Too Much Faith in People

Don't you hate it when someone tries to put one over on you?  I am so angry right now and unfortunately, I am one of those people that avoids confrontation.  But this time, I just might have to get past it.

I am trying to do something nice for my daughter in law and have a baby blanket made out of part of her wedding dress.  Not being a seamstress myself, I have to rely on others.  And when I get the blanket back today....it's not the same fabric as the wedding dress.

What do I do now?  Continue the lie and take a chance on disappointing the little mommy who will be bringing home a baby in two weeks or so?  I'm not sure I have time or money to try to get another one made.

I know I need to confront the person that did the sewing and embroidery but I am just too angry and I tend to just spout off a bunch of words in no right order at that point.  Then I cry.

Thanks for listening.

Making Plans Monday

What are you doing this weekend?  Whenever I start planning for the weekend on Monday, the week always seems to go by faster.  So I'm going to start looking forward to the good things that happen on Saturday and Sunday and not worry so much about all the stuff that has to be done between now and then.

Here are some of our options:

Westside Chef's Throwdown

Galveston Shrimp Festival

Leon Redbone

Or there is always lots and lots of college football to watch!

Have a good week everyone!

Live, Laugh, Love
Karen

A Favorite from My Past

When I was a teenager, Pizza Hut was a big hangout after church on Sunday nights.  Even though most of us had spent the entire day together, we all headed over to Pizza Hut to get something to eat and just continue the day.  I can remember the laughter, the gossip and all the friendships that were formed in the dimly lit room and over the best pizza and pasta.

As I write this, I think of some specific instances and they bring such a smile to my face.  And a few even make me laugh out loud.  Luckily I can still call most of the people that I have these great memories with friends either through facebook or a few that have stuck with me through the years.  I am fortune that they are all well grounded, Christian people that care about their fellow man.

What brought on all these memories you ask?  I found a recipe in 'America's Most Wanted Recipes' for Pizza Hut Cavatini and of course, I had to try it.  I made an attempt a year or so again and while it was close, this one is spot on to what I remember.

I didn't have enough cheese to cover the top but it was still super delicious.  Like pizza without the bread.  The only problem I have with this recipe is....it makes too much.  So some of my co-irkers get a treat.

Charlie and I did manage to put a big dent in it though. 

Pizza Hut Cavatini
Adapted from America's Most Wanted Recipes

1/2 stick butter
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound pasta (wheels, shells, spirals)
16 oz jar of pasta sauce
8 oz cooked ground beef
8 oz cooked italian sausage
8 oz pepperoni, sliced
2 cups shredded mozzarella

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter.  Saute onion and green pepper along with garlic powder.
While that's happening, Cook pasta according to package directions.
Remove onion and green pepper.  In the same pan, heat pasta sauce, ground beef and italian sausage.
Spray a 4-quart casserole or several small ones.
The recipe calls for two layers.  I just made one.
Layer ingredients starting with pasta, then vegetables, pepperoni, sauce.  Then add another layer or cover the top with cheese.

Put in oven until it is bubbly and the cheese is browned.

It's some good stuff.  Notice the new gas range making an appearance in the picture.  I love it, love it, love it!

The interview was ok.  Not sure it will turn into anything.   We'll see.
And the weather will be in the 70s for the weekend.  I am so excited.

Live, Laugh, Love...............have a wonderful day!

Celebrate Life!!!

Karen

Winter Blues

The craziness here hasn't ended.  Work is still stressing me out tremendously.  James is having car problems that we are trying to work out.  And it's cold.  While we aren't having the severe weather conditions that most across the country have, we do have temps in the 30's consistantly.  And it makes me sad.

I can't explain it but I can always expect it.  I hate that it's dark at 6:00 pm.  I also hate that you have to put on 3 layers of clothing to go out.  All of my plants look dead.  They aren't but they look so sad.  I can't wait for Spring.  And Sunshine. And Pretty Flowers.



I made a menu for this week and actually went to the store with a plan.  Imagine that!  So last night's supper was something new out of the the book 'America's Most Wanted Recipes'.  It was a Christmas gift from Eric and Katie and I have earmarked everything that I want to try.  It has some really good stuff in it from restaurants that are our favorites.

Asian Sesame-Chicken Salad 
Adapted from Panera Bread

2 won ton wrappers
Oil for frying

4 cups Romaine Lettuce
1/2  cup Shaved Parmesan Cheese
3 oz. Boneless Chicken Breast - grilled and cubed (I used a much larger one)

Dressing:
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3/4 cup vegetable oil

Cut won ton squares into strips and fry.
Mix all ingredients for dressing except the oil.  When everything else is combined, slowly pour the oil in while whisking to create an emulsion.
Put romaine, chicken and won ton strips in a bowl. Pour some dressing on and toss lightly.  Then add the remaining dressing and toss again.
Sprinkle with parm before serving.

I didn't get a picture.  Things were moving a bit too fast but since we will definitely be making this again, I will be able to post one later. 

The original recipe called for almonds and sesame seeds, two things that Charlie would rather I leave out.  And neither one of us missed them at all.  It was tasty and light.  While I grilled my chicken just for the salad, it would be a great way to used any leftovers.

I have a job interview today.  Hopefully things will go well.  My fingers are crossed.

Have a great day everyone!

Live, Laugh, Love...
Karen

Fried Steak

Time is flying by me like a stealth bomber.  That's seems to be my theme here lately.  So much to do so little time.  And I always thought that when the kids were out of the house, I would have all the leisure time I wanted.  Nope, the time I spent with them is just replaced with other stuff.

 Good news though. 

We finally bought a gas range. 

HOORAY!!!

It's a thing of beauty and I love it so.

First meal on the new range was a recipe we saw on "Worst Cooks in America".  We DVR it so we can skip all of the commercials.  In fact, that's the only way we watch anything now except for sports.  Anyway, my mind is wondering again.  Fried Steak.....Anne Burrell, who is fabulous in my opinion.  Anybody who can recognize and state without abandon, 'Brown Food Tastes Good' is a goddess in my book.

If you haven't seen the show, they take people who have no cooking skills whatsoever and try to teach them basic skills and who to put together some pretty elaborate dishes.  And of course, someone gets eliminated each week.  On this show, Anne's dish was a fried steak.  Now, whenever I think of fried steak I think of a breaded chicken fried steak or maybe even a pan fried round steak.  Both are good but this was different.  A good sirloin steak rubbed with a mix of brown sugar, cayenne, salt and garlic powder.  Then you don't even seare it, you just drop it in a pan with hot oil.

How beautiful is that?

Perfectly medium rare with a crispy crunchy outside.

It was wonderful!

It's Wednesday Already?

How can it be Wednesday.  I swear that yesterday was the weekend.  Time gets the best of me.  Other than the fact that my football teams didn't win, it was a great weekend.  We cooked, we enjoyed good food, we watched some really good games.  Hey, we even managed to get a school project completed with James.

This is what pays the bills.  I work for an equipment company.  They call me a Product Support Rep, that's a fancy name for 'I sell the company and make sure the customers are happy'.  Sometimes it's a great job, other times it is the most stressful place to be.

Our kitchen on the other hand, is my de-stressser.  Saturday morning I decided that we would cook a bunch of tailgate food then we could enjoy the games more.  So we turned the music up loud, laughed a lot and made a ton food.  Here's a look.

This started out as a pizza.  I didn't flour the counter enough though and the dough stuck.  Solution...Flip over the torn dough and make a calzone.  it is stuffed with italian sausage, mushroom and onions.  The dough is made with 1 1/2 cups of warm water, 2 packages of yeast, 2 Tablespoons of sugar, 1/3 cup olive oil and 4 cups of flour.  Just bloom the yeast in the water, whisk in the sugar and oil then ad the flour.  Let it rise for an hour and you are ready.  That amount makes two pizzas.  Or a calzone and a base for James' school project.  More on that later.

I remember my Mom doing this with leftover biscuits.  She would put butter, cinnamon and sugar on a halved biscuit and put them back in the oven.  They would get hard on the outside and soft on the inside and I loved them.  I did the same thing but used flour tortillas instead.  And notice the game day activity of color sugar for the teams I was backing.  Let see, green for the Eagles, yea right, they are gone.  Blue for the Colts, Peyton and the boys let me down.  Yellow for the Saints.  Who would have ever guessed they would be out after the first round.  And purple (well, purple-ish) for the Ravens.  At least that defense pulled them through.

These little goodies were delish.. Cream Cheese, a slice of jalapeno and chicken all wrapped in bacon.  I put them in oven to cook the chicken, then broiled to get the bacon crisp.  Ree at the Pioneer Woman (don't you love her recipes?) had this posted.  I usually do this with shrimp but went with what we had.



I've rambled enough and now must run to see customers.  I think today is going to be one of the good days at work except that the wind chill is 22 degrees in Houston.  Yikes!

Live, Laugh, Love,

Karen and Charlie

Burgers with the family

What a great evening.  The kids came over for one last dinner together before Geneva and Jesse head to school in Natchitoches, LA.  It's only about 4 hours away but the drive is boring and makes it seem alot longer.  We have 3 kids, Eric, Geneva and James.  And all three have mates, Katie, Jesse and Crystal.  Eric and Katie live in Pennsylvania so obviously they didn't drop over for dinner but the other four were here.

We kept it simple and make burgers on the grill.  I'll admit it's not the best picture but there seemed to be a million things going on at once.  How does that happen?  It did eventually turn into a very relaxed evening.  We ate our burgers and laughed alot.  Ended up playing a 'Apples to Apples' and some game on Wii.




The kids munched all night on a no bake cookie I got from my mother's recipe box.  There are lots of these out there and I'll post it sometime but it's just cocoa, sugar, milk, butter, peanut butter and oatmeal.  The kids love them but they are kinda rich for me.

Oh and yes, we did finally go to the store and stock the pantry.  Charlie was afraid of 'how many things can you do with an egg', so he stopped on the way home and bought a variety of things so I can continue to make up stuff as I go.

We have stuck to the 'Eat in Month' Challenge.  How are you doing?


Live, Laugh, Love,

Karen and Charlie

Eat In Month

Charlie and I joined 'The Chic Life's' Challenge for January.  Diane calls it 'Eat in Month'.  For the entire month you don't go to a restaurant.  I didn't think this would be too difficult since we cook 90% of our meals at home anyway.  Then I started going through my pantry for dinner yesterday.  Geezzz, I should have made my grocery list before I decided to join.  And I should have asked Charlie to go to the store.  We were out of almost everything.  Not sure how that happened but it is definitely time to stock up again.

Back on track for the Challenge though, I took some of the chicken that we had from New Year's Eve, cut it into chunks and made an alfredo sauce.  Served with noodles and a salad it was a great way to eat something simple and use the leftovers.  Not to mention it was darned good and warm.  Isn't Houston supposed to not have winters because even though it is only in the low 50's, it's windy and feels much colder?  I'm moving closer to the equator.

After realizing that our cupboard is almost bare, I decided to take the challenge a bit further.  It is all about saving money and eating more sensibly.  Charlie gets his lunch packed for him everyday.  Aren't I a good wife! 

OK, stop laughing.  However, he is a breakfast skipper.  I have always wanted him to eat something in the morning within a few hours of waking up.  If he doesn't he goes 6-7 hours with only coffee.

So today, he got a scrambled egg with cheese on toast.  For lunch, he has tuna salad with carrots instead of chips.  I also threw in a few Nilla Wafers for a sweet treat. 

I'm hoping that if he spreads that out over the day, he won't be so hungry when he gets home and he will eat a lighter dinner.  Which, by the way, is going to be chili because it's cold outside and HOORAY, I have all the ingredients.  Not really difficult to have, hamburger meat, italian sausage, canned tomatoes and spices.  Although I have to sub tomatoes that have jalapenos since I don't have plain diced ones.

It's funny that this challenge has really made me think.  Running to the grocery store to pick up one or two items isn't really a big deal for us.  Generally the problem is, I run in for 2 things and come out with 20.  So after looking at what I have and deciding to use it in ways that maybe I wouldn't normally, is a good thing.  I did make a list though and Charlie will be going to the store so we only buy what's on the list.

Thanks Diane, I welcome these small changes and I am hoping that they become routine.

How do you plan your meals and do your shopping?   One meal at a time or do you shop for the entire week?  Let me know.  I would love to hear from you.

Great Start to the New Year

What a great start to the new year.  All of the Holiday decorations have been put away and we spent the day watching college football.  Hooray for the teams from Texas, TCU and Tech both won their bowl games but boo hoo for Penn State who came up just a little short.  (We are....PENN STATE!).  At least Urban Meyer left on a winning note.

As always, I was up early with the puppies, Max and Gus who spent the day being very cuddly.  I'm not sure it is because of the weather is a bit on the cold side or if they, (especially Gus) have decided it's nice to have someone rub your back for 24 hours a day.  Either way, I'm good with it.  The puppies are like my babies now that my babies are grown and aren't so cuddly anymore.

And look at those faces, they are ready for a new year of running and playing with treats and long walks with Mom and Dad.  What a life these two spoiled little puppies have.  Isn't it great to have pets in your life?   Max is getting older (he's the schnauzer) and sometimes when he jumps up onto the ottoman, he misses.  It hurts his feelings so bad that he'll hide under the kitchen table until we go get him and pick him up.  He won't try to jump again for a few hours.  It's really sad to see him getting older.  Gus, on the other hand, is only a year old and he flies through the air.

We always spend our New Year's Day like this,  being a bit lazy, cooking pork, peas and cabbage with whatever else we want.  I was taking the easy way this year and put some frozen peas in a small pan, just enough for me since the Yankee Charlie doesn't really care for them.  After putting them on, I went back to watching football.  In a while, Charlie asks me if the peas are supposed to have water in them?  I see you laughing....I covered them in water, however, I guess I had the burner too high and it all boiled out.  What a nasty mess with peas stuck to the bottom of the pan.  OK...no luck for me in 2011, guess I'll have to make my good fortune.

We did have pork chops and sauerkraut.  Charlie wanted kraut this year instead of the traditional cabbage that we usually make.  I guess it's the inner Pennsylvania boy coming out in him.  I didn't take any pictures of that meal.  However, we (I) had some leftover soup from yesterday that I heated and ate some of.  It was so good.  It is Panera's Broccoli and Cheese Soup.  Our son and daughter-in-law gave me "America's Most Wanted Recipes" cookbook for Christmas and told me this was one of the best.  They, of course, were right.  It has just the right mix of flavors with nothing over powering.  I thought that I had screwed this one up while making it because you start with a rue and I didn't think that I cooked it long enough.  Whenever I tasted of the broth before adding the veggies and cheese, it reminded me of the breading on chicken fried steak.  I just knew I was going to have to throw out and entire pot of soup.  But nope, when it was all said and done, it was delicious.

The best part of the day though were these pretzels.  I have never tried making them before but say the recipe on 'Pennies on a Platter'.  I had to try them.  They called out to me. And since I had everything I needed in the pantry/fridge, I went for it.  Actually, I've been looking for a pretzel roll recipe for a turkey sandwich that I used to order at Bennigans.  They have closed all the Bennigans here and left me without my favorite sandwich.  Now, I can live again!  I didn't put ham in these but I sprinkled some with cinnamon sugar, some with cheddar cheese and left some plain.  And I made all kinds of shapes, buns, logs, etc.  They were fun to play with.  And I will be making them again and again.

If you haven't read Pennies on a Platter, give it a look.  Nikki has a lot of great stuff going on there.

If the rest of the year follows today, it's going to be a good year.  And I can't wait!  One last note, we joined the challenge for January 'Eat in Month' on The Chic Life.  Every meal and snack should be made from your kitchen without going to restaurants.  It helps your waistline as well as your wallet.  Since we generally cook most of our meals at home anyway, it shouldn't be a problem.  You should pop on over and give it a look.   Now how do I tell Charlie that he can't have a Whataburger during January?

2010 Christmas Season

Random Thoughts Running Through My Mind --

I will make it through this Christmas Season and never step foot in a mall.

Every gift will fit in a stocking.

Christmas cards were mailed on time this year. 

I have made cornbread dressing more this year than any other year in my life.

I have the most wonderful family.

Sometimes you can blur the line between Mom and Friend.

Charlie and I have been married for 7 years today.  Happy Anniversary Baby.  I love you!

I haven't watched a holiday movie yet.

I love Starbucks coffee.

How many questions will a child ask if the mall Santa doesn't look exactly like the Santa in their mind.

I have several friends that I have known more than half my life.

What are sugar plums? 

And what in the world is mincemeat?

I have never been ice skating in New York.

I have to roll out alot of gingerbread cookies.  Yum.

Live, Laugh, Love.

Karen and Charlie

Have you ever?

Yes, I'm forgetful.  I get pre-occupied or maybe even misdirected. But I promised myself that I would give you the good, the bad and the ugly.  This will count as two of them...very bad and really ugly.

Last night Charlie wanted fried mushrooms.  We decided to just have snack food for dinner.  In the fridge, we had portobello mushroom caps that we intended to fry with an egg/bread crumb dip. He also wanted french fries.  I'm guessing he was all turkey-ied out and wanted something that was completely un-Thanksgiving. 

However, I had a sweet potato and wasn't going to let it go to waste.  We talked about it and decided to try Giada potato chips.  Charlie sliced the sweet potato and I fried the mushrooms.  We also sliced a few russets to throw in the deep fryer.  I love me some homemade chips.

The mandolin didn't cooperate well and cut evenly. So there's the ugly.  I did what the recipe called for by tossing them in olive oil then I put them in the oven.

When they were done, we both tasted.  Neither one of us really liked them.  Can't tell you why but they just didn't have it.  So we continued with the mushrooms, russets and a small salad but we left the tray of sweet potatoes in the oven to save room on the counter top.  I did remember to turn the oven off.

Life goes on.  The night ends and we go to bed.  I wake up with visions of a Turkey Potpie in my mind.  After my coffee, I go for it.  Prep everything, preheat the oven and start cooking.  Then it happens.

I smell something.  I can't figure out what it is.  I check all the burners.  I check the bottom of the pans.  The smell is awful.  Then something slaps my on the side of the head.  I finally look in the oven and found those sweet potato slices.  If we didn't like them last night, we certainly wouldn't like them now.

I had to laugh about it.  I actually laughed out loud.  Have you been so absent minded like that?

Weekly Menu

Do you make a menu for the upcoming week?  I used to.  I’m not sure what happened but I haven’t in a while and really need to get back into it.  Especially since the holidays are always so rushed and the stress level at work seems to be at an all time high. 

I would like to avoid going to the grocery store because it is a chore for me.  Many people like it.  I have a friend who says it’s the only time she doesn’t have her gets with her so she gets a Starbucks, strolls leisurely down the aisles and thinks of it as her ‘me’ time.  But that ain’t me babe.  If I can get Charlie to go, I love it.  And he usually does.  I love him for that!

Charlie likes Sam’s Club.  We do almost all of our shopping there.  Okay, Okay, He does almost all of our shopping there.  Since it is just the two of us at home now, we always have a full freezer due to the large sizes you have to buy.  I look at it as an advantage though because the prices are good and we just freeze them in dinner size portions.  If one of the kids happen to pop in, we take out two.

Dinner Menu Madness

Saturday – Turkey Pot Pie (using Thanksgiving Leftovers)

Sunday – Ham Fritatta (using Thanksgiving Leftovers)

Monday -  Kentucky Hot Browns

Tuesday – Hamburgers

Wednesday – Pork Chops with Au Gratin Potatoes

Thursday – Korean Beef and Fried Rice

Thanksgiving Blessings

I am so grateful for everything I have in my life.  There are so many good things in my life and I know that I couldn't do it on my own.

Along with my faith in God, these are the best things in my life.  My family, my faith and my job...without any of these, I wouldn't be me.

They make my heart sing!

My Favorite Weekend

I love this weekend.  The Saturday and Sunday before Thanksgiving.  It's the time when I take a good look at my Christmas list.  Make cookie dough to freeze for baking during the crazy rush.  Finalize the Thanksgiving menu.  Fight the crowds in the grocery stores.

It's the best of times.  Filled with anticipation and fuzzy feelings.  Filled with the gratitude of the Thanksgiving season and knowing that next is the glorious wonder of Christmas.

Spending lots of time in the kitchen.  Baking sweet treats to give as gifts.  I'm so happy I can't even come up with complete sentences.

I love this weekend.  I'm off to scratch a few things off of my list.  How about you?  Is this just another weekend for you or is it the start of something special?

Thanksgiving Humor

There are a lot of little ones in our lives.  We try to spread as much love and laughter around to them as possible.  I'm in the process of finishing up their Thanksgiving cards and looked up some silly jokes.  They are funny even if you aren't young in years.

Enjoy..

May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off of your thighs.
     -- Anonymous

Thanksgiving dinners take 18 hours to prepare.  They are consumed in 12 minutes.  Half-times take 12 minutes.  This is not coincidence.  -- Erma Bombeck

How many cooks does it take to stuff a turkey?
One, but you have to work really hard to stuff him in there.


Why do we have a Thanksgiving Holiday?
So we know when to start Christmas shopping!


Jokes found on http://www.coolest-holiday-parties.com/thanksgiving-jokes.html.

Have a great day!

Karen and Charlie

Houston - A Diverse Food Town

If you live in Houston, you've always felt it.  We're a cowboy town. Anyone who hasn't ever been here thinks so.  We have the movies to thank for that.  Remember Urban Cowboy? That was so yesterday.

During the last 30 years, Houston has blossomed and grown into a melting pot of wonderful, tastefully diverse food.  Bryan Caswell maps out a possible day of food fun in an article on eatery.com while he calls out people for not taking a look at all the city has to offer.  But sshhh...don't tell the rest of the world or they will want to live here too.

Yes, you have to have a car since our public transportation sucks but you can spend a day and not go 20 miles and have a great meal.  The next day, pick a different part of town and hit every hole in wall joint you see.  That's where you are going to find really awesome food.  Granted in some places you may need an interpreter.  Along with diversity comes a few language barriers, spanish, indian, vietnamese and chinese to name a few and that's just in my neighborhood.



Upscale, locally owned restaurants are plentiful in all areas of the city but so are casual, affordable ones that offer meals that every budget can afford.  Houston is also 'beefing up' it's farmer's markets, giving us all ways to eat fresher, locally grown items.  Don't forget 5 a day!  For a long while now, zoning and health department regulations have slowed attempts to grow these markets.  We always had Canino's and that was about it.  Now, Urban Harvest is going strong, Highland Village Farmer's Market is growing and even Deer Park gets into it with their own.

Have you ever had a Whataburger?  They aren't your regular fast food hamburger.  Made to order, fresh everytime and don't forget the fries with 'fancy' ketchup.  They started in Corpus Christi but I'll claim them here too.

How about pho?  Ever tried it.  It's basically vietnamese noodle soup and there's a trailer down the street from our house that sells the best in the city.  So good they run out everyday. And yes, I said a trailer.

You can get chicken fried steak almost anywhere but you have to have it at Hickory Hollow.  Their website says 'this is as good as it gets' and they aren't lying.  Yum...way too much to eat.

While Chef Caswell and I may favor different kinds of Houston foods, it's nice to know that others here take up the cause to get the word out that we aren't the Houston of yester-year.  Now, if we could get City Council to change their views on food trucks....

New Coffee Pot

It's time for a new coffee pot at our house.  This one leaks.  It's snazzy, has an espresso maker and everything but somewhere something isn't right. 

We've looked and looked and can't tell where it's coming from but every morning we have a full pot of coffee and water on the counter.  So it's finally time we start looking.

Do you love your coffee maker?  Does it make the perfect cup?  Please tell me about it so I can make a good decision and get the right one.

Hope you are having the best of days!

Karen

Election Day

It's an American right to be able to vote so no matter what side of the aisle you are on, please exercise this right and vote today.

It's cold and rainy in Houston today.  A very good day for soup.  What's your favorite thing to eat when the weather is not so great outside?

Happy Halloween

To those of you that enjoy Halloween, I will say Happy Haunting!  And to those that don't, I hope you have a great day too.

Enjoy the sweet treats that this day brings and always remember safety first.

Picture courtesy of Pittsburgh Candy Buffet

What a Weekend

I love it when I have so much planned and get nothing done because that means I scrapped it all to do something fun or maybe nothing at all.

This is how it all started.  Date night on Friday night.  We went to see Secretariat and let me tell you, it is a great movie.  You have got to see it in the theater though.  He was larger than life anyway but to see those great big strides, it was just incredible.  And a touching story to go along with it.  Dinner was at the movie theater.  It's one of those with a restaurant and bar within the movies.  I had fried stuff - mushrooms, onion rings and chicken.  Nothing to write home about.  Charlie had a steak sandwich.  He says that this sandwich is one of the best.  Must be because he scarfed in down before I could snap a picture.

Me:  Were you that hungry?

Him:  No, It's just that good!

I also had a Gummy Bear Martini.  I can't tell you what was in it but it came in a sugar rimmed glass and tasted really good and cold.  Yum!

So you see, it started out good and productive.  Saturday we had stuff to do, Little Guy Football, grocery shopping, Halloween costume to make, house cleaning and on and on and on.  I can at least say, we went to the football game and to the grocery store.  That was about it.

I made Chili, which is another post entirely.  That stuff is good.  The Myers family came over to watch the Phillies game and I was done.

Sunday....complete laziness because football takes over and oh yeah, the Texans won.  Imagine That!