The Cookbook Junkies

Life is tough.  It’s wonderful and I’m grateful for every day, but it is tough.

I wake up in the morning and pray that Andrew has a good day.  For the last several months, he has greeted me with “you scared me you idiot!” “I hate you” and it goes on.  Until I get him to eat his breakfast and then give him his medicine — things aren’t pretty.  I keep the faith that things will get better.

We have a wonderful new therapist and a new psychiatrist to review his meds.  The school is continuing to work hard.  We wait and hope.

Meanwhile, back to one of the things I enjoy – cooking.  I started a group on Facebook – Cooking from The New Midwestern Table by Amy Thielen.  This time our recipe was Corn Fritters and Green Chile Buttermilk Dipping Sauce.  If the recipe is on the internet somewhere – I will link to it – but I do urge you to buy Amy’s book – it is truly fantastic.

These corn fritters were so light and crispy.  They are truly delicious and the dipping sauce is perfect.  I am a creature of habit – I love maple syrup with my corn fritters – but it is nice to try something new.

Lastly, join my other group – The Cookbook Junkies – next month for Christmas I will be having two great giveaways.  Come join us.

I did something stupid. I trusted people on Facebook.  A person who lived across the street from us when we first arrived here in Colorado – friended me and I accepted.  We told  this person that Andrew had autism – he had a strange look on his face.   We tell people so they don’t think Andrew is a brat because he doesn’t look them in the eye, or he ignores them.

When this person saw that Andrew was in his daughter’s class a look of fear came over his face. This person is raising a stink at the school about Andrew. Instead of calling me or asking me about Andrew’s issues – he prints things off of Facebook and runs up to the school — like a boss, not.   Thank God they have moved – and we are left with seemingly wonderful people- by my trust-o-meter is really scared now.  

The school is fine – they told him they have this under control and not to worry. He is blocked and if I see him at the store and he asks me anything or smiles at me – he will rue the day I entered the state of Colorado. I will no longer share anything about Andrew on Facebook because people are douchebags. 

Yes, this is a blog and it’s public.  If this douche wants to stalk me here – so be it.  I tell the truth and share our story. 

 I feel like I let Andrew down. I feel like a failure as a parent. I should have known better.  This is how I felt on Monday.  

By Tuesday I felt like this “man” was a coward of epic proportions.  I was angry and ready to strike.  It’s Thursday, I could care less.  If he was on fire and I had some flat Diet Pepsi left in my cup – I might throw it on him.  Maybe not. Depends on which way the wind is blowing and if I’m thirsty.  I might drop a call to 911.

Andrew has been doing better. The mornings are TOUGH.  It is all “you’re an idiot”  “I hate you” –“you are a B.I.T.C.H.” — hey at least he can spell.  Once his medicine kicks in he is sweet and remorseful.

He is in fourth grade – just turned nine.  He is doing algebra and multiplication problems such as 824 x 753.  Most of the kids are mastering simple multiplication facts.  I have a feeling my darling will support me fine in my old age – as long as we keep him balanced and focused.

A wonderful friend Kim Foster has been on me about writing a book.  I’ve decided that is what I am going to do – if anyone buys this idea – that’s another story — but I will write it and it will be good for me.

Many years ago Andrew wanted us to build a robot.  We did – Jim and I – boxes, foil, we worked hard it was a masterpiece.  Or so we thought.  We were proud.  Andrew came in for the unveiling….he started sobbing.  He finally told us “it’s not very beautiful”.  That will be the title of my book “It’s Not Very Beautiful”. Asperger’s/autism isn’t – but Andrew is.

My book will be essays – some expanded from the blog – and recipes – comfort food for a bad day, brownies for dinner when you just don’t care and Golden Girls and Golden Graham bars when you need to laugh.  

Pray for us.  

Jim is going to a friend’s house for football, beer and wings.  Brad is a bachelor so I offered to send over the wings and make some brownies – I’m such an incredible, wonderful wife.

I’ve been giving Jim grief “why aren’t I invited?”  “you worked three weekends in a row and you are going to leave me here on a Sunday night”?  Come closer….closer….”I don’t want to go”   I have a favorite line when I’d rather do almost anything than what is in front of me.  “I’d rather be the only woman allowed into Rikers on conjugal visit day than to”….sit with three men watching football.  I will bank these guilt points to be used at a time later to be determined (like when the credit card bill comes).

I threw this recipe together a few years ago.  We love them – I hope you give them a try.

Preheat your oven to 375

12 chicken wings

I cure them first – sprinkle a little salt, pepper, brown sugar, ginger and orange peel on them and let them sit in the fridge an hour or so.

Remove them from the fridge about 30 minutes before you put them in the oven.  Pat any excess water off the wings.  I layer them in a large roasting pan and bake them at 375 for about 30 minutes.  I then turn them over so the other side can get crispy at this point I drain any fat off as well.  Isn’t it amazing on the food shows that there is never any unsightly fat in the pan or on the host (if she is a female)?

Put the wings back in the oven and make your glaze.

1/4 cup of pineapple juice
1/4 cup of teriyaki sauce
1/4 cup of barbecue sauce – I use Pine Ridge barbecue sauce – the best sauce ever!
1 tablespoon of honey
A dash or two of hot sauce to counter all that sweetness.
1 tsp. grated ginger
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tablespoon of sesame seeds

I put all of the above glaze ingredients into a small sauce pan and let it thicken over low to medium heat.  About 10 minutes.

I pull the wings out after the second 30 minutes and drizzle the glaze all over the wings.  Place them in the oven for five minutes, take them back out, flip them over and drizzle the other size – and sprinkle with more sesame seeds. Place in oven for five more minutes and then are done. Sticky, sweet and delicious.

I then finish off with a little chopped cilantro – or  you can slice up some green onions.