During chemotherapy last year, I did not want to eat very much. For one thing, I felt nauseated all the time. For another, I had sores in my mouth and throat that hurt all the time. And everything tasted like paper, anyway, so what was the point? The best thing about getting through chemo for me was all about getting to eat again.
The day I could finally taste peaches was a red letter day. Other foods followed.
It's been a year since I started chemo, and my taste buds are in fine form. And my appetite? That came back with a vengeance. I went from eating nothing but soup and nutrition shakes to pretty much shoving everything into my mouth. I've been trying to eat healthy foods, like salads, but I'm not always successful.
Last Friday I ate breakfast at my home. A nice big bowl of oatmeal. Healthy, filling oatmeal. I also packed my lunch of a healthy salad. Then I got in my car and drove to work. On my way, I remembered that Dunkin' Donuts had just opened up a shop right down the street. That got me thinking that I hadn't had donuts in a long time.
I decided to stop in and purchase a dozen to share with the special education teachers at my campus, because they work hard and I wanted to be nice. While at Dunkin' Donuts, I also purchased a couple of donuts for myself, along with a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. I arrived at work, dropped off the donuts to the admiration of my coworkers, and went to my office. I polished off the sandwich and the donuts while reading email and reports.
I was still hungry.
I opened my snack drawer. You know what I'm talking about--every desk should have a snack drawer! My snack drawer has pretzels, granola bars, etc., just in case I get the hungries and can't stop for lunch. I ate a bag of pretzels, then a granola bar. I looked at the clock. It was 9:30. I looked at my lunch box, sitting there on my desk. I looked at the heavens, and then at my stomach.
My belly just placidly stared back at me. Bellies do that. Oh for heaven's sake, I told myself, as I opened my lunch box and dove into the salad. And finished it in short order. I stared at the empty bowl. I'm still hungry. I yell at myself for a minute or two. It wasn't about the weight I might gain, but I was trying to stay healthy. Fer cryin' out loud, I tell myself. You've eaten a bazillion calories already! How can you STILL be hungry?
I had to go out and get another lunch. And I also had dinner. I finally just gave into my hungries. I figured that my stomach was making up for lost time. We all fall down in our goals sometimes. My healthy habits took a day off, and I could beat myself up about it, or I could try to do better tomorrow.
So I did.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Get In My Belly!
Thick, juicy, quarter pound burger, pink in the center, covered in the sharpest cheddar? Right there on your plate, and you left the room! After so many months of chemotherapy, I found myself drooling and ravenous.
No jury would ever convict me.
No jury would ever convict me.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
The Upside of the Roller Coaster
I have eight chemo treatments to go. Last week was difficult, but after another round of antibiotics with a side of steroids, I feel better. I even ate a cheeseburger last night for dinner, not only because I was hungry for one, but because I was hungry.
Hungry? Yes. I felt well enough to actually BE hungry, and the sores in my throat are healed. It's been so long since I remember being hungry, instead of just having a bit of an appetite. I suddenly wasn't sure what to do with that growling tummy. There was a story in the paper yesterday about a demure hausfrau who polished off THREE 72oz steak dinners(with salad, bread, and loaded baked potatoes) in 20 minutes in a competitive eating contest. Yesterday, I was hungry enough that, had I been willing to be seen within a 100 mile radius of Amarillo, I could have gone head to head with that woman.
The tapioca pudding in the fridge went uneaten and I went a little crazy. Well, not too crazy. I had salmon, and a salad, and eggs, and a banana, and toast, and a cheeseburger with two fries. Also, I ate some donuts, even though my best friend Michelle has warned me never to eat sugar, because I was feeling rather dangerous. This morning I had toast, coffee, and shrimp, followed by a lunch of tilapia tacos, spinach queso, chips, and potato soup. After each bite, I reveled in the taste, because that came back too. I could taste the extra pepper on the tilapia, and I cried a little about that.
Ultimately I gained two pounds from last week, instead of the scale moving the other way. I'm okay with that. My fingernails are still looking as though they are going to fall off, but the blisters on my hands are gone and the swelling is down enough that I could do some crochet while I had my chemo. I didn't realize how much I had come to rely on the distracting meditative peace that comes from crocheting during this ordeal, until my fingers were giant sausages incapable of bending to the simplest knots. I've got a little of my independence back!
And I'm glad to be alive, and ready for the next 8 weeks, whatever comes. I'm ready to fight again.
Hungry? Yes. I felt well enough to actually BE hungry, and the sores in my throat are healed. It's been so long since I remember being hungry, instead of just having a bit of an appetite. I suddenly wasn't sure what to do with that growling tummy. There was a story in the paper yesterday about a demure hausfrau who polished off THREE 72oz steak dinners(with salad, bread, and loaded baked potatoes) in 20 minutes in a competitive eating contest. Yesterday, I was hungry enough that, had I been willing to be seen within a 100 mile radius of Amarillo, I could have gone head to head with that woman.
The tapioca pudding in the fridge went uneaten and I went a little crazy. Well, not too crazy. I had salmon, and a salad, and eggs, and a banana, and toast, and a cheeseburger with two fries. Also, I ate some donuts, even though my best friend Michelle has warned me never to eat sugar, because I was feeling rather dangerous. This morning I had toast, coffee, and shrimp, followed by a lunch of tilapia tacos, spinach queso, chips, and potato soup. After each bite, I reveled in the taste, because that came back too. I could taste the extra pepper on the tilapia, and I cried a little about that.
Ultimately I gained two pounds from last week, instead of the scale moving the other way. I'm okay with that. My fingernails are still looking as though they are going to fall off, but the blisters on my hands are gone and the swelling is down enough that I could do some crochet while I had my chemo. I didn't realize how much I had come to rely on the distracting meditative peace that comes from crocheting during this ordeal, until my fingers were giant sausages incapable of bending to the simplest knots. I've got a little of my independence back!
And I'm glad to be alive, and ready for the next 8 weeks, whatever comes. I'm ready to fight again.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Introspective Cookie Time
 |
| "Eat the cookie! EAT IT!" |
The little cutie in the dress is my cousin Theresa, and it appears that she is trying to shove something in my mouth. Or she could be attempting to steal my pacifier; you never know with toddlers. Theresa's six months older than me. There was a population explosion in the family in 1965; after me, came my cousin Dennis, and my cousin John. We ended up playing together at family get-togethers after that.
As I was looking at this picture, it struck me that I have an odd relationship with food. I'm not even sure what that means from a psychological aspect, but people just seem to end up bringing me cookies, slipping me chocolate bars on the sly, buying me dinner, etc. They seem to know instinctively that I find comfort in those types of kindnesses.
I'm not a huggy person. Emotions make me uncomfortable, particularly my own. I have trust issues. I'm just as likely to bite a hand as shake it, if I feel like things are getting touchy-feely, because I become defensive about my own emotions. Food offers me an opportunity to circumvent the weird side of my brain, the one that is suspicious of everyone and everything. It's like when you're trying to earn the trust of a dog or cat, and you offer them treats in order to build that trust, I suppose.
Once I have food in hand, even if I never take a bite, I feel calmer. I have something to do with my hands instead of wringing them. I have something to look at if I get anxious about the eye contact. The plate in front of me becomes an extension of my personal space, an area that can be shared with someone else. It's really a win-win situation for all around.
I think too much, don't I? This was just supposed to be a little trip down memory lane, and then I had to get all deep and introspective! What kind of relationship do you have with food?
Go check out Mamakat's Writing Workshop for more fun writing prompts!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
A Dog's Life
Three things in a Dog's life reign above all others.
The first is food.
The second is food.
And the third is...food.
We got a pup last year, and she is a fast growing Lab mix who will eat anything vaguely resembling food, no matter how much we feed her. While wrestling the remains of a chicken from her(which she dragged from the trash), I felt inspired.
Prompt: Three things in life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind. --Henry James Use the quote as a model.
The first is food.
The second is food.
And the third is...food.
We got a pup last year, and she is a fast growing Lab mix who will eat anything vaguely resembling food, no matter how much we feed her. While wrestling the remains of a chicken from her(which she dragged from the trash), I felt inspired.
Prompt: Three things in life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind. --Henry James Use the quote as a model.
This weekend we are asking you to play around with the following quote:
For instance, a post might look like this:
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.We want you to follow the same general structure of the above quote. Feel free to change the subject--tell us what's important about coffee or houseplants or whatever you'd like. Or else change up the modifier--instead of telling us what's important, tell us what's sexy or overrated or pernicious. Your last three lines should closely echo James's, giving us the same answer three times.
--Henry James
For instance, a post might look like this:
Three things about Trifecta Writing Challenge are amazing. The first is the community. The second is the community. And the third is the community.(But we kind of expect your submissions to be far, far better than that one.)
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
This weekend we are asking you to play around with the following quote:
For instance, a post might look like this:
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.We want you to follow the same general structure of the above quote. Feel free to change the subject--tell us what's important about coffee or houseplants or whatever you'd like. Or else change up the modifier--instead of telling us what's important, tell us what's sexy or overrated or pernicious. Your last three lines should closely echo James's, giving us the same answer three times.
--Henry James
For instance, a post might look like this:
Three things about Trifecta Writing Challenge are amazing. The first is the community. The second is the community. And the third is the community.(But we kind of expect your submissions to be far, far better than that one.)
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
This weekend we are asking you to play around with the following quote:
For instance, a post might look like this:
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.We want you to follow the same general structure of the above quote. Feel free to change the subject--tell us what's important about coffee or houseplants or whatever you'd like. Or else change up the modifier--instead of telling us what's important, tell us what's sexy or overrated or pernicious. Your last three lines should closely echo James's, giving us the same answer three times.
--Henry James
For instance, a post might look like this:
Three things about Trifecta Writing Challenge are amazing. The first is the community. The second is the community. And the third is the community.(But we kind of expect your submissions to be far, far better than that one.)
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
This weekend we are asking you to play around with the following quote:
For instance, a post might look like this:
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.We want you to follow the same general structure of the above quote. Feel free to change the subject--tell us what's important about coffee or houseplants or whatever you'd like. Or else change up the modifier--instead of telling us what's important, tell us what's sexy or overrated or pernicious. Your last three lines should closely echo James's, giving us the same answer three times.
--Henry James
For instance, a post might look like this:
Three things about Trifecta Writing Challenge are amazing. The first is the community. The second is the community. And the third is the community.(But we kind of expect your submissions to be far, far better than that one.)
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
This weekend we are asking you to play around with the following quote:
For instance, a post might look like this:
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.We want you to follow the same general structure of the above quote. Feel free to change the subject--tell us what's important about coffee or houseplants or whatever you'd like. Or else change up the modifier--instead of telling us what's important, tell us what's sexy or overrated or pernicious. Your last three lines should closely echo James's, giving us the same answer three times.
--Henry James
For instance, a post might look like this:
Three things about Trifecta Writing Challenge are amazing. The first is the community. The second is the community. And the third is the community.(But we kind of expect your submissions to be far, far better than that one.)
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
This weekend we are asking you to play around with the following quote:
For instance, a post might look like this:
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.We want you to follow the same general structure of the above quote. Feel free to change the subject--tell us what's important about coffee or houseplants or whatever you'd like. Or else change up the modifier--instead of telling us what's important, tell us what's sexy or overrated or pernicious. Your last three lines should closely echo James's, giving us the same answer three times.
--Henry James
For instance, a post might look like this:
Three things about Trifecta Writing Challenge are amazing. The first is the community. The second is the community. And the third is the community.(But we kind of expect your submissions to be far, far better than that one.)
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
This weekend we are asking you to play around with the following quote:
For instance, a post might look like this:
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.We want you to follow the same general structure of the above quote. Feel free to change the subject--tell us what's important about coffee or houseplants or whatever you'd like. Or else change up the modifier--instead of telling us what's important, tell us what's sexy or overrated or pernicious. Your last three lines should closely echo James's, giving us the same answer three times.
--Henry James
For instance, a post might look like this:
Three things about Trifecta Writing Challenge are amazing. The first is the community. The second is the community. And the third is the community.(But we kind of expect your submissions to be far, far better than that one.)
Your word limit this weekend depends on your word choices, but because we want you to closely follow James's structure, all posts should be somewhere around the same number of words as the above quote. For the sake of clarity (and brevity), we'll impose a thirty-three word upper limit. - See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/06/trifextra-week-seventy-four.html?showComment=1372450074647#c2515206423028309781
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Randomly Random
There are tons of great restaurants out there, with excellent food. What gets me coming back, besides a superb artichoke snapper, is the service. It's the little things, like how fast I'm seated, and how quickly after I am seated does a waiter show up, and whether they know the best wine to serve with snapper. But I have a dark secret: I am a sucker for an obsequious waiter. I adore them. My ice cold heart melts a little inside when I get that kind of fawning attention. It is nice to have someone fussing over you every now and then. Oh, I am sure that if I had it all the time, it would get on my nerves and I would hate it. But for the duration of my meal, to have someone hovering and seeming to cater to my whims makes me smile.
I got this fortune in a fortune cookie, and I really like it. Heroes don't have to look like Bruce Campbell and fight a zombie horde created from an evil book, but that's what we expect. Look what that kind of pressure did to Lance!
I went to eat by myself the other day, because I've heard that most people would rather have root canal than eat by themselves. I decided to test that theory. Not my usual fast food drive-through experience, but an actual sit down restaurant. I sat in the middle of the room with my back to the door, which is so completely unlike me. I went completely out of character! It was interesting. Lots of men dine alone in restaurants, I've observed, but not many women. Why is that? Is it because eating is so closely tied to socializing? I thought that I would feel uncomfortable. After the initial once-over by the other patrons, I was left alone with my thoughts, which were on...queso. But I refrained, and had the much healthier salsa with my chips. I did not feel rushed by anyone, I read a few emails on my phone, and just enjoyed the moment.
I have a dirty mind, people tell me. They are probably right. I've been told that this means that I am a closet Freudian, but I just think that my mind likes to wander in that direction because it's usually a more interesting place. When people say things that my mind considers off color, whether it was intended so or not, I want to giggle. If what is said is actually meant to be off color? I might actually laugh. Out loud. Sometimes I can cover that with a cough or two, but my son wasn't born yesterday. He always wants to know why I am laughing, and I am sure not going to tell him. I had to figure all that double entendre' out for myself. Kids today have it easy!
I am thinking about going to one of the board meetings for our subdivision. Why would I subject myself to such a horrible cesspool of political intrigue(second only to the average PTA)? Because I think they should install speed bumps on the street that intersects mine. It's a straight road, with enough time to build up speed before you hit a sharp right, and people speed. How do I know that people speed? Easy--dead animals. If you are going the speed limit, like you are supposed to, you should have enough time to hit the brakes and avoid hitting Mr. Kitty or Rocky Raccoon. Every time I see a dead animal in the middle of the road, I start thinking that that could have been a child, or an old person, and I don't want that. Well, there are certain people that I think deserve to be run over in the street, but those are my little day dreams when I'm frustrated.
I am visiting Stacy at Stacy Uncorked today. Go visit her, because she is awesome!
I got this fortune in a fortune cookie, and I really like it. Heroes don't have to look like Bruce Campbell and fight a zombie horde created from an evil book, but that's what we expect. Look what that kind of pressure did to Lance!
I went to eat by myself the other day, because I've heard that most people would rather have root canal than eat by themselves. I decided to test that theory. Not my usual fast food drive-through experience, but an actual sit down restaurant. I sat in the middle of the room with my back to the door, which is so completely unlike me. I went completely out of character! It was interesting. Lots of men dine alone in restaurants, I've observed, but not many women. Why is that? Is it because eating is so closely tied to socializing? I thought that I would feel uncomfortable. After the initial once-over by the other patrons, I was left alone with my thoughts, which were on...queso. But I refrained, and had the much healthier salsa with my chips. I did not feel rushed by anyone, I read a few emails on my phone, and just enjoyed the moment.
I have a dirty mind, people tell me. They are probably right. I've been told that this means that I am a closet Freudian, but I just think that my mind likes to wander in that direction because it's usually a more interesting place. When people say things that my mind considers off color, whether it was intended so or not, I want to giggle. If what is said is actually meant to be off color? I might actually laugh. Out loud. Sometimes I can cover that with a cough or two, but my son wasn't born yesterday. He always wants to know why I am laughing, and I am sure not going to tell him. I had to figure all that double entendre' out for myself. Kids today have it easy!
I am thinking about going to one of the board meetings for our subdivision. Why would I subject myself to such a horrible cesspool of political intrigue(second only to the average PTA)? Because I think they should install speed bumps on the street that intersects mine. It's a straight road, with enough time to build up speed before you hit a sharp right, and people speed. How do I know that people speed? Easy--dead animals. If you are going the speed limit, like you are supposed to, you should have enough time to hit the brakes and avoid hitting Mr. Kitty or Rocky Raccoon. Every time I see a dead animal in the middle of the road, I start thinking that that could have been a child, or an old person, and I don't want that. Well, there are certain people that I think deserve to be run over in the street, but those are my little day dreams when I'm frustrated.
I am visiting Stacy at Stacy Uncorked today. Go visit her, because she is awesome!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Anticipation
The word is anticipation. This was a bit out of my comfort zone.
As Cyana hiked back to the village with her catch in tow, her chest swelled with pride. A prize of this size would feed many. Cyana had been lucky that it had been her blooding; instead of having to roam far into the forest, the scent of blood had drawn the animal to her. It had been easy to trap, and now it stumbled along behind her, led by the rope she held.
Cyana could visualize the meat being turned on the spit over a roaring fire. Her mouth watered in anticipation. Other hunters preferred to skin their kills prior to cooking, but Cyan felt that it was best to let the skin char and roast, while the meat inside the skin was cooked. She could taste the sweet, juicy meat on her tongue now, even though it would be hours before it was cooked enough to be eaten.
When Cyana reached the edge of the village, Lelana, the Eldest, raised a hand in greeting. Cyana handed her the rope, symbolically gifting the catch to the village. Lelana's lyrical voice carried over the clearing, as the other elders circled the ensnared animal, their knives catching the sunlight.
"Here is food, Eldest," Cyana tried to keep the impatience out of her voice. She was eager to get her catch ready for roasting. This was part of the ritual, however, and disrespect was not allowed.
"Were you mated before the kill?"
"Yes, Eldest."
"Then the good of the tribe has been served." Lelana spoke quietly, as she pulled ceremonial knife from her robe, and with a practiced flick of her wrist, slit the throat of the man, catching the blood in a bowl as the other elders stabbed the body until it stopped moving. The stab wounds would be stuffed with spices prior to roasting; the thought made Cyana's mouth water once more. She stepped forward, grabbing an arm and dragging the dinner slowly to the cooking fires.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Around the World with a Fork
optional prompt:
trying something new
My husband is a consistent eater. And by consistent, I mean that he sticks to what he likes. He likes his meat, he likes his potatoes, and that 's about it. Even if he is a guest at someone's house, he stays true to his palate. He won't eat food that he thinks that he won't like. Often, it is an uphill battle just to get him to try a new food. This has always struck me as strange. My parents always made my brother and I try new things at least once before we were allowed to turn up our noses. Of course, I was an Army brat, always on the go, and in foreign countries food choices can be limited.
I will never be a world traveler, unfortunately. You will never find me climbing Mt. Everest, or traversing the South American continent in search of a particular flavor of grub. I would like to do all that exploring. I would love to walk from one end of the country to another, talking to people and eating their foods. That will never happen, I know. I certainly love traveling; I just don't have the money or the time. I can still explore the world, however. I can have a bite of fish cooked just so in Japan, or a sampling of noodles cooked in the Old Country. Each new food broadens my horizons, and the world isn't quite so small anymore.
My backside isn't so small anymore, either. Perhaps some diet foods from other countries would be a better idea?
Monday, June 25, 2012
The A-List: Things That I Can Cook
I have deficient cooking skills. My mother did all the cooking in our house, until I was sixteen. I was not allowed to cook in her kitchen without supervision, because I got everything messy and I never put stuff back where my mother wanted it. (Perhaps I did that on purpose, mom!) Since I became an adult, I've had to do my own cooking. It's been difficult, mostly because a lot of cooking involves...*gasp*...math. Who knew? But I am able to follow a recipe, as long as I have my glasses on and double check that I didn't read "tsp" as tablespoon. I have learned to cook a few items consistently well over the years.
1. Lasagna The first time I made lasagna, in college, I did it the hard way. I boiled the noodles and hung them up, layered everything, and all that fancy stuff. It took me two hours and I had two large pans of lasagna at the end of it. Unfortunately, I also had invited a friend of mine who was a football player, and he brought three of his football playing buddies. My first attempt at lasagna was gone in less than twenty minutes! I did manage to save myself a couple of bites, and nobody got food poisoning. Since then, I've streamlined the recipe a bit. For instance, I use spaghetti sauce with basil and oregano already in it, so I don't have to add the spices. I use the oven ready noodles, too. My husband salivates just talking about my lasagna, and if he will eat it, I'll keep cooking it.
2. Eggs It is fairly difficult to mess up eggs, I know. I usually end up scrambling them, because I'm the only person in the house who likes them over easy. When the eggs are almost done, I throw in chunks of ham and lots of melty cheddar cheese. That's it. If it is just me, I'll add some tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. (If I am feeling really racy, I'll substitute gorgonzola cheese for the cheddar!) That is our meal--breakfast, lunch or dinner. Larry adds toast or tortillas, but I am okay without the extra carbs.
3. Spaghetti. It's not the spaghetti noodles, it's the sauce! I'll add extra veggies to the sauce, large chunks of tomatoes and onions. I'll throw in some extra garlic. Meatballs are nice, if you have time, but just browning some hamburger is fine. I'll get some of that Morning Star Farms vegetarian crumble stuff that looks like hamburger and mix that in, just for a switch up. Instead of the usual cheese on top of the mountain, I like to go for a mix of mozzarella, parm, and asiago, because I'm just that crazy.
4. Tacos In order to live in Texas, you are required to be able to cook at least one dish from the local cuisine. It's pretty difficult to ruin a taco, therefore it is safe for me to try to cook it. I do not like lettuce on my tacos. But that is the great thing about tacos--after the meat is on there, one is free to indulge in an assortment of choices regarding what else goes on the taco. I prefer more tomatoes, and avocados, on my tacos, and therefore I can have them. We even have soft tacos where the meat and the cheese is covered with barbeque sauce.
5. Grilled cheese sammiches Real people eat sammiches. Sammiches don't have to look pretty, they just have to get the job done. Grilled cheese sandwiches are pretty simple--two pieces of bread, buttered, with cheese in the middle. Why stop with just one kind of cheese? Why stop with just cheese? This stuff is made for experimentation! I'll throw in sharp cheddar and some bacon to go with the American slice. Sometimes I'll throw bits of ham in there. Unless you burn the bread, every grilled cheese sammich tastes great!
I have honorable mentions today!
Fudge. I found a recipe for microwave fudge that is beyond easy, and of course it is delicious.
Chocolate cake. I add more chocolate to the batter before it goes into the oven. I drizzle chocolate syrup over the batter, and I throw in chunks of chocolate as well. With all that, you don't need any icing! I would like to try this with a butter cake--sprinkle melted butter over the batter and drop frozen butter pats into the batter--but I am a chicken.
Those are things that I can consistently 'whip up' in my secret labora--kitchen. What are your tried and true recipes?
1. Lasagna The first time I made lasagna, in college, I did it the hard way. I boiled the noodles and hung them up, layered everything, and all that fancy stuff. It took me two hours and I had two large pans of lasagna at the end of it. Unfortunately, I also had invited a friend of mine who was a football player, and he brought three of his football playing buddies. My first attempt at lasagna was gone in less than twenty minutes! I did manage to save myself a couple of bites, and nobody got food poisoning. Since then, I've streamlined the recipe a bit. For instance, I use spaghetti sauce with basil and oregano already in it, so I don't have to add the spices. I use the oven ready noodles, too. My husband salivates just talking about my lasagna, and if he will eat it, I'll keep cooking it.
2. Eggs It is fairly difficult to mess up eggs, I know. I usually end up scrambling them, because I'm the only person in the house who likes them over easy. When the eggs are almost done, I throw in chunks of ham and lots of melty cheddar cheese. That's it. If it is just me, I'll add some tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. (If I am feeling really racy, I'll substitute gorgonzola cheese for the cheddar!) That is our meal--breakfast, lunch or dinner. Larry adds toast or tortillas, but I am okay without the extra carbs.
3. Spaghetti. It's not the spaghetti noodles, it's the sauce! I'll add extra veggies to the sauce, large chunks of tomatoes and onions. I'll throw in some extra garlic. Meatballs are nice, if you have time, but just browning some hamburger is fine. I'll get some of that Morning Star Farms vegetarian crumble stuff that looks like hamburger and mix that in, just for a switch up. Instead of the usual cheese on top of the mountain, I like to go for a mix of mozzarella, parm, and asiago, because I'm just that crazy.
4. Tacos In order to live in Texas, you are required to be able to cook at least one dish from the local cuisine. It's pretty difficult to ruin a taco, therefore it is safe for me to try to cook it. I do not like lettuce on my tacos. But that is the great thing about tacos--after the meat is on there, one is free to indulge in an assortment of choices regarding what else goes on the taco. I prefer more tomatoes, and avocados, on my tacos, and therefore I can have them. We even have soft tacos where the meat and the cheese is covered with barbeque sauce.
5. Grilled cheese sammiches Real people eat sammiches. Sammiches don't have to look pretty, they just have to get the job done. Grilled cheese sandwiches are pretty simple--two pieces of bread, buttered, with cheese in the middle. Why stop with just one kind of cheese? Why stop with just cheese? This stuff is made for experimentation! I'll throw in sharp cheddar and some bacon to go with the American slice. Sometimes I'll throw bits of ham in there. Unless you burn the bread, every grilled cheese sammich tastes great!
I have honorable mentions today!
Fudge. I found a recipe for microwave fudge that is beyond easy, and of course it is delicious.
Chocolate cake. I add more chocolate to the batter before it goes into the oven. I drizzle chocolate syrup over the batter, and I throw in chunks of chocolate as well. With all that, you don't need any icing! I would like to try this with a butter cake--sprinkle melted butter over the batter and drop frozen butter pats into the batter--but I am a chicken.
Those are things that I can consistently 'whip up' in my secret labora--kitchen. What are your tried and true recipes?
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Out With The In-Laws
Mamakat's prompt: 5.) Describe what it was like meeting your in-laws for the first time?
Larry and I were about to move in together, and it was time for me to meet his parents. I wanted to make a good impression, of course, and I imagine that they felt the same. Larry's parents looked a lot older than my parents; his mother appeared particularly frail. She did all the talking for herself and her husband, but both seemed pleasant and friendly. We chatted as we buckled our seat belts and drove to the restaurant to eat.
In San Antonio, if you are not at a table in a restaurant before five on a Friday night, you plan on waiting in line. We got a late start, so it was after five, and we were told that we would have about a thirty minute wait. Larry and I were used to such waiting, but his mother felt that the line was too long; she would not be able to wait that long to eat. We decided to try another restaurant just up the road, and we all piled into the car and fought the rush hour traffic for about twenty minutes to get there.
We were told there would be at least a forty-five minute wait for a table.
"I guess we should have stayed at the other place," Larry's mother said.
Under normal circumstances, Larry and I would have made sarcastic comments, but we were both on our best behavior. Since his mother was the one who could not wait too long to eat, the rest of us were willing to defer to her wishes. Did she want to wait for a table at this restaurant, we queried, or did she want to go somewhere else?
She didn't know what she wanted to do, she told us. Every restaurant would have a line, she said. She did not want to eat somewhere that would upset her stomach. She normally brought crackers with her, she told me, but she had forgotten to replace them from the last time. She had a delicate tummy, she said. Larry's mother chattered for some time, like one of those bossy squirrels guarding their tree in the park. We waited for her to decide, becoming more irritated as our blood sugar levels fell. I felt myself on the brink of saying something sarcastic, and likely hurtful.
I finally pulled Larry aside and suggested strongly that we all go to a Mexican fast food place close by. There would be no line, and we could eat instead of just talking about eating. It was a win-win, as far as I was concerned. Larry agreed with me, as did his father. After a few moments agonizing about what a bad impression she was probably making, we were able to get into the car. Five minutes later, we were at Taco Cabana, our food sitting in front of us, and we were digging in. Except for Larry's mother, who was still trying to explain her 'tummy troubles' in detail. I was shocked when she brought up the 'C' word at the dinner table. 'C' as in 'colon'. I wasn't really sure what my response to all this should be. I took my cue from my future husband and future father-in-law and tried to ignore most of what she said. I would have been too grossed out to eat, otherwise.
I was feeling magnanimous as we went our separate ways for the evening. I wasn't sure that I wanted to go out to eat with my future in-laws again, but I was still in love.
Larry and I were about to move in together, and it was time for me to meet his parents. I wanted to make a good impression, of course, and I imagine that they felt the same. Larry's parents looked a lot older than my parents; his mother appeared particularly frail. She did all the talking for herself and her husband, but both seemed pleasant and friendly. We chatted as we buckled our seat belts and drove to the restaurant to eat.
In San Antonio, if you are not at a table in a restaurant before five on a Friday night, you plan on waiting in line. We got a late start, so it was after five, and we were told that we would have about a thirty minute wait. Larry and I were used to such waiting, but his mother felt that the line was too long; she would not be able to wait that long to eat. We decided to try another restaurant just up the road, and we all piled into the car and fought the rush hour traffic for about twenty minutes to get there.
We were told there would be at least a forty-five minute wait for a table.
"I guess we should have stayed at the other place," Larry's mother said.
Under normal circumstances, Larry and I would have made sarcastic comments, but we were both on our best behavior. Since his mother was the one who could not wait too long to eat, the rest of us were willing to defer to her wishes. Did she want to wait for a table at this restaurant, we queried, or did she want to go somewhere else?
She didn't know what she wanted to do, she told us. Every restaurant would have a line, she said. She did not want to eat somewhere that would upset her stomach. She normally brought crackers with her, she told me, but she had forgotten to replace them from the last time. She had a delicate tummy, she said. Larry's mother chattered for some time, like one of those bossy squirrels guarding their tree in the park. We waited for her to decide, becoming more irritated as our blood sugar levels fell. I felt myself on the brink of saying something sarcastic, and likely hurtful.
I finally pulled Larry aside and suggested strongly that we all go to a Mexican fast food place close by. There would be no line, and we could eat instead of just talking about eating. It was a win-win, as far as I was concerned. Larry agreed with me, as did his father. After a few moments agonizing about what a bad impression she was probably making, we were able to get into the car. Five minutes later, we were at Taco Cabana, our food sitting in front of us, and we were digging in. Except for Larry's mother, who was still trying to explain her 'tummy troubles' in detail. I was shocked when she brought up the 'C' word at the dinner table. 'C' as in 'colon'. I wasn't really sure what my response to all this should be. I took my cue from my future husband and future father-in-law and tried to ignore most of what she said. I would have been too grossed out to eat, otherwise.
I was feeling magnanimous as we went our separate ways for the evening. I wasn't sure that I wanted to go out to eat with my future in-laws again, but I was still in love.
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