Fred thought he might have to work late yesterday, but when I hadn’t heard from him by 4:00, I picked up the phone and dialed his cell phone number. A moment later, my cell phone rang.
I picked up my cell phone to see who was calling, and saw that “Home” was calling.
I had a “THE CALL IS COMING FROM INSIDE! THE! HOUSE!” moment, and then I realized that I’d dialed my cell phone number rather than Fred’s.
Okay, who here can tell me whether or not I should be excited that they’re putting a Sav-A-Lot about 10 minutes from here? Is it worth checking out, or should I stick to Publix with the occasional foray into Walmart (and Target, when I’m in that area)?
Sunday for dinner, I made a white chicken chili that was okay, but Fred liked it more than I did, so I told him to package up the leftovers to take for lunches. Then yesterday, I couldn’t think of what to make for dinner, so I stood and stared into the freezer and decided that nothing in there was too exciting. Then I looked in the fridge, and ditto. I was thinking of just making scrambled eggs and oven-fried potatoes, when I remembered that I’d recently seen a recipe for an oven-baked omelette at Hungry Girl, so decided I’d make that, and instead of the oven-fried potatoes, I’d make Pioneer Woman’s Crash Hot Potatoes.
Turned out to be a pretty damn good meal. I made changes to both recipes, of course. I don’t do “egg substitutes”, so I just started cracking eggs into a 2-cup measuring cup until I had 2 cups’ worth (10 eggs, as it turned out). I don’t do bell peppers, so I left those out and increased the amount of onion I used. I don’t like big chunks of vegetables, so I chopped everything into small pieces. And I sure as hell don’t do “parmesan-style grated topping”, so I used a sprinkle of shredded parmesan. I also used a 9-inch square dish instead of a round casserole.
Really, it’s kind of amazing that it turned out so well – but it ended up being REALLY good, and I know that this summer when we’re awash in eggs and have lots of veggies straight from the garden, I’ll be making many an oven omelette. I don’t know if it was due to my using real eggs instead of the egg substitute, but when I pulled the omelette out after 30 minutes to sprinkle parmesan on the top, it was done, so I didn’t have to cook it another 20 minutes.
I mostly made the potatoes by the recipe, except that I used a lot less olive oil (when it comes to Pioneer Woman’s recipes, I pretty much reduce the butter, oil, and bacon grease by at least 3/4, if not completely) and I never use any herbs on the potatoes, just salt and pepper, then sprinkle with the tiniest bit of parmesan 3 minutes before the potatoes are done.
Despite this pile of ever-growing recipes on my desk, I am compelled to ask y’all: I’m always on the lookout for good recipes. What have you made for dinner recently that turned out better than you expected? Or alternately, is there a recipe you want to share? Gimme!
Okay, these are the last of the Brady pics I have (unless I stumble some that I’ve stashed away in a folder and forgotten about – that’s definitely happened before!)
Jake and Bobby Brady.
I was laying under the heated throw on the couch, catching up on some vital television viewing (if you want your foster kittens to truly appreciate the nutty “Real Housewives”, you’ve gotta start ’em early!) when I realized that most of the Bradys had climbed up to keep warm. No dummies, these guys. At the end is Peter Brady (sitting next to him, Rhyme), then Cindy and Jan snuggled up, and then (I think) Marcia. Greg Brady was present, but you can’t see him in this picture because he was curled around my neck, purring to beat the band.
Bath time for Cindy Brady.
Alice, rolled up in a bed. She sure puts up with a lot from Fred. That’s because she looooooves him. When I get up in the morning, she plays for an hour or so, then snuggles up somewhere upstairs and I don’t see her again until it’s almost time for Fred to get home from work. At 3:00ish, she comes down the stairs, blinking sleep from her eyes, and wanders around the house until Fred gets home, whereupon she runs to him, gets her hugs and kisses, and then runs off to find something better to do.
Yesterday, she snuggled up for a nap with Rhyme. And at bedtime, we spotted her rubbing up against Reacher. It seems that, despite herself, she’s turning into a sweet, friendly, well-adjusted little girl!
Coltrane, hanging out on the Bootsie’s Bunk Bed in the computer room. Have I perhaps mentioned that he’s made himself at home?
Previously
2010: No pig shit fish for me, THANK YOU.
2009: No entry.
2008: Yes, he’s cute. No, we’re not keeping him.
2007: That damn sponge will never glare malevolently at me again, I’m sure of it.
2006: “Thy-y-y-yme is my crack! Yes it is!”
2005: He emailed me back immediately. You’re already too old to die tragically young.
2004: No entry.
2003: No entry.
2002: And Mildred and Myrtle were hanging out merrily in their very sheer bright yellow bra, waving at all and sundry.
2001: Just thinking about it makes me grumpy.
2000: Y’all stay warm, now!