Anti-Valentine's Day

First off, I haven't been MIA from cooking. I just haven't been taking pictures. :( So no cooking post today and probably not until next week. Second, the title of this entry may be a little misleading. When myspace was big, yeah remember that site? Anyways, I always wrote an Anti-Valentine's Day blog. I've never been a big fan of this so-called holiday except as a little girl when my daddy would bring home me a new bear with the paws wrapped around a vase with a pretty red rose. I cherished those days although I didn't know I did till I grew up. (& Yes I still say daddy at 30.) This entry today will be somewhat why I hate the holiday, but why I want to celebrate it all at the same time. Get ready, this may be a long winded post. :)

I usually give a little history on the holiday. But thanks to Google, you can search for Valentine's Day history and then go to Wikipedia or just click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day.

Why do I hate this holiday you may be asking yourself. The answer is simple in a way. My birthday is January 28, so a little over 2 weeks ago. My great hubby went ALL out this year for it, because I was turning the dreaded 30. I really rather stay 25, it's just a great number, not quite 20, but not yet 30 either, if I could tell people I was 25 the rest of my life I would, but something about 30 makes people respect you a little more. As I said, the hubby went all out: getting a hotel room in the city, taking me to a yummy steak dinner, seeing Lion King on Broadway and then Junior's for dessert. Not to mention making me take a half day off Friday so I could go get one of the best mani/pedi's I've ever had with my great friend Trish. We were there about 2 and half hours...oops. It was one of the best weekends yet. (Def of 2012, lol) On that day the hubby showed how much he loved me.

On Valentine's Day, a holiday that girls either gush over or hate themselves because they have no special someone in their life. I just don't understand putting so much pressure on the man when the woman should do the same thing for that special someone. Think about: A man starts to think,"Oh great valentine's day is coming, I must buy overpriced flowers (think supply & demand, 2 weeks ago a dozen roses, $18.99, today, $29.99--not kidding a price hike), a mushy card, chocolates, oh & I better pick the best place for us to go eat. I have to out do all my buddies or I'll never hear the end of it." A woman thinks: "I am dreaming I get flowers & a mushy card that I wish he would just tell me in person and chocolates are a bonus. A romantic dinner would be great! I get to say my other is better than my friend's." (Because for whatever reason God made women make things into a competition.)

So--what happened to let me pick a random day out of the year and buy flowers, a mushy card, chocolate and take my other out to a romantic dinner? This goes both ways. I don't think all those things show that a person loves someone, it stresses people out. Just another holiday to make Hallmark money.

This year though I feel different. Why? Well, I'm finally happy with my life. I'm married to a great man (note: not the greatest because that honor is held for one man, God) and I want to celebrate my love for him. Sure, I bought him a card {if he reads this before dinner, then oops} and no we aren't going to a fancy place for dinner. I'm going to cook us a nice meal and have a yummy dessert so we can enjoy each other at home. I told him no TV, no phone, no computer. A technology free night for us to spend our first married Valentine's day together. Technically I told him while I'm cooking he can get his technology on, but after that, I just want it to be us. Holding and cuddling each other, telling the other why we love one another so.

NOT saying, that all the pictures on Facebook of my girlfriends getting flowers won't put a smile on my face or all the I love you {insert pet name here} will damper my day like it has before, but this holiday just irritates me!

I still want that random day where the hubby whisks me away in the city or gets me flowers for no reason other than he loves me. And I will whisk him away and take him to a seafood place and tell him the reasons I love and respect him. He gives me many days where he shows he loves and respects me and I give him those days too. It has made our relationship so much stronger because we celebrate at random times and not on a holiday that will stress each other out.

My challenge to my readers (which aren't many), but pick a day this year (not a birthday or anniversary) and show your love to that special someone in your life. Get a baby-sitter and go enjoy yourselves. Whether it be a bike ride, a scavenger hunt, a picnic or going to a museum or staying at home snuggling, make it just about the two of you and the rewards will be so much greater than those today.

I think if you've made it this far in my thoughts about this holiday, you deserve some love & respect yourself. Hope you have a great day! ;)

Pan Roasted Chicken with Green Beans

Pinterest has become an obsession of my time. I have been loving getting new recipes from there and the hubby has too! I've been able to have more a variety of food. The hubby wants me to cook chicken more often as long as it has taste and boy has Pinterest come to my rescue. This recipe took a little longer to make but was so delicious!! It is from http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/pan-roasted-chicken-lemon-garlic-green-beans-10000000780291/index.html

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
4 cloves of garlic (I used minced garlic from a jar)
Salt & Pepper
3/4 pound green beans
8 small red potatoes, cubed
4 chicken breasts

How to make:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.Coat a dish with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
2. In a large bowl combine: oil olive, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
3. First coat the green beans and place in dish. (I used already snapped beans)

4. Do the same with potatoes. (I didn't use 8 since there are only 2 of us.)

5. Put chicken in bowl and coat with dressing. Then place on top of green beans. Drizzle anything remaining in bowl on top of the chicken.

6. Cook for 50 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. My chicken and potatoes were both done cooking.

The hubby was hungry as was I so I didn't get a picture of the finished product! Enjoy!

Buffalo Chicken Pasta--My bday

Let me start this out by saying my hubby did a blow out job in planning my birthday celebration. Friday night he gathered up all our friends and we all met at the local bar. After dinner the waitress brought a cake over that my hubby went and picked up and dropped off before we got there. THEN Saturday we went into the city stayed at a great hotel, went to a yummy steak dinner, he took me to see The Lion King (AMAZING) and then went and got cheesecake at Junior's. Absolutely great night...oh & on top of ALL of that he bought me a Kitchen Aid Mixer that I have been wanting well...for forever! So you may now see a little more desserts on here. (Even though I have mentioned before I hate baking, the mixer may help me turn into a baker.) THANKS FOR EVERYTHING BABE, IT WAS THE BEST WAY A GIRL WHO TURNED 30 COULD CELEBRATE. I LOVE YOU!!!

Anyways...have I mentioned I love Pinterest?? I find so many great recipes on there. A few that Cory (the hubby) has even said, Will you please make that again? This one was please make again, but not so spicy. Oh--if I could only get him to enjoy spicy foods like me. :) So---here is the best of both worlds, buffalo chicken with pasta and cheese. Found on pinterest from: http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/05/baked-buffalo-chicken-pasta/

Ingredients:
1 pound pasta (I used orecchiette)
3 cooked bonless skinless chicken breasts (I shredded mine)
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 1/2 cups milk
4 oz monterery jack cheese (shredded)
1/3 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce (I used Frank's...HOT buffalo instead of just buffalo)
1/3 cup bread crumbs
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
I boiled my chicken until it was cooked. Then let it cool to shred. I used the same water I boiled the chicken in for my pasta.
While pasta is cooking. Add the butter, and once it’s melted and bubbly add the flour in a medium saucepan. Whisk together to create a roux and cook for 1-2 minutes until mixture gets a bit golden in color. Add milk, stir and turn down heat to low. Continue stirring until milk thickens. Add in grated cheeses and continue to stir until mixture is smooth. Stir in buffalo wing sauce. I added in salt and pepper.

Spray a baking dish (9 x 13) with non-stick spray. Add pasta and chicken, then pour cheese sauce over and mix throughly until everything is coated. Sprinkle with additional grated cheese and bread crumbs. Bake for 25 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.

Spoon some out & eat!! I added some more buffalo sauce to the top of mine.

Another blogger I followed also made this recipe this weekend. She added Ranch dressing to the top of hers...I guess the East Coast is getting to me because I didn't think of that! You can check hers out at: http://pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com/2012/01/sorry-i-dont-eat-buffalo.html

Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken

Two days, two posts...as most people at this time of year, I am doing pretty well at keeping up with my New Year's Resolution. :) I made this last night...just FYI if you're a football fanatic (even though you don't like either team playing) I suggest not making this unless its half time or the game is a blow out. The 49ers/Giants game had me going back and forth...if you can see the TV from your kitchen, lucky you. ;) The hubby enjoyed this one, so it goes in the recipe binder. I didn't measure all the ingredients out because I hate doing that. (Thus why you won't see many baking recipes from me, unless you don't really have to measure.) In my picture, I left out the butter, but I did use it. This recipe was adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/spicy-garlic-lime-chicken/detail.aspx
Ingredients: (I didn't measure these..just poured into a small bowl)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add more for spice)
1/8 teaspoon paprika
 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I like the organic chicken)


2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons lime juice (would have been better with fresh limes)

Preparation:
1. In a small bowl mix together: salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika,1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, thyme, and parsley.

2. Sprinkle spice mixture generously on both sides of the chicken breasts. (I rubbed mine in a little to lock in same extra taste.)

3. Heat butter and olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat.

4. Saute chicken until golden brown, about 6 minutes on each side.

5. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons garlic powder and lime juice. Cook 5 minutes turning to coat evenly with sauce.

 6. Serve with your favorite veggie...this would have been good with garlic bread too!

Five Spice Turkey & Lettuce Wraps

I'm probably one of the few people who has been to PF Chang's once...yes you read that right, only once. I wasn't so sure about the lettuce wraps that our friends ordered when we went, but I gave it a try. When I came across this recipe I thought I'd give it a try. My hubby doesn't like spicy, but I do so when this recipe called for hoisin sauce and said it was spicy, I followed the directions with how much. I should have tried it first because it wasn't spicy at all! We ended up adding some more to the wraps along with some soy sauce to add flavor. My New Year's resolution was to put recipes that I try up on this blog, so even though this goes on the probably won't make it again list, I'm putting it up here. I didn't use all the same ingredients as the one from the website. Recipe came from: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/five_spice_turkey_lettuce_wraps.html

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup instant brown rice
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 pound 93%-lean ground turkey
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 8-ounce can water chestnuts, rinsed and chopped
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, (found in the Asian section of the grocery store)
• 1 teaspoon five-spice powder, (look for Chinese five spice powder in the spice section)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 heads Boston lettuce, leaves separated

Preparation

1. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add rice; reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add turkey and cumin; cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until the turkey is cooked through, about 6 minutes. Stir in the cooked rice, water chestnuts, broth, hoisin sauce, five-spice powder and salt; cook until heated through, about 1 minute.

3. serve, divide lettuce leaves among plates, spoon some of the turkey mixture into each leaf and roll into wraps.

Hope you enjoyed this first recipe! Many more to come. =)

New Year, New Blog?

I started this blog with it not having a purpose, except for me to record the fun things Cory & I did. I entered into the wonderful land of blogging after reading so many good ones! I figured if all these women (and some men) can find time to blog, then surely so can I. Little did I realize that most of these women are SAHM (stay-at-home-moms) and they do most of their blogging while their little ones are napping or after they go to bed. Shout out to all of you, because I've read some where some of you craft until 3 am because your child(ren) didn't go to bed until 10 pm or later and then you're up with them at 6 am. Maybe when we have kids I'll understand this phenomenon, but right now I don't know how you do it, except by being super moms! :) I work 55+ hours a week and have a dog and hubby and still can't find time to craft or come up with new recipes, let alone blog.

Which brings me too...this is a New Year and we all have a resolution(s), so this year, mine is to blog more. Yes it took me 17 days into this new year to decide, but hey, I have one. My hubby may think I'm crazy because I'm going to start taking photos of what I'm cooking. Thanks to all you bloggers out there who do this, you've inspired me to start. One blog is: http://pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com/ I just love the title. Maybe I'll change my blog title one day, but the one currently fits.

Also--all you very crafty moms, when I sit down and actually finish a craft, I'll try and post a how to of how I did it, pics and all. Here is one dedicated to Mod Podge(I <3 this stuff!): http://modpodgerocksblog.com/

So--here's to my New Year's resolution, and hope I keep it. (Along with getting in shape, like 99.9% of the world)

Why wait?

In less than a month people are going to make a New Year's resolution. The number 1 (or close to it) resolution for most people is to get in shape. Every year most people say this is year! So, why wait and have a crowded gym to go to? DO IT NOW!! Make it an early Christmas present for yourself. I will say that I have been in and out of the gym that my apartment has for a year. I don't go consistently, and couldn't figure why it was so hard to go, when all I had to do was go downstairs. Right before I got married, I told myself I wanted to lose 20 pounds and just couldn't motivate myself. I found out about this boot camp. (http://www.jcfbootcamp.com/) It was offered at 7 pm and not far from the apartment. I liked this for a few reasons. One I'm not a morning at all and two it got me to leave my apartment. I fell in love with it! It was more like circuit training and it wasn't in a musty old gym with all this equipment that I'm not sure if I'm using right! I also felt I was being held accountable for being there, when no one was going to hold me accountable for going on that treadmill. Well, I wanted to do more than just two days a week, so I did some research and found a gym that offers classes! (http://www.clubhfitness.com/) I have gone 3 days in a row, but I am leaving town, so I am going to miss a few days and I'm actually upset about it!
I know many of you are probably wishing you could get tone or lose a few pounds. Try going to classes and see if you like to work out. I realized that exercise equipment actually scares me because I don't know if I'm doing it right and I don't feel like I worked out. SO--if you're New Year's resolution is to get off your couch, FIND A CLASS! And for those of you that have kids, my gym has a supervised kiddie area that is included in your membership! I also only signed up for a 3 month membership because I didn't want to feel like I was locked in for a year if I didn't like the classes. I hope this gives some of you motivation to go try a few classes. Also if you think it's expensive, think of it this way: My membership is $139/month, but if I go to 20 classes a month, that's $6.95 a class. (Going to 5 classes a week) See not so bad when you look at it that way!
My goal is to go to a class everyday...that's why twice this week I went at lunch...oh & if you have a friend that wants to do it, it is more motivation!