A meal is only 30 minutes away.....

if you are a professional or it comes out of the frozen food section!

Watched Rachael Ray demonstrate how to prepare Uptown Roast Pork Tenderloin with Escalloped Apples and Cheesy Potato and Sharp Cheddar Hash (fancy name for hashbrowns with cheese) last Saturday on her show, 3o minute meals. Looked good so I wanted to try it. I have always heard pork and apples go together but have never had it. Anyway... I invited Tolly's parents over for dinner last night and set out to prepare my meal. It is only a 3o minute meal if you can chop, shred, dice, slice, cube and core at a professional level. I had to slice and core 5 apples...that alone took most of the 30 minutes (add in extra time for bandaging cuts). Then there was the onion that needed to be chopped, the herbs for the tenderloin that needed chopping...luckily I bought pre-shredded hashbrowns and cheese otherwise we probably wouldn't have ate til midnight. Rachaels side dish was a mini vegetable medley which included patty pans. I didn't think I could handle any more slicing or dicing so I went with corn on the cob. Not to mention I couldn't find a patty pan in this town to save my life!...lol

In the end... it did take over 30 minutes but the result was scrumptious! Loved the pork/apple combination and you can't go wrong with potatoes and cheese. Corn on the cob was tasty too. I would recommend pre cutting everything before starting. It is a fairly easy dish with an uptown look. Tolly and his parents were impressed. The kids hated it! They would have been happy with Chef Boy's Spaghettios

Aloha

Counting the days until we depart for our vacation to Hawaii. So excited!! We planned it a few months ago and it has been a very long wait. We are going with Tolly's parents, his Aunt Juanita, Uncle Avery and cousin London...and Hailee and Alissa. Watched a documentary last night about the deadly Irukandji Jellyfish...THAT has me scared. Although... after googling it, I found that it is native to the Australian coast...so hopefully we won't encounter any. Tolly WANTS me to get stung by a jellyfish so he can pee on me. Any one seen Heartbreak Kid? He is a sicko!

We will be staying 8 days in Waikiki, Oahu. Hoping to fit in Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural Center, Dole Plantation, Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, the International Market, some flee markets and lots of relaxation on the beach. Tolly's mom wants to take a cruise around the islands but I am not sure we will have time and I am thinking the cost will be much more than we are willing to pay.

Hailee and Alissa are thrilled. They have been excited about buying new swimming suits. I am not so excited about the swimming suit thing. I need a full body wet suit...wait..that might look worse. I might just have to wear my jeans to the beach.

Anyway...looking forward to a relaxing vacation with my family.

Finally Friday

It is Friday. Got up early to await the arrival of that little bundle of joy, Rory. Like I have said before..love her dearly but taking care of an active baby is so tiring for a nearly 40 year-old. I know the title of Grandma came last June but I am not sure when I morphed into a Grandma physically, mentally and emotionally. I have a 4 year-old that I still have to chase around! Lacee didn't bring Rory yesterday because she (lacee) was sick so I had a nice relaxing day. Looks like I am going to have another relaxing day today. She called and is still sick. Hallelujah! Not happy she is sick...just happy I don't have to be worked over today..lol

Listening to the morning news and I don't even know why I turn it on. Makes me so mad. Looks like we won't be able to laugh loud or call out to some one in public if a new noise ordinance passes. Why don't they crack down on the freak down the street who plays his foul music full blast while cleaning out his car with his pants sagging around his knees showing his unmentionables?

The situation with the raid at the flds compound makes me a little frustrated too. I think the children should be protected but doesn't matter what your situation is at home...being ripped away from your parents is traumatic! As a mother I would be hysterical! Heard a young woman gave birth a few days ago and they are separating her from the newborn. That doesn't seem right. I guess I don't know the ins & outs of the alleged abuse or the workings of the sect but still feeling sympathetic all around. Child abuse is heinous and I pray God will protect His children.

Tolly's Forty!

Hailee has been so excited for Tolly's birthday. Weeks before his 40th she was talking of having a party for him and all the ideas she had for decorations. It was really cute. I told Tolly and he said he wanted to have his party at Chuck E. Cheese. Hailee and Alissa were ecstatic when I told them we should have a surprise party for him at Chuckees. They started planning...created a guest list, sent invitations, planned for supplies, etc. It turned out great...although we looked a little strange with our table of 15 adults and 4 teens and 3 children. Tolly knew we were having the party but he didn't know we had invited friends and family. A good time was had by all...i think