You know the drill- You find something funny online and turn to show it to, oh, let’s say your TEENAGER… what do they always say?
“Oh, ha ha, yeah, I saw that a long time ago,”
or worse, “Yeah, whatever, I’ve seen it.”
or the worst, “Pffft. OMGeee, mom, everyone’s seen that.”
Hmm. This sounds familiar. Oh, that’s right, it’s because I say that to my mom, too. Shame on me.
How about you, seen these yet? No rolling your eyes at me… click on the pics to bring up larger copies.
Two teens graduating, two freshmen next year, family coming over two weekends in a row for lots of people and lots of love overflowing. Graduate gifts to be purchased, traditional graduation projects for both schools to craft, reservations to make, photos still needing to be booked, housework to finish. Tears will be shed!
We will be making a big dent in that two cases of wine we won a couple of months ago…
The closest thing I think I want to do that resembles a Project of the Month is to pick several of the cookie recipes I have squirreled away on Pinterest and start baking. I bake and cook when I am stressed. It is the main hobby that I enjoy, and as a bonus- I can share the results with the friends and family that I have thoroughly annoyed along the way.
There’s a lot to choose from, just look at the number of ideas I have pinned here:
A few mini retreats to the kitchen are just the thing for me this month. I’ll also get to practice my food photography and promise to share the recipes- those that bomb and those we like!
We never really grill hamburgers in the backyard. Not when there are In-N-Out Burgers and Burger Lounge scattered about (I might admit to liking Burger Lounge better than In-N-Out, but don’t tell anyone, I might lose my Official California Native status, so, shhhh!!). When it comes to throwing something fast on the grill I prefer bratwurst ANY day to burgers. Think about it- there is way more greasy goodness to be had in a brat- no bun, please, that gets in the way of enjoying the grease.
Bratwurst, pork chops and loins, steaks of all kinds, and a really great copy-cat recipe of El Pollo Loco’s chicken** are regularly on my grill, plus lots of vegetables with olive oil, salt and freshly ground pepper. Yum. How about trying a Mediterranean-style kebab for The Husband, who actually does like backyard burgers?
For tonights’s kebabs, I followed the best recipe that I found online… just kidding. I did a mix-mash of about four different recipes.
The Recipe: mix together in a bowl, form into 8 large, thick, patties
Next, I sat down to type this post. Two minutes later, I ran back to the kitchen and chased the cat off the counter, and promptly wrapped the kababs and put them in the fridge.
Grilled on low heat around 10-15 minutes to about medium rare, these were GREAT! The Grill Master chose the low heat because these were fairly thick, and didn’t want overcooked kebabs. We served them with a home made Tzatziki sauce (plain yogurt, crushed clove of garlic, grated cucumber, dill, salt, yum).
The Husband wants them in the regular line up. The Girl liked the kebabs, too, but she put ketchup on hers. What a plebe. The Boy says “Good, but could use more seasoning,” which is a surprise, since I thought there might be too much spice for the Prince of Plain. I think they would be far better made with half ground lamb, much like the most authentic recipes.
**Note- Speaking of the “More Top Secret Recipes” cookbook, by Todd Wilbur, I highly recommend it. This book is worth the purchase price if only for the Cinnabon Knock-Off and El Pollo Loco Chicken recipes.
And I guess I like both spellings of the word “kebab/kabab… and didn’t realize I had used both until my mom (also known as my editor) pointed out the inconsistency. Have I ever mentioned that I can’t spell in three languages? I’d pay for Spell Checker if it weren’t free.
Ever start a good book but never get around to finishing it?
“That’s just crazy talk,” say all the bibliophiles. I know, I know…crazy!
The first time I picked up C. S. Lewis’s “The Screwtape Letters” life just got in the way of my finishing it. I still have the book and intend on starting over from Chapter 1 tonight.
This time I picked up the book, I noticed to whom it was dedicated: J. R. R. Tolkien.
Happy reading, all!
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough
or a book long enough to suit me.”
“You are never too old to set another goal
or to dream a new dream.”
“We meet no ordinary people in our lives.”
C. S. Lewis
In 1989 Bill Bryson drove throughout the United States on a quest to find the quintessential American city. He referred to it as “Amalgam, USA” and the quest became his book “The Lost Continent.” He did find many beautiful spots in the U.S. but sure doesn’t hold back when he is disappointed. Heads up- this is not a children’s book, too many four letter words (well placed, too, I stoop to crass humor…).
I enjoyed this read, but I offer a couple cautions-
Reading this book kind of makes you want to tour the States- not because his descriptions of beautiful scenery and fascinating people draw you in, but instead because you want to defend them! It would be satisfying to visit the New England states he hated and send him a postcard detailing the fine sights that you were able to view, in contrast his perspectives of a New England with never ending strip malls, a slow witted South, a monotonous Midwest… etc. Remember- he’s a comedian, and if you are going to laugh at one region he details, you have to be able to take it when he sticks it to your region.
Bill Bryson’s “The Lost Continent” is funny. I liked it, but definitely not for everyone.
branching out... on a limb 