Cookin' up life

It's been awhile since I posted...in fact, not since the big snow in January. Well, life is happening all around me and no time to blog. I'm either teaching, preparing to teach, practicing, or cooking. Well, there are other things like laundry & vacuuming, but cooking is my favorite. I really am happy when I'm in the kitchen.

If you have eaten at the Nobles home, then you know I'm not a gourmet chef. I like home-cooking that is easy to prepare, and tasty for my family. Over the years my repertoire has increased, and I thought I would share some of my menus here. I recall when the rotation included: Manwich, spaghetti, tacos, hotdogs, and a roast on the weekend. I also remember when most everything I cooked came from a box!

Cooking is like everything else in life...the more you do it, the easier it gets! It also helps to have some girls that can help prepare it. I do the prep, they finish cooking it and get it to the table. Today I had Aaron put the chili on! I had made it the night before in the crock pot...mixed it together. He just had to take it out of the frig and turn it to low before he left for class. (On a side note, Aaron is no longer working at Chick-fil-A, but is a host at Olive Garden...hoping to get some of those recipes soon!)

Here are some things we have had over the past 3 weeks. Note that nothing has been repeated! With the mouths I feed, there are not typically enough leftovers for an entire 2nd meal, but they make for great lunches for one or two people.

Potato Soup

Chicken Marengo

Lasagna

Hamburgers/hotdogs on the grill

Pork Chops, sides include potato & broccoli

Chicken Pot Pie

BBQ (quick meal...buy from Sam's!)

Southwest Soup (also known as taco soup)

Chicken Tetrazinni

Pizza & salad (I make my own dough)

Stir Fry

Chicken & Rice

Tortellini Soup

Jambalaya (in the crock pot - Carrie's speciality)

Tilapia & potatoes

Chili

Chicken Parmigiana

Chicken Wings (buy from Sam's, serve with vegetables)

Whenever we have soup, we have grilled cheese!

Do any of these look good to you? Want the recipe? Email me or leave a comment. Some of our favorites (like the photo at the top of the post) aren't even on this list! I can't tell you that these are economical, because I'm cooking for 5 - 8 people on a regular basis. But, it's certainly more cost efficient than eating out, and tastes better than Sloppy Joes.

Yes, I even cook when we are on vacation!!

Reading = enjoyment & education

I love to read! As a teenager I read...probably things that weren't appropriate. I read lots of magazines...yes, even Cosmopolitan. It was tamer back in the day, but still inappropriate! When my children were young I didn't have a lot of time for reading, except the books I was reading to them. We went to the library EVERY Tuesday for storytime. We checked out books, often the same book over & over. Aaron's favorite was Snail Saves the Day. It was about a snail who caught the winning touchdown in a football game.

The television is on a LOT at my house, but I don't watch it. I hear it, but I never sit and watch a show. E.R. was my show - but alas, it is no longer in produced. So, I read and cook! Those are my hobbies. You might say cooking is a necessity, but I would argue so is reading. I learn so much from reading. I learn about other places, other cultures, and other ideas. I enjoy fiction and read a variety of authors, though I admit to having my favorites. But today is about non-fiction books. Here is a brief list of my favorite non-fiction books from the past year or so. Check them out from your local library, it's my favorite place to shop!

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

there is also a young reader version that Kate read.

Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson

Gifted Hands by Ben Carson

another with a young reader version

Hiding in the Spotlight by Greg Dawson

Between Two Worlds by Roxana Saberi

Another Day in the Frontal Lobe by Katrina Firlik

Outcast United by Warren St. John

Saving Henry - a Mother's Journey by Laurie Strongin

An Ordinary Man - Paul Rusesabagina

This is a short list, but I encourage you to check them out. They will challenge your mind and enlarge your world. Happy Reading!