Ranch Chicken Strips

I had some of those pre-cut chicken strips for some reason. They must have been on sale.  So, obviously, baked chicken strips were the answer.  Easy, crazy tasty.  Will do again.

The original recipe is from blogchef.  I didn't have Corn Flakes (we don't eat cold cereal) and I accidentally bought the spicy Hidden Valley Ranch packet instead of regular.

The Ingredients:

8 boneless chicken boobs (sliced into strips)
1 c bread crumbs
3/4 c grated parm cheese
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t pepper
1 packet ranch dressing mix (I used the spicy kind)
1 egg
(It's now supposed to say "1 c milk" but I didn't have any so just skipped it.  Plus we don't use cow milk and not sure almond milk would taste right.  Skipping it was fine.  The bread crumbs still stuck well.)

The Labor:

Pre-heat to 350.

You can grease a 13x9 baking dish, I used parchment paper on a cookie sheet.

Combine all the dry stuff together (bread crumbs, cheese, garlic powder, pepper, ranch mix).

Beat the egg in a bowl

Dip strips into egg, then coat in the dry stuff and place on cookie sheet.

Bake for about 30 minutes.

Last little legal tidbit:  This is for my personal use.  I don't claim nor advertise ownership of this recipe.  Please go to the original post for that, linked above.  If you take issue with this post at all, please let me know and I'll gladly remove it.  *whew* 

Zuppa Tuscana in the Crock Pot

So this is supposed to my one of those creamy milky soups, but I forgot to add the milk, so, well, yeah. That being said, we loved it.  I wouldn't add the milk since I didn't think it lacked for anything, and we kinda don't really drink cow milk anyway.  Almond milk in this sounds, well, repulsive.  SO, the original recipe is a little different than the one I did.  It froze well, and made a ton.

This is a new idea for me to do this so I didn't take pics.  I'll get one next time I make this.

The original recipe can be found at "Get Crocked".

But this is what I did...

The Ingredients:

1 Lb Italian sausage (we got it a little spicy)
2 large Russet potatoes - MUST be from Idaho or it's a travesty - in 1/4 in clunks
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 c bacon bits (optional, but, really?)
2 minced garlic cloves
2 c kale or 2 c Swiss chard, roughly chopped but be mindful of the size of your eating hole
16 oz chicken broth
1 quart water

The Labor:

Brown the sausage.

Put browned sausage, broth, water, garlic, potatoes, and onion in slower cooker.

Cover.  Cook on high 3-4 hours, or low 6-8 hours, or until potatoes are soft.

Optional - use a potato masher to change the texture if'n ya want it less "brothy".

Turn off the crock pot and add the kale.

Let it sit for 5 minutes.

Serve.

Last little legal tidbit:  This is for my personal use.  I don't claim nor advertise ownership of this recipe.  Please go to the original post for that, linked above.  If you take issue with this post at all, please let me know and I'll gladly remove it.  *whew* 

Enchilada Lasagne

                                                           I stole the pic from the original blog. Go check it out! 

I made some changes from the original recipe based on what I had at home.  Mr. Smith loved it.  Not good for you, but tasty.  We used flour tortillas this time.  No good.  They got all doughy.  Lesson learned.  Stick with the corn ones.

The original post can be found at Mogwai Soup.

I made some changes.  The original called for corn tortillas.  Yeah, covered that already.  It also called for a can of cream of celery soup and a can of cream of chicken soup.  I hate that gloppy canned grossness so make my own "cream of whatever" soup.  This one I just made 2 cups of cream of chicken.  I also didn't have soup cream so used cottage cheese and Bulgarian yogurt that I got at Whole foods.  NOT good for breakfast stuff for me.  Really bitter and runny.  But it was a fantastic substitute here.

Here's the way I did it...

The Ingredients:

2 T veg oil
1 Lb chicken boob chopped into bite sized bits
4 c (or so) sharp cheddar cheese shredded
2 cans (same as 2 cups) cream 'o chicken soup (I make my own cream 'o soups, so this time I used chicken)
3/4 c low fat cottage cheese
3/4 c Bulgarian yogurt (I just happened to have this around)
1 large can diced green chilis
1 can corn niblets drained
1 t cumin
2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
corn tortillas

The Labor: 

Brown chicken in oil.  Set aside.

Mix the wet stuff (cream 'o chicken soup, cottage cheese, yogurt, chilis, corn, cumin, s&p). Set aside.

Use the same pan you would for Italian lasagne.  The bottom layer is 1/2 c of the creamy stuff spread around.  Then layer tortillas, chicken, cheese.  Repeat.  Be sure to end with cheese on top.

Bake at 425 for about 25 minutes or until brown on top and bubbly.

Let cool to avoid second degree burns on the roof of your mouth from cheese lava.

Mine didn't set up like lasagne does, so I served it in a bowl.  Mr. Smith cared not a whit.

FYI, this down here is the Bulgarian yogurt in case you didn't know what I was talking about.

Last little legal tidbit:  This is for my personal use.  I don't claim nor advertise ownership of this recipe.  Please go to the original post for that, linked above.  If you take issue with this post at all, please let me know and I'll gladly remove it.  *whew* 

New Ink

I suck at blogging.  I have too many other irons in the fire.  But I wanted to put up the newest iron that went in the fire and came out 80 minutes later.  I'm really proud of it.  The ampersand is my husband and I...Aaron N Day, and the California poppy is not only a nod to my home state, but the CA poppy is my favorite flower.  It can't be used in bouquets.  As soon as you try it will collapse.  But leave it to its own devices and it will take over a whole field and light it up.

That being said, marriage is all new to me, despite being 37.  At "our age" there's no 20 something constant newlywed somethin' somethin'.  But it's amazing to know there is always someone who will support me, even though he knows I fart a lot and, if need be, will eat a sandwich in the bathroom cuz sometimes things need to happen at the same time.  Just saying...

So, my new tattoo was done by Andrew Pontius at Chalice Tattoo in Boise, Idaho.  He's award winning, a great story, and an epic artist.

Vacation = scarves

Break is officially over...Back to my 210 freshlings today. I had a great break, spending most of my time doing nothing I was supposed to. BUT, I managed to do a little creating. You might be able to see that I made a few scarves. It was a blast, and as always, Aaron dealt well with my creation explosions around the house.

I've worn a couple of these now, and love them, but more to the point, I just can't sit still well. How do people have spare time??And when they do, how do they not fill it?

I've come to realize that this might, um, perhaps, um, kinda explain my nail biting? Picking my fingers? Wiggling my legs? My toes? Ya think? Maybe? That only took me 36+ years...NOW, the challenge will be to ditch the nail biting and trade it in for cardio or something. I did start Insanity yesterday with a friend of mine. Which I LOVE. My goal is to stick to it and feel healthier. And Shawn T aint nothing bad to look at, even when he's yelling at me. See, now, all I need to do is figure out how to run and embroider at the same time. Doesn't seem that hard...

It could be the dawn of a whole new era of fitness - crafty cardio. If you just read that, you are obligated to buy my first video. FYI.

Next project I'm going to start (because I have loads of free time) is a coffee table book project using my piggy bank. I'll let you know when I get it started. I'm hopeful I'll make the library section of Urban Outfitters soon...Again, if you just read that you're now obligated to buy the book. FYI.

Cheers, all!

My Year In Review

This year has been one I never ever in my life expected. I never thought I would get married. Not because of any problem with ME, but how can one possibly like someone well enough that you want to be around them every day for a long time? I usually got bored in about 6 weeks (or stuck it out WAY longer than I should have). Yet...

Last year at this time I was engaged. So much for boredom or

disbelief in marriage, eh? But seriously, Aaron is just so friggin' good looking. And smart. And funny. I'll spare you the gushy crap.

Here's a quick review of the year...

January - no idea what happened...

February - Aaron turned 40! We had and a great time in Jackpot. For Valentine's Day Aaron and I made braised pork shoulder with chimichuri sauce. Made us both sick again. Like it did last year. But it's so GOOD! Maybe we've learned, or maybe this is part of our tradition.

March - I met Ericka for the first time when she came for spring break. And she got to meet her brother, Justin, for the first time. AMAZING.

April - I turned 36. I think I told someone yesterday I'm 35. Hmmm...

May - Bridal shower! My 2 best friends, Chelsea and Jen came up to celebrate. Grandma gave me slutty unders. Good times.

June - Big one, I'd say. Wedding, elephant ride, becoming a step-mom. Seriously...I won't take up a ton of room. Too much to say. I can show you the photos. Come by for coffee and I'll gloat about it all. I hyphenated my name. Stupid decision. Dropping "Thomas" next summer.

July - Honeymoon! Glacier National Park, Spokane historic hotel, Olympic peninsula. Managed to see a former student in the rainforest in WA on the last day, shocking Aaron and reiterating for him that no matter where we go, there will be someone I know.

August - Back to school.

September - no idea.

October - Quick trip to Washington D.C. for Jen's baby shower. Then late that month, Kate Sampson came into the world! YAY! Had an incredible time with incredible women and

my best friend. Susan and I rocked it with our Dr. Seuss and Cat in the Hat costumes. Friends over for Halloween meant 3 of us dressed as yard gnomes - which terrify Aaron.

November - Aaron and I went to Michigan and I got to meet my in-laws and new family. A blast was had by all! I WILL learn to make cannoles!!

December - My first Christmas tree, and my best Christmas ever.

It will be an adventure to see what next year brings. Happy new year, all!

A First...

The way I figure it, I do things I find interesting, and have a terrible memory for anything valuable. I can remember pointless stuff, but perhaps not the things that would be all amazing and create moments of wonder and cohesion and effervescent bubbles and stars popping over my head when I have an epiphany. I have remembered, for decades now, how to tell the difference between the two types of camels and what they are called. This information has come in handy on occasion, but that occasion usually involves me explaining that I remember inane trivia. So maybe this will help? Maybe I'll manage to document epiphanous whatnots? Or maybe someone will find out about camels and think it's cool.

If anything, the last year has taught me that I have no idea what is going to happen in my life, so I'd like to have a chance to look back, smile, learn, or be aghast.

So i'm going to give this a shot. I hope to find myself fascinating, scintillating, occasionally funny, or...um...that's about it, really. We'll see what happens.

The title? I have spent most of my life completely lacking confidence. Only since I have gotten in my 30s have I started to get over that. I still have lapses, (often) and so have decided that nobody else will be my fan i I aint my own. So I'm becoming my own paparazzi. I had to look up how to spell that. Two zees...fyi...