Once Bitten Twice Shy

Drum roll please…..

Notice something new up top?! 

With Post #5 comes my fancy new Keeper’s Wife Header created by a certain someone who is employed by a certain graphics department at a certain publicly traded company. Eh-hum…Thanks - - -!!! As promised, some home-made Italian baked cookies are coming your way.  (In case you’ve forgotten, as mentioned in a previous post, Food=Big Hug)  So consider my cookies a big hug.  (There’s a joke in there somewhere about my cookies.)

Business has taken me to the second city this week. Not familiar?  I’m talkin’ about Chi-Town folks!

Home of the Chicago Bears,

Infamous Deep Dish pizza,

& The Almighty. 

No, not Barack Obama….

I’m talking about Oprah of course!

Dontcha just love Oprah?!  Unfortunately I didn’t have any Oprah sightings.  What a spectacle that would've been!  Working in the "Biz" it takes a special someone for me appear star struck, though I can imagine an Oprah sighting would put me over the top!

I once heard Damon Wayans report in an interview, “I’m doing well, but it’s not like I’ve got “Oprah Money” or anything.”  Can you imagine being so loaded that your income is referred to as an adjective?  

Since this trip was primarily for business, there wasn’t really any time for sight seeing.  I did however play hooky for approximately 30 minutes to grab some lunch with the Southern Bell.  When in the windy city we never miss the opportunity to feast at Potbelly’s sandwich shop. 

While partaking in some much needed girl talk I enjoyed a scrumpdillyicous hoagie appropriately named “The Italian”. 

This 6 inch sammi is filled with all sorts of goodness including all the greats from salami and pepperoni to melted provolone cheese -topped with all the fixins’.  It’s even toasted on a crusty roll!  (Whole Wheat of course, with all that fat, ya gotta serve it on something healthy right?) 

What exactly does “all the fixins" mean you ask?  With much consideration, I selectively chose, lettuce, oil & vinegar, Potbelly’s famous Italian seasoning and….Hot Peppers. 

Factoring in my background, it would be safe to assume that I’m no stranger to hot peppers right? 

Wrong. 

Hot Peppers, along with many other culinary delights weren’t very popular in my Mothers kitchen growing up.  Don’t get me wrong, my Mother is a great cook, but when it came to family dinner, she didn't really stray too far out of the proverbial macaroni box. 

That said, when I left the nest, I slowly began to expand my horizons.

Things I’d Never Eaten Before The Age of 24:

(that I now find super yummy)

1.  Coconut (Mom doesn’t like this, so it doesn’t enter the house.) 

                2.  Duck (Who knew?) 

3.  Fish (Chilean Sea bass YUM)

4.  Chili  (and all other Mexican Delights)

5.  Avocado – I LOVE AVOCADO…ON and/or IN anything.  Nuff said. 

So, back to the peppers. 

Upon first bite, the peppers were fan-freaking-tastic.  Just enough heat without overpowering the sandwich.

And then.

Without warning.

The machine gun sneezes began. 

It was uncontrollable.  For a brief moment, I considered getting up to take the scene outside so as not to embarrass the Bell; but quickly came to my senses and removed all evidence of said adversaries from the roll. 

I later came to find that that the sneaky Potbelly’s sandwich creators include Jalapeños in their “Hot Pepper Mix”.  Seriously?!  You’re a chain restaurant people! 

Lookout Potbelly’s I’m on to you!  As my Grandfather would say, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me! 

Hehe…Sounds so dramatic! 

To heck with it, I’ll just order a ham and cheese next time. 

~The Keeper's Wife