I feel kind of bad because most of Catherine's questions have already been answered.
Catherine asked: What did you do for your birthday?
See installment 8
Catherine asked: How did you decide to go on a mission?
See installment 8
Catherine asked: How is your Dad?
See all installments from all cousins. Should we even bother asking him again to SAY HI?
Catherine asked: What's your favorite thing to make for dinner?
This one is tough. People have asked me soul searching, super private stuff, and for some reason this one is really tough to commit to.
I guess I go through phases. Sometimes I love to learn new recipes. Sometimes I love to experiment. Sometimes I love to go out. Sometimes I pass the torch to Seth and he makes breakfast for dinner. Sometimes I just do the easy, old stand by recipes. Right now, I am in an, I don't want to shop and there is no food in the house, phase. I hate to shop in the winter so we have just been making do with what we have in the house for about 6 weeks now. I am also busier than usual lately and I am trying to find the desire to cook again. Lately I have relied on the old crock pot A LOT. Thank goodness Erin has been doing crock pot soups. What could be easier or better for that winter slump? (P.S. That crock pot chicken noodle won big with my kids, even the naughty little 2 year old)
Another current crock pot favorite is Cafe Rio style pork tacos. I usually hate pork, but since everyone is in love with Cafe Rio pork, I started trying the 8000 copy cat recipes out there. I finally found one that I love. That pork on a flour tortilla with some black beans, avocado, sour cream, lettuce and Jack cheese is really high up on the list right now.
Some of our all time favorites are
Pot roast with mashed potatoes, tender shredded pot roast, not overcooked sliced roast. Red meat has to be medium rare or you might as well just throw a shoe on your plate.
I like baked ziti.
I like chicken salad.
I like french dip sandwiches.
I like meatball subs.
I like pizza, all kinds.
I like chicken topped with honey mustard, mushrooms, bacon and cheese...copy cat from an Outback Steakhouse menu item.
I like meatloaf with green bean casserole.
I like steak with corn and stuffing.
I like Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti marinara.
I like salmon with cowboy mashed potatoes.
I like shish kabobs and grilled pineapple spears.
I like chili and cornbread. For all those who requested my chili recipe, I may get around to that one day. I have never written it down, or measured anything, and I am trying to decide if I will ruin everything if I try.
I like food.
I can't give you one specific favorite, but my all time favorite types of food are sub sandwiches and Mexican. I love bread and mayo, and I miss NY because they had the best subs. I also miss California 3 times a day when I am hungry for some Mexican food. I love enchiladas and burritos and tacos, any way you want to make them, unless you put ground beef in them. Please don't taint Mexican food with ground beef. I also adore hot fresh tortillas. If someone (like Erin, maybe) wants to teach me the secrets of tortilla making I would be a happy girl.
I was trying to think of a recipe to share with you but since you are a vegetarian, I want to share something you can actually use. I was a vegetarian from age 16 until my mission, when I decided I had to eat whatever people gave me. I tried for awhile to feed my family vegetarian one day a week, but I married a Wyoming boy. While he eats whatever he is given, I know he really comes from the school of "dinner isn't served until there's meat on the table". I would like to build up more veggie recipes though. It is hard because I don't like pasta very much. I like ziti and lasagna, but just noodles with sauce, not so much. I do like plain old spaghetti marinara, but Seth prefers it with meat sauce, I do not like ground beef in marinara sauce. The only other veggie things I make anymore are soups, broccoli, spinach, potato (although I usually throw some bacon in that one) and sometimes meatless Mexican food.
So I will share with you refried bean enchiladas, which I originally found on allrecipes.com, and they taste like smothered bean and cheese burritos. This is also a quick, easy recipe, made with ingredients that I always have on hand.
Ingredients
2 cups vegetarian refried beans
1 cup 1% cottage cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion
12 (6 inch) flour tortillas
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the beans, cottage cheese and 1 cup cheddar cheese; set aside. For sauce, in a large nonstick skillet, whisk the oil, flour, chili powder, garlic powder and salt until smooth. Gradually stir in the water, vinegar and onion. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat.
Dip both sides of each tortilla into sauce. Place about 1/2 cup bean mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Pour remaining sauce over top; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
* I personally add some pepper jack cheese to the filling as well because I like a little spice.
Sorry I didn't actually give a definitive answer. I love too many different foods to choose one.
Will you still take a turn, even though I danced all around your question?
Julie asked: Since we are talking about vegetarianism, how long have you been a vegetarian? Why did you make that choice? Are your husband and kids vegetarians as well? If not, do you prepare foods with meat? What does a weekly menu look like at your house? I really would love some more meat free dinner ideas.
Julie asked: I also just want to know where the heck you are. I know your blog is private so I won't link anyone up with your info, but I am just curious what town you live in (I know which state) and how you ended up where you did. I am loving your blog and I think you look so happy, and like such a fun mom to have, but I am just wondering where all of this cuteness is happening. Fill me in.
Up Next: Valerie
Second Week of School
3 years ago
10 comments:
Hi Julie,
I think Catherine was the last of the girls to ask about me.
Let them know; like most people my age I have too much of that which I wish I had less, and too little of that which I wish I had more....something for them to look forward to.
I have enjoyed the dialogue between you and them as it has developed over the past few months. Sounds like they are all living active and productive lives with their families. They seem to be Renouf's thru and thru.
I do appreciate them asking about me. I will always have fond memories of the times when I was their Uncle Billy.
Take care,
Dad
(ps....I thought Leslie's threat to shoot a tongue off was first directed at your grandmother, I'm sure I remember Evelyn telling me that??????)
We found him cousins! I knew he was here. Did you have any idea you were so popular still with all the Renouf cousins, Dad?
As for Miss Leslie, how many tongues were you threatening to shoot off...yikes! Did you ever say something rude to Nonnie too? Do tell? Have you ever secretly threatened to shoot my fingers off for blogging too much?
We need to have a 4 hour laugh session hosted by Leslie, my mom and Valerie at the next reunion, full of all the funny and awkward moments they have blessed our family with. I must hear more.
This story gets better and better.
Now I've insulted Sister Price, Aunt Susie, AND Grandma!
The first two I admit to but I never crossed the line with Grandma. Although she did beg and plead with me once on a trip to go to sleep and even said she would pay me if I would please go to sleep.
I would never threaten anyone for blogging too much. I love the blogs and always look forward to reading what you have to say.
It was nice to hear from your Dad.
I've been reading his comments along with everyone's and enjoying them.
He sounds busy, and we know all about busy big families in want and need of that which we have too little of.
I liked that line by the way.
That was nice of him to tell us he has good memories of us when he was our Uncle Billy. It made me a little sad to read it because I'm ridiculously sentimental but it really was a sweet thing to say.
And maybe he should feel honored in some way that I never threatened to shoot his tongue off.
hahaha...What a kid!
By all means let's have a 4 hour laugh session at the next Family Reunion. We should have done this years ago.
Oh . . . I've arrived! Thankyou for answering my questions (in this post and previous posts.) I have to say just seeing my name at the top of your blog made me feel shy and embarassed. How silly is that?! But thankfully you asked me some very easy questions. It ,may take me a while to answer them,(we're going to CA tommorow) but I promise I will.
I'm so impressed at all the things you like to make for dinner. We usually eat the same thing every week around here. I can't wait to try those enchiladas, they sound delish.
And I was so happy to see that your Dad responded to our nosiness. And what a nice comment, too. I'm with Leslie, it made me sad, too. I have good memories of him, too, when he used to be Uncle Billy.
And a 4 hour laugh fest at the next reunion sounds great!
I'm always here too, and I love reading all your posts and comments. This post made me hungry all over again-just like Leslie's did last night! :)
All of your meals sound so tasty. I think I will have to try the Refried Bean Enchiladas soon. Also, I LOVE Cafe Rio!!! I have one about five minutes away, but I would LOVE it if you shared the recipe you found that copied the famous Cafe Rio. Thanks!
I love making the cafe rio pork too. that's one of our favorites.
Okay, it's only 9:30 am, but now I want some dinner!! Yum! You definitely should share some more of those favorite recipes, and I have totally been in the same rut here, and it hasn't even been 100 below. I just default to not wanting to go anywhere this time of year I guess. So, we have had a lot of minimalist meals around here lately--although we have had Chicken broccoli like three times, and my mom has introduced two of my other siblings' families to it with much approval. We also have been adding fried onions on many a casserole with much success as well! Oh, but we've learned they don't say casserole in MN--it's "hot dish." What's up with that? Miss you!
I'm next? I don't remember my question. My favorite (and Dave's) from your list is definitely the meatball subs. Those are the best meatballs ever!!
I agree with Katelin, share some of your favorite recipes. I'm always looking for tried-and-true (and easy and fast) recipes that I know people have actually use and love. It's funny that you say your lazy time makes you use your crock pot more often. I find that using the crock pot requires me to be MORE prepared. I wish I knew enough about it and recipes off hand to just throw stuff in the crock pot on my "lazy" days.
So, after Mimi being sick yesterday and keeping us busy all day and up all night, now Annie's up with coughing, sneezing, sniffling, and wheezing (which is why I'm commenting on your blog so late and why I didn't comment earlier today because I was so dang tired from Mimi's puke spells yesterday). When does this sick kids thing ever end?!?!?!?!? Plus, my belly isn't feeling so great right now. I hope it's just because I'm having to be up so late and for lack of sleep last night. Please, oh please don't let me get what Mimi had.
Ahhh, finally she gets to the food questions. I have to try that enchilada recipe, too. Looks doable, even without a kitchen!
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