An Invitation to the White House for Dinner

I got this in my e-mail and think it is appropriate for this day in time!

[Once upon a time I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President.


I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics.

There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a FREE country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was EARNED honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor.

I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room.

We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner.

The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen..

"Sorry 'bout that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry."

"I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass.

Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. "And his brother, Eric, is very thirsty," said the President. I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I withheld my comments and decided to play along. I don't want to seem unkind..

My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite. "Eric's children are also quite hungry."

With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me. I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room. And their grandmother can't stand for long."

I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken.

I turned back to the President.

"Their grandfather doesn't like the cold."

I wanted to shout, "that was my coat!" But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled.

Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table.

I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home.

Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him.

"Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do."

My hands were shaking. I felt faint I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor.

The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak, and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops.

"By the way," he added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories.
I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind.
There's a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars...we need to spread YOUR wealth around..."

I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème Brule.  He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair.

He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if it were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss.

I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle.

Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us.

What had I done wrong?

As if answering the unspoken thought, President Obama suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands.

"You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said.

WAKE UP AMERICA !!!]

Alternative to Heavy Easter Meal - Easter Cobb Salad

If you are having the whole family over - maybe this is not a good alternative...but if you are just having Easter with your immediate family...this is a great alternative.  Note:  this is not a simple meal...it doesn't require a lot of cooking, but does require quite a bit of prep time (chopping veggies etc).  Cobb salad was supposed created by the owner of the Brown Derby Restaurant in Hollywood, Bob Cobb, in 1937.  There are many variations, but the important thing is not to toss it...make sure the veggies & meat are in rows across the top.

Easter Cobb Salad

3 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
8 bacon slices, cooked
1 bag of salad, size based on your family (I like the one with Iceberg lettuce, carrots & purple cabbage)
4 cups diced cooked turkey or chicken
2 avocados, peeled, pitted and sliced
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 cup (at least) crumbled cheddar cheese
1 can sliced black olives
1 cucumber, sliced

1.  Cook bacon until done, drain on papertowel set aside; flash fry (cover the bottom of a skillet with oil, then cook chicken breasts on high heat for about 8 - 10min total - turning often to prevent burning) the chicken breast (I like to do mine with salt & pepper with a touch of garlic, but you can bread them with egg & bread crumbs too, if desired)- if using turkey...I recommend baking it the night before or using fully cooked turkey from the store; boil the eggs.
2.  Make one big bowl or individual bowls:  Put the lettuce in the bottom of the bowl; arrange eggs, bacon,avacados, tomatoes, chicken/turkey/ham, cheese in rows across the top of the lettuce; covering the lettuce completely.
3.  Serve with favorite dressing...I recommend a red wine vinegrette or honey mustard.  You can try the "Original Cobb Salad" Dressing from the Brown Derby Restaurant in Hollywood (supposedly created by the owner Bob Cobb in 1937 - who also created the Cobb Salad at the same time)

Original Cobb Salad Dressing


Makes 1 1/2 cups
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon dry English mustard
1 small clove garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup full-flavored olive oil
3/4 cup salad oil

1.  Blend all ingredients together, except oils. Add olive and salad oils. Mix well.
2.  Blend well again before mixing with salad.
A note from the Brown Derby: "The water is optional, depending upon the degree of oiliness desired in the dressing."














Enjoy & Happy Easter!!!

Stuffed Peppers Bolognaise

What do you do when you have green and red peppers that need to be eaten and it is a beef night???  You guessed it...Stuffed Peppers Bolognaise!!!

6 med bell peppers (or 3 big ones)
1 1/4 cups water
2 cups V-8, divided
1 can toamato paste (6oz)
1 tsp dried oregano, divided
1/2 tsp basil leaves
1/2 tsp garlic salt divided
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 lb lean ground beef
1 1/2 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
2 med tomatoes chopped (I like to use the Pampered Chef chopper on these veggies)
1/2 cup carrots chopped
1 med onion chopped

1.  Heat oven to 350degrees F.
2.  Cut bell peppers in half remove seeds and membranes, set aside.
3.  For sauce, in medium sauce pan combine water, 1 cup V-8, tomato paste, 1/2 tsp oregano, basil and 1/4 tsp garlic salt and heat over medium heat for 10 - 15min.
4.  For filling, in a large bowl combine beef (raw), oats, tomato, carrot and onion with remaining cup of V-8, 1/2 tsp oregano and 1/4 tsp garlic salt mix lightly but thoroughly.
5.  Put bell peppers in 9x13" glass dish, fill each half with 1/3 cup of filling, pour sauce over evenly over top. 
6.  Bake for 45 - 50min until 160degrees F and/or hamburger is no longer pink.

Makes 6 - 8 servings

Healthcare - Super Scared!

Well, the House passed healthcare...just super scared what this means for me!  I was going to try to read it, but they threw out the one I was reading and I have been too busy the last few days (the 72hrs they gave us to read it online).  So, guess it is my fault...not that my representatives are listening to me anyway!

Irish Soda Bread

Happy St. Patty's Day!!!  Tonight I celebrated with some Irish Soda Bread and Roasted Pork Stew!!


Irish Soda Bread at http://www.bettycrocker.com/ search Irish Soda Bread - here's a pic of mine...

Roasted Pork Stew

4 pork chops (1" thick) cubed; 1lb
1 pkg frozen peppers & onions mixed vegetables
1 jar sliced mushrooms
2 med zuccini; sliced
1 can diced tomatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp marjoram
1/4 tsp rosemary
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp basil
4 cloves minced garlic
3 tbsp tomato paste
shredded mozzerella cheese to garnish (optional)

(I like mine with lots of juice so I add about 3 - 4 cups of water)

1.  Preheat oven to 450degrees F. 
2.  Mix oil, salt, fennel seeds and pepper in a zippered bag; remove the fat and cube the pork chops then shake cubed pork chops in zippered bag mix.
3.  Spray a shallow casserole dish with cooking spray; add the pork chops.
4.  Cook for 25min; let stand for 10min.
5.  Combine pork, frozen veggies, tomatoes with juice, zuccini, garlic and mushrooms in a crock pot slow cooker; cook on low for 4 - 4 1/2 hrs.
6.  Add tomato paste and cook for another 30min until desired thickness.

Southwest Black Bean Chicken Soup

Since it has been raining here so much lately - I was in the mood for soup this weekend and this came out really good!!!

1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts cubed
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
2 cans corn (I used fiesta with the peppers)
3 cloves of garlic minced
1 tbsp chopped dried onions
1 tbsp vegetable oil
4 cups chicken boullion (with no MSG)
2 cups water
2 tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tbsp cilantro
Tostitos Dippin Strip tortilla chips
1/2 cup cheddar cheese

1.  Cook chicken in oil until no longer pink (in a dutch oven).  Remove with slotted spoon and set aside.
2.  In same pan, saute onion and garlic for 1 min.
3.  Stir in broth, corn, beans, lime juice, salt, chili powder, pepper, cilantro and chicken; bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 30 min.
4. Top each serving wiht chips and cheese (I like to just put it on the table and let everyone do this part themselves.

Yummy!!!

Cookin Up a Mess of Veggies!

So, what do you do when you have fresh veggies that are about to go bad and it is pizza night???  You cook up a mess of veggies!!!

1st I made Potato Wedges and Sweet Potato Wedges

4 potatoes
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp garlic powder

1.  Preheat oven to 425degrees F.
2.  Cut the potatoes into wedges; spray with cooking spray.
3.  Mix dry ingredients; sprinkle over wedges.
4.  Bake for 25 - 30min until tender.

2 large sweet potatoes
2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

1.  Preheat oven to 400degress F. 
2.  Boil potatoes for 10min.
3.  Cool and cut into wedges; place on cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. 
4.  Bake for 20min until tender.

Going to eat these this weekend instead of tater tots and whatever is left, I'm going to freeze for the next week.

2nd I made:  Candied Sweet Potatoes, Squash and Carrots

2 medium sweet potatoes
2 yellow squash
8 baby carrots
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp water

1.  Boil the sweet potatoes for 10min; add squash & carrots boil for another 10min .
2.  Slip the skin off the sweet potatoes and slice and cut in half; slice the squash and cut in half and slice the carrots.
3.  Heat butter, water & brown sugar in a 10" skillet until warm and bubbly...add veggies and stir until coated.

Yummy!!!  This will be veggies for about 2 - 3 meals for my family.  Planning to freeze it in meal size containers and use as needed in the future!

3rd I made:  Butternut Squash boiled and baked

1 large butter nut squash
2 tbsp butter

Baked
1.  Preheat oven to 425degrees F.
2.  Slice top of squash and put on cookie sheet; chop the butter and put a small square on each slice.
3.  Bake for 45min or until tender.

Boiled
1.  Boil 2 - 4 cups of water.
2.  Cut bottom of squash in half and remove seeds and fibers.  Cut in quarters and boil for 20 - 30min until tender.

I plan to freeze the baked squash for future meals and serve as needed.  I plan to make a butternut squash puree soup with the boiled squash and freeze it for future meals.

Whooo hoooo!! Nothing like getting all the dishes dirty on pizza night - LOL!