IT'S HERE!!!! IT'S HERE!!!!

Yes, FRIDAY IS HERE......
I don't know why I am doing mental cartwheels and make-believe jumping jacks just because Friday is here.   Because I know all too well that my weekend is already burdened with an almost impossible to-do list that must be completed by the time the clock strikes 4:45 am Monday morning......

WORDS TO LIVE BY!!!!

So, for the moment, I am going to forget completely about all of that and focus on the weekend plans that will take the edge off that ridiculous to-do list....

 So.....TO-DO-LISTS should be abolished!!! 

*My sister and I are going with a bunch of other groupies to see a singer that we really like at a comfy and fun little local pub.  Music and martinis can cure lots of things. 
*My spirited gal pals and our lucky-to-have-us husbands are going to a much-buzzed-about  new restaurant that we have waited quite some time to get into.  This particular restaurant opened in the old Georgetown restaurant where Carmen and I had many dressed-up date nights in the early days of dating and marriage...oh so many years ago.  So, I'm super excited to see the transformation....I hear it's spectacular!  And, we are huge fans of the chef since she is also very involved in the creative menu and cooking at a wonderful little place in my neighborhood where we go quite often.  Good friends+Good food+Good wine+ A view of our GRAND city=HAPPY.  
*My forever friend and I will be attending the 3rd installment of our Thanksgiving cooking technique classes....it's our annual November tradition.  Old friends and traditions are the best.


Sometimes all I need is a reminder that even though it feels like it's all work and no play.....I really do play. 

Hello Friday......

Fashionably late......

If I am going to be late.....I might as well do it fashionably so.....

An Autumn Visit to North Market....what a Judi place!

Autumn is flying by.....the world is already knee deep in the Christmas holiday season.
Everywhere I look, it's Christmas.
What happened to that other holiday.....Thanksgiving?
I'm still trying to get ready for THAT ONE!!! 
I'm trying super hard to get out and organize my Thanksgiving china (thank God I found it hidden in a place where I put in a fit of being organized last year!) and linens (where in the hell is my new Thanksgiving table cloth???), make sure we have enough comfy places for our visitors to sleep (are air mattresses tacky? I ordered the ones that have the highest rankings on Amazon for pete's sake!) and figure out when the hell I am going to get everything done. 
And, I am majorly consumed by Pinterest's tablescaping ideas.   (which might explain why I'm not getting all the things done I should be getting done each night!)
I can't even think about Christmas until I can at least set a few Thanksgiving-inspired tables!
And, then, there's the food.
The way I figure it, I have to be prepared for several meals for guests other than the regular Thanksgiving meal.
Breakfasts, lunches and at least 2 other dinners.
So, excuse me if I'm still firmly planted in Autumn.  

Baked Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast

This easy, easy recipe was hi-jacked from a friend who served this last year at a Fall brunch that she hosted. So, let me assure you that it's been taste tested and deemed worthy from men, women and children!  And, it has the most amazing cream cheese filling. Prep the night before and bake right before serving. Oh yeah......

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (12-count) package King'sHawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls, cubed
For the crumb topping
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
For the cream cheese filling
• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 

• Beat cream cheese, sugar and cinnamon on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes; set aside.
• In a  bowl, whisk together milk, pumpkin puree, eggs, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla.
• Lightly coat an 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Place a layer of bread cubes evenly into the baking dish. Pour half of the pumpkin puree mixture evenly over the top. Spread cream cheese filling in an even layer. Top with remaining bread cubes and pumpkin puree mixture to completely cover the filling.
• Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the crumb topping, combine flour, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add cold butter and toss to coat, using your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the bread cubes.
• Place into oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Serve immediately, sprinkled with pecans and confectioners' sugar--if you want...I suggest you want! 

 Oh yeah....and I also hi-jacked this recipe from my friend too.....yes, it's super yummy and a great brunch beverage....it goes super great with the Pumpkin French Toast! 

 

Apple Pie Moonshine Cocktail

Makes 8 drinks

Ingredients:

• 8 oz apple pie moonshine (available at liquor stores)
• 8 oz apple juice
• Cinnamon simple syrup (recipe follow)
• 2 fresh squeezed lemons
• apple slices, to garnish
• cinnamon sticks, to garnish

Cinnamon Simple Syrup:

• 4 cup water
• 4 cup granulated sugar
• 4 cinnamon sticks

Directions:

In a large pitcher with lip or large cocktail shaker, combine apple pie moonshine, apple juice, cinnamon simple syrup, and lemon juice.  Fill shaker 2/3 full of ice.  Stir for 10-15 seconds to chill drink.  Strain ice.  Serve cocktail with new ice.  Garnish with sliced apples and cinnamon sticks.

Cinnamon Simple Syrup: In a medium sauce pot, add water, sugar, and cinnamon sticks.  Set over medium heat and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Cover pot and let mixture steep for 30 minutes.  Strain out cinnamon sticks.  Allow cinnamon simple syrup to cool to room temperature.  Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge until ready to use.  Keeps in the fridge for 2 weeks.

Did YOU gain a few pounds?

Now, who in the hell asks that question?
If  you guessed my 94 year old weight-watcher father asks that question, you would be correct. 
If you have been reading my blog since day one, you already know that my Lap band and my weight has been one of my father's favorite spectator sports.  He loves to ask about it, talk about it and tell everyone all about it.  Sometimes, I think it gives him something to live for....
So, perhaps I'm keeping him humming along.  Me and my never ending battle of the bulge has kept him on alert and interested in living.   Considering I may be single--handedly responsible for his longevity, you would think he would cut me a break......
Well, friends, I can double guarantee you, it ain't going to happen. 
He's tougher than a scale.  And, that's no lie.  He puts you face-to-face with the truth...along with that look of parental disappointment....
And, he's also much more aware than the common guy on the street.
He sees extra weight through sweaters and coats....with his 94 year old xray Dad eyes.....

Maybe he bought these from the back of my 70's TEEN magazine....

Yes, I have gained some weight. 
Leave it to a parent to keep us honest. 
You heard it here folks.....Judi is dealing with a weight gain.  
No need to wait for my father to give you the news.

DID YOU HEAR?  Judi gained weight!  Judi gained weight!  Get the news here! 

 
It's teetering on about a  20 pound weight gain and it's squarely placed in that one place that I inherited from my father.....my stomach (and some of the surrounding areas....).   Thank you Daddy. 
Somedays it's 17 pounds, other days it's 18 pounds and other days it's 21 pounds.
So, we are going with 20. 
When your body is fickle, it's best not to commit to any one number because the next day you will be proven wrong. 
So, I will  pose the same question that my father asked me last night....

WHAT HAPPENED?

 First, we will go with the version I told my Dad....

Well, it's like this---I haven't been as religious as I should be about eating.  And, I have this thing that I thought was a corn on my toe--which is really a bad infection that is very very painful---that has made it hard to walk every day, let alone fully continue with my running program. 

That rendition is truthful.  But, its not the whole truth.  Even if I wanted to tell him the whole truth, he didn't give me a chance.  Once I said all of that, he went off on a lecture about my weight and how I don't want to get that fat again and  then badgered me with questions about my toe and the infection....which spiraled into him warning me that I might have to have it amputated.  Who wants to be a fat woman with an amputated toe?   The thought of it sent me directly to the freezer to get both of us some ice cream.  I knew that might be the only way to shut him up.....and give me a little taste of peace and pleasure....

Now, for what's really going on......

It's tough, friends.   Really tough.  Maintaining a weight loss on a body built for obesity gets harder and harder.  The Lap Band keeps it from spiraling into a 50 pound or a 60 pound or a 100 pound weight gain.  But, still.....20 pounds is NOTHING to take lightly....

It's just that  I am tireder than tired.  Overwhelmed.  Over stressed. Over scheduled.  And....if truth be told.....over it all.   At least that's the way I am feeling right now....

Keeping up with everything that needs kept up with is not an easy task.  It's beats me to the bone some days.  There are moments that I look around at what needs done....at work and at home and even in my very scheduled, demanding life and I can't even process it all.   

So, yes, I might eat mashed potatoes.  Or ice cream.  Or candy.  

I try to schedule in things like massages and trivia nights and martinis and girls nights out and visits with friends.... but even then.....when I am enjoying those little pleasures.....my mind is on what I am not doing and what I need to do.....and all the guilt and panic that comes with all of that!  

It's playing havoc with my band.  The stress is tightening it so much that eating a normal meal is not exactly without it's own brand of stress.  So, I eat other things....things that go directly through my beloved band....and they are NOT the best choices.  But, I figure....a girl has to eat.  

And, then, there's the other issues that not serving me well.....not planning daily lunches since I am so rushed all of the time....putting me at the mercy of the faculty dining room, eating late at night because that's when I finally have a chance, not drinking my morning protein shakes because it's so damn early and I am running so damn late....not to mention that every so often weeknight glass of wine.....oh....and a little cheese.  And, some crackers....

So, what am I going to do about it? 

 I know the answer.

You know the answer.  

Hell, even my dad knows the answer.  

 

.  

One day is not enough.........

To honor and thank all the men and women who sacrificed their lives and to their families who missed days and weeks and months and even years with those they love so that they can keep us safe and free.....

Remembering them all today and everyday!

Get your own damn bottle!!!

TO.DIE.FOR. 

Remember I told you that this weekend was all about PUMPKIN?
Yeah, well, I should have been a little more general.....it's all about squash. 
Pumpkin is a squash so it wasn't like I was lying or anything.
You see, I have given myself the weekend task of coming up with hearty vegetarian, Thanksgiving-worthy dishes.
Lucky for me, I remembered a very specific dinner party hosted by one of fabulous friends last fall where she made this absolutely amazing Butternut Squash lasagna roll up dish that everyone went ga-ga over.  Although pasta is not usually my friend (because of my Lap band and all), I do recall eating the yummy filling out of the roll up and being smitten by the butternut squash sauce so much so that I nearly licked that plate clean.
So, I called my fabulous friend and asked for her recipe.
She hesitated a bit.
Then, she said...."Okay, promise you won't judge me..."
"Um.  Okay.  I won't..."  I replied.    
"It is a jarred sauce I get on Amazon...."  she revealed.  "It's gourmet and all....you know!"  she said, trying to make it all seem legit....
"Well, I can do jarred sauces from Amazon...I know that recipe."  I laughed. 
"Yeah, but you've never used a jarred sauce in your life!"  she chirped.
"Ah, you would be surprised ...."  I told her.
Anyway....she gave me all the info on the jarred sauce and I immediately ordered my supply.
And...her recipe for the roll-up....."I don't know....just  GOOGLE lasagna roll ups with butternut squash..."  she said...
I just love my girlfriends.
So, I followed her instructions and GOOGLED 'lasagna roll ups with butternut squash' and what to my wondering eyes did appear?
THIS recipe from one of my all time favorite recipe bloggers.....The Proud Italian Cook. 
It was like the moon and starts aligned and I was living in OZ!

Buy this sauce.
Make these roll-ups.
You can thank me later.  

If it's FRIDAY......it must be FRIDAY!!!!!

Prolific....don't you think?

Friday has arrived in Judiland with a HUGE THUMP!
Now that it's  on my doorstep, I need to make the most of it.
Schedules have been a bit tospy turvy this past week and it's kept me in a constant of of
confusion.  But, with my typical make-lemonade-out-of-lemons-then-add-gin attitude,  I weathered the turmoil.
Thankfully!  Because it's just in time for a road trip......TO.....drum roll please.....the thriving metropolis of .Zanesville OH........population 25K.
Yes, blogfriends, my life is nothing if it's not exciting.
My reasons for this less than 24 hour trip are multiple....but, I won't bore you with the details of me needing to drive to meet my son the doctor  half way to  deliver a kegerator and a trunk full of Christmas decorations.....
Because, really, that's the boring part.
The not-so-boring part is that the 2 hour drive will be a nice, calm respite from the never-ending jockeying of schedules and demands of life in Judiland and then there's that promised dinner at a renowned seafood restaurant on the river with an early morning trip to an antique mall.
Yes, all in Zanesville, OH.
Perhaps you'll want to plan  your next exotic vacation there.....
 

Don't be jealous!!

HAPPY FRIDAY! 

Don't be fooled by RUNNERS!

It's NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS......!

I'm trying, I really, really, really am......

Clearly, I am not IN THE ZONE quite yet......
Because I want to give up more than I want to run.
There's always dishes to do, laundry to do, projects to tackle.....
And, geez, I am tired at the end of the day.
Some days I am tireder than tired.
And, my knees hurt.
And, my legs hurt.
And, I have this corn on my little toe that is ruining my life.
I watch runners effortlessly glide by me as I struggle to go that next 90 seconds.
They look so content and at peace.
I am so pained and at war with myself.
Sometimes I fight with my thoughts of failure.
Other times, I fight with my body of pain.
And, every day.....I fight with the idea of not doing it.
I'm trying not to give up.
Really, really trying......

If you know PUMPKIN like I know PUMPKIN.....

I send you my sympathies.......

My pumpkin lovin' is raging......
There's more than pumpkin pie, my friends......
Oh yes there is.....
My latest  Starbuck's swoon is something called Pumpkin Cream Frappe or PCL for short.
My forever friend innocently introduced us this past Sunday.
So far, I have indulged in.....yikes...... three....yes....1-2-3 of them.
Since SUNDAY!
It's good, good stuff. 
And, have you ever indulged in a Trader Joe's Pumpkin Ice Cream with Trader Joe's Pumpkin Carmel Sauce topped with  broken pieces of Trader Joe's Pumpkin Seed Brittle sundae?
If not.....you do not know what you are missing.
I insist that you go  straight to TJ's, pick up that stuff and come home immediately and whip one up.
You might want to eat it in the dark, behind closed doors.....just sayin.... 

Now, I am preparing for a weekend of pumpkin trials.  
I am going to try my hand at making pumpkin ravioli with a sage butter sauce.
And, then I'm going to experiment with a pumpkin parmesean sauce recipe that comes highly recommended and then on to a pumpkin sage polenta....
These trials are all in preparation for serving at least one hearty Vegetarian option for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.....for a special vegetarian who will be joining us.....!
Have no fear, I shall share the recipes that I deem sharable......   

Onward Fellow Pumpkin Lovers!  

Do not be ashamed of your lust!!!  

Speaking of LUST........

Decisions, decisions, decisions......

FRIEND OF A FRIEND:   I'm considering some kind of weight loss surgery in 2015.  I heard I should talk to you first.   
ME:  Sure, what do you want to know?
FRIEND OF A FRIEND:  I have about a thousand questions.  First, I have to decide if I really want to do it.  Second, I need to figure out what kind of surgery.  Third, I need to find the right surgeon who could do it.  
 

Okay, friends, let's back up a little here...... 
A few weeks ago, a friend asked me if I would be open to talking to her friend who was considering weight loss surgery.  Of course, I said yes.  First, she and I had the phone conversation that you see above.  Considering that she said she had a thousand questions, I thought it best that we meet up in person to talk.
A few evenings ago, this friend of a friend and I met at Starbucks to have our little chat.
Although I never met this friend of a friend and I had no idea what her story was, I was prepared to meet a woman who  was very overweight.  Yes, I was profiling....
How wrong I was!
Who I did meet was a 37 year old woman who clearly did not have a weight issue that could possibly need addressed with weight loss surgery.  She was definitely not 100 pounds overweight (which is the typical criteria that most surgeons use to first evaluate a patient's need).  
After a bit of small talk, I asked her...without judgement....why she was considering weight loss surgery.
Her answer was quite interesting....
She shared that she comes from a very long line of morbidly obese people.  She gave me a quick synopsis of the weight issues of her parents, her grand parents, her siblings, her cousins and on and on....complete with rattling off health histories, relationship issues and other assorted commentaries about the problems they face as morbidly obese people. 
"I can't be like them....."  she finally said. 
To be honest, I was a bit lost for words. 
Because, you know....I did get it. 
But, on the other hand, I was sitting there with a woman who clearly did not need weight loss surgery and who I truly believed would not be cleared to have the surgery by any self-respecting doctor. 
"Well, I am not sure what to say....."  I said, after gathering my thoughts.  "First...have you done any research on the criteria used by doctors to assess the needs of surgery candidates?"   I asked, hoping to initiate a conversation about the fact that she would probably NOT be considered a viable candidate. 
"Yes.  I know I don't fit  weight-wise.  But, I have all the other issues.  Family genes.  High blood pressure.  High cholesterol.  I have gained over 25 pounds in the past 10 years.   My knees hurt. I snore.  I have done every weight loss program on the planet and I still can't lose the weight.  My mind is constantly preoccupied by my weight which makes me depressed and unable to do normal things.  I can't exercise due to the discomfort  and I am out of breath from walking just a flight of steps...."  she said with a very strong sense of conviction.
She had just told me that she tried every weight loss program on the planet and couldn't lose the weight so of course, I wasn't going to ask about her weight loss efforts.  It seemed futile.
I wasn't quite sure where to go with the conversation so I shared my story with her in hopes of helping her to understand where I was coming from and perhaps to spark further conversation about her own situation.
"So, your life is changed due to your surgery?"  she asked.... her question clearly indicating that is what she got out of my story.
"It was the tool that helped me tremendously, yes.  But, I have to tell you honestly that it's not a magic bullet.  I had to work at it every day and I still have to do the work everyday to maintain it.  It is a tool,"   I told her with my own strong sense of conviction.
"Then, maybe a Lap Band isn't for me.  Maybe I need bypass or the sleeve..." she said, seemingly thinking out loud....
"I am sure that they are also tools that can be helpful."  I told her. "How much weight do you want to lose?"  I asked, hoping to spur a more concrete discussion.   
"It's not about really losing the weight.  I guess I want to lose the 25 pounds I gained.  But, I need something to help me NOT TO BECOME MORBIDLY OBESE!"  once again, with conviction.
"Like Angelina Jolie.  She had a mastectomy because she had the gene for breast cancer.  I have the gene for obesity.  I want to stop it while I can.  Before it gets so bad that I can't!"  she shared. 
Again, I wasn't sure where to go with the conversation.  I didn't want to draw the comparisons between cancer and obesity because I do truly believe that obesity can be a life threatening disease just as cancer can be a life threatening disease. 
Here was this woman telling me she wanted to have 'preventative surgery and I was sitting there thinking "there's no way, this is crazy, I don't think weight loss surgery is for you......"
I never want to be that person who sits in judgement of another's decisions when they are working towards better health or a better life and I definitely don't want to be the person who is suspicious of their reasons for their choices........
"Well, I am not sure what at to say to that.  I just have some concerns about you being approved," I finally said. 
"Oh, I don't need insurance approval.  I would pay out of pocket or take a loan depending on how much I need.  I just don't want to go to Mexico but I guess if I had to....."   she reasoned. 
"It's not the insurance thing.  I don't think a doctor will do the surgery unless it's necessary.  You have to go through several evaluations leading up to the surgery. There's a consult with a nutritionist and there's a psych evaluation.   And, they do make you go on some kind of monitored weight loss program prior to approval.  It can be a lengthy and time consuming process..."  I explained. 
She shrugged her shoulders...."well, how will I know if I don't try...right?"  she asked. 
I nodded in a hesitant agreement and asked her if she needed any more information. 
"Yes.  What do you think about me getting this surgery?"  she asked with emphasis on what my personal opinion was. 
I could have given her more opinion than she ever wanted to hear.
But, I refrained.
Part of me was feeling a little frustrated that she didn't have the understanding that there are people like me who truly needed the surgery due to their current issues.  Part me wanted to explain that having weight loss surgery is a decision not to be treated casually and that is important surgery.  It is not cosmetic surgery!  And, I wanted her to know that Weight Loss Surgery is for people who were OBESE....not people who might become OBESE.  There were moments that what I heard her saying was "I just don't want to fat...."   but I was ashamed that I was feeling that way about another person after only one quick encounter and after she shared her story.  
What if everyone who didn't want to be fat decided to get weight loss surgery before they got fat.....?????  Imagine the waiting list!!!!!  The people who really needed  it would be bumped by the people who don't want to be fat!
My mind was swirling with these thoughts.....
Yet.....don't ask me why but I felt a responsibility to try to shake her into thinking about this a little more.  And, I wanted to do it without judgement and without being insensitive to what she believed to be her destiny without the surgery.
"Well, if you want my opinion.....I think that maybe you need to talk at length with your doctor and share everything you have told me about what options are best for you.  I'm not sure if I am the best person to ask since I was obese when I decided on the surgery..." I said, trying not to let my frustration show....
"It's a hard decision, you know.  But, I wonder if you would have had the surgery before you got obese....."   she mused.
Funny thing, I wanted to throw my Chai Latte on her.
And, you know....I never want to waste my Chai Latte......
 

READY OR NOT.......

Here they come.......
It happens every year.....the calendar tells us that it's time.  We stare wide-eyed at the calendar and all of a sudden, there's that familiar rush of panic.
It's called NOVEMBER.....

Considering we've been together here for the past 7 Novembers, you know what this means in Judiland.   It's all about Judi going a little bit bonkers, cooking up a storm, foofing and fussing and decorating with wreckless abandon, entertaining, cleaning, cooking some more, getting beds ready for guests and doing the traditional moaning and groaning while trying to continue on with the day-to-day of what needs to happen in Judiland.  
Yeah, it's getting kinda old....don't you think?
Me think so too.
Do you ever read those magazine articles that map out a plan for you to elegantly and effortlessly glide through the prep with the outmost of ease?
Do you have a friend or a family member that's notoriously ready for every holiday weeks ahead of time...without a hair out of place?
Don't you hate that shit?
Me too. 
Well, you won't find any of that here.  I promise.  
What you will find is me making you feel pretty good about whatever corner you have got yourself painted into this GET-READY SEASON.   Because..... I can double guarantee you that I'll be painted into my own corner with hair askew, mascara flaking and hands shaking....
You will not be alone in any predicament you get yourself into...whether it's being buried under mountains of laundry or trying to squeeze a turkey into an already overflowing freezer or nursing a wine headache....I'll be with you all the way.  
So, keep coming back for that little dose of madness, that big helping of make-you-feel-better, maybe a few recipes and lots of whatever else I can share.....

Okay?


 Now, repeat after me.....

And, again.....

 

 Carry on.....

Another FOODIE JUDI lesson.......

Every so often, we go to a wonderful little bistro run by a dear friend and one of our favorite chefs.  
This man is beyond amazing on so many levels.
( I know I've talked about him before---telling you about the wonderful private dinners he has done for us each year.  And, perhaps I shared with you the tragedy of his young son's death and how devastated we all were by this sudden and unbelievable turn of events.)  
This man traveled the world...opening some of the finest restaurants from coast-to-coast in the US,  Europe, South America to the Caribbean and receiving accolades and awards everywhere he went.  He has a magic touch when it comes to food and a smile and kindness that brings everyone in.  Regardless of how hailed he was as a chef and how many offers of grandeur came his way, once he decided to settle down and have a family, he wanted to come home.  And, so he did.   He wanted to be surrounded by his big Italian family and raise his children amongst the many nieces and nephews he loved and to give his children the same feeling of comfort that he enjoyed growing up......
So, he returned to his home and opened an inconspicuous little place (with about four counter stools and about 3 tables) in our area and set out to introduce us all to truly fine dining in a humble little place in the basement of an office building.  He was a one-man shop--he did all the shopping, all the cooking, all the serving, all the clean-up...he did it all.  At first, things were slow.  But, as the word spread about this hidden little gem and this talented, personable chef, his tiny little place was standing-room only....giving him reason to find another place to do business.
While many people expected him to go much bigger, hire lots of staff and take himself out of the kitchen a little bit more, this was not his style.  So, he found himself an unassuming little place in a nondescrip strip mall with a bigger counter and several more tables, he hired a few wait staff and  then set out doing what he did best.....cook and serve people. 
 A few weekends ago, Carmen and I were in the mood for a lunch time visit to see our favorite chef and to have some of his amazing food.   He had just unveiled his Fall menu and we were anxious to try it out.   On a whim, I decided to check online for some reviews of the menu before we went so that I could have fun anticipating what I might order.  To my shock, the reviews were not good.  When I delved further into the reviews, I found that almost everyone raved about the food itself.  What they didn't like were that the prices seemed a little high for the portion size!
Okay.  I get it.  If people spend money on food--they want big portions.
That's what people want. They want lots of food for their money. 
YES, people will sacrifice top-notch food made from the freshest of ingredients by an amazing chef for sub-par food in a mass quantity for the same price....... 

How about--get better food but less of it?

 How many times have you heard yourself or someone else claim that a restaurant was amazing because they gave you so much food?
Hey, I know I have been guilty of that. 
My husband is super guilty of that.
My Lapband has taught me that quality over quantity is what matters.....
A meal doesn't have to be so enormous that it's falling off the plate to be considered good!
Right?
Yes, right.
When it comes to food, instead of  GO BIG OR GO HOME.....maybe it should be  
GO GOURMET OR GO HOME.....



Now, if I can just employ this rule when it comes to cooking in my own house, we'll be good.  

Hello NOVEMBER........

And, don't forget to set your clocks back too..........