Mommy, when are you going to make ribs?

I think the greatest thing a cook can hear is a request for more! Last week my son said, "mom, when are you going to make those ribs? I love those things, they are my favorite." Now, not many things get me in the mood to cook, but I'll tell you what, that short statement created a desire to rush onto a farm, find a pig, pull out some ribs, slap on some sauce and cook up a feast for my little man! Well, not really, but I go a long way on a compliment.

This great recipe is one that my mother taught me and still brings back memories of walking into the house after church on Sunday's and smelling tender, juicy, ribs. It was one of those meals you just couldn't wait for, and when you finally took your first bite, which in our home was after some dilliberation (prayers were sometimes long at our house)....you felt like all was well with the world. I hope that this is the feeling I have given to my son, and that is why he loves when we have ribs!

So, I thought I would share this great, easy, recepie with you. Sorry I only have a picture of before....I know that some of you hate the look of raw meat, but a "cooked" picture would make you too tempted, so this will do.

Some tips: I get my ribs at Costco--they are enough for several meals. I usually double the sauce to cover the ribs. It depends on how big your roasting pan is. Put in before church and it is ready to eat when you get home! Serve with rice, and your favorite veggie!

Barbequed Spare Ribs

3-4 lbs Spare Ribs (browned)

1 Cup Sliced Onions

1 Cup Catsup

1 Cup Water

2 t. Salt

2 t. Worchestershire Sauce

1/2 Cup Vinegar

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

2 t. Dried Mustard (I use regular)

Put in a roasting pan with juices covering meat. Bake @ 300-325 for 3 hrs.

Butter anyone?

A few months ago I made shortbread. I had never made it before, but I knew I liked it and I knew that it was not too healthy for me. It is almost straight butter, and sugar. But what I liked about these cookies was they just melted in your mouth. We added some crushed raspberries in the middle and they made a tasty snack. Then a few weeks later I was craving them again, but I resisted the temptation to make some more....thank goodness for high food prices, because if butter were as cheap as....oh, nothing is cheap anymore, so that comparison is invalid.

Soooo....if any of you are in the mood for some really buttery treats, go make some short bread!

Melt-in-Your-mouth Shortbread (24 cookies)

1 cup butter 1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whip butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Stir in the confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and flour. Beat on low for one minute, then on high for 3-4 minutes. Drop cookies by spoonfuls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12-15 mintues..watch that the edges don't brown too much. Cool on wire racks.

***if you want to add a filling, I just pressed a small dent in the middle of each cookie right after I took them out of the oven. They are fragile, but if you let them sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before moving them, it will work better. Good Luck.

(Found on Allrecipes.com)

Taste buds are Happy.....

I have decided that I have a talent. I can eat! I like to eat, and I am rather good at it. What I have lacked in the past was the ability to COOK.

I mean I could throw a few things in a casserole dish and pop it in the oven, but the problem was that I popped the same old things in the oven over and over, and did this for almost 8 years of marriage......needless to say I feel my taste buds have suffered.

Lately I have tapped into the previously unknown world of cooking splendor. I have spent some hours learning about spices, herbs, what goes with what....I now have things in my cupboard that I didn't know you could eat. I have broadened my mind, and now I understand that Salt and Pepper were not the only things created to flavor and season our food.....Heavenly Revelation!

So from time to time I will share what I have learned as well as some great places to get ideas, and recipes that we have tried that we like. In the past month I have tried over 15 new dishes, and have actually looked forward to cooking dinner for uh....... the first time in my life.

Sooooo....this is my cookin' Blog. I hope to get better with food photography, cooking, and running to loose the weight I will invariably put on, now that I use cream, butter, and all sorts of unhealthy ingredients....I think my taste buds are addicted.

In this small way I hope to connect with you all in the web-space world. Please feel free to critic, make suggestions, laugh, and share your own ideas.

Since I have a life time of feeding hungry mouths to look forward to----I have finally decided to use the small talent I have been given (that of the ability to eat good food) and increase my capacity to GROW....hopefully not physically.....Enjoy!

(Pictured is a fun version of Lasagna, called Mexican Lasagna)