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

Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirls

This is a rendition of a recipe I got from my good friend Susannah (thegirlwiththecake.blogspot.com) and made some changes to:

Here's what you will need:

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cups ground peanuts

3 1/2 ounces unsalted butter, cubed

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tablespoon iced water

1/4 cup peanut butter

Here's what you do:

1. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place the flour and nuts in an electric mixer and add the butter and sugar. Process until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the combined egg and water.

2. Blend just until the mixture forms a dough. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 30 seconds or until the dough is nice and smooth.

3. Place the dough onto a large sheet of parchment paper and roll out into a rectangle that is 10x14 inches. {Make sure that all of the edges are even, straight, and that this looks exactly like a rectangle, or you will end up with a horribly uneven roll!}

4. Spread the dough with the peanut butter.

5.Using the parchment paper to lift the dough, roll up from the long side in a Swiss-roll style.

6. Wrap the rolls tightly in parchment paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the roll into 1/2 slices with a thin and sharp knife, wiping the blade between each cut.

8.Place the slices on the prepared baking tray and bake for 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Return to the Kitchen

It all began with a little girl with a passion for food. Not cooking, FOOD.

**I could probably just stop there and anyone who knows me knows that this elusive "little girl" is me. I've loved food from a very early age. So much, in fact, that my first full sentence was "Look, Mommy, McDonald's!"

Sad story, I know. But at least I could recognize the signature golden arches.**

As I was saying...FOOD. Eventually, this passion turned into a desire to make her own food. The little girl was ecstatic when she received her first cookbook complete with recipes for things such as fruit-filled Jello, homemade Popsicles, & her personal favorite: English muffin pizza. The first time her first 4 English muffin pizzas emerged from the oven, everything in the child's life seemed to fall into place. And as her half-toothless mouth bit into the warm, gooey, cheesy, crunchy goodness of it all, it was decided. She would learn how to cook. And cook she did. Her greatest joy was baking things such as chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake, chocolate oatmeal cookies, chocolate chip muffins, brownies...basically anything containing chocolate. This love for baking developed into a love for making breakfast food...fruit salads, waffles, pancakes, bacon, eggs, omelets...she loved it all. But eventually, the child was struck ill and her passion died along with her beating heart...

I kid, I kid. But really. The passion died, but the child was not struck ill. Alas, she was struck with a far worse fate: school. And on top of this, she hit her teenage years, which killed virtually every dream that she'd ever had. Yeah, she wasn't gonna be a firefighter...and she most certainly was not going to be making anymore English muffin pizzas.

What is the point of this story, you ask?

The point is, here I am today, wasting my life away (usually on Facebook). And here I am complaining about the food I am fed on a day-to-day basis. So I decided it was time I did something about it.

The journey began yesterday with a meal of Minestrone with Rotini & Chocolate-Peanut Butter Swirls (stolen from the lovely Miss Susannah Prince). I have no pictures to document this step (or stumble) in the journey, but I can tell you that it is quite apparent that I've spent a decent amount of time away from the kitchen.