Just a BlinkProof Time Flies

We have been having some pretty wicked summer storms around here lately. I love storms when they remain non-destructive.

Here are 5 things that storms can do:

1. Provide a calm before they arrive with rustling trees, darkening dry skies and a quiet hush of clouds.
2. Delay the day-to-day of the expected.
3. Offer a peek into the the magnitude of God’s handiwork in the creation of the Earth.
4. Change the mood of a neighborhood.
5. Put my life into perspective by making me feel so much like a twig with skin.

While home with my kids we played tag in the yard during a calm before the storm. It was fun to finally be playing outdoors without sunhats and glasses due to the darkening skies. The clouds gave us a break from the rays but the eerie humidity was all too familiar. A storm was brewing. We moved indoors as the wind picked up and we prepared for a light lunch.

We could no longer see across the yard. The sun had been blocked out by the thunderous mass that was approaching us.

Our ears perked up as community alert sirens blared. The weather report on the news channel glowed in red radar all above our area. Ryan was getting restless but he was pleased and entertained every time the meteorologist said the name of our city. I smiled and confirmed his knowledge of his town. I was thinking to myself, “Stop saying our city news man, please!”.

With a 3 flickers of power the lights went down. The TV, radio, computer, freezer (stuffed with my recent freezer meals-eek!) – everything was down. I knew we could easily be in the middle of a dangerous storm. What I didn’t know was were any of my flashlights were or any one of my two battery operated weather alert radios were. It was noonday and the house was a dusky gray if not blacked out. Ryan’s teeth started to shake (a habit he patterned for scary things). I grasped for candles, lit them and relieved some of the tension from the situation. In this moment I wore my Mom badge with pride. I made everything into some kind of game to lighten the very dark house with my mood.

The noise level of the outdoors really seemed to echo through my bones as I searched with kids in tow for the two emergency items I mentioned earlier. I was wishing I had prepared better than this and thinking “I knew I should have a kit in my laundry room!” We found a flashlight. A sweet flashlight from my youth that has 3 lights in one (spot,flash and fluorescent). With a renewed sense of purpose we scurried to the laundry room.

What, no power? We outlasted the summer storm and unplugged house without checking facebook, playing computer games, watching cartoons, listening to music, using the air conditioner or running our planned errands and duties around town in the car.

What we did instead:

1. Went bear hunting in the laundry room cave with camera flashes and flashlights.
2. Cuddled in blankets.
3. Lit candles.
4. Molly slept.
5. Hid in a box that became our castle, space ship and spider-man fortress.
6. Jumped on the couch.
7. Watched out the front window as the sunshine returned to the neighborhood.

Last March or so I joined a cooking group. Rather a recipe sharing group. It is a bit of both actually. We share ideas, we talk about recipes and we swap meals. Once a month several women and I connect to exchange freezer meals.

Our group is loosely based on the concepts from Cooking Among Friends. At each meeting we discuss and vote on the next months menu.

Each person is assigned a category to cook within each month. We then go home and whip up the approved recipe for as many families as were in attendance at the meeting. Which means usually 10 during the winter and 5 during the summer.

We all have the same amount of money to spend on the ingredients to try and make it fair for all.

Thanks to my good friend Ness who started this group in her home I have come to know and cook for many new friends. Ness is a major recipe contributor to a website for freezer cooking.

It has been a huge blessing to always have meals on hand that are fully shopped for, cut up, prepped, seasoned, marinated, mixed and cooked. The best for me is having a smaller grocery list. Oh and not having to think quite so hard at 5 with the age old question, “What’s for dinner?”

Here are my recipes for my July exchange.

• Tex Mex Shrimp
• Strawberry Daiquiri Pie

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. Cool Whip
• 14 oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 6 oz. Strawberry Daiquiri Frozen concentrate (found by frozen juices)
• 10 inch Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Directions:

1. Blend sweetened condensed milk with the strawberry daiquiri mix
2. Fold in cool whip
3. Pour mix into piecrust shell
4. Freeze over night
5. Serve cold

Ingredients:

• 2–tablespoons lemon juice
• 2–tablespoons margarita mix (may exchange for 2 TBSP of tequila)
• 1–tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1–tablespoon lime juice
• 1–tablespoon red taco sauce
• 2–tablespoons green chilies — diced
• 1/2–teaspoon salt
• Seasoned to taste with Mrs. Dash Southwest seasonings
• 1–pound medium peeled and cooked shrimp
• Pat of butter or so (for grilling)

Directions:

1. Combine lemon and lime juices, margarita mix, taco sauce, oil, sliced chilies, salt, seasonings and shrimp in medium bowl.
2. Toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
3. Store the cocktail sauce in the pantry. Chill in refrigerator before serving if desired.
4. Place shrimp in a tinfoil boat with some butter. Cover boat with tinfoil and steam grill for 6-10 minutes. Do not over grill or cook, as shrimp will become tough. (If you put the shrimp on skewers place them directly on grill for 2-3 minutes a side.)
5. Serve with cocktail sauce; rice or noodles; or grilled veggies.