Cookbook Challenge #1

Watkins Cook Book 1936

I think this cookbook may mean the most to me. It belonged to my grandmother and for years I have begged my mom for this book but she would never part with it. That is until now. This year for my 30th birthday she finally passed it on. I am so proud to own this book and am very honored that my mother would give it to me. One thing I love most about this book is the hand written changes to the recipes. Or maybe the typed recipes folded and used as book marks. There is just so much to love about this book. So, I felt it fitting for this to be the first cookbook in my challenge.

For my first recipe I chose Pork Chops Southern Style.

I was a little nervous as I have never had chops prepared this way and the recipe really didn't give much instructions. I tweaked the recipe just a tad by using a cast iron dutch oven instead of a "buttered baking dish". I did not have "onion seasoning" so I used garlic powder instead. Also, instead of "rich cream sauce or tomato sauce" I used a little garlic basil and olive oil tomato sauce out of a jar and a splash of half and half.

It may not have looked fabulous but I have to say, it was DELISH! The meat was so tender and the flavor was delightful.
Not so bad for my first challenge. I wonder what's next.

Cookbook Challenge

I love cookbooks, new and old. I started collecting them not too long ago and to date I have about 47 books.

As much as I love cookbooks, I have to say, I don't use them very often. However, I would like that to change. I think it would be cool to say I have made something from each of my books. So, here is my challenge to myself. I will pick one recipe from each book and attempt to make it. Sounds easy enough. I will post pictures of each recipe and hopefully not embarrass myself in the process. :) I'm not the greatest cook in the world, but I do enjoy it. So here goes...

Happy Birthday to ME! take three.

My Tim is always so good to me and I feel like I may have underestimated him. He is the kind of person that can do anything he puts his mind to. He can figure out any problem and he is the greatest husband in the world.

That being said, there has been an on going conversation about how "easy" it would be to "build" a skirt or dress. Tim has always said things like "eh, there's nothing to it, you just wrap some fabric around and sew it up!" We have always laughed at him...until now.

While I was in Tulsa, Tim looked up a few how-to video's on Youtube about sewing. He purchased a few yards of fabric and yes friends, my husband made me a skirt for my birthday! And not just any ol plain skirt. A gathered skirt with a waist band and hem. A real skirt! Take a look for yourself. I know your jealous.

He also bought me a stick blender, dutch oven and mortar and pestle, but I think the skirt is the best part.

Happy Birthday to ME! take two.

As you may or may not know, I was in Tulsa for work on my birthday this year. To be honest I wasn't thrilled to be away for my birthday but I decided to make the most of it and try to have a good time.

Tuesday was our travel day so I met up with my friends Sandy and Brenda and they treated me to a fabulous spa pedicure. I had no idea they were going to pay for it. It was a great surprise and my feet look marvelous.

That evening we went to the Purple Glaze for our group activity. This part really doesn't have anything to do with my birthday but I'm really excited about what I painted. I think I picked out the largest thing available. It's a pie plate with a lid and it's huge. The colors will look totally different once the pieces are fired.

I hope it turns out okay. They are going to pick it up next week and ship it to me.

Anyway, Wednesday was my big 30! We had a meeting, lunch, ice cream cake, and more meeting. That evening we went to an Irish pub called Kilkenny's for dinner. The food was great! I ordered the fish and chips and a black velvet (Guinness and Champagne).

After the black velvet I tried the yellow jacket (Guinness and Blvd Wheat).

It was also my friend Janet's birthday so they brought out two very tasty chocolate cakes.

All in all it was a good birthday. I would have liked to have been home but I did have fun and it gave Tim plenty of time to work on my gifts.

Happy Birthday to ME! take one.

I have been blessed with so many birthday celebrations that I think it is only fair to split them up and write about them separately.

Let's start with the Sunday before my birthday. That evening we went to Square One for a birthday dinner. We were celebrating not only my birthday but Josh (brother-in-law) and Sue's (mom-in-law) as well. It was a great dinner and free dessert is always a plus. After dinner we went to Josh and Angela's house for more dessert and visiting.

When turning into our driveway I noticed a crazy springy chicken.



I knew that my dad and Brenda had struck again. They are always doing little fun thing for me. I had no idea what they had up their sleeves this time. In the kitchen was a piece of paper with 30 lines on it and a note at the top. They hid 30 gifts throughout the house and yard for me to find. I think I could have pee'd my pants and cried at the same time. I was so excited! I immediately went off to find my gifts. Here are just a few pics of them.

Here is the complete list from the birthday treasure hunt.

1. crazy springy chicken
2. mug & coffee
3. antique silver pie server
4. antique little shorts pot holder
5. planter full of snacks
6. orange spice candle
7. antique scale (i think this might be my fav)
8. family matters plaque
9. antique ice chopper
10. frame with original art
11. Kellogg's hat
12. basket of bath goodies
13. back scratcher
14. pedegg
15. HUGE remote
16. glass bird dish with candy
17. slip n' slide
18. 6 pk of root beer and coozie
19. hanging basket with geraniums
20. work gloves
21. bird house
22. concrete gnome
23. sleeping gnome
24. gnome decorative stone
25. hummingbird feeder
26. nectar for feeder
27. old new orleans cookbook
28. miracle-gro for potted plants
29. bamboo wind chime

30. old bible

Tonight they are taking us out for a birthday dinner. I think we might try something new and go to a place called Three Monkeys.

My wonderful brother

I want to take a minute or two and tell you how proud I am of my brother, Wayne Allen Wilkes. He has become an amazing artist and a fantastic father. You may or may not know but Wayne started his own company a few years back (W2 Design). Now he has decided to make this his full time job and I wish him all the luck. I'm always excited to hear what projects he's working on and I know he will succeed.

Growing up we didn't always get a long. Okay we never got a long. I'm not sure what brought us closer together, but I'm so thankful to have him as my brother. He has gone through a lot the past couple years and I worry about him from time to time but I always know he will be okay.