The Roof is on Fire

I know, I know...It's been a while since I posted -- I hope to get back on the right track with it here soon.
Last night I worked with the American Red Cross Disaster Relief team at a fire in an apartment complex not even a mile from where we live. I wanted to share a few of the pictures I took with you all.

Many many thanks to all of the firemen that fought through the ridiculous heat. You guys don't get thanked enough. Bless you.

- mamabear

Baby Back Ribs!!!

Okay- this is by far my favorite recipe of Hubsie's so far! Even his pork chops...which I haven't got to share with you all yet, lol. Don't ask for the bean recipe...because its a secret recipe XD but you can get your own!! Go Bush's Baked Beans!!

Hubsie's Oven Baked BBQ Ribs

• 3 to 4 lbs pork loin back ribs
• 3/4 cup catsup
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp ground red pepper
• 1 cup finely chopped onion

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large shallow roasting pan place the ribs with bone side down. Bake, covered, for 1 hour. Carefully drain off the liquid in roasting pan.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine the catsup, water, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, chili powder, black pepper, salt, and red pepper. Stir in onion. Pour mixture over ribs. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes more or until ribs are tender, basting once with sauce. Pass sauce with ribs.

There you go!! Really hope you all like those =]] I know I did!!  

 

 - mamabear

MmMmMmmm Mexican Pizza!!

Here's another delayed recipe, we LOVE this one...sooo good. Great for when people come over! I apologize for the not so great picture...the lighting in our apartment is hoooorrriiibbbblllleeee.

Mexican Pizza

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 4oz. can diced green chile peppers, drained
• 1/2 of a 1.5 oz. envelope taco mix
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cornmeal
• 10 oz package refrigerated pizza dough
• 15 oz can pinto beans with jalapeno peppers, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz)
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• 1 medium tomato, chopped

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. In a large skillet cook meat until brown. Drain off fat. Stir in 3/4 cup water, chili peppers, taco seasoning mix, and chili powder. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 15 - 20 minutes or until most of the liquid is gone. 
3. Meanwhile, grease a baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal. Pat pizza dough into 12x8 in. rectangle on the baking sheet. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 5 minutes. **Note** We like to fold the edges over a little bit to have a thicker crust. 
4. In a bowl mash the beans with a fork; spread over partially baked dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. Spoon meat mixture over the beans. Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes more or until crust is just golden. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 1 - 2 minutes more or until cheese melts. Top with lettuce and tomato.

Yummyyyyy!! One more recipe headed your way!!

- mamabear

Delayed Addition

Okay...So I have neglected putting up a few new recipes...so here we go =PP

Hubsie's Fried Chicken

• 1 quart buttermilk, plus 2 cups
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 teaspoons chili powder, or 2 tablespoons hot sauce, plus 2 teaspoons chili powder, or cayenne pepper
• 2 chickens (3 to 4 pounds each), each cut up into 8 pieces
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
• Vegetable Oil

1.  In a large bowl or baking dish, whisk together 1 quart of the buttermilk, 2 tablespoons salt, 2 teaspoons of chile de arbol powder, or hot sauce, and a little bit of pepper, if desired. Add the chicken pieces, turn to coat, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. Place the remaining 2 cups of buttermilk in a bowl. Stir together the flour, garlic and onion powders, paprika, and 2 teaspoons chile de arbol powder (or cayenne) in a large bowl. Divide flour mixture among 2 shallow platters and season generously with salt and pepper. Drain the chicken in a colander and pat it dry. Dredge the pieces a few at a time in the flour mixture and pat off excess, then dip in the buttermilk and allow excess to drain off. Dredge in the second plate of flour and pat off the excess. Put the chicken pieces on a piece of waxed paper or on a clean platter while you heat the oil.
3. Pour about 3 inches of oil into a deep cast iron skillet; the oil should not come more than halfway up the sides of the pot. Put the pot over medium-high heat and heat the oil to 375 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches, add the chicken pieces to the hot oil, 3 or 4 at a time and fry, turning the pieces occasionally, until evenly golden brown and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and transfer to a rack to drain; repeat to cook the remaining pieces. Serve hot.

Enjoy!!

- mamabear

Relief

Hey guys!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Sunday and Monday I was volunteering with The American Red Cross working Disaster Relief for the tornadoes that recently tore through the Oklahoma area. I wish I was able to get out and give more of my time, but it's hard with baby and whatnot. I took some pictures I wanted to share.

oh and --
These pictures are in no way linked to The American Red Cross. These are personal pictures and were also provided to ARC for whatever purpose they wish to use them for. I left any and all pictures of ARC volunteers and victims out for a reason. 

Disaster Site - Piedmont, OK  - May2011

Relief Shelter - Piedmont, OK  - May2011

Note- The first two pictures from the shelter in Piedmont are of the Lost & Found table set up. People were saying that stuff was being found hours away. 

My heart goes out to all who were affected in this area, as well as Joplin and other areas as of late. It was amazing being able to see that people were getting the assistance they need.
Well, I am off for now!! I hope everyone has a wonderful day. 

Until next time!!

- mamabear

She Approves!!

Hey there!! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend =]]. Well, miss Rileybear wanted everyone to know that she tried Mamabear's Chocolate Cookies and they are uh-mazing!!

"I loves COOKIES!! =]]"

"Mama, can I please has another cookie?!"

"Mama, gimme cookies NAO!!!"

Oh, my little cookie monster =]]. I'm such a lucky mommy, hehe.
Well, Hubsie and I did a little cooking tonight and we wanted to share a macaroni recipe we tried tonight!

Hubsie's Creamy Mac'N'Cheese Bake

• 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon powdered mustard
• 3 cups milk
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 large egg
• 12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Fresh black pepper

Topping:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.
3. While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.
4. Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
5. Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

Mmmm, so yummy!! I hope you all enjoy! Make sure to try those chocolate cookies, or the cookie monster will come and get you!! BWAAHAHAHA...lol.
Until next time!!

- mamabear

I LOVE Baking =]]

So it's been a while since I shared a recipe on here, especially one that I actually made myself! So today I decided I wanted to make cookies, so here we go! A pretty basic and easy to make chocolate cookie recipe that you will LOVE! =]] Enjoy!

Mamabear's Chocolate Cookies

Dough chilled & sliced

• 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• White Sanding sugar, for garnish

Dough rolled to ball & dusted *optional

Finished result! Yum Yum!!

1. In a large bowl, add the butter and sugar and cream together with a hand mixer. Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and mix until combined. In a medium bowl, mix the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients and continue mixing until incorporated.
2. Roll the dough into 2 logs that are about 2-inches high and 1-foot long. Wrap them in waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours. 
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
4. Once thoroughly chilled, slice the cookies into 1/2-inch thick rounds and cover with sanding sugar. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
   **Note** I rolled my slices into balls and they were a lot flufflier. If you bake the cookie slices they come out with a 'gingersnap' type shape and consistancy.
5. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
   **Note** I dusted the cookies with confectioners sugar after they had cooled a bit as well as before they were baked.

Well I hope everyone enjoys this recipe!! It turned out uh-mazing for me!! Can't wait for Hubsie to try them when he gets home =]]

Until next time!!

- mamabear

The Goofball!!

Things have been a little hectic lately so I haven't been able to get much cooking, baking, or -obviously- blogging done! I'm sorry!! But I wanted to share these pictures I took today of my goofy little munchkin =]]

hahaha, enjoy!!

- mamabear

It's Official!!

We are one little happy family =]]

- mamabear

I do's!!!

Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged. My mind has been all flustered since grampa passed away. It's starting to get better now though! Well, today I am getting married!! I know I always call Hubsie..well...Hubsie..but we aren't officially married yet lol, so after today I will be calling him the right thing :PP. He is my best friend and a wonderful father to our daughter. I couldn't ask for a more amazing man to share the rest of my life with. I wake up every morning and fall in love with him all over again. He's a butthead and can be lazy and messy from time to time, but I wouldn't have it any other way. He may not be perfect to everyone else but he's perfect for me =]].
I'm getting sooo nervous about this, lol. Even it not being a ceremony or anything, it's still nerve racking!! By the end of today...I'm going to have a different last name...and be starting the rest of my life with the one I love =]].
My parents are going to be watching Riley for the weekend and they bought us a 'romance package' at a nice hotel downtown for Saturday night. Now THAT is exciting =]] Mommy gets a well deserved break and daddy, well...yeah he will be there too :PP.

Here's to the rest of our lives =]]

Until next time!!

- mamabear

Happy Mother's Day!

Well today is my first mother's day! I'm sooo blessed to have my little angel in my life, she is the most wonderful thing in the whole world. Even before she was born she was the best thing that could ever happen to me. I hope she knows how much I love her!!

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful and beautiful Mother. She has been the best mother anyone could ask for, I truly hope you know how much I love you and am thankful to have you in my life -- as a mother and a best friend.

How do I tell you, from this daughter
Oh mother of mine, who couldn't have worked harder
To make my life, as best as could be
How much your loved, for loving me

Things you wanted, so many times
You put aside, to help me and mine
Even when I was growing up
A back you never turned, a door you never shut

How do I tell you, how much this means
Oh mother of mine, who always beams
With a loving heart, with open arms
Caring for all, with all your charms

You made life, so very good
For me you did, all you could
You cared for me, through all bad times
Your loved so much, oh mother of mine 

 - Betty Halverson 

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, and expecting. Thank you for everything you do. You are loved more than you know.

& special Happy Mother's Day wishes to my grandmother, she is going through a very hard time right now. 

- mamabear  

You Will Be Missed

My grandfather, the best grandfather in the world =]], passed away May 5th. He was a great man, probably the greatest man I will ever know. I am so glad he won't be hurting anymore. He finally made it home =]].

I love you and miss you so much, grandpa. I'm glad you're home and I hope you're telling my daddy how beautiful his granddaughter is =]]. Can't wait to see you again some day.

- mamabear