a perfectly ordinary saturday

If you were to ask me what my perfectly ordinary Saturday looks like, I'd tell you it looks a lot like March 30, 2013.

It starts early, but only after I cringe at my alarm and drag myself out of bed. (I will never pretend to be a morning person.)

A morning run, in gorgeous spring weather.

A hot shower and leisurely morning.

An Easter weekend pedicure.

An afternoon nap, with the rain pattering outside my window.

Some time in the kitchen, with two successful new recipes on the books.

Yes, that is one fine Saturday.

Now. These recipes. Such a fun throwback to old classics, compliments of Cooking Light.

Hamburger Steak with Onion Gravy
Serves 4

1 lb. ground sirloin
salt and pepper
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 medium sweet onion, sliced vertically
2 tsp. all-purpose flour
1 c. low sodium beef broth

1. Divide beef into four equal portions, and shape into patties. Season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tsp. oil in a skillet over medium high heat, and swirl to coat. Add beef patties to pan, and cook about 3 minutes on each side, or until browned. Remove from pan. * Resist the urge to fidget with the burgers until you flip them after 3 minutes. Leaving them to do their thing will give you a nice seared edge.


2. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the pan. Saute onions for about 3 minutes, or until tender and brown. Sprinkle onions with flour, and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add stock and season with salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Return hamburgers to pan, and reduce heat to medium. Partially cover, and cook 5 minutes, until gravy slightly thickens.

I ate this goodness with some roasted green beans and mushrooms, which was a variation on another Cooking Light recipe in last month's issue. You could use any green side, though, to round out the meal.

Three cheers for a perfectly ordinary Saturday. And better?

Sunday's coming. And that is not ordinary.

thankful thursday #123

Yesterday I had a surprise awaiting me in my mailbox.



Show me someone who doesn't love snail mail. Truly.

And better yet, snail mail with a thoughtful note written therein?

Yes, yes, yes.

As if it's not already my favorite week of the year, that sweet note was gravy. Makes me thankful that people still take the time to drop a note, and for the special friend that took the time to think of me.

Thanks be to God.

What're you appreciating this week? Go on, be grateful!

hello monday (celebrating)

Today's a special Monday, because it's the one nestled in my favorite week of the year. I'd say that's worthy of some hellos, wouldn't you?

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Hello, Holy Week schedule.
I love it that there are six opportunities this week to celebrate victory over death.

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Hello, Condoleezza Rice.

I'm coming to hear you speak tomorrow, and just so you know, I think you're so classy.

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Hello, hometown coffee shop.

I do love that Athens staple.

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Hello, birthday celebration!

 Despite the rain and the cold, I was so pleased to be with Mom for her special day.

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Hello, best friends.

She had such a fun day planned for us. And she brought Mom a little bit of sunshine!

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Hello, lunch by the lake.

Isn't she pretty?

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Hello, alternative birthday plans.

Well, they were with us in spirit, anyway.

Happy Monday, friends. What are you celebrating this week?

tension

"Hosanna in the highest!" that ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King.
O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice,
and in his blissful presence eternally rejoice!
-- "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna," Jeanette Threlfall

If you were in a Bible-teaching church today, I hope you celebrated Palm Sunday, and the start to arguably the most sacred week in the Christian calendar.

I don't know about you, but the tension of this week is never lost on me.

Ordinary people cried out desperately to be rescued, but weren't willing to accept the One who came for them.

That's frustrating.

Their Savior represented a new Kingdom, but would rule in humility and service.

That's counterintuitive.

Jesus entered Jerusalem as the Messiah, but would suffer and die to fulfill that promise.

That's gut-wrenching.

Today, we can celebrate and remember the triumphal entry of a humble hero, but harbor in our hearts a haunting knowledge of what's coming.

That's tension.

But oh, for all of its tension, this week is sacred, and holy, and divinely perfect, and I don't want to miss one minute of the ride.

thankful thursday #122

One of my annual goals is to travel to a new city.

It matters not whether it's a short drive away, or a flight across a border; I just value the opportunity to experience new places. The people, the personality, the sights, the food. It's healthy, I think, and frankly, a luxury that I may not always have.

Sometimes the most economical best places to explore are where our friends are tucked away. I don't know about you, but I feel so lucky to have friends all over the country, and getting to visit their special hidden corners is such a treat.

In six short weeks, I'll be touching down here for the first time ...

(via)

... and I couldn't be more thrilled! When I told my Texan friend (not the one I'm visiting) I was headed there, she got a little starry eyed and said, Ohhh, you're going to the Mother Land ...

Those Texans. They do love their homeland, don't they?

I've heard such great things about San Antonio, and I'm excited about the folks I get to pal around with, but can I tell you what really made me thankful this week?

Booking that flight for dirt cheap.

I do not recall an airfare so low in years. And hear me, I am thankful.

Have you been to San Antonio? Any travel tips? Let me hear them!

And then get on with some gratitude.  Go on, be grateful!

quick mediterranean salad

One week of work travel means one week of restaurant, after restaurant, after restaurant.

Oh, how I missed my kitchen.

I read a recipe not long ago that sounded good, but also like it could be better with a couple of easy tweaks.

(Arrogant? Maybe.)

Here's what I threw together tonight in thirty minutes flat. I think it could be the perfect kickoff to spring, and a week of eating in:

Quick Mediterranean Salad
Serves 4-6

1 c. orzo, uncooked
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
garlic powder and/or other spices you love, to season chicken
1 jar sun-dried tomatoes, julienned or rough chopped, undrained
1 small can of sliced black olives, drained
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
1 container of feta cheese (I used the garlic and herb flavored)
Squeeze of half of a lemon
salt and papper, to taste
EVOO

1. Cook orzo according to package instructions. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking, and drain well.


2. While pasta cooks, season chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (or whatever spices strike your fancy), and sautee on medium-high heat in a tablespoon or so of olive oil. Cook about ten minutes, or until chicken is cooked through, and drain.


3. In a large bowl, pour in the jar of sun-dried tomatoes (with the oil), can of olives (drained), green onions (use both green and white parts), chicken, and pasta. Stir to combine, so that the oil from the tomatoes coats all of the ingredients.


4. Add feta cheese and lemon juice.


5. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve chilled.

I think this would also be pretty special mixed with some spinach or arugula, to bring some leafy greens into the meal.

Do you have a recipe that ushers in spring for you? Give this one a try!

thankful thursday #121, the traditionally late edition

Last year at the end of this particular annual work week, there was great relief in my decision to place the Thankful Thursday post on hold until my return home, even though that's a Sunday.

Letting go of legalism, you know. The battle of my life.

Why, then, did I even travel with this laptop this week?

The battle lives on, clearly.

So, back to the 'ham, I am, and it is good to be home. This week's hotel was not my favorite for so very many reasons, and as if that darned legalism isn't battle enough, a sore throat has me almost waving the white flag.

To say I'm thankful to be back to my own bed tonight is an understatement. If I get a full night's sleep tonight, don't judge me if that bit makes it into this week's Thankful Thursday post. I'm that desperate.

Surely St. Patrick can give me at least that?

Happy St. Paddy's, friends. I hope you've had a day of good luck, and good gratitude.

Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #120

In my work, I travel some.

Sometimes I travel to far away places, and sometimes I travel to not-so-far away places.

I am fortunate that one client in particular, from the not-so-far away category, happens to sit right in the middle of my hometown:

... and that means that when I travel there, I can see my folks.

I returned today from seeing that particular client, and more importantly, the folks. I am thankful for this season of work where I am afforded the chance regularly to break bread with Mom and Dad.

My appreciation cup runneth over today.

How about yours? Go on, be grateful!