The Cozy Corner

[CJamarous]

Sounds like the perfect place to be! I think it's a wrap up in a blanket while out there too
So cozy!

Absolutely! I'll warm the blanket up for you, Ma'am

 

[CJamarous]

Morning cozy corner

I couldn’t fall back asleep, so I brought breakfast.

View attachment 2606308

While I'm very appreciative of the spread, there's one thing wrong with this picture and you know EXACTLY what it is!

 

[CJamarous]

Good morning everyone!!
I join you from my soaking tub with a cup of coffee ️. I like a little quiet before I start my day.

What about y’all? Do you get up and moving right away? Do you wake up and relax? Do you jump out of bed and workout? Do you hit snooze 10 times?

What do your mornings look like?

Sounds like a lovely, calming way to start your day! Mine look more like jumping awake off the couch, realizing the big kids still need breakfast and will be getting picked up by the bus in a half hour which is then a mad dash to make breakfast for them, get there stuff together and then once they're off, finally take my first sip of hot coffee and eat some breakfast myself just in time for the twins to wake up...baby phase can't be done soon enough ️

 

[MidwestPrincess23]

Sounds like a lovely, calming way to start your day! Mine look more like jumping awake off the couch, realizing the big kids still need breakfast and will be getting picked up by the bus in a half hour which is then a mad dash to make breakfast for them, get there stuff together and then once they're off, finally take my first sip of hot coffee and eat some breakfast myself just in time for the twins to wake up...baby phase can't be done soon enough ️

Haha okay but that honestly sounds like a full-on Olympic event before 8am I'm impressed!

You’re over there running a full household operation on a countdown clock, fueled by chaos and eventually well-earned coffee… That first quiet sip after the bus leaves has to feel earned in a way mine never will.

And hey - “baby phase can’t be done soon enough” is so real… but also, you’re in the thick of a season that’s equal parts exhausting and kind of legendary. Survival mode with moments of magic tucked in.

If nothing else, I vote you deserve a hot, uninterrupted coffee and at least one morning where no one needs anything from you for five whole minutes

 

[Catepillar_glacier]

Good morning everyone!!
I join you from my soaking tub with a cup of coffee ️. I like a little quiet before I start my day.

What about y’all? Do you get up and moving right away? Do you wake up and relax? Do you jump out of bed and workout? Do you hit snooze 10 times?

What do your mornings look like?

Envious of your peaceful morning.

Weekdays are 5:30 wake up, water and coffee, kid and husband out the door. 55 minutes of time for myself, treadmill and weights while the clock ticks down. At the buzzer, I feed more kids, pack lunches, shower, and schlep to school drop off.

When I get home, I remember we have a dog, and give him attention while I make myself presentable. By 8:40 I make an espresso, sit in my home office and take stock of the 5-8 hours of zoom meetings ahead of me.

 

[Biggalute]

I'm so excited to visit the cozy corner and to meet and chat with all the great folks here. But I have to warn you that I'm a bit of a pussy magnet

 

[Shymidwestgirl]

I'm so excited to visit the cozy corner and to meet and chat with all the great folks here. But I have to warn you that I'm a bit of a pussy magnet
View attachment 2606334

I wanted to laugh too but is she a calico? What a beautiful cat.

 

[dawn_of_night]

Fresh coffee, cream, sugar, flavored?

Carmel?
White chocolate??
Im a ho for espresso....

 

[Qky75]

Sounds like a lovely, calming way to start your day! Mine look more like jumping awake off the couch, realizing the big kids still need breakfast and will be getting picked up by the bus in a half hour which is then a mad dash to make breakfast for them, get there stuff together and then once they're off, finally take my first sip of hot coffee and eat some breakfast myself just in time for the twins to wake up...baby phase can't be done soon enough ️

I remember those days well! I was a stay at home dad while I went to college. The cliché enjoy it while it lasts, they'll be grown before you know it is cliché for a reason ...it really happens!! You couldn't have convinced me of this while I was scrambling to get them ready and where they needed to be without committing a felony or looking like we just came from sleeping under the bridge. Try to embrace this moment. Try to memorize just how good that well-earned sip of coffee feels so that you can smile when its your turn at run-of-the-mill too quiet mornings with the same cup of jo. Grandchild number one is coming in late May and I'm so ready for a taste again!

 

[RDM97756]

Carmel?
White chocolate??
Im a ho for espresso....

I got espresso, i got vanilla, butternut, caramel, mocha, and vanilla caramel flavors…


I am just a ho….

 

[Biggalute]

I wanted to laugh too but is she a calico? What a beautiful cat.

I think she probably is. She's an absolute dote and she's just turned 22

 

[CJamarous]

Haha okay but that honestly sounds like a full-on Olympic event before 8am I'm impressed!

You’re over there running a full household operation on a countdown clock, fueled by chaos and eventually well-earned coffee… That first quiet sip after the bus leaves has to feel earned in a way mine never will.

And hey - “baby phase can’t be done soon enough” is so real… but also, you’re in the thick of a season that’s equal parts exhausting and kind of legendary. Survival mode with moments of magic tucked in.

If nothing else, I vote you deserve a hot, uninterrupted coffee and at least one morning where no one needs anything from you for five whole minutes

I remember those days well! I was a stay at home dad while I went to college. The cliché enjoy it while it lasts, they'll be grown before you know it is cliché for a reason ...it really happens!! You couldn't have convinced me of this while I was scrambling to get them ready and where they needed to be without committing a felony or looking like we just came from sleeping under the bridge. Try to embrace this moment. Try to memorize just how good that well-earned sip of coffee feels so that you can smile when its your turn at run-of-the-mill too quiet mornings with the same cup of jo. Grandchild number one is coming in late May and I'm so ready for a taste again!

Thank you both for the kind words and reminders! I know its just part of the journey and this too shall pass lol. Don't worry, most days I remember that and I relish in the little moments and snuggles and coos because I always know at some point that first sip of hot coffee is coming and that these days will be gone before I know it But I appreciate all the encouragement! Okay time to go do taxes and run errands! Sieze the day!

 

[LatinaCarmen1980]

Incoming Mexican Red Rice Recipe

3 cups long-grain white rice (It has to be this rice)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 chopped garlic clove
3 1/2 cups homemade chicken stock (I sometimes make it with Costco rotisserie chicken)
1 lbs chopped Roma tomatoes
1/2 cup of salt

* Wash the rice with plenty of water. If you leave too much starch, the rice will come out looking like sludge. Let it drain.
* In a blender, toss in the tomatoes, garlic, and onion, and 1 tbsp of salt. Add 2 cups of chicken broth and blend until it's almost completely liquid.
* Add the oil to a saucepan and brown the rice until its a golden brown.
* Add the blend to the saucepan and add water so it just covers the rice and stir gently. Add salt to taste.

Here's the "secret." DON'T stir the rice! If you do, it's going to turn into porridge.

* At medium heat, let the rice cook until the water is just below the surface.
* Use a spoon to sample fluffiness and there's a foamy surface, now is a good time to skim it gently without disturbing the rice.

That's it! Once the rice is fluffy, it's ready to eat! The key is you gently cook until the water boils away and the rice has fully absorbed the tomatoe sauce.

I learned from my mother and MIL. This is the basic-basic way of making red rice. Once you're comfy with it and the portion sizes, you can add onions, carrots, peas, serranos or jalapenos to taste (if you're into that). lol

It's my first time writing the recipe down, so please be gentle! LMAO

 

[ScarletDaisy]

So... I can't cook rice.

I either burn it or it's undercooked and crunchy. I finally bought a rice cooker and that's the only way I can make it edible.

 

[MidwestPrincess23]

Incoming Mexican Red Rice Recipe

3 cups long-grain white rice (It has to be this rice)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 chopped garlic clove
3 1/2 cups homemade chicken stock (I sometimes make it with Costco rotisserie chicken)
1 lbs chopped Roma tomatoes
1/2 cup of salt

* Wash the rice with plenty of water. If you leave too much starch, the rice will come out looking like sludge. Let it drain.
* In a blender, toss in the tomatoes, garlic, and onion, and 1 tbsp of salt. Add 2 cups of chicken broth and blend until it's almost completely liquid.
* Add the oil to a saucepan and brown the rice until its a golden brown.
* Add the blend to the saucepan and add water so it just covers the rice and stir gently. Add salt to taste.

Here's the "secret." DON'T stir the rice! If you do, it's going to turn into porridge.

* At medium heat, let the rice cook until the water is just below the surface.
* Use a spoon to sample fluffiness and there's a foamy surface, now is a good time to skim it gently without disturbing the rice.

That's it! Once the rice is fluffy, it's ready to eat! The key is you gently cook until the water boils away and the rice has fully absorbed the tomatoe sauce.

I learned from my mother and MIL. This is the basic-basic way of making red rice. Once you're comfy with it and the portion sizes, you can add onions, carrots, peas, serranos or jalapenos to taste (if you're into that). lol

It's my first time writing the recipe down, so please be gentle! LMAO

okay okay okay
Girl - THANK YOU!!!!

To be perfectly honest the ingredients are almost exactly what I use. BUT - your helpful hints along the way are most definitely where I go wrong! I have to laugh about porridge rice because that's totally what happened here last night. Now I can't wait to try it again - exactly your way!

 

[MidwestPrincess23]

So... I can't cook rice.

I either burn it or it's undercooked and crunchy. I finally bought a rice cooker and that's the only way I can make it edible.

Rice cookers are awesome!

 

[Qky75]

Incoming Mexican Red Rice Recipe

3 cups long-grain white rice (It has to be this rice)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 chopped garlic clove
3 1/2 cups homemade chicken stock (I sometimes make it with Costco rotisserie chicken)
1 lbs chopped Roma tomatoes
1/2 cup of salt

* Wash the rice with plenty of water. If you leave too much starch, the rice will come out looking like sludge. Let it drain.
* In a blender, toss in the tomatoes, garlic, and onion, and 1 tbsp of salt. Add 2 cups of chicken broth and blend until it's almost completely liquid.
* Add the oil to a saucepan and brown the rice until its a golden brown.
* Add the blend to the saucepan and add water so it just covers the rice and stir gently. Add salt to taste.

Here's the "secret." DON'T stir the rice! If you do, it's going to turn into porridge.

* At medium heat, let the rice cook until the water is just below the surface.
* Use a spoon to sample fluffiness and there's a foamy surface, now is a good time to skim it gently without disturbing the rice.

That's it! Once the rice is fluffy, it's ready to eat! The key is you gently cook until the water boils away and the rice has fully absorbed the tomatoe sauce.

I learned from my mother and MIL. This is the basic-basic way of making red rice. Once you're comfy with it and the portion sizes, you can add onions, carrots, peas, serranos or jalapenos to taste (if you're into that). lol

It's my first time writing the recipe down, so please be gentle! LMAO

This is a great post!

My ingredients are similar but I want to try your technique. I'm hoping for a better texture. We use the sauce below too but we like it pretty spicy.

 

[PotNoodle79]

So... I can't cook rice.

I either burn it or it's undercooked and crunchy. I finally bought a rice cooker and that's the only way I can make it edible.

I'm a decent cook but never managed to get rice right. I usually use microwavable rice but rice cookers are reasonably priced. I may invest.

 

[Qky75]

Rice cookers are awesome!

Cannot live with a Polynesian family without a rice pot... pretty sure it's against the law or something.

 

[LatinaCarmen1980]

okay okay okay
Girl - THANK YOU!!!!

To be perfectly honest the ingredients are almost exactly what I use. BUT - your helpful hints along the way are most definitely where I go wrong! I have to laugh about porridge rice because that's totally what happened here last night. Now I can't wait to try it again - exactly your way!

It's not hard at all once you get it down. Girl, my daughter struggled for YEARS to make it and finally gave up on it. When she moved out and felt homesick, she tried it again and called me crying to let me know it came our perfectly!

I hope you like it!

 

[MidwestPrincess23]

Cannot live with a Polynesian family without a rice pot... pretty sure it's against the law or something.

I am certain it's against the law!

 

[Shenanigans90]

When I get home, I remember we have a dog

Not that I ignored the rest of your post but I’m curious what breed of dog?

 

[LatinaCarmen1980]

Rice cookers are awesome!

We have a rice cooker - somewhere. LMAO

 

[MidwestPrincess23]

Not that I ignored the rest of your post but I’m curious what breed of dog?

I love seeing what everyone pulls out of posts
it's fascinating to me!

 

[LatinaCarmen1980]

Not that I ignored the rest of your post but I’m curious what breed of dog?

Whispers "Please let it be a Golden Retriever!"