High 5 for Friday! 8.2.13

Woot woot for Friday!

Boo hoo for my last Friday before school starts on Monday.

1.  I have crocheted my brains out this week.  I have made 8 hats, 7 decorative flowers and zero progress on putting my granny square quilt together.  

I have a few more hats to make for some friends.

I LOVE the easy patterns I have found over at Sarah's blog.

2.  I have loved doing the crossword puzzle each day this summer. 

I'm sure going to miss it when school starts.

3.  I went into my classroom for the first time all summer and made a little headway.

Simply putting my desks where they belong made a HUGE difference.

4.  I got my polish on today.

I don't usually paint my own nails because I'm not patient enough to wait for them to dry.

However, the dealership that we got our Escape from has a manicurist on staff.

And it's free!

This may become a weekly thing until the baby comes...

5.  I had my first, true pregnancy craving this week.  

I wanted chicken wings from a place we never go to.

They had to be the real deal, too.

No boneless wings for this baby.

Handsome Husband laughed at my insistence.

I hope you had a great week, too.

Please forgive me if I don't post every day since the school year is starting up and I never know what could happen!

Check out the other H54F blogs here.

Laters!

Mrs. B

Let Them Eat Pasta

My Aunt Sarah came up with that title...she's so witty! :)

So, I wanted to share this little gem that is partially inspired by Pinterest but put into action by an instagrammer I follow.

Have you all seen the "One Pot Pasta" recipe floating around on Pinterest?

I have the awful habit of being an I'm-gonna-pin-it-but-I'll-never-try-it kind of gal.

However, when I saw that my Instagram friend had tried it and given instructions I was a woman on a mission.
And ermagerd!!!!!
Magic in a pot. 

I tried it for the first time last week to figure it out and see if I needed to change anything.

And it's a good thing I did!

The little tweaks I made to the recipe made it sooooo much better.

Here's what you need:

12 oz. of linguine (one normal-sized box)

4 cups of chicken broth (I used a 32 oz. container)

2 14.5 oz. cans of diced tomatoes with the juice

2 TBSP olive oil

garlic to taste (which means I used 4 heaping spoonfuls)

4 sprigs of basil leaves chopped or torn

2 TBSP red pepper flakes

1 TPSP oregano

1 medium onion sliced thinly

**optional**

chicken breast

parmesan cheese

I put all the dry stuff in first.

The first time I made this I put the items in as I came to them...bad choice.

The noodles sat in the liquid as I was chopping the onion and such and became a gooey, sticky mess.

They were clumped together in the most unattractive manner.

I added the wet stuff right before turning the burner on.

Bring it to a boil uncovered.

Once boiling, cover and lower to a simmer.

Simmer for 15 - 20 minutes stirring occasionally.

I cooked it for 15 this time because I wanted the noodles more al dente than the last time. 

**Optional**

I baked some chicken while I was cooking the pasta to round out the meal.

I put sea salt and pepper on it before cooking.

Doesn't that look good???!!!

The broth, tomato juice and olive oil create a light, yummy sauce.

Garnish with parmesan cheese if you so choose.

It was pretty awesome to hear Handsome Husband mumbling, "So good!!" while he was eating.

Let me know if you try it!

Laters,

Mrs. B

What I'm Loving Wednesday: 5.1.13

Woo hoo!

I got the date right the first time!

That's a big deal for me...I usually have to go back and change it.

Here's what I'm loving this week:

I'm loving that I got my stairs done this weekend.

I'm loving this blanket and all it's colors.

I'm also loving the method of laying out color progressions for a blanket.

I'm loving that I spent an hour or so roaming my local farmer's market this weekend.

I can't wait to do it again.

I go at least once a week in the summer.

I'm loving these succulents that I got while roaming the market.

I'm loving that I got to crochet my brains out on Monday night.

I'm hating that I had to do it during two show finales.

Dang you season-endings!

I'm loving that Handsome Husband said that I may have cooked him his favorite meal last night.

Pork chops (cooked in white wine), caramelized bourbon onions, roasted zucchini and summer squash, and Stove Top.

I LOVE cooking and felt so relaxed while I was doing it.

I'm loving that I joined a photo challenge for the month of May.

I'm loving that I found the most PERFECT little table for in front of the window in the living room.

I just happened to stop in at a local second hand shop and found this beauty for $12.00.

Saweet!

What are you loving?

Laters,

Mrs. B

Food is Good

Ok...so I like to fancy myself an amateur chef.

Handsome Husband is also a really good guinea pig.

We eat a lot of chicken every week and it gets a bit redundant sometimes.

So, I decided to try something new.

I made teriyaki chicken with peppers, onions and chopped apple.
(I found the original recipe here and then modified it.)

First, I cut the chicken into strips.

Then, I covered the chicken with peppers and onions.

I used a lot because 1) we really like them and 2) they cook down a lot.

 Then, I mixed low sodium teriyaki sauce and low sodium soy sauce together and poured the mixture over the chicken and veggies.

Wrap it up tightly.

Put it in the oven at 425 for 25 or so minutes.

When it was cooked I chopped up some apple (Fuji) to put on the top of the chicken.

Holy cow, was it ever tasty!

We paired the chicken with some roasted asparagus with balsamic vinegar.

(This is not the best picture ever, but I was STARVING and I was lucky that I even got a picture before I did a face plant and ate the whole thing without a fork.

Classy...)

This was super easy!

Handsome Husband kept raving about it while he was eating.

He actually cheered, "Yes!" when I told him that I had packed him the leftovers for lunch today.

However, the next time I cook this dish I am going to cook it in the crock pot.

I think that the chicken would be a bit more tender.

Plus, we wouldn't be eating at 7:45 on a Monday night if I did that!

You could also add crushed pineapple for a bit more sweetness.

Let me know if you try it!

Laters,

Mrs. B

Time Off

I am apparently taking this vacation thing a bit too seriously.

I've done a whole lot of nothing.

Well...

I've done a little bit of something.

I've done a puzzle with Handsome Husband;

(HH told me that I do it incorrectly because I put the edge pieces together and then dump out the rest so I can see everything.  Had him all in a tizzy.)

I got Handsome Husband to cook with me on Christmas Eve day.

That has happened maybe once in the (almost) 4 years we've been together. 

I scored a Mickey Mouse pancake.

We had Christmas at my in-laws on Christmas Day.

I got some great cooking items!

I got my "new" "Happy Hollister" books onto a shelf in the living room.

I would love to own them all one day.

I grew up reading and re-reading the three that my mom had and now I have some of my own!

A place of honor :)

I drove through the horrid weather we had yesterday to hang with this little nugget.

She is getting SO BIG!!

I even had her laughing.

What an amazing sound.

(She was totally judging my boy-short-hair-crammed-under-a-baseball-cap-lazy-day-getup in this picture.  Diva in training.)

I've been spending WWAAAAYYYYY too much time on Pinterest as well.

I have seen this pin about a million times, but my tastebuds were screaming at me to pin it today.

Of course, Handsome Husband and I went to lunch with friends and are still stuffed, so it's not happening tonight.

However, I think it will make the most perfect post-gym lunch tomorrow with some baked garlic chicken and grilled peppers!

I received some coconut oil from mi madre for Christmas as well.

I have never had any but keep reading about the different things you can do with it.

Here are some of the sites I've been browsing:

http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/

http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/08/333-Uses-For-Coconut-Oil.html

http://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2012/05/122-uses-for-coconut-oil-even-more-of-the-simple-the-strange-and-the-downright-odd/

I'm thinking that a coating of this in my hair might be called for in the near future since it always get super dry in the winter.  

I'm talking unmanageable-straw-like-ridiculously-annoying-can't-seem-to-get-it-right dry.

Have you used coconut oil?

What have you tried?

I've also picked out the new paint color for the living room that (I swear!!) I'm going to get on the walls by the time this break is over...at least I hope so.

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and got to spend some quality time with you family and loved ones.

Laters!

Mrs. B

I'm Loving It!

Oh my heart!!  Happy Wednesday before Christmas Break!!

I'm teaming up with Jamie at this kind of love for What I'm Loving Wednesday.

I can't believe that an entire semester with my nuggets has flown by already.

Watching them grow and learn new things has been amazing.

The most mind-blowing thing is that I TAUGHT THEM A LOT OF THESE THINGS!!

This is my fourth year of teaching and that fact still knocks my mis-matched socks off.

Losing a tooth (when you're little!) is always worth a celebration.

Oh. My. Heart.  I always ask them how they can make themselves successful...I guess this is what they think it is spelled like!

I am loving my new ornaments.

We have an ornament exchange at school instead of a Secret Santa and this is what I got:

Handsome Husband thought it was a cool gift...until I put it on the tree.

Then, he said, "That's not fair...I wanna go get my White Sox ornaments."

(I purposely gave him his own tree for those!  Maybe the argument that I'm in mourning since Youk got traded to the YANKEES (how gross) will soften him up a bit.)

My teammate Laura got me this one as well:

Gorgeous.

I'm loving the new spices that my brother and SIL got Handsome Husband and I me for Christmas this year.  (Handsome Husband doesn't cook much...so they're mine!)

They are from Gourmet Nut (couldn't find a website) and I am wicked excited to use the Cup of Coffee steak rub.

I just got into cooking about 4 years ago and discovered that I could do it well 2 years ago.  It was UGLY (and smokey!) before that!

I'm also loving the fact that I'm starting a new Pinterest project!

Sorry, babe...I was hit with the notion when I couldn't sleep last night!

I was also hit with the urge to repaint the living room.

It is lit by one light and one window and is very dark. 

The first time I painted it, Handsome Husband and I weren't talking marriage so I painted it for a dude.  

I like the colors, but I really want something fresh and clean.

Here we go.

Sorry again, babe.

What have you been loving this week??

Laters!

Mrs. B

What I'm Loving Wednesday

It's here!

That day when the week is half over, but I still have two more days until the weekend begins.

Ya know...Wednesday.

I'm linking up with this kind of love.

This has been one of those weeks where things are up and things are down just as fast.

So, here's to the ups...

I'm loving that people loved my Faux Turtles!

I made a bunch more tonight for some more sharing at work.

I'd better head to Sam's Club again soon!

I had some extra time after school yesterday, so I decided to do some organizing.

Yes, my colored pencils are sorted by color.

Don't judge.

I adore seeing the multitudes of writing paper sorted and stacked so neatly.

It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I LOVE coming home to an already cooked meal after a long day.

3 lb. roast, carrots, red potatoes, and a bunch of garlic.

Handsome Husband was a happy dude.

I'm glad he is because he's been pretty sick lately. :(

Long live crockpots!

As my nuggets were changing into their gym shoes today I noticed that one of them had kick-butt socks like me.  We had to commemorate it together. :)

I loved seeing her face light up when I noticed.

I hope your weeks are going swimmingly.

Are you ready for Christmas yet???  Huh, huh, are ya?

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Laters!

Mrs. B

Melt, Squish, Sprinkle, YUM!

So, as I mentioned before, this weekend was the annual National Lampoons: Christmas Vacation viewing at my parent's house.  

I searched my brain and Pinterest all Friday night and Saturday morning trying to come up with something other than the old standby (chocolate chip cookies).

It got so bad that when I suggested ideas to my mom and she said, "Ew," that I burst out crying and didn't stop for a while.  (Don't worry...I got a nap yesterday.  It helped.)

Finally, I decided to make those Hershey's-Kiss-inside-a-round-pretzel-with-an-M&M-squished-in-the-center-thingys.

Off to Sam's Club I went to get enough without spending a fortune.

Chyeah...I got distracted.

I saw a ginormous box of Rolos and thought, "Holy easy, Batman!!  I can make faux turtles!"

I'd seen these beauts floating around on Pinterest but didn't find separate caramels and chocolates...so...Rolos it was.

I got the MONDO-sized box (36 ct.!) at Sam's Club along with a 2 lb. bag of pecan halves.  (approximately $20 and $16)

I also grabbed some coarse sea salt and parchment paper from my local Martin's.

Then, I preheated the oven to 250 degrees.

(If you can't tell...I have a new camera! :)  I know I said it already...but I'll say it again!)

Then, I lined some cookie sheets with the parchment paper.

After that, I used 10 rolls of Rolos to fill both sheets.  I put the top on the bottom for absolutely no reason.  I think I just liked the way it looked.  I probably had SOME method for my madness, but I truly can't say.

This was a 10-roll job.

This treat was (of course!) made "with" wine.  AKA "Cook's little helper."

Next, I put a pecan piece on the top.

Then, I threw the trays in the 250 degree oven for 3 minutes.

When the three minutes is up take the trays out and squish the pecans into the Rolos.

Once you have squished them, sprinkle some coarse sea salt on them to yum them up even more. Make sure you put them in the freezer (or a cold garage, in my case) to harden them up before packaging.

Now for the packaging...I plan on giving these away for Christmas presents at school...

I got some cello bags and Christmas cardstock at Michael's on sale.  Score!

I can't wait to play Santa!

Have you made anything fun lately??

Laters,

Mrs. B