Soaking it all in

My mom had a pretty good health scare around Memorial Day Weekend. It scared the whole family actually. There is nothing that makes your heart sink worse than getting a phone call from your brother saying they are headed to the emergency room. Mom looked weak, pale and fragile. She had severe pneumonia and the added stress also led to a mild heart attack. She was placed in ICU but within three days, moved to a regular room for one night and then released. I was planning to visit mom and dad for Memorial Day weekend anyway, but the call ramped me into full gear and soon my three dogs and I were Chattanooga bound. My parents are up there in years, both 89, and up until this incident mom was relatively healthy. Dad too. Luckily the fact that they eat well and live right meant my mom was soon on the road to recovery. My dad and I learned to monitor her medications, prep the nebulizer treatments and make sure her oxygen lines were clear and everything was running smoothly. But mom...

What’s not to love about the Fourth of July? Well the smell of burning hair might be one thing. Typically scorched hair isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a fun family gathering celebrating the summer holiday. I come from a big family. And this particular summer the Fourth of July party was going to be in our backyard. I lived in a two story house in Little Havana, which is actually in Miami, Fla., not Cuba. It was a section of Miami where a large group of Cuban immigrants migrated to and made it their own version of home. There was a traditional Cuban bakery on almost every block. In between the bakeries you had your local butcher shops and produce markets, which carried the typical Cuban items like yucca, plantains, Latin spices and of course religious statues and candles. It was going to be a huge gathering so dad set up massive tables across the back yard, while mom prepared the grand meal. Earlier in the day I went with my mother in the family statio...

Here is an important safety message for anyone about to chow down on pizza, pasta or any other food that might be topped with cheese. HOT CHEESE BURNS! It seems that this would be common knowledge, but I am willing to bet I’m not the first person who bit into a fresh piping hot pizza too soon. The cheese latches on to the roof of your mouth and within seconds the blisters form. The next day you spend hours feeling the blisters with your tongue. Not too long ago, I had a major four-alarm fire experience worthy of this little write up. With summer in full swing (based on recent temperatures since it technically isn’t summer until June 20) I cleaned up my grill and had a few friends over for a Bison juicy Lucy. A juicy Lucy is a burger that is stuffed with cheese instead of topped with cheese. I first learned about them from the true school of cooking, aka, the Food Network. I had some ground bison from a recent purchase at the Georgia Buffalo Ranch and Trading Post in Townsend...

I am deathly afraid of cockroaches. It doesn’t matter if it’s a tiny baby one or full sized monster. I recall growing up in South Florida cockroaches or palmetto bugs as they are commonly known were a nuisances most homes had to deal with. I can trace this fear of the nasty and fully winged adult creature back to when I was about six years old. One of the perks of living in Miami as a child was that Walt Disney World was a mere four hour drive and, back then, quite affordable even for a family of four. School was out for the summer, dad had time off from work and mom had packed up the suitcases. The morning we were heading out mom woke us up around 5 a.m. It was still dark outside and I was barely awake but dressed. Dad sat me down on his recliner as he went off to wake up my brother and pack up the car. Mom was busy washing last minute dishes and prepping snacks for the road trip. Rocking back and forth I soon drifted into a wondrous slumber filled with Disney visions. Thoughts ...

During a recent grocery store spree I came across a seafood item that quickly brought back a delightful yet painful memory. I have many fond childhood memories of going out fishing with my dad. There was one fishing spot we frequented often – Card Sound Road Bridge near Homestead, Fla. This road is only one of two thoroughfares that connects the mainland to the Florida Keys, the other being U.S. 1. When it was first constructed Card Sound Road had a wooden drawbridge. It connects northern section of the Florida Keys to the mainland and is in the middle of Biscayne National park and bay. The original drawbridge was destroyed by fire in the mid-1940s. For several years the road was closed. In 1969 construction was completed on a new high-span bridge and the road re-opened. The older section of the bridge, directly under the new span, was set up as a catwalk for the public to fish from. There were many times my dad, uncle and I would head out to go night fishing there. It was well...

I have a few friends who are always talking about the different diets they’ve tried or are currently trying in their attempt to drop a few pounds or at the very least eat healthier. Some of my friends have done well on their endeavors. Then there are others who have just no clue. I love food hence the reason I don’t diet. I prefer to enjoy a little bit of everything in moderation and then try to do some exercise or activity that will help maintain my weight or burn extra calories to drop a few pounds. There is no way I would have ever survived certain diets if I had attempted them. Take for example the grapefruit diet. Don’t get me wrong, I love grapefruit but not 24-7-365. Day one would have been OK, but by day two it would be something along the lines of this. Let’s see, another grapefruit or this bowl of pasta salad lightly dressed with olive oil and parmesan cheese…hmmm……..ummm…yeah PASTA SALAD. Now don’t start slamming me with emails saying I’m a diet hater, far from it. But...

It’s the perfect thing to grab for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The perfect blend of protein and carbs all put together in an easy to carry, no plate needed, grab and go package. Well that’s my take on pizza and I am sticking to it. Seriously, who doesn’t love a slice of pizza, loaded with molten melted cheese and all the delectable toppings you desire. Bring it! During my younger years I stuck to my all-time favorite – pepperoni. Of course adding bacon, ham and sausage for the ultimate meat-lovers pie soon followed. That was soon followed by blending my craving of Mexican food to all things pizza and serving up the nacho-pizza supreme or the taco delight thin crust. What? You never heard of those….too bad they are delish. That is the wondrous thing about pizza, there are no limits, especially if you are willing to make your own. Wait –what? Can’t I just pick up the phone and order one? Of course you can and several local chain pizzerias offer an array of topping choices ...