annie blog

Happy Fourth of July, Y’all!
I hope that y’all are having a good (if soggy) Fourth of July. I made this pie this morning.

Hopefully it will be good. It’s taking all of my willpower to not go eat some right now.

Every time I think about the word willpower I am reminded of the brilliant Frog and Toad story about the cookies.

If you don’t know the story, a quick synopsis is:
Toad makes some delicious cookies. He takes them to Frog’s house.
They begin to eat the cookies hand over fist.
They decide that they need to stop eating and find some willpower.
After a few attempts to not eat the cookies, Frog ends up feeding the remaining cookies to the birds.
Toad laments the fact that there are no more cookies to eat — not even one.
Frog, the eternal optimist, says that instead of cookies that they have lots and lots of willpower.
Toad then tells Frog that he can keep all of the willpower….and decides to go home and bake a cake.

Anyway, if you haven’t read these stories to a child please do so as soon as possible. They are delightful.

Have a happy 4th, everybody!

Tacos!
Well, summer is here and my cooking schedule is the same as always except for doing more grilling. Most of our grilling happens on the weekend when Jon is home. So weeks are the same in that we spend the afternoons elsewhere (the pool instead of carpool) and arrive home ready to be fed but with me not wanting to launch into any great cooking endeavors.

Enter taco filling.

This is a great, freezable, kid-friendly (not too spicy) taco filling that I’ve been making lately.

We eat it on top of nachos, in taco salad and in tacos or burritos. It is so handy to have on hand for weekday dinner/Sunday lunch.

If you make it, may I recommend the Chipotle-Lime Dressing to go on top along with the cheese, onions, limes, tomatoes? Your taco will never be the same without it. And that is a guarantee.

Taco Filling
1 T. vegetable or olive oil
3 cups finely chopped onion (I do this in the Cuisinart)
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno chile (minced and optional)
1 diced red or yellow or orange bell pepper (if you have it)
1 T. chili powder (I probably do more like 1 1/2 T.)
1 T. ground cumin
2 pounds lean ground turkey or beef
1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat and cook until onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, jalapeno (if using), chili powder and cumin; cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Add meat. Cook until no longer pink (5-7 minutes) and then add tomatoes; cook, occasionally stirring until no liquid remains, 15 -20 minutes. Season generously (to taste) with salt.

Eat. Freeze for later. Enjoy!

Tacos!
Well, summer is here and my cooking schedule is the same as always except for doing more grilling. Most of our grilling happens on the weekend when Jon is home. So weeks are the same in that we spend the afternoons elsewhere (the pool instead of carpool) and arrive home ready to be fed but with me not wanting to launch into any great cooking endeavors.

Enter taco filling.

This is a great, freezable, kid-friendly (not too spicy) taco filling that I’ve been making lately.

We eat it on top of nachos, in taco salad and in tacos or burritos. It is so handy to have on hand for weekday dinner/Sunday lunch.

If you make it, may I recommend the Chipotle-Lime Dressing to go on top along with the cheese, onions, limes, tomatoes? Your taco will never be the same without it. And that is a guarantee.

Taco Filling
1 T. vegetable or olive oil
3 cups finely chopped onion (I do this in the Cuisinart)
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno chile (minced and optional)
1 diced red or yellow or orange bell pepper (if you have it)
1 T. chili powder (I probably do more like 1 1/2 T.)
1 T. ground cumin
2 pounds lean ground turkey or beef
1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat and cook until onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, jalapeno (if using), chili powder and cumin; cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Add meat. Cook until no longer pink (5-7 minutes) and then add tomatoes; cook, occasionally stirring until no liquid remains, 15 -20 minutes. Season generously (to taste) with salt.

Eat. Freeze for later. Enjoy!

Tacos!
Well, summer is here and my cooking schedule is the same as always except for doing more grilling. Most of our grilling happens on the weekend when Jon is home. So weeks are the same in that we spend the afternoons elsewhere (the pool instead of carpool) and arrive home ready to be fed but with me not wanting to launch into any great cooking endeavors.

Enter taco filling.

This is a great, freezable, kid-friendly (not too spicy) taco filling that I’ve been making lately.

We eat it on top of nachos, in taco salad and in tacos or burritos. It is so handy to have on hand for weekday dinner/Sunday lunch.

If you make it, may I recommend the Chipotle-Lime Dressing to go on top along with the cheese, onions, limes, tomatoes? Your taco will never be the same without it. And that is a guarantee.

Taco Filling
1 T. vegetable or olive oil
3 cups finely chopped onion (I do this in the Cuisinart)
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno chile (minced and optional)
1 diced red or yellow or orange bell pepper (if you have it)
1 T. chili powder (I probably do more like 1 1/2 T.)
1 T. ground cumin
2 pounds lean ground turkey or beef
1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat and cook until onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, jalapeno (if using), chili powder and cumin; cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Add meat. Cook until no longer pink (5-7 minutes) and then add tomatoes; cook, occasionally stirring until no liquid remains, 15 -20 minutes. Season generously (to taste) with salt.

Eat. Freeze for later. Enjoy!

Fishing
We went fishing today. We caught no fish. I took photos…here they are.

See this passel of males I take with me? I honestly never expected to be surrounded by so many folks of the opposite gender.

Jon is the fishing pro. He explains. I take photos and occasionally hold a fishing rod.

Here is my youngest showing his extreme focus. Right now, he imagining that the lure is alive and talking to him.

This face. I adore it.

Imagination still flowing….fishing still going.

The patience with fishing and not catching is starting to wane, here.

Then, my oldest son said, “Hey, look at that bird!” My oldest is the one who is possibly the most unobservant of all of my boys when it comes to nature stuff. Now, if you need to know about an obscure song in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, well he’s your guy. The natural world is not really where his interests lie. I thought that he was talking about the hawk that was lazily circling in the sky until I heard Jon gasp.

Now, that is a bird. Look at the freaky, beautiful eye color. A black-crowned night heron, as we were informed by our 2nd oldest who had a running interest in all things avian a few years back.

All I know is that this bird should have its picture in the dictionary next to the word unflappable because it sat on a low branch next to the rowdy bunch of us for at least 45 minutes. In fact we left the lake and it remained. I think it did look at us on more than one occasion with a “this too shall pass” kind of gaze.

Not letting the Barlows inspire your hasty exit = one unflappable bird.

Fishing
We went fishing today. We caught no fish. I took photos…here they are.

See this passel of males I take with me? I honestly never expected to be surrounded by so many folks of the opposite gender.

Jon is the fishing pro. He explains. I take photos and occasionally hold a fishing rod.

Here is my youngest showing his extreme focus. Right now, he imagining that the lure is alive and talking to him.

This face. I adore it.

Imagination still flowing….fishing still going.

The patience with fishing and not catching is starting to wane, here.

Then, my oldest son said, “Hey, look at that bird!” My oldest is the one who is possibly the most unobservant of all of my boys when it comes to nature stuff. Now, if you need to know about an obscure song in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, well he’s your guy. The natural world is not really where his interests lie. I thought that he was talking about the hawk that was lazily circling in the sky until I heard Jon gasp.

Now, that is a bird. Look at the freaky, beautiful eye color. A black-crowned night heron, as we were informed by our 2nd oldest who had a running interest in all things avian a few years back.

All I know is that this bird should have its picture in the dictionary next to the word unflappable because it sat on a low branch next to the rowdy bunch of us for at least 45 minutes. In fact we left the lake and it remained. I think it did look at us on more than one occasion with a “this too shall pass” kind of gaze.

Not letting the Barlows inspire your hasty exit = one unflappable bird.

Fishing
We went fishing today. We caught no fish. I took photos…here they are.

See this passel of males I take with me? I honestly never expected to be surrounded by so many folks of the opposite gender.

Jon is the fishing pro. He explains. I take photos and occasionally hold a fishing rod.

Here is my youngest showing his extreme focus. Right now, he imagining that the lure is alive and talking to him.

This face. I adore it.

Imagination still flowing….fishing still going.

The patience with fishing and not catching is starting to wane, here.

Then, my oldest son said, “Hey, look at that bird!” My oldest is the one who is possibly the most unobservant of all of my boys when it comes to nature stuff. Now, if you need to know about an obscure song in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, well he’s your guy. The natural world is not really where his interests lie. I thought that he was talking about the hawk that was lazily circling in the sky until I heard Jon gasp.

Now, that is a bird. Look at the freaky, beautiful eye color. A black-crowned night heron, as we were informed by our 2nd oldest who had a running interest in all things avian a few years back.

All I know is that this bird should have its picture in the dictionary next to the word unflappable because it sat on a low branch next to the rowdy bunch of us for at least 45 minutes. In fact we left the lake and it remained. I think it did look at us on more than one occasion with a “this too shall pass” kind of gaze.

Not letting the Barlows inspire your hasty exit = one unflappable bird.

A Birthday and Cake!
I don’t know how it is that my second son is 11, now. It seems like that shouldn’t be possible, but it is.

This year for his birthday, I made this cake that I found on Smitten Kitchen’s blog.

Oh. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. It was so delicious.

If you have someone in your family who likes chocolate and peanut butter, you must, MUST make this cake for him. Deb, of Smitten Kitchen, offers wonderful instructions and tips that really helped me. This is good since making cakes isn’t my forte. Another bonus about this cake is that all of the ingredients are easy to come by. In fact, if you wanted, you could buy every single ingredient at Aldi — except for the waxed paper you need for pan prep.

Chocolate Sour Cream Cake + Peanut Butter Frosting + Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze = Yummola.

He has requested this cake for his next birthday and has talked his older brother into requesting it for his next birthday, as well.

He thinks ahead, that one. I just adore him, precious boy. What would I do without him?

A Birthday and Cake!
I don’t know how it is that my second son is 11, now. It seems like that shouldn’t be possible, but it is.

This year for his birthday, I made this cake that I found on Smitten Kitchen’s blog.

Oh. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. It was so delicious.

If you have someone in your family who likes chocolate and peanut butter, you must, MUST make this cake for him. Deb, of Smitten Kitchen, offers wonderful instructions and tips that really helped me. This is good since making cakes isn’t my forte. Another bonus about this cake is that all of the ingredients are easy to come by. In fact, if you wanted, you could buy every single ingredient at Aldi — except for the waxed paper you need for pan prep.

Chocolate Sour Cream Cake + Peanut Butter Frosting + Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze = Yummola.

He has requested this cake for his next birthday and has talked his older brother into requesting it for his next birthday, as well.

He thinks ahead, that one. I just adore him, precious boy. What would I do without him?

A Birthday and Cake!
I don’t know how it is that my second son is 11, now. It seems like that shouldn’t be possible, but it is.

This year for his birthday, I made this cake that I found on Smitten Kitchen’s blog.

Oh. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. It was so delicious.

If you have someone in your family who likes chocolate and peanut butter, you must, MUST make this cake for him. Deb, of Smitten Kitchen, offers wonderful instructions and tips that really helped me. This is good since making cakes isn’t my forte. Another bonus about this cake is that all of the ingredients are easy to come by. In fact, if you wanted, you could buy every single ingredient at Aldi — except for the waxed paper you need for pan prep.

Chocolate Sour Cream Cake + Peanut Butter Frosting + Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze = Yummola.

He has requested this cake for his next birthday and has talked his older brother into requesting it for his next birthday, as well.

He thinks ahead, that one. I just adore him, precious boy. What would I do without him?