It's been awhile

So, It has been awhile since I logged in.  Not that anyone is really following, but here goes.  I am at the point of publishing my cookbook.  The editing is done and I am RIGHT there.  So far, I have 66 orders. GREAT!! But, I need more.  I have worked really hard at this and need some support, so if anyone out there is listening...please order.  Just message me and I will set you up.

Haricots Verts

Realized that I am a much bigger fan of Haricots Verts rather than any other green bean.  Wow what a difference.First I blanched the beans in some heavily salted water (or "Super salty" if you are Anne Burrell) Then I shocked the beans in salted ice water to stop the cooking process and keep the brilliant bright green color. (Made me feel all celebrity chef like) Then I sauteed some garlic cloves in olive oil until browned and aromatic and discarded them since the oil was now infused with their garlicky yumminess.   I sauteed some shallots until tender. I drained the beans until almost dry and added them to the oil and shallets and tossed them until hot and covered with oil.  I served them topped with browned panko crumbs and crumbled bacon.  Such a huge difference in these beans and your run of the mill, over processed, brownish mushy canned  green beans that are super unhealthy.  I don't think I can EVER go back. ...Well.....except for my moms green beans with crunchies at Thanksgiving. OR......maybe she can let me try my recipe out on the company this year???  Laters my peeps

Fundraising

Well, I am going to publish a cookbook and sell it to raise funds for my Culinary School Tuition.  Anybody interested or wants to pass this along...feel free :0)

Green Beans

So I made up something tonight with my side dish.  I am sure that some chef out there has done this, but I was proud of myself for this concoction.  I sauteed some frozen green beans in some olive oil and minced garlic.  When they were tender I added a Tbsp of real butter and a couple palm fulls of panko bread crumbs and browned them.  When I served them on the plate I topped them with crumbled bacon.....um....YUM! I loved them.  Of course, my daughter thought I was committing child abuse while asking her to try them.  You would have thought I made her swallow a slug.  Oh well, maybe when she is older she will appreciate it more.  So long for now.

paranoia in its full glory.

Finding out who you really are and what you really want to be, is harder than it seems.  My obsession of "not hurting or disappointing" people is out of control.  I am always paranoid when someone isn't acting quite themselves that day, that they are mad at me or unhappy with me.  Sounds a tad bit self centered doesn't it?  It doesn't mean to come off as self centered, but I am just worried that I didn't upset them. Wait, that is still self centered.  Can't escape that one now can I? A spade is a spade.  I fret and worry about it and get all paranoid and then I am a mess.  Stupid!!  Being worried about making other people happy or making sure that they aren't mad at me.....is really really really stressful and unnecessary.  I can't please everyone.  I can't make everyone happy.  The ones that matter the most are my family.  My husband, my children, and my parents are the most important people in my life.  I need to just stop freaking out and be me.  Which is going to be very hard.  Let's see if I can actually succeed at this.

Waaaah waaaah

So, after my last blog (that sounded more like a little kid screaming to leave me alone).....it was brought to my attention by my wonderful husband to quit trying to make other people happy before myself.  He said if I am not happy, then I can't make anyone else happy either.

  **sigh**  Guess he is right.  Time to start doing things for myself.  (which still sounds selfish to me)

If you would just......

You know what?!  I am sick and tired of hearing people say..."If you would just...blah, blah, blah"   Or if you "just" change the way you do this or think.  I DESPISE the word "Just"
People seem to be full of advice and criticism.  Basically, when I hear someone say..."If you would just...." I cringe.  You are basically telling me that who I am and how I act is not good enough for you.  I don't do it "Your way".  Well guess what people...here's a little secret...lean in real close now.....I AM NOT YOU!  I don't think, feel, breathe, sleep, eat, or care like you do.  WHY are people so adamant about changing everyone else to think like them?  I can't even be myself because if I did....no one would know what to do!  IF I suddenly started speaking my true mind....people would think I flipped off the deep end and commit me. I NEVER tell people what I am honestly thinking.(UNLESS IT IS TO BE THERE FOR A FRIEND AND LISTENING TO THEIR TROUBLES)  That is the only time I am genuinely happy with myself.  I bite my tongue and tell people what they WANT to hear and not what they should hear most of the time. I am a people pleaser and that is a curse more than a blessing.  It is tiring trying to make everyone else happy.  Yet, if I try to do something for myself...I am made to feel guilty like I am being selfish.  Well, I want to be selfish sometimes.

I am tired of feeling this "just" thing at work, home, and with friends and family.  So please quit telling me that if I would "Just". 
I am a good friend, a genuinely caring person that just wants to be me.  Love me for who I am and not for who you think I should be. Please?

Tired

So, I am so tired that I am to the delerious point.  My head is fuzzy and hurts.  My eyes keep wanting to cross, and I can't seem to keep my eyes open long enough to finish typing.......... *snore*...huh? What?  Oh yeah, anyway...I hope that everyone has a great Monday.  I am ready for it to be bedtime already. Oh what fun!

I am going to a gym today and I am really not looking forward to it.  I have a hour training session with a personal trainer and I am sure he is just going to kill me.  I won't be able to move tomorrow for sure!  BUT, I am ready to get my body back.  Ready to have more energy and be able to move better.  Now Zumba sounds fun. Just the name itself is fun. I wanna Zoooooommmbaaaa!  Ha Ha!!
Anyway, I will fill anyone that is listening in on how I feel tomorrow.
Cya

Salty Mama: Dreams

Salty Mama: Dreams: "You know....I dream just like anyone else. I dream when I sleep, when I am awake, and I dream of all of the things I want in life.&nbs..."

Dreams

You know....I dream just like anyone else.  I dream when I sleep, when I am awake, and I dream of all of the things I want in life.  I must admit that I am very lucky with my family and friends, so I don't have to worry about that part of my life.  My dreams consist of food and ultimately doing what I absolutely love as my job.   Don't get me wrong, the job I have right now isn't horrible, but it's not what I LOVE to do. Comforting people with filling their bellies and fueling their life interests me. I am extremely social and love flexibility.  That is why I think catering is the thing for me.  Now, I just need a commercial kitchen and a food handlers permit.  IF I ever get to cater for my profession, I would also take time to donate meals to the less fortunate. (Preferably to the school children that have to worry about the weekends and such)  Locally help the families that TRULY need it. 

It took me waaaaaay longer than most to find my true passion and such.  Now, I didn't go to a 4 year college or get a degree and part of that is because nothing just jumped out at me. The other part is just plain lack of commitment and fear of failing.  In fact, it was just in the past year or two that I realized that I have talent in the kitchen and just how much I love it.  I like to entertain and that is the ultimate way to do so.  Yes, I am one of those obsessed individuals that waits for a reaction. If the reaction is mediocre, then I start to panic.  I want ultimate satisfaction when I feed people. The last thing I catered was to a woman who was hosting a bunco party.  I literally was pacing the floors waiting for an email or phone call with the results.  She messaged me saying that she wished I could hear all of the compliments on the meal and that people "swooned" over my dessert.  "SWOONED"  now that is an amazing description that just made me feel so proud and accomplished.

One day people....watch out. I just might be your next Anne Burrell or Paula Deen.  Good home cooked meals that satisfy not only the stomach, but the soul.

Dreamers dream.

combos

Note to self. Don't eat something with red onions on it, followed by coffee flavored yogurt and then try to get the taste out of your mouth with cinnamon gum.  Not a bouquet of flavors...more like an assault to the senses.  BLECK!

Social or Private

So we come to the question of privacy or social? Some people are VERY private and keep EVERYTHING to themselves. Then you have the very open people that will tell you their whole life and every issue in it without a hesitation. I personally see myself kinda in the middle, yet sometimes leaning to the mysterious side. I like to be social, I like to talk to people, yet I don't think that EVERYTHING should be discussed. I will talk about good things all day and little things. Like how I am doing or what I am doing. Anything personal going on in my life between my family and me, is a different story. It depends on what is going on if I say anything or not. I can be open or private. I bounce between the two.

Some people have a very hard time understanding me. I can be very open and welcoming and then another day be very closed off and anti-social. I can't explain it and I don't think I should have to. I am who I am. You either like me and know how I am, or you don't and are very confused. I tend to edit my life to other people. I leave things out that other people would openly discuss. I tell people what they want to hear, or in more reality..what I want them to hear.

I am selfish with my time and my family. I am a control freak and I have just now come to realize that part of me. It disturbs me to think of myself that way, but I have noticed it more and more since I have gotten older. I don't like it, but how do you change who you are? Answer....you don't. I just hope that my personality doesn't push everyone I care about away. That is my biggest fear.

Anyway, it is what it is.

Ramblings

When is it that we decide when we should grow up and be adults? Usually it happens when we have kids, but then again, some of us regress. The whole "I don't wanna grow up" syndrome comes into play with some people. We are expected as parents to show responsibility, control, and lead by example. Our kids watch our every move and hear everything that comes out of our mouths. I believe that we shouldn't lose that "inner child" that we all have. Never forget that a child needs to be a child before you can expect them to act like an adult. Play with them...they can clean their room later.

Everyone goes through a period in time when they think..."What if...." and "If I had only...." But what matters is that we learn not only from what we HAVE done, but we have NOT done as well. It's the things in life that we miss out on that we learn to accept and go on. No one is perfect and no one should expect every parent to be this Ozzy and Harriet type of people. Times have changed, yet not really. Smoke and mirrors were used during that time era on tv.

There are several things in life that I want to experience, but know for a fact that I most likely will not be able to. I won't give up hope that I can do some of them though. I refuse to go through life being negative. Sure, we all have our moments of self-doubt, self-pity, hopelessness, etc. I, however, will not let it make me a negative individual. I will accept people for who they are, let them be, and enjoy their company. Stereotypes are for the ignorant. If you are not willing to be educated, keep an open mind, or just simply ACCEPT people, then you have no right to tell them what you think they did wrong or are doing wrong. If you are constantly arguing with people and countering their own opinions, then you are truly not accepting them. Your opinion may be important to you, but that is all it is....an opinion. It doesn't make you in the right.

Why is it so hard for others to just ACCEPT?  Why, as friends, is it so hard for people to just hang out and enjoy each other's company and not judge? Too many people today have the syndrome of me, me ,me. Satisfy me and what I want. Stipulations and requirements that are presented in order for acceptance or approval....is not acceptance at all. It is control. People should just let others live their own lives. As a parent...I know how hard all of that can be. But you MUST trust your kids and trust that you raised them the best way you know how.

Anyway....too many thoughts crammed into one note I guess, but oh well. If you can follow me, then that is amazing. HA HA!

Compliment someone today, smile at someone, open a door, wave at a stranger and just be nice.... DAMMIT!!! LOL

Have a great day to all of my friends

Okay, here goes FIRST POST

First of all.....the name Salty Mama...is because I am insanely addicted to salt.  Not because I am a sweat monster.

So, this is very new to me, so I am going to see how it goes.  I just wanted to say to everyone out there that might read my blog that I hope that you thoroughly enjoy it.  My plan is to inspire people, be a comedian (which may not work), and to just talk about all things Food, Family, and Friends.
So, first of all.....hello?  Anyone there?  Nope, not yet...I thought I asked too soon.  :0) 

So lets start with food.  I am an avid watcher of food network, I have catered, and I drive my husband nuts with my drive to go to culinary school. Pesky debt is robbing me of my freedom. Literally.  You know, the school where they teach you how to use a knife properly and what foods go well together. It is an art in my eyes and I want to be DaVinci.  Well, maybe not...but how about Michelangelo?  Yeah, that is better.  Anyhoo....I LOVE to cook and people seem to enjoy and compliment my cooking as well. Unless they are just lying, and if they are, then I will have to poke them with my salad fork.

Next: Family.  I am a mother to two beautiful children.  They are beautiful. I am not just saying that because I am their mom, but because I have no biased opinion on that whatsoever.  Seriously.  My husband and I have been together for 19 years now and married for 10 of those. Yes, we were slow to get hitched to the magic carpet ride of Holy Matrimony, otherwise known as OMG what do we do now.  On a serious note..I love my husband with all of my heart. We have had some major ups and big time downs, but I trust wholeheartedly that we were meant to find each other at the mature age of 16.  Well, he was mature.  I never have been.  He is my nerd and I am his free spirit (thanks to Dave Ramsey we found that out).  But more on our lives later.

Finally: Family.  All I can say is that we all have family and we all have a few that we don't claim. You will also find out more about them later.

So...lets see where this gets me started and if anyone is interested.

Remember.....you OWN your happiness, don't let others rob you of that.