Comfort Food For Freezing Days

It is freezing here in Franklin today, and I mean FREEZING! When I got up this morning it was 16 degrees and I think the high was somewhere around 25! There is cold and then there is painful cold, today was painful cold! My 3 year old who is almost always hot was actually cold today! All day long I kept hearing him say "it's freezing"!

There are a few sure fire ways to warm up the house and people inside it, drink tea and cook!

Peruvian peach tea in a mug from my favorite coffee shop ever
 that happens to be at the warm warm beach!

So, for dinner I tried something new. I tried a comfort food that was sure to warm us up, Chicken Fried Steak. It wasn't just any chicken fried steak; it was Pioneer Woman's chicken fried steak. I think I have yet to make anything of hers that I didn't just love. She is amazing and one of my cooking heroes! She loves butter, cilantro, chocolate, and plain ole' good food! She often puts odd foods together, but man, they always turn out wonderful. One of my all time favorite meals is one of her odd recipes, Spicy Dr. Pepper Shredded Pork, TO DIE FOR!!!!! But that's for another day; tonight I made chicken fried steak. I really like trying new things when Nolan is home so that he can watch the kids (i.e. keep Luca from climbing on top of everything) and I can actually think in the kitchen. Cooking alone is a luxury that I don't often have, but I take advantage of when I can!

Ree's recipe called for 3 lbs. of meat. I thought that sounded like a lot, so I got about half that, good thing because it made tons (come to find out, its a recipe for 8)!

Chicken fried steak must be served with mashed potatoes. We are all warm and  full!

Im not a huge gracy person, but the gravy may have been the best part!

Tonight we are supposed to get between 3 & 5 inches of snow. In Franklin that normally means we will get a light dusting. Here's to hoping tomorrow isn't just another cold day, but a real live snow day!!!