Weekend with Friends

Memorial Day often signals the opening of a local pool or a day of shopping, but rarely does it bring to mind what it was intended for – a day of memory for our troops past and present. Today I spent the day with friends and the traditional cookout. We were reminded of our troops in the simple pleasure of gathering and sharing food. The freedom we had to cross state lines and visit friends, to pray over our meal, to share ideas and thoughts, where to buy our food, what kind of food we ate and so on. All those small things we take for granted, but many paid and arm and a leg and a life so that we could have those freedoms. To me spending time with friends and family is a way I exercise my freedoms. The company, the conversation and the FOOD all work together to make memories that energizes us for life (or at least for a boost in our everyday routine!)


This Memorial Day has special meaning, because I have two young friends that have or are serving in Iraq. They Facebook and try and stay connected, but it isn’t always that easy. I wish that I could send this one friend a hot juicy burger hot off the grill and tell him “Thank you. This memory is for you.”

The Inspired Exhaustion

I know I need inspiration or new recipes when I start jazzing up boxed meals. In the last blog I encouraged you to "put down that box of Hamburger Helper" but I have a confession to make: lately I have used the double "H" often. But to my defense I am probably the only person who adds wine to the packaged sauces and who "doctors" with spices in the meat while browning.

The reason can only be exhaustion. I have been tired and it was easy. But I started noticing a pattern in my eating habits when I do this. I start eating and don't stop. It's like my body is craving real food and I keep putting things in my mouth hoping to satisfy this need. I also start drinking more sodas and my ankle swell - too much sodium. Finally when I hobble out from bed do I realize I have done this to myself.

So what do I do to remedy the problem? COOK! Cook real foods and drink water! I started out of this funk small - a fresh salad. Then the next night, chicken and vegetable over rice. And before I know it I'm searching my freezer and trying to match this with that.

Am I still tired? Yes, but now I have a little more energy because I'm eating a little better. And I took an armload of cookbooks up to my room to read at night. I'm on the poultry chapter right now, so I guess exhaustion can inspire!