New bag

I have been searching for a new bag for awhile because my current one isn't quite big enough to carry my lunch to work and I never have room for my new digital camera either. So I stumbled across tinyhappy's shoulder bag tutorial
and ran out the JoAnn's as fast as I could. Her pattern was really easy and the bag looks great! I added a padded camera pocket so I can always have it with me without worrying. I am excited to start using it! I want to make more! Send me your orders! I may start offering it in my etsy store and maybe someone will finally buy something from me.

Banana Splits For Breakfast!

I read parts of the Biggest Loser Cookbook during a slow time at work the other day and discovered a real gem. A healthy banana split. Peanut butter spread on banana with yogurt and granola. The recipe called for all low-fat/no-fat ingredients and probably fruit instead of granola but this was super tasty.

Yesterday we had a very ambitious day planned on our menu: home-cooked bbq ribs. Brandon ended up making the whole meal because I was in the middle of a sewing fit (see above) and he did a great job. Classic American potato salad with mayo and mustard, barbecue ribs just falling off the bone in a homemade barbecue sauce with fresh ginger and lemon, and more homemade rolls (still somehow really salty! we are just learning about baking!), as well as the last minute addition of spinach sauteed with garlic to balance out some of the heaviness. Everything came out of Joy of Cooking and seemed to be pretty easy. I have no idea how I survived before getting this book.

udon: no longer scary

Years ago I had udon noodles in a Chinese restaurant in Akron, Ohio. They were enormous, slimy, and cold. Everyone at the table (including adults with food experience) agreed that they were disgusting. I hoped to get over this trauma when I bought a package of dried udon a while ago. Finally, the other night I had this meal. Very simple flavored with soy sauce and equal parts minced garlic and ginger. These were so delicious. The meal reminded me of ramen noodles but I didn't feel awful afterward. I can't wait to make this again. I almost wish I was a waitress again so I could come home late and tired and fry up a pot.

Tonight was a caeser ( I believe that was how Joy of Cooking spelled it) salad. No raw eggs, no creamy mayonnaise. All marvelous. Joy of Cooking is my new favorite cookbook. Every recipe works. The authors never preach. There is never any shame or horror when the meal is finished. No stress.

the winter of salty biscuits

We have been having a lot of biscuits. I love biscuits but really how many should a person really have? This stew was loosely based on the Barefoot Contessa's. Recently I became my mother and since then I have been unable to actually complete a recipe in it's entirety without major trauma. Resulting in meals that do taste delicious but look unappetizingly monotone or somehow not quite right.

The menu planning is getting easier and gives me a real sense of accomplishment which is lacking in some other aspects of my life. As challenging as it is to move Hannah Montana books around the front of store displays I would like something more.
Brandon's new specialty is stuffed peppers. I always thought it was sort of grocery store deli food but now I like them. If you don't look at all the cheese it is probably even pretty healthy.