I got this recipe from an email that Betty Crocker sends weekly with dinner ideas. Holy cow it was DELICIOUS! Like, please, let me scrape the crock pot and eat the whole dang thing in secret gluttony kind of good.
And, the best part is, this recipe is every bit as easy as it is tasty.
Root Beer BBQ Beef Sandwiches (courtesy of Betty Crocker)
1 beef loin tip (or tri tip)
2 cups of BBQ sauce (I used a honey jabanero one- I recommend a spicy one!)
1 cup of root beer
What to do:
Throw the ingredients into your slower cooker and turn on low. Cook alllllllllll day. 1 hour before you want to eat, shred the beef with two forks, then cook 1 more hour. (This lets the sauce really soak in). Serve in split sandwich rolls or buns.
Enjoy! It's sooooo good! (sorry, no pictures- my first day back on Weight Watchers yesterday and I was WAY too hungry by dinner time to wait for photos, lol)
3/10/10
Our prom photo. At 28.
We went to a couples' dinner our church hosted last Friday night, and had a very nice time. We got to sit with some great people, eat some delicious food, hear a relevant message and play name that tune. All in all, great night.
But, the topper:
We got to take a "dance" picture. Yes, at 28 years old. We're so cool, it hurts.
And no, we did not have alcohol at the church dinner. I have NO clue why I'm doing my leaning tower of Piza impression.
But, the topper:
We got to take a "dance" picture. Yes, at 28 years old. We're so cool, it hurts.
And no, we did not have alcohol at the church dinner. I have NO clue why I'm doing my leaning tower of Piza impression.
3/9/10
Tasty Tuesday: Quick and Easy Veggie Pasta
This recipe is super easy to prepare, tasty and healthy. If you live in a household where family members require meat with every dinner, you always add some grilled chicken :-)
Quick and Easy Veggie Pasta
1 pkg tri-color rotini
1 red bell pepper, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
1 broccoli crown, chopped
1 onion, finely diced
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
3 tbsp olive oil, separated
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 cup grated parm. cheese
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Cayenne pepper (optional)
1. Prepare pasta as directed on the package.
2. Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the carrots and onions and stir occasionally, cooking for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the bell pepper to the pan, stir and cook an additional 2 minutes.
4. Add the garlic to the pan, stir then add the broccoli. Allow to cook an additional 3 minutes.
5. Drain the pasta and toss in a large bowl with the veggie mixture. Add the remaining oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and parm to the bowl and toss.
6. Sprinkle lightly with cayenne pepper (if you like a little kick to your food) or omit entirely if you don't :-)
Enjoy!
*You could make this recipe with pretty much any pasta you have on hand, a variety of vegetables (just be aware of their cooking time needs- mushy vegetables ruin the texture of the dish) and you could even sub balsamic vinegar for red wine for a different flavor.
Quick and Easy Veggie Pasta
1 pkg tri-color rotini
1 red bell pepper, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
1 broccoli crown, chopped
1 onion, finely diced
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
3 tbsp olive oil, separated
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 cup grated parm. cheese
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Cayenne pepper (optional)
1. Prepare pasta as directed on the package.
2. Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the carrots and onions and stir occasionally, cooking for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the bell pepper to the pan, stir and cook an additional 2 minutes.
4. Add the garlic to the pan, stir then add the broccoli. Allow to cook an additional 3 minutes.
5. Drain the pasta and toss in a large bowl with the veggie mixture. Add the remaining oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and parm to the bowl and toss.
6. Sprinkle lightly with cayenne pepper (if you like a little kick to your food) or omit entirely if you don't :-)
Enjoy!
*You could make this recipe with pretty much any pasta you have on hand, a variety of vegetables (just be aware of their cooking time needs- mushy vegetables ruin the texture of the dish) and you could even sub balsamic vinegar for red wine for a different flavor.
2/23/10
Tasty Tuesday: Curried Rice with Chicken
This recipe was adapted from the a recipe found on Real Simple's website. The original recipe can be found here. This was actually my first time ever cooking with curry! Crazy huh? Yum!
Curried Rice with Chicken
What you will need:
2 chicken breasts, cut into bit size pieces
1.5 cups of long grain white rice
3.5 cups hot water
5 carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
6 cloves of garlic, minced
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup of finely chopped fresh basil
What to do:
1. Mix 2 tbsp of the olive oil with 4 cloves of the garlic in a bowl and add the chicken to marinate.
2. Heat the other tbsp of oil over medium heat in a large pan. When hot, add the carrots and onion. Cook until softened (6-8 minutes).
3. Add the remaining garlic and the curry powder to the carrots and onions and stir. Heat until fragrant (2 minutes).
4. Add the rice to the carrot/onion mixture along with 3.5 cups of hot water. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, cook the marinated chicken in a skillet over medium high heat until golden brown on the outside edges. Add 1/2 tsp of the salt and 1/4 tsp of the pepper and stir.
6. Add 1/2 tsp of salt, the basil and chicken to the rice mixture and stir (you may want 1/4 to 1/2 tsp more salt, depending on preference).
Serve in bowls and enjoy!
Curried Rice with Chicken
What you will need:
2 chicken breasts, cut into bit size pieces
1.5 cups of long grain white rice
3.5 cups hot water
5 carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
6 cloves of garlic, minced
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup of finely chopped fresh basil
What to do:
1. Mix 2 tbsp of the olive oil with 4 cloves of the garlic in a bowl and add the chicken to marinate.
2. Heat the other tbsp of oil over medium heat in a large pan. When hot, add the carrots and onion. Cook until softened (6-8 minutes).
3. Add the remaining garlic and the curry powder to the carrots and onions and stir. Heat until fragrant (2 minutes).
4. Add the rice to the carrot/onion mixture along with 3.5 cups of hot water. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, cook the marinated chicken in a skillet over medium high heat until golden brown on the outside edges. Add 1/2 tsp of the salt and 1/4 tsp of the pepper and stir.
6. Add 1/2 tsp of salt, the basil and chicken to the rice mixture and stir (you may want 1/4 to 1/2 tsp more salt, depending on preference).
Serve in bowls and enjoy!
2/22/10
Camera Phone Dump
Here, for your viewing pleasure, is a collection of photos from my phone.
Exhibit A: My husband is HOT. Like REALLY hot. Not only because he is, but because he is holding a Dog House Grill Tri Tip Sandwich which he purchased and brought home for ME.
He also has quite a sense of humor. Look what happened when I started using the top portion of dinner memo board to track items I needed from the store...
Here, is Exhibit B: My sweet, sweet little man making his first Valentine cards.... everybody say it with me now... "Awwwwwww!"
And here is the picture I will be most definitely sharing with his first girlfriend.
Oooooh, wait, scratch that.... THIS will be the one. For sure!
Oh, don't fret- I'll redeem his "cool boyfriend" status for him, when I show her how patiently he peruses the J. Crew catalog, pointing out the latest trends, while you try on clothes in the dressing room.
Exhibit A: My husband is HOT. Like REALLY hot. Not only because he is, but because he is holding a Dog House Grill Tri Tip Sandwich which he purchased and brought home for ME.
He also has quite a sense of humor. Look what happened when I started using the top portion of dinner memo board to track items I needed from the store...
Here, is Exhibit B: My sweet, sweet little man making his first Valentine cards.... everybody say it with me now... "Awwwwwww!"
And here is the picture I will be most definitely sharing with his first girlfriend.
Oooooh, wait, scratch that.... THIS will be the one. For sure!
Oh, don't fret- I'll redeem his "cool boyfriend" status for him, when I show her how patiently he peruses the J. Crew catalog, pointing out the latest trends, while you try on clothes in the dressing room.
2/21/10
Beauty School Haircut
I don't like getting my haircut. Usually I say "just a trim" and end up less 5 inches. It's disturbing. My hair takes an eternity to grow. No really- an eterrrrrnity.
So stupid me doesn't skips trims for um, oh I dunno...... a year. Yup. I know. BAD.
But I really wanted to grow my hair out.
You know how "they" say you have to get regular trims to grow out your hair healthfully? They were right darn it. Turned out my hair was soooooo fragile it had just flat out broken off in places I would never have chosen to snip.
Anyway... when I do finally get around to mentally committing to a trim, it's like a switch flips. In my head it goes from "no scissors near my cabesa" to "I NEED a trim, NOW." And then, I scramble for an appointment that is never soon enough and always costs more than I wish it did.
So, this particular time, when the "I NEED a trim NOW!" thought hit, and my wallet was beyond light- I got gutsy and decided to try the Paul Mitchell beauty school. Their wash, cut and style = $10. That's right folks $10. And they are supervised by a senior stylist the whole time.
I had a few people comment on my "bravery" in going to a beauty school- but I have to tell you- I honestly think it was my best cut to date! I am really, really happy with it! It's easy to style, they did what I asked, and my hair feels healthy again. Yay!
So, if money is tight and you "NEED a trim NOW" give a beauty school a second thought- especially a Paul Mitchell one. You'll spend less and get a trim NOW. (Walk in or same day/next day appts). The only difference to note is that it takes longer- as the students are supervised and there is a question answer process going on. But, that made me more comfortable and confident that they would do a great job on my hair- so some extra time in the chair seems like a small opportunity cost.
Forgive me, for I have yet to master the art of the "work bathroom phone self portrait" in the way that Morgan has. ;-) Also, forgive the ginormity of my cheeks in this photo- but hey, my kiddo had to get them from somewhere right? Ha!
So stupid me doesn't skips trims for um, oh I dunno...... a year. Yup. I know. BAD.
But I really wanted to grow my hair out.
You know how "they" say you have to get regular trims to grow out your hair healthfully? They were right darn it. Turned out my hair was soooooo fragile it had just flat out broken off in places I would never have chosen to snip.
Anyway... when I do finally get around to mentally committing to a trim, it's like a switch flips. In my head it goes from "no scissors near my cabesa" to "I NEED a trim, NOW." And then, I scramble for an appointment that is never soon enough and always costs more than I wish it did.
So, this particular time, when the "I NEED a trim NOW!" thought hit, and my wallet was beyond light- I got gutsy and decided to try the Paul Mitchell beauty school. Their wash, cut and style = $10. That's right folks $10. And they are supervised by a senior stylist the whole time.
I had a few people comment on my "bravery" in going to a beauty school- but I have to tell you- I honestly think it was my best cut to date! I am really, really happy with it! It's easy to style, they did what I asked, and my hair feels healthy again. Yay!
So, if money is tight and you "NEED a trim NOW" give a beauty school a second thought- especially a Paul Mitchell one. You'll spend less and get a trim NOW. (Walk in or same day/next day appts). The only difference to note is that it takes longer- as the students are supervised and there is a question answer process going on. But, that made me more comfortable and confident that they would do a great job on my hair- so some extra time in the chair seems like a small opportunity cost.
Forgive me, for I have yet to master the art of the "work bathroom phone self portrait" in the way that Morgan has. ;-) Also, forgive the ginormity of my cheeks in this photo- but hey, my kiddo had to get them from somewhere right? Ha!
2/20/10
Things I am loving right now...
J. Crew bracelet that I purchased with a gift card, it matches everything.
Mug, brought back for me by our very thoughtful friends, from the first Starbucks in Seattle.
French white corningware. I've wanted a set for so long, who knew it was just $39 at Costco!
Colorful stacking mugs from Pier One (just $10!). They look cute on the counter, and no one mixes up their cups, since they are all different colors.
Herb Garden in a Pot from Trader Joe's. For $4.99 I now have an abundant supply of fresh rosemary, thyme and sage.
What are YOU lovin' right now?
Mug, brought back for me by our very thoughtful friends, from the first Starbucks in Seattle.
French white corningware. I've wanted a set for so long, who knew it was just $39 at Costco!
Colorful stacking mugs from Pier One (just $10!). They look cute on the counter, and no one mixes up their cups, since they are all different colors.
Herb Garden in a Pot from Trader Joe's. For $4.99 I now have an abundant supply of fresh rosemary, thyme and sage.
What are YOU lovin' right now?
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