Smoke a Little Smoke

YEARS ago I bought Steve a smoker for Father's Day.

I put that sucker together myself and smoked him ribs that day.

I didn't just buy him the smoker and let him open the box. 

I was pretty proud of myself! 

He's never used it.

I have used it maaaaybe 5-8 times? 

Not that I didn't like it. It's time consuming.

We don't have the fancy blue-tooth smoker that allows us to check the temp from wherever. 

It's a regular, schmegular Weber smoker.

#webersmoker

Shucking corn together 

Ava helping

These were amazing. We did chicken wings (duh) and some hot Italian sausages. SO GOOD. 

I can't wait to grill and smoke more this summer! 

Looking forward to trying different things and getting some use out of it this year. 

Sausage, Peppers, Onions and Rice Meal

As the main menu planner of our household, I find that I tend to rotate the same things every single week. 

It gets boring really fast

But I also don't want to spend a lot of my time meal planning. 

Our girls don't always eat what Steve and I have for dinner because of their allergies. I'd say about half the time they eat their own favorites.

I've been wanting to try new things. 

I've also been trying (sort of - it's an ongoing battle) to stick to a gluten-free diet because of my wheat allergy.

But dude. I love my pasta and bread. 

I made a Chicken Pot Pie the other day and omg it was the most amazing Chicken Pot Pie I've ever had. I actually made it again last night because we loved it so much. 

Steve and I love hot Italian sausage with peppers and onions. We normally just grill up the sausage and eat it in a bun with peppers and onions as a topping.

But it's not summer, I don't want to grill and I also shouldn't have the bun.

So what can I make with what I have?

I decided to try a one-pan meal.

Brown some sausage - any kind you like! I used hot Italian.

Again, forgot to take pics along the way, but after you brown the sausage, remove from the pan and cook up some onions (I used sweet onions) and peppers (I had some frozen). Then dump in about a cup of dry rice (I used Jasmine rice). 

Literally the ONLY seasonings I used! So easy. I didn't have chicken broth on hand so I used water and Better than Bouillon, which I love. I used about 2 cups of water and 2 spoonfuls of BtB (it can be salty, so be careful!).

Cover and simmer for like 20-25 minutes until rice is tender (but NOT MUSHY). You don't want a big pile of mush. 

I failed to get a good after photo, because I'm terrible like that. But, this was so good and it will also go into rotation.

My Favorite Season To Cook

It's no secret that I love cooking.

I've never been the BEST (I don't have a sophisticated palette by any means) but I like to try stuff.

I just started to get more experimental in the kitchen with "just throwing stuff in" instead of following a recipe.

I can read, so I can follow a recipe.

I did start to make recipes my own by doing my own thing to them, but I've never been one to just make something.

I wanted to make baked potato soup because, well, it's chilly and Fall. I love making soup in this weather.

Boil ya taters.

Onion and bacon to be rendered

It should turn out like this

Taters are a-boilin'

Butter, onions, garlic

Add flour to make the roux

Make sure to cook out the flour taste

Add your milk and chicken broth

Mash them up a bit

Everybody in the pool

Then cheese, of course. 

Now, I failed to get a pic of the final product. And that's probably a good thing.

See...something may have happened at the very end. 

The soup didn't look all that appetizing. But it tasted AMAZING.

I'll need to go back and see what I did wrong. 

He Got Hurt

Not Steve.

My friend, Rich. 

He really hurt his hand badly.

He sent me a text last week with a photo of his hand all wrapped up.

Apparently he was out working in his shop using a crowbar and slipped or something and it cut super deep, through two tendons on the outside of his hand, near the base of his thumb. The tendons got severed so he couldn't move his thumb at all.

On his left hand. 

He is also left-handed. 

So....yeah.

He was back to work before scheduling surgery, so I told him I'd stop over after surgery to bring him dinner so his wife wouldn't have to cook - she could focus on dealing with his bad attitude. LOL. 

So I made some stuffed shells! And I made a shit-ton of it, because they are a family of 6 and they have 4 boys. LOL. Yes. That's a lot of people and those boys can eat a lot!

And then I had to make Steve his own pan, too.

Nothing makes me happier than cooking for people. I made them 2 pans plus extra sauce and meatballs, plus 4 huge hot sausages. Oh and some Pane Italian bread because...duh. 

I had some when I got home and it was delish.

Rich should get his splint off the day we leave for vacation and with physical therapy and rehab, he should be fine.

I delivered the food Saturday and spent the afternoon over there. The girls play so nicely with their boys and we always have a good time.

He should be getting the stitches out the DAY we leave for vacation. 

Quarantine Cooking

Being stuck safe at home has its perks.

I've always enjoyed cooking.

Let's be real. I've always enjoyed eating.

Now, I've never been the "throw it all together and it turns out amazing" type of cook.

I can read.

Ergo, I can read recipes.

When I started cooking, like a lot, it was mainly when I started dating Steve. When I'd come home on weekends and stay with him I'd make us a meal at least once or twice during my time at home (the other times we'd go out or eat at my parents).

I realized I really liked feeding him.

So I started printing out recipes we liked and keeping them in a binder.

Haha. That sounds so old school now. I still have the binder.

But, with being home all the time now (even though I'm busy as shit during the week), I can easily get started on dinner while multi-tasking with work.

Here's a sampling of what's been cookin' over here!

I had these poblanos on hand that needed to get cooked. I used half pound of ground beef and half pound of ground pork.

Cooked the meat with half a chopped up onion. Added in 1/3 cup of plain rice. Mixed in one can of crushed tomatoes.

Brought to a boil, then simmered for a while until the rice was cooked. I also seasoned the meat with dried onion, dried garlic, paprika, chipotle powder, salt, pepper.

I pre-roasted the poblanos in the oven for about 15 minutes. I should've done it for twice as long. Next time I'll remember. 

Threw a SHITLOAD of cheese on there. Because, well, quarantine. So all rules are out the window. Amiright?

Baked in the oven for another 10 or so minutes. 375 degrees. 

I have to admit, the stuffing was amazing. Like I said, the pepper itself was just a little on the crunchier side than we would've liked. We normally have stuffed pepper either the Chinese way my mom makes them, or Italian, the way Grandpa Teenie made them. So this Southwest flavor was a nice  switch up. We added sour cream and some chopped scallions and it was pretty dang good! The next day, they were even better. I also ate just the stuffing with cheese and it was a pretty good leftover dish. And it's #glutenfree! So that's a plus in my world. Next time, instead of the meat in the mixture, I may try using black beans. 

Trusty ol' InstantPot

Started with the mirepoix. 

Used drumsticks this time. Browned them on the "Sautee" mode. Threw in some Italian seasoning, dried thyme, plenty of salt and pepper. 

Added in the stock and water. Put the IP on "Soup" and let it go.

About 15 minutes later...? It went off and I added a half a bag of country style wide egg noodles (which I'm allergic to, but c'mon, you can't have chicken noodle soup any other way). I usually add peas, but I didn't have any, so I skipped it. Brought it to a boil on "Sautee" again and cooked until the noodles were done. DELISH. This is a fantastic go to recipe. And NO, I did EAT my PET CHICKENS. Jeez. So many people ask me that. 

I failed to get a pic of these pork chops before we ate them. And the process. Oh well. But, these are an OLD recipe that I've had forever and I have no idea how or where I got it from. Two thick pork chops. Pounded with meat tenderizer. Salt and pepper. The mixture is ketchup and brown sugar. Mixed with a little water and lemon juice. Just a bit. Slice up an onion. get it all mixed together and then top with the lemon slices. Bake in the oven (375 degrees) for like 35 minutes? Check with a meat thermometer. But I think that's about how long it takes. I usually serve with some sort of potato. Steve likes mashed potatoes with this dinner. 

A Visit With Mom

We had a gorgeous spring weekend around here.

Mid-70's and sunny.

ALL DAMN DAY.

I went and spent some time with mom.

It's been over a month due to COVID-19 and we've just been keeping the distance. But, now that it's been about 7 weeks, and we're all healthy, we feel like we can at least be around our parents. 

The girls spent a night over there last week to give me a break for work. So...

ANYWAY.

It was a lovely day.

Hm one of my fave foods. Some sort of crispy roll wrapped in sticky sweet rice. Literally something I've been eating for 37 years. 

And dun dun dun! We made eggrolls! 

I'm so grateful to have my mom home. It just feels right. 

Christmas Staycation Day 4 - Christmas Eve

We made it to Christmas Eve!

We woke up suuuuuper late.

We didn't get home until after 11pm last night and I didn't settle in until well after midnight.

I'm in vacation mode, what can I say!?

We woke up...at...10am.

We are supposed to be at the grandparents around 11am.

It takes about 40 minutes to get there.

We wouldn't be that late, right?

Well, if you're Steve Ruple, you would've waited until this morning to go out and get his parents a gift.

First of all, don't even try to blame me and say that I should be on top of that shit.

Nope. Sorry, I used to be.

But with the addition of kids, their friends, birthdays, my parents (separately), my sister, our nieces, etc. we decided a while ago that his parents would be his responsibility.

I have a lot of anxiety when it comes to the holidays - don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE the holidays too. But things that bring me happiness can also cause a lot of anxiety.

Anyway.

So he waited until Christmas Eve morning to get something for his parents.

Only we woke up super late.

But, I'm just not surprised or annoyed anymore.

I don't get as much anxiety about not getting his parents anything (let's be real, they want and need nothing and just want to spend time with us).

But, we gave them pictures of the girls and the girls wrote them and drew them a little card.

I can't get over her little butt. 

Family tradition of hands on the tree skirt.

And measuring the babies against the pocket door. Steve has the one from his grandpa's house that has him and Lisa's heights.

\

Getting so big!

Ice Cream craft from Aunt Lisa and family

Necklace from Patty and Ted

Lego set from Aunt Lisa and Family

How to Catch A Unicorn book from Grammie and Papa

Spoiled and very loved little girls!

We spent the rest of the afternoon at their house, chatting and catching up. The girls had plenty to do. 

Tomorrow they are going to Uncle Joey's house and meeting up with some other folks from their old high school days.

We will be celebrating at home tomorrow morning just the 4 of us, then having my sister over for lunch/dinner.

We got home and the girls enjoyed more of their toys and I prepped our Holiday Roast Beast.

I got a 6.8lb bone-in prime rib roast

A very simple seasoning: salt, pepper, onion powder. I crushed my own black peppercorns.

Generously brush with olive oil and seasoning mix - remember, there's a lot of meat to season! It seemed like a crazy amount to put on, but I had to remember how much meat there really is. Plus, I followed a recipe ;) I let it sit overnight in the fridge. 2-3 hours before I rotisserie it, I will pull it out to let it get up to room temperature. 

We put the girls to bed early, despite arguments to let them sleep on the couch so they could try to catch Santa in the act.

I'm so hesitant with how to tell Mila. 

When I was putting her to bed and telling her that Santa would bring gifts, she was like "or you and daddy will put them under the tree...and maybe Santa will bring one too."

So, I pretty much think she knows. Sigh. 

Regardless, I still believe in the magic.

So to me, Santa came:

Of course new matching jammies on Christmas Eve

My babies!

Merry Christmas!