The Pioneer Woman Cooks Quotes

“Ode to Charlie
THE DOG OF A LIFETIME

We got a pup named Charlie
One year at Christmastime.
He changed our lives completely
So I’ll share this dog rhyme.

His ears were long and dangly,
His legs were short and fat,
His naps were almost constant,
’Cept when he chased the cat.

I dressed him up in outfits,
In dresses, shirts, and jeans,
In boots and leather loafers--
The dapp’rest pup I’d seen!

He started working cattle
With Ladd and all the crew.
He thought this was his purpose.
Oh, if he only knew!

That he was just a Bassett
And bred for not so much.
But Charlie rose above it
And learned that cowdog touch.

But man, that short dog syndrome…
He thought he was in charge
And ruled the other doggies
His bravado, always large!

But deep down, all he wanted
Were tummy rubs all day
And sausage, ham, and burgers
And bacon, I would say.

He snored just like an engine,
His breath was not so great,
His ears were always crusty
From hanging in his plate.

But Charlie Boy was perfect
And loyal through and through.
He knew what we were thinking,
He sensed what we would do.

We thought he’d live forever
But cancer came and stayed,
Then left with our dear Charles
And left us all dismayed.

And yet, we feel so lucky
He got to be our friend.
We have a million memories
Right up until the end.

We loved you, Charlie, you were the best
We never will forget you
And the very second we get to Heaven…
We’re coming straight to get you!”
― Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Lives

“Guns a-Blazin’

Ladd and the kids were shipping cattle one morning when a big thunderstorm moved in. Sometimes, if it’s just a standard morning of working cattle, they can stop and take a break as they wait for the rain to stop. But because the road was lined with cattle trucks, the show had to go on…so they just worked through the rain and were drenched from head to toe all morning.
I know this is a family-friendly cookbook and everything, but if there’s ever such a thing as a cowboy calendar, I’d like to enter my husband for the months of January through December. I love the smile on his face, even more so because he was soaked, had a big morning of work ahead, and on this day of all days, had every reason not to be smiling.
But his smile is definitely not the first thing I’m looking at in these photos.”
― Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Lives

“Pan-Roasted Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are my life. Absolutely, positively my life. If I had to choose a cut of chicken to chow down on for the rest of my days, I would choose thighs every day of the week, and nine hundred times on Sunday. I always wonder why breasts get all the dang attention in this world. Thighs are the way to go, baby!
(Sorry. There’s just no dignified way to talk about breasts and thighs.)
(I’m snickering.)”
― Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Lives

“If my kids have ever expressed boredom at various times through the years, they were wise enough never to say it within earshot of Pa-Pa. If they did, he’d load them up in the pickup and find some fence for them to fix. Or some gravel for them to move. Or some barns for them to clean out. They’d get home sometime after dark covered in mud and desperation, and they quickly learned that boredom is actually a good thing. And that it’s something you never, ever complain about in front of Pa-Pa.”
― Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Lives

“Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Dip

When we have our Fourth of July potluck celebration, someone always seems to show up with a slow cooker full of some amazing dip. And by “amazing” I mean “I follow around the owner of the slow cooker all night and pester them until they tell me how to make it.” I’m such a gracious, humble hostess!
Enchilada dip is always a crowd-pleaser (and a hostess-pleaser), and unless you call browning ground beef in a skillet difficult, there ain’t nothing hard about this recipe.”
― Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Lives

“Tortilla Pinwheels

Why, hello, 1994! It’s wonderful to see you again. I’ve missed you so much, and I’d really like my small waist back. Thank you. And while you’re at it, could you please send me some of those crazy easy tortilla roll-ups that people used to make for casual get-togethers? Because life has gotten rather complicated here in the new millennium and people think these are out of style. Which they are. But I don’t care.
And never mind, no need to send. I’ll just make a batch myself!
Love ya. Say hi to my size 6 jeans!”
― Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Lives

“Grilled Veggie and Cream Cheese Sandwiches

There’s not much I love more than grilled vegetables. As delicious as a vegetable already is, something happens during the grilling process that makes me want to propose. And not to a man! To the grilled veggies themselves.
Grilled vegetables are a great sandwich filler, and you won’t even think about the fact that there’s no meat anywhere in sight. I love this make-ahead sandwich because…well…you can make it ahead of time. Ha ha! Actually, it’s better if you make it ahead of time and let it get more and more wonderful. By the time lunch rolls around, you’ve got a little miracle on your hands.
I mean in your hands.
I mean in your mouth!”
― Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Lives

“Salad on a Stick

The big selling point of this salad is that it’s F-U-N, fun! I mean, sure…it might be just as easy (okay, easier) to throw salad ingredients into a bowl and toss them with the dressing. But I ask you: What mark are we trying to make here on the world, people?!? Are we men or are we mice? Are we bold and courageous or are we standard and predictable?!? I think you need to spend some time taking a good, hard look at yourself and evaluating whether or not you really want to be here!!!!!!
Sorry. I sound like a high school football coach.”
― Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Lives

“Orange-Blueberry Muffin Tops

There are two kinds of muffin tops in this world. One is caused by low-rise jeans, and we won’t talk about them in this cookbook for obvious reasons.
The other kind of muffin top, which I will gladly talk about in this cookbook, is just what it sounds like: the delicious, perfect top from a muffin without all that annoying base. I have seen special muffin top pans in kitchen stores, but it isn’t necessary to have one of those. All you need is a scoop and a sheet pan!
(I want that to go on my tombstone, by the way: “All she needed was a scoop and a sheet pan…”)
(Right along with “Every bra she ever loved was discontinued…”)”
― Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Lives

“Amish Baked Oatmeal

I would love to boast that I was taught how to make this breakfast dish by my Amish friend three farms over, but that isn’t the case. Instead, I learned how to make it from fellow homeschooling moms--which, if you don’t happen to live near an Amish community, is the next best thing. Homeschooling moms are rich with ideas for recipes that are quick, easy, nutritious, and gol-darn delicious…and that just so happens to be the exact Merriam-Webster definition for Amish Baked Oatmeal!
This is pretty much an oatmeal cookie that decided to defect to the breakfast category, and I’m so very glad it did. It’s super easy to make, too!”
― Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Lives