Deer Camp Widow Cooking School

You better come home with a dead deer, because this sounds yummy. I always like fruit with wild game, and this recipe sounds so easy and good.



Venison Medallions with
Orange and Summer Berry Sauce


8-12 venison medallions

Sear in hot oil or a non-stick pan until rare. Season with cracked pepper and rest.


Ingredients:

4 shallots, chopped
1 teaspoon fine green ginger root, chopped
1 knob of butter
1 teaspoon red current jelly
2 nips port wine
1 orange (peel removed) and juiced
200ml venison stock (60ml glace devenison 140ml water)
OK to substitute low fat veal stock
Orange and Summer Berry Sauce

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon arrowroot mixed with sufficient water to make a slurry
1/2 pint blueberries or raspberries


In the pan that you have seared the meat, sauté the chopped shallots and ginger with the butter. When cooked, add red current jelly, port, orange zest and juice and reduce by half. Add the venison stock, reduce to desired flavor, add vinegar to adjust the sweetness of the sauce and thicken with arrowroot. Add the berries and heat through.

Warm meat in the oven to serving temperature. (About 3-4 minutes). Arrange on the sauce in a floral pattern, using parsnip for the center of the flower. Garnish with parsnip fries and a selection of seasonal vegetables.

If I Were Emma Peel......

I would show the French how it is done.

Good Wives

Well it appears we will all be busy watching television tomorrow. Hell On Heels will be featured in a Press Conference on Capitol Hill, on mil-blogging. Go Andi! I cannot think of a more determined or caring person for this mission. Please go over and wish her well, and tune in. The conference is EST 9:45am.


Another mil-blogger will also be on the television tomorrow. The One and Only (Founder of Valour IT) Chuck Z's wife Carren. Carren blogs by proxy when it is necessary. Chuck is currently undergoing and recovering procedures in Walter Reed. Carren will be on MSNBC at 12:30pm EST. She will be discussing Valour IT. So spread the word folks, and the links....the money is needed.


Also, go wish these women well, say a prayer tonight. They really are GREAT EXAMPLES of what strength and decorum are all about.

*Curtsey* Mr. Blackfive

Captain Caveman

3 days of Romance until Dear Husband retreats the the comfort of the woods.

It is deer season , and since Dear Husband was off hunting terrorists last deer season, he missed it. He has been looking forward to this deer season like no other. So he is packing and preparing nightly for the ritual. Although he did tell me yesturday, it "seems like it should be months away". Perhaps the 83 degree temperatures, are not exactly condusive to a yankee boys hunting instinct.

So go forward and enjoy the hunt, and the new deer lease, and the guys at deer camp, cooking like cavemen, and howling at the moon.


I will be a "deer camp widow" for a few days. Time to break out the chocolate, chick flicks, a nice bottle of wine, and some bubble bath.

Seems though I am not alone. There are more of us.

So Dear Husband, have fun, and enjoy.........

Oh, and that bear you saw 2 visits ago, shoot first and ask questions later.

Daily Grind

My husband has his paperwork from the VA, to start his dental work. ArmyWife hooah. He needs crowns on the entire lower jaw. $10,000 approx. in work. Seems as if he grinds his teeth a bit. When he was 21, and we married, he did not do this. The teeth grinding is either from me, or from "the man". I will let you the reader decide.

So now we have the paperwork, and cannot find any Dentist that wants to deal with the VA. So I will be spending most of the afternoon begging and pleading with Dental professionals.

We can lick gravity, but sometimes the paperwork is overwhelming.
Wernher von Braun
US (German-born) rocket engineer (1912 - 1977)

Bratz,Slutz,Whorz and Skankz oh my....

Christmas is fast approaching, only 47 shopping days left. Here at the Casa de Dust, we have bombarded with toy catalogues.

I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, than by purhasing a slutty looking doll for my child. Oh and don't tell me they are not slutz.




They have reproduced.

What in the World? Who are the parents buying these things?

Training Wheels

This post, made a bell go off.......

Shoes, boots.....I never used to understand it. Why women or friends of mine for that matter LOVED shoes....

I grew up in the VERY CENTER of the United States. Nebraska to be exact. A place where footwear should be utilitarian. You should be able to run from a tornado in your shoes, or be able to step in some sort of farm animal crap, without a second glance. Oh, and lets not forget how frightfully cold it is about half of the year. Frostbite is a sure possibility. One can not, negotiate their way through an icy main street wearing anything but the most "suitable" footwear. There are rules in the Midwest, many unspoken, but if a woman falls in utilitarian footwear, someone will help her back to her feet, without blinking---they will also be concerned about her state. "Are you ok?" If a woman wearing 4 inch heels, crashes or slides on the ice in a parking lot in the Midwest, the response would be chuckles, and eye rolling. They will help you up eventually, but after they help you up....That person is sure to make a comment. "What were you thinking wearing those shoes in this weather". Wearing heels in icy weather in the Midwest, is simply asking for trouble....


Well after having the babies. Things changed for me. Not only my waistline. My nails seemed dry and brittle, my hair darkened 4 shades, to almost black, my once gorgeous skin There is one part of my body that did not leave its mark of betrayal. My feet. They were still a perfect size 7 1/2. My arches were still high, and still soft. Oh my feet......


So I could no longer shop for clothes. I was not about to give in to my new size. Oh no, I was going to go down fighting. I could not try on tiny tops, and feel sexy and coy, because the weight was not sexy. I felt like I needed to Cover myself in a Caftan or mumu. The biggest sweatshirt in the closet, and a big pair of sweat pants.

I could however, go to the shoe department and try on the cutest, and strappiest of shoes. Shoes that were flirty, young, and thin. Pink mules with kitten heels, black patent pointed pumps. Boots that were sexy and tall, and black and leather.....

So I gave in and bought some boots and shoes. They MADE me turn the corner. Why? One cannot wear 4 inch heeled with sweatpants. It does look ridiculous. The shoes prodded me to buy myself, a cute silky brown blouse, and that denim at knee a-line skirt. The shoes and the boots pulled me together. One cannot ride on the back of the Harley in New Balance tennis shoes, you need heavy thick soled, leather boots. Boots that make me feel taller....And safe.

I never thought I would thank a pair of boots.

Saturday Night Live Fire

I managed to get out of cooking last night. I think Dear Husband thought I could use a break.....

The Lt. Col. had to stop by and see a friend.

So we took the fresh faced Ranger and Toddlers out for ribs.

After dinner, we head back to the house, so he can check his e-mail. In the darkness, on the Interstate. I have night-blindness, and they are both staring ahead.

This young man, who Dear Husband has known for years, starts telling us of his time in Iraq.....

We all stared ahead.

I had tears flooding my eyes, and just kept driving. Quiet tears. Quiet. Quiet.

Inside I was screaming. Stop. I don't want to hear this story.

Dear Husband started telling a story, and I interrupted him by asking for directions.

I am not ready to hear how lucky I am.

When I am I going to be able to hear the stories?

Am I ever going to be ready for that?

Quiet. Quiet. Quiet.

Saturdays are like that

"Get your feet out of your Sister's hair".

Yeah, I know, I said that this morning.

Husband returning from a friends Ranger School graduation in Georgia. They will depart soon after for a gun show here in town.

Hooooah...

Proud of you.

I have a Lt. Col, a Ranger Grad, and Dear Husband for dinner. All Veterans...

Proud of them.

List of things to do.

Remind husband we have NO more money for guns or ammo.

Put some damn makeup on

Get kids out of Pjamas

Get me out of Pjamas

Run to the Meat Market

Make a salad

Vaccum

Clean bathroom

Take kids OUT of my house, before they destroy my hard work.

Put some hanging laundry in closet

Take out trash

Empty dishwasher

Strength of Women and Good Mothers

It has been a hard week, for almost everyone I know. I haven't blogged on it, because it is simply too much and too hard.

My one really good girlfriend in town, has 5 kids. I have blogged on her before. Her youngest has Downs Syndrome, autism, and cardiac problems. While I was in TN, she was in the ICU, watching the Drs do emergency surgery on this little guys bowel.
She has been staying in ICU, all week, and this little boys abdomen was left open because of swelling. He is on a ventilator....And could use your prayers. Her strength through this is grace at its purest form.

I had a call this morning that one of my other girlfriends in town miscarried this morning. She too has 5 children. The pregnancy wasn't planned, and she was 43, but she was so excited and had resolved to become a great Mom again. I keep thinking of her today, and I should call her.

I did get good news yesterday, I got an e-mail from a long-time girlfriend back in Nebraska. We used to be inseparable, and now have become too busy for one another. She and her Husband have been trying to get pregnant to no avail for the last 3-5 years. One week out from adoption papers, and guess what, they are pregnant. 20 weeks now, she feels great, and she is obsessed with food of all sorts. I am smiling.

SO I have a lot to be thankful for, and I am going to spend the afternoon sniffing the toddlers hair, holding the little sticky hands, and be thankful.........

Till the Cows Come Home

The time change, has caused Dash to wake at 5:00am. I am thinking he has "Farmers blood", there is plenty of it on both sides. That is about the time you would go to the barn to milk cows.

I keep saying it over and over again, but I am not a morning person. I should not be allowed to talk to humans until I have had at least one cup of coffee.

I have had a couple of suggestions sent to me re: Dash's early waking. 1) Put him to bed later, he might wake later. (I have tried this, and it doesn't work. The kid has a fantastic inner clock. )
2) It was also suggested that I let him eat and watch TV. (This kid is very "Farmer". He thinks if he is up, the World ought to be up. You ought to be grateful and happy about the Sun rising. He also will make so much racket, the neighborhood will be up. )

My Dear Husband is a morning person, wakes up bright eyed, pleasant, and ready for the day. He loves morning. My Mom was also a morning person. She woke yammering and planning the take over of the free World at 4:30 am. This irritated my Father and I. When Dear Husband and I would go visit my folks. My Mom and Dear Husband would be up at 4:30, clanging pans, looking through recipe books. Talking about God knows what. My Father and I would eventually become irritated at them and we would leave the comfort of sleep and bed. Only to spend the next 2 hours trying to wake up. My Father and I do not wake bright eyed. We wake with our almond shaped eyes in small slits. The sun is to bright, and morning always comes to early.

The good news is Pink Ninja, is my sleeper in the mornings. I think she would sleep until 8:00am if Dash would let her. He wakes her daily, with a clang or scream. She wakes with squinted almond shaped eyes, just like me and my Dad.

5:00am is simply too early for this girl. 7:30 is about ideal for me. That is just about right. It ain't gonna happen for the next 16 years, so I better get used to living with Farmers.

Anyone know where I can buy some cattle?

If I Were Emma Peel......

I would be such a Rockstar, I would always be Inblognito....

Position of the Week #7

This weeks position looks like it is easy. It was one of the hardest yoga position for me to master. I have heard it called a modified plank, four limbed staff, and Chaturanga. It is like a push-up, and as such is a great arm strengthener. It is part of the Sun Salutation vinyasa sequence of poses. It is a great tri-cep strengthener.

The trick is to get as low to the floor, and maintain balance. Don't forget your breathing folks.

*ArmyWifeToddlerMom and those associated are not responsible for any injuries that you might obtain from attempting , or maintaining said position. Please contact your Physician before starting any exercise program. *

Anyone need a pair of leather pants?

Maybe to wear for fight club?

For Sale

The First Rule of Fight Club

Yeah you know the rules.

So at the blogmeet at SWG. Tammi and That 1 Guy show up late. I am talkin late. I got bold at the hotel, and banged on his door. His story is, he was sleeping. (fight club)

Then they are late to Erics. This time the lame ass excuse is "looking for manicotti noodles". (fight club). When they do show up, That 1 guy has a bloody nose. Tammi and he start scrambling for a story. "Oh, he has high blood pressure...yadda yadda, yadda." Anyway they snuck out again, this time it was "The hospital E.R." (fight club).

Anyway, just when they think they have covered the tracks, Tammi posts this TODAY. Now she has fight club at work.

I soooooo know what is going on guys.

I cannot fight my way out of a paper sack, but I do know the first rule.

Can I join?

What to Wear.....

What does one wear to a blogmeet?

Jim from Parkway Restop answers....with this little diddy.

"Taking lessons from some of the great ones, next blogmeet, I'll be wearing my BLACKFIVE tee shirt, women's shoes, eyelash extenders, a mullet, tats, and a bloody nose. Oh, and I'll be showing up in a bigass truwk with lots of ammo."

"Farookin Funny"

Management Material

I am not a great morning person. Imagine that. I am an insomniac, have been as long as I can recall. However, once asleep I am OUT. One should not waken me, because I am not my best in the morning.

When the babies arrived I learned one can not growl when awakened. I was awakened a lot, breastfeeding requires one to be up almost every 3 hours Round The Clock. Something else happens when the babies arrive. Your sleep is disrupted by slight sounds in the night. You can hear EVERYTHING. So I have learned to live on about 5 broken hours of sleep. Probably not ideal.

This morning Dash was up at 5:00am. He was already bouncing off of the walls. No coffee, no milk, no fuel. He was already bouncing.

Dash: (jumping) "Did you sleep well?"

Me: (trying to open eyes)

Dash: "It is morning, I have to pee."

Me: (trying to open eyes)

Dash: "galloping to the bathroom."

Me: (eyes open looking at ceiling, recalling the last time I galloped anywhere)

Dash: (yelling from the bathroom) "I need new AA batteries in my Thomas, get up and go get the screwdriver."

Me: (roll out of bed, plod down the short hallway to the kitchen)

Dash: "Hurry up lady."


----Just when I thought I didn't "work" any longer......

Thank You Notes

I am still playing catch up, after my journey, and found this over at My Life as a Military Spouse. Folks, grab a pencil and make sure you send this young man a letter thanking him...he certainly deserves it.

Boo-Humbug

So we skipped The Festival of Samhain. Not because we didn't want to celebrate. The toddlers were tuckered out, they spent most of the early evening fussin. We also had a downpour. So I managed to get the tots to bed. I convinced Dear Husband to try the shine, and so we toasted those that have gone before us, and went to bed.

I felt bad, but we turned off the front lights, so the 80 trick or treaters we normally have would not spend the night ringing the doorbell. It would have sounded like Cathedrel bells otherwise. A very unusual Festival for Casa De Dust.

So as usual a day late and a dollar short....

MISFITS LYRICS
"Halloween"Bonfires burning brightPumpkin faces in the night
I remember Halloween
Dead cats hanging from poles
Little dead are out in droves
I remember Halloween!
Brown leaved vertigo
Where skeletal life is known
I remember Halloween
This day anything goes!
Burning bodies hanging from poles
I remember Halloween!
Go!
Halloween!
Candy apples and razor blades
Little dead are soon in graves
I remember halloween
This day anything goes
Burning bodies hanging from poles
I remember Halloween
Halloween!

Reality check....

Really no need for one.

Yep I walked back right into "my life", just as I left. No warming up when you are a Mom. You are simply thrown into the depths of "it".

Today I take the "toddlers" in for flu shots.

Pink Ninja, seems ok with the idea of going to the Dr.

I had to warn "Dash" about said shots. He is not a fan of surprises.

Me: We have to go to the Dr. this morning.

Dash: I am not sick.

Me: We "all" need to get shots so we do not get sick.

Dash: That doesn't make sense, I am not sick. I am not going.

-----so I imagine there will be a good deal of kicking, screaming, and crying going on. And then I will have to deal with the kids.