This thread, which I didn't catch the first time around, made me think. In general, I cook to eat and feed my family. However, I do enjoy baking for special occasions. I think that if I didn't work outside the home I would cook more...and be more adventurous. But, I work and have a long commute so by the time I get home I have to make fast meals with little time for creativity or major prep work. So, we eat a lot of frozen veggies--as is out of the bag, pre-cooked meats warmed up, pasta, soup, occasionally waffles/pancakes/eggs, potatoes, etc. I.e., for the most part things that I can cook fast. One up side to this is that our meals haven't changed that much w/o a kitchen since we do have a MW, Toaster Oven, and hot plate to cook with! One very big downside to this, though, is that my children are not learning to cook like I did from my mom. Back on topic... After finding this site and reading about zones, I realized that one thing that I really wanted was a baking center. So when my kitchen was being designed I had it in the back of my head that whatever we ended up with had to have an area I could designate my "Baking Zone", preferably near the ovens--with room to roll out dough, spread out cookie sheets, and have cookie cutters spread out all at the same time! The other thing I got from this site was our window...having the window down to the counter (OK, not cooking-related, but a very important design element!) Our very first plan that our KD came up with had input from us...but a very naive/ignorant us! (Before GW...BGW!) Then....I found this site.....and the changes began. Actually, I posted that original plan and asked for help (and also asked my KD to start over w/no island) Many, many people here helped me come up with a plan over several weeks (months?). We finally came up with a plan that has changed little since then. Interestingly, when I took away the island "must have", my KD came up with a plan very similar to what we came up with here. The only 3 differences were (1) no mini peninsula, (2) a 36" pantry cabinet rather than a corner pantry, and (3) no separate Message Center cabinets. My KD wasn't completely happy w/our differences, but she, wisely I thought, told me to go home and mock up what I wanted to see how it would work (same advice I got here!) Well, the mock up was great! It proved that I did indeed want the mini peninsula (I liked it so much I left the mock up in place until demo and used it!) When I told her the results, she didn't argue, she accepted it telling me it's my kitchen, so ultimately it's up to me. So in the end, my design was/is based on what I wanted, not what the KD wanted. [If only someone else had measured my kitchen and she was given more authority, I think a lot of subsequent problems would have been avoided.] Our kitchen isn't done yet, but it's close...so I can't yet tell you how it is going to work for us...but we are so...

We both had the broiled platter which is our favorite. But we got $50 free, which was really nice and I almost splurged and went for the Maine lobster but I knew it would be way too much food. The platter was too much. I am a member of their select members club which means that you get $25 free on your birthday month, they allow you to go up to 15 days past your birthday month so I just made it. We had planned to go on my birthday while we were in Galveston but we never made it. I also had another $25 free built up on my card. If you like Landrys or any of their many other restaurants that card is such a no brainer, such a great deal, check out the information on the Landrys site. I had a thank you email from them when I got home which also let me know how many points I earned tonight and how many total I have.

Those ribs sound delicious Patti. Vannie and her husband came to visit at the motor home. Then they took us on a tour of the area and we stopped for late lunch at this wonderful restaurant in Longview. There was all kinds of seafood on the menu so it was hard to decide what to eat. I had large shrimp stuffed with crab, baked potato, coleslaw and before it was delivered they brought delicious crisp bread. Also a tray of corn relish, pickled okra, sweet pickles and some cheese butter. Man we ate so much we were stuffed when we left. With all the great restaurants around here we would be rolling everywhere if we lived here. I told Vannie I need to start a folder and keep a list of all the restaurants as she posts about them at the Meeting House. We are having a wonderful time here. Will be moving again on Monday morning.

Phyllis, chicken and dumpling are the ideal winter food--especially when the weather is as cold as MN. Hope you have more for another day!! Mamatoad, that sounds darned good--you stay warm, too. Jannie, know what you mean about the holidays but ours are over. New Year's to us means college bowl games :0 I just dread decorating every year, but just hat taking it down. My tree is so pretty I just love looking at it. Gosh, YogaLady, sure glad your DGD slept. Driving in rain is not fun, but I can't imagine driving on those freeways in CA. I shudder to think. Glad you got home safely. I bought a round of smoked gouda and Harry at almost all of it. Humph!