1. In a word: Everything. The people, the atmosphere, the learning. I love that I'm good at what I know and yet, I'm continuing to get better (cuz really, if you think you know everything, why bother going on with life?), I'm learning new things all the time. It's really an exciting time for me.
2. Comfort food, Yum. Both of my grandmothers originally hailed from the South (Gran Hallie from Pineville, Kentucky & Gran Mary from Baton Rouge, Louisiana), and they both taught me to cook. My ab fab, Hocks & Beans over cornbread. Not exactly a quick meal, because of the time involved cooking the beans - I let mine soak overnight - but so worth the effort. Recipe is actually simple.
Hocks & Beans:
Water 1 smoked ham hock 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups dried pinto beans - soaked overnight 1 cup onion, coarsely chopped 2 cloves of garlic whole 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Place ham hock and salt in large saucepan. Add enough water to cover. Cook ham, covered, over moderately high heat until water comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 30 minutes.
Add beans, onion, garlic, salt and pepper to ham and cook covered for approximately 3 1/2 hours or until beans are tender.
Remove meat from the ham bone and add back into the beans. Season to taste.
Now, I bake my cornbread in a 100 yr old 10" cast iron skillet, but any dark baking pan would work.
Cornbread:
2 cups yellow cornmeal 1 1/2 cups flour 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons sugar 3 eggs, beaten 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or shortening, for skillet 2 cups milk 1/4 cup melted butter Melted butter for brushing over the the top (yes, more melted butter :D)
Preheat oven to 425°.
Put oil or shortening in a 10-inch iron skillet and place in the oven to preheat while making batter (make sure it doesn't burn, a little smoke is okay, but burned shortening/oil should be replaced).
Mix together cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and sugar.
In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and butter. Combine with dry ingredients and stir only until all ingredients are moistened. Batter will be lumpy and thick, like pancake batter.
In your skillet make sure to coat all of the inside surface and sides with oil. Pour in batter and return to oven. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, until browned. A toothpick inserted in center should come out clean.
3. Hmm, the only fandom I'm involved in is M7. Ezra and Vin and Chris and Buck and JD and Josiah and Nathan. M7 just does something for me. And at any given time any of the 7 are my favorite. Plus M7 has brought has brought some amazing people into my life.
4. Each birth of my girls, so I guess that makes it three most special events. :D
5. I'm a military wife, and even though my husband and I are divorcing, my extended military family is who I look up to, the soldiers for serving and their families for supporting. To fight in wars to protect our rights and allow my family to live in a free society... Ah, I have a hard time explaining this.
I think of all the people I know outside of the military community, you might have a better understanding of what's involved, probably even more than I do. War has never been on my doorstep. In my heart, yes, because my husband has served in the middle east and as an American because of 9/11, but never in my home. You're made of tough stuff, lady. ♥
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2. Comfort food, Yum. Both of my grandmothers originally hailed from the South (Gran Hallie from Pineville, Kentucky & Gran Mary from Baton Rouge, Louisiana), and they both taught me to cook. My ab fab, Hocks & Beans over cornbread. Not exactly a quick meal, because of the time involved cooking the beans - I let mine soak overnight - but so worth the effort. Recipe is actually simple.
Hocks & Beans:
Water
1 smoked ham hock
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups dried pinto beans - soaked overnight
1 cup onion, coarsely chopped
2 cloves of garlic whole
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Place ham hock and salt in large saucepan. Add enough water to cover. Cook ham, covered, over moderately high heat until water comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 30 minutes.
Add beans, onion, garlic, salt and pepper to ham and cook covered for approximately 3 1/2 hours or until beans are tender.
Remove meat from the ham bone and add back into the beans. Season to taste.
Now, I bake my cornbread in a 100 yr old 10" cast iron skillet, but any dark baking pan would work.
Cornbread:
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or shortening, for skillet
2 cups milk
1/4 cup melted butter
Melted butter for brushing over the the top (yes, more melted butter :D)
Preheat oven to 425°.
Put oil or shortening in a 10-inch iron skillet and place in the oven to preheat while making batter (make sure it doesn't burn, a little smoke is okay, but burned shortening/oil should be replaced).
Mix together cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and sugar.
In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and butter. Combine with dry ingredients and stir only until all ingredients are moistened. Batter will be lumpy and thick, like pancake batter.
In your skillet make sure to coat all of the inside surface and sides with oil. Pour in batter and return to oven. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, until browned. A toothpick inserted in center should come out clean.
3. Hmm, the only fandom I'm involved in is M7. Ezra and Vin and Chris and Buck and JD and Josiah and Nathan. M7 just does something for me. And at any given time any of the 7 are my favorite. Plus M7 has brought has brought some amazing people into my life.
4. Each birth of my girls, so I guess that makes it three most special events. :D
5. I'm a military wife, and even though my husband and I are divorcing, my extended military family is who I look up to, the soldiers for serving and their families for supporting. To fight in wars to protect our rights and allow my family to live in a free society... Ah, I have a hard time explaining this.
I think of all the people I know outside of the military community, you might have a better understanding of what's involved, probably even more than I do. War has never been on my doorstep. In my heart, yes, because my husband has served in the middle east and as an American because of 9/11, but never in my home. You're made of tough stuff, lady. ♥