Twist on Grilled Cheese and Soup

I'm feeling a case of snowitis coming on.  Don't worry, it's not contagious and I don't need a vaccine.  It simply means I will not likely be leaving my house until the storm is over.  I do not panic and buy the last loaves of bread or gallons of milk but it is highly likely that tomorrow I may feel the need to bake a batch of cookies or cook something slow and low.  For tonight, it means a quick soup and a variation of grilled cheese.

Since it is a simple meal to begin with I do allow for some customizing.  My older son requests his on double protein bread with tomatoes, the Mr. prefers his with ham (we are out) but is quite happy with traditional white bread and yellow American cheese.  I feel like mixing things up a bit by using a wrap with mozzarella and tomatoes, a sprinkle of salt and pepper and treating it like a quesadilla.

The soup is equal parts chicken and beef broth with one cup of Acini di Pepe pasta.  The first time I had this simple soup I was 16 and it was served to me by the woman who for the last 25 years has been my mother-in-law.  My husband insists dishes or meals have names and so we refer to this as "Circle Soup," and it is one the entire family agrees to love.

We talk about preparation for the upcoming winter Storm Helen.  My older son has to be at his job by 4 a.m. to begin snow and ice removal.  My husband will likely have a challenging ride to work and as I mentioned earlier am planning on tending my snowitis.  Stay safe and Fed Well.

Burger Night in January

Meatless Monday?  Not in this house.  Well, not this Monday anyway.

Something about the middle of winter that simply makes one crave meat from the grill and so it begins...

Pickle slices, tomatoes and fresh lettuce are tonight's available toppings.

Corn on the cob in January?  Well, yes. it was available in the produce section of the grocery store so I decided to simply not ask too many questions.  It turned out to be quite sweet and firm enough without being tough.

French fries?  Yes.  When serving traditional grilled burgers whether middle of the winter or not, fries are in order.  While they could have been (and have been in the past) crisped in the oven, these were prepared the old fashioned way - on the stove in oil then drained on a paper towel.

We are as individual in our taste in burgers as anything else in life.  One medium/rare, one medium and I am the surprise.  I like my steak more on the rare side, but my hamburgers should be cooked more well.  Tough to please everyone.

Mondays can be tough and this one was no exception.  A dozen people were let go from my day job today. I am sure some will be on to bigger and better things, but it's still a difficult time.  The Mr. has a little added pressure at work this week with a big visit/inspection.  Our older son went to his second day of his internship and shared a brief overview of his experience.  Now, it is time to relax and appreciate that we can come home to each other and share our stories - leaving us feeling Fed Well.

Vegas Lite

Monticello Casino & Raceway Buffet

Time for a Mommy and Me afternoon and so we head off for lunch and gaming.  Don't all mother-daughters have these dates?  

Anyway, I packed my hand sanitizer and off we went.  No one should head to the slot machines on an empty stomach so first a stop at the buffet.

I wonder how popular the salad actually is among gamers?

I have to admit, I walked right past this portion...

A taco buffet.  Everything looked pristine and well tended.

I prepared a simple plate.  I don't want to feel full and bloated and honestly, I can't refuse the rice since it is not something I ever make at home.  I especially love the olives.  The sliced london broil served with au jus is quite peppery.

Mommy's plate is more diverse and yes, she has vegetables.  Me, not so much today.

We talk about work, family, our general practitioner, colonoscopy testing, mammograms... all the normal topics between mother and daughter.  Right?

A good afternoon at the machines.  My mother left with a little something and I made a donation, but a fun time was had and our time together has left me feeling Fed Well.

Garrison's

Garrison's Tavern & Restaurant

Date night.  We were going to double date with friends and see a comedy show but by the time we confirmed our thoughts the tickets were sold out.  Next, we thought the two of us would go to the local restaurant.  A 30 minute wait is kind of impossible for me to accept.  Finally, we ended up going on a little drive and pulled up to Garrison's.  No lines, no waiting, perfect.

The only problem was that neither of us knew a single thing about this establishment.  Would it be more pub/bar then restaurant?  Did it matter?  The only thing I had my heart set on was a Cosmopolitan and they are pretty commonly available.

We were seated almost immediately in a dining area where we were the only occupants.  A few couples were in the bar area and the televisions were playing the play-off game.

The Mr. can be counted on to order either Chicken Marsala or Chicken Parmigiana and so tonight it is the Parmigiana.  Although I could have ordered any one of the specials I order the last one - linguini with chicken and spinach in a creamy white wine sauce.

 

We both order the New England Clam Chowder to start.  A generous portion, loaded with clams and potatoes, is served with a little packet of oyster crackers.  By the way, my Cosmopolitan was perfect!

 

Fresh salad, served without bread to my husband's disappointment, arrived with dressing on the side.  I eat my salad "raw" and so I gave my dressing to the Mr.  I enjoyed the mix of greens with spinach topped by red onion, tomato, cucumber and shredded carrot.

My dinner special is steaming hot when it arrives.  I ask for a spoon to assist in pasta twirling.  Again, the portion is generous for me.  The spinach is delicate, the chicken is moist and tender, the linguini cooked al dente and the creamy sauce allows the garlic to come right to the front of the line.  For me, that is fabulous.

I did not sample my husband's meal as I was quite happily enjoying my own.  He simply could not eat it without some bread and our server smiled and brought him a few slices of bread (without butter or oil).  The Mr. likes what he likes and for him the portion was not enough pasta and not enough sauce.  When I asked him if he would return he smiled and answered, "If you wanted to."

A group of young ladies were seated in our area.  I listened as they ordered paninis and burgers.  Perhaps he would have enjoyed a good burger instead?  The dining room continues to fill as 3 other tables are seated - maybe we were just too early for Garrison's though the first restaurant we visited already had a 30 minute wait.

Dessert was an absolute win!  An apple cheesecake in a crispy tortilla served with whipped cream and a strawberry.  Fabulous.

We had a lovely date night.  Enjoying each others company and keeping up on date nights after over 25 years of marriage is quite important to maintaining Mr. & Mrs. Fed Well.

Mexican Take II

Layoffs or restructuring or the elimination of positions, whatever way you would like to sugar coat the fact that a certain number of people I have worked with for the last 5 years are going to lose their jobs on Monday (maybe it's me) has put enough stress on me this past week that I feel I could snap - emotionally and physically.  Best way to escape?  Out to lunch, Mexican in fact, with one of my coworkers.

I am so excited for guacamole I think I clapped my hands at the table.

I love how creamy and perfectly ripe the avocado is every time we order it.  The fresh cilantro, which I am becoming used to but wasn't always my favorite, is a bright flavor and I enjoy it so thoroughly I can identify each flavor in the mix; onion, tomatoes, a pinch of salt - so fabulous!

While we talk over the impending doom and gloom, we can't help but continually guess about who will lose their job.  At the same time, our supervisor will be celebrating her 25th anniversary with the company next week.  Ill timed?  I'd say.  But, these things can not be helped.  I'm searching my memory for the best story to contribute on party day.

I have 2 favorite orders at this particular restaurant - either the beef burritos or the shrimp tacos.  Taco day it is.

A few tables are pushed together to accommodate the large group also dining.  They are from another local business and I notice out of the 12, only 2 are women.  I cannot tell by their clothing what kind of work they do, but they are wearing ID badges.  A gentleman gets out of his chair, gives a brief speech and congratulates another man for his 25 years of service then presents him with a framed award.  Maybe people really do stay loyal to one company for a lifetime.  My own husband has been with his employer for 26 years now but would love to retire and find a second job (he's been looking for about 18 months with no success).

Lunch is over and we head back to the office.  I am still edgy and can't wait for this round of headcount reduction to be over.  I'd like to think the people who are let go will move on to bigger and better things while remaining Fed Well.

Bad Girl Breakfast

A squishy hard roll, a scrambled egg and bacon.  A moment of silence please to honor this most perfect, yet highly unhealthy or at least lacking in nutrition breakfast.

Because I order it so rarely, I have affectionately named this treat, "The Bad Girl Breakfast," when talking with one of my co-workers and she knows exactly what I have ordered.

I have been cutting out the sweets and am on the treadmill faithfully every other day and continue to increase speed (don't tell anyone I was jogging the other night when no one was home) and adjusting the incline for bursts of extra work.

Honestly, I believe in moderation.  I do prefer fresh and raw produce.  Am I saying all of this for me benefit or yours?  Doesn't matter, mostly I'm feeling as if I am Fed Well.

Venison/Beef Chili on a Wednesday in January and a Cameo Appearance by Maddy

I grew up with a dad who hunted, married a man who hunts and raised two sons who avoid hunting.  Well, they used to go out with their father, but really, they went to keep him happy.

I'm not sure how old I was the first time I ate venison, but I know it didn't bother me and I was fairly young.  I remember my Mommy making a wonderful roast with apples and the meat was tender, sweet and delicious.

As a cook, I have ruined a few venison meals by overcooking.  The meat has very little fat and it is that lean meat that makes it feel like a fairly healthy choice.  My sons, the ones who don't really like hunting, are also at times a bit sketchy about eating game meats including venison and pheasant.  However, when I can mix ground venison with another meat, it is far more palatable for them and to further reduce any chance of a gamey taste, I prepare a chili.

 

On this particular night, it is just one son and the Mr. and myself at the table.  Dinners are less rushed in the winter, a bit more leisurely also because we do not have to rush out the door to take someone to practice, scouts, or pick them up from a part-time job.  Everyone is just a little bit older and for the 3 of us, our day begins around 5 a.m. so by 6 p.m., we are just starting to feel a little bit wilted.

We talk about work. It's kind of like therapy.  We get out the things that may be giving us a bit of trouble and see what the others think.  Sometimes we are lucky to share a few highlights and bask in the prideful glow of our accomplishments.

We clean our plates and agree it was a good meal.  Deciding to just push our bowls to the middle of the table, the conversation continues until our Maddy protests.

She whimpers and if she could speak her noises say, "Um, I think it's time for me to eat, don't you agree?"

She is part of the family and it is just as important that she is Fed Well.  Maddy will be celebrating her 6th birthday this month and she may never know just how much joy she has brought us.