Charlie Bear here with a sad Mom Peep. Actually, let’s call it what it is: an embarrassed Mom Peep. She had the family over for a Sunday BBQ. It went horribly wrong.
Now, let me set the stage and tell you Mom Peep’s history. First, she is not a good entertainer. She never seems to get it right…the setting, the dishes, the cutlery, the atmosphere. Second, she is not a good cook. She admits it (and I have to agree that most of the time she’s right). She makes a great salad, passable meatloaf, chicken tenders, spaghetti. But culinary skills are not in her repertoire (and that’s a really big word for a pooch like me).
Anyway, she made the ultimate mistake of having too little time to prepare and then second-guessing Dad at the BBQ. They made roasted corn-on-the-cob by soaking them husk-on in water and then putting them on the grill. Those did turn out really good. Mom says it reminds her of going to the State Fair back in Wisconsin with some of the kernels a bit blackened and the corn nice and soft.
But then Dad did the steaks (it was Father’s Day) and Mom came out and made a big faux pas. She told him they were done and made him take them off…and it turned out bad. They were too rare, they had to be put under the broiler in the kitchen ’cause the grill was already off, and half the family ate before the other half. Not fun.
So Mom feels bad. I do too ’cause no one even gave me a small piece of meat.
Any suggestions for how to help Mom Peep the next time she has family over?
Wiggles and Woofs for a happy grilling summer (though probably not at our house…lol),
Charlie Bear
www.bjtayloronline.com
B. J.: Do I ever feel like a horrible cook? All the time! Everything is so expensive that I don’t feel like experimenting to find my niche in the home cooking arena.
I would not worry about not being an entertainer. If your company feels comfortable and wanted, then you’ve done “your job” as hostess!
Charlie Bear, you are so cute that I don’t understand why somebody didn’t slip you a piece of something!
Susan
Susan.
They completely forgot about me that night. I sure tried and tried to be noticed, but they were looking at their own plates too much. Oh, well, I’ll get some next time. (Thanks for calling me cute. wink/wink at you and licks and kisses too)
Woofs,
Charlie Bear
Skip and Bailey here. Advice: Order pizza in next time. Woof. (We love the crusts!)
That’s what our Mom Peep does most of the time for company. It avoids a BIG MESS. Oh, she’s a good cook., but when there’s a card game and some billiard matches planned, she doesn’t wanna be in the kitchen playing with food. 🙂
Skippy and Bailey,
Pizza! yes, why didn’t she think of that. I love pizza…the little pieces of crust I sometimes get…like you! Wonderful idea! Thank you!
Wiggles and summer woofs,
Charlie Bear
Hmmm, I agree with all that’s been written, Charlie Bear, so your Mom Peep doesn’t need to be sad, just a bit bruised. A grilling thermometer would be a great stocking gift for Dad Peep (she can use it too, whenever she’s grilling) and takes the worry out. The little snafu sounds like a great conversation maker. I’m sure the guests didn’t mind–they were family, after all. But we do like things to go well when we entertain, whoever the guests are, don’t we? So, the other ideas are good, as is the pot luck idea (we always have folks bring a favorite and we just supply the basics. Could always do Italian but that’s not quite the same as cooking out. So it’s back to the thermometer for steaks, hamburgers, chicken, whatever. Tell her not to be so hard on herself–I’m sure she’s a fine cook, it’s just that we all have our own “specials” and I, for one, tend to stick to them and not branch out unless it’s a recipe that sounds easy and I’ve eaten it at friend’s (or daughter’s) house and watched to see how it was done. And then there’s always a morsel for Crosby and would be for you, too, Charlie. Happy rest of your grillin’ summer!
Jean,
Yup, she’s bruised. But she likes the suggestions of a grilling thermometer. And she loves the idea of having everyone bring something next time. That’s a good one. Thanks for thinking of me and Crosby for tidbits.
Wiggles to you,
Charlie Bear
CB: I was thinking that my first suggestion would be for you to give Mom Peeps all of your sweetness to remind her that she is wonderful just the way she is. Cooking for crowds can be daunting; particularly if one does not do it on a regular basis so remind her not to be so hard on herself. Also, next time Dad Peep is grilling the steaks, she can be very, very quiet and let him decide when they are done and that way, if they aren’t right, he has to take the heat. Or, get a grilling thermometer that will tell when they are finished. As others suggested, there are meats that don’t require quite so much finesse to prepare and, there is always take out. I would be willing to give Mom Peeps my recipe for Mexican style shrimp cocktail. It isn’t too hard and the guests will be so wowed by it that nothing could go wrong after that. Most of all, remind Mom that her guests will not remember not eating together but that they will remember her warm, loving, fun personality. And, give her nose kisses.
Foster Mom
Foster Mommy,
Nose kisses for sure! Thank you for the love that I feel pouring out of you for Mom Peep. I love her like the dickens, though I don’t show her often enough. Right now I’m humping on the couch pillows. Who knows why? Just feel like it I guess. I know, I know…TMI. (but it does make Mom and Dad laugh like the dickens — I guess I’m pretty funny looking when I do it)
I like your suggestions for Mom not to be so hard on herself and to let Dad Peep decide next time when the steaks are done. For sure! Cause then I might get a piece. lol
Mom Peep would love your Mexican shrimp cocktail recipe. Sounds yummy.
Wiggles and Woofs to you and all that you do to help other doggies to find forever homes (like me!),
Charlie Bear
Charlie Bear,
Tell her there is a link or name called “Outlaw Garden” that gives a column for the season or time of year. It is a blog spot as your ‘Peep Moms, and she gives recipes of all kinds but Peeps will have to look whatever she wants to fix up by using the search engine. And another thing she can do is type in her search engine “www.Cooking.com” and then type in whatever she wants to fix. My Peeps like that one better as it is not quiet as challenging. Your Peeps might like the one called “Outlaw Garden” though for it is a ”Blog Spot” and a very good one at that. My Peeps enjoy it but time is not an essence here most of the time.
But your Peeps can do so many things right; she can write, and I bet cook lots of things well, otherwise you would not be so chubby & cute(luv ur picture). She could cater some meals, have take outs or for more elaborate ones, get some help or grill up some hot dogs(no pun intended), steaks or ham burgers.
You all just ‘Take Care’ CB & all your Peeps.
Beaugie…
Beaugie,
I love the “hot dogs” grillin’ part cause Dad might slip me a bit of a piece. ha ha on the no pun intended with the “hot dog” — that’s you and me, Beaugie. We’re some cool dudes.
Thank your Mom Peep for the wonderful online suggestions.
Wiggles and Woofies to you,
Charlie Bear
Here are some suggestions: 1. Pick lots of fix-ahead menu items, so time does not become an issue. 2. Make it pot-luck–let everybody bring their best dish (my daughter-in-law’s layered taco dip is a hit anytime!!). 3. Hot dogs instead of steak–no worries about whether they are done enough!!
Also, just a quick bit of news . . . I had commented quite a while ago about how all our dogs over the years had been either give-aways or rescues. Our 15.5-yr-old German shepherd/Dobie mix (we adopted her from a rescue at age 1) had to be put to sleep end of March due to severe case of Rocky Mt spotted fever, which left us with “only” one dog (and 3 cats, but who’s counting?). We are in the process of adopting another dog from a rescue, a 5-yr-old white terrior mix who has been in the foster home for almost a year!! She is described as “sweet and quiet,” and she “gets along great with other dogs.” The foster mom says she has no behavioral issues at all. She was a turn-in at a rural shelter, and brought to our D.C. area by the rescue. She is just what the two of us 60-yr-olds are looking for! We have met her, and plan to bring her home when we get back from vacation.
Ellen,
My Mom Peep says “bless you, bless you, bless you” for opening your bruised hearts to another furry friend. I know how it hurt my Mom and Dad Peep when we all lost Rex (2 years ago now). She says to tell you that you 60-yr-olds are young spring chickens and that “sweet and quiet” 5-yr-old white terrior mix from the foster home is going to get some great lovin’ — just like I have after being fostered and rescued.
Kudos to you, Ellen, from all of us here at the Taylor household.
(P.S. Mom loves your entertaining ideas and will write them down!)
Wiggles and woofs,
Charlie Bear
Ohhh, Charlie Bear…tell your Mom Peep she’s so much fun to be around, it’s perfectly all right that the meat needed to be cooked twice. I bet people loved just hangin’ out with her! I sure do.
Julie,
Mom Peep will love your comment. At least she has personality going for her, and I guess she can always order in (as long as they at least give me a tiny piece of something next time).
Woofs and wiggles to you,
Charlie Bear