Cooking with The Pioneer Woman

I'm hooked.

I've been an infrequent visitor to The Pioneer Woman's blog for years (that will immediately be rectified). This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to her book signing at the wonderful Tattered Cover bookstore in LoDo. It was really to promote "The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels--A Love Story" but I was smitten with the cook book "The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl" (I know better late to the party than never, right?) Anyway...

The cook book... is amazing!!! I can't stop looking at it! And drooling. It's not the kind of cook book you only want to flip to a few earmarked recipes and promptly put back on the shelf. No, no, no! It's a work of art and a fun read as well as a cook book!!! Every page is beautiful. Ree is beautiful, her family is beautiful, the ranch animals are beautiful and the food illustrated in the recipes is scrumptious! I can't wait to try every recipe! I am serious, every single one!

While we were waiting for our turn to have our books signed and I was flipping through the book I joked that I should do a Julie/Julia with the book and do every recipe. The girls I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with thought it was a good idea so when we finally got to meet Ree we told her my idea. She was so sweet and said "Oh, I'm not worthy!" But I beg to differ!

I've only recently (the past few years) started to broaden my horizons in the cooking/baking department. Ree's recipes are not intimidating. The ingredients are all readily available and the step-by-step pictures make it fool-proof. Well, I say that with only two of the recipes under my belt, but so far they are a testament to that statement!

I expect my book to become well loved, food stained and eventually start to fall apart, which goes against all forms of book care and etiquette I am sure (and I hope that doesn't offend you Ree!) This book will be my go-to for so many occasions. So thank you Ree! I can't wait to try all the recipes and surely bring smiles to those eating in my kitchen!