Archive for the ‘Life’ Category
The art of cooking
Posted on: March 31, 2010
- In: Life
- 2 Comments
I’m no chef. I’m the girl who can eat spaghetti with plain tomato sauce and call it a “tasty meal”. Because I love spaghetti with plain sauce. I would eat it every day if I could. And that’s just it: Cooking is about making something you want to eat, not that you need to eat.
That is a lesson I’ve finally learned.
One day last fall, as I served dinner, I mentioned how I followed the recipe to a tee despite not wanting to. I didn’t want diced onions, but chunks, and I thought other spices would have gone better, but didn’t use them. Jonathan said “Sarah, you need to cook what you want to eat.” I do that. Right? I like diced onions over chunky onions. Right? Wrong. I love onions. Especially when in large chunks sauteed to perfection. I love spicy foods. I love vegetables that have just the perfect mixture of tender and crisp. I just love eating. So with that one sentence “cook what you want to eat” I changed how I cook. I stopped following recipes and started cooking based on taste, smell and sight.
This might sound very “chefy”, like I know what spices to always use and what foods go best together. I don’t. Ask Jon. I’ve had some pretty spectacular failures. Like the-dog-wont-eat-this failures. But, when things are a success, they are a success. Why? Because everything I’ve made I want to eat. I want to eat the sauteed carrots in curry sauce. I want to eat the spicy black bean burgers. I don’t need to eat them, but I want to eat them because I like them.
It’s taken time to build my cooking confidence. I’m very fortunate because Jonathan is a gracious eater (and so were the Abdos) so every meal is met with hearty thanks. Even the not so great ones. I started off slowly. Adding garlic with my oil. Giving up diced onions for chunked. Exploring “unusual” spices.
For all you timid cooks I have something to say – you can do it! I was once in your shoes. I thought adding more milk than suggested to my mac-n-cheese was taking it “too far”. But as I ventured out, I became more and more brave. And as I’ve become braver, I’ve falling in love with the art of cooking. The art of cooking what I want to eat.
Bon Appetit!
You gotta read this
Posted on: March 30, 2010
My friend Leah had quite the life changing experience today. She saved a little boy from drowning in a pond. I’ll let her tell you the story.
My life isn’t perfect
Posted on: March 29, 2010
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
And neither is my home. While I’d love for my house to look “Southern Living” fresh every single day it just doesn’t. However, while I’m learning to overlook the less than perfect life of parenthood, this drives me a little crazy:
But thanks to IKEA’s storage and my husband’s strength, in just a few hours order was restored:
I went to bed one very happy mama, knowing that for just one moment my home (or at least one room) was perfect.
IKEA, I love you.
Posted on: March 27, 2010
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
Today we are heading to a couple’s conference for our church. We planned to take Hannah (since she’s still nursing) and have a babysitter for Julia. However, our sitter had to cancel so now Julia is coming along too. Now with two kids in tow, we decided to make a family adventure out of the weekend. And what better adventure than IKEA?!
If you haven’t had the pleasure of going to an IKEA you are missing out on something HUGE (literally). IKEA is like a giant playhouse for adults. They specialize in home furnishings, ranging from kitchen cabinets to nurseries. Most all of our furnishings when we got married came from IKEA. They are relatively inexpensive and most of the styles fit our personalities. We are planning to take the afternoon to drive over to IKEA (about 3 hours from the conference), spend the day shopping, have dinner in their cafeteria and then head into Chicago to see old friends. Yes, IKEA, I do love you. Ahhh….
Another giveaway!
Posted on: March 26, 2010
Emily at Adventures of Miss Mommy is doing another giveaway! This time she’ll be giving one lucky person some Japanese Green Tea with Cherry along with some shortbread biscuits. Being a lover of tea, this tea sounds fantastic!
Be sure to go check out Emily’s giveaway and be sure to tell her I sent you!
My birthday rocked
Posted on: March 26, 2010
- In: Life
- 7 Comments
In my recollection, I’ve had about 3 or 4 amazing birthdays.
Yesterday was one of them.
In the morning I went running then to the salon to have my hair done. Later, Jonathan took the girls and me to lunch at Red’s Alehouse, where I partook in an amazing basil chicken sandwich. Pesto? On my birthday? Yes please!
We had a lazy afternoon while the girls slept, then went on a date to Motley Cow. The best part was riding on Jonathan motorcycle. In my new birthday dress. While it was a little chilly, it was awesome. I told Jonathan I felt strangely chic but tough.
I felt so loved by all my family and friends. Sweet messages and thoughtful gifts abounded. I am truly blessed.
And for all you who have patiently awaited – here’s the dress (and new haircut):
I’ll find a picture that shows the whole dress, so count this as your sneak preview. 😉
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
That’s right, readers: I’m taking a day off from blogging. Today is my birthday. Jonathan took off work, and I’m stepping away from the computer to enjoy time with my family, eating my free Cold Stone and making my birthday dinner – Poppyseed Chicken.
Making a house our home
Posted on: March 24, 2010
- In: Life
- 11 Comments
We have been in our new house not quite three weeks and things are coming along quite nicely! We had all the trim and cabinets painted white along with having a few rooms as well. Here are some before and afters:
Kitchen:
You know it’s my kitchen when beans are cooking on the stove and tortillas are rising in the Kitchen Aid!
Living room 1:
Living room 2:
Hallway:
Playroom/school room:
Master bedroom:
Girls’ room:
Like the Texas Star? Oh, yeah. 😉
Guest room, downstairs:
Office:
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
Towards the end of 2009 I told Jonathan I felt like I had no creative outlet. It seems tons of moms around me are super ingenious, like Leah or Rachel. But me? Nope. I know what I like. Organization. Laughing. Writing. Reading. Daydreaming. None of which seem very ingenious. Then Jonathan suggested I start blogging more.
I’ve been blogging for 3.5 years. I’ve taken breaks, I’ve blogged daily, I’ve nearly quit several times. But when it’s all said and done, I come back. Because I love it. Blogging for me is such a creative outlet. I’ve actually formed some pretty great relationships over the blogosphere. And to top it off (like adding sprinkles to my sundae) I’ve reconnected to old friends whom I’ve not seen in years. I’m having to find a good balance between blogging and life. Jonathan does a great job of supporting me in this new venture while telling me when enough is enough. Surprisingly, it can be pretty overwhelming. If you’re actively wanting to create a blogging community, it takes time and effort. Thankfully, I’ve come across other women who have started paving the road for me. One of them is Heather of Theta Mom. I recently joined up with her Theta Mom Community and have found some pretty awesome bloggers.
We’ll see where all this leads. Our family has some strict(er) guidelines for computer use – at least during the day; hence why the computer is downstairs and away from the living area – which means I have to monitor my time and use. But so far I’ve loved every minute of searching out blogs, forming community and letting my creativity flow!
If you want to know more about Theta Mom Community, click below:
Making your own beans
Posted on: March 23, 2010
- In: Life
- 2 Comments
Our family goes through beans like water. Bean and cheese tacos are consumed with delight. Almost every day. Which is great for this mama, because they are easy and always a sure win with both girls.
I’ve been making my own beans for a while that we usually eat within a few days, but decided to make enough to freeze.
Sort through your beans, discarding any beans that are split, halved or peeling.
Julia was insistent that the black beans were pinto and the pinto were black beans. I tried correcting her several times before I just dropped it. She smiled. I think she was just pulling my leg and I totally fell for it.
Wash your beans thoroughly.
Place in a large stock pot and cover with water. Put on a lid.
And wait.
And wait.
I try to let my beans soak at least 12 hours. What more information on why we soak beans? Check this out.
The next day I pour out all the water and rinse the beans thoroughly again. You’ll notice that the beans aren’t nearly as hard and are much larger.
Place back in the stock pot and cover with water (at least 3/4 full). I always add salt. I’d suggest at least a teaspoon to give it more flavor. For pinto beans, add in an onion cut into quarters (and if you have cooked bacon, add that too!).
Cook the beans on medium low heat, with the lid partially on (this allows them to still boil – more of a simmering boil) for about 3 hours, or until done.
Once they are done, allow to cool. Then bag them in 2 cup incriments (this is the amount in most cans of beans).
I didn’t have hardly any pinto beans, because we ate most of them before I got the chance to bag them. I started out with 2 cups of dried organic beans and walked away with 6 cups of black beans and 2 cups of pintos. Now, it might seem like a lot of work for such little return, but there is very little hands on time, the cost is super low (less than $3 for all the beans) and the benefits to making your own beans is worth the effort!
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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