Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Chipotle Chicken

We love Chipotle! Who doesn't right... we can feed our family rather cheaply there (we share a few bowls), and we can be totally GF and safe for Bobcat with no problems!

We also like to make 'burrito' bowls here at the house, but I've never been able to get close to the flavor the restaurant serves... so that became my mission... find a recipe marinade that sounded (and smelled) like the real thing so to speak. Here's what I tried this time:

  • 1/4 cup canned chipotle chiles in adobo*
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, pressed
  • 1/2 onion, coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 3 1/ 2-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces

Puree a ll ingredients, then let marinade. Finish off by grilling.

So far it smells great! So we are off to a good start. I will let you know how it taste after this evenings chicken chipotle burrito bowls!




Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Old folks and racism...

Last week we were at a dinner for an organization we are a part of, and our table was made up of a 60+ aged group... and Daddio and me (there were 7 people in total at our table). It's been my experience with grandparents that they will say what ever is on their mind without a whole lot of regard for the audience before them. Daddio and I've teased that due to their age they've earned the right to speak their mind!

I think I should preface this next section by saying I was/am perfectly aware that those at our table are from a different generation, a different time... a time of ignorance for lack of a better word, and certain phrases die hard... and certain parts of history aren't seen from an objective standpoint because it is part of their own past... jaded by their own personal or familial thoughts.

Alright fine print out of the way...

So there we sat trying to enjoy with somewhat rubbery food that was being served... sadly I don't think the restaurant was quite prepared to handle a large group, and I don't think the food was a good indication of their usual quality... anyway, and somehow one of the gentlemen at our table decided to tell us about the beer he was drinking. He related it back to a trip he had taken... and that's when things went downhill very quickly! What poured forth was a string of racial slurs against those of Hispanic descent... did I mention we were in a Mexican restaurant with several Hispanic servers... I wanted to crawl under the table... there was no way some of those on the wait staff didn't over hear what he was saying!

Several occasions Daddio and my eyes locked in complete shock as to what he was saying... I wish I could say it ended there... oh how I wish it would have ended there...

This same gentleman (using the term quite loosely now) went on to talk about slavery, the master/slave relationship (including that slaves where not mistreated, but instead were respected and treated like a member of the family), and the notion that the slaves were better off sold rather than being left alone in their native lands. I will not go further with his words because they are beyond what I am comfortable sharing!

The only real tangible way to describe his description of history is to say that his notion of that time was like those who don't believe in the holocaust (or that it was as extreme as it was).

SHOCK... that was the best way to describe our faces as we listened to him... and SILENCE. I think Daddio at one point said that "for the vast majority, what you're describing wasn't the case", but no one was listening to us... they were riveted with his account.

I've heard racial slurs before, I've been offended before, but this seemed deeper... this was my mother's heart that was offended and insulted for the birth relatives of my children... for MY children. In all honesty my fight/flight instinct took hold and I had to escape to the restroom for a breather while I recovered control over my tongue (thank you Mother Mary!!).

I related this story to a friend, and she asked if the man knew my children and maybe he wouldn't have said anything had he known that we were a family of color. I can't say he KNOWS them, but he's seen them many many times, at the very least could identify that they are not white... but in all honesty I really don't think the man realized how terribly racist and dehumanizing he was being. There is also one other explanation for people making racial comments with me there... they know our boys... those who know them don't SEE their race... they just see the boys (as it should be with all people), but will make a racial slur thinking that my boys wouldn't be included... it's strange but even my own family members have done this without even realizing how hurtful it is to me and one day to the boys (when they realize what is being said)!

What's the answer? On the way home from that event we talked about our own need to become more versed in historical accuracy so that when we respond we can make it far more real by using actual accounts... having names and dates, I personally think, makes things more real... and not an over arching generalization...

Good grief.......................

Toys for Tots 5K (December 11)

(sorry, a saved post I never published!)

We did another race this morning... and had a great time. This time it was the Toys for Tots 5K... and it was a little more populated than our last event (and a lot more HILLY!!!!).

Drumroll please, bblblblblblblblblblblblblbllblbllblblblblblbl

Boys ages: 1-8
1st Place: Snooker - 29.59 (74th place overall)

Boys ages 9-10
1st Place: Bubba - 31.00.8 (90 overall) (that included a really nasty fall with lots of blood, and torn glove... but he soldiered on :-)
2nd Place: Bobcat - 31.02.3 (91 overall)

We are so happy for the boys! They made us proud, and swept the podium!!

As for Daddio and me...
Mens 30-34 (12 in age group)
8th Place: Daddio - 30.59.6 (89 overall) (Personal best, and managed to beat two of the three boys... that was one of his goals :-)

Womens 30-34 (15 in age group)
10th Place: Me - 39.39.9 (157th overall) (my personal best time and best overall pace, and I managed to attain my two goals once again... under 40 minutes, and not dead last... not only was I not dead last, I wasn't even the slowest in my age group... YEAH!)

The funny thing is Snooker could have gone a lot faster. He was up ahead of the boys, but kept turning around to keep tabs on them and make sure he was doing the right thing... he never broke out in his faster pace that we've seen from him when we run our normal weekly workout. That kid is a gazelle!

We're still alive ;-)

I know, I know... I've been away for a long time... a month really... I had my reasons! One, I've been really trying to decide whether or not to keep this up and running, or to let it die! I think I've decided, for now, to keep it up... but I don't really know how regular the posts will be. The fact is our life is busy and finding time to put a few sentences together... well, if that is a few minutes I can kick my feet up and watch a little news before my sweetie gets home in the evening (or finish dinner if that is still needing attention)... well that's going to win out. The problem with trying to write during school is the constant interruptions... I know, rude of the children, can't they see I'm busy :-)... and let's face it, the older we get the less we keep our thoughts on track when we've been interrupted for the up-tnth time about dropping the signal -e before adding -ly! Let me hear a 'what what' from all my homeschoolin' mommas!! Halla... Yes, I just wrote that... see what I mean ;)