Posts Tagged: food

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20
Jan 12

Musing on the Impossible. Too much Moe’s.

“Welcome to Moe’s.”

I love to be greeted like I’m a celebrity. Some has-been, washed-up child star of a 1970′s pilot that never made it to a network regular lineup.

That’s why I love going to Moe’s. The robust greeting I receive walking through the door.

No, silly.

I love going to Moe’s because I love FOOD.

Especially Tex Mex.

And here in lies something very odd.

I’ve lost my Moe’s mojo.

Tragic really.

Let me back up.

*    *    *

 

My husband has a mediation company. They do lots of meditations all day long. Since people tend to get hungry in the middle of the day, his company provides lunch.  Lots of places cater: Chili’s, Olive Garden, California Pizza Kitchen, Panera, etc.

The other day they ordered lunch but two mediations settled early so he brought home the extra food.

This was a Moe’s day.

YAY.

Or so you would think.

 

 

Black beans on top, grilled onions and peppers on bottom. (Just in case you are curious.)

I’ve eaten Moe’s for the last eight meals.

I just think of a cold, limp, grilled onion and shutter.

It’s not Moe’s – though at this point it is three-day old Moe’s.

It’s just old.

Finally get how the Israelites could complain to the Almighty about manna for 40 straight years.

Thank goodness our emotions aren’t as fickle as our tastebuds.

You’re a three-day old husband.

Bye-bye.

Not much else to say, but that I’m over Moe’s till at least middle of next week.

How is that possible?

What about you? Can you eat peanut butter sandwiches every day?

 

Children / Food / Life in Madison — 11 Comments
25
Aug 11

Musing on school lunches. Canned green beans take me away.

 

Open a can of green beans and faster than you can say “Jolly Green Giant,” I am transported to my grade school cafeteria.

Not only do I dip my steak in ketchup but eating (and sniffing) green beans from a can makes me happy.

I joined my daughter today for lunch.

Say "no" to the hand.

 

My daughter is tiring of being the subject for blog posts. Or so she protests.

Back in my day, you had to try everything on the plate and drink your milk.

I can’t drink milk. Never have, never will. (This provided lots of angst for me as child at lunch.)

If I didn’t drink most of the carton still ice cold from the chest, there was no way. If the lunch room monitor shook my carton and decided I needed to drink more of — at this point — warm milk…

Vomiteria.

I tried some of her pork and gravy.

This is the way I roll. Workout, clean out more of attic, come dusty and stinky to school for lunch.

A friend saw me at the Open House the other night said I looked pretty.

I think this was because I had showered.

After lunch, we headed to the Book Fair.

Jill Hill (who has an awesome blog) was dutifully volunteering and cheerfully ringing up sales.

 

While the brilliant writer and blogger Meg Ferrante was lifting the till while Jill’s back was turned.

 

Meg has a awesome annual blog during Advent. For those of us who love reading, she needs to think year-round or at least expand her blog by adding sacred liturgical favorites such as Lent and Halloween.

I love visiting my daughter for lunch.

I love chatting with her friends, waving at all my beautiful dutiful volunteering friends, and my daughter’s unabashed kiss goodbye.

What’s your canned green bean memory?

I’m going to get cleaned up.

Look forward to reading what made you vomit all over the mean girl. (If you had to vomit on someone, I hope it was the mean girl.)

 

Food / Georgia / South / The southern palate — 5 Comments
21
Jun 11

Musing on peaches. And the dump cobbler.

On the way up to Athens yesterday, my young son wanted to stop for some peaches sold at a road side stand.

I agreed to do it on the return trip.

We went all over that town.

We ate outside at Dairy Queen. Yes. Outside.  (You know the one…with no inside seating right next to the Varsity.)  I lobbied for the Varsity but he wanted DQ chicken tenders. Honestly, I think his motive was to garner a Blizzard.

It was hot. Later he said, “It feels like I pee-ed in my pants I’m sweating so much.”

We went on a mission and delivered some squash to a friend. It took a little doing to find her office but we perserved with her squash. It was the perfect amount for a casserole. I have yet to make a squash casserole this year.

Very sad for me.

Then we hit Target looking for white clothing — maybe save that for a later blog.

Then we headed home.

We stopped for peaches.
They are on the verge of being soo ripe. You can tell they are going to be awesome.
 
We’re making a dump cobbler.
 
Here’s a recipe from the New Perry Hotel. So easy and so good.
 
* 3 to 4 cups pre-sweetened fruit. (in our case, peeled and cut peaches with sugar.)
* 1 cup self-rising flour
* 1 cup milk
* 1 stick margarine. (I use butter. Because I’m bad.)
* 1 cup sugar
Melt margarine (butter) in 2 quart casserole. Pour fruit over margarine (butter). Combine remaining ingredients. Add to dish and stir slightly. Bake at 350 degrees until crust rises to top and is browned.
Yay.
Food — 2 Comments
30
May 11

Musing on Memorial Day. And Coleslaw.

Summer is here!

Okay not officially here for 24 or so days.

(I did that really quickly for those of you mathematicians who are now thinking how did she get 24?)

This is the start of my favorite time of year.

It’s a beautiful day. All my beautiful baby bird friends are off with the families…THANK GOD.

And thank God for all the service men and women who have fought for our country — since it became a country.

We have it so good.

We are the most clueless bunch of people (for the most part) about appreciating how blessed we are to live in this country.

I’m going to make the most awesome batch of cole slaw from a Kim Sitzman’s recipe — Kim gave it to me saying who she recieved it from. For me the chain of credit stops with her.

Easy and good. I’ve made it so much and it’s fairly simple. Surprising I have to look it up.

I guess with me that’s not so shocking….

YUMMY ———–>>>> EASY Cole Slaw

Mix together

* 1 cup mayo

* 1 tab vinegar

* juice from 1/2 lemon

* 1/2 onion chopped, sliced — whatever.

* salt n pepa

Add –

* Package Cole Slaw.  (That’s the surprise ingredient.)

 

Columns / Food / Latest Newspaper Column / Marriage / The southern palate — 2 Comments
24
Mar 11

In Sickness and in Health. In French Fries and in Fruit.

Recently, my husband had an itsy health scare. One of those events that make you realize changes need to be made.

Perfect for me. Isn’t that what this year has been about? I’m up for changes in the way our family eats. I’ve been tending my garden and buying organic. Even though that makes a bigger dent each week in my tin cup, our family’s health is worth it right?

Good grief. This is work. Continue reading →

Food — No Comments
6
Mar 11

Musing on casseroles.

 

Another dinner party last night.

Unbelievable.

Well, once I had a menu down I might as well give it another go. And since I am sooo behind in dinner parties, I am not going to reveal the menu.

Because I might spring it on you one upcoming festive weekend evening.

Last night, it was going so well, till I checked on the main dish.

I looked in and it (the casserole) wasn’t bubbling. So I set the timer to let it warm a bit more…and turned off the oven.

Of course I didn’t know that I turned off the oven until I looked in on my little casserole 20 minutes later and…

it looked dead.  I killed it.

Hmm. Nothing like a dead casserole to stick a pin in a rollicking evening when your guests have been sitting around for hours.

I had a dilemma.

Crank the oven, join my guests and leave them wondering if we were ever going to eat.

Or fess-up.

I confessed.

And everyone laughed. hahahahahahahaha.

Call me red faced – - and watch me take another sip of wine.

I am sooo not the party hostess. But I had a great time.

Dinner Party 2 Lessons learned.

* I still freak out and do something stupid when entertaining.

* Honesty is best.

* And my apron grew a half and inch last night.

Faith / Food / God Found in the Everyday / WOF — No Comments
22
Feb 11

Musing on the perfect marshmallow.

  

 

This was Sunday night.

I was determined to roast the perfect marshmallow.

Actually, there is nothing more perfect than sitting by a warm flame. The marshmallow was just a little challenge to myself, a little diverson.

We have been studying “contentment” with my gals in Sunday School.

To my surprise, this study has impacted my thinking like nothing else we have done in a long time.

I can’t believe I haven’t blogged about it before now. Maybe because I’ve been thinking about it so much.

Oh how I wish I could just step back into the picture and be content as it looks. (to me anyway.)

To be at rest and at peace.

To exist yet be perfectly content.

Is that possible? (like for more than a half hour.)

Columns / Food / Latest Newspaper Column — 1 Comment
17
Feb 11

Dinner Party for Eight at Eight. What to Make? Reservations.

I have seen women invite people into their kitchens and fearlessly pull out pots and pans. They toss guests knives and put them to work. Everyone is laughing, cutting up vegetables looking as they’ve stepped into cameo roles in a food diva Nigella Lawson Lifetime movie. In these culinary scenarios, the giddy hostess swoops around a granite island effortlessly preparing a delicious meal for eight. Continue reading →

Inspiring Women / Life in Madison — 2 Comments
16
Feb 11

Wednesday’s Inspiring Woman ~ Anne Trulock. A most gracious lady and hostess. And a heck of a fun gal.

My column this week was a bit revealing. I confess lots of things, but admitting to be terrified of giving a dinner party at my age comes about as close to pulling the dirty socks of your life out for all to see as I’ve ever come. But here’s the paradox. I am freaked out by dinner parties — but I love having people over and entertaining.  This doesn’t make any sense to anyone but me.   

I decided to go straight to the source for a little Dinner Party Primer.    

Meet my friend, Anne Trulock.    

Photobucket    

What is your philosophy of entertaining?    

This is the rule:  a hostess must have as much fun at her own party as her guests!  Otherwise – - – why on earth would you do it?      Okay, that doesn’t sound too terribly terrifying. 

Please tell us a bit about your life. Growing up, family life. What your children are doing now?    

Lucky girl that I am, I grew up in Madison.  It wasn’t until I left to go to college/career that I realized that not everyone grew up riding their bike on sidewalks past beautiful antebellum homes. And I thought every small town had a drug store with a soda fountain and where you could say “charge it to my Daddy” and they knew who “Daddy” was.
 

A dinner party for family at her home. Her late father, Roy Lambert, is seated at head. Mother, Chris, is to his right.

 When we moved to Madison with our children, they used to say, “charge it to Roy…”  Then Roy got smart and helped us set up our own charge account!  After college (2 yrs at Wesleyan in Macon and 2 yrs at UGA!!!) I landed in Atlanta and began working in corporate communication for the Georgia Power Company. 

Robert and birthday boy, Sutton.

Robert and I married in 1983.  After 5 yrs of marriage, we began our family and had Christine, Mary Helen and Sutton.  Soon after Sutton was born (Feb. 15, 1995 –  -yes – - – today is his birthday!), we decided to move to Madison to raise our children and take advantage of small town life and good public education opportunities!
 
Christine is now almost 23 yrs old, a graduate of UGA, and is a REAL working girl!  She recently landed a position at UGA in the Terry College of Business in the alum relations department.  She has a salary and insurance and everything!  She is going to live with us for a bit and build a nest egg (she had $49.52 and that was all…..) That’s awesome about Christine’s job. Hadn’t heard that.
 

Mary Helen (on left), that cute little Rebel.

Mary Helen is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi and is studying Finance in the business college there.  She is active in her sorority (Chi O) and thriving and making really good grades! Good grades. Must mean she is staying home and studying. Or just really smart.
 
 
 Sutton is today’s birthday boy – - – 16 years old!  Whooo Hoooo! Watch the road – beginning next week, he may have his license.  Sutton is in the heat of tennis season and is playing doubles for varsity tennis.  He might be the cutest boy on earth! I remember he was one of the cutest 6 year olds on earth. And he is a darling, polite young man.
 
 

Christine, Sutton and Mary Helen. I'm sure they all are genetically predisposed to throwing awesome parties.

 Now for the entertaining nitty gritty….
 

What would your advice be to a novice (who might that be?)  Someone daunted at the thought of hosting a seated dinner.    

PREPARE IN ADVANCE – - Do as much ahead of time as possible!  If the rule is that a hostess must have as much fun as her guests, then that will take advanced preparation so that she can be relaxed and enjoy the fun!
 
If I am having folks in for dinner, I think about the menu and make the grocery list about three days in advance.  I think about how casual/formal the dinner might be – - this will dictate where to set up the serving dishes and how to set the table.
 

Making her list and checking it twice.

I set the table at least a day ahead of time and try to do as much cooking or prep work the day before. 
 
 The day of the dinner, I add the finishing touches – - maybe flowers for the table, water in the glasses on the table.  By thinking about each “step” in the events of the dinner, I can prepare in advance – - set the beverages out for the initial gathering, think through how/where/what time the plates will be served, prepare the coffee for brewing and make sure the cream is in the pitcher and the sugar/sweet and low is ready for the dessert course, etc.
 
 Now — the other thing is – - I have a great helper.  Robert is well trained.  He is part of our entertaining machine.  Robert just “knows” now that he is in charge of setting up the bar (from the purchase/quantity through the serving).  He is also the music man.  He gets the tunes going for the background or the throw down.  He is the last minute candle lighter and fire builder.  How did you train him? That’s my downfall. Inability to train husbands and children.
 
 

Her secret weapon. Good help.

 
 Nothing can make a place look as pretty as candle light – - and candle light means that you don’t have to really clean very much in advance either!  AND THEN, Robert is the right hand man in the kitchen at clean up.  He hauls dishes to the kitchen and sits on the stool and “rehashes” the event while I finish cleaning up.  I had an Atlanta friend who said that was his favorite party of the party. Washing dishes and talking about everyone and the evening with his wife.
 
The team effort makes it easier for me and makes the fun last all the way until the last dish is loaded in the dishwasher.  The only other advice I would offer is JUST DO IT!  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  People are just thrilled to be invited and appreciate that someone is willing to make an effort on their behalf.  Relax, enjoy yourself, and the fun will be contagious!    

Mary Helen, Christine and Sutton. Looks beachy. Maybe I just want it to be at the beach. I want to be at the beach.

 
Okay…have to ask.. What do you account for looking so fabulous? Diet, exercise.
 
 So fabulous?  hmmmm. really? Yes really. Fresh fresh food.  Home cooked meals that are made from the fresh fresh food.  A lot  of vegetables, salad, fruit, whole grains.   A little weight lifting each week.  Some 4 mile walks for cardio work each week.  A few sets of tennis each week.  Sleeping like a dog every night.  Everything healthy and in moderation. (Except sleep which sound like you get that amount you should). When will I ever learn?
 
 
 
 
 Place you haven’t been but would love to go? 

I REALLY want to go to Greece.  Maybe one day.  Or the Amalfi Coast in Italy.  Maybe one day.   

     

Best book recently read. Or a couple of your all time favorites?    

My favorite book is Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamont.  Love her. I also laughed right out loud at Lamb by Christopher Moore.  Right now I am reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and really enjoying it.  It’s on my list.   

    

A hostess in training? Confession. I'd covet your silver goblets (or your silver julip cups) but that would break one of the big 10.

    

Any parting words of wisdom?   

Enjoy it – - – whatever “it” is.
  
Thanks so much Anne…Now got to have you and Robert over soon. I think it’s all in the planning. And I have never been a good planner. But with your great advice, I’ll dig down deep and find the courage to try. 
 
For some odd reason this photo was including it in the ones she sent.
 

   

    

Family / Food / Life in Madison / Old House Woes — 2 Comments
12
Feb 11

Musing on steaks.

We went out to eat as a family last night. Well, the two boys and us. Our daughter had a previous engagement.

At the Icehouse in downtown Madison, I ordered the spinach salad and my son ordered this.

  

 Can you tell what it is?

The first clue might be the protruding

bone.

I enjoyed my salad and along with my other son’s chicken tenders with french fries and my husband’s fried shrimp.

Teenage son took his part of his steak home. I was not very full because I exercised restraint  ordering a salad.

This morning, I got up and fixed teenager leftover steak and eggs before his practice SAT today.

Okay, I didn’t and come to think of it, he’s about to leave and hasn’t had anything to eat.

Better run sharpen his pencils and start his oatmeal.

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