Not For One.

Out of the corner of my eye
I see them.
I pause.
My shopping cart goes in reverse.

Pillsbury cinnamon rolls

Warm gooey pastry
Sweet sugary frosting
My mouth starts watering.

That cardboard can with metal ends
The way it opens with a
POP
I can't resist it.
So delicious.
Heaven.

All I want is just one roll...
Or maybe two.

But the smallest can has five.

How many calories in five?

Raw dough
Reminds me
of the simple fact

That it's just me.

I leave the rolls behind
For someone else to buy
Someone without a husband
in
Iraq.

Someday I'll wake up
To that sweet aroma

Pillsbury cinnamon rolls
in the oven
and my husband standing there
Ready to eat
The other three.

The Potty That Stole Christmas

This past Christmas was extra special for several reasons: It was our first Christmas as an old married couple, it was my first Christmas as a Jew who married into a Catholic family, and of course it was especially meaningful because hubby won't be here next year for Christmas.  Excited about bringing food for Christmas Eve, we cooked up a storm pausing only for a few impromptu dance sessions in the middle of the kitchen floor.  My husband made his famous buffalo chicken dip:

I made the always crowd-pleasing White Chocolate Cherry Chunkies (courtesy of Paula Deen):

Also on the menu was Black-Bottom Peanut Butter Mousse Pie from Epicurious:

                                                        side photo from epicurious.com

My husband told me to "never make this again" as he inhaled the pie in one large bite.

Finally, I made Alton Brown's Shepard's Pie.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the finished product (Peppermint chocolate martinis...need I say more?).  Trust me though, it was delicious.

We spent Christmas Eve catching up with family, sharing stories, eating, laughing, and getting tipsy (or more than tipsy) on those deadly peppermint chocolate martinis.  Hubby and I stayed at my sister-in-law's house overnight, which allowed us to experience a truly magical moment - our 2 1/2 year old nephew waking up for Santa in the morning.  This was the first year that he really got what Christmas was all about so it really was priceless and so special.

For several months he has been announcing daily (or sometimes multiple times a day) what he wanted for Christmas.  It was unequivocally this doll from Toy Story:

He already had a small doll that was similar but he wanted "Big Woody" and he was not afraid to tell anyone that fact.  Let's just say it sparked quite a few jokes.  Imagine Santa's (from the mall) surprise when our nephew sat on his lap and proclaimed that he wanted "Big Woody" for Christmas.

When he walked downstairs and saw "Big Woody" sitting on the couch, he seriously almost passed out from glee.  Never in a million years did I think that level of happiness could be beat by any other Christmas gift for the rest of the day.

Boy was I wrong.

Here's what stole the show:

He screamed "CARS POTTY CARS POTTY CARS POTTY!!!" and started shaking and revving his engine (which coincidentally looked very similar to going potty).  He then proceeded to stand in the middle of the living room floor and attempted to pull down his pants and sit down.  Thankfully, my sister-in-law quickly interjected and swept him and the new potty into the bathroom.... 

Potty Success!!!

What Am I, Chopped Liver?

The debut of this blog just happens to fall on one of my favorite holidays of the year.  Here are some of the things that Thanksgiving means to me:

Maine:

Napping by the Fire in Sweatpants:

Turkeys:

Yes, of course this kind:

But I more specifically mean this kind:

Chopped Liver:

While this may sound disgusting for most of you out there, chopped liver is a staple in this Jewish household.  The phrase "What am I, chopped liver?" doesn't really make sense because if you are chopped liver, then you are really really awesome.  Seriously, just give it a try.  My Irish husband can't get enough of it. 

Black and White Cookies:

Preferably eaten at midnight with a giant glass of milk.  Act fast though because my mother may have already eaten them all.

And of course, last but not least, spending time with my family.  This year I am thankful for the tremendous love and support that surrounds me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello World!

As if life isn’t busy enough, I’ve decided to take on the challenge of writing a blog.  I’m not sure if I’ll ever live up to the blogging skills of my good friends over at Oh! Apostrophe and Meet the Schwajaks! but perhaps someone out there will find this worth reading.  In truth, I hope that this will be cathartic for me as I face what may become one of the most difficult years of my life: the combination of intern year and my husband’s deployment to Iraq.  Both of these life changes are only a few months away and I’m gearing up for what will definitely be a long and sleep-deprived journey.  I’ll probably write a lot about these things, but don’t be surprised if you see some postings about my loves...family, friends, and FOOD.

Enjoy!