What is with all the rule books?

When I turned 30, then 40, finally 50; other women were constantly telling me that I needed to cut my long hair, and not only look, but act, my age. Ummm, why? I don’t look my age; I’ve been told I look anywhere from 10-15 years younger than I am. I remember being proofed for 18 until I was 27; I was even proofed twice when I was 35. Talk about an ego boost!!! Excuse me for feeling like I’m still in my 20’s; age is mind over matter, if you don’t mind, it don’t matter.

Then there was the time I decided to trade in my station wagon and get myself a sportier car. Suddenly I’m being asked, “How do you intend on driving your son to soccer practice and games?’. Well duh, in the car of course, and was told, “A soccer mom drives a van; everyone knows that, what kind of mom are you?” Guess not a very good one in their eyes, but guess what, my son got to his practice and games on time, every time; and he thought mom’s car was cool.

You see, when confronted by people with their kind of thinking, I can’t help but ask them, “Where is the rule book?” and yes, they do look at me like I’m some sort of nut job. It makes sense to ask though, I mean how am I supposed to know what the rules are if I don’t have a copy of the rule book? Right?

Technically, it’s habit; the same old, same old, and change or doing something completely different just doesn’t enter the mind. The same can be said for the way meals are eaten. Breakfast: eggs, sausage, ham or bacon, toast or muffin, waffles or pancakes, coffee and juice. Lunch: sandwich with chips or French fries, maybe a cup of soup, coffee, tea or cold soft drink. Dinner: meat, poultry or seafood, vegetables, potato, pasta or rice, side salad, dessert, coffee, tea, cold soft drink or milk. Very few restaurants will offer breakfast items all day, or let you order lunch or dinner items for breakfast. The night shift worker must have breakfast for a dinner if they go out to eat after work. Want to have something lighter for dinner, like a simple omelet; sorry, that’s for breakfast only. What I want to know is, who made up these rules, and where is a copy of the rule book?

So I am going to share with you a recipe that can be made, and eaten, for any meal of the day. Enjoy, we certainly do…..yeah, hubby doesn’t like rule book thumpers either.

Home Fried Potatoes

Ingredients:

1 tsp. olive oil
4 large red potatoes, cut into ¼ inch slices; leave skin on
2 large onions, slivered
Seasoning mix (4 Tbsp garlic powder, 2 Tbsp black pepper, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, 1Tbsp dried basil, ½ tsp sea salt, 2 Tbsp paprika)
6 Tbsp butter (or margarine)

Preparation:

Grease the bottom and sides of a 2 qt microwave safe casserole dish with olive oil. Start layering potatoes, onions, seasoning mix and 1 Tbsp butter; should make 4 layers of each total. Reserve 2 Tbsp of butter to use for frying later.

Cover dish, microwave, on high setting, for 8 minutes. Mix contents, microwave for additional 8 minutes.

In a large skillet, on high heat, melt reserved butter. Place contents from microwave dish into skillet; fry potatoes until browned, about 10 minutes.

Serve as a side dish with breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Makes 6-8 servings.

Mary Cokenour