So the latest favorite two dishes around here (except for the four year old) are potato skins and a "one pot wonder" that I made up. It is nameless. The poor dish doesn't even deserve a place in a recipe book. Come to think of it, I rarely use a recipe book. 

I'm all about healthy, comforting, delicious, frugal dishes of goodness. I threw this pot together one evening when t cupboards were bare and the pocket book felt thin. And the most frugal detail about this is that I used black beans that I cooked myself and froze. It felt amazing to do that. So amazing I felt I must sure be ready to partake of communion.
You need to eat this dish with tortillas dipped in hot oil just long enough to brown, but not long enough to turn really crispy. Just long enough to enjoy that deep fried taste. Welcome those marching little calorie devils. & btw- the picture is not my creation.

1 cup of rice. Browned 

add water 

chicken/tomatoe stuff or chicken stuff w half a can of tomatoe paste

Simmer until rice is done, then add

1 can of Costco chicken (or if you were lyndsey, you would use a can of great value canned chicken boob pieces for like $3. Or if you were me, you would take from my American stockpile of great value canned breast pieces. Tell me, why do cringe when I re-read that sentance?!)

1 cup of black beans drained & rinsed

Half a can of diced tomatoes with olive oil & garlic (PC brand)

1 cup corn

Heat through & supper is served!

Then there are the fabulous, crispy, crunchy, cheesy, bacony, potato skins. The ultimate of deliciousness. We just ate them tonight, actually. Eat them dipped in "Yum Yum" sauce along with a (diet) pepsi and you are flying high. I browsed on Pinterest and came up with my own way of making these babies to suit our fancy.

any potatoes Will do.
Bake
cool
Cut in half
Scoop out
Turn halves upside down on a greased cookie sheet
brush w oil
Sprinkle with salt
Bake at 450 for 20 minutes
turn taters right side up
Lightly salt again
Fill with cheese
Sprinkle with bacon bits
Broil until cheese is melted
Take them out and sprinkle with onion greens
Eat. Lots.

Occupation: Stay at home mom

Chef

Waitress

Dishwasher

Baker

Seamstress

Hairstylist

Barber

Bicycle mechanic

Dolly doctor

veterinarian

Laundry service 

Janitor

Financial management

Bargain hunter

referee

Counselor

event planner

Organizational-ist

Time manager

Day care

Librarian

teacher
Singer

Disciplinarian

entertainer

Chaperone

Taxi service 

information center

mediator 

therapist

secretary

friend

Sister

Grandma

Somebody's mommy

Wife

Lover

"Glorious daughter of God!"

We have a lot to do. And they only give us one tiny box to check?! 

 

 

 

Back in the day I had the perfect figure, broke rules, loved make-up, flirted, burned the midnight oil and woke up with the midday sun. My mother prayed fervently for my soul amidst this tumultuous time of my life. I made sure I never ended a disagreement with my dad without having the last word and that, I assure you, took some bravery.

 

Underneath the façade was a real live soul. I loved and wanted to be loved like the rest of this old world. I strived for the pearly gates like everyone else...swimming against the rumors, reprimands, and criticism.

 

Inside I listened to the little devils on my shoulders sing and laugh and dance away my self esteem. They dragged my down into the currents of negative thinking and in between I came to the surface, gasping for logic.

 

I longed to think of myself as a nice normal person...as someone with talents too. What was my place on this earth if I didn't meet up to man's expectations...my personality too strong...too unapproachable...

 

I built this little wall. I built it brick by brick. I revelled in the warmth and safety of the walls of negativity. It was safer that way...no disappointments. Of course I wasn't approved of by a loud minority in this society outside of my walls...what was I thinking.

 

A few years have passed and with God and the little yellow pill in my pocket I will fight this battle. I have two little faces staring up at me with nothing less than adoration. I have a handsome, funny husband who saw through all my faults and shortcomings inspite of warnings that I wasn't good enough for him. And you know what?! I'm not. But it sure feels good to be loved.

 

I am learning to forgive...to apply humility to my life... to have faith. I am learning that my personality is nothing to be ashamed of because God gave it to me to work for him. Not everyone will appreciate me. I will be critized. I will not be enough for everyone. I will let go and let God. It is too heavy for me to carry.  

 

It is time for me to open my hand and let go of this seed of bitterness... and plant daisies instead of dandelions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 



The amusing difference

 

I am Canadian. A Manitoban at that! Be still my heart.

 

 I am Canadian. I am reserved and quietly patriotic. Im not a chatty Yankee with that charming Southern hospitality. How can we be chatty when we hardly know how?! I mean, how can we be when their are only 4 people per square mile? And when we do meet each other, we don't always hear you due to the "toque" pulled tightly over our ears. Sometimes, your words are swept away by the chilling blast of the winter winds. So pardon us. We do mean well.

 

 We lack Rotel, cheap dairy products, and cream of coconut. We lack the vast variety of Mexican food staples and the yeast on the market is inferior. Interestingly enough, our mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers have prepared food for generations and we are well fed, content human beings. Some of us sporting a pleasant girth and the urge to go back for seconds.

 

 I also march confidently to the "line up" at the grocery store holding my jar of cheese whiz humming the national anthem quietly to myself. I'm not going to say I don't choke on my beaver tail at the price of gas or spew out my Tim Hortons Hot chocolate in sheer horror over the price of 2 bags of milk. I simply collect myself and proudly hand over the multi colored bills, thanking the Lord for strong bones.

 

I unashamedly stand at my stove, stirring in milk and margarine into my white gravy that is cooking in a "pot." I wipe my mouth with a serviette and treat my daughter to "timbits." I don't own an "icepick" and I have managed to maneuver out of my driveway on those winter days without it all these years.

 

  I've birthed two children with the assistance of incompetent medical staff. I've even thanked them profusely for how they helped me. How ignorant am I?!

 

We Canadians have our own sense of humor, riddled with satire and self-depreciation. The world looks on...puzzled. We embrace any sarcasm heard on land or sea for it makes us feel at home. We also have an OCD urge to fill in the missing "u" in words such as honour, harbour, and colour.

 

I will say, I thoroughly enjoy the southern menu...black eyed peas and pork over rice, biscuits, cornbread, fried chicken, 'slaw, authentic Mexican food. Bring it on. Every last finger lickin' bit, thank you very much. I appreciate the relaxed environment...the chatty folks.

 

But I am Canadian...You can have your grits while the birdies chirp and the sun shines hot. I'll be eating my eggs and Canadian bacon...I'll feed my family Kraft dinner and butter tarts. I'll eat and ENJOY my beaver tail while I look at the twinkling city lights of Ottawa and listen to the carving of skates that belong to hundreds of skaters silently skating in the darkness, minding their own business as any good Canadian will do.

 

But guess what?! I appreciate and love my American friends and family. I can't imagine life without them. The only fault that I could come up with is that they seem to genuinely enjoy biscuits and gravy...