Father's Day and The Grill

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend, and all the fathers out there were celebrated and loved on. I played in a golf tournament with my dad on Saturday, and we spent Sunday lounging by the pool and drinking margaritas: exactly how I like it. My brother wanted to cook out for dinner, so mom and I followed his directions Sunday afternoon and put the steaks in the marinade while he drove back from San Antonio.

Marinade for four large steaks:

2 cups BBQ sauce (your favorite!)

1 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 cups Italian dressing

In the meantime, I watched a few hours of the golf, swam in the pool, and then dad let me try out his faux polo pony. I haven't been on a horse in years, so it was a little awkward.

Especially in a dress...

My brother got home and the cooking began. I'm trying to make this coincide with Monday Meals, but the truth is, I don't know much about grilling out. I've watched a lot, but I can't really tell you much about the process. I guess just...cut into the steaks to know when they're done, and grill the onions until they are soft and see-through. And buy some pre-made garlic bread from United. That's the best money you'll ever spend on food. Ever.

So much focus.

We've hardly ever marinaded and I think a lack of forethought is to blame. But these steaks were so tender and flavorful that I hope I remember to marinade every time from now on. We ate outside as the day slid into night, and the twilight hours were balmy and calm. We drank a great bottle of red and passed out cards and presents to the man of the hour. Dad's are the best, and especially mine.

Those glasses.

I hope you were able to spend some time with the father figures in your life yesterday, or at the very least, showed them how much you love them.

Moral of the Story: The Grocery Store

I love the grocery store. LOVE it. You push your little cart along, you don't have to carry your massive purse, and you peruse all the food and think about things that you could cook. It's like an extended quiet time, a little vacation where you are alone with your thoughts and food. And what could be better?

Most people prepare for their trip to the grocery. They've done their meal planning for the week and know all the ingredients they need to get. I applaud them, but I am not one of those people. Besides the few things that I put on a list that I absolutely need, I mostly just wander around and grab things off shelves. Here are a few things I've learned in my years of grocery shopping:

1. Always get the smaller cart, if you have the option -- especially if you shop for one. I used to get the big one thinking that my shopping list was so huge that I would probably need another one before I headed for the check out line. But that is never the case. And I hate the handheld baskets because they get heavy after the fourth jar of pasta sauce.

2. Get produce first -- Most grocery stores seem to be set up so that you hit this section first anyway, but I find it easier to maintain the facade that you're going to be healthy and good if you see your cart fill up with fruits and veggies first. But then I hit the chip aisle and it's usually downhill from there... so I've really learned nothing here, have I? Well, good intentions and all that, I guess.

3. Networking -- I see literally the world at United on a random Tuesday night. And it'll be the one time in the week that I have no makeup on and probably just worked out and am sweaty and panting like a bulldog. It's okay, though, I always say hi and try to chit chat a bit. You never know what being nice to someone will do for them, or you!

4. Try to avoid the bakery section, but never skip the gourmet cheese section -- I get trapped amongst the thumbprint cookies and oversized chocolate cupcakes. So I avert my gaze to the little thing that holds the brie, gouda, swiss, blue and asiago cheeses and choose to believe that it is healthier for me than the cookies.

5. Always take a sample -- I mean, obviously. #samsclub

6. Don't be too good for grocery store wine -- the grocery store that I go to sells a Meiomi pinot noir that I love, and the liquor stores around here don't. Shocking, but it's true.


I'd love to know, do you have any routines or rules for the grocery store?