Subsitute Cook

While Sweetie and I were dating, while we were still learning about each other, I might have mentioned that I liked to cook.  Cooking is part of daily life, but there is no law about enjoying it.  So maybe I stretched the truth a bit...I was trying to put my best foot forward.

Alright, truth be told, I don't mind cooking and I do enjoy preparing certain dishes for my Sweetie.  Thank goodness he is not a picky eater.  One day early in our marriage, he suggested I fix cubed steak for supper.  I nodded, but didn't pursue it.  I had never fixed cubed steak.  It reminded me of lunch rooms and thick, greasy gravy.  And what exactly does "cubed" mean?  It sounds like a math problem and math was not my strongest subject. Is it three times removed from steak?  Or, is it pounded three times with that funny kitchen hammer thing?  I don't really know...

He persisted, asking again and again for cubed steak.  So I finally confessed and said I had never fixed it and had no idea how to cook it.  "Fry it," he explained.  "Umm, I don't know how to fry and anyway, it's not very healthy," I said.  He continued to request it.  I continued to resist.

About four years ago when we lived in the mountains, a friend gave us some venison cubed steak.  It sat in our freezer for awhile until Sweetie finally offered to fix supper.  I agreed.  He would do all the work, what ever it involved.  I would watch and learn.  I was skeptical.  Sweetie didn't really know his way around the kitchen, just straight through it. From the chair in den to the fridge, then back.  A bee-line.

Sweetie did an excellent job.  I really liked it and was pleasantly surprised, but I still didn't add it to the grocery list.  A few months ago, one our cousins here at the lake gave us a package of beef cubed steak from a great butcher shop in Baldwin County.  Sweetie offered to prepare it.  I let him and again, it was delicious! 

Cousin Edward gave us another package of meat the other day.  Isn't he just the nicest second cousin ever?  Cubed steak.  Yummy.  Since Friday is one of my work days, Sweetie offered to fix supper last night.

 Sweetie in our tiny kitchen, frying the cubed steaks. 

Presley, sitting on the edge of the kitchen, wondering what the hell he is doing in there.  You can't see me, but I'm sitting in the arm chair with my glass of wine, watching and learning.

Oh, by the way, it was really delicious with whole grain rice, reduced fat gravy, and steamed green beans!

Spring Signs?

 On my morning walk with Presley, I noticed two particular things that I took as a sign.  Could we be heading out of this hard, cold winter?  Is it too early to begin dreaming of spring?

Sign #1 - It rained off and on all day and night yesterday.  This morning I found not one, but two earthworms on the pavement.  Now, I'm not a scientist, but I don't recall ever seeing earthworms up on the ground during the winter months.  I decided it was a small sign that winter is on the wane.

Sign #2 - In a large puddle left from the rain, three plump robins were bathing.  I tried to get a photograph of it, but Presley decided to act like a bird dog and tried to flush them out.  It worked.  They flew up into the tall pine tree.  I'm sure they were fussing at us.  I found this stock picture that captured the moment my camera missed.

I will have to wait until Groundhog day to be completely sure, but in my mind, I'm going with the hope that the worst of our winter is behind us.

The January sun rose over the pines and chased away the gray dawn mist. We turned toward home as daylight invaded the dark woods. I caught a whiff of spring...

The Not-For-Two Dollar Gray Slippers

Last weekend, I went shopping.  This is news because I rarely shop for myself but I needed a few things.  A new dressy blouse, maybe some dressy, flat shoes, and pantyhose.  Not very exciting, but I was looking forward to spending a few hours traipsing around the stores with a friend.

It had probably been four or five years since I had been to the Mall in Macon.  The one on Eisenhower, I'm not sure what they call it now.  I rarely shop for anything that can't be purchased at Kroger or Walmart.  Mama suggested that Macy's was having a sale (imagine that) and I might find what I was looking for...blouse, shoes, panty hose.

I didn't find those, but I did find a pair of gray bedroom slippers, the good kind with soft, fleecy insides and a thick rubber sole.  Slip-ons.  In my size and on sale.  Originally $24, now half off.  I decided to get them.

I handed the item to the clerk who immediately told me that I could get an additional 10% off  IF I opened a Macy's charge account.  Let me back up and tell you that I have not had a Macy's charge in years.  I paid it off and closed the account.  I do not want a Macy's charge, even for an extra 10%.  I nicely, I thought, declined the offer. 

The clerk repeated the offer, this time slightly incredulous that I would refuse such a deal.  She said, and I quote, "You can get dese fo' two dollars!"  She pointed to the slippers.

I did some quick math in my head...OK, maybe not real fast, I usually prefer a calculator instead of my poor ol' tired brain. Anyway, 10% off $12 comes to $10.80 not $2.  I looked at my friend who probably did the math instantaneously while I multiplied and subtracted, trying not to move my lips or fingers.  She rolled her eyes.

"No thanks, I'm fine paying $12," I said firmly and handed over my cash money.  As I walked away with my change and my small Macy's bag, the clerk told the next woman in line about the offer.  That woman nodded excitedly and took her up on the deal.

The  Slippers

I Resolve to Break Resolutions

A belated Happy New Year y'all!  It is January ninth and due to the impending ice storm and what have you, I have busted all of my resolutions.  Yes, there is ice cream in the freezer and it has been sampled, because, well, what if the power goes out?  I would not want to lose all that delicious, cold, sweet Moose Tracks ice cream.  That would be a crying shame plus a huge waste.  Waste not, want not...Mama's words echo in my head.

The ice cream resolution was going to be broken sooner or later, so why wait?  Am I ashamed of my weakness?  Sorta, but it sure was good! 

I succumbed to the pressure pressing down on me due to the impending ice storm and rushed to the Kroger yesterday morning, early, before the crowds that I'm sure stampeded down the aisles to get beef, bread, and beer (the 3 B's of ice storms when you are shut inside with others and only a grill to cook on).  As I perused other early shopper's carts to see what other provisions they would purchase, I noticed one primary thing...vegetables were not high on any one's list. 

So I tossed in a bag of frozen baby lima beans just because I decided I could boil baby limas in a pot on the grill.  Last night Sweetie informed me that our grill is almost out of propane.  OK, so the ground beef and hot dogs will have to be cooked on the small charcoal smoker grill.  I picked up a bag of charcoal, just in case...

Today, January ninth, the weather is currently cold, but clear.  There is not a cloud in the sky.  I peek out the window again as the television weatherman, umm, I mean meteorologist, speaks of the worsening conditions, due to move in later today.
http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=108296&catid=7


OK I'm ready...