Quiet is over-rated

My children and I had the chance to fly out to Michigan to visit my dear friend Carol and her family.  My poor hubby needed to stay home due to his work schedule and boy, did he miss us.  He actually complained that it was just too quiet around here and he did not like that very much.
We flew in early Friday morning and the kids just jumped right into the fun.  My daughter Elizabeth spent much of her time playing with the 3 little kittens, that lost their mittens, just kidding.  Carol's family recently adopted 3 little kittens and they are just the cutest things.  My son Jimmy couldn't get enough of doing everything boys do.  He is usually outnumbered by the girls in every activity and he certainly took advantage of having his buddies around.  If they weren't riding the quad, they were daredevils on the pool slide. He loved going to a baseball game and mini golfing.  All the things a little boy loves.   My oldest daughter Victoria enjoyed just catching up with her friend Braaten.  They painted their nails, watched girl movies, and giggled.  It's a beautiful thing when your good friends children get along so well with yours.  They will have a lifelong friendship just like their mommies.
We stayed until early Monday morning and the weekend just flew by.  I think the best times were in the pool just being silly.   The weather couldn't have been more perfect.  My husband had rain rain and more rain.  Aside from missing us, he had gloomy weather to boot.  They say you really appreciate something when it isn't there and I think that really rang true for him.  Just when he thought he would be soaking in the quiet, he realized just how boring it is.  Certainly not something he will be wishing for any time soon.
We were so grateful that we were able to spend some great times with great friends and my hubby was grateful that we were finally home.

Turning over a new leaf- take 2

OK.  I didn't do a good job with keeping up with my blog, but I am going to give it another go.  It seems as though the days just rushed on by.  It was August in a blink of an eye.  I did however, follow through with organizing my pantry and organizing dinner plans.  I have been experimenting with new recipes and this week made some delicious keepers.  My sometimes non-adventurous eaters were excited to try the new recipes and I am so proud of them that they did.
I had a big dose of inspiration when my mother invited me to Atlantic City for the Food Network Food and Wine Festival.  While there, we saw some inspirational dishes being prepared.  We watched Pat and Gina Neely whipping up some fabulous southern goodies.  Too bad we didn't get to taste any.  Highlight for my mom:  meeting Gordon Elliott.  She got to take her picture with him.  He is a very tall man.  He produces the Neely's show and was sitting right in front of us.  I came home with a new perspective on preparation.
I began exploring recipes that included ingredients that I knew my family already liked such as sweet potatoes, chicken, etc.  The results were a so well received that I look forward to whipping up the new soon to be favorites every night.  This weeks adventures were:  Chicken skewers with a grilled potato, zucchini, radicchio, goat cheese with sherry vinagrette, corn on the cob on Monday.  The entire thing was made on the grill which equaled almost no kitchen clean up.  Absolutely a keeper!  On Tuesday we went alittle spicy.  I held back on the heat by alot and it still had a kick.  Everyone thought it was tingly and good.  I made Spicy Mango Sweet Potato Chicken over pasta.  I added some crunch with unsalted peanuts.  Wow! Better than any takeout I ever had.
So here I am trying to get back in the swing on things.  I am going to try to blog at least once a week and continue to be inspired  and stay organized to make healthy meals for my family.