What's for Dinner? Heavenly Potatoes

A few weeks back I posted a recipe for Chicken Cordon Bleu. As a side dish we had some of my favorite potatoes and it's a really simple recipe too!

This recipe is modified from a book called Blue Plate Specials.

Heavenly Potatoes

1 onion, finely chopped (I chop it, toss it in to mini food processor and done!)
2 Tbsp butter
24 ounce package frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
10 3/4 ounce can cream of chicken (or mushroom) soup
2 cups sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Saute onion in butter until tender.

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.

Pour in a 2 quart baking dish or casserole dish.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

A Powerful Statement

On Thursday I was having a really stressful and overwhelming day at the office. My friend sent me this email and I just put it aside because I didn't have the time or energy to deal with it.

Sitting on the couch on Sunday morning, catching up on my Gmail account, watching Top Chef, I read the email:

Survivor after survivor stood in a Tucson, Arizona, courtroom today, looked at the man who brought death to their city, and told him exactly how they felt.

"You pointed a weapon at me and shot me," Susan Heilman told Jared Lee Loughner, who is to be sentenced to life without parole today for a mass shooting outside a grocery store that killed six people and injured others, including Gabrielle Giffords, who represented the area in Congress.

"Mr. Loughner introduced my children to something sinister and evil," testified Mary Reed, who was also there in January 2011.

Giffords stood by her husband, Mark Kelly, as he addressed the shooter: "Mr. Loughner, pay close attention to this: Though you are mentally ill, you are responsible for the death and hurt you inflicted upon all of us on January 8 of last year. You know this. Gabby and I know this. Everyone in this courtroom knows this.

"You have decades upon decades to contemplate what you did. But after today, after this moment, here and now, Gabby and I are done thinking about you."

Follow our live blog of the emotional sentencing hearing at http://CNN.com/thisjustin to read more powerful testimony.

The timing of this email was as timely as this horrific event which really rocked me. The day before Gabby's rally where she was shot I heard an interview with her on NPR. I was moved by how real, personable, approachable, and intelligent this woman was. She was being interviewed about the Illegal Immigrant situation in Arizona. I had never heard of her before this interview but after it was over I was moved with pride to know there are people like her sitting in our countries congress.

Then the next day I hear she is shot. I was driving in my van and it felt like the world stopped for a moment. I could not believe this woman who I felt such a connection with was shot in the head and possibly going to die.

I have been paying attention to her recovery and again, she moved me with her drive and passion for life.  Her husband has been a source of inspiration. He has a high pressure, high profile job yet he found a way to balance not only that but he assisted in the care and recovery of his wife.

Now, I really have no idea what happens in their home, but in the public eye, they are a couple to inspire other committed couples. Outwardly, they are what I hope Shawn and I would be in the eye of a drastically life changing event.

I applaud Mr. Kelly for his statement and from what I have seen I believe him. He and Gabby will not let this sick mad effect their lives any more. It is over and they are going to keep moving forward.

Sure does put life in perspective. I thank my friend for sending me this email at a time when I was feeling very overwhelmed, it really helped me see things from a different point, specifically that I should be thankful that my family is healthy and functioning well.

I thank Mark and Gabby for sharing her recovery with us. You are an inspiration.

And I thank what ever force made sure I was able to hear that initial interview with Gabby and get to know her as the amazing woman she is before this horrific event took place that forever changed her life, the lives of her constituents, and I am sure the dynamics of our Congress.  

Okay! Enough of the deep post for today! Happy Monday everyone!!

A Little Pumpkin Fun

Happy Halloween everyone!!  I hope you are all as excited as I am to go Trick or Treating tonight!!

Over the weekend we had Ryan, Jess, and the kids over to carve pumpkins. I don't have much do say, the pictures already say it all.

Stay safe. Stay warm. Have fun. Happy Halloween!!

What's For Dinner: Chicken Cordon Bleu

This yummy main dish reminded me of my classic chicken roll ups Cordon Bleu style.

Here's what you need:

6 Boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
salt and pepper to taste
12 thin slices deli ham
12 slices Swiss cheese
12 slices bacon
Toothpicks - 24 or more

Sauce - optional
10 3/4 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
1 c whipping cream

Lightly salt and pepper each slice of chicken, keeping in mind that bacon and ham are salty.

I like to make an assembly line and lay out all my pieces of chicken. Place two pieces of ham on the chicken, then lay two slices of Swiss cheese on the ham.

Fold each piece of chicken in half and secure with a toothpick.

Wrap two slices of bacon around the chicken roll and secure with another toothpick.

Place the chicken in a 9x13 baking dish.

Repeat the process until all 6 Chicken Cordon Bleu's are placed in the dish.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

For the sauce, mix the cream of mushroom soup and whipping cream together and heat over medium heat until warm. Spoon over chicken when served.

My family loved this recipe but thought the sauce was okay so when I make it again I will probably omit that step.

Enjoy!!

My Night with The President

Ha! Okay, not really.

But we did both stay at the same hotel Monday night.

I never did get to glimps him or Michelle (even though I told a few co-workers I ran with Michelle Tuesday morning) but on my way out of the hotel on Tuesday I did see his car getting ready to leave the hotel. And I saw the 8 billion motor-cops who would be escorting him to his speaking engagement in Del Ray Beach.

But that’s all I saw.

By the time I returned to the hotel that night they were all cleared out and the excitement was over.

Some of my co-workers were staying at the Del Ray Beach Marriott, where Romney stayed so it was fun to exchange stories on Tuesday morning.

Here are a few things I wanted to tweet or post on facebook over the last few days but I was too worried those men in black would show up at my door and zap my memory, forever stranding me in South Florida!

Monday

-          Hmm… why are there so many police at my hotel?

-          Waiting to have my car searched by a dog.

-          I count ten swat guys around my car right now.

-          Now I know what Ranger from the Stephanie Plum books looks like. Nice to meet you Ranger.

-          Ranger just told me he was hot. Okay…

-          Screened through a metal detector at the front door of the hotel

-          Screened again. Shouldn’t wear a belt on a travel day…

-          Who is staying here? Mitt? Obama? I hope it is Obama!

-          There are men in Black everywhere!!

-          Room key didn’t work. Getting new room? Not just a new key?  Hmmm…

-          Finally in my room. There are a lot of Black Suits by that room over there…

-          Going to the restaurant for some dinner and to work for a bit

-          Turkey burger was yummo! And the people watching was top notch!

-          Laptop battery died. Back in my room. No more view of the security check point. Boo.

-          Man in the elevator said it’s the Obama’s who are staying here. Keep cool.

-          Keep cool.

-          Trying to keep cool.

-          Totally freaking out! Do you think Michelle will run with me tomorrow?

-          Can no longer focus. Going for a run.

-          Had to be patted down returning from my run. Poor SWAT guy!

-          What is up with this black shutters around that room?

-          Oh! Okay, now I know where they are staying.

-          Secret Service by the ice machine. Scared the mess out of me!

-          I need some sleep. Debate is over. Good night.

Tuesday

-          Last night I slept in the same hotel as the President and First Lady. WOW!

-          Getting used to all the men in Black hanging around.

-          That sure is a large pile of gun cases on that cart…

-          Eating breakfast with SWAT is super fun!

-          Ack!! Just saw the Presidents car waiting for him to leave

-          I should stay here in my car until he leaves.

-          Or not. Secret Service is watching me sit here. Better go.

-          Off to work!

-          Back from work! They have all cleared out. Back to normal around here!

And that’s about it for my brush with Obama fame. It was exciting for me! I hope you enjoyed hearing about it.

 

Oh, What A Monday Part 2

Okay, so yesterday I left off telling you that I pulled up to my hotel and it’s surrounded by police.

Rewind a few weeks.

I get an email from the hotel where I plan to stay on this particular trip suggesting I find another place to stay due to the Presidential Debate scheduled for the day I arrive. The debate is down the road and there will be some road closures in the area, particularly the main roads on either side of the hotel.

I gather the info I am able to gather by exchanging emails with the hotel manager and decide that since my hotel is just down the road from my office, if I cannot get to my hotel I can’t get to my office so I am not going to the trouble to change my reservation.

I find an open entrance to the hotel and pull up to find a tent, five swat type men, and a dog. They instruct me to turn off my engine and open my hood. I explain that this is a rental car so while I can turn off the engine I am not sure how to pop the hood.

The swat guy is super nice and helps me out.

After the dog walks through my car and gives it the all clear, I am told to go ahead and pull into the lot.

I walk into the hotel door to be met by security, a metal detector, a luggage scanner, and a lot of men in black suits with white things behind their ears. I am put through a process just like the TSA at the airport and allowed to go check in.

At this point I am certain either Romney or Obama will be staying in my hotel and I am freaking out only a little bit.

After checking, parking my car, going through the screening process again, I decide to go unpack and then eat dinner in the hotel to avoid leaving until Tuesday morning when I need to go into the office.

I had a little snafu with my key which caused me to be moved to another room but that was okay because I was told “This is a better room.”

I sat in the restaurant and enjoyed a turkey burger while working for a bit. I was also watching the people coming in the front door and counting the men in black. There were way to many to count.

When my laptop battery finally died I headed back up to my room to decompress before working some more. In the elevator I struck up a conversation with a man dressed in jeans.

“Are you part of this craziness?” I asked.

“Not really, I am with NBC. Are you?” He replied.

“No, I am just here for work. My office is down the street.”

“Well, you picked a good week to come. You know the President is staying here.”

“Oh, is he? That would explain all this!” Man, I am good under pressure!

I walk down the hall to my room as all of this is hitting me.

The President of the United States of America is staying in the same hotel as me. How awesome is that?

Then I realize, not only is he staying in this hotel his room is four doors down! It’s the room with the 12 secret service agents gathered around the door!

I calmly walked into my room. Calmly called Shawn.

Then, and only then, did I let myself freak out.

How insane is this? President Obama is staying four doors down the hall. I look out my living room window and I see his window!

Do you know what that means?!

MICHELLE IS HERE TOO!!!

OMG. Michelle is going to be my new best friend. I just know it! 

We are totally going for a run together in the morning.

Shawn asks me what I will say when I meet him.

Well, of course I know what I will say! I will say “Wow. You are the President.”

That’s what I will say because no matter how awesome I try to be, I am an introverted nerd at heart.

I am writing this on Monday night, the debate has yet to happen. I plan to watch out my window for the Obamas to return from the big debate. But that’s another story for tomorrow. Stay tuned!!

(Please do not leave me comments with your thoughts about The Obama Family or who you are voting for or whatever other political nastiness you might feel you should share with me. This post is about me and my brush with fame. It has nothing to do with politics. Thank you.)

Oh What A Monday Part 1

Monday morning I woke up with that dread I get when I have to travel for work. I love my job and there are many benefits to being able to travel to see my co-workers but at the same time it is extremely difficult to be away from my family. I miss my husband, I miss my daughter, I miss my pets, and I miss everything that goes along with them.

But it’s something I have to do so I try to put up with it.

Only this particular Monday I had an off feeling that I needed to deal with and I couldn’t quite figure out what was causing it.

I get up, get myself ready, and do my last minute packing. Off feeling is still hanging around.

I realize I haven’t heard from my step mom so I call to confirm the time with her. Good thing because we had our wires crossed and she had planned to come an hour later. That was fixed. Off feeling was still hanging around.

I get on the road on time only to hit major traffic causing me to get to the airport later than I wanted. Ugh, off feeling is still there!

I pull into the wrong long term parking lot simply because I was not paying attention so I exit and go back out to the right lot. If you park in Red or Blue lots you have to take the tram but if you park Yellow or Green you cross the skyway and there you are. It’s a huge time saver.

I get to the skyway and it’s closed for renovations! UGH!

I go down the three escalators to the underground walk and then back up to the back check in.

I didn’t get a seat because the plane was full. I would get that at the gate.

25 minutes in security because the express lane was not open.

 

Got to the gate on time and the monitors were down so I didn’t know my seat until the only agent at the gate could help me which was after everyone else boarded. Where was my Seat? Row 26B. That’s the last row, against the bathroom, middle seat. Gross.

The lady by the window was extra crabby and the poor guy on the aisle, who had to get up for me, had a bad back and was 85 years old. He ended up being a wonderful seat mate who told me stories about his family when the turbulence was so bad I couldn’t read.

 

I dozed off during takeoff and was awaken to a horrible citrus-chemical smell.

Then next 90 minutes were so bumpy they couldn’t turn off the seatbelt light and the flight attendant yelled (YELLED) at anyone who ventured to the bathroom.

When the light finally turned off the line to the restroom was 40 people long and every single one of them felt the need to lean into our row while they waited.

When the line finally subsided my neighbor, Vince, got up to use the rest room and we learned the identity of that smell. That’s how they cover up vomit mid-air! Fantastic!!

The second half of the flight was okay. My bag made it just fine. And my rental car is amazing.

At this point I am really hoping my day is going to turn around.  

So imagine my surprise when I pull up to my hotel and it is surrounded by police. The most amazing thing was this was the point when that off feeling finally went away.

This was it.

The hotel being surrounded by police is exactly what my intuition was trying to warn me about. Only I can’t tell you about it just yet.

I hope to be able to talk about it soon. Stay tuned!!