What's The Deal?????

Much of my new job description is travel---delivering breakfasts and lunches to surrounding communities. Mainly to the Tulsa area. And I have had such a revelation---speed limits are only guides. They mean NOTHING.

Last Friday I had to go and pick up chafing dishes in the downtown area before making a delivery at 7:00 a.m. I travel around 30 miles one way to this area. So, leaving at 6:15 a.m. I hit the nearest highway, and zoom-zoom-zoom---suddenly I am on the motobaun! The speed limit is posted at 65 miles per hour. That is obviously just a suggested speed. If you travel at the posted speed limit, other cars fly around you at such speeds as to make your headlights spin! And if they get behind you, and have to travel for more than 30 seconds, you can count on being ridden on the bumper. Which can be quite jolting if you gaze into the rear view mirror at sunrise. The sight of headlights in one's back seat can cause one's heart to jump in fear!!! If it takes more than 30 seconds to pass you, these superspeeders have been known to tap the horn as in "would you PLEASE go faster!!! When they can finally pass, you can be certain you won't get the good morning smile! Usually the face made is a grimacing frown!!! So why have speed limits???? Is it part of a game to see who can get there first while avoiding the black and white? And where in heaven's name IS the black and white at that time of day??? The highways are full---FULL---and what an opportune time to hand out those tickets they so adore passing out! Guess it's too much work to try to figure out WHICH ONE will receive the ticket of the morn! Or maybe fresh donuts are too much of a temptation -- and hold the attention for much of the morning. (oops that was quite a generalization)

Truthfully, I don't see much of a change at any time of day I am on the road. It's just been so dadgummed obvious lately. Guess that as I only had to travel 2 miles for the past 16 years to work, I didn't see how traffic etiquette had changed. Certainly didn't have to exceed 25 mph to get to work on time. And as I plan deliveries carefully, I usually am not in a hurry. But the rest of the world is! And I just don't understand posting one speed but allowing 20-25 mph over that. I don't know---just griping!!!

I overbooked last Thursday and it just about ate my lunch! And then I was quite busy on Friday and Saturday, and Hank came to spend the night Friday so off to the football game we went. Then on Sat his mom and dad decided they would just stay here also. So, after delivering a dinner at 5:30 on Sat, and a quick run to Sam's for supplies, daughter dearest and I picked her hubby up at school and headed over to Cracker Barrel for dinner. Got home at 8:15 and back to the kitchen to clean and prep for a Sunday delivery. Up Sunday, cook and deliver at 11:30, then back here for a birthday dinner for Big Daddy. Then took daughter & Hank to their car and back to see son and his gal pal. I will work any "odd" hours if it means I can spend time with the kids.

The good news??? I have the morning off!!! Yea!!! I actually get, yes I said GET, to clean, do laundry, and get the Halloween decor ready. Then to the kitchen after noon and prep for Tues. Plus I have got to do paperwork and get taxes ready!!!

My oh my, I never dreamed I'd be this busy or work this hard physically! Or love it so much!!! I did take time to do the Sunday crossword. Love that crossword. And doesn't that keep the brain active and alert?? I need that!!!

Well, I'm signing off for now. More from the kitchen later!!!

Happy Birthday to my Sweetie!

Today is hubby's birthday!! Double nickle! Have you ever sat back and wondered how today got here so quickly???? I remember waaayyyy back when we were first married, without kids, and how we thought this day would never get here! It sneaks up, creeps in and BOOM it's here. I'm my mother's age when I thought she was "older"! And we certainly don't FEEL older -- well, at least in our minds. So happy birthday my best friend and love.


Today was the day I needed to be reminded that I am doing what I love--like---asked for! I overbooked for the morning. What a lesson to learn the hard way!! I should have seen the red flag as I opened the door to the kitchen this morning and spilled my tea all over myself. I should have seen it coming when I kept saying "sure I can work that in". Well, to make a long, LONG story shorter--I had three deliveries to make: one at 10:45, one at 11:15, and one at 11:30. Got to the first delivery and discovered all the salads and desserts were still in the kitchen. My stomach churned. What to do, what to do. Thank goodness for my father-in-law. I rang the house and told my mother-in-law it was an emergency, what had happened and to send him quicker than quick! She pulled him out of the shower, told him I had an emergency and sent him on his way. Luckily the first delivery was only 10 miles down the road. So, after setting up the first one, drove like a bat out of @#(@ to the next. Got it all taken care of. But I won't EVER book like that again. I have already turned down 2 for tomorrow! Never again!!! I don't care how large the debt I have to repay. It's not worth a nervous breakdown and upchucking!!!


Now I have one delivery tomorrow--2 cakes to finish--8 dozen sugar cookies to bake, and sandwiches to deliver in the afternoon. Not overbooking again!


And Saturday I will deliver the sugar cookies, and then I have a three entree, two salad and cake dinner to deliver at 6:00. And Sunday, a dinner for 70 at a church in Tulsa. Entree, 2 sides, salad, and pies---and cobblers!!! Not overbooking again!!!



Sunday afternoon we are having dinner at in-laws for hubby's birthday. Then I am going to collapse!


Oh, and did I mention that Hank is spending the night tomorrow night????? My mom is keeping him during the day tomorrow so I can cook and shop, and then I'll pick him up and take him with me to deliver at 5:00---might as well break him in early!!!


When hubby & I got married, he and his family owned their own business---they built pleasure/ski boats. For over 30 years, we were used to owning and working in a family business. Then when my kids were very small, I had my own ceramic shop---rented space, poured and fired, had all the equipment. After closing the boat business, hubby has worked at two different jobs. But my father-in-law has groomed us all (grandkids included) that owning one's own business is the ultimate. So, here we are again--working as family at a business. Of course, it's not as lucrative as the boating industry was, but the family is working towards a common goal.


Funny how life goes isn't it? And, as I drove madly from one delivery to another today, I kept thinking "this must be a sign from God that I am not to be doing this" but then I remembered the words from Randy Pausch that I love "brick walls aren't there to stop us, but to prove to us how much we really want something". How much do I want this? Well, this isn't a good time to ask---I'm drained! So maybe after a good night's rest I'll see things more clearly. Or more optimistically!!! Or more enthusiastically.



Have a good evening---get some rest!

Cupcakes To Go!!!

Got a call from a gal who wanted cupcakes---cupcakes decorated as one cake, and that look like Spiderman! So, with no pattern, and no idea what I was going to do, this is what it turned out like. She liked the finished job--said the kids could just "grab and go" and wouldn't need plates. Ok, works for me. I wasn't thrilled with the final result, but she liked it, and that's what matters!!

Saturday Hank and Ashley came to visit. Seems Ryan had a huge amount of studying to do and they didn't want to stay in their little "pod" while it rained all day, so they came to town and we went to the mall! Fun time.

We had dinner at my sister's house Saturday evening---my contribution you ask??? Baked herbed chicken breasts and ---how'd you know??---leftover cupcakes!

Today we went to ShalomFest at Temple Israel. My son & his new gal pal wanted to experience the event and food, so we loaded up and joined them. It was good---I like Middle Eastern food. But I have to admit that I like the Lebanese version of the foods much better---they have more flavor and garlic! Bought a t-shirt that says "Shalom Y'All"--now isn't that just cute? And, of course, a Temple Israel cookbook. It has many Israeli recipes in it, but we got a kick out of the "enchilada" and "banana smoothie" recipes. And the "Chinese Chicken Salad". That's just not right! Guess you have to fill the pages with something---and, after all, the Jewish community is not secluded anymore. They have integrated themselves into the various communities into which they have moved over the years. Who thought there would be Jewish Okies????? There are definitely recipes from Israel that I will be trying.

This next week looks like it will be EXHAUSTING!!! Have something on the books everyday---and on Thursday-----well let's just say I came this close to overbooking!!! I have to have my father-in-law deliver two of the lunches whilst I deliver 3 others!!! See what I mean? I'm not--repeat NOT--taking any more orders for Thursday, Friday or Saturday. I'm learning my limits---bills or no bills. A person can only be so productive and do it well.

Gotta run for now---everyone have a safe evening!! Shalom!!!

Kitchen Capers

Week # 2 has almost come to a close---my second full week of being an honest to goodness gracious caterer!!! And, I still love it!!!

This morning I had to be in Tulsa at 6:30 AM!!! AM!!! Do you know what time I had to get up this morning??? No???? Try 3:45!!!! AM!!! My cat thought I had gone bonkers. He just sat on the end of the bed and stared at me with his sleepy kitty eyes. He seemed to be imploring me to "please come back to bed"! Finally he gave up the starefest and went back to sleep---I don't even think he knew I had left til I came back by the house at 11:00!

I delivered breakfast to a company for 10 execs. A business meeting breakfast. Oh I love being on this side of the work force!! They had a breakfast casserole, yogurt (no I didn't culture that!!!), a fruit tray ( it was pretty), bacon and ----- HOMEMADE biscuits!!! I had never made biscuits before, and had already purchased some "commercial" frozen ones, but then the guilt sat in. I found a recipe in our church cookbook (the person who submitted it is a big ole gal, so I figured they'd be pretty darn good) and gave it a go. They were yummy!!! I had a couple left over, and sent them home with my dad this afternoon. He called while ago to tell me how good they were----hours old and cold!!! So the execs MUST have enjoyed them!

That was all I had to deliver today, so after making a Sam's run, I went back, mopped the floor, and made a couple of pies. Sent a coconut cream one to my father-in-law (he's been delivering meals for me), and had a piece of a chocolate one, then took a couple of pieces to my mom & dad, and called Penny the Queen and told her to stop my--I had something she needed!!! Just sent it to her house. We'll all be roly polys if I'm not restrained!!!

I only have one delivery tomorrow---a wedding reception for 75 here in town. And most of that work is done. Hopefully I can get some correspondence out, and tweek my kitchen's website. And take a nap!!!

Well lovelies, I'd best get this flour out of my hair, my eyebrows, my nostrils, etc., etc.

Have a cozy night!

Mountains of Meringue

After delivering the meals for today & tomorrow to the tennis club, I came back to get ready for the meal for tomorrow! Another 7am-7pm day!!! (Repeat after me, Pam, I like this--I wanted this---I love to cook). Seriously, I am having a great time!! My sister went with me to deliver today, and at the tennis club we ran into some old friends. Small world!! Then we went to a new shoe store and I bought a pair of shoes---like I will ever have time to wear them! They are DEFINITELY NOT work shoes.




So, after getting back here's what I did: (and this is for 50 people) Mandarin Orange Salad, Hot Rolls, Green Beans, Party Potatoes, Beef Brisket, and
(drum roll please!), 6 HOMEMADE cream pies--no pudding here--not even the cook and serve. No Way! These are "scratch" pies on "scratch" crust. 2 lemon meringue, 2 coconut meringue and 2 chocolate meringue! And then I made 2 fresh strawberry pies!! This after 20 cobblers for the tennis club today!!!





Hubby helped me in the kitchen today, and after I finished with the bowl for the chocolate pie, I left some in and told him he could have it. He said "Boy those people will have their tongues slapping against their lips to get this down!!" and then I looked around, and as he was taking his finger and skimming out the last bit of chocolate he said "I'm trying to figure out how to get my face down into this bowl" ! He was cracking me up!!! Now you see why I enjoy him helping out?? That plus he loves to cook and he likes the "commercial" dishwasher. He'll do a load and announce "Another full load in less than 2 minutes!". He's a sweetie pie. (No pun intended)





I have gotten some of the sweetest cards from some of the people I worked with at school. Some that I wouldn't have even thought cared! Just goes to show--if you treat people with dignity and friendship, they remember! I have always tried to get along with everyone else--life is just too danged short to feel mad or any other way but happy---and since I'm the one in control of my own happiness---I choose to be happy !!!






And sappy!!! Sorry about that left turn!





Anyway--the feet are a bit tired tonight, and I have magazines stacked up to look through. And the sofa is calling my name!




So all of you have a great Sunday and I'll keep you up on the wonderful world of catering!!!

My New Kitchen--(or, where my life is now!!!)

This is where I spend my mornings, noons, and nights!! These, of course, are chafing dishes--gives a new meaning to a "stainless steel" kitchen!!!
This is the "project" board. It holds jobs for a week at a time, and when that day is finished it is erased. This shows Sat & Sun jobs I have. Today we prepped all the salad stuff for Sat--100 people both days, three salad choices each day, cobbler each day and bread each day. And all delivered by 11:00 tomorrow morning!! Needless to say, I was on my feet ALL DAY today!
Here's my new office! I used to have a rather professional looking office at the school, but I have to say, I like this one better!!
All the dry goods & the ice maker! Lots of staples, lots of seasonings. But we have to replenish quite frequently!!




I'll stop here. I have some more pics to share, but right now, my feet are throbbing and I just want to recline on the sofa!! Hubby is at the home opener football game, so I don't even have to talk to anyone!




And would you believe I'm having Cheerios for supper!!! Hey if Seinfield can so can I!!!


Have a great Friday evening!

Adventures in Catering--Day 1

Man oh man oh man!!!! This has been one heck of a day!! Got to the kitchen at 6 this morning, and we had only one lunch to prepare & deliver. And it was a salad bar, so it wasn't much work at all.


Then, as we were picking up supplies, got 2 calls for tomorrow!!! And we had one on the calendar. So, we shopped for food, went back and prepped all that we could, made bread dough, made pies for Friday, and cleaned up. At 4:30 we left for the day!!!


I am quite tired. No, I am REALLY tired!! Most of the work for tomorrow is finished, but there is prep for Thursday. If we get too many for Friday, I think I'll call in sick--ha ha ha.


What is on the menu for tomorrow? Creole Chicken over rice, Herb Roasted Chicken, Italian Green Salad, Napa Cabbage Salad, Green Beans, Homemade Bread, Italian Cream Cake, Strawberry Cake, and Banana Pudding!!!!! We will have served 96 people. In three different locations!!


Anywho--it is an experience. And I am enjoying it (grimace face---yes, I am!!!). Hopefully it will get smoother and a bit easier--dare I think that?????


But on Thursday I shouldn't have to go in at 6---probably will start late, you know, like 7!!!


I'll keep you posted!!