Mixed Breed

I like to cook.  I love the mixing and the motions that go into making something yummy.  Creating with food is rewarding.  I mean, I get nothing soulful from spaghettios in the microwave other than easy clean up, less time in the kitchen and processed awesomeness. And, you?  I would like to report that I have a steadfast scientific art to meals in our home, but I don't.  Yes, in my secret life of "Meghan the Great", I  would mimic the handful of friends I have who grade out  beyond rockstar. I have friends who plan their meals and grocery lists on a monthly basis.  I have friends who are utterly wicked freaktastic at clipping coupons and stockpiling like motha truckas.  I even have a friend who has pre-made homemade pancake mix in mason jars with the recipe twined around the top for guests who visit her family's home.  Coincidentally, her handwriting happens to be on the recipe card above.

And, I LOVE THESE FRIENDS.  I look up to them.  They inspire me to be more intentional.  More connected to our family's money and what it provides to the nourishment of our bodies.  On running a family fluidly, I am a mutt of sorts. I am.  I absolutely love the German Shepard pedigree status of creator/artist that I am.  But, I totally cross bred that gift with a scattered/semi-composed/quasi organized Chihuahua down the road.  Ewww, right?  I am but a fledgling in the "art of planned".  How about that for an oxymoron?  I aim to work on it.  I do.  Scratch that.  I am working on it.  S    l    o   w   l   y.

This recipe is one of my all-time easy favorites.  I beam each time I make it.  My taste buds bounce right out of my mouth just thinking about this concoction.  My sweet homegirl, Trisha, first made this dish for me at my house.  Allow me to explain how rockstar she is.  She and her daughter, Camdyn, came to stay with Eli and me the weekend before I was due to have Casey.  {I was big.  I was CAP LOCK PREGGERS. ABOUT TO POP IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.  Go here for a looksee.}  That particular weekend Kenny, along with Trisha's husband and 11 other men, were on their annual cabin retreat.  Trisha took it upon herself to bring Camdyn down to stay with us just to make sure we were okay.  She drove 4.5 hours with a 22 month old and had a car LOADED with groceries to cook for us for the weekend so that I didn't have to. {And, she left me recipe cards for each meal she cooked.}   What the what?  I know.  That, my friends, is called friendship & compassion in action.  She will forever rank as one of my role models in so many ways.

I beam because this dish is freakin' awesome to taste.  It has fresh cilantro.  Need I say more?  Yes.  You garnish the dish with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese.  Um, I need a moment.       There.  I'm back.  I love this concoction because it's healthy too. I like LOVE donuts as much as the next doll, but I clock in overtime on things that I know my body deserves.  Good food makes me feel good.  Wine does too.  Moderation peeps.  

But, honestly, I would say the high marks this meal receives is for the memory it signifies each time that I make it.  I think about Trisha.  I think about her character and her selfless heart.  I think about a grocery laden car with a 22 month old and 4.5 hours just to help me.  To make my life a little easier.  Safer.  Just in case.  It's these people that I praise God for.  Not just then, but now too.  Those people that aren't necessarily a part of your everyday, but in your every now & again that provide a pillar of strength to you.  Through their outstretched arms and God given gifts, they press in upon your heart.  They make you more.  And, they don't even realize it.  It's just them. I am thankful for these connections.  I'm thankful for God's placement of so many outstanding characters in my walk here on Earth.  Through them, I learn so much about His love.  The Chihuahua in me is ever grateful for my homegirl, Trisha.

Black Bean & Salsa Noodle Soup

• 3 cans (14 oz. each) vegetable broth
• 1 jar (16 oz.) salsa
• 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained. (I use 2)
• 1 can (11. oz.) whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 package (5 oz.) Japanese curly noodles or spaghetti noodles
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon lime
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

1.  Heat broth to boiling in large sauce pan.  Stir in remaining ingredients except cheese.  Reduce to medium heat.

2.  Cook 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally until noodles are tender. Sprinkle with cheese.

6 servings
220 calories
2 grams of fat
8 grams of fiber
0 mg cholesterol


.mac :)

I have an addiction.

And, so badly I want a ramekin of sea salt and this bar just to go one louder.

You know, like Fun Dip?

Good gaw, get this piece of sin out of my house quickly.

I think I might even be growing horns. 

{chocolate ones with salty tips}

Yum, 

.mac :)

Bestest

An orangey crush,

plip plopped & hopped,

-right-into-my-buggy-

A vibrant and quite joyous way of spending $5.00 if you ask me.

Bursting with flavor, I eat them.

And my nose is so abundantly full.

I loosen my happy to its next belt notch and just smile.

Flowers

For what?

For nothing.

And those are the bestest of kinds.

Bestest?

Yes, bestest.

For when beauty & budget marry, made up words are a must.

For me.

$5.00

frugal |ˈfroōgəl|adjectivesparing or economical with regard to money or food.• simple and plain and costing little : a frugal meal.

Life's pleasures will always find their way into my buggy.Be careful not to let frugality starve you of the simple joys.
There's always another notch.That's the bestest part.
.mac :)

Berry Happy

Early morning sun twinkled through my Holly Hobby curtains. Its warmth snickered me out of my bed and onto better things. With nightgown and barefeet, I would tenderly and ever-cautiously deal with the creek-whining of the backporch screen door maneuvering its old age long enough to find my feet on the handcut patio stones. It was time.

Sneaky and anxious, nightgown hoisted just above my knees to avoid the morning dew, my barefeet barreled to the end of my house just outside the garden gate as well as my bedroom window.

It was time.

My nightgown as a simple maskeshift basket, I picked.
I ate.
As fast as those ripe red rubies could find my lips, I was blissfully consumed.
Tossing remaining leaf bundles this way and that, down the rows I would go.
Dirt smushing between my toes like cake batter to my moist feet, I troddled along determined to not leave one, not one, behind.

With belly full, enough in my basket for the makings of sweet milk in my cereal, and the most crimson smeared lips and cheeks of Estill Springs, I made my way back inside.

Muddy footprints. Grass blades sparkling. I was ready for my day to begin.

It is time.
I love strawberries to say the least. And May is prime time in Tennessee for strawberry pickin'.

Above is a Strawberry Pretzel Salad I made last week. The recipe is very simple and utterly divine. Kenny has now named this his most favorite dessert I make. The man eats it out of the pan with his fork in clear concise, clean rows.

Leaving Casey and myself to "plate up" if you will. How did I ever give birth to a son who DOES NOT like strawberries? I have no idea.

Eli's aversion to the berry of my heart...

Hmmm. I think I will blame this one on Aunt Kristi and Aunt Kim.

This week I made Strawberry Napoleon. Yummy. The phillo dough gave it a more whimsical puffy vibe.

And the rest of the strawberries were gobbled up by one sweet Casey face and his mama. That boy and I sat on the back porch with basket in hand and did what I loved to do best when I was a little girl.

Determined to leave not one, not one, behind.

And we didn't.

They didn't last more than 2 days each week we have had them.

Eli Garrett is off visiting Nana and Papaw for a few days.

Casey McGill and I have an adventure planned for tomorrow.

Bet you can guess what it is.

Muddy footprints. Grass blades sparkling. I am ready for my day to begin.

.mac :)

I know, I know!

It's obvious by this previous rambling that I have an obsession.

It is nothing short of bitter sweet.

Publix.

Ahhh, just the way that word rolls off my tongue brings me such joy.

This establishment is, without a doubt, the couture of grocery getting.

It's prices ARE higher.

To all you grocery gamers out there, I hear you loud and clear:

"You could shop here and save if you played our game!"

And I will, sweets.

Just as soon as I receive a hands-on tutorial session with one of my best gal pals.

You see, I am a visual learner.
I gotta see it and touch it and then do it.

Nope.

No, TAG (talented and gifted) classes for me in my younger years.

I was the mousy dishwater blond with the homemade hair bows sitting at her desk totally confused as to why Mrs. Schramm thought I needed to have a slant to my cursive writing when clearly my strokes were perfect.

She kept coming by and turning my paper the opposite way I naturally desired for it to go.

Did she not understand the woes of a left hander?

So I wrote cursive with NO slant and obviously a wee bit thick headed when it came to conceptual learning.

But Grocery Game or not, TAG or not, I GET that...

Publix rocks!

And their bakery is my favorite.


These yummies came home with me Friday afternoon. A half pound of sweet succulent salvation to my taste buds.

They're gone.

Poor guys.

Didn't even make it a full weekend.

Poor guys.

They didn't even get one.

Poor guy.

He only got one.

Me?

I ate the rest.


I miss you, my sweet crunchy, creamy friends all rolled up and dipped.

Until we meet again,
.mac :)

Sweet Surprises

Santa's spent,
The elves are bone dry,
Holly, Jolly, Jolly,
The bills are stacked sky high.

Oh January!
I long to like you so,
I want to enjoy your timing,
Alas, after Christmas...we got no flow.

But what to my wondering eyes should appear?
A check in the mail addressed to here!

One hundred eighty-five duckets and ninety-two little rocks...

Escrow overage, baby.
That's right.
Never to doubt again...that Santa: he never stops!

.mac :-)

Prilly, Prilly Princess

I'm not high maintenance.

Just ask Kenny.

I have never really been a girl that needs to have her pamper gotten every 5 seconds.

I don't whine.

There is not much that I require other than coffee in the morning and my hair appointment every 7 weeks. Even though this is even evidence that the latter of these two isn't always a necessity.

* I sleep in raggedy jammies and it doesn't bother me.
* I can sleep lotsa hours or a little and I am good.
* I can stay up late and get up early.
* I am not a picky eater.
* I am not the least bit selective when it comes to activities our family does. From mud digging to the movies is all fine by me.
* I don't require name brand clothing.
* It is not mandatory that Kenny rub my back or draw my bath or even pour my glass of wine.


Generic is okay.
Goodwill is even better.
I think I am even pretty good at making a little go a long way.

I preface this post with the above only to say that the buck of low maintenance stops right here.

I have found a high dollar haven and I am hooked.

I have tried to turn my cheek on this paradise, but I can't. I go there by myself for no reasons other than to look around, absorb the friendly service and himandhaw over which of the 4 cookies selections I would like as their complimentary treat to customers.

I know I just said I go there by myself.

Really? I know what you are thinking.


It's not that I do it often, but boy, do I relish in my time when I do fly solo into this blissful establishment.

What in the world is this place you ask?

My place of relaxation and refuge

That's right folks. A grocery store.

I told ya I wasn't high maintenance...it don't take much for this girl to get her skirt all Marilyn Monroe like, huh?

I am a Monday Wal-mart shopper. Every week the boys and I make our trek to the mecca of cost cutting.

And I don't wanna anymore.

I want Publix.

And I want it bad.

Publix is my pedicure simply put.


Why?

Baked Goods
- Their breads are made fresh daily with a plethora of "Panera" type selections. And might I mention, equisitely designed cakes.

Drugs
- Their pharmacy offers certain prescription drugs free of charge. Casey was prescribed Amoxocillin just last week and his doctor informed me that if I went o Publix the prescription would be filled free of charge: and sure enough, it was!

Treats
- Yeah, it's worth another reminder: 4 cookie selections to choose for their "shopping guests"

Hands On
- a huge kiosk with the banner above it that reads: "Bring your family back to the table" where recipes are being cooked right before your eyes so that you may answer questions, see the assembly and cooking, and of course, pick up all the needed ingredients right there.

Friendly Smiles
- The customer service is impeccable. I have yet to enter the store and exit without at least 3-4 employees asking me if I needed any help our how I was doing today. One time, an employee trucked all the way across the store to get an item for me just so that I wouldn't have to with the boys.
- They want to take your groceries out and load them for you with no tip. I mean seriously.

Advertising
- And finally, their slogan: "Where Shopping is a Pleasure."

Their prices are a tad high, but I am finding there are things that are significantly cheaper than Wal-mart.

Produce--cheaper
Cheese--cheaper
Ham--cheaper

They offer weekly specials that could also help my high maintenance argument. I think if I work on cutting coupons then perhaps I can make this meal gathering transition from the High Cut Brief Hanes Her Way of shopping to the Victoria Secret ruffled panty experience.

I sure hope so.

Kenny thinks I am delusional. He has never stepped foot into a Publix though.


Once he experiences this boutiqueness of grocery getting, perhaps he will change his tune.

Like I said earlier, I'm not high maintenance. But can't a girl have the glitter glam wheels on her grocery cart from time to time?


I think so. I mean, I only want the best for my family. Yeah, that's it.

Where Shopping is a Pleasure...

.mac :-)

Oh Holy Night!

Good Gaw! These things are sent straight from heaven! Yeah, those morsels of sweet swirly goodness and crystal sugar crunch that you see up there: The Candy Cane Hershey Kiss.

Oh sweet Lord, they are divine.

I received some this week as part of a gift. These loverlys were all snuggled up in a monogrammed covered drink cooler alongside of their cousins: The original Hershey Kiss and Hershey Hugs.

No, I am going to go ahead and tell it like it is, ladies. I am not one for chocolate. Nope. I pick Starbursts over chocolate ANY DAY, sisters...ANY DAY, I say.

So, peering inside my new cup, I went straight for the Hugs. Cause if I am going to eat chocolate, it's gonna be white, okay?

Allow me to list my chocolate priorities:

1. No chocolate and a big fat bag of Starbursts.
2. White Chocolate
3. Milk Chocolate with almonds
4. Milk Chocolate
5. Dark Chocolate

So, I did my thing with the Hershey Hug. On my way in for the 2nd hug, it happened. Mistaken identity. In the low lit ambiance of the restaurant I unwrapped a foreign chocolate and popped it in my mouth.

It was the above picture. And after one bite, I think I heard the cherubims from above singing, I kid you not.

It has it all. The refreshing although not overkill peppermint taste, the creamy buttery white chocolate sensation and then of course, the best part of all...the tiny crystal crunch of purely divine sugar bite-bites. I mean I compare this sugar crystal crunch to one of my other favorite treats, the Chili's frozen strawberry margarita...colored sugar coated around your glass rim? Need I say more?


WOWZERS. I love this candy.

And wouldn't you know it, my smorgasbord of candy treats only left me with a small handful of these dreamboats for my mouth.

The next day they were toast. Gonners. "GET IN MY BELLY" good.

Which left me with yesterday in detox and doing everything in my power to practice self restraint from jumping in my car with the kiddos in tow looking like Cruel la De ville after the herd of Dalmatian puppies. But they weren't' puppies, they were my crystal sugary goodness bite-bites. Cruel la and that hair and that long cigarette. Her face irritated and aggressively desperate for those puppies...my bite-bites!

Yeah, I was a crack feen for these yesterday.

I withheld and coached myself through it only to go into great detail to Kenny when he got home from work about these yum-yums.

He listened.
And then replied with, "I've had them before. There not that good."
To which I immediately put my hands over my ears and sang the LaLaLa song cause I knew he was delusional.

Today was a doozie. My boys. My sweet angels...

If I hear one more "NO" at the top of his lungs from my Casey face or see one more act of physical viloence from Eli towards Casey and vice versa...I AM GOING TO SCREAM!!!!!

Today, I should have worn my black and white striped baby doll shirt...cause all I did was ref.

And no one won the stinkin' game. No one.

UUUGGHH.

As both children are crying that fake melodramatic shrill cry/scream at the top of the stairs, I walk into the kitchen to unload the dishes for the umptyelventyhundedth time. Counting to way more than ten and simultaneously praying no doubt.

When in walks Kenny from work.

Great. I think. Way to help your husband feel relaxed after a long day at work: have him enter into Hellapoolooza 2008.

HE walks over to me. Swivels me around and gives me a huge hug and a smacker on the mouth. He smiles at me real big and then whips out...

MY HAPPY BITE-BITES!!!

And, I have been eating them non-stop ever since. I think I have truly eaten over a half a bag just since this afternoon.

Kids? Ummm, yeah. They don't get any of these.

Kenny even said to them, "Those are mommy's treats. Don't ask her for any. They are not yours."

I love him. I do.

Cause I am not giving any of these to them. Not sharing. Nosirree.

Oh this night has been so holy. Holy as my cherabims swirl around me while I pop one after another of these tasties into my mouth.

Obviously, for me, it's the little things, huh?

Little things AND giving stuff away!!!

Today is the day. The day to announce who won!

Well, it pays to play. Because all of you will be receiving one of k.Mac's hand poured soy candles! And the best part for us, your names will each be written on the card that we send with a check from k.Mac to the Special Olympics for a portion of the total cost of each candle.

k.Mac's new Sunshine for the Soul Home Goods line gives a portion of every purhcase to charity.

That makes number 5 on my 25 Acts of Kindness list!

You sisters send me your address and scent of choice and a little Santa goodie will be arriving at your doorstep very soon!!

Who knows. There might be something else DELICIOUS too. Wonder if I could find a good candy treat?

"Tis the season to be jolly. Falalalalalala..."

You hear'em singin?


.mac :-)

p.s. This sweet act of kindness was Kenny's #4!