Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Too tired to think
I made ravioli casserole Monday night, not before Spring Break. I've been utterly exhausted and run down the last two days. All I want to do right now is sleep. I can't even think about cooking right now. Caine brought grilled chicken to me at work last night since I had been running around like a chicken with my head cut off all day long. Ironic...yes. Does anyone out there know a good pie crust recipe? I know my mom's, but I can never remember it. If I can make my own pie crust instead of buying ones from the freezer section, I might make chicken pot pie again this weekend, just because it's the end of the month and I have a bunch of random things in my pantry/refrigerator/freezer. I've got veggies, cream of chicken soup, chicken etc...I just need a pie crust. For my birthday I've decided to ask for gift cards to Bed Bath and Beyond so that I can buy the utensils and pans that are missing from my repertoire. For example, I need: I pie plate or two, muffin tins, a bundt/pound cake pan, round cake pans, ice cream scoop (for precise cookie dough portions), a hand mixer, (I've been swiping my boyfriend's which he doesn't mind since he benefits form the products) cooling racks, a coffee grinder, a food processor/blender. I realize this is a lofty goal, but I do love cookware.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
A Texas thunderstorm, a casserole and a job walk into a bar...
This week has been hectic, but so exciting at the same time. Monday was the first of what I'm sure will be many, many late afternoon Texas thunderstorms. For anyone out there who has never experienced Texas in the springtime, let me just say that "random," does not begin to describe the weather. Here's the outline of the week so far (keep in mind it is currently Wednesday morning):
Sunday afternoon: cloudy, humid not really raining
Monday morning: rain of the steady, annoying drizzle variety
Monday afternoon: little rain
Monday 5 p.m.: HUGE thunderstorm of the green sky, park your car away from trees variety
Monday night: still storming
Tuesday morning: bright, sunny and beautiful
Wednesday 7 a.m.: sunny and gorgeously warm
Wednesday 9 a.m.: overcast and somewhat chilly
I hate not knowing what to wear for the day when I leave my house in the morning. Yesterday was Tuesday. Tuesdays usually suck, but the weather was so beautiful, I couldn't help but be in a good mood. I put on a pair of black patent pumps with black capris and headed out the door. I had leftovers for dinner, but the spaghetti and meatballs were still SO good! I got an A+ on a paper for my Women's Studies class and this morning confirmed a job for the summer so I get to stay in town, take classes and work. This summer will be so much fun!
As a result of all of this good news, I've decided to make celebratory food. Celebration meals are commonplace in my world. My mom has always made us birthday breakfast of whatever we wanted, all our family celebrations revolve around food and this year for mine and Caine's second anniversary, I made my first ever chicken pot pie. That was a very special night. (No this blog is not about to contain adult content.) All Caine's roommates (at our request) left for the evening, so we could spend some time together. I got to make my sweet boyfriend dinner and sit in candlelight and talk about where we've been and where we're going together.
Now I feel the need to tell a story unrelated to food.
I was eighteen. I was struggling with things most eighteen year-old girls struggle with in their first year of college, but I also was working on forgiving myself and forgiving others. Letting go of what's hurt you is never easy and cutting ties with those who hurt you is even harder. Thursday, January 17, 2008 my girlfriends and I decided to go out to a country club a couple towns over and go dancing. I was itching to flirt with a boy, but I couldn't think of any that I would actually want to come with us, then one came to mind. His name was Caine. We had met the semester before through a mutual friend that I played tennis with. The details of the encounter were blurry, but I remember thinking how cute he was and how his smile made my head spin a little. So, I texted Caine and asked him to come dancing with us because we needed more boys to come. He declined because of his 6 a.m. baseball practice the next morning, but he asked if he could make it up to me by taking me to a movie the next night. So we agreed that we would go to the movies. Now at a normal college, this would be no big deal, but I go to a Baptist bubble, so everyone that heard about it wanted to know if he was "pursuing" me, to which my response was "I hope he's not because that makes him my stalker." Even with all of the mutual friends between us pressuring us into labeling the outing a "date" both Caine and I were convinced that we were just two people hanging out on a Friday night. We went to see "P.S. I Love You" (his suggestion not mine) on Friday, January 18. Very little about the date was typical. We weren't sure if we wanted to go eat or not, but the movie was supposed to start at 8 ish. We ended up going to a later show, because we spontaneously decided to eat at this little place called The Ranch on our way to the theater. When we got there, Caine picked another movie time, which would become the trademark of our relationship. When we got back to campus from the movie, we sat in the lobby and flirted and talked until 2 a.m. The conversation was never awkward, stagnant or forced. It was the best date I have ever been on. We swapped stories and self-disclosures all night. I have never felt so comfortable with someone.
I saw Caine every day that semester except for Spring Break and one weekend I went home without him. He quickly became my best friend, and I haven't looked back since. There wasn't really a moment when I fell in love with him, but a lot of little instants when I realized that I cared about him. Whether it was a bad day on the baseball field, or a tough test or a disagreement with his roommate, I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to talk with him, pray with him and listen to him. He was there for me too. When my friends drifted away that semester, he was there. When I struggled with my class load, he was there. When I needed just to laugh, his sense of humor brightened my day. When I think back on the way it all started, I can hardly believe it. We've grown up so much since then. My mother once told me that when God was ready to put someone in my life, it would be when I was least looking for someone. Was she ever right! I'm thankful every day for my best friend, and that even when I burn the dinner, even when I'm cranky, even when my best efforts fall short, he loves me for who I am not what I am and his smile still makes my head spin.
P.S. Making ravioli casserole tonight and will write about its success or failure tomorrow!
Sunday afternoon: cloudy, humid not really raining
Monday morning: rain of the steady, annoying drizzle variety
Monday afternoon: little rain
Monday 5 p.m.: HUGE thunderstorm of the green sky, park your car away from trees variety
Monday night: still storming
Tuesday morning: bright, sunny and beautiful
Wednesday 7 a.m.: sunny and gorgeously warm
Wednesday 9 a.m.: overcast and somewhat chilly
I hate not knowing what to wear for the day when I leave my house in the morning. Yesterday was Tuesday. Tuesdays usually suck, but the weather was so beautiful, I couldn't help but be in a good mood. I put on a pair of black patent pumps with black capris and headed out the door. I had leftovers for dinner, but the spaghetti and meatballs were still SO good! I got an A+ on a paper for my Women's Studies class and this morning confirmed a job for the summer so I get to stay in town, take classes and work. This summer will be so much fun!
As a result of all of this good news, I've decided to make celebratory food. Celebration meals are commonplace in my world. My mom has always made us birthday breakfast of whatever we wanted, all our family celebrations revolve around food and this year for mine and Caine's second anniversary, I made my first ever chicken pot pie. That was a very special night. (No this blog is not about to contain adult content.) All Caine's roommates (at our request) left for the evening, so we could spend some time together. I got to make my sweet boyfriend dinner and sit in candlelight and talk about where we've been and where we're going together.
Now I feel the need to tell a story unrelated to food.
I was eighteen. I was struggling with things most eighteen year-old girls struggle with in their first year of college, but I also was working on forgiving myself and forgiving others. Letting go of what's hurt you is never easy and cutting ties with those who hurt you is even harder. Thursday, January 17, 2008 my girlfriends and I decided to go out to a country club a couple towns over and go dancing. I was itching to flirt with a boy, but I couldn't think of any that I would actually want to come with us, then one came to mind. His name was Caine. We had met the semester before through a mutual friend that I played tennis with. The details of the encounter were blurry, but I remember thinking how cute he was and how his smile made my head spin a little. So, I texted Caine and asked him to come dancing with us because we needed more boys to come. He declined because of his 6 a.m. baseball practice the next morning, but he asked if he could make it up to me by taking me to a movie the next night. So we agreed that we would go to the movies. Now at a normal college, this would be no big deal, but I go to a Baptist bubble, so everyone that heard about it wanted to know if he was "pursuing" me, to which my response was "I hope he's not because that makes him my stalker." Even with all of the mutual friends between us pressuring us into labeling the outing a "date" both Caine and I were convinced that we were just two people hanging out on a Friday night. We went to see "P.S. I Love You" (his suggestion not mine) on Friday, January 18. Very little about the date was typical. We weren't sure if we wanted to go eat or not, but the movie was supposed to start at 8 ish. We ended up going to a later show, because we spontaneously decided to eat at this little place called The Ranch on our way to the theater. When we got there, Caine picked another movie time, which would become the trademark of our relationship. When we got back to campus from the movie, we sat in the lobby and flirted and talked until 2 a.m. The conversation was never awkward, stagnant or forced. It was the best date I have ever been on. We swapped stories and self-disclosures all night. I have never felt so comfortable with someone.
I saw Caine every day that semester except for Spring Break and one weekend I went home without him. He quickly became my best friend, and I haven't looked back since. There wasn't really a moment when I fell in love with him, but a lot of little instants when I realized that I cared about him. Whether it was a bad day on the baseball field, or a tough test or a disagreement with his roommate, I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to talk with him, pray with him and listen to him. He was there for me too. When my friends drifted away that semester, he was there. When I struggled with my class load, he was there. When I needed just to laugh, his sense of humor brightened my day. When I think back on the way it all started, I can hardly believe it. We've grown up so much since then. My mother once told me that when God was ready to put someone in my life, it would be when I was least looking for someone. Was she ever right! I'm thankful every day for my best friend, and that even when I burn the dinner, even when I'm cranky, even when my best efforts fall short, he loves me for who I am not what I am and his smile still makes my head spin.
P.S. Making ravioli casserole tonight and will write about its success or failure tomorrow!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Cloudy with a chance of rain...oh and meatballs.
Last night I tried out a recipe from my cookbook for spaghetti and meatballs. Normally my family just does meat sauce, so I was hesitant to try this new concept.
Caine and I had spent the weekend in Houston with his family. Since he had a Genetics test this morning, I offered to make him dinner so he could spend more time studying. After the weekend, I was exhausted to say the least. I never sleep very well away from my own bed. I also am facing the monster that is my seasonal allergies. Every time the weather goes from hot to cold quickly, which lately has been every twelve hours, I get sick. Not sick enough to stay home, just sick enough to feel awful. So, all that to say, I'm very thankful that this recipe was so quick, easy and filling. I used frozen, Italian style meatballs, which I actually found in my HEB freezer section. the recipe also called for two cans of diced tomatoes with the liquid, two cans of tomato paste (which by the way tastes DISGUSTING on its own), half a cup of water, dried Italian seasoning and two teaspoons of sugar. Simmer it all together in a Dutch oven, which I didn't realize is just a big pot (go figure), and twenty minutes later you've got yourself sauce that tastes like it's been on the stove top all day. You could probably make this in the slow cooker over really low heat if you wanted it ready for when you got home. It also didn't matter that my noodles were a little sticky because the sauce was so much more...saucy than if I had done regular meat sauce.
This was by far the most filling meal I have made except maybe for pot roast. I only had one small helping and felt full the rest of the night. Caine, who usually gets seconds of anything I make, had one normal sized portion and finished mine. Isn't it astounding how 20-something males can eat as much as they want of whatever they want and never gain weight? I think it's a blessing, Caine thinks it's a curse. I would kill to be able to eat all the ice cream I wanted and never gain a single pound.
On that...I would like to make a segue. The thought has crossed my mind on occasion that because I cook for Caine or enjoy housework or don't mind doing domestic things, I'm anti-feminist. I am not one of those women who believes that the only job I can take on is homemaker because I'm a woman. I do not believe that women were "designed" to ONLY be wives and mothers. To me cooking, cleaning and doing other "wifey" things is not about duty. It's about putting the needs of others before yourself, which I have always believed is right. When I cook for Caine, I don't think "I'm doing this to be subservient to him because he's a man and I'm a woman" I instead think, "I'm doing this because if Christ had a friend who needed a meal cooked for them, he would not hesitate in making them a dinner." I think that if more women thought of their husbands as their friends, there would be no confusion about "a woman's place." We would all just be serving and helping one another without any labels about what women should do for men and what men should do for women. Wouldn't that be nice?
Caine and I had spent the weekend in Houston with his family. Since he had a Genetics test this morning, I offered to make him dinner so he could spend more time studying. After the weekend, I was exhausted to say the least. I never sleep very well away from my own bed. I also am facing the monster that is my seasonal allergies. Every time the weather goes from hot to cold quickly, which lately has been every twelve hours, I get sick. Not sick enough to stay home, just sick enough to feel awful. So, all that to say, I'm very thankful that this recipe was so quick, easy and filling. I used frozen, Italian style meatballs, which I actually found in my HEB freezer section. the recipe also called for two cans of diced tomatoes with the liquid, two cans of tomato paste (which by the way tastes DISGUSTING on its own), half a cup of water, dried Italian seasoning and two teaspoons of sugar. Simmer it all together in a Dutch oven, which I didn't realize is just a big pot (go figure), and twenty minutes later you've got yourself sauce that tastes like it's been on the stove top all day. You could probably make this in the slow cooker over really low heat if you wanted it ready for when you got home. It also didn't matter that my noodles were a little sticky because the sauce was so much more...saucy than if I had done regular meat sauce.
This was by far the most filling meal I have made except maybe for pot roast. I only had one small helping and felt full the rest of the night. Caine, who usually gets seconds of anything I make, had one normal sized portion and finished mine. Isn't it astounding how 20-something males can eat as much as they want of whatever they want and never gain weight? I think it's a blessing, Caine thinks it's a curse. I would kill to be able to eat all the ice cream I wanted and never gain a single pound.
On that...I would like to make a segue. The thought has crossed my mind on occasion that because I cook for Caine or enjoy housework or don't mind doing domestic things, I'm anti-feminist. I am not one of those women who believes that the only job I can take on is homemaker because I'm a woman. I do not believe that women were "designed" to ONLY be wives and mothers. To me cooking, cleaning and doing other "wifey" things is not about duty. It's about putting the needs of others before yourself, which I have always believed is right. When I cook for Caine, I don't think "I'm doing this to be subservient to him because he's a man and I'm a woman" I instead think, "I'm doing this because if Christ had a friend who needed a meal cooked for them, he would not hesitate in making them a dinner." I think that if more women thought of their husbands as their friends, there would be no confusion about "a woman's place." We would all just be serving and helping one another without any labels about what women should do for men and what men should do for women. Wouldn't that be nice?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
It's Wednesday. Conditions are perfect.
Today is a Wednesday. On Wednesdays, I eat dinner with my girlfriends Sarah and Ashley. We alternate cooking and this week is my turn! I'm making chicken and rice, fruit salsa with cinnamon chips and magic bars for dessert.
I'm looking forward to baking this afternoon, but I wish I could leave my apartment. UMHB has decided to re-roof all of the buildings on campus and this week it's my apartment's turn. It sounds like elephants are learning to waltz above my head. I really don't understand the necessity for this activity...
I've really loved cooking for my friends this semester. It's made me feel like a provider. I wonder if this means I would make a good mom?
6 hours later...
Apparently I should avoid rice dishes. I'm not sure it it's that Mom gave me wrong proportions for the soup to water ratio, or if I put in too much rice, but after 45 minutes...no rice. Isn't rice supposed to e the easiest thing in the world to cook? I've never been great at rice though. However, this wasn't the most eventful occurrence of the evening. I had to deal with roommate "issues." In the end I found myself hiding my stainless steel cookie sheet under my bed, so one of my four roommates can't get to it, cook with it and then refuse to clean up the grease mess. I also had to take a chocolate from my reserve of Dove milk chocolates which I keep in my underwear drawer.
The fruit salsa was delicious and I wish that I had made more. The Magic Bars came out of the oven before they were really set up because I needed the casserole dish for the chicken. They're still magical though and I was able to salvage them into magic "patties" and they still taste AMAZING!!!!!
Dinner was hurried, but nice.
Hating rice and those who have never learned how to scrub a pan...
EKW
I'm looking forward to baking this afternoon, but I wish I could leave my apartment. UMHB has decided to re-roof all of the buildings on campus and this week it's my apartment's turn. It sounds like elephants are learning to waltz above my head. I really don't understand the necessity for this activity...
I've really loved cooking for my friends this semester. It's made me feel like a provider. I wonder if this means I would make a good mom?
6 hours later...
Apparently I should avoid rice dishes. I'm not sure it it's that Mom gave me wrong proportions for the soup to water ratio, or if I put in too much rice, but after 45 minutes...no rice. Isn't rice supposed to e the easiest thing in the world to cook? I've never been great at rice though. However, this wasn't the most eventful occurrence of the evening. I had to deal with roommate "issues." In the end I found myself hiding my stainless steel cookie sheet under my bed, so one of my four roommates can't get to it, cook with it and then refuse to clean up the grease mess. I also had to take a chocolate from my reserve of Dove milk chocolates which I keep in my underwear drawer.
The fruit salsa was delicious and I wish that I had made more. The Magic Bars came out of the oven before they were really set up because I needed the casserole dish for the chicken. They're still magical though and I was able to salvage them into magic "patties" and they still taste AMAZING!!!!!
Dinner was hurried, but nice.
Hating rice and those who have never learned how to scrub a pan...
EKW
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Why am I doing this?
So, I decided to start a blog. I've always thought blogs were interesting, and I love to write. So I thought, "Hey, Emily! Why not blog?" But then I thought, "What in the world is going on in my life that is interesting enough to put out on the internet?" It quickly came to me...while I was stirring.
For Christmas, my mom bought me a cookbook. Well actually, Gooseberry Patch sent her a promotional cookbook in the mail. I was the one to open the package when it arrived. She said she was going to send it back because she didn't want to have to pay for the subsequent cookbooks that would eventually come. I asked her not to because I wanted the book, which is entitled Quick and Easy Family Favorites. So my mom kept the book, wrapped it and made me wait a month and a half to start using it.
With the beginning of the new semester, I was DETERMINED to keep to my newly set budget. I had $120 a month budgeted for food and significantly less money for eating out. One of my weaknesses as a money manager has always been eating fast food or at restaurants. Especially in college, it's so easy to just run to a fast food place and eat something already prepared for you. I knew that in order to stick to my budget I would have to cook more for myself. Cooking also comes with other benefits. I'll probably be eating more healthily, spending less money, spending more time with my boyfriend as I prepare meals and have him help me and also building skills for the future.
I have always enjoyed cooking. Even though my dad and brother always tease me about having inadequate skills, calling my cookies "bars of death," I still always try to enhance my skills. So, now I have decided to incorporate my new adventure in cooking with my continuous love of the written word. I'm hoping that this blog will give me an opportunity to share my recipes and experiences with you, whoever you are, as I try to stay on budget and try new recipes that most college students probably think are out of their reach. I'm not trying to inspire anyone, but if someone gets a good recipe idea or a laugh out of this, then I'll be happy.
So far this semester I have made:
Chicken Cracker Casserole
Cedar Plank Salmon
Tomato Mozzarella Salad
Magic Bars
Spaghetti
Ham and Egg Breakfast Casserole
Cake Mix Cookies
Fudgey Pudding Cake
Chicken Pot Pie
Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Pot Roast
Baked Penne Pasta
Steamed Veggies
Steak with New Potatoes
Sausage Potato Soup
Enchiladas
Fajitas
I'm sure there are others that I've left out, and it should be noted that Caine has helped with many of these either as the griller or provider of meat. All of these are wonderful recipes.
I can't wait to try more recipes and write about them. However, today is Tuesday. This means that dinner tonight consisted of a Lean Cuisine eaten hurriedly in the library before I start work as a tutor. I'm hungry now and will probably eat a grilled cheese at home before bed.
Signing off...
For Christmas, my mom bought me a cookbook. Well actually, Gooseberry Patch sent her a promotional cookbook in the mail. I was the one to open the package when it arrived. She said she was going to send it back because she didn't want to have to pay for the subsequent cookbooks that would eventually come. I asked her not to because I wanted the book, which is entitled Quick and Easy Family Favorites. So my mom kept the book, wrapped it and made me wait a month and a half to start using it.
With the beginning of the new semester, I was DETERMINED to keep to my newly set budget. I had $120 a month budgeted for food and significantly less money for eating out. One of my weaknesses as a money manager has always been eating fast food or at restaurants. Especially in college, it's so easy to just run to a fast food place and eat something already prepared for you. I knew that in order to stick to my budget I would have to cook more for myself. Cooking also comes with other benefits. I'll probably be eating more healthily, spending less money, spending more time with my boyfriend as I prepare meals and have him help me and also building skills for the future.
I have always enjoyed cooking. Even though my dad and brother always tease me about having inadequate skills, calling my cookies "bars of death," I still always try to enhance my skills. So, now I have decided to incorporate my new adventure in cooking with my continuous love of the written word. I'm hoping that this blog will give me an opportunity to share my recipes and experiences with you, whoever you are, as I try to stay on budget and try new recipes that most college students probably think are out of their reach. I'm not trying to inspire anyone, but if someone gets a good recipe idea or a laugh out of this, then I'll be happy.
So far this semester I have made:
Chicken Cracker Casserole
Cedar Plank Salmon
Tomato Mozzarella Salad
Magic Bars
Spaghetti
Ham and Egg Breakfast Casserole
Cake Mix Cookies
Fudgey Pudding Cake
Chicken Pot Pie
Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Pot Roast
Baked Penne Pasta
Steamed Veggies
Steak with New Potatoes
Sausage Potato Soup
Enchiladas
Fajitas
I'm sure there are others that I've left out, and it should be noted that Caine has helped with many of these either as the griller or provider of meat. All of these are wonderful recipes.
I can't wait to try more recipes and write about them. However, today is Tuesday. This means that dinner tonight consisted of a Lean Cuisine eaten hurriedly in the library before I start work as a tutor. I'm hungry now and will probably eat a grilled cheese at home before bed.
Signing off...
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