Year in Review.

This week we're going to celebrate the last 6 months we've journeyed from country to country, learning new culture and discovering new flavors. I can hardly believe the year is nearly half over. Don't you remember when you were younger and the "older" people said to cherish every moment of your youth and the raising of kids because you will blink and it will be over? I'm starting to get it.

Anyway, this meal adventure has been a test of perseverance. My prediction was 10 weeks, tops. And now I can sit and say we have traveled for 25 weeks (24 not counting this year in review week). Crazy. We are going to pause and take a week off next week and are fired up to continue on our culinary journey once we're back from vacation.  I won't act like this journey has been easy. Really, I'm not Martha Stewart nor am I June Cleaver. I'm just a mom of three very active girls plus a chick who has a career in advertising. And a competitive streak with myself to push the limits. This time it's with cooking. I should really change this blog to pushing the workout and healthy eating... hmmm...an idea for 2013.

So, to highlight 2012 so far, here are the countries we've traveled this year:
Japan
Italy
Mexico
China
Hungary
France
America
Brazil
Greece
Russia
Ireland
Elie week
Australia
Jack week
Indonesia
Turkey
Sicily
Mexico
Canada
Switzerland
Jamaica
Thailand
Spain
Fiji

Last night we had our normal meal, Skillet Lasagna, Elie's Choice. It's already gone today after they devoured it at 5:30 for their early dinner. It could also be that I forgot to turn the crock pot on this morning and my meal for tonight sat for 3 1/2 hours, cold. Add nine hours of cooking on top of that and you get "Late dining"...our latest normal. We dined in Italy again, my choice. I've been craving the Italian beef since I made it in January! It was good, not quite the way I remembered it to be. I think I used a different cut of meat. Bottom roast vs. Chuck Roast. Definately making a mental note for next time (as if I will remember)... still delicious. It also could be the season. It's 95 degrees out, not 19 degrees. Probably should consider that.

As you can see by the list, the family really likes Italian Food, followed up with Mexican and Asian. I'm sure we'll be back to a place near those countries during the 2nd half of 2012.

The race is 1/2 over... Happy is.