Mmmm.  This wine is so good. 

It's Menage a Trois - California White Wine - vintage 2007. "A delightful blend based on three varietals - Moscat, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc."

"Discover the enticement of our Menage a Trois.  Expand your horizon with this stunning delectable wine.  Soft floral aromas and gentle caressing fruit flavors leave you wishing for more."  Wal-Mart $9.97.  Yum. 

Today was a my first WaMu short sale closing - the one that inspired my "Dumpster Diver Discovers Lost Short Sale Files" blog. It went under contract February 12, 2009.  Today is June 25th, 2009.  That's 5 months according to my math.  It's been a long haul, but suddenly I don't hate WaMu so much, in spite of the fact that the file had to be submitted no less than 9 times (really).

It's finally over.  Papers are signed and everybody's happy.  The buyers were nice (flew in from New York) and the buyer's agent was very pretty.  She had dark hair.  I hadn't seen her until today and expected her to be blond for some reason. Happy, happy, joy, joy! 

I vote for a bottle of Menage a Trois and some comfort food - namely Slumgullion and big, fat cupcakes with lemon icing!

What's slumgullion?  It's kind of like a homemade (good) version of Hamburger Helper.  It's delicious, comforting and can be made with stuff that's probably already in your pantry (except for the ground meat). My dad used to make it when I was a kid.  Said he was going to "whomp up a batch of slumgullion."  Back then, I thought it was gross. 

I found the recipe for the lemon icing in a recent 'Woman's World' magazine.  I put it on some white cupcakes I pulled out of the freezer earlier in the day.  Deelish!  

Next time you've got the blues, have some chilled Menage a Trois and make yourself some slumgullion and white cupcakes with lemon icing.  The world will suddenly seem much brighter.

SLUMGULLION

2 tablespoons Extra Virgin oil + 1 tablespoon butter
1 medium yellow onion, minced
2 stalks celery, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef (I used ground round)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 Tablespoon sugar
fresh ground pepper to taste
pinch sea salt
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (14.5 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 can tomato paste
2 cups macaroni - cooked according to package directions & drained
(I used a combination of spiral and twists)

1)  Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion and celery.  Saute for about 5 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for another minute.  Then add the ground beef and continue to cook until meat is no longer pink (about 5-7 minutes).  Sprinkle the seasonings and sugar over the meat and mix in well.

2)  Add the canned tomatoes, tomato paste and tomato sauce.  Simmer for 5 minutes.

3)  Mix in the drained pasta.

4)  Serve hot - sprinkle with fresh, grated cheese if desired.


LEMON CUPCAKE ICING

2 sticks softened butter
1 3 oz box lemon Jell-O
3 tablespoons boiling water
1 box confectioners sugar
pinch salt

 1)  Dissolve the Jell-O in 3 tablespoons boiling water.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes

2)  Beat butter. salt and confectioners sugar until smooth and fluffy.  Add cooled Jell-O mixture and continue beating until blended.

3)  Frost up a storm!