Finding Comfort in Recipes

     As we plan toward our Easter holiday meal, what to serve has its challenges.  And as we sit in the middle of the COVID 19 crisis, we stay home, go less to the store and learn what it means to truly stay home a lot of us are figuring out we really don't like this. Planning for your Easter lunch or dinner may have never been more difficult or honestly may have found more meaning than in these last few weeks. What was once a time to gather as a large family or friends, we now find ourselves social distancing to keep both our elderly and our families safe from the damage this disease can undeniably do.   Since writing and cooking are my happy place, I wanted to share some recipes for your Easter meal that I hope you have in your pantry or refrigerator to help both ease your mind and nourish your family's stomachs this Sunday.  
     Above all have grace during this COVID 19 crisis.  Have grace for yourself, your family and our situation. No one asked for this and at times it can be overwhelming. I miss my normal life just like all of you do.  I miss simple things like going wherever I want to shop, not worrying about what I touch and if someone sneezes, and I miss the daily hustle and bustle of our lives, and I miss my youngest daughter missing her senior spring prom, possible graduation and experiencing the same things my older daughters did.  I miss Mexican food at our favorite restaurant and most of all I mourn for those who have lost loved ones and who are sick during this illness and the past few months.  However, where we can find solace, peace and comfort, we need to learn how to do that.  I find mine in my family and food and pray I don't put on fifty pounds in the process!  So find your happy place, get up and move, do work in the sunshine if you can and remember that we are all in this together.  
       My hopes are that these recipes are both delicious, comforting and something you can create with your loved ones.  If you can't visit your elderly, take them a plate or two.  It means more than you realize. 


     My first recipe is for my mom's Young Family Deviled Eggs that are always a tradition on our table at most holidays.  She usually makes two batches as with our large family everyone wants more than one deviled egg each. For this recipe, you only need boiled eggs, mayonnaise, pickle juice, and mustard, along with salt and pepper.  Pretty easy and ingredients that can be found in most pantries.

     My second side dish is for a Strawberry, Feta and Sugared Pecan Salad that I love to make in spring and summer.  It's light, flavorful and tomatoes aren't just for dessert. This pretty salad is perfect to take to potlucks and family gatherings that will come soon I hope.  Serve this with any sweet salad dressing you can find or Italian Dressing is good with it as well.

   My next side dish is for a Green Chili and Cheese Hashbrown Casserole that is simply put, comfort food.  Who doesn't love a cheesy filled potato of any kind?  I love to make this for holidays when I'm feeding a crowd and to go with BBQ ribs or brisket.  Leftovers are great and you can split this recipe in half once cooked and freeze for later.

    Last I'm sharing a recipe for one of our favorite desserts at Easter for Chocolate Goey Bars.  You can use any cake mix you like and the original recipe calls for a Yellow/Butter Flavored Cake Mix.  I decided that a chocolate cake mix would be wonderful with this recipe and it really made it even more decadent. 

   Happy Easter weekend to you all. Find comfort in being with your families and know that before we all know it we will be together again.  Celebrations will be more meaningful in the next few years and we will realize once again that at the heart of our world, is the need to be together. 

Stay safe and well friends,

Alise 
The Ranch Kitchen
   
    
    

    

Finding Joy With My Favorite Recipes

People say to me...you cook a lot.  And yes, that is very, very true.  After reflecting a lot over my Christmas break, I came to this conclusion about several things both big and small.  Cooking is ultimately for me one way I show joy.  It's a little thing to me that helps me wind down after a big day or clear my mind and just spend time with just little old ME.

As I reflect on the new year ahead, I will immerse myself in what brings myself, my family and those I love and work with find joy whether it be in my cooking, my actions through my help, or just in how I treat them.

As a mother, educator, daughter and sister, it's rare that I ever have time just for me.  Although I would not want it any other way, it's those that half hour or more each evening without the Internet or television where I get to stop, reflect and just concentrate on the task at hand.  Cooking has become that outlet for me over the years and a way that I get to see the instant gratification of my efforts. It's that mom always fixes this when I come home, or my husband enjoys this meal, or my youngest loves to help me make this, that drives this part of my cooking most.

Just last year, my husband placed a television in my kitchen thinking I might enjoy it.  However to date I've probably turned it on maybe five time total, because to me the distraction of it takes time away from my me time.  I'd rather immerse myself in these moments and find time to let my creativity transform a recipe or two, make my family happy and bring a smile to my heart.

So as I reflect today and look toward the year ahead on just what brings me the most joy in life outside of what ranks at the top of that list being that of a wife, mom and daughter and sister... it's these dishes below that rank at the top of my list.

Bow Tie Pasta Salad

The Ranch Kitchen's Brown Sugar Salmon

The Ranch Kitchen's Lasagna

My Big Girls Favorite Goulash

Beefy Mexican Cornbread

Penne Pretzels

So here is hoping you find joy in the new year.  Find what makes you happy and make your day, your week, your month and year ahead your best ever.  I plan to work on just that one goal each day from this point on.

Alise - The Ranch Kitchen

Why I Blog and Post My Recipes

Today as I was posting one more recipe the realization struck me pretty hard.  I've been doing this blogging thing now over nine years.  Over 190 blog posts later and with almost 187 recipes to date, this blogging - recipe thing is a pretty big part of my life. 

One for my very first post for Nolana's Family Hot Sauce

Someone recently asked me when they saw the large photographer's light in my house, just why I needed that?  The answer came off my tongue strangely quite easily and I told them that because I cook mostly at night, I need the professional light to photograph my food for my recipe and blog site.  It's funny how my family is now used to me taking photos of almost everything we cook and when a recipe is good they will nonchalantly say, "Make sure you put that on your site".  To me that is the ultimate compliment! 

When I think about it, I don't do this blogging thing to for anything else other than to share and teach others about cooking and my love for it.  My recipes aren't difficult, fancy or require four different cheeses for a simple 'mac and cheese' dish or expensive cuts of meat. I made that promise to myself years ago that the recipes I shared would be those that any cook could make, on any budget and be both economical and family friendly. 

While all my recipes may not be the leanest or the most cutting edge, they are my tried and true family recipes that either I created for my daughters and husband, or are the handed down from of my sweet mom and dear Granny. I feel pretty blessed to have watched some awesome cooks in my lifetime like the both of them.

The Ranch Kitchen's Beef Stroganoff! The #1 most popular recipe to date!

I may use a soup can now and then to thicken a sauce or a little too much Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning, but when you find a good thing there is no need to change it.  I like to think my Granny is looking down from heaven and is proud I love cooking so much and in the process shared a few of her recipes.

My greatest wish is that my legacy for my girls will be one of love, sharing and teaching and giving through service to others through this blog and my life's work.  My blog and recipe site are yet another way as the educator I am to continue to teach others how simple and fulfilling cooking is and how one of greatest joys is to enjoy our family around a good meal.  There is simply no need for our youth or new cooks to think cooking is hard or tedious.  

So as I post yet another of my recipes to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Tumbler, remember it's just the teacher in me helping another student learn.  It's also the momma in me sharing my recipes with my girls and the advocate 'agvocating' about our beloved agricultural lifestyle.  And it's just me sharing my passion and enjoying what I've always loved...cooking and ultimately writing.  It's my way to do something that's just for me.  As a mom and wife we all give so much of ourselves each day. My blog is my outlet and believe it or not, my ultimate downtime.

Deep down I'd like to thank all my friends, subscribers and especially my family for following, sharing and liking my recipe posts.  What started as a way to share recipes on my blog for my girls while at college has turned in to so much more and for that I am very humbled and thankful. 

So stop by my site from time to time, try a recipe, save or share it and tell me if you liked it! I hope maybe just one recipe will inspire a meal around your table with family and friends.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and from The Ranch Kitchen blog and site.  

Remember, no one said cooking had to be hard! 

Alise Nolan - The Ranch Kitchen