I know it's been a while since I posted. But honestly, I ate the last serving of the stuffed shells this morning for breakfast (I was getting desperate for them to be gone). I even took some of the shells over to my friend Alexis' house where we had lunch, and she kept some for leftovers. It might be a long time before I make them again. But they were still delicious! I'm pretty sure I haven't cooked anything since then...unless toasting a bagel or reheating leftovers counts. I don't know what I have planned for dinner this week other than Wednesday. A friend of mine just had a baby a little over a week ago, so I wanted to bring her a meal and visit for a while. Not to fear - I have a plan!
The first time I really spent any time with my in-laws was for Christmas right after Matt and I got engaged. We flew out to the San Fransisco area to celebrate the holiday with them and tour the city - it was my first time on the West Coast (with the exception of a layover in Los Angeles and Vancouver). Christmas day rolled around and I was looking forward to the traditional holiday meal - turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potato souffle, cranberry sauce from a can, and maybe a legit vegetable like green bean casserole. What was laid out on the table was nothing even close to what I expected.
When we woke up Christmas morning we decided it would be a lazy day. We had been busy running around since we arrived, exploring the city and seeing all the things we wanted to see in a limited amount of time. It was going to be a PJs all day kind of day. We started the morning off with opening presents. (My mother-in-law is by far the best gift giver ever. She's always so thoughtful and gives gifts for more than just the typical holidays. She often buys silly and frivolous things like 3D holographic glasses, dollar store model airplane kits, and silly putty. But she's also really good about buying things for you that you want, but may never buy for yourself. She's also really good at picking out clothes. I'm grateful that my husband has inherited that generous nature.) After presents, Matt and I got to lounge around and watch TV while the cooking in the kitchen began. When it was time to eat, we all went and sat down at the table. Brisket, Cheese Grits, Cranberry Fluff...what? While this meal wasn't what I expected to see, it exceeded my expectations and is now something I expect to eat at least once a year.
Lucky for my friend Alisha, she gets to enjoy this meal with me! While I was trying to figure out what to make for her I was trying to figure out what she might like. I don't really know a ton about her eating habits, but I do know she's from California...so somehow I decided these Southern classic comfort foods would be enjoyable for her and her family. I hope they are! I'm planning on making the brisket and cheese grits, along with a vegetable or side salad. I'll be sure to digitally document the cooking process as I go. I know it's something everyone will LOVE!
P.S. I'm planning on expanding my garden tremendously. More to come soon. :)
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