….because I’m currently completely brain dead, and can’t seem to muster it together to have enough whit or interest for you all for Tuesday!  Normally on Monday, I have help so that I can lock myself in my office and come up with LOTS and lots of fun posts for the entire week…but today, our sweet nanny called in sick (complications from a tooth surgery), and our housekeeper (who comes once every 2 weeks and is on “maternity leave”)’s sub decided she doesn’t want to do our house (are the diaper pails really THAT bad?) and I now have no cleaning help for another month or so…. Now I know that I’m LUCKY to have both of these people to help in my life…but I’m not sure I could keep up with everything without them…I certainly could not write this blog!  And to find out late Sunday afternoon, doesn’t give me much time to figure out a new plan!  Then with work being done on our garage, and not being able to get in or out of the driveway without navigating a mine field, while holding 2 kids, and avoiding smacking baby #3/my prego belly into anything, and the water being turned off in the house for a good chunk of the day while we fix the shower…..I’m kinda of feeling like Goldie Hawn in Overboard (GREAT movie!  I know every mom can relate to that numb-on-the-sofa-babbeling-incoherently-scene).

Thankfully Monday’s post was written last week….but there was no chance to try to do Tuesday’s…..sooooooo…..I think I’m going to feature one of my new FAVORITE cookbooks and blogs from an AMAZING woman, mother, wife, HUMAN BEING.  On days like today when I can barely remember my own name, I think of Ree Drummond and have a little WWRD (What Would Ree Do?) moment.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

Ree Drummond is The Pioneer Woman. If you have not stopped by her blog, I strongly urge you to do so.  She home schools 4 “punks”,  lives on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma, is a transplanted USC graduate, city slicker, sushi lover who married her Marlboro Man when they met by chance in a bar on a brief stop over for her on the way to Chicago.   I LOVE to read Ree’s blog.  She has that amazing southern humor.  She describes her cookbook as being “Full of recipes, cows, children, and butter…”  She shares recipes for Cowboy Food (TOTAL comfort food with insanely wonderful gobs of butter) and Cowgirl Food (like her Most Favorite Salad EVER!).

Ree showers her site and her recipes with her beautiful photography which makes you feel like you are in the moment with her, a brief escape from your own hectic life.  (I was talking on the phone with a friend in Sun Valley one time and she said, that life at home just didn’t seem as important when a moose is walking in front of you to the water…).  Ree Drummond is my little escape when I need it. (And in just case you are reading this Ree – I am NOT implying that you are a moose!!  FAR, Far from it!! You’re the ESCAPE part!!)

With much encouragement she recently published a cookbook including many of her most requested recipes (which BTW are super tasty and super easy!).  I just received my copy from Amazon this week and can’t wait to incorporate some of her dishes into our weekly menu plans…who wouldn’t love a little down home mac and cheese, spicy pulled pork, or perfect pot roast???  I think one of the greatest things about this cookbook – besides the yummy recipes and great step by step photography for each dish, is that you can READ the cookbook.  I actually sat down and read it cover to cover and felt like I was sharing a glass of wine with Ree on her front porch watching her punks play, the cows graze, and the sun set as her Marlboro Man came strolling up the walk with that look in his eyes…..(the one that says I love ya, and I LOVE my Favorite Sandwich!)

Happy Tuesday y’all! (AHHH, there is the SMU Texas girl, I knew I had her in me still!). I would love to share a copy of this awesome cookbook with a lucky winner!  Check out The Pioneer Woman and let me know what recipe you would like to see included in a weekly menu - Cowgirl or Cowboy, doesn’t matter from where.  I’ll post the winner this Friday!

(This Giveaway is currently closed. Thank you.)

Good luck!