We are on our third day of winter storm aftermath here in Ohio. The kids are out of school again and if they don’t expire from an overdose of Sponge Bob Square Pants, I just might. We are doing some reading but honestly, at some point you just kind of run out of things to do.
Because we were all a little cabin feverish last night, a friend of ours decided a potluck dinner was in order. We each contributed a dish and we had a lovely time. It might have been cold outside but we were enjoying the true warmth of friendship inside.
Here are the two things I took over. Both are big hits every time I make them. So if you are stuck inside, I highly recommend them to you. You can make them for just your family but I encourage you to share the love. You’ll be the hit of the neighborhood.
Southwestern Pulled Brisket with Pickled Red Onions
I used a pork shoulder cause that’s what I had and it was wonderful. I also put mine in my fabulous dutch oven and cooked it at 300 for about 4 hours and then strained and reduced the sauce before shredding the pork and pouring the luscious stuff back over it.
I also made these chocolate chip cookies I’ve been talking about recently and I tell you there were audible groans around the table when people bit into them. One or two of us may have taken two cookies and sandwiched some vanilla ice cream in the middle of them, but I’ll never name names.
I’m sweet like that.
I think I groaned for a full hour after you left. And my dear husband was so rhapsodic over your cooking I actually had to remind him that I, too, can put a decent meal on the table once in a while.
xo
Thanks so much for the brisket and onion recipes. I was just thinking about those onions this morning, actually. Having had them during an earlier visit with you, I know how downright delicious they are! And – hint, hint – they’d be great Super Bowl fare.
More importantly, I’m so glad you’re feeling like cooking again. Enjoy these “cabin days” with nothing to do. They can be a blessing all their own.
Love to you all. Bibi
sounds yummy, another thing for times like that is to save your Christmas ham bones and make white beans and ham soup..I did that last year on a snowey sat evening and had about 30 people from church to show up, Kenny had saved the ham bone and I had one and cooked 4 lb of white beans then Jim mad a pot of chili and I made Mexican corn bread and reg cornbread…and oh my, you’d thought we had grilled t-bones, by the way I need to do that again…..sounds like you are feeling pretty good. By the way way, if you are not familiar with Skip=Bo (a card game) that’s a game the whole fam can get involved in, we play it a lot..Maybe it will be spring soooon!
Oh yea, ice cream between chocolate cookies…..I’m there!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing the recipes!!! I have a lot of pork in the freezer so that will be great. Take advantage of that cabin fever, days like that, can end up being a blessing.
Hugs
Brisket is on my menu this week!
Would you allow a round or two of indoor flashlight tag to liven things up? ; )
XOXOXO
Just finished reading your “Bad Day” blog…. responding here, as it’s the most recent blog, & didn’t know if you’d see comments on older blogs….
I so related to what you were going through, as I did when I went thru my CA experience in ’8l;diagnosed in Aug. w/uterine ca; in sept. started 30 t’ments of radiation; at first I didn’t experience any side-effects; by the 4th wk I began feeling more & more tired, no energy to do anything around the hs. Then I had to wait 6 wks before having complete hysterectomy; that was really bad. My mother-in-law came to stay about a month, insisting I get out & walk (in the winter) & it hurt so much; after a 15 min. walk I was totally exhausted & hurting. Thank God she cooked meals & kept up laundry. After she left, my 15 yr old daughter acted like it was a great impo-sition to vacuum. My “best” friend came over & told me that our women’s church group had talked about bringing meals, & she’d told them we didn’t need them because Lynn was here ( my husband didn’t cook) !! Can you imagine the hurt & rejection I felt by her????? I don’t have a lot of close friends, & that threw me for a loop. The months passed slowly; after my surgeon told me I could resume normal activity, a friend suggested we take swimming lessons @ the community college. I fllunked: the water was too cold for me; my abdominal muscles felt stiff, numb; I was afraid of deep water & my instructor insisted I swim ( only on my back ) to the deep end of the pool & back. At the deep end I paniced & burst into tears. the next week people learning to dive had one neck injury & that cured me of wanting to swim.
It took me about 4 years before I felt close to my previous energy level (which has never been high).
I have struggled with frustration, anxiety, powerlessness, & depression throughout this time, and many times throughout my life. I wish doctors had known more about these problems back then. I have been very hard on myself when I thought I wasn’t being the Christian I thought I should be: just simply trusting in Him, when I was doubting & discouraged. I KNOW the Lord is my Strength, but don’t always give “IT” to Him, thinking I must be the strong one. It was hard for me o come to accept that it is alright for me to be WEAK, for “IN MY WEAKNESS IS HIS STRENGTH”. I’m sure you know this, too, I’m not trying to preach, just share & remind. When we’re in a dark place, it is very difficult to even think of or realize there’s another way to deal with the situation. It’s OK to be “human”; the Lord doesn’t expect us to be PERFECT; He just wants us to TRY. We need to be KIND to ourself when we’re having a rough day, week, whatever…..
I don’t blame you for being anxious about the next chapter of your journey: chemo & radiation. It sounds like you have very wise oncologists, who know they have to get you through this, & Lord knows, He wants to get you through this !!!! HE is holding YOU in the palm of HIS hand……… Peace be with you………May His Love uphold U.