Mini Frittatas

Mornings at our house, just like every other household with kids, are insane.  I typically don't eat breakfast, and sometimes I forget that the Boys need it.  You know, 'most important meal of the day', and all?  So, during the school year, I usually make a week's worth of breakfast tacos or breakfast sandwiches on Monday morning.  The Boys eat them for both breakfast and after-school snacks.  With school starting in less than a week, I thought I'd try out something new and it proved to be a hit in our house.  I kind of winged it with no real measurements.  And, you can really just use whatever veggies or meats that are hanging out in the fridge.  The recipe below includes the ingredients that I used in these frittatas, but I'm sure I'll try out different combinations soon- mushroom, tomato & spinach sounds good, too!
***measurements are more of a guesstimate ;-)

6-8 Large eggs
2/3 cup onion, diced
2/3 cup zucchini, diced
3/4 cup broccoli, steamed and chopped
1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 lb Jenni-O ground turkey breakfast sausage, browned
1 cup frozen diced potatoes, thawed (I used Ore-Ida)
Salt & Pepper, to taste
12 cup non-stick muffin pan

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large saucepan, cook onions and zucchini in olive oil (season with S&P to taste) until onions are almost translucent.
In a large bowl, beat eggs with 1/4 cup of water.

Spoon about 1 Tbsp. onion/zucchini mix into each cup of a 12 cup muffin pan. Add 1 Tbsp of cooked sausage to each cup.
Pour egg mix over sausage until cups are about 2/3 full.

Add broccoli over eggs.  Sprinkle a little cheese over broccoli and pour about 1 Tbsp of egg mixture over broccoli.  Press in a spoonful of potatoes on top and bake for 25 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

Remove from oven and let cool about 5 minutes before removing from pan.  Let cool on a rack and then transfer to individual sandwich bags and refrigerate. 

Loss, Grief, Strength and Friendship

Shortly after midnight, on July 18th, 2010, I receive a phone call from my girlfriend, Tiffany.  I wasn't able to get to my phone in time, but I listened to the message that Tiffany was tasked with relaying.  Our friend Anna's mom had passed away earlier that evening.  This wasn't a complete shock, as Kathleen had been ill for some time- being diagnosed with cancer in late 2008.  But, still.  My heart broke for Anna.  Anna had made a mad dash that afternoon to be with her mom in Utah.  Anna was devastated that she hadn't reached her mom in time.  She wasn't with her at the very end.   To better explain this ending, I have to go back to the beginning.
Anna and I met several years ago through her neighbor.  At that time, Anna's husband, Raf, was working in Iraq.  He came home briefly and was then deployed for another year to Iraq.  This separation, combined with other stresses- raising a young son and newborn baby girl, took it's toll on Anna- as it would anyone in her situation.  Through this, our friendship grew and we became closer friends. 
When Kathleen was first diagnosed (and the prognosis was possibly mere months), Anna called me.  I was in Dallas for work, but we talked for a long time- making jokes and trying to bring a little levity to the situation.  That's how we roll.  Me and Anna.  Laughter through tears.  She said that was why she called me- she knew I wouldn't open up the waterworks (too much).  She had done plenty of that earlier.

A year passes and Kathleen is on hospice care.  Through the generosity of a Make-A-Wish (for adults) program, Kathleen's wish to spend Christmas with her daughter was granted.  She flew to Austin and even had a hospice nurse available to her.  During her visit, Anna asked me, along with our close group of girlfriends, to attend a dinner with her mom as the guest of honor.  I enthusiastically agreed to go, but, in my heart, I was dreading it.  I haven't had much experience with death- especially of a close family member.  I don't care to discuss anyone's final wishes- ever. Both my mom and former mother-in-law tried having these discussions with me, but I wouldn't have it.  So, knowing that the focus of this dinner would be the life (and death) of my friend's mom, I honestly tried to think of a plausible excuse not to go.  In the end, I did go.  And, I thank God that I did.  That night was truly one of the most meaningful nights of my life.  Yes, we talked about Kathleen's death.  But, we did so with such honesty, such respect.  We laughed as Anna and Kathleen retold stories of their past and we shared with Kathleen some of our own "Anna Stories".  And, we cried when we spoke of Kathleen's final wishes and her hopes for her daughter and grandchildren.  There will be the stories that we tell of that night- from Kathleen sneaking sips of everyone else's margaritas when Anna left the table to the moment when Tiff and I had our first "Aha!" moment between the two of us (this was during a story that Kathleen was telling and she said something that was so totally unexpected- so jaw-droppingly hilarious- that Tiff and I were left momentarily speechless).  But, it was when Kathleen said that she was happy to get to meet the people who would lift up her daughter when the end came, that moved me the most.  Again, laughter through tears.

I didn't get to talk to Anna until Monday evening after her mom's passing.  We talked for hours.  I only hope that it was helpful to Anna; I know that it was cathartic for me.  I can only imagine the pain that Anna is feeling.  The loss of her Mom, coupled with the geographic and emotional distance between Anna and her siblings, has been so heavy on her heart.  As her friends, we've tried to ease her pain, knowing that only time will help the healing process.  We've tried to unburden her of her guilt, knowing that she will continue to beat herself up over events that she had no control over.  We can rationalize for her, that those final moments weren't the memories her Mom would want Anna to remember her by. But, as her friends, we'll just continue to stand by her, support her, grieve with her and try to comfort her until... well, we'll just continue to love her as always.

The Eternity Burger

Good grief.  This thing is massive. 

The Eternity Burger. 

This has become an annual tradition- simply because it is so rich, decadent and, oh yeah- gluttonous, that one should really only partake of the Eternity Burger once a year.  With a total of 17 ingredients, this "unholy mess of wonderful things" can easily end up weighing well over a pound.  Last year, my boyfriend, Kirk, found an article in the Austin American-Statesman that touted the "Best Burgers in Austin".  The winning recipe was, of course, J.M. Smith's Eternity Burger.  We poured over the lengthy list of ingredients, salivating and unanimously agreeing on the obvious divine intervention that must have occurred to combine the salty crunch of Frito's with the sweet creaminess of avocado and cream cheese.  So, on Labor Day 2009, my sister, Mindy, and I labored over the construction of this beast.  We served them up to our family, who eyed it suspiciously before finally devouring them (to the best of their abilities). 

Fast forward to Independence Day 2010.  There was no questioning it- the masses demanded their annual Eternity Burger.  This year, we were prepared.  There was no breakfast that day.  No snacking, not even chips and Mimi Music's homemade salsa to whet the appetite.  To change it up a little, we actually used ground buffalo in lieu of beef for Kirk and Pop Music's burgers.  That, however, was the only deviation I would allow.  Kirk wanted to add tomatoes and my brother-in-law actually considered, albeit briefly, putting ketchup on it.  After stressing to the wannabe rebels that these babies were built to spec, they agreed to forgo any additional condiments.

Again, the Eternity Burger did not disappoint. We'll definitely grill 'em up again next year. Which is how long it may take to digest them.

8 oz. ground Angus Beef

2 oz. white Cheddar Cheese, grated

1 small avocado, sliced 1/4" thick

2 Hatch green chilis, chopped- either fresh or from a can

2 Tbsp. crushed-up Fritos

2 Tbsp. cream cheese

1 slice red onion

1 whole grain wheat bun

1 Tbsp. melted butter

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

I tsp. apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. prepared horseradish

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/8 tsp. celery salt


In a mixing bowl, combine beef, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, horseradish, chili powder, black pepper and sea salt.  Mix well and form one good patty for the grill.
Grill over high heat and turn only one time.  After flipping over, place cheese on top of patty to melt.  Prepare meat to desired doneness.
Open up bun and place on hot grill to toast. 
Mix mustard, butter & celery salt in small bowl.
Place avocado slices directly on bottom bun and sprinkle Fritos on top. Spread Fritos into the soft avocado.
Place red onion slice on top of avocado-Frito mix and then spread mustard sauce on top of it. 
Place burger with cheese on top of mustard sauce. Cover with green chilis.
Spread cream cheese on top bun, then place on top of chilis. Bon appetit, y'all!

My Baby isn't a baby anymore....

Grant is fourteen today. Fourteen. Years. Old. While it was a big day for Grant- he's counting down the days to a drivers license- I was left feeling, well, I don't really know. Sure, there was the obvious holy-cow-my-son-is-fourteen-I'm-really-old feeling. And, if I didn't already think it, I had plenty of people to remind me (thanks, Mindy). But, more than anything else, I realize that Grant is becoming a young man. Check that, Grant has become a young man. And, I think that he's pretty great. He's smart, makes good grades, is polite and respectful, and yet... I wonder if I've done all that I can to help him become a good man. As a mom, I wonder if I've been too strict, or too lenient? Have I helped to instill the right values? How have the decisions that I've made affect him and his future? Again, I know he's a good kid, son that anyone would be proud of, and an amazing big brother. I can only hope that he takes what we've given to him (or saddled him with) and makes the best of it.

Momma Drama

Since we do the week on-week off custody thing, it's always much easier when certain dates (like, say, Mother's Day) fall on my week ON.  This year, Mother's Day fell on dad's week (we 'switch' on Mondays after school).  So, on Friday before Mom's Day, I called dad and asked if he was going to drop off the Boys in the morning, or if I should pick them up.  He replied with, "I'll drop them off sometime in the afternoon".  Um, it's Mother's Day. And I'm, ya know, their Mom?  And then:  "Yeah, well, we're planning on taking Amy (his girlfriend of about a year) to the Driscoll Hotel for Mother's Day Brunch." 
Deep breath.  Don't cry. "Um, I'd like to spend the day with them.  I am, after all, their M.O.M"
And then came the dagger through the heart.  "Listen, I'm trying to be fair and divide the time fairly.  I mean, she's just like a mom to them."
Don't cry. Do. Not. Cry. 
Let me start by saying that I genuinely like Amy.  I do.  She's sweet and young and an elementary teacher and she provides a great home for my Boys (yeah, they moved into her house).  But, I am their MOM.
Dad went on to say that if, on Father's Day, the Boys wanted to spend time with my boyfriend, he'd totally understand.  Really.  Really?  I explained to him that Father's Day was his.  Period.  Even if I were to get re-married, the Boys would give step-dad a card, a nice gift, but would spend that special day with their Father.  I couldn't finish the conversation, so I asked him to re-think it and call me later. 
Later, he did call and said that he'd read through the divorce decree and I 'get' them on Mother's Day.  *sigh*
But, Mother's Day was fabulous.  I picked up Grant & Lane early and we went out for breakfast.  Then, we did yard work- something I actually really do enjoy.  Later, my parents came over and I made dinner for them.  Mimi and Pop Music (yes, we really do call my dad 'Pop Music') loved the mahi mahi fish tacos and we ate until we were stuffed. 
So, despite the drama leading up to it, this Mother's Day was fun and relaxing and, most importantly, filled with love.

Stairmaster, I've missed you.

After several months of avoiding the gym at all costs, I finally made my return this week. I have all sorts of excuses for why I haven't been. I re-injured my shoulder in January playing soccer. Sure, that shouldn't keep me from jumping on the stairmaster or elliptical, but it makes it really painful to pull my sports bra over my head. How's that for an excuse? Also, baseball season started up, I've had to travel more for work, my allergies are going berzerk, mercury is in retrograde(?), etc. You get it. I'm lazy. Now, I have been taking the dog for several walks every day and playing soccer on weekends. But, still. I actually PAY for this gym membership. So, I met my sister at the gym the other night and we hit the stairmaster. Ouch. Cardio, check. We did a little weight work, as well. But, the steam room was really calling to me. In my defense, I did do some ab work while laying in the sauna. I did a few leg lifts. So... yeah. Abs, check.I wanted to go back to the gym last night. I should've and really, I could have. But, I went to Target, instead, while silently promising myself an extra-hard workout tomorrow.






So, today is that 'tomorrow'. The Boys are with their dad this week. No chaotic morning of the battle to get kids out of bed, dressed, fed and off to school. I got up extra early, put on my work-out clothes, took the dogs for a walk and drove to Starbucks. I heard on the Today show that a cup of coffee 20 minutes prior to a workout helps with energy/endurance. So, everything was in place for a perfect workout. It's gonna be a good day. Until, I pulled into the Starbucks drive-thru. First, the Starbucks girl tells me that the person in the car 20 cars ahead of me purchased coffee for the next 20 cars. Score. Free coffee. Sweet. A really good day. Then she says, you can 'pay it forward' by buying coffee for the car behind me. What? Crap. I go to this Starbucks every day. I don't want to be that jerk. So, fine. I'll buy the next car coffee. The bill is twice what mine is. Great. Paying it forward. Fan-freakin-tastic. Phone rings. Work call. As I'm retrieving my coffee from the barrista, I hit the cup on the car window and spill it all over me, the car, and my work-out wear. So, now I obviously can't go straight to the gym with coffee all over me.


Now it's too late to go to the gym. Gotta get to work. Maybe at lunch, I'll get in a workout. Maybe.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

My sisters and I have always made fun of my mom's cooking.  Don't get me wrong- it's not the taste/flavor that we ridicule.  She's an amazing cook.  It's the volume.  She makes ridiculous amounts of food - especially at Holiday meals.  And, they aren't typically very healthy.  They start with vegetables, but usually end in a smothered, fried or marshmallow crusted [barely recognizable] version of the original.  So, this past Thanksgiving, I did two things I had never even considered before: 1)I brought a date to dinner, AND 2)I brought my own side dishes.  With an  upcoming trip to South Florida planned, Kirk and I were trying to eat healthy and avoid the extra holiday pounds.  Of course, I brought plenty for everyone, and surprisingly, most everyone prefered the healthier side dishes.  This is an alternative to the sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows that Mom makes.  Bon apetite!

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling potatoes after cooked
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper


Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Lay the sweet potatoes out in a single layer on a roasting tray. Drizzle the oil, honey, cinnamon, salt and pepper over the potatoes. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes in oven or until tender.
Take sweet potatoes out of the oven and transfer them to a serving platter. Drizzle with more extra-virgin olive oil.

Ninfa’s Green Sauce

Austin has some amazing Tex-Mex restaurants. Guero's, Maudie's, Angie's and, of course, Chuy's. Most have their own unique salsa often touted to be 'The Best.'  But, the green sauce at Ninfa's was something special.  And addictive.  Oh, how I miss Ninfa's.  This recipe was borrowed from the Houston Chronicle.  I tried it a couple of times and it was a HUGE hit. Ingredients:
3 medium-sized green tomatoes, coarsely chopped (you can substitute yellow if you can’t find green ones, but never use red)
4 tomatillos, cleaned and chopped
1 to 2 jalapenos, stemmed and coarsely chopped
3 small garlic cloves
3 medium-sized ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and sliced
4 sprigs cilantro
1 tsp. of salt
1 1/2 cups of sour cream

Method:
Combine chopped tomatoes, tomatillos, jalapenos and garlic in a saucepan. Bring to a boil (tomatoes provide the liquid), reduce heat and simmer 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Place tomato mixture with the avocados, cilantro and salt in food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into a bowl and stir in sour cream.


Makes 4 to 5 cups

off and running!

I'm not sure what possessed me to start writing a blog, or why I thought that anyone else might be interested in my random musings, but here I am.  Actually, over the past couple of weeks, since that terrible earthquake struck the small country of Haiti, I have followed the blogs of a few local folks who have been in the process of adopting children in Haiti.  I have prayed for these people with whom I share one degree of separation and I have cried the ugly cry as I read their words of desperation as they tried to bring their children home.  I thank God that, in comparison, I live a very boring life.  I am even more thankful now for those boring, uneventful weekends with my Boys. 

In between the routine of work & school and the chaos of attempting to co-parent with the ex, the angst of a teenager, the precociousness of a first grader and the terror of opening my heart again, I'm just trying to live each day with gratitude and humor.  Thanks for coming along and enjoy the ride!