Cuban Sandwiches In The Midst Of Snowmageddon

I woke this morning with the knowledge that today would be a definite stay at home day. Snowmageddon had been forecasted for us already. I had planned all weekend long to make a recipe from my Cook's Country magazine (Dec/Jan 16). So once my husband left for work in the early afternoon I broke out the frying pan and got busy.

The entire recipe is extremely easy. Easier than I would have thought. Of course, I am finding the more I venture in to home cooking that a lot of dishes are a lot easier than I had thought them to be. Of course, since I am somewhat forced to be inbound I had to make some adjustments to the recipe.

It turns out the only struggle I had was getting a juice to thicken in to a syrup. The original recipe called for orange juice. I did not have any, but after a brief google search I read that really any juice will do. I'm not sure if this was fictional or if I was just cooking it wrong. I tried two different juices and neither of them really ever turned in to syrup. One of them I left on the stove for approximately 15 minutes and even turned it up to a high temperature.

The sauce ended up being a little more runny than I would have liked. Again, I'm not sure if it's because I was cooking the juice wrong or if I truly just needed actual orange juice for it. I didn't have any buns, so I enjoyed without any bread. The end result was very delicious.

I am including the recipe with my changes to it.

4 boneless pork cutlets
1 tablespoon peanut oil (changed from original recipe)
3/4 cup mango orange naked juice (also tried mango white grape juice)
1/2 cup dill pickle chips, patted dry and chopped
2 tblspn yellow mustard
4 thin slices of ham
shredded mozzarella cheese

1. I trimmed and patted the cutlets dry and added salt/pepper to them. Then, I heated oil in a skillet over medium high heat and cooked the cutlets on both sides until they were cooked all the way through. There was a nice golden brown color to them. (The original recipe said about two minutes on each side, but my cuts were a little thicker so I just adjusted until they were cooked all the way through) I placed on a plate and set in the microwave.

2. Then, I added my juice to the empty skillet and cooked over medium-high heat. This is where it was supposed to become syrupy after about 5 minutes, but it never did with either juice. Separately, in a bowl I stirred together the pickles and mustard. (The original recipe said to add salt and pepper to taste. I did not since I had already added both to the actual meat) I then stirred the juice together with the mustard relish.

3. Since I did not use buns I placed the pork down first. I added the shredded mozzarella cheese. Then placed a slice of ham on top. I had not preheated the ham, so I put the plate in the microwave for about 30 sec, then placed the mustard relish on top.

All in all this was not a difficult recipe and it had a pretty tasty end result as well. Hope the hubby likes it as much as I did.

Reflection Moment

It was one year ago to the day that I was released from my employment at Kohl's. The summer leading up to that moment was one of the worst periods of my life. I was depressed and lost. It seemed that no matter what I did I was constantly doing the wrong thing. So as all bad stories get worse, I made poor decisions. Poor decisions that led me to being walked out of the door. I'm sure ultimately the ending would have been the same, but it could have been me walking out of the door with my head held high instead of low in shame.

There are many thoughts that go through my head about this. The final nail in my coffin was a fabrication of the worst kind, but I opened up the door to the fabrication with my poor decisions. I loved working for Kohl's. The company has great values that I can easily support and uphold.

However, as in life there are always some bad apples mixed in with the good. It is this week that I want to set aside my self-worth that holds me accountable for my actions. I want to rant and shake my fist at the evil-doers that took advantage of a weak moment. I want to put all the blame on them. I want to hate them. I want to hold their heads in a dirty toilet bowl and give them a swirly.

But alas, I cannot! You see, I know that God used this moment in my life to humble me. He humbled me to bring me back to where I should have always been. I had chosen to veer away from Him. For once in my life I was not completely reliant upon Him. I had a husband, a home, a nice job, good money. I was very "comfortable". I allowed the comfort to sway me in to thinking I could do it my way and be happy. I was too! I was very happy. By societies definitions and standards, I had everything that should bring happiness. Yet I didn't. I had walked away from my one true love. Jesus!

I have always believed in God and lived a "good" life, but I know now that I was never truly sold out. I was a tree without any roots. I just let the wind blow me wherever it went. I had a temper. I was tactless in how I approached people with my thoughts and opinions. I was rude and arrogant, all while assuming I was the most humble creature God had ever created. I laugh even now as I type this because I realize that I am still all of those things. I know that God has done some work on me because I have grown slower to speak, I try to listen more than talk, I try to do that listening to gain a full understanding before my temper is allowed to reign. I'm not perfect by any means, but I can definitely see a difference in my life from last year to today. God has created a miracle in me.

So it is with a different heart that I can honestly say that I forgive not just those that did me wrong in the role of ending my employment, but myself as well. Mistakes happen. So here I write a list of things I've taken away from my lesson with God.

1. Forgive yourself. I write this one first because I think this is the hardest thing ever to do.
2. Forgive others that are involved. I freely admit that there have been times when I have thought that I cannot wait to see the retribution that comes for those that do me wrong. God has been whispering in my ear that sometimes wrong things happen just because, like myself, people make mistakes. So instead, I pray for those who have done wrong to me. (sometimes while picturing their head in the toilet... I know! But I am human after all)
3. Review the situation. What could you have done differently? Don't rely upon someone else to change the circumstances or prevent it from happening again. Only you can do that.
4. Happiness doesn't equal joy. I have less money and less comfort. Yet, my weight and blood pressure are both down compared to this time last year. I find myself laughing more. I'm not so easily offended. True joy is slowly working its way in to my life.
5. Be friendly to everyone! I have a hard time with this one. I can be very "judgy" at times. A result of my forever changing family dynamic growing up I'm sure. I've sincerely tried to look past the immediate faults that pop in to my head and be friendly to everyone. It's amazing how many friends I have now.
6. Talk to God. He has the best wisdom anyone could ever ask for. He just wants to talk to us.
7. Most importantly, be thankful. I am thankful for family, friends, a roof over my head, a boss that is a little too much like myself, all the crazy animals sharing the same roof as me. I am also thankful for all the disappointments life has brought me. They have made me stronger, tougher and a better person!

MOB Readings: The Art Of Racing In The Rain

I just finished reading The Art Of Racing In The Rain. It was an excellent (not to mention easy) read. I have not read a fictional book in some time, so this was a good break for me.

You will definitely enjoy reading this book if you love dogs. The premise of the book is family life from a dog's perspective. For clarification, I do not believe that dogs have souls or are actually able to think in this way. The author is able to take the things that dogs do and "humanize" those events and does so in a very believable manner.

The end of the book is completely predictable. It is impossible to not know how it is going to end when you read the first chapter, but the author keeps you completely entertained throughout the book.

If I had to complain at all about the book, it would be about all the racing references. I will admit by the end of the book they were growing on me. Of course, the title of the book would be completely useless if it didn't have the references.

What Will My Attitude Say About Me?

I have struggled the last couple of weeks to keep a good attitude. It seems that there are days that I am surrounded by negativity. It is hard when you are so busy that the only time you have to stop, reflect and make changes is when you should be sleeping.

Here you are surrounded by the negativity of friends, family, coworkers and of course your own. Sometimes it seems like negativity is an ocean and you are in it without any type of flotation device. By the end of this last week I had already been sinking for a few days. It was too the point where you start to panic because you have run out of air in your lungs, but you can't take a breath. I was panicking and allowing my emotions to dictate my actions.

On Thursday, one of the ladies from church asked me to read a poem when she was speaking that night. Her topic was about attitude. I had read the poem shortly before she stood up to speak. However, when she gave me the nod to read my poem I struggled to keep the emotion from my voice. I was convicted.

The poem spoke of having the right attitude not just in word, but in action as well. The main point by the end of the poem is at the end of the day will I hold my head high or hang it in shame as a result of my words and actions. I cannot honestly say that I can do this. I will typically admit when I am wrong and apologize, but how many apologies are allowed before it's just words?

I know as I continue to grow in to the role that God has placed before me (whatever it may be) that I will need to more readily guard my heart, mind and tongue. So today, I picked up a book I have owned for several years and have even started reading a couple of times. The Front Row by Gwyn Oakes.

The very first chapter, Sis. Oakes tells us what she is going to talk about. However, can you guess what the majority of her book will probably deal with? It is very apparent that it will deal with attitude. It would have to since being a leader requires us to be servants. A servant does their work and does not show their attitude. A good servant does their work with a thankful heart and willing spirit. I want to share with you a writing that Gwyn shares in her book from a German philosopher.

I have come to the frightening conclusion

That I am the decisive element.

It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

I possess tremendous power to make life

miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture

Or an instrument of inspiration.

I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.

In all situations, it is my response that decides

Whether a crisis will be exalted or de-escalated,

And a person humanized or dehumanized.

If we treat people as they are, we make them worse.

If we treat people as they ought to be,

We help them become what they are 

capable of becoming.

~ Goethe

Dear Lord I need to keep this close to my heart and remember that I am required to treat others as what they can be and not as what they are. I have had many people influence my life in a positive way. Where would I be if they had treated me as I deserved?

Feminism: A Conservative Look

I have two questions for you. What would you tell me if I asked you explain to me what feminism is? Would you give the same response I feel all over in my body when I hear the word? I have this tenseness in my body that comes over me and I immediately to think of women who hate men and would do anything to rid the world of the hated man species.

This semester I needed to take a class that would fulfill the Interdisciplinary portion of my required credits. Since I am taking my classes on line I had two options. American Indian Studies or Women Studies. My first reaction was that I would take the American Indian Studies class because I could at least swallow most of the things discussed in forums and our required readings. However, there was something that was calling to me from the Women's Studies. As I get older, I understand that in order to truly be able to refute what someone believes I need to understand where they are coming from. So I signed up for this class.

The first assignment was an overview of exactly my first question. The perception that feminism has. Of course, feminism much like religion, has received somewhat of a bad rap because of those who would take something further than necessary. If it hadn't been for women to stand up I would live in a completely different society. I would never be able to voice my opinion in a public forum, I wouldn't be able to excel to a higher education, own my own property or vote for who I want to see in office.

These are rights that seem like they are rights that have been allowed to women for a long time. It only makes sense right? But if you take a look back in just the one hundred years of our history really we have only just begun to earn these privileges. Privileges that are now available to us because of matriarchs of feminism that forged a path to equality for all of us.

Are there some "feminist" who are out there who overshadow the good that has been done? Absolutely! Otherwise, we wouldn't forget about the good that feminism has done for us. It's always concerning to a conservative to think of themselves as a feminist. Some of the biggest debates that feminism is currently involved directly conflict with what a conservative such as myself believes. For instance, I believe marriage is for one man and one woman. I also believe that abortion is killing a life regardless of what stage of pregnancy a woman is in. These are two major issues that the feminist movement lobby and fight for. At this time it is the week for local and state elections. These two issues are highlighted in ads, commercials and debates.

However, after reading quite a bit of the literature I do believe there is good that feminism has done for women as a whole. I also believe that there is still a place for feminism for today's society. After all, I believe that the true purpose of feminism is to promote equality.

So, my second question to you is what wouldn't you have today if it hadn't been for feminism?

Date Night

We received tickets to preview a new movie before it was released. This time it was Nightcrawler. I am a huge fan of the main star Jake Gyllenhaal. Any movie we have seen him in he does well, though I feel he has been typecast in to the more intense serious roles.

The movie seemed to be really long. There were points when I felt I was losing interest, but then it would come back around again. Thinking about it now, it must have been a little longer than usual since the movie started right at seven and we did not get home until about 9:30.

The story line is different than the typical movie we see coming out lately. The end was definitely different and weird, but it fit the rest of the movie. It was interesting to see the main character evolve throughout the movie. I would say the best part in the movie is when the main character is running away from having filmed a crime scene he is yelling at his "employee" about how he needs to focus on improving himself and taking initiative. There were several parts throughout the movie when the main character would talk to his "employee" and I thought this man has been a manager sometime in his life. He really sold his position.

I would not say that I was completely pleased with Renee Russo's part in the movie. I couldn't tell if she was playing the part well or just a bad actress. I almost feel Nichole Kidman would have been a better fit for that role. Bill Paxton I was surprised to see really only had a small part in the movie.

Overall, I was pleased with the movie. Probably not something I would have gone to the theaters to pay to see, but would have definitely rented it at some point. Again, a big thank you to Marcus Theaters for the opportunity to come in, watch a free movie and be given some quality time with my husband.

Dinner & A Movie

Last week I received an email from Marcus Theater  Movie Rewards offering me two tickets to watch John Wick. It's free right? So why not? My husband agreed, we picked up the tickets and waited for the time. So quit the chit chat and say if it's a good movie or not right?

First, I will say we went out for dinner. We almost did not make it to the movie after. I was not feeling well after eating. My husband drove around a little bit with the window down and things got better. Once there, we stood in line for awhile. I was pretty impressed with the line of people that were already there waiting. The irritating part of all of this was listening to people (including my husband) complain how they were not allowing a cell phones in the theater. Really people? It tells you this right in the email. I strive to understand why you would HAVE to have your cell phone in a movie theater anyway. Sit back and relax. You are at the theater watching a movie for free. Ok, rant over!

On with the movie review. I thought it was pretty good. Without completely spoiling it, I will say that there is a scene near the start of the movie that made me heart sick. However, the rest of the movie was action packed with a little bit of humor mixed in with it. Keanu Reeves did a great job playing this part. My husband did not like it as much, but was not able to articulate why he did not like it. It is okay, I will donate a thumb to give two thumbs up from our family.

#JohnWick