In My Element~

Today I went to Sunflower Market,one of my favorite errands to go grocery shopping. What I really like is why I am there! I was there to get ready for Michael's visit with us.

This store is like an organic paradise, like the quality of the produce from the food chain, Trader Joe's. I found cantaloupe 3 for $1.00, seedless watermelon for 4 lbs for $1.00! There was London Broil, and a roast for a specialty I make for family heritage food. Imagine what I will do with that and druel just thinking about it.



I bought a couple of packages of fresh chicken tenders, which I love to prepare all different ways like chicken salad, fried chicken in coconut oil, Chicken Mole. Not everyone likes that like I do, but that is ok. More for me....! One thing that is unique about this store is that the meat is not treated with hormones and has a wonderful taste. Michael barbequed the London Broil for dinner. It almost melted in your mouth, it was so tender, rare and out of this world. He is the cook extraordinaire with his experience in the meat dept from his management days with Kroeger in Cincinnati. Way to be, Michael!

Did I mention that the reason I like to go there so much is because I think one of my "love languages" is cooking for someone special, like family, etc. You get the idea. Cooking all day in the kitchen is heaven for me. Some people stay out of the kitchen . . . but, not me! Whether it is baking or making a new dish, I am like a fish in water, swimming in my element.

Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies are MY favorite. Next is chocolate chip cookies and brownies with extra whipped, light, meaning fluffy to the max chocolate frosting over those yummy HOT brownies. Shear joy. My family was always around me when I baked and I think that is why I liked it so much, because they could not wait for me to bake the cookies or brownies to be done. We sometimes at the cookie dough raw and never mind the baking once in a while. :).

Ahhh, those were the happier times for me as a mother. It still is as a grandma with Snickerdoodle cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar. Mind you I don't bake a lot now, but if and when I do, it is an occasion!

I have been blessed with the talent to cook well. I am so pleased Tracie helped put together our family's favorite recipes last year for the Reunion.

This year we are doing a group family photo with Michael as photographer. Not all the members in their family's will be here, so a few will be missing this year around. We will miss those of you who were not here. Please come next year, ok?

We already have some plans of what we will do and will talk about it on Sunday at dinner at Tara's house in Spanish Fork. I look forward to it all.