Another List

Devin and I have this pattern...we decide to go out to eat, neither of us wants to make a decision, and I get mad.  Normal, right?

Last month was Houston Restaurant Weeks?  Month?  I don't even know...it was all of August, and we tried a couple of places we've been holding out for.  Then, we got inspired and made this

As you can see, we go to Bible study on Wednesday nights.

Anyway, now when we decide to go out for a bite, we can close our eyes and point to one on the list.  Prollum solved.

Any suggestions you don't see on ze list??

Let's talk about boy roommates.

I have this roommate that doesn't seem to be leaving anytime soon.  For the most part, I am okay with this, except for a little issue that came up last week. 

One thing you have to know about my boy roommate and myself is that when we go to church we are looking for one thing.  Jesus.  Wait.  No.  2 things.

Donuts.

There had better be a red and white box with a delicious assortment sitting on that table when we walk in, or we start using curse words.

Jokes.  Sorta.

9 times out of 10, when there are donuts, there is not a donut to my liking, and by "to my  liking" I mean one that I will eat and not be mad about it.  I don't go for the glazed or the chocolate or the fritter.

But sweet Moses if there is a cinnamon cake donut in that box, I will absolutely tackle the lady with the walker and clothesline the preggo to get to it.  Cinnamon cake donut...you were always my first love.

So you can imagine our excitement when we were asked, in our new Sunday school class, to bring donuts last Sunday morning.  We were ready to show this class how it's done- 2 dozen: 1 glazed, 1 assorted and DONT put one of those nasty cherry with sprinkle donuts in there.  We're not rookies.

On the same Sunday, I was asked to grace the church bookstore with my expertise (sarcasm font) and come early to volunteer (but seriously, it's one of my favorite places to be), so I had to leave the donut recruitment to my boy roommate.  It's a touch and go situation, but I had some faith that he could handle it.

I had one request.  Get the order of perfection for the entire class, but bring me a cinnamon cake donut. 

So he met me at the front of the bookstore before class with boxes in hand.  I grabbed some coffee from the coffee bar inside the store, and we were happy as clams walking down those halls.  My mouth was watering.  I thought of all of the mornings I sat with Goggle at her house in Pagosa Springs, CO eating donuts and drinking coffee (she started me young).  Flip, my life was literally flashing before my eyes and I was okay with going as long as I got to eat the donut first!

And that donut was better than I ever could have fathomed.  But let me tell you why boy roommates are the most awesome of all that is awesome. 

He. got. me. two.

Is there ANYTHING that could make a Monday better than A CINNAMON CAKE DONUT?!?!
Answer: no.

So after class we headed out to go to the service, and I had to take a pit stop.  After church, I was thinking of how much I love that book store and which books I want need and how much I love our church and how much I love my man and how much I was going to love on those Iraqi kids we were planning to play with all week and mostly I was thinking, at the time, about that donut.

And I noticed my boy roommate did not have the bag that held my precious nugget anymore.

So I asked..."Um.  Where's my other donut?"

"I ate it while you were in the bathroom".

And that is why boy roommates are sometimes not awesome and donut clauses should be in your prenup.

Like a cow patty...in a good way.

  

They're called Cowboy Cookies.

They are my first recipe to bake from this.

They have things like oats, pretzels, dark brown sugar, espresso...

And they taste like NOTHING I have ever had before. Friggin' yum.

Devin had 3 before I could even put money on how many he would eat.

I think my Baked cookbook and I are beginning a very beautiful friendship.

Ze meatballs

When Chad and Shane came to ride bikes with the herzbin while we stayed at the Days', I played house and cooked up a hearty lunch.  And then I forgot to take pictures as I went and then the boys got home and I forgot to take pictures after they assembled their meals and this is all I got.   

So you just make meatballs...meat, bread crumbs, milk, spices, mix with hands, make balls.

That's what she said.

And then you saute some onion and garlic and brown the meatballs, then pour a full jar of sauce on top and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

Then put provolone cheese on a small roll (like sliders), add some meatballs, and voila.  I served it with a red onion/blue cheese/ bacon on Italian mix salad.

It's fairly light but I think you could make it even lighter (think wheat rolls, low fat cheese, and even ground turkey).

All 3 boys went for 2nds, so, I mean...

 

Check out her full recipe here.