About a boy's cake...

Today our baby turned 4...

This is what mommy made for him...

Can you tell it is a big red tractor?

He could!

My mommy heart is happy!!!

Just pictures....

I am coming off of a night with three hours of sleep and a houseful of girls so here are pics and nothing else.... Enjoy...


Birthday cake


Dippers for hot chocolate... made by the sleepover crew


Take home gift for the girls full of things to ease them through the remaining days of winter.


Sleepover breakfast.... my coffee fix!!!

Ritz crackers, peanut butter all dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled liberally with yum!!!

I am going to bed now... ;)

A weekend away...

I headed to the Midland area for the weekend for a ladies retreat. I had such a blast. One of the workshops I decided to attend was on Nesting: Using Your Home as a Ministry. One of the things I have been spurred to do is open my home for those around me to cook for them. One of the books I picked up while I was there was Food That Says Welcome: Simple Recipes to Spark the Spirit of Hospitality by Barbara Smith. Hospitality is something I really feel is an important part of who I am and what I do. Culinary school has made me more confident in that and I think it is time to step it up.


I also feel that this blog can reflect that more and more. With my summer schedule about to slow way down I want to spend more time here sharing my thoughts on all of this and lots more recipes with you guys. I know school gets in the way of that a great deal. I have two major projects to finish up this week and then a week in the mountains cooking over a fire and learning to cook some hiking and backpacking food. I am hoping to get a post up about camping and hiking foods and resources, too. I know not all of you camp but some of you might be able to glean from the things I have to share.

Texas Caviar...

This recipe is NOT mine... it is from a lovely blogger friend named Cheri at Kudzu and KoolAid. You can go take a look at a picture she shared of this here...

Texas Caviar

1 can of black eyed peas
1 can of black eyed peas with jalapenos
1 can of corn nibblets
1 lg tomato or use cherry/grape tomatoes
1 can of green chilies
1 red/purple onion
1 red bell pepper
2 avocado
1 bottle (8 oz...more if you like) zesty Italian dressing
garlic or garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
lime juice

drain and rinse peas, chop tomatoes, dice onion and pepper, add corn, add seasonings and dressing, mix well, dice avocado and add a bit of lime to them (helps with oxidation) add to the rest, mix well.