Roasted Cauliflower & Orzo Salad

I love being back in the cooking grove again! Tony and I went to Earth Fare today and they had chicken and steak on sale. We decided to make the rib eye for dinner. We just used a spicy marinade and cooked it on the stove over low heat. For the sides, I found the recipes in Martha Stewart's Everyday Food.

Roasted Cauliflower with Goat Cheese and Lemon

I recommend adding more goat cheese to this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 large cauliflower cut into florets,

1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon EVOO

1 tablespoon parsley

1 tablespoon crumbled goat cheese

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Salt

Pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425. In medium bowl toss cauliflower and 1 tablespoon EVOO. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on a rimmed banking sheet. Roast until tender and spotted brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool for five minutes.

Put cauliflower in a large bowel. Add parsley, goat cheese, 1 teaspoon EVOO, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Toss and season with salt and pepper.

Serves 4.  122 calories, 6 grams of fat, 6 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, and 15 grams of carbs.

Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad

This makes A LOT! I cut the recipe in half and it still is too much for me and Tony. The only recommendation I have here is to not use as much lemon juice as the recipe asks for. I forgot the Basil which I am sure would have added a lot more flavor.

Ingredients:

6 medium zucchini, diced

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 pound orzo

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

5 cups corn kernels (from 6 ears corn)

1 small red onion, chopped

1 jalapeno, seeded and diced

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 3 lemons)

1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

4 ounces feta, crumbled (2 cups)

Directions:

Place zucchini in a colander and toss with salt. Place colander in sink and let sit 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook orzo according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking; transfer to a large bowl.

In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Add corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 4 minutes. Add to pasta along with zucchini, 3 tablespoons oil, onion, jalapeno, and lemon zest and juice; season with salt and pepper. Stir in basil and feta. Transfer 4 cups salad to an airtight container; refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Serves 6. Calories 330, Fat 10 grams, 12 grams of protein, 52 grams of carbs, and 5 grams of fiber.

10 Year Wedding Anniversary

Last Thursday was our 10 year wedding anniversary. It is a rare occasion when Tony gets me flowers. I prefer not to spend the money on it since we grow our own roses. I was surprised when there was a huge, beautiful bouquet of flowers sitting on my desk when I got back from a meeting. It had my favorite flowers in it - lilies and Gerber daisies.

We did not have our vow renewal on the beach in Aruba like originally planned but Tony is here and alive and that is what counts. We still wore the outfits we bought for our vow renewal out to dinner. After Tony's accident I emailed Bahama Breeze to see if they could help us out with reservation - They do not accept reservations. I told them what happened to Tony and that we were supposed to be in Aruba for our anniversary but a deer had different plans for us. The staff at Bahama Breeze was amazing. The head chef helped personally design a menu for me and Tony.

When we arrived on Thursday they had flowers on our table and a nice candle. Our personalized menus were on the table. They blocked off an entire section of the restaurant for us so we could have our private dinning. The food at Bahama Breeze is always amazing and so are the drinks! It was the perfect anniversary dinner.

After dinner we went home to relax for the evening. Tony also bought chocolates for after dinner. Not like we could fit anything else in! We normally do not get each other gifts on our anniversary since we take a trip. Tony felt bad this year for me since I had to take care of him after his accident that caused us to miss our Aruba trip and my birthday was spent in the hospital. Tony surprised me with spa treatments.

We went through our wedding photos and pictures from our first year of marriage. Wow does time go by fast. It was a lovely evening and I look forward to many anniversaries that have yet to come.

My First Earthqauke

Yesterday while I was at work the whole building started shaking. I had to grab onto my drink so it would not tip over. I sit on the 14th floor of one of the sky scrapers in downtown Raleigh. It was pretty scary not knowing what was going on. For a second I really thought there was something wrong with our building and it was going down. If the shaking had gone on for another few seconds I probably would have pissed myself. After the shaking was over with I realized it was an earthquake - in North Carolina! I am glad no one was harmed during this event. The earthquake happened in Virgina about 2.5 hours away. The earthquake in Virgina measured at a 5.8. One of my friends from Japan that has experienced many earthquakes estimates we felt around a 3.0 - 3.5. At least next time I feel an earthquake I will know what it is and not be scared the building is going down!

Chicken with Goat Cheese Vinaigrette & Creamy Parmesan Orzo

This dinner was so fabulous! I never made orzo before and also found this great chicken recipe in Real Simple magazine. Orzo is really easy to make and this recipe tastes wonderful. So many flavors in these recipes. It was a party in my mouth. HA! I recommend doubling the vinaigrette dressing. It is so good! The chicken did not call for any marinade. I did marinate it in Tastefully Simple's Balsamic and Basel dipping oil. It did add extra flavor. I served it with focaccia bread and steamed broccoli topped with Parmesan cheese. Tony normally adds BBQ and hot sauce to every thing. I think it takes away from the spices I add to meals. This meal he did not have to and enjoyed every bite. 

Creamy Parmesan Orzo

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup orzo

1 1/4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

1 1/4 cups water

1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 teaspoons pine nuts, toasted

 

Preparation:

Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add orzo, and cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in broth and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until liquid is absorbed and orzo is done (about 15 minutes). Remove from heat; stir in cheese, basil, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with the pine nuts. Serve immediately.



Orzo



Chicken With Goat Cheese Vinaigrette

 

Ingredients:

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (1⁄2 cup)

4 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts, split horizontally

kosher salt and black pepper

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine ⅓ cup of the olive oil, the parsley, and crushed red pepper; fold in the goat cheese.

Season the chicken with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. In a large skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the chicken until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve with the orzo and goat cheese vinaigrette.



Chicken marinated in the Balsamic and Basel dipping oil



The final products! YUMMY

Concert Fun

We went with our friends to see Journey in concert. With Tony's injuries we were pushing it a little.

Wine Cork Cage

I found this fun wine cork cage at total wine. It should look pretty neat once I start filling it with wine corks. Only problem is I see this as a challenge now.

Cream Cheese Crab Sushi Rolls

Tony got a little ambitious this weekend and wanted to try to make his own sushi. I do not eat seafood so he was on his own looking for recipes. I bought Tony every thing he needed to attempt to make sushi. Some how I knew going into this it would be a challenge for him. He is no Bobby Flay and gets frustrated easily when it comes to cooking. I do have to say when it was all done I was pretty proud of him.

The recipe is below. We did make a few modifications. Tony does not like cucumbers so he put avocado on it instead. He made me a vegetarian roll with cucumber, avocado, cream cheese, and carrots. Hint for the cream cheese - if it gets too soft to cut length wise put it in the freezer for a few minutes. For our first ever sushi experiment it turned out pretty well. I made Pad Tia noodles on the side.

Cream Cheese and Crab Sushi Rolls
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes Ready In: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked white rice – sushi rice!
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
2 sheets nori seaweed sheets
1/4 cucumber, peeled and sliced lengthwise
2 pieces imitation crab legs
1/2 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, sliced
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root

Directions:
1. Cook rice according to directions on the package. Stir in rice vinegar and salt. Allow to cool completely.

2. Lay out seaweed sheets. Moisten hands with water, then spread the rice evenly on each sheet, leaving a 1/2 inch gap along one edge, lengthwise. Arrange strips of cucumber, imitation crabmeat, and cream cheese in a straight line along the side opposite of the gap. Roll the sushi from the toppings to the exposed end of the seaweed sheet.

3. Using a sharp wet knife, slice each roll into 5 or 6 pieces. Serve with minced ginger on the side.

 
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=169856&origin=detail&&Servings=2

BBQ Turkey Breast

I made this the other weekend. I had a Shady Brook Farm turkey breast in the freezer I bought on sale for $5.68. I dethawed the turkey and put it in the slow cooker. I topped the meat with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce. It only took about three hours to cook all the way through on low. Shred the meat, top with more BBQ sauce, and serve. Super easy, super healthy, and cheap! I served it with a side of Pasta Roni and rye bread. You can also turn it into BBQ sandwiches.

Tony's Says Good-Bye to his Baby

We went to Harley on Saturday and stripped the bike of the custom parts. Tony sends his baby off.

Job, Accident, and Vacation Updates

This week I was transferred to the integration team as a project manager at work. I still have to perform my regular job duties as well. This new role I will also be assuming is going to be an awesome experience and great for my resume. We basically are building a new bank and I am part of it. So happy. My work has been so amazing too with all the support they gave me during Tony's accident.

Tony is back a work now. We are lucky he has a desk job or he would be out of work for a really long time. He is not as tired as he used to be. We were able to go out to dinner this past weekend. I have to do the yard work for another month and a half. With yard work and housework it is really exhausting!

We decide to go to Florida in October when Tony should be feeling much better. It is not Aruba but it will do for now. We may also take a long weekend somewhere local but are not sure where yet.

Searching for a Hobby

I have been trying to find a new hobby for Tony and me to do together since he will not have a motorcycle any more. We already walk and hike together and probably could do it more often once he is feeling better. I would love to get a small camper but even those cost quite a bit of money. Boating would be fun but again…money. I searched online for ideas. Wow is there some stupid things out there.

Poetry…excuse me while I vomit.

Pottery…really it cannot be nearly as sexy as they make it look in the movies. One moment a couple is making a clay pot together, then it is in the shape of a cock, and then they are making love…really…not happening.

Candle making…Am I sure I am still reading a list of hobbies for couples? Sure am and I do not think cancel making is on Tony’s list.

Basket weaving…are they serious with this?

I would love to take cooking classes together but those are hard to come by where we live. Better yet it would be awesome to come home from work one day to find Tony experimenting with a new recipe that does not come out of a box.

I wish Tony would give karate a try so he could join with me. He tends to think we are a bunch of dorks.

Other things we do together that are listed as hobbies include, movie watching, board games, snorkeling, travel, and weight lifting. Even though this website lists these as hobbies for couples I really see these as random activities in our lives rather than hobbies. Still searching for a hobby for us. Any suggestions?

Good-Bye Harley

All State declared Tony's Harley a total loss. They are sending us a check for the value and Saturday Tony and I will go to the local Harley dealer and pull off all of his after market items. We should not come out too bad after selling the parts and the money we are getting for the bike is more than we owe. It will take care of his medical bills and then the rest can get shoved in the savings account. I am so glad we have good medical insurance.

Tony keeps progressing with his recovery. He is gaining back the use of his left arm. He cannot lift anything with the arm right now but it is good to see he is getting some range of motion. We went for a walk last night. Only made it a few blocks before he became tired. It is slow progress.

Helmets Save Lives

In North Carolina we have a helmet law. When Tony and I lived in WI we never wore helmets. Stupid, I know. After Tony's accident we are so thankful to have a helmet law in NC. Without his helmet I am sure he would have been dead or severely brain damaged. Not one place on his face was injured - not even a scratch.

Side view of the helmet. Notice the third skull is scratched off.

Front view of the helmet.

Tony's Surgery

Thursday Tony went to see my orthopaedic doctor for a second opinion on his collar bone. Friday he went in for surgery to repair it. We are so happy the doctor wanted to operate. Tony's biggest fear was his collar bone not healing properly and being deformed. By fixing his collar bone it will help his shoulder blade heal better as well.

So my birthday present on Friday was Tony getting fixed up. I cannot complain since he is alive and getting better.

Saturday was a difficult day for Tony. The morphine wore off and he was in a lot of pain even on his pain medication. Around 1 PM a power grid went out and we were without power for 2.5 hours. It was over 100 degrees outside. We were very lucky our house did not heat up that badly in the time the power was out.

Sunday Tony had a better day. He was able to shower and take off his bandages. Our neighbor brought over BBQ pork ribs and mac and cheese for dinner. It was so nice of her to do that.

I wear a lot of sun dresses around the house and Tony enjoys lifting them up with his cane. Glad even with his pain he still has a sense of humor.

Our trip to Aruba is now canceled. I filed the paper work over the weekend. We are considering going somewhere in November for a long weekend just to get away for a while. He should be in good condition by then for some swimming and relaxing. We just need to figure out where now.

I received the quote from Harley to fix his bike. There is $11,000 in damages. My guess will be our insurance company junks the bike. They are going to look at it sometime this week.

Tony's Motorcyle Accident

Thursday morning I was still at home sick. My boss was letting me work from home so I would not get the rest of the office sick. I had an allergic reaction to both medications I was given so my bronchitis and pink eye are still healing on their own.

A little after 6:30 in the morning my phone rang. Normally I do not answer my phone but given the time of day I got out of bed and picked up the phone. It was a woman who said she was with Tony and Tony was in an accident. Tony took his motorcycle that morning to work. She put Tony on the phone and he was screaming in pain but it just hearing his voice and knowing he was alert helped keep me much calmer than I would have been.

I knew it would take a while for Tony to get to the hospital and a bunch of tests before I could even see him so I went to the bike first on my way to the hospital. I took all of his things out of the saddle bags so no one could steal them. His accident was on the news and advertised to criminals where it was. Even a news helicopter was over him.

When I got to the hospital I really thought Tony would not be in that bad of condition given his bike was not very messed up and since I was able to talk to him earlier. When I was finally able to see him I immediately had to keep strong so I would not scare him. He broke his collar bone, shattered his shoulder blade, his lung collapsed, and he had a lot of road rash. The doctors were still examining him when I was there so I did not know everything at that point but with his screaming I could tell it was not good.

We were at the hospital for four days. A lot happened in that time and most of it is a blur. We had friends that visited Tony and I think it was good for him to laugh with his friends. For the most part we had wonderful nurses that cared for him but there was one bad one that was removed from his case after I had a word with her and her manager.

Sunday we were able to go home. We stopped at Walgreens to get his medication. During that time some piece of trash slammed his car door into mine and dented it. Tony was in the car when it happened. When I confronted the guy about it he denied it and when I asked for an apology he threatened Tony fully knowing I had just picked him up from the hospital. Let me tell you – that instinct for the mother bear to protect her young kicked in. I was ready to do any thing to protect Tony. After a yelling match he finally left. We were in his side of town so of course the people around us would stick up for him. Amazing what type of losers are out there. The man was in his 60’s and still acting like a punk.

Let me tell you Tony and I have some amazing friends. I kept facebook updated on his status. So many people cared. Our Dave mowed our lawn for us. Dave and Greg moved our recliner from upstairs to downstairs. And then moved our loveseat upstairs. Right now the most comfortable thing for Tony is the recliner. So far I have not had to make dinner at all. Our friends are taking turns feeding us. I cannot believe what a relief it is not to have to worry about dinner. I never thought something as small as that would make such a huge difference in our day.

My boss has been letting me work from home while I care for Tony. I really work with some amazing people. I cannot imagine how hard this would be if I had to worry about my job through all of this.

So far right now the nights are the worst. It is hard for Tony to get comfortable while sleeping. I have to wake up twice during the night to give him his medication. I do have to say the funniest part is him wearing an old lady night gown that I bought him. It is light purple with butterflies and flowers on it. I figured it would be the most comfortable thing for him to sleep in and it is. He even admits it.

I will try to keep this blog updated on the progress.

The Start of a Bad Week

Last week I started it out home sick with bronchitis followed by pink eye. Sunday night when I was trying to fall asleep I could not breathe and it was really scary. Tony took me to the hospital where they gave me breathing treatment and helped clear my lungs out. I really did not want to go to the hospital but I was so scared if I fell asleep I would not wake up. We got home around 2:30 in the morning. I am glad it was not pneumonia. I am still recovering from bronchitis over a week later. It keeps getting better a bit each day. I at least have a voice now. What happened later in the week would make all my problems seem so small.

Top 10 Pet Peeves

Another great find from my facebook notes in 2009.

I find many things annoying and decided to write it all down. Yes I may piss some of you off but you all know I tell it like it is.

1) Kids on airplanes. I love parents that medicate their children and teenage girls. Please do not give them noisy toys thinking it will keep them quiet. Then I have to listen to the fricken thing. Please clean up after your kid after he or she craps themselves. No one wants to smell that. I would pay extra to have a child free flight.

2) People that don’t spay or neuter their pets. There is nothing that pisses me off more than this. If you cannot afford to spay or neuter then you don’t belong having a pet. There are low cost spay and neuter programs for those that need help – please do your research and find the program if you need it. Nine to eleven millions of dogs and cats are put to sleep every year because of people that do not spay and neuter. Yeah you would like to have the experience of puppies and kittens but please stop being so fricken selfish. Still feel like you don’t have to spay or neuter…go volunteer in an animal shelter for a few weeks and then tell me if you still feel the same.

3) Bluetooths. I hate bluetooths. Yeah they are nice for driving which I have no problem with but I cannot stand seeing them in people’s ears. Then they walk around the stores looking like they are talking to themselves.

4) Being asked if I would like to open a store credit card. “Would you like to save $4 today by opening a Kohl’s credit card”. You mean would I like to ruin my credit rating for 4 fricken dollars? Hell no and please stop asking me every time I check out.

5) Parents that let their children run wild in stores. Okay so this may be acceptable in Walmart on some occasions but it is NOT acceptable in Ann Taylor. Under no circumstance should children ever be in Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, Macy’s, New York and Company, World Market, Nordstrom, or any other nice store. Any questions about this rule please see my first pet peeve and medicate your children before entering the store doors or just leave them at home with a sitter or your significant other.

6) PJ’s out in public. Please do not wear your PJ’s out in public even if it is to Walmart. You look like crap. Just for Nikki I am revising this to say yoga pants are acceptable.

7) Creepy men with camcorders on the beach. I know you are not recording your wife or your child. Please stop trying to get a shot of boobs when the waves hit…asshole.

8) People that drive slow in the middle lanes on the highway. If you are driving slow stay to the right. I hate having to swerve around you and the other people going somewhat slow in the fast lanes. It is very annoying and I probably will rear end one of you assholes some day. You also slow down rush hour traffic by having you and the other douche bag in the slow lane going the same speed.

9) Overweight people that complain they cannot loose weight but then stuff their faces with doughnuts and French fries. I have nothing against people being overweight but if you are overweight and complain how fat you are and how you can never loose weight and then 10 seconds later you are in the drive thru at McDonalds…stop complaining. Love yourself for who you are or make a lifestyle change. To you f*ckers that created BMI - I did not realize a size 4/6 was over weight. Maybe if I subtract my implants, long hair, and go to the bathroom before I weigh I will be normal. Oh yeah - you pricks do not take weight lifters into consideration.

10) Stupid people – need I say more.

Random Life Lessons

This was in my Facebook account under my notes from 2009. Enjoy!

Random Life Lessons from Laura Hilt.

1. Cellulite does not just appear dimple by dimple. You wake up one morning to find the collagen in your legs turned into a vacuum cleaner.

2. The secret to great skin is to stay out of the sun but yet tans look sexy. I am to embrace porcelain skin after years of tanning.

3. People who don’t think dogs prepare you for children never had my four dogs. They taught me patience, how to care for babies and the elderly, my furniture will always have dings, scratches, and teeth marks, and best of all my house will never be quiet.

4. You can’t fight gravity as you get older unless you have a great plastic surgeon. Never in my life did I think I would own control top panties like my mom and fall in love with Spanx.

5. Nothing is better than wine, popcorn, and a movie with my husband.

6. Seventeen is too young to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life. If I could go back in time I would not choose to be part of corporate America but would choose to help others.

7. People that bad mouth others do so out of their own insecurities. The only view of yourself that matters is your own. Never waste your time on rumors or hurtful comments from others.

8. Complimenting random strangers on their hair or a piece of clothing can put a great smile on their face. Never miss an opportunity to make someone’s day even if you don’t know them.

9. Life is not about waiting for things to happen; it is about getting of your butt and making great things happen.

10. Life is very short. Tell the ones close to you how much you love them because you never know when it will be the last time.

11. You can’t change how people act but you can change how you react to them.

12. The one thing people cannot take away from you is your education.

13. Nothing puts a smile on my husbands face more than a home cooked dinner.

14. The only cure for a hangover is to not drink so much the night before.

15. Southern people are not slow. They (we) take the time to enjoy life and realize how beautiful it is.

16. Road rage is not worth it.

17. The only thing in this world that will be excited to see you every time you walk in the door is your dog.

18. Bad things happen to people. Some worse than others. Rather than having a pity party use the experience to grow and learn from it. Courage happens when we pick ourselves back up and tackle the unknown.

19. An hourglass figure is far more attractive than skin and bones. Of course I say this since some how my ass seems to be related to Jennifer Lopez.

20. Every year I say I will not go shopping on Black Friday and yet every year some store has a too good to be true ad.

My Birthday Gift From Tony

It is amazing how priorities change as I get older. A few years ago I would have asked Tony for a new purse. This year what I asked for is spider vein treatment and Botox. Happy Birthday to me.

4th of July Weekend

This year Tony and I did not go to WI for the 4th of July. It did feel a little strange not being around family this time of year but we did make the most of our weekend.

Friday night we went to First Friday which Raleigh puts on the first Friday of every month. The galleries open up for viewing along with wine, snacks, and discounted specials at local restaurants. This was the first time Tony and I went to this event. We had a lot of fun but the art was not what we expected. It was terrible. We visited art galleries in Palm Springs and Scottsdale in the past and saw amazing art. Raleigh's art tour was put on by people that rented space to display their art. Most of it was so bad and you have to wonder how they price this garbage. I saw one framed art that was three pieces of wall paper in strips and they wanted like $600 for it. Are you kidding me? We did at least find a neat African store and homemade lotions. Tony and I met up with our friends and by that point in the night I had a few drinks in me. They took video of my last fall riding a mechanical bull and now they have video of me hula hooping while buzzed.

Saturday evening I made fondue. The first batch was horrible. I tried a new recipe and the cheese stuck together. My friend and I had to run out and get the ingredients for a different fondue that I made in the past. I did not get any pictures of it but can tell you this German Beer Fondue is really good. After dinner we met up with our other friends to watch the fireworks. The fireworks reminded me of Bill. He always used to volunteer with the fireworks. It was like for a moment in time he was still with us.

Sunday was a grill out at our friend's parent's house. They have a pool so we got a lot of exercise in. We went back Monday for more swimming.

Saturday I found these really cool hanging lights for outside at Ross. They were $6 for 3. I hung them from the trees. I found some items in my house to make glass candle holders. I took sea shells, votive candles, canning jars, ribbon, and sand to make these. It was super simple and the fact it did not cost me any thing was even better. All of the candle light and tiki torches really light up or back yard.



Hanging lights from Ross


German Cheddar and Beer Fondue
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Prep Time: 10 min Inactive Prep Time: -- Cook Time: 12 min Level:
Easy Serves: 4 servings Ingredients

Ingredients: 1 sack, 10 ounces, 2 1/2 cups, shredded sharp Cheddar, available on dairy aisle
1/4 to 1/3 pound, 4 to 6 ounces, Gruyere, shredded
1 rounded tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup German lager beer
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
A few drops hot sauce
A few drops Worcestershire sauce

For Serving:
1 1/2 pounds cubed or thick sliced and browned wursts: knock, brat 
1 package mini party franks (recommended: Boars Head)
1 head cauliflower, separated into florets
1 small jar mini Gherkin pickles, drained
1 small jar pickled onions, available on vegetable aisle
1 small, round loaf rye, pumpernickel or sour dough bread, cubed

Directions:
Combine cheeses in a bowl with flour. Add beer to a small pot and bring up to a bubble over medium heat. Reduce the heat to simmer and add cheese in handfuls. Stir constantly, melting the cheese in batches. Stir in a figure-eight pattern with wooden spoon. When the cheese has been incorporated fully, stir in the mustard, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Transfer fondue to warm fondue pot.

In a large skillet, bring 2-inches of water to a boil and blanch the cauliflower for 2 to 3 minutes, drain and arrange around the fondue pot.

In the same pan, bring the cooking water back to a boil and add the mini franks and sliced wursts. Cook, uncovered until all the liquid has evaporated. Add 1 tablespoon butter to the pan to crisp the casings. Pile wursts and dogs near fondue. Complete the dipping selections with dishes of pickles, onions and cubed bread.

Pan Cooked Rib Eye

I marinated a rib eye steak for Tony overnight using a KC Masterpiece chipotle lime marinade. We always grill steak but since it was raining we had to pan fry it. I never did this before with steak and was a bit nervous how it would turn out. Over medium low heat I added garlic infused olive oil to the pan and one chopped garlic clove. On the steak I sprinkled Tastefully Simple's Every Day Grilling Seasoning, salt, and pepper. I cooked it for five minutes on each side for medium rare. Tony LOVE it. Huge hit for him. Even better was this organic rib eye was only $5 down from $17. A deal my local organic grocery store was doing. I did not do any thing special for the side dish. Just bacon ranch suddenly salad mix. For myself I made veggie corn dogs while Tony enjoyed his steak.

Garage Sale Fun

Who would have thought preparing for a garage sale could be so much fun. Friday night Tony and I were preparing for our garage sale when our neighbors decided to join us in the fun. Later my friend Leigh came over with her items along with a bottle of wine and the fun began. By the time the evening was over with I think we went through two cases of beer, three bottles of wine, and a bottle of whiskey. Leigh and I still had the sale at 7 AM and we think we both were still a little drunk. Tony passed out on our bedroom floor and did not wake up until 4 PM. That is what happens when you run out of beer for beer pong and use whiskey instead. I have not had that many drinks in one night since a crazy night on vacation in Curacao. But we all had fun! I still made $150 from the sale that will go to our Aruba fun money. Now up to over $500 from selling stuff this year.



Me trying on some of Misty's old pageant clothes



The kids dressing Tony up



Tonya decided to be Mrs. Claus



Whose idea was it to do beer pong? Notice all the garage sale items in the back.



Sophia concentrating in beer pong. Jim later put on a bikini top since he lost.

Leigh & Me...going to regret this the next morning.

Thank You Genetics

Yesterday I had my yearly physical done. The last six months I really have been eating healthy. I always have my fruits and vegetables but this go around I started cutting out more processed foods and about a year ago really stopped eating red meat except for the rare occasion. Last year my cholesterol was 298 and that was without fasting. So this year I really was hoping for under 250 with my diet changes and since I was fasting. I also had not eaten meat in two days. High cholesterol is in both sides of my family. Both my grandmothers had bypass surgery, my grandpa died at 61 from a heart attack and most of my relatives have high cholesterol. The results came back the same day. Total cholesterol….272. Well since there really is nothing more I can do to change my diet and exercise I enjoyed a nice juicy steak for dinner. Cheers to genetics.

What is Marriage Really?

What is Marriage?
Marriage simply defined is a union between two people. But ever since we are children we are taught you fall in love, get married, and have kids. You are not taught what it actually means to be a married couple – just the expectations and that number one expectation being children.

Early years child discussions
When Tony and I got engaged 11 years ago we both wanted a family. We both had dreams of a house with two children. After we married that perspective on life began to change. I was still in college when we got married and continued in college for another seven years – something we never expected when we married. Throughout college we both knew children was not an option given I was also working full-time. It was stressful on our marriage since Tony really wanted a family and I wanted advanced education and a career. It did not help the case there was enormous pressure from his family for us to have children right away. It seemed like every week for the first two years of our marriage we were asked when we were having kids.

Tragedy and opportunity has me rethinking children
In 2005 after my brother died I did go through a phase when I thought I really wanted kids but soon realized what I wanted was a replacement for my brother. In 2008 when I finished college Tony and I put kids into our plans. We were looking for a bigger house, getting our finances in order, and then in 2009 I received the phone call for a job working on the largest bank merger in history. Tony and I talked and we knew this was an opportunity I could not turn down. So our plans for children went on hold while I worked on the merger for the next year.

After the merger was complete and I was unemployed, children still seemed to be the last thing on our mind. Some more background is my health. Even if Tony and I wanted children I have issues that would cause it to be difficult. Given what I know about my health I never wanted to get hung up on having a family for fear of a great disappointment if it did not happen.

Somewhere in 2009 and 2010 both Tony and I realized we are perfectly happy without children and the pressure of a family has been lifted. We are able to enjoy nice vacations. We can come and go as we please. We have nothing holding us back from the plans we make as a couple.

Do You Have to Have Kids to Be in a Marriage?
Now that Tony and I made the decision to forgo children it seems even in our current society not having children is taboo. Search childless marriages online and you will pull up loads of articles about people wondering what is wrong with couples that decide not to have children. Childless marriages are frequently referred to as selfish. How is having 10 children or even 1 child you cannot afford any more selfish than not having any? Even worse is I find articles that speculate not having children will send you to divorce court more than having children will. Really? So having children and staying together in an unhappy marriage is better?

Does being married mean you HAVE to have children? The state of Washington seems to think so. In 2006 in an effort to ban same sex marriages (which I support) they denied gays the right to marry because such unions do not further the purpose of procreation. So does this mean Tony and I should not be married because we choose not to procreate? I love that the gay rights groups retaliated by collecting signatures proposing marriage only be allowed in the state of Washington to those that procreate within three years. If not, their marriage will be annulled. Of course this part was only a joke but provides a valid point to gay rights and marriage is more than just having children.

There are a few things I learned over the years with mine and Tony’s decision over children.

1. Never ask people when they plan on having children. It is none of your business. They will tell you if they want you to know.

2. People that choose to be child free are not selfish.

3. Do not pressure your friends to have kids just because you found happiness in it.

4. Be conscious of your facial expressions when someone tells you they do not want kids. I can see that look of disgust or questioning what is wrong with me.

5. Children can be a painful discussion for some. Many childless marriages may have started out wanting children but their bodies fought against it.

6. Don’t be so judgmental. I can easily judge you for contributing to our over populated world as you can judge me for not having kids.

7. The primary reason to marry should be because you love the person you are with. Not because your biological clock is ticking.


So what is marriage really?
Marriage is just simple; the partnership between two people that love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together. Children are not in the definition of a marriage. Marriage is not black and white. It is colorful filled with different types of people, different expectations, and different goals. No one's marriage is the standard template all others must follow. Enjoy what you have with who you are with and do not let any one else tell you different.

Job Status

The announcement was made today about the bank I work for being sold off. It is very nerve racking but after a conversation I had today with a manager there I feel much better. I have five years experience working directly on merger activities and offered up my expertise. He was very happy to hear and right now I feel safe. We do not become the other bank until March next year. Tony and I still are going to be very cautious with our money and save as much as we can if that day does come where I find myself unemployed.

Bank Reunion

Saturday night I had a few people over from my last job. We all found new jobs so we decided to celebrate. We had a great time eating dinner, drinking, and playing corn hole. My awesome friends Greg and Alison stopped over too during the night.

Me, Selena, Cory, and Carol

For dinner I prepared the Greek Turkey Burgers which were a huge hit, salad, dried tomato and garlic pesto with beer bread and baguette slices. Carol brought cheese and crackers. Dessert I made Tastefully Simple's Chocolate Pound Cake. I used applesauce instead of butter to make it low fat but then I added in more chocolate chips. :) I topped if off with Pampered Chef Chocolate Raspberry Sauce, Carol's homemade berry sauce, strawberries, and blue berries.

Steamed Lobster

Earth Fare had lobster tails 2 for $5. I never made lobster before. I checked online and all you have to do is place the lobsters in a pan, add olive oil and bit of water, steam for 8 minutes. I added lemon juice to the pan as well. For the butter I added lemon juice and garlic salt. Super easy and for only costing $5 even better. Tony loved this meal. We had left over pesto with bread and salad with our meal. Of course me not eating seafood I had a left over Greek turkey burger.