Maple Gorp (aka TAILGATE MIX)

On Saturday night in addition to enjoying a great football game we also enjoyed a large bag of Gorp I had made. It is a receipe of Rachel Ray's I adapted for our tastes. It was requested I post it so here it is....

MAPLE GORP
(you can use any nuts you like but these are the ones we happen to prefer)

¼ cup maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup oats
1 cup cashews
2 cups whole natural almonds
1 cup peanuts, unsalted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ cup raisins, a couple of handfuls
½ cup shelled pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
1 cup plain M&M's

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place maple syrup on the stove with cinnamon and vanilla over medium low heat to infuse the flavor. Warm syrup a couple of minutes, remove. Combine oats, nuts, seeds and brown sugar in a bowl. Toss with maple syrup mixture. Spread the maple coated mixture out on a cookie sheet and roast 15 minutes. Remove the nuts from oven and transfer to another cold pan, tossing the mix to quick-cool it. Once cool, toss with M&M’s & raisins.

The BEST....

Aunts and Mom ever!!

See these ladies I am pictured with? Well these are my aunts and my mom. I am so lucky to have them all in my life. They spoil me, my husband and my kids like you wouldn't believe. They are there for me in good times and in bad. They are there at the drop of a hat to have fun and do the dirty work. I am certain there is nothing they wouldn't do for me and my family. Not to mention, they are just fun to be with.

My Aunt Jean, my mom's sister, is to the left of me and over the years we have had some great fun and often at her expense. She takes it all it stride and laughs with us. She never takes anything too personal and sets a wonderful example in that department. One of her classic lines came one day, over 18 years ago, when we were out shopping for baby furniture with her then 6 month pregnant daughter. Her daughter said she was hungry and wanted to stop for a bite. My aunt replied, and she was NOT joking, "why eat lunch, you are just going to have dinner in 6 hours". It was then and there we gave her the name Auntie Rexic (like anorexia).

Then to the right of me is my Auntie Beverly (my dads sister), then my Mom and then my Aunt Hallie (actually no relation but raised with my mom and her sister so she is an aunt and family to me). My aunt Bev is more the sentimental type. She is an easy cry and when there are tears in her eyes then mine are not far behind. She is outgoing and adventurous. She adores my kids and even shares her birthday with Erin, just 50 years apart.

Most of you know my Mom and know she is just plain great. She will get up early and/or travel far to see her grand kids, or nieces & nephews, play sports or participate in a play. She makes great cookies and shares them all the time. She is strong and, despite a few health issues, NEVER complains.

Lastly, there is Hallie. She has no kids of her own but makes up for it by spoiling all of us. She is our connection to Dodger games, magazines and special pretzels. She is just as strong and determined as the other 3 ladies and, again, another tough cookie.

I guess you can now see where my spirit and drive come from. These 4 ladies have set great examples. They have taught me so much in their words and actions. They have certainly helped me become the person I am today. They all have hearts of gold yet are women who stand up for what is right. They are not afraid to speak their mind nor step up when action is needed. I would be lucky to have just one woman like this in my life so you can imagine how great it is that I have 4.

Thank you Mom, Auntie Beverly, Auntie Jeannie and Hallie for all you do!!

Food (and drink) for thought

I grew up a picky child. I said I didn't like many things that I never even tried. I have grownup and tried to not be that kid any more. I now try to try anything. Just this past weekend I had bison for the first, but certainly not the last, time. Because of this try anything mind set I came across a list that I thought was interesting and thought I would share with you. This list was compiled by Andrew Wheeler, a British food writer, and it contains 100 food/drink items he believes should be tried in one's lifetime. When originally posted the writer asked others to post the list on their blogs and BOLD those items the writer has had and cross out any that they refuse to try. For me there are none that I am dead set against trying but rather I have never heard of them and/or have no idea when I will ever come across them in my life. What about you?

The Very Good Taste Omnivore's 100
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat's milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S'mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs' legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

What was I like?

With A.J. going away to college and Erin acting like a typical 16 year old girl and me having to deal with both of these things I have been trying very hard to remember what I was like at 16, 17, 18 years old. It is frustrating because I cannot. I can remember how I was in years before that (and it wasn't pretty) but not how I was once I was in my late teens. All I can remember was good times. I remember having a great time hanging out with Dave and other friends. I can remember going to school, getting decent grades (I am talking 11th and 12th grade) and going away to college for my freshman year. I remember being happy and loving life. I don't remember any bad times. I don't remember any arguments I had with my folks. I don't remember how I even talked to my parents. I don't remember if I even spoke to them at all after I left for college. I know they didn't come visit me at school but I don't think I even gave it another thought. I don't know if my parents even missed me!!
What I really want to remember was the relationship I had with my parents. I know I didn't tell them everything but I think I was pretty honest with my emotions. In fact, I am pretty sure I am the same way I am now---I wear my emotions on my sleeve. You know what I am feeling, when I am feeling it just by looking at me. I don't think I hide much or have much of a poker face. I am wondering if my kids are the same way. I know they don't tell me everything but I think they tell me lots of things. I am naive or correct? Did I tell my parents just want they wanted to hear? I am afraid that my kids do just that. I don't think that they out and out lie to me but I think that they don't really let me in on what is going on with them.
Is A.J. happy at school or does he think he sold his soul to the devil just to play football? If he thinks he made a mistake will he tell me? Does he know that we are here for him NO MATTER WHAT or does he think that I will judge him too harshly and not understand?
And Erin, is she a happy, well adjusted 16 year old? Does she say one thing to my face and then go in her room and write in a journal about how miserable she is? How can I tell if she is really OK? Am I missing signs?
I try to think about what I was like at that age and if my parents had the same concerns. Maybe they did but just didn't let on. My parents made this parenting stuff look so easy--how did they do that? Were my siblings and I really that good? I doubt that.
When I raise my concerns to Dave he reminds me that we have 2 great kids and we have/are doing the right things and raising good teenagers. He tells me to continue telling them we love them and remind them that we are their biggest fans and are here for them whenever/whatever they need. They will let us know if there is a problem or if they need are help. Right now we have to sit back and let them be their own person.
I guess it doesn't matter what my life was like at that age but rather how I am now. Now I am a mom to 2 wonderful teenagers who make me smile EVERYDAY. I will go forward from here and hope for the best!!

Sad News

After 12 years as a wonderful part of our family Quik has passed away. It was with great sadness today that Erin and Dave took him to the vet to be put to sleep. Despite his snoring and love of chocolate he was a great dog. He loved to be with people and loved for kids to play with him. He will be missed!!

AJ in action...

Here is a home movie of AJ's first play at the Air Force...

What a weekend....

We just got back from PARENTS WEEKEND at AJ's school and I don't even know where to begin. We had a great time and are so proud of both our kids. Dave and I went and Erin stayed home. We left on Thursday afternoon, just 24 hours after Erin got her drivers license. She stayed home alone on Thursday night and then with friends and family for the rest of the weekend. She was great!! She called and checked in lots and did everything she was supposed to do while at home. She is awesome!!

And speaking of awesome let me tell you about AJ. We arrived Thursday evening knowing we would not see AJ until Friday morning. We had arranged to meet him at the Chapel in the early AM. I was very apprehensive. I had been warned that I might not recognize my son--he might look and act quite different. Well let me tell you, those warnings were completely unnecessary. AJ is still the AJ we know and love. He looks great, maybe a little thinner (during basic training he lost 27lbs), and remains his wonderful self.

He does enjoy school but says some days are tough. His freshman year at college is not like freshman year anywhere else. He has many, many rules to follow and many are not fun. He is told what to wear, he has to walk a certain way and address anyone, except fellow freshman, as sir or ma'am. He is limited to what personal items he can have in his room and does not have his cell phone, except for special occasions, or ipod at all. His dorm room is on the 6th floor and he MUST take the stairs. There is an elevator but he is not allowed to use it. On the weekends he may not come and go as he pleases and has no access to television or radio. Even with all the restrictions he is happy. He has made lots of friends and is emerging as a real leader. We attended classes with him on Friday and all his teachers had good things to say about him. He says classes are not too difficult and he is NOT up all night doing homework. He is getting enough to eat and plenty of sleep. What makes it all worth it is football.

As you know he made the varsity and travel team--which where is goals for the year BUT now he has even exceeded that. He made the first string on a few Special Teams and 2nd string on the o-line. On Saturday we attended OPENING DAY, his first game. It was amazing. There were 35K+ in attendance. The stadium is beautiful and there are tailgate parties every where. The boys arrive at the stadium by bus and are greeted by fans and the band. They walk into the stadium amidst music and cheers.

They put on their uniforms and warm up. What a thrill it was for us to see him in a football uniform with his name on the back!!

Just before the game begins there is a "fly over" and parachutes descend on the stadium bringing the game ball. It is sight to see!! This game the Falcons played Southern Utah, a team that hasn't won a game since 2006. As expected the Falcons won 41-7. AJ got in the game quite a few times. In his first collegiate play he admittedly did not do well BUT he came of the field grinning from ear to ear. It was wonderful moment for Dave and I. AJ got in for more extra points and field goals and then in the 4th quarter he got in as offensive lineman for an entire series. He did great!! It made the all the hard work and difficult times worth it.

I am certain now, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that AJ made the right choice and I am pretty sure AJ knows this too. It is actually the right place for him both on and off the football field. AJ is going to become an amazing man/officer in the next 4 years and, I so look forward to seeing this transformation.