So...whats for dinner?

Michelle,

Holding you and your dear family up in prayers. Praying for peace and comfort to surround your mom. I lost my daddy in March 2010 and I miss him very much.

Tonight for dinner I made buffalo chicken, using boneless chicken breast, that I grilled inside for about 12 minutes. I melted a couple of tbls of butter over low heat and added about 3/4 c of franks hot sauce. Stir it together and then add your cooked chicken breast, that I'd cut into bite sized chunks, til coated. I served it over salad greens with a creamy blue cheese dressing. It was really pretty yummy. I had seen the recipe on the Rachel Ray show

Lexi- Thats how I do my franks hot sauce is with butter then i pour it over my popcorn or hot wings Yummm!

Auntienance.. I am really impressed with your cooking habits and choices.

Michelle, prayers for your mom and family.

Auntie,

So glad to hear that someone else has 2 fridges and a freezer! We bought a second fridge when the kid moved home to save her money while in graduate school. We had planned to sell it when she moved out, but before I could take pictures it was filled with my condiments! And the freezer drawers had roasted tomatoes and breads. Now, I have no idea how we managed without the second fridge. I do admit to being a condiment junkie. I love pickles, anything pickled, and mustards. Like children, I could never choose one or two to go away unloved.

Now I want a second freezer. One for our whole animals we buy yearly, and the nuts and grains. And then another for meals that have already been cooked. Not sure I can find a place for it however. Unless I got rid of the washing machine! :-)

*susan*

Michelle, thoughts with you as you and family keep your loving vigil. I forget how old the girls are, but in general, kids are able to manage family deaths when supported by their close family members. I'm sure hospice staff will be helpful to you in this regard. If the girls are asking to see her it would be harder for them to be left out of such an important part of your family life, when they can clearly see that everyone's energy is invested in this right now. I can recall a five year old girl telling me years ago about how "left out" she felt when her family protected her from a relative's death. Good luck with that.....no one escapes the pain of loss....but your family is well buttressed, Michelle. Please PM me if I can be of any help. I have many book ideas for parents to read with kids about a family member dying. Caring thoughts are with you....



Joyce, thank you for keeping us informed.....and have a safe trip, and some fun and well-deserved relaxation when you arrive in FL! So glad we had a chance to meet at Pickety!



Carole, I'm impressed with your discipline. And doesn't everything just taste that much better while on the WW regimen?! Would you ever be inclined to start eating vegetable/fruit smoothies in the morning? I find that they are so nutritious and fiberful that I feel full for a very long time. Have dropped 9 lbs since mid summer since introducing those to my diet.



Happy Anniversary Moon!



Debbie, hope you had fun if you were well enough to go out with your friends.


Deb, So sorry to learn about yet another "young" classmate dying.



Laurie, I can see how tenderloin would be a more efficient choice for the pulled pork. I was up until after midnight separating fat and "pulling" my pork. Got it all ready to just be warmed up today.
So, today my college friends and husbands arrive....one set for the day, and one set for three days. I have tailgate food up the whazoo, so all should go well with our indoor tailgate party while watching the ND/BYU game. I am exhausted from prep, but it should be fun!

I'd better get moving so my hair is washed before all arrive.



Hugs to all.....

My DD and SIL brought the children to visit mom, and it went well.  I think they were curious - for about 3 minutes.  Then they went off to play in the nice family room area.  While they were here, someone brought in a dog - pet therapy - and DGD was in doggie heaven!  They let her lead the dog around with them and she was so cute.  The people and services here are just amazing.  When we came in this morning, there was an army of volunteers cleaning up the landscape and doing a little fall decorating.  There is a deck and you can actually wheel the bed outside if you want some fresh air. 

There's an elephant in the room with me... I can't help imagining myself in that bed with my DH and daughters keeping vigil over me.  As much as I try not to think about it, I can't escape the vision.  Sorry...that is a bit depressing. 

And for balance, here is some humor - mom is positioned in the bed such that she is snoring loudly, only to be outsnored by DH who has passed out on the sofa in front of the golf match.  LOL!

and your family Michelle

Im also sending big hugs to you Michelle!

Michelle, what Eric said.



(((hugs)))

Michelle, we'll all be in that bed....some sooner, some later. Given the year you all just went through, I'd be surprised if you are the only one there who sees that elephant. Any chance you can share that sad/worrisome thought so you can all acknowledge the fragility and realities of life, and then get back to living it in all those wonderful ways you do? My thoughts are with you, Rick and your children....sounds like the kiddie visit could not have gone better....three minute child curiosity, totally the norm....then back to their work....OF PLAY! I love the sound of this hospice.



Carole, I did invest in a Vita Mix, which makes a great smoothie...tho you might need to sell your RV!

I'll try to look up the website I read a lot when I started making these. But with the books you already have started you could just google "smoothie recipes" and you'll find a lot of resources. I now just keep lots of veggies on hand (kale, brussels spouts, beet greens, spinach, carrots beets, etc.) and blend a least two varieties with whatever fruits I have...blueberries, apple, raspberries, orange, pineapple, strawberries, banana, along with some walnuts and chia seeds, a few ice cubes and water or almond milk or coconut water. It's different daily.....tho the beet turns it the most gorgeous deep pink! I find that more appealing than the grey green without the beet.



Guests and DH all happily asleep after a wonderful day. May head into the Head of the Charles Regata tomorrow (international crew races). Had lots of appetizers while watching ND squeak one out, then had the pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, pickles, and veggie chili, corn muffins and black bean/corn salsa. Tailgating in our dining room!

'Nite all......

Lacey  Love your thoughts to Michelle...I second that!  Did you make your own cole slaw for the pulled pork? I like a tangy dressing and cant really find a pre made one that qualifies.

Just made omelets with diced bacon, onions, tomatoes and cheese inside..yummm  maybe spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

I am sending big hugs and good thoughts too Michelle.  I agree with the elephant in the room.  I had the same thoughts when my mom died in May and when my brother in law died last July.  I think it's only normal for those thoughts to come, but then you just go on and forget about it.  The hospice sounds like a wonderful place.  God Bless those caring workers and volunteer.  Sending you much love.

I had to tell you this.  I think it will make even the youngest of us (I guess that's Laurie?) feel old. My DD had her first home coming dance last night (she is in 9th grade).  It was a throw back dance.  I was thinking 80's music, but no, it was early 2000's.  Yikes!  And a sign of the times I guess, each kid had a breathalizer test and had any bags searched before they were allowed into the dance.  I guess it's necessary, sad though.

We walked out to the local pizza joint last night and had one of their "gourmet" pizzas, roasted chicken and red pepper on white pizza.  They also have a beer garden with 850 different kinds of beer.  DH had one I'd never heard of.  The only lite beer they had on tap was Miller lite, so I had that.  Boring I know.  I guess I could have tried a bottle of a different kind of lite beer, but I don't think too many of the 850 they have are lite beers. $3 for the on tap Miller lite though.  I agree Carole $9 for a glass of wine is outrageous.  Around here, restaurants have to have liquor licenses to sell alcoholic drinks, and they aren't that easy to get, so we have a good bit of BYOB restaurants.  That sure can save some money on the bill.  I don't think the BYOB's are around other states though.  The liquor laws are kind of crazy here.  The state is the only one allowed to sell liquor other than restaurants or some limited take out liquor licenses.  I guess they probably make decent money from it.

Tonight we bought some mahi mahi from the local fish store.  It was on sale for $9.98 a pound, way cheaper than any of the other fish they had.  I've had it in restaurants, but never cooked it before.  Hopefully it will be good.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone.  A weird Sunday here since the Eagles have their bye week.  Maybe I'll actually be productive today instead.

Joyce- I am so very sorry about your dear friend. I agree with the killing the F..king elephant in the room! Sad times!! ((((hugs)))))

Made a lovely lamb Indian curry tonight. Lamb shoulder, lots of spices, garlic, ginger, and then tomato and onion paste. Served with a fragrant basmati rice. This is the best Gosht I have ever made. Good thing since my lamb was in a 3lb block. We have a LOT of this dish.

Busy week here, so this maybe the last complex meal I make for a while.

*susan*

Susan- Your lamb sounds good it's one thing I don't think I have ever cooked.

Deb- Sorry to hear that your DF was not takin care of right.

Am curious, doesn't a family member or friend usually help with that? I told my sister no matter what don't let them put Red lipstick on me. I hate it on me!

Michlle- ((((hugs)))))