So.....Your Dressing Never Met the Chicken Before the Plate

Hello everybody.  Just a little note to tell you about our meal last evening.  We were at our favorite local diner having some comfort food since it had been raining two days and nights.....cool and rainy = comfort food.  Nothing sounded better to me than the daily special:  ta-da  Baked chicken and dressing!! 


Let me just say..................they cannot make dressing like I do..............so my craving for Thanksgiving food is still lingering on the taste buds of my mind.  Can you say boxed dressing, boys and girls?   


On the way home, straight-faced, the hubby says, and I quote, "So.......I guess it is safe to say that your dressing never met the chicken before the plate."  He always catches me off-guard with his humor every time which makes everything he says even funnier.  I burst out laughing...............and that's the reason I love him.  He has the most fantastic sense of humor which makes a marriage so enjoyable.


So...........I guess it is safe to say that your dressing never met the chicken before the plate.


I love you.   

Pampering at the Mall

Pampering at the Mall





Good evening.  Last post, the hubby and I had gone to the mall.  Last Saturday my daughter and I also had a trip to the mall alone...a very rare trip these days.  Just the two of us like the old days. 

Nothing like visiting and catching up with my daughter.  We have so much in common....wonder why?  We spent almost the whole afternoon just browsing through Dillard's, stopping to admire the shoes, the purses........

The hubby would find no thrill in that!  We only stopped our shopping for lunch at the Mexican restaurant right outside the store.  Oh what a fun, simple time.  We didn't even spend that much, we just browsed and talked about the fashion.  When a lady pulled my daughter aside and suggested a quick makeover, she had to take advantage of a little pampering.....doesn't get that much being the mother of three.  She certainly deserves it.

Pampering at the mall............  AHH

I love you.

 



He's One of the Good Guys

My hubby--he's one of the good guys.


Yesterday, the hubby and I went to the mall.  I had to pick up my wedding rings which were being repaired.  Wow, my engagement ring sparkled like a diamond, oh wait, it was a diamond.  I couldn't believe how pretty the set looked.  I kept admiring them all afternoon.


So.........being at the mall............we decided to take a look around since neither of us had been out there for months.  It was quite a treat and we both had a good time.  BUT I have to tell you going to the mall with my husband is NOT going to the mall with my daughter.  This is how it went with him and how it would go with my girl.


Hubby:  Man......what is that smell?  That stinks.  (This coming from a man who doesn't have the sense of smell anymore.)
Daughter:  Doesn't that smell wonderful, Mom?


Hubby:  Why are we going in Mrs. Sees?
Daughter:  Mom, let's get our free sample.


Hubby:  Hubby walks on by Pottery Barn not even noticing that I have stopped to window shop.
Daughter:  Mom, let's go in.


Hubby:  Why would they put tattered jeans in the window?
Daughter:  Look at those, aren't they cute?  Mom, you really should get you some.  We can find you some that are classic, but slightly tattered.


Hubby:  Nah, I don't want a frappe.
Daughter:  Mom, let's each get a different flavor and we can swap.


Hubby:  There are too many shoes in this store.  How do you weed through all this stuff?
Daughter:  I'm in shoe store heaven.


Hubby:  No, I'm not very hungry.  Let's split something at the food court.
Daughter:  Let's go to Pepperoni Grill and relax a bit.


Hubby:  I've seen all I need to see.
Daughter:  Mom, wouldn't it be fun to be locked in the mall overnight with all the stores open?


I love him, but he is not a girl.  He was sweet and let me browse around Williams-Sonoma for quite a while even admiring the new fall dinnerware and a new (to us anyway) brand of cast iron cookware called Staub.  Pretty stuff........you need to see it.  AND he insisted I buy a glass pumpkin at Pottery Barn that I was admiring.  HE'S ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS.


And happy fall, y'all. 


I love you.

Tomato Basil Soup Recipe using Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Tomato Soup





One of my favorite grocery stores in the whole wide world is Trader Joe's.  I discovered TJs back in 2000 when I was traveling to the LA area on business trips.  At first I was confused because almost all the products are the Trader Joe's brand.  There were none in Oklahoma at that time and it was many years before they were even in Texas. Finally, they made it to Dallas and ever since when traveling to Texas there has been a stop at Trader Joe's.  

Finally, a couple years ago they made it to the Oklahoma City area.  Now I go there at least once a month.  A couple weeks ago I bought a carton of their Organic Creamy Tomato Soup.  While this soup is delicious heated right out of the carton, I wanted to up it just a little.  I experimented and found a WINNER!!!!  This is a keeper and both my husband I loved it.  Even reheated, it was delicious and a recipe I will making all winter.  Before I forget, I want to get it in print for my recipe box.  I thought I would share it here for all you Trader Joe soup fans.

(Pictured above)

Regina's Almost Homemade Tomato Soup

(using Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Tomato Soup)

1 large clove of garlic (diced)

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil

1 14.5 ounce can whole tomatoes

1 carton Trader Joe's Creamy Organic Tomato Soup

1/4 to 1/3 cup garlic basil butter

In a medium saucepan, sauté the diced garlic in the olive oil; making sure to watch closely so it doesn't burn.  Yes, it happened to me.  Add the can of tomatoes, juice and all,  breaking up the tomatoes into small bits as you add.  Cook a bit to meld the garlic with the tomatoes.  Add the carton of TJs tomato soup.  Heat slowly.  Add the garlic basil butter.  Heat, but do NOT boil.

Ladle into bowls.

Garnish with shredded parmesan cheese and basil leaves. 

(I had frozen garlic basil butter on hand that I made.  Just soften some butter, add shredded basil leaves and crushed garlic to taste.  Make into rolls, refrigerate until set.  Cut into slices, wrap and freeze for later use.  I will be making more garlic basil butter for soups this winter.  My basil still looks wonderful this year.)