I was going to write this all out on paper but then I decided photos would so much easier to explain this. I’m going away tonight! Packing my bags and heading out! Just kidding. I am, however, going out for dinner…which cripples my lovely husband into buying pizza which we niether have the funds for right now nor can my children eat such food. So, I’m making him a step by step meal plan to feed himself and the kids a healthy, fulfilling meal at home tonight.
Pull up your sleeves, lets get in there!
Aaron … read this whole thing first. I know you. You’re going to want to know where things are before you start and then get frustrated. I love you.
First things first – pop the asparagus that I have in the water bath into the steamer (it’s all ready to go), discard the water from the water bath in the sink and set the pan aside – you don’t need either any more. Plug the steamer in and turn the dial to 20 min. You’re done with the asparagus until it’s ready to plate and eat.
Now turn the front right burner on – use this pan (no photo) to melt the butter. (only use about 3 or 4 tbs)
While the butter is melting (on medium heat) cut up the onions – use as much as you’d like … don’t dice them though – you’ll end up with a stir fry when all is said and done so you’ll want some substance to the onion other than taste.
Throw them into the pan and start sauteing them. While that’s happening - Drain the meat I have set out to defrost – pat it dry if possible (use a clean towel and then throw in the wash asap) when they’re relatively dry throw them on top of the onions – brown. Stir ‘em around, have fun.
While that’s getting going you can start to fry your potatoes (if you want them…)
I’d use 3 at most – wash them and cut them up … slices probably. And thin.
Add about 3 tbs butter to this pan and turn the left front burner on medium heat.
Fry those suckers up. Might need to add butter … you make the decision. Add salt and pepper as you see fit.
Insert the spices:
Do Not Use Them All! Smell them and decide for yourself – also … it doesn’t matter how much you use, start small – you can always add when you’re tasting it.
HEY GUESS WHAT!! GOOD THING YOU’RE READING THIS FIRST BECAUSE HERE’S WHERE I TELL YOU TO PRESEASON THE BEEF BEFORE ADDING IT TO THE PAN TO BROWN. Same rules apply, don’t use them all – smell and decide. Have fun.
Continuing on with the beef: here’s where the soy sauce comes in … when the beef is browned and looking yummy throw in some soy sauce – a couple shakes. Don’t over do it, it can over take the dish.
Then quickly add the Pineapple and Green Onions (in fridge).
This last step with the Soy Sauce, Pineapple and Green Onion should only last a couple minutes – maybe 3. You don’t want the pineapple to disintegrate. Just get it in there – stirred up and warm.
Today over on The Pioneer Woman’s photography page she has a Short Depth of Field assignment.
Now, I’m not technical when it comes to photos AT ALL. Something I’m trying to learn more about, but how I take it is this: Short depth of field is a close up with a very defined focus for the photo. Not that I made it sounds any less confusing … but thats how I understand it in my head. Without all the technical terms. So I entered her flickr photo-pool and then compiled some of my favorites through the last couple years for this slideshow.
There are so many people who are way better skilled at this than I am, the photos stuff and who understand the technical side of things and when the two marry – it’s like magic. Really … it totally is. But I just like to take photos, the ones that tell my story.
In the madness that is cleaning out closets I lost the prints I was going to give away at first, ugh! So I’m moving on to another print I found that we’ve never hung. We’re terrible at this.
The print is unframed and measures 16″ X 23″ … go friend yourself to enter for your chance to win!
We bought this print from sfgirlbybay etsy shop owner. Love her stuff!
You guys, I forgot today had anything to do with football. We’re a terrible household in this manner, we are not sport watchers nor do we own any kind of gaming consoles. We just aren’t interested. Would we be? Sure, I guess if we had a Wii we’d play it twice a year, but I don’t have the patience to store and dust that kind of thing for the rest of the year while it sits there staring at me.
We have laptops. They take enough of our time.
And later today I’ll be posting the giveaway on facebook for those of you who might be doing something other than eating wings and watching grown men in tight pants hit each other. Maybe? Are there any other people in my boat?
Until then, here’s a gem of a video of Oliver from our vacation in Florida. I’d rather watch this sport any day.
(if you’re reading this site via an RSS feed or Google Reader or something else, you won’t see the video I’m told … just click through to the site and you’ll be happy … or not, either way, happy reading!)
The sun is shinning and I don’t feel like a car wreck with road rash. SO! I’ve been cleaning the house and teaching Jessica how to dry dishes (and, um, yes … there will be a post about this later, but she LOVES it, helping. It’s like a lightbulb just went on in my head. Feel free to criticize.) and cleaning out closets.
I’ve found many a things I’ve boughten over the years that I never ended up using or hanging so I’m just going to give them away. First up is some art I bought from millymollymandy’s etsy shop (which is now Belle & Boo) for Jessica’s bedroom … um like 2 years ago. Yeah, I still LOVE it but we’re just not going to hang it ever and I’m sure one of you would love to have it.
However, I’m giving it away on the facebook page so for a chance to win it (and those chances are pretty awesome right now) you need to friend yourself. DELURK!
This is all very selfish because I want to see your face and if emptying my closets with giveaways is going to bring you out – then I will.
I’m doing a food demo for my facebook friends … well, my friends. They just happen to also be facebook friends – so click away please, friend yourself.
Here’s the run down and I’m opening it up here, I have room for 2 or 3 more people to join the fun: You’re going to want to be within driving distance to Saugatuck, Mi. It’s free, you bring nothing and there will be wine for your enjoyment while we cook and bake and laugh. HUGS!
We’ll be making:
Appetizer – Curry Dip (for veggies)
Salad – Poppy Seed Dressing
Main Course – Salmon and Grandma’s Secret Sauce (I’m unleashing the recipe)
Dessert – Mocha Torte
Fun and easy snack – Caramel Popcorn
There’s no “side dish” listed here because there won’t be a recipe for the one I’m preparing. It’ll most likely be green. But good. You veggie haters – JUST WAIT!
If you’re interested in delurking and hanging out – comment or email me.
Time and place specifics will be emailed to attendees only. You have until Wednesday to respond for an open spot.
Our house has been a petri dish of germs this past week – it started with my husband coming home early and conking out before dinner … now this happens every so often just from stress etc so I wasn’t too worried but when he woke up the next morning I knew we were dealing with the green guys.
Next came Jessica and Oliver – Jessica missed school a couple days this week, the husband ended up losing his voice and I got run over by a truck and had gravel shoved down my throat.
Oh it was fun. Like buckets of acid being thrown on your face fun!
Thankfully the husband could rework some of his schedule to be home with the kids while I was more worthless than your average box of cereal. Ah snap! WORTHLESS I TELL YOU.
I spent the nights tossing and turning and wishing there was a magical fairy who was coming to take all the pain away so I could just sleep, for 15 minutes, for 5 minutes. Anything would have been nice. Instead I woke up morning after morning worse than the night before.
Whu whu whu.
So this morning I called to get an emergency appointment with the chiropractor so he could break my bones into working again and stop all the madness going on in my head. The Chiropractor we see regularly didn’t have an opening so I made an appointment with another guy in the office.
Now. I’ve written before about how going to the Chiropractor is kinda like being in a really bad porn video. The places they have to touch to test a muscle are not very modest, ok. Since we’ve been going to this particular office I’ve grown in my comfort in addressing this issue with the Chiropractors, it’s all part of the medicine and I’m assured that it’s not just me … it’s other patients too.
So. This new guy today, he had to go there. He had to test some muscles that were not very modest and I’m laying there on the chair thinking about how bad this must look from the outside in.
I’m sweating by this point … through my jeans I’m sweating. On my legs, my back, my armpits. A couple of the fixes he had to perform included my jaw, which meant he had to be leaning over me while I breathed in and out with awful, germish breath and I want to die, ok. I just want to die.
One. You are not the doctor I usually see, so this is just awkward.
Two. THIS IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE. But it works.
Three. Contrary to popular belief; I am modest.
We adjusted the supplements I’ve been taking for the blood sugar marathon and I got some tips as to how to avoid throwing my body into this revolt again so I feel like we’re on the upswing. We better be, at least. I’ve got a busy week ahead of me and there is not room for gravel or truck accidents on my limbs.
We totally hit the jackpot on personality with our kids. Jessica is our drama with a side of seriousness that makes your heart melt and Oliver is our goof with a lovers smile … this ones all about Oliver.
The stories I remember loving as a child are the ones I was told about my own parents childhood memories. Also I loved stories about myself as a baby or younger self. I loved to hear them over and over and over again.
I still love to hear about my parent’s childhoods – they were so starkly different than my own and now as we “write” the stories of our children’s lives … the difference is even greater.
Clothes. That one word is what brought this whole conversation on in my head.
My grandma would make my mom and all her sisters a dress for the first day of school and they’d all get to buy a new pair of shoes – which also had to be worn on Sunday’s.
One new dress. They also all got one more new dress come Easter time. (Right mom? I’m not making this up am I? I’m pretty sure thats how the story goes, comment away! Do tell!)
When I was younger we made a HUGE deal about school shopping – we’d get in the Ford Aerostar Minivan circa 1989ish and drive ALL THE WAY to Grand Rapids (an hour away) to hit up the big shopping mall. And the Payless.
We each got a couple of new outfits and a pair of shoes or two.
Now, shopping with my kids? I actually don’t get into it that much, when they need a size up in pants or a couple of shirts I hit up Target or WalMart or the local consignment store. I love second hand shopping for our clothes because it saves so much money – but tonight as I was going through my GoogleReader I came across a store that was targeted directly at my 5 year old.
The only store that was targeted towards me when I was shopping with my mom was the candy store and the toy store.
Don’t worry, this isn’t a rant … it’s just odd to me. I’ve been in a mall as an adolescent and the only store I was interested in was the Claires or the coffee shop with the cute boy working behind the counter. And now I’m in a mall and I’m interested in the chain stores for their clothing or the baby stores for their clothing.
I haven’t yet walked into a mall and specifically been interested in a tween store, one that I could shop at for my child and actually buy something in her size. It’s a little bit sad. Another chapter done.
We don’t have pets but my husband and I both grew up with them. We often get asked why we don’t have a dog for the kids … For The Kids. Which just kills me because that is a ridiculous statement in my book. One: The “kids” are 5 and under – they can’t even wipe their own butts and you want me to get an animal that needs tender, love and care FOR them. I would like to rub your nose in poo for suggesting this to me. Two: Having a pet does not instantly teach a child how to care for something or automatically give them responsibility.
And Three: We have chosen to have humans, not animals, live in our house. They take up enough of my time with feeding, cleaning and picking up after them. Adding another breathing soul to the mix with lots of hair makes me want to pull mine out.
Plus I think they stink and having them inside of a house kinda makes my skin crawl, if you want me to be honest. I know that I don’t clean my floors often enough to warrant all the extra hair and stink of an animal running about.
My dad, though, loves dogs. LOVES them. He has always had one and they really are a mans best friend. I get it, I enjoy visiting animals and I love watching my kids interact with them … but I still don’t want to own one. Now, my dad is an airline pilot so he’s gone an awful lot of the time and when he’s home he loves to have his trusty companion at his side.
This was a first though, this past week my dad came into town to visit us and brought Dotty along. Inside of my house. All the way in, all the way down, on my carpet.
After the initial shock of a hairy animal in my house that I didn’t recognize as something I would ever open my door to … it finally hit me that this was Dotty which meant my dad must have arrived. The kids were understandably beside themsevles with excitement.
A DOG! A BALL! INSTANT GAME FOR HOURS!
This went on for a while but was very short lived once I got the camera out … Dotty doesn’t like the big black thing next to my eye clicking at her. I can see why.
But she’s a beautiful dog with all kinds of love to give.
And it felt a little funny having a dog in my basement on my carpet. Partly natural and party very unnatural. Jessica was a bit more timid about having an animal in her personal space where Oliver couldn’t get enough of telling Dotty to fetch and then sit and then NO! for no real reason.
But you can bet I cleaned all my floors instantly to make sure there was no lingering hair or smell. It doesn’t matter to me how clean it is, it’s still a dog … in my home. And no. Just, no.
Also, we’re almost certain Oliver is allergic to dogs and cats so putting him up close and personal with one for an extended period of time was a little un-canning to me but he survived. We all did. And we even enjoyed it a bit.
