Books

This is why I refuse to buy a kindle. I adore books. The feel of the pages, the weight of the book, the soul that resides within the paper and ink, the knowledge that others have read it before me and will read it after me and that we each leave a piece of ourselves inside and take something with us. Books are about history and being connected and passion and knowledge. You simply cannot get that from a machine.

Grandma's Spanish Rice

When I think comfort food, I think back to my childhood and the homey meals my mom made us growing up. One of my favorites was Spanish Rice. The recipe came from my grandmother and has been handed down three generations now. My children enjoy it just as much as I did and my mother before me.

It's a simple recipe but one bite and I find myself a little girl again, sitting at the table in our kitchen, my mom at the stove in her old, brown apron, my sister sitting next me kicking her legs that were too short to reach the floor and I feel safe, happy. Hopefully, one day, my children will make this for their children and they will have the same experience.

That's what this cooking family recipes with my littles is all about really: making memories. I know some of my best memories are cooking with my mom and eating together in the cozy little kitchen with our little family. Our world wasn't a perfect one. We struggled with money, our dad was gone and our mom worked every second of every day just to keep our family going. But those moments gathered around the table together, enjoying a meal that she had prepared with her hands, they were perfect moments. A family meal will do that.

In this day and age of multiple sports teams and boy scouts and busy schedules, it's easy to get caught up in what has to be done and forget to just sit down and be with the ones you love. No matter what your family looks like, take some time to sit with them, share a meal and make a memory. You can even make my Grandma's Spanish Rice if you'd like.

Grandma's Spanish Rice

Ingredients:

1/4 cup veg. oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1/2lb ground beef

1 cup rice

16oz tomato sauce

1 3/4 cup hot water

1 teaspoon mustard

1 teaspoon salt

dash of pepper

Mix the first five ingredients together in a large skillet and cook until meat is browned. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 25min or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Serve with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.

Happiness

I ran across this image on Pinterest and I had to share it here. This has been one of my favorite quotes for a long time. We often get caught up in the business of life (I know I do) and we forget that there is nothing more important than happiness. The laughter of a child, the gentle curve of a rose's petals, a striking sunrise, that perfect cup of coffee first thing in the morning...

Don't look at all you have to accomplish today. Don't focus on making it through the day. Stop and notice the millions of tiny things throughout the day that bring you joy. Don't pass them by today. Those beautiful little things... They're the whole point.