guilt-free

Cookies, cakes, pies, casseroles, pastas...too much food. I cook to eat, and I've been cooking a lot lately. So one would think I should feel guilty when I get up to pull a batch of cookies out of the oven in 5...4...3...2.....
Okay, these things smell good. As I was saying...guilty...yeah, not so much. Not at all, actually, because most of the stuff I make is pretty tasty. And, on top of that, my experiments benefit the four of you who actually read this thing. Now that I have justified my shameless indulgence, here's my next recipe :)

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

What you'll need:

3/4 cup Butter, softened

3/4 cup creamy Peanut Butter, softened

1 & 1/2 cups packed Brown Sugar

3/4 cup Sugar

3 Eggs

3 tablespoons Light Corn Syrup

3 tablespoons Water

1 tablespoon Vanilla

3 & 3/4 cups Flour

1 & 1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda

3/4 teaspoon Salt

3 cups semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

What you'll do:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and sugar until smooth

3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, add the corn syrup, water, & vanilla, and then the rest of the dry ingredients

4. Fold in the chocolate chips and drop onto lightly greased baking sheets

5. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown

>>Lemme just tell ya, sometimes that moment on your lips is worth the lifetime on your hips...this is one of those occasions<<

'tis {ALMOST} the season

Thanksgiving:
noun
1. the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgement of benefits or favors, especially to God
2. an expression of thanks, especially to God
3. a public celebration in acknowledgement of divine favor or kindness
4. a day set apart for giving thanks to God


As much as I've been complaining lately about the busyness, stress, and chaos in my life, I am so incredibly blessed. I've been thinking of my stress and sleep deprivation as a bad thing, but I'm reminded that it's all self-induced and it's how I thrive. I have the opportunity to strive for excellence in a challenging school, the ability to play sports, and the privilege to overbook myself at will. So this Thanksgiving season, while I'm so incredibly thankful for the generally accepted answers of: "family, friends, a roof over my head, a warm bed, clothing, sufficient nutrition...", there are so many other benefits that I take for granted on a weekly, daily, and even hourly basis. Sports, friends, books, music...the list goes on. All that to say, am I the only one who takes nearly everything I've got for granted from time to time?

CHICKEN.

Today, I volunteered to make dinner for my mom, who told me that she wanted chicken. No questions asked. So I decided to experiment...this chicken is still in the oven but it's smellin' pretty good, so let's hope it tastes equally so.

What you'll need:

10 skinless Chicken Thighs

1/4 cup White Wine Dijon Mustard

1/2 cup White Wine

1/8 cup Olive Oil

juice of 1 Lemon

1/4 cup Spinach leaves, stems removed

1/3 cup sliced Mushrooms

What you do:

1. Mix together the mustard, wine, olive oil, and lemon juice

2. Stab each chicken thigh at the top of the bone and create a small pocket in the middle of the thigh; place thighs on a baking dish

3. Stuff the pockets with 1 spinach leaf and one mushroom slice

4. Fill the pocket with mustard mixture (marinade), top each thigh a mushroom slice, and baste with marinade

5. Broil for 5 minutes, flip, marinade other side, and broil 6-7 more minutes

so yeah, we'll see what happens.

The Most Wonderful Time

Winter time makes me happy:) Not because I love the snow and ice (which I don't), or the crisp air, but because of the feeling that the season brings. With Thanksgiving preceding Christmas and New Years right behind, the season in general just brings a feeling of happiness, and while I hate to sound like a glutton, the food contributes to much of what brings everyone so much closer at this time of year. For some reason, the spread of a Thanksgiving dinner inevitably puts a smile on everyone's face, and the treats brought out every Christmastime brings loved ones from near and far closer then they planned on being. Regardless of the occasion, everyone loves sharing holiday recipes, so here's my first contribution of the season :)

Winter Crisp

What you'll need:

4 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and sliced

2 cups fresh Cranberries (keyword: FRESH)

8 oz. canned crushed Pineapple in Juice (undrained)

1/2 cup Sugar

1 cup firmly packed Light Brown Sugar

1/4 cup Flour

1/2 cup Butter

1 cup uncooked Regular/Old-Fashioned Oats

1 cup chopped Pecans

What you'll do:

1. After peeling and slicing the apples, layer them in a lightly greased, glass 13x9" pan, spread the cranberries evenly on top, and then top it all off evenly with the crushed pineapple

2. Combine the brown sugar, flour, and butter until the mixture becomes crumbly, then add the oats and pecans

3. Sprinkle the oat mixture over the apples, cranberries, and pineapple, and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes

Enjoy! :)

"A Woman's Work...

...is never done."

Whoever said the above quote (that I hear ALL the time) speaks the truth. I can't remember the last time I rested. But that's okay, because my work pays off. This weekend, I lost my mind and thought I would go to a school dance, sign for my volleyball future at Montreat, go to a sleep over, volunteer in childrens' ministry, go to church, go to the store, AND cook all day. All of this on about ten hours of sleep. Crazy. So here I stand--sleep deprived and hungry--cooking, writing, and texting while listening to music. So much to do, so I decided to cram it all together :) Anyways, it's time for me to get back over the stove, so here are my recipes...first, I made chocolate chip muffins and then I decided we should have dinner as well...

Shrimp Penne Pasta

What you will need:

1 (16 oz.) package Penne Pasta

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

1/4 cup Red Onion, chopped

1 clove Garlic, chopped

1/4 cup White Wine

2 (14 oz.) cans Diced Tomatoes (I just diced up some fresh Roma tomatoes)

1 Red Bell Pepper, diced

1 lb. cooked Shrimp

Grated Parmesan Cheese

What you'll do:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions

2. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, stir in onion and garlic, and cook until onion is tender

3. Mix in the wine, pepper, and tomatoes, and cook about 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally

4. Add shrimp to the skillet, and cook 5 minutes or until shrimp is opaque

5. Toss in drained pasta and serve with grated Parmesan

Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

What you'll need:

6 oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate

1/3 cup Butter

3/4 cup Buttermilk

1/2 cup Sugar

1 Egg
1 & 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

1 & 2/3 cups Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

What you'll do:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line 12 muffin cups

2. In a small saucepan, melt the semi-sweet chocolate and butter together. Set aside and cool 8-10 minutes

3. Stir together the egg, buttermilk, sugar, vanilla, and chocolate-butter mixture

4. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the chocolate mixture, stirring until well-combined.

5. Stir in the chocolate chips, spoon the batter into the cups, bake for 25 minutes, and enjoy:)

Seniority

I've been dying to write about my senior year for so long. Literally dying, because I'm ready for it to be over so that I can compile a list of my favorite memories and look back over them fondly as I tuck them gently into the little corner of my mind that I like to call THE PAST. But alas, it's still here. Senior year is the present. Between school, volleyball, college applications, and a sliver of a social life, it's becoming more and more difficult for my immune system to resist my body's urge to explode with stress-induced shingles. Graduation could not possibly come any slower. Well, that's a lie, and just because I said that, it'll probably come even slower. But so far, the times that have been craaawwwllliiinnnggg by have been fantastic.

Where do I begin? Well, seeing as I have virtually no time because I'm currently filling out a college application, I'll only tell one story: the story of the sleepover. It all began with a simple plan: my parents were going out, and I was to spend the night with some of my girls, leaving Joel with the house to himself. Trey Songz's voice emitted my phone, signaling a call from Georgie. "What now?!" I thought to myself. The request was simple: Tori wanted cookie dough and Hannah wanted french fries. Shocker. Simple; I got an extra order of fries from Burger King and picked up a tub of cookie dough from Walmart. 


A chaotic night was under way. I bent a spoon in the tub of cookie dough and performed a life-saving operation on Georgie's ball of fluff that she calls a dog. Noah and James played hide and seek with me in Georgie's neighborhood and I stomped around looking for them while eating my feelings in cookie dough. Hannah and Georgie jumped me in Georgie's room because I took the cookie dough. I jumped Hannah because she jumped me and took the cookie dough. Tori and I had a Red Bull chugging competition. We did a lot of other stuff that will never be brought to the light >:) No big deal.


Finally, the boys left and we all "settled down" in Georgie's bed to watch Apocalypto. Allow me to take this time to inform everyone that attempting to have four girls in one queen sized bed, one 5'10" and one 6'2", is the epitome of insanity. After drinking Monsters and eating frozen pizza that we payed a dollar for (mistake), we all fell into a half-sleeping stupor. What happened next, I don't remember, but when I woke up the next morning, I had a broken neck and a Victoria attached to my leg. We woke up one by one, removed ourselves from the pretzel we'd made throughout the night and, without speaking, began consuming the food that was dispersed about the room while watching White Chicks. None of us knew what was going to happen. None of us knew what had happened. None of us wanted to know what had happened.


And I like these people why?

Captivated

by a drought-stricken countryside filled with open fields and pastures.

by a group of smiling little faces that beam with pleasure at the love of Jesus Christ.

by an amazing God who never ceases to speak to my heart in the most divine ways imaginable.

It all began with a phone call that would change my life. On what I thought would be just another night around the house, I received a phone call from an old family friend with  the spontaneous offer of a mission opportunity. Next thing I knew, I was on my way to a small town in Missouri called Warrensburg where I formed some truly amazing relationships and departed on my most favorite adventure so far. Over the past week, I learned that in thinking you're ministering to others, God finds a way to use them to minister to you. When I clambered into one of three 15-passenger vans, I never imagined that I'd fall in love with a small group of children on a barren reservation in Oklahoma.

The first morning, dozens of smiling faces piled into the sanctuary at Botone Memorial United Methodist Church just as unsure about learning during the upcoming week of Bible school as many of the team was about teaching it. Each leader was acquainted with their group and by the end if the afternoon all of us eagerly awaited the arrival of the next morning. The week progressed smoothly, each day bringing a new day and a new surprise. Each day, one of the younger kids would come up to me and explain to me something he'd enjoyed during the day, and then leave. I didn't know his name or his story but God put in my heart a soft spot for that particular child. Midway through the week, we took the children to the community pool where I fell in love with even more of them. It was there that my heart was captivated by 3 young children named Rebekah, Dre, and Storm. Every few minutes I would hear things such as, "When are you coming back?", "Can you stay with me forever?", or "Will you be my sister?", and my heart broke with each question or comment. By the end of the week, I had a constant smile on my face and on the last day, for the first time (from what I heard) in over a year, it began to rain.
Now for those of you who know me, I hate rain with a fiery passion. Don't get me wrong, I adore the sound and I love to watch it fall, but I cannot stand being caught in it. But as I made a mad dash for the door to get out of the rain, something stopped me and I looked around me at the smiles and tears on the faces of everyone around me. At that second, it really hit me how often I take the little things for granted. For instance, a one dollar candy bar at the concession stand is a regular occurence for me while these children treated it like gold. I treat rain as a hair-ruining, street-blocking, glumness-inducing inconvenience, while in that area, it was a rare blessing.
As I look back and remember the experience--the laughter and the tears--I can only come up with one word to describe the overwhelming sense of love that I feel for that little town in Oklahoma: captivated.

"Take the Plunge" 2011 (Pictures)

The Little Things in Life

So I'm sure I've blogged about this before, but it's a recurring situation in my life so you'll excuse any redundancy. There are the days (we all know 'em) that just flat out suck, and this week has been sucky on a pretty consistent basis...all week, I've wanted nothing more then some fuzzy socks, sweatpants, and comfort food. Today, I finally lost it and kept my sick self in bed with a book, a candle, and a hot cup of tea in an attempt to heal myself from the woes of the week brought on by the germs that are successfully taking out the high school population one by one. (pardon the obnoxiously long sentence...)
While all these things are well and good, though, I can't help but realize that the things that make me feel the most satisfied are those tiny moments in life in which you can't help but smile. Last night, for instance, I babysat a sweet little boy who I took on a scavenger hunt to pass the time while his mom was gone. While we were out gallivanting through his neighborhood on a search for flowers and bugs, he pointed out to me numerous times how cool the sky looked and how many airplanes were coursing through it. He was enthralled by how incredibly blue the sky was and we spent the last bit of our evening marveling about it over a mug filled with chocolate gelato. And after taking no more then 15 minutes to get ready today, it's nice to hear a friend tell me that I'm still pretty or to hear a chorus of "I hope you feel better, Kristi" as I make my way sluggishly through a crowded hallway. All this to say, I'm so incredibly grateful for the random breath-taking moments that God sneaks into my days when I need them the most.

Back to the Grind

Well, life goes on. Really, really fast. I have yet to complete my blog post about my Oklahoma trip, my SAT date is swiftly approaching, my laundry is piling up by the second, and the dollar amount in my bank account seems to dwindle with every breath. Dramatic, but true.
Nonetheless, the semi-relaxing time of year I like to call Autumn approaches, which is my FAVORITE season for recipes. Warm food is my favorite. Especially when combined with candlelight, an equally warm beverage, & a good book :) I have SO much I could say in this post, but I have SO much to do, so I'll stick to the recipe I tried this evening. It's Honey Soy Grilled Salmon, but I'm not even going to bother citing the original recipe because I toyed with it more then usual.

Here's what you'll need:

2 lbs. Fresh Salmon fillets

1/8 cup Parsley Flakes

1/8 cup Mint Flakes

2 teaspoons Sesame Oil

1 teaspoon ground Ginger

Sea Salt and freshly ground Pepper

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed Lime or Lemon Juice, plus extra for seasoning

2 teaspoons Soy Sauce

2 teaspoons Honey

1/2 teaspoon Sesame Seeds

Here's what you do:

yummy :)

1. Cut two slits into each salmon fillet, about 1/2 inch away from each end

2. Mix mint, parsley, sesame oil, & ginger and stuff mixture into the slits in each salmon fillet

3. Season fish with salt & pepper and broil, stuffed side up, for 3-4 minutes

4. Meanwhile, combine the lime or lemon juice, soy sauce, & honey and stir until smooth

5. Turn salmon over and baste with soy sauce mixture, broil for 2 more minutes, re-baste, and broil for another minute

6. Sprinkle sesame seeds over stuffed side of salmon and serve with veggies

New Kitchen, New Desire

While I was gone on my absolutely AMAZING trip to Oklahoma, my parents finished the "renovations" on our kitchen...I wish I'd taken "before" pics, but it slipped my mind. Anyways, our floor has been re-tiled, our walls have been painted, new light fixtures have been put in place, and a new paper towel dispenser and new silverware have been purchased (yes, silverware and paper towels do make a difference).

under cabinet lighting

new light fixture

green walls & new tile :)

And, *BAM* suddenly, a refreshed desire to use the kitchen. Tonight, I made Basil Chicken over Angel Hair (AllRecipes.com), but I doubled & added to the original recipe. Below is the recipe I used:

Here's what you'll need:

16 ounces Angel Hair

1 tablespoon & 1 teaspoon Olive Oil

1 large Onion, chopped

2 cloves Garlic, chopped

5 cups Tomatoes, chopped

3 cups Mushrooms, quartered

32 oz. Chicken Breast, cooked & cubed

1/2 cup Basil

1 teaspoon Salt

1/4 teaspoon Hot Sauce (optional)

Here's what you do:

1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook angel hair pasta about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and set aside.

2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. 

3. Saute the onions, mushrooms, and garlic. 

4. When the onions begin to appear translucent, stir in the tomatoes, chicken, basil, salt and hot sauce.

5. Reduce heat to medium, and cover skillet. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is hot and tomatoes are soft.

6. Toss sauce with hot cooked angel hair to coat. 

Serve alongside a nice Italian salad & topped with Parmesan cheese :)

A new little one to love :)

Welcome to the world, Clara Jane Patnode!

Photo cred: Lauren Pyles. I had to steal it:)

Yes, I know, I'm 2 weeks late. But I had to meet her before I could fully justify gushing about JUST how much I LOVE this little girl. Seriously, all you have to do is look at her and she'll steal your heart. I've been absolutely dying to see her from the moment I found out her mama was pregnant with her and I can't wait to watch her grow up to be stunning just like the rest of her family :)

spontaneous (adj.):

1 : done or produced freely or naturally.  2 : acting or taking place without external force or cause. 3 : my word for the summer. However, my summer motto has evolved a bit from simply "spontaneous" to the next definition in my handy dandy dictionary: "spontaneous combustion (n): a bursting into flame of material through heat produced within itself."
No worries, I'm not bursting into flame (yet), but that's how I've felt recently. My schedule went from completely lax to nearly 40 hour weeks working with kids. Not that I'm complaining at all because my busy days have been very rewarding, but 6-8 hours a day in the heat can be exhausting. Juggling that on top of finalizing my schedule for senior year, getting my summer projects done, helping my parents re-do the house, and trying to manage a little time with friends can make it a little bit hard to maintain sanity. But in the midst of all the chaos, here's a little taste of the good life:

**I don't get to spend much time in bed during the day...but  Sophie's pretty good at keepin' it warm for me**

**Ruby Tuesday is amazing in and of itself  (btdubbs those white cheddar mashed potatoes are divine)**

**but it's always better when you have a super gorgeous friend to share it with**

**yum...minus the mischievous little finger.**

**and we ALL know how I feel about chocolate.**

Somewhere in there, I've done a wee bit of cooking...most recently, I've been obsessed with baked Macaroni & Cheese. I got the recipe from Cooks.com, but I revised it to my liking:

Here's what you'll need:

8 oz. Elbow Macaroni

12 oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese

1/2 c. Butter

1/2 c. All-Purpose Flour

1 & 1/3 c. Milk

2 teaspoons Salt

1 teaspoon Pepper

Here's what you do:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Boil macaroni about 10-15 minutes, or until soft

3. Drain the macaroni and set aside

4. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce by melting the butter in a small saucepan. Once the butter is competely melted, gradually add the flour and milk.

5. Pour half of the macaroni into a shallow casserole dish and cover with half of the cheese.

6. Pour half of the sauce over the first layer of cheese, cover with the remaining macaroni, followed by the remaining sauce; top with remaining cheese.

7. Bake 15 minutes, or until cheese is slightly golden brown

Wish me luck in my "week off"...and my behind the wheel portion of drivers' ed. 

Next week, it's back into the fray.

It's hopeless.

Generally, when one hears the word addiction, they assume the worst. But in my opinion, addictions can be either good or bad. What do addictions have to do with anything, you ask? Everything. Because I am hopelessly addicted to.....chocolate. Yeah, I'm sure many of you think you can claim the same, but you're wrong. My addiction is past the point of no return. You know how I said I cook what I like to eat? That's why I bake so much. And that's also why everything I bake is chocolatey. So it will come as no surprise that I've baked twice in the past two days and both times they've consisted of chocolate goodness. Sunday night, I made Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies & last night, I made a double chocolate cake...delish.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies:

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 cup Canola Oil
1/3 cup Brown Sugar
2 tablespoons Sugar (I used Splenda for the sake of the dieters in my household)
1 Egg White
1 teaspoon Vanilla
3 tablespoons Water
2 cups Rolled Oats
2/3 cups Whole Wheat Flour (All-Purpose works too)
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 cup Chocolate Chips, give or take ;)

Here's what you do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cream oil and sugars

3. Mix in egg white, vanilla, & water

4. Add the oats, flour, salt, baking soda, & cinnamon

5. Fold in the chocolate chips

6. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet, bake for 10-12 minutes, and enjoy!

and now, for the double chocolate cake:

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 cup Vegetable Oil or Melted Butter

1 cup Sugar

1 Egg, beaten

1 cup Milk

1 tablespoon White Vinegar

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

10 tablespoons Nestle Cocoa Mix

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 & 1/2 cups Flour

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Here's what you do:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8x13 pan

2. Mix together all the ingredients except the chocolate chips; beat until mostly smooth

3. Pour mixture into the pan and bake for 15 minutes

4. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and bake for another 15-20 minutes

I'm not a scientist, but I'm pretty good at experiments

Experimental cooking...it can be scary. Especially when your ingredient list becomes longer then your hair and the flames from the skillet in which you're cooking are high enough to singe it (your hair, not the list). So when I found a recipe for Steak & Mushroom Salad and decided I wanted peppers and Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes as well, an automatic feeling of anxiousness kicked in. But it worked. I'm not exactly sure what to title this recipe, but it's scrumptious and an apparent crowd-pleaser seeing as I fed it to one of the pickiest eaters I know.

Here's what you'll need:

Various Dried Herbs/Spices (equal parts of: onion powder, pepper, parsley flakes, basil, oregano, thyme, cumin, ground mustard, rosemary, garlic powder, celery seed)

1 tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

1 tablespoon White Wine Vinegar

2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard

2 teaspoon Lime Juice

1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

12 oz. Sirloin Steak

8 oz. Mushrooms, quartered

1 large Onion, halved and sliced

3 Peppers (any color), sliced

Here's what you do:

1. Defrost & barely brown the sirloin, then slice it

2. Combine all the dried herbs in a bowl and whisk together with olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, lime juice, & Worcestershire sauce

3. Put steak strips in a large freezer bag and pour herb mixture over it; set aside to marinate

4. Heat some oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the peppers, onions, and mushrooms; cook until the onions become translucent

5. Place the vegetables in a bowl and heat some more oil

6. Place meat in the skillet, being careful not to spill too much of the marinade into the skillet

7. Cook meat until cooked through but still tender and serve hot

8. Heat the marinade and serve as a gravy along with the veggies and mashed potatoes, rice, or mashed cauliflower.

**apparently, it was really good. And that guy lookin' at the camera when I distinctly told him to ignore me? yeah, that's the picky one.**

We Like it Oriental

As a general rule, when I'm in the kitchen (as I am at this moment), everything turns out Italian or chocolate...because when I cook, I make what I'd like to eat. However, when my mom and I are in the kitchen together, the special stuff comes out. Ya know, like the seasonings whose labels are all in foreign languages? Yeah, those...we use a lot of 'em. So today, we're making Lemon Chicken (Sarah's Secrets) with Soy Sauce & Sesame Seed Roasted Broccoli (Kalyn's Kitchen). This post could potentially be a bit more poetic and thought-out, but it just so happens that I'm writing this while Mom's at the stove, getting attacked by the oil-spitting chicken. So if I seem a bit distracted, I beg your pardon. Anyways, my life is pretty much at a five-star level right now, but the particulars of that are relatively [not] extraordinary so we'll stick to the recipes.

First, the Chicken:

Here's what you'll need:

1-2 lbs. Boneless & Skinless Chicken Breast, thinly sliced
1/2 cup Fresh-squeezed Lemon Juice
1/4 cup Soy Sauce
1/3 cup All-Purpose Flour
Sea Salt & Fresh Black Pepper
2 large Eggs, beaten
1 & 1/4 cups Panko Bread Crumbs
1/4 cup Sesame Seeds
(we didn't use these...it seemed redundant with them on the broccoli as well)
5 tablespoons Vegetable Oil

Here's what you do:
1. Combine the lemon juice & soy sauce in a large bowl, add the chicken, and let marinate for at least 15 minutes
2. Set up 3 bowls: one filled with flour, salt, & pepper, one with the eggs, and a third with the panko & sesame seeds
3. Coat each slice of chicken lightly with flour, dip it in the egg, & coat it well in the panko mixture.
4. Heat half the oil in a large skillet over high heat until hot; reduce heat to medium-low and add the chicken. Saute until cooked through and browned.

and then, the broccoli:

Here's what you'll need:

1 lb. fresh broccoli florets
1 1/2 T olive oil
1 T soy sauce
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 T sesame seeds, toasted

Here's what you do:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees (this is important...it kinda doesn't help if the oven isn't on, as I just learned)

2. Place the broccoli in a large bowl, mix all the other ingredients, and pour over the broccoli

3. Arrange in a single layer over a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes; turn and roast another 5 minutes

I may be picky...

...but it saves me a lot of trouble. Over the past few days, I've begun to realize just how picky I am...for instance, I'll only use hair ties that are tight rather then stretched out, and the color of the hair tie CANNOT clash with my outfit. It may sound a bit crazy, but the little things are important to me. Another thing I'm very conscious of is what goes on my face, from the substance to the color and even to the utensil used to apply my specific skincare products. And I've come to the conclusion that I absolutely cannot stand cotton balls. They're atrocious! Last night, I used one to take off my eye makeup and woke up 10 hours later with a horrendous itch in my left eye...after about ten minutes of rubbing my eye and prying it every which way to find the source of this terrible annoyance, I found it. It was none other then a sneaky little white fiber from a cotton ball. Shocker.

By now, you probably think I'm crazy. But I'm not, I promise; and, I'm about to prove it to you.
Survey the picture below very closely.

Cotton ball vs. Cotton pad

Am I the only person who sees those teensie weensie itsy bitsy pieces of cotton that aren't intact with the rest of the cotton ball??? THOSE are the devilish little creatures that find their way into my eyes when I'm sleeping...now, I'm sure you're asking yourself: "why in the world am I reading this?" That one is not my problem...but others may be asking: "hm...well, what would be the solution to the cotton ball dilemma?" The solution is simple: cotton pads. They really make a world of difference.

Moral of the story? There really isn't one. But I'll make one up: Don't settle for less then you deserve.

Confessions of a Yes-aholic

So, for those of you who know me, there are two things you hear me say all the time: "I don't have time for this." & "I'm soooo tired!"
Wanna know why? Because I can't say no. For most, stress is a bad thing. For me, it's just a part of the mess I like to call life. I cannot say no. Of course, to certain things I can. But I'm a goer and a giver...so ask me to loan you something, chances are I'll give in eventually and say yes; ask me to do something for you and you'll see it get done. I can begin any day with the idea of relaxing with a nice book and a cup of iced tea, and within two minutes, I'll be asking someone if they need a babysitter. That's just how I am. So it should come as no surprise that my first Facebook status this morning was: "no plans for another 7 hours. What to do?" & within a matter of 30 minutes, this was no longer the case. Today, I ended up bathing all three of my rather disconcerted dogs, two of whom are supposed to be "water dogs"...not. even. close. But the worst of all is the terrier: the adventurous one who never stops getting herself into trouble. Bring out the hose, and that creature is the biggest baby that this generation will ever see. All this aside, about an hour later and all three dogs were washed and in the process of sun-drying while I took advantage of the sunlight to get rid of some tan lines (and get some new ones). Two-thousand ounces of exfoliating creams later, and I was ready to run errands with my ever-patient mother. By that time, it was 2:30 pm--only an hour and a half from the time I was scheduled to babysit. Fabulous. 
Now, a time-conscious person would've made their errands quick and been home with plenty of time to spare. But not the Watanabes. We like to live on the edge. Which means checking out at Walmart at 3:52 pm, when you know good and well you live at least 5-10 minutes away from the destination you need to be at within 8 minutes. However, God worked it out, and I was able to get the job done and spend a good 2 hours playing Wii baseball (as well as "real" baseball) and watching Toy Story 3 with a precious toddler.
And finally, the cleaning. Although it is a self-diagnosis, I am semi-obsessive compulsive. And I'm an organizational freak. So when I came home to see the house in complete and total disarray, something had to be done immediately. I flew into action and, 2 hours later, the house was virtually spotless and my stomach virtually empty. Yet another fabulous moment. So I started pulling things out of the fridge, and this is what I came up with:

Here's what you'll need:

1 cup mushrooms

1 large chicken breast, cooked

1 (16 oz.) package Rotini

1/4 cup white wine

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Oregano

Italian Seasoning

Olive Oil

Here's what you do:

1. Cook the Rotini as directed on the package

2. While the Rotini cooks, slice the chicken breast and soak the pieces in a bowl containing the wine & balsamic vinegar; set aside

3. Cut the mushrooms in half lengthwise, and then slice normally and place in a bowl

4. Heat some olive oil in a pan and cook the marinaded chicken

5. Pour the leftover marinade over the mushrooms and then toss them in with the chicken, being careful not to add the wine mixture to the pan.

6. Add the cooked chicken and mushrooms to the pasta, and add seasonings to taste

**everything's better with a li'l Parmesan Cheese**

Brownie Cookies

Yesterday, the adventure continued. Not sure if I've mentioned it yet, but, for me, it is officially summer!
Which means more sleep, and a lot more babysitting (yeah, I know that's not what you think of when you think of summer...but that's basically the definition of mine).
Anyways...last night we hosted a little going away get together for our dear friend Paula Kernall and I decided to make Susannah's brownie cookies (yet another stolen recipe--but can you blame me? This girl makes good food!) So, here's the recipe and a few pictures :)

so. much. chocolate.

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 cup butter

4 (1 oz) unsweetened chocolate squares, chopped

3 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Here's what you do:

1. Combine butter, unsweetened chocolate, and 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I used 12 oz. semi-sweet baking chocolate) in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until butter and chocolate melt; cool completely.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; set aside.

3. Beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer. Gradually add dry ingredients to egg mixture, beating well. Add the melted chocolate; beat well. The stir in remaining 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips.
4. Drop dough by 2 tablespoonfuls 1 inch apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 11-12 minutes.

these cookies are, simply put, divine

Mini Chocolate Lava Cakes

Yet another stolen recipe from Susannah Prince...Mini Chocolate Lava Cakes. SO easy to make and SO delicious:

Here's what you'll need:

2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
3/4 cup butter, cut into pieces
3 (4ounce) bars semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 1/4 cups egg substitute*
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
Powdered Sugar

Here's what you'll do:

Brush 16 muffin pans with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle evenly with cocoa, shaking out excess. Place in the fridge to firm butter.
Place 3/4 cup butter and chocolate in a large heavy saucepan. When all is melted (stir often), slowly whisk in whipping cream; set aside.
Combine egg sub. and sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat at medium speed with an electric mixer for 5-7 minutes or until slightly thickened.; add chocolate cream mix and flour, beating until blended. Pour batter into muffin cups, filling within 1/4" from tops. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour up to 24 hours. <-- this is essential.
Bake at 450 for 10 to 11 minutes or just until edges of cake spring back when lightly touched, but centers are still soft.
Let stand for 3 minutes before loosening edges with a knife. Quickly invert the cakes onto a baking sheet. Then transfer to dessert plates using a soft spatula.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar, or top with a dollop of whipped cream and a few fresh raspberries :)

I actually took pictures of this one and although they didn't look quite as aesthetically appealing as Susannah's, my lava cakes were thoroughly enjoyed.

**why make a list when you've got skin & a Sharpie?**

**that bowl was licked clean within seconds of filling the pans...**

**finished product! I was in a hurry...otherwise I would've made it look better. but there it is**

It is finished.

Today was OFFICIALLY the last day of my junior year. Meaning junior year is over. Meaning I don't ever have to  take a Chemistry test again in my high school career. Meaning I have one more year until I get to wrap myself in a poly-blend black gown and trip over a mic cord while receiving my diploma. Meaning in a few days, I officially hold the title "SENIOR".
Well...Senior Year promises to be amazing. And Junior Year was pretty great. Here's a little re-cap.

We had a good amount of snow days...

...if you could call them "snow" days.

Between dances,

and chocolate comas in class,

and trips to freezing cold places (with amazing bus drivers),

and looking like freaks,

and lookin' fly,

and looking like men...
...the year rocked.

We made so many memories and I came away having learned quite a few valuable life lessons:

1. They honk a lot in the North for no reason whatsoever. And they don't drink sweet tea.

2. Dickies are hands-down the most uncomfortable things you'll ever clothe yourself with. If you want to feel absolutely horrendous and lower your ego, wear 'em.

3. Save your Valentine's Day candy and DON'T TAKE IT TO SCHOOL. That way, you can eat your way to a pleasant state of chocolate-induced intoxication, and still have some leftover when you get home to take care of the withdrawals.

4. Trying to surf on ice doesn't work. It only works if you're a 4 pound dog who's too scared to jump off the board.

5. Carlos Lebron is the best bus driver ever. Don't ever ride in a bus with anyone else. And Rob is not to be trusted as a tour guide. Especially not when it's raining.

I think that's it...but I hope you were taking notes, because these are things you'll need to remember is you want to survive your junior year at Covenant Classical School. Never again will I need these lessons, but looking back on the experiences that taught them to me makes me want to cry. I loved every moment of this past year and I can't wait to see what the future holds :)

When 2009 is good and gone,

2010 will still live on.

2011 was a good class,

but 2012 will kick some...glass?

Minestrone & Rotini

I got part of this one from Rebekah Leland (rebekahleland.blogspot.com), but I made lots of revisions:

Here's what you'll need:

2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, peeled
3 stalks celery
1 large sweet onion
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced
2 teaspoons each dried basil & oregano
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 large tomato, diced
1 (6oz.) can tomato paste
2 cups torn or rough chopped baby spinach leaves (optional)

1 can of kidney beans

Parmesan cheese

1 pkg. Rotini Pasta

Here's what you do:

1. Chop carrots, celery, and onion

2. In large soup pot, heat 1 Tbsp. oil over medium heat, add garlic and diced vegetables. Sweat for 5-10 minutes, just until onions begin to turn translucent.

3. In another pot, boil pasta, drain, add 1 Tbsp.  of oil and half of the herbs.

4. Add rosemary and dried herbs. Stir and sweat for another 5 minutes.

5. Add tomatoes, tomato paste and chicken stock. Bring to boil and lower to simmer for 1 hour.

6. Add in beans and spinach, continue to simmer for about 30 minutes.

7.  Serve in bowls; sprinkle on parmesan (or any other kind) cheese