Few and Far between!

I know I have been the worst blogger lately so I thought I would update you on my projects and why my posts have been so few and far between.

I have been really moving forward with my cookbook. It actually has somewhat of a format and now I am just working on filling it with recipes. This is a very time consuming process, partly because I NEVER measure when I cook, so I am having to go back through and make a lot of my recipes to come up with measurements, aaand because I tend to forget to write down ingredients. This means some of my recipes are a little different each time I make it. I have been going through and trying to figure out which ones are best to share in my very first book.

I am also enrolled full time this quarter and took on a huuuge load. I have 3 challenging courses this quarter versus the one challenging course and one easy fun course I had last semester. This has eaten up more of my time than I anticipated, but I let the add/drop deadline come and go and have decided I want to take on the challenge. I can do it! I just have to cut a few leisure hours a day. The first week of school, I was coming home from school around 11:30 a.m. and working on homework until around 6 p.m. leaving myself with undone work! Time to work on time management and less distractions during my free hour at school! :)

Now, with all of that being said, some of you may be wondering what I am going to school for, if it is culinary school etc. Well, no. It is community college and I am working on my BA in Music. Why? Music was my first love, thus my first priority. But don't you fret kids! Culinary school is in the cards for my future! I just wanted to get this degree out of my system. It is something I have dreamed about since I can remember. If that means teaching 9 months of the year and taking summer culinary courses, or if it means being a private instructor on my free time from culinary school, I don't know, but I will also get my education in food science so to speak. If only they offered a good culinary program at my local college, I could use my electives to get a head start. Booo! But I am working it so that if given the opportunity during my last 2 years of college, if a transfer is in the future, I have some elective courses open for it! okay, rant over.

Have a great snow day!

Oh Birthday!

My birthday is coming up, oh lord. It is the first big birthday for a while, haven't had much to celebrate since I turned 21. However, this year, my insurance rates drop and I am officially the age my mom was when I was born. You know what that means! (do the math) That being said, I got some photos done with Jordan today to commemorate the occasion. Ready to see them?

MERRY CHRISTMASTIME

Yesterday was a super busy day for us! We finished wrapping our holiday gifts, wished our friends a happy wedding anniversary and had a holiday photo shoot with our friend Jordan. We also braved Target so I could get some coffee and tights.

Here is a wedding style holiday photo that she did for us

we are officially a married couple for our first holiday season. I think this is such a precious photo and cant wait to put it into our frames!

Happy holidays guys
xoxo
J

3 cheese Sweetened Bacon Mac and Cheese with Apples - mmmm

I created a new recipe after a housewarming party with some friends. Amazing appetizers including a gorganzola cream cheese, crackers, apples and sweetened bacon. That night we went to the in-laws and watched Triple-D Detroit where they made a macaroni and cheese. Instantly a light popped on in my mind. Why not make the appetizer into a delicious mac and cheese? Those who know me know that Mac is my all-time favorite food - just call me the Mac lady.



Here is my recipe
1 lb elbow macaroni
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup butter
3 Tbsp flour
dash of nutmeg
dash of pepper
dash sea salt
1/2 cup mixed shredded cheese (I used the costco mexican style blend)
1/4 cup gorganzola
2 Tbsp Cream Cheese
extra cheese of choice for baking (I like to use sliced cheddar)
1/2 lb thick sliced bacon
1 Tbsp brown sugar
Red pepper flake to taste
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup panko
1 green apple chopped

I begin by popping the bacon into the oven. Sprinkle the bacon with brown sugar and pepper flakes, and bake in a 375 oven until desired crisp. I cook until I smell the bacon across the house. Pull the bacon out and start the macaroni.

I start cooking the noodles before I start the sauce, I want them to be done about the same time so I dont have to drain the noodles and let them sit in the strainer.

Once the noodles are started, I heat the butter and flour over medium low heat to make a roux. Once my roux has formed, I add the heavy cream and mix until smooth. Add the pepper, salt, and nutmeg. Then add all of the cheeses and mix over low heat until smooth again. Add 2/3 of your bacon.

Scoop the noodles with a slotted spoon into the sauce. Let most of the water to drain out, but you want a little of it to transfer. Mix well.

Put into the baking dish, cover with your extra cheese, bread crumbs and panko. Sprinkle left over bacon on top. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

Top with apples and serve. YUM!

Tuesday, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Oh my goodness, I keep loosing track of my days. So today is Tuesday the 13. I haven't posted since the 7th. SHOOT. Winter break sure is eating me up and scrambling my brain!

Anywhosit. Here are some pictures!

Breakfast. Easy, quick, and HEALTHY (At least I think so?)

1/2 cup strawberries, 1 banana

I like to blend before I add anything to make sure I don't end up with big chunks in my cup.

Blueberry waffles, strawberry banana smoothie.

 

For the smoothie, after I chop up the fruit, I add some orange juice and put it on the smoothie setting, then drop in ice until its just how I want it. Tastes sooo good, and theres no extra junk to make it full of extra sugar, and whatnot.

Theeennn for dinner I really wanted Teryiaki, however, the local joint was closed so we made our own! MMMM

This teryiaki sauce was waay too sweet for us, so I added oyster sauce and sriacha to it also

Our new indoor grill lol. The chicken was so tender - ooohh my goodness

Teryiaki, asparagus stir-fr, salad and bread.

I also got a SCREAMING deal at Macy's

No jokes about my nail, I know I need a fill. That aside, my total WAS over $90. However, I paid $21.17. Whaaaat?!?! How you may ask? Clearance racks. Just because it's on sale doesn't mean it's not cute...

This dress: $4.99! Sorry its not a great photo, I was having technical difficulties also known as a new phone that I just don't really know how to work. This is the only one that turned out. I also got 2 shirts, and some lady things.

Lastly, I found this note from my bff. (crazy - her wedding song just came on pandora) and I swear, it is about my husband. Except she wrote this in 05 - I met him in 06/07 and we didn't date until 09. Its like she knew! (She can spell, I just cut off one of the words - oops!)

Finally Finished with Fall!

Hey guys,
sorry the posts have been few and far between this week. I have been trying to study hard for my final final. However, that didn't work out so well for me. I think I may have gotten in 3 hours of studying max. I hope I did well on this test!

So a funny story to start off our day. My little dog Buddy (left) has only child syndrome from time to time. Yesterday I was studying for my final and I kept hearing this thumping noise. Turned out Buddy had a monopoly on the toys, and had grounded peanut to their cushion. Every time she'd move he'd rush her and she had to lay back down before he would sit. This is him getting ready to pounce me if I got too close. He is the most hilarious thing ever.

Next how about a recipe?

Sweet Meatloaf!

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef

1 small onion

about 1/3 cup breadcrumbs

4 saltine crackers

1/4 cup milk

1 egg

3 cloves garlic

1/3 cup grated cheese

seasonings are measured by taste:

Oregano

Sage

Salt and Pepper

Ground Mustard

For topping

1/2 cup Katsup

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground mustard

Instructions are easie as pie. Chop onion and garlic, beat egg, mix everything in with meat, mix with hands for best result. I only do half of the breadcrumbs and milk to begin with and add as needed until I have the right consistency, you want it to stick together but not become goo. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

While that bakes, mix katsup, brown sugar and ground mustard. When your 45 minute timer goes off brush topping onto meatloaf and bake another 7-10 minutes. 

Yum!

Serving suggestion:

No this is not directly on the counter, it is on a clear plate. :)

So with that out there for you, I am going to edit my how-to video and have it posted for you asap!

Have a great day everyone!

One down one to go!

Took my Music Appreciation final today, it was pretty darned easy! Only one left to go. Hallelujah! I am excited to start the new quarter with new classes, and new students. I am shooting high and taking 3 full credit courses - so hopefully I will survive AND graduate a little faster.

I spent a good part of today editing wedding photos. We had a big mishap with our wedding pictures and I have been doing what I can to make the best of what we have. I am pretty impressed with myself though, the ones I have fancied up look really good! Here's a sneak peak:

I increased the saturation to make it a bit more vibrant. All of the pictures we have are a bit dull so I was trying to get them to pop a little more.


I have started a new daily routine. I get up in the morning and while I get ready, I watch IJT and check my blogs. Lately I have been doing it in the dining room for better lighting, I cant wait until summer when it will be lighter in my office/fashion room!

We are using up some of the plates and silverware from the wedding and I think it is amusing that the plates are see through. Dinner last night was my homemade maranara with monkey bread, italian veggies and green beans. Can't forget the side of peach smoothie!

Let me know if you want any of the recipes!
See you guys tomorrow!