Got Ketchup?

It seems like a no-brainer but sometimes it takes this mom a while to "catch" on (pun intended). I gripe all the time about not being automatically given ketchup and salt when I order fries at the drive-thru. But when they hand me a ridiculous overflowing handful at my request, I understand why the fast food companies try to cut cost at every corner. And then I gripe about that. Moderation is the key.

But since their employees can't seem to get that through their heads, I guess we get the benefit. Now to figure out what to do with all these packets? I've been told that it takes 90 ketchup packets to refill a ketchup bottle. But I certainly have better things to do with my time and I would end up with more ketchup outside the bottle and on my hands than IN the bottle. After too many years of tossing them, I finally realized that these extra packets are perfect to toss in a lunch box with a corn dog or hot dog. Makes my life easier! And I WON'T gripe about that =)

At Least the Pillow Wasn't Missing

Oh the things that you dream when you can't eat everything that you WANT to! This morning I woke up and was salivating on my pillow, for real! I had been dreaming that Tony and I were at a bakery. While he was talking to "Pierre" I was loading up on yummy bakery confections that were called Bear Claws but were really a mixture between a traditional Bear Claw (I don't even think I've ever had a BITE of one of those) and a long john (my favorite pastry). I had a long skinny box that housed six of these humongous things. I had them all lined up and took a nibble out of one. Not getting any of the filling, I took another bite only to discover it was lemon! Ick! I took inventory and found out that five of the six were indeed lemon, so I was getting ready to switch them out but had to get that nasty lemon taste out of my mouth. So I picked up the one that was creme-filled and took a HUGE bite.

That's when I woke up and found myself drooling! How disappointing to find out that a pastry didn't sound in the least like ANYTHING I wanted for breakfast. It would have been a nice change from eggs. On the other hand, I would have been very upset to find out that I was dreaming about a made-up pastry that didn't exist. Not a good thing for a prego mama with a craving.

My Contribution to Thanksgiving Dinner

You Are Mashed Potatoes

Ordinary, comforting, and more than a little predictable You're the glue that holds everyone together.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

Quirks

Okay, so we're taking out stock in Kraft now. Macaroni and Cheese and Ham and Swiss Lunchables. It's honestly the ONLY things that taste good to me. I miss my appetite.

Last night, Tony was fixing supper for himself and the girls. I asked, "Do we have any leftover macaroni in the fridge?" He stopped mid stride, turned around and said, "You want macaroni and cheese again!?" It's one of three things that taste normal to me. I've TRIED to eat other foods. Even requested Culver's the other night. But it just didn't taste right. I do not remember this part lasting past the severe nausea for the other kids. In the past, if something sounded good it tasted good, too. Maybe that's my sign that this is a boy? Doubt it! loL!

And on another note of quirkiness, let me tell you...the Styrofoam cups at the dollar store are indeed made of something different than the stronger, higher quality ones Tony has gotten at Walmart. I can SMELL it and TASTE it when I drink my iced Gatorade. (Yep, taking out stock in Gatorade, too.)

And, last, anyone want some leftover Ritz Crackers? I can't eat them with my Lunchables. They are too sweet. So I substitute saltines (and let me tell you, saltines and laptops don't go together very well. Can you say crumbs on the keyboard?) I only tear back the packaging to reveal the meat and cheese. So the crackers are guaranteed fresh! loL!

What Do These Have in Common?

M&Ms, Pringles Light, Hellmann's mayo, mashed potatoes, white bread from a bakery, ham, Lipton butter noodles and sauce, small amounts of Pepsi, small amounts of water?

The only kinds of food I can keep down when I'm nauseous. My diet for the last 5 days :( Thankfully, today I feel a bit more normal.

Have Food, Will Vacation

Because we had a full kitchen in our "cabin", we ate two meals in each day and one meal out. Most of the "out" meals were spent on ridicously expensive food (my only complaint about DollyWood) because it doesn't matter how recently you ate, the smells from all those food stands just makes you hungry! And even more frustrating...when the food looks and smells better than it tastes. Corn dogs and "tater twists" seemed to be the girls favorite there. The fries were quite tasty! My smothered red potatoes - not so much. All of us would highly recommend the ice cream stand at the top of the hill just before heading into Country Fair. The prices seemed very fair for a delicious waffle cone filled with homemade chocolate ice cream. Just be sure not to ask for a cone that the 70-something server can't reach (ask Jody or Travis about that moment :)

But our two most notable meals of the week were at The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge and Gondolier Italian Restaurant and Pizza (discovered by Johnson's on a previous visit). The latter meal consisted of fabulous pizza (and I'm pretty picky about my pizza!) and a huge slice of cake appropriately labeled "Seven Sins" because it was made with seven kinds of chocolate. Sorry, I didn't think to take a picture until AFTER it was gone. I did about have a heart attack though. When asked if anyone wanted dessert, I piped up and no one else did. The waiter showed me the choices in the display case and said that it would serve about 8 people. I didn't know if he meant one piece or the entire cake but didn't figure I needed to clarify since I was the only one ordering. A few minutes later he brough us a handful of forks and set them in the middle of the table. I looked up and there was a gaping hole where the cake had been sitting in the case. I just knew he was going to bring out 8 plates of that cake! I could see my entire monthly clothing allowance paying for this miscommunication! Imagine the big sigh of relief when he brought out one plate occupied by a huge slab of Seven Sins - definitely enough for eight people to sample. I still have money left for the girl's much-needed tennis shoes :)

From the Kitchen of...

Here is living proof why I have adopted the quote

"I have a kitchen because it came with the house!"

Anyone up for fellowship night at the Derscheid's?!?!

Went to Market

If money weren’t an object, which store would you do your grocery shopping at? Why? Selection of food, cleanliness, unique products?