Keeping My Man Happy...

June 20, 2018

Keeping My Man Happy...

In my pretend "Mama Jane" world, I'm a grown up Laura Ingalls Wilder living off the land and providing delicious meals for my family from our crops!

The reality.... I'm a wannabe West Monroe Barefoot (literally) Contessa mixed with my stash of recipes from The Pioneer Woman with a side of Joanna Gaines on a budget and dressed in oversized warm ups!

The honest to goodness truth is, the key to keeping my husband happy is a home cooked meal. (And yes- he would love to have clean underwear and jeans to wear each week and an organized house, but we can't have it all- right?)

In my previous marriage, I made tons of cooking mistakes!! I learned that one clove of garlic WAS NOT the whole bulb which helped me to ruin an ENTIRE pot of Duck Gumbo. I literally put in 4 whole BULBS of garlic!!!!! Uggggg.

And I remember in college becoming impatient while cooking potato soup from a recipe I got from John McQueen, and decided to go "take a nap" while the potatoes were softening on the stove....oh my God- I can still smell that horrible smell of burntness that stunk up our entire duplex.

So, when Lucky Husband #2 came along, I had def learned a few things. (And don't get me wrong, I am still learning!!)

But the truth is, Brent married me because of my cooking. I thought it was my award winning personality and sexy thirty something year old body (ha!), but it wasn't... it was my skillet lasagna and my deep fried chicken tacos that did it. HAHAH!

I've learned to accept it.

His love language is Acts of Service and me cooking him a meal fills my mans bucket!!

So..... I've been trying to challenge myself and have at least one item in our meals that came from our garden.

I see what is growing and ready to be picked, and then I start scanning recipes on Pinterest to see what sounds good. I try to get the kids involved so they will at least try it. Here is a bunch of potatoes they dug up. It was digging for buried treasure for them.

Some of them have bombed. And some have become a weekly staples in our house (or at least until that item runs out from our garden.

So.... here are some of the latest.... and you can def grab these items at your local farmers market!! I'm linking the recipes I used just in case you feel inspired.

1) Roasted garlic parmesan red potatoes- Winner Winner!!!

https://therecipecritic.com/parmesan-garlic-roasted-potatoes/

Everyone Loved this one!!!

2) The freshest potato salad EVER! Featuring our potatoes, radishes, our chickens eggs and chives from the garden. My father in law thought it was awesome!!!

https://communitytable.parade.com/517724/melissasperka/16-picnic-perfect-ways-to-make-potato-salad/

Fresh Thyme from the garden

3) Roasted radishes with kosher salt and thyme - honestly, P said this was horrible! Hahaha Brent said he liked it. I think next time, I'd just rather save the radishes for the previous potato salad recipe.

https://pin.it/noxnbmv3wma3gs

4) Tomato Basil Pie- you all know this amazing recipe from Diane Cage. Easy easy. Fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, cheese, mayo, pie crust, YUM! My mom just said- More tomatoes next time!!

5) Home Made Salsa - we have been experimenting on this with our tomatoes.... I am def No Annie Mae Reeves or Rhonda Moody or Big Curl, but it has been fun to try. We did get to go

grab some of Annie Mae’s salsa at the Farmers Market on Tower this weekend too- YUM!!

What are some of your favorite Farm Fresh recipes?!? We got to go pick Blue Berries with some of our friends at Butler Blueberry Farm... very cool little outting if you need something to do with the kids. Located at 735 Ole Highway 15 in West Monroe. Only $11 per bucket when you pick em.