So I found out recently that the boy has never before eaten shepherd’s pie.

Seriously.

It's one of those things that I never think about until it comes up... just how different our upbringings and "cultures" are, even though we are both born Canadian. We tend to take for granted the things we think of as a normal part of life, and how these are not necessarily “usual” for other people... now, I don't mean to get off on some philosophical tangent here, it is only shepherd’s pie we are talking about here... so carrying on...

The boy really has no complaints about my cooking, and I have made efforts to incorporate some of his mother's recipes into my meal planning, though I generally stick to the things I am comfortable making quickly for weeknight dinners. (the boy's parents are Filipino, my background is a bit of a European sampler, heavy on the British and German, with a little Scottish thrown in for kicks)

I try to keep everything from prep, to cooking, to serving under the 45 min mark during the week, just to simplify my life... as a result, there are quite a few comfort-type foods that I loved growing up, and can make, that it hasn't occurred to me to make for the boy, because I assumed he is aware of them, and would ask for it if he wanted it... I am learning that it is not so...

Last year it was meatloaf... we were out for dinner at a restaurant, and he decided to be "daring" and try something new - meatloaf. I laughed, and said "Seriously - you've never had meatloaf?"... I know I can make a mean meatloaf, but always thought of it as boring, and not something he would want... but I was wrong... you should see how happy he is when he sees that meatloaf is on the menu on any given week...

It makes me smile how easy this guy is to please sometimes!

Anyway, back to the shepherd's pie story...

So I promised to make it for him after he was watching a food network show on Irish pubs, and they were sampling the different fares and he was practically drooling on himself. I made it a little differently than most people would (much like my meatloaf), because I really don’t like beef or pork, so I used lean ground turkey instead. So I went about preparing everything… cooking the meat… getting the veggies ready… mashing the potatoes… assembling the layers and putting it in the oven. The whole time, I keep hearing these complaints from the living room that it smells great, but what is taking so long?

When everything is ready and we sit down to eat, he tries it and proclaims that it tastes great, but it takes too long… and that I didn’t need to bake it, since he had never had it before, I could have just prepared the separate components, and then piled it on a plate and he would have been happy. Happier still if it was in three separate piles.

* sigh *

That’s my husband for you… lol

I had a very lovely dinner with the girls tonight...

We went to a restaurant that Tina picked... down on Queen west... at Palmerston/Bathurst... that area... it was really quite delicious!

I had the chicken dish, which was wonderful, a nice glass of shiraz, all very nice... but the piece de resistance (sp??) was the dessert, let me tell you!  it was the only chocolate selection available, hence my choice... it was this really great mousse with a toasted marshmallow in the centre, this great wafer cookie on the side, and gold leafing on top of the mousse!  can I just say... divine!!

lol... and all very swanky I should add...  it's funny how excited I am about this food!!

I also ran into this guy I went to high school with... it was very funny... he was our bus boy... he was pouring some water in my glass, and did a double take at the same time as I... he was like "you look so familiar!" and I said "Is your name Theo???" and he said "Wow!  you went to Fellowes!" and I said "You were in my grade 12 drama class!!!"  it was great fun...

We did a little reminiscing as to which cliques we each hung out with... LOL... we had to explain to Peggy what a "beachburger" was... it was great... it turns out he's in Toronto because he wants to become an actor... I really hope he makes it!

Such a nice guy...

Anyway, dinner was great... then I walked back to Tina's place with her... I've asked her if she would like to step in for me as Maid of Honour, since my sister has gone M.I.A. in my life... and she was really excited... she's so fabulous!


I am really lucky to have the people in my life that I do... I really am lucky for so many things...  *sigh*


but it's getting late... I should get off to bed... very sleepy (despite the espresso still running through my veins)!

night night!!!

How am I ever going to fit into that bridesmaid dress if you won't stop spooning yourself down my throat...?!?!?!

Eating a crappy, crappy salad every day, avoiding the vending machine, and politely abstaining when the other girls in the office ask if you want anything when they head out to some greasy burger & fries place for lunch... it all means nothing if I can't peel my ass off the couch and go for a walk or jog around the lake instead of rolling over to the freezer...

I'm so tired every night from work... that was my excuse... that, and having my evil crimson "friend" start today (too much information? lol)...but I'll never have any energy at all if I don't smarten up... ugh...

This needs to stop... really...

I think I am developing an addiction to PC Oraganics' Stoned Wheat Crackers with Tofutti's "Better Than Cream Cheese" Herb and Garlic non-dairy spread... you should try it sometime...

*two thumbs up*

Molly found her new catnip and tore it open before I could put it in a glass jar... now she's rolling around on the carpet like a little furry crack head...

who needs tv?