Guess What...

My last blog entry was from the SUPER BOWL.  & This past weekend was Season 1 of the NFL.  So, without mentioning off-season conditioning and preseason activities, I am officially a "NFL Season Blogger." or something like that. 
Maybe I can claim I was on "Lock Out" for contract negotiations between myself & my computer?
Maybe I was injured during the last play of the Super Bowl (which I was... read my Super Bowl entry).  & just got cleared by my doctor... Yeah, that's it.

Either way, I'm back.  I think i will "theme" my blog so you can read about all my YMCA & Cooking adventures.  Because NOTHING is easy with Sara Lou.

The Super Bowl of Guacamole

My former supervisor advised me to write a book on my kitchen experiences.  This would be chapter 4, I think...

First, I need to say - I make awesome Guacamole.  And I don't use a packet.

Second, I do not have a recipe, necessarily.

Third, I have recently learned that I cut my avocados incorrectly.

I am not sure it matters, since after I cut the avocados, I squeeze their 'meat' out of their skins and then send them through the blades of my Magic Bullet. Bruising them as they are opened is the LEAST of the avocado's concern.  (But I will do Auntie Lois's method, because she's awesome and why would I stray from her advice?)

I decided to prepare my "Award Winning Guac*" for the Super Bowl party my mom and dad were hosting...

* Tim gave me the guac award, it might not count, but if Tim's happy - we're all happy.

My auntie Terri was very curious as to how the Magic Bullet works, since she's heard so much about them.  I zip the first half of the batch off into the M.B.'s Blender attachment.  Not very impressive since I didn't use enough Lime Juice (not having a recipe can sometimes hurt).  It took a few stirs, a few shakes & a couple more caps of lime juice before it was working.

Of course I managed to chew up the end of my mom's wooden spoon. 
...TURN OFF BLENDER
... WAIT FOR BLADES TO STOP
... THEN STICK IN SPOON...  Elementary (jr. high?) Home Econ, right?


I don't *think* any wood ended up in my guac.

Then, as I attempt to cut my avocado the "proper" way according to Auntie Lois, I manage to slice through the avocado & into my pinky.  Okay - in her defense at no time did Lois say "hold the avocado in your hand & cut TOWARDS your flesh".  But that's the Sara Way.  
I decided against the ambulance ride and the 72 stitches to reattach my finger.  2 Band-Aids and a scoop of Guacamole did the trick. 
(The scoop of Guacamole was for my mental health - not the wound.  I'm unaware of any healing powers in guacamole.  However, I have learned that the ONION can reattach fingers & heal large wounds... that's another story).
Cousin Carrie offered to work the knife for me since I was a little apprehensive.  


Spoon-ruined CHECK
Finger-injured   CHECK
Two Large Bowls of DELICIOUS homemade Guacamole   CHECK!

Another successful cooking story from Sara Lou.

The Super Bowl

It is the day after the Super Bowl.

As a committed fan of the Minnesota Vikings, it was SO hard to cheer for the Packers.  Yes, they are in our division & I should cheer for the Ol' NFC, but... the Packers? Come On! Any other NFC team but them!!!

I had a Catch-22 this year.  It seems like whatever team I have cheered for - has lost:
Example A: Obviously the Vikings kind of choked this season.   
Example B: AFC Wild Card Game - I have to cheer for the Indianapolis Colts.  They loose. 
Example C: NFC Wild Card Game - I can NOT cheer for the Packers, so I cheer for the Eagles... Eagles loose.

During the Divisional Play-offs, it goes a little better for "My Team".
I now am cheering for the Steelers - because my newest Sister In Law is from Pittsburgh & you cheer for family (Win!). 
I cheer for whoever is playing against the Patriots because those Big "Celebrity" teams & Tom Brady's Hair bug me (Patriots loose!!).
 I cheer for the Bears & the Packers to win because I'm mad at the Falcons for the past (1998 Playoffs).  & I think a Bears/Packers game in the playoffs would.be.awesome. Go Bears.

Check.Check.Check.

But the Bears eventually loose to the Packers (because I'm cheering for them, of course).  The curse continues.

Looking at a Steelers/Packers Super Bowl, puts me in a quandary.  Do I cheer for the Packers, in hopes they loose - or stay true to my purple-blood & cheer for "whoever is playing the Pack"... knowing it is a curse & that poor team will succumb to my poison.

Well, however the stars aligned last night, I cheered for the Steelers (except an occasion or two when I thought the Green jerseys were Black & thought the Steelers made an awesome plays - just to be told I was cheering for the wrong team).

And this morning, the Packers are Super Bowl XLV Champions.