Boneless Beef Ribs

Ribs are a classic I prefer beef but you can do this with pork ribs as well. The only thing I would add to the pork ribs is rosemary herbs fresh is always the best.

Ingredients:

Boneless ribs beef/pork
Garlic powder
Black Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
BBQ Sauce
Brown sugar
Worcestershire Sauce

My first step is to put three layers of foil out long enough to hold all my meat. Once all my meat is laid out I start seasoning my meat I add my BBQ Sauce and Brown sugar last to top it off. I let it set in the refrigerator for at least an hour to soak in the flavors. Rap the ribs up in the foil they will cook in the foil pouch you made.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 15 minutes then cook slowly for 2-3 hours. Or you can take the more country route put coals on your pit and let them turn white then put your ribs on the rack. let cook for at least 1 hour if taking this route you can throw some mesquite wood chips that have been soaked in water onto the coals to give it that smoky flavor. All you need to do now is plate and enjoy!

Grilled Catfish

I love to cook most of all I love to cook with my daddy! So today we did grilled catfish on the pit.

Ingredients:
Catfish fillets
Garlic powder
Black Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
Vinegar

I also did coleslaw all I use is the bag of coleslaw mix and the bottle of Hidden Valley Coleslaw. Mix the two in a bowl and you get this:

Now for the catfish you put the catfish  in a bowl sprinkle a little vinegar on the fillets then add your cayenne, black pepper and garlic powder to your liking we like a lot. I don't add salt to my fish do to we don't eat much salt so the vinegar takes the place of the salt but you can add salt if you like.

While the catfish fillets are marinating it is time to clean your pit and get the coals burning. Then take you some foil and fold it up put it on your grill so the fillets don't stick. Add the fillets to the foil area on the pit when the fire is just right that is when the coals turn white. Cook until done you can tell they will be supper tender. Then dinner is done!

Our Big Night Out

So since this is Mother's Day weekend and all and its been almost two years since Charles and I have been out together alone we got a sitter! Weeee I wanted to scream he made me feel like a kid again. Opening doors for me it was rather lovely. We went to dinner and ate then went to our local mall and realized nothing was really there so we drove an hour to my favorite mall. We shopped around I got my mom something see its hard to get a woman who has everything. Then Charles let me pick my gift. See dad said my leopard night gown was ugly so I went old school my mom used to wear these ugly moo moo's so I found one but it was cheetah print and it was silky. I love silky night gowns. I got the moo moo to get dad frazzled up but I found the moo moo quite comfortable to sleep in and run around the house in.

After shopping we went to Marble Slab for some of the best but most expensive ice cream treats before we saw our move The Great Gatsby. We took our time at our delicious ice cream. We headed into the movie now I left my purse in the trunk so I wouldn't loose it while the lights were out. As we approached with our tickets the man asked to see some id. Now I simply stated "For a PG 13 MOVIE?" He said "yes ma'am if one of you is over 21 yall both can go in due to how late it is." Now it was only 930 and I am 34 and Charles is 41 and neither of us look younger than 21. But hey it was funny cause I now can say I got carded for a PG 13 movie! The movie was great I wont spoil it for you. We got out and made it home by 1 am and definitely felt like a teenager again. That was our big night out.

New Beginnings

On January 28,2008 my relationship began with Charles it was like riding a roller coaster I would get really excited then get scared. It was beautiful he kept me grounded God came first in our relationship and really taught me to pray. I prayed and prayed God is this the man for me although I already knew I was just waiting for our new beginnings to start. On July 28th 2008 Charles sent my daughter in to ask me if he could be her daddy now and she was carrying a rose with an engagement ring inside. I knew he was going to ask me that day but never knew how shocked and ecstatic I would feel. As we started to prepare for our wedding we decided to get married in our church in front of the Christmas tree. I had some ladies from the church help out and asked me how I wanted things done. They were shocked how simple minded I was all I could say is I just want it to look pretty I wasn't a bridezilla  or anything. We had our date set and on December 6th 2008 I became Mrs. Charles Reeves. It was beautiful and felt even better.

After our honeymoon began our real test of times. We have struggled for the 4 years we have been married. We don't fight so that's not what I am talking about it seemed like we could never get ahead or save money. For Charles he felt like less of a man, so I would take a part time job to help out but he couldn't stand for me to work because he loved it when I was home all day and cleaned the house and cooked meals for him. Not to mention I struggled with my sanity working at a mundane job that I hated.

So when my daddy told me he had got Charles a job working with him I was over the moon because he wanted us to live with him for a bit. Daddy just lost his ex-wife they had divorced but he still loved her and she died last November sometime. So I knew daddy needed some company. I knew we would be ok finally financially but never in my mind did I realize how ok we would be. Charles got his first paycheck today what he brought home in two weeks in Louisiana he brought home in one week here.

Today I toast to all you out there that have been struggling remember God continue to love God.  Put him first  and he will open doors that no man can shut. When you least expect it your blessing will fall in your lap and pour out on you like never before. Just one more note Ladies out there if your husband isn't happy at work simply pray to God ask him to bless your husband at work and give him a job where he is happy at. I prayed that prayer for the last 4 years.  Finally God placed my husband where he comes home dirty but with a smile on his face because he loves his job. I hope this blesses you and one day your New Beginnings will make you smile as I am now.

Chicken & Rice

I love to cook for my family and with my family. One of my good quick meals is Chicken & Rice.

Ingredients:
chicken tenderloins or boneless skinless chicken breast
1- 26oz can of cream of chicken
2 cups of chicken broth
2 cups of water
3 cups of rice
1 bag of Parmesan & Mozzarella cheese

To start with you need to put your chicken on a plate season with garlic and chicken seasoning or whatever seasoning you like for your chicken. I don't use salt because the broth has salt in it. Now let your chicken marinade for about an hour at least in the fridge.

After your chicken has marinated good put your chicken in a pot and pour the 2 cups of chicken broth in then the two cups of water in. Add more of your preferred seasoning remember you don't need any extra salt. Let your chicken boil down for at least 30 to 45 minutes to make sure it is cooked through and through.
Drain your chicken an let rest on a clean plate so you don't cross contaminate.

While your chicken is resting you can make a pot of rice using the 3 cups of rice. I usually just clean my rice 3 times then pour water in my pot till my knuckle on my index finger. Then I add a pinch of vinegar. I let all my water boil out then put a lid or plate on top of the rice put my fire on low and let simmer for at least 20 minutes.

By this time our chicken can be shredded into chunks. Now we add them to a clean pot with the rice and the cream of chicken let it simmer for about 10 minutes.

Now that dinner is served you can add a few sprinkles of the Parmesan & Mozzarella Cheese on top.

I serve this with garlic bread and sweet tea but then again I'm from the South its all up to your taste.
Enjoy..

Our Big Move

So as a wedding gift our church rebuilt Charles' family home whose home was in his step dads name. We lived with friends the first few months of our marriage. That was a real test so I thought. Then one day Charles' step dad died.  His greedy aunt decided that the home was valuable and decided we had to move out after we tried to buy it the real test from God started coming. Charles got a good job with the Parish all at the same time we had 30 days to move. About a year later he got a raise which was a blessing and we bought a trailer south of town to try to help Eda she had started to have problems with friends and school.
Almost a year there my dad calls one day and says Anna I might have Charles a job with me now its not a guarantee  but one of  my men is about to retire it may be a few months. This was the real test from God. We had been struggling so bad I had to go to a food bank just to make ends meet. Finally after 4 long months went by Charles got his interview and we began the big move to Texas. Now we are here Charles got a $9 an hour raise plus benefits. We live with my dad but there is no stress Eda is doing well in school and has a ton of friends. Praise God for Blessings.