Might as well eat worms!

3 of my children have birthdays in the summer. DD#1 in mid July, DS#2 in mid August, and DS#1 end of September. And for some unknown reason they all prefer to have one giant birthday party together?

Odd I know.

I make sure to do something special for each of them on their day. DD#1 got her skirt, and a pedi, DS#1 had his during our adventure, so he got a present, and small cake with his name at on it in the terminal on Hawaii, and we took him to Chili's for supper.

This cake was from the folks over at Family Fun and it's called "Bug Mountain". DD#1 frosted it, the boys made and put the dirt on, and it was a group effort to put the bugs on (the bugs are plastic, and the worms are gummy). It was Strawberry on the inside.

The swarm of teenagers came over and decorated the trees, went in the house and got the food out. Pretty much made it so all I had to do was knock on the neighbors doors and say "Come eat!"

Besides the cake I made my black bean salsa, and chicken with spinach salad put into puff pastry. The chicken salad is just regular chicken salad, I just add spinach when I am filling puff pastry, the puff pastry's are not hard to make, just fiddly.

Bring 1 cup and 6 tablespoons of butter to a boil, remove the pot from the heat, beat in 1 cup of flour, 1/4 tsp salt, (1tsp sugar for sweet pastries) put back on heat, continue to beat till it pulls away from the sides of the pot, but in bowl, continue to beat till cool enough to add in 4 eggs, beat till batter is smooth. Fill pastry bag (zip top bag) pipe out to desired size (1 inch across for bit size, 3 inch across for sandwich size). With a wet finger, smooth over the tips, bake at 400 for 15 min and then at 350 for another 35 min. Let cool, for sandwiches, cut open and fill, for cream puffs, poke a hole in the side with a small piping tip and squeeze in filling (whipped cream/pudding/gnash/moose).

Everything was set up, and we were waiting on one more person to come out when the rain started! in the scramble to get everything covered I realized that if we just ate the puff sandwiches we'd have less to try to cover. Then the rain stopped and we gave up waiting.


Also this week, I made some fresh corn bread for breakfast, and on the side we had apple sauce. Nothing fancy, but I was craving it, and the kids like it.
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
6 tbs melted butter
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1 1/4 cup corn meal
1 1/2 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 table spoons sugar
1 cup corn

Combine wet ingredients then fold in dry, will be lumpy. Pour into a greased pan bake at 400 till light golden.

To make this more "breakfasty" I tripled the sugar, left out the corn, and lightly sprinkled the top with brown sugar to make it pretty.

Better Get Me To The Church on Time

Most of you know (because we saw you) that we went on vacation for 3 weeks to Florida.

This was exciting, now excitement can be both good and bad, and we had both on this trip, as it took us 5 days to get to Florida we spent 8 days there and it took us 8 more days to get back. We traveled Space A with the military to get to the States, and then commercial once we were stateside.

The reason we went to Florida was, DH's Best Friend since they were like 10 was finally getting married! He brought her here to Oki last time we were stationed here, and we heartily approve of her! SO, we couldn't miss out on the big day! (also they have a 4 bedroom house, so they have room for us and our brood!) It was a short wedding, in their back yard.

At NOON. IN JULY. IN FLORIDA!

The reception lasted the rest of the day and was as informal as the wedding, with finger food an snacks, and "Rock Band" played well into the night.

My camera was safely on DH's desk here on Oki while we were on our adventure so our pics are limited to what I could scavenge from other people. Till right at the end of our trip where we realized that we could purchase "throw away cameras" and have them developed at a 1 hr place.

I was delegated to cutting the fabric for the backdrop for the ceremony and making the rice krispie squares in the wedding colors. This still saddens me, but as our arrival could not be guaranteed the bride could not depend on my skills.

Most of our trip was spent in various terminals and hotels throughout New Orleans, California, and Hawaii. Checking out every morning and hauling our things with us in Taxi's to see if there were any available flights for our family of 6 back to our part of the world.

On the return trip we got "stuck" in Hawaii for 4 days (who wouldn't want to get stuck there right?). I had had enough of hotels, and walking around, bum ankle remember? More on that later I'm sure. So on our very last day (as we had given up on flying Space A, and bought tickets back from Hawaii) I splurged and took the family to the Polynesian Cultural Center (google it, it's worth the effort). I'll link in my flikr page so you can browse all the pics.

In Hawaii, there's a most remarkable breakfast item called the "Loco mocco" it's a bed of rice, with a medium sized hamburger pattie, and 2 fried eggs, covered with brown gravy. MMMMM that thing is DIVINE, if you wait till about 9/930 ish to eat it, all you need for lunch is a fruit cup and you're set till supper time. Also Poi is kinda (almost exactly) like the purple sweet potatoes here.

And if you're a family of 6 going on vacation and on a budget, stay with a newlywed couple, that had too much food at their wedding, your mission, eat all the food! LOL

It was good to see everyone, I wish we could have had more time!

Bowling for Soup

I'm a month late in posting this one, but in my defense we were getting ready to travel to the other side of the world the next day, so my mind was on other things?

Better late than never right? So, here's what I did on July 23!

This was my first attempt at homemade soba soup. I think it turned out more like Ramen due to the style of noodle I used beeing too thin, but it was Uber tasty. I served it with "pork cutlet".

To make the soup I boiled the heck out of a ham hock. Boiled it all day in fact, in just plain water. I just checked on it to make sure it had water in the pot all day. Once I was ready to make the soup, I picked the ham hock clean and left the meat in the broth then added half a head of cabbage, chopped, and 1 and a half bags of noodles and their flavor packtes ( not sure what's in those flavor packets) and just heated till the cabbage was soft and the noodles heated through. The Pork Cutlet is just "scallopini" (a thin cut of pork sirloin, if you cant find it, cut a sirloin roast into half inch slices and then pound flat) seasoned with Chinese 5 spice, and salt and pepper. First dredge them lightly in cornstarch, then dip in eggs seasoned with salt and pepper, and then coat with Panco (bread crumbs found in the Asian section, or there's a Corn Flake's version.) Pan fry till dark golden, and then turn over.

It's a simple but filling meal and the clarity of the soup is a nice contrast to the fried cutlet. This is served at restaurants with a shredded raw cabbage salad.

It’s alright to tell me what you think about me I won’t try to argue or hold it against you

DD#1 and I have a tradition. She has a birthday, and I sew her whatever she likes.

This year she wanted a skirt made out of a particular fabric. So I whipped out a circle skirt with a handkerchief hemline, trimmed in two kinds of lace. On her birthday she climbed in to bed with me and we had this conversation.

I told her she was growing up way too fast, and she said "NO, Mom, it's going VERY slow."

The sad part is, I can remember seeing it from her perspective. But I can also swear I was just changing her diapers and snuggling up to my first baby! Hopefully she never outgrows letting me sew for her.

I also took her to get a pedicure, she loves having her toes painted up.

OH WAIT, COOKING!! right

I have been doing some of that, not anything too exciting. Made a good last minute stir fry on the 10th. I used 1.5 lbs Sukiyaki (thin sliced beef) carrots and spinach and a bottle of Teriyaki (one day after our trip to the states I'll make Tracy's but I had a bottle in the pantry, so it got used) and put it over rice.


On the 15th I broiled some Salmon (random herbs) and made one of my favorite summer side dishes. Black bean salsa! 2 cans drained and rinsed black beans, 1lb thawed bag of corn, 2 cans of tomatoes, parsley, garlic, onion, salt and pepper to taste. Serve at room temperature. It's kind of a starch and a veggie at the same time, so I didn't fix anything else to go with it. And was refreshing after spending the day out in the sun weeding the flower beds.

Every day for us something new (except today)

Been doing boring stuff for dinner, spaghetti, salad with pork strips (instead of chicken or steak), hot dogs, just regular non blog worthy food.

I'm also trying to whittle down my pantry so that IF we manage to get to the states for the end of the month I won't have a lot of food in the house while we're gone.

We did have a fun cookout with our neighbors (well half a cookout) for the 4th. One neighbor cooked everyone's meat (hot dogs, ribs, steak strips, Korean style ribs) on the grill while the kids all played in the yard, and we all made our own sides, then the bugs set in so we divided up the meat and ate in our own houses.

I'm also slowly on the mend with my ankle, and my hand is feeling about half better? See totally not blog worthy at all.

Flight of the bumble bee

Supper last night (the bottom pic) was brought to you by: OH SHOOT it's 7:00 and I haven't started cooking yet! AND This is what's left in the pantry and freezer.

I had planned on cooking these chicken breast strips, and tiny red potatoes, so they were thawed (thankfully). I coated my largest cast iron skillet in olive oil, and threw in some salt, pepper, onion, garlic, and marjoram. Halved the potatoes, and placed them all cut side down to crisp and heat thru (the good thing about frozen potatoes, is they kinda turn to mush when you thaw them, so they take no time to actually cook). The pan was pretty full since I used 2 bags of potatoes to feed my army. I had 2 bottles of varying amounts of the same kind of BBQ sauce left in the fridge, go figure. I added a little water to one, shake shake shake, pour into the next bottle, shake shake shake, to combine for a full bottle of slightly watery BBQ sauce. I used an entire 2.5 lb bag of the bonless/skinless chicken breast strips and just lined my pan with them (again a pretty full pan here) and dumped the whole bottle of sauce in, let it simmer and the sauce reduce. Some of the kids wanted sliced pears, and DH wanted Pineapple Chunks, while I wanted Guava paste (it's in the Hispanic section I think?, I get mine via my Panamanian friend/neighbor who gets it sent to her from her dad in NY). It's kinda half way between Jello/Jam/Dried fruit.

The top two pics were a Quiche I made Thursday. It was missing Sausage, so it wasn't my favorite, but the kids gobbled it up, and it had bacon bits on top so DH was in heaven!

I use a casserole dish to make my quiche in because I don't like dainty slices, I want to eat one piece and be DONE (unless it's a brunch, then I do it in a cupcake pan tho, and it's snack size). It takes a double batch of pie crust, 1 doz eggs, 1 lb bag frozen spinach, and 1 cup parmesean cheese, 2 cans drained mushrooms (or 1pt fresh chopped) and usually 1lb cooked sausage, garnish with bacon bits (I make my own).

Just crack and beat the eggs, then stir in the spinach and mushrooms, some salt and pepper, and sausage (if you have it). Pour into the pie crust lined casserole. I use the parmesean to create a top crust, just coat the top with it, it'll melt and harden as it cooks, and be YUM.

Quiche is one of those dishes that you can pretty much add what ever you like to, if it'll be good in an omelet it'll be good in this. Bake at 350 for about an hour, you kinda have to slice into the middle and peek in to see if it's still runny in there.

Pie crust, 1 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 stick butter, 3 tbs COLD water, mush the salt, flour and butter, together, till it barely holds it's shape, then drizzle in the water a little bit at a time till a nice dough is formed. Let sit for at least 10 min, roll/pat out.

Alohoa Oy

There is no pic of this, and that is sad, because it's pretty and colorful and most importantly YUMMM!

Hawaiian Chicken. It was one of the dishes I made and just didn't have the energy to blog about before, but now that all I can manage is to sit here with my foot up, I've got PLENTY of time!

I make this in large batches because it keeps well in the fridge and is a dish that is almost better as leftovers.

1 bag of boneless, skinless Chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces
1 large can of fruit cocktail
1 large can of pineapple chunks
1 medium onion rough chopped
2 cans stewed tomatoes (or 2 pints of halved cherry/grape tomatoes) (use what ever you have on had/whichever is cheaper)
1 bag frozen sliced bell peppers (2-3 sliced bell peppers of various colors, again, what ever you have on hand/whichever is cheaper)
salt, pepper, Chinese 5 Spice (season to taste)

Everything into a LARGE roasting pan, and bake at 350 till chicken is done (stirring 2 or 3 times to make sure all the chicken gets cooked)

Put this over rice, it has a sweet and sour thing happening with the fruit and the onions and peppers.

I also usually have everything in the pantry to make this dish at all times.

Another fun chicken dish I learned from a friend, we just call it Zesty Chicken
2 lb chicken breast meat cut up (if you have a smaller family use less chicken and only half bottles of dressings)
1 bottle Italian dressing
1 bottle ranch dressing
Maranade the chicken in the dressings, then dump it in a baking dish all together and add in 2 bags of that broccoli, carrot, cauliflower veggie mix. bake at 350 till chicken is done

Put over Tri color pasta. It's creamy and zesty, and colorful, and as close to a casserole as we get in our house.

High on the mountain top, The Badger chased the Squirrel.

Had the Missionaries over again last Friday for supper! They are always so fun to have, and I never have to worry about leftovers! No poetry this time, they sang for their supper tho! I'm horrible with names, so I'll not bother, except for the two in the 3rd from the top, that's the Savages! My real dinning table is in storage back in the states and since every time they come over it's raining, we get to eat on the couch! (Except poor Elder Campbell, he always gets the floor?)

I fixed them some Dirty Spaghetti, Herbed rolls, and Pound cake cup cakes with Cherry topping. And what a treat for us, they sang for their supper afterward! I made a triple batch of sauce (a large crock pot FULL) and 3 lbs of pasta, 47 rolls, and 30 cup cakes to feed them. There was very little left over!

The Pound cake is a family recipe that I'm not sure I'm allowed to give out, but I'll give out the topping, I used 3 bags of frozen pitted cherries, about 3/4 cup sugar, 2 cups 100% berry Juice (Juicy Juice I think) and a corn starch slurry to thicken. just like Pie filling pretty much. And just globbed it on top of the cup cakes.

The bread and sauce I've done before and linked in, so they're clickable, if you need. That was Last Fri and it's Thursday again, we had steak and mashed potatoes with halved Roma tomatoes that I sprinkled with dried basil then put a dab of mozzarella cheese on, then put under the broiler till cheese is bubbly (it's my fav summer side dish, and takes like 5 min to make). I think there was some hot dog action in there, and some leftover/clean out the fridge happenings too.

I have been doing some cooking, between Dr apts. just been forgetting to take pics, and like most things, out of sight out of mind for me. AND I managed to sprain my ankle BAD, so I'm now on crutches, and my foot is an amazing purple/blue/green color! OH!, and remember my hand, that was fracture, no sprained? well, I had a follow up appt and a new xray by my regular Dr at the 6 week mark, and guess what? Totally fractured that puppy, you can tell cause it's half way healed now and you can see the calcification on the new xray, too late to cast, or do anything about now, but good to know huh? DOUBLE guess what? when you have a half healed hand (that would be fully healed had they casted that sucker 8 weeks ago) and now you're on crutches and leaning with your full weight on your hand it HURTS, and will probably re-break any healing that's taken place if I had to guess. But what do I know?

Last night DH and DD#1 did the actual cooking while I directed from the sofa. DD#1 did the rice in the rice cooker and green beans in the microwave! DH did the fish in the broiler, DS#1 brought me a small dish and the herbs I asked for so I could mix them up (salt, pepper, onion, garlic, paprika, marjoram, parsley, water and Worcestershire sauce in the bottom of the broiler pan), and DH sprinkled them on to the fish.

I didn't feel like gimping it over to the desk for the camera. I will however take a pic of my ankle for you! According to the Dr it's not broken, I just popped off a tendon or something, but I'm going to follow this up with my regular Dr ASAP since I'm having tons of swelling and numbness in my toes.

Not sure what we're doing for meals over the weekend, we might just do take out or I might call the Missionaries to see if they can call the Relief Society and have some meals delivered. I'm NOT going to be up in the kitchen on crutches that's for dang sure I can tell you!

I'm a driver, I'm a winner; things are gonna change, I can feel it.

I've been neglectful, I have no excuse. Been cooking, and sometimes I take pics, but just haven't felt like blogging it.

So, here's my attempt at catching up in a series of posts. Lame I know.

From bottom up (cause that's oldest to newest, one day I'll figure out the order to load them in so I can talk about them in an order that makes sense!).

Cheesy Orzzo (saute 1/2 small onion in butter, and then add uncooked pasta, toss around till some is browned, add in 1 box chicken broth, and some water, cook till tender, and 1/2 lb cheddar cheese till melty). My kids won't eat home made Mac and Cheese but they'll eat this, go figure. Spinach and Corn with ham flavor. That's it no trick, DS#1 invented it about 2 years ago, the kids love it. Pan fried pork chops, I herbed them with randomness and then fried them in a skillet on the stove top till golden and crisp.

Cheaters Chili. 2 lbs Lean ground beef 2 packets Taco seasoning, 2 cans Black Beans, 3 cans Stewed tomatoes in the flavor of your choosing (I think I used plain, garlic, and bell pepper) most of a family size bag of frozen corn, half a bottle of BBQ sauce (I use the Jack Daniels Honey Smokehouse kind) 1 small can of tomato paste, water. Brown meat with taco seasoning, add the cans without draining and then the rest. Heat, enjoy. It really did taste like I had cooked it all day, and it only took about 20 min. Best of all, it fed my kids twice more for lunch! (I think it would freeze nicely too!)

Chicken broth soup. The name pretty much sums it up. Dice up some chicken breats, add to crock pot, add in some broth and some bullion, and 2 bags of soy beans right at the end, put over rice. The kids were not feeling too swell after about a weeks worth of rain and being damp, so we had a light supper one night.

And lastly a melted finger. I was stiring some rice in a pot, it was all gooey and bubbly, and it splattered. Before I could wipe/rinse or anything it melted the flesh off. YAY.

The offending dish was YUM, but not photogenic tho. It was Mexican rice, the way my Mexican neighbors taught me to make it in Idaho is this (the only thing I added is the ground beef, cause my DH likes it with meat in). Beans, and home made tortilla chips.

Saute 1 onion with butter, and 3 cups uncooked rice, till rice is nice and golden, add in water, and chicken bullion and 2 cans stewed tomatoes with green chilies. Cook (stirring occasionally) till rice is tender (I brown ground beef first, and add that in). In the crock pot, 1lb pinto beans and about 3/4 gal water, cook on hi all day till beans are tender, then add chicken bullion or salt or both, to taste. Mash slightly. Cut up some Tortillias (we use flour, cause that's what Dh likes) and fry in a large pot full of oil (BE CAREFUL) (or use a fry daddy thinger) lightly salt. Enjoy your fresh tortilla chips, and rice and beans! YUM, just don't melt your finger (I've been making this dish for about 3 years and it's the first time I've melted my finger, so don't worry, it's unlikely).

This was a triumph. I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.

Every once in a while I like to have a "Day Off". Where I get up make sure the kitchen is clean, feed people breakfast, make sure there is lunch in the fridge, and throw something in the slow cooker for supper. Then high tail it outta there for the rest of the day till it's time to eat and put the munchkins in bed.

After the last few weeks with all the trips to the ER, DH being in Alaska, the rain, well I needed that day off lemme tell ya!

I made some Chicken salad for them to eat for lunch while I was out (not pictured). 2 cans chicken, 1/2 cup Mayo, 2-3 Tbs Brown Mustard, 1/4 cup Pickle Relish (kosher or sweet, whichever you prefer), Salt, Pepper, Garlic, Onion powders, and Dry Parsley finish it off. They ate it with crackers, but it's equally good on bread.

For my make ahead supper (pictured top ) I did a chuck roast in the slow cooker. I use the frozen sliced bell peppers (no prep work, the price and availability don't change much with seasons either, and since I'm cooking them I don't mind that they're gonna be mushy from being frozen), 1/2 bag family sized frozen baby carrots (same as the peppers here, all the prep is done, blah blah) 5 LARGE potatoes, washed and cut up into large bite size pieces, 1 large onion rough chopped. All that goes in the bottom of the slow cooker making a bed for the chuck roast to sit on. I seasoned the roast with salt, pepper, rubbed sage, and nutmeg (not much tho, for some reason it just goes well with beef, you don't really taste it, but you'll know it's not there). I also added some water with a few heafty shakes of Worcestershire sauce in it (just enough to see it thru the veg under the roast). Set the cooker on high and left the house!

While I was getting supper ready the kids started on the laundry, and while I was out enjoying a brunch with my neighbor and friend (steak and eggs benedict, mmmm), they got most of it done while I was out and managed to thrash the toy room pretty well too! DH had invited a friend over to play video games, so I came home to a second TV in the living room and lots of monsters meeting their demise.

I just cooked up some butter beans with ham seasoning when I got home to add to supper, you can cook them on the stove top, but I did mine in the a microwave steamer in about 30 min, in 5 min intervals (just cook till tender, check often as it will boil over and your microwave likely has different power settings than mine).

DD#1 had a pretty rough cough Sunday morning so we stayed home from church, and I made the crepes (pictured second) DS#1 had been asking for (for the past month or two). 1 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup water, 2 Tbs melted butter, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 egg. Combine the wet ingredients then add them to the dry, mix well. Cook in a well buttered pan with just enough batter to coat the bottom of the pan, flip when the crepe looks dry. We filled ours with fresh whipped cream and blueberries (I get them in the freezer section, cheaper than fresh, and I can get them year round).

Supper Sunday night was some baked Salmon and Eggplant lasagna (pictured third). DH gave me a hand seasoning the fish and getting them on the broiling pan while I made the eggplant. The fish were seasoned with Oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, dry ground mustard, marjoram, and in the bottom of the pan he put some water, Worcestershire sauce and a sliced grapefruit to steam the fish. Put all the seasonings in a small dish, and mix, then sprinkle to lightly coat the fish, dump whatever is left in the water below. For the Eggplant Lasagna I used 9 japanese eggplant (they are deep purple but long and slender, use however many you think you will need to fill a 9x13x2 dish), 2lbs shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 1/2 jars of spaghetti sauce (we use a Chunky Garden variety, use what you think is yummy tho), about 1 cup Italian bread crumbs, and a mixture of 2 eggs, a splash of milk and a dollop of sour cream, with salt and pepper. Slice the eggplant thin and on the bias so you get nice oblong slices, and let them soak in the egg and milk mixture for few minutes. Start layering, first a layer of eggplant slices, then sprinkle on some breadcrumbs (think shake and bake here, but only one one side) then spoon on the sauce to cover, then a layer of cheese, repeat, on the last layer I don't put any sauce to avoid any bubbling over. I baked the fish and the eggplant at the same time for about 30ish minutes.

Supper was a hit, DD#1 even went back for seconds! and I think DD#2 would have liked it more had she not rubbed tomato sauce in her eye, ouch.

Pictured bottom is one of my favorite breakfasts (how I started my week), or snacks, or well, foods. A tin of Oysters smoked in cottonseed oil, a plain bagel with garden veggie cream cheese, and a cup of herbal tea. Breakfasts of champions! or weirdo's at least!

10000 bonus points for anyone who gets the song name from today's blog post. And also, my condolences as you too, are probably a video game widow.

Well, don't you know that other kids are starving in Japan So eat it, just eat it

Still no fever for DD#2, YAY! Called the Dr again, and they still haven't seen the paperwork from our ER visit, but scheduled the follow up anyway. So, progress?

Is it sad when the lady who just makes appointments recognizes your voice, or back story or well, YOU?

Friday is movie night, and I wanted to finish off the left overs from last night, so I let the kids have what they wanted for supper. Be prepared to avert your stomach, er eyes.

Hotdog Helper.

Which is, when you cut hot dogs up into lil bites, and cook them with the pasta from 2 boxes of Mac and cheese, and a bag of peas and carrots, then make the cheese sauce and add 2 Tbs of BBQ sauce.

Really, they only ask for this stuff about once every 2 months, cause there's SO much sodium in it that I think their bodies would die twitchy deaths of horror if we ate it more often. But they think it's fun every once in a while.

Also, I'm SO not taking a picture of this, I've a reputation at stake here.

goodnight, goodnight sweet baby

A while back my neighbor made some potato salad with Chayote (pictured left), sweet pickle relish, and green spanish olives in it, man oh man, was that the best potato salad I had ever had.

We had plans for her to teach me how to prepare this dish, but with the weather being horrible the past couple weeks, and then the kids getting the sniffles, and DD#2 taking that fall, she just told me to bring over the things I had picked up and she'd make it for me. (when she gives me the recipe if it's OK with her I'll post it)

I love my neighbors!

She made it last night and it chilled in my fridge all day. She even garnished it with some deviled eggs!

I just boiled up some shrimp (salt and lil liquid smoke in the water is all ya need). Made a fresh salad, and called it a night.

Also, I'm happy to report, that DD#2 has not had a fever since yesterday afternoon! Now, if only I could get her Dr to give us that follow up apt that the ER Dr. said she should have.

No more monkies Jumpin on the bed

OK, she wasn't jumpin on the bed. DD#2 was trying to climb up on her lil scootie car thing and didn't get her leg up high enough and tipped over, gravity took over from there, and she fell to the ground. Hitting her head on the concrete, and getting muddy in the process. Up to the bath she went to get cleaned off, and apparently have a seizure and then promptly fall asleep.

To the ER we go!! (and the receptionist is all, "Oh, it's you again")

Where we sit waiting. For hours. While people with UTI's and sprained ankles and the like are seen first (first come first serve I suppose).

Get to Triage where they take her temp, it's 102.something!! Where did that come from? She had been fine all day. Cutting 6 teeth but fine. Bit sneezy, but fine. Nothing that I would have been alarmed over. And really the bump on the head wasn't even bad, it's just what happened AFTER that made me take her in.

The Dr thinks the sudden on set of the fever triggered the seizure and not the bonk on the head, which didn't even give her a bump on her noggin, but the sent her for a CT anyway to be safe. The CT came up clear. We will be following up with her regular Dr in the next few days.

ALL that to say, I might not be posting the most fabulous things for a while (or anything at all), cause I've got a sick baby, and I'm a bit of a nervous wreck. I'll be back when things settle down, say a prayer for us, think happy shinny thoughts, and know that I'll still be cooking and will prolly think of some sort of silly montage upon my return!


OH! and we had Skettie tonight. that's from the last time I posted it.

Concocting soup inside my nest

Ever forget you're cooking, till the smell works its way thru your stuffed up nose? And I had been wondering for like 20 min what that LOUD hissssssssing noise was! turns out, it was the pressure cooker full of chicken for soup for tonight's supper!

That was my Facebook status yesterday afternoon.

It got worse.

I then realized that I didn't have what I needed to make dumplings or biscuits, nor did I have any green peas, or any more carrots.

Also DH had the car at work and told me he was going to be working latish.

Here's what I ended up doing.

5 Chicken leg quarters in my pressure cooker till meat was falling off bones.
3 cups brown rice plus 7 cups water plus 3 chicken bullion cubes in a medium pot till rice is tender.
pull chicken out of stock/broth. Add 2 bags edemame and 1lb frozen corn, and the left over glazed carrots (that you rinsed thoroughly) and cooked rice.
pull meat off bones, enjoy.

I should have done more meat, because there was only enough meat for half the soup, the left overs (and what's pictured) are meatless, but taste meaty due to the stock it was cooked in.

I shouldn't have cooked soup when so distracted by not feeling well.

You can't always get what you want

The other day I made yummy dinner, I did not however take a picture of it, cause I'm a slacker.

Also I didn't want to make yummy dinner, what I wanted was Coco's Curry, cause they have yum gravy and fried meat, and these creamed crab croquette things that are just heaven when you are craving junk food. But DH and I after running our errands as soon as the kids came off the bus decided the responsible thing to do was to go home and let them do their homework. BAH stinking homework, foiling my junk food takeout plans! (that up there by the way is what I wanted to eat)

So, here's what I made.

Broiled Talapia with Salt, pepper, garlic, onion and Thyme powder and a drizzle of Olive oil. broil till flaky and golden brown. In the bottom part of the broiler pan I placed a thinly sliced onion and lemon and some water so that would steam the fish while it cooked and prevent it from drying out.

Glazed Carrots with salt, butter, brown sugar and ground ginger. Just dump all that in a pot and cook till the carrots are tender, and the sugar and butter reduce to make a nice glaze. I think I had 2lbs of carrots, 4 tbs butter, 1 loose 1/4 c scoop of brown sugar (I just keep a 1/4 cup scoop in there and used that, but I wasn't exact here, no packing it in just a lil is all you need) and a hefty sprinkle of ginger powder and a dash of salt.

Steamed Spinach with ham flavor (by Goya) just till hot tho, cause I used frozen spinach so it doesn't take long to cook.

And some fancy twirly pasta with Parmesan cheese and olive oil.

*UPDATE*
I got my curry, a day late, but it was still yummy!

You might have to walk the fine line, you might take the hard line But everybody's working overtime

Things I learned yesterday:

1:Orthopedic Dr.s are sadists. Called the Dr cause my hand is still hurting pretty badly, I'm now advised to treat my splint/removable cast like a real cast till I am pain free, and they have no desire to do the second set of x-ray's the radiologist thought I needed 2 weeks ago. Oh, and to follow up with my regular Dr. 6-8 weeks from my injury.

2:Turns out one handed sympathy is short lived. DH was miserable from working in the rain for the last few days (who can blame him?). He also went to the store for me to pick up lettuce n stuff for supper, but no help cooking or cleaning from him or the monsters (uh, I mean kids).

3:And Taco Rice is on the list of meals you can prepare one handed. Prepare ground beef as you would for tacos, and everything else, just replace tortillas with rice. Although shredding the cheese was a bit tricky.

4:If on Mother's Day you get up make every one blueberry pancakes, then have to drive to church one handed, in a downpour, with a sty in your eye, and you feel a migraine coming on, you should have stayed home, in bed, cause Monday will SUCK!

Sorry folks no pic, wasn't in the mood for much besides eating and sleeping.

"insert violin music here" Beef it's what's for dinner OR "They're savages! Savages!"

We had the missionaries over for supper last night, and I really do enjoy feeding large amounts of people. There were 6 Full time missionaries 4 Elders and a Couple Set, Elder and Sister Savage. I had meant to cook for them about a week ago but my injury was too new so I had to postpone.

I let DH and the Elders chose the menu, and when you let 5 men pick dinner you end up with Steak with sauteed Mushrooms and peppers and onions, and Mashed Potatoes, and Pie (I threw in salad for good measure).

I looked pretty much like the farewell dinner I gave DH before his Alaska TDY. But with Mashed potatoes instead, and salad and no artichoke.

I forgot to take a pic of the houseful of people or the food, because I was just too busy cooking and enjoying the good company. The children kept them entertained while I cooked everyone's steaks the way they wanted them. I had everything else ready ahead of time. And since I've posted how on cooking steak (cooked the steaks whole tonight), peppers (I did use fresh now that they're in season) and potatoes (just omit the sweet potatoes) before I'll just link in the details.

The salad was simple, tossed greens, tomatoes, cucumber slices, and bell peppers.

The pie, I wish I had a pic of the pie!! It was GOOD.
for the crust (this is a triple batch)
3 3/4 cups flour, 3 sticks of butter (sorry, it's not diet pie), 1 tsp salt, 1 Tbs sugar, Ice water as needed to form dough. divide in half.

for filling
2 bags each frozen strawberry unsweetened slices and blueberries, about 3/4 cup sugar, about 1/4 cup corn starch, about 1/2 cup water, combine in a medium sauce pan bring to boil, simmer till thick.

Line your desired dish (mine was a large oval dish, because I was feeding 8 adults and 4 kids) with one half the dough. then dump in the filling, and I like to take large marble sized pieces of the other half of my dough, flatten and press into sugar (both sides) and then just cover the pie, it's OK if they overlap, or even if you have to make 2 layers. Think more noodle/dumpling than pie crust with the top portion.

Top with freshly whipped cream. Cream, sugar to taste, whip till stiff peaks. It really is worth the effort.

Dinner was a hit. The Elders were hilarious, one was spouting poetry about my cooking all thru the meal. Sister Savage was sweet in keeping me company in the kitchen and offering to help. DD#2 is smitten with Elder Savage while the other 3 children hammed it up. I have never felt so flattered about my cooking before, with the poetry and another Elder asking where I learned to cook, if I had gone to school or if it was just a hobby. I said it was just a hobby, but that some day I'd like to own my own lunch counter type place so I can cook for people.

They ended the night sharing a message and asking us to be mindful about our friends and neighbors, and in wanting to share the Gospel in a more natural way. Having them over and just inviting our friends to join us, instead of just sending them over on their own, which can be a bit intimidating.

I hope to have the Sister missionaries over soon. Maybe I'll remember my camera next time?
I also don't want to see a steak for a good long while!

i should warn you i go to sleep

I try to be sympathetic to DH, I really do.

They jerked his schedule around every day this week so his body, not only having to deal with jet lag had to try to figure what shift to work, oh and they only gave him about a day and a half off between traveling from Alaska and here. So when he said he wanted to take a nap I was understanding, especially when he followed it up with a "wake me when you're ready to start supper, so I can help".

Cause I'm in a half cast remember? Broken finger/hand?

So, a hour and a half-ish (maybe two hours) later I go up to try and wake him, NO DICE. That man is dead to the world. And sleeps till the next morning when he needs to get ready for work.

Now I'm left with a completely thawed pork roast that needs to be cooked or it will be spoiled and wasted.

So I do what every sane person would do, I take my cast off (it's removable) and make dinner on my own, and hey, my hand's not hurting that bad after all (for now).

I placed my roast in my roasting pan and surrounded it with chopped fresh carrots and Beni Imo (purple sweet potato) and one can of chopped pineapple and it's juice, and enough water to be level with the veggies. Salt and Peppered the lot and added several drops (10 or so) of liquid smoke and about 1 and a half Tbs of Chinese Five Spice (that's what it's called, you should be able to find it with the other spices by McCormick or in the Asian isle). This is an interesting seasoning mix that is savory and slightly sweet at the same time. There is defiantly some cinnamon happening there and probably some anise as well but that's about as far as I'm willing to go with my guesses as to what's in it. It will fill the kitchen with lovely cooking smells tho! Bake at 375 till veggies are tender and meat is about 165 internal temp (oo look at me getting all fancy with a temperature setting!) Since Pork plays so nicely with sweet flavors and the sweet potatoes and carrots, while not overly sweet have more of a sweet background than most veggies, is why I tossed in the pineapple, to bring that out, and the citrus would help to balance that some. The 5 Spice has enough savory happening that it's not overwhelming or cloying.

I also made some coconut rice, 3 scoops of rice in my rice cooker and 2 cans of coconut milk, turn it on. Steamed and acorn squash, cut up, scraped out seeds, place in Pyrex with lid and about 1 inch of water and in microwave for about 20 min. Scrape out soft squash butter, salt and brown sugar to taste (I used my fancy wheel of brown sugar I got from my neighbor via her dad in NY who is Panamanian, had to grate it, which was a new experience for me, but that stuff has a way better flavor than the bagged stuff that I use for baking!).

We didn't eat till about 9pm. Cause I spent about 30 min trying to wake DH earlier, and it turns out that while it didn't hurt my hand to be out of the cast, wielding a knife on the other hand is an entirely different matter, and slowed the preparation process a lot. My hand was so sore that I couldn't eat. The kids were so tired (cause bed time is at 8 for them) that they tasted everything on their plate and were practically falling asleep at the table, DD#2 fell asleep on the sofa well before the meal was ready.

So, this dinner sits in the fridge waiting for us to eat it Saturday! LOL

And tell me what can I do today ’cause everybody needs a helping out

Been after DH to help me in the kitchen for a long time (read all our marriage). Simply because I think it's more fun to prepare food with people than on my own. The kids I can command to join me both for lessons and general gofer status, but how do you get a grown man in the kitchen when he has no interest in anything other than the final product?

Turns out the trick is to break my hand.

He chopped and seasoned our tiny potatoes that were steamed/boiled, mixed up and formed the mini meatloaves/giant burgers, stirred, flipped and helped dish out plates. I love him!

On to the food!

Field Peas and Collard Greens, plus 2 packets of Ham flavor and enough water to cover in my large cast iron pan (I didn't mean for them to be mixed, but this was the one job I could do last night, cut the bags open and dump them in a pot, and I wasn't paying attention and dumped them in the SAME pot! DOH!!, it was yum anyway). Simmer till Peas are tender.

Mini potatoes washed and cut (I'm not sure how many potatoes were involved since I bought a prepacked bag at the Japanese market) into bite size bits, then seasoned with 2 packets of that Sazon seasoning, and about 2/3 of a stick of butter and salt to taste, in a medium bowl with some water, a plate as a lid and then used the baked potato setting to cook them (pushed it like I had 6 large potatoes in there). The seasoning will turn the parts of the potato it touches a pretty orange but under that they're still white.

The mini meat loaves/giant hamburgers (depending on who you are serving them to in the house) are 2lb 97% lean grd beef, 3 eggs, a handfull of Italian bread crumbs and 1 Tbs(ish) of Gourmet Burger seasoning (it's got dehydrated bell peppers and onions and all kinds of stuff in it). Mash up and then we divide into 4 large loaves/patties. Sometimes I bake these and sometimes I cook them on the stove top, to night we did them on the stove top (cause DH wanted to man the spatula, and he prefers to think of them as giant hamburgers and not mini meatloaf, having been traumatized sometime before me by a meatloaf).

I'm back in the saddle again

DH is home, and was uber helpful in the kitchen last night!

We made some grilled chicken strips seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, onion and sage. Angelhair pasta with Alfredo sauce and 2 kinds of fresh mushrooms that I sauteed in some butter first, then combined. And lastly steamed some fresh (and frozen, cause I didn't have enough of either) green beans, then sauteed them with butter and soy sauce and a handfull of mushrooms too. MMM mushrooms.

Kids ate their dinner, DD#2 fell asleep at the table tho, poor baby is cutting 6 teeth at once. Fun for the whole house!

I was so busy enjoying DH's company and bossing him around (um I mean directing) that I forgot to take a pic (also the one arm thing makes taking pics a little awkward).

It's the final countdown

The ER Dr was the same I'd seen Monday, which saved me a lot of talking. I just explained the horror of my NON appointment the day before.

She was aghast. Looked at my xray again, gave me a half-cast and an appointment for orthopedics herself as part of my discharge instructions. Thus sidestepping my own Dr entirely. YAY!

Turns out not only did I bang up my knuckle I also fractured a bone in my hand in a couple places so I get a half cast (it's removable) for the next month. I can take it off for showering and if I'm resting, but if I'm lifting anything or moving around the house or driving or anything other than, sitting or sleeping I get to have it on.

She also gave me Percocet (man I love that stuff). But it turns out the half cast was what did the trick because it immobilized my hand and not just my finger.

The ladies at Church are bringing us supper for the next few days, and DH should be home early next week (cross your fingers he's on the first plane out, and that it doesn't get grounded for repairs).

I fall to pieces

Yesterday was a MESS.

I woke up and called the Radiologist about my hand, who just said I needed a new X-ray and to see the orthopedic. GREAT. To do that I need a referral from my regular Dr. (free health care comes with lots of hoops).

I got an appointment with my Dr. and someone to watch the littlest two kids, circle the parking lot twice to find and parking spot and then have to try parking 3ish times (it's difficult to park when your hand is in a splint) all that makes me a few min late for the apt. I'm informed at the front desk that the Dr has moved on to the next patient and will NOT BE SEEING ME now, because I was supposed to be there 20 min early (the Tech who I was on the phone with neglected to mention this) so even had I been "on time" I would have been late.

She then hands me a slip of paper and says most helpfully how I've been rescheduled for Friday.

FRIDAY!

The vicodin has stopped working for the pain that this is causing, and the Dr won't give me anything stronger with out having seen me first ( the irony is not lost on me). Try icing it and continue with the Mortin they say. I'm in tears at the front desk (me crying in public here, that's how bad it hurts) because I have to wait 2 more days for my hand to get a fresh xray so that I can get the referral to the orthopedic clinic (that is walk-ins only!).

I pick up the little ones from my friends house, and then get home just before the bus drops of the older two.

That morning I had started a Chuck Roast in the crock pot with 1 box of beef stock and some water and a heafty few shakes of Gourmet burger seasoning and salt. I set it on high and let it do it's thing all day.

By 4 pm I'm in so much pain from my hand that I try taking 2 of the vicodin (in hopes that it'll take the edge off) and I can finish supper, no dice. DD#2 thinks she needs to grab either at the splint or the ice pack that are on my hand, and I just can't take much more.

Thank goodness for neighbors and friends, I took her next door to play with her BFF (another baby only a few months older than her).

I also realize that there is NO way I am going to be able to cut up the cabbage or carrots or be able to lift the pot of water for the pasta, let alone shred the roast for the beef and cabbage gravy I have planned for supper. And this is where I get to say, I LOVE MISSIONARIES! (for those of you who don't know I am LDS)

The single missionaries came over and gave me a blessing (which helped me to calm down), and the Couple missionaries came over and the Sister finished preparing our supper for me. It turned out beautifully, and there is enough for tonight.

I'm debating on going back to the ER this morning since the meds aren't doing anything for the pain. But I'm not looking forward to driving at all. And I'm afraid they'd just tell me there's nothing they can do till my Dr refers me to otrho anyway.

For it won't be long 'Til I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on

I've never had a friend as bossy as me before, and I'm still on the fence with how much I enjoy it. Most of the time it's hilarious, because I understand the bossy personality, listen if you want, you're not going to hurt my feelings if you don't. But, with an injury, it's a little different.

My neighbor and friend had planned a pot luck style cook out for yesterday. It rained.

SURPRISE (only not really cause it's a tropical island and it does that).

All the other neighbors decided not to come, but I was told to bring my already thawed steaks over anyway "since now I'm a gimp". Also her DD (who's 5) wanted to play with my DD#1 (who's 9). So, her DH grilled the steaks in the rain, and she made mashed taters, I was allowed to make salad since I am mostly one handed.

My neighbors really have been taking good care of me and I should do more for them. (also, now I know how all MY friends feel! LOL)

There's no pic since it wasn't at my house sorry.

Been crazy all day long and it's only Monday,

I got an X-ray last night for my right pinky (where the pinky meets the hand) the Dr is not pleased about the bruising and not sure about the xray, said she will have the radiologist look at it and have him call me tomorrow. I banged it on a corner of a wall last Monday, wish me luck!

I came home with a metal splint and 2 bottles of pills, Motrin for day time swelling and pain, and vicodin for night time (to help me sleep, and boy howdy, 2 of those do the trick).

While that was happening the sitter made Dirty Spaghetti for the kids.

The night before (while still in denial about my finger); Fried pork chops, not quite mashed potatoes, and corn with spinach.

I just seasoned the pork chops with Salt, pepper, garlic, onion and Marjoram. then pan fried in veg oil till golden and crisp. I boiled some red potatoes till tender and then stirred in nearly a half a stick of butter and 1/4 cup light ricotta cheese, salt and pepper, garlic powder. they were TASTY potatoes, I will do that again. The corn and spinach are a standard in our house, a 1lb bag each with 2 pkg ham flavor and enough water to simmer till tender. salt to taste.

Note to those of you in denial about hurting your hands, cast iron pans are heavy, so if you cook in them like I do, perhaps you should let them have the night off when you're injured, or just not lift them, or just send the children out of the kitchen when you need to lift them because you will probably swear, a lot, on accident.

Now if you wanna go to get away from it all

So, thankfully Spring Break happened during DH's trip. I had the kids home to help keep my mind off missing him, and lets face it with 4 kids home a week, and a camping trip planned you don't have a lot of time for pinning away!

The week started off superbly, picnics, lookey-loo shopping, gardening, light dinners, no real cooking. Just some throw together stuff and movies and running around like we had no concerns.

The closer and closer it got to our camping trip the worse the weather looked, and then it hit.

It rained, and rained. We tried to have fun anyway.

And then, cause 4 kids and a mom in a camper tailor for 3 days 2 nights isn't enough, we'll toss in 12 hrs of stomach flu too.

We had hot dogs the first night (boiled on the gas stove) with avocado and tomato dip, and fruit salad (I made at home before we headed out). Night 2 the rain cleared up enough for grilled burgers (the culprit of the tummy troubles?) and grilled veg shishka-bobs. Just some Deli Sandwiches on Pita bread during the day and some eggs and potato stuff for breakfast (the first day, the second day we had dry cereal, LOL).

Our tummies were a tad tender still the last week, so we took it easy with light things not blog worthy.

close your eyes and I'll kiss you, tomorrow I'll miss you

DH had to go away for a month, so to make him miss me more (if that's possible) I made him a day of send off meals. Scones with fresh whipped Cream and blueberry preserves for breakfast and a Supper of Rib Eye, Artichoke, Garlic bread, Browned Potatoes, Sauteed Peppers, Onions, and Portabella Mushrooms.

We ate outside, because earlier in the day it was beautiful, of course by the time we got to eat the clouds and wind had rolled in, this is my luck! I made them eat outside anyway! LOL

We tried to go to the movies, but that didn't work as "they" called with an earlier plane.

He should be home in a little more than a week now! and I'm glad for it!

I made enough scones to feed 4 sets of neighbors (they all put orders in when they know I'm making them) and they're so easy to make in large batches I don't mind. And really I just love feeding people!

Folks in a town that was quite remote heard Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo

Mexi-Chicken Pasta Salad
1.5 boxes med size penne pasta cooked and drained
2 cans drained black olives
1 lb bag steamed and salted soy beans
1 can plain stewed tomatoes
1 can stewed tomatoes with bell peppers
1 can green chillies
1 bag boneless skinless chicken thighs broiled in a bottle of Mojito (spelling) by Goya marinade (looks like a wine bottle, with a blue plastic shrink wrapped top. says it's for pork and chicken, you have to shake all the spices back up)

Drain the tomatoes, dice the cooked chicken, then add everything to a large bowl, including a few ladles of the pan drippings (marinade) from the cooked chicken. Toss to combine. Good warm or cold as left overs.

Threw this together the 24th. the kids loved it, the first 2 times they ate it. I ate it for lunch about 3 times after that. It made a lot, oops. LOL

Then I made Sheppard's Pie on the 26th.
Mashed potatoes layered with ground beef cooked with onions, steamed broccoli and Colby Jack cheese. I start with the meat and onions on bottom, then a little cheese, then the veg, the potatoes and top it off with the rest of the cheese, bake till the cheese is bubbly (it's all pre cooked anyway).

I couldn't keep this on the kids (or neighbor's) plates, and it's been requested more often by all involved.

The 28th I made Dirty Spaghetti (again) and roasted a chicken (again). Halved the bird and cooked it on a bed of green onions, bell peppers, and sliced carrots.
DH had a friend over to play video games all afternoon, and the kids were clamoring for their favorite pasta dish, they passed on the chicken tho. The "boys" cleaned their plates between battles with beasts.

I turned the 2 breasts and 1 leg quarter, back bone, neck, liver and various innards into soup in the following days, along with some sliced carrots, broccoli and the mashed potatoes that didn't' fit into the Sheppard's pie (to thicken the broth). Add a box of chicken stock and the pan drippings and enough water to fill the pot.

I think that catches me up again! LOL
I swear I mean to do this every day but then I get tired, or busy, or just plain forget, you can thank Kendra for getting on to me and motivating me into posting tonight!

it seems like years since it's been clear Here comes the sun

When I'm not cooking I'm either digging in the dirt or my fabric stash.

We moved into this house Sept last year and it had 5 built in flower beds, all sadly over grown with grass and weeds. Our move-in inspector was delighted when I asked if I could tear out the grass and put in flowers. Okinawans have an affinity for all things that grow, this island is an interesting mix of city, and jungle trying to reclaim the city while being helped by everyone's balcony or tiny yard gardens (manicured to varring degrees).

I of course had to un pack and get us settled in (during Typhoon season). And winter showed up (mild as they are here I still don't enjoy it). I tried to dig up the grass/weeds by hand, no dice. They had been in for so long (and the soil here so much like clay) that the only way that was happening was with a shovel or pick. I ended up hiring a yard guy to come and dig them up for me. He needed both a shovel and a pick.

Then I was left with 4 ditches running the length of my sidewalk up to my door, with piles of dirt and weeds in the grass in the lawn. I can't imagine how the "yard nazi's" passed up the opportunity to write us up for what I'm sure were several infractions. I can only think that since it looked (slow as it was) like something was happening. Toss in some sick kids and it took me nearly a month start to finish to get these flower beds planted. You can see before and afters (more than what I posted in this post) here (page 4-5 ish for the before of the yard)

I planted things that I already knew tolerated the climate well, and would fill in the beds nicely once established. They still look a little sparce, but it would cost a fortune to fill them in all the way, not to mention, I'd have to go and thin things out too soon.

I bought some flowers from local nurseries and dug others up from a friends yard (they were getting a little over grown at her place). It'll be nice to one day get to plant a garden and just maintain it and not have to worry about what the next person will do with it. Last time we lived here I landscaped (not just flowers, but shrubbery, and decorative grasses, and the like) the entire yard and the next ppl just pulled it all out. Guess they didn't want to be bothered.

For supper tonight we are having BBQ chicken legs A-La the crock pot, rice and steamed greens.

For the Chicken I didn't have any bottled sauce so I made my own
1 bottle of teriyaki sauce
1 can tomato paste
18 oz water (rinsed the bottle out a couple times)
big squeeze of honey
1 Tbs (ish) Gourmet burger seasoning
whisk

pour that over a bag of frozen legs in a crock pot, cook on high from 11 ish to 6ish.
rice in the rice cooker of course.
and greens in cast iron with ham flavor.

We like to eat the chicken on top of the rice, to give it some flavor, and the greens on the side. It's not pretty (or picture worthy) cause after all day in the crockpot it kinda just falls apart. and is orangy/red.

So this long line of cars will never have an end

No fevers, hardly any coughing, and just trace amounts of snot! I almost threw a party!! Instead I spent the day outside, well mostly.

First I drove 41Km (round trip) to pick up my new (to me) table and chairs for outside (this trip took 3 hours, to give you and idea of how much traffic is here on Island). It's a LARGE table (with 2 leaves that fold up and into) and 6 large chairs (2 kids can easily sit in one of these things). The previous owner says it's Teak, but I'm not sure (nor do I care). The stain is starting to rub off, which leaves me with the dilemma of sanding and restaining, or pressure washing and painting. Neither fix is permanent here in the elements, too humid, hot, and sunny. I could also leave it as is (but it's brown, and well, my house is beige with brown accents, and so is every other building on the base) so I'd like to get some color involved. I can't wait to get to have meals on a table outside instead of on a blanket!

Then I did some gardening (I thought this was going to be a quick project, but with the rain and the sick kids it's really dragging out!). Now I'm beat!

SO, for supper tonight, I fed the kids leftover beefy soup. They were not thrilled, too bad. Had they eaten their lunches I'd have fixed them a more substantial supper, but their appetites are still not up, and with plugged noses I'm sure nothing tastes right, so soup it is. As it was they only ate half of what I gave them, and were practically falling asleep at the table. Poor kiddo's!

DH and I had (and really, I almost never fix separate meals for adults vs. children) Rib-eyes, new potatoes, and broccoli, cauliflower, carrots medley. I tossed the potatoes in my cast iorn pan with olive oil, salt, garlic and marjoram. Sprinkled the steaks with salt, pepper, garlic, and onion on one side and on the other a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce and a sprinkling of Gourmet Burger seasoning then grilled on my grill pan. The veg just got steamed in the microwave and then the pan drippings from the steak poured over once plated.

Guess who forgot to take a picture till the food was too mangled to be pretty? Sorry, it was pretty too.

Just imagine the pics (and lighting) I'll get when we start eating outside!!! EEK I can hardly wait.

"The kids don't stand a chance"

I was the only one in the house in the mood for Mexican, so we had more soup. YAY *insert sarcastic look here*. On the bright side, only mild fevers from DS#1 and DD#2 and no vomit inducing coughing fits today!

I was tired of chicken soup so I made beef soup today (and will probably have to eat it for most of the weekend, because there's a pot full).

2 cans mushrooms (not drained)
1 can plain stewed tomatoes
1 can with green peppers stewed tomatoes
1 box beef stock
1lb grd beef 97% lean
1lb frozen broccoli florets (that have been thawed)
1lb lentils
2 cans full of water (rinsed out the tomato cans)
3/4 box full of water (rinsed out the stock container too)
2 packets Saz`on Goya (Coriander & annatto) found in the Hispanic section.
Salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder to taste.

Brown beef in pot, then add everything else, simmer till lentils are tender.
Bring yourself to eat another liquid supper, and promise yourself a nice juice hamburger for lunch tomorrow!

After all that griping it wasn't bad, had a nice beefy flavor, and had a nice balance between the lentils and tomatoes (both can be a bit overpowering in a soup), the mushrooms and broccoli added just enough variety.


On a WAY tangent, I found a new band, and I'm gonna pimp them so avert your eyes if you want.

sometimes my tries, are outside the lines

Not cooking today, finishing off the soup from last night. Cause the kids gobbled it and there's lots. The orzzo soaked up more of the broth overnight so now it's more of a noodle dish with greens. Still yum tho.

The best thing about today, NO FEVERS!! Snot all round still, but it's an improvement, and I'll take it. The kids were felling so much better that I set up the shade tent in the yard, threw out some giant cushions, and lap size quilts and the basket of coloring supplies. While declaring "Stay in the tent, so you don't run around and cough and then puke on your friends." All the kids in the building (we live in a 6-plex) have the same plague as us so I don't feel bad about letting them all play together.

Probably something in the crock-pot tomorrow, I'm feeling Mexican-ish, and I've a ton of errands and that'll be easy.

My sitter took some pics I'll post one later.

edit***** Um yeah, had this all posted, and was feeling good. Then took DS#1's temp, cause he said he felt "funny" guess who's no longer the healthy kid? On the plus side, his big sis is feeling much better, but is there really any point in sending her to school on Fri when she's only been on Mon (and was sent home that day)? I guess she could collect her homework.

Who used a machedy to cut through red tape

Know when you microwave something and you reach in and pull it out but can only get it as far as the counter before setting it down while your hands to the "it's too hot to hold" shake-while you hop dance? That's what it was like getting the baby out of her bed this morning.

Yesterday I called the Dr and they were booked for same day/walk ins. So the nurse called back with "take meds for the fever and comfort for the rest" advise. CHECK, been doing that since Sat. wouldn't be calling you if that were working but whatever.

I get on the phone 5 min before the appointment line opens up so that I would be 1st in line to get an apt today!Good plan right?

Well 35 min later, I'm still listening to elevator music and the occasional recording of "please don't hang up, all of our operators are busy, your call will be answered in the order received". YEAH. As DS#1 (AKA the only healthy child) leaves the house for school I'm throwing clothes on the baby and taking her to the ER. Where I can get glared at for using the Navy as a walk-in clinic (we're Air Force).

It's not my bureaucracy that's messed up so this is not my fault, and really as long as they fix the sick baby, they can glare all they want.

An X-Ray, and WWF style breathing treatment later (she really wasn't digging that mask) along with an assortment of meds we find out she's on the verge of pneumonia. But she drank some apple juice and ate some lunch (first thing to go in her in 24 hrs, she wouldn't even nurse!!) then she slept starting at like 2(ish) pm till (well it's now 948 and she's still asleep). I sent DD#1 (who thankfully hasn't had a fever all day but has been coughing so hard her body aches) up to make sure she was breathing (lol, let the paranoia set in).

I'll be back there tomorrow with DS#2 cause it's a "training day" for my clinic (that never has an available appointment anyway). I'm really tired of the puke inducing cough.

SOOOO, all that to preface tonight's supper.
2 cans chicken broth (thanks to the neighbor, I didn't have time to get to the store, nor did I want to take the lil ones out to the store!!)
1 bag frozen chopped collard greens
1 medium minced yellow onion
1 box orzzo
some water and salt and garlic powder.

saute the onion till nice and golden, then add orzzo, saute till lightly golden, then add greens, and broth and water. season to taste.

Warm and soothing and light, and should puke up nicely later when they start coughing, cause last night's fancy rice and pork chops were tasty but a MESS!