Mandy and Jace

When I graduated from high school in 2003 I thought I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I just knew I was going to be a photographer. I quickly enrolled in all the photography classes I could take.  Then I found out how hard it is to get a photography business up and running and how much competition there is in the field. I quickly decided that it would just be a hobby. Through the years of taking photos, I learned that I’m much better at photographing objects or just candids of people instead of portraits. Here are a couple of my favorite shots over the past year or so.

This one was taken in Dallas just a couple of weeks ago. I love the lines and the beautiful blue color.

I shot this one a couple of years ago on the 4th of July. My cousin Keely was throwing poppers and I caught her in the air, mid-throw.

This was my favorite photo from our trip to Dallas a couple of weeks ago. I love the curviness of the tree in front of the clean lines of the buildings.

This is one of my favorite photos I have ever taken mainly because this is a candid. My cousin Braz just happened to be playing in this bin and look over at me when I had my camera out.

This was taken at church during our youth revival last year. I didn’t have a tripod so I didn’t get the clarity that I would have liked but the colors came out amazing!

My dad’s 1958 Cadillac. Enough said.

Jace’s cousin didn’t want her photo taken but I caught her right as she was getting out of the pool. I really enjoy shooting in natural light. It come out so beautiful.

Matt was privileged to play his bass at his graduation. I loved getting this shot. I was so proud of my little brother.

I took this shot just messing around after church. I had just bought my first pair of Louboutins and they were hurting my feet after being on stage.  I took them off and laid them on the piano and when I looked down I immediately went and got my camera.

(click on the photos to make them bigger)

Welcome to March everyone! I am excited about this weeks meal plan. I am trying a couple of new recipes and also, Jace is cooking me one of my favorite dishes he makes. You can’t get much better than pasta, heavy cream and chicken.

Tonight: coffee and molasses glazed pork chops, mashed potatoes and green beans
Tuesday: chicken and whole wheat rotini in a spicy cream sauce
Wednesday: three meat pizza on a whole wheat pizza dough
Thursday: take out before practice
Friday: steak and mac and cheese

Happy eating!

This weeks meal plan might sound a little bit like last weeks. We bought some 5 spice seasoning for our stir fry last week and liked it so much that we decided to make something else with it. It has Szechwan pepper, star anise, ground fennel seeds, ground cloves, cinnamon, salt and white pepper, all in one bottle. It has this great sweet flavor from the cinnamon and cloves but a spicy flavor from the pepper. Last week we put it on beef with some peppers and onions over white rice and it was really good. So this week we are using chicken and noodles. If it works out well I’ll post the recipe. Here’s this weeks plan.

Tonight: five spice chicken and noodles
Tuesday: sausage jambalaya (we may throw some chicken in there do depending on our mood)
Wednesday: turkey and cheese paninis
Thursday: take out before praise and worship practice
Friday: date night!

Happy eating!

This recipe was beyond easy and was very good. I threw everything in the crock pot before I went to work one day and it was ready to eat by dinner time. It can’t get much easier than this! I got the recipe from my faithful Pioneer Woman. If you haven’t looked through her blog yet, please do. She has amazing recipes that are right up our alley here in West Texas. She uses simple ingredients, that I usually have on hand, so when I need a recipe fast I always run straight to her.

Here’s what you will need: chuck roast, beef broth, italian seasoning, a jar of pepperoncini peppers and salt.

Put the roast in the crock pot with a liner. I love the crock pot liners. You just throw them away when you are done and put the crock pot up. No cleaning necessary.

Pour in about half of the carton of beef broth. You may use the rest at the end depending on how big your roast is.

pour in 3 tablespoons of Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup of water

and half the jar of pepperoncini peppers with the juice

If the liquid isn’t just over the roast add more beef broth. This is what it should look like. Cook for 6-7 hours

Pull the meat out of the crock pot. Don’t get rid of the juice. You will need it.

With two forks shred the beef

Put it on the bread of your choice

Top with the cheese of your choice. I really like the colby jack

Ladle some of the liquid in the crock pot into small bowls…

and serve.

Slow cooker drip beef sandwiches
1 beef chuck roast. Around 2-4 pounds
1/2 carton beef broth
3 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
1/2 jar pepperoncini peppers with juice
Bread
Cheese

Put the chuck roast into the crock pot. All all other ingredients on top of it. If needed top it off with beef broth. Cook for 6-7 hours depending on the size of your roast.
Pull the meat out of the crock pot and shred it with two forks. Put the beef on your bread and top with cheese.
Ladle cooking liquid into small bowls and serve with the sandwiches.

Happy Valentine’s day to my love. I have always loved you and I always will!