Something I can do with my iPhone that I couldn't do with my CRACKBERRY....post on my blog with my phone. Not a bad deal, huh?!? Today was one of those up and down days; busy and productive yet fraught with ignorance, too. We had our usual dumb phone calls as well as more developments in Employeegate. I had to get onto my child numerous times - which hardly ever happens - and it's STILL friggin hot!!!
Yesterday, I weighed in and I've lost another 2.4 pounds. Yay me!!! After my weigh in, I went back to the office for a bit and then raced to pick up Paige. Even though I was running late, I still felt justified in spending an hour relaxing with a pedicure. All of that relaxation went to he'll as I had to haul ass to get Paige and then get home and get ready for dinner at Pappas with my sister. We actually made it there on time, no thanks to me. Enough small talk, let's talk about the insane deliciousness that is Pappas Steakhouse:
Bacon Wrapped Scallops atop a piece of bread drenched in to die for garlic butter
Caesar Salad topped with shaved Parmesan
Filet Mignon Oscar Style with crab and Bearnaise sauce, medium rare and cut like butter
Haricot Vert with Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Crab Mac and Cheese
Creamed Spinach
Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake with Peanut Brittle
Cheesecake with Sour Cream Sauce
Hendry Zinfandel from Napa
First of all - we did NOT eat all of that!!! We brought our dinner home. I had my filet and crab Mac and cheese for lunch today. What I didn't finish I shared with my mom. I've still got creamed spinach left but I doubt I eat it. I only gave myself last night and lunch today to cheat :). I brought a piece of Gooey Pecan Pie home for Gary. He loves that stuff. I really liked the wine I had last night. Like Kim before him, Jason our sommelier has an incredible knack for picking out wines that we fall in love with. The Hendry Zin was so much lighter than the zins Gary and I typically drink. Courtney even had a glass and she's not a big red wine drinker. I love trying out new wines and I like it even more when an expert takes the guesswork out of it!!! Another great place for wine advice is Central Market. I love buying wine there because you can ask One of their wine people for a good inexpensive wine in a certain price range and they always hook you up. What they font give you is a bunch of attitude!! Hallelujah!
I made Chicken Parmesan for dinner. I used Panko bread crumbs instead and I liked how it turned out. I went to Walmart because our HEB is a complete ghetto mart now. Walmart sells Heartland brand chicken and what's cool is that within the package, the chicken breasts are individually wrapped. Sooo....if you don't need one of them, it's already in a package and you can throw it in the fridge or freezer until needed.
Cadillac Cowgirl Chicken Parmesan
4 large or 6 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 large eggs, beaten with a splash of milk
2 cups Panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 Tbsp dried Oregano
1 Tbsp Garlic granules
2 tsp salt and pepper, each
1/4 cup EVOO
2 jars Marinara Sauce, such as Emerils
1 Lb Spaghetti, cooked per package directions
I cup Mozzarella cheese
Using two separate dishes, mix your dry ingredients in one and the beaten eggs and milk in another. Dip each chicken breast in the eggs and then dredge in the dry mix (Panko, flour, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper). If you want to repeat the process to give it more of a crust, that will work, too. In a large skillet, heat the EVOO. Over medium heat, brown the chicken on both sides and set aside to drain on paper towels. You'll have to do it in batches. Once the chicken is browned, wipe the skillet clean and return to the burner. Place the chicken back into the skillet, pour the marinara sauce over the chicken and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to medium low until chicken is cooked through - about 25 minutes. Sprinkle the shredded Mozzarella over the chicken and marinara sauce, recover and continue to simmer until the cheese is melted. Serve over hot spaghetti with French bread and a salad for an easy meal!
Tomorrow is my Friday thank God!! We leave for Gruene Friday morning. I am soooooo ready!! Charlie better watch out!!!
Keep it real.....
Kelly
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Cadillac Cowgirl Chicken Salad and Other Random Thoughts
Yay - I got to make something last night!!! Granted...it was just a chicken salad, but I've never made one that I was proud of, so last night gave me a chance to redeem myself. Gary wanted either a tuna or chicken salad, so I figured what the hell and bought the ingredients for a chicken salad. I was really pleased with the results and it's almost as good as my mom's. Check it out - it's delish on croissants or the little sandwich rounds :)
Cadillac Cowgirl Chicken Salad
1 Rotisserie Chicken, remove skin and chop/shred the chicken
3/4 Cup Light Mayo
1 tsp Lemon Pepper Seasoning (I love Obie Q's and use it)
1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
1 Stalk Celery, diced very, very fine
1/2 Small Red Onion, diced
1 Small Handful of Parsley, chopped
2 Sprigs Thyme, leaves removed from stem and chopped
Fresh Black Pepper to taste
Remove the chicken from the bone and chop or shred. I don't like stringy chicken salads, so I leave the chicken in fairly good size pieces since they're going to come apart as I mix everything together. In a large bowl, I add the chicken, mayo, lemon pepper, salt, celery, onion and herbs. I mix everything well, take a bite and add fresh black pepper if needed - as well as adjusting the salt if necessary. You can serve this on a sandwich, on a bed of lettuce with other salads, stuffed in a tomato...the list goes on. Bottom line - it's delicious and you'll love it. So make it - soon!!!
OMG...we caught Paige cussing last night. She's been saying "damnit" while she's playing her DSi. She gets frustrated a drops a bomb. We thought we'd heard her a few times before, but she always vehemently denied it. Last night, Gary and I were scrubbing the floor at the store and we BOTH heard her say it. Her explanation:
"Well, my head didn't mean to say it. It just came out of mouth without me knowing what was going on."
Man.....if only I could use that excuse when I open my mouth and shit just flies out :)
So anyways, my child's foul mouth parents had to get on to her about saying damnit. Lord...I felt like SUCH a hypocrite!!! Another reason to feel bad for Paige - she is MORTALLY afraid of being late. I know I've talked about this before, but it's just the funniest damn thing ever. She is constantly looking at the clock and asking what time we're supposed to be somewhere. She told Gary last week that she wasn't going to be late for school at all this year. I told Gary that I'd take care of that...LOL...kidding, kidding. No, seriously, I think it's great that she is concerned about being punctual. She's starting a good habit and I'm proud of her. I just wonder how she ended up that way with two parents who think getting somewhere fifteen minutes late is still "on time"!!!
This morning, T&B is dealing with yet another incident of employee theft. I love my job.
Mr. and Mrs. Liska came by the store yesterday and were just tickled with all the progress we've made. He was so happy to see what all we had done and he couldn't believe how clean we had gotten the wood floors. Between degreaser and Murphy's Oil Soap, the floors look fantastic. After we clean them, we'll seal them. The ceiling is finished in the back, the window unit has been put in and the painting is finished. The middle room needs to be painted, and Gary is doing that tonight. The front is painted and the ceiling tiles have been replaced. The light fixtures and fans need to be replaced and my office needs to be redone. It sounds like a lot, but it's amazing how quickly things have been completed. I can't wait to move in and start selling spices!!! Hell Yeah!!
My sister is taking me to Pappas tonight for an early birthday dinner. It's Restaurant Week, so we get to enjoy the prix fixe menu prices and we can add a few appetizers without breaking the bank. She's not as much of a red wine drinker as I am and while I know John would let me have an entire bottle of wine, I just don't know if I want to be such an obvious wino. Well, at least not there. Jesus, who am I kidding? It's not like I've ever shied away from knocking back a few bottles at Pappas...or anywhere else for that matter!! I'm looking forward to dinner....I weigh in at Jenny Craig today, so I won't feel as guilty eating tonight since I'll have a whole week to work it off.
Speaking of working it off.....I found a treadmill! It's a Gold's Gym treadmill and I'm going to order it online and have it shipped to the house. The weather seems like it's going to return to a bearable temperature, but I think I can get more accomplished with the treadmill. I can run indoors in the mornings and then run outside at night before it gets dark. I'm PUMPED UP!!!
My nails look like ass - I need a manicure. If I can, I'm going to go get my mani/pedi today before dinner. I'm getting my hair highlighted Thursday and I'm thinking I'm going to tell Jeff to put lots of blonde in. My red highlights still look good...so maybe we'll do both and put feathers back in my hair. The ones I had in fell out. Damnit....
Sooo..I've been thinking about what I was going to do for myself when I got to my goal weight and I could never really think of anything that gave me that extra little motivation to get there. Well, I have decided on what I'm going to do. I'm going to finish my right arm and go ahead and have Chris do a full sleeve. I sort of subconsciously committed to it when I got the tattoo on my wrist in New Orleans. I don't think that I want a solid sleeve, so my right arm is the best one to work with since it doesn't go completely around my upper arm and I've got a little more variety in which to work with. I'd like to have more flowers and butterflies and maybe even a few small skulls worked in. Thank God I have Chris because I can walk in, tell him what I want to do, and he immediately visualizes it and makes it happen. And it is always, always perfect. I figure if I'm going to spend the time and money for ink, then I want them to be artwork and not just tattoos. I'm weird like that, I guess. Gary thinks he's going to get more, but I don't know if his kids will let him. Their reactions were so funny. They were shocked, appalled, creeped out (Paige), disturbed (Paige) and actually asked me why I let him do it!!! It's just so funny that mine are no big deal, but all three of them said that their dad didn't look right with a tattoo. Cracks me up!
If you didn't watch the Honey Badger video on my FB wall, then take the time out to watch it. This is the funniest shit ever and the Jesus Christ Lizard video is funny too.....when I need a laugh, I just think of the Honey Badger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg
Spreading my own special brand of honey badger joy and kindness :)
The Cadillac Cowgirl
Cadillac Cowgirl Chicken Salad
1 Rotisserie Chicken, remove skin and chop/shred the chicken
3/4 Cup Light Mayo
1 tsp Lemon Pepper Seasoning (I love Obie Q's and use it)
1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
1 Stalk Celery, diced very, very fine
1/2 Small Red Onion, diced
1 Small Handful of Parsley, chopped
2 Sprigs Thyme, leaves removed from stem and chopped
Fresh Black Pepper to taste
Remove the chicken from the bone and chop or shred. I don't like stringy chicken salads, so I leave the chicken in fairly good size pieces since they're going to come apart as I mix everything together. In a large bowl, I add the chicken, mayo, lemon pepper, salt, celery, onion and herbs. I mix everything well, take a bite and add fresh black pepper if needed - as well as adjusting the salt if necessary. You can serve this on a sandwich, on a bed of lettuce with other salads, stuffed in a tomato...the list goes on. Bottom line - it's delicious and you'll love it. So make it - soon!!!
OMG...we caught Paige cussing last night. She's been saying "damnit" while she's playing her DSi. She gets frustrated a drops a bomb. We thought we'd heard her a few times before, but she always vehemently denied it. Last night, Gary and I were scrubbing the floor at the store and we BOTH heard her say it. Her explanation:
"Well, my head didn't mean to say it. It just came out of mouth without me knowing what was going on."
Man.....if only I could use that excuse when I open my mouth and shit just flies out :)
So anyways, my child's foul mouth parents had to get on to her about saying damnit. Lord...I felt like SUCH a hypocrite!!! Another reason to feel bad for Paige - she is MORTALLY afraid of being late. I know I've talked about this before, but it's just the funniest damn thing ever. She is constantly looking at the clock and asking what time we're supposed to be somewhere. She told Gary last week that she wasn't going to be late for school at all this year. I told Gary that I'd take care of that...LOL...kidding, kidding. No, seriously, I think it's great that she is concerned about being punctual. She's starting a good habit and I'm proud of her. I just wonder how she ended up that way with two parents who think getting somewhere fifteen minutes late is still "on time"!!!
This morning, T&B is dealing with yet another incident of employee theft. I love my job.
Mr. and Mrs. Liska came by the store yesterday and were just tickled with all the progress we've made. He was so happy to see what all we had done and he couldn't believe how clean we had gotten the wood floors. Between degreaser and Murphy's Oil Soap, the floors look fantastic. After we clean them, we'll seal them. The ceiling is finished in the back, the window unit has been put in and the painting is finished. The middle room needs to be painted, and Gary is doing that tonight. The front is painted and the ceiling tiles have been replaced. The light fixtures and fans need to be replaced and my office needs to be redone. It sounds like a lot, but it's amazing how quickly things have been completed. I can't wait to move in and start selling spices!!! Hell Yeah!!
My sister is taking me to Pappas tonight for an early birthday dinner. It's Restaurant Week, so we get to enjoy the prix fixe menu prices and we can add a few appetizers without breaking the bank. She's not as much of a red wine drinker as I am and while I know John would let me have an entire bottle of wine, I just don't know if I want to be such an obvious wino. Well, at least not there. Jesus, who am I kidding? It's not like I've ever shied away from knocking back a few bottles at Pappas...or anywhere else for that matter!! I'm looking forward to dinner....I weigh in at Jenny Craig today, so I won't feel as guilty eating tonight since I'll have a whole week to work it off.
Speaking of working it off.....I found a treadmill! It's a Gold's Gym treadmill and I'm going to order it online and have it shipped to the house. The weather seems like it's going to return to a bearable temperature, but I think I can get more accomplished with the treadmill. I can run indoors in the mornings and then run outside at night before it gets dark. I'm PUMPED UP!!!
My nails look like ass - I need a manicure. If I can, I'm going to go get my mani/pedi today before dinner. I'm getting my hair highlighted Thursday and I'm thinking I'm going to tell Jeff to put lots of blonde in. My red highlights still look good...so maybe we'll do both and put feathers back in my hair. The ones I had in fell out. Damnit....
Sooo..I've been thinking about what I was going to do for myself when I got to my goal weight and I could never really think of anything that gave me that extra little motivation to get there. Well, I have decided on what I'm going to do. I'm going to finish my right arm and go ahead and have Chris do a full sleeve. I sort of subconsciously committed to it when I got the tattoo on my wrist in New Orleans. I don't think that I want a solid sleeve, so my right arm is the best one to work with since it doesn't go completely around my upper arm and I've got a little more variety in which to work with. I'd like to have more flowers and butterflies and maybe even a few small skulls worked in. Thank God I have Chris because I can walk in, tell him what I want to do, and he immediately visualizes it and makes it happen. And it is always, always perfect. I figure if I'm going to spend the time and money for ink, then I want them to be artwork and not just tattoos. I'm weird like that, I guess. Gary thinks he's going to get more, but I don't know if his kids will let him. Their reactions were so funny. They were shocked, appalled, creeped out (Paige), disturbed (Paige) and actually asked me why I let him do it!!! It's just so funny that mine are no big deal, but all three of them said that their dad didn't look right with a tattoo. Cracks me up!
If you didn't watch the Honey Badger video on my FB wall, then take the time out to watch it. This is the funniest shit ever and the Jesus Christ Lizard video is funny too.....when I need a laugh, I just think of the Honey Badger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg
Spreading my own special brand of honey badger joy and kindness :)
The Cadillac Cowgirl
Monday, August 29, 2011
Oh Wow....It's Monday....Again....
And a happy day to all of you, too!!!! How was everyone's weekend? Ours was hot, productive and went by too damn quick! Friday night, Paige had a belt test and she is now officially a Gold Belt. No more striped belts for this Kung Fu Fighter...she means business. I was so proud of her...she did a FANTASTIC job during her testing. She's such a little bad ass when she wants to be. She has a tournament in two weeks and I can't wait because this will be the first one I've gone to. She spent the night with Gammy and then I picked her up Saturday and took her to one of her classmates swim party. They were all so cute and had such a blast swimming Saturday evening. It was still hotter than a mofo at 5pm, but they all had a good time, so that's what counts. I got a lot of cleaning and evil laundry done over the weekend and Gary got a lot done at the Mild Bill's store. Yesterday was Zoe's birthday, so we went to Outback for dinner. Alas...another weekend with NO GUMBO!!! I won't be making any Gumbo this weekend, so maybe the weekend after while Gary is at the GPM will be my one and only chance!
I'm counting down the days until we leave for Gruene!!!! We're meeting my parents in West Friday morning and then we'll stop in Kyle at the HEB Plus to pick up snacks and beer. I can't wait to get down there....and I can't wait for CHARLIE Saturday night at Gruene Hall. HELL YEAH!!!! Hopefully the Comal won't be too crowded since school has started. I know that there are also a few spots on the Guadalupe that can be floated, too. I don't really care.....just give me a toob, a cooler and a river and I will be one happy camper!
My sister bought a new Jeep Liberty last week. It's very cool - leather interior, sunroof, Sirius/XM Radio and it has that delicious new car smell!!! The Dodge dealership in Ennis has some badass trucks. Gary needs a new truck so bad....I know he loves the new Dodge Dually....maybe after we get Mild Bill's opened he can get a new truck. His Ford is on it's last leg :(
I need a new pillow. Any recommendations? I wake up every morning with a headache and a sore, stiff neck. I'm at a loss over what kind of pillow I need. I sleep on my side and I like feather pillows but the don't seem to work. Gary has a Temper-pedic pillow and it just feels painful. I don't sleep worth a shit as it is and this is just making things worse. Add to it the Weeni that take over our bed, Gary's snoring and RLS and I'm kind of miserable by the time I get up in the morning. Help!!
OH!!! Gary just sent me an email - Jamey Johnson is playing at Billy Bob's October 15th. OH HELL YEAH!!!! Mmmmmm....I love, love, love him. What a busy couple of months I've got coming up....Charlie this Saturday, Hank the following two weekends and then Jamey Johnson. What more could a girl ask for?!?!?!?!?!?!? If you haven't listened to anything by Jamey Johnson, check him out. He's got the sexiest, most amazing deep voice. He wrote "Give it Away" for George Strait. I can't wait to see him in concert. He's playing at Billy Bobs. We love Ft Worth concerts. We get a hotel room, go to Joe T's....it's like a mini weekend getaway.
So, I've applied for my manufacturer's license and I've mailed my registration for the Better Process Control Class in College Station held in October. It's required if I want to continue canning the Jalapeno Relish...which...DUH...I do!!! I don't need the class for preserves or jellies, just low acid foods like relishes, salsas and pickled items. I'm going to continue making everything that Mild Bill's has been making, but I may add a few new preserves. I am a big fan of confits - especially with different cheeses and wine (again, DUH!!) and would like to introduce a few more. There are just so many opportunities and ideas out there and I have to just write them all down and take them one at a time. I'm just so damn excited about Mild Bill's.....this is going to be such a life changing experience for me. I'm actually going to WANT to go to work each day. I'm going to start ENJOYING what I do again. OMG...is it really happening?!?!?!?
I feel kind of like a loser for not having any recipes to share. Gary keeps screwing up my Gumbo weekends! Once the weather cools off, I'll be back in business, though. I finally broke down and splurged on a 5 qt Le Crueset Dutch Oven and I friggin love it. It's this gorgeous yellow color and it looks good with my red and turquoise ones. I love my Lodge Dutch Ovens, but I'm sort of a Le Crueset freak. I have a smaller red one; but I've wanted a larger one for awhile and I found this one on sale. The Williams Sonoma Outlet in San Marcos carries Le Crueset...but there's not much of a price difference. They also carry the Pizza Stones for your grill. I would love one of those. I always see recipes for homemade pizza and they look so delicious. I'd like to delve into pizza making, and bread making and hell, Gumbo making would be nice, too!!
I better go. I've got a Workers Comp Audit tomorrow and need to start printing out reports. I did walk two miles Saturday with my sister and this weather has got to let up. I found a treadmill and I think we're going to get it today. I miss running and walking every day. I actually enjoy it!!!
Keep it real folks....and pray for rain!!
Kelly
I'm counting down the days until we leave for Gruene!!!! We're meeting my parents in West Friday morning and then we'll stop in Kyle at the HEB Plus to pick up snacks and beer. I can't wait to get down there....and I can't wait for CHARLIE Saturday night at Gruene Hall. HELL YEAH!!!! Hopefully the Comal won't be too crowded since school has started. I know that there are also a few spots on the Guadalupe that can be floated, too. I don't really care.....just give me a toob, a cooler and a river and I will be one happy camper!
My sister bought a new Jeep Liberty last week. It's very cool - leather interior, sunroof, Sirius/XM Radio and it has that delicious new car smell!!! The Dodge dealership in Ennis has some badass trucks. Gary needs a new truck so bad....I know he loves the new Dodge Dually....maybe after we get Mild Bill's opened he can get a new truck. His Ford is on it's last leg :(
I need a new pillow. Any recommendations? I wake up every morning with a headache and a sore, stiff neck. I'm at a loss over what kind of pillow I need. I sleep on my side and I like feather pillows but the don't seem to work. Gary has a Temper-pedic pillow and it just feels painful. I don't sleep worth a shit as it is and this is just making things worse. Add to it the Weeni that take over our bed, Gary's snoring and RLS and I'm kind of miserable by the time I get up in the morning. Help!!
OH!!! Gary just sent me an email - Jamey Johnson is playing at Billy Bob's October 15th. OH HELL YEAH!!!! Mmmmmm....I love, love, love him. What a busy couple of months I've got coming up....Charlie this Saturday, Hank the following two weekends and then Jamey Johnson. What more could a girl ask for?!?!?!?!?!?!? If you haven't listened to anything by Jamey Johnson, check him out. He's got the sexiest, most amazing deep voice. He wrote "Give it Away" for George Strait. I can't wait to see him in concert. He's playing at Billy Bobs. We love Ft Worth concerts. We get a hotel room, go to Joe T's....it's like a mini weekend getaway.
So, I've applied for my manufacturer's license and I've mailed my registration for the Better Process Control Class in College Station held in October. It's required if I want to continue canning the Jalapeno Relish...which...DUH...I do!!! I don't need the class for preserves or jellies, just low acid foods like relishes, salsas and pickled items. I'm going to continue making everything that Mild Bill's has been making, but I may add a few new preserves. I am a big fan of confits - especially with different cheeses and wine (again, DUH!!) and would like to introduce a few more. There are just so many opportunities and ideas out there and I have to just write them all down and take them one at a time. I'm just so damn excited about Mild Bill's.....this is going to be such a life changing experience for me. I'm actually going to WANT to go to work each day. I'm going to start ENJOYING what I do again. OMG...is it really happening?!?!?!?
I feel kind of like a loser for not having any recipes to share. Gary keeps screwing up my Gumbo weekends! Once the weather cools off, I'll be back in business, though. I finally broke down and splurged on a 5 qt Le Crueset Dutch Oven and I friggin love it. It's this gorgeous yellow color and it looks good with my red and turquoise ones. I love my Lodge Dutch Ovens, but I'm sort of a Le Crueset freak. I have a smaller red one; but I've wanted a larger one for awhile and I found this one on sale. The Williams Sonoma Outlet in San Marcos carries Le Crueset...but there's not much of a price difference. They also carry the Pizza Stones for your grill. I would love one of those. I always see recipes for homemade pizza and they look so delicious. I'd like to delve into pizza making, and bread making and hell, Gumbo making would be nice, too!!
I better go. I've got a Workers Comp Audit tomorrow and need to start printing out reports. I did walk two miles Saturday with my sister and this weather has got to let up. I found a treadmill and I think we're going to get it today. I miss running and walking every day. I actually enjoy it!!!
Keep it real folks....and pray for rain!!
Kelly
Friday, August 26, 2011
Hello Friday.....
Good Afternoon!! I am soooo ready for the weekend! Gary and I have thought about cooking tomorrow, but it is just so friggin hot! I'd like to cook in Denton, but I just don't know if I want to deal with 106 degree heat for the hell of it! Paige also has a birthday party tomorrow afternoon, so that might be pushing it. I'm going to play it by ear. We also need to finish working at the store in Ennis, too.
Speaking of Mild Bills, I made a quick trip to Bulverde this week to help make salsa. Always, ALWAYS use the funnel when pouring hot salsa into the jars!!! OMG...I don't know how many times I started to pour it in there sans funnel and had to stop before I scalded myself with tomato splatter! We made a batch each of mild and hot and they both came out great! I brought a jar home for me and Gary. I'm going to use some of it for a breakfast casserole :) If you haven't tried the Jalapeno Relish yet, order some as soon as you can. I can't tell people how much I absolutely love our relish. It's not too hot and it goes with just about anything you could possibly make. Hamburgers, hot dogs, Mexican food, deviled eggs, tuna and chicken salad, on top of pizza...it's just the most amazing condiment EVER!!!! Gary and I love it - you will too! Right now our True to Texas and Gunpowder Foods Chili mixes are buy 2 get 1 free. Now is a great time to stock up for fall.....especially for football, tailgating, parties, etc.
Hopefully this weekend and I can make gumbo or red beans and rice for Lord Brignon! Most places serve both with french bread and I was debating whether or not to foray into the world of bread baking. I have never made bread from scratch because the whole yeast thing freaks me out. But, people do it all the time, so it can't be that hard, right? I guess we'll see....LOL! I've also been thinking of different ways to make chicken here lately. I wonder what other cheese I could stuff inside cheese besides goat cheese? Mozzarella, maybe? Tamara had some Jarlsberg the other night that we snacked on and it was to die for! It was kind of nutty like Gruyere, but I don't know how it would do in chicken. I'd like to come up with a good chicken and garlic dish. Garlic is another one of my obsessions. I really don't think you can ever have too much garlic. It's good for your memory and for fangers, too. But I digress.
"Mommy, even if I give the wrong answer, it's still right. You just asked the wrong question."
Man....when I'm that indignant, I get called names. She does it, and it's precious. The joys of being a kid :)
Paige is still "creeped out" by her daddy's tattoo. She is convinced that only girls can have them. I guess that's what happens when your mom is kind of covered in them. She loves to ask me about them and tell me what she's going to get when she's old enough. I know I shouldn't encourage her, and I don't. But, I don't discourage her, either. I want her to be who exactly who she's supposed to be...no matter what. Isn't that what we're supposed to do as mommies and daddies? Love our kids no matter what choices they make in life...within reason of course. If she turned into a serial killer, I'd still love her. I just might keep it on the down low :)
FYI - Thousand Trails Lake Whitney will NOT be charging chili cooks for their RV sites. They will be free of charge just as they have been in the past. You will still have to pay for cabins, though. The TT Lake Whitney CCO is Oct 8th and 9th this year. I'm looking forward to it....and to cooler weather!!
Have a wonderful weekend and stay cool whatever you're doing!!!
Kelly
Speaking of Mild Bills, I made a quick trip to Bulverde this week to help make salsa. Always, ALWAYS use the funnel when pouring hot salsa into the jars!!! OMG...I don't know how many times I started to pour it in there sans funnel and had to stop before I scalded myself with tomato splatter! We made a batch each of mild and hot and they both came out great! I brought a jar home for me and Gary. I'm going to use some of it for a breakfast casserole :) If you haven't tried the Jalapeno Relish yet, order some as soon as you can. I can't tell people how much I absolutely love our relish. It's not too hot and it goes with just about anything you could possibly make. Hamburgers, hot dogs, Mexican food, deviled eggs, tuna and chicken salad, on top of pizza...it's just the most amazing condiment EVER!!!! Gary and I love it - you will too! Right now our True to Texas and Gunpowder Foods Chili mixes are buy 2 get 1 free. Now is a great time to stock up for fall.....especially for football, tailgating, parties, etc.
Hopefully this weekend and I can make gumbo or red beans and rice for Lord Brignon! Most places serve both with french bread and I was debating whether or not to foray into the world of bread baking. I have never made bread from scratch because the whole yeast thing freaks me out. But, people do it all the time, so it can't be that hard, right? I guess we'll see....LOL! I've also been thinking of different ways to make chicken here lately. I wonder what other cheese I could stuff inside cheese besides goat cheese? Mozzarella, maybe? Tamara had some Jarlsberg the other night that we snacked on and it was to die for! It was kind of nutty like Gruyere, but I don't know how it would do in chicken. I'd like to come up with a good chicken and garlic dish. Garlic is another one of my obsessions. I really don't think you can ever have too much garlic. It's good for your memory and for fangers, too. But I digress.
"Mommy, even if I give the wrong answer, it's still right. You just asked the wrong question."
Man....when I'm that indignant, I get called names. She does it, and it's precious. The joys of being a kid :)
Paige is still "creeped out" by her daddy's tattoo. She is convinced that only girls can have them. I guess that's what happens when your mom is kind of covered in them. She loves to ask me about them and tell me what she's going to get when she's old enough. I know I shouldn't encourage her, and I don't. But, I don't discourage her, either. I want her to be who exactly who she's supposed to be...no matter what. Isn't that what we're supposed to do as mommies and daddies? Love our kids no matter what choices they make in life...within reason of course. If she turned into a serial killer, I'd still love her. I just might keep it on the down low :)
FYI - Thousand Trails Lake Whitney will NOT be charging chili cooks for their RV sites. They will be free of charge just as they have been in the past. You will still have to pay for cabins, though. The TT Lake Whitney CCO is Oct 8th and 9th this year. I'm looking forward to it....and to cooler weather!!
Have a wonderful weekend and stay cool whatever you're doing!!!
Kelly
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Happy Tuesday!!
Good Morning! OMG...what a CRAZY Monday. Paige and I went home for homework and dinner before going to karate. While we were gone a transformer and a tree branch got into an altercation and knocked out everyone's power AND started a grass fire! Luckily the VFD's in the area responded promptly and got the damn thing put out. It was extremely close to the house where it started and it would have just continued to haul ass down Chmelar Rd. God, we need rain so friggin bad. I don't like to pray or wish for natural disasters, but a really strong tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico would be GREATLY appreciated!
Sooo....the proposed Rule Changes for the upcoming CASI Great Pepper's meeting have been posted. There were some interesting reactions on FB yesterday. Now, if I had made those comments, I'd be getting a stern talking to from my husband. I really don't know what to make of the proposed changes and fortunately, I don't have to go to the GPM and listen to the arguing and vote. Something that does concern me involves how the Board is going to "refer to the By-Laws to determine how terms will be decided" since there are four people to fill the four open spots on the Board. Why aren't the GP's still being given the opportunity to vote to determine the terms of the incoming directors. Regardless of the number of candidates, I feel like the GP's deserve the opportunity to vote and let their voices be heard. If anything, scrap the requirement that mandates that you have to vote for all open positions. Let the incoming directors know how the membership feels about them....maybe then they'll realize they've got to work to earn the respect and trust of the membership. Call it a vote of confidence, if you will. Just my opinion, of course :) Again, I'm just thankful that I am not attending the GPM this year. My Juicy has a Karate tournament that weekend and I'm not missing it. I've also got a date with one Shelton Hank Williams III Friday and Saturday night in Fort Worth. HELL YEAH!!!!!!!
Last night, while we didn't have any power, we went to DQ. We took the babies with us. They love ice cream:
The girls at DQ were horrified by my husband and his disturbing display of love for the babies....LOL! They couldn't believe we were getting ice cream for the dogs! They love ice cream time with their daddy. It's so sick......
I'm already thinking about birthday party ideas for Paige. She's mentioned Build A Bear (North Park mall right before Christmas??? HELL NO!) and Chuck E. Cheese (do they serve beer??). We have had her parties at the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science in the past and that's always been fun. I wonder if they have any new party themes this year. I really need to work on this. It's not that I don't want her to have "her" party, I'm just trying to be realistic. I'm just kidding about the Chuck E. Cheese. They don't have to serve beer, but it sure would make it easier...LOL! I don't think it's fair to inflict North Park on people that close to Christmas, so I'm hoping I can steer her in a different direction. Speaking of the Juicy, she's loving 2nd grade. Yesterday, she had to draw her likes and dislikes. Here is what she likes:
Yes, she misspelled my name. I love the Freudian implications. Alright, I have to get back to my bank statements. I'm nursing a hydro hangover and the coffee hasn't kicked in yet. Keep it real folks :)
Kelly
Sooo....the proposed Rule Changes for the upcoming CASI Great Pepper's meeting have been posted. There were some interesting reactions on FB yesterday. Now, if I had made those comments, I'd be getting a stern talking to from my husband. I really don't know what to make of the proposed changes and fortunately, I don't have to go to the GPM and listen to the arguing and vote. Something that does concern me involves how the Board is going to "refer to the By-Laws to determine how terms will be decided" since there are four people to fill the four open spots on the Board. Why aren't the GP's still being given the opportunity to vote to determine the terms of the incoming directors. Regardless of the number of candidates, I feel like the GP's deserve the opportunity to vote and let their voices be heard. If anything, scrap the requirement that mandates that you have to vote for all open positions. Let the incoming directors know how the membership feels about them....maybe then they'll realize they've got to work to earn the respect and trust of the membership. Call it a vote of confidence, if you will. Just my opinion, of course :) Again, I'm just thankful that I am not attending the GPM this year. My Juicy has a Karate tournament that weekend and I'm not missing it. I've also got a date with one Shelton Hank Williams III Friday and Saturday night in Fort Worth. HELL YEAH!!!!!!!
Last night, while we didn't have any power, we went to DQ. We took the babies with us. They love ice cream:
The girls at DQ were horrified by my husband and his disturbing display of love for the babies....LOL! They couldn't believe we were getting ice cream for the dogs! They love ice cream time with their daddy. It's so sick......
I'm already thinking about birthday party ideas for Paige. She's mentioned Build A Bear (North Park mall right before Christmas??? HELL NO!) and Chuck E. Cheese (do they serve beer??). We have had her parties at the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science in the past and that's always been fun. I wonder if they have any new party themes this year. I really need to work on this. It's not that I don't want her to have "her" party, I'm just trying to be realistic. I'm just kidding about the Chuck E. Cheese. They don't have to serve beer, but it sure would make it easier...LOL! I don't think it's fair to inflict North Park on people that close to Christmas, so I'm hoping I can steer her in a different direction. Speaking of the Juicy, she's loving 2nd grade. Yesterday, she had to draw her likes and dislikes. Here is what she likes:
Yes, she misspelled my name. I love the Freudian implications. Alright, I have to get back to my bank statements. I'm nursing a hydro hangover and the coffee hasn't kicked in yet. Keep it real folks :)
Kelly
Monday, August 22, 2011
Hola!!!
While it was a super productive weekend, it wasn't a Cajun weekend :( Sadly, we were so busy prepping the new Mild Bill's store that I didn't have enough time to make some of the dishes Gary and I had in New Orleans. Still...I managed to make a damn good pot roast Saturday (well, technically the crock pot did it) and yesterday, I made a Green Chile Chicken Casserole. Below is the recipe - Gary LOVED it!!
Cadillac Cowgirl Green Chili Casserole
1 Rotisserie Chicken, meat removed and chopped
2 Tbsp Butter
1/2 Medium Red Onion, chopped
1 7 oz Can Chopped Green Chiles, undrained
1 4 oz Bar Cream Cheese, softened
1 5 oz Can Condensed Milk
1 14.5 oz Can Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
12 Corn Tortillas
8 oz Bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 tsp Each Salt, Garlic Powder and Cumin....Mild Bill's of course!
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9x9 baking dish; set aside. In a large skillet or dutch oven, melt the butter and add the red onions and green chiles. Saute over medium low heat until the onion starts to turn translucent. Add the cream cheese and stir into the onion and green chili mixture so that it will begin to melt. Once melted, add the chicken, the condensed milk and the salt, garlic powder and cumin. Stir to combine and allow to simmer so that some of the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and begin to assemble the casserole by pouring enough of the Enchilada Sauce in the bottom of your pan to form a thin layer. Lay four corn tortillas across the bottom and top with grated cheese, the chicken mixture, more sauce and top with four more corn tortillas. Repeat by sprinkling more cheese and the remaining chicken mixture over the top of the tortillas and top with the last four corn tortillas. Pour the remaining sauce and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the cover and finished baking until the top layer of cheese is melted and bubbling. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving. This is great topped with sour cream!
Paige has been wearing me out for two weeks wanting to paint at the store. It was finally time for her to paint Saturday and she lasted about 15 minutes. On top of that, she freaked out because she got paint on herself and it wouldn't come off. She did a very good job :)
This is all I have today. I'm tired for some reason, and beatdown from a typical Monday!! I'll be back tomorrow...hopefully full of my usual piss and vinegar.
Spread it while you can.......
K
Cadillac Cowgirl Green Chili Casserole
1 Rotisserie Chicken, meat removed and chopped
2 Tbsp Butter
1/2 Medium Red Onion, chopped
1 7 oz Can Chopped Green Chiles, undrained
1 4 oz Bar Cream Cheese, softened
1 5 oz Can Condensed Milk
1 14.5 oz Can Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
12 Corn Tortillas
8 oz Bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 tsp Each Salt, Garlic Powder and Cumin....Mild Bill's of course!
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9x9 baking dish; set aside. In a large skillet or dutch oven, melt the butter and add the red onions and green chiles. Saute over medium low heat until the onion starts to turn translucent. Add the cream cheese and stir into the onion and green chili mixture so that it will begin to melt. Once melted, add the chicken, the condensed milk and the salt, garlic powder and cumin. Stir to combine and allow to simmer so that some of the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and begin to assemble the casserole by pouring enough of the Enchilada Sauce in the bottom of your pan to form a thin layer. Lay four corn tortillas across the bottom and top with grated cheese, the chicken mixture, more sauce and top with four more corn tortillas. Repeat by sprinkling more cheese and the remaining chicken mixture over the top of the tortillas and top with the last four corn tortillas. Pour the remaining sauce and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the cover and finished baking until the top layer of cheese is melted and bubbling. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving. This is great topped with sour cream!
Paige has been wearing me out for two weeks wanting to paint at the store. It was finally time for her to paint Saturday and she lasted about 15 minutes. On top of that, she freaked out because she got paint on herself and it wouldn't come off. She did a very good job :)
This is all I have today. I'm tired for some reason, and beatdown from a typical Monday!! I'll be back tomorrow...hopefully full of my usual piss and vinegar.
Spread it while you can.......
K
Friday, August 19, 2011
Conversations with Idiots
Jeannie: Good Afternoon, T&B.
Caller: Yes, my name is Mr. Diaz, I faxed over invoices.
Jeannie: Yes, but you didn't put any amounts on the invoices, so I can't pay you until you price them.
Mr. Diaz: But I don't like to put my prices on them.
Jeannie: Then I guess you aren't going to get paid.
Kelly: T&B
Caller: Are you bidding a job?
Kelly: Do you have the name of the job? Did you send us an invite on isqft?
Caller: No.
Kelly: Uh, okay. I can't help you if you can't give me any information.
Caller: It's a Smashburger in Plano.
Kelly: Okay, hang on.
Kelly: Sir, if you'll send the bid info via email, I'll have our estimator take a look at it.
Caller: So are you going to bid it?
Kelly: I'm not the estimator, so I don't know. If you can send it over, he will look at it and get back to you.
Caller: So how will I know if you are going to bid it?
Kelly: You either will or you won't get a bid from us. Do you want the email address?
Caller: Yes
Kelly: Do you have a pen handy?
Caller: No, but I've got something to write with.
Kelly: I bet you do.
Jeannie: Good afternoon, T&B.
Caller: I have a bid here from Ed. Is he the one who sent it?
Jeannie: Yes.
Caller: Is he who I'd talk to about it?
Jeannie: Yes.
This is just a sample of today's goodies. Well, actually, the last one occurs throughout the day, every day.
I've got to get back to my billings. I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC weekend!!!!! Keep it real...I'll be back on Monday with recipes!
K
Caller: Yes, my name is Mr. Diaz, I faxed over invoices.
Jeannie: Yes, but you didn't put any amounts on the invoices, so I can't pay you until you price them.
Mr. Diaz: But I don't like to put my prices on them.
Jeannie: Then I guess you aren't going to get paid.
Kelly: T&B
Caller: Are you bidding a job?
Kelly: Do you have the name of the job? Did you send us an invite on isqft?
Caller: No.
Kelly: Uh, okay. I can't help you if you can't give me any information.
Caller: It's a Smashburger in Plano.
Kelly: Okay, hang on.
Kelly: Sir, if you'll send the bid info via email, I'll have our estimator take a look at it.
Caller: So are you going to bid it?
Kelly: I'm not the estimator, so I don't know. If you can send it over, he will look at it and get back to you.
Caller: So how will I know if you are going to bid it?
Kelly: You either will or you won't get a bid from us. Do you want the email address?
Caller: Yes
Kelly: Do you have a pen handy?
Caller: No, but I've got something to write with.
Kelly: I bet you do.
Jeannie: Good afternoon, T&B.
Caller: I have a bid here from Ed. Is he the one who sent it?
Jeannie: Yes.
Caller: Is he who I'd talk to about it?
Jeannie: Yes.
This is just a sample of today's goodies. Well, actually, the last one occurs throughout the day, every day.
I've got to get back to my billings. I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC weekend!!!!! Keep it real...I'll be back on Monday with recipes!
K
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
2nd Grade Blues, Pod Meeting and More Rambling - Cadillac Cowgirl Style
My Juicy is a 2nd Grader today! Wow - where does time go? What's worse? Tyler is a Senior and Zoe is in 7th Grade already....God I feel so friggin old!!! Paige got a haircut yesterday and the girl who cuts her hair normally cuts a stacked bob that swings down in the front. Well...the swing is a little short this time, so Paige thinks she looks like a boy. Totally not helping the situation (remember, this is the kid who thought she was fat) was my mom and her comments in front of Paige about how short it was. So now my child has a serious hair complex and is convinced she looks ugly. GREAT!! We got home last night and I made her special steak dinner before she got in the bath. Once we washed and dried her hair, it looked cute and fluffy, so I think she's going to be okay. I do, however, anticipate a reluctance on her part to get her hair cut again in the near future. Or not. Maybe she'll just become a little paranoid and be like her mommy who freaks out anytime Jeff takes more than a 1/2 inch off of her hair! She was so excited to go back to school and she got up early for her waffle and scrambled eggs with cheese breakfast. As soon as she spotted her BFF's, she took off and went in without me. I probably could have dropped her off at the door and went on about my merry way. It's so weird how independent they become way before you're ready for them to. I did manage to get a good picture, though :)
Last night we had our NOW Pod meeting. I love our Pod. We're small, but we've got a great group of people and the best part is the no B.S. rule that we've had in place for the past few years. I was hoping to have a list of rule changes and director nominees in time for our meeting, but we had a productive one nonetheless. Gary is going as the GP Delegate for the TT Lake Whitney Pod and Ron Baker, our Pepper Popper, is going in my place for NOW Pod. The Pod had some really great discussions regarding the people running for director as well as questions for CASI as a whole. Something that we discussed touched on (and please don't get pissed, it's just the truth) the aging chili cook population. How much longer can CASI go before they really start an aggressive membership drive and campaign to bring in new blood - and not just on the BOD, but the membership as well. I think that in this economy, people are very, very picky about how they spend their disposable income and for a lot of people, hanging out at a smoky Elks Lodge or in its' parking lot might not appeal to 20 and 30 somethings who probably have kids. While I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with that, it's the reality of where society is at this time. People are looking for inexpensive ways to spend their money and get the most value out of it while also spending time with their families if they have them. When I first started cooking chili, the Elks Lodge cook offs were the best cook offs around. They were usually held over a weekend, there were tons of cooks, and the fellowship made it so enjoyable. Fast forward 8 years to a completely different economy. Not everyone, including long time cooks, can afford a weekend of chili cooking at a lodge where you are encouraged to spend money in their bar. Figure in the price of fuel, food and supplies for two people for two days worth of chili cook offs can get pricey. Figure in kids and you've basically taken cooking chili out of the equation for a lot of people. So my question is: how do we get back to being affordable and attractive while not regressing? Some of the cook offs I've noticed becoming more popular are the ones at either someone's compound where you camp for free (Harvey and Carol West's 4th of July CCO, for example), RV parks that either offer free or reduced rate hook ups, and places that offer more than just a chili cook off - activities to keep the kids entertained and also allows the adults to relax, have a potluck and kind of control their spending if they need to. Again, these ramblings are just my opinion, but I still feel that I raise a few good questions. What will CASI do when all they are left with is the younger cooks looking to stretch their dollars further? On top of that, many cooks are retired and on a fixed income - cooking chili can cut into their money. Do we go back to 25 cook minimums and cut out a lot of these 15 cook cook offs in an effort to bring some of the more popular cook offs back to life so that they're more of a weekend event? Do we lower entry fees? How do we continue to make CASI appealing for the cooks we have and the cooks we need while not reducing what we give to our charities? Hopefully one of the individuals running for the Board can answer these questions in a rational, well thought out manner. In a perfect world, all of them would be able to!!
I resisted the urge to buy premixed red beans and rice and gumbo packages yesterday at the store. I'm going to make them from SCRATCH!! Paige and I stopped at Brookshires yesterday and really wish we had one in Ennis. There's one in Kaufman (we stopped in Red Oak) and it is a FABULOUS store. Hell, I'd be happy with one off the highway in Palmer. That would be so awesome. I'm making my old standby this evening - spaghetti and meatballs - and I've got a slow cooker roast for tomorrow. Friday night is usually pizza and Sam's Pizza is now open in Ennis, so we've been going there. There's a Sam's in Red Oak and Cedar Hill and they have they best sausage, mushroom and onion pizza. It is sooooo good!!!!
Okay, Champ is here. We've got to catch up - we've been out of touch for a few weeks!
Keep it real, folks!!
Kelly
Last night we had our NOW Pod meeting. I love our Pod. We're small, but we've got a great group of people and the best part is the no B.S. rule that we've had in place for the past few years. I was hoping to have a list of rule changes and director nominees in time for our meeting, but we had a productive one nonetheless. Gary is going as the GP Delegate for the TT Lake Whitney Pod and Ron Baker, our Pepper Popper, is going in my place for NOW Pod. The Pod had some really great discussions regarding the people running for director as well as questions for CASI as a whole. Something that we discussed touched on (and please don't get pissed, it's just the truth) the aging chili cook population. How much longer can CASI go before they really start an aggressive membership drive and campaign to bring in new blood - and not just on the BOD, but the membership as well. I think that in this economy, people are very, very picky about how they spend their disposable income and for a lot of people, hanging out at a smoky Elks Lodge or in its' parking lot might not appeal to 20 and 30 somethings who probably have kids. While I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with that, it's the reality of where society is at this time. People are looking for inexpensive ways to spend their money and get the most value out of it while also spending time with their families if they have them. When I first started cooking chili, the Elks Lodge cook offs were the best cook offs around. They were usually held over a weekend, there were tons of cooks, and the fellowship made it so enjoyable. Fast forward 8 years to a completely different economy. Not everyone, including long time cooks, can afford a weekend of chili cooking at a lodge where you are encouraged to spend money in their bar. Figure in the price of fuel, food and supplies for two people for two days worth of chili cook offs can get pricey. Figure in kids and you've basically taken cooking chili out of the equation for a lot of people. So my question is: how do we get back to being affordable and attractive while not regressing? Some of the cook offs I've noticed becoming more popular are the ones at either someone's compound where you camp for free (Harvey and Carol West's 4th of July CCO, for example), RV parks that either offer free or reduced rate hook ups, and places that offer more than just a chili cook off - activities to keep the kids entertained and also allows the adults to relax, have a potluck and kind of control their spending if they need to. Again, these ramblings are just my opinion, but I still feel that I raise a few good questions. What will CASI do when all they are left with is the younger cooks looking to stretch their dollars further? On top of that, many cooks are retired and on a fixed income - cooking chili can cut into their money. Do we go back to 25 cook minimums and cut out a lot of these 15 cook cook offs in an effort to bring some of the more popular cook offs back to life so that they're more of a weekend event? Do we lower entry fees? How do we continue to make CASI appealing for the cooks we have and the cooks we need while not reducing what we give to our charities? Hopefully one of the individuals running for the Board can answer these questions in a rational, well thought out manner. In a perfect world, all of them would be able to!!
I resisted the urge to buy premixed red beans and rice and gumbo packages yesterday at the store. I'm going to make them from SCRATCH!! Paige and I stopped at Brookshires yesterday and really wish we had one in Ennis. There's one in Kaufman (we stopped in Red Oak) and it is a FABULOUS store. Hell, I'd be happy with one off the highway in Palmer. That would be so awesome. I'm making my old standby this evening - spaghetti and meatballs - and I've got a slow cooker roast for tomorrow. Friday night is usually pizza and Sam's Pizza is now open in Ennis, so we've been going there. There's a Sam's in Red Oak and Cedar Hill and they have they best sausage, mushroom and onion pizza. It is sooooo good!!!!
Okay, Champ is here. We've got to catch up - we've been out of touch for a few weeks!
Keep it real, folks!!
Kelly
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Big Easy Part II, The Wisdom of Paige, and Other Interesting Observations.....
My child is an absolute gem......
Paige: Mommy, what did you want to name me when I was a baby?
Me: Talulah.
Paige: Why didn't you? Why did you name me Paige?
Me: Well, Daddy didn't like that name even though you're middle name was going to be Paige. He wanted your first name to be Paige. After Jimmie Paige from Led Zeppelin. Paige: Hmm...weren't you the one having me?
Me: LOL...yes....
Paige: Well, then, if you're the one having the baby, then you're the one that names it.
Me: Amen! Paige, you're not going to have a lick of trouble in life. You're going to do just fine :)
Paige is also a little concerned about her Daddy's tattoo. She told my mom that "boys aren't supposed to have them, only girls." And that, "she wasn't sure about coming home because Daddy's tattoo would disturb her." Love that Juicy baby. She starts 2nd grade tomorrow. She's requested a steak and baked potato for her special back to school dinner and waffles and eggs tomorrow morning for her special breakfast.
Paige wasn't the only one on her game when we got home. The boys were completely out of control. If they weren't latched on humping one another, then Waylon was laid out in the floor or on the couch exposing his muffin. They cleaned each other's ears and at one point, gooey slobber was hanging off of Waylon's ear from where Eddie had been licking and gnawing on it. GROSS!!!!! They even got in our shower while humping. I want to call the kennel and ask if they do this all day, but I think I'd be embarrassed to hear the answer!
Alright - back to New Orleans. When we got around to leaving our hotel room Saturday, there were tons of people dressed in red with the little marathon numbers pinned to their shirts. When we got down to the lobby, I walked up to a few of them and asked them what they were running for - I figured it was health related. Boy was I wrong!!! The Red Dress Runners are a part of the New Orleans House Hash Runners - "a drinking club with a running problem"! Yes, I'm completely serious!! This is a running club that raises money through charity by sponsoring various 5k walks and runs around New Orleans. The Red Dress Run is New Orleans busiest weekend second only to Mardi Gras! These people are nuts. They were walking and running at 9:30 that morning and they were STILL partying at 10 o'clock Saturday night. It was unreal - there had to be close to 10,000 people out there. You get a free beer at each bar (in addition to your own stash), plus you can rent balconies and just party all day long. It was the funniest shit we've ever seen. One girl was sitting on a curb alternating between passing out and throwing up (obviously not funny or safe), then you'd have the random guy in a red evening gown trying to take care of a drunk red dress runner passed out on Bourbon Street. It was a trip. Here's a sample...and my personal favorite :) Gary and I are totally going to do this next year. We had so much fun walking around and just people watching. I just couldn't get over the drinking stamina of some of these people. It was unreal!! Being home has sort of sucked :( We miss the food!!! Gary has requested Gumbo and Red Beans and Rice this weekend. Hopefully we can sneak over to Pappadeaux this week for some oysters!
Thank God it has sort of cooled down - I was finally able to go for a short run last night. I had to wait until 8 pm and run home in quasi-darkness, but it felt good to get out and MOVE! I have a little over three months to get ready for the YMCA Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day. I'm really excited about it!
Here are some more pictures from New Orleans. I got a few good ones:
Any word on more candidates running for the Board? I don't know how I feel about not necessarily having a choice. But, at the same time, if people don't step up and run, then you have to go with what you've got. I'm sure between Director elections and rule changes, this will be an interesting GPM. Gary and I have been working at the Mild Bill's store, getting it ready for it's October 1st Grand Opening! We've got the back painted and will replace the ceiling in the back room this week. Gary's got the ceiling grid primed and ready to be repainted. The front cooler and meat counter has been painted; and I need to paint the wood around the original refrigerator that was installed in 1929. Hell Yeah!!! We also need to start planning for the Mild Bill's Customer Appreciation Party this year in Terlingua. In fact, I could use one of those margaritas right about now!!
Have a great evening and I'll be back tomorrow spreading my own special blend of joy and kindness :)
The Cadillac Cowgirl
Paige: Mommy, what did you want to name me when I was a baby?
Me: Talulah.
Paige: Why didn't you? Why did you name me Paige?
Me: Well, Daddy didn't like that name even though you're middle name was going to be Paige. He wanted your first name to be Paige. After Jimmie Paige from Led Zeppelin. Paige: Hmm...weren't you the one having me?
Me: LOL...yes....
Paige: Well, then, if you're the one having the baby, then you're the one that names it.
Me: Amen! Paige, you're not going to have a lick of trouble in life. You're going to do just fine :)
Paige is also a little concerned about her Daddy's tattoo. She told my mom that "boys aren't supposed to have them, only girls." And that, "she wasn't sure about coming home because Daddy's tattoo would disturb her." Love that Juicy baby. She starts 2nd grade tomorrow. She's requested a steak and baked potato for her special back to school dinner and waffles and eggs tomorrow morning for her special breakfast.
Paige wasn't the only one on her game when we got home. The boys were completely out of control. If they weren't latched on humping one another, then Waylon was laid out in the floor or on the couch exposing his muffin. They cleaned each other's ears and at one point, gooey slobber was hanging off of Waylon's ear from where Eddie had been licking and gnawing on it. GROSS!!!!! They even got in our shower while humping. I want to call the kennel and ask if they do this all day, but I think I'd be embarrassed to hear the answer!
Alright - back to New Orleans. When we got around to leaving our hotel room Saturday, there were tons of people dressed in red with the little marathon numbers pinned to their shirts. When we got down to the lobby, I walked up to a few of them and asked them what they were running for - I figured it was health related. Boy was I wrong!!! The Red Dress Runners are a part of the New Orleans House Hash Runners - "a drinking club with a running problem"! Yes, I'm completely serious!! This is a running club that raises money through charity by sponsoring various 5k walks and runs around New Orleans. The Red Dress Run is New Orleans busiest weekend second only to Mardi Gras! These people are nuts. They were walking and running at 9:30 that morning and they were STILL partying at 10 o'clock Saturday night. It was unreal - there had to be close to 10,000 people out there. You get a free beer at each bar (in addition to your own stash), plus you can rent balconies and just party all day long. It was the funniest shit we've ever seen. One girl was sitting on a curb alternating between passing out and throwing up (obviously not funny or safe), then you'd have the random guy in a red evening gown trying to take care of a drunk red dress runner passed out on Bourbon Street. It was a trip. Here's a sample...and my personal favorite :) Gary and I are totally going to do this next year. We had so much fun walking around and just people watching. I just couldn't get over the drinking stamina of some of these people. It was unreal!! Being home has sort of sucked :( We miss the food!!! Gary has requested Gumbo and Red Beans and Rice this weekend. Hopefully we can sneak over to Pappadeaux this week for some oysters!
Thank God it has sort of cooled down - I was finally able to go for a short run last night. I had to wait until 8 pm and run home in quasi-darkness, but it felt good to get out and MOVE! I have a little over three months to get ready for the YMCA Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day. I'm really excited about it!
Here are some more pictures from New Orleans. I got a few good ones:
Any word on more candidates running for the Board? I don't know how I feel about not necessarily having a choice. But, at the same time, if people don't step up and run, then you have to go with what you've got. I'm sure between Director elections and rule changes, this will be an interesting GPM. Gary and I have been working at the Mild Bill's store, getting it ready for it's October 1st Grand Opening! We've got the back painted and will replace the ceiling in the back room this week. Gary's got the ceiling grid primed and ready to be repainted. The front cooler and meat counter has been painted; and I need to paint the wood around the original refrigerator that was installed in 1929. Hell Yeah!!! We also need to start planning for the Mild Bill's Customer Appreciation Party this year in Terlingua. In fact, I could use one of those margaritas right about now!!
Have a great evening and I'll be back tomorrow spreading my own special blend of joy and kindness :)
The Cadillac Cowgirl
Monday, August 15, 2011
Tales of a Big Easy Adventure - Part I
OMG - it would take DAYS to blog about our Big Easy Adventure! I can tell you this: for the foreseeable future, the recipes I share will have a decidedly Cajun flavor. The food was absolutely incredible. We didn't have a bad meal. In fact, we couldn't get enough of the food - the Gumbo and Red Beans and Rice were completely out of this world. The oysters were just as I imagined...cold and salty and the cocktail sauce had the PERFECT amount of horseradish. To say we were in culinary heaven would be the understatement of the year. My pancreas finally had enough and got a little pissed off at me on Saturday, but other than that, there were no problems.
We saw a Burlesque Show Friday night (well, I was told we did...I remember some of it), saw the Red Dress Runners all day Saturday (that's a whole blog post by itself); spent some time in a Voodoo Shop and came out surprisingly relaxed and refreshed and had yet again, an awesome dinner that night :)
There is NEVER a dull moment in that city and there is always something to do. We loved walking around and taking our time doing whatever we wanted. It was so nice to get away and just spend time by ourselves! We got a little lonesome for The Juicy and the babies, but we really, really had a wonderful time.
I'll be back tomorrow with more tales....but for now - I'll leave you with this:
Spreading my own special brand of kindness and joy......(just like that dude!!)
K
We saw a Burlesque Show Friday night (well, I was told we did...I remember some of it), saw the Red Dress Runners all day Saturday (that's a whole blog post by itself); spent some time in a Voodoo Shop and came out surprisingly relaxed and refreshed and had yet again, an awesome dinner that night :)
There is NEVER a dull moment in that city and there is always something to do. We loved walking around and taking our time doing whatever we wanted. It was so nice to get away and just spend time by ourselves! We got a little lonesome for The Juicy and the babies, but we really, really had a wonderful time.
I'll be back tomorrow with more tales....but for now - I'll leave you with this:
Spreading my own special brand of kindness and joy......(just like that dude!!)
K
Thursday, August 11, 2011
On the Road Again......
Greetings from Centerville, Texas! Gary and I are on our way to New Orleans for our anniversary! No worries....he's driving!! Gammy is at the Brignon Compound with The Juicy and the babies, otherwise known as Hump Brothers, LLC, are at the doggie hotel. With all of the press releases and tours coming up for Mr. Ezell's campaign tour, they needed a good bath and nail trim :). No need for them to look skanky! My mom is not a big fan of Muffin. He tends to act like a jackass when I'm gone. Eddie, on the other hand, acts like the Golden Child. He's such a suck up.
Now we are in Leona. Yeah, yeah, why didn't we fly?? Well, I don't fly unless heavily drugged and I couldn't justify wasting my Xanax when we could drive. Besides, if we are driving we can hit the daiquiri bar. Hell Yeah!! Hopefully we get there in town for the Vampire Tour. Yes, it's touristy but who cares? It's fun and Gary's never been, so we are going to do all the cheesy stuff. We will hit the voodoo shops, too. I love New Orleans. I'd live there.
I just found out that the Oktoberfest committee is having a meeting tonight. I'm their secretary; so I hope someone takes notes!!!!! Mild Bills will be sponsoring it again this year and I'm going to try and get a basket together for the silent auction. Paige goes back to school Wednesday. She and I are both ready. Especially me! I like the routine of the school year.
I'll check back in tomorrow....they have a swim up bar in the pool. Yes!!!
Keep it real folks!
Kelly
Now we are in Leona. Yeah, yeah, why didn't we fly?? Well, I don't fly unless heavily drugged and I couldn't justify wasting my Xanax when we could drive. Besides, if we are driving we can hit the daiquiri bar. Hell Yeah!! Hopefully we get there in town for the Vampire Tour. Yes, it's touristy but who cares? It's fun and Gary's never been, so we are going to do all the cheesy stuff. We will hit the voodoo shops, too. I love New Orleans. I'd live there.
I just found out that the Oktoberfest committee is having a meeting tonight. I'm their secretary; so I hope someone takes notes!!!!! Mild Bills will be sponsoring it again this year and I'm going to try and get a basket together for the silent auction. Paige goes back to school Wednesday. She and I are both ready. Especially me! I like the routine of the school year.
I'll check back in tomorrow....they have a swim up bar in the pool. Yes!!!
Keep it real folks!
Kelly
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The Deliciousness That Is "The Paige"
Paige: Mommy, do you know that I know everything? Like, there is no question that I can't answer because I know it all. And if I don't know it, then I guess. And you know what? My guesses are always right because they come from my mind, which is full of the right answers.
Paige: Mommy, why do you need your computer fixed?
Me: I don't; Daddy and I were just having a conversation about if I needed it fixed in the future.
Paige: Oh. Well, you know, only experts can fix things and you are clearly not an expert. I'm an expert because I can figure out anything. You and Daddy, not really.
Me: Thank you, Paige.
Paige: Mommy, we just passed the Donut Palace. I'd like to be their Queen. If I was their Queen, they'd have to give me donuts all the time. That's a palace I could live in forever.
Have a great day....and just when you think you've got it tough, remember, you've got it easier than Paige. She's a genius, expert computer fixin, donut eating Queen. That's a lot of pressure for a seven year old.
K
Paige: Mommy, why do you need your computer fixed?
Me: I don't; Daddy and I were just having a conversation about if I needed it fixed in the future.
Paige: Oh. Well, you know, only experts can fix things and you are clearly not an expert. I'm an expert because I can figure out anything. You and Daddy, not really.
Me: Thank you, Paige.
Paige: Mommy, we just passed the Donut Palace. I'd like to be their Queen. If I was their Queen, they'd have to give me donuts all the time. That's a palace I could live in forever.
Have a great day....and just when you think you've got it tough, remember, you've got it easier than Paige. She's a genius, expert computer fixin, donut eating Queen. That's a lot of pressure for a seven year old.
K
Monday, August 8, 2011
Penne with Vodka Sauce and Spaghetti Bolognese
Uuuhhhhh.....YUM!!!! I sort of outdid myself last night! We went to Sambuca Saturday night for Tyler's birthday dinner, then we had Part II last night. He requested Italian food...so I made good on his request! Sambuca was it's usual deliciousness - we were just beatdown by the VERY loud band and the off key lead singer. That small issue aside, we had a great dinner. We started out with Calamari, Seared Tuna and Buca Balls....those delicious baby mozzarella balls that have prosciutto and jalapeno wrapped around them and then they're breaded and fried. Mmmmmm...Heaven!!!! Gary, Tyler and I had the filet, Zoe had the Chicken Parmesan, Dani had the Shrimp and Crab Linguine and Paige had whatever we were having :o)!! Seriously, she had eaten beforehand, so she ate some of my steak, some of Zoe's dinner and shared a brownie dessert with Sissy as well. The girls were both very, very good! Gary and I ordered a bottle of Sanctuary Cabernet and it was affordable and very, very good! I will be on the look out for it next time I hit Central Market for wine. Sambuca did not have cheesecake, so we made sure it was on the menu for Bubba's dinner last night.
Both of the pasta dishes I made last night were very easy and didn't take up a lot of time. I also loved how easily I could change some of the ingredients to fit whatever I had on hand or what sounded good that particular evening. For example, instead of ground beef in the Bolognese - use ground turkey. For the Penne with Vodka Sauce, you can add chicken to it, or keep it meatless. I'm trying to purge my freezer and had turkey meatballs on hand, so they went in the dish last night. Now, you could take the meat out of the Bolognese entirely....and then it would obviously no longer be Bolognese, BUT....you'd have a great Marinara sauce. And the best part - it was all ready in an hour. These are perfect for weeknights. You can even make the Bolognese sauce a few days ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until ready to use....or you can freeze it. You could even use it as your sauce for cheese lasagna. See what I mean? See what losing weight does to me? I DREAM CONSTANTLY about food or I'm making it for others to eat!! Okay - now to the good stuff - the recipes!!
Spaghetti with Bolognese Sauce
1 lb Spaghetti, cooked to al dente
1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 carrot, peeled and grated
1 stalk of celery, minced as finely as humanly possible
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
Fresh Basil and Parsley, a handful of each, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
In a large covered skillet, begin browning your meat. Once you've started to break it up and it's beginning to cook through, add your onion, garlic, carrot and celery. Continue to cook over medium heat until the onion begins to turn translucent. Turn the heat down to medium low and add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, salt and pepper; stir to combine, cover and continue cooking for 20 minutes. Remove cover, add the Parmesan and let it continue simmering so that it will thicken up, about 10 more minutes. Check for seasonings, adjust to taste and serve over hot spaghetti.
Penne with Vodka Sauce
1 lb Penne pasta, cooked to al dente
2 25 oz jars spaghetti sauce (I used Emeril's Homestyle Marinara...other options would be any Bertolli or Barilla sauce)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature
1 cup Vodka
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
In a large saucepan, bring the vodka and 1 1/2 jars of the spaghetti sauce to a boil; cover and turn the heat down to medium low and allow it to simmer for 25 minutes. Uncover and add the whipping cream, Parmesan, basil, salt and pepper. Stir together, cover and allow to cook for 15 more minutes over low heat. Check for seasonings and if the Vodka sauce is a little too spicy, add some of the remaining spaghetti sauce 1/4 cup at a time to adjust the flavor to your tastes. Serve over penne pasta, or even rigatoni if that's what you have on hand. This is a great meatless meal - but you can add a roasted, sliced chicken breast or turkey meatballs to it for something a little more "man"stantial if needed!
Paige even dined on the Spaghetti with Bolognese. Even though the alcohol cooks out of the Vodka, I figured she should steer clear of it just in case....LOL!! Come to think of it, maybe she got a bite, she did pass out kind of early last night....hhhmmm.....
When I wasn't eating or cooking this weekend, I was up at the MB's store helping out. I'm not a demo woman, so I wasn't much help when they yanked the ceiling out Saturday. Zoe and I taped off areas and did a little spray painting, but other than that, I'm sort of useless. I'm who you bring in for the cleaning, staging and decorating. I'm not afraid to say it out loud - I'm not very helpful. Gary knows it. I know it. And being aware of my limitations allows him to hire people to help him get the job done properly AND promptly :) When it comes to selling spices, jellies and salsa, I'm your woman. Until then, I'll help out when asked!!
I'm getting more and more excited about the store opening! I can't wait to have a Grand Opening party and most of all - only drive 10 minutes to work. YES, YES, YES!!! Seriously, though...everything is beginning to come together and take shape. This is such an awesome adventure. There are just so many outlets and opportunities and possibilities for Mild Bill's and I'm looking forward to exploring them as they present themselves to us. I know one of my goals is to get in the Go Texas/Pioneer Booth at the State Fair. That place is AWESOME!!!
OMG...Guy Fieri is at some DDD where they make Salmon BLT's. Holy Shit!!!!!!
I'm terrible at keeping secrets from my hubby, so I went ahead and disclosed our anniversary destination to him. We'll be staying at the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon Street and I've gotten in touch with our friend Shannon who lives in Covington. We're hoping to meet up with him Saturday. Mother's on Poydras is on our list, as is Acme Oyster Bar, Cafe Du Monde, Jackson Square and Gary wants to hit Pat O'Brien's. We're going to Arnaud's for dinner one night and I plan on hanging out in a poolside cabana and RELAXING. We're very, very excited :)
Sooo....why no more CASI Board candidates? Certainly there has to be someone, anyone, out there willing to run for the board and shake things up!!! Potential candidates have until the 15th to submit their nomination form. I also need to send in our Pod's registration and credentials. I've outdone myself on procrastinating this year. I better get my ass in gear!
Speaking of my ass in gear, I registered for this year's Turkey Trot!!! Yay!!! I'll be running the 5k race Thanksgiving morning. This heat is really screwing up my running and walking work outs. I'm not a morning person, so I run at night. It's not cooling down worth a shit at night, so it's been a little too hot to do anything. Hopefully it will cool off some next week and I'll be back in business. I guess I can go out and buy a treadmill if worst comes to worst....but I really don't like those things. Fingers crossed for a cold front!!! All I'm asking for is 98 degrees, Mother Nature. Help a Sista out!!!
Have a great evening everyone....spread some kindness and joy while you're at it!!
Kelly
Both of the pasta dishes I made last night were very easy and didn't take up a lot of time. I also loved how easily I could change some of the ingredients to fit whatever I had on hand or what sounded good that particular evening. For example, instead of ground beef in the Bolognese - use ground turkey. For the Penne with Vodka Sauce, you can add chicken to it, or keep it meatless. I'm trying to purge my freezer and had turkey meatballs on hand, so they went in the dish last night. Now, you could take the meat out of the Bolognese entirely....and then it would obviously no longer be Bolognese, BUT....you'd have a great Marinara sauce. And the best part - it was all ready in an hour. These are perfect for weeknights. You can even make the Bolognese sauce a few days ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until ready to use....or you can freeze it. You could even use it as your sauce for cheese lasagna. See what I mean? See what losing weight does to me? I DREAM CONSTANTLY about food or I'm making it for others to eat!! Okay - now to the good stuff - the recipes!!
Spaghetti with Bolognese Sauce
1 lb Spaghetti, cooked to al dente
1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 carrot, peeled and grated
1 stalk of celery, minced as finely as humanly possible
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
Fresh Basil and Parsley, a handful of each, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
In a large covered skillet, begin browning your meat. Once you've started to break it up and it's beginning to cook through, add your onion, garlic, carrot and celery. Continue to cook over medium heat until the onion begins to turn translucent. Turn the heat down to medium low and add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, salt and pepper; stir to combine, cover and continue cooking for 20 minutes. Remove cover, add the Parmesan and let it continue simmering so that it will thicken up, about 10 more minutes. Check for seasonings, adjust to taste and serve over hot spaghetti.
Penne with Vodka Sauce
1 lb Penne pasta, cooked to al dente
2 25 oz jars spaghetti sauce (I used Emeril's Homestyle Marinara...other options would be any Bertolli or Barilla sauce)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature
1 cup Vodka
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
In a large saucepan, bring the vodka and 1 1/2 jars of the spaghetti sauce to a boil; cover and turn the heat down to medium low and allow it to simmer for 25 minutes. Uncover and add the whipping cream, Parmesan, basil, salt and pepper. Stir together, cover and allow to cook for 15 more minutes over low heat. Check for seasonings and if the Vodka sauce is a little too spicy, add some of the remaining spaghetti sauce 1/4 cup at a time to adjust the flavor to your tastes. Serve over penne pasta, or even rigatoni if that's what you have on hand. This is a great meatless meal - but you can add a roasted, sliced chicken breast or turkey meatballs to it for something a little more "man"stantial if needed!
Paige even dined on the Spaghetti with Bolognese. Even though the alcohol cooks out of the Vodka, I figured she should steer clear of it just in case....LOL!! Come to think of it, maybe she got a bite, she did pass out kind of early last night....hhhmmm.....
When I wasn't eating or cooking this weekend, I was up at the MB's store helping out. I'm not a demo woman, so I wasn't much help when they yanked the ceiling out Saturday. Zoe and I taped off areas and did a little spray painting, but other than that, I'm sort of useless. I'm who you bring in for the cleaning, staging and decorating. I'm not afraid to say it out loud - I'm not very helpful. Gary knows it. I know it. And being aware of my limitations allows him to hire people to help him get the job done properly AND promptly :) When it comes to selling spices, jellies and salsa, I'm your woman. Until then, I'll help out when asked!!
I'm getting more and more excited about the store opening! I can't wait to have a Grand Opening party and most of all - only drive 10 minutes to work. YES, YES, YES!!! Seriously, though...everything is beginning to come together and take shape. This is such an awesome adventure. There are just so many outlets and opportunities and possibilities for Mild Bill's and I'm looking forward to exploring them as they present themselves to us. I know one of my goals is to get in the Go Texas/Pioneer Booth at the State Fair. That place is AWESOME!!!
OMG...Guy Fieri is at some DDD where they make Salmon BLT's. Holy Shit!!!!!!
I'm terrible at keeping secrets from my hubby, so I went ahead and disclosed our anniversary destination to him. We'll be staying at the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon Street and I've gotten in touch with our friend Shannon who lives in Covington. We're hoping to meet up with him Saturday. Mother's on Poydras is on our list, as is Acme Oyster Bar, Cafe Du Monde, Jackson Square and Gary wants to hit Pat O'Brien's. We're going to Arnaud's for dinner one night and I plan on hanging out in a poolside cabana and RELAXING. We're very, very excited :)
Sooo....why no more CASI Board candidates? Certainly there has to be someone, anyone, out there willing to run for the board and shake things up!!! Potential candidates have until the 15th to submit their nomination form. I also need to send in our Pod's registration and credentials. I've outdone myself on procrastinating this year. I better get my ass in gear!
Speaking of my ass in gear, I registered for this year's Turkey Trot!!! Yay!!! I'll be running the 5k race Thanksgiving morning. This heat is really screwing up my running and walking work outs. I'm not a morning person, so I run at night. It's not cooling down worth a shit at night, so it's been a little too hot to do anything. Hopefully it will cool off some next week and I'll be back in business. I guess I can go out and buy a treadmill if worst comes to worst....but I really don't like those things. Fingers crossed for a cold front!!! All I'm asking for is 98 degrees, Mother Nature. Help a Sista out!!!
Have a great evening everyone....spread some kindness and joy while you're at it!!
Kelly
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Cadillac Cowgirl Sloppy Joes
Paige is not a fan of Sloppy Joes. In fact, she refers to them as "slobby joes". The rest of my familia loves them. Below is the recipe with a delicious Mild Bill's twist!
Cadillac Cowgirl Sloppy Joes
2 lbs Ground Chuck
2 Cups Ketchup
1 Tbsp Stone Ground Mustard
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Mild Bill's Jalapeno Jelly
1 Tbsp Mild Bill's Jalapeno Relish
Hamburger Buns and Sliced Cheese
In a large skillet, brown the ground chuck; drain and set aside. Wipe out the skillet and add the meat back to the skillet. Add the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Jalapeno Jelly and Relish. Stir well over medium heat, cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Check for seasoning and add more Jalapeno Relish if you want more kick. Serve on hamburger buns with slices of American or Cheddar cheese if desired. Enjoy!
DO NOT be afraid of the Jalapeno Jelly and Relish making this too spicy. My kids ate it and it really just added great flavor and very little heat. You can always kick it up a notch, though. Spicy Brown Mustard would also go well with this recipe. I would have liked a little more Jalapeno Relish in it, personally.
Have a great day and stay cool!!
K
Cadillac Cowgirl Sloppy Joes
2 lbs Ground Chuck
2 Cups Ketchup
1 Tbsp Stone Ground Mustard
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Mild Bill's Jalapeno Jelly
1 Tbsp Mild Bill's Jalapeno Relish
Hamburger Buns and Sliced Cheese
In a large skillet, brown the ground chuck; drain and set aside. Wipe out the skillet and add the meat back to the skillet. Add the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Jalapeno Jelly and Relish. Stir well over medium heat, cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Check for seasoning and add more Jalapeno Relish if you want more kick. Serve on hamburger buns with slices of American or Cheddar cheese if desired. Enjoy!
DO NOT be afraid of the Jalapeno Jelly and Relish making this too spicy. My kids ate it and it really just added great flavor and very little heat. You can always kick it up a notch, though. Spicy Brown Mustard would also go well with this recipe. I would have liked a little more Jalapeno Relish in it, personally.
Have a great day and stay cool!!
K
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Greetings and Salutations!!!!
What a wild week it's been! I'm writing this from my corner office in hell...aka T & B Demolition. I was unable to extract myself as completely as I had planned, but at least I'm only here part time for a little while longer. I can handle this - I think. Monday was actually a FANTASTIC day! We met with Mr. Stanley J. Liska and got the key to 113 W. Knox Street, had a few celebratory beers and just felt great about our impending move into the old Ennis Meat Market Space. Stanley J. left a smoker for us as well as a deer head in the office...and his old desk for me. Love it! I promised him I would keep plenty of Keystone Light on hand for when he came by to visit. I think he's just as excited as we are :)
My child has become an avid phone user. She knows all of our phone numbers and doesn't hesitate to call one of us and ask when we are going to be home. She's also fond of calling Gammy at all hours. Last night my mom called me and told me that Paige had called her and told her she was hungry, but I was already in bed. WTF???? I asked Paige why she just didn't come get me, and she said she didn't want to bother me!!! My child is on crack. For the record, I had already fed her dinner, but she likes to eat, so I fixed her a grilled cheese sandwich. We went to pay school tuition this morning and Paige is sooooo excited to start school. I am too. I'm all about getting back on schedule. I love summer, but sometimes it's a real beatdown!
I had the best time this past Saturday. I spent the day at a Sister's house visiting with about 27 other sisters, eating delish food, drinking Sangria and hanging out in the pool. For dinner that night we went to a restaurant in downtown Wylie, A Taste of Home, that was very good. I took the Cowgirl Cadillac and stayed at East Fork Park at Lake Lavon near her house so I wouldn't have to drive all the way back home. My A/C unit fit in my window perfectly and my trailer stayed nice and COLD! Sunday night, Gary and I watched an hour long show featuring the ICS World Championship on the Cooking Channel. This was from 2001 and Debbie Eiland Turner was shown quite a bit - she actually won the Last Chance CCO the day before which allowed her to compete in the ICS Championship. All Gary and I could talk about was "why doesn't CASI do something like this for TICC?" Can you imagine the exposure CASI would get if we had a crew from the Travel Channel or one of the cooking channels come out to Terlingua and film for a week? The ICS Championship isn't the week long affair that TICC is and we also have the Tequila Rose BBQ Cook off as well as the Scholarship Day cook offs. Think of the exposure for our SPONSORS as well!!!! I'm sure someone will email me and give me fifty reasons why this will never happen. But, I'm still going to bring it up every chance I get!!
Will this heat EVER GO AWAY??? Maybe if I light a fire in my fireplace, make a pot of chicken and dumplings and turn my heat on, it will scare summer and it'll just go away!!! Maybe? Hopefully? No, I didn't think so!!
I signed up for the Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. I haven't been running much this past week because it really has been too flippin hot; even late in the evenings. I may have to break down and buy a treadmill so that I can stay on track...get it....hahahaha...I totally didn't see that one coming. Pun intended!
Have a great Hump Day everyone....spread some kindness and joy while you're at it :)
The Cadillac Cowgirl
My child has become an avid phone user. She knows all of our phone numbers and doesn't hesitate to call one of us and ask when we are going to be home. She's also fond of calling Gammy at all hours. Last night my mom called me and told me that Paige had called her and told her she was hungry, but I was already in bed. WTF???? I asked Paige why she just didn't come get me, and she said she didn't want to bother me!!! My child is on crack. For the record, I had already fed her dinner, but she likes to eat, so I fixed her a grilled cheese sandwich. We went to pay school tuition this morning and Paige is sooooo excited to start school. I am too. I'm all about getting back on schedule. I love summer, but sometimes it's a real beatdown!
I had the best time this past Saturday. I spent the day at a Sister's house visiting with about 27 other sisters, eating delish food, drinking Sangria and hanging out in the pool. For dinner that night we went to a restaurant in downtown Wylie, A Taste of Home, that was very good. I took the Cowgirl Cadillac and stayed at East Fork Park at Lake Lavon near her house so I wouldn't have to drive all the way back home. My A/C unit fit in my window perfectly and my trailer stayed nice and COLD! Sunday night, Gary and I watched an hour long show featuring the ICS World Championship on the Cooking Channel. This was from 2001 and Debbie Eiland Turner was shown quite a bit - she actually won the Last Chance CCO the day before which allowed her to compete in the ICS Championship. All Gary and I could talk about was "why doesn't CASI do something like this for TICC?" Can you imagine the exposure CASI would get if we had a crew from the Travel Channel or one of the cooking channels come out to Terlingua and film for a week? The ICS Championship isn't the week long affair that TICC is and we also have the Tequila Rose BBQ Cook off as well as the Scholarship Day cook offs. Think of the exposure for our SPONSORS as well!!!! I'm sure someone will email me and give me fifty reasons why this will never happen. But, I'm still going to bring it up every chance I get!!
Will this heat EVER GO AWAY??? Maybe if I light a fire in my fireplace, make a pot of chicken and dumplings and turn my heat on, it will scare summer and it'll just go away!!! Maybe? Hopefully? No, I didn't think so!!
I signed up for the Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. I haven't been running much this past week because it really has been too flippin hot; even late in the evenings. I may have to break down and buy a treadmill so that I can stay on track...get it....hahahaha...I totally didn't see that one coming. Pun intended!
Have a great Hump Day everyone....spread some kindness and joy while you're at it :)
The Cadillac Cowgirl
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