+ using Drano on an upstairs sink that is suspiciously slow-draining. I suspect the gobs of baking-soda heavy toothpaste have taken its toll.
Some things lately: Lindsey, Parker, and I were outside two days ago. The weather was a perfect upper 60s and what did we hear?? The ice cream truck! Unfortunately the kids don’t buy the whole “it plays music when it is OUT of ice cream” routine, so Lindsey and I each got strawberry shortcakes. Before dinner! It’s nice to sometimes surprise your kids and break out of your no/very little sugar routine. My Mom was pretty strict on this policy and it forced me (forced me, I tell you!) to ride my bike to our nearest 7-11, buy a mini slurpee, Cool Ranch Doritos, and sometimes a Twix bar, eat it on the way home, and throw the trash out in a church parking lot. True story. Pathetic. We’ve also been, almost every day, venturing to a nearby playground and Parker skips around shrieking in joy. Steve is the best Dad on the playground too – he’s the guy climbing the playground, going down the slides both feet and head first (on different occasions, of course), and generally being awesome. But it appears that today’s weather is not taking the spring-into-summer turn but instead doling out clouds and some rain. Whatever. And the teen thing? It’s going pretty well lately. Sometimes we even laugh together! Praise be. I feel like we’re turning a corner, Steve and I both do, and it’s really nice. Juuuuust in time for William to enter the stage in full-force–literally! He turns 13 in a few days. C’est la vie. We will get through. With heavy doses of humor, as always.
I made Pioneer Woman’s short ribs recently and, I’m talking in a whisper so as not to upset the many who said it’d be great, I was underwhelmed. Did I not cook it long enough? I followed the recipe, but the meat was so fatty. I was disappointed. I felt like I cut around fat for a good five minutes for one measly bite. It didn’t help that I gave Parker 70% of all the legit pieces I found and cut. It was good meat, from Whole Foods no less. Help. I’d still like to try Sara’s baby-back ribs (which is initially what I thought I was buying when I bought short ribs instead… I am not well-versed in real man’s meat.). I’m pretty sure all Hunt men will be singing my praises if I make it. Ribs?! Bridget’s made ribs? Suffice it to say, it will be a first for me. As I said in a recent instagram, I usually stick to ground beef. So daring!
I managed to pull off a total surprise last weekend. I don’t tend to go down the surprise-route but I’m really glad I did. Steve came home and I whisked him (and kids) away for a night. He had no idea. Bags packed and already in the car and everything. It was a “congrats you hard worker, you” sort of trip. It was really great. We even managed to sneak away for some alone time. It was a little push of the refresh button, you know?
Well, in an attempt to not squander this entire nap time, I must sign off now. And as always, thanks for reading. I probably don’t say that enough.
you make me feel like a failure of a domestic goddess. Short ribs? growing plants? surprise trips? you win. that swing picture also makes me laugh every time i see it.
you'll get your domestic hat on one day. but for now… KFC FTW!
The ribs LOOK delish! Sorry to hear they came up short…no pun intended! HA! sorry.
The weekend away sounds really nice. I may have to do the same with my boys really soon. I need a good refresh. With moving and the new house, new school, new routine, it's really not feeling like home yet…so I need a little pick me up.
Hope you enjoy the rest of naptime!
xoxo
Thanks for writing. I know I don't say that enough, especially since I am more of a lurker:)
I love your blog. I am a longtime reader/stalker, but I just realized that I think this is the first time I've commented.
I wanted to say that I've had PW's short ribs before, and I was utterly disappointed and underwhelmed! Her tutorial and descriptions looked so incredibly appetizing, but the real thing was…blah.
I'm glad I'm not the only one!! The pictures were unreal! The actual thing… meh. Though I will say, we were all raving about the gravy in the pot — poured it over our mashed potatoes and ate it right up.
I second Melanie, thanks for writing 🙂
And now I want to hear more about this surprise! What did Steve say??
He said, "YOU'RE THE BEST EVER."
No, he was really grateful, totally surprised, and quickly caught on that it was an overnight (he thought we were just going on a date or something… with the whole family???). When he realized it was an overnight he was all, "Did you pack stuff for me?!"
YES, Steve. Settle yourself.
Once we got there, I sent him straight to the spa for an already-booked massage. I'm pretty much the greatest.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that used to ride her bike to the local 7-11 for treats. I used to bury the evidence in the sand in the middle of the school jungle gym.
Curious about this surprise trip… please post about it!
i always lurk and love, but now i'm commenting! just wanna say that you rock. that's all. 🙂
I made Pioneer Woman's meatloaf and was completely unimpressed. Its my fault for making anything that requires damp white bread…
damp white bread! sure to be a winner! (i would've tried it too, but now i know to stay away from the PW meatloaf!)
I have made short ribs a few times. Once I did pony up the extra money and bought them at Whole Foods – and they weren't very meaty.
The next time I went to another store and there was much more meat on the bones. So many try another butcher next time?
Here is the recipe my mom uses for short ribs, which is excellent: http://southern.food.com/recipe/slow-cooker-beef-short-ribs-32147?oc=linkback
Kit http://www.thekittchen.com
thanks for the link, kit! you're right, it may very well have just been the meat itself… not meaty enough.
I just spent the last 2 hours reading the post (and every single comment) you linked. OMG- While her fearlessness in writing about her beliefs took much courage the fact that she has those beliefs…OMG! I am sure you have talked/wrote/thought about this a lot being it was written in November so I apologize for bringing it up again but wow…I don't even know what else to say!
Thanks for writing!
hey corie! it was definitely a shock to myself and most of the commenters that day – i am about as religiously tolerant as they come though and thus so impressed by both zoe's bravery for being willing to do that, and the majority of the commenters. it was mostly a seriously respectful dialogue, even though most would say they strongly disagreed with her. it was a pretty cool thing happening in the blog world that day!
good luck with that list! i should do laundry too, blergh.
Can't wait for your post.
Also, nap time is always a panic. I MUST DO ALL THE THINGS.
make "my" ribs!! you'll be so proud of yourself, promise. i was patting myself on the back for a week. it was a major feat… and just about the easiest thing you could imagine cooking. so basically: lots of kudos, little effort. done and done.
xoxo!!
Ha! My little one is napping and my list looks almost identical to yours, plus I should get lunch done and in 45 mins I have to go pick up my other daughter from school. Instead I just posted a poll on my blog asking whether I should have another baby! (!!)
haha about nap time and laundry …it never ends.ever!!!
we have an "ice cream" draw in our house where all lose change and tooth fairy money goes … it gets pooled together for the ice cream man … which is highway robbery btw 🙂
Meat issue … find a good butcher!! Become his best friend! He will pick the best meat for you, trim the fat, slice it how you need it, etc. Use your beauty and flirt it up! I always get the best meat because a) I act like I have no idea what I am doing and b) I have no idea what I am doing. LOL! Tip him a dollar or two and it will keep everyone happy!
oh and one more thing…whenever I cook ribs or brisket or pot roast or something similar in the crockpot, I brown it a little in my cast iron skillet with a little EVOO, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper, before I put it in the crockpot.
Here is one of my favorite ways to cook ribs:
Baby back ribs
1/3 cup. dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 teaspoon white pepper
3/4 teaspoon ground oregano
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon sugar
Combine dry ingredients and rub on ribs. Place ribs in slow cooker standing on
their edge with the meaty side out. Add a little bit of water. Cook for about
eight hours remove ribs from slow cooker and brush with barbecue sauce.
***I usually cook these on low for 10 hours, but the meat is falling off the bone. Then I stick it in the oven under the broiler for about 10 minutes.***
at that point.
alice, get a butcher bff stat! not a bad idea.
and thank you for that recipe. it sounds sooo good.
boo i miss you. and steve (but that goes without saying).
I'm sure I'll be stoned for this, but I have yet to make a recipe from the Pioneer Woman that lived up to the hype. I enjoy her blog but the food itself is always pretty ordinary.
Found your blog last month and love your story!