I’ve been on a bit of a cooking kick lately….I saw the movie “Julie and Julia”, about the girl that cooked her way through Julia Childs cookbook and blogged about her experience… In my opinion the movie was a flop, but I do have a better appreciation for the plot now, as I’ve found my own muse and am cooking my way through a different set of recipes!
I blame it on my new found obsession “Pioneer Woman”. I’m obsessed… and awe inspired. This woman, Ree, does everything I want to do and gets paid for it… She writes this awesome blog, takes amazing pictures, home schools her 4 kids, and makes amazing food… and then BLOGS more about all of that! Google her, then read her blog… I recommend starting with her “Black Heels to Tractor Wheels” saga, but only if you have basically a full day to dedicate to it, cause its on par with any of the good fiction books I’ve read recently.
From her website, in the past month, I’ve made Tequila Lime Chicken, Tres Leches Cake, Jalapeno Jack Stuffed Hamburgers, Parmesan Garlic crusted green beans, a Gravy Burger, Broccoli Cheese Soup, Chipotle Chile, Chipotle Corn Chowder, and have all the ingredients to make her Pomegranate Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks for dinner later this week! Every single recipe thus far has been AMAZING…. This may be the one obsession Kevin doesn’t give me ANY crap over… considering he continuously laments basically any T.V. show I like, rips Twilight up one side and down the other… the list could go on… but “Pioneer Woman”… I don’t get a peep about.
It hasn’t hurt that this is my first ‘Autumn’ in 7 years, and I forgot how much fun it is to have amazing scents flowing through your house when it’s chilly outside, the house is all closed up and smells just emanating from the kitchen. My house may look like a tornado went through it, but with the lights off now, the kids quiet in bed, and the remnants of sweet savory chocolate chip cookies only an hour or so removed from the oven… it smells DIVINE!
The way I look at it, with all the baking I like to do in preparation for the holidays, and then the BORING hum/drum months of Jan/Feb/March on its heals, there’s a very good chance I’ll emerge from my first winter back in the ‘north’ with a much better repertoire of recipes at my disposal, and can hopefully avoid getting stuck in my previous regular rut… of “what’s for dinner”…. Here’s hoping!
I love your writing! And I think I may have to look up this Pioneer Woman and get some of her recipes! Sounds like your house is a good place to come for dinner these days! And I’m with you on the chocolate chip cookies…mmm mmm mmm…nothing smells or tastes better that those!