affordable varieties that appeal to so many people that the people selling the wine to the public have to be relatable and non judgemental. Gary and I have been so lucky to always have a really friendly, personable Sommelier, or wine steward, at the various places we frequent. Even Siegels, and Central Market especially, have some of the BEST wine stewards around and they will help you and talk wine with you all day long. If you want to try new wines, or find something that you can call your own, don't be afraid to speak up. Chances are, you're going to find something that you love and the person that helps you is going to remember what you like and keep you in good wine everytime they see you. Cheers!






05:00 PM ET
Share this on:Mixx Twitter Digg Facebook del.icio.us reddit StumbleUpon MySpace
Share

Comments (7 comments)
Permalink
5@5 - Joe Campanale
5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe.

If you're ever out to eat with the Eatocracy editors (and seriously, we wish all of you were), you'll probably notice we're not afraid to ask questions. We fancy ourselves pretty knowledgeable when it comes to food, but we certainly don't know everything. If you meet somebody who claims such - give them a gold star for us.

In terms of wine, two of our favorite questions are: "What grape needs some loving?" and "which one tastes most like a barnyard?" ... OK, so we like our wine a little funky, but the point is this: Sommeliers like Joe Campanale are not only there to help you, they want to help you.


Campanale is the co-owner and beverage director of dell'anima, L'Artusi and Anfora restaurants in New York City - he is also Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Five Questions You Should Not Be Afraid to Ask Your Sommelier: Joe Campanale

1. “I generally like this kind of wine. What do you have that’s similar?”
"This is the question you should always lead with. If you have an idea of what you like, the sommelier’s job gets that much easier and the likelihood of him or her selecting a wine you will like increases exponentially. When you find a wine that you really like, it pays off to write down the name of it and try to remember how to describe it - this will give the sommelier a very clear idea of your preferences."

2. “I’ve never heard of this kind of wine. Can you tell me something about it?”
"Don’t be embarrassed to ask about a certain kind of wine or varietal. If you’ve never heard of it, the odds are most people at your table haven’t either. Even if you like a particular type of wine, it’s always a good idea to ask about one of the neighboring wines on the list because it may be similar to what you want, but even better."

3. “What do you think is drinking well right now?”
"Most restaurants have dozens, if not hundreds, of wines on their list, and they’re not always ready to drink. You can’t always pop the cork and have them be perfect - some need decanting, others need another year or so - and it helps to know if the $100 bottle of Barolo you ordered will be better the next time you visit the restaurant or later on in the meal."

4. “What’s something off-the-beaten-path?”
"Sommeliers are notorious for adding esoteric wines that they discovered and fell in love with to their lists. Those wines are usually among the most interesting and most reasonably priced wines at the restaurants because they don’t have the name or brand recognition of, say, a Napa Cabernet."

5. “What do you think is the best wine to go with our food?”
"This may seem like a really basic question, but it’s one I wish more people would ask. Most people tend to want the style of wine that they want, but sometimes it’s a good idea to leave it in the hands of the sommelier to make the best choice. Also, feel free to give a price range. It can be a big range or a small one, but it’s always welcome information because we don’t want you to end your meal in bottle shock."

Have a great weekend! If you are cooking this weekend, good luck!

Kelly

It's Hump Day....

Oh, thank you Lord - this week is almost over! Gary and I watched The Fighter last night and loved it. Christian Bale definitely deserved the Oscar; he was fantastic.

I recently overcame a lifelong fear of.....

Cauliflower.

Yes, cauliflower. The albino, waxy cousin to broccoli has always given me the heebie-jeebies. Well, I'm running out of approved veggies while no carbing it. So, I broke down and bought a head of cauliflower. I roasted it with olive oil, walnuts, parsley, salt and pepper and then added some Parmesan cheese at the end. It was DIVINE!!! I'm still not comfortable eating it raw, but I'll consume roasted cauliflower any day of the week now. I'm not sure if this will lead me to conquer any of my other lifelong fears, but hey, I'm trying! Once I conquered the cauliflower, I started thinking of other things I'm completely stressed out about. They include:

Snakes
Flying
Clowns
Sharing a bathroom with a man...LOL

Those are just a few of my freaky issues. I have more, but I save them for the therapist :)

I was so excited to have Sea Bass Monday night and Rainbow Trout last night. I made a topping for the Sea Bass, but I cooked the trout with just butter, salt and lemon pepper in my cast iron skillet. I served it with sauteed asparagus, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes. I'll share the recipes as well.

I'm on the fence about cooking chili this weekend. Sort of not feeling it....LOL!! I had considered going to Denton, but I really think I'd rather stay home and putter around my house and yard. Gary is gearing up to go to Men's State and I'm thinking I may skip that one, too. Although....Charlie Robison is playing in Luckenbach that Saturday night. I could definitely be swayed....LOL!!

Here are the recipes for my Sea Bass and Rainbow Trout, along with the sides:

Cadillac Cowgirl Sea Bass

2 Sea Bass Filets, about 3/4 lb each
1 Tbsp Horseradish
1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
1 Tbsp Chopped Parsley
1 Tbsp Chopped Thyme
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 tsp Telicherry Black Pepper
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
Juice of one lemon

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the Sea Bass in a shallow oven proof dish. In a small bowl, mix the remaining ingredients together. Spread the mixture evenly over each Sea Bass filet. Place filets on the top rack in the oven and cook for 25-30 minutes or until the fish is cooked through. Remember, Sea Bass is a very oily fish, so while it's very difficult to overcook it, don't necessarily expect it to flake when it's done. If you cook it in that temperature for that amount of time, it's going to be done :)

Simple Rainbow Trout

2 Rainbow Trout Filets
4 Tbsp Butter
Salt and Lemon Pepper

Sprinkle each filet generously with the salt and lemon pepper. In a large cast iron or nonstick skillet, melt the butter. When the butter has melted and is starting to brown, add the filets skin side down and turn the heat to medium. Allow to cook for 5 minutes on each side. Once the fish flakes with a fork, it's done!

The following side dishes go great with both:

Cadillac Cowgirl Roasted Cauliflower

1 head of Cauliflower, cut into florets, rinsed and drained
1 4 oz package of chopped Walnuts
4-6 peeled garlic cloves
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
Salt, Pepper and Olive Oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine the cauliflower, walnuts and garlic cloves on a large sheet pan. Drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and mix everything around so that it's all coated with the oil. Roast for 20 minutes, sprinkle with Parmesan and let it roast for 5 more minutes. Viola!

Sauteed Asparagus with Mushrooms and Tomatoes

1 bunch Asparagus, ends trimmed
4.5 oz Baby Bella Mushrooms, sliced
1 Pint Champagne or Cherry Tomatoes
Olive Oil, salt and pepper

Drizzle olive oil in a large non stick skillet. Once heated through, add the asparagus. Saute over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes. Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper to taste and continue to saute for another 5 minutes. Throw in the tomatoes, allow them to heat through and get soft before turning the heat off. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve.

I'm nost sure what I'm going to fix for dinner this evening. I've got a houseful of kids...so it may be chili dogs and frito pies. I hear that Mild Bill's has a premade chili mix....Gunpowder Chili Mix?!?!?!? It's very good if I do say so myself!!!!

Have a great Wednesday....get to humping and maybe the day will go by faster :)

Spreading kindness and joy,

The Cadillac Cowgirl

W.T.F.

I had the most wonderful weekend.

Came back yesterday to an alternate universe and I'm still trapped in it today. I hate Mondays. They suck. I wish they'd die of some horrible death and we'd never have another Monday again.

I was involved in some FABULOUS shopping this weekend. Granbury has some very cool stores and I picked up a little something for the hubby, my mom and of course, me! I didn't find anything for the Juicy; guess I'll just have to take her to GameStop.

I am a complete dumbass and didn't take pictures of the other SOTF trailers this weekend. Man...there were some AWESOME trailers! If you've ever wondered why I, along with a lot of sisters, have more than one trailer, come to one of our events. One isn't enough for all of the decorating you will want to do! I'm glad I have more than one trailer. The Cowgirl Cadillac is all original on the interior and I'm not going to stick a bunch of nails in the wall, etc and ruin the wood. I have another one, a 1957 Honorbuilt Roamer that I don't mind doing all sorts of crazy stuff to. I'm pulling it home tonight to begin the renovation process. I've made up my mind to sell my 1976 Scotty and I'm on the fence about the 1963 Scotty I still have. It may be beyond my skill level and need to just be parted out. At any rate, I had a really wonderful time and it was fun to see all of the ladies and their cute, cute trailers!

I went to HEB yesterday and I was so excited. They had Sea Bass! And Rainbow Trout!!! I bought two filets of each and two steaks. We had steak last night and I'm thinking Sea Bass tonight. Mmmmmmm.....I'm in my happy place :)

Here are the recipes from last night's dinner:

Cadillac Cowgirl Ribeyes

2 Thick Cut Boneless Rib Eyes
1 Bottle Allegro Marinade
1 12 oz Can Lone Star Beer
1 tsp Granulated Onion, Garlic, Salt and Pepper, each
1 Tbsp Butter
1 Tbsp Olive Oil

In a large Ziploc bag, combine the above ingredients and marinate the steaks for 2-4 hours. At least fifteen minutes before you are ready to cook the steaks, take them out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature in the marinade. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large cast iron or non stick skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over high heat. Once the butter and olive oil are melted and starting to smoke, remove the steaks from the marinade and add each one to the skillet. Sear on each side for 2-3 minutes and then place on the top rack of the 425 degree oven for 5 more minutes. Remove the steaks from the oven and allow them to rest before serving. This method will result in medium rare to medium steaks. Keep them in the oven longer for a more well done steak. Should you want a rare steak, don't put them in at all and just remove the skillet from the stove top and allow them to cook a little longer and rest in the skillet.

I served these delicious morsels of tender beef with an even more delicious side dish of creamed spinach with mushrooms. I was kinda impressed with myself when I tasted this one....hahaha!

Cadillac Cowgirl Creamed Spinach with Mushrooms

1/2 Medium Red Onion, diced
4.5 oz Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms (in the resealable package!!!)
1 Bag Prewashed Spinach
1/4 Cup Heavy Cream
2 Tbsp Butter
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper
Dash of Nutmeg

In a large non stick skillet or dutch oven, melt the butter. Add the diced red onions and saute over medium to medium low heat until onions start to become tender. Add in the mushrooms, salt and pepper and allow the mushrooms to cook and release their liquid. Once soft, add in the spinach and stir it around to coat it with the butter, salt and pepper and allow it to wilt over medium low heat. Once wilted, add the cream and turn the heat up to medium. Stir to combine and let the cream evaporate a bit and then add a dash of nutmeg. I baked a sweet potato for Gary and he had that along with his steak and the creamed spinach. It was a very delicious meal if I do say so myself!

Therein lies the story of my weekend and horrid Monday. Oh! Wait!! I forgot to update everyone on Eddie's studfest! Yes, he and his lady friend made contact! Yes, they did it more than once!!! Let's cross our fingers that all goes well and we have puppies in about nine weeks! How awesome is that?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Oh yeah - one other tidbit of awesomeness. Paige, my little Kung Fu Fighter, placed 3rd in Cada Saturday and 2nd in Sparring. She was the youngest competitor at the tournament on Saturday and considering she's only been practicing Cada for the past few weeks, we are over the moon about her 2nd and 3rd place finishes. Way to go my Juicy of Love and Deliciousness!!!!

I'm gearing up for wine, Sea Bass and the Bachelor tonight. Have a great day....I hope to be back tomorrow spreading joy, kindness and bullshit.

K

Mexican Eggs...and Eddie's Gettin Laid!!!!

Hell Yeah! What a great start to the weekend. I got a phone call this morning that Eddie's little lady is ready to go! They're going to get together tomorrow for their big date and see what happens. Woo Hooooooo!!!!!! I hope she ends up pregnant cause it's getting time for him to lose his little cajones. Maybe I can get a booty call for Waylon, too. Then they'll both have had the opportunity to get a little tail before the "big change"...LOL!!!!

Last night I scrambled eggs with onions, jalapenos, tomatoes and cheese. It's probably very close to Migas...but since I've never made Migas, and don't usually order them, I'm not 100% sure. I am a lover of the chilaquilles (I have no clue if that is spelled correctly and spell check wanted to change it to something completely different)...those are my favorite! I also sliced an avocado to have on the side. It was delish! Below is the recipe:

Cadillac Cowgirl Mexican Eggs

1 small onion, chopped
1 jalapeno, chopped (depending on how manly, or unmanly you are) remove or keep the seeds
2 roma tomatoes; chopped
6 eggs
Salt and Pepper to taste
3 T butter
Grated cheese

In a large skillet, melt 2 T of butter and saute the onions, jalapenos and tomatoes until tender. Add the remaining T of butter and break each of the eggs in the skillet. Stir the eggs and sauteed veggies around so that they mix together and when the eggs begin to set, add the salt, pepper and grated cheese. Serve with avocados, salsa, tortillas and anything else you might like to complete your Gringo Mexican meal :)

Since I'm carb free right now, I just had the eggs and avocados. Gary had refried beans and tortillas with his and he said he liked it. He may have also had an ulterior motive, but he did eat all of it, so maybe he wasn't just blowing smoke up my ass in hopes of getting lucky later.

I'm off to Coffee Creek RV Resort this weekend with Sisters On the Fly. I hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll be back Monday....kick some chili ass and steal some points if you're cooking this weekend!

Spreading something....like lots of bullshit today!

Kelly

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday.....

OMG...this week is finally over! Yay!!! I am so ready to RELAX this weekend! I finally got everything copied to my laptop, even managed to hook up my printer and I'm back in business! While I've got a few spare moments, I think I'll share a few conversations with Paige......

This conversation took place yesterday after I retrieved the Delicious for school.....

Me: Hey, it's Ash Wednesday. No meat, so how about fish sticks for dinner?
Paige: Yes, I love fish sticks, but the plain ones. I don't like the ones with cheese.
Me: Okay.
So off we go to HEB.......

Me: Alright Juicy, here are the fish sticks. Plain, no cheese.
Paige: Uumm...those don't look like the ones I eat at school.
Me: How are they different? They're fish sticks.
Paige: I like the plain ones.
Me: These are plain. They just have fish in them. There is no cheese in the fish sticks.
Paige: You aren't understanding me. You're not hearing me. I only eat plain fish sticks. Those have white stuff in them.
Me: (Loud and Aggravated by now) THESE ARE THE PLAIN ONES. THE WHITE STUFF IN THE MIDDLE IS THE FISH, PAIGE.
Paige: But those aren't the ones I like.
Me: Which ones are the ones you like?
Paige: The plain ones. Aren't you listening to me?

At this point I threw the fish sticks in the basket and told her they were just like what she eats at school and by God she's going to eat them at the house. Jeez....all of this over friggin fish sticks on Ash Wednesday. And guess what? She didn't even eat them. She opted for scrambled eggs and cheese. But wait, that isn't even the best part of my evening.

Me: Paige, work on your homework while I clean up the kitchen.
Paige: I'm having a hard time with money.
Me: Okay, let's take a look at your worksheet.
I proceed to write out what each coin is worth and help her add up the money. She still isn't getting it. It is her turn to become LOUD AND AGGRAVATED:

"WHY DO I HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT MONEY WHEN YOU AND DADDY JUST GIVE IT TO ME IF I WANT IT?"

Yes, I have created a little monster. I sat with her and went over money, and I also impressed upon her that we are not here to just hand her money when she needs it. I also told her that she would have to learn how to count it. This all made her very tired...between arguing with her idiot mother over fish sticks and the very working class concept of learning about money. I told her she needed to go to bed. Ten minutes later, this is what I walked in on:



That baby was EXHAUSTED!!! She got Gilbert out and he was snoozing with her. I had a panic attack when I walked in. She was passed out and Gilbert's cage was open. I was like, "holy shit...that little bastard is running around in here". But, he was curled up next to his gurl.... :) Sweet babies!

Good luck to to anyone who might be cooking chili this weekend. I haven't looked at a forecast. How's the weather supposed to be? I've got tilapia in the freezer that I'm going to fix tonight. Hopefully it turns out yummy and I can share the recipe!

Have a good rest of the week and weekend everyone! I'm going to take my camper to Coffee Creek RV Resort and hang with the SOTF for the weekend. I would like to leave early tomorrow afternoon and head out there. I'd appreciate T & B Demolition's cooperation :)

Keepin it real........

Kelly

I NEED A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greetings and Salutations! Today is Ash Wednesday. I hope everyone got their fill on Fat Tuesday. We went to Pappadeaux for lunch and then Paige and I went to St. Thomas in Ennis for Gumbo last night. I have once again given up carbohydrates for Lent, so the next 40 days will be full of carb free recipes :) I'm actually looking forward to cooking more and being mindful of what I'm giving up and praying for during the Lenten season. It's not so much about not eating bread as it is making a promise, keeping it, and thinking about how keeping your word is important in so many aspects of your life. I'm also going to focus on giving myself something each day as well, and no...I don't mean spending money, either! Or anything else...so get your minds out of the gutter!!

Today I'm a little farther along in my quest to copy everything from my craptastic PC to my new laptop. I've got my email set up and I've been able to copy all of my documents as well. Right now Quickbooks is doing it's install thing on my laptop, so I'm getting closer and closer to world domination. Or at least close to finishing up on our books for the year :) I'm soooo far behind it's not even funny. I don't know what I'm going to do when I finally get everything over to the CPA. Probably go on a three day bender or something like that!!

I hope that there isn't some weird dog advocate group perusing the Internet that will have me arrested over these:




Seriously - I'm not trying to exploit them. They're hot dogs...get it...weiners..."hot dogs". But yeah - these boys are very close to losing their ability to reproduce so if any of you know anyone with an attractive, registered female dachshund, please - GIVE THEM MY INFO!!!!! These boys are too cute not to have babies, so I'm giving them as much time as I can before I really turn them into Mama's boys!! Eddie has been very bad the past few weeks. He's taken to growling at us when we ask him to get out of bed in the mornings. I swear to God...I'm not kidding. He likes to sleep in and after he's had his morning meal and backyard time, he likes to get back in bed under the covers and rest. This bad behavior is primarily Gary's fault - he spoils him. And, when I try to tell Gary what Eddie has done, Gary picks him up and loves on him and accuses me of being mean....JESUS!!!! WTH is wrong with us?!?!?!?!

I wonder if Gray would behave this way with the animals?? LOL

Paige gave up muffins for Lent. She told me that there was no way she could give up her DSi because she would "go crazy in the head." Her words, not mine! I wonder if I could get her to give up ridiculous, cheesy poses for the camera?


Uuuhhh....probably not!!!


Alright...I better get out of here. My QB has finished installing so I can now map my Q drive to my laptop and hopefully start working on real stuff. Because, you know, blogging, griping, gossipping, shit stirring and instigating are probably not considered real work. Wait, isn't that what the Huffington Post, People.com, TMZ and Perez Hilton all do for a living????? Man....I'm in the wrong business!

Have a nice Ash Wednesday :)

K

Fried Rice, My New Boyfriend and Birfalizing.....

I've been craving Chinese food the past few days. The Wall is no longer open in Ennis and it's a pain in the ass (not to mention expensive) to go to PF Chang's in Arlington. So, I took matters into my own hands and made my own fried rice. It was very delicious and very easy - my favorite kind of meal!! Below is the recipe:

Cadillac Cowgirl Fried Rice

2 Cups cooked Chicken, Shrimp or Beef (I used a combo of chicken and shrimp)
4 Cups cooked Jasmine Rice
4 Eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 Cup Onion, chopped
3 Green Onions, chopped
3 Garlic Cloves, chopped
1 Cup Frozen Peas and Carrots
1 Tsp Grated Ginger (more or less to your taste)
3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil, divided
Soy Sauce, Salt and Pepper

In a large non stick skillet, heat 1 Tbsp of oil over medium high heat. Add the 2 cups of chicken, shrimp or beef and saute for a few minutes; add the garlic, onions, green onions, peas and carrots, the grated ginger and turn the heat to medium low and cook until the onion starts to become tender and the peas and carrots are thawed out, but not mushy. Remove contents of the skillet to a large bowl and keep warm. Add another Tbsp of oil to the pan and add the beaten eggs; allow them to cook and sit over medium heat. Slowly break them apart and when close to done, remove them to the same bowl as the veggie/meat mixture. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet and begin cooking the rice. Stir the rice to coat all of it with the oil, then allow it to cook undisturbed for a few minutes so that it can become crispy, but don't let it burn! Add the veggies, meat, and eggs back to the skillet, season with salt, pepper, and soy sauce and stir to coat. Adjust the seasonings to taste and serve with pot stickers and egg rolls. Enjoy!

I've recently begun seeing someone....his name is Gray....

Gray Brignon :)

OMG...his name was misspelled on his TICC jacket and he isn't going to have it corrected. So I've been telling him that it's like sleeping with two men and not cheating....LOL!!! Sorry, I've got to get my kicks where I can! He thought it was kind of funny, too. But yeah, when I opened up the box with his jacket in it, I almost fell over when I saw the name. And of course the unbelievably personable individual handling the jackets was soooo helpful....not. So yeah, he's just going to keep the jacket, misspelled name and all!

Paige has decided that Gilbert needs a girlfriend. She thinks that if he has a girlfriend, they can get married and wait for it.....

BIRFALIZE AND HAVE BABIES!!!!!!!

I told her "Hell No!" We are not going to have a houseful of guinea pigs. If she thinks Gilbert needs a friend, then he can have a boyfriend, but we aren't going to be birfalizing no babies at our house. We have enough pets as it is. Speaking of pets, Fred is doing pretty good. He's lost some of the excess weight and his hair is growing back. Yay!

Paige is so cute. She develops crushes on her Bubba's friends. One of them spent the weekend at the house and she was enamored by him. She dresses up, makes sure he eats breakfast and gazes adoringly at him. Oh God....we are soooo screwed :)




I bought a new HP laptop Friday. I'm just waiting for my IT guy to load all of my accounting software and email on it and I'll be good to go. It has a very large screen and a very nice keyboard. I'm having trouble finding a case for it that isn't being shipped from Hong Kong, though. I even looked for a Gucci laptop bag, but they don't have anything that will carry a 17 inch laptop. Damnit.....that kind of makes me sad.

The female dachshund that Eddie was supposed to breed with has yet to go into heat. I'm afraid Eddie and Waylon are going to have their little cajones cut off before they get to reproduce. If anyone knows of a cute female dachshund in need of a hot weenie, er dog, then let me know :)

What's this I hear about the money from the Calcutta and Cooks Pot at Texas Open??? Can anyone tell me what all the fuss is about? I have been given bits and pieces of information, but I don't really know why people are up in arms. Feel free to email me and let me know....

And speaking of email, if you have anything you would like posted on my blog, feel free to send it to me. I'm more than happy to post anyone's opinions, suggestions, comments, questions, and complaints on here.....

Spreading my own special brand of joy and kindness........

Kelly

TGIF!!!!!

Okay, so it's kind of yucky outside but WHO CARES?!?!?!?!?! It's FRIDAY! Thank you Baby Jesus lying in your ghost manger. I am so ready for this week to be over with. Looks like I will be doing a little computer shopping over the weekend. My office computer finally crashed and burned. It had been limping along for quite some time and it finally bit the dust. Paige had free dress and crazy sock day, so she was decked out in one of her Queen of Hearts shirts and owl socks :) She looked so cute and she's excited to go see Rango this afternoon. She told me last night that she was "made to be funny" just like she was "made to suck her thumb"...LOL!

I am so unbelievably ready for warm weather! A few weeks ago when I went to Bulverde I made a point to go through Gruene so I could check out the Guadalupe. I didn't care that the water was probably 50 degrees...if I'd had a toob, my ass would have been floating!! I'm also ready to start tilling and plant my garden, but judging from the forecast, we'll probably have another freeze next week, so I need to be patient. Gary and I have also decided that when Mild Bill's moves from Bulverde, I'm going to have a building ready at our house. He and I both feel that since the intention all along was to have it at the house, it's best to start it out exactly how I want it from the beginning. It's time for me to step away from T & B Demolition. The stress has become almost unmanageable the past two years and unless I want to die of a heart attack before I'm 40, I need to get out of the demo business. I am just so ready to move on and start doing something I love; I no longer love accounting. It's worn me out, worn me down and the demolition industry is not the easiest of the construction trades when it comes to employees and screw ups in general. I'm also ready to quit driving all over creation every day. I am so looking forward to operating Mild Bills from Ennis and the opportunities and possibilities that will come with it!

Which brings me to my next issue....my husband is so scared of my blog! He is convinced that people are going to read my blog, get pissed at me and not buy spices from me. Really? Am I really that outspoken and outrageous? Maybe I'm completely off the reservation, but when it comes to what I say about CASI, I'm just stating my opinion and frighteningly enough, I'm not alone in my views. Are people really that easily offended? They're going to not buy the best spices available because they don't agree with some of my views? And if that's the case - why are they reading my blog?? I mean, I can't stand Rush Limbaugh OR Rachel Maddow. Do I listen to them spew the right wing/left wing political rhetoric and get pissed?? No!! I listen to Mike and Mike and everyone else on ESPN :) True, I get that I don't want to be a polarizing and offensive individual and I could see that if I was going after individuals (which I have before but only because I was super, super pissed and now I take a happy pill, so I think we're safe!!), but I mainly express my views on the CASI organization as a whole and not necessarily about the individuals. Now, I can't help it that a collective group of people make up the BOD and it's their actions (or lack thereof at times) that get me riled up!!

So, am I going to mind my p's and q's and not go batshit crazy on my blog when I get pissed off? Probably. But that doesn't mean I'm going to turn into some robotic Stepford Wife and just nod and smile when I think something is a bunch of bullshit!!! With that said, here we are...March...and still very little change in the world of CASI chili! The CASI website is outdated; there are no current pictures. There's been no uptick in advertising. What do we, as a membership, have to do to get our Board, the people elected to lead CASI, to get in gear and start promoting our organization??? I feel like the cooks do so much - we hold cook offs, we cook chili, we spread the word about what we're doing. There is only so much we can do without the serious and dedicated support of the BOD to advertise CASI on a higher level. I worry that until CASI prioritizes what is important for the good of CASI now and in the future, then we won't have to raise cain about how much is spent on the GP meeting each year - there won't be any reason to have one. Don't hate the player, people...hate the game :) I'm telling the truth here! If anyone wants to see CASI succeed, grow and prosper - it's me! I have a vested interest in the success of CASI and it's chili cooks! But, I'm only one person and can only do so much from my keyboard that is attached to my barely alive computer. It's going to take all of us to work together and stand together to make a difference!

Have a great weekend and if you're cooking chili, steal some points :)

Spreading my own special brand of kindness and joy....

Kelly

Hello Tuesday!

Greetings and Salutations!!

I have been craving sea bass for the past few weeks and I went to HEB yesterday in hopes that they would have it. They didn't, so I ended up with Mahi. I'm not a big Mahi fan, but it was pretty good. I served it with asparagus and couscous. Here is the recipe:

Cadillac Cowgirl Herb Crusted Mahi

2 Mahi Filets
1 Head Roasted Garlic (recipe below)
Handful of Parsley, chopped
1 Tbsp each Chives and Rosemary, chopped
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
1 tsp Telicherry Pepper

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. On a sheet pan, lay the Mahi over a drizzle of olive oil and score it with a knife (1-10 usually works for me...kidding!!) In a bowl, combine the roasted garlic cloves, parsley, rosemary, chives, olive oil, salt and pepper. Using a spatula, spread the mixture over the Mahi Filets and allow to marinate for 30 minutes. After marinating, place in the 425 degree oven for 10 minutes. Turn the temperature down to 400 and continue to bake until the fish flakes with a fork. I start the fish out on the top rack so that it gets a nice crust and then move it to the middle rack to finish cooking. You can use any white fish for this recipe, but keep in mind thinner filets may overcook - so stick with Mahi, Halibut or Sea Bass. Enjoy!

Roasted Garlic

1 head of Garlic
Olive oil

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lay a whole head of garlic on it's side and slice off the top. Place the garlic with the cut side up on a piece of foil large enough to cover the garlic completely. Drizzle olive oil over the garlic, wrap it up in the foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven, open up the foil and allow it to cool. When the garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze the roasted cloves from the shells. Use as a paste for chicken, fish, beef and even bread. Feel free to combine with olive oil, salt and pepper and herbs to marinate whatever cut of meat or fish you are preparing.

I have to make a list of all the things I need to get done this week. It's time for a laundry intervention, a trailer cleaning and we've got to pull up the bedroom carpet in preparation for my wood floors. HELL YEAH!!! The boys came home yesterday from the puppy hotel and they were WORN OUT!!! They stayed downstairs with the big dogs this time and they got to run the yard and get all of that extra energy out! I think we are going to cook at the Elks Lodge this weekend (2 pm turn in - YUCK), but the weather is supposed to be nice so it should be fun. The Tejano Brothers are playing at Rockett Cafe Sunday, so Gary has already made plans to go see them. I think that I'm just going to load up the laundry and take it to the place in Waxahachie by Paige's school. I hate laundry. HATE LAUNDRY. It's evil. I don't even know why I have such a nice laundry room. I don't use it. It goes to waste. I think that I should sell my washer and dryer and turn it into an office.

I guess I'm going to get some work done. I keep putting off the inevitable phone call to Lenovo about my computer. Instead of dealing with it, I think I'll go to Neiman Marcus and buy a new pair of sunglasses. Mine broke Friday afternoon and I could use a new pair. I love Gucci sunglasses but they kind of don't last long. My Dollar General sunglasses last forever, though :) I'm just looking for an excuse to get out of the office and not deal with my craptastic computer, the piles of files (oh I rhymed!) on my desk, the insurmountable task of year end and a dozen other bullshit issues that continue to age me faster than normal. With that said, I'm outta here!

Kelly