Monday, September 14, 2009

The Kitchen Has Come Back to Life

When we were in Wyoming, I was all about cooking. We had a grocery shopping extravaganza when we arrived and I got enough stuff to feed us at home for a long time. What I learned about myself is that if I take away my computer, the TV, and evening activities, I can actually pull it off. I even liked it. One of my meals was a huge flop, but we won't talk about that.

When we got home I managed to stay on that same wavelength and keep up my good cooking habits. Yeah right! I have been horrible! HORRIBLE!

That was until I came home from Julie and Julia to that Lean Cuisine and it felt so wrong. So very, very wrong.

This morning I made French toast. And it was good.

Then in a flash of productivity I took the kids with me to the Verizon store and we got my defective phone replaced. Then we went to the grocery store. Was I high? Surely I was out of my mind to take my kids to the store. It must have been the very old vanilla that I used in the French toast. It's from Honduras and I can't bear to throw it away. (How long does that stuff last?)

Then I called my husband on the way home and told him if he wanted a really yummy lunch, he should be at the house at 1. Y'all, I made Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich from The Pioneer Woman's web site. And it was very, very good. It was hands down the best thing I have ever made and one of the best things I've ever eaten. I added some mozzarella slices to it and, oh my word, I could've cried from the deliciousness.

About an hour later I really needed some Tums. Worth it, it was!

Now the smell of the onions, Worcestershire sauce, and beef has faded and the stench of having scorched the bottom of one of my pans is still lingering.

I keep telling myself that I was my hubby's dream girl today for cooking up this great lunch, but the truth is I think I liked it more than he did. Maybe I'm my own dream girl! Ha!

Seriously though, make this sandwich as soon as possible. You might even be able to pass the Tums off as after dinner mints.

40 comments:

kittyhox said...

Oh my goodness, yes! I looove the content feeling of going to bed at night after a day of being a super homemaker. There is something so nice about nurturing the family with a comforting and yummy homecooked meal. I definitely enjoy it as much as my husband does.

And YES, it's the TV, internet, and other distractions that make it pretty close to impossible for me to pull off the domestic stuff to the degree that I would like. I need to cancel the cable and hide the laptop cord or something!

The Oakes said...

I stated making that sandwich about a year ago and whenever my husband wants to have a single guy friend over for dinner that is his request. So yummy my mouth is watering right now!

Jan AKA Wammy said...

That is the best sandwich ever! I can not wait until the cookbook is out!

Michelle said...

I make that sandwich too!!! And we LOVE it. I thought my husband would think he had died and gone to heave. Anything Pioneer woman makes is heavenly. I just preordered her cookbook fom Amazon. YUMMY.

Spicy Magnolia said...

I'll have to try that recipe soon! Last week, I made us Ree's "Most Favorite Burger Ever" and it was delicious!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/01/my-most-favorite-burger-ever-for-now/ We're usually a plain-jane ol' burger family but I thought I'd try something new.

I don't know why, but most of her recipes scare me. Maybe it's because I don't have much time to fix them and it feels like they take awhile, or maybe it's those awesome pictures make me feel like my food will never turn out that pretty...or tasty. But I'm glad I tried the burger. So I'm glad to hear about your experience.

She's coming to Austin this winter to sign her cookbook...maybe I'll scrounge up the courage to go. :)

Erica said...

That sounds very yummy.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks taking kids to the grocery store should be an Olympic event. Be glad you didn't witness us in HEB last Friday night! Yikes!
The after dinner mints part was too funny!

ChaChaneen said...

That was funny! Now I've got a craving for beef.

R said...

i am on a cooking kick too! and you're so right...it's all about unplugging the "stuff" in life and getting your head in the game on simple planning. and it IS fun!

i especially find that i love cooking for people, whether it's my family or a church family in need.

i told my family at the dinner table the other day that i love feeding people...it's like hugging them from the inside! :0)

Lauren said...

Oh my word does that look heavenly!!!! :)

Marla Taviano said...

I've been meaning to make that. And his favorite pasta too. YUM!

Jennifer said...

Oh my! That sandwich is soooo yummy! That is really the only thing I make of hers and I love it! My mouth is watering right now.

Sallie said...

Don't get rid of your Mexican vanilla....it lasts forever!!

Gayle @ thewestiecrew said...

I know!

Anytime I make anything off of P.W.'s site, it's always amazing! (Wow, at the plentitude of "a" words in that sentence!).

Loved Julie and Julia, too!

Julie Marler (Mammy) said...

I love Pioneer Woman! I'm a very good cook. I've been married for 37 yrs and knew how to cook NOTHING when I married! No Pioneer Woman or internet back then! I just poured over the 2 cookbooks I had and learned the hard way! "Learn and Burn"!!
But I must admit...I made the Marlboro Man's fave sandwiches about a year ago. My meat turned out so tough we could hardly eat them! I don't know if I bought the wrong type of meat or what. I must try them again now! Thanks for showing me I need to give this recipe another chance!
Mammy

Lauren said...

I have never even heard of ThePioneerWoman.com and I have been making that sandwhich for YEARS!! Right down to the sliced cube steak and Sara Lee deli rolls.
Meat and onions is the bare version we make when we are in a hurry. When we really want to EAT, I put on mushrooms, all 3 colors of bell peppers, and provolone cheese. Smothering it in ketchup is optional as well. Soooo good.

Keep up with the cooking! You should try Captain Crunch French Toast! :)

Leyla said...

Looks yummy! I printed it and am going to try and make it this week.

Jen said...

love me some pioneer woman....i ALWAYS get raves when i make her stuff for parties. here's the deal for me: i want to cook, i LOVE to cook, but all i like has a trillion ingredients and i end up spending far too much money. Me cooking is totally not in our budget! I usuially end up buying a $5 footlong at subway to eat for both lunch and dinner, while the hubs eats pbj and mac and cheese. gag, right? how do you cook what you want, have fun and not blow the bank? love to hear your thoughts! or anyones - for that matter?

The Cooleys said...

My husband loves that sandwich and we eat it often in our house.

Molly said...

Maybe I'm my own dream girl - the realization I believe we need to all get to!

It what God sees, thanks to Jesus, our Hero, our Knight in shining armor.

Amy Beth @ Ministry So Fabulous! said...

I can only hope you wore pearls and high heels whilst making it.

You know Julia would want it, Amanda. You KNOW she would.

Kelli said...

I have been wanting to make that sandwich and now I REALLY want to make it.... I just wish that I LOVED cooking.... maybe if it wasn't so hot here in the kitchen!

Rachel said...

YUMMY!!!

That sandwhich looks amazing. My pregnant self my just have to make it for me and baby...even if my man is out of town!!

Way to go, lady. I'm sure your man was super grateful =)

Unknown said...

Oh girl!!! That looks SO GOOD!! My mouth was kind of watering while looking over the recipe. Seriously. :) Can't wait to make it for my man!

Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca

RitzFamily said...

So hilarious! I love The Pioneer Woman's website. She has fantastic recipes, and her humor is entertaining too! I haven't tried this one yet, but I think I'll move it to the front of my list.

Alana said...

Im making that for dinner tonight...fortunately I still have a few dozen bottles of tums left from pregnancy =)

The B's said...

That sandwich is great as wells as Marlboro Man's Second Favorite Sandwich...I think that is my families favorite. YUM!

I so agree with you about the cooking..it is much easier when nothing else is going on and you have no other duties! :)

Kim ~ Kay Kay said...

I have yet to make that recipe.
Sounds very good!
I have made her "Corn Fritters", they are delicious... and this weekend I'm making her
"Stuffed Mushrooms Baby", for a party I'm throwing. Yummy yummy!!

Glad you tried it and shared Amanda. I always love trying new recipes! Have a great week!

Jennifer said...

You go girl! Thanks for the tip on those sandwiches - I'll have to check them out!

Love,
Jennifer

Kristen said...

First a spontaneous trip to see the hubby's family and now a spontaneous home-cooked lunch! You win the wife award friend!

katiegfromtennessee said...

The cooking aspirations of Little Momma have come in the form of yummy sandwiches:) I think I'll print this recipe:)

Blessings to you, Little Momma:):)

katiegfromtennessee

Kiki said...

I'm so proud of you!

So, what was for dinner?!

Bobbie said...

This sandwich sounds yummy! Can't wait to try it!

Michelle said...

I just read my comment from this and I wrote that my husbad had died and gone to heave!!!! haha, he probably has with a few things I have made over the years. The little things make me laugh.

Colleen said...

Okay, I told my husband about this sandwich last night while we were quickly getting ready to go to the boys' open house at school.

He looked up, with the most pathetic face, and asked, "Why would you tell me this after we just ate fish sticks?!"

Rita Loca said...

I don't think Honduran vanilla can go bad, it only gets better with time. Or so it seems! ;)

Marilyn in Mississippi said...

Oh, girl, you are soooo funny! Love hearing your spin on your day! :)

As for the vanilla flavoring from Honduras I think you can use it like Maxwell House coffee.....down to the last drop! Some missionary friends in Mexico brought us a QUART of vanilla flavoring many years and and I'm still using it. Getting down to about a couple of inches in the bottle though. Every time I use it in a dessert people want to know what that great taste is!

Marilyn...in Mississippi

Dani said...

You are soooo right, that sandwich is the best thing ever!!! Depending on what type of pan you cooked it in you can put warm water and salt in and let it soak and/or bring to a very very slow boil and turn down to a simmer and most of that will come off.
If you used a cast iron like she does, then just dry scrub.

Laurie said...

I'm making MM favorite sandwich next week!! So glad you cooked it and it was so good! Now I'm really excited. I was planning on adding mozz. or swiss cheese to ours, too. I can't wait until PW's cookbook comes out, but in the meantime I'm loving the recipes on her website! Just made her cinnamon rolls yesterday and they are divine!!

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

We made the MM sandwiches on vacation this summer. My kids absolutely loved them and somehow I'd forgotten them until now. I'd never dared to buy cube steak until then. Ewww.

Rachel said...

I can't say you didn't warn me...

The sandwhich was yummy and I only added 1 dot of Tabasco (2 of my 3 kids ate the steak ok!!)

But I'm feeling a bit of *something* uncomfortable in my middle region...and I'm only 19 weeks!! boooooo PG issues!

BTW, due date is 2/16/10 ~ isn't that Melissa's annivesary or Jackson's bday?! crazy!

hugs,
rachel