Thirty-Five Years

I am behind on many things but this one just couldn't wait any longer! I think of things I want to share all day long, and then before I know it it is the end of the day and those thoughts are all still trapped in this head of mine.  Hang on, this is a good one.

35 years and 3 days ago, two teenagers, one of which was still in high school, made a commitment to love and cherish one another "until death do us part." Or as more famously in my family, they exchanged rings and my nervous18-years-by-3-days old father said, "with this wing, I thee red!" In Lightner tradition, I'm sure he did turn red! :)

But there they stood, two kids who started dating in junior high, in front of their family and friends in a rented dress and tux and scared, excited, and not having a clue what life would hold for them.

Powdered blue and all.

It was what I assume a fairly simple wedding but it has been a spectacular marriage.  Of course partly because I am a product of it ;) But they have stood together through thick and thin, for richer or poorer, and in sickness and in health.  My sisters and I couldn't have more loving and wonderful parents and I know that all of us hope that we can come close to being as great of parents as them.

I have often written or said that my father is my hero. And he is.  This man was 18 when he got married, 20 when he became a father and 27 when he moved his wife and 3 daughters to Texas to start a career with a new company.  He worked long hours and traveled often but made sure he was home for birthdays and every Friday night for those Texas football games where he proudly sat at the 50 yard line and tried to catch one of the footballs his basketball-playing-turned-cheerleader daughter tried to throw to him. (I was about 80% on accuracy! Again, he taught me how to throw a mean spiral on a little football!) He supported us both financially and emotionally through dance recitals, pageants, little league and cheerleading competitions. Since he had three daughters, he also worked on weekends or whenever he could putting air conditioners into homes.  You try spending 8 hours in a shell of a home on a summer day in Texas. He is still invincible in my mind however, I still insist he always wears a helmet on his motorcycle! I love you Daddy.

One thing I haven't said often enough is that my mother is also my hero.  She too was an 18 year old who has dedicated her life to my father and us girls.  Now that I am a mother, I can truly appreciate how much she did for us and am still trying to figure out how exactly she did it.  It is from her and her parents that I have developed such a love of food and cooking.  I have watched her love on her family for 30 years now and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't do something that she taught me. She supports us even when she doesn't want to and loves us unconditionally.  Our home was always a loving place and our friends from growing up still call to update her on life and I'm sure if my parents still lived in Texas there would be a steady flow of visitors even though us girls are all moved out.  She is amazing and one of my best friends.

I would love to share with you so many of the fabulous dinners that my mom makes but since I know she is one of the few who follows my blog, and is doing an amazing job at dieting, I don't want to start a craving SO this is a lean and green meal just for the two of them.

Shamrock Salad (Yes, I know, I should have put this out before St. Paddy's day.  It has just been too beautiful to keep me inside long enough to post!)

Simple, yummy, and healthy!

Bake or grill a chicken breast per 2 people that you are feeding.  If you buy organic or Amish chicken, you can probably do 1 per person since they aren't as big and more natural.  I just lightly seasoned my with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper before baking for about 30 minutes. While that cooks, break off the woody end of some asparagus and but them on a baking sheet.  Drizzle some olive oil and a bit of salt and pepper over them and then toss with your hands to coat.  Put these in the oven the last 15 minutes or so of your chicken baking.

Now, make your dressing.  In a mason jar, pour in about 1/2 cup of SEASONED Rice vinegar.  Add to that about 2 TBSP olive oil, a TBSP of dijon mustard, about a clove or minced garlic (you can omit this if you want) a 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and some salt a pepper to taste.  Shake it all up good.

In a bowl put in your greens of choice.  We had Romain, Boston Bib, and Spinach.  Slice your asparagus and chicken into bite sized pieces and throw them in there.  Now the best part, slice up (I cube) an avocado and add that to your salad.  Toss with some dressing and dig in!

Mmmm, my stomach just growled.