Baked potato soup

 My toaster oven I can cook two things at once.  

I like to cut the bacon in half.

Potatos

Put the bacon on the wire rack. Slide on top of the potato so the spuds can bathe in the bacon grease. Cook both  for about a half hour.

Pot of love and leftovers 

Fry up some mushrooms and throw the sliced bacon in to crisp up. Set aside in a bowl once done.

Dice up the potato. Mix with an emersion blender. Season as you are doing this. Salt, lots of pepper, and tonight I used Italian seasoning. I used half and half for the liquid. Just keep adding the liquid till it is how you want your soup. Then put in the bowl of mushroom and bacon.

That is the soup, the other bowl is freshly grated Irish white cheddar. Cheese makes everything better.

Grocery list

Potato 

Bacon

Mushroom

Half and half (can use regular milk, I just like it creamier)

Cheese

Beef and broccoli

 Make rice. I use the real rice, it's cheaper and healthier. Less chemicals are better, the minute rice while easy is bad  While the rice is cooking cut up the steak into bite sized pieces. Make broccoli, I used the frozen in the bag and make it in the microwave.

Season your steak as it is cooking, once the broccoli is done add that to the steak pan. This is also when I add a bit of soy sauce. I like to throw my cooked rice into the same pan. Everyone in the pool. Dinner done!

Easy pasta

 Aldi has fresh pasta 

Boil water. Put pasta in. Don't walk away! It is done before 5 minutes. Drain pasta. In the warm pan melt a tablespoon of butter and whatever seasoning You want. Once butter is melted ( can turn on the heat if pan is to cold) put the pasta back in and give it a stir. Dinner done. I ate mine with garlic bread sticks and more cheese slices. XO

Simple also works

 Way to many changes to list. I still live alone but my heart is very taken. I brought this to help him start to enjoy the pure happiness I feel in the kitchen. He is learning from almost step one. Some will be so easy but this is also a safe place for him to be able to look at when needed. Today it was over 100 degrees. Simple works best.

6 25 2024 part 1

8 24 18

This day is the real reason why I have caught up on this. I am starting a new job on Monday that I am really excited about. This new place will give me access to the good wine that I used to enjoy and very honestly, I have missed. The first bottle was because of the label, if you know me at all you understand.

 again, that comfort food.

 this Man and Zakk have always been the soundtrack to my life.

the story behind the wine.

A new book is starting in my life. I hope to go back to the healthy eating and enjoying my wine instead of just drinking. More food adventures. Love and Hugs SDMF

August 2018

I am now happier and becoming comfortable with myself. And it was in the beginning of this month that I decided to revive this blog. I am wanting to do it as a way to show that eating and drinking well can be done on a budget. Most of the time my drink has been my standby of Vodka/cranberry.  Stay tuned for changes :)

8 2 18

this is sausage, cut up and sauteed in some balsamic vinegar  with tater tots topped with some shredded cheese. My adult hot dogs??

8 3 18

this is my favorite breakfast that I make when I dont have to work. Sausage, hash browns, cheesy scrambled eggs and avocado. I make this and I dont eat till dinner

8 11 18

this was my cheat way of cooking all in one skillet. Hash browns, tuna steak and corn. this one almost looks healthy.

8 12 18

I had some leftover 5 Guys fries. cooked some bacon, threw the fries in and of course cheese!!

8 16 18

chicken sausage and rice.

2018

1 16 18

this was me trying to eat to happiness. Steak, taters, mushrooms, sushi, fresh mozzarella cheese and a wine I enjoyed lifetimes ago.

2 17 18

had to be after I stepped on a scale. tuna steak on a bed of black pepper noodles with parma cheese.

4 16 18

another run to the Hill. Vivs is a great place to shop/eat

4 14 18

this was a very yummy birthday bottle of wine from someone that has been in my life for over 15 years now.

7 4 18

my Fourth of July celebration. a mushroom swiss bacon burger with an avocado topping.

7 25 18

again my mid-western girl comfort food.

7 29 18

my beef and broccoli. I have a tiny wok that I love, perfect for just me

2017

2 14 17

steak, taters and lobster tail. with a store bought cake. This was when I was living with a roommate. Still trying to find me.

4 16 17

I am back in my own apartment now. I think this was one of the first real dinners I made myself. It was around the Spring Equinox/Easter. There is not much after this. I was going out more than looking for myself in my own home.

Christmas/Yule 20017

chicken and procuito stuffed ravioli in an Alfredo sauce.

Chicago Deep dish pizza. not my own, I can tell by the crust. I was missing home not to realize that I would be driving up for the last time in less than 24 hours. things are going to get better in 2018, I promise

2015

Instead of doing a single post for each old picture I am putting them in a year thread.

2 10 15

this is a brussel sprout salad, with mushrooms and almonds. I think I used 1000 island dressing.

2 21 15

this was a beef tenderloin, smashed potatoes and broccoli covered in cheese. The potatoes were smashed with a half a block of cream cheese

2 26 15

my home made chicken pot pie. If you want the recipe I can find it for you.

3 25 15

salmon with roasted fennel and grapes.

This is right when Cody left. That break up hit me hard. I quit doing alot of things. I have no pictures of 2016, so we are just going to jump a year.

8 25 18

Enjoy the good life. Those words have so much meaning to them. I started this blog in 2012, wow has my life changed since then. I still have always spoiled myself with food and drink. Last time I blogged was the start of 2015. I have looked through my other social media sites and gathered some of what was done. I am not deleting for why delete life, it was lived, it was enjoyed. I am using this as a continuation of my story. Back in 2012 I had no budget, spending wasn't an issue. Times have sure changed. What has remained the same is that I still cook for myself almost every night (or eat those wonderful leftovers). It may be just me but I enjoy my food and drink. Sit back and catch up with me. Love and hugs SDMF

New Years Eve 2014/15

With the new simpler life we decided not to go anywhere for New Years Eve.  Instead we took the time just to be with each other, to celebrate the most important things in our lives. We have also decided to try to eat cleaner and better. Who knows if that is going to happen but stay tuned for those pics to see if that idea is accomplished :)

Dinner was a simple meatballs on pasta.

a pound of hamburger and a pound of sausage mixed with some spices

I use a small cookie baller to make these

mmmmmm sizzle. work in batches as not to crowd the pan

then I just boiled some basil noodles, tossed in some butter and black olives. Yum

Pot Roast

total comfort food. Pot roast seasoned well. put in a crock pot and covered in potatoes and carrots. I use can gravy as the liquid to make everything a bit more yummy

splinter pizza

this is one of Cody's childhood meals that he made for me

english muffins, pizza sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, cheese, olives and then more cheese

10 minutes in 400 degree oven

Tator Tot cassarol

brown the ground beef. mix with a bag of frozen vegetables, a can of cream of mushroom soup and some shredded cheese

then top with frozen tator tots. 30 minutes in a 450 oven

Thanksgiving dinner

Cody made this while I worked