The Family That Eats And Karaoke's Together

"Equal and Opposite Reactions"
by Patti Liszkay

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"Cleverly plotted and exceptionally well written... part drama and part slapstick comedy."  - Amazon Review

The Family That Eats And Karaoke's Together

  ...Continued from yesterday:      
       With all of my children living in different cities across three time zones it's rare that we're ever all together. But over the course of Maria and Justin's week-long visit from Los Angeles we came close.

     On Wednesday morning Claire flew in from Chicago and Theresa had surprised us late the night before when she arrived from Cincinnati for a quick half-day visit.

     Maria and the girls were at a play date that morning with the children of one of Maria's grade school friends,

...and I suggested  that, for those of us who were available, lunch at First Watch would be the very thing,

...not the least reason being that I, for one, was craving the First Watch Avocado Toast: "thick-cut whole grain toast topped with fresh smashed avocado, EVOO, lemon and Maldon sea salt. Served with two basted eggs." First Watch Avocado Toast is one of my favorite edibles on the planet,

...though Justin gave his veggie sandwich high grades,

...and the custard-filled pancakes that Theresa ordered were so good - she generously offered me a taste - that I'm sure  could easily develop an addiction to those pancakes, too.

       Later that afternoon Maria - who'd hauled along her family's karaoke machine from Los Angeles, such aficionados of karaoke is her family - suggested a session,

...which we all took turns joining in.

'cause when it's right it's right,

......and somehow karaoke in the middle of a Wednesday afternoon,

...just felt  right,

...until Theresa had to leave for her drive back to Cincinnati,

...and I had to start dinner

    It had been requested that I make the family favorite that everyone just calls "Linguine" - as in "Mom, can you make Linguine?" - even though the dish is actually made from fettuccini.

     Linguine.

   Here's the recipe:

   LINGUINE
   2 packages Knorr Vegetable Soup
   3 tablespoons flour
   1/2 cup butter or margarine
   3 cups milk
   1 bunch cooked broccoli
   1 lb cooked fettuccine

     Mix the soup and flour. Whisk the milk into the soup and flour mix.
     Melt the butter in a large pot over the stove. Stir the soup, flour and milk mix into the butter and, over low to medium heat, stir the mixture constantly until it just boils. Simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cooked broccoli. Pour over the cooked fettuccine. 
     Enjoy!

     For dessert I made an angle food cake,

...topped with ice cream, strawberries and cool whip.

...which everyone pronounced very good,

...even when eaten with stickers stuck on one's face.