2 posts in one week!

I know, this is a huge deal that I am posting twice in one week, but I HAD to share this recipe. Some of the other player's girlfriend's and I made this last night for about 20 guys and they loved it. It's hard to figure out what can be made in bulk without compromising flavor, and this turned out perfect.

Red Beans and Rice

1 package Turkey Kielbasa, chopped (we used 10 packages:))
1 onion
1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 tsp cumin, or to taste
1 tbsp butter
2 c. bismati rice, cooked according to package directions

1. Heat butter in skillet. Add onions and saute until lightly browned.
2. Add kielbasa and saute until hot.
3. Add kidney beans, cooked rice and cumin and mix until heated through.

That's it. So. Stinkin'. Easy. We served it with cornbread and the boys went wild over it.

Par for the Course

Here we are documenting our hilarious lives. In case you aren't already aware, Thomas was injured in Saturday's game against NC State. He hasn't experienced a "serious" injury since we've been married, so I was having a slight panic attack in the stands when someone notified me #65 was down. I had no clue what to do or where to go after I saw him go off the field on crutches, so I did what the other man in my life (my father) said to do, aka "stay put and stop worrying." Yeah, right. 5 minutes of me sitting with my head between my legs later, I received a text from an unknown number saying "hey its Thomas, what's up?" WHAT'S UP?! THAT'S ALL YOU'VE GOT?! Funny husband, really funny. Long story short, Thomas sprained the middle part of his left foot. Happy Birthday Thomas...

I'd already asked Coach Swinney if Thomas could ride home with me for an extra special birthday present, and I was planning to take him for his first visit to Ruth's Chris. However, we just couldn't see ourselves traipsing into an upscale restaurant with Thomas on crutches, in sweats, and with a special ice machine in tow. Sadly, I called and cancelled the reservations. We ate at Outback instead. Thomas was happy because he said he didn't know what he was missing at Ruth's Chris....what a shame.

I told Thomas I would do whatever I needed to do this week to help him get on the field for the UVA game, which will be his final home game . In sickness and in health..... right?? I began regretting this statement about .5 seconds after I found myself getting ready for church Sunday morning in the West End Zone locker room as I waited for Thomas to get treatment on his foot. Since then he has gone to treatment 4x a day (beginning at 5:45am), and needed me to drive him places at precisely the most inconvenient times. I've reminded myself many times this week that this is just the "normal" that the Lord saw fit for our lives. It is not that different or unique from anyone else's, and we're just called to be prepared for anything and roll with the punches.

9x13 Appetizers

I'm not sure if I've said this before, but fajita night in our 3ftX6ft kitchen is CHAOS. Add to that the fact that these boys can put away TWO 9x13 appetizers every single week. Add to that the fact that 5 boys ate an entire appetizer before anyone else arrived and dug into the second before I could stop them. Thankfully my friend Brooke intervened and hid the second appetizer so when the rest of the guys arrived they could actually have some.



The aftermath:





This week I threw the appetizer into aluminum pans because the dishes are just too much to handle. The guys BEG me to make it every week and I can't let them down. It really is so easy for a large crowd, and not too bad for the arteries either. Here is the beloved recipe:





8oz. cream cheese, softened (I use fat free and they can't tell the difference)


2 cans turkey chili


2 c. shredded cheddar cheese





-spread the cream cheese in the bottom of a 9x13 Pyrex. Pour the chili on top. Spread the cheddar on as the final layer.


-bake at 350 for 20 minutes.


-be sure to cool the appetizer for about 5 minutes. Just ask Thomas' taste buds....



And last but not least, here is a picture of what the guys do post-fajitas.

Everyone sits around as four people play Mario Cart. I'm sure this is a load of fun for the four people playing Mario Cart, but for the rest of us its B-O-R-I-N-G. But for some reason, they all sit around and watch each other play anyway and yell and scream and make all the dogs in our neighborhood bark. So, I guess I'm the only one who thinks its boring.