Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The Next Food Network Star

This past Sunday night, Robert and I watched the season finale of The Next Food Network Star. I was rooting for Melissa since the first episode because I liked her story. She was the only person competing who wasn't a chef. She is a stay at home Mom who cooks for her family.

Sunday night the final two did their pilot episodes, and Melissa made Flexible 4-Step Chicken for Family and Company - Rustic Lemon-Onion Chicken and 5-Minute Individual Potato Gratins. I told Robert I would make that dish for dinner this week.

Tonight, I made Melissa's two yummy dishes, and on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being I wouldn't feed my cats this stuff to 5 being a dish I would put on the Bonner menu, it was a 5. I did make a couple of changes to the original recipe. I didn't use purple onions. While I love purple onions, I like them in salads, and on hamburgers and in guacamole. The sauce Melissa made looked a bit purple from the onions, so I used a yellow onion instead. Robert isn't a fan of spinach unless it's the Spinach Supreme from Del Friscos or the Spinach Artichoke Dip from Houstons. Instead of the bed of steamed spinach, I steamed broccoli with a pinch of salt, and little bit of lemon. It complimented the chicken really well. I also sauté some mushrooms to go with the chicken.

Melissa's new show Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian premieres Sunday at 12:30pm/11:30c. on Food Network.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Spring Storm

We had some wicked weather blow through tonight. I’m usually not afraid of storms, but I certainly did not like this particular storm since I was home alone with two cats. I can remember that horrible outbreak of tornadoes we had back in the 70s. My Mom and I were sitting on our closed-in back porch on Greenbrier waiting for a let up in one of the storms. I had my rain coat and hat on. All of a sudden, she said “Let’s make a run for it!” and off we went towards the car. My hat flew off and I made her go after it in the pouring rain. We drove down Airline and the roads were flooding. We were trying to get to our church, Canterbury House, as we knew there was a basement there. I spent the afternoon with my Mom, Rita and Lula while my sisters were stuck at school. I tried to sneak up the stairs to see the black skies, and I did catch one glimpse. I’ll never forget how black the sky was that day.

The skies got dark again, but I was too busy high tailing it to our spare bedroom closet to really take a good look at them. And since I wasn’t about to let Emma and Elliot blow to Kansas without me, they went to the closet too:






Elliot did a great job of sitting next to me using the clothes that were hung as protection for his head. Emma on the other hand, sat up against the door trying to paw her way out. She did not enjoy being in such close quarters with Elliot. In fact, the vet might need to up her dosage of Kitty Prozac after tonight.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Various Sites Around Bonner Manor


We had a soaker rain last weekend. After the rain stopped and the sky started to clear, I found a beautiful Cardinal singing.



This morning I woke extra early hoping to catch the Lyrid meteor shower. I didn't see any meteors, but I did catch this beautiful shot of the crescent Moon and Venus in the eastern sky.



Elliot is still here with us, and has made himself home. I have called my Mom and asked her if she would like to have her cat back, but as you can see his perfectly happy, considering that's Emma's bed that he has taken over. Emma sleeps with us, and she won't let Elliot on the bed while she's on it. I moved his, correction, Emma's bed, to our bedroom and put it next to my nightstand. When I got scared and couldn't sleep, I would take my pillows and blanket and make a pallet next to my Mom's side of her and Dad's bed, curl up on the floor and go to sleep without even waking them. Elliot does the same thing. He quietly comes into the room and curls up in "his bed" on the floor that is next to me and goes right to sleep.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Mad Scientist Part Duex


Just about everyone in my family knows I call my brother-in-law the “Mad Scientist.” I say this because we all have nicknames for one another, and because I really do respect the man’s work. So, it should come to no surprise that his offspring likes to do scientific things. This is particularly true when it comes to my niece, Taylor, who is on her way to Bob Jones University for the AACS National Competition in science this week.

I was thinking back to my elementary school days at Hyer and remembering doing those dreaded science fair projects. Taylor has been working on her project since last summer. I thought four to six weeks was long enough time to come up with a hypothesis, and gather enough data to write a five paragraph paper. I guess not! At any rate, this is a big deal for Taylor. She has been fighting her way through many of “life’s not fair” incidences when it comes to various projects since the 8th grade. Last year was especially brutal when she decided to study the habitat of crawfish, and did a great job on her project. When it came time to present the project to judges, one judge said to her, “I don’t know what your project has to do with environment. The only good thing about crawfish is eating them.” Get that lady a craw boil, and a bib, because I guess she was ready sit down and have herself a food fest like they do in Louisiana!

This year, Taylor came back fighting and placed 1st in her category in her school. She advanced onto State where the judges felt her work was excellent, they felt it wasn’t good enough for her to go onto compete at the National level. I’m not exactly sure where they came up with the silly idea to technically give her first place, but not let her advance. Nevertheless, it all got worked out and she is on her way.

To my sweet girl (she loves the fact she is only girl cousin in the family, which I hope to change someday). I love you, and am so very proud of you. Always remember to be proud of who you are and what you have accomplished.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Ode To Josh

Last week in my niece Taylor’s English class, she was given as assignment to write a poem about herself. Since she didn’t want to write about herself, she decided to write about the people in her life. Sister Michelle e-mailed me the poem that she wrote about her cousin, Josh. Josh and Taylor are six weeks apart in age. Their relationship has always gone beyond the realms of a cousin you see from time to time. They’re like brother and sister, a friend you can count on, and one of the joys of my life has been watching them grow up. I can hardly believe they’ll be 17 this summer.

Ode to Josh

Oh cousin, how I love you.
Even though you smashed your face in my cake when we were two.
Or five...

The age escapes my mind.

I love watching you run from Emma the cat...
I can always find humor in that.
Every morning you play XBOX Live in your underwear...
And it always made me feel scared.

Because you seem to think the XBOX is a whore...
Or some other cuss word that would come through my door.

I remember tent time

Oh I am so happy you were born.

Now that I have written you this ode,
Will you please tell me,
What you were to tell Bree-Bree?

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Are Colon Cleanses All The Rage?

Last summer, I was sitting at the salon getting my hair cut and colored. My stylist and I were talking about workouts and what not. Out of nowhere, this lady walks up to me and says, "I overheard you saying you are struggling to lose weight, and I want to share with you what I did. Cleansing is the way to go."


I look at her, and tell her I've seen and heard a lot about those products. I mean , I see e-mails daily that say, “Lose 10 pounds a week doing a cleanse!” Or, seeing that lovely infomercial when I can’t sleep at night about colon cleansing. And those colonic spas? Ewww. I really don’t need to know how healthy my crap is.

Back to the lady who craps for a living. She decided to give me her sales pitch. "I'm no longer a housewife.” (Why is this a bad thing?) I was a SIZE 12, a PORKER, and now I'm a 4." At this point, I wanted to say, "Honey, you don't look good, you look anorexic." Her face was severely sun damaged, and sunken in. How is that healthy? A size 12 is horrid? Holy crap, I would be happy as a peach as a size 12.

She just got back from Arizona from this product she's pushing. That's where the sun damage must have came from.

She has 74 clients, and everyone at the country club is asking her what did she do to lose the weight.

I decided to grill her. Here were my questions.
1. How often do you work out? "Ohh about 4 times a week, but I don't do weights, I just do the elliptical." Thought to self: That's at least a 500 calorie burn a day.
2. What do you eat? "The plan says 1 shake for breakfast, they want you to eat food for lunch, around 600 calories." I interrupt her, "Wait, you eat ONLY 600 calories aday?" She says, "NO, they want you to eat 600 calories total for lunch." Thought to self: BULL, and BULL you eat that much. "For dinner I have another shake." Thought to self again: That's the Slimfast plan. Give me a break.
3. What are the protein and sugar contents of the shakes? "Ohhhh really good." Thought to self: Way to know your product lady.
4. And how much is all of this? "About $250-300 a month." WHAT???! I could buy a new Louis Vuitton for 2 months worth of that stuff!

THE ABSOLUTE BEST PART? She does parties at home, AND you can eat chocolate! No! I told her that piece of chocolate that she was trying to give me would give me a migraine.

Then, she told me the products are all organic. Ummm wouldn't organic fruits and vegetables do the same thing? Clean you out and keep the harmful toxins out of your body? It gets better.
The protein in the shakes comes from... wait... NEW ZEALAND because they don't use hormones in any of their foods. Well then, if it comes from New Zealand, sign me up!

The woman who does my color is the manager of the salon. I love Lisa. She is about as down to earth as they get doing color day in and day out for women from The Bubble. As I was leaving the salon, I told her about the lady trying to sell me her crap-o-rama product. Her comment was priceless:

"I'll stick to Ivory, thanks."

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

What's In A Name



I decided to carve out a little part of the Internet for the Bonner household. I thought it would be quite fitting that my first blog post is on St. Patrick’s Day. After all, I married this feisty red-head guy whose life mission is to dress up in armor, with all his swords, and return to the mother land. We could probably save a bundle by just going to the yearly Irish Festival at Fair Park, but since Robert works in the 24/7 world of IT, that didn’t happen. At least not this year.

I’m not completely sure Robert’s ancestors came from Ireland. They may have roamed around England or France. Robert fits the description: Red hair, a temper (only when I push his buttons) and someone who loves to knock back beer that isn’t ice cold. It’s just more fun to assume his people are from Ireland.

What did we do today to celebrate? Absolutely nothing. No green beer, no chasing rainbows, no looking for lucky leprechauns. Instead I sat home alone watching American Idol—where this week’s choice of music for the top eleven to sing was not from the song book of Celtic Woman. There is a lovely dinner waiting for Robert of Corned Beef, Cabbage, and Green Beans with New Potatoes when he gets home from work.



I remember as I was planning our wedding, I was so excited that my name would change. Growing up hearing the big meanies on the playground call you Fender-Bender, asking, “Are you related to Freddy Fender?” to “Are you one those Fender Guitar people?” just got old. OK, the last one wasn’t so bad. Then to my horror, I realized Bonner wasn’t much better, especially when some moron in a dentist’s office called me Mrs. Boner shortly after we were married. Are you kidding me? I quickly correctly him saying, “It’s Bon-ner.” Last time I checked that tacky word had only one ‘n’ not two. I realize the name Bonner can be pronounced several different ways, including the pronunciation of the tacky word and the English language for the most part is backasswards, but I’m taking a stand right here: Bon-ner pronounced ˈbä-nər’ is the way you say our family name. I also vow to any of my future children, God willing, that if he or she comes home crying from school saying, “Mom, everyone laughed when the teacher said my last name,” that I will hunt that teacher down and do the Riverdance on his or her face.