Between U.S.A. and Spain.

ANGRY BRIDE CAULIFLOWER

Many, many, many, centuries ago... in a land, far, far, far, away....there 

was an ancient tribal clan called the ARAGONI-KUKUS. These people 

adored the cauliflower, goddess of marital bliss.

 

So important was this flower-plant to them, that brides married 

while holding one, adorned with  twigs, beetles, feathers, moss, pine

nuts, sparrow eggs, deer hoofs, bunny tails, squirrel bones, boar's 

teeth, and  whatever else they found in the forest to make it look

a little  prettier....

That is... until a certain clan- bride, Princess Me, holding her heavy

cauliflower-bouquet... was stood up by her Kuku fiancee, at Stone Altar

Church of Kukus!!!

                             OOOPS!!!

Princes Me, embarrassed and ANGRY, cried all the way to her castle-hut,

and took vengeance upon her Kuku fiancee  by casting a spell on the 

cauliflower- bouquet that he may never be loved by any woman, including

the ugly ones! She proceeded to  wash all adornments off, separated the 

florets, and threw them into salted boiling water, while saying GRRRR....

GRRRRR!!!

 

When the cauliflower was tender but firm, She strained it...and 

wondered what to do with it next....

  

She was depressed, she was hungry, and the forbidden cauliflower

was looking good to her! Her mind started wondering... She had some

flour...hmmmm...and her  pet chicken had laid a few eggs so ...she

covered the florets in the flour.

 

Then, she beat some eggs...added some salt and laughing, threw

them in the eggs...

Princess Me tested the oil by dropping a few drops of egg..and laughed loudly

thinking what she would like to do to her fiancee.....(It was the momentary

anger....she was a sweet girl. Put yourself in her straw shoes!)

 

She saw it was time...and dropped the cauliflower  carefully in  the hot oil.

When they were all  looking golden brown and yummy she took them out

and drained them on ancient world paper towels to absorb the extra oil...

The princess tasted one, and thought it was DELICIOUS!  And, since she was

still ANGRY she ate it ALL!!! When she finished her last bite she felt full and

happy...and thought humbling the goddess of marital bliss to everyday food 

felt even better!!! So she made huge baskets of fried cauliflower and took it

to town where every Kuku tasted it and started adoring the cauliflower in 

a different way...and never were they used as bridal bouquets again!!!

                        INSTEAD THEY USED BEETS!!!

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD SALAD

Dedicated  with love to my sister Maribel, who taught me how to

make this dish in Madrid, 25 years ago...and I still love it!!!

It was Thursday, my day off, and I was heading to the supermarket to buy 

some very needed groceries. It was one of those weeks...I was down to some

milk, ham, mayonnaise ....wilted lettuce...an empty juice bottle...ugh... a couple of

tuppers filled with who knows what from who knows when...two onions and a 

bag of frozen ciabbatta rolls.

Ready to open door, I reached for my keys in the drawer of the foyer's table...

But, they were not there! I shouted, "OH, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD...where are my 

keys?", then searched frantically in my purse....I searched the house, high and low.

NOTHING!!!!!!! 

Well, I was trapped with nothing to eat in my own house. Maybe I can call Sandra

and ask her to bring lunch. I dialed her number, and as she said hello, it went

dead..."OH, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD...I can't believe this!!!".  Let me tell you, 

I looked for my cell phone's charger  high and low, and as my nerves got worse

 I noticed I was hyperventilating...OOPS, I needed one of these:

 

But I didn't find one.... maybe an Ingles' plastic bag will do, I thought as I 

looked under the kitchen sink....but it was like this:

 

I was doomed...suddenly, I had an idea. A good cook can always make something

of nothing and so I decided to forget I was temporarily stranded in my own house

and took the ham out of the fridge...

 

 

There was about 3/4 lbs.

As I sliced it ...I thought about 

those keys again...afterward I 

put it back in the cold, and went

for the onions!

 

I sliced them into very thin

rings, cried like a fool and

said, "OH, FOR CRYING OUT

LOUD...why are spanish onions

so mean to me!".

 I added 1 cup of water, salt and 

covered them with plastic wrap

then microwaved for 15 minutes

on high until they wilted and became

translucent.

I strained them and added half a cup

of the liquid.

While still hot, I added the ham,

the Hellman's Mayonnaise and 

gave it a twirl to mix well. 

 
OOOPS, the mayo became very 

liquid...but , I figured the cold would

fix it. What do I have to loose?

MY KEYS???

Into the refrigerator it went...

As I suspected, the cold made 

the mayonnaise really creamy

and yummy! I toasted some 

ciabatta bread and VOILA ...

LUNCH!!!!!!! 

Once I finished wiping clean my plate with a piece of bread, I felt much better!

Then, it came to me....did I look in Alonso's cart? The one filled with a million 

Hot Wheels? I dashed to his room and turned the cart upside down and said

"OH, FOR CRYING OUT LOOOOUUUUD ...there they are!!!!!".

 THAT LITTLE RASCAL.... he took MY keys for HIS cars!!!

MENOPAUSAL GAZPACHO

PASSION... is not  what's making me BURN.

DESIRE... is not what's making my heart POUND.

SEX... is not what's making me sweat PROFUSELY.

SO, what is it?

 

A MENOPAUSAL HOT FLASH! Combine it with the  infernal

heat of a Georgia summer, and you feel like disappearing from the face

of the earth....However, because I am not a magician and can't go "PUFF" 

into thin air, I call upon my Spanish wisdom to help me fight this battle

of the flashes...and a few minutes later I remembered how people 

cool down in the hot summer months in Spain!

I got up from the coolest place in the house, the dinning room floor, 

ran to the kitchen to frantically opened the fridge, stuck half my body in, 

and search for red, ripe tomatoes....

 Aha, found 3 lbs. of juicy ones...Now ....cucumbers. Let there be a couple

 of cucumbers! Fantastic, two medium or one large...will do!

I searched in the "produce" drawer for onions, green peppers and

garlic....then, got the rest from my cabinets. Olive oil, vinegar, salt, a 

slice or 2 of day old bread. Ok, maybe older...who cares if it's hard as

 a rock as long as it doesn't have mildew...it's alright!

Now, as a new hot flash is about to hit...I vent my frustration on the 

tomatoes and chop it quickly into small pieces...

and do the same with the cucumbers....

Please...everyone stay away...I have a hot flash and a knife in my hand..

not good...I have to throw myself on the cool dining room floor again!!!

                                      A few minutes later....

"It's OK, everyone...it's going away", I inform my family as I get up. 

Back in the kitchen I add about 1/2 a small green pepper, 1/2 a small

onion chopped , 3 cloves of garlic 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup vinegar, 

1 cup water and salt to taste.

 
No, it can't be!!!!!!!! AAAAGGGHHHHH.....it's hitting again!!!!!! I feel

like beating it all to a pulp with my hands...but I must finish this...so I

grab my "whatever you call it" and beat it until smooth. You can use a

blender or a food processor.

It's looking good! After it's all blended, I strain it....very important.

COMPRENDE?  And, now I can put it in the fridge OR put in a glass with

some ice cubes and drink it...

I think I will do both!!! Have some now....and later I will have it as a cold

soup and will add some chopped tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers as a 

garnish. Oh, some croutons go well too!!!

                                          COOLEST SOUP EVER

          NOW WHY DIDN'T I THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE!!!!!!

  

 

WEEK 20, 21 AND ALMOST 22

So much to write about, so little time....

This is a quick recap of the last 3 weeks: 

July 9, 2010. My sister Maribel turns 58! Her 3 daughters Ana, Carol 

and Adriana, throw a big party and grant her a dream...a trip to ROME!!!

Now, that's exciting!!!

HEY, what about me? When am I going to ROmE?...Remember girls...

I AM YOUR FAVORITE AUNT!!!!!!!

******************************************************************************

July 11, 2010. Spain plays the final game against Germany and wins 

the FIFA WORLD CUP, thus making history!!!

The same night the Spanish soccer team arrived in Spain, while 

I was checking facebook, I see Nacho, my friends' son holding the

World Cup in his hands. He had just downloaded the photos and I 

thought it was a joke...but after chatting with him he explained that

he is a friend of one of the players and  had been invited to at a

dinner party with the whole team!!!!

Nacho.... your mom and I would have had a great conversation 

about this....I miss you Maria...

The next morning checking facebook...I see my niece!!! What???!!! 

My niece, Mayte, works at the Newspaper "El Mundo", where the team's

manager was to be interviewed. She was one of the lucky ones to take

a photo with the World Cup...YAY, MAYTE!!!!!!!!!

I truly loved all the fun with my family during the the World

Cup...the excitement....the great comments...made me :) 

*****************************************************************************

Later that week I wanted to be adventurous and invited Ines, Alonso's

paternal grandma, to lunch at a Cuban restaurant in Chamblee. I had 

never been to it, but the reviews on line sounded good. I love Cuban food

and wanted to introduce her to that delicious cuisine!!! Before I continue

with what turned out to be the lunch from hell, I must mention that

my GPS mysteriously changed languages ...Russian, perhaps.. and I 

could not read it. Ttherefore, I could not reprogram it. Ines, told me

what exit to get off and we met at a gas station. This below is the

restaurant...

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/9/121165/restaurant/Atlanta/Little-Cuba-Chamblee

Little Cuba - Chamblee | Urbanspoon 

Little Cuba.... I will never return to this restaurant, as I tried the food,  I could picture 

Chef Gordon Ramsey 

sitting 

and ordering food as in his show "Kitchen Nightmares",

and see his disgust at the bland yuca with" mojo"...that had no "mojo"....he would have

said, "This is @*&#!!! ...take it away!!!" the Palomilla steak...that was not a

Palomilla steak...it that was a dried out shoe sole of a round steak. Ramsey again

would have said, "This is @*&#!!! ...take it away!!!". The plantains were not crunchy...

the black beans, I would have sworn came out of a can...my "lechon" or  roast pork,

 was thin sliced and dried out as if left in the fridge without being covered!  Over and

over Chef Ramsey would have said,"This is @*&#!!!...take it away!!!". Oh, wait

the service! Not a single Cuban working there and the Mexican girl  that took our

order when asked what she recommended said."I don't eat Cuban food so I

wouldn't know what to tell you". Clearly, this was a restaurant whose owner

was not around to supervise...and so, being upset with the whole thing, I asked

to speak to the manager discretely, who in turn had nothing to say to me and

called the owner!  The semi-retired owner recognized he was not around

anymore, he recognized he didn't sell Palomilla steak because it was a more 

expensive cut, instead replaced it with round steak...(THEN TAKE IT OFF THE

MENU ...SIR) he then asked what I knew about Cuban food. Well, my parents lived

in Cuba 13 years from 1947 until 1960 and  learned about the gastronomy from

CUBANS. My mom loved it and served it often in  our home. UMMMM..... My first

husband was CUBAN....guess that also counts toward my knowledge. I lived in

MIAMI...that sums it all. OH, wait...my Cuban friends think I cook the best CUBAN

FOOD!!! Here comes the best part the owner started going off about Communism...

OK SIR...TIME TO HANG UP!

*Note: I am not the type of guest that goes in a restaurant looking to complain

and get a free meal....My husband and kids have all worked in restaurants and 

some people complain about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. 

But, this was all wrong...

*On my way home I had to stop at Chick-fil-a and have a sandwich!!!!

*******************************************************************

What else...let's see...oh, yes the garage sale! If you follow me you probably

read the following post: 

ME AND MY GARAGE SALE...

If you haven't ...go ahead and laugh!

**********************************************************************

Alright....let me go on with my review. Ah, yes...my beautiful daughter in law 

Beth, was hired by CB2 for their new store opening in Atlanta, and is currently

training in Chicago! WAY TO GO BETH!!!!! Congratulations!!!! You are going

to be their top interior designer!!!

Check out the store, it''s AMAZING!!!!!! http://www.cb2.com/

While Beth is away, Chris invited me to spend this last Thursday with him. It was very 

relaxing. We went to see "Despicable Me" and we loved it.  Go see it at a  theater,

it is  a great family movie!!!

When I go with him to see animated films like this one, I fill with pride. I never 

acomplished my dream, which was animation...but my son...He graduates in May and

will live HIS dream of being an  animator!!! WOW, CHRIS YOU ARE ALMOST

THERE!!! MOM IS SO PROUD!!!

**************************************************************************************************************

My niece Carol, who is always coming up with great ideas,  has organized the 

first annual " Aragon women's summer photo" contest. There will be three

categories, and we must participate in all of them. 1) Most original... 2) Sexiest...and

3) Funniest. We each have to be in at least two of the categories....Sexiest and Funniest.

This is hilarious, the age group ranges between 23 and 63!!! Sexy is going to be ...

difficult for me, I can't ask my daughter to take the photos! But, somehow I will manage

by next month!!! No one will recognize me....I want to win!!! I want to win!!!

Things like my niece's photo contest, Facebook, and writing my blog is what keeps 

my mind busy. However, time still drags...it will soon be six months since my Pepe

left and I don't think I can go through with the original plan of staying a year in our house.

He is missing me ...I am missing him. We need to be together. I am hoping our daughter

Sandra will come with us...

*******************************************************

My grandson Gabriel turned one!!! Since we are apart I wrote him a letter:

07-23-10 HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY GABRIEL!

I loved that my daughter Mayra loved it so much... I love you!

*********************************************************************************************************

I almost forgot! One of my customers actually asked me if I could help her out by taking

her to the Doctor. She is pregnant with twins, has no car,  no family and doesn't speak

English...I said yes and had a great time as I saw the twins in a large screen. Amazing,

what a miracle...I felt blessed!

************************************************

Last but not least...My sister Maribel, just got back from Rome and posted photos!!!

Here are some...

Oh, my gosh!!!!!! My BELLISIMA  sister!!!!

Yummy....REAL PIZZA ITALIANA!!!!!! FORGET PIZZA HUT!!!

MAMMA MIA....THOSE  A SPAGHETTI LOOKA GOOD!!!

A LITTLE A CROWED HERE....BUT THATSA OK, YOU KNOW? THERE

IS LOTSSA AMORE !!!!!!!!

OOOPS!!!!!! NOW, NOW... look what happens when you don't have

the right shoes for walking around ROME!!! OUCH!!!!!

My sister is going to kill me...but, I can't stop laughing with the next photo!

P-L-E-A-S-E!!! NO COMMENT...LOL!!!

AND....WORST THAN LOOSING HER FEET IN ROME....SHE LOST HER HEAD

TOOOOOO!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Maribel posted 162 photos...and I am hoping to speak with her this 

weekend and HEAR all about!!!!! Maybe some day I will be posting my

own photos in ROME....that's something to look forward to!!!

*******************************************************

Well, hopefully I will go back to posting weekly. There is a lot more I

could have blogged about but....it is what it is!!! Right now I am going

to sleep and dream about ITALY...hopefully a good dream...with my 

luck I can see myself having a nightmare where I am a Christian 

being thrown to the lions....

Good night everyone!

07-23-10 HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY GABRIEL!

 

How can it be! One year already? My little grandson, you have grown

so fast..and your far,far away Yaya Juani just wanted to let you know how 

very speciall you are to us!!! 

My gift to you is this letter written with all my love. With it, lots and lots

of hugs and kisses go your way! Attention Mommy: you now give Gabriel

all those hugs and kisses for me!!!

My Dearest Grandson Gabriel:

I can close my eyes and go back to the day we were  filled with joy as your Mommy and

Daddy announced you were on your way to be Alberto's little brother! My goodness, 

your cousin Alonso was only 2 months old and we were being blessed a third time

with another baby in the family. How much happiness!!!

However, you were special. The day we found out you were a little boy we also 

found out you would  be an extraordinary baby, and require lots of  loving

care and attention. Mommy Mayra, Daddy Raul and all your crazy family here 

in the USA and in Spain started to learn new things about special little angels

like you! Little precious angels whose smiles are different, and that God sends

to very, very, special parents here on earth. And so... we would be  blessed with 

God's mysterious ways...

A month later Mommy and Daddy moved to Spain where they always wanted

to live...but, we followed your growth daily, through phone calls and emails. 

When the time came for your arrival, Yaya flew to Spain. Nothing could stop

her from being there! Mommy Mayra looking more beautiful than ever was big,

but she was very active...your brother Alberto made sure of that! You were due 

July 9 th. Nevertheless, you were comfortable in mommy's belly... two more

weeks passed before the Doctor induced labor on the morning of  July 22.

Although you had our undivided attention, you still made us wait and wait...

Oh, my...we waited so much that another day passed by! 

Finally, on the night of July 23 rd after a  long and  complicated delivery

Daddy Raul came out pale as a ghost, sweat coming down his forehead, and 

shaking like a leaf, to tell us that you had finally arrived...Mommy was exhausted

 ...and  you were quickly swept away by the Doctors... so he couldn't tell us  what

you looked like....how you were..and so in the waiting room there was great

silence with all gathered there, until daddy finally came out  again. This time

he had a big smile on his face and elated he showed us a photo of you taken

with his cell phone! We all ran to him ...Oh, the joy....the joy!!!!!!! You were 

so beautiful that we went wild hugging and jumping and laughing and crying!!! 

 
 

A couple of hours later we were allowed to go in the room...two by two the 

nurse said. Ha! About twenty of us  ended up bunched up in the room sharing 

our happiness and love with you ...marveling at your beauty. Eenjoying the

first magical moments with a newborn child...I stepped back to soak in all of

what was happening...a young mom looking with love at her child ...a very 

proud father...excited grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins... all wanting to

hold and caress you, all saying what big eyes and how alert you were and

what a cute smile you actually had!!! All there to let you know everything would

be alright.  But,  best of all ..your brother Alberto simply adored you and wanted

to protect you from the moment he saw you...

Did your cleft lip impact us? NO!!! You were the coolest looking kid in the hospital

and you had all the nurses going wild with those big, beautiful eyes and special

smile!!! A smile that 4 months later would be "corrected" ...Once again, Yaya 

got in an airplane. Nothing could stop me from being there to share the moment 

and help Mommy. What a brave little boy you were. What an awesome smile the 

surgeon gave you! How marvelous...what a grand moment ...we were in awe!!!

Yet, on my night stand I  have a photo of you before the surgery...I love to look at 

it every day...and I thank God for having blessed us with you!!!  

                                

                  I have one photo of each of my grandchildren on my nightstand.

                             This is the one of Gabriel. I simply love it!!! 

 

I love you so much....I can't wait to move to Spain and have you close to me...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GABRIEL!!! 

MAY YOU BE BLESSED AS YOU HAVE BLESSED US!!!

Love 

Yaya Juani 

                     
 

One of every 700 babies are born each year with cleft lip and/or palate. My 

grandson Gabriel was able to have surgery and have a beautiful smile thanks to 

living in a developed country. However, thousands of children whose parents can't 

afford the surgery are awaiting a life changing SMILE!!! Please, donate to help 

these children through a charity like SMILE TRAIN...In only a few hours a child's life

is changed for only $250.00!!! ANY AMOUNT IS WELCOMED...it adds up!!!

God bless you !!!!!!!!!

Juana Aragon, proud grandmother of Gabriel Revuelta and official donor 

of Smile Train.

http://www.smiletrain.org/

ME AND MY GARAGE SALE...

Can't take it no more....sitting...sweating in this garage

waiting for someone to come up my driveway and  buy

something!

Oh, well...might as well  borrow Sandra's laptop and share

my morning with you! Nevertheless, in order to understand 

my garage-o-phobia you might want to click on the following

post:  WEEK 19

                                               July 17, 2010

After my failed attempt at selling all my surplus "stuff" in a garage

sale a couple of weeks ago, I have once more opened the doors to

make some extra cash.

However, let me start with last night, I worked in my garage until

midnight...It was hot, it was humid, it was nasty. Suddenly a

cool breeze  called my name. I stepped outside...Aaaahh,  I had to

stand there in the driveway and enjoy the moment! I was hoping

to stay outside for a while and relax. But, no! Because, we are in 

Georgia, and the breeze turned quickly into wind...and then it started

raining. That didn't make me go in, I figured let me be touched by soft

rainfall. However, in a matter of seconds the rain drops turned into 

golf sized drops that nearly beat me up in the time it took for me to 

say "WHAT THA HECK?" as I ran into the garage for cover, and then

it became a  thunderstorm. A bad one, so bad as a matter of fact

that later that night I would find out through facebook that my

son's apartment was struck by lightning and his Xbox 360 and

DVR fried to death! May they rest in peace....

Back to my story...I decided to pull down the doors and take cover. 

As tired as I was, I set the alarm clock for 6 AM. To me it seemed I

had slept two minutes when it went off! IT wasn't raining which 

meant I could go and put up the signs for the sale around nearby

streets. So I made coffee and had two cups. Then jumped in my 

car and went up and down streets stopping and putting up

 signs...which had 7 AM crossed out and 8 AM as the start time....

I made it back home without breath, but just in time to pull the

garage doors up!

Two hours later and bored to death....not a single person

in sight! I asked myself, What is it with me and garage sales? 

Have my signs fallen again? People don't like my handwriting? 

They didn't like my crossed out 7 AM?

Oh, wait... a "customer". Wish me good luck...gotta go!

Ok, I am back...no sale yet. "Mam, I got real good dvd titles at $5.oo"

I said to her. "No thank you...I got Netflix" was her response. She 

is looking at $2.oo tops that still have the store tags on (Sandra's of

course) and offered a $1.00...WOW..NO THANKS LADY!!!  She

said bye...no sale...it's alright.

But, wait! She is turning around!

Hey, she ended up buying 3 nice tops for $5.00. Lady, you know

you got a steal at that price....

Excuse me for a moment...I have a phone call from Spain, my

daughter Mayra..I will be right back!

Coffee break....

Ok, I am back....and got another customer....and she's got curlers in 

her hand, a soap dish, baby bottles and is looking now at jeans...

COOL! Hope she buys...YES, $5.75.

AHA...more people up the driveway...

Another man bought...3 large bronze decorating spoons for $3.00,

 a partly used spool of copper wiring and 1  box of mail envelopes. 

Total ....$6.75 He was nice...come again!

Here comes an old skinny guy.... he is looking at Raul's wooden back

scratcher...I am trying not to laugh...but the guy is trying it out. He

seems to like it and ha, ha, ha...It's a 50 cent sale!!! I hear the crowd

shouting with joy!!! He is leaving...and wait...wait ...he comes back

and buys a small Cuban coffee maker for another 50 cents and now

the crowd is cheering for me and throwing confetti...the excitement

ladies and gentlemen is unbelievable...the crowd is going wild, and 

I have tears of joy rolling down my eyes... Grand total $1.00!

Why is my right  eye hurting? Pink eye?

Now a man is looking at my lawnmower. Hmmm he is interested. 

sale. Perhaps? He will call me tomorrow. His name is  DOUG, and

he seems a nice southern gentleman...

Hmmmmm...hmmmm....I need someone that likes movies...

I am selling good titles at $5.00 and I could make good

money!

Oh, my...as I write a guy is asking for broken gold jewelry, 

old watches and antique coins...and bullets....WHAT THA ....HECK!!!

GO AWAY MAN....

Oh, here's a couple of guys...come, come up the hill.

HEY, I have had a good sale one of the men  bought 2 VINTAGE

gazebos. Never heard of those? They are gazebos...you know...the

type you sit under in outdoor weddings...but mine were special.

They were 9 years in the original box...I originally bought about 

12 for  my daughter's wedding but we changed plans. Little by

little we sold them except for this pair...YEAP...9 years...

Is that VINTAGE or not??? And I with the the gazebos I threw 

a little somethin' somethin'... like spiders, crickets and ....who knows 

what else...COMPLIMENTS OF THE HOUSE....Oh, they paid $50.00

for both...YOU ALL COME SEE ME AGAIN!!!

Oh, Ooohhhh.. attention!!! Lady looking at DVDs...PLEASE...PLEASE 

buy some!!!!!!!!! She is taking her sweet time, and seems she wants

a few. GOOD. After this lady I am calling it a day. I have to wash my

work clothes and I go in at three. 

A man bought a belt...$2.00

My neighbor's kid bought  a stuffed animal...$2.00

A man bought 2 copper tubes...$2.00

A man bought some sand paper...$1.00

A man bought a spool of thread....50 cents

The lady bought 5 DVDs...$25.00

Fantastic. I AM DONE...I am going inside to my nice air conditioned

house, sit in on my desk, correct  the errors I have made while typing

this story and forget  about the flies, the wasps and the freaking

heat....  that is...until next week...Oh, yeah...NEXT WEEK, because

all this GOTS TO GOOOOOOO!!!

ONE MINUTE LATER ...AS I BRING INTO THE GARAGE WHAT WAS OUTSIDE ON THE DRIVEWAY..

HA....what!!! Someone up the driveway??? Hey, hey lady....turn

around ...I am closing !!!!!!! Why do people shop at the last minute?

THE SIGNS SAY 12:30 CAPICHE? Yet, I smile and greet her...but in

my mind ...I was saying:You better buy something.....She looked

and looked... and looked and looked...AND LOOKED SOME MORE...

then grabbed these little kids sunglasses and paid me a dime!!!

                            P-L-E-A-S-E ....NO COMMENT!!!

In a week I will do it again...BECAUSE I AM RELENTLESS...

and also because with just a few sales I actually made $104.10

sitting 4 hours! But, next week I am putting my add in the our

town's newspaper. NO MORE RUNNING AROUND  with signs...No more

worry if it rains or not!!!

NEVER THROW ANYTHING AWAY...BECAUSE A DOLLAR IS A DOLLAR!!!

 

 

 

 

LET IT ALL OUT TORTILLA...OLE!!!

Well... it seems my recipe for "ENCHILADAS DEPRIMIDAS" has

been a success !!! ....ooohhhh,alright.....at least with my sister Cary, 

who lives in Madrid, Spain. She requested more recipes

so here I am !!!! This time the word " tortilla " is also in this dish,

HOWEVER, do not confuse with Mexican tortillas....this  is

OUR very own TORTILLA DE PATATA...OLE, OLE AND OLE !!!

Now, always remember this is a great dish to make when you

are having a bad day, are suffering from PMS,  or are  

depressed!!! 

It is very therapeutic.....you will see...

INGREDIENTS; 6 0 7 eggs, 4 or 5 potatoes...who's counting, 1 or

2 onions...depends on how much you feel like slicing them, olive

oil and salt. 

Peel potatoes...don't cry yet !!! Slice onions...NOW you can 

start crying...cry all you want...'cmon let it all out !!!  Bring out a

medium frying pan and SLAM it on the stove...add olive oil, enough

to fry the potatoes and onions... AND of course you forgot to buy 

some... at this point you can scream and complain because 

nothing is working out for you and you hate your job............RELAX..

                                                                        

I said  RELAX!!!...use any oil, except motor oil and remember the

olive oil for next time. Heat the oil ...temperature ? well, throw 

a few slices of potato in the oil and see if they fry.......

 

NOW add the rest of potatoes and onions.....uuummmmmm !!!!!

Do you think the photo is out of phocos??? Nah, you need glasses...

 

OK this is the best part... pure THERAPY...crack the eggs...crack ...

crack those eggs ...crack !!!

 

 

 
And beat them...beat those eggs all you want...keep going now ...beat the 

heck out of the eggs and then stop to wipe your forehead !!! Add salt 

to the eggs ONLY if you tears have not fallen in the eggs...they are 

quite salty, you know ! Check potatoes and onions, if they are 

done, strain them and put in bowl.

 
  

pour the eggs over the potatoes/onions and mix.

 
leave a little oil in the bottom of the pan and add mix...lower heat !!!

 

 

Wow... it looks great...ha ? Feeling better now ?

Well... GOOD LUCK ...because once the eggs have settled.... you

have to cover the pan with a dish...put your hand on it TIGHT

and FLIP the tortilla....this will give you the excuse to @# !!% ...

if it doesn't work out  for you this time ..JUST CALL THE PIZZA DUDE !!!!!

 

BUT you flipped it !!!! yes, now it goes back in so the other side cooks...Oh ..cheer up... have some wine !!!

 

FANTASTIC...it's done flip it again and there you go !!!!! Una rica 

tortilla de patata !!!!!!!

 

Serve with a nice  salad. Tomatoes, lettuce and olives go well,

and DON'T USE RANCH DRESSING .... please...oil and vinager, salt

and pepper mix and pour over the salad...and crusty bread. THIS 

IS ANTIDEPRESSANT FOOD --  It's so delicious it makes you happy!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOO ...YUMMMMYYYYY !!!

NOTE: Three months after I started the blog I came back to 

this recipe to improve the format. Since I didn't know how to

control photo size and placement, change fonts, or add color

at the time, the post was quite sad looking!!! 

I am quite happy with it now.....

The Rebel Cook

STOLEN SECRET SAUCE

ATTENTION: STOP RIGHT THERE....DON'T GO ON ...

YOU MUST READ SHERLOCK HOLMES RIBS FIRST!!!

Months had passed since Juana's ribs were stolen ...

The mind-boggling case had  Auburn's Sheriff Merlock Homes and

Deputy Waltson without a good night's sleep since the disappearance!

 

What happened that afternoon? How could those ribs vanish in 

thin air?  Would Juana find ribs on sale again?

                                       Don't despair!!!

The answer to these questions will be revealed in the next story......

                                                                                                      

What the police didn't know is that no matter how much

they searched for the delicious ribs, they would never be

found!!! The gourmet villain known as Needz 2 Eatz, having

heard of Juana's lip-licking ribs with secret sweet and 

sour sauce, had hired two ex- CIA spies to retrieve the ribs to

him. The ex-agents EL Fat-sO and El Fast-O went on 

their secretive mission to snatch the Moran's family dinner...

Being such experienced spies, in the blink of Juana's eyes, those 

two took what was not theirs, and put the ribs in a Buzz Lightyear

thermal lunch box and vanished.

SOMEWHERE DARK...

Needz 2 Eatz paid the the crooks, and  with 

closed eyes opened the lunch box.

He tilted his head back and inhaled 

deeply before opining his eyes and

 reached 

for the ribs..

His expert palate immediately searched out for ingredients....

 

- Ahaz!! Tomato sauze....48 oz....alzo  green bell pepperz 1/2,

onionz...1

black pepper....ummmm...brown z

ugar 3/4 cup...

zmashed garlicz 3 or 4...yum....yum.........................

BUT, it haz more ztuff !!!

It haz....let me zeez! He closed his eyes and stuck his tongue in and out 

several times like a snake...and concentrated...

-Yez, I know!!! Rice vinegar 1/4 cup, zoy zauze 1/2 cup andz therz more!!

 He said spitting saliva.

 -Ha, ha, ha....he laughed. Pineapplez  1/2 cup and clovez 8-10

and 2 tbs oil 

What an amazing combinationz!!! I LOVE IT... EAZY too....She

put all the ingredientz in a pan and boiled them down....

               I WILL NAME IT . ZTOLEN ZECRET ZAUCE!!!!

Between U.S.A. and Spain.

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Spanisheyes

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LOOK INTO MY FANS ....BECOME AN EYE.....

I MEAN...LOOK INTO MY EYES...BECOME A FAN...

BECOME A FAN....BECOME A FAN....BECOME A FAN....

BECOME A FAN....BECOME A FAN....

LOOK INTO MY EYES....BECOME A FAN....

PITIFUL....JUST PITIFUL....I HAVE LOST ALL

SELF RESPECT.....BECOME A FAN....OH, WAIT

I AM CONFUSED...BECOME A FOLLOWER...

BECOME A FOLLOWER.....

OR SHOULD I SAY.....

COME TOOOOOOOO MEEEEEEEEEE!!!! 

FIFTEEEN FOLLOWERS ONLY...BECOME A FAN....I MEAN

A FOLLOWER....WHATEVER, BUT MAKE THAT NUMBER GO

                        UP!!!

"LIKES" HAVE GONE UP 3 NOTCHES TODAY...BUT WHAT AM I 

DOING WRONG HERE????  DON'T NOBODY LIKE ME????

                                      SNIFF

PITTY PARTY CABBAGE

Yes, cabbage. There was a head of cabbage in the fridge, some

onions and Polish sausage. I don't feel like cooking. So, I did this

dish, perfect for when you don't want to cook for  hours....

Who 

do you  think I am.....Julia Childs ? 

You had a pitty party and now you are short on time to make dinner ? Try this dish, 

fast, economical and looks like it took a long time to prepare. Cabbage... How much

cabbage?

I DON'T KNOW!!! 1small... or 1/2 a large one, I guess. Onions...whatever you have

left after that "tortilla de patata"you did the other night. 2 would be good...

I guess.or,,, maybe 1 large. I am tired, longday....don't ask too many questions !!!!!

Sausage... ANY KIND... I used Polish ...you can use hot dogs for all I care ...

oil ...salt...some white wine.

Oh, forgot a couple of garlic... don't worry ...don't peel or nothing just let leave them there to

 brown then throw away !!!! Don't they look sad ???

 
 

SO lonely in the pan.....makes me want to cry !!!!

 
 

NOW THROW IN THE ONION....LIKE YOU HATE THEM !!!!

 
 

When they are brown from ignoring them...throw in the disgusting sausage....... they taste good...

but they are NOT pretty....

 
 

After stirring everything like there is no tomorrow...add the cabbage... How should cut it ?

 LIKE IN THE PHOTO !!!

 

STIR...STIR... Share that white wine you are sipping while cooking...don't worry the heat 

will kill the germs....WHO'S GONNA KNOW ? PEOPLE EAT ALL THE TIME OUT...

DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY DO WITH YOUR FOOD ????

 

 Let it all blend.....one sigh....two sighs....three sighs..... Cry ... it's that easy !!!

 
 

Now comes the best part.... FROZEN WAFFLE POTATOES !!! IS YOUR MORTGAGE DUE ???

RIP THAT BAG OPEN WITH YOUR MOUTH....then fry some....

 
 

Get that cheap Walmart mustard out of the fridge... no one know the

 difference....http://walmartstores.com/

 
 

Put it together like this...add a little color with diced tomatoes, sprinkled with oregano,

cumin, salt ,oil and vinegar...See the mustard ? Can anyone tell it's Walmart brand ? 

Now tell your husband you are stressed ...those potatoes ...the little holes took forever to 

carve ...!!! Now do something for YOU...run to the gym ...or go to the movies... or read a

good book GET SOME THERAPY !!!!!!

Facebook | Cary Aragon Bernal

Carmen Rodriguez

In this photo:Cary Aragon Bernal

FIFA WORLD CUP

MUCHA EMOCION !!!!!

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THANK YOU SPAIN FOR THE GREAT JOY YOU HAVE GIVEN US!!!!!

Facebook | Cary Aragon Bernal

Cary Aragon Bernal WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS... desde La Sede

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS... [HD]

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FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK MY SISTER CARY, WHO MADE THIS ALBUM

FOR OUR FAMILY'S DELIGHT!!!

SIS... I LOVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY...YOU ARE THE BEST!!! 

I LOVE YOU 

How exciting it has been seeing Spain play the for the World Cup and 

WIN!!! The comments in Facebook were fantastic and the last game with Iniesta's

 winning goal...what can I say...I am so proud!!!

Click on the link "We are the Champions" and join my family celebrating Spain's victory!!!

OH, how I wish I would have been there!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                        

ON TURNING 50...

At fifty...time to do some thinking... 

SO I DID.

Fifty years old. I turned fifty!!! I firmly believe that everyone stops and 

thinks about their lives when they reach this age. It is a shocker. After

all, soon people will be calling you  "SENIOR CITIZEN"...Gasp!!! But, 

why worry so soon! With good health and good sense of humor ...

at 50 you are still young. At least I believe so! Well, I believe it 

most of the time.

I admit I did a lot of  thinking the days before my birthday. The "big" one

was approaching and I needed to face it. You know.. hold the number by 

the horns, look straight at it, realize it was happening and do the

"WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH MY LIFE!!!" thing....

In other words...FREAK OUT.....

I thought: where has time gone? How can I be this old? Five decades...

HALF A CENTURY...GULP!!!  Will I have time to do some of the things

I have always wanted to do? Will I ever find out what my God given 

talent is? What my purpose is? Why do I still feel I missed something 

along the way? Nevertheless, taking those questions out of the 

picture of my life, it has been a hard, sometimes treacherous journey,

full of twists and turns...coming and going...tears and laughter...love

and hate...fun and boredom...drama and silliness...surprises and

disappointments...good memories and memories  I want to forget....

confusion and alertness...wondering and acceptance...

So what crossed my mind???

I still remember the day I turned ten. I was looking at the blue sky on 

that hot summer day, and as I  stood in the middle of our  back yard 

in Puerto Rico, I  wondered where I would be at, and what would I

look like, when I turned 20...30...40...50...60...70...80 and 90...would I

make it to the year 2050? At this point I  laughed at the thought...I was

a peculiar, little, skinny girl, with short brown hair and a lot of wondering

in her head... come to think about it, I guess that hasn't changed, except

for the "little and skinny" part!

Like I mentioned before, I did some thinking...

I thought about my  mother, Carmen Bernal Marin, and how much I

miss her. I thought about her captivating beauty and inner strength, 

To her I owe my life, my Catholic faith, my love of books, and sense

of family. Oh, and my love for food and cooking.

I though about my father, Gabriel Aragon Bermudez. I inherited his 

looks, his love for Spain, and his family's sense of humor. I do, I really

do love making people laugh. Deep down... I am a clown.

I thought about my childhood and how far away it seemed.

I thought about about my kids' childhood. They drove me crazy, but how 

I wish I could see my beautiful children again as babies and hold them...

My three kids, Mayra, Chris and Sandra were my reason to be strong.

I really haven't been proud of anything I have done in my life ...except

for having my children and that's funny, because this is said by a

person that didn't want kids!

I thought about my grandchildren, Alberto, Alonso and Gabriel. The

three have brought so much joy to my life. All so beautiful, all so 

different phisically and personality wise. They are so much fun...I can't 

imagine what my life would be without these kids...I absolutely adore

them!!!

I though about my handsome brother Gabriel. The firstborn. My mother

loved him in a very special way. 

 

I thought about my 3 sisters; Hilda, Maribel and Cary...My sisters are 

talented, witty, fun to be with, and extraordinary women. What a strong

bond we have...and that we have to thank our mother for, because any

time we had issues with each other my mother's "BUT SHE'S YOUR 

SISTER!!!" , would be heard!!!

I thought about the loves in my life. Not many, only three. My first love

was Jim Johnson...my PLATONIC love from 6 th grade until my sophomore 

year in High School. Sad, ha? He really disliked me.

My second one, Tommy ALvarez. My first boyfriend. My first husband and 

biological father of Mayra and Chris. The pain and trauma caused by the

divorce marked my life more than people know..more than  I care

to remember. I have to say we are in good terms now.

My third and most important love in my life is my husband, Jose Miguel

Moran. He was not my ideal man.The day my sister Maribel introduced

us he had a toothpick in his mouth and Michael Jackson pants showing 

his white socks and he was chubby!!! NO, not my type... but he was

funny, hard working, kind, loved me, and above all else he loved Mayra

and Christopher. Through all these years he has loved me, as flawed

as I am, unconditionally for almost 25 years. As my friend and therapist

Sandy, put it one day..."He is God's gift to you. He is not what you

wanted. He is what you needed." Now, I can't wait to renew our vows.

I think I will keep him for another 25 years....

I thought about God, my Creator. I thank Him for his love, for being

there for me... ALWAYS. Although, my life hasn't been a bed of 

roses mainly due to my own bad choices, my conclusion on fifty years

on earth is that I have had  A GOOD LIFE. I feel blessed. Blessed with

family and friends. Blessed with a good husband, children and

grandchildren. Blessed with beautiful memories. Blessed with a good 

sense of humor. Blessed with laughter. Blessed because my eyes have

seen  God's amazing beauty in many ways...

Fifty isn't that bad after all....

Facebook | Juana Aragon Bernal ..............................................................................................................................

Juana Aragon Bernal ..............................................................................................................................

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Pilar Aragon

Puufff Juani...demasiado profundo para mi...sobre todo a estas horas de la mañana. Déjame digerirlo un poco y luego vuelvo al tema.

Yesterday at 1:17am ·

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Esto es unos de los mejores ejemplos de como nos gusta tontear con Facebook. Buen intento chicas...peroooooooo mis pensamientos eran tan profundos que ME LOS QUEDE YO!!!!!!!
BESOS

WEEK 19

TO SETTLE OR NOT TO SETTLE?

I AM FIFTY ALREADY?

WHY DID IT HAVE TO RAIN ON MY GARAGE SALE?

IT has been 3 weeks since I posted my "supposedly" weekly

update. Why? Let me remember...what has happened since June 18 th.

Hmmmmm....hmmmmm....Well, not much has happened, just my

daily battle to get things around the house half done! Yes, I do settle

for half done now. Believe me, I tried paying someone to cut the

lawn ...and  my lawnmower broke down. I tried to get someone  to

help me organize the garage ...He didn't show. SO, with this type of 

things happening all the time I have to make choices. Mainly,the choice 

to either break down myself or settle....For now I choose "settle", and 

that means I will add a couple more pounds to my body...

GOOD NEWS FLASH! JUANA'S OUT OF THE ORDINARY DAY!

Now, I did have a very nice day....my birthday! On that special day 

Sandra and I met with Chris at the Mall of Georgia, and had a very 

enjoyable and yummy lunch at P F Chang's. Afterward, we went to the 

theater and watched Toy Story 3, which we all truly loved. Thank you

Chris ...it was such a nice day.

NOW BACK TO REALITY....

I have also been trying to do a garage sale. Now THAT has taken most of

my days, and most of my patience too! Two whole weeks of escaping

to a hot garage any free time I had, so I could organize and sell some

of the things I don't use, some of the things Mayra and Raul left behind, 

and some of the things my sister Hilda also left when she moved out 

of my house!  I can't ...I really can't get into this matter! All I am going

to say is that without help ...it has been a one woman battle against

time, STUFF , boxes, dust, bugs, price labels, heat, sweat, and lack

of space to work comfortably ...AND when I finally got it sort of

together for  the doors to go up and make some cash ...I woke up at

 5 AM to a huge thunderstorm....HA, HA, HA...the Weather Channel 

didn't say anything about that on Friday...3 weeks without rain

and IT RAINED on my GARAGE SALE day, which caused all the signs 

that were put up the night before to come down...which caused people

not to read them, which caused my garage sale to be a complete and 

utterly disappointing FLOP!!!

But I will try again....I will watch the Weather Channel, and do it on a 

predicted rainy day....maybe I will have some luck and it will be sunny!

I will also try to post weekly...

I will also try loose those couple of pounds.....