Cookin' and plantin'

Nothing makes me more warm and fuzzy on the inside than being able to try out new recipes on the weekends. It's fun to include KC in the experimentation by using him as a guinea pig (he doesn't mind) ;)

I had been wanting to make Jaden's Broccoli Beef for weeks now and KC's new job provided an opportunity to celebrate with a delicious weekend menu.

Our verdict? Fantastic! The recipe was so simple and the flavors were tangy and amazing. I wrote Jaden on twitter to tell her KC proclaimed the dish a keeper, and she asked me to thank him for her ;)

That Saturday, it was pot roast in the crock pot and the Pioneer Woman's to-die-for Apple Dumplings, another amazing, easy recipe.




Down-home cookin'


Sinfully delicious apple dumplings-- so hard not to eat half the pan!

And now that the weather is getting consistently nicer, the prospect of having a garden full of vegetables and herbs at my disposal is very exciting. Imagine, making bruschetta from home-grown tomatoes! But the aforementioned garden is still in the works. In fact, the veg and herbs we recently planted are fragile, little babies.


If all goes well, we'll have our own spinach, tomatoes, basil, chives, carrots, and beans!

Soul food

"You know what I love about cooking? I love that after a day where nothing is sure–and when I say nothing, I mean nothing–you can come home and absolutely know that if you add egg yolks to chocolate and sugar and milk, it will get thick. It’s such a comfort."

-Julie Powell, Julie and Julia

There are days when the world just doesn't make sense; when I am surprised and disappointed by human failings (including my own). Today has been one of those days. Work has been sticky, complicated, and full of unnecessary drama, and I am physically and mentally exhausted from two weeks of dragging dozens of boxes/bags/suitcases between three households.

But as I sit, glassy-eyed in front of my computer, longing for five o'clock to roll around, I am reminded of the above film quote and it brings me unexpected relief and comfort. Cooking and baking are such a joy. They are predictable and reliable adventures that empower and nourish not only the body, but the soul. I am so thankful to have such a creative outlet! Speaking of which, I can't wait to try the Pioneer Woman's decadent Maple Cinnamon Rolls recipe-- hopefully this weekend!

Thank heavens for the sweet, little blessings in life ;)