On Reading Cookbooks

As a young child, I'd page through the Philadelphia Cream Cheese cookbook, gazing at the photographs of creamy cheesecakes with longing. I'd happily pore over the themed crafts and recipes of the American Girl party book. Sometimes, I would even peek at the diagrams and detailed instructions of The Joy of Cooking with amazement. 

I loved reading cookbooks as a kid. 

Years later, when I got married and began setting up a home with my husband, I found myself scrolling through recipe websites as I planned our meals. As convenient as this was, however, it was not the same experience as my cookbook-filled childhood. So, I began to drift to the cookbook section of the library.  Eventually, one of my children even went through a phase as a toddler of always selecting a cookbook at the library each week. We'd spend great lengths of time on the couch oohing and aahing over photographs of food. 

There's something special about rifling through cookbooks; of looking at the glossy photographs and imagining that very dish sitting on my table. Of calling my children near to look at this! Of walking into the room and seeing my children curled up on the couch with a cookbook spread across their small laps. 

I really love food, so I think it's fitting that I enjoy reading through cookbooks. However, I've begun to wonder if my appreciation for these books goes even deeper than this.  

A cozy cup of tea (Or coffee. Or cocoa. Or chicken broth)

Last night, the kids went off to bed and I made myself a cup of hot chocolate. I heated milk in the pan and mixed in some cocoa powder. I sprinkled in some chocolate chips. I splashed some vanilla extract into the pot. I gently whisked the milky mixture as the house filled with the savory smell of the za’atar manaqish that I was preparing for an event at church.  Soon, I sat with my husband as we talked through our schedule, full cup of hot chocolate in hand. The world slowed down as I sipped.

There’s just something special about curling up with a warm drink.

Books, movies, and television shows covering different historical periods and cultures embrace the goodness of a warm drink. At the end of a long day solving mysteries or dealing with heartbreak, characters gather in the kitchen for a cup of cocoa. They begin the day with strong cups of tea to weather them against any storms and turmoil. Or, like the Ray family in the classic Betsy-Tacy novels, they greet moments of stress or crisis with a fresh pot of coffee.

While we still gather with friends and family for mugs of hot coffee or dainty cups of tea, in modern America, we’ve shifted things.

Tea and coffee have ceased to be gentle embraces of warmth and relaxation with friends, and they have instead found their place next to the computer or in the car. We now see them as ways to fuel ourselves with caffeine and push through the day (and yes, as I write this, I’m sipping a hot mug of coffee). I’m not planning to ditch caffeinated beverages anytime soon as I try to keep up with my several young children, but it’s important to remember that we need to slow down. We need to stop, sit with friends or by ourselves, and savor the warmth of that coffee, tea, or cup of cocoa.

Macaroni Musings

We need to talk about mac n’ cheese, because apparently I have some strong opinions.

When I was a young child, I would eagerly dump packets of orange powder into the steaming pot of macaroni noodles, excited to watch these noodles transform into the glorious concoction that is mac n’ cheese. I gobbled them up, savoring all of their fake-cheesy goodness. There was just nothing like it. Years later, when I got married, I decided that I would make mac n’ cheese for a meatless meal. However, rather than fly to those convenient boxes of my youth (which, while delicious, were not very filling) I decided to prepare homemade mac n’ cheese. I happily made a roux, cooked it into a sauce, added real cheese, poured it over noodles, and was filled with pride at my culinary pursuits. Those were the days when—as an excited newlywed—I plunged myself wholeheartedly into homemaking (in between college classes) and operated under the belief that “homemade is always best.” (Yes, those were the days when I even made homemade flour tortillas and, on occasion, homemade noodles)

Homemade mac n’ cheese was good, but it definitely lacked that delightful zest of the boxed variety. It wasn’t until a few years later when a coworker gave my husband the best recipe for mac n’ cheese; the ultimate recipe that we periodically prepare (and enjoy immensely).

Our 2020 Trip to Tennessee

In the past, I've talked a little bit here and there about the Domestic Church, a Catholic lay movement from Poland. As part of our involvement with the Domestic Church, my husband and I took our kids on a weeklong family retreat (called an Oasis retreat) in Summer 2019. Due to our schedule, we knew that we'd be unable to attend a retreat in Summer 2020, and then the pandemic hit-so most retreats were cancelled. 

But. 

Another Domestic Church Oasis retreat was scheduled for the week of Thanksgiving 2020. It would be on the smaller side and have certain restrictions, but it would happen. We signed up, and then waited. The pandemic raged on, our lives continued in an unpredictable manner, and I told people that I honestly didn't think we'd actually get to attend retreat until we were there. This is 2020! Everything gets cancelled! The week we were supposed to leave, New Mexico closed down. I kept checking for updates in Arkansas (which we would drive through) and Tennessee. They both were still open. The retreat was still happening. We hoped, we prayed, and I tried not to panic. The day before we were supposed to leave, I began throwing clothes into bags. Would we actually get to go? I felt like Indiana Jones, racing to leave a room as the door slid down. We just needed to make it to Tennessee. Then, the state could close down. But not until we were safely in Tennessee, at the camp.

My husband recently discovered these at a local Korean grocery store.
They are SO GOOD. High in protein, not too sweet, and a perfect mix 
of peanuts and sesame seeds. They are now our go-to car snack. 

All I wanted was to eat a gingerbread cookie

It had been a week. 

After spending several days on a family retreat in Tennessee, we were back to "normal life," and it was not going well. Between a child who screamed every time he needed his nose wiped, a child breaking a glass bowl in the kitchen, a child who had run into a major street without warning, a cranky baby, piles of clothes and crafts to unpack, and two children who were refusing to nap, I was done. On top of that, we no longer were surrounded by friends, walking down a dirt path to Mass every single day, and my husband was back at work. The weather in Oklahoma had turned to winter when we returned, so instead of spending time outside with neighbors, we were stuck in the house. My neighbor's tree had been cut back severely in our absence, and Nintendo was making some controversial decisions (we are a Nintendo household, so this was a big deal for us). 

In case some of you out there feel bad for not having Instagram-worthy
Advent decorations, let my dining room table
reassure you that you are not alone ;) 

But, it was the weekend now, and things were looking much brighter. After taking a family trip to Confession (which I desperately needed), we enjoyed a fun dinner at a new-ish Japanese restaurant we'd driven by many times. When we arrived home, I happily began taking out ingredients for a double-batch of gingerbread cookie dough, so that the next day, we could make "crosier cookies" to celebrate St. Nicholas. As my husband, baby, and four-year-old listened to music in the office, my two-year-old creamed together sticks of butter and glistening sugar. I smiled, thinking about all the fun we would have cutting out cookies and eating them together. I cracked an egg, and grabbed an extra bowl to separate the yolk and the white...

I don't understand people who decline Biscoff cookies (and other notes from Christmas travels)

My friends, it has been a whirlwind. Last week was the first full week that we've spent at home in about a month. I realize that lots of people travel and pack their schedules with activities regularly, but we usually take things slower around here. So, last week was a good one for catching up on sleep, finishing a re-watch of Anne of Green Gables (Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie are so cute in their roles!), and visiting neighbors, local friends, and the library. It's good to be back, but our little adventures were fun, too-we took a big ol' trip to the Pacific Northwest!

I have fond memories of the part of my childhood spent in Oregon, so I was ecstatic that I'd finally get to visit it again-for the first time in twelve years! My husband's family (and much of his extended family) also lives in that part of the country, so we decided to take a couple weeks around Christmas to spend some quality time with relatives.

The last time we had flown as a family was three years ago, when we had just one tiny baby. I was quite a bit nervous about flying with a preschooler and a 15 month old, but surprisingly it went way better than I had anticipated! (thank you, God!) Our firstborn was happily kept occupied breeding Pokémon with my husband while I tried to entertain the baby (who at times would not let himself be entertained). Everyone was really nice, though, and I discovered that it's especially awesome to fly with a baby because the flight stewardess just may load you down with extra granola bars!

Clover Angels & Flower Crowns: A Little Bit of Springtime

God is so good, and there have been some wonderful moments this spring! Before we suddenly find ourselves in summertime (because, with the way that times flies, I'm sure if I blink we'll be in July) I want to take a couple minutes to share a little bit of our life with all of you. 

A Microwave-Free Life: What I've learned, and what I love

Microwaves were always a normal part of my life. When I was a young kid, one of my favorite snacks was melted cheese on bread. I'd pile slices of cheese onto bread, pop it in the microwave, and stand nearby to watch through the window. When I'd see the cheese bubbling, I'd stop the microwave and enjoy the gooey, sharp deliciousness. Microwaves continued to be helpful over the years-if I needed to heat up water for coffee or tea, I'd put it in the microwave. Leftovers? Pop it in the microwave. Heating milk for a bread recipe? Microwave it! Microwaves graced our home growing up, and when I went to college, there were microwaves were in our dormitories and our student center. When my husband and I moved into our first apartment off-campus, there was a microwave for us to use. Our second apartment had one, too-and I used it often. 

However, when we moved into our house, we no longer had a microwave. While we could have purchased a microwave, I told my husband that I'd rather hold off for the time being. I wanted to see if a microwave was actually something that we needed. I wanted to experience life without the buzzing hum of a microwave at work. I wanted to have more counter space. We've been living for almost two years without a microwave, and honestly? I do not miss this kitchen appliance. There have been a couple times where not owning a microwave is a slight hassle, but for me, it's worth dealing with the little inconveniences. 

***Before I get into how life without a microwave works, I want to state that I DO NOT think that microwaves are evil. I'm sure there's research out there about whether or not microwaves are safe, but I don't care enough to research it-I personally choose to live without a microwave in an attempt to simplify life and have more counter space. When I go visit friends and family, I have no qualms about using their microwaves :) 

ANYWAYS, let's chat about the ups and downs of not owning a microwave: 

Source. 

Hello, 2019

It feels like we're finally, finally settled back into our post-holiday routine. As much as I love the excitement of different events and visits, these past two weeks of normalcy have been really rejuvenating! I think that today would be a nice chance for a good old-fashioned update and let y'all know what exactly I've been up to since the year began, what I've been watching on Netflix, and some articles I've enjoyed around the web (a post on what books I've been reading will come later this week).

2018: A Year in Review

Now that life is starting to slip back into a quieter routine, I'm taking a few moments to sit and look back over 2018. It's always hard to predict what a year will look like, because so many unexpected things happen-and last year was no exception. 

A Mac n' Cheese Christmas

In the words of my toddler, "Happy Merry Christmas!"

The liturgical season of Christmas doesn't end until the Baptism of the Lord, which is on January 13 this year-so we still have this full week to continue our festive celebrations! I have been thoroughly enjoying myself. It's been a peaceful, fun, relaxed, and joyous Christmas.

Advent was uncomfortable for me this year. Yes, there are cozy happy memories of reading and praying by the light of the Advent wreath, our house filling with people as we drank tea and ate sugary treats to kick off the liturgical new year, and getting together with friends to bake and/or eat cookies. But there are also grim memories. As Advent began, I wrote a piece on the Advent journey. That theme, of a journey into an uncomfortable desert, remained with me the entire season-it really did feel like a "little Lent" in some ways. So, as December 24 dawned, I was really excited to celebrate Christ's birth :)  

As the Year Winds Down

We're here, friends. The final days of the liturgical year are upon us, and I have very mixed feelings about all this. The past liturgical year was full of joys, blessings, struggles, growth, and fun, and I'm a bit sad to see it all slip further into the past. At the same time, though, I'm really excited for Advent. I'm pulling together simple preparations for our Advent Tea (you can read about last year's tea here), and I'm in the process of tidying the house so that I can pull out our boxes of Advent and Christmas supplies. But we'll talk about Advent later. For now, I think it'd be fun to let y'all know what I've been up to this past month. 

Farewell, October

October began with the feast of St. Therese and wine (a new liquor law-which allows for the sale of wine in grocery stores-took effect in Oklahoma on her feast) and is ending with a toddler clad in a Spider-Man suit. The month was filled with joys and struggles and lots and lots of coffee. We spent time with friends, I was a guest on a Catholic radio show, and we visited a train museum. 

This is the only tree on our street that is red/orange. Everything else is green. 

Oklahoma, what is this so-called "falltime"?

On the Bookshelf: Jumping into Summertime

We basically skipped over springtime over here because we went from some cold temperatures in April to a hot May. As in, the high for nearly every single day this week is in the 90s. So, I've been spending lots of time in air-conditioning while reading! Over the past few months, I read an assortment of fiction and non-fiction books, and I really loved some of them. So let's talk literature!  

Bollywood, Easter Eggs, and What I Never Expected to See at 6:30 a.m. (7QT)

Happy Friday, everyone! It's been a long time since I joined Kelly for some quick takes, and since things have been on the heavy/deep side lately here on the ol' blog with my discussion of therapy, I figured it would be fun to lighten things up! 

Lemons are a Girl's Best Friend: A Review

The bright yellow cover filled me with exuberance as I picked up Lemons are a Girl's Best Friend,by Janet Hayward. Filled with colorful illustrations, this delightful little book presents 30 different superfoods, with accompanying recipes. From almonds to fennel, the book covers a wide range of foods, many of which are easily obtainable at a typical grocery store. Each recipe section begins with a short description of the food being discussed and the health-boosting properties of that particular food. Two short, simple recipes follow which integrate that food. 

Lent, Easter, & Lots of Marbles

Alleluia! He is risen!

I love that Catholics celebrate Easter for a whole season of fifty days. Christ's resurrection is HUGE, so having a long span of time to focus on it is really, really awesome. Not only that, but we're currently in the Octave of Easter, which means that for the rest of this week, every day is a Solemnity.

I love that massively important religious holidays have entire seasons devoted to them for many reasons; but one of the big reasons is that it puts less pressure on us to do "all the things" leading up to the day, or on the day itself. For example, we planned to put on a little Easter egg hunt for our toddler. We figured that he'd enjoy it, and it'd be fun to see him run around and find eggs. When Easter Sunday came, however, it was cold and dreary and we stayed in our pajamas all day long. While we could've easily done an egg hunt inside, we were having too much fun playing with our "family Easter present" (an awesome marble run). But no worries! We have lots of Easter left to celebrate, so we'll eventually do an egg hunt, make more treats (I love making liege waffles to celebrate Easter), and generally keep the party going :)

Getting nostalgic, joining the stroller club, and why we shouldn't trust health food bloggers (7QT)

Happy Friday, everyone! Life has been very full over here lately, and topped off with some pregnancy sickness and a very active toddler, I just haven't been around this blog as much as I'd like. So, I thought I'd pop in for some quick takes to let y'all know what's been happening around here lately :) 

On the Bookshelf: Beating the Winter Blues

Hi, friends! I don't know about y'all, but I am so done with winter. I guess it's because the recent winters we've had in Oklahoma were very mild/warm/awesome-the days of bleak cold are kind of dragging along. When the weather's cold (sadly with no magical snow), books are one of the ways I stay sane and entertain myself. So let's take a look at what I've been reading lately! 

What we're doing instead of watching the Olympics

Apparently, much of the world is watching the Olympics right now. The Olympics are great, but we don't have TV, and while I'm sure I could find them online somewhere, I just haven't gotten around to it (I've got very little motivation this pregnancy!). When I came home from a meeting the other night, my husband was watching Olympics...of a sort.

I still can't figure out if the Marblelympics are really dumb or pretty cool; maybe both? My husband is fairly obsessed with them, so we've been watching them quite a bit, and lots of other little things have been filling our days. 

The other night, when I needed a break from watching marbles race down a track, I made some grain-free chocolate chip cookies. I have really been enjoying them. I figure that since they're made of almond flour (protein!!!) and coconut oil, they're not that unhealthy, and make a relatively good pregnancy snack.