From Kindergarten to College Graduation

Kindergarten

First Grade

We are so excited that she was promoted to first grade.  Even more excited that she has now graduated with her first big degree!!!  And it was a very pretty day!

Let's talk about that pasta salad.............

Pasta has never been my comfort food.  I don't crave it.  It does nothing for me.   I don't order it when eating out.  I don't even cook with it.   Please don't ask me my current thoughts about black olives.  Never, in a billion years will I order anything containing olives.  Ever.   At least they were finely chopped!  However, last summer my dear cousin Peggy changed my life.   She brought a pasta salad to the annual family reunion that literally rocked my pathetic little world.   I ate several helpings and then snagged a plate for leftovers that evening.  It was just enough to tide me over and fill my head with crazy ideas and concoctions.

For the past year, I have been thinking of it.  I have tried to add different fresh veggies to some pasta and re-create it.  Now, I have made a pretty decent replica.   It just doesn't compare with what I remembered.   I didn't  realize the salad contained pimentos.  Lemon juice?   Mayonnaise?  No way!

This past weekend I traveled back to the family reunion.    Cousin Peggy was there again.  I had completely forgotten about that salad until I noticed the light shining down from the heavens.  Angels began singing in my head.   My first thought was to snag the bowl and go hide in the corner with a fork.     But, I didn't want the others to notice I had something that good.   My next thought was to hide it on the dessert bar.   Those people would rather go straight for the "death by chocolate" than a veggie pasta salad.   Who wouldn't, right?

Quietly, I loaded the plate with a small amount of other food to sample.  I had no intention of eating the beans and chicken.   I quickly loaded the plate with 2 spoons of the "salad" and walked away.  No one noticed the salad yet.  It sat there non-chalantly near the chocolate.  It looked lonely among the sweets.    I quietly ate my salad and tossed the remaining side items in the trash.  I went back for more.   It was devine.     My next thoughts were.......   "Would she miss this bowl?"   "Could I make a quick run home to empty it and trade containers?"      Then dear Chandra waltzed over and loudly proclaimed.........  "This is amazing".    The nerve of that girl to advertise THE salad.  Thoughts of duck taping her mouth shut quickly came to mind.   Duck tape was no where to be found in the church kitchen.  Could there be a stapler somewhere?

Simply Amazing!!!

An hour or so later..........  I grabbed a clean plate and loaded it with leftovers for dinner.   Cousin Peggy noticed what I was doing and said.........  "You really do like that.  I guess I need to share the recipe now."    Now, please......what took you so long?

"Peggy's Pasta Salad".

1 package Vermicelli Pasta (cooked & drained)

1 small can diced Black Olives (drained)

1 small jar chopped Pimento (drained)

5 Green Onions (chopped)

1/2 Green Bell Pepper (chopped)

Toss all that together & set aside.

Dressing:

1/2 cup EVOO

2 Tbs Cavender's Greek Seasoning

3 Tbs Lemon Juice

1/4 Cup Mayo

Pour half of the pasta and let set overnight.  Pour the remaining dressing over just before serving.

If desired, add cherry tomatoes, diced chicken, mozzarella cheese balls or shrimp.

In case you are worried about dear Chandra,  I promise no harm fell to her that afternoon from me.

Cashew Chicken!!!

This book has really been my bible of cooking this year!   I have made many things from it...and enjoyed them all immensely.    Tomato Soup and Cashew Chicken!   Oh my!  I have made them several times and just can't seem to get tired of either.   The cashew chicken reminds me of something I ordered back in college at Madam Wu's.  It is subtle.  It is sublime goodness!  It is even more remarkable the next day!!!

My oldest daughter, CGS loves it when I make them.  She asked me to blog about them so she had somewhere to find the recipes.   Maybe I should buy her this book?  Maybe I should buy myself another one?  Maybe I should just purchase it in digital format so that I can easily take it with me everywhere?  I accidentally packed my book for our big move to EP.    Yikes!!!!!   That was such a bad choice I made.   I should have known better!

http://thriftshoppemom.blogspot.com/2015/03/tomato-soup-has-changed-my-life.html

That is the link for when I made the tomato soup.  It literally changed my life.   I hated tomato soup until that day.  Add a grilled cheese to the side of that soup bowl and we are still living the dream!


Here is the recipe for Cashew Chicken, CGS!   Enjoy it!

• 1/2 cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
• 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon Packed Brown Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Oyster Sauce  (it is weird...but don't forget!!)
• 1/2 teaspoon Toasted Sesame Oil
• 3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
• 6 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs, Cut Into Small Cubes
•  Kosher Salt To Taste
• 1 Tablespoon Garlic, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon Chopped Fresh Ginger  
• 1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
• 1/4 cup Chicken Broth
• 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1/2 cup Canned Water Chestnuts, Coarsley Chopped & drained
• 1 cup Unsalted Cashews  (be Sure To Use Unsalted)
• 2 whole Green Onions, Thinly Sliced
• cilantro to garnish, optional
•  Cooked rice,  I prefer Jasmine or Balsami *

In a bowl, mix together the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, oyster sauce, and sesame oil. Stir & set aside. 

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat and add the chicken in a single layer. Sprinkle with a small amount of salt, then leave it alone for at least a couple of minutes to give the chicken a chance to brown. When the chicken has turned golden, stir it around so that it can brown on all sides. Toss in the garlic and ginger and stir to combine. Stir in the bell pepper and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

While the pan is still hot, pour in the broth. Stir it around, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen all the flavorful bits. Turn the heat to medium-low and pour in the sauce mixture, then mix the cornstarch with 1/4 cup water to make a slurry and pour it in. Stir the sauce for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken, then add the water chestnuts and cashews and stir to coat everything with the sauce, adding a splash of water if the sauce is too thick.

Finally, sprinkle on the green onions & cilantro. Serve over the cooked rice.




*Finally,  Stay away from generic plain rice or minute rice!   This dish deserved better than that junk!!!

This picture is bad and just doesn't do it justice.  It is competing with that veggie pasta goodness!   I will tell you about that one later!

Life Happens...and we go on.

This post is  a difficult one to write.   There are so many words to say and most of them sound meaningless and void.   They may sound trivial to the heartless soul.  They may sound empty to the person who has never experienced this kind of loss.    But it stinks.

He didn't ask anything of me.  He didn't want to be groomed...yet he let me do it.  He didn't ask to have his nails trimmed....yet he survived the experience.    He seriously loved chasing bubbles and flashing lights.   A favorite pastime of his was to get in the car and ride anywhere.  Take him to home depot and his world was complete that day.  Who could forget the disco ball that spun in the tree all summer so that he would just play around outside.   Then, there was the year that  he chased bubbles so much that we purchased an electric bubble machine.  Good times!   He loved to pose for pictures.   He always let me take christmas pictures......the price was cheap.  He worked for cheerios.

My favorite Tramp story happened last fall, 2015.  We sent him to the groomer for a trim.  The groomer was new and interpreted that as meaning...  "buzz him bald".  Tramp laid on the couch for a week and acted embarrassed to go outside.  He looked like a spotted beagle.  His glorious ears were gone!  This was pure humiliation for him.  Poor guy!

Would someone please tell me what happened to my ears?

On Monday, February 29, 2016, we laid him to rest.  Tramp was the perfect pet.  The only thing he had to give was his unconditional love and the ability to snuggle up and he did it without hesitation.  

Tramp was only 6 years old.  Rest in peace big guy!  I know that up there in doggy heaven you are pain free and playing with your friend, Tigger.   

December 2009

December 2010

Christmas 2010

                                                     

                                         

His wingspan before the buzz him bald cut occurred.

Christmas 2015

Last one...  

I made pie.

Several years ago, a teacher friend made this for me.  It changed my life.

AMEN.

Hopefully, it will change yours as well.

I made these!!!

I got a little stressed about certain events and  needed a quick outlet to de-junk the brain.   So, I made these for my classroom.........

The only shapes I didn't do were spades, clubs & crescents.   Since I won't be teaching Beginning Poker skills this week.......   I passed on those.

My plans are to process big and cut out the shape.   I added the notebook paper because a background was needed.  Bam.  Done.   

Merry Christmas 2015 Friends!

Wowshers!!!  Friends, what a whirlwind of a year it has been!   We have been busy with life.  It happens folks.   Often, it sucks.  Yea,  I can't even lie about that.  However, my typical "sucky" day is to folks in third world countries.......a dang good day.    

I am not here to brag about anything fabulous that has occurred with the family.   We have not taken any vacation to a foreign country and snorkeled in the sea with dolphins.  Nor have I won the lottery.  I suppose I would need to purchase a ticket first.   About the most exciting thing to occur this past year was having the grey cave break down on Preston Road on a cold rainy evening at 5 PM.  It required a police officer and random strangers to push it across the intersection.    We donated the grey cave that evening and purchased a Toyota Camry the next day.

Late December of 2014, we were able to watch our oldest daughter walk down the aisle to marry her best friend.   It was inspiring and life-changing.   Her father said he didn't shed a tear.   (That's his story.)   I am pretty sure there was a drop or two from someone....other than me.   Anyway, Courtney & Rick are doing well.   They moved out of their cave-like loft and are currently enjoying a corner apartment complete with a tiny yard for their feisty French Bulldog, Winston.    Tramp has learned to tolerate him.    She will finish her undergraduate degree this spring and they have plans to move to Alabama for her to finish her law degree.    They have both promised me that Alabama is a temporary move & grandchildren will not be raised there.   She is still a part-time barrister with a local Starbucks and Rick is currently working at JC Penney's in their theft-prevention department.

Meagann is currently attending Collin College pursuing her undergraduate degree in Math.    She works for SouthLake Carroll as a color guard tech and performs locally with CGT Dallas. She spent the summer of 2015 performing again with the Blue Stars and traveled across the United States attending dozens of DCI shows performing their program entitled "SideShow".  It was a good summer for her.   Me, I missed her terribly.   Clay did too......  He just didn't admit it too often.  She has auditioned for their summer 2016 show and will be a part of that on their weapons line.   If any of you happen to catch a DCI show next summer.....give her a shout out!!  (You could also spot her a couple of quarters and a hug from me!)  I hope to put in some volunteer time with them next summer....on the swamp tour.

Clay is a Sophomore at Wakeland High.   He is still playing the mellophone & french horn.  This fall they performed their show "Forever".   It was simply stunning to see him and his friends march something this intricate weekly and still maintain excellent grades.  Well, passing grades.   We are exceedingly proud that all our children have had the opportunity to pursue excellence at Wakeland.   Clay's next goal is to finish up his driver's education and obtain a license.   He will resume umpiring in the spring.

Just as 2014 ended, I was hired by FISD as an para-professional aide in a SLC classroom.  I spent the day with autistic children.   It was simply amazing to work with these children and to experience their success at any level.   These kids are fun!    They can really show you what it means to be successful and have a good time!   In late July, I was re-hired again at the same campus.   I am now a head-start pre-kinder teacher.     Let me just say here..........   A lot has changed educationally in the past 15 years.   I missed a lot.   Computers & technology are just starting points to the changes.     What hasn't changed for me is the love of the children.    I absolutely love building the relationships with my classroom students.   I really love to see them grow and figure out what they need to learn.

About a month after I signed the contract, Greg accepted a position with ADP.    He is enjoying learning the different dynamics of their company.   However, he isn't enjoying the 45 minute commute to downtown Dallas.  Be prayerful friends that his position can be improved with a work from home status in the upcoming months.  We are spending a ton of money on the DNT.   It just stinks.


As I have said earlier,   Merry Christmas friends!   I wish the best for you in 2016.   If you are ever in the Dallas metroplex, don't hesitate to call or text.   We can meet up and enjoy catching up on good times.   I can show you where I shop and where to find the best queso in town.

Until then.........   Love & Hugs!     The Ginger Family