Because

Because my day is so unbelievably busy and I didn't get home until 4:30 pm. Because I am on call right now at the hospital until 3:00 am tomorrow morning. Because we are busy planting trees this evening. Because it is 78 degrees and beautiful outside and I can't bear to turn on my stove or oven for that matter. Because we finally got our swingset up. Because we are in the process of putting up our basketball goal. Because I bought the kids a whole new box of sidewalk chalk. And some new sandbox goodies. Because Natalie has a basketball pizza party tonight. Because I am planning a big birthday party for Kassidy tomorrow evening. Because I just got done filling 300 Easter eggs for the big hunt for Kassidy's birthday party.

Those are the reasons we are each eating our favorite cereal for dinner this evening.

Amen.

***If you can believe it, I got "thank you's" and a big hug from one critic for my choice in fine dining this evening... ***

Another Recipe Found...

One of our favorite steak restaurants serves an amazing Grilled Steak Salad that I get every time I go there. I love it---just as its name implies, it is a fresh salad topped with grilled steak, grilled mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese. It has a unique flavor--mainly with the mushrooms.

Tonight I made Steak with Burgundy Mushroom Sauce and found the flavor I was looking for in the mushrooms! The mushrooms simmer with garlic, green onion, butter, and red wine to reduce to a rich, flavorful topping for your steak. I just pan fried the steak tonight, but it would have been even better had we grilled the steak.

Love is an understatement for the feelings my critics have for steak. Another summertime staple for us is grilled steak salads. Not all of them have that same love for mushrooms. So therefore, some smiled at the steak and frowned at the mushrooms. Steak with Burgundy Mushroom Sauce is especially good if you like mushrooms. How is that for stating the obvious here?

It's the flavor I've been searching for in my steak salad, and once again PW came through for me. I love that gal.

The BEST Chicken Salad Ever.

YUM!!!!!!!!!!! And that is about all I can say about this. This recipe for chicken salad is somewhat similar to my "used to be favorite" chicken salad recipe that I loved. Little did I know that I could love another one even more. And Steve agrees fully. He even commented "this sandwich is like what you get at those specialty deli's". We love sandwiches here and eat them frequently especially during the summertime--so I am SO glad to add this to the list!

There was one and only one critic who dismantled his sandwich and left the dinner table only eating a half of an orange and a couple of strawberries. Landon didn't like it at all--and I was surprised by how much the girls liked them.

I used fresh rosemary and cilantro in the dressing which gave it a really fresh taste. I also only used chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken. To all of you who want something somewhat healthy out of PW--- This is it. Toast whole wheat bread, spread with Grey Poupon Mustard, and add fresh spinach and you've got a very yummy, fresh tasting, filling sandwich. I served it with fresh fruit tonight. And even without chips, the kiddos were full.

Well, maybe except for Landon...