Archive for Widowism

Family Dinner #3

February 2, 2012 Widow Dinner, Widowism 6 comments

Yesterday we found ourselves making this week’s family dinner on Channel 3′s Good Company. Hope you enjoy!!

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese

1 cup homemade chicken or vegetable stock

1 12 cups milk (nonfat)

1/2c. flour (more if you want sauce thicker)

1c.  extra sharp cheddar cheese (finely grated about 1 cup)

1/2c. part skim ricotta cheese

4 tbs grated parmesan cheese

2 tbs breadcrumbs

1 tsp olive oil

olive oil cooking spray

1 lb. elbow macaroni

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine stock, butter, and milk in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add flour and cheeses to thicken. Reduce heat to medium, simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir to combine. Set aside or freeze for later use. We make a huge batch of this cheese sauce and freeze it. Every time we want mac & cheese all we have to do is boil the noodles, add the sauce, and bake.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Add noodles; cook until al dente, according to package instructions, about 8 minutes. Drain, and transfer to a large bowl; stir in sauce and 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
  • Lightly coat a 9-inch-square baking dish with cooking spray. Transfer noodle mixture to dish. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and oil; sprinkle evenly over noodle mixture.
  • Cover with aluminum foil, and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil, and continue baking until lightly browned and crisp on top. Serve immediately.

Pops, Padre, Papa, Father, Dad

February 1, 2012 Widowism 2 comments

I talk to him every day.

Twice, usually.

His voice calms me down in times of chaos. His smile encourages me to be better. His song brings tears to my eyes, every single time. 32 years later and his words teach me still.

My father. My pops, my padre, my papa, my dad.

There is no one in the world like him. He has shown me strength in the darkest of times and showed me faith when I had none. His eyes sparkle when the mini’s come into sight, all his pain and sorrow from hardships that forever changed him, disappear almost instantaneously.  In times of anger and pain, he reminds me of love.

My father. My pops, my padre, my papa, my dad.

Without him I would not be here. They would not be here. He teaches me what family really means. For a long time, he was my only family. My only rock. My only support. His support led me to find my own happiness in a family I never knew I so desperately wanted.I am grateful to him forever.

 

My father. My pops, my padre, my papa, my dad. My heart.

Happy Birthday Old Man. I love ya.

 

Love & Pink Hair

January 30, 2012 Widow Love, Widowism 23 comments

I have pink hair now. Actually just pink highlights, but still, my hair be pink.

The winter has been mild here in the CLE and the seasonal depression has yet to set it. As I write this is it 60 degrees in Cleveland. The sun is shining and everyone I have seen today has had the joker smile plastered across their faces. I think it must be my pink hair.

Valentine’s Day is in 15 days. While the Chef & I don’t shove chocolates down each others throats we do celebrate our love. Normally the Chef is in the kitchen and this year is no different. Except it is!!! The night before Valentine’s Day is something so special and never before seen in Cleveland. Chef Cory Barrett of Lola notoriety is doing an all dessert dinner as a Brick and Mortar Popup. I have been a HUGE Cory fan ever since I first tasted his 3am special and I have been running 5 miles a day in preparation for what is sure to go down as a memorable evening.

I would LOVE it if you could join me so I’m gonna giveaway a couple of tickets ($150 value) to this DELECTABLY DELICIOUS DINNER. To win leave me a comment telling me the MOST ROMANTIC thing that has ever happened to you or that you have done for someone else.

I will announce a winner on February 6th, which gives you a week to ask that special someone to be your dessert dinner date.

Good luck bitches.

Crudite for the Win!

January 24, 2012 Widowism 25 comments

On Sunday morning I woke up to unbelievable amounts of support. Having organized a Tweetup / Watch party for that evening’s Iron Chef I really didn’t have a clue as to how it was going to be perceived. Sure, I knew my foodie peeps like JoeG and LisaZ would be tweeting up a storm however my 6th grade self at my 12th birthday party wondered if anyone would even show up.

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‘Kids Menus’

January 18, 2012 Widow Kids, Widowism 43 comments

Yesterday when my friend Mike posted this on facebook the wheels started turning…I had to write a post about ‘kid’s menus’.

I think about my children’s diet every single day of my life. I plan menus, I shop, I market, I cook. Alongside their health and happiness their diet is the MOST IMPORTANT thing to the Chef & I. We decided a long time ago that nothing bad would go into thier bodies, probably as a reaction to all the bad shit we have put in our own as well as a reaction to our son’s kidney disease.

So when Mike posted yesterday, my first thought was this: How do parents not get/care/understand that what they are allowing to go into their children’s body affects their children LIVES? How does a mother or father convince themselves that it is ok that her four year child eats this on a daily basis? HOW?

When you order off of the kids menu, you are most likely ordering the most UNHEALTHY thing you could ever order for your child. Kids menus are the antithesis of healthy. They are made up of foods that parents have programmed themselves and their children into thinking that they are good for your children. Well, guess what? They’re not good for your children, they are not got for you, they are not good for your dog,   hell, they are not good for anyone.

Check out these kids menu nutritional info. I dare you not to throw up in your mouth:

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