Thursday, August 11, 2011

Cooking makes me happy :)

Mostly because eating makes me happy...Either way, when I am cooking nothing else going on in my life matters. I forget my worries and my cares and for a brief moment life doesn't seem so bad. The one thing I love more than cooking (and eating) is seeing other people enjoy my food. 

I am by no means a great cook, but I am learning and slowly branching out and trying some new recipes. One of my deployment goals this year has been to learn and perfect 20 new recipes before my husband returns home next year. 

After a few of my friends on fb suggested I start posting the recipes I've tried I decided to take the plunge and post at least one new recipe a week until my husband comes home. 

I'm hoping to find some really great dishes to make for my husband once he is back in our cozy little home. ♥ 

This week I decided to make fried round steak, crash hot potatoes and biscuits. Perfect food to satisfy any one's appetite! (That is unless you're a vegetarian.)

This recipe is beyond simple and only requires a few ingredients. For the Steaks you'll need:
-2 to 4 cube steaks
-flour, seasoning salt, pepper & regular salt
-vegetable oil or canola oil 

For the Crash Hot Potatoes You'll need:
-Potatoes
-extra virgin olive oil 
-fresh rosemary
-salt and pepper
If you are making these together you should start the potatoes first. 
-Wash potatoes. Boil a pot of water and throw the potatoes in until tender. 
 -Next drizzle olive oil over a cookie sheet so the potatoes won't stick. 
 -Place the potatoes on the cookie sheet and smash with a potato smasher, or a whisk. 
-Next using a pastry brush coat potatoes in olive oil. Sprinkle with some fresh rosemary, salt and pepper. Use generously, you can never add too much! :)Preheat oven to 450 degrees and cook for 20-25 mins or until golden brown. Mmmmmm!!! Sooo good!
Once the potatoes have been in the oven for awhile start the steaks. 
-Mix 1 cup flour with seasoning salt, pepper and regular salt. Put as much as you like. Mix well.
-Sprinkle seasonings on both sides of the steak before coating both sides in flour mixture. 
-While you are doing this heat up the oil in a large skillet. Once it is hot enough put the steaks in and flip over once they are a nice crispy brown color. 
-Once they are done lay them on a plate with a paper towel to drain off the excess oil. Then you are done!
I also made a bunch of grands biscuits, (don't judge me, I'm not a pro)
And believe me, they were deeeelicious! :)
Over all I was soooo happy with this dinner. It was super easy and my deployment buddy Brittany enjoyed it too. ♥ 
She also made some amazing smore cookies....just look how gooey they were...Yummy!! 
Anyway, thats the first edition of "Cooking makes me happy" and I hope you all enjoyed it. What new recipes are you loving this week?



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Thursday, August 4, 2011

Busy Bee

I am happy to say, the days and weeks have been flying by. Why, tomorrow is Friday already and that means another week of deployment has come and gone! 

Speaking of deployment, I finally broke down and made a donut of misery. I had no idea how detailed those things are. 

I really don't need to know that I have a gajillion trillion seconds or however long until I see my husband again. (Ok so maybe I'm exaggerating, but you get the point.)

However, I do like looking at it as the donut slowly creeps towards 50%.

I can hardly believe how long its been since I've seen my hubby, but if the rest of this year goes by as quickly as the past few months he will be home before I know it. 

In the mean time I am keeping myself busy with work and surrounding myself with good friends. I am also trying to broaden my horizons when it comes to cooking. 

Remember this post, where I stated I wanted to learn and perfect 20 new recipes before my husband returned home? I haven't really counted  how many I've tried so far but I have been getting more creative.

For awhile I felt like I was in a "food rut," and couldn't think of anything new or interesting to make. Since I am obsessed with good food, or mostly just eating it, I've decided to add a recipe section to my blog. 

My goal will be to post at least one recipe each week of something I've made. Lets hope I can keep the commitment! ;)

On another note, this month marks our two year wedding anniversary and I have been fervently working on an extra special care package for my hubbs.♥

I will post pics once I know he has received it. My real life bloggy friend Brittany from "Tales of a Sailor's Soulmate" taught me how to make cake in a jar since I had never done it before.
It was a success and when I find the time, I'm going to post the step by step pics and instructions for those of you who are like me, and had no clue what I was doing.

Britt actually did most of the steps while I watched, asked questions and took pictures for said blog post. ;) 

She was a great teacher and we also made some tye dye cake, with some home made icing to boot. It was bomb.com. 
No, but really...it was amazing! 

Well, that's all for now my darlings...I have a 10 & 1/2 hour work day tomorrow so its time to get some beauty sleep. Lord knows I'm gonna need it! 

Happy Thursday lovelies!! ♥


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One and Only

It would be an understatement to say this whole album is wonderful. 
 
Every song makes you feel something, and her sultry voice brings chills down my spine.
 
This song is currently stuck in my brain. ♥
 
  I hope you love it as much as I do. 

You've been on my mind
I grow fonder every day,
lose myself in time just thinking of your face
God only knows why it's taking me so long
to let my doubts go
You're the only one that I want

I don't know why I'm scared, I've been here before
Every feeling, every word, I've imagined it all,
You never know if you never try to forget your past
And simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
Promise I'm worth it to hold in your arms
So come on and give me the chance

To prove that I'm the one who can
Walk that mile
Until the end starts

Have I been on your mind?
You hang on every word I say, lose yourself in time
At the mention of my name, will I ever know
How it feels to hold you close
And have you tell me which ever road I chose you'll go

I don't know why I'm scared, I've been here before
Every feeling every word, I've imagined it all,
You never know if you never tried to forgive your past
And simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
I promise I'm worthy to hold in your arms
So come on and give me the chance

To prove that I'm the one who can
Walk that mile
Until the end starts

I know it ain't easy
Giving up your heart
I know it ain't easy
Giving up your heart

(Nobody's perfect, trust me I've earned it)
I know it ain't easy, giving up your heart
(Nobody's perfect, trust me I've earned it)
I know it ain't easy, giving up your heart

I know it ain't easy
Giving up your heart

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
I promise I'm worth it to hold in your arms
So come on and give me the chance

To prove I'm the one who can
Walk that mile until the end starts
Come and give me the chance
To prove that I'm the one who can
Walk that mile until the end starts.



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Starting fresh

I am ready for a new beginning in my life. I have been itching for a change. 

I spent some time redesigning my blog and tidying it up a bit. It was too cluttered and I was growing tired of the same old same old.

I am still trying to think of a new blog title, as I am breaking away from the typical "milspouse blogger" mold. There is so much more to me than that. :-)

I have decided that I will choose a few names and take a poll on my blog as to which name fits my personality and blog better.

I want something that is uniquely me, and reflects the things I love to write about. 

Here's to hoping my brainstorming can come up with something spectacular! 



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