Randomness and A Recipe

I have been trying to embrace this whole March Spring thing that's happening on the calendar. Planting flowers, polishing my nails with a Springy color, wearing more dresses and skirts. I'm not quite there but I'm getting there.  The time change this weekend will certainly help I think.  I'll be tired but it'll help.  ha!

A couple few weeks ago I had a random day off.  It was more that Bella was throwing up in the morning, not because she was sick, but because her allergies have been really bad and she had drainage and mucus in her throat.  She has a hard time getting it up, chokes a little and boom.  I stayed home and took her to see Dr. Patti to prove to her that mommy knew what she was talking about.  No fever, no nothing but drainage.  Mommy was right and Dr. Patti did a fine job of telling Bella to trust me  Take your medicine because it only works if you take it, every day.  Thank you Dr. Patti!

Anyway, since she was obviously fine, I took advantage of the day and we ran some errands after we got back to town.  I got my taxes dropped off, swung by the bank, trip to the grocery store and ran into Brazos Avenue Market (BAM) to see if could spend my gift card I've had since mid-December.  There was a top they posted on Instagram that I really liked so I asked about it and sure enough, they had it.  This is me trying it on and sending a pic to my girlfriend asking her opinion....

Her reply..."its supposed to be off the shoulder girl...show some skin!"  yes I know that but it keeps slipping.  I hem-hawed because if I tried a larger size, the sleeves would have come down to my ankles.  That's a bit of an exaggeration but its almost accurate.  I ended up getting the top and now just waiting for the right opportunity to wear it.  Side note, I was telling the ladies at work about this top and they tell me there is some kind of tacky tape you can use to help it stay in place.  I haven't looked into it but most certainly will.

Last weekend I met up with Kristian for some crawfish and beer at our local spot, Shady's.  Man I was one happy girl!  I had been craving crawfish for a while and was finally able to get my hands on some.  They do a pretty damn good job.

Sunday, it was a rainy day so I threw a roast in the crock pot for dinner.  My sister had told me a while back about the concoction she uses for her crock pot roast and how much the family loves it so I decided to give it a whirl. Here it is...

It was really good.  I didn't tell the kids I was trying something new, I just did it. The only other thing I threw in the crock pot was carrots. Christopher doesn't care for the potatoes when I cook them with the roast so I leave them out and just make mashed potatoes separately. Bella turned her nose up to it and wouldn't even try it.  Kid doesn't know what she's missing out on.  I'm now going to really tortured y'all with this pic...

It really was good.  Christopher was a fan and I definitely will be making it this way again.  I even made a lunch for me to take Monday.  A lunch that I left sitting on the counter at home.  A lunch I had to painfully throw away when I got home.  I was very sad.  

Today I am happy because its FRIDAY!!!  This week has been a long one so I'm looking forward to the weekend.  Hope ya'll have a great one.

Homemade Beef Stew

This is one of those recipes that I never got from my mom.  I watched her make it but never really made notes.  I can remember bits and pieces of how she did it but I'm not certain.  It was a dish that when I was married, she would always call me to say "I'm making stew for supper if you want to come over".  If the ex-husband was working, he was lucky because he didn't like stew.  However, if he wasn't working, tough nuggets for him because that meant he was eating a sandwich or McDonald's because this girl was going to her momma's for supper!  Over the years I had always wanted to try and make it.  When I was first married, I made all things simple.  If recipes called for a lot of directions and prep, I would avoid it.  If I thought it was hard, I would avoid it.  Key words being "if I though it was hard".  I laugh at myself now because those recipes don't scare me now.  I've come a long way baby.  Not that mom's beef stew was hard, but it required a little more and plus, mom would make it often enough when it was cold so I could enjoy it then and the ex didn't like it so I avoided dishes he didn't like.  I also naively believed my mom would be around forever.

Fast forward to December 4, 2016.  Its cold and rainy out and my children are at their father's for the weekend.  It's the perfect weather and opportunity to make beef stew.  I still didn't have enough bits and pieces of my memory to make stew mom's way but there is Pinterest and cookbooks.  I found the recipe below on Pinterest and decided this would be the one I wanted to make.  Part because the picture looked a lot like momma's stew and part because it was titled "Classic Homemade Beef Stew".

Ingredients

1 1/2 - 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch chunks
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tablespoon cooking oil
1 large onion, diced into large chunks
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 cups beef broth, homemade or low sodium
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried parsley
3 Russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1 inch chunks
2 carrots, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 star anise (optional)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste


Instructions

1.  In a large ziploc bag, combine flour, salt, pepper, onion powder and thyme.  Add meat and shake until well coated.

2.  In a large dutch oven or pot on medium high heat, add cooking oil and brown the meat on all side for about 5 minutes.  You may have to work in batches so you don't crowd the meat.

3.  With all the meat browned, toss in onions and garlic.  Cook and stir 2-3 minutes until onions are translucent.  Add tomato paste and balsamic vinegar.  Stir in beef broth, worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, rosemary, dried parsley, potatoes, carrots and celery (and star anise if using) and stir to combine.

4.  Bring to a boil, then turn down to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

5.  Combine flour with 1/4 cup stock or water, whisking until there are not lumps. Turn heat back to high and stir flour mixture into stew and cook until stew has boiled and thickened.

6.  Adjust seasonings if needed and serve hot with fresh parsley.

Now for Missy's adjustments...
I did not include the star anise.  I have never heard of this and it was optional so I opted to not include it.  Saw a picture of it in the picture but chose not to use it.

I also did not include celery.  Instead, I used bell pepper. I remember mom put bell pepper in hers, confirmed by my siblings, so I was going to use it in mine.

Little story here...I made my list of ingredients I needed, went to the store to get them, came home and began to prep.  Going down the list...balsamic vinegar?  Where the hell did that come from?  Crap. I don't remember seeing that?  So I get dressed and run back to the store to get the vinegar. I get home, change back into my comfy clothes and get back in the kitchen to finish and discover I missed the cloves of garlic as well.  Screw that, I'm not running back out again, I will use garlic powder.  And that is what I did.  So here is my lesson learned, double and triple check your recipes and ingredients before heading to the store!

After I combined everything, I didn't think there was enough juice so I added about 1/4 cup or so of water.

I followed the recipe as instructed combining everything at once even though my gut and memory remembered momma never adding the potatoes at the same time because they don't need to cook as long as the carrots.  I should have followed my gut.  The potatoes ended up being a little too soft so I definitely make that adjustment next time, adding them in about halfway through the cooking process.  Other than that, this stew was delicious.  It wasn't momma's but it was a good reminder.

Oh, I also didn't add the fresh parsley at the end. If I were cooking for family or a date, I would have for presentation but for me...I don't need it.  Ha!

If you like beef stew and looking for a good recipe, I encourage you to try this one.  Its sooooo good!! Perfect for a cold day.

Have a good one y'all!

Cutest Kids Ever & Taco Soup

I just love these kids...and they are all mine!  :)

Happy Momma here....

The slight change in temps had me craving taco soup last night so I indulged...

It was sooo good.  Plenty of leftovers for lunch today with the girls at work. 

Here's the recipe if you don't have it...super, super easy!!

1 lb. hamburger meat

1 packet taco seasoning

1 packet dry ranch dressing

2 cans pinto beans w/ liquid

1 can kidney beans (drained)

1 can corn w/ liquid (I used Hominy this time)

2 cans Rotel or 1 can Rotel and 1 can diced tomatoes

Brown hamburger meat and drain.  Add all ingredients and cook until boiling or cook in the crockpot.

I always serve mine up with Fritos, avocado and grated cheese.  So delicious!

Y'all enjoy and have a great week!

Coffee, Chocolate and PW's Cookbook

Sunday afternoon I sat down with a cup of coffee, a chocolate bar (one that I may or may not have hidden from my children) and Pioneer Woman's latest cookbook.  I was determined to finish reading it that day.  I've had PW's cookbook for a few weeks now, okay maybe two, and had made my way to Easter but had to stop.  I'm a mom to the busiest 4 year old who has no off switch and always wants mommy for this, that, then some and more. 

In between everything I was looking at Instagram and see this...

 

This is my cousin Caryn's collection.  I asked her a few years ago how many books she had, her reply was a lot.  I never dreamed this but isn't it fantastic?!!?  I'm so totally jealous.  I just thought I had a nice little collection of my own.  Ha! Mine covers one shelf!  I have a wish list that I let Amazon keep track of.  Right now, I have 12 cookbooks on that wish list, another 7 books that aren't cookbooks and 3 more books for Bella.  There would probably be more if I took the time to really look but I started this list a long time ago.  I'll hear about a book or read about one somewhere and this just seemed like a good place to keep up with it. Added bonus is if the price changes, I get notification from Amazon and most times, its easier on the pocketbook and myself to order from them instead of purchasing in a bookstore. 

 

Anyway, I made it to Thanksgiving in PW's cookbook and had to stop again.  I read each recipe and story as if I'm reading a book.  I will say that PW stole borrowed had the same idea I have for the family cookbook I will eventually do (how many years have I been talking about this damn book?) in that she has a story with each recipe.  This is the idea/plan I've had from the beginning.  I think it makes the book more personal and you get a glimpse inside the family and the story behind the treasured recipe.  In talking with my other cousin Dina, I decided I'm going to purchase a spiral notebook and begin writing this book as time allows.  Keep it with me so I can tell the stories as they come with the recipes.  Might even do the same for my Bella Stories and Canton Adventures.  We'll make a writer out of me yet! 

 

So yes, made it to Thanksgiving and will finish this book by the end of the year.  I'm not going to dare say Christmas because I know I'd probably be shooting myself in the foot on that one.  Its been a great read so far and I can't wait to try some of the new recipes I've come across.  You should go pick up a copy for yourself! 

 

Y'all have a good one!

Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole

you.must.try.this. 

This dish is so delicious and so very easy to throw together, and I haven't even thrown it together.  BUT, I have eaten this dish and I know two peeps who have thrown it together and they have both told me their kitchen smelled so delicious while it was baking and even went back for seconds when they are not seconds type people. SO, if you have understood all that rambling then you know you really should try this dish.  :)

I would show you a picture from Pinterest but I can't upload pictures at this point in time.

Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole

12 oz spaghetti
1 (28 ounce) jars prepared spaghetti sauce
1 lb lean ground beef
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.

In a skillet, brown the ground beef until cooked through; drain fat and stir in spaghetti sauce. Set aside.

Cook spaghetti according to directions on packet. Drain and place cooked spaghetti in bowl. Add cream cheese, Italian Seasoning and minced garlic. Stir until cream cheese is melted and the spaghetti is thoroughly coated.

Lightly grease a 9x13" pan. Spread a small amount of meat sauce in the bottom of the dish. Put spaghetti on top of sauce and top with remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.

Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly.