Getting to Know You!

Mississippi Women Bloggers is having a "get to know you" survey.  I really think these things are fun!  Check out my answers and then go see what my fellow Mississippi bloggers answered!  Get to know us!  :-)

Read more at http://www.mississippiwomenbloggers.com/#WOf021Mb88eFj9rP.99

1. Are you a morning or night person?
Do I have the option of saying neither?  I really don't like getting up early but can't really sleep late.  But I can't really stay up late either: midnight is about the latest I can do but I start fading around 10!
 
2. Are you a collector of anything?
I "collect" boxes.  This kind of started out of necessity.  My dad went on lots of mission trips when I was little and he started bringing back boxes as souvenirs.  They are now all over my house and I can't bear to get rid of any.
 
3. If you were given 1 million dollars, what do you do with it?
First I'd give to my church, then pay off debt (love medical school debt), probably take a vacation, and put some away in savings.

4. What is your worst pet peeve?
Hmmm...not sure about my worse pet peeve.  My husband just said "change of plans."  That's a pretty good one but I'm not sure if that counts as a pet peeve (though I really do NOT do well when what I have planned gets put by the wayside.  It really throws me for a loop).  Again, my husband came up with this but it's a pretty good one - patients being late to clinic appointments (I'm talking 20+ minutes, not just a couple).  Please, just get there on time.  If you are 20 minutes late, it means you got them 35 minutes after we asked you to arrive. (After experiencing this I have made an effort to really try to arrive that 15 minutes "early" that is requested to my doctor appointments)
 
5. What is the best thing about your hometown? (Psst…we’d love to hear all about it in a guest post for August’s “Local Flavor” theme.)
I'd say community.  People know other people, try to help out, have pride in the town and schools, participate in local events, markets, etc.
 
6. If you were stranded on a desert island, and your iPod could only hold 10 songs, what would they be (assuming the battery lasts forever, of course)?
First, I don't have an iPod, so I guess none!  However, I'd probably have "In Christ Alone" from the Getty's, "Defying Gravity", "Music of the Night," "The Prayer," some sort of Manheim Steamroller Christmas song, "Just to See You Smile" (this was on a cd David made for me our first Valentine's together.  I had never heard it before but it definitely made ME smile because I knew exactly why he had put it on the cd!), "When I Fall in Love" (first dance song), "Bring Him Home," some sort of Beetles song (I know, specific, right?!), and a version of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (I really like the new chorus combo of the old hymn with a new bridge).

7. If you could have a do-over in only one area of your life, would you want one? And if so, what would it be?
I have a couple, probably everyone does.  We'll go with the silly, childhood area.  I really wish I could go back and keep playing softball.  You see, I gave it up in 4th grade because at that point, the YMCA league stopped and you had to go to the city competition league.  It was (and still is) VERY competitive.  I just wanted to play for fun and not worry about whether winning was important or not.  Looking back, I REALLY wish I had kept playing.  It was fun!  Do I wish I had kept playing in band when I stopped in 10th grade because they wouldn't let me (an oboist) only do concert season and skip marching season...no.  But I do regret quitting softball in 4th grade!
 
8. What is your absolute favorite meal. (Pretend calories don’t exist.)
This is so hard for me!  I still think I'd say a good vegetable meal: fried green tomatoes, FRESH red tomatoes, sauteed squash, black eyed peas, green beans, okra, corn bread...maybe corn pudding.  Then blueberry pie and ice cream for dessert. 
 
9. Do you have a hero? If so, who is it?
A hero!?  hmmm, I've never really thought about a hero in those terms.  I have plenty of people that I respect, but I don't really know that I could say I have a hero.

10. Why do you blog?
I started blogging back in 2005.  WOW!  TEN YEARS!  I think I started because I liked reading the other blogs that were out there and I enjoyed cooking.  So, I thought I'd add a little hobby.  I has also been a way to try new recipes.  At that time, I think I wouldn't really have tried new things.  Now, I still try new things despite having less time to blog.  I have considered not blogging but it's still fun to share what I've been doing with other people.  So, even though I am much more random and sporadic at blogging, I will keep blogging.  I mean, who wouldn't want to share baking experiences with such a cute sous chef as I have...and a new sidekick coming soon!?

Read more at http://www.mississippiwomenbloggers.com/#ob2WdX6XT0PP2fLB.99

Vegetable Soup He Liked

It appears cool weather is trying to make a go at staying here in Mississippi.  For a good vegetable soup recipe that cooks in the crockpot...and that David even liked!...visit the Mississippi Women Bloggers site. I was the featured blogger today for Foodie Friday.  :-)

Getting to Know You (#2)...Oops!

"Getting to know you, getting to know all about you"  Such a fun song from a great musical!  Well, the MS Women Bloggers are doing a "Getting to Know You" series.  Apparently, I missed the first one.  I am not going to let that happen again! So, without further ado...get to know me!

1.  What is your favorite thing to do in your hometown?
Hmmm...that's a tough one.  In high school I probably would have said go to football games.  Currently, the thing I do most often is go to church.  We don't live there anymore but make the drive to go to church every Wednesday and Sunday.  Would LOVE to move back SOON...and join in the fun events Clinton is having now like movies on the Old Towne brick streets, Summer farmer's markets, and brick streets festivals.


2. What is the best vacation spot in Mississippi?
Another toughie!  I haven't really done any of the tourist stuff in MS.  Is it bad that I've never been to Natchez?  YIKES!


3. Tell us about the most fun date night idea in Mississippi.
Y'all...I need some help here!  When I was dating my awesome hubby, we also had to take into consideration a toddler as he was a single Daddy.  So, we didn't get many date nights (and still don't!).  Our first date (though we didn't realize it at the time) was to the MS state fair...and I must say it is a fun date night!  I hadn't been to the State Fair in about ten years (as I told David MANY times before he finally invited me to join him and K that year!) but I think that it is going to definitely become a yearly thing for us.
Another good one - pumpkin patch!


4.  What is one fun fact that very few people know about you?
I have an essay that was published in a book...and I even held a book signing at Le Muria!  Ok, so only my family and close friends came but still...I had a book signing!


5.  Who is your favorite sports team (if you have one) and how did it start?
Chicago Cubs!  It all started during the home run race between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire (yikes...both apparently did steroids!).  I was a bit tired of the Braves and the Cubs were frequently on TV due to WGN.  I have continued to love the Cubs through a few good year of regular season followed by AWFUL post season...into the last few years of horridness (I know...I made up that word!).  But y'all...one year it will be their year.  I have to hold on to that!  Plus...Wrigley Field is AWESOME!  Being a fan of the Cubs also came in handy when David and I were "talking."  He says it gave him something to text me about...it also gave him a way out of a little bit of an awkward situation (though VERY sweet comment) before we started dating (or even acknowledged that there was something going on between us).  :-)


6.  What are your top three “Best Eats” in Mississippi?
1. Walker's Drive-in (Got engaged here!)
2.  Julep Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict (had our first breakfast as married couple here after we missed the already paid for brunch at Fairfield Inn by like 15 seconds...grrr)
3.  A home grown MS tomato!

7.  Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Well, likely still in MS (unless we decide to go closer to our families in AL/TN)...but most likely still here...hopefully back in my hometown.  I'd love to have more kids at that point and will probably still be working (I LOVE being a pediatrician!).  I would love to have been on a medical mission trip by that time, too.  Yikes, in 5 years, K will be 9.


8.  If you could choose an actress to play you in real life, who would you choose and why?
Hmmm...probably Ann Hathaway just became we are both pale and brunette!

9.  What is a southern tradition you and your family have? (Note: Get your guest posts on “Traditions” ready for December!)
Hmmm...this is a really hard one!  We haven't really been big on traditions in my family.  I guess the biggest one is everyone getting together at my parent's house for Thanksgiving.  They we have a set menu: Wednesday tacos, Thursday Thanksgiving meal, Friday gumbo.  It is the same every year and we love it!  That's why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday...family!  Now, I do want to start some traditions with my own family - like new pajamas on Christmas Eve. :-)

10.  List 5 things on your Bucket List you hope to do before you die.
1. Go on a mission trip with David.
2. Have more children - I'd love three but we shall she what God blesses us with!  K is ready...she is always asking when God is going to give us a baby.  :-)
3. Cook through a cookbook (I'm actually pretty close on this one...the recipes left are the ones I'm not so interested in!)
4. Beat my dad in a game of racquetball
5. Beat David at a trivia game.

BONUS: Not that I REALLY want to do this (or ever would be able to...or if it is even still in production) but I always thought it would be so much fun to be on supermarket sweep.  I mean, I would totallly rock at running around the store at the end throwing things into the buggy!  Anyone else?!

Now...what about you?!

Payday!

It's Friday!  That means something different for everyone.  For some people it's the last day of school, for some the last of work, for some the first of work.  Today...for me it means David comes home from a week of pediatric board review in Ann Arbor.  YAY!  For many people, especially here in the south it means Friday Night Football.  Then comes Saturday and Sunday...which for many people means tailgating...and tailgating means food!  Add food to football and friends...then a win...PAYDAY (oh, by the way...that's what Friday means to some people too!).  I haven't really been part of a family that tailgates but if I was, I think I'd make this dessert for tailgating.

It's called Payday Bars because it is similar to the Payday candy bars.  YUM!  This isn't really a dessert that David would go for (I just made him one that I'll tell you about later...it's actually good...and chocolate!) but he would probably want to take beef rotel to tailgating anyway.

 Check out other tailgating ideas with the MS Women Bloggers!

Payday Bars
1 yellow cake mix
1 egg
1 stick melted butter
3 cups mini-marshmallows
1 bag peanut butter chips
1/2 stick butter (1/4 cup)
3 cups rice krispies
3 cups (could totally use less) salted peanuts

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix cake mix, egg, and melted butter.  Press into 13x9 pan, put pan in oven and bake for 15 minutes.  Press the marshmallows on top of the hot cake.  Melt peanut butter chips and butter.  Then stir in the rice krispies.  Press on top of the marshmallows.  Then top with peanuts and press into the krispie mixture.  Allow to cool.  Enjoy!

For beef rotel, simply brown 1 pound ground beef (or turkey or chicken or sausage).  Meanwhile, make a batch of regular rotel (1 pound velveeta and a can of rotel tomatoes melted and stirred together).  Drain meat and stir into cheese mixture.

Cooking by Letter!

There is a new online "gathering" of bloggers that recently started - specifically for MS women bloggers.  Each month a different blogger is "featured," there is a wordless Wednesday submission, and a "Foodie Fridays" feature.  This week, I am the writer for Foodie Fridays.  If you want to see what K and I have been up to recently, check it our here!  We have 25 more letters to go...as we missed A and B.  ;-)