Loaded, please.

Kyle and I rarely get out of the house, so every now and then we'll give the kids dinner, put them to bed, and then I'll make a dinner just for us. Typically, we do this and I make us some fried chicken with a potato on the side. Baked potato, mashed potatoes, whatever. It's just a typical southern meal. 

And you can't hate on some southern food.

I really enjoy potato skins. Too much, actually. But I never liked wasting the innards. It just doesn't feel right. So, my potato skins are typically more like twice baked potatoes. But it's worth it.

Out of our element.

When it comes to beef or pork, we're pretty basic people.

Bar-b-q.

Sometimes, I don't think we even know that there's other ways to prepare it. It just doesn't make sense to us. I can't really blame Kyle for it. He's a southern boy after all. But me? I'm just all over the place.

I really think I need a trip back north.

So, I've been trying to stay away from bar-b-q because..well...I don't like being outside. And with the schedule Kyle works, I'd have to be outside to do the grilling..I don't like that idea.

Well w00t for different ways to cook pork!

During the process, you'll probably step back and be all "Um, no. This is going to be disgusting."
Don't worry. It won't be.

Comfort Food = Important.

Comfort food and I go hand in hand. Especially during the cold seasons. There's nothing like curling up on the couch with a good book and a bowl of hot soup.

Except that I never tried to make soup before. 

Until now, that is.

Chicken noodle is my personal favorite.

Tomato with a grilled cheese is a close second.

Dear Bestie, Thanks For Letting My People Take Your Food.

It's no secret. My sister (*coughbestfriendimetonline4+yearsagocough* is Cherokee. So much, infact, that her ringtone on my phone for the longest time was the most amazing thing ever. The fact that we called eachother a lot made it even better. 

"CHEROKEE PEOPLE! CHEROKEE PRIDE!"

^.^ 

Well, I'm part Native American, too. No idea how much, but I know it's in there. Which is why I'm one of the few Asian-American's that can tan like it's nobody's business..and why people constantly mistake me for being Mexican.

Anyway.

My first time ever making a Thanksgiving dinner by myself, she was visiting. It was after Dot was born, and I kidnapped her and Logan for a month. The best month ever, might I add. She helped me figure out what to make, I converted her to a from-scratch cooker.

Yeah, that's not completely true. Let's say she cooks MORE things from scratch now.

This? This was one of our favorites. And the kids' favorite. They were like vultures. No joke.

Suh-weeeeeeeeeeeet potatoes. Yum.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALLLLLLLLL?!

Sports in general, actually. And I'm talking REAL sports. CONTACT sports.

Specifically in this household, football and hockey.

Now, during the hockey season, Kyle and I can get along for the most part. I'm a Flyers fan. He's a Blues fan. However, football season is a different story. He's a Rams and Steelers fan. I'm a Patriots fan (BUT I can't freaking stand Tom Brady). The only thing we can really agree on is the food.

And a staple in that food is effing potato skins. 

I think it's an unwritten rule. You eat potato skins when you watch sports. That's just how it is. Which is why sports bars seem to have THE best potato skins around. But I had to try atleast. And I was pretty successful.

/drools. I love Football season.

Potatoes Are The #1 Side

Atleast in my life, potatoes are the #1 spot for a sidedish. I could live on potatoes, I think. They're completely versatile, delicious, and just amazing. Especially when they're potato skins and it's the superbowl. Yum. Calories FTW!

So, since I end up making potatoes a lot, I try to find ways to change them up. Can't have them be monotonous all the time. Right?

Nom. Delicious. Especially paired with some bar-b-q chicken.

Oh, those Southerners.

I've never heard of country fried steak until I moved to Missouri.

Serious.

I've never attempted to make it until I married Kyle. I found out it was one of his favorites, so ofcourse I had to attempt it.

I've tried making it a few times before this, but this is definitely the best of those times it came out.

I also used a different method of peeling/cooking the potatoes for the mashed potatoes.

You can find the method here. I found that boiling my potatoes for 30 minutes made them cooked perfect for mashing. :)

Waiting to be boiled.

Preparation at its finest, yo.

I'm still not good with frying. Like, at all. But I'm trying.

The aftermath of the potatoes.

Our KFC Is Gone. :(

Okay, to be honest, I'm not really upset that our KFC got taken away. I prefer Popeye's, and we have one of those in the next town over. I'm not broken up about losing one restaurant in our area, especially considering it was absolutely horrible and ridiculously expensive for very little food.

So I may not miss it, but Kyle loves (er..loved) their snack bowls. He just hated how small they were. So we took it upon myself (yes WE turned into ME) to make our own rendition of it. It's definitely a family favorite. The kids are always asking for seconds or thirds.

Homemade mashed potatoes FTW!

Popcorn chicken ready!

Everything's better with gravy, yo.

My favorite. Always. <3

"Bacon makes the world go round."

Atleast, according to Kyle. *eye roll*

Tonight, I tried something completely new. As in, I've never made it before. Along with the sidedish.

Bacon wrapped chicken breasts stuffed with onion garlic cream cheese and potatoes au gratin. Let me just get my pat on the back up in here now. *pats self on back*

So, the potatoes were fantastic. But then I tasted the chicken. Let's just say, I didn't want the potatoes after that.

God bless my slow cooker.

Selena, my step-daughter helped me out tonight. She was so proud afterwards when dinner was "goooood!"

Oh good God. Oh yeah.