Looking For Love

I've been cooking like mad lately. It's what I enjoy doing. Preparing a good meal for my family.....choosing healthier options than what most restaurants offer....saving money by eating in....all around? Win, win, win.

I love to cook and love to learn new recipes. I get stuck, though. And, right now, I'm stuck on The Pioneer Woman. She spells everything out so beautifully in photos and makes it all seem very achievable. Fairly simple meals and room to make them your own. I'm hooked.

Let's start with Cajun Meatloaf. Yum. Double yum. Cajun flavor and a honey glaze on top. Delish.

And, I had to try this one....Not Your Granny's Mac n Cheese....if for no other reason than to shut Coco up. She's been telling me for months to make it. And, she was right. You heard it here. Doesn't happen often, so I will give it the attention it deserves. Coco got it right.

A new request in this house....Crispy Yogurt Chicken. Much healthier than fried chicken and just as tasty.

Blake's new favorite meal? Chicken Spaghetti Casserole. It's similar to one my grandmother used to make and just as tasty. Best thing about this dish? Leftovers for days.

And, let's not forget about dessert. Oatmeal Crispies. So simple and delicious.

Wait. One more. Chocolate Sheet Cake. Marrying into this family required me to figure this out. How do I attempt to re-create Blake's grandmother's masterpiece? The pressure! He insists I'm pretty darn close.


Why am I telling you all this?

Because I need a new drug.

A new recipe site.

A new love.

A website is preferable, although I do love a good cookbook. Can you help me?

The Sneaky Chef

Don't get me wrong. I love cooking with kids. It's such a great opportunity to play and create and to see their faces when the finished product arrives is a true joy. And, as they get older, we incorporate math into the process and turn the project into a lesson of sorts. I've never met a child who doesn't like to cook......doesn't love the kitchen.....or to be by mom, covered in flour, measuring and stirring.

But, sometimes I just want to get something done. Start and finish banana bread in the predetermined 10 minute prep time allotted....pop it in the oven and relax.

Is that terrible?

I tried to do so last Friday because I had a list of items to make, a house to clean and errands to run before Blake's arrival. However, as soon as he heard the bowls clink, my little chef comes down the stairs, apron on, with a suspicious, "Ooooohhhh, Caaaase!"

He jumps up on the kitchen island, grabs an egg and starts cracking. Smiling from ear to ear, he looks up at me with a look that convinces me that this single activity might just be worth putting the trains down to enjoy. And, I can't say, "No".

25 minutes later, the bread is in the oven......Jack is so proud of himself.....he scurries off to return to his trains and I'm left with a huge mess. Upset? No way. We just made a memory and it's worth every single extra dish, egg on the floor, flour in my hair. They're only little once.

Cooking With Carter

Since we were in most of the weekend, we started a big lunch early on Saturday. When it's cold and snowing outside, I love to have a pot of soup cooking. Makes the whole house smell good!

We made White Bean Chili....a Paula Deen recipe. Carter helped and we had fun!

While eating the chili...and I was surprised Carter did eat it because it's a little spicey....Carter looks at me and says, "Mom, you're a fry cook! You should have cameras and a TV show in here!"



Later that evening, Carter made us all "biscuit pizzas" that were actually pretty good, too!


Jack gobbled up every bite of Carter's pizza. He was so proud.