Domestic Goddess

I'm not sure what's come over me lately.

Maybe its something about this old farmhouse we are living in.

Or maybe its that Daddy is home full-time now.

Maybe its just motherhood kicking me firmly in the backside.

Whatever it is, I've taken a great interest lately in the kitchen. Granted, I've always cooked for my husband, just not always anything grand. Sometimes I suckered him into cooking dinner. And still sometimes I would convince him we needed to eat out.

Not anymore.

I enjoy cooking for my family. Making the devil-pup's baby food [or at least most of it!] and making dinner for M. and myself. Sometimes, I'll even cook up a lunch mid-day.

I've even gone as far as taking out a few interior design books from the local library to get some ideas on sprucing the kitchen up and making it look really home-y. Since this is a farm-house, I'm really loving the old-style country look. I have a few Longaberger baskets out there holding the fresh produce our landlord keeps bringing by, and all of my wooden utensils.

Just yesterday, on top of everything I made for dinner [including Pioneer Woman's bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos], I made homemade whipped cream with my handy dandy Kitchen Aide. Probably one of the easier things to make ... but I hadn't really ever thought about doing it. And it was so simple and yummy -- I don't think we'll ever be buying Cool-Whip again!

Mix 2 cups of heavy whipping cream, a 1/4 sugar and a splash or two of vanilla [more or less, depending on your flavor palate] and whisk until its good and thick. I did mine a little longer than some would ... I like a good thick consistency to my whipped cream [unlike Cool-Whip's airy texture] -- and M. was in heaven last night when he put some on his shortcake.

What are some of your favorite sumnmer things to make in the kitchen?!