A Meal and a Message

I know this is going to be shocking to most of you that know me, but I, Amber Marie Dunn Gilliam, am beginning to actually "get in" to cooking.  I know, I know...  Several of you have just fainted away.

I am a lot of things...but a cook is NOT one of them.  And it's not because I don't like to eat, but it's because I HATE cleaning.  HATE. IT.  If kitchens cleaned themselves after we cooked, you wouldn't be able to get me out of the kitchen...and I'd be posting about my continuous struggle with weight loss (HAHA).

For Christmas, I requested...no, I BEGGED for a new set of pots and pans.  There really was nothing wrong with the ones I've had for 13 years, other than they were "stainless" steel and not non-stick so cleaning them was even more of a nuisance.  Well, my mom heard my cry and bought me the Paula Dean cookware set!!  :)

I also got a new cookbook.  This is actually my 2nd cookbook.  The first one I got several years ago.  It's for crock pot cooking.  I do not own a crock pot.  Yeah.  The first cookbook is totally useless to me at this point in my life.  Never fear...I do have plans to buy one--I just keep forgetting.

My mom and I made a trip to Ponca City to a book signing.  Not just any book signing.  We met Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman!  I follow her blog, follow her on Facebook, on Twitter and Instagram. Yeah, she pretty much intrigues me.  I am fascinated at how this one woman can do SO much!  She home schools her children, cooks and has a cooking show, she blogs, she does photography, she lives on a cattle ranch, writes books and SO MUCH MORE!  I thought I was a busy lady--but compared to her, I am a sloth.

I actually assisted mom with dinner one night and made Pioneer Woman's Mashed Potatoes.  This was my second attempt at preparing a PW recipe.  My sister and I prepared a meal for New Years day that consisted of PW's mashed potatoes, PW's Chicken Fried Steak.  I will say this one thing about her cooking--if you are lactose intolerant, you CANNOT eat this food.  They are loaded with dairy, cream and cream.  L  O  A  D  E  D.  But sooooo delish.

So, 2012 looks to be an adventure into the realms of cooking for me.  Which frightens and excites me.  I am hopeful that some of the new recipes I've discovered can be converted into more Weight Watcher friendly versions--otherwise, I'll be posting whine-fests about how I cannot seem to lose any more weight!  HAHA!

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This is just a quick note to say that my brother is awesome.  I've known this for a long while.  Well, probably since we were kids.  Aaron was "the good kid" and the only boy, so he was SUPER special.  Like nauseatingly special.  HA!!  He was also a genius.  His high school GPA was over a 4.0.  He's always been someone I admired and respected because he has always given 110% to anything he has ever attempted and/or accomplished.

Last night, he preached a message titled:  "Move Over Mediocre".  It was awesome.  It was inspiring.  It was challenging!  There is no time to just half-heartedly move through this life and not doing ALL we physically, mentally and spiritually can to survive.  We must be wiling to be the VERY BEST we can be, no matter the cost.