Pantry Planning

Andrew's mom and stepdad were in town from Texas so this week has been a bit hectic.  We traveled to the mountains and had some quality time, but now it's back to packing and getting ready for our new life in New York!

In addition to packing, I have been obsessing about some design/organization projects for the new place.  My biggest project is the pantry.

We had an AMAZING pantry in our first apartment.  When we moved to Athens, we moved into a townhouse with almost double the square footage from our apartment, but it has very little storage space.  The thing I have missed most is having a pantry.  In our new place, there is a hall closet right outside of the kitchen that I plan on transforming into a pantry.  I've loved so many of the designs I've seen and I can't wait to get started!

Here is what my pantry will look like when we're all finished.  This seemed to be the design that utilized space most efficiently.

I love love love the over the door shelves!

~Angela

What's Happening in the Gibson Kitchen This Week

First off, sorry this post is so late.  Andrew and I were at the cabin until Sunday afternoon and I spent all day yesterday getting ready for the arrival of my other in-laws from Texas (Andrew's mom and step-dad).  Our house is full of boxes and basically looks like a storage unit so I spent yesterday trying to organize the boxes and make things less claustrophobic-feeling (is that even a word?)

Meal #1: Rotisserie Chicken
We picked up a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket on the way home from the cabin on Sunday.  I paired it with some simple sides (mac and cheese and steamed veggies) and that was all she wrote!

Meal #2: Pan Sauteed Porkchops
Another easy-peasy one, two, threesy recipe.  All I did was sprinkle both sides of a porkchop with salt and pepper.  I melted a few tablespoons of butter in with some olive oil in a large skillet.  I also threw in a few whole cloves of garlic for some extra flavor.  Place the porkchops in the skillet and allow to cook for a few minutes on each side (time will vary depending on the thickness of the chop).  I served it up with some smashed potatoes and whole okra.

Meal #3: Pita Pizzas
Have you discovered this yet?  I used to make them religiously once per week.  I hadn't made them in awhile and then we had them at the cabin this weekend.  I was quickly reminded how quick, yummy, easy, and inexpensive they were so I decided to make them on Tuesday.  We topped ours with turkey pepperoni, basil from the garden, and a leftover orange bell pepper from one of those 3-packs.  If you've never tried these here are the steps:

1. Brush pita with a little bit of olive oil

2. Bake at 375 for about 5 minutes (until pita is flat)

3. Top with sauce and toppings

4. Put back in oven and bake for another 10 minutes or so (until cheese is melted)

Meal #4: Tacos! (no explanation needed although about a year ago I quit buying the seasoning packet and started using my own blend in an effort to cut MSG out of our diet--my stomach can't handle it)

Meal #5: Pasta (ya know, boil the noodles and mix with any sauce ya like)

Meal #6: Pioneer Woman's Lasagna

Ree is my fall back gal.  I.love.her.  Have I ever told you that?  The in-laws are arriving on Friday afternoon and I will be making this for dinner.  

Meal #7: Family cookout

On Saturday we will be spending the day poolside and then grilling some hamburgers.  I plan on serving them with my mom's spaghetti salad (it's like a light, summery, pasta salad), baked beans, and some grilled corn on the cob.  

Happy Cooking!

~Angela

What's Happening In The Gibson Kitchen This Week

Last week's recipes were fabulous!  Pioneer Woman, as always, delivered on the Spicy Pulled Pork!

I also made some great chocolate chip cookies and a blackberry cobbler.

This is a short week for us because we are headed to our most favorite place on the planet for our anniversary.  Nevertheless, I'll be cooking with Ree again this week.  I'm making Pioneer Woman's Vegetable Lasagna.

Photo Courtesy Ree Drummond

Have a great week in the kitchen!

~Angela

I'm a Little Bit Country

Let me start this post by telling you that I am a country girl.  I did not grow up in the country and I currently do not live in the country but Andrew can tell you that my dream home would be on several acres of land and possibly include a working hen house and cattle ranch.  I used to think I was a city girl.  All of the shopping, nightlife, restaurants...it all fascinated me.  As I've grown older (lol...I'm calling myself "older")  I've realized that being in nature makes me whole.  Although this hike is one I speak of with great disdain in normal conversation, I can honestly say that on that day I was truly living.  I've never had a better sense of who God was than when I was standing on top of that mountain that I had just climbed...5 miles straight up.  I have some of my deepest thoughts, revelations, and prayers when I am running through the woods using every ounce of strength I have to keep going.  Andrew and I have some of our best conversations when we are hiking or paddling or just lying in our tent camping at the local campground.  Nature forces you to let go. 


What forces you to let go?

Catskill Mountains

~Angela

My Place

Next week I will be heading to one of my favorite places on Earth: My in-laws' cabin in the mountains.  It is also one of the places I'm going to miss most when we move to New York.

Ya know those places you can go where the world doesn't matter?  Where everything in your world is perfect and your worries seem to disappear?  The Cabin, (it's actual name is Hide 'n Seek, but Andrew and I just call it The Cabin), is my place.  My place where nothing matters but the time I am spending with my family.

Where is your place?

~Angela

What's Happening in the Gibson Kitchen This Week

The kitchen is truly the heart of our home.  I love everything about cooking.  The pots and pans, the kitchen gadgets, the specialty foods, the smells, the sizzles, the response you get from the people who eat your food, everything.

In the summer, the number of days I cook at home varies, but during the school year I'm typically cooking 7 nights per week.

I thought it'd be fun to share what I'm making this week...maybe it will even give you a few ideas for your own kitchen!

1. Italian Sausage, Peppers, and Onions

There are several variations of this recipe out there. I like this one from Food & Wine Magazine

Italian Sausage Heroes With Peppers and Onions

 2. I love love love Ree Drummond, AKA Pioneer Woman.  I'm making her chicken parmigiana this week.

Pioneer Woman's Chicken Parmigiana

 

3. In the summer, two nights are always taken up by Taco Night and Pasta Night.  Just in case you missed it last week, here is the pasta I make once a week in the summer.  It's the perfect recipe to use with the tomatoes and basil from our garden. 

Ina Garten Summer Garden Pasta 

I actually "invented" this recipe a few years ago on my own and then I saw Ina Garten make it on her show recently...I must've sent her my recipe card ;)

4.  I'll also be making the Laurita family meatballs.  I made a huge batch of these a few weeks ago and have enough left in the freezer for us this week!  

Laurita's Family Meatball Recipe

I serve these as meatball subs with melted mozzarella on top...one of Andrew's favorites!

Have fun cooking this week! 

Oh, and as a teacher, get your kids into the kitchen with you!  There is so much a child can learn from cooking!

~Angela

Andrew's Birthday: Photo Diary Edition

                                      

Simply Amazing

Happy Birthday to the most amazing man I know, my husband.  Thanks for letting me shine 364 days out of the year...today is your day.  Everyday is an adventure with you and I am so excited to see what lies ahead! 

Andrew with his parents on our wedding day 6/16/2007

See what I mean about adventure?

Where's Andrew?  This picture is from one of our most infamous adventures...you can read about it here!

~Angela