My Weekend...

Due to an unfortunate allergic reaction, to something I ate Friday evening, I missed posting yesterday.  It was a Chicken Habanero sandwich from a pizza place.  I didn't want pizza, like the rest of the family, so I got a sandwich.  Apparently I have an allergy to the sauce or to Jalapeno Peppers.  Wheezing, hives, unbearable itching, and eyes swelled up.  I looked hideous.  Almost did the 911 call!  Had my husband grab the Benadryl and quickly took two.  That's what the docs told him to do if he ever gets another bee sting.  The symptoms started to calm down in about 15 minutes, but my eyes stayed swollen until late last night.  Needless to say, no more Jalapeno's for me, and I'm going to schedule an allergy test soon!

Today is a family day.  We'll be watching the Super Bowl later.  We're rooting for the Patriots because the Giants beat our Green Bay Packers!  My sister-in-law didn't make the long trip.  Fortunately she was only an hour into the journey, when PJ called and told her the engine wouldn't work for his car.  She decided to head back home and come for a visit later on.  Hopefully, PJ can find another engine that will work in his Chevy.  If this is confusing... go to the previous post.

I've been baking this morning.  Poppy Seed Muffins with Lemon Glaze, Kalua Cake, Tortilla Casserole, and Spicy Meatballs!  No, I'm not worrying about calories today.  I do have a nice big veggie tray to balance things out a little.  It's time to go finish my prep for game time!  Go Patriots!

Day 10 - Beginnings - Thoughts on Food

Only thing I disliked more was the chicken spread!

I thought I'd take a look at the beginnings of my relationship with food.  My earliest memories consist of Campbells Soup, Wonder Bread, Hot Dogs, Rice a Roni (always served with Mom & I singing "Rice a Roni, the San Francisco treat, Rice a Roni, The flavor can't be beat"), and the occasional pepperoni pizza from the restaurant Mom worked at.  Grandma and Grandpa had some interesting items to add to my food memories, Spam, Hominy, Deviled Ham and Chicken Spreads, Canned Sardines, and Chung King Chicken Chow Mein.
 
Loved: Wonder Bread, Soup, Hominy, Hot Dogs, Rice a Roni, Pizza, & Sardines

Hated: Spam, Deviled Ham, Deviled Chicken, & Chung King Chow Mein

Couldn't find a photo of the whole sardines

Don't get me wrong, Mom and Grandma both made some wonderful meals.  Grandma was an especially good cook, but times were lean and sometimes the budget couldn't afford a nice roast or chicken.  It was called making the best of the situation. Most of these foods were inexpensive, though I don't know about the Sardines.  Grandpa would buy them occasionally and share with me.  They were the tiny, whole ones, packed in oil.  They came in those cans with the metal key!  Do you remember those?  I loved it when I got to be the one to pull off the key, place it in the slot, and turn, turn, turn until the lid pealed open!  Many things came in those "key" cans.  Once in a while, we even got a big ham in a can.

Mixed memories of Spam... not all bad.

I remember a picnic where mom served our hotdogs on white Wonder Bread, ketchup oozing through the soft bread.  I was about 5, and I thought it was delicious and finger lickin' messy-good!  Grandma would take hotdogs, slice down the middle but still connected, dip in her homemade pancake batter, and pan fry.  I loved those!  She also did the same with the hated Spam, and it became acceptable dinner fare for me.

We ate as the budget dictated.  Most of our foods were fresh, and you didn't toss a potato because it had grown "eyes" or had a bad spot.  You cut away the bad, and tossed the rest into the stew pot.  Bones from the ham, chicken or roast were simmered and made into soup stock.  Everything that could be used was used.  I feel a little shame that I've allowed myself to be so finicky and wasteful at times.  Another Resolution... Be Less Wasteful!

I hope this brings back some of your early food memories.



 © 10JAN12 ajj

Lines...

For the past couple of days, people have been lining up for the midnight sales that start tonight.  One part of me says they're crazy, even greedy.  They could be spending the day with family.  On the other hand, maybe it's the only chance they have to give their family the things many of us take for granted.  Nice dishes, a coffee maker, toys for their child's Christmas, a television set, linens, clothing.  As I sit here this morning typing on this PC that I am thankful to have, sipping a hot cup of coffee from the Keurig, and listening to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the background, I realize that I am abundantly blessed.  I shouldn't judge those who are willing to camp out, in the freezing cold, to get a little more of their American dream. 

As I wish you Happy Thanksgiving, I'm so grateful for my family and for all we have.  Many people this holiday season are without jobs, standing in food lines, wondering what the future will bring.  In today's paper there is a photo of a young soldier in uniform, with his family, standing in a food line.  It's wrong, so very wrong.  

I'm praying for a light, and an answer, in this current economic darkness.  May God bless each of you today, and fill your homes with peace and love.                               

BSU & The Brenda Photo Challenge

My photo entries are up for the Brenda Photo Challenge. Go to

Nita Jo's Photos to see mine. Then visit the

Brenda Photo Challenge Blog to see all the other entries!

~~~

Oh, and I must say "Yay for BSU!" We won against Fresno tonight. It was a fun game to watch! I just recently got interested in watching football again. BSU is our local university team. Our favorite professional team is the Green Bay Packers.

Some of my favorite memories involve a baseball or football game on the television. Usually, my sis and I were either dusting, ironing, folding laundry, reading, or playing a board game. Grandpa would end up napping, but if you dared to turn the set off, he was immediately awake! "I'm watching that!" he'd say! Grandma would watch the baseball, but was not much of a football fan.

You may think dusting and ironing are odd "good" memories, but there was something very satisfying in working together. I still love the smell of a hot iron against a cotton pillowcase or a hanky.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Brenda Photo Challenge - FOOD

Brenda Photo Challenge - "Julia, Julia" - Food!

Due Date: Saturday, September 19th

Theme: "Julia, Julia"...FOOD

Any kind of shot concerning food...Your favorite maybe? Vegetables...Desserts...Complete Meals...Making dinner with the kids....Grilling...Baking...Get it? But it HAS to be edible...Hahahaa....well...you get the point!

(Rules and photo were copied from Brenda Photo Challenge)

To participate in the challenge, or to just enjoy visiting other blog photographers, click on this link:

The Brenda Photo Challenge Blog

My entries are posted on my photo blog. You can visit it by clicking on this link:

Nita Jo's Photos

Thanks so much for stopping by!