LaGrange Family: ...sweet and savory....

My friend, Krissy is a very good cook! In fact she cooks for us almost every week. It has been one of my saving graces during this deployment. Just being in her kitchen while she finishes up whatever meal she is making instantly calms me. I'm not sure what it is about it, but I feel more relaxed within minutes. Maybe it is knowing that we are going to have a home cooked meal that I didn't have to prepare or maybe it is chit chat between Krissy and I, or the sound of the kids enjoying each others company in the background. Whatever it is, I love it! And I hope that I can return this gift to her someday. Did I mention she bakes too? She makes best peanut butter chocolate chip cookies you will ever taste!

She cooked for us often before Donnie deployed as well. Donnie's favorite is her beef tenderloin. He told me to learn how to make this while he was deployed.
So this weekend, I did...

Beef Tenderloin
Krissy didn't help me cut up the meat once it was cooked so I might need a few more tips, but I think it turned out pretty good.
There wasn't a single piece leftover

I learned how to cut up the meat (the trickiest part), how to season it, how to sear it perfectly, and how to watch it closely in the oven so that it cooks to the right temperature. She also showed me how to make a delicious horseradish sauce to go with it! I felt bad having this meal without Donnie, especially knowing how much he likes it, but practice makes perfect. So we will probably have it a few more times before you get home just to perfect my skills!

The kids and I also spent some time in the kitchen this weekend making pumpkin rice crispy treats!

John carefully decorating his pumpkin treats!

Luke was very serious about decorating too! One of his pumpkins got messed up and he was very upset. I suggested that he just eat that one and we could roll another one into a ball for him. Next thing I knew he was crying because when he tried to wash the icing off in the sink, it ruined his rice crispy treat! Bless his heart, he was so upset. Thankfully, he has a wonderful big sister who let him put icing her last pumpkin ball.