My mom made this during our Mexican feast last weekend and it is soooo good. Plus you can totally do it with pantry ingredients and it is still very, very good. It is from the Chevy's Fresh Mex Cookbook, and like the marinade I posted awhile back, this is delicious!
El Ranch-O Dressing--from Chevy's Fresh Mex Cookbook (sidebar on right)
***I adjusted this recipe to what I had on hand--my mom made it according to the recipe-yum! and I made it to what I had on hand--still just as yum!***
1 cup buttermilk (you can make your own if you don't have any)
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice (didn't have it, used lemon juice from fridge--yes, Mom, I know this is a no no)
1 tablespoon minced cilantro (didn't have it, didn't add it)
1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano (used dried)
1 tablespoon minced yellow onion (used red--it's what I had out at the time)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
Combine the buttermilk and all dry ingredients, whisking until combined. Add the mayo and whisk until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to develop flavors. The dressing will keep up to one week in an airtight container.
It is just us girls today...your Daddy is at work, working hard as he always does so that I am able to stay at home and take care of you. Mommy treated herself to a half price Frappuccino and then we went to your favorite place--aside from Grandma and Grandpa's--the park. As we pulled up, you exclaimed, "Fun...fun...FUN!....Bubbaws? {bubbles}....Fun!" It was very precious. Mommy blew bubbles for you while you ran around and picked up every twig in the park and greeted every passer by with a huge "HI!" Mommy then tried to take some pictures of us when we got home to make sure she had record of the day. You then asked for "Song?" which means you want to listen to your Veggie Tales CD Grandma got for you. Mommy is relearning ALL of the childrens songs she used to know.
It was a good day, and despite the occasional temper tantrum, I am honored I get to be your Mommy.
Last week went well, although we did eat out once...shocker--but we had a gift card and we did take out, so that minimized any expense on our part. :) I got to go to my super cheap grocery store during my visit home last week, so we are enjoying the fruits of my labor. Ha, ha. Before we went home, I actually planned our meals for the whole month of May. It took every ounce of my being to do so, but it was so worth it. Now I only need to shop for dairy and produce. So that will be nice.
Sunday-Split pea soup with ham (still using ham from the freezer from Easter), cornbread
Monday-Spanakopizza, green salad with homemade ranch dressing (recipe to come)
This song was written about my mom. At least I feel like it was...because she ismy hero. And Peanut just simply adores her GaMaw {Grandma}. I can only pray that the Peanut will adore me some day like I adore my Mom.
I was able to take the Peanut to visit my parents and sister this last weekend. It was such a blast, as always. The Peanut, who rarely sleeps through the night without at least one consoling session, has slept through the night each night since we got home. DH says she is detoxing from Grandma and Grandpa.
I would have to agree. Because every "no, no, no Peanut" since has resulted in a hissy fit.
Oh, yes--we are now in that stage. The terrible twos have arrived four months early. Yay for us.
We were able to spend some time with DH's family when we first got there. Where was my camera? At my parents, sitting on the couch.
Lovely...
But it was still good to see those who were able to come...even though the time was still short.
My Mom had her entire family over so we could enjoy some time together as well...a Mexican feast, which was delish. As usual, she outdid herself in the kitchen...
To say my mom is an awesome cook is an understatement. I feel sorry for those who haven't enjoyed her cooking.
Peanut was able to enjoy the great outdoors right outside my parents back door (a rare treat, as we usually have to drive to the park). Our little girl who has a thousand expressions...
She started collecting rocks from the yard to give to Grandma. There is such a story behind this...my Grandpa and I had a special relationship. When I was about Peanut's age, I would find rocks (dirty rocks, mind you, not pretty shiny ones) on his walkway up to his house and give them to him.
And he saved them.
For twenty-five years, he saved them. In a little plastic bowl that honey had once come in.
When Grandpa was too frail to care for himself any longer, he moved in with his children. He made sure to come to my house (he and I each lived on one side of a duplex) to give me those rocks. He wanted to make sure I had them, so when they cleaned out his house someone wouldn't just toss a bunch of "old rocks."
I know.
And yes, I still have those rocks in that little honey dish.
And I am sure the Peanut's rocks are still sitting in Grandma's windowsill.
The whole family had a great time on Saturday night~
My brother-in-law, the rock star~
The Peanut thought he was grand fun! Bless his heart, Mommy got to enjoy some adult conversation after dinner, while he ran her and her cousin ragged playing "tag" outside.
I think my Mom has also appointed herself Santa, as she spoils us each time she sees us. Remember how Peanut has to run and get her "purse" when she and I leave the house? Now she has her very own "MoMo" purse, complete with key to Grandma and Grandpa's.
My Mom made it...isn't it cute?
Peanut also got a bike (or "bite"--how she says it), for Grandma and Grandpa's house, complete with shiny new helmet.
She loved going "side" {outside} to ride her "bite."
Yes, I know, I better start dressing her in something besides pink, otherwise she is going to HATE that color later on...
And one of my Mom's little treasures for me couldn't have come at a better time. Before we left to go to my parents, I had been on my husband's Facebook, looking up some people from my past. (I don't Facebook--I know...but I have a blog--it keeps me busy enough). From what I could tell from their profiles, they all had went to big name colleges and had grandiose careers.
First, let me say that I LOVE (like big, frilly, pink, hearts love) being a stay at home mom. This is what I've always wanted to do--and I am doing it. How many are able to say that? But, unfortunately I still think our society makes women feel as though they aren't "contributing" if they are not in the work force. Sadly, I think even I buy into that sometimes. All that to say I hadn't even told my Mom about my little insecurities...and she had bought me this:
With a limited budget, I have to find creative ways to make thoughtful gifts. Notice I said find--I rarely come up with these ideas on my own!
But I can imitate pretty well.
I came across this idea for a silhouette picture and I knew my Mom would treasure it always. I visited my family this last weekend (recap coming soon!) and was able to hand deliver my Mother's Day gift to my Mom...and she did love it.
My husband used to work in insurance, so he knows a lot about--wait for it............insurance!
We just bought a new digital SLR camera. Although it was purchased through many a gift card given to us for birthdays and other occasions, should something happen to the camera, whether it was stolen or damaged in some way, it would be very costly to replace--AKA it would take a really long time to save to replace it.
He mentions to me the other day that I need to call our insurance agent and request to add our new camera to our personal articles policy. Of course the camera would be covered under our standard homeowners policy, but that has a large enough deductible that it would not be worth it to file a claim.
So basically, you can add a high ticket item and pay it's own premium and that item is completely separate should something happen to it. Our premium for our new camera is about $14 a year. A year. So heaven forbid the camera gets dropped or the Peanut spills milk on it or it gets stolen, or whatever, we simply have to pay our small deductible of $100 and the camera will be replaced! I had no idea we could do this, and I am guessing a lot of others don't know this either!
Insuring your digital SLR camera definitely Works For Me!
This recipe comes from my Mom. Sort of in honor of Mother's Day...that and I had a craving for these last week. As mentioned before, she made me this wonderful recipe box. When making the box, my Mom came across this recipe and I think it was a good reminder to her as well, as I don't remember her ever making these prior to her making the recipe box.
And the best thing is, these don't have any calories!
Oops, I forgot, that's only in my world....but they are absolutely delicious and worth it!
Rocky Road Brownies
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
1 10.5 oz bag mini marshmallows
Whisk butter, sugar in large bowl. Add cocoa, eggs, and dry ingredients. Fold in nuts. Pour batter into greased 15 x 10 jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven. Top warm brownies evenly with marshmallows. Return to oven for 5 minutes.
Frosting
1 pound confectioners sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter (at room temperature)
1/3 cup cocoa
Cream butter, add cocoa. Slowly add sugar and milk. Mix until smooth. Drizzle over warm brownies with marshmallows.
I've been kind of preoccupied for the last few days and I logged on to my blog last night and found out that Janine at A Spoonful of Sugar nominated me for a bloggy award! Bless your heart, Janine...that was just totally sweet and completely unexpected. I really thought only my Mom read my blog.... It's my first award! I am just tickled pink! So thank you, Janine!
Here are twelve of the best...
1. Audra at Little Moments with the Laneys...her little one is about 2 months older than the Peanut. It's nice to know what to look forward to. :)
2. Emily at The Learning Never Stops...I just love her honesty. And her photography isn't too shabby either!
3. Melanie at This Ain't New York...she always makes laugh. And sometimes she makes me cry. And she always makes me think.
4. Lucy at Lucy's Life...she was my first bloggy friend and she and her husband are expecting their first little one and I thrilled for them!
5. Melissa at A Familiar Path...some day I hope to be as well rounded a home school mama as she is.
6. Sarah at On Our Way to 5...she's a dear friend in real life and I am so excited for this new journey they are on!
7. Bridget at Bake at 350...yum and wow. Need I say more?
8. Amanda at i am mommy...she always puts a smile on my face. And her cookies...if I could only be so talented...
Of course Janine is fabulous too, but I don't think you can award someone who has already been awarded, can you? :) Now for those awarded to pass it on....
1. Nominate 12 blogs.
2. Put the award logo onto your sidebar or within a post.
3. Link the nominees within your post.
4. Let the nominees know they’ve received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link the sidebar logo to the person from whom you’ve received this award.
