Happy Birthday Josh!

Unfortunately on Sunday, Josh celebrated his 37th year on this earth with aches and pains, fatigue and a cruddy, drippy, coughy (and not the good kind of coffee) sore throat. We tried to make the best of it by stocking up on cold medicines, hot tea and cold and flu relief bath salts with tea tree and eucalyptus.

On Saturday, I took Josh to dinner at Marcello's Wine Market and Cafe, which is one of our favorite restaurants. He soldiered through and we had a great time. The meal and service were awesome.

On Sunday, we ventured out again to have birthday breakfast. I gave Josh two new McSweeny's t-shirts to start the day as part one of his birthday present.

We attempted to seize the day and have fun, but we didn't last long. At about 3 p.m. we began to fade, so we took a birthday nap instead. Well, I took a nap on the couch and Josh said he was going to lay down in bed and read, but I suspect he dozed off too.

When I woke up, I made a delicious chicken noodle soup and a birthday cake. Earlier in the day when I asked Josh about his favorite cake he said it was either chocolate cake with no icing or the sheet cake from elementary school with a simple glaze frosting. So I attempted to make my own version of that with my trusted Betty Crocker Butter Recipe Chocolate Cake mix and a half batch of the frosting minus pecans from The Pioneer Woman's Classic Chocolate Sheet Cake. The results weren't half bad.

After our soup and cake, I gave Josh the second part of his birthday present ... and this is the exciting part -- 100 square feet of antique brick pavers for the floor of our sunroom/library. More on that project to come.

Josh went to the doctor today and was diagnosed with a sinus infection. He got a cortisone shot, antibiotics and a nasal spray. So he should be feeling much better pretty soon, but if you ask me I'll attribute it to the special healing powers of my chicken soup.

The following is my recipe for a happy birthday even when you have a sinus infection.

Easy Chicken Soup
1 large yellow onion chopped
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 celery stalks, halved lengthwise and chopped
1.5 - 2 cups shredded carrots (or chopped whole or baby or frozen whatever you like)
1 box chicken stock
1 bay leaf
assorted other fresh herbs (such as thyme) to taste (I used a couple dashes of italian and montreal grilled chicken seasoning because it's what I had)
~4 cups water
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast chopped in to large chunks
1/2 cup orzo (or other small pasta)
fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper
tony chachere's seasoning

Chop and saute onion with crushed garlic in the butter and olive oil. When the onion is wilted and clear, add celery, carrots, broth, water and bay and herbs/seasoning. Bring to a boil. Wash and chop chicken in large chucks (so it will cook faster) season with salt and pepper and/or a little tony's. Add chicken to boiling stock, lower heat to strong simmer, cover and cook until chicken is done. Remove chicken to bowl and shred into small pieces with a fork. Return chicken to soup, return to boil and add pasta. When pasta is cooked al dente add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and adjust seasoning to taste. Cover and simmer til ready to serve. Enjoy.

Butter Recipe Chocolate Cake with Elementary School Throw-back Frosting

Betty Crocker Butter Recipe Chocolate Cake
Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Pour batter into greased 9x13 inch pan, bake according to package.

Throw-back Frosting
1 stick of butter
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
Powdered sugar (see below for amount)

Melt one stick of butter in a saucepan, add 2-3 tablespoons cocoa powder. Stir until dissolved. Add 3 tablespoons milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Stir or whisk. Add some powdered sugar (I wasn't very precise). I had an open 1lb bag of powdered sugar and I dumped less than half of that in the sauce pan - I have no idea of the measurement - so I'm going to say less than half of a one pound bag of powdered sugar. Stir to combine the chocolate and sugar, use a whisk to remove lumps. Remove from heat, keep warm - or rewarm and whisk before frosting the cake. Pour over warm chocolate cake and spread to coat the top. Serve with a glass of ice cold milk and in this case, a candle. Deelish!

Is that a cane you are madly brandishing, or are you...no wait, it's clearly a cane.

Dear MadWoman raving at vehicles from your motorized wheelchair while rolling/driving the wrong way down one of our city's most heavily trafficked four-laners,

Are you actually that angry at every other thing on the road (i.e. things that are supposed to be there)? Does brandishing that cane at us seem, in your rage-muddled brain, an appropriate response to whatever is bothering you?

I have decided to chalk it up to contraindicating "medicines." Cocaine is a medicine, right? What about Drano? The wet stuff in Swiffer Sheets? I am pretty sure Deep-Woods off is ok to huff, as long you chase it with 40 ounces of room temperature St. Ides. Chemistry is hard.

Cordially, which is to say, Godspeed, You Glorious Lunatic! Teach Deep Woods Off a lesson!

concerned driver #12