Chef, I am not.

There are many things that I "got" from my mom.

Her booming voice...and even more bombastic when provoked by beer.
*I was a great cheerleader because of this trait (not the beer drinking, but the booming voice.) That was until they said I couldn't be a cheerleader AND a part of the band. I guess the two just didn't mix, so I chose band, I KNOW, I have a booming voice AND I can play an instrument. I am talented, I know.*

I "got" my mom's talent of running. Oh, not the marathon type of running, no. NO a much more useful running. The run run run because you just don't want to deal with (insert issue here) anymore. *it is useful, maybe NOT as useful as marathon running, but really, who needs to run an ungodly distance without dying? Not I. See Thanksgiving plans that included driving most of Thanksgiving day to see best friend in St. Louis.*

The one thing that I got from my mom that I really enjoy is her cooking talent, or lack thereof. Have you ever had or heard of Shit on a Shingle? Appetizing name, no? It is hamburger meat, mixed with cream of mushroom soup on a toasted piece of bread. It is the ultimate poor man's dinner. My mom had a talent of pulling things out of the cabinets, mixing it together and making a good meal. Though her naming technique is less than desirable the meal really did taste good.

I have this talent and lack of naming talent too. I can look in a bare cabinet and make a meal out of whatever is in there. Adding some garlic powder almost always sets off the meal perfectly, another trick I got from my mom. Garlic is a natural healer and ... and it keeps the vampires away.

So for dinner tonight, a bag of frozen mixed veggies, a lb of hamburger meat, a can of crushed tomatoes with none other than garlic and a cup and one half of water. Add some additional garlic powder, cause you can never ward off too many vampires and some creole seasoning...viola, you have a really decent dinner. Not too extravagant. Kids will see recognizable items in the dish and eat without too much fuss.

Now what to name it? Hamburger surprise? The less fattening hamburger helper? Hamburger Veggie soup with a side of garlic? Meh, doesn't matter as long as it taste good, right?