I’m BAAAACK!!!

drum roll please…….

the MRS. is in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe my lapse in blogging is fairly excusable. I did just get married after all! And by just, I mean just last week. So far I’ve been enjoying the married life. We’ve unwrapped, cataloged, and stowed away just about all of the goodies our wonderful friends and family have given us. We have friends who have been married for two years and say they still have mysterious closets full of wedding gifts. If you know me, and most of you do, you know my OCD, Type A, organizational freak personality just won’t allow that to happen. So we’ve found a place for almost EVERYTHING. It does help that all our old kitchen accessories and bedding have found their way to our newly purchased travel trailer (it’s for the deer lease, more on that another day).

I should have tons of awesome photos to share, but I’ll save that for another day. Today I just wanted to make sure you knew I was alive.

 

love,

the mrs.

 

Foil Packs

My family has a time honored tradition of making what we call “foil packs.”

Foil Pack: a precisely and often creatively wrapped foil package containing ground beef (or turkey), potatoes, assorted vegetables, and various spices. Assembled by each person to his or her specifications, wrapped up and placed on a bed of hot coals until cooked.

I believe the root of the tradition traces back to the annual male bonding experience of Deer Camp, and was introduced to the female members of the Cowan Clan in 2003 during an Easter camping trip on the Frio River. My family now makes them at almost all Cowan gatherings and is starting to introduce the tradition to new members of the family (wifes, children, fiances, girlfriends).

Last week, Cody and I had my parents, brother and his girlfriend, and my grandmother over for “foil pack” night.

My little brother and his beautiful girlfriend putting their meals together.

I prepped for the dinner by washing and halving carrots, potatoes, celery, cabbage, bell pepper, garlic, and onion. I laid these all out for everyone to chop themselves (the hands on part of this meal is what makes it so special). I then took ground beef (and turkey) and sectioned it out into 1/2 pound balls. ** I am probably the only member of the Cowan family that advocates the turkey alternate. Anyone else will tell you I am breaking tradition. ***

Each person creating their foil pack grabs a ball of ground meat and adds their favorite vegetables and spices, securely folds and wraps the foil into an air tight package and places them on very hot coals. The best part of foil pack night are the bonding moments shared while standing around the hot coals watching your packs cook. There’s always the one that bloats, the one that’s huge, the one that sizzles, the one that’s tiny. Because everyone makes their own and wraps there own, its always fun to taunt each other. In the photo above, my brothers is the giant one in the middle. He always competes for the largest foil pack. This night he didn’t have any competition, but when my boy cousins are around, he has a run for his money.

I’ve always loved being part of big, tight-knit family. My cousins are my friends. My aunts and uncles are like second, third and fourth sets of parents. And my grandmother, well, she’s the glue that holds us all together. As I’ve started comparing my family to others, I wonder what we’ve been doing right for so long, and I’ve realized that its not just one thing that makes us so close and so loving, but a million small things (like foil pack night) that bring us together and allow us to enjoy our time spent together.

 

Murphie Monday

I may be home for the day, but Murphie would rather lay in bed and watch me clean the house!

Soft Pretzels

Let me begin by saying yeast and I have a rough history. We didn’t hit it off well back in 2000 when I tried a dinner roll recipe that should have been simple enough, and then in 2009 we butted heads again when my best friends and I tried to conquer Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls. But today, my friends, I finally won.

These soft pretzels are amazing! They are easy and fun to make, and best of all, they are absolutely delicious!

I’m not a huge fan of Alton Brown’s show on the Food Network. It’s more of my dad’s type of cooking show (my dad teaches Chemistry and Physics), and I usually flip the channel to something like Millionaire Matchmaker when Alton comes on. BUT, I love his recipes. This is my favorite to date.

Note: your stove top may look like this after you dunk the little guys in their 30 second bath:

But don’t let the mess deter you from trying this recipe. Its amazing, made better only by a cheese sauce for dipping, lucky me, I have a jar in the fridge!

 

Homemade Soft Pretzels

Yields 8 large pretzels.

• 1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
• 2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
• Vegetable oil, for pan
• 10 cups water
• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• Pretzel salt

Directions

Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and kneaduntil the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.

Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.

In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.

Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

 

to tone or not to tone????

So I’ve joined the bandwagon. I am officially the owner of a pair of “toning” shoes. To tell the truth, I’m not sure how I feel about this whole fad. I’m of the “sweat and tears” fitness school.

Do these shoes, most of which are incredibly ugly, painful looking, and far from fashionable, actually increase muscle activity? Is it possible to shape up that rear just by donning a pair of shoes or do women see results because they are getting up off the couch? Am I going to see a difference in my tush because of a shoe even though I’m already active?

Well my friends, I’m going to find out. Today I purchased a pair of New Balance truebalance walking shoes. They are by far the cutest “toning” shoes on the market. Need more than my word for it?

So, tonight I took the Murph out on her daily walk and wore my truebalance 850’s (which also happen to benefit the Susan G. Komen Lace Up for the Cure Foundation). My thoughts after our mile walk are as follows:

“How stinkin’ cute are my pink shoes?”

“I could totally wear these with jeans, and I HATE jeans with tennis shoes.”

” The outside of my right foot feels a little funny.”

“Maybe next I’ll review a pair of Louboutin’s – If only someone were to donate a pair….”

“I hope by tush is super toned come spring break.”

Just Another Murphie Monday

I know it’ll brighten your Monday to see a picture of Murphie…

Herb Garden

The more I’ve been cooking, the more I’ve been spending on fresh herbs. Which led me to long for an herb garden. I’ve wanted one for some time now, but had been apprehensive to get one started. Would it take too much time and money? Did I have the actual gardening skill set to grow something from a SEED???

Well my friends, in my off time (two entire weeks) I conquered my fear of the herb garden and started a small planter of Chives, Oregano, Rosemary, and Basil. About 7 days later, these little guys are growing strong!

I think this is basil, but due to my lack of really cute garden labels, I have no clue. Cody suggested I make my own, but I had something more like this in mind:

http://www.gardenmarker.com

or OMG, look at these from Monkeys Always Look

These are to DIE for! I think KNOW I need them.

Favorite Things

Now I’m not Oprah, but I do have a list of favorite things. Things that make me smile. Things that I LOVE. Murphie doesn’t make the list because you can’t have her…

5. Pink Wii Controller

For every woman out there battling your hubby, boyfriend, brother, or father over the Wii Remote, say hello your best friend! When Cody and I purchased our Wii, this little beauty found a home. It also looks great in my Wii Zumba Belt!

4. Old Gringos

Not that I’m getting another pair of boots in the near future (I’m still anxiously waiting for my wedding boots), but if I were getting a new pair, these would be them. These are absolutely gorgeous! The would make any girl (not just a cowgirl) swoon.

3. Aveeno Positively Radient Moisturizer

I’m lazy some days. I don’t like to put on makeup unless I have to, but this wonderful little moisturizer not only keeps dry winter skin moist and comfortable but evens skin tone. I throw this on before going on a run or walking Murphie around the Court.

2. Wedding Gawker

After two years of undergrad spent gawking food at foodgawker.com instead of studying, I’ve been able to comfortably make the transition from Food Gawker to Wedding Gawker in the past few months. If you are planning a wedding, thinking you’ll some day be planning a wedding, or just love to look at beautiful, romantic, fantastic wedding photography and blogs, this is the site for you.

1. iMac

If either one of these beauties suddenly appeared in the office I wouldn’t argue. Just saying.

Thanksgiving 2010

I’m still recovering from Thanksgiving…and by recovering, I mean I’m playing Wii Fit and Zumba trying to get my waistline in wedding dress shape. (Note to all brides-to-be out there: think twice about getting married after the Holidays… your trainer will have a lot less work to do)

Yummy Green Bean Casserole… My favorite part of Thanksgiving! Absolutely delish!

Texas Sweet Potato Casserole.  Nothing like a little Rio Star grapefruit juice and Texas pecans to sweeten things up!

And the Bell of the Ball… the most delicious cheesecake ever! Pumpkin cheesecake!

 

Africa Comes Home

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. -Proverbs 16:9

I’ve prayed and prayed about the Lord’s plan for my life. And I thank all of you who have prayed for and with me. Today was my first day on the job for HCISD. I have been blessed with an amazing opportunity to put my skills and passions to work for the better of others. I could not ask for more.

Meanwhile, Cody has moved in all his African friends and Murphie HATES them. She hasn’t stopped barking at them. I don’t know if its the smell, size, or the fact that they are dead animals hanging on the walls of the living room, but she does not like them at all.

We also experienced our “first” as doggie parents today. Murphie lost her very FIRST puppy tooth! Between the taxidermy and missing teeth, the poor thing’s had a rough day!