A Downtown Treat

We went to the travel show today at the L.A. Convention Center and it wasn't as good as we remembered.  Which happens.  Afterwards we all decided to treat ourselves to a tasty yet affordable lunch.  We all agreed on Philippe's.  Unlike the travel show, Philippe's never disappoints.  It being Valentine's Day we thought it would be safe to go but nope it was more packed than ever.  I'm sure there's been plenty of first dates there.  I know I've brought a few.  For those who still eat meat, the beef deep is their signature sandwich.  They also do pork dip, ham dip, lamb and turkey.  They've been around since 1918 and I think it's as close to a landmark as they get.  Sawdust on the floor, model trains in the back and cash only.  It's loaded with history.  It's loaded with my personal history as I've been going there since my early 20's.  I still remember one Halloween night in 1979 while eating at Philippe's talking some friends into flying up to San Francisco because we could fly there for only $13.00 and crash at our friend Gregory's house in San Fran.  He was the membership director for "The Trocadaro Transfer" so we could get in for free.  I think the cab ride was more expensive than the flight.

Now here I am 30 years later with two 10 year old boys, my friend and her 6 year old son making more memories.  For me, it's a landmark for sure.  I know recently one of the second set of original owners passed away and to his family I say, "thanks for never disappointing and thanks for the memories".

I've included the link so you can find out more info for yourself.  It's worth the trip just to get a taste of old L.A..  Be careful, the mustard is really hot right now.

http://www.philippes.com/

Good Cheap Fun

First off, let me say I do not work for the L.A. Times.  I read the L.A. Times and by reading the L.A. Times I saw the ad last year for the Los Angeles Times Travel and Adventure Show.  As a family we were in an extremely low cash flow point it and it was getting us down. I wanted to get us out of our cash flow melancholy. When I read kids 16 and under were free and I managed to finagle 2 adult tickets, we were off.
I admit, it is the type of event one must prepare for.  It is held at the Convention Center and lots of people go.  What was wonderful for our family is we made a game of it.  We pretended we were shopping for our vacation.  We went to the different booths and heard the different pitches and grabbed the various brochures.  Connor, of course, thought the Safari in Africa sounded great.  We were entranced with Maui and Europe.  We had yummy conversations about our choices.

At the show there were super activities too.  We LOVED learning to ride a Segway. The rope ladder that leads you to the zip line you ride across the Convention Center floor was beyond challenging and exhilarating.  There was a surf board that was similar to a bucking bronco in that the operator tried to throw you off...which Connor thoroughly enjoyed.  All free with admission! Cooking demonstrations, dancing and lots of little give aways.  I still smile when I use my Maui Condo pen.  I'll probably also call them when we're ready to go.  I know things are tough right now but I also know they will not always be tough.  Pretending is a great way to tenderize life.

Looking forward to going again this year.  Like any crowded event it is my experience to get there early and leave when it really starts filling up.  The early bird really does catch the worm.  Aloha.



http://events.latimes.com/travelshow/

Low Budget Meals

When things get a little on the tough side of cope.  I do find myself looking towards the comfort side of food.  Yes, I know, not the best way to move through but it works for me. I don't do it often but every now and then I take my little recipe box filled with 3 X 5 cards that my mom typed on on her Selectric Typewriter. 

She sent the recipe box off with me when I moved away from home. I have used it on many occasions.  Not as many as in the beginning but lately a little more.  The other night I made Turkey Enchilada Casserole.  The deliciousness of the this I cannot adequately describe.  The comfort level was off the charts.  Connor and my partner absolutely love this dish.  So here it is to you, in comfort, love and old fashioned goodness. Passed to you verbatim (except the poor white trash part).

My Mom's Poor White Trash Turkey Enchilada Casserole

(she of course used beef)

1 lb. ground turkey                           2 tbsp oil

1 tsp salt                                          1 tbsp chili powder                           

1 tbsp paprika   

3 tbsp flour                                      1 tsp crushed oregano

2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce                 1/4 cup water                                      

cup sliced black olives                       1 cup shredded cheddar/jack mixture

1/4 cup chopped white onion            8 corn tortillas

Fry meat in oil until lightly browned and crumbly.  Add salt, chili powder, paprika, oregano and flour.  Mix well.  Add tomato sauce and water.  Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Stir in olives and simmer 10 min.  Spoon thin layer of meat sauce in shallow baking dish.  Cover w/row of tortillas.  Add half of remaining sauce; sprinkle with onion and cheese.  Add another layer of tortillas and remaining sauce.  Sprinkle generously with onion and cheese.  Bake about 25 min. @ 350 or until bubbling hot and cheese melts.  Cut on wedges.  Makes 6 servings.

My lazy way is to cook the turkey with taco seasoning and do the layers the same way but use Trader Joe's Enchilada sauce (which taste like buttah-it's so good)  Either way you will not be disappointed. Bon Appetite

Trimming the Fat

This is our second official week without cable. In spite of it all I think we did rather well. Because of the rain the first week we had a couple of black-outs so we couldn't have used it during those times anyway.  In fact, the black-outs turned out to be quite fun.  Connor taught us a word game by candle light and we went on a walk with our flashlights looking for the cause of said blackout.
Back to the cable.  I think I've mentioned in previous posts that electronics are pretty huge in my son's universe.  He does enjoy a good book, in fact he likes to read, but if he had to choose, I think the TV would win.  Yes, we have limits during the week but on the week-ends we let him be his own guide...yikes...that, coupled with how much cable costs these days we decided to get rid of it for a few months.  I can't begin to tell you how hard I worked on getting some good movies and shows saved on the DVR...they will be around again (perhaps my "electronic" habit needs a little letting go of as well).
I'm actually getting pretty good at "Scrabble". Wow, that's a sentence I never thought I'd type.  I was tortured as a child by "Scrabble".  My mother LOVED "Scrabble".  She, a single mother, and I, the last of the four kids at home, played lots of games.  Unlike the nurturing parents we try to be today my Mom never let me win.  Which, of course, led to all that low self-esteem stuff until I was in my 30's and realized the reason she always won was BECAUSE SHE WAS A GROWN-UP AND I WAS A CHILD.  I'm even laughing as I write that down.  I've even played "Bakugan" on the Wii with Connor.  A parent friend thinks I've crossed to the dark side on that one but I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  To be honest the game has way too many rules for me.  Yes, Connor usually wins in Bakugan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakugan_Battle_Brawlers
I'd like to play a good old fashioned game of "Monopoly" but Connor does not.  He now has "Monopoly City" which I find to be too mean spirited for my tastes.  It is Monopoly that has been updated, but plays like it has been updated by Donald Trump.  My son loves it.  It's fair to say he may love it because we dislike it so much, that's how things are in his 10 year old universe.  Unlike the Bakugan game (which I can pretend to like) I cannot do the same for "Monopoly City".  My son really channels his inner Alex Keaton.
I've notice that the more "trimming the fat" we do, the more he hounds for money.  Why?  Is it because our children really know where all our cracks in our psyches exists and once found, love poking us in said cracks? Or are they psychic little beings and when feeling our lack they want more?