A friend of mine recently came up with a fabulous idea...one which could make millions of dollars for someone who's not as bone lazy as we are.

Here's the idea: Feminine Hygiene Products designed SPECIFICALLY for women "of a certain age". Which means the ARMIES of us currently going through the torture of perimenopause.

This brilliant idea was born out of pain and suffering....the pain and suffering of hearing me gripe and complain about the injustices of this really fun phase of my life. Particularly the following two observations: 1) If you can't see how to open the mini pad box without your cheater glasses on, you shouldn't HAVE to need the pads anymore; and 2) If you can't open the tampon wrapper because of the arthritis in your hands, you shouldn't need those anymore either. Seriously, enough is enough, okay?

All we need is a product name and some catchy advertising tag lines and VOILA, we're in business. Another friend suggested the name, Meni-Pads, which beat MY suggestions of:

1) Well, CRAP!
2) Dammit, Not Again!
3) How Long Will This Bullshit Go On?
and
4) Somebody's Going To Hear About This!!

Obviously, I'm currently too close to the situation to think of a good (and not obscene) product name. However, I DO have some possible tag lines we can use:

1) Use "Meni-Pads" and nobody gets hurt.
2) Use "Meni-Pads" and have a homicide-free period.
3) "Meni-Pads" because sometimes life sucks.
4) "Meni-Pads" because God's obviously a man and He's not gonna help you with this one.
5) "Meni-Pads" because NOBODY looks good in Jailhouse Orange.
6) "Meni-Pads" because your family is starting to fear you.

Our products will also be customized for our target audience. Instead of sanitary wipes, our products will contain various alibis, and the telephone numbers of criminal attorneys and bail bondsmen, in case of any unfortunate homicides and/or killing sprees.

Also, SOME specially marked packages will contain sweat rags and battery operated fans for those unplanned and inconvenient hot flashes; our Econo-Jumbo-Last Until You're Out Of This Hell-Package will include free samples of prescription anti-depressants and mood elevators.

Seriously, what more could you want? Except for not having to go through this lunacy in the first place?

Oh, and if you don't understand this entry or you think I'm being just a little too over the top about this whole issue? Well, then you obviously haven't been through menopause, aren't currently IN perimenopause or don't know anyone who's been there and done that and, frankly, you're ticking me off and I want you dead.

Now, where's that free Prozac sample?

When I was planning our Thanksgiving menu, I made the mistake of actually asking my boys if they wanted anything special. We'll have our regular turkey, dressing, giblet gravy, sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie, of course.

Joseph requested mashed potatoes, because, apparantly he thinks the menu is lacking starchy foods. Alex asked for something different - he wanted the edamame salad from Central Market.

So, Monday morning found me making the hour long round trip to our "local" Central Market grocery, where, once again, I was faced with a breed of woman I find completely puzzling and amazing.

I'm talking women wearing 4 inch stilletto heels, and skin tight designer clothes to grab a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread (well, probably a gallon of organic soy and a loaf of 6 grain oatmeal/bran high fiber bread).

I think it's an accomplishment for me to make it to the grocery store fully dressed...matching clothes and make up is definitely a BONUS. In fact, if you want to know the truth, I've often been struck with a momentary panic in the grocery aisle, wondering if I still have my houseshoes on. If you saw my houseshoes, you'd understand the panic part - think fur that looks like a pink gay Grover on Sesame Street and you get the picture.

I think these designer females are fascinating and should be studied, but at a safe distance, in case whatever illness they have is contagious. The way my body is falling apart, I don't think I could DO grocery shopping in high heels.

Oh, and the salad? Got it...all two pounds and $15.00 worth. Man, these kids owe me.

I'm calling this recipe Cheater Reese's Brownie Cupcakes because it's unbelievable how easy it is...and, according to Joseph and his friends, they are one of the best things ever made.

1 Box of Duncan Hines Brownie Mix (the plain variety)
12 - 18 mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Prepare brownie mix according to the package directions for cake-like brownies (which usually means using 3 eggs, instead of 2).

Line muffin tins with paper muffin cups (12 - 18, depending on how large you want your cupcakes)

Spoon each muffin cup half full with brownie batter. Place an unwrapped peanut butter cup into each muffin and cover with more brownie batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 18 - 20 minutes.

FYI:

The cupcakes will look kind of strange on top because of the melted chocolate of the Reese's peanut butter cups. Don't worry, they're delicious!

I've become aware of a little known phenomenon. Want to expose your kids to new things and broaden their horizons? Just buy something for YOURSELF and see what happens.

I'm a Weight Watcher Lifetime Member and I'm always on the lookout for different foods that will help keep me OP (or "on plan" in WW lingo). Naturally, most of this food is of the "healthy" (or tasteless) variety and some of it can even be classified as "diet" (gasp). Doesn't matter...Joseph will search it out and consume it almost as fast as I can get it in the house.

Now, this is a kid who is over 6 feet tall and weighs maybe 170 pounds. He can eat whatever he wants, so somebody tell me why the fat free chips and the sugar free pudding are disappearing? Not to mention the new bran cereal I bought for myself JUST YESTERDAY. (Actually, that one's okay, I'm pretty sure he's gonna have a visit from the Bran Cereal Fairy that will more than make up for the fact that he pilfered my food - kind of like Intestinal Karma.)

The pantry raiding isn't really that bad. I'm a mom and to me, Food Is Love (which goes a long way in explaining how I became a WW member in the first place). But, the pilfering has gone from food to actual household items.

Alex was home yesterday for Roger's birthday and to give me a chance to get reacquainted with his dirty laundry. He'd been here for about an hour (eating continuously, by the way), when he asked me if I had an "extra" toaster he could borrow (read: have).

Being a good mother, I pulled my old toaster off the shelf, blew the dust out of it, and handed it over. I also remembered an old toaster-oven we'd stashed in Roger's closet. What? My house has NO available cupboard space, which often forces us to cram stuff in Roger's closet. We store stuff in Roger's closet because, no matter how much junk we pile in there, it really doesn't look much different than it does when it's just his CLOTHES in there.

Alex followed me back to the bedroom and I held his feet while he dove head-first into the closet after the buried toaster-oven treasure. After extensive rummaging and junk relocation, he found the toaster-oven, pulled it out and managed to escape the ensuing junk avalanche. I think it proves my point when I tell you that Roger didn't even notice we'd been in his closet, despite the fact that the only way we could get some of the stuff crammed back in was to stand back, hurl it in and slam the closet door real fast.

And, just this morning, I noticed Joseph plugging my new bluetooth back into the charger. I asked him what he was doing and he said he'd "borrowed" my bluetooth and he was resetting it to my phone number.

Now, what's ironic about this is, just the other day Roger and I were thinking about buying both boys a bluetooth for Christmas. I asked Joseph if he thought he'd like one and he assured me he had no use for a bluetooth, since he didn't spend that much time actually talking on the phone, mostly he uses text messaging. Silly me, how could I FORGET that $300.00 phone bill we received BEFORE we signed on for a free text-messaging plan!

I told Joseph it was okay for him to use my bluetooth, since I really didn't use it much myself. Honestly, it hurts my ear and makes my hair look funny (and I'm always afraid somebody will mistake me for a rock star - Ha!)

Maybe that's it...maybe the boys don't have a problem "borrowing" our stuff because we've always been more than happy to give it to them. I'm hoping they remember this and return the favor when they're rich and successful. But, just in case, I'm planning on telling my grandkids every little single thing we've ever done for their daddies, and encouraging them to expect the same things and even MORE.

I believe in leaving a Legacy.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce that my son's band, The Mighty Poteet Pirate Marching Band, won the UIL 4A State Championship last week - and, if I may add, this is their SECOND State Championship in a row! Yes, Ma'am...back to back winners, Baybee!!

Oh, and if I may FURTHER add, my son had not one, not two, not three but FOUR, that's right, count 'em FOUR trumpet solos in said performance! A fact that almost every single person in the city of San Antonio is now aware of (yeah, Momma has a braggin' problem, allright).

It was a fabulous time and Roger and I are so glad we made the trip down and listened to eleventy hundred bands that we couldn't have cared LESS about, just so we were THERE when OUR band won the title! Oh, and a note to the event planners, if you have a program of continuous performances by high school marching bands...endless hours of drumlines, brass sections and woodwinds all playing music that sounds remarkably the same - if you have THAT as your event for the day, you might rethink the idea of having a COLLEGE MARCHING BAND as your halftime entertainment. Despite what some people might think - there IS such a thing as too much band. Ugh.

Of course, it was a regular Melinda kind of trip, complete with a cross dressing band father sitting behind me. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about tolerance and being open-minded. But it did take me back a little bit, when I turned around and the "couple" I'd been hearing behind me turned out to be an average looking wife and a husband who was in full drag attire, complete with long brunette wig, make up and acrylic nails.

I don't know if he/she was a candidate for surgery or not, but, judging by the visible cleavage he was sporting, he hadn't had anything done yet. My suggestion? He should start with a wax job on his chest. Yikes!

After the preliminary competition, we all got up to leave the Alamodome. We were saying our goodbyes and the wife looks at me, nudges her husband and says, "Go on, tell her." Oh God...I've told y'all how people are always telling me things they really SHOULDN'T tell me. Seriously, they share things with me I don't even think their Mothers or their Ministers want to know about. I could only imagine what this man/woman was going to say to me. Good Lord.

I shouldn't have worried...the man looked me in the eye and tells me he just LOVES my hair color and that my hairdresser had done a fabulous job with the highlights.

Now, seeing as how this person was meticulously groomed - with perfect make up and hair and I looked like I'd thrown my make up in the air and just ran through it, I do believe I'll proudly and gladly take that compliment.

And, lesson learned, you should always listen whenever someone wants to tell you something...it just might be something you really want to hear.

The boys are always asking me which one of them is my favorite. Alex thinks Joseph is my favorite and Joseph is convinced Alex is my favorite one.

I've got some news for them both.

I have no idea why, but Halloween is probably my all-time favorite holiday. Maybe it's because it's relatively chore-free. All you have to do is buy TONS of candy and spend a couple of hours one night handing it out to a bunch of strangers' kids. No shopping or baking required, just candy dispersal. I can definitely get on board with that.

We had our usual HORDE of Trick or Treaters last night. Seriously, we estimated that from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. we had approximately 500 ghouls, goblins, ninjas, princesses, bees and lions begging us for candy. Oh, and one 74 year old woman, who was in charge of squiring her grandkids around, but managed to remember to bring a bag for herownself. Gotta love a woman who's prepared.

Two of our neighbors set up scary haunted houses - a little TOO scary if you ask me, but since they never DID, I guess they'll never know. All night long it sounded like someone was being savagely murdered right outside our front door. Talk about your festive holiday spirit!

The first Tricksters/Treatsters pulled up in front of our house at 6:00 p.m., opened their car doors and tumbled out of their SUV. It was non-stop kids from then on. Seriously, the doorbell didn't even RING..there wasn't enough time between moochers to even step away from the door.

Roger and Layla stood there for three straight hours just barking and handing out candy. Layla was in charge of barking and Roger headed up candy distribution, but occasionally, Layla tried to switch jobs by snatching the candy from the bowl. I'd LIKE to say we threw those few Layla slobber soaked pieces away...yeah, I'd LIKE to say that, but I CAN'T say it, because, truthfully? We wiped the dog spit off and pitched it back in the bowl. We're talking SURVIVAL here folks - would YOU want to run out of candy with that many sugar crazed kids roaming your neighborhood?

And, speaking of the neighborhood, ours was so packed last night there was a traffic jam on our street. Alex came over to carve pumpkins with his brother (something that brings back such wonderful memories and chokes me right up, I can tell you), and when he left, he had to avoid the traffic jams by driving down the alleys.

So, today's the day after my favorite Holiday. I've already gotten the Halloween decorations put away, and I've gotten out the stuff for Thanksgiving. Layla and I saw the remnants of a good time on our walks today: the odd candy bar, sucker, and plastic fangs.

Apparently, the haunted houses were a big hit and very authentic; judging by Layla's biggest score this morning...she snarfed up an entire piece of pepperoni pizza in front of one of the houses that was "haunted".

Man, that must have been SOME kinda scary....bad enough to make somebody drop their pizza and run.

Here are pictures of Alex, Joseph and Audrey carrying on our family tradition of carving pumpkins to sit on the porch for Halloween night. The boys have been doing this since they were in pre-school and it's always the same....Alex does the traditional three triangles for the eyes and nose and a grinning mouth and Joseph goes all creative. This year we had the extra added bonus of a girl's touch....Audrey's pumpkin (her very first!) was just precious, and I'm proud to say that reaching in and pulling out all the gross pumpkin guts didn't faze her one bit!

P.S. Notice Layla's hopeful expression in the first picture? I'm sure she's thinking, "one of these things is gonna hit the floor any minute now and then it's ALL MINE!"

We had the tile man out today to repair the two tiles in the utility room that had to be jackhammered up to locate our slab leak. (Just another one of the joys of homeownership we've experienced lately. I'm telling ya, renting is looking better and better all the time.)

So, of course, the tile-man was telling me his life story - or at least the good parts. Let's see...he's been married twice and his second wife was crazy, and was responsible for getting him arrested on at least one occasion. Nothing sharpens the senses quite like being alone in your kitchen with a strange man telling you about his prison record. Perks you right up, I'm telling ya.

I started telling HIM about my husband and two grown sons, who are REALLY big and fight REALLY dirty and know how to hide a body, and, oh yeah - that dog? The one who's prancing around with a toy in her mouth, wagging her tail and making happy pig-like noises?? She's a cold stone killer. All I have to do is snap my fingers and before you know it, your throat is torn completely out!! Really, she'd probably even LIKE it, too.

Tile-man says he can't BELIEVE I have kids that old. That he's 41 and he'd never have thought I was even close to his age. Oh really? Well, that's a different story...isn't that nice and, I tell him that as a matter of fact I AM close to his age..actually I'm OLDER - six whole years older.

He looks closely at me and says, "Well, I'd have never even guessed that....you sure have held up real good!"

Okay, it's not poetry, but I'll take it.

Let me tell you, the only reason Roger's not walking around with a knot on his head is because I have such poor aim.

Joseph will hit the big 18 this Sunday (sob) and I had asked him what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday. Now, remember, Roger and I have been on Weight Watcher maintenance for what seems like eleventy hundred years or so, and I haven't actually BAKED anything in almost that long. Secretly, I was hoping Joseph would pick something I could fix from a box with a couple of tubs of store bought frosting slapped on. Okay, so it wouldn't have been "home made", but lemme tell ya, there's not much that can't be fixed with a couple of tubs of frosting, even if it IS store bought.

So, we were eating dinner, Joseph was pondering his birthday cake choices and I was throwing out helpful suggestions. The conversation went something like this:
Me: What kind of cake do you want?
Joseph: I don't know.
Me: I can make you a white cake with chocolate frosting, or a yellow cake with chocolate frosting, or, HEY, A BAKERY CAKE IS ALWAYS GOOD! (Am I a subtle or what?)
Then, out of NOWHERE, Roger says, "How about that delicious Red Velvet Cake your mother used to make?"

WHAT??? RED VELVET CAKE?? Do you have any idea how hard it is to make a Red Velvet Cake?? Especially like the kind my MOTHER used to make?? You're talking about an honest to God, from scratch, gotta sift the flour and everything cake!! The freakin' FROSTING has to be cooked on the stove and then refrigerated and then creamed with more ingredients and mine always ends up with little clumps of lard in it and I think I need a pill! I mean, MY GOD, I'd rather donate a kidney.

I was hoping maybe Joseph hadn't heard what Roger said. He doesn't listen or acknowledge what we've said about 90% of the time, so the odds were on my side, right? NOPE. When those words came out of Roger's mouth, Joseph's eyes lit up and he said, "Red Velvet Cake? I remember that cake - that's a GREAT cake! That's the kind of cake I want!"

Now, when I heard my youngest soon-to-be-an-adult son say those words, I'd like to say I felt all warm and maternal and nostalgic that he had such feelings for a cake my mother used to make for each of us on our birthdays. Yeah, I'd LIKE to say that, but I'd be lying if I did. I am NO June Cleaver and I think a lovingly crafted from the box cake would have been just fine. Joseph sure does slather the compliments on his girlfriend Audrey when SHE makes him one of those cheater cakes, doesn't he? But ME? Oh NO.....Nothing less is expected of me than a kill-yourself (or better yet your husband who suggested it) kind of cake.

I think I must have quietly expressed some kind of resistance, or maybe I said all of the above OUT LOUD at a fairly LOUD VOLUME. But, somehow, Joseph sensed I was less than enthusiastic about this whole proposition, and so he did the one thing that proves to me he is definitely MY son and has inherited at least ONE gift from MY side of the family.

He whipped out the Guilt Whip and lashed me with it! Seriously, he was MASTERFUL! My Mother would have been so proud. Joseph looked me straight in the eye and said, "That's okay, Mom, I know it's a pain to make...but, you know, it would have been nice, since I'm only going to turn 18 once." I am telling you I could HEAR my Mother cheering from Heaven Above. She may be gone, but her legacy of love, guilt and Birthday Red Velvet Cake still lives on.

Good Lord, how long has it been since I've posted anything? Forever, I know. So much has happened in the last few months, I'll try to catch you up.

Let's see, Joseph is a senior in high school, and plans to attend college and major in pre-med, probably because he just doesn't think he has ENOUGH stress and pressure in his life. Or maybe he just wanted to hear his father's special college speech, "Four years, we pay for FOUR YEARS, anything more is on your OWN dime!" Ahhhh, parental support, it's a wonderful thing, isn't it? Meanwhile, Joseph is still big in band and we go to San Antonio in November to DEFEND our STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. (I'm trying to be really excited about this, but, honestly, I'm more excited about a three day vacation from home and dog....ummmm, Go Band!)

Alex is a senior and will graduate this Spring with an accounting degree and plans to get a Master's Degree and become a CPA. He ALSO moved into his own apartment, which broke my heart and ruined my life, but I'm trying not to hold a grudge and I DO manage to have wonderful, long, really personal visits with his laundry, every two weeks.

Roger's counting the days (literally) until he can retire. I've racked my brain, trying to figure out ways to supplement our income and cut costs, so that he can retire early, but no one wants to pay me for my one God Given talent - hormonal ranting; and Layla REFUSES to stand on the roadside with a cup, cane and dark glasses....she's selfish like that, you know.

Speaking of Layla - she's 3 years old now and, while she HAS calmed down a tee tiny bit, she still pretty much terrifies the average person with her "exuberance" (read: bad manners), and I'm fairly sure it would be an impossibility to spoil her any more than she already is. She is the love of Roger's life, and I am almost certain the only reason I'm still around is because I know where the treats are hidden.

Probably the biggest change to happen recently is the death of my mother. Mother passed away from complications of Alzheimer's in September. She may have lost the battle with Alzheimer's, but she DID win the war!! She died very peacefully, surrounded by my sister, my niece and myself, and it was indeed a victory. For the first time in almost 10 years, my mother was calm and at peace. She died a few days before her 82nd birthday and we celebrated her life with a memorial service on her birthday. It was a party my mother would have LOVED, with cake and punch and friends and family...HER kind of celebration.

As for me, I find myself at another changing point in my life. My boys are growing up (okay, okay, they're GROWN UP already...let me hang on for a little while longer, please?) I have more and more free time now and that is taking some getting used to. I know I'll adjust, it's just going to take some time. Maybe I should develop some new hobbies or maybe I'll just show up here more often. Who knows? It's a whole new life now, isn't it?

We're trying a different approach to prevent Dudley from licking. So far, it's working, and it looks a lot cuter than his toilet seat cover hat.

This is a picture of Layla sitting at the front door with her favorite toy. What you can't see is the handsome pitbull she's been flirting with in the yard across the street.

Here's Dudley modeling the latest in fashion wear, worn by obsessively licking dogs everywhere. I think Layla's asking "Are you KIDDING me?"

Here's the view I get every morning. Not exactly inspiring, is it?

This is a great use up recipe for any fish or shrimp you have, although if you have any leftover shrimp, you really should see a medical professional, in my opinion.


1/2 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 cup (8 oz) reduced fat sour cream
3 tblsps of flour
1 cup of reduced sodium chicken broth
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1 tsp. ground coriander
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup (4 oz) shredded, reduced fat Mexican cheese blend, divided
2 cups coarsely chopped seafood (fish, shrimp, crab, or any mix)
8 tortillas (corn or flour)
1/2 cup chopped tomato
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped black olives

In a large saucepan, cook onion and garlic in a little bit of olive oil, over medium heat until tender. Combine sour cream and flour until smooth; gradually add to onion mixture. Stir in the broth, chilies, coriander and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncover for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in 1/2 cup of cheese.

Place seafood in a bowl; stir in 1/2 cup of sauce. Spoon equal amounts on tortillas and roll them up tightly. Place seam side down in an 11 x 7 x 2 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with remaining sauce.

Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes. Top with tomato, green onions and olives.

Makes 8 servings.

This is a recipe I got from the newspaper, but it's a dish that is served at one of our favorite restaurants, Flying Fish. If you get a chance, get the original at Flying Fish, but this is a fairly good imitation.

1 (28 oz) can of petite diced tomatoes, in juice, well-drained with juices reserved.
1 tblsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped white onion
3 large garlic cloves, chopped
3 small bay leaves
2 tblsps. chopped fresh parsley (or not)
1 tblsp. oregano
1/4 cup sliced green olives
2 tblsps. raisins
2 tblsps. drained, rinsed capers
salt & pepper to taste
6 (4-5 oz) tilipia fillets
3 pickled jalapenos, seeded and halved or quartered (or not)

Place drained tomatoes in medium bowl. Using potato masher, crush tomatoes to course puree. Drain again, reserving juices.

Heat oil in large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and stir 30 seconds. Add garlic and stir 30 seconds. Add tomato puree and cook 1 minute. Add bay leaves, parsley, oregano and 1/4 cup reserved tomato juices. Simmer until sauce thickens, about 3 minutes. Add olives, raisins, capers and all remaining tomato juices. Simmer until sauce thickens again, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Season sauce to taste with salt & pepper. (this can be made 1 day in advance and refrigerated).

Preheat oven to 425. Spread 3 tblsps of sauce in bottom of 15 x 10 x 2 inch glass baking dish. Arrange fish on top of sauce and sprinkle fish lightly with salt & pepper. Spoon remaining sauce over the fish. The fish and sauce can be layered in the dish, if you don't have enough room.

Bake uncovered until fish flakes with fork, about 18 - 20 minutes. Using a long spatula, transfer fish to plates, top with sauce. Garnish with jalapeno.

Makes 6 servings.

This is what I like to call a Double Duty Dinner (okay, I stole that name from the recipe column in the Dallas Morning News, but it just fits so well, and I didn't see a trademark on it). The first dish is what you serve for dinner the first night and you use the leftovers in the second recipe for dinner the next night or later in the week. You could also freeze it and serve the recipe at a later time...I'm not the boss of you, ya know.


FIRST NIGHT: HONEY MUSTARD GLAZED SALMON FILLETS

4 tblsp. fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
4 tblsp. Honey Dijon Mustard (or Honey Mustard)
4 tblsp. honey
finely grated lemon zest from your two lemons
2 lbs of salmon fillets
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Cooking spray

Spray a large baking dish with non-stick spray. Rinse salmon and pat it dry with paper towels. Place salmon fillets in baking dish and salt and pepper them.

In another small bowl, mix lemon juice, mustard, honey and lemon zest. Pour half of mixture over salmon fillets, turn fillets over and salt and pepper the other side. Pour remaining marinade over fillets.

Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 3 hours.

Remove fillets from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature. Turn fillets over one last time. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and cook fillets approximately 20-25 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Serve fillets, reserving 8 oz. for later recipe.



LATER RECIPE: SALMON FETTUCCINE

12 oz. fettuccine
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 med. sliced onion
2 cloves of minced garlic
1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes
2 tblsp. wine (any kind)
1 (14.5 oz) can of petite diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 1/2 tsp. of rinsed capers
8 ounces of cooked salmon fillets (skin removed)

Cook fettuccine according to package directions; drain and set aside.

While fettuccine cooks, heat oil in large skillet and saute onion, and red pepper flakes until onion is tender. Add garlic and saute an additional minute.

Add wine, tomatoes, thyme and capers and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer to reduce.

Break salmon into pieces and add to sauce. Heat through.

Serve sauce over fettuccine.

The dogs discovered an uninvited guest this morning in the rain gutters on the patio. I'm not real sure what HE'S so ticked off about, I'm betting HE didn't just turn 48 years old!!