Staycation
Joe & I are hosts at our core, and we enjoy getting to spoil our guests with food, beverages & services. Lately, we found ourselves needing to recenter. The Texas flood hit us like a ton of bricks; tomorrow is not promised. We both realized we needed to pause and rethink our habit of constantly overextending ourselves. This weekend, just being the five of us was unforgettable. We truly needed it, and I’m so glad we made it happen. It feels like our eyes are open now, and things will be different moving forward.
If you watched our video and you are here for the recipes, they are right here down below.
Pain Dore (French toast) along with Steak & egg
Click here for my very simple & delicious recipe of French toast. Since my daughter refuses to eat meat, I always make a side to our meals. Not to worry, she does eat plenty of food to support proper protein intake.
Steak & eggs is SUCH A VACATION meal to me!! Feels like the most decadent brunch & it definitely fuels you for plenty of swimming & playing.
To make a perfect steak, I always follow these steps from Ina Garden. Click here to watch her video & never ruin another steak!
Meatloaf
I prepared this meatloaf a day ahead and kept it covered on its baking pan in the refrigerator. When we arrived at our staycation, I simply popped it into the oven and relaxed. I enjoyed it on the front porch with a glass of white wine and a Bible that felt deeply personal to hold. Before opening it, I made a quick call to make sure it was okay to catch up on my reading. I FELT SO PRIVILEDGED. If you’re wondering why I make my meatloaf flat, it’s to ensure even cooking and the perfect glaze-to-bite ratio. Read more tips on making the perfect meatloaf here.
Pizzas with leftovers
We love creating different pizzas with whatever leftovers we have on hand. We made a BBQ meatloaf pizza & an extra-meaty pizza with my spaghetti sauce, see recipe below. When I am not making my homemade pizza dough, I purchase a gluten free crust that makes a great pizza each time. Scroll down to see which one I like to get. To make the perfect meatloaf pizza with warm, moist meat and crunchy veggies, begin by spreading BBQ sauce over the crust. Next, add thin layers of meatloaf evenly across the pizza, then top it with shredded cheese—mozzarella is my choice, but cheddar works great too. Finally, I arrange the veggies on top and drizzle them with olive oil to keep them crisp and flavorful. See pictures for reference. As I mentioned before, my daughter doesn’t like eating meat, but she loves meat sauce (like the one below). Using chicken, beef, or turkey sauce on pizza is a great way to include meat in a child’s diet when they don’t want to eat meat by itself.
Spaghetti Sauce
It is so delicious and yield many portions. For the summer, I always make a big batch & freeze it in containers with at least 7 portions in it. This allows for spontaneous days of fun, knowing I always have a full meal in the freezer that I can easily thaw & reheat. It was the perfect grab before heading to my in-laws for the weekend. Why 7 portions since we are a family of 5? So that you can use the sauce the next day in a meaty pizza & crock monsieur or have leftovers spaghetti for the kiddos.
Thank you for reading all the way through
I often wonder if it was meant for us to bear the weight of the world’s sorrows,
To carry the weight of tragedies far beyond our reach.
Don’t be mistaken, my path holds its own shadows and storms,
Yet they pale beside the vast oceans of pain we witness daily our many platforms.
I am endlessly grateful to shelter all three of my children beneath our roof,
To nourish their bodies and minds, to weave love and safety around their days.
I am lucky beyond words to walk beside Joe,
To share the quiet strength of his presence,
To build our lives in tandem, hand in hand.
And still, in the harsh light of the world’s sorrow,
It all feels achingly unfair — a fragile sanctuary amid the storm.
