Remember the {Lasts}

Someone once told me that we always remember the {firsts}, but always wish we could remember the {lasts}...like the last time your child will ever sit on your lap, the last time your husband kissed you good-bye, the last time you ate your grandma's cooking.  Well...I didn't realize last summer would be a summer of {lasts} and when it hit me it was, like most {lasts}, devastating.  Last year our youngest daughter graduated from high school.  She's a hard worker, just like her sister and brother, so they all worked diligently through the summer in preparation for the fall.  It was a whirlwind summer as we celebrated our first granddaughter's birthday and welcomed a new grandson into the world.  We also planned and executed a wedding in less than a week!  So LOTS of memories were made...but in that whirlwind I didn't remember the {lasts}.  The last night Katy crawled into bed before we retired to chat (she used to do that a lot), the last time Matt would call our house his home (he didn't come home this summer), the last time Treena used her maiden name, the last time I hugged my sister-in-law before she left (I couldn't have survived the wedding without her).  So this summer I vowed 2 things...be present and thoughtful in every day in order to recognize the {lasts} and plan one event where we can escape work and the everyday hassles of life to just focus on US as a family.  I'm sure I've already missed some {lasts} this summer, but I do try!  I'm very much looking forward to the next 5 days of focusing on MY family because time does NOT stand still!

Lake Pend Oreille here we come!

Spanglish Sammies it is!

It's raining outside and definitely getting colder by the day.  Tomorrow I have to travel out of town...DISLIKE.  That coupled with the fact I got a call from a certain college gal crying because she has now submitted 2 rough drafts to her British Lit professor and he's asked her to come up with something new...poor thing!  Anyway, I just want to go home, crank the furnace up {I REALLY need a fireplace for nights like this}, set up the backgammon game and enjoy a good ol' Spanglish sammy with a glass of red wine!  Nothing like comfort food to make a {rainy} day better!

  

Have you seen the movie Spanglish with Adam Sandler?  It's fabulous!  If backgammon isn't your thing, might I suggest trying the sandwich while watching the movie {hmmm.....in fact, maybe THAT'S what I'll do! That is, if Mr. Big agrees?}

World's Greatest Sandwich
from Thomas Keller
makes 1 sandwich

3-4 slices of bacon
2 slices of Monterey Jack cheese
2 slices of toasted rustic country loaf (pain de campagne)
1 tbsp of mayo
4 tomato slices
2 leaves of butter lettuce (yes, it's called butter lettuce)
1 teaspoon butter
1 egg

Preparation:
1. Cook the bacon until crisp, drain on paper towels
2. Place slices of cheese on one side of toasted bread. Place in toaster oven or under broiler to melt.
3. Spread mayo on other slice of bread top with bacon, sliced tomato, and lettuce
4. On non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Fry egg, turning over briefly when the bottom is set (keep yolk runny)
5. Slide finished egg on top of lettuce, top with other slice of bread (cheese-side down genius)
6. Place sandwich on plate and slice in half, letting yolk run down sandwich

There's nothing like a good book when the weather starts turning and a fire, cup of hot cider and the couch beckon, so I just had to share this little gem...

I loved this story that crosses between past and present...a glimpse into the life of a single mom during the Depression, loves lost and found again and Seattle-past & present.  The book had depth and depicted 2 women of courage, grace and profound love.  An excellent read!

WIN TICKETS to Steelers v. Broncos!

I LOVE football!  I think I like it MORE the older I get!  So when I saw that Troy Polamalu was giving away his tickets I was ALL OVER IT!   Please forgive me for USING this space to win!  Maybe you should enter too!

Want to win 2 free tickets to the Steelers v Broncos SNF game on the September 9th? Troy Polamalu is giving them away. Check it out http://troypolamalu.lockerdome.com/articles/99992747

Peppers to Poppers!

Here's a recipe I modified from one I found on Pinterest.  These poppers were loved by even my pickiest pepper-hating hubby!  I used the Tastefully Simple products instead of messing with frying up bacon and onion...and I think they were more tasty than the original version!  Even better, they are just 1 point each if you're doing Weight Watchers!

Ingredients:
15-18 small sweet peppers (Costco!)
8 oz. Neufchatel cream cheese 
Juice from 1 lemon
1-2 T. Bacon Bacon! (Tastefully Simple)
1 T. Fiesta Party Dip Mix (Tastefully Simple)
1/2 T. Wahoo! Chili Seasoning (Tastefully Simple)
1 T. Onion Onion! (Tastefully Simple)
3/4 c. Panko bread crumbs
2 T. melted butter


Slice the peppers in half lengthwise removing the stem and any white membrane and seeds and arrange on a cookie sheet.  

Combine the cream cheese, lemon juice and Tastefully Simple products and stir to creamy.  Fill each of the peppers with the cream cheese mixture.

Then combine the bread crumbs with the melted butter and mix well.  Dip the filled pepper halves into the cheese mixture cheese-side-down.  


Then place the peppers back on the cookie sheet, cheese-side-up.  

Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes until the crumbs are golden brown and peppers are soft.  Enjoy!

Freezer Meal Workshop!

I love to cook, but sometimes life gets the best of me and I find myself at 7 pm standing in the middle of my kitchen wondering what to cook!  So last night I participated in a Tastefully Simple Freezer Meal Workshop.  The concept is simple.  You pay for the Tastefully Simple products through your local consultant and she gives you a list of groceries you must buy prior to the event.  In addition, there's some prep work that had to be done.  My prepping consisted of cubing 6 chicken breasts, slicing 6 chicken breasts into strips, browning 4.5# of burger, dicing a green pepper and finely slicing 6 oz of mushrooms.  It took me a little more than an hour.  So yesterday after work I excitedly loaded my cooler with my grocery items and supplies that Tracy had said I needed and ventured off to my class.  As I was preparing my meals, I got very excited about the "smells" coming from my ziploc baggies! I am only vaguely familiar with the Tastefully Simple products, but I have to say after doing this class I will definitely be using them more. In just two hours I had prepared 15 meals for the crockpot, oven or grill...and EACH of them looked delicious!  But what I'm MOST excited for is the opportunity to cook healthy, delicious meals rather than doing the "drive thru" option which is less-than-nutritious and expensive!

Fleischkeikle

Last night I found a NEW and {fAbUlOuS} use for my pasta roller attachment on my Kitchen Aid.  First I must tell you that my mother-in-law is a full German.  I am SO blessed to have her as my MIL...all of the old cliches about mother-in-laws just don't apply to Diane.  One of the things we ALL love about her is that she's a {wOnDeRfUl} cook.  We all have our favorites, but all of us agree that the traditional German Fleischkeikle is our all-time FAVE!  The recipe is quite simple, it's the TECHNIQUE that's important...and frankly, the most difficult for all of us daughter-in-laws and now grandaughters to perfect!  (I MUST say the only one who can TRULY make Fleischkeikle like Diane is her own daughter Nelle!)

Fleischkeikle  (totally unsure of the appropriate spelling...but it's pronounced flish-key-kla ....with a LONG I)

Filling
1 lb. burger
1/2 onion, chopped
S&P


Dough
2 eggs
2 c. milk
1/2 t. salt
4-6 c. flour

Mix dough together and knead until stiff dough forms.  Break into pieces of equal size and roll out to form a rectangle about 6" wide and cut into 6-8" squares.  Drop tablespoons of the meat mixture onto the dough and fold dough over to make a pocket.  Seal by using a small plate and making a half circle around the edge.    Flatten the pocket to make sure meat is flat and thin inside pocket while also pinching the edges of the pocket to assure a good seal.  Fry in hot oil 3-4 minutes until golden brown on each side.  Drain on paper towels and keep warm until serving.  Our family serves this with Grandma Millie's {FaMoUs} potato salad and Diane's AMAZING hot pickles..YUM!

OKAY...so back to the Pasta Roller Attachment on the Kitchen Aid...Last night we were running short on time, but I had already promised the family to make this VERY FAVORITE meal and then it hit me!  I could use the Kitchen Aid to mix the dough (dough hook) and then the roller attachment to roll the dough for the Fleischkeikle!  YES!  {angels singing!} It worked fabulously!  And a somewhat difficult meal (for me) might just come to our table a little more often thanks to the wonders of Kitchen Aid! (Didn't take pics for this one...I'm SO bad about remembering!)