Who Put Brie in My Mashed Potatoes??? YUM!

Last night Marilyn Monroe hosted cooking class at her home.  She put together a FABULOUS menu for us. 

I've been teaching just the main course when I host class, but now Marilyn Monroe has raised the bar!  I know what I plan to teach for our next cooking class at my house, but I've got to think of some tasty sides to teach as well.  Hmmm.....

Louis also joined us for cooking class, and he and Henry (Marilyn Monroe's pup) played.  And then Louis heard a noise.  And became a scaredy pups.  Again.

And sometimes, when I can't see his face, I'm pretty sure he is just pretending to be a scaredy pups...and really just wants to be snuggled :-o

Anyway, on with it!

We began with the Meatloaf.  Now, let me say that I am NOT a fan of meatloaf.  My mother would make it when I was growing up, and all could taste was catsup.  I would beg for her to make me a plain hamburger instead.  I detest meatloaf.

BUT...I decided to try it again.  Now that my taste buds have emerged from their Chicken Tender & French Frie coma, I thought that perhaps my opinion would be different.  And besides, this meatloaf is Marilyn Monroe's mama's recipe.  And her mama doesn't cook anything that isn't delish!

(4lbs of ground chuck.  EGADS!)

(peppers, onions, oatmeal, bread crumbs, eggs, catsup and more...)

(2 loafs are made)

(this "special sauce" has brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, catsup and other such things)

(douse the loafs with sauce)

(make a valley, of sorts, down the middle of the loaves)

After the meatloaf was ready to go into the oven, it was time for the Brie Mashed Potatoes.  BE STILL MY BEATING HEART.  Yes, they were just as delish and they sound like they would be!

(an entire wheel of Brie with the rhine removed, plus a bit of butter)

(heavy whipping cream)

(mmmmmmmm.......)

Then Marilyn Monroe whips this out to make the Asparagus with Greek Feta Vinaigrette:

Now, I do like Feta Cheese.  I do like Greek olives on my salad.  And I'm wondering....would this salad dressing be to die for?  Hmmmm....  Has anyone tried it before?  On a salad?  I will tell you this, it's absolutely wonderful on sauteed asparagus!

I don't know why we didn't take as many pictures as we usually do, but it probably has something to do with Marilyn Monroe being our resident photographer AND teaching cooking class.  Regardless, dinner was a success.  I will say that I enjoyed each bite of meatloaf with a scoop of brie mashed potatoes, so the full flavor of the meatloaf may not have been detected by my pallet.  Either way...I enjoyed it immensely.  And the asparagus...Mwah!

Tonight I'm going to file my taxes and do some laundry.  It doesn't get any more exciting than that!  Tomorrow, however, is the infamous Valentines Bachelor & Bachelorette Auction in Smalltown, VA.  It should surely prove to give us all types of gossip to discuss ;)  And then Super Bowl commercials on Sunday.  Notice I said "Super Bowl commercials".  That's all I really care about :-o

T

What is the Plural of Platypus?

I was reading Little Miss Can't Be Wrong's blog, how i met your father, yesterday when I came across this photo:

I am infatuated with the platypus.  Always have been.  As a small child (I think I've told you all this?) I reported when asked that it was my favorite animal.  Well, specifically a Duck Billed Platypus. 

I think there was a part of me that was pleased that I could say the whole thing when I was only 2 years old.

Regardless, it remains my favorite animal.  I purchased a stuffed one for Louis to have :)

So, back to the question of the day.....

What is the Plural of Platypus?  Platypii?  Platypuses? 

This matter is weighing heavily on my mind.  Wikipedia can't even give me a concrete answer.

Baffled,

T

"Explore Your Preferences, Then Select Your Action"

This is the card I drew from my "If Life Is a Game, These Are the Rules" deck yesterday.  Yesterday was also my 5 Year Anniversary with my company.  Coincidence?  I think not. 

I had a big success yesterday at work, which made me happy.  It energized me.  It made me glad I do what I do for a living.  That was the first of those days I've had in a very, very, very long time.  I've accomplished so much in 5 years with this company.  Have I accomplished all that I can?  Is it time for a change?

Last night Daisy and TEN came over, and TEN cooked a stir fry with steak, chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, asparagus, peppers and onions.  It was delish.  He was sure to remind me to eat on the "You Are Special Today" plate :) 

No.  I'm not kidding. 

This plate exists in my life. 

It has since I was a little girl. 

Birthdays, report cards, making teams, making captain. 

This plate has always been a part of my life.  And, when I moved out after college my mother gave it to me to take along on my journey.  Last night was a milestone in my life, and I ate off of the red plate:

I need to start using this plate more often for the successes the people in my life have.  Because even though it's just a small gesture, I really did feel extra "special"  :)

T

Westie Wednesday

I don't have anything prepared for Westie Wednesday today.  En route to Louis' daycare this morning I asked him if he had any idea of what I should tell you about today.  He couldn't be bothered.  He was excited about daycare.  He was excited about the prospect of attending cooking class with his mummy tonight.  He was just plain excited.

When I took him in to drop him off I chatted briefly with another "parent" who I hadn't seen in ages.  He remarked "My!  Louis has really grown into a westie hasn't he?  I remember when he was just a tiny little thing."  And I smiled.  And my eyes teared up a bit.  Because I remember that too. 

Quite a few of you have become dear friends in just a short bit of time.  I thought I may take today to introduce you to Louis The Puppy.  Those of you who weren't along for the ride when TEN and I picked him out.  When we brought him home.  When we didn't sleep night after night because the puppy cried, which made me cry. 

So here's a little walk down memory lane:

(the day we brought Louis Wellington Gray MyLastName home.  he threw up on TEN's lap for most of the drive)

(we introduced him to his new home)

(only one ear went up for a while.  he always looked a bit baffled)

(it was November when LW came to live with us, therefore he was dressed as Santa Pups.  he was NOT a fan)

(Louis wouldn't leave my side for a long time.  i think it took him a bit to adjust to his new surroundings.  he rather enjoyed wrapping packages with me :)

(he had his picture made with Santa!)

(i bought him a booster seat so that he could see out of the window in the car)

(his first day of puppy daycare exhausted him)

(sometimes it still does!)

(he experienced his first snow!)

(his first "portrait" was made)

(he had his first haircut)

(i bought him a Christmas sweater and he traveled to Big City, VA with TEN and I for the holiday)

(he opened his first gift by himself)

(he became acquainted with other "little ones")

(he reached his "awkward" growing stage, and i thought he was the cutest pup EVER)

(and Mr. Independent emerges...)

(he has his favorite toys, and guards them)

(he wants to be the center of attention at all times)

(he pouts when he's scolded)

(he's learned that THIS is his favorite thing in the world!)

One thing I know without a doubt.....No matter how grown up Louis becomes:

He will always be my little muffin:

Even when he behaves like this:

T

Thanks For Your Patience

(warning...rant forthcoming)

One of the elevators in my parking garage has been broken for over a month.  There are 2 elevators.  Sometimes the second elevator breaks too. 

I park on the 8th floor. 

I had thirty freaking minutes a minute to myself while waiting for the lone working elevator this morning.  I took the opportunity to actually read the note on the broken elevator.  It told me that it would be a few weeks before the elevator was repaired.

AND IT THANKED ME FOR MY PATIENCE!

Seriously?  Who says that I have any patience?  Because I don't.  Not anymore.  This is about the 20th time this stupid elevator has broken.  The parking garage isn't FREE to park in, mind you.  My company pays good money for me to have a spot in that garage.  So, what are they doing with said money?  Surely not repairing these darned elevators.

I know I'm not alone here.  You know what I'm talking about.  Right?

And during the thirty freaking minutes minute to myself this morning I started thinking about how often people thank me for my patience.  I find it annoying.  Why don't they just say "listen, I'm really sorry.  I know your time is valuable, and this is really putting you out, and we're trying our best to fix it.  We understand if you lose your patience.  Just try not to punch us.  Okay?"  Now that I could deal with.

T

AND The Verdict is In! (well, not really....)

Thanks to all of you for weighing in on my last post about the REAL Philly Cheese Steak.  Let me tell you, I did have one with Cheez Whiz last night. 

Now, I've still never been to Philly.  I've still never had a REAL, REAL Philly Cheese Steak.  But, I will tell you what I think.  I think that you should eat the damn sandwich the way you like best (thank you Bee Charmer for weighing in on that :)

I don't know if I'm just not a fan of Cheez Whiz (not sure I've ever had it before), or if it was just the restaurant where I went.  What I do know is that TEN and I dove in to our cheese steaks....so excited to try the infamous Cheez Whiz version!  And we both chewed.  And we glanced at each other.  And we smiled.  And we both took another bite.  We set down our cheese steaks and simultaneously shrugged our shoulders.  He said "eh" and I said "I do believe I prefer the place with the Jesus statue's Philly Cheese Steak better".  And that was it. 

We each took 1/2 of our cheese steak home.

Anonymous (hailing from Philly) commented yesterday saying that aged Provolone is the preferred cheese.  I have had Provolone on a cheese steak before, and I must agree.  It was tasty.  But please don't hate me for my review of the Cheez Whiz version.  Should I find myself in Philly in the future, I will most definitely try another version of the REAL Philly Cheese Steak....with or without Cheez Whiz. 

And I'm not really sure anyone will ever be able to agree which is best.  Just ask the patrons of Pat's & Geno's....

T