Do I Dare???

Well, I haven't blogged in over a year and I feel a little foolish picking it up again after so long.  I thought about scrapping this one and starting anew, but I'm too lazy for that.  So, here you have it.  Aramie's blog.  What's new with me, you ask?  Well, let's see........nothing.   Things are pretty much just as they were when I posted the recipe for corn souffle.  It is still the best, by the way.  Let's see....my mom is coming tomorrow.  So that's new.  She is going to stay with Kacey for a few days while Matt & I are in Lubbock for a National Guard thing.  We are both looking forward to a weekend get-away, although he will still be working.  My mom will be here for a week.  Where will I take her while she's here?  We could go to....oh, I forgot.  We don't have that here.  Well, there's always.....um no.  That's not here either.  I guess we will hit the Wal-Mart and if we're feeling really crazy we may stop at Pay Less Shoes for the BOGO sale.  What's cooler than matching mom/daughter shoes?

Corn casserole (or corn souffle, if you're the pretentious sort)

I haven't posted in 2 months, and then when I finally think of something to post it's another recipe. Oh well, I forgive myself because this is a great one. Sometimes I think that corn casserole is the only weapon I have in my arsenal against the pickiest eater in the world. Matt loves almost everything I make, but Kacey has threatened to run away over having to eat disgusting things like chicken enchilada soup or potatoes cooked any way other than mashed. Can you blame her?
One thing that Kacey does love is corn. I don't think I know anyone who doesn't love corn, and this is Kacey's favorite way to eat it. I make it every few weeks just to keep the peace. Here's what you need:
1 stick of butter
2 eggs
1 (8.5 oz) package corn muffin mix (Jiffy)
1 (15 oz) can whole kernel sweet corn
1 (14.75 oz) can cream style corn
1 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 9x9" casserole. Combine all ingredients and pour into dish. Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Yes, that's my sexy man holding the delicious fried chicken I made for dinner last night. Ok, not really. The man in this stock photo would really be jealous of my even sexier husband, and if that were my fried chicken it would be in one of the disposable lunch meat containers I use when we have extra special company. Anyway, this is truly excellent chicken. Here's my recipe:

1 pint buttermilk
2 Tbsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 cups self-rising flour
3 eggs
chicken pieces
vegetable oil for frying

Combine buttermilk, salt & pepper in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Add chicken pieces & refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
Heat oil in a deep skillet on medium-high heat. Dip chicken in egg, then dredge in flour. Fry until golden brown.

My Bitter Disappointment

Dearest Michael,

I have loved you since I was 11 years old when my mom and I would drive to San Diego listening to her Soul Provider cassette tape. For 22 years I have dreamed of the moment when we would meet in person and you would tell me how I have been your muse; the inspiration behind the saxophone solos and passion-filled ballads. You cannot imagine my bliss when I read that you were going to do a show in San Antonio this upcoming Monday! I begged my husband to buy me a ticket so that I could make both of our dreams come true. He laughed, shook his head incredulously and logged on to Ticketmaster.com. I blew it off. He doesn't understand our cosmic connection to one another. Once my ticket was bought & paid for I patiently waited for the day of the show to come. Now imagine my sense of betrayal upon learning that the concert has been cancelled because I was the only one who bought a ticket to see you. I used to think that I was all you needed, but now I see that the almighty dollar reigns supreme in your life. It's over, Michael. How can we be lovers if we can't be friends, you ask? I'm sorry Michael, but my reply must be this; I said I love you... but I lied.

The Chicken Painting

This painting is actually titled "I Would Gather Thee" and the artist is Liz Lemon Swindle. Most of you have probably heard of her; she is a well-known LDS painter. I can't really say why this painting grabbed me, but I had never seen anything by Swindle in which a person wasn't the primary subject. This piece is from her series titled "The Parables of Jesus."
I spent a week with my sister in Mesa earlier this month & I always enjoy visiting Deseret Book & Seagull Books when I am there. When you live in the middle of nowhere (and I always seem to live in the middle of nowhere) it is fun to peruse the LDS book stores in search of resources for a church calling, gospel centered books and music, or inspirational art. Imagine my bliss when I spotted this painting in Deseret! The icing on the cake was an incredible frame. My dad was also down visiting my sister, and he bought it for me. When I showed it to him, he laughed and said "It's just a picture of a chicken!" I told him that beauty is in the eye of the beholder =) I love my dad so much, and I love my chicken picture too. Thanks, Daddy.

The Greatest Stain Remover Ever

I seem to be experiencing a very long bout of writers block. I think it's been 6 or 7 years now. Until I am over it I thought I would share with you my favorite stain remover. It's called Fels-Naptha laundry soap. Our local Wal-Mart carries it in the laundry aisle for 97 cents a bar. So far I haven't found any stain that it can't get out. It is color safe, so no worries there. I just run one corner of the bar under the tap, then rub it directly onto the stain. It is ok if you are not planning to wash the garment right away- I just throw it into the hamper & wash it when I need to. Works like a charm every time.

Harry Potter is my hero.

I am really looking forward to seeing the last Harry Potter movie. My best buddy Kim's kids have the Harry Potter legos, and her 4-year old daughter brought her the Harry Potter lego figure and said "Look mom, it's Aramie!" I can see that. The short hair. The glasses. The cape. Just kidding.