25 THINGS I HAVE LEARNED THIS WEEK!!!

When you clean your house after midnight, it tends to stay “clean” for more consecutive hours .

When you clean late at night, no one is awake to notice... or to mess it up!

Karaoke is a lot of fun! (especially when your daughter is on stage!)

When your child asks to play the “Ping-Pong-Fish” game at the annual PTA Winterfest…there is a very strong possibility that you will go home with a live goldfish!

It is also possible due to the “cuteness” and “adorability” factor of your kids…you could come home with “4” live goldfish.

You must always be prepared for such occasions. Keep a small bowl and fish flakes on hand.

It is not okay to discuss letting the goldfish “go for a swim” around the tank (aka toilet).

It is also not okay to discuss staples, or driftwood, or “DEAD FISH PLAQUES” in front of the kids.

It is okay to “foul-out” of a basketball game.

It is okay to lose a basketball game.

It is possible that Chase’s Basketball games will NEVER end!

When your child rips your insurance/prescription card to bits…it is not feasibly possible to glue, tape or otherwise reattach the pieces back together.

It is very possible that a new home could be erected while you are put on “hold” to order new cards.

When your card is shredded and unrecognizable… you will probably need it the next day.

Doctors’ offices are not very nice when you can’t provide proof of insurance.

It is very possible to have more month than money!

Letting your child buy “Rock Band” for the Playstation can provide many hours of entertainment.

Hearing “Rock Band” while nursing a headache really only makes it worse.

Watching your husband and children on the drums, mic and guitar is priceless!

No matter how well everyone in your home is…if you plan to go out-of-town…there will inevitably be sickness!

Where there is a cough, runny nose and fever…an ear infection is soon to follow.

Laughter really is the best medicine.

A good antibiotic runs a close second!

It is not possible to ever take too many pictures!

The most interesting thing I learned this week is... if you write a post about your husband and all the wonderful things he does for you… he will do them more often!!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!!!

WELL...I NEVER!!!!

I am participating in "Tuesday Tell All". This weeks topic is "Never Say Never". The following is my list.

I 've never.....

*Broken any bones
*Bungee jumped
*Had a root canal
*Eaten Sushi
*Eaten ANY raw seafood(yuk!)
*Worn braces
*Had a tattoo
*Scuba Dived (though I have snorkled!)
*Won the lottery
*Gambled( which would explain why I've never won the lottery)
*Been to jail
*Given blood( Willingly... please don't hate me...it is a whole different post!)
*Been on a cruise
*Been in the top 1% (financially speaking)
*Gone to bed hungry
*Worn contacts
*Changed a tire

So there you have it folks... the things I have NEVER done! Tune in next Tuesday for a new "Tell All" . Maybe you will learn something about me you didn't know and maybe you will come back anyway.

SOME LIKE IT HOT!!! (chili recipe)

After my last post, I am not sure how receptive you will be to another

"Cooking with Wendi" demo.

Scary?

I think not.

This recipe is tried and true.

My family eats it.

My friends eat it.

I have been asked on occasion to feed it to groups of 30 or more.

It can't be that bad- right?

Right!

Your spicy little taste buds will thank you!

I promise!

Today's episode is ... "Wendi's Can Can Chili"

(Why do I call it that? No... I do not dance while preparing the meal. It is quite simply a can of this and a can of that. )

If you can operate one of these :

there should be no problems!

You will need 2 to 2 1/2 pounds of Hamburger (browned and drained)

8 cans (pictures to follow)

1 brown bag item (the secret ingredient)

------------------------------------------

Open and drain 1 can of each of the following:

Pour one can of each of these in the pot:

and one of each of these too:

and you will need to add my new found love:

YUM-O! Lime and Cilantro...what's not to love?

Finally, you will need a brown bag of my secret ingredient:

This little baby has 4 separate bags inside.

1. MESA FLOUR- (throw it away, the chili will be thick enough!)

2.SALT (add to taste!)

3. CAYENNE PEPPER (throw in the whole bag IF YOU DARE! Spicy, but sooo delicious!)

4. The Seasoning Bag.( Add the entire bag to the pot. Just the right mix of paprika, cumin, and chili powder...no measuring required!)

Cook over medium heat until hot. Turn heat to low and simmer.

You may not be able to resist taking a spoon and tasting throughout the process.

(I highly recommend it!)

Top off your creation with Cheese, Sour Cream, and Green Onion(optional).

Serve with Scoops, or Tortilla Chips and Crackers

ENJOY!!!

PAULA DEEN... I AM NOT!!!

I am a Southern girl.

I am proud of that fact.

One of the things we “southern gals” are known for is our cooking.

We have been taught that food is the pathway to the soul.

We are a hospitable lot.

When someone has a baby, we show up with a meal. When someone is sick, we are knocking on the door with soup. When a new neighbor moves in, we are there with a dessert in tow. Heck, we appear with food for just about anything we can find an excuse to bake for!

Seriously.

I am no Paula Deen. I do not claim to be Rachael Ray. I am most certainly no “Naked Chef” (aka Jamie Oliver) or even Bobby Flay. Sadly, the only thing I have in common with Giada is that I LOVE to cook! (though not in the “buff" like Mr. Oliver)

I am not afraid of the kitchen.

It is my friend.

I feel comfortable around garlic and balsamic vinegar.

I have a torrid love affair with Ghirardelli chocolate.

Most of my cakes and cookies are made from “scratch”.

Which is why I am still puzzled at the Cake-ala -CRAP I produced Sunday.

What is wrong with this picture?

Does it not remind you of the cover of Bon Appetit?

No? Me neither.

Stop laughing.

No…that is not a piece of cake that was spit upon a potato chip.

It is a freshly baked cake placed gingerly on a yellow baking cup.

It was suppose to be this.

I found this scrumptious recipe from Stie. (a great and funny read by the way!)

Her photos had me at …HELLO!

The title, “Bite Sized Bits of Deliciousness” did not hurt either.

She used “a box” cake mix and store bought frosting.

This I could certainly do.

To make it even easier, she posted step by step instructions (with photos I might add).

This would be a breeze.

How could I go wrong?

Wrong!

I don’t follow directions very well.

I am not patient.

I want what I want and I want it NOW!

Which is my excuse for not following her instructions to FREEZE the cake before cutting and frosting. I put it in the freezer, but only for an hour. Trust me…a 9x13 cake does NOT freeze in an hour!

That was my first problem.

The second was my frosting.

I, (the southern cook) did not use Stie’s advice on the store bought icing. I, (the southern cook) made my homemade buttercream frosting.

YUM-O!

YUCK-O!

The almond extract I used was old…not new...not good.

Is it possible for extract to ferment?

It tasted like something that could possibly be illegal until you are 21.

My son said it had the aftertaste of toothpaste.

Toothpaste atop chocolate cake? Now there is a concept. Not a very good one.

And so… my icing (all 3 boxes of powdered sugar and butter and vanilla) and the old almond extract went in the garbage disposal.

None of my friends or neighbors received Cakes of Deliciousness.

I left the 9x 13 chocolate cake in the freezer.

I found it the next morning.

Frozen.

I hurried to the store and bought 2 containers of already made Cream Cheese Frosting.

I came home prepared to conquer the cake.

I did it!

They were indeed most delicious!

The “prettiness”?

Not so much.

Stie, you are my new found GIADA!!!

I , on the other hand will resort to serving these:

LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!

One of my dearest friends is sending her son to New Zealand this week. He will be going to serve a mission. We are all so proud of him.... what a fine young man he is. He would make any Mama proud! I have just had his Mama on my mind a lot this week. I thought I would dedicate this post to my girlfriend, Snow!



I know, I know you all want me to write a post in your honor. Take a number. Wait in line. I will get to you in due time. This one is for you ...Snow!

Top Ten Reasons I Heart Snow: (picture David Letterman doing this!)

10. She has impeccable taste in shoes!!!(Need I go on?) She is never without a pair of heels! (When I talk with her on the phone, I always hear “click, click, click…clonk….clonk”…it is the sound of her heels as she scurries about on the hardwood!)


9. The woman knows how to shop!!! (And is an amazing gift –giver!)

8. She is one of the most amazing mothers I know! (She has three of the kindest, well-mannered, well-rounded children) I hope to show the same love and patience she shows to her children. (One day…one day!)

7. She loves her family and always puts their needs before her own. She will drop everything (and I do mean everything) to do something for them. I remember an incident that happened before I had children. All three of her kids wanted lunch at three different fast food restaurants. She drove through three drive-thrus and ordered three very different lunches. I said then that I would NEVER do that! (NEVER say NEVER!) Guilty!

6. She is ** years old and still wears a size 0! (Now that is just wrong!)

5. Her husband is also a lover of fishing and hunting…so she understands my “pain” when it comes to matters of “camo” and “dead fish plaques” and what “season” it is.

4. She is the best listener and advice giver.

3. She is the only girl I have ever seen mow grass in a dress. I have seen her! (I have caught her more than once driving a John Deere across her front lawn in a dress and some very classy stiletto’s!)

2. She makes yummy desserts. Even her desserts have “classy” names. My favorite is her “Neiman Marcus Bars”. (Who doesn’t need a friend who can make those?)

And the Number one reason I love SNOW...

Where else could I find a friend that also has a “Meteorological” term for a name? (“Snow, its Wendi!”)

So, there you have it folks! The Top Ten Reasons I love Snow. Even if you don’t know her, you have to admit she is pretty amazing. If you are Snow, I hope I haven’t embarrassed you too bad. You are an incredible woman with strength beyond measure. I feel lucky to call you my friend!

ANY TAKERS?

Last night the phone rang.

It was a friend of Chases' wanting him to come to a party/sleep-over tonight.

"Why sure. He has been home all week. He has had a mild case of Chicken Pox.

He is stir-crazy and would love some fresh air. Are you still willing to take him?" I ask.

Silence.

I crossed my fingers .

Please say Yes...Please say Yes!

The voice on the other end of the phone interrupted my thinking.

"Sure, we would love to have him!"

Perfect!
***********
Today when Claire got home, she asked if she could have a friend over.

I just got rid of one child and now she wants another?

3-1= 2

2+1=3

"Okay Claire, let me take a look at your room. If it is clean, you may have a friend over."

"Oh, it is clean Mom!"

"To my standards of "Clean" or yours?" I asked.

Claire sped to her room and slammed the door.

Works every time I say to myself.

While she was preparing for the "white glove test", the phone rang.

This time it was one of Claire's girlfriends wanting her to spend the night.

Decision ?

No Decision.

I am so sorry little friend of Claire. She had so wanted you to come and play. I am sure she would have loved for you to spend the night too. We were within seconds of calling you...honest. But someone else called first. Someone who wanted HER to go THERE. There really was NO choice. You see, Claire will leave and her room will stay clean tonight. If you had come, it would not. I will not have to paint fingernails, and bake cookies. I will not have to pop popcorn or go rent movies. It is my hope you will never know what might have been!

It will be a nice, quiet , relaxing evening all alone...

Wait a minute.

I still have Cole.

Any takers?

He is a precious 3 1/2 year old.
He is potty trained.
He is well versed.
He knows all his colors.
He can count to 100.( though not in the correct order!)
He can navigate the computer.
He can get his own snacks.
He gives the very best hugs and kisses!

On second thought...I think I will keep him. I may even call Chase and Claire to come home!