Oil Lamps

Last night, while on an evening Walmart run, I came across an oil lamp in the candle section. It wasn't really big, or colorful or anything, but it immediatley reminded me of my great grandmother. She had big, old-fashioned oil lamps. From the stories I've been told, when her family got electricity she would watch their meter, and when it got to five dollars she would stop using the lights in the house and switch to her oil lamps. Every time I see oil lamps I think of her, and how strong and smart she was.
     I always wanted an oil lamp, so I picked this one up. I think it only cost about seven dollars, and the oil is another 4. I have used it for 2 nights now, and I've got to say, I think it will actually save us money. We normally have 2, sometime 3 lamps on in our living room in the evening. We don't use any with this on. I like dim lighting in the evening (hence the lamps and not our overhead lights) So this isn't much of an adjustment, however I may just move this one to the kitchen and get a larger one for the living room. Any suggestions for a place to buy larger ones? I wouldn't mind antique ones, I think I might prefer it.

        I hope to make this a permanent change in our household, not just because of the money we might save, but because of the nostalgia. I hate that young people never have homes that feel like homes. They always have houses that look so staged. I want a home that, while decorated, makes you feel something. A home that's lived-in and charming. My new oil lamp certainly lends itself to that feeling. I hope you all try it!

Hamburger Steaks with Gravy

So I recently thawed a pound of ground beef in order to make the aforementioned Shepherd's Pie, only to find that my potatoes had gone soft. I don't cook a lot of beef simply because it doesn't go as easy on my stomach, and I haven't tried many recipes with it. So generally, if I'm not making a Shepherd's Pie, or my husband isn't making hamburgers...I don't know what to do with it! It was too cold to grill out so I started searching online and came across hamburger steaks! I have never eaten hamburger steaks and I was surprised at how easy the recipes looked! I ended up winging it, as usual, after finding a few different options online. This is what I came up with!

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 an onion chopped in big pieces
1/4 cup of bread crumbs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp of pepper
1/2 cup of water

You will also need a bit of all-purpose flour and a container of beef stock for the gravy.

Combine the first set of ingredients, except the onions, in a bowl (I use my fingers) and, after combining them well, form 4 patties. Put them in a large pan at medium heat and brown both sides. Be careful when flipping because the patties are delicate at this point due to the water that's in them. (This steams inside and makes them super moist!)
       After you get a decent amount of grease in the bottom of your pan, carefully pour it off into a medium pan and then set it at low heat. Leave your patties on the burner, add the onions and cover. While they continue to cook, begin adding your flour a little at a time to the grease while whisking quickly to avoid clumps. When It begins to look pasty, add your beef stock slowly. Gravy is a finicky beast. It is best to alternate, little by little, between flour and stock, until you reach your desired consistency. I found that I used about 1/4 cup of flour and about 1 cup  of stock. Once you've reached the right consistency, add some salt and pepper to taste.
You may want to flip your steaks at this point, and of course stir around your onions, add the gravy to the top of the steaks and cover again until they are well done. I found that mine cooked in about 35 minutes after covering.

I loved how mine turned out and my husband assured me that they tasted how hamburger steak should taste. He really liked them and requested that they be added to our "permanent list" of recipes. I will definitely make them again, but I may add a dash of Worcestershire next time, please let me know if any of you try that! I served mine with green beans and corn muffins!

Mashed Tatos! and the New Year!

So my Husband's family has gone back home (see y'all!!) and we are enjoying the quiet again <3 We have definitely enjoyed our time with family at the end of this fabulous year. This past year has been the most life changing year for me thus far. Part of me is sad to see it go. It's the year I picked up and moved away from the town my parents brought me to. It's the year I reconnected with family both on the internet (thanks facebook!) and in real life. It's the year I gained a husband, and the year I lost a grandfather. My heart has changed this year. The way we ended the year was definitely fitting. After talking about how we wanted to toast the new year with our family that was visiting....we all went to bed around 9:00! I can't say I'm disappointed. What a better way to begin the new year than cuddled in a warm bed with Christmas lights flickering in the window? Our Company left the next day after we took them to see Cadillac Ranch.
      While they were here, my sister-in-law enjoyed the shepherd's pie I prepared, but I think she was more impressed with the mashed potatoes! (You may refer to my previous "Shepherd's Pie" post for a list of seasonings.) I would also like to share that mashed potatoes really don't have to be such a "production." As I have said before, I use the red potatoes because they get soft quickly in salted, boiling water, and I simply put them in my stand mixer to mash them! I then add my seasonings, milk and butter while they are mashing, and it's just that simple!
 I hope you all had a lovely New Year's and a blessed year to come for us all!
                                                                                                                See Y'all!
                                                                                                                           Staci

Homemade cookie cake!

              Since I only cook for two I often find myself only using half of the cookie dough when I'm baking. I usually put the rest in tupperware in the fridge to use the following week. I normally try to have something sweet ready for my husband since he likes a snack after work, or a little dessert on his lunch break. Today I was in a bit of a hurry and decided to just make one humongous cookie! I pressed the remaining half of the dough down into my Paula Deen pie dish and baked it at 350 until the edges browned. It turned out deeelllicious! If you've ever been to BJ's restaurant and brewery, you may be familiar with a "Pazuki." A cookie baked in a pizza pan and served gooey with ice cream on top! It's just like that! Unfortunately, I had no ice cream on hand, but am certainly getting some when I go to the grocery store later. This would be an awesome addition to a party menu! I used a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe for the dough, but If you wanted to cheat you could use the pre-made dough from the store!
                                                                                               Y'all Enjoy!
                                                                                                          Staci

Company's a comin'!

I found out last night that some of my husband's family are coming to visit this week! I just had my family up for a  Christmas visit and the house has gone quiet again, so I am looking forward to it. I plan on feeding them well! I hope to use my new deep fryer that I got for Christmas from my sweet husband, and maybe do a big crockpot of beans. What do you normally do to prepare for company? I clean like mad and then I love going out and buying them their own soaps and things. <3 I am also leaving up alll my Christmas decor (save for the crispy tree) so they can enjoy it while they are here. I am unsure of the time they will be arriving or if they will eat on the road so I will probably have a shepherd's pie ready in case they are hungry.
     A shepherd's pie is the perfect re-heatable meal I love making it on a Sunday or Monday night so my husband can eat on the leftovers for lunch during the week. My recipe has been adapted from an appetizer version that I found in Family Circle earlier this year...I love it because it is very low maintenance and all the measurements are really unimportant, you can't mess it up! I would love to share this SIMPLE home-cooked meal with y'all!

Staci's Shepherd's Pie


1 lb. ground beef
1 can mixed vegetables
4 or 5 medium red potatoes
Ketchup
Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper
Creole seasoning or seasoned salt (optional)

 Preheat your oven to 350
Mash your potatoes the way you prefer (I normally put butter, garlic powder, a splash of milk, creole seasoning, salt and pepper in mine) If you are looking to cheat on this step, you may buy some pre-mashed. I use red potatoes because they take less time to get soft. Set aside your potatoes.

Brown your ground beef and drain the grease. Return to the pan and add your (drained) mixed vegetables. Then add a splash of Worcestershire and a squirt of ketchup. After mixing, sneak a taste and make sure it's to your liking! If you like it a little sweeter, add more ketchup. Salt and pepper it and then pour the whole thing into a square casserole dish. Top it with your mashed tatos and spread it around evenly. I like to sprinkle some creole seasoning or seasoned salt on top just for pretty and it adds a nice tang to the potatoes! Put it in the oven just until the top of your potatoes start to crisp. This is just to "seal" your dish and give it a bit of crust!
This recipe is simple to double if you have more mouths to feed. Just use a rectangle casserole dish!

I hope y'all enjoy!!!
                                                                                        Love, Staci

Welcome to my Home

Hey Ya'll!
 There's really not enough lifestyle blogs. So here's another. Juuuuust kidding. There aren't any like mine is what I mean. My hope and dream for this blog is that I may share my life with you. I am a young, southern housewife. I am frugal, old-fashioned, and charming of course. On the outside I look like another 20-something but I love cooking and decorating my home. I live in Texas but I was born in Tennessee. Both of these place have influenced me immensely in both my sense of style and in the kitchen.
    I love doing things the old-fashioned way. So much of media these days is designed to sell the "easy" way of doing things. There are a billion chefs showing us how to make things the easiest, quickest ways possible. Personally, that's very smart and yes, it makes you efficient....but you know what it doesn't make you? A better cook. I feel like in cooking every meal you should add on to your repertoire...your skill set. Dare I say it? Every meal should make you BETTER. We are wasting meals on "30 minutes this" or Semi-homemade that." I don't knock these ideas entirely, because they certainly have a place, but it's no way to live. I have used such ideas on occasion, but I've noticed I have no real pride in my meal after doing it the "easy" way. I love serving a meal I am proud of, a product of my time and work. I aim to share what I've learned and as I learn the REAL way to do things. I also love sharing my "easy" recipes that are still homemade and certainly something to be proud of. Not all home-cooked dishes have to be a whole production. :)
      I'm also constantly working on my home. Since moving out of my parents home a few years ago and getting to flex my decorating muscles, I've learned it really doesn't have to cost that much (or anything sometimes!) I love decorating my house frugally. Originally it was because I didn't have the money to spend, and now, I just refuse to spend it! I utilize a lot of different resources to do this, which I hope to share with you. I always get compliments on our home, and  people are always surprised at the cost. It will certainly take you longer, but with patience and persistence you can decorate your home without sacrificing style! I can honestly say if I went to a major furniture store and purchased things for my home, i would end up with the same things. I have exactly what I want...for a whooooole lot less :)
 I look forward to feedback on this blog. We all have great things to share, so I hope to be a medium for that <3
                                                                                  Later Y'all!