Do You Believe in Magic?

Isn't it funny how things work out sometimes? I mean, you're just walking around minding your own business, when suddenly magic happens and it changes everything forever. Sometimes, you recognize the magic right away. But, sometimes, it takes a little while to sink in.

Here's an example of the "right away" magic. Family legend has it that my Dad first saw my Mom in the gym of Auburn's old high school. He was a graduate and she was still a student. For some reason, he was visiting the school during her Phys Ed (or whatever they called that kind of stuff back in the olden days) class. He was down on the gym floor. She was standing up on the landing at the top of the bleachers. He glanced up and, POW, it was magic. He was hooked.

Because of this chance meeting, three families were forever intertwined. Three families???? Before you jump to conclusions, let me explain the math of this equation. You see, my Dad had one brother and my Mom had two sisters. My Dad's brother, Bill, married my Mom's older sister, Helen. Dad's cousin, Dick, married my Mom's oldest sister, Gwen. This resulted in six children, three of whom are brothers, two are sisters, five are double cousins to each other and one is just a single cousin. If this confuses you, don't worry, The Husband carries a diagram of this so he can keep track of whose related to whom by whom and through whom. All I know is that somewhere in this equation, I got gypped out of at least one Christmas present each year.

Now for an example of the "takes a while to sink in" magic, you have another family legend. However, this one I know is true. I met The Husband on his first date with my best friend from college. I was visiting at her home. She had a Saturday morning date with him to go to the zoo. Now, anyone who knows Karen knows that she is not a morning person and, for this, I am eternally grateful. Anyway, when he showed up at the door, Karen was still getting ready and I was fixing breakfast. I went to the door, apron on/spatula in hand, opened the door, pointed at him with the spatula, and asked if he was Karen's date. When he answered "yes", I waived him into the house with the spatula. Who would have guessed someday we would marry? Not me! I didn't find him particularly interesting.

Nooooo, it took eight years. Eight years during which he broke up with Karen, moved to California, moved back to Chicago, called me up out of the blue and dragged me to GermanFest in Milwaukee before the magic moment when he took my hand as we crossed the street and I realized that I was going to marry him.

And to think, it all started in a kitchen with breakfast. Do you think this is why my husband loves breakfast? I don't know, but here are some of his favorites:

Confetti Eggs
Serves 2.

4 eggs -- beaten
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 cup onion -- chopped
1/4 cup green bell pepper -- chopped
1/4 cup red bell pepper -- chopped
1 teaspoon oil
1/2 cup cheddar cheese -- shredded
salt
pepper

In a medium skillet, sauté onions and peppers in oil. Remove from skillet. Mix eggs and milk together and add to skillet. Cook, while stirring, until eggs are firm and almost dry. Add sautéed onions/peppers and cheese. Briefly cook until cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper.

Joe's Special Made Gail's Way
Serves 4.

3/4 pound sausage
1/2 medium onion -- chopped
1 teaspoon garlic -- chopped
1 package frozen spinach -- thawed and drained
6 egg -- beaten
pepper
salt

In a large frying pan, cook sausage until almost done. Drain fat. Add onions and garlic and cook until onions become translucent and sausage is browned. Add spinach and cook until spinach is thoroughly heated. Add eggs. Cook, stirring frequently, until eggs are done. Add pepper and salt to taste.

Polish Sausage with Potatoes and Onions
Serves 4.

1 pound polish sausage links
4 medium red potatoes -- cooked and cooled
1 medium onion -- sliced
1/4 cup red bell pepper -- sliced
1 tablespoon oil

Cook the potatoes the night before. Cut them into half inch slices. Cut polish sausage into 1/2 inch slices. Place oil in the bottom of a large skillet. Add potatoes, onions and peppers. Cook over medium to medium high heat until the potatoes begin to browned and the onions translucent. Add the polish sausage slices and continue to cook until the polish sausages are heated and beginning to brown.

Hint: For best browning of potatoes, do not stir then too frequently.