The cooking stage

We have all heard of the Kubler-Ross model...you know, those five stages of grief. (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance) Since my grandmother passed away in June, I have noticed that there is, in fact, a sixth stage...or maybe it's stage 4.5...whatever. Somewhere around the acceptance stage, there lies the Cooking stage. I'm sure that not everyone will experience this stage. But maybe you've been there, too if you had someone in your life like my grandmother. No matter who you talk to about Juanice Hardy, they will certainly mention her cooking. I don't have very many childhood memories that don't involve her, and most of those involve cooking or eating! She loved to make people happy with food!!

In the two months since we lost her, I have baked her famous Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies 5 times. Five. And this weekend, I NEEDED to make her Chocolate Eclair. I love the comforting way those cookies smell and the way the pan of chocolatey pudding looks in my fridge. As I cook through these recipes, I hear Memom's voice in my head...her little tricks and tips and substitutions...teaching me how to crack an egg...showing me how to scoop out perfectly sized cookies with two teaspoons.

So, it seems I'm in the Cooking stage. Maybe I'll be there forever. I miss my grandmother, but I know she is always with me...especially in the kitchen!

Chocolate Eclair
Juanice Hardy

2 small packages instant vanilla pudding
8 oz cool whip, thawed
3 cups milk
1 box graham crackers
1 can fudge icing

Mix together pudding, milk, and cool whip with a whisk until smooth and thick. Line a 9x13 with a layer of graham crackers. Spread half of pudding on top. Layer another sheet of grahams. Spread on the remaining pudding. Layer another sheet of grahams. Place the icing can in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Pour icing over grahams and spread out. Refridgerate and serve cold or at room temp.

Cooking Light has an app!

Dear fellow Cooking Light lovers,
There is now a Cooking Light app for the iPhone...the "Quick and Healthy Menu Maker"! It is awesome. AWESOME! You can search through beautiful photos by entree type, and once you find one you like, it will suggest a menu. You can view the recipe, ingredients (perfect for impromtu grocery trips), and nutrition facts right on your phone. You can even share the recipe via email, facebook, or twitter AND save it to your favorites. I love this app. Get it now, you'll love it too!
Sincerely, Katie :)

Click here to get the app!

Here are some recipes I've tried with the app. I used the ingredient list right in the grocery store, then followed the recipe from my phone as I cooked.

Linguine with Two-Cheese Sauce
Cooking Light



Summer Squash, Bacon, and Mozzerella Quiche
Cooking Light

(Click above for link to recipes)

Both were yummy! My favorite was the quiche. I even ate some (cold) the next morning...mmmm. Justin loved the linguine, and I didn't feel as guilty feeding him that as I do with my (instant artery clogging) alfredo sauce!

Now that I have made that alfredo sauce sound so appetizing, I know you are dying for that recipe too! :) It really is good...just don't eat it every day! haha!

Justin's favorite Alfredo Sauce

1 pint heavy cream
1/2 stick butter
2 tbsp cream cheese
1 cup fresh grated Parmesan
salt, garlic powder, white pepper, and nutmeg to taste

Heat cream over medium heat until small bubbles form at edges. Melt butter and cream cheese into cream. Stir in parmesan. Stir in seasonings to taste. Heat a few minutes to thicken. Serve over fresh fettucini or as dipping sauce. (I told you it wasn't healthy...)

Summer grilling and a peek at the new house!

Grilled corn in the husks


4 ears of corn with husks
1 stick of softened butter
smoked paprika
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
kitchen twine, soaked in water

Heat grill to medium. Gently peel back corn husks and remove the silks. (this activity took me back to my grandmother's screened porch...shelling peas and shucking corn was frequently a summer passtime, and fun too!)Coat each ear of corn with butter then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika. Wrap husks back around corn and secure with twine. Place a sheet of aluminum foil on grill grates and grill corn 20-25 min, turning once.


Homemade Baked Beans

3 cups dry navy beans, sorted, soaked, and simmered according to directions on bag
1 can regular coke
1/2- 1 cup beef broth (start with 1/2 cup and add more if too dry)
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 tbsp dry mustard
1 tbsp grainy mustard
1 1/2 cup ketchup
1 yellow onion finely diced
6 slices bacon, diced
1/2 cup molasses
1-2 tbsp salt, to taste

Put all ingredients in a dutch oven over low heat. Cover and simmer for 8-10 hours, stirring occasionally. If too liquidy, simmer uncovered for a few minutes to thicken. If too dry, add more coke or beef broth.





We have done a lot more grilling this summer than ever before. It has been so nice to have our convenient little "grilling patio"! The area where the grill is has a covered patio, a water feature, and a small grassy area that is separated from where the dogs are in the back. It's perfect! (MUCH better than the old house, where you had to walk through our bedroom to get to the backyard...BAD design!)


I'm loving my little shady container garden out there, too!

The "grilling patio" is right off the more formal living area. This room was left furnished by our landlords, and is beautiful (even if not my style...). We NEVER use this room, haha!


The area where the doggies stay has a large patio. Half is covered and has a fan that they enjoy. The other half is open. Behind the patio is a large yard to fetch in.


We spend 90% of our time in the kitchen and the keeping room. I guess they feel more "homey", plus we don't have to worry about messing up someone else's furniture in those rooms!

I love my new zebra rug and butterfly lamp.

The window frames on the mantle are from Justin's great grandparent's barn. I think they look cool with my green buddha head.

And finally a peek at the dining area, entry and hallway. The house is a split plan. There are two bedrooms down that hallway, and our bedroom is on the other side of the house. I'm sure this plan is nice for older kids, but if we ever have a baby...there's no way it's sleeping all the way across the house from me! :)

(candlesticks on the dining room table are handmade by my talented and handsome hubby)