Sinfully Amazing...

Every once in a while along my food journey I come across something so amazingly simple yet so unbelievably delicious. I did that this week while walking my way through my favorite site Pinterest. There was this recipe for homemade caramel using sweetened condensed milk. I could eat that stuff right out of the can as it is anyways, but you turn it into caramel, and I might just be hooked for life. 

I had a can of this gooey yumminess in my pantry so I decided I try to make it. Got out my huge pasta pot covered the can with water and boiled for 2 hours like the directions stated. I let it cool and when it was ready I opened the can to something wonderful!

That lovely sweetness had turned this golden brown color and tasted like that stuff you buy to dip your apples in, but ohhh 1000 times better because it was creamy. I have seen tons of recipes for salted caramel, so I wanted to "spice" up my version of this little sauce by adding my own flare. I got down the coarse sea salt that I always have in my pantry and sprinkled the top with a little. Then I sliced up a banana and granny smith apple and sat down with my little taste tester to see how it turned out. It got Hayes' 100 percent "mmm" approval. You know something is good when a 15 month old says "mmmmmm" and opens their mouths again and again to eat fruit. lol. I won't lie he, and I almost ate the entire can by ourselves that day, I figure it was like 1000 calories or something, but it was worth every single bit of those calories.

What is even better about this is you can make several cans at one time, leave them unopened and store them in your fridge. They would make a great topping for cheesecake, ice cream, cakes, cookies, whatever you might need caramel for. Plus its wayyyy cheaper than you can buy that dip for. It is definitely something I will make again and again.

All because of lunch...

I am very blessed to be a stay at home Mommy. I wasn't able to do that with my older two children and I am so excited to be able to stay home with Mr. Hayes.

 It has been such a wonderful thing to share every second of his life with him. We have literally been apart maybe 4 days of his life. And that was just for bits and pieces at a time when we went to baseball tournaments. One of my favorite parts of our days together is eating lunch. I made all of his baby food, and because of that, my little 15 month old is quite the foodie. He eats everything from, avocado rolls, to tuna salad, and every pasta in between. Its our little way of sharing a moment in time. We always eat together, sharing the same bowl or plate. He feeds me. I feed him. Its just the perfect little time for us.

Yesterday was probably the best day of all so far.... We were sharing my Mushroom Dumpling Soup (recipe is at http://sweetteatatertots.weebly.com) and he was loving it.... When all of the sudden he starts clapping his hands. This usually means "tell me I did good" or sing 'if you're happy and you know it" to me. So we started singing, and today for the first time he did all the motions! I was so excited, but that's not the best part.... Then he puckered up his lips like he does sometimes to make his "killer face," but this time he came up and planted the biggest kiss on me ever. (This was a first too) As he walked away he jabbered something that I swear sounded like "lub you" and was off into his little world again. I am such a sap, but I literally almost cried. I know he might not have even said he loved me... but in his own little way he did. That moment... made everything else that was wrong in the world right
 for the rest of the day.

All because of lunch....

Why do I punish myself?!

You know sometimes out of the blue I get this idea to try something.... Might be a new recipe, or a new technique for cooking, but for whatever strange reason I decide to go on a little adventure of sorts. Like the other day... I decided I was going to make tamales. Yeah, I do this every couple of years and once I get into the big middle of it I ask myself "Why in the heck did I do this again?" Its one of those very long... very tedious and time consuming ordeals. It takes all day to make a couple dozen and really... by the time you are finished you don't even want to smell the things anymore. lol.  I swear out of 6 dozen, I've eaten 3 tamales. Seriously. And they were good don't get me wrong. I just kinda got my fill from the "experience" of making them.

So I'm not sure why... but I'm getting this hankering to make something new. Jam. I haven't ever in my life made jam. I've made jelly... maybe once. Its not something I know how to do, but I guess since its a dying art, I better learn how to do it. My grandmother is one of the best at making jelly, or canning anything really. She makes the best pickles I've ever tasted. They are something so different... so... her. But anyways, that is another discussion entirely. You gotta forgive me, I have Mommy ADHD... I get distracted by things like pickles sometimes.

So I was talking about jam.

You know that thick, gooey goodness that goes so great on a fresh baked biscuit? Yum... with fresh butter. HEAVEN! But I want something different... with a homemade taste, and a fresh feel. But where to find that perfect combination? I'll ask around. See what I can find, and probably head over to Pinterest...the love of my creative life to get some inspiration. Once I figure it out, I promise to fill you guys in on how well, or not well it turned out. I am after all, not the perfect chef, just one that likes to try new things and if it works, great, if not... eh... whatever. There's always cheesecake. Now THAT I can make like a pro! Until next time, make something sweet for your family!

Love always,
Jess

Don't Panic!!! Its safe to lick the beaters!

<>Cutest Baby EVER!!!!<><><>

Yummy Mommy this is good stuff!!!!

Every once in a while I stumble across a recipe that inspires something amazing.... That's pretty much what happened last night. I was trying a recipe for a chocolate dump cake, and well as I always do I had to change it up a little. Its a recipe that calls for one cake mix, one box of instant pudding, and a cup and half of milk.  Instead of milk I added cream, an extra tsp of vanilla and well.... there was this creamy cake batter you could eat with a spoon because it had NO EGGS! I seriously could have sat and ate the entire bowl I think.

As I'm tasting this batter, a million flavor combinations and ideas start running through my head. Did I seriously just stumble upon the perfect slumber party and PMS cure? I mean seriously... its that good.


I was instantly taken back to my childhood and being able to taste the batter and lick the beaters, well cause back then raw eggs weren't scary. lol Its one of those textures and tastes that is just.... comforting. I could see trying this frozen and making cake popcicles.... Really... this is big news in the world of Mommy Awesomeness! My daughter was thrilled cause she LOVES to lick the beaters and never gets to because "I'm a helicopter parent who won't let her eat raw eggs." lol Yeah I know... live a little Mom...But now she can have those beaters all she wants!

So next time you need a little indulgence....(and it can be made sugar and fat free if you are dieting) Check out my recipe for Guiltless Cake Batter!

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Its even safe for babies that can have milk!

Guiltless Cake Batter:

1 cake mix (any flavor and can be sugar free)

1 lg package of instant pudding ( any flavor and can be sugar and fat free)

1 1/2 cups of half and half (can use fat free)

1 tsp of vanilla or other extract flavor you like

Mix all the ingredients together and garnish with sprinkles or whatever you'd like! I bet it would freeze into pops as well!!!! YUMMY!

Are you Southern Lady, or Chef?

I have been in a kitchen, well probably since birth, but I actually got involved with the cooking when I was about 3 years old. Pretty much every Sunday, I would sit on the counter and watch my Mee Mee cook for our family.  Once I got older I'd spend Summers with her, and without fail, we'd always cook my favorite meals. I've leard a lot about cooking from her, my Mom, and My KK. The three most important women in my culinary life. I've spent hours talking about recipes, how to cook, and just what it means to be a Southern Lady with those three women and I'm very thankful for them.


Anyone can be a cook, chef, or whatever you want to call it, but it takes a special person to be a Southern Lady. For one thing a Southern Lady cooks for everyone. When you come to her house you never go hungry. She is always ready to make something on the fly, and has a pantry that is always stocked with the basics for a quick whipped up meal or snack. In addition to that, she always has dessert. Its a must. There is nothing more southern than offering someone a piece of pie (pronounced p-eye) and coffee. A meal isn't a meal without something sweet to finish it off and most Southern girls have an arsenal of great recipes for just that occasion. The desserts aren't always super sweet or loaded with fat, my family is mostly German, and very few of their desserts are super icky sweet.  Dessert could be a simple jello mold, or even a cookie, but there is always a finish to a great meal. Its just well... tradition. Finally, a Southern Lady cooks everything with love. The greatest way a woman from the south can show love for her family and friends is by making sure their tummy is full. I can't remember a time when my Mee Mee didn't offer someone that came over something to eat, and I'm the exact same way. My son's friends want to come to his house because they know how Hunter's mom cooks! haha! Although when I'm standing over the stove for an hour cooking 2 lbs of bacon for eight 12 year old boys I might want to rethink this Southern thing.... Seriously they like their bacon!  But... I love it! Its all worth the smiles and thank you's when they have full and happy tummies!


God tells us to go and use the gifts that He has give us to the best of our abilites. To take every ounce of strength we have using those gifts for His glory. If my gift to this world is feeding people and teaching others how to do the same, then I am a very lucky woman because I love to cook and it makes me feel good knowing I provided the strength and nourishment for their journey!


So don't forget to sit down and enjoy a meal with your family today, make something sweet, and always cook with love!

Something Simple...

You ever make this recipe and its so unbelievably simple that you think to yourself, "There is NO way this should taste this good?" I have a million times, but never as much as when I make my Simple Sausage and Rice. It is one of those "by accident recipes" that is just really good. Plus to make things even better, its fast. 15 minutes, tops and you have a warm meal that you can feed your family with the addition of a few simple sides and you are good to go!


Seriously its 3 ingredients IF you count the water!

Simple Sausage and Rice

Ingredients:
1 package of ground pork sausage
2 boxes of Uncle Ben's Wild and Long Grain Rice
3 cups of water







Brown the sausage in a pot until nice and brown, add in the rice and seasonings and stir until they are fragrant. By fragrant, I mean you can smell them. (Sometimes you gotta explain these things) Then you add in the water. Bring it to a boil and reduce it to a simmer until the water is evaporated and the rice is cooked. Usually about 7 minutes covered. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve!


And to be honest... Its one of those "Man food" recipes that involves a starch and meat, no veggies, and its easy. But this recipe is just a base for all kinds of ingredients. I'd love to add some broccoli, bell pepper, and maybe some fresh herbs... will I get to? Not unless I make my own batch!!!

Cooking is a lot like love...

You know I've been cooking a really long time and still to this day I screw up a recipe once in a while. I spend all day working on it, cooking, baking or whatever and it turns out HORRIBLE! Sometimes its because of a bad recipe, or my lack of skill, but whatever it is something just doesn't go right. This is usually the end result I always get when I try to make bread. Yes I'll admit it, I'm not good at the bread thing. Can make a 15 layer coconut cake, cook a roast like a pro, but can I made bread??... NOPE. I always do something wrong. Too much flour, not enough butter, too much kneading not enough... ugh... It frustrates me to no end, especially when I watch my Mom pull out this beautiful and perfect loaf the next day. Seriously Mom quit showing off already!

I guess though that is why I love cooking. It is so forgiving. Its a process of love that just grows and changes as you experiment. So that bread recipe didn't work, but if you keep looking you will eventually find that one recipe that works for YOU. It might not work for me, or your sister, or mother, but it works for you. Its very much like finding your soul mate, except its with food. You find this recipe that works for you and you stick with it. Year after year you make the same one and it turns out great. You teach your children how to make those recipes and it goes on and on down the line. I have ways of cooking things that my grandmother taught me, and her grandmother taught her. So actually the exact way I make beans is the same way my great great grandmother was doing it many many years ago. That is the beautiful thing about cooking. It is as much a part of your history as anything else. I think that is pretty neat!

So you might wonder if I ever did find a bread recipe that I can use... Yes I did! Its one that you don't have to knead! lol It comes out great every time and it keeps really well in the refridgerator so you can make rolls every day for a week if you like!

Here's the site with the recipe cause you KNOW I didn't write this lol:
http://theitaliandishblog.com/imported-20090913150324/2010/2/26/amazing-artisan-bread-for-40-cents-a-loaf-no-kneading-no-fus.html