Mandy and Jace

Is anyone else noticing the trees and flowers are starting to bloom? I am both delighted and scared when I see this. I can’t wait for spring, really. I love the warm temperatures that aren’t scorching hot. Minus the wind that comes with it I am all in favor. The reason I am scared is my little flowers are starting to bloom and I know our west Texas weather. I’m sure another cold front will come through and wreak havoc on my poor babies. Hopefully not!

In honor of Mardi Gras we will be having jambalaya on Tuesday! I love any reason to get dressed up and celebrate so we are going to have our own Fat Tuesday.

Here’s this weeks plan.
Tonight: pork chops and mashed sweet potatoes
Tuesday: jambalaya
Wednesday: baked ziti
Thursday: take out after practice
Friday: date night!

Happy eating!

Any time I think about hot cocoa I think about being in New Mexico at a ranch we used to always go to with our youth group. We would sit around the fire in the most comfortable couches and drink the best hot cocoa ever. I think it was just package hot cocoa but for some reason it tasted so much better by the fire in the mountains.

We came across this recipe one night while we were watching tv. There wasn’t anything on and we had food network on. I don’t think either of us were actucaly paying attention to the tv but as soon as AB started making this he had our attention.

Hot Cocoa
adapted from Alton Brown



2 cups powdered sugar (if you like your’s really sweet you may add a little more)
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste (trust me it’s good)
Hot water

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well with a whisk. In a small pot, heat 4 to 6 cups of water.

Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine.

Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps forever in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk.

A couple of things:

• I need a pedicure horribly.
• Peanut butter should come with a spoon because I hate washing peanut buttery spoons.
• I’m too old to stay up until 2:00 and get up early the next morning.
• I laughed at the workout video “Yoga Booty Ballet” until I tried it. Then I cried.
• I am fast fooded out. I will be cooking as much as possible this week. Is fooded a word? I’ll make it a word.

 
Here’s this week’s plan.
Tonight: rosemary crusted pork loin
Tuesday: chicken spaghetti
Wednesday: cowboy soup made in the crock pot
Thursday: leftovers after practice
Friday: date night

Happy eating!