On the Air...

 We just returned from visiting family in Florida
over spring break.... 

How grateful we are to have the grandparents
living in a warm and fun place... 

It was either that or a "stay-cation",
and you can imagine how fun, exciting
and dangerous that could have been... 

By day three I would have been holed up in my room,
while mutiny would have erupted below... 

I was not prepared to be the "Entertainment Committee" this past week.... 

I am already panicked about summer,
but that's another story... 

So it was a great week at Amelia Island...

The weather was hot,

the pool was packed

and the waves were tasty, man.... 

You won't believe this,
but I drank only ONE pina colada the whole week... 

Dang headaches were timed just right for the trip,
so I was the designated driver once again... 

As my mom says, "Drugs are good!",
and I was able to hold the migraines
at bay most of the time...    

Here's what I observed while on vacation:

Chlorine kills a variety of oogies... 
I saw more snotty noses than I ever care to see again
and I decided to not put my head under water
amid Kate's pleas...

Chicken Tenders are the food of the childhood gods:  
My kids could eat those every day, with fries and a Coke... 
So much for anything that grows out of the ground....
Sigh...

Six year olds must have more swimsuits 
than Imelda has shoes: 
Thank goodness Grandma likes to buy bikinis
to satisfy the little fashion diva...

Smoothies are like crack:  
Around 3pm each day, moms would turn into zombie slaves
and head to the bar to get their kids smoothies. 
Once a single smoothie emerged outside,
every child  at the pool would freak out and beg for one... 
There is no methadone for this addiction, I promise you...

Bicycles belong at the end of an Easter parade: 
We nearly witnessed three kids become road kill
while teetering on their bikes with training wheels
in front of festooned golf carts...

Easter Mass can feel like an eternity to a kid, 
even when it's being held outdoors on a beautiful day....

Your husband might immediately worry about a car bomb attack 
targeting the hoards of worshipers 
in tiny Fernandina Beach, FL.: 

Okay, maybe just my husband looks for escape routes at mass services
and Chuck E. Cheeses....

Spring Break is never long enough:  
Kids will wail to stay longer,
move to Florida
and skip school the day after break ends. 
Ignore them and drag them to school at all costs.... 

Family togetherness is lovely and memorable,
but who's kidding who? 
I LOVE school!

The other thing that I love is the fact that
Jack's commercial aired on National Geographic Channel yesterday. 

Here it is...  

They are playing it a lot from now until the new series,
 "Out of Order" airs on April 17th.
 
Jack was so thrilled to see himself on national television last night. 
I love a good, genuine smile!

To celebrate his commercial
and the news that Tom cancelled his trip to Uganda this week,
I am making some tasty morsels
 from Ree Drummond's TV show, "Pioneer Woman". 

Meatloaf

2012 Ree Drummond, All Rights Reserved

Ingredients

Meatloaf:

• 1 cup milk
• 6 bread slices
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt, such as Lawry's
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup minced flat-leaf parsley
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 8 to 12 thin bacon slices

Tomato Sauce:

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 6 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• Dash or 2 hot sauce (more if you like)
• Dash or 2 Worcestershire sauce

Directions

For the meatloaf: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Pour the milk over the bread and allow it to soak in for several minutes. Place the ground beef, milk-soaked bread, Parmesan, salt, some pepper, seasoned salt and parsley in a large mixing bowl. Pour in the eggs. With clean hands, mix the ingredients until well combined.

Form the mixture into a loaf shape on a foil-lined broiler pan, which will allow the fat from the meat to drain.

Lay the bacon slices over the top, tucking them underneath the meatloaf to give the meatloaf some support.

Next, make the tomato sauce: Pour the ketchup into a bowl. Add the brown sugar and dry mustard, and splash in the hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Stir the mixture until well combined. Pour one-third of the sauce over the top of the meatloaf.

Bake for 45 minutes, and then pour over another one-third of the remaining tomato sauce over the meatloaf. Bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes; the meatloaf should be no longer pink in the middle. Allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.

Serve with the remaining tomato sauce on the side as a dipping sauce

Twice-Baked New Potatoes

2012 Ree Drummond All Rights Reserved

Ingredients

• 12 new potatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh chives
• 1 clove garlic, pressed
• Salt and pepper

 Directions 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Drizzle the potatoes with the olive oil and toss them to coat. Roast until the potatoes are tender and the skin is slightly crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.

Use a spoon or small scoop to remove the insides, leaving a small margin of potato intact.

To the scooped out potatoes, add the Monterey Jack, cream cheese, sour cream, chives, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Mash until the mixture is totally smooth. Give it a taste and add more salt if necessary.

Scoop the mixture into the potato shells. At this point you can cover and refrigerate them until dinnertime. When you're ready, bake the potatoes in the oven until golden brown on top.