Home, Again

Griff and I had a wonderful trip. After having spent seven hours in the car and four hours on two planes with him within three days, I can honestly say he was a delightful traveling companion. I was very impressed.

Griff had lunch with me, Mandy, Josh, and Olivia on Saturday. He looks a little stoned in this picture, but it’s the best one I got of him and Olivia at the restaurant.

After lunch, Griff went to Will’s and spent the entire rest of the weekend. One of the things we miss about Louisiana is knowing the parents of Griff’s friends well. Mike went to high school with Will’s mom, Deanna, and I worked with her when she and I were pregnant with the boys. Will is 10 days younger than Griff.

The boys played and went to see the Narnia movie and went swimming and played games and stayed up late. Griff was exhausted but very happy.

While he was gone, I ate yummy foods… and played with Olivia… and shopped with Aleece (who convinced me to stop buying my fat pants quite so fat… apparently, they were way too big on me despite what I thought)… had dinner with Aleece and Linda… shopped with Mandy and Olivia… delivered a graduation present and got to hold a friend’s granddaughter. In general, I had a happy time myself.

Here’s a quick photo tour of my time…

My favorite pizza ever… and when I picked it up, the owner/manager/whatever guy remembered Mike coming to pick up pizza all the time.

Olivia, Zadie, and G, the hippest granma in town.

Tiny spicy chicken. YumO. After having dinner with me and Linda, Aleece called in a take-out order of TSC to take home to her husband. It’s that good.

Linda and Aleece… women for whom I will always be grateful

Crawfish bread. Not as good as my favorite appetizer, but they were out of it for NO good reason, and this was pretty darned good.

Catfish Acadiana. Grilled. Fabulous. God bless Copeland’s.

Olivia can say Chel, Mike, Griff, and Eliza, but I’m pretty sure she prefers Chel.

Josh, Mandy, Olivia, and Griff. Olivia threw a fit until she was allowed to sit with Griffin. I miss the three of them already.

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Tagged with: Food • Friends • Louisiana • Olivia • travel • Will

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Tomorrow morning, Griff and I will fly out of Tampa and into New Orelans, rent a car and drive to the little town we moved from almost two years ago. Eliza & Mike will stay here. Eliza’s sad. Griff’s excited.

Last summer, Mike took Griff back for a whole week so Griff and his best friend, Will, could hang out. We’re afraid Griff won’t be able to do that this year after his surgery, so he and I are going for a quick weekend. He’ll stay with Will’s family, and I’ll stay with Mandy, Josh, and Olivia.

I’ll get to see them, Linda, and Aleece. I’ll deliver a graduation present to the son of some friends of ours, and I’m going to visit my favorite bead store. I think that between me and Griff, we’re looking to eat our way through the weekend. We’ll bring a dozen of the yummiest donuts home for Mike on Monday.

We’re packed and ready. Griff’s sitting between us watching the Astros and being too excited to sleep. We’ve got cell phones and iPods and books. To be honest, aside from the mama worries, I’m pretty excited myself.

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Tagged with: donuts • Friends • Louisiana • Mandy • New Orleans • Will

Comfort Food - Cajun Style

I had planned to have Red Beans & Rice last week, but our missing child episode last week threw us off altogether. So we’re having it tonight. Val asked for the recipe, and as long as I have it out, I thought I’d go ahead and post it. (You know it’s good because the recipe is all splattered and messy. All good recipes are splattered.. that’s how you know it’s been used a lot.)

Now, keep in mind that I’ve been making this so long that I don’t so much use the measurements any longer. 

Red Beans & Rice (Mike’s favorite Louisiana comfort food)

1 lb dry red beans

1 lb sausage or ham

2 large onions, chopped or minced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Tabasco sauce, to taste

2 bay leaves

1/2 c ketchup

1-2 green bell peppers, chopped

1/2 c parsley

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp sugar

1 tbs Worchestershire sauce

1/2 tsp thyme

Rice

Soak the beans overnight. In the morning, put all of the ingredients (except the sausage!) in the Crockpot and cook all day. Cut the sausage into slices or small pieces and put into the Crockpot about 30 minutes before serving. Take the bay leaves out. That’s it.

This recipe is from the mother of a friend of mine in Louisiana. I’ve made a few adjustments to make it fit our tastes. I use turkey sausage instead of Cajun because it’s healthier. No one will notice. Camelia brand red beans are the best. They don’t sell them here, so Mandy ships them to us. Now, that’s brand devotion!

It’ll make a bunch. Plan on it for a couple of nights or put some in the freezer for another time. It freezes really well.

Dish into bowls and add a big scoop of rice to the middle. Serve with cornbread and sweet tea. Yum.

 

 

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Tagged with: Food • Louisiana • Mike