Category Archives: Reflections

Journey With Cookbooks #13

May 4, 2021 emily2jane Leave a comment

Mwahahahaha!

I have to admit. It is difficult to stay within just three cookbooks. There are only so many ground beef recipes…and we have a lot of ground beefs to go. So I turned to google again.

Looks easy. It says it takes a total 20min to make. 😎

So I guess I renounce my statement of number of cookbooks. But I will be continuing to share my cooking stories. Let’s begin.

Lots of chopped green onions. These are also from my indoor plant. So they are fresh!!

The longest part was defrosting the beef. I always forget hat it takes almost 30min to defrost.

Easy. Took the beef. Drain the fat, set aside.

Next I was to add all the other ingredients and let simmer. But I forgot to take a picture. But it was garlic, soy sauce, ginger powder, beef broth, various spices, and a whole cup of brown sugar…😳 but I realized why that much sugar later on…

The next step was to add watered cornstarch. I don’t use cornstarch. For no other reason than I never have any and I always forget to buy some. So instead you double the amount and use flour.

It will help thicken the beef mixture. The only difference between flour and cornstarch in sauces is cornstarch stirs in clear; while flour might be cloudy.

I’ve decided to listen through my iTunes music….it’s all the music I bought when I was a teenager…so most of it will probably be weird now…but maybe a few gems. Maybe…

As the meat is simmering for 8min you should also be cooking the noddles. It even suggested the spaghetti noodles. It was not a random decision. 🤓

The brown sugar is to glaze the noodles…🤔 ahhhh!

Hopefully it is good. It smells devine!

Finished!!

….Wow! It is delicious. Even the hubby said he thinks this is his new favorite ground beef noodle recipe. Mine too. I wish I could post the video of Elizabeth eating it….it is definitely her favorite too!

So…

Look Like Picture: Maybe an 8. Just because it looks like they used a different option on the noodles. The more authentic version. We might have to get some next time.

Taste: 10! 100% 10!!

Easiness: 10! Another put it all together and then enjoy! I sent this recipe to my family. It is definitely a dish my brothers and nephews would love.

Also…

The hubby made his chocolate chip cookies earlier so we already have dessert. It’s the normal nestle cookie recipe but somehow his cookies always come out amazing. One recipe I will not make; the hubby will always be in charge of chocolate chip cookies. And this time around he tried something new…

Nick’s friend gave us some fancy butter…if you love chocolate chip cookies, try making it with this butter….you will never be able to eat other cookies.

I’m usually good about not eating too many cookies… these ones I had 8 after dinner. I gained back all the weight I worked so hard to lose… 😩

Enjoy your night. I wish it to be filled with delicious food! But if it is filled with cookies…be strong…don’t eat too many! 🤣

Journey With Cookbooks, Reflections

Journey With Cookbooks #12

April 29, 2021 emily2jane Leave a comment

So I choose a meat first. I decided on beef…but for some reason I was having trouble finding a simple ground beef recipe that we haven’t had yet in the cookbooks…

Nothing…maybe it was because I was uninspired but I found nothing…

Nothing…well that’s not completely true. I found a few in the casserole cookbook but none were sounding appetizing.

So I opted to one of my previous simple recipes…

It is a google recipe that I’ve edited, typed up, and printed into my goggle inspired cookbook.

So it says Korean…but since I didn’t have the right ingredients, when I first made it, I kind of Americanized it….so I apologize to the Koreans or foodies in the world that may cringe at some of my changes. Sorry. 😓

So first things first…defrost the beef…

It would take hours if I let it sit alone…so hot water, meet meat…

This is from the cow we bought…the meat doesn’t truly taste different to me, but when I cook it, it has a nice smell to it.

Funny story about our rice cooker. My brother didn’t end up wanting this rice cooker when he went back for his second year of college…so I took it. 🤓 And it still lives!! It’s about 4 years old. When it eventually dies I will be very sad…😞

Anyways back on topic. Rice is cooking!!

The sauce and meat cooking pan is prepared…

A little bit of olive oil and start cooking the meat. Just until no longer pink.

Can you guess what I decided to do while I waited for the meat to cook?

Get the dishes prepared for after dinner…🥸

It is not my blog unless doing dishes is mentioned at some point…

I decided to add my always green bean recipe. It’s not really a recipe…

You know when you cook something so often that you no longer measure…that would be my green beans. Some butter, green beans, some salt, a little pepper, a lite sprinkle of garlic powder…and a five finger pinch of brown sugar. Mix it up and let it simmer until you are done with everything else…

I changed my mind about the sauce…I wiped out the bit of fat at the bottom of the pan and added the sauce.

Yeah it means one more dish…but to be honest it was the same pot I used to boil Elizabeth’s noddles for Mac n cheese…so it was already used. Another confession…I just wiped it with a paper towel after lunch…But all it had was a couple stuck noodles. 🤪

Now I’m hungry. I wasn’t really hungry when I started. But now I’m a HUNGRY THING!!

We get a sushi rice. It’s the best! Costco!!

Green onions just add that extra yum! to certain foods. I usually add them to anything hat sounds remotely good.

I’ve been trying to be better at my rice consumption. I now measure out my rice. It also makes the plate look pretty and professional…but honestly it’s just for measuring purposes.

See this was a normal cooking process before I got the cookbooks. My google inspired cookbook is huge. I gave my siblings a copy for Christmas this last year.

Even though it’s a bit simple it was delicious!!

I guess I’ll rate them since this is a recipe after all…

Looks Like Picture: 10! I do remember the picture. It always looks the same.

Taste: 10! I always love this meal. It’s a little sweet, spicy, and salty. Everything you usually crave rolled into one recipe. In case you try it…if you do not like spicy don’t add the red pepper flakes. Or maybe just half… also my hubby wanted seconds but again I said no. Just because I knew ice cream was in the near future…

Easiness: 10! It’s pretty much an add everything together and wait. Also since I use a rice cooker it makes this meal extremely easy!

Also to give you an idea of amount of beef mixture it makes… I had about a small heaped 1/2 cup. The hubby…3/4 cup?? I think. And there probably 1 cup leftover. So for two people, it’s a one dinner and one lunch kind of meal.

Hopefully this recipe made you hungry. Usually I won’t post the recipe but since this one is a recipe I tweaked to work fo me I shared it.

Have a great dinner tonight!!

Creativity, Poetry, Reflections

Is today the day?

April 28, 2021 emily2jane Leave a comment

Ready?

Yes! Here I sit,

And wait…

Splash! Something?…

Nope.

Nothing.

I see them…

Teasing me.

Splashing around,

Avoiding their fate…

I’m done.

Let’s leave.

Again not today…

Fishing must not be for me.

…

Today’s poem is inspired by my hubby. He has been trying to get some fish…but I think the fish can feel his wanting and are just trying to push him past his breaking point. He will probably give up for now, but just until his dad arrives this coming Friday. They are planning on fishing for the weekend.

We joke about the possibility of me trying fishing…and I would probably catch one within the first 15min. I really want to try and see if that truly does happen. 🤓 I will admit… I will be pretty happy if I can!! Mwahahahaha!

But I am hoping the hubby can have patience when he goes fishing with his dad… he said he almost threw the pole in the river…haha 😅 I suggested we get him a pair of those waterproof overall fishing pants; so that he can just walk out into the river with a net and try to catch a fish that way…

He was not impressed with my idea… I thought is was an awesome idea. Haha 😆

I wish you patience in whatever hobby you are trying out, that might not be going as planned. 👍

Reflections

Sunday.

April 25, 2021 emily2jane 2 Comments

All day yesterday I thought it was Friday. I thought I would have one more day to pep myself up before going to church. But alas no…I woke up today, looked at my phone, and read Sunday.

Elizabeth will be happy. She loves going to church and greeting everyone. I just wish I had a day before being social to wake myself up.

So in my last post I said have a happy Friday…sorry to all of you…I have cut your weekend short.

Have a happy Sunday. I will try. The weather here is gloomy and gray.

I wonder is Spring will come this year…

So I’ll just say Elizabeth’s drawings is my Spring today…❤️

Reflections

Oops!

April 24, 2021 emily2jane Leave a comment

People are over today. So I’m being a hostess instead of posting.

Have a great Friday!!

Creativity, Poetry, Reflections

Constant.

April 22, 2021 emily2jane Leave a comment

Streams flooding.

Rivers gushing.

The mind is oozing,

With creative energy.

No telling when I’ll stop…

Why should I?

Fill it to the brim.

Push it over the edge.

Don’t give an inch!

Always strive for more.

Imagination is vast,

And never ending…

I wrote this poem after jotting down all my ideas for my story that I’m writing. I started at 4pm and I just stopped at 8:40pm…the storyline just flowed out of me.

I’m excited to write all the new chapters. But my hand is killing me. I even had to get another notebook…

When you have the creative bug just let it be the boss. I feel quite accomplished right now. 😎 But I decided to give my mind a break and write a poem.

I’m liking the writing my feelings into a poem. It’s clear and simple. It also refreshes my mind and emotions.

Have a crisp refreshing Thursday. 😎

Creativity, Life As A Mama, Reflections

Life As A Mama #37

April 19, 2021 emily2jane 1 Comment

Today was a nice day, but filled with sadness…😅

She was being such a sweet sweet this morning that I wanted a picture of her…

I guess it was too much to ask…I preceded to copy her; I sent that picture to my family.

Got her ready for church and she looked so cute! Will she smile for grandma…

Yes. Yes she will. Mama, no. Grandma, yes.

One of the foods that makes her a happy baby…applesauce. Meaning of life for her…
Now my turn!

I did everything for her first as always. Made her Mac n cheese, gave her applesauce, milk. So I turned my back a second and…

Her applesauce is untouched…whereas my apples have been munched upon…

She ate all the good parts and left me the peel part. She also gave me back all the bites that were not to her liking. 😒

Yes another black rain cloud. It was a rain cloud type of moment.

I still ate my “apple” I’ve gotten used to it. I guess the love of apples has been passed down to Elizabeth. I’ve always loved apples.

Random memory: In the first Harry Potter movie, the scene with the Halloween feast…you see all the meat, candy, desserts, etc. However for me, the first time I saw the movie I was with my sister and I yelled, “APPLES!!” when a basket of them came on screen. The love of apples is good. Haha 😂

It was not a bad day. It was actually a very nice Sunday. I am just feeling some heart break for my apple.

Also, you should know Elizabeth continued, and ate all of her applesauce, and asked for seconds…

Enjoy your Monday. Have an apple 🍎😊

Poetry, Reflections

Growing up…

April 18, 2021 emily2jane Leave a comment

Friends fade.

While families grow.

You mature;

While others stay.

New meanings.

Bright beginnings;

While years drift into the shade.

As life continues,

Will I change?

A bit;

But not as much as some.

I had some inspiration, from talking to some old friends. I really am at a different stage of life, and it’s hard to make conversation with them now. I’ve always had trouble making conversations; me being an introvert, but it is harder now with non-moms… 😓

I never thought I would be the one to grow apart from friends….I thought I would be the one left behind.

I guess this poem is for all the non-moms out there. If you are drifting apart from your friend who can’t seem to make conversation, unless it revolves around baby or husband… just know they are trying. It is difficult to remember small details from before kids or marriage.

Creativity, Reflections

Supposedly the happiest word is laughter…

April 13, 2021 emily2jane Leave a comment

The deed is done.

So you wait for it to grow.

Waiting.

Feeling.

Loving.

The heartbeat is strong,

So you, of course, push on.

Softness.

Warmth.

And love.

They see you for the first time.

Happiness comes to mind.

I decided today I would write a poem. It’s been a while since I wrote poetry but my style hasn’t changed. I needed some inspiration so I looked up the word of the day….and came upon The Happiest Word: Laughter. I understand their reasoning. But my happiest word would have to be birth.

Birth. Bring into life. The mom’s in the world…you understand. Even if there are days where you think you will lose all your hair you just need to remember that when they opened their eyes and saw you for the first time…they knew.

Elizabeth has been too much of a sweet sweet to draw…but knowing her personality, I will have something soon.

Enjoy your Tuesday. ❤️

Reflections

Sad to miss church…

April 11, 2021 emily2jane Leave a comment

Sadly we are missing church today. Because Elizabeth had a cough and a runny nose last night.

I believe it was my fault. I was warm and didn’t think we needed the heater. But I should have thought of Elizabeth…😔

It randomly started snowing yesterday and it’s supposed to be cold for a few days.

So sadly we will be missing church to get over a slight cold. I don’t want to be that mom that brings a cold to church.

So enjoy your Sunday!! ❤️ Elizabeth is still sleeping. That tells me she doesn’t feel good. Because she normally is like clockwork and is up by 7am.

Credit: Photo taken by emily2jane’s Nephew
2021

My mom sent me this photo yesterday saying one of my nephews took it. It is so beautiful that I needed to share. I will definitely be painting this in the future. 👏

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