Remember me?

Okay, so it's been a while. You remember who I am, right? Cubanita? Living in Gringolandia? Yes, maybe?

The last time I apologized for such a long absence it was due to my return to school.  I found that it was very time consuming and I struggled to balance life and school. What did I do to remedy that? I decided to get a full-time job on top of full-time school--who needs sleep or socialization or anything, really? I'm not going to lie to you. It's tough and most days it is a struggle to do everything I need to do. The only reason that I am writing to you now is that its a three-day weekend and that grants me 24 more hours (so naturally I will just sit in my jammies and surf the internet all day--right?).

Spring & Summer came and went...

I turned 31! No fanfare this year. I was taking a final exam on my birthday and Mami didn't show up at my door.  In fact, she called me the day before to let me know not to be expecting her.  Funny lady.

Mi Gringito and I celebrated three years of wedded bliss! I had another exam that day (sense a pattern?) so we weren't able to celebrate. Mi Gringito did, however, take me to Mount Kearsarge the following weekend and I climbed my first mountain! We decided to call that our anniversary celebration. Oh, and he bought me a car & the new iPhone.

I celebrated my first Surgiversary on October 25th with a total loss of 91 pounds since my surgery date and 126 pounds overall.  I have lost an entire human!!!

We had an earthquake.

One week later, Hurricane Sandy came to visit and two days ago we had our first snowfall.

I think that about sums up what has happened since our last meeting. We can now move forward...

I've decided that I want to decorate for Christmas...like now. I know that you are supposed to wait until the day after Thanksgiving and blah, blah, blah...but I have a problem with that.  Number one, Mami & Papi are coming to visit and I want the house ready before they get here. Number two, we've already discussed how much spare time I have so I am taking full advantage of that extra day this weekend. Not going to lie -- I've got Christmas music playing as I type this!

Of course, with the lack of spare time I need a quick dinner for Mi Gringito when he gets home today. Any Cuban cupboard should be chock full of white rice & salchichas, right? Mine is no different.  Arroz con salchichas it is! I swear that Mi Gringito does a little happy dance when he gets home and sees that I've pulled out El Hitachi!

Arroz Con Salchichas
Ingredients:
3 C White Rice
2 cans Salchicha (Vienna sausages)
1 can Yellow Corn
4 Tbsp Minced Garlic
1 Tbsp Dried Minced Onion
1 tsp Cumin
2 tsp Salt
2 Bay Leaves
2 GOYA Seasoning Packets
1 Tbsp Olive Oil

• Wash, rinse & drain 3 cups of rice and place in rice cooker.
• Open all the cans that you are using and drain the liquids into the rice (use a measuring cup to keep count) and then finish with water to total 5 Cups. Set aside.

• In a caldera, heat the olive oil and saute the garlic and onions until the garlic starts to brown a little. 

• Add the cumin, GOYA Seasoning, and the bay leaves.

• Add the corn and let cook for about a minute.

• Cut the salchichas in threes and add to the mixture.

• Let this cook for about a minute or two.
• Add the mixture to the rice and stir well.

• Add the salt.
• Stir and set the rice cooker.
• Once it's done, stir and let stand at least 10 minutes.

 My dish is on the left and Mi Gringito's is on the right...mind you, he had about 2-3 helpings! YUMM!

I was grocery shopping the other day and I actually found an 8lb pernil! I of course grabbed it and its now in the freezer.  I figure that I can roast that sucker and feed Mi Gringito for at least a week or two! Can't wait for that one!!

Enjoy the days coming up to Thanksgiving and the holidays! I am thankful for you, my readers!