Goal #53: Cook 3 recipes out of every cookbook I own (3 of ?)

The other night I made another recipe out of the Pioneer Woman's cookbook. Chicken Fried Steak. 


The recipe involves cube steak, egg, milk, flour, seasonings and oil. I added a few things to my dredging flour that she didn't call for. If I remember right she only called for seasoning salt, pepper and paprika. I added more garlic and onion powder. I battered the cube steaks and fried them up in the cast iron skillet.


They were these beautiful little golden brown steaks sizzling away getting ready for their fate.


After the steaks were fried I drained all but 1/4 cup of the oil to make the gravy. My biggest mistake (and PW didn't have this in the recipe either) was discarding the perfectly seasoned dredging flour. I made my roux with plain flour but it would've been so much tastier with the other. The cast iron skillet was still so hot that when I added my milk the gravy seized up and got so thick in a matter of seconds that I think I had to add double the milk required. I whisked like crazy but it turned out in the end.


I served the steaks with mashed potatoes and a green salad.


The only disappointing part was the gravy. The meat was tender and flavorful. The gravy,  not so much. I could've eaten the steak plain. I love the outside crispy coating!


I smelled like fried food afterwards. I don't fry a lot of foods at home because I don't like how it stinks up my house and lingers for days. My belly was full, though, and that's all that matters.


Even though this is the 3rd recipe from The Pioneer Woman Cookbook I will definitely keep going and posting when I try a new recipe out of the book.

Goal #53: Cook 3 recipes out of every cookbook I own (2 of ?)

So tonight I made Chicken Spaghetti from my Pioneer Woman cookbook. I think when I told Jimmy that I was making "Chicken Spaghetti" he thought he was getting chicken with spaghetti sauce over spaghetti noodles. What he was really getting was something very similar to Chicken Tetrazinni.

Man was it good!

This recipe made a huge amount. It filled up a 13x9" baking dish and I knew we would never eat all that so I divided it into two 8x8" baking dishes. My neighbor's son had surgery today so I took her one of the dishes.

The only thing I did differently was seasoning the water that the chicken cooked in with a chicken bouillon cube, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. This gives the chicken so much more flavor. That's how I roll.

The dish turned out so creamy and divine that I had to have two servings. What can I say?I'm a gourmand.

If you are looking for some comfort food - make this!!

Goal #78: Eat at 5 local restaurants #1

For lunch Jimmy wanted to try out All Aboard Pizzeria in the Harris Teeter Shopping center.

We were promptly seated but they didn't have any more high chairs. 3 total in the place.. Lucky for us Ryan didn't want to be held and screamed when Jimmy tried to make him sit still on his lap.

Finally my brain got going and I went and got the stroller. After a little struggle, Ryan's tushy was at home in a very familiar seat and probably more comfortable than those wood highchairs anyway.

We ordered a medium pepperoni pizza. When Jimmy served me the first piece it just about fell apart. I guess the crust was too thin and was super soggy from the grease. I remembered why I hardly ever eat pepperoni pizza. You can drink the grease off of it.

I was a little disappointed until I got to the edge of the crust.

The part with no toppings.

Oh, my, gosh! The crust was amazing.

You could smell the yeast but it wasn't overpowering the taste. I love really yeasty bread and pizza crust and this crust did it for me.

I tried out another piece. I guess since it was cooled down a little it held up better. The pizza was actually good but I just could not get over their crust. When we were down to the last small piece I was too full to take it. I told Jimmy if he wasn't going to eat it then I just wanted him to cut off the crust for me.

That's my favorite part of a pizza anyway. You can keep your cheese, greasy pepperoni or whatever toppings and just give me the crusts! I can't believe people actually eat everything but the crust.

Crazy!

Goal #53: Cook 3 things from every cookbook I own #1 of ?

Awhile back I had just introduced my mom to The Pioneer Woman's blog and, suprise, I received this gem in the mail from her. I was so excited!

There is a recipe called "Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich". That's her rugged cowboy husband. This decadent sandwich with simple ingredients will satisfy anyone's appetite. I made it according to the recipe with the accidental addition of some Cajun seasoning and her recommendation of mushrooms. I forgot I had Cajun seasoning that's the same brand as the seasoning salt that the recipe calls for. Whoops! This recipe is not short on flavor, or butter. I think Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) is channeling Paula Deen. We had a salad on the side to make it seem like a healthy meal. I will definitely make this again. Delectable!

Goal #25: Take Ryan to the Zoo

Today we decided to go to the NC Zoo in Asheboro. The weather was absolutely glorious. The high was 84. The sky was clear. Ryan was in a great mood.

The best part was seeing Ryan get excited over the different animals he saw. His favorite by far was the Elephants. He cried when we left them. He waved "bye" to the zebras though. Not impressed little buddy?

But then he got to play with some baby elephants.

And then he got to ride one. Yee haw!

And then a rhino...

Ryan wanted to get a closer look at the elephants.

Ryan squealed so loud when he saw the ostritch that I thought the thing was going to come at us!

One day we'll tell Ryan he was hatched..

I got to take Ryan on his first carousel ride.

Looking at animals is so tiring.

I love this sculpture. Reminds me of Ryan and myself.

Sleep tight little animals. Ryan loves you! 

Goal #6 - Read 50 Books 1 of 50

Today, while Ryan was napping, I finished my first book of 50 in the challenge. The book was a very easy read and I started reading it a couple of months ago. I just never could sit down long enough to finish it.

A neighbor lent me this book. "My Horizontal Life" by Chelsea Handler is not only extrememly inappropriate but hilarious.The book describes, in detail some (and I'm sure it's a very small portion) of her one night stands. Chelsea is a little (actually a lot) brash and brutally honest. Her descriptions of certain situations had me laughing out loud.  Her behavior is completely opposite of any way I have ever acted and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much.

The Start of Something New.

I wanted to create a Blog. After all, everyone's doing it! I saw this idea the other day. A challenge. 101 Goals in 1001 days. That's 2.74 years. I guess that's enough time to get it done... I didn't realize how hard it would be to come up with 101 goals! I thought maybe this would help break up the routine a little. Checking off the first 2 goals now! :)

I don't want this blog to just be about me and the goals. I want to keep friends and family updated on Ryan and offer a peek into our lives. We live 5 hours away from the closest family and with Ryan about to turn 1 - there are going to be a lot of changes happening!!