Move Over, Martha...

Watch out Martha Stewart...here I come!  Today, I cooked 2 home-cooked meals.  Yes. You read that correctly, two (2), the number between 1 and 3...2!!!

This is an absolutely amazing feat, considering I usually don't even cook one meal each day.  Normally, I do good to fix my kiddo some cereal (or toast him a waffle), pack his lunch (consisting of canned, frozen, or pre-packaged food), and go through a drive through or hastily thaw something from the freezer (that I didn't orignially cook myself).

I do like to cook, but it is not enjoyable when time is so limited, as it always seems to be around here.  I'm so thankful that my friends prepared so many wonderful meals when Chris died and Katie was born.  I (brilliantly) put them in small 1-2 serving portions in the freezer and there they wait for me to remember to pull them out for our evening meal.  Thanks, friends!

On this lovely November day, however, I was hosting a playdate.  Now, I felt just a bit of pressure (from myself only, as my playdate friends did not put any pressure on me whatsoever) to produce a nice home-cooked meal, as my two playdate friends are stay-at-home moms and I'm sure *wink* prepare home-cooked meals for their families on a regular basis.

So, my first meal of the day was Taco Soup with Cornbread.  This is an "old" family recipe...passed down to me from Chris' mom.  I don't know who she got it from...but it's GOOD.  Darn good.  And easy.  So, after we all got up and around this morning, I browned some meat and opened the cans for the soup, put it on the stove to simmer until lunch.

It was a hit, too!












The playdate ended up being a smaller date than planned.  My friend Faith called last night and her sweet boy Miles was sick.  So, they couldn't make it.  So sad, too, 'cause we all wanted to meet little Ella.  We'll plan another one...Miles, the boys missed playing Lightning McQueens with you!

My friend Samantha was able to make it and she brought her cuties Noah and Ellie.  Noah and Jackson had a great time playing with Lightning McQueens, Thomas, Potato Head, and who knows what else.  Jackson charmed Samantha with his wit.  Katie entertained us with her cuteness.  Noah is so sweet and such a well-behaved little guy.  Ellie was a cutie, and spent much of the time sleeping in the swing.

After my friends left, I decided that I had had so much fun being a little domestic homemaker, that I decided to cook another meal.  I know.  Perhaps too much in one day...

So, I set out to prepare a meatloaf with tater tots and some peas.  What do you know?  It was YUMMY!!  I'm so excited to have the leftovers, too!  Jackson helped in the process by setting the table for everyone.  He was so proud...I didn't have the heart to tell him that adults don't usually eat with kids' forks and spoons.  :-)

Another hit!!  Way to go, mommy!!








Mom and Dad joined us for the delicious meatloaf.  Jackson devoured his entire plate.  I guess he likes a good home-cooked meal every now and again, too!  Don't worry, Jackson, Mommy-Martha will cook again soon.