A lesson in kindness

One day last weekend I took my son to McDonald's for dinner. I'd like to say it was a rare treat but let's be honest here. In his defense he wanted Subway, which might be a bit healthier, but I wasn't feeling it so McD's it was. Sometimes I wonder just who is the parent and who's the child? But that's not what this post is about.

Even though I shared a meal with my kid that would make all health nuts cringe and most moms look at me with disapproval, I was also able to share a lesson in kindness. I'm thinking the importance of that makes up for my poor food choices.

The counter-person who took our order greeted us with a smile, repeated our order for accuracy and collected our food all with a wonderful attitude. She seemed to have pride in her work and it showed.

We ate in the restaurant and all through the meal I kept hearing her as she served each patron with the same great attitude she gave us.

I decided that since we were already fairly deep in the unhealthy rabbit hole, why not just go all the way, and so I went back and ordered us chocolate chip cookies. While at the counter I told the server what a great job she was doing. She grabbed her manager and I repeated my praise of her service. They both thanked me and then I was asked to mention this on the survey they advertise on their receipts.

On the way home, my son said, "You did a nice thing, Mom." I replied, "It's kindness and the world needs more of it." Those of you who have read my blog before know that I like to praise and recognize people for giving outstanding service.

I'd like to think that if she was having a bad day I made it a little better. Or, if the rest of her day hit a few bumps after I left that she can think back on my words and smile. We don't know her story. Maybe she's a struggling single mom. Maybe she's a student putting herself through school. Either way she's working in an industry where the employees have a bad rep. and she's doing a kick-ass job.

Later that evening I filled out the online survey and sang high praises of the counter-person. I only hope that my words were passed on to the appropriate people and maybe she benefited with some sort of bonus or incentive. Wink wink, nudge nudge McDonald's peeps.

My battle scar

We had pizza a few days ago. It wasn't delivery, it was DiGiorno.  Not that it matters or that it's relative to this post.  Anyway, while getting one of the pies out of the oven my arm accidentally touched one of the racks and I got this burn. Incidentally I was wearing oven mitts. Maybe I need to invest in arm-length oven mitts to prevent this from happening in the future. They could be like those long, silky ones that women wore long ago when they went out for the evening. Do such things even exist? I'll have to look into it.

So even though I immediately put some ice on the burn it still got all icky. Billy put some neosporin and gauze on it because he felt bad for me. It really hurt for a while. Then he said I would probably have a scar from it. I said, Cool! Chicks dig scars. Oh wait, I am a chick. Then my son shook his head at me while saying, No Mom, no.

Here's what it looks like now:

Scar from battling a distant relative of Smaug.

It was a lot worse, all burnt up skin and bubbling but I didn't want people getting all blech and possibly puking so I waited to post a picture. I'm always thinking of you guys.

When people see the burn mark and ask me what happened I tell them I was in an epic battle with a dragon and I got this burn. I told Billy this version and he said, Must have been a small dragon. He's so hilarious. My mom on the other hand just rolled her eyes at my explanation. I swear sometimes it's like she just met me.

How I do happy

I modified our ketchup bottle because Heinz asked me to. And also because I'm childish and immature. But seriously, their bottle specifically asked How do you Happy? So I replied. With a marker. This is the result:

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

Now I'm waiting until the other family members realize my handiwork. I'm pretty sure my son will find this hilarious. Then again, he's 11 so that goes without saying.

So Ketchup Company, you said Show us your Heinz. Here it is. Now, your turn. Also, I'm just kidding. I have no interest in your butts. I could use more ketchup though.

The fries from McDonald's song

I was eating some fries on the way home from picking up some McDonald's for dinner because we're into healthy eating and yes I am being sarcastic. Anyway, I started eating some of the fries out of the bag.

source

Because that's what you do when you have just-made, hot fries from McDonald's. And so I spontaneously made up a little song and it went something like this:

Eating fries out of the bag,
Because that's what you do
when you get fries from McDonald's.

I thought it was cute.  And so did Bill. He especially liked the "Because that's what you do" part. I'm not writing my Grammy Award winning speech yet but you have to admit, it is a little catchy.

But it only works with McDonald's fries. Burger King fries just aren't as good.

Disappointing pizza and darn good burgers

I'm not a foodie blogger and I don't pretend to be one either. However, I'd like to make a few foodie mentions. These are just mine (and the husband's) opinions and observations so take it with a grain of salt. Or pepper. Or cumin.

I'm not a fan of Papa John's Pizza but the husband is. He recently tried the bacon cheeseburger pizza that they've been advertising. And he was so disappointed. We had to take out the microscope to look for the bacon and meat. You know how in the commercial the little boy keeps saying Are you kidding me? Yeah, Bill said the same thing. He contacted the company to tell them his bacon cheeseburger pizza lacked the bacon and burger and they said someone would be in touch to follow up. That was more than a week ago. He's still waiting.

We're not the types to complain about every little thing but sometimes we let companies know if we're unhappy with something. And we do it in a nice way not like assholes who make a stink and expect something free to make up for it. By the same token we praise businesses if their services and products are great.

Saturday night we went to 5 Guys Burgers. This place makes the most amazing burgers I've ever eaten. I tried to eat my cheeseburger slow enough to enjoy it but basically inhaled the thing like an animal. So good. Even my picky son said he was blown away by their hot dogs. Then Chris and I wrote on their Appreciation Board. He drew a pic of a brain exploding and wrote Mind Blown under it.

It's funny because everyone is so excited that White Castle has finally come to Vegas and I was like White Who? Seriously.

The owner handed me a card and asked if I would contact their representative and give my thoughts on our dinner. So I called and basically told the woman who answered that this place is the Mt. Olympus of burgers.

I hope the company rep lets that particular store know that someone gave them rave reviews. I mean if I had called complaining that they forget the mayo on my bun they would probably let the owner know immediately. Complaints are so easy to give, pass on and believe. It should be the same with praise and recognition.

Merry Merry!

Have yourself a fearless little Christmas
Let your joy be great
I've got cookies sitting here on my plate.

Note to self: Leave some for Santa!

Merry Christmas!

~From the Fearless Scribe

Soup and sliders

For lunch today I had some chicken noodle soup. And two White Castle sliders (of the frozen variety since WC doesn't exist out here). Talk about a contradiction in terms. One is good, warm, and for the most part, healthy. The other is an all-out greasy, food glom of the unhealthiest kind that most people (especially those in Jersey) will eat only after a night of excessive drinking or, if you're constipated.

source

Somehow this reminded me of a time I was out with a friend of mine at our local diner. She ordered a salad with extra cheese and extra dressing (not the fat-free kind), and a cheeseburger with fries. And a diet coke. I was like, What? Are you kidding? Does it really matter at this point? She said she preferred the taste. I guess the body wants what the body wants.

I admit mine was a weird craving. I think I thought the soup wouldn't be filling enough. Turns out I was wrong. -Feeling full.

A quick dessert idea for Thanksgiving

I'm not a foodie blogger and I don't pretend to be one. In fact any food-related posts usually just reference my love for cookies. And brownies. But since we're heading into Thanksgiving week and everywhere I turn there's a food recipe or commercial, I thought I would make an exception. I've made this several times and everyone loves it (especially me when I lick the spoons during clean up).


Layered Pudding In A Cup

If you're hosting turkey dinner this year and have a need for a quick dessert (as if you don't have enough to do), or, if you want to be nice and bring dessert then this is a delicious and easy-to-make dish. It doesn't require a lot of ingredients (you're welcome) or a lot of prep time and best of all, you can make it in advance.

Amounts vary based on how many people are in your party. Here are the  how's and what's of my dessert:

1 box of vanilla pudding (I used Jello for both)
1 box of chocolate pudding
Reddi Wip whipped cream in a can
2 mixing bowls
A clear glass or mug (I used a small coffee mug for mine)

Mix each pudding in a separate bowl.

Place vanilla pudding as first layer.
Then add the chocolate pudding.
Spray a little whipped cream layer.
Add more vanilla pudding.
Add more chocolate pudding.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled or until serving time.
Feel free to make an extra one for yourself for sampling purposes.

Top with whipped cream before serving.

You can also add chocolate sprinkles or a cherry to the top.

Of course, you can use whatever pudding flavors you and your guests like. I went with basic flavors because I'm plain like that and it was just simpler that way.

Sadly, I don't have a pic to post. Here's what my dessert would have looked like in a glass and with one less vanilla layer.

source

Enjoy! And let me know how it turns out. Except if it's bad, then let's keep it between us.

If it's Friday, this must be pizza

For as long as I can remember Fridays has always meant pizza for dinner. As a kid it was like a mini-celebration and a day off from cooking for mom all in one.

We still continue this tradition. Every Friday I ask Little Man what he wants for dinner. And the answer is always an enthusiastic "Pizza!"

source

I think all households have some variation of this kinda like Taco Tuesday. It's something fun and gives everyone the kids me something to look forward to. I'm not quite sure how or when this got started in my family but I do recall one memorable Friday-pizza night when I was little.

We were at my grandparents' house waiting for the pizza delivery guy. It seemed to be taking longer than usual and my grandfather was getting impatient. Grandma called to check on the status and was told our pies were en route. So Grandpa decided to go wait out on the porch and told me to come with him. It was like a covert pizza sting operation. After five minutes we moved our base of operations to the street where I guess Grandpa was going to wait for the guy and grab his food to save time.

Suddenly we saw a pizza delivery guy across the street. Grandpa started yelling at him that he was at the wrong place, while also whispering to me that the guy was either new or an idiot. So, the delivery guy comes running across the street. He hands Grandpa our pies, we pay him and head inside to eat.

In between bites, Grandpa told everyone how the pizza guy was obviously lost but thankfully we saw him and managed to get our food before it got cold. It was everything a good pizza should be. Hot and cheesy and delicious. Sure our plain pie had mushrooms on it, but occasionally we ordered one with mushrooms so we forgave this mistake. After all, the pepperoni one was correct. Maybe the place was having an unusually busy night and got our order mixed up.

Halfway through the meal the doorbell rang. It was a pizza delivery man. With our pizzas. Seems the first delivery guy was at the right address and we were eating someone else's pizzas.

I told Bill this story and he rolled his eyes and said, "Now I know where you get it from!"

"My love of pizza?" I asked.

"No, your hunger induced impatience."

May I remind you who drove you to Papa John's to pick up his pizza rather than wait for delivery, Bill?