Super Bowler Baller Corn: Bacon-Maple-Bourbon Coffee Caramel Corn

[Don't forget to enter the Edible Brooklyn: The Cookbook Giveaway!]

Every year for the Super Bowl we all wonder where the heck we are going to watch the game.

The year the Bowl came to Houston, all our friends sat together in my husband's old neighborhood munching on Brownies, wings, and popping our eyes out of our head as Justin Timberlake ripped Janet Jackson's shirt the mess off.

Usually the children are running around the house completely involved in their own worlds, as the parents take their seats in the Den surrounded by yummy food, laughter, and tales of Jr. High Football upsets.

These are the times when you find out that your husband was always as sweet as he is today.
And that he has always liked to walk around in his underwear.

Tortilla Crusted Catfish. . .and all the things I love.

[Don't forget to enter the Edible Brooklyn: The Cookbook GIVEAWAY!]

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Do you know what i love?

Lavender and Rosemary and the scent it leaves on your fingers when you brush it lightly.

I love pretty things.

And babies. That aren't quite babies anymore, but little souls roaming around my house causing havoc.

White dogs. That love so hard, that they often get in trouble for it. White dogs that stink. White dogs that smell like soap. White dogs that turn brown when they've been digging in my garden.

Raw Kale Salad with Peanut Honey Dressing and a GIVEAWAY ~ Edible Brooklyn: The Cookbook

Yesterday. My, oh my. Yesterday.

It was a doozy.

I went to a kick your hiney abdominal, legs, arms, crazy lady class at the gym. I figured out that I don't know what a 'plank' is, but more importantly, I CAN'T DO ONE. I need to figure out what do when I'm in an exercise class and I discover that I have no abdominal muscles and my arms don't work. Hint: Don't cry.

Also. . .against my better judgement, I went to Spin Class. And I spun. But, and as warned, it did feel slightly like I had a rod up my rear, but I ate ice cream as a reward afterward, so everything was gravy, baby.

Smoothie for Your Heart: Orange Vanilla Protein (Tastes like an Orange Julius)

 It just occurred to me that in September, I wrote and cried and slobbered and prayed to you about my Poppy Pops. I cried about his heart transplant surgery and how I felt like I was dying inside. I moaned about my regrets, wishes and hopes,  and I how I needed him HERE to be a part of all of that.

I needed him NOT to die.
And he almost did.
In fact, if you ask him, he would tell you he almost did. More than once. From fever. From kidney failure. From a crazy one-eyed heavy-handed nurse. That's another story.

That the pain was so bad he wanted to leave this place. But he didn't because he kept hearing the voices of the people he loved. That our faces would appear to him at his lowest, and he made it through fighting demons and devils by calling on Jesus. All the while to his family and friends his body just laid there on the hospital bed, still. . .swollen. . . .broken.

That is what he would tell you.
He would also tell you that he could have sworn that I performed the surgery.. . . . .
which I don't think I did. But he did know exactly what I was wearing and how I was wearing my hair. . .so maybe. . . I think he felt my prayers.

Because I  prayed and prayed and prayed. I Facebook prayed. I Twitter prayed. I prayed on my knees, in the shower, and while I was cooking.  I prayed while running, walking, screaming and yelling. I prayed all the time. And so did my friends. And my friends of friends of friends.

And I want to thank you.
Because it worked.
Look at my Daddy now.
Getting better everyday.
He can walk five blocks now.
No help needed.

All my love to all of you who had our back. I will be forever grateful.

His tried and true doctor. They are soulmates. They are planning a trip to Vietnam together.

A friend is pictured with my father who had a heart transplant two years ago.

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I've been thinking a lot about my Dad lately.
He lives so far away, so I don't get to see him at much as I would like.

The other day I was in Hobby Lobby and I saw a picture frame that made me think of him.
It says. . ."America calls him a soldier. I call him Dad."

So I picked it up and decided I would send it to him to let him know I'm so proud of him. To let him know that I love him so much. It's a picture of me and my dad running a race together when I was 7. I beat the pants off of him. I'm wondering if he's going to want a re-match.

Maybe I should send him this picture instead. I'm a little out of shape.

And then, after the frame was all boxed up and ready to go,  I started thinking of recipes that I could send him. Because, that's what I do for people I love. Fill their belly's with things that will make them strong and happy.

And this little toddy, totally fits the bill.
Super great for his new 20 year old heart, and yours too.
With orange, strawberry, banana, it's sure to put power in his punch and fuel his body for all the rehab he has been doing lately.

I had one this morning, and I liked it so much I think I'll make it again tomorrow morning. And the morning after that. And after that, and after that.

Here's to our hearts!
Treat them well!

Orange Vanilla Protein Smoothie (Tastes like an Orange Julius)

Ingredients:

8 oz. orange juice
1/2 banana
5 strawberries
5 ice cubes
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp Splenda (or whatever sweetener you like)
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

Directions:

1. Stick all the ingredients in a blender and BLEND the mess out of it. Slurp, Slurp, Slurp away!!!!

Coffee Protein Smoothie with a bit of banana thrown in.

Dear Self,

Get some cojones. Or maybe just borrow your husbands.

Throw on your tight spandex workout pants (the ones with the neon hot pink around the waist) and your body glove tank top and walk your scary little toosh into the Spin Class and OWN IT.

Will you look like an idiot? Maybe.
Will you not know what the heck your doing? Probably.

But like we heard in that movie trailer that one time for that movie we don't remember the name for, that was advertising to teenagers. . . .If you are scared to do something, that is probably a sign to DO IT. Rock on.

THE BEST GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE YOU HAVE EVER EATEN - And some totes randomness

AAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!

I'm frustrated.

My 2 year old baby was throwing up all over place yesterday. Total madness. She's feeling much better now, the house has been bleached and fumigated, so all is good. . . . i think.

My Christmas Tree is STILL up and decorated. Though, I haven't been turning the lights on.
At the moment that I finally went to take it down (I kid you not) Phoebe started projectile vomiting and well. . . .my Christmas tree is still up, ornaments, star and all.

Good news.  I'm exercising on a regular basis. And I'm blogging.. . . .Yeah!!!
Bad news.  I've been unable to figure out when to shower and brush my hair.

Quick and Classic Low Fat Banana Bread

{Don't forget to enter The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook Giveaway!}
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I tell my 5 year old all the time "Don't grow up too fast. Stay short. Stay sweet."

"Okay, Mommy." She says. "I'll try."

And because she's be so compliant and trying to stay small for me, and she's cuter than all get out, Santa brought her something extra special this Christmas.

An Ipod touch.

Winter Vegetable Soup, Fishing in the City Pool and A GIVEAWAY: The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook By Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge with Sandy Gluck



Food Photography by Paulette Tavormina


It's raining catfish and dogs today. 
I'm laughing hysterically to myself, even if you didn't quite get the joke.

How To Keep Your Dog Smelling Fresh. . . . .with products you already have at home.

Me:  I need to go to the doctor in the morning.  Do you want to come with me?

Mom:  Sure. Why do you have to go to the doctor?

Me: Oh nothing serious.  I need to see the dermatologist for a follow up visit. My face just gets really rosy, with these fine little bumps. Kinda like a heat rash on my cheeks.

Mom: *silence.* Oh.

Cut Out Sugar Cookies and the Easiest Sugar Cookie Icing

Waiting for Nana and Santa's arrival.  The kids made up Nana's bed with fresh sheets, pillows topped with chocolates. A bottle of water and sweet notes with drawings were placed on her bedside table.