Pioneer Woman (Cookbook & Blog)

I have been so "into" checking and reading the Pioneer Woman's Blog.
I have told you all before how much I enjoy her Cookbook, however since
I have found her site....EVERY DAY I click on to read what's going on at the ranch.

She is such a down home, country city girl.
Who enjoys life each day through her children, husband and photograph's.

It is a nice change of pace, seeing how she loves her "fans" and is always hosting
some type of contest or give-a-way.

There ARE still fun, honest, giving people in this world still.

BOOK'S!!

I love to read.

Right now I am really into reading the Historical Romance.

The ones that are in the Highlands....with Laird's and Clan's
of the Scottish nature. YUM!

If I ever had to go back in time...I am pretty sure that is where I would choose to go. Just the way they talk in that sexy accent...WOW!

I also like to read books that just make you want to be a better person. I love "thought & quote" books the best.

I can read almost anything but political themed book's.

I would much rather read a book than sleep or watch T.V.
I want to keep my mind running smooth. :)

Typing..Typing..Typing..

This seems to be my life lately.

I am typing up all my recipes I have written down on scraps of paper,
on napkins and even ones I have re-vised to my taste.

Why? .... Well I have AL WAY'S wanted to publish my own Cookbook series.

And NOW seems to be the time in my life that I can do that.

I am aiming to have the type of cookbook's along the same line
as Gooseberry Patch with a little "Country Girl Bling" added to liven them up.

I am also taking the time to remake a lot of my recipes
so I can have a color photo to add to the recipe.

I know I always "eat" with my eye's first.
And if I had a choice of buying a cookbook with pictures
over one that does not...well I would buy the one with the photo's.

It is a long process. However I am sure it will be worth it in the long run.

So keep checking back to see how the process is moving along.

Paula Deene Cookware

My daily life has really improved since I received my New Cookware.

I look forward to cooking and then the easy washing of the pot & pans.

No really! They are so easy to clean. I have wanted a new set of pans and skillet's for so long. And Paula Deene has a nice set. Thank you Kim!

Kim knows how much I love to cook & bake. And was probably tired of hearing me tell her how bad I wanted some. So she gave me the set for Christmas.

I am telling you...everyone needs a set!

Orange Fluff Salad

Now this is a VERY EASY and FAST salad to put together.

I swear I was raised on this. And I am pretty sure a lot more people other than myself were too. Because it show's up at every Pot Luck dinner I have been to.

You can add different fruit and any flavor of jello you wish.


1 (16 oz.) container of cottage cheese
1 (12oz.) Cool Whip: thawed
1 small pkg. Orange jello
1 sm. can Mandarin Oranges: drained
1 sm. can Pineapple tidbit's: drained


Mix cottage cheese and dry jello together. Then stir in cool whip.
Next "fold" in the drained fruit.
Chill covered in fridge for at least 45 minutes before serving.

Shredded Beef Taco Meat

Here is a great way to use the left

 over Roast beef from Sunday's dinner.

  So simple and full of flavor!
Using the roast beef that has already been cooked,
heat in microwave until warm to the touch.

 Next shred the meat.
Set into your slow cooker.

In a blender put the following:

Shredded Beef Taco Meat
1 Can Rotel Tomatoes (use mild or hot)
1 package of Dry taco seasoning mix
1 C. Water
1/4 C. finely diced onion
1 (4oz.) can diced green Chili


Blend until smooth.

 Pour over meat in slow cooker.

 Stir meat and mixture together.
Place on low heat setting, cook for 2 hours or longer.

 This allows the meat to marinate. If meat appears to be "dry"
add more tomatoes/water.

 (this depends on how much left over roast you have)
Serve up as taco's, burritos, enchiladas.

P.F. Chang's Rock-N- Roll Arizona 1/2 Marathon

Let me first say....I LOVED THIS RACE!

It seemed to have a easy going feeling. A great Expo and a surplus
. of great spectators.
And you couldn't have asked for better weather!
This race started a bit later than other races I have been too, however
I still had to get up @ 4:00 am As to make sure we( my friend Cedar)
and I got to the right spot for us to catch a shuttle to the start of the race. UGH!
But Cedar got us there in record time. :)
Even while waiting around to check my gear bag and take a visit
to the port-a-potty..the weather was nice. I think around 55 degrees.
The course was a nice scenic route. And filled with cheering spectators.
Plenty of water & Cytomax stops along the way, plus a GU stop as well.
I only seamed to have a hard time when I hit the steady incline the last 4 miles of the race. But I was "light" on my feet and really enjoyed the race. So I was not racing against the clock. It was nice to just enjoy being a part of the race.
By the time I finished it was 72 degree's! No kidding!
I even got my first "sun burn" of the year!

It was a great weekend. I was so happy to get to know Cedar better.
We had first meet each other while doing the 3-Day for the Cure in November.
She was a wonderful Hostess. And I loved meeting her friends & coworkers .
I am for sure doing this race next year! I hope Cedar will have me back?! :)

Lark's Pork Chop Rice Bowl

So My husband (Matt) loves his meat & potatoes.
It is getting harder and harder for me to find new healthier
versions of his favorite meals. I do find some but lets get real....
how many versions of a steak are there?

So I try and break up the "beef", by serving pork , chicken or turkey.
Also I am trying to get him to learn to like rice (brown rice) more than
having potatoes as a side dish for every choice of meat.

Well I just made this up one night hoping he would say he liked it
enough to have it again. :) AND IT WORKED.

It really is a very simple and fast dinner. While you are cooking the meat the rice is cooking ....multi-task'er that's me.

Why not try it out on YOUR meat & potato man tonight?

In a frying pan add:

3 Boneless Lean Pork Chops; chopped medium size
1/2 tsp. Onion Salt
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp. Ground Cumin
1/4 tsp. Ground Pepper

Cook on med-high heat until brown & cooked through.
Add 2 TBSP Margarine (I use I can't Believe It's Not Butter)
Stir until coats meat and melts. Set on low (just to hold heat)

While you are cooking the meat, put the water to boil for the rice.
Cook as directed on the package. (For this "size" I made 4 c. cooked rice)

Also you will need to heat up one can Corn. I do not add margarine.

Take one can of Cream of mushroom soup along with 3/4 can full of milk
(Again I use Fat Free Skim milk) and mix together. Sometimes if I think I can get away with it I add a small can of drained mushrooms to the "gravy".
heat until warm.
That's all there is to it. Next you just layer it in a bowl.
Rice, pork, corn and top it off with the mushroom gravy.

One of my Top Christmas gifts this year.

This is what my hubby made for me, for a Special Homemade Christmas present.

He knows how hard I try DAILY to keep up with my training. He is so supportive of me and all my Marathon's. So he was pretty "sneaky" finding my race bib & metal from my FIRST Full Marathon and put it all together in a shadow box for me. It made me cry.

Some time's ladies "they" do get it right!

Tasty Kitchen

Alright, all you that love to cook listen up!

This is a GREAT site. I fell in love with it, the minute I saw it.

As you all know my LOVE for Cook Books....
For Christmas I told my husband of a book I have been
wanting for some time. THE PIONEER WOMAN COOK BOOK.
And guess what? He actually listened. :)

So of course I had to look up Ree's (that's Pioneer Woman) site.
And once you do you will be there for a while.

I just know if she lived closer to me I would be a girlfriend. she is my kind of REAL WOMAN. I smiled so much reading her "thoughts" my cheeks hurt.

Any who...on her site is where you can access the Tasty Kitchen.

Just go there & you will see what I mean.
I bet it will also become one of YOUR favorites as well.

Party Time Cheese Ball

This is a great Cheese Ball. So good in fact I made them
to give to all my neighbor's for Christmas.
I just bought some cute Bamboo cutting boards & some festive
spreaders at Home Goods. Wrapped it up cute and delivered them
along with a box of crackers.

I have already gotten requests for the recipe.
So here you go..ENJOY!


2 (8oz.) Cream Cheese; softened
2 C. Shredded Sharp Cheese; divided
1 C. Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
5 TBSP. finely chopped chives
1/2 pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix
1/8 tsp. pepper
12 slices Crisp cooked Bacon


Throw it all in a mixing bowl and beat until well blended.
On plastic wrap "drop" mixture into either 2 large balls
or into 4 smaller ones. Wrap up forming into a ball.
Chill over night. Press into a smooth ball and roll
in the remaining shredded cheese. Wrap tightly in plastic
wrap to store & chill. Serve with crackers.

L.C.H.- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

This is MY personal recipe.....which is VERY EASY!

I just fixed this the other day for an "under the weather" friend.

And then my family asked if they had to be "sick" in order for me
to make them a pot. (lol)

It is easy to put together and tastes Perfect on these cold Winter days.

6 C. hot water
2 cans of Chicken Broth
3 tsp. Chicken Bouillon granules
1 (12 oz.) pkg. frozen peas & carrots
2 (12.5 oz.) canned Chicken
1 bag of Homemade Egg Noodles

Add everything in a large stock pot and bring to a boil.
Once it boils time for 20 minutes. This give the noodles time to cook.
I always taste it as it cooks.....some times I add more Broth.
I also add fresh cracked pepper.

I serve this along side some corn bread. PERFECT!