Cooking with The Pioneer Woman - Sloppy Joes

I have to admit. Growing up I can't recall if my mom ever made sloppy joes for dinner so I never really thought about them as a grown up. It appears that for kids, sloppy joe night is a staple. For us, chicken for dinner was a staple! So much chicken....When I think of sloppy joes, I think of the version in the can. I don't really like making dinners from a can, unless it's Spaghetti O's with franks! That's also how I feel about Hamburger Helper. I just can't bring myself to make any version of Hamburger Helper!

 

When I saw the sloppy joe episode of The Pioneer Woman, Ree cooked up some for her gang and the cowboys showing the kids some horse riding tricks. I wasn't totally game but I asked Joel if he would like sloppy joes one night and he jumped at it. He said he knew it wasn't really my kind of meal so not a big deal if we didn't have them. Just one of the many reasons I love him. There are several things that aren't my kind of meal, so we never have them. (See Hamburger Helper above.) However, I thought I would take the plunge!

 

The first time I made them, I remember looking at the meat sauce thinking something didn't look right. It was really runny and didn't look anything like what Ree made. I read back over the recipe and realized I had forgot the ketchup! Only the most important ingredient! I added it at the last minute which didn't harm the meal in any way. And, I actually liked them. They were on the menu again this week and I made them last night. I didn't forget the ketchup and they turned out just well as they did the first time. However, we didn't have nearly large enough buns. Thank goodness this is another two day meal! After work, I will be stopping off at the store for much larger buns because these sloppy joes deserve a large home!!

 

 

When more time allows, I am up for the challenge of making Ree's homemade french fries but boy do they look time consuming! Time consuming, but I bet they are pretty amazing!

 

Ready to make homemade sloppy joes? Get the recipe here! I can't wait for McKinley's first sloppy joe night! Messy, and hopefully, amazing!



Cooking with The Pioneer Woman

The other day I jokingly tweeted to The Pioneer Woman that I should blog about cooking my way through her cookbooks the way Julie Powell did with Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I love watching her Saturday morning cooking show on the Food Network. So much so that I have my favorites saved and I will go back and watch old episodes. I especially loved the first Christmas one that aired in 2011. And, because the show includes her family of four, cowboy husband and working cattle ranch, I feel like I know them and that we've been friends for years. Okay, two years.

 

So who is The Pioneer Woman? Ree Drummond, that's who! As she says in her Saturday morning intro, she's a mother, a wife, a blogger, a photographer and an accidental country girl. She, and her family, live on a sprawling working cattle ranch in Oklahoma and she cooks for a lot of people! What I love about her show is I truly feel like I'm part of her family on a weekly basis. She's your neighbor, one who lives miles away, and she truly makes you feel at home. And her recipes are meals I would cook and do! Which is why I came up with this truly unoriginal idea!

 

In addition to her show, Ree has a blog. Actually, she had the blog first where she photographs her kids, the ranch and the food she makes. She posts about everything, but what I love most is that when posting recipes, she provides step by step photos and directions. When cooking,  I often wonder what it should look like during the process. Am I doing it right? Did I cut that correctly? Is that what it's supposed to look like? So while thinking about blogging my way through her cookbooks, I thought I should probably take photos like her. (Wish I had thought about this while preparing the first seven meals of hers. Guess we will have repeat meals...)

 

Last night I made one of my favorite summer recipes of Ree's, her Grilled Chicken Salad with Feta, Fresh Corn and Blueberries. This is one of the best, filling salads we've tried and we've been testing salads all summer! And, it's a great two day meal, which is something I love. I am constantly on the hunt for two day meals so I don't feel like I'm cooking every day of the week. Who has time for that? I digress....

 

So here are some photos as I prepped for the salad. Joel grilled the chicken and corn while I cut up everything else. The only thing I do differently with the salad is add lettuce. I added romaine and lettuce straight out of garden! So without further ado, the first in a long series of cooking with Ree!

 

This is the salad bowl lettuce from our garden. I know it doesn't look like much which is why I added the Romaine as well!

 

Celery and red onion are amazing together. Who knew?

I love sweet corn! And grilled, sweet corn is heaven!

 

Slice the corn off the cob. Gorgeous!

A sweet treat to the salad is blueberries. Trust me, this combination of fruits and veggies is awesome!

 



 

The dressing of feta, half & half, mayo, sour cream and lemon juice is so good! A little goes a long way!

 

 And there's the finished product. Please, try this salad! Grab the recipe here and print it off! You won't be sorry!

40 Before 40 - Riding a Bike

 

As they say, "It's just like riding a bike" and it was!! Over the weekend I decided to concur number 29 on the 40 before 40 list. It has been years, 25 to be exact, since I've ridden a bike. I remember my first ten speed. It was aherry red and I literally rode it every day, especially in the summer when we made the treck to Roe Pool.

 

In the summer of 1988, I had a horrible wreck on my way to ballet class. I remember it vividly. That summer Patch and Kayla were getting married on Days of Our Lives. It was literally the wedding of the summer! I was running late to ballet because I setting our VCR for the wedding that afternoon. (Yes VCR because it was the summer of 1988.) Patch and Kayla were one of three power couples on Days and this wedding was a long time company. I mean, she was able to speak her vows after losing her speech! But I digress...

 

Because I was running late, I flew out of the house. I had on this darling blue dress that my mom made me. It wasn't a maxi, just a nice knee length cotton dress for summer. My ballet bag was thrown over my back and I was peddling like Ms. Gulch from The Wizard of Oz. I turned the corner at 102nd Street and headed down the hill. Unbeknowst to me, there was a huge sand patch at the bottom of the hill, which I hit going at full speed. I lost control of the bike, flew over the handle bars and landed flat on my chest. I laid there for a minute, completely stunned, and a runner came over to help me up. The fall had knocked the wind out of me, and when I tried to thank him, all that came out was wheezing. I was finally able to compose myself and assess the situation. My bike was ruined!

 

The handle bars were turned the complete opposite direction and couldn't be corrected. I was a bloody a mess. My knee was turn open and the small part of flesh behind my ankle bone had been ripped open from the jagged edges of the foot peddles. Luckily, my friend Jana lived up the street so I was able to hobble my way there. There was I was. Bleeding from the knee and ankle, ballet tights ripped to shreds, the bag flung over my back and me dragging my bike back up that dreaded hill. I got to her house and called my dad to come get me. I got settled in, bandaged and cleaned up, and got to watch the wedding afterall!

 

After that wreck, I did get a new bike. It was a blue boy bike without a kick stand! Not sure why I had to have a boy bike without a kick stand, but that's what I wanted. I think I rode that bike a handfull of times and now it resides on hooks on the ceiling of my parents gargage. It still has the bike chain around the seat and god only knows what the combination is! But on this day, the day I decided to ride a bike for the first time in 25 years, I rode my dad's mountain bike. Why? Because it was down and convenient! I was a nervous wreck, but I was able to get right back on that bike seat like no time had passed. Below are photos of the big event!

 

 

And McKinley had to get in on the fun! He wanted to ride mama's bike so he did!

 

Then he wanted to show us how he could get on his bike! He's really mastered getting on and off by himself.

 



 

So there you go! Number 29 can be checked off the 40 Before the Big 4-0 list! Not sure I will find myself riding a bike all the time, but so proud of myself for getting back on the seat!

 



Big Steps - No More...

 

As of today, I am no longer a Weight Watchers client. After some long deliberation with myself, I've decided to cancel my membership. You can view it as giving up, that's fine, but that's not what I'm doing. I simply wasn't using it. And, if I'm not going to use it, I'm not going to spend nearly $20 a month on a membership.

 

It did provide tools that we can all use during our every day lives. Instead of reaching for the iced tea or sugar-free soft drink, opt for a glass of water instead. Eat all the fresh fruits and veggies you can during the day! Fresh is best, but steamed works too. Make sure you don't load them up with butters. I do add seasoned salt and pepper, but avoiding salt is the healthy way! Stick to sugar and fat free when possible. Leave out the carbs. And, everything in moderation. I know, I know! We've heard it for years, but it's true.

 

What I need to do is make more of an effort to make healthy meals for my family. My husband and I can so easily rely on ordering a pizza when we're running late and we don't feel like cooking. Running through a drive-thru is another bad habit. Honestly, before McKinley, we cooked every night. Now, when we get home, we are flat out exhausted and cooking is the last thing we want to do. I've been trying to make two day meals, but the easiest are pastas and casseroles. Those are carb central! Or can be. I need to find alternative ingredients that make them lighter, healthier and with a little less fat.

 

We have been trying to eat more salads. Salads loaded with grilled chicken and shrimp and plenty of veggies! I need to start packing healthier lunches for myself as well. I tend to eat the frozen diet lunches but they get so old. And going out gets pricey! Making a lunch at night helps, but there's that tired part again.... And that's the excuses part of dieting that I referenced on day one!

 

The point is, I need to make some changes. I need to be mindful of what I'm providing to my family. I need to either get back in the gym, do something at home or in the neighborhood. Exercise is key! It releases those happy endorphins, puts you in a better mood, makes you feel better, sleep better and well, look better! So I'm not giving up. I'm just going to move in a different direction. One that doesn't have me spending money on something I'm not using, but putting my money where my mouth is! 

 

As always, stay tuned..... 



Playdates and Parent's Day Out

McKinley had a playdate yesterday! My parents next door neighbors have a little boy who's two month younger than McKinley and yesterday was the first day they've actually hung out together. They see each other when both happen to be outside. They love to sit on their respective front porches and watch the garbage trucks, or yuck yuck trucks as McKinley calls them, go by. They both like to garden, play ball and swing, but always at their own homes. So today they spent a full hour together playing. From my understanding, McKinley played while the other read. I'm sure the house was a mess by the time he left. Have you seen mine?

 

McKinley, like most only children, plays mostly by himself. And when I say "by himself", I mean with me or dada on the floor next to him. We don't always have to play, but being in that space is a must! However, he does love us to play. Lately, McKinley and I can spend a least 30 minutes just rolling cars around on the living room sofa. Sometimes I'm McQueen, other times I'm Sally. Other times, he just lays on the rug in his play area and just rolls trains back and forth. Right now he is obsessed with tunnels. He is a little fearful of them in real life, but loves to pretend that all cars and trains go through them. I love that he's using his imagination!

 

What I've found, is that it's time to introduce him to a more group setting. Our pediatrician recommended it as well. He needs to have more interactive play with other children and to be a part of a larger forum for structure. Between the two of us, and my parents, we try to structure his time with play, arts/crafts and learning by play.We engage him in outdoor activities like the zoo, parks, local exhibits and learning centers. However, he needs additional guidance from someone outside our family and I think a Parent's Day Out would be a great transition.

 

What I'm tasked with, and nervous about, is finding the right place for him to attend. So far I have two in mind and need to set up times for an interview and tour. We're leary of a church setting, as we're a blended faith family, but the one I'm currently entertaining has a curriculum that doesn't look faith based. I would like to observe part of their classroom setting to ensure that this is the case. The other is a private school that offers a toddler program. Not quite pre-school but an early form and I think that sounds promising. Again, an interview and observation are in order. As well as cost....private = costly!

 

It's scary to think about setting your toddler free, even if it's for four hours or a full day one day a week. Sure, I "send" him off to my parents on a daily basis. However, it's my parents. He's in a safe, loving environment. He's surrounded by people who are championing him. I know that's what teachers do, but it's no longer one on one. He would be one of many. Will he get lost in the shuffle? Will he lose his spunk and spirit and become shy and introverted - like his mother was once? Because he's so loving and giving by nature, will he be taken advantage of by other children? Right now, he simply wants to do with the other children are doing around him. He giggles, smiles and stares in awe at times. He shares his toys so willingly. I don't want him to lose any of that. My fear is that he may become guarded in this new environment, causing him to lose all of the things that make him so special. So unique. So McKinley.

 

I cry when I think about it. I fear that I'm going to do the wrong thing by sending him, which in essence, is the right thing. I fear that in wanting to keep him close, I'm holding him back. I want him to grow, explore, play, dream, make friends, learn and I will be there championing him every step of the way.

The Veggies of Our Labor

 

Back in late May, we built our garden. We planted green beans, lettuce, radishes, carrots, fennel, and onions seeds along with tomato, cucumber, eggplant and pepper plants. I figured plants might be produce as we've had tomato plants over the last couple of years. The seeds were another story. I was so worried that all of our hard work would be fruitless. Boy was I wrong!!

 

I can't believe how bountiful our garden has been. Has it been on an extremely small scale, yes? But that's what I expected. I knew we wouldn't produce Farmer's Market worthy veggies, but I really wanted something to grow! We've been lucky to see lettuce, onions, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. And, the tiniest carrots I have ever seen. They may have been tiny but they were huge on flavor. If only they had grown to their full size. (My dad is pretty sure we planted them too late in the season and entirely too close together. Here's hoping for next year!)

 

With the first round of veggies, I put together a salad! Enough lettuce for two sizeable salads that included the onion.

 

 

 After we pulled up the lettuce, I immediately re-planted the remaining seeds and we currently have lettuce back in the garden! I also re-planted the onions I've pulled but they didn't make it. Either something ate them, which is what's happening to my tomatoes as soon as they start turning red, or we are out of season!

 

We made another salad recenlty and used our first pepper! It was tiny, but I didn't care. We each had half and it was so good! Good things do come in small packages!

 

 

As of last week, I had my first eggplant! I hadn't a clue what it was, when surveying the garden, and was terrified at what I might find when moving the plant leaves! I need to find a recipe, Giada has a few, for our little eggplant testing!

 

 See how little the carrots are? Still tasty!

 

 

Currently waiting out their fate!

 

Additionally, I have fourteen or more tomatoes on one plant by our fence row. I am keeping my eye on them so that nature doesn't take advantage of my free food! I can't wait to have super fresh tomatoes for salads, burgers and sandwiches!

 

I've been doing some research on what I can plant for the remainder of summer and fall. Turns out, lettuce, radishes, green beans and cucumbers are on the list. With the exception of radishes, everything else is currently in the garden, however my cucumbers haven't produced a single piece! I have blooms galore, but not one cucumber. Same for the beans! They have taken off and are sky high, but not a single bean to date. My moms seems to think the beans and cucumber don't like each other, so just like grade schoolers, I might need to seperate them.

 

I hope to keep the produce planted and growing all fall long. Stay tuned!! 

 



40 Before 40 - Powell Gardens Visit

The quest to complete forty items from my 40 Before the Big 4-0 continued over the weekend with a trip to Powell Gardens. According to their website, Powell Gardens' history began in 1948, when George E. Powell, Sr., a prominent Kansas City businessman, acquired the beautiful tract of land that is now Powell Gardens. In 1969, in keeping with his stewardship philosophy, Mr. Powell donated the 640-acre farm to the Kansas City Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, who used it as a regional camp until 1984.

 

 In 1984, with the University of Missouri’s School of Agriculture as a catalyst and partner, the Powell Family Foundation began developing a horticultural and natural resource facility called Powell Center. As a part of this development, Powell Center retained Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Environmental Planning and Design, the leading U.S. consultants for botanical gardens. The firm recognized that the site would be ideal for development as a botanical garden.

 

The grounds offer a 3.5 acre Perennial Garden, a 12 acre Heartland Harvest Garden, a 3.25 mile nature trail, a Rock and Waterfall Garden, an Island Garden that displays over 200 varieties of water plants and a Chapel that is made entirely of clear glass.

 

I first discovered Powell Gardens when driving to visit my parents when they lived in Jefferson City, MO. The garden sits off of Highway 50 and I passed it for over 12 years. And, every time we passed it, I would tell Joel "We need to stop sometime and visit." And that's what we did this past weekend. Every year, the garden offers a butterfly exhibit and it was amazing! We had been talking about the butterflies, or y-ys as McKinley calls them, for about a month and he was so excited to visit. It was more fun watching him! He would point, talk animatedly about them and literally scurry from one to the next.

 

Once on the grounds, he could have cared less about the flowers. And, because of how vast the area is, we knew we would never see everything in one day. A trip, or two or three, is in our future. It truly is a wonderful place to see!

 

Below are photos of the butterflies, the LEGO exhibit currently on display and some of the other sites we saw along the way!

 

 

Look closely...that tiny white dot on the upper leaf (toward the bottom of the stem) is a butterfly egg!!!

 

 He loved the exhibit!

 

 

He loves waterfalls! 

 

 

This one landed on my hat!!! 

 

Just look at how big this moth is! Larger than my hand!

 



McKinley was able to pant his own flower pot! Look at that concentration!



 

I love him!!!

 

Helping me plant his new flower! 

 

 

Number 30 is officially crossed off the list!