Cookbooks

These are our most-used cookbooks right now. My husband loves to cook, but I just like looking through them! We have quite a collection. I can't seem to get rid of any. Some have been passed down, but most are newer. There are more in a very messy cupboard that needs organizing (see below!)

One of the absolute favorites!

 Two great classics

You're not a true Oklahoman if you don't own Ree's (The Pioneer Woman) books

The lovely cupboard. This is a project I have been putting off. The binders on the bottom shelf hold recipes printed off from Recipes.com, Allrecipes.com, etc. This is one of those areas where you pull one thing out and five come falling down!

Any recommendations to add? What are some of your go-to food ideas?

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something. For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful for when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference.
It's easy to be thankful for the good times. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings.

~ Author Unknown

Weekend Update

Finally catching up from the busy weekend. The boys entered the annual Pinewood Derby race at our church. We were lazy parents this year, bought the car kit and didn't get around to making them, and ended up letting them use the girls winning cars from last year. Maybe that's why they didn't place - our punishment for not getting them done! They definitely need their own next time.

Saturday morning was spent freezing at a soccer game for the oldest. It felt even more cold since we lost big time and it was out-of-town. Those are never fun. Onto the hub's office to hang a few pictures and a little shopping after. We had a birthday party to enjoy that afternoon with some sweet friends. No naps for the boys!

Sunday morning there was a singing program at preschool. Probably should have skipped it. He didn't sing and then was pushed down on stage at the end.

The highlight of the day was eating out sans children with friends at Mi Cocina and then to see Muse at the BOK Center.

 OMGoodness, what a show! They are incredibly good! My favorite song right now: (heads up - youtube video)

One Sick Kitty

Penelope the cat is back to normal. Does she look normal in this picture? Such a glare. She's my cat. I chose her from the litter of giveaways. I am a cat person. She loves me. She does not like most everyone else. She is moody, bites when petted too much, and occasionally leaves little goodies from her stomach on the floor. Eww. She went missing for a day and then I discovered she had been hiding under the bed. I knew something was wrong but figured she would be fine in a day or so. She got progressively worse and we went to the vet. My meow had pancreatitis. Blood work, IV fluids, two nights in the hospital, and a week of medicine at home and all is well for her again.

My Man at Work

I am grateful to have such a wonderful provider.....even though you were on call/gone all weekend and hardly saw the family.

I am thankful that you love what you do.....even though your schedule screws up the rest of ours.

I am blessed to have more than we need.....even though we could buy a second home with the amount of med school loans we have.

Above all, through the junk that comes along with this profession, I'm planning on it being worth it!

Medical Mondays

12 Weeks Already!

Snow and Stew! (Recipe)

We finally received some snow here. The children are excited, but I'm not as I desperately need new tires with tread on them! Hopefully I won't have to get out while it's slick. Luck would have it that I planned a stew for tonight and this is the perfect weather for it. This is an old family recipe that has vague instructions, but I have tweaked a few things to fit my family. Originally it called for cooking in a casserole dish in the oven, but us modern gals like to put the crock pot to good use!

Stay-A-Bed Stew
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 8oz. can tomato sauce
• 1 can water (this I've changed to 3 full cans)
• 1 can golden mushroom soup
• 1 32oz. bag of frozen mixed veggies (smaller bag if you feel this is too much)
• 3 lbs. potatoes (cubed)
• 1 small onion (diced ~ I use only half)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
Lightly brown meat and add onion toward the end. In a separate bowl combine sugar, tomato sauce, water, mushroom soup, and salt and pepper. Place browned meat, potatoes, and frozen veggies into crock pot and add liquid mixture. I set for 4 hours but it is usually ready before. I like to keep an eye on the liquid in case I need to add a little more water. Serve with cornbread.