Meatloaf Meatloaf Double Beetloaf...

Hey y'all,

I know I'm lagging but the ball is starting to really roll on transitioning my blog to its own site! I'm so excited I could do a happy dance. (Actually I did, you just can't see it) so for the next few weeks the posts are going to be a little skimpy. But once things are up and kinks all worked out I'm going to be unstoppable. Lol

Who knows what movie my title line is from? If you can finish that line then we might need to become friends in real life. ;-) Earlier this week my kiddo requested her favorite meal.....meatloaf! Yes my child LOVES meatloaf. When I say loves meatloaf, I mean she has been known to eat nearly an entire meatloaf by herself. Yes, and she does not care if everyone has their share. Lol

So of course I had to oblige her. I mean who says no to a kid asking for a meatloaf dinner?!?

These are my basic meatloaf ingredients. 

1lb ground turkey

1 whole egg

1 small onion

1/2 large green bell pepper

3 garlic cloves 

1 can tomato sauce (used only about half of this can total)

Italian seasoning

12 saltine crackers (give or take a cracker)

And yes I like to use crushed saltine crackers instead of breadcrumbs for a few reasons.  1) they add seasoning 2) I like the firmer texture that they impart (almost as if you toasted the breadcrumbs but without the extra work) 3) they're easy to come by in a pinch since I pretty much Always have saltines on had 

Small dice the onion and half of the bell pepper. Mince the garlic

Throw the ingredients together with the ground meat. That is about a quarter cup of tomato sauce. Your looking for the texture to be a bit looser than say a hamburger patty. This is going into the over for awhile and we don't want a dry loaf. 

I have made meatloaf so many times I can just smell it to see if it's seasoned well with the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. But if you still need practice there's no reason you can take a small piece and cook it really quickly in a pan to taste for seasoning adjustments. I'm all about learning to understand your food so that you don't need a full on recipe to make simple favorites. What's the worst that can happen? You learn that next time it wouldn't hurt to add a little salt? No big deal. Lol 

After everything is mixed together well the meat mixture is spread down into a loaf pan. When you cook meatloaf in a loaf pan it takes awhile to cook all the way through. This one was at 375 covered with aluminum foil for 30 minutes. 

Then I removed the foil and poured a bit more of the tomato sauce on top. A quick sprinkle of salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Then back into the oven uncovered for another 10-15 minutes. Or until the sauce has thicken up on the meatloaf and the juices in the pan run clear. 

Of course the kiddo was ecstatic and ate two big servings of meatloaf, almost completely neglecting the sides dishes. Lol but that's okay it's not everyday and she was happy. 

What was your favorite meal as a kid? Hmm, I had too many favorites to name just one. Maybe my grandma's chicken and dressing. Mmm 

Peace and Namate Y'all 

Shout out to one of my favorite blogs!

Hey Ya'll!
Today I wanted to share a post that I read on another blog. 100 Days of Real Food is a blog about a mother who wants her children to know what real food is and where real food comes from. At the beginning of April she wrote a post about fun ways to get picky eaters to try new things. I am so passionate about feeding children food that grows rather than food that is "created".. So naturally I found her suggestions really interesting. Fortunately I have never had a problem with getting my child to eat. She has pretty much always been eager to try just about anything, and she actually likes most everything she tries. As long as it's not spicy. Lol
But Lisa from 100 Days of Real Food set up this blog post that might prove to be really helpful for those of you who struggle to get your child(ren) to try new foods.  My personal favorite is the blindfolded taste recognition game. But I'm a fan of depriving one sense in order to enhance or better understand another sense.
So please be sure to stop by 100 Says of Real Food and check out this post.
Do you have picky eaters in the house? How do you get them to try new things?
Please share your experiences
Peace and Namaste Ya'll

Information overload

Hey Y'all!!!

So last week, Friday, my birthday present from my mother arrived on the doorstep. And let me tell you... I am in Love!! I have received the holy grail of culinary information. An actual Culinary Institute of America textbook! What?!?! Yes! 

This book has literally almost everything a professional chef learns tucked right inside of it. Along with some really great photos. It's huge. When I say huge, think science major in graduate school textbook huge. There are literally more than 1200 pages in this book. So it's not really a carry around and do some light reading type of book. But goodness knows I am enjoying diving into it chunk by chunk. 

There are thorough explanations of what things are from tools to spices to meat. And how to use them. 

Even all of the cuts of vegetables and meats!!! 

I am so excited about this book I don't even know where to start with it. Ha!

Once I've skimmed my way through to the end I will gather my thoughts and figure out what my first project will be. Who knows, I just may surprise myself with some new skills mastered. 

What's the best gift you have received (or given) in recent years?

Peace and Namaste Y'all 

Regroup Reorganize Repeat

Hey Y'all,

I've been attempting to get better orgasmized this past week. BUT it does not seem to be happening. Lol. Go figure. 

I haven't made many original food dishes this past week. So I don't have much to post 

But I will share a little moment of my kiddo's favorite past time. 

Since she was two years old she has loved doing her nails and the nails of others. So we spent a couple of hours painting, polishing, and decorating. Just between you and I.... She is better than some licensed nail techs that I have encountered. 

What's your favorite way to spend time your little ones? I would love to hear about what other families call fun. 

Peace & Namaste Y'all 

Happy Birthday To Me!!

Hey Y'all!

As you guessed from the title of this post today is my birthday! I didn't have anything other than church, food, and time with my immediate family planned this year. I've never been much of a partyer and living in my new environment has not brought any new friends to hang out with just yet. But that's okay, my old friends from back home made me feel loved even from halfway across the country. 

For Lent I chose to base my fast around land animals. So no meat for 45 days. It's not that big of a deal actually, when I'm aware of my diet I tend to eat more plant-based foods anyway. Though I did start to miss chicken after a few weeks. There are so many different types of seafood to be had, but nothing is as simple or as versatile as chicken. Because my kiddo and mother followed suit with my fasting choice we were all ready for an avalanche of meat today. Lol

The grill was fired up and so much food was had. My poppa loves me and knows how homesick I am, so he brought the big guns with a brisket. 

(He looks all professional with his home deli slicer.)

I am not really all that big on the regular vanilla or chocolate cakes with frosting. And that's what we've been having lately so I broke the birthday cake game up with a homemade pineapple upside down cake from the sweet tooth blog Averiecooks. It's a great recipe, I suggest you stop by her page and try it. I messed up by turning the pan over but leaving it on top of the cake over night. (Yea don't ask, I have no idea what made me do that) so of course the top got a little soggy. But not so much that it ruined the cake. A little air time helped it recover. 

The best parts about making my own cake this year: 

1) I got to team up with the flying panda 

2) I got exactly what I wanted

3) I was able to flex my baking skills. I mean it is my namesake after all. 

4) it's less expensive to make it yourself

It turned out lovely and tasting. Great job Averiecooks! This will be made again. 

I hope everyone had a lovely Resurrection Day if you celebrate. And if not it's still my birthday so have a slice of cake. What kind of cake will you have?

Peace and Namaste Y'all 

Justify it with some veggies

Hey y'all,

This week's break has definitely been much needed. It always takes a few days to register just how hard you work for everyone else and how occasionally you need some time for yourself. Don't forget to take a little break sometime soon and remember to enjoy what you work so hard for.

Yesterday I spent a little time with my mommy. It was one of the best days out and about that I've had all week. I love my mommy. Yes she is a Chatty Cathy and I'm much quieter than she is often times. But when it's just the two of us doing something togetherwe're like two peas in a pod. I'm sure the fact that it just being the two of us for the early parts of my childhood has a lot to do with our bond. But also the simple fact that my mother loves me sooo much and has always shown it keeps us going. 

We did a little shopping for Easter and then I reheated the leftover pizzas in the fridge after we got settled back in at the house. P.S. people eat so much pizza around here, even the kiddo is sick of pizza. Yes, you read that right. A 10 year old child is sick of pizza. Lol

The pizza is from this place called Bella's. It's....okay....I actually prefer the shop that's closer to our house called Tony's. They have a better sauce to cheese ratio and use a delicious olive oil. Which makes the pizzas nice and greasy Lol

So these slices being leftovers meant we ate pizzas earlier this week, right? So I had to justify eating it again with some veggies and I didn't feel like making a cold salad. The weather has cooled back down this week and the wind adds a good brrr effect. Lol but at least the sun has been shining. 

So I minced up 3 cloves of garlic and threw it on top of about 2 cups of broccoli in a bowl with a pinch of red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and popped it into the microwave for 1:00minute. 

I mixed everything together well so that the garlic would cover the broccoli. Then spooned the mixture on to each of the cold slices. 

I tossed the sheet pan of slices into the oven under the broiler until the cheese was bubbling. 

Extra virgin olive oil was drizzled across the top just like on a white pizza. Mostly because like I said, the sauce to cheese ratio on a Bella's slice isn't to my liking. 

The result, a garlicky hot slice of pizza with great added texture, fiber, and justification. Lol

I know not everyone would think to add broccoli to their pizza. But don't knock it until you try it. It's nothing like the over cooked mush that is so often served as broccoli, giving it a bad name. Plus there are three things that can make pretty much anything taste amazing: deep frying, cheese, and of course Bacon. 

Either way we enjoyed our renewed leftovers. How do you like to revamp leftover pizza? 

Peace & Namaste Y'all  

Taking liberties with science

Hey y'all,

Today was the day of the kids. Lol 

It's spring break around here and the kiddo has an itinerary for nearly everyday this week. Today's agenda:

1. Have cousin spend the night 

2. Visit the Liberty Science Center

For a few hours we milled around the building interacting with exhibits and trying to not step on small children. 

The building has four floors of exhibits. Everything ranging from environmental resources, to communicable diseases, to native and exotic animals, and robotic surgery. 

It was slightly over priced, but most things here are, and at least the building is well maintained. So no real compaints this time on that. 

The liquid rises into the tubes from the warmth of your hands.... The kiddo's hands were too cold. 

We took the elevators up to the fourth floor then walked back down as we went through the exhibits. 

If you've gotten a feel for me at here I'm sure you know the fact that the renewable energy exhibit was so large really made my heart smile. I honestly believe in diversifying our energy sources and lessening our dependency on crude oil. 

Showing how tides can create energy

Hydropower

This was new information for me and I'm always glad to learn something new y'all. 

This little machine in the middle measures radiation emmissions by clicking faster and louder as more radiation is detected. Sort of like a metal detector 

I learned that the old school Fiesta ware was full of radiation. I set the detector off louder than the fragments of decaying uranium. 

For all of you countertop snobs out there. Granite outs out small constant amounts of radiation. I knew there was a reason I'm more drawn to butcher block. 

Fortunately Fiesta got their act together over the years and the dishes post late 1980's are safe and sound. No uranium, no lead, no melamine. It's good stuff now. Lol

I'm finding that I am quite happy to just watch animals of various kinds these days. 

Turtles of some sort....sorry I forget

Chameleon

Tamarins 

This toad was almost the size of my mother's Yorkie. 

Poisonous Dart Frog they are so beautiful. The sign stated they lose their poison when in captivity because of their diets. I don't think I'll test fate. But thanks

THIS is how you watch your kiddo learn how to virtually operate a robotic surgeon arm 

She did really well too

The jacks have to be dropped into the Petri dish with the corresponding color. 

In the gift shop I found this book. I didn't buy it. But it did make me think....there aren't lines of Charming running around looking to save anyone. So why are we still teaching our daughters to prance around doing nothing but looking pretty? She can still be a princess and enjoy building her castle with her own hands. And I would be exceedingly proud if she did. Or if she didn't. As long as what she did was want she loved. 

Happy Spring!!!

Peace to you and Namaste y'all