Cooking during Separations

I'm an Army wife of nearly 12 years.  I handle separations like I handle a cold...usually pretty good...but sometimes...

The separation is oddly reminiscent this time.  But only when my kids are asleep.  When I left here in December 2007, my youngest was just a month old - which made my older 18 mos old.  Times sure have changed.

I still don't cook well for myself.  I'll munch on the boys' plates or I'll eat something I shouldn't - all in the name of convenience.

Sunday, I got a wild hair.  I decided I wanted to cook something for me.  I could have invited friends - but since it was 4pm, I decided not to bank on that and commenced to finding something that thrilled me.  I was perusing one of my fave's The Pioneer Woman .  I have found some awesome inspiration there.  It was no different on Sunday.

I actually found a recipe for Pork chops and pineapple fried rice.  Well, I didn't have any pork chops but I read through the recipe thinking, I'll add it to the grocery list.  It had a decidedly Asian flair upon reading it and that sounded splendid.  I decided I could substitute my chicken and I had everything else.

I read through the recipe section for the fried rice.  It sounded plenty easy - except, I don't like pineapple.  No problem, I decided - I'll alter it.  (I also had to leave out the peas because I didn't have any and pimientos because I didn't have them and I wasn't sure I'd like them anyway.)

The results were absolutely scrumptious.  I enjoyed every bite of it.  I never knew fried rice was so relatively easy.  It made me remember why I should absolutely cook well for myself.  But I probably won't.

Maybe I'll try it with the pork chops one day. 

Where do you find cooking inspiration?