Food Blog: Week 1

I feel weird the title of this bog not being "Thoughts on..." But, since it's about a specific dish, I think I'm going to sue this format when blogging about the dishes I make each week.

I know I was supposed to (per my last post) do this cooking thing on Wednesday, but my sister called and invited my husband and I over to dinner at my parents (weird, I know) because she was cooking a pork loin. I decided this was a better idea then cooking, so off we went.

Thursdays are my 1/2 day at work, so honestly, Thursdays might be a better day for me to embark on creating new menu items for us. I'm not getting to my dish fast enough. I'm fast forwarding to what I just cooked: Beefy Baked Ziti. This is a recipe that I found at my local Brookshires. They have a kiosk at the back and when surging it one day, I found this. I'm never had ziti, so I decided this would be my first endeavor. Ingredients are as follows:

• 1lb dry ziti pasta
• 1lb lean ground beef
• 52oz Classico Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce
• 6oz provolone cheese, sliced
• 6oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 Tbsp grated parmasean cheese

It said to use a large skillet, but I chose to use a medium size one. I should have listened. The pot was soo close to over flowing. It was supposed to simmer for 15 minutes, and during that time, I imagined it splashing all over my kitchen when it was bubbling! I put a lid on it! (hahaha, I just imagined someone say "PUT A LID ON IT!" to a bunch of noisy kids.)

I then layered everything, according to the instructions in a 9X13 pan. Again, I don't think this pan was really big enough. Do they make casserole dishes bigger then this? If so, I think I should invest in one!

It then had to bake for 30 minutes in the over. Here's the finished product!

It was pretty good. In our opinion, too much sour cream. I'm going to try making it again sometime with less. It makes A LOT of food. We each ate two servings and 1/2 the pan is left!!! Next time, I'm going to invite my parents over to help us finish it off!

Love, Mrs. M.

Thoughts on cooking

When I got married, I wanted to be a cook. I knew that I probably wouldn't be a good one, because I have never really done much cooking, but I figured, Hey, I can learn. Before me wedding, I had my mom get me a menu (I think she actually put it in my stocking at Christmas) and I was pretty diligent about keeping up with it...for awhile. I still use, occasionally, but more often then not, I resort to "What do I FEEL like eating tonight" and the answer is almost always "eating out" because once I get home, the last thing I want to do is wait to cook...that's IF there is something already ready TO cook. Most often, the meat is still in the freezer.  My poor husband. I hate this about myself. I have tried looking up recipes and that helps me get motivated to BUY the necessary items at the store, but that, sadly, does NOT translate into me cooking it once home. A few months ago, we were at my father in law's house and they had a KRAFT magazine that had all them yummy sounding recipes. My father in law's wife told me that I could go online to www.kraft.com and sign up to receive e-mails with new recipes. This is a place I've recently received many inspirations from this site. Things such as Penne Pasta Skillet and One Pot Herb Crusted Pork Chops sounds wonderful. So, why in the world can I NOT find the motivation to cook them?? So, here's what I'm gonna do. I'm going to set aside one night a week, I'm thinking Wednesday's, to be my try a new recipe night and I will commit to blogging about it. I hope this will challenge me to cook for my man. I will need you my blogger family and friends to hold me accountable to doing this. Will you help me??????????

Love, Mrs. M.

PS- If you have any recipes you think I (or my husband) might enjoy, send em my way! I'm looking for mainly meat based meals with one, maybe two sides. 

Thoughts on the past month

Wow, I can't believe it's literally been a month since I posted something. I guess a lot has been going on. But then again, not a lot has been going on. I could fill volumes with things that go on in my life, both work and on personal levels, but I wanted to use this blog as an insight into the rare and exciting things I do. This past month has not had very many of those moments I guess. As I'm blogging, I'm going to use my Google calendar to assist me in filling you guys in. The lame thing is, when I opened my Google calendar, the only thing showing was my Bills calendar which shows me due dates for everything...that's uber lame in my opinion! Anywho, work has kept me on my toes lately. It kinda amazes me that I've been in my current position for one year, I've been at this agency for 3 1/2 years, and I've been a college graduate for 4 years. I was recently catching up with a friend who asked me if I thought I'd stay at TBH forever. Had she asked me a year ago, my answer would have been a no brainer : NO CHANCE. But, I'm now in a position that I absolutely love! Today, I realized it was 4:40 and I got kinda sad. Weird, I know, but I am L-O-V-I-N-G my job so much that I want to stay late, learn more, and work harder. Working with so many different families who are in so many different parts of their journey keeps me constantly wanting to be better at what I do FOR THEM. In recent months, I've found myself perusing the adoption section at Half Price Books looking for educational books FOR ME. I catch myself, when I'm trying to fall asleep, thinking about ways to encourage a family because the process is being stubborn or because the attachment is slower then "it should be", whatever that means. So, will I be at TBH forever, I don't know. I told a sweet friend this past Saturday, I want to be where the Lord wants me. If that's TBH, I'm OK with that. If that's somewhere else, I'm OK with that too.  

In just 13 short days, the hubs and I will mark our 1st anniversary of being married!! I also can't believe it's been a year since I held his hand and promised to be his wife. Just thinking about that day gives me butterflies and smiles. That day was truly the happiest of my life. Laughing, dancing, crying, laughing, kissing, and laughing some more. I never dreamed, per say, about my wedding day. I had ideas, but not dreams. Well, I did have a dream (who am I Martin Luther King??). My dream of my wedding day was that it was FUN. Above all else, I wanted it to be a fun party. And for me, it was. I mean, seriously, if this isn't the face of a woman having fun, I don't know what is!

Oh, how I'd do anything to have chosen a different wedding photographer. My one and only regret about the wedding....

Claire is growing like a weed. She's such a joy. About a month ago, I picked her up on my 1/2 day and she and I went to the Red Oak City Park. It was quite hot, so we only stayed about 45minutes. She is not a fan of walking alone in the grass...OK, she's not a fan of the grass, alone or not, but she DID find the woodchips quite interesting. See....

I always wonder what she's thinking...

Love, Mrs. M.

Thoughts on Bishop Arts District

Last night, my husband took me out to dinner and I took him out to a movie. He read about this BBQ place called Lockhart Smokehouse.  He was very excited because he is the quintessential "beef and potatoes" man, minus the potatoes!! As soon as we got there, they asked if we wanted to try "smoked bologna". I haven't like bologna, smoked or otherwise, since like 4th grade, so I politely decline, but my husband willingly accepted. This place was pretty cool. It was mot a large place, and from the outside it kinda looked like a hole in the wall. There was no parking (ok, maybe like 7 spots off to the side) and my expectations were pretty low. That being said, I was pretty impressed with what we got. They serve meat by 1/2 pounds, so we got 1/2 pound of brisket and 1/2 pound of ribs. The 1/2 pound of ribs was....TWO!!! They were quite large. So we each had a rib, and we split the brisket. They don't believe in forks or sauces, but allow you to bring your own if you want. If you get a chance, you should check it out! After eating, we strolled around the neighborhood streets and it was a pretty cool little place. It was hard to believe it's actually part of Oak Cliff. Below are some pics of things we saw while there! 

 This was a neat Wall Mural on the side of a building

 One of the front windows of an old tire shop.

 

Love, Mrs. M.

Thoughts on Airmen

My husbands good friend Dennis joined the United States Airforce upon graduation from college. Throughout his college career, he spent countless hours honing his skills and he is now a wonderful musician. His instrument of choice is piano, although he's also an accomplished trumpeter as well. When he enlisted in the USAF, he became a member of one of their bands. Now, some of you, like myself, may not know that each branch of the military has bandS. I capatilaize the S because I knew each branch had one band. But I had NO idea how many there were!!!!  Dennis, is a member of USAF Band of the West. Other USAF bands include:

 Band of Liberty
Heritage of America
Heartland of America
Band of Mid America

The concert featured USAF Band of the West, Jazz Band, whose name is Dimensions in Blue. It was pretty great. They had a singer accompany them on some of the songs, such as God Bless America and Amazing Grace. They mainly played jazz songs/standards, but did intermix a few patriotic songs.  For more information on the concert go see my husbands blog!

Here's a pic of me and Senior Airman Dennis Lambert!

Check out these bands and go support them!!!!!



Love, Mrs. M.