Rebekah Staggs

We’ve recently meet several new groups of people. While I like people I also feel drained after being around people for any length of time. Over the years I’ve learned to not enjoy social occasions, the “harmless” chit chat,  because inevitably the questions come. Are you married? How long have you been married? Do you have children? How old is your son? Do you have other children? Don’t you want more children? Why don’t you just adopt? You don’t want him to be an “only child” do you? What is wrong with you?

After the questions comes the time of unsolicited advice: You better get started on having kids. You’re not getting any younger you know. He needs a sibling. If you just x,y, or z you’ll get pregnant. Adopt and you’ll get pregnant just you wait and see. Better not do that IVF stuff or you’ll have a litter like that lady did. Those are just some of the nicer actual comments I’ve gotten over the last decade and a half. I won’t sully my blog with some of the more intrusive, accusatory, and other wise ignorant comments I have received.

In recent years the question is not as painful a subject as it was early on with empty arms. Or, in the later years with our blessed miracle the reminder of things we were fully aware of. It is not as difficult as it was after we decided not to adopt. It is not as heart wrenching as it was to hear the year after our long awaited second miracle was born to heaven. Over the years I’ve learned, for the most part, to ignore the less than helpful advice of the uninformed and blissfully naive. A certain amount of healing does come with time.

While it isn’t voiced as often I see the questions in their eyes. The wondering. It’s always obvious that we have the only “Only Child” in the group. It’s not that he is all that different from the other kids. Maybe he cringes a little at the loudness and bustling of so many children/siblings all together, but he is no more or less bossy, selfish, giving, caring, playful, you name it than any of the other kids in the group. No, he stands out because for our 17 years of being married he is the only child they see when they look at our family.

With time it is now assumed that we planned things that way and the questions and opinions come less often. My child is almost 12 years old and while it is no longer is the first question I am asked upon meeting new people, it is still on occasion asked. While the wound is mostly healed I still wait for the shoe to drop. To meet someone curious enough to give voice to the questions once more. To have that moment where I hesitate and wonder how to reply when I am asked, “Is he your only child?”

Okay so life hasn’t really handed me lemons, but it sounded good. I wasn’t feeling up to making the Sweet Sour Chicken I had planned for today so I gave in and decided to make something quick and easy from the freezer. Or rather, direct someone else  to make it.

P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Meals for 2: Orange Chicken + Ajinamoto: Chow Mein.

    12 minutes in a pan warms up the chicken, veggies, and sauce cubes
+   3 minutes in the microwave warms up a double serving of noodles and veggies.
= 12 minutes for a full lunch on the table

 It wasn’t bad for a quick frozen meal. Better than most. Flavor on the chicken was good and we rather like the chow mein noodles.

Calorie Count?
    300 calories for 1/3 of the bag of Chicken
+ 230 calories for 1/2 a bag of Noodles
= 530 Calories

Cost to feed the three of us?
    $5.00 for Chicken 
+ $2.50 for Noodles
= $7.50

Letting someone else cook, while keeping a somewhat decent calorie count, without leaving the house? Priceless!

We enjoy Taco Night at our house. I put out a full colorful spread of toppings to enjoy. Enough that everyone has what they like and can avoid what they don’t. Sometimes I have a mix of leftovers that end up in the freezer. I had shredded taco beef, pico de gallo, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and some corn. I happen to enjoy tortilla soup so I thought I’d give it a try with beef instead of chicken. I threw everything in the crockpot with some beef broth and went shopping.

While shopping I got a bag of tortilla chips. I figured we could always have Nachos if the soup wasn’t very good. When I got home the soup was ready. It looked good, smelled good, and even tasted good! I like good food that is cheap and easy.

The next day we’ll have Tacos for lunch using the seasoned shredded beef. If I’m really feeling fancy I’ll fry and shape corn tortillas into taco shells for fresh tacos that are just wonderful.

Now that the beef is seasoned and warmed up, and I’m well fed, we’re ready to start making the Tamales.

Soak and rinse the corn husks. Let dry.

Make the Masa Dough. It’s pretty much 1/2 a bag of Masa, the same seasonings, 1/2 cup of oil, and (about 4-6 cups) chicken broth till it’s a cookie dough consistancy.

Spread the Masa Dough over the dried corn husks. You want it pretty thin. I like to keep mine an inch away from the ends and about 2-3 inches across the husk.

Place some shredded beef in the middle.

And roll the dough around it.

Roll the whole thing up tight and tie the ends off. This is usually enough for several dozen Tamales.

I like to follow up with trimming the strings and ends up neatly.

Steam until the Tamales have hardened, and “bounce back” when pressed on, and aren’t mushy anymore. Time depends on how many and how thick you made them. Usually about an hour or longer.

Snip the knots off the ends. Unroll and serve for dinner!

Steam only as many as you will eat at that sitting. I don’t suggest reheating the Tamales as they lose texture after they have been steamed, refrigerated, and microwaved.

The Tamales may be frozen (for months), thawed, and freshly steamed to serve without any loss of flavor or texture. There you have it. One beef roast. Three different meals. And, enough Tamales for an appetizer, side, or meal, for several months to come.